SW Phoenix Community Zone 05/10/2019

FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ Z5 SECTION S ❚ SOUTHWESTVALLEY.AZCENTRAL.COM

PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

CASUAL YET CLASSY Glendale’s Urban Margarita finds success with sleek furnishings and elevated takes on Mexican fare.

DINING, PAGE 3

INSIDE TODAY ALSO FIND MORE ONLINE AT SOUTHWESTVALLEY.AZCENTRAL.COM

Cons transferred over safety worries

House reimagined with photos in mind

Parents are key to student success

COMMUNITY NEWS, PAGE 5

COOL HOME, PAGE 7

YOUR TURN, PAGE 14

Urban Margarita, owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team, is part of a new wave of mom-and-pop eateries with 623 area codes. NICK OZA/THE REPUBLIC

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Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

Things to do FRIDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Learn to Draw with Charcoal

Mother’s Day Improv Show

Adult Coloring

Real to Reel Book Discussion

Foothills Acoustic Jam

This class will be held during Drop-In Friday’s for Seniors @ the Teague. In this class, Maygin Wheatley will be focusing on giving you the tools and techniques you need to work in charcoal comfortably to create any piece you want.

Treat your mother to a night of comedy at Stir Crazy Comedy Club. Improv and stand-up comedy that is appropriate for the entire family, so everyone can enjoy. Your suggestions along with audience participation make for an unforgettable night.

Details: 10:30 a.m.-1:30

p.m. Friday, May 10. Glendale Public Library - Velma Teague Branch, 7010 N. 58th Ave. Free. 623-696-3438, www.glendaleaz.com/library.

Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, May 12. Stir Crazy Comedy Club, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. $12. 623-565-8667, www.stircrazycomedyclub.com.

Drop in and relieve stress with this adults-only drop-in coloring program. All materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Details: 6-7:45 p.m. Mon-

days. Glendale Public Library - Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St. Free. 623-9303555, www.glendaleaz.com/ library.

Discuss books turned into movies. Read the book, see the movie, or both. This month’s selection is “The Mountain Between Us” by Charles Martin.

Details: 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Monday, May 13. Glendale Public Library - Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St. Free.

623-930-3555, www.glendaleaz.com/library.

Bring your acoustic instrument and play round-robin style. Audience and singers welcome! Ma

Details: 6-7:45 p.m. Tues-

day. Glendale Public Library Foothills Branch, 19055 N. 57th Ave. Free. 623-9303844.

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AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ Z5

3

Urban Margarita serves with a twist Georgann Yara

Special to the ABG USA TODAY NETWORK

He spent 35 years in fi ne dining, holding general management and regional director positions for high-profi le restaurant companies like Wolfgang Puck.

And when David Borrego had the opportunity to open his own restaurant with his wife, Kimberly Newhart, he knew exactly what vibe he was going for.

“I wanted an urban feel when you walk in. Not stuff y,” Borrego said of Urban Margarita, the Glendale spot he and Newhart took over in 2018. “I love fi ne dining. But the reality is that we wanted it to be casual and inviting.”

Their establishment specializes in Mexican cuisine with infl uences from Borrego’s family’s New Mexico roots, and it does just that with a combination of unstuff y, sleek furnishings and elevated takes on Southwestern comfort food.

The husband-and-wife ownership team, who have been married for 14 years, have more than 70 years of combined food-service-industry experience. Newhart has spent more than 35 years working for a major food-service manufacturing company, a full-time job she still holds while helping out at the restaurant on the weekends and during peak hours.

After spending decades in the Los Angeles area, they chose Arizona as the spot for their fi rst foray into brick-andmortar business ownership.

“We’re in the twilight of our career life, and we were thinking about what’s important,” Newhart said as she recalled memories of vacations spent in the Valley. “We fell in love with the desert. There’s a zen-like feeling to be living here. We wanted a change and to retire here.”

They took over the spot that had been the longtime home of Betty’s Nosh, among other eateries. With one year under its belt, Urban Margarita is generating 20 percent more business over its predecessors from the past three years, Borrego said.

As Borrego and Newhart searched for a location, they focused on Glendale and Peoria, where they live. They found this

“I wanted an urban feel when you walk in. Not stuffy,” David Borrego says of Urban Margarita, his and wife Kimberly Newhart’s spot. NICK OZA/THE REPUBLIC

venue, where the Mexican food concept had been established and operating for three months. When they took it over, raising the bar was the priority.

“We thought we could take the Mexican concept and elevate it and make it better than your normal Mexican restaurant,” Borrego said.

They dressed up the décor with new chairs and furnishings, added a sliding barn door and other touches to make the space more inviting. The 4,800-squarefoot space seats 140 diners inside and 40 outside. There’s a wine room that hosts special events.

The classed-up menu boasts fromscratch dishes with main attractions like grilled Angus beef, shrimp, organic chicken and salmon. House specialties show some New Mexican fl air, like the Hatch green chile cheeseburger on elegant brioche, and the Puff y Short Rib Tacos fi lled with slow-braised shredded short rib and deep fried, yielding a puff ed-up fl our tortilla.

But the Hatch red and green chile enchiladas stuff ed with carnitas or chicken hold a special place in Borrego’s heart. He grew up in Los Angeles, but his parents were raised in Silver City, New Mexico, and he recalls his family’s fl at, casserole-style rendition that differs from most people’s rolled experi-

Urban Margarita Where: 6685 W. Beardsley Road, Glendale Employees: 20 Interesting stat: in 2018, there were 10,281 eating and drinking establishments in Arizona, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Details: 623-561-6674, urbanmargarita.com

ences.

“I love the fact that you get a little bit more when you get our enchiladas. It’s more bountiful, and we use only Hatch chiles,” he said. “We always had that in the family freezer to have throughout the year.”

Borrego gets his red and green chiles from a single farm in New Mexico. His dishes are made with 100 percent Hatch, without the fi llers that some restaurants add to stretch it out, he said.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the changing David’s Table special fl aunts Borrego’s creative, impulsive and sometimes whimsical side.

Slow-braised prime beef short rib with chipotle honey cabernet reduction and garlic mashed potatoes, salmon cakes

and fusion plates like Koji beef tacos and duck fl autas with spicy Asian slaw have been among the off erings.

“We’re trying to give people more than just the usual Mexican stuff ,” he said.

New Mexico native Courtney Waterbury and her husband have been Urban Margarita regulars since Borrego and Newhart took the helm, coming in at least once a week for dinner and often for Sunday brunch.

“We love Mexican food. We saw they had Hatch red and green chile … that’s home to us,” said Waterbury, who lives in Glendale.

She’s had about a dozen entrées on the menu, but her favorite is the enchiladas with carnitas done Christmas-style with red and green chile sauce. Her husband’s go-to is the green chile cheeseburger.

“It can be hard to fi nd really good Mexican food. But they have a nice dining experience and just a nice place to relax and have good food,” Waterbury said. “David and Kimberly and the entire staff are always very welcoming, and they always take good care of us.”

When Borrego and Newhart moved to Peoria from Pasadena two years ago, they’d fi nd themselves driving east to Phoenix and Scottsdale for a non-chain dinner. Opening an independent restaurant close to home amidst chains would fi ll a void.

Customer feedback reiterates this.

Borrego and Newhart are happy to be part of a new wave of mom-and-pop eateries with 623 area codes working to make that happen.

“A lot of people are asking for that.

And I think we’re part of that movement. We look at things a little bit diff erently than a chain restaurant would.

Our answer is to give people good food as well as humble hospitality that’s not being found in the chains,” Borrego said.

It’s also put them in an Arizona restaurant industry that had $14.7 billion in sales in 2018, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Aside from the out-of-town crowd that comes in for the holidays or spring training season, Newhart said their clientele predominantly resides within a 10-mile radius of their restaurant. She See URBAN, Page 4

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Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

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credited their growth to this demographic.

“We wanted a place for all of the locals to go out and spend their time, and when they think of dinner on a Friday night or Sunday brunch, they think of Urban Margarita,” she said. “There’s always something diff erent and always something upscale on that menu.”

As Borrego and Newhart searched for a restaurant location, they focused on Glendale and Peoria, where they live.

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AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ Z5

Inmates are being moved from Lewis Prison for safety concerns BrieAnna J. Frank and Austin Westfall Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Arizona Department of Corrections offi cials say they are moving inmates from Lewis Prison west of Phoenix to other complexes around the state as they address safety concerns at the site.

The department began transferring close-custody inmates — those requiring intensive supervision — from the prison in Buckeye to housing at other state-run prisons in Arizona, ADC spokesman Andrew Wilder confi rmed to The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com in an email Monday night.

The department’s goal is to reduce the number of inmates housed in cells with padlocks to improve employee staffi ng levels, increase safety and begin preparing to install a long-term solution, he said.

The department will continue to hold forums for inmates in three close-custody units to raise concerns, questions or off er feedback.

ADC Director Charles Ryan met with correctional offi cers Monday to discuss issues, including a potential pay package to raise offi cer salaries and concerns about offi cer retention and vacancies, Wilder said.

They also discussed broken cell door locks that led to ambush assaults on offi cers that were initially disclosed in an ABC15 investigation last month.

Inmate visitation was held over the weekend “without any negative issues or interruption,” Wilder said.

Prison units are conducting ongoing

daily drill exercises with diff erent scenarios to check response readiness, Wilder said.

Late last week, protesters gathered at the Arizona Capitol to demand Ryan be fi red and criticize what they referred to as the state’s prison system’s “culture of cruelty.”

ACLU of Arizona organized the protest, bringing about 30 people to meet at the state Department of Corrections building. The group then marched across the street to the Capitol to give a letter to Gov. Doug Ducey.

Five organizations signed on to a s letter that was presented to Ducey’s offi ce: the Arizona Prison Reform Movement, Puente Human Rights Movement, Living United for Change in Arizona, Poder in Action and Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

Arizona’s prisons face an understaff ing crisis in the wake of a 13-year freeze on offi cer pay. Corrections offi cials say the freeze has exacerbated already high turnover in a physically and mentally grueling job.

Corrections offi cers are among the lowest paid law enforcement offi cers in the state, with a starting salary of about $33,000 per year.

Additional inmate transfers are expected, Wilder said.

In 2004, the Lewis Prison was the scene of the longest prison-hostage standoff in U.S. history.

Two inmates overpowered two corrections offi cers and took control of a fortifi ed watchtower for 15 days. They eventually surrendered and were given additional life sentences.

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6

Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

Glendale leaders propose eliminating city auditor Jen Fifield

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Glendale leaders have proposed eliminating the city’s internal watchdog, its city auditor.

The majority of Glendale City Council members agree with a new plan from City Manager Kevin Phelps that would make use of outside contractors to perform audits.

This would require a change to the city’s code, which the council will soon be asked to approve.

Phelps has said his proposal would make for a better, more independent process that would allow Phelps for more complex audits.

He proposes adding an audit committee to decide what audits should be done, and to keep an internal audit program manager to oversee those contracts.

Council members had several questions for Phelps on how the new program would work, including whether fewer audits would be performed, how the new program manager would maintain independence and who would determine which audits were performed.

Councilman Bart Turner said he has major concerns about the proposal, which he thinks would lead to a less independent and thorough look at city problems.

“Moving to this program is a step backward,” he said.

What does the city auditor do?

The city has had an auditor for at least the past two decades.

The current auditor, Candace MacLeod, has been in her role since 2001. Her salary is about $151,000.

If the council moves forward with Phelps’ plan, her position will be eliminated.

The proposal wouldn’t save the city money because the funds from her salary and benefi ts would be used to pay for external audits performed by contractors.

Along with MacLeod, the city has an assistant city auditor, Joseph Wagner-Corona, whose salary is about $95,000. His position would move into the audit program manager role.

Their offi ce, with the help of outside

Glendale City Hall. NICK OZA/THE REPUBLIC

contractors, has performed 17 or 18 audits annually in recent years.

This includes audits looking at cash handling, travel and procurement cards, whether departments were following rules or checking for misuse of funds and investigating complaints that came into the city’s ethics hotline.

The offi ce’s last three audits examined citywide credit-card purchases, the city’s pavement management program and an ethics hotline complaint concerning how two employees were recruited to their posts.

The credit-card audit pointed out how Mayor Jerry Weiers failed to properly document his Europe trip in a timely manner and at fi rst charged the city for his wife’s expenses.

Another recent internal audit, in 2018, found that about $230,000 in miscellaneous bills the city had sent out were past due but hadn’t been sent to collections.

In 2012, the auditor’s offi ce identifi ed that Glendale administrators had improperly taken millions from a city trust fund to cover other program expenses during tough budget times.

Argument for an auditor Under city code, the auditor’s offi ce is under the independent control and supervision of the city auditor.

Having an auditor on staff is valuable because they are familiar with the inner workings of the city, and therefore can spot problems, said David Jones, city auditor in Seattle who is chair of the advocacy committee for the Association of Local

Government Auditors.

“They know the government and the players in it, and have hopefully some idea of the culture of the city and how to most eff ectively navigate that city,” Jones said.

While it may seem like eliminating the auditor’s salary and benefi ts would save money, Jones said that hiring contractors for everything can become expensive over time.

Using contractors, the city may not be able to pay for the same number of audits each year, Turner said.

“I don’t see how that’s good for the citizens,” he said.

Rob Sweeney, an interim assistant city manager, said that under the new proposal, the city would aim to do as many audits as it does now, but it would depend on the complexity of the audits.

Argument against an auditor Phelps said hiring consultants specialized in certain areas to perform audits would allow the city to tackle more complex issues.

Also, having outsiders look at city business would provide a fresh perspective, he said.

Generally speaking, he said, employees don’t necessarily trust internal auditors more than outside consultants, and if they don’t trust the internal auditor, they may withhold information.

He said that his new plan would add transparency and independence to the auditing process through the creation of the new audit committee.

The audit committee would consist of

three council members and two residents as voting members. The city manager and director of budget and fi nance would also be on the committee, as non-voting members.

The committee would do a risk assessment to see what areas should be audited, and the council would approve that plan.

This would ensure that management couldn’t interfere with what was audited, Phelps said.

But Jones said it’s best not to have any management represented on audit committees.

“The auditor is essentially auditing management,” he said.

The auditor currently reports administratively to the city manager and functionally to the City Council.

Under Phelps’ proposal, the new audit program manager would report administratively to a new department head of organizational performance, and functionally to the new audit committee.

But that might change. Councilwoman Lauren Tolmachoff asked that the proposal be altered so that the program manager reported directly to the city manager, and a consensus of the council agreed.

Jones said that, generally, cities should set up a structure so that whoever is doing the auditing can do their job without fear.

The best structure is to have the auditor report to the City Council, Jones said, not an executive.

What do other cities do?

Of the 10 largest Phoenix area cities other than Glendale, six have auditors on staff , according to spokespeople in those cities.

The number of auditors on staff ranges from one in Peoria, who does other work besides audits, and 24 in Phoenix, with department-specifi c auditors on top of that.

The two cities most similar in size to Glendale take diff erent approaches.

Scottsdale has six auditors and Gilbert has none.

Valley cities vary in their approach on who the auditors report to, including the city manager or an audit committee, according to information compiled by Glendale.

Reach the reporter at jen.fi fi eld@azcentral.com or at 602444-8763. Follow her on Twitter @JenAFifi eld.

AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ Z5

7

AZ Real Estate SOUTHWEST VALLEY COOL HOME

‘The Brexley’: ’70s-era home reimagined Kelsey Murrietta

Special to Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

The Raskin Estates neighborhood couldn’t have a better location. Situated near Kierland and Scottsdale Quarter, the quiet, HOA-free neighborhood is full of homes built around 1970.

Cindy Steinman, a real-estate agent turned investor, would drive through the neighborhood, dreaming of how she could transform a tired home into something beautiful.

She took the plunge in 2013.

‘Focused on creating eye candy’ Steinman purchased a home she now aff ectionately calls “The Brexley” in the Scottsdale neighborhood.

The 2,600-square-foot home needed a massive update for her vision to come to life. The home’s design was inspired

by Steinman’s love for fi nding beautiful homes among old ones while visiting Venice Beach, California.

The galley kitchen, wood paneling and beehive fi replace were all overhauled into the artistic, minimalistic, tranquil sanctuary it is today.

The four-bedroom, three-bath house was renovated with a minimalistic, modern design. Ficus trees provide privacy and sophistication. COURTESY OF FAWN DEVINEY

She designed the space with photography in mind.

She thought about lighting and integrating design elements, such as a handmade steel pipe cage entry created

by Cody Carpenter of Studio Make. She credits Carpenter with making the home what it is today, especially since the front door is unique to the home.

“He’s a ‘MacGyver’-type guy. He can

do it all. A concrete architect by trade who happens to blow your mind with steel,” Steinman said.

Carpenter also did the home’s interior architectural concrete and helped design exterior steel gates and handmade door handles for the kitchen.

Steinman said she tried to see the home from a photographer’s perspective.

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“Creating natural fi ltered light was the top of my list, along with minimalist, monochromatic design. WhatI didn’t know is if this would be a success or not.

I was more focused on creating eye candy for the photographers and a tranquil, unique hideaway for future guests,” she said.

Steinman couldn’t have imagined the success of The Brexley since it opened New Year’s Day 2018. It was used to fi lm a Hollywood short fi lm and a Colgate commercial starring Michael Phelps, as well as countless photo shoots by top photographers in the Valley.

“Being able to create with them has been my all-time favorite part of all this.

It ignites a fi re inside me.The Brexley has become our playground; our safe place to experiment with creativity. I feel so lucky to have found Instagram, which led me to my tribe,” she said.

She found she could collaborate with this online community.

“When you try and explain an idea you have to a numbers-type person, they have no idea what you’re talking about, nor do they care. But when you explain this unique idea to another creSee COOL HOME, Page 9

8

Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

Sold Property Listings 85003/PHOENIX

Number of sales This week: 2 Previous four weeks: 15 Same weeks last year: 13 Median price This week: $419,500 Previous four weeks: $410,000 Same weeks last year: $417,934

85012/PHOENIX

Number of sales This week: 2 Previous four weeks: 9 Same weeks last year: 12 Median price This week: $577,000 Previous four weeks: $437,500 Same weeks last year: $507,500

For more real estate news, go to streetscout.com 3121 E CLAREMONT AVE $620,000.

2645 E CAMPBELL AVE $540,000.

5213 N 24TH ST APT 202 $167,500.

8 BILTMORE EST UNIT 205 $845,000.

4201 N 20TH ST UNIT 211 $194,000.

85017/PHOENIX

Number of sales 16 W ENCANTO BLVD UNIT 505 1 E LEXINGTON AVE UNIT 204 This week: 4 $254,000. $214,000.

Previous four weeks: 20 Same weeks last year: 25 6111 N 2ND PL $940,000.

Median price 85006/PHOENIX This week: $164,000 85013/PHOENIX Number of sales Previous four weeks: $159,000 This week: 4 Number of sales Same weeks last year: $160,000 Previous four weeks: 25 This week: 4 Same weeks last year: 38 Previous four weeks: 30 Same weeks last year: 35 Median price 2606 W SAN MIGUEL AVE This week: $274,000 Median price $163,000.

Previous four weeks: $278,000 This week: $250,000 3236 W MARIPOSA ST $165,000.

Same weeks last year: $261,500 Previous four weeks: $312,500 6147 N 31ST AVE $126,000.

Same weeks last year: $294,000 3120 W MARYLAND AVE 2014 N 18TH ST $197,000. $189,000.

2530 N 8TH ST $278,000.

3633 N 3RD AVE UNIT 2020 1712 E PALM LN $469,000.

85031/PHOENIX $250,000.

2234 N RICHLAND ST $270,000.

5348 N 3RD AVE $215,000.

Number of sales 1323 W GEORGIA AVE $375,000. This week: 6 85007/PHOENIX Previous four weeks: 21 97 W MARIPOSA ST $250,000.

Same weeks last year: 35 Number of sales This week: 5 Median price 85014/PHOENIX Previous four weeks: 11 This week: $174,500 Same weeks last year: 22 Number of sales Previous four weeks: $183,000 This week: 8 Same weeks last year: $178,000 Median price Previous four weeks: 45 This week: $295,000 Same weeks last year: 53 Previous four weeks: $189,900 3011 N 53RD AVE $185,000.

Same weeks last year: $292,500 Median price 3108 N 52ND PKWY $165,000.

This week: $397,500 2920 N 53RD AVE $210,000.

Previous four weeks: $315,000 1145 W SHERMAN ST $184,900.

4625 W THOMAS RD UNIT 106 Same weeks last year: $275,000 1215 W POLK ST $175,000. $93,000.

1550 W LEWIS AVE $535,000.

4132 N 47TH AVE $180,000.

1108 E GEORGIA AVE $315,000.

1315 W CULVER ST $295,000.

5608 W VERDE LN $169,000.

3422 N 14TH PL $430,000.

718 W VERNON AVE $485,000.

1332 E COLTER ST $440,000.

1111 E MISSOURI AVE UNIT 17 85033/PHOENIX 85008/PHOENIX $612,150.

Number of sales 1025 E MARLETTE AVE Number of sales This week: 11 $365,000.

This week: 10 Previous four weeks: 48 Previous four weeks: 44 Same weeks last year: 62 3426 N 14TH PL $299,999.

Same weeks last year: 31 1030 E INDIANOLA AVE Median price $317,500.

Median price This week: $192,500 1021 E CLARENDON AVE This week: $257,000 Previous four weeks: $185,000 Previous four weeks: $225,000 $485,000.

Same weeks last year: $169,900 Same weeks last year: $199,500 6347 W COOLIDGE ST $222,000.

85015/PHOENIX 3628 E PALM LN $244,000.

6955 W PIERSON ST $215,000.

Number of sales 5323 E TAYLOR ST $380,000.

8208 W HAZELWOOD ST This week: 5 1445 N 44TH ST $195,000. $182,000.

Previous four weeks: 37 2471 E ALMERIA RD $240,000.

7317 W SELLS DR $192,500.

Same weeks last year: 39 7545 W DEVONSHIRE AVE 2603 N 29TH ST $310,000.

Median price $227,000.

3702 E PIERCE ST $275,000.

This week: $229,000 4849 N 79TH LN $188,000.

4645 E VIRGINIA AVE $43,000.

Previous four weeks: $184,900 6739 W WOLF ST $168,000.

5401 E VERNON AVE $435,000.

Same weeks last year: $197,000 7601 W WOLF ST $179,000.

1201 N 47TH PL $130,000.

2445 E CAMBRIDGE AVE 7801 W CATALINA DR $185,000.

1701 W CITRUS WAY $229,000. $270,000.

4325 N 82ND AVE $211,000.

2121 W AVALON DR $254,000.

6013 W COLUMBUS AVE 1636 W WHITTON AVE $342,000. $206,000.

85009/PHOENIX 2119 W AMELIA AVE $208,000.

6024 N 22ND AVE $48,000.

Number of sales 85035/PHOENIX This week: 8 Previous four weeks: 39 Number of sales 85016/PHOENIX Same weeks last year: 42 This week: 9 Number of sales Previous four weeks: 42 Median price This week: 12 Same weeks last year: 43 This week: $198,500 Previous four weeks: 76 Previous four weeks: $169,000 Median price Same weeks last year: 93 Same weeks last year: $128,750 This week: $194,000 Median price Previous four weeks: $193,000 This week: $354,250 Same weeks last year: $171,000 1832 N 38TH LN $203,000.

Previous four weeks: $311,450 2022 W TONTO ST $123,000.

Same weeks last year: $366,564 3229 W ENCANTO BLVD 2831 N 49TH LN $185,000. $197,000.

7113 W ALMERIA RD $180,000.

6735 N 16TH ST UNIT 1 $127,000.

2122 W LEWIS AVE $163,000.

5429 W ROANOKE AVE $171,000.

3009 E ROSE LN $400,000.

1821 N 38TH LN $147,500.

2348 N 49TH AVE $200,000.

6236 N 16TH ST UNIT 12 $158,000.

2208 W WINDSOR AVE $350,000.

2606 N 50TH DR $194,000.

2211 E CAMELBACK RD UNIT 7227 W VIRGINIA AVE $206,000.

3756 W GRANT ST $225,000.

504 $662,500.

2117 N 37TH AVE $200,000.

7857 W PALM LN $194,000.

5205 N 24TH ST APT 105 $194,900. 1850 N 64TH LN $215,000.

2730 E FAIRMOUNT AVE 1616 N 63RD AVE APT 46 $75,000. $308,500.

4411 N 28TH PL $635,000.

85037/PHOENIX

Number of sales This week: 14 Previous four weeks: 79 Same weeks last year: 66 Median price This week: $192,500 Previous four weeks: $200,000 Same weeks last year: $188,505 4251 N 111TH LN $195,000.

8735 W MARIPOSA ST $198,000.

4601 N 102ND AVE UNIT 1059 $114,000.

9214 W PIERSON ST $210,000.

4222 N 100TH AVE $155,000.

8706 W FAIRMOUNT AVE $211,500.

9977 W MACKENZIE DR $220,000.

2359 N 83RD DR $180,000.

9034 W AVALON DR $210,000.

9019 W GRANADA RD $200,000.

10030 W INDIAN SCHOOL RD APT 271 $142,000.

8709 W FAIRMOUNT AVE $187,000.

8754 W PIERSON ST $190,000.

8352 W MINNEZONA AVE $175,000.

85040/PHOENIX

Number of sales This week: 9 Previous four weeks: 48 Same weeks last year: 61 Median price This week: $188,000 Previous four weeks: $189,983 Same weeks last year: $175,000 4601 S 4TH ST $188,000.

2330 E PUEBLO AVE $178,000.

833 E ROESER RD $230,000.

4635 E PUEBLO AVE $92,000.

4702 E BROADWAY RD $98,000.

1822 E HIDALGO AVE $190,000.

2012 E ROESER RD $112,500.

2311 E HIDALGO AVE $211,956.

2335 E PECAN RD $245,000.

85041/PHOENIX

Number of sales This week: 13 Previous four weeks: 91 Same weeks last year: 96 Median price This week: $228,900 Previous four weeks: $225,000 Same weeks last year: $215,495

3916 E CARTER DR $295,000.

615 E EUCLID AVE $190,000.

6610 S 42ND PL $260,000.

3832 E SOPHIE LN $300,330.

117 E GWEN ST $268,000.

85043/PHOENIX

Number of sales This week: 10 Previous four weeks: 60 Same weeks last year: 49 Median price This week: $238,000 Previous four weeks: $233,750 Same weeks last year: $200,000 5405 W WARNER ST $225,000.

7214 W WINSLOW AVE $205,000.

5110 W FULTON ST $198,000.

7922 W PUEBLO AVE $354,995.

6314 W MOHAVE ST $215,000.

7317 W PIONEER ST $235,000.

5533 W WOOD ST $241,000.

4204 S 80TH LN $321,000.

4129 S 56TH DR $246,000.

2016 S 80TH LN $283,000.

85323/AVONDALE

Number of sales This week: 11 Previous four weeks: 54 Same weeks last year: 76 Median price This week: $240,000 Previous four weeks: $228,500 Same weeks last year: $223,200 11375 W DAVIS LN $217,000.

302 E GARDENIA DR $206,000.

11852 W GRANT ST $277,000.

12225 W CHASE LN $269,900.

12002 W DAVIS LN $226,500.

12013 W DAVIS LN $287,500.

11718 W JACKSON ST $262,000.

12005 W YUMA ST $235,000.

11250 W LOCUST LN $240,000.

12210 W LOCUST LN $275,000.

12379 W TONTO ST $220,000.

85326/BUCKEYE

Number of sales This week: 30 Previous four weeks: 175 Same weeks last year: 207 Median price This week: $209,000 Previous four weeks: $223,285 Same weeks last year: $200,000

23344 W WATKINS ST $334,000.

23594 W ROMLEY AVE $205,900.

24626 W GREGORY RD $199,900.

2017 W MOBILE LN $210,000.

23929 W TWILIGHT TRL 1809 W POLLACK ST $268,000. $220,000.

41 W CORONA AVE $30,000.

22616 W DESERT BLOOM ST 2726 W PECAN RD $210,000. $217,000.

2435 W FAWN DR $250,000.

22541 W ANTELOPE TRL 3211 W SAINT ANNE AVE $210,000. $264,000.

22455 W SOLANO DR $225,000.

2443 W PARKWAY DR $227,000.

25821 W GLOBE AVE $205,000.

6030 S 3RD AVE $125,000.

12507 S 212TH DR $193,600.

2758 W CHANUTE PASS $265,000. 23325 W WATKINS ST $285,000.

6805 S 42ND DR $228,900.

22581 W MOHAVE ST $207,000.

745 W GREGORY RD $285,000.

23253 W MOHAVE ST $205,000.

5825 S 32ND LN $190,000.

25859 W ST JAMES AVE $215,000.

3836 W LEODRA LN $252,070.

22944 W HILTON AVE $297,000.

7165 S 251ST DR $218,000.

25766 W VALLEY VIEW DR 85042/PHOENIX $207,000.

Number of sales 1620 S 229TH CT $208,000.

This week: 9 402 W BASELINE RD $182,000.

Previous four weeks: 72 152 N 194TH LN $203,500.

Same weeks last year: 64 20132 W BUCHANAN ST $303,559.

Median price 24103 W TONTO ST $207,000.

This week: $230,000 1749 S 230TH LN $300,000.

Previous four weeks: $254,204 601 S 6TH ST $179,000.

Same weeks last year: $253,150 23997 W CHAMBERS ST $203,000.

1009 E EASON AVE $110,000.

1447 E IRWIN AVE $230,000.

19824 W MOONLIGHT PATH 6025 S 14TH PL $169,000. $289,990.

4316 E LYNNE LN $227,000.

25811 W WATKINS ST $250,000.

6626 S 43RD ST $220,000.

23204 W WATKINS ST $350,000.

25057 W DOVE GAP $188,500.

21915 W DAKOTA DR $322,000.

85338/GOODYEAR

Number of sales This week: 32 Previous four weeks: 175 Same weeks last year: 162 Median price This week: $262,523 Previous four weeks: $287,732 Same weeks last year: $255,109 17913 W REDWOOD LN $381,000.

18484 W VERDIN RD $340,000.

18443 W PASEO WAY $310,000.

1475 S 171ST LN $234,900.

16847 W WASHINGTON ST $273,000.

15067 W TAYLOR ST $249,000.

8010 S 133RD AVE $315,000.

11024 S DESERT LAKE DR $279,900.

13266 S 182ND AVE $320,000.

11015 BLOSSOM DR $484,500.

15956 W DIAMOND ST $206,000.

11212 QUINN DR $643,900.

18657 W LARKSPUR DR $260,000.

18406 W PASEO WAY $244,000.

15624 W MAGNOLIA ST $190,000.

15278 W MORNING GLORY ST $299,900.

1152 N 164TH AVE $233,556.

18003 W REDWOOD LN $264,146.

15886 W APACHE ST $260,900.

17926 W CEDARWOOD LN $271,000.

17012 W RIO VISTA LN $274,000.

10970 S DESERT LAKE DR $372,000.

18211 W CEDARWOOD LN $341,372.

17630 W BUCKHORN DR $245,000.

2015 S 159TH AVE $270,007.

15847 W LINDEN ST $222,000.

15990 W ANASAZI ST $260,000.

1158 N 164TH AVE $217,383.

18438 W CAPISTRANO AVE $249,900.

1851 S 172ND DR $202,000.

273 S 152ND AVE $250,000.

85339/LAVEEN

Number of sales This week: 15 Previous four weeks: 91 Same weeks last year: 80 Median price This week: $253,000 Previous four weeks: $252,398 Same weeks last year: $262,955 4931 W ARDMORE RD $253,000.

7920 S 41ST LN $330,000.

7044 W ALICIA DR $240,000.

4081 W COLES RD $275,851.

3436 W MELODY DR $282,531.

4848 W DUNBAR DR $228,000.

5620 W WINSTON DR $313,990.

5322 W EUCLID AVE $410,000.

10114 S 43RD AVE $344,000.

7816 S 68TH DR $250,000.

6816 S 70TH AVE $235,000.

4359 W ST CATHERINE AVE $221,000.

6412 W SOPHIE LN $195,000.

8828 S 41ST DR $263,140.

5110 W MALDONADO RD $244,900.

85340/LITCHFIELD PARK Number of sales This week: 13 Previous four weeks: 89 Same weeks last year: 79 Median price This week: $315,000 Previous four weeks: $355,000 Same weeks last year: $294,450 5403 N 187TH LN $300,678.

AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ Z5

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Cool Home

13157 W FAIRMONT AVE $207,500.

18609 W DENTON AVE $380,000.

20011 W COLTER ST $457,500.

6131 N ORO VISTA CT $355,000.

766 W AZURE LN $457,500.

12510 W CERCADO LN $240,000.

13545 W SAN MIGUEL AVE $390,000.

5053 N 145TH DR $315,000.

12838 W MODESTO DR $249,900.

13318 W RANCHO DR $395,000.

13746 W PECK DR $228,500.

5303 N 187TH LN $303,561.

Continued from Page 7

85353/TOLLESON

Number of sales This week: 12 Previous four weeks: 70 Same weeks last year: 60 Median price This week: $237,450 Previous four weeks: $243,000 Same weeks last year: $210,000 8827 W HESS ST $197,500.

10229 W WIER AVE $215,000.

9336 W MIAMI ST $235,000.

9368 W CORDES RD $229,990.

12226 W KINGMAN ST $253,953.

9841 W SOUTHGATE AVE $270,840.

9320 W CROWN KING RD $239,900.

1817 S 104TH DR $243,000.

9722 W PAYSON RD $206,000.

2816 S 121ST DR $246,805.

2208 S 101ST DR $230,000.

4305 S 97TH DR $277,995.

85396/BUCKEYE

Number of sales This week: 24 Previous four weeks: 178 Same weeks last year: 199 Median price This week: $287,500 Previous four weeks: $271,000 Same weeks last year: $272,159 29282 W CLARENDON AVE $190,990.

1649 N MARKETSIDE AVE $258,463.

26944 W POTTER DR $295,000.

26064 W MATTHEW DR $234,204.

1742 N 208TH AVE $319,680.

26494 W SIERRA PINTA DR $279,400.

30011 W PORTLAND ST $223,500.

2608 N BEVERLY PL $415,000.

4040 N GOLFVIEW DR $575,900.

2488 N EASTVIEW WAY $269,000.

27003 W ORAIBI DR $365,000.

20428 W LEGEND TRL $452,509.

20930 W PROSPECTOR WAY $329,000.

20917 W PROSPECTOR WAY $330,000.

3910 N 294TH DR $246,990.

26005 W MATTHEW DR $220,990.

26364 W MATTHEW DR $581,680.

27056 W ESCUDA DR $227,000.

3599 N 301ST LN $314,000.

27256 W ROSS AVE $234,000.

26457 W ABRAHAM LN $326,238.

4565 N POINT RIDGE RD $318,000.

20062 N 270TH AVE $234,400.

1801 N 202ND AVE $280,000.

9

For more real estate news, go to streetscout.com

ative, they are open to it and get it.

Sometimes they even add something to the project that I didn’t even think about. We brainstorm together.”

The Brexley Instagram (@thebrexley) features photos of the home’s details, behind-the-scenes videos of photo shoots and collaborations with photographers. Steinman also curates images to market the hospitality and event aspects of the home.

As well as being a dream home for artists and fi lmmakers, the home is listed as a luxury vacation rental.

Embroidered towels in the hallway, modern furnishings, a walk-in shower and a window with perfectly-spaced cactus in the bathroom create the luxurious, serene feel that Steinman sought.

The front door opens to a sweeping, bright view of the open-concept living space and modern kitchen, and a direct view of the backyard. A wall-size glass patio door opens to a vine-covered arbor that off ers the perfect amount of shade for photographers and sunbathers alike.

An intimate and artsy patio space next to the pool features a seating area for an outdoor dinner party.

Steinman was always a daydreamer and said the normal education system didn’t work for her. She scraped by in high school and worked as a waitress before she became a real-estate agent.

Her ability to see potential in old homes led her to investing and remodeling, which came with a learning curve.

She remodeled another house in Scottsdale with architect Eric Spry, and a house in Phoenix.

“I had no idea what I was doing at all,” she said.

Her eye for design and savvy business sense eventually developed into a distinct ability to create beauty in an old neighborhood. As far as the Brexley is concerned, for now, Steinman does it all; from marketing and managing social media to cleaning, doing laundry and changing air fi lters between guests.

She hopes other people with her passion will see the neighborhood in the same way she did.

“I’m waiting on the real architects in town to fi nd Raskin Estates and start putting their creations in there. Not just the fl ippers, who only care about the bottom line and put out subpar remod-

A wall-sized glass patio door opens to an arbor. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAWN DEVINEY

Cindy Steinman designed The Brexley with photography in mind.

The master bedroom was recreated with modern simplicity.

els, but some exciting architects,” she said.

Steinman is passionate about every detail that goes into running The Brexley, and she has advice for others who have big real-estate dreams. ❚ Stay away from naysayers. ❚ Do what compels you, what tugs at your heart. ❚ Don’t do it for the money. ❚ Be a rebel!

The beautiful home she created is her pride and joy.

She had large screens printed and posted to her construction fence with a quote from Steve Jobs: “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.”

Know of a unique home in metro Phoenix that is not on the market that should be featured?

Email carrie.watters@arizonarepublic.com.

10

Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

Mom pleads guilty in Tempe mosque incident Lauren Castle

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

A Glendale mother has taken a plea deal a year after she fi lmed herself and another woman removing items from a Tempe mosque while her children watched.

Tahnee Gonzales, 33, pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal damage, according to court records. Her punishment will include writing a letter of apology to the mosque and doing community service work with an Islamic humanitarian organization.

Her accomplice, Elizabeth Dauenhauer, was sentenced in November to 18 months of supervised probation and 200 hours of community service for aggravated criminal damage.

What happened?

In March 2018, the women posted a video on Facebook showing themselves taking items from the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.

They claimed they were exposing “the infi ltration of the Arabic Muslim coming in and destroying America.”

Gonzales’ three children were present and the women encouraged them to

take pamphlets and brochures to help stop “propaganda.”

In the video, the women called Muslims pedophiles, freeloaders and diseasecarriers. They took down fl yers that off ered social services to mosque members.

Gonzales

The plea agreement

Under Gonzales’ plea agreement, the charges of burglary, disorderly conduct and child endangerment will be dismissed. The crime is considered a felony until she completes probation.

“The defendant shall be placed on supervised probation. Terms of probation shall include the completion of 225 hours of community service at Helping Hand for Relief,” records said.

Helping Hand for Relief and Development is a humanitarian group, founded upon Islamic principles, that works to help populations around the world regardless of race, gender, religion or culture.

According to court records, Gonzales is not allowed to return to the Islamic Community Center without permission from the county’s Victims and Probation Department. Also, she must write the mosque a letter of apology.

Police identify man killed in shooting in Glendale BrieAnna J. Frank Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Glendale police on Sunday identifi ed a man killed in a Saturday evening shooting as 29-year-old Joshua Jose Miguel Juarez.

Police responded to ShotSpotter gunshot detector activations and calls reporting a shooting near 66th and Glendale avenues at around 9:45 p.m.

Offi cers arrived on scene and found a gray sedan in the roadway with Jua-

rez shot dead in the driver's seat, police said.

Road rage is not believed to be a factor in the shooting, police said.

An investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Glendale Police Department at (623)-930-3000, or Silent Witness at (480) WITNESS. Reach the reporter at bfrank@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank.

Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral today.

Students evacuated after chemical spill in Buckeye Dani Coble

Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK

Students were evacuated from a Buckeye school while police and fi re crews investigated a hazardous situation Monday afternoon, the Buckeye Fire Department said.

Fire offi cials said the incident appeared to be contained to the chemistry lab at the Odyssey Preparatory Academy at 1495 S. Verrado Way in Buckeye.

All other students were evacuated from the building while Hazmat teams ran checks, fi re offi cials said.

No serious injuries were reported, the Fire Department said, but two students were being evaluated. One student was

transported to a local hospital as a precaution, the department said.

The school sent an email out to parents regarding the incident.

“Dear Odyssey Families, As you know, scholar safety is paramount. Earlier today, during a supervised chemistry experiment, there was a spill in the chemistry lab. As a precaution, per proper protocol, authorities were called to ensure that the situation was handled appropriately. The chemistry lab has been temporarily closed and all c-building classes have been moved to other locations on campus.

Odyssey Administration” Further details were not immediately available.

Mom feels trapped in the middle of adult kids’ feud Ask Linda Linda Cohen Guest columnist

Dear Linda: Some people would think I’m blessed to have all three of my married children and grandchildren living in the same city, but I’m not so sure.

I have two sons and a daughter. My daughter is going through a messy divorce that she wants. She has a profession but isn’t earning enough to cover her expenses. She’s just starting back to her fi eld after a 20-year absence.

My sons stopped talking to her, blaming her for the divorce. They also resent my husband and me for helping her out fi nancially. They have called her names that I wouldn’t even write down or say, and our family is broken!

As I’m writing this to you, I’m in tears and I just don’t know what to do. We’ve tried talking to the sons, but they refuse to be in her presence.

Help, please.

— Fragmented Family

Dear FF: My heart hurts for you and all of the family. There seems to be more to this situation than meets the eye.

The resentment that the sons have for their sister runs deeper and may even have an origin from childhood. If you are clueless about what is motivating the sons, then have an open talk with them.

It would be good if your husband was present. And what about a trusted friend of the family or a therapist? A therapist can do an intervention, which might bring out the past issues that are fueling this situation. Open communication can often be easier with a facilitator.

In the meantime, you need to do some serious self-care. Meditation, exercise, relaxation techniques, i.e. deepbreathing, can all be benefi cial.

Do you have a question about life challenges? Send it to “Ask Linda,” c/o suzanne.lambert@arizonarepublic.com. Questions will be published anonymously.

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Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

Desert Sleuths inspires authors to take action Your Turn Katherine Atwell Herber Guest columnist

Chuck Miiller is on the phone with an old friend at the Phoenix Police Department arranging a tour of the city’s forensic lab.

He was a detective with the department until he retired a couple of years ago. It was then that he began working on something he always wanted to do: write mystery stories.

His fi rst is due to be published in September.

Besides going back to work as a campus police offi cer, he’s working on his fi rst novel. Miiller, the membership chair for Desert Sleuths, is arranging this tour for his fellow writers.

Shannon Baker is putting the fi nishing touches on “Getting Under Your Character’s Skin,” a presentation she’s been a asked to make to Desert Sleuths.

The author of three mystery series, Baker was named the Writer of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in

2018 and was nominated for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award.

Maegan Beaumont is the author of the fi ve-novel Sabrina Vaughn thriller series. The initial book won a 2014 Independent Publishers gold medal for outstanding thriller, was named the debut of the year by Suspense magazine and the 2013 Foreward fi nalist for Book of the Year in the horror category.

Beaumont recently signed a threebook contract for the Sabrina Vaughn series. Oh, and she’s also written 15 contemporary romances under a pen name.

These writers are members of Desert Sleuths, the non-profi t local chapter of the national mystery writers’ association Sisters in Crime.

In an age when bookstores are closing and Netfl ix’s buying every script, movie and television show it sees, Desert Sleuths counts over 100 established and aspiring novel writers as members.

They attend monthly meetings featuring talks, workshops and panel discussions, and in the process establish friendships and fi nd support for their eff orts from fellow members. The group also arranges mock crime scenes and

tours, like the one mentioned above, to further their knowledge of crime fi ghting.

All this activity keeps the non-profi t a solid entry among the various local writers’ groups whose membership and active status fl uctuate from year to year.

In addition to the above-mentioned members, there are many others who have achieved their aspirations to follow in the footsteps of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler or Michael Connelly and put to paper the mystery novels that swirl in their imaginations.

And many have achieved more than just a publishing deal. Deb Ledford has racked up a load of awards and honors, including an Agatha and a Macavity.

She was a fi nalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards and the Hillerman Sky Awards and a nominee for the Anthony Award for Best Audiobook as well as three Pushcart Prizes for short fi ction.

Member Dianne Freeman’s fi rst novel has already won one national contest, Best Debut Novel from the Left Coast Crime Awards, and is up for an Agatha Christie Award at the Malice Domestic

conference in May. But the organization isn’t just about award winners and aspiring writers, it’s also an opportunity to hear writers like Clive Custler or Sara Paretsky at Desert Sleuths’ annual WriteNow! conference, which is coming up in September.

The theme this year is “Becoming the Writer You Were Meant to Be.” The group’s biannual anthology of about 20 short mystery stories provides yet another opportunity for writers to see their work in print. The seventh eff ort will debut in September at the conference.

Details: The group meets monthly at The Newton, now part of Changing Hands Bookstore at 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix.

Email desertsleuths@gmail.com.

Katherine Atwell Herbert is the author of several screenplays and short mystery stories as well as three non-fi ction books on screenwriting. She is the president of Desert Sleuths and working on her fi rst mystery novel, set in Phoenix.

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13

Games

Today’s Clue: B equals U

WORD WARP

KENKEN Every box will contain a number; numbers depend on the size of the grid. For a 6x6 puzzle, use Nos. 1-6. Do not repeat a number in any row or column.

The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares must combine to produce the target number found in the top left corner of the cage using the mathematical operation indicated.

A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.

TURN PAGE FOR ANSWERS

FIND MORE AT PUZZLES.AZCENTRAL.COM ANDY CAPP

MUTTS

14

Z5 ❚ FRIDAY, 05.10.19 ❚ AZCENTRAL.COM

Schools can show parents how to help kids succeed Your Turn Judith Kunkel Guest columnist

Reading is a fundamental pathway toward a child’s success in school. Studies show children who cannot read at grade level by the end of their third year have higher dropout rates than those who master the skill.

For more than 10 years, I have participated in a tutoring program at a Scottsdale school. Each morning, 15 volunteer tutors work with fi rst- and secondgraders to improve their reading prowess. Diff erent tutors come in every school day. We work with the same two children each week to build confi dence and basic skills to help them master the alphabet, blended sounds and reading profi ciency. For the most part, the chil-

dren are eager learners and benefi t from the one-on-one sessions.

While I applaud the elementary school’s interest in assisting these kids, it has become increasingly apparent over the past few years that the school faces a double-edged challenge. The faculty and tutors work together to improve the children’s reading levels, but the other side of the issue is to motivate parents to be active participants in the process. I believe incentivizing the adults to help their children is a much tougher task.

Often the children will tell us they do not take books home to read with a parent. They play video games or watch television instead. These same children will likely tell their tutors they hate to read and don’t wish to engage in this activity.

Parents often do not attend parent/ teacher conferences, so the catalyst to

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improve the situation might involve sending school-resource personnel to visit the child and family at home.

If schools do not employ such staff ers, perhaps it is time to make an investment that could improve the outcomes for low readers.

During the home meeting, a school staff member could review the child’s progress and teach parents or other adults in the home how to work with their child. By encouraging parents to devote time to read with their youngster and by giving them the tools to make a diff erence, reading performance would improve.

It is easy to blame racial or economic diff erences for low progress with reading, but my experience shows the children we tutor come in multiple colors, ethnicities and income levels.

In some schools, children are promoted to the next grade without mas-

tering specifi c skills. This is termed “social promotion” with the goal of keeping the child with his/her age group. In the short term, it might be a positive solution, but if a child continues to fall behind academically, the likelihood of dropping out of school soars.

A dropout has a higher likelihood of involvement with drugs or crime, often ending up in the prison system, which does not serve society well.

There are likely other solutions to consider, but it is key that elementary schools become creative and try a variety of methods to improve reading skills for every child in their district. The goal will be higher success rates and longterm retention in school to produce productive community members.

Judith Kunkel is a community volunteer from Paradise Valley.

EN!!

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