West Valley View 01-25-2023

Cowboy up for Buckeye Days

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

One of Buckeye’s hottest events of the year, the annual Buckeye Days Festival, is set to stampede its way to Downtown Buckeye with a lineup of chock-full of fun and historical events.

Entering its 56th edition, the 2023 festival will be three days, jam-packed with events and activities to show off the history of Buckeye to the rapidly growing city.

“Buckeye Days is really the celebration of Buckeye and its heritage,” said Candi Youngker, president of Main Street Coalition. “It is really refl ective of the history of our town. I tend to think it’s kind of a cowboy, rodeo culture that’s here. But we really just celebrate the founding of Buckeye.”

Founded in 1967 as Pioneer Days, the festival has always been about putting on a show for the citizens of Buckeye and creating a fun environment to expose them to the roots of the city. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, many

new residents might not know the heritage of the town they moved to, making this the perfect way to lasso them into the history behind their new home.

“You can only know where you’re go-

ing when you’ve understood where you’ve come from,” Youngker said. “It’s really important for people to come out and sup-

Harris visits Tonopah to applaud renewable energy

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Tonopah on Jan. 19 for the groundbreaking of a new renewable energy project called Ten West Link.

Ten West Link is a planned energy infrastructure project that will connect electrical substations in Tonopah and Blythe, California. According to the project’s website, it spans 125 miles and is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2023.

“You rely on the power delivered by our

nation’s network of transmission lines and that network is in desperate need of an upgrade,” Harris said. “America is at the start of an historic transition away from fossil fuel plants that pollute our communities and toward cleaner and safer energy sources.”

The new 500kV power line will improve transmission system efficiency and reliability while facilitating the development of new renewable energy and energy storage resources in Arizona and California. This will help both states achieve their renewable energy standards and carbon reduction goals.

“This electricity will be clean electricity,” Harris said. “Solar panels and wind turbines do not produce toxic fumes that poison our air or dangerous chemicals that poison our water. The energy delivered by these lines will not just be cleaner, it will also be cheaper.

“On average, clean electricity is less expensive than electricity generated from traditional sources. And more transition to transmission lines means more clean energy for our communities, and that means

Historic...continued on page 4 Tonopah

Over half a century old, the Buckeye Days festival is set for another great showing, with entertaining and historical performances and a cattle drive parade. (City of Buckeye/Submitted)

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more money in the pocket of the American people.”

This project, she said, ties in to better positioning the state and will serve as a model to the rest of the country on how to better handle the climate change crisis.

“For far too long, our nation has not acted with the urgency the climate crisis demands,” Harris said. “It’s not because the science has been unclear. Scientists have warned us for years about the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not because we lacked solutions. We know how to reduce our emissions and protect our communities. No, none of that. It’s because we have failed for so long to have folks who are fighting for action. So many so-called leaders who lack the political will and courage to act.

“Well, now, I think we’ve turned the page, and there’s consensus across all kinds of lines, that it’s time to take this crisis seriously, that that time has arrived.”

Himanshu Saxena, chairman and CEO of Lotus Infrastructure Partners, the developer and owner of Ten West Link, said the project was first discussed back in 2014, and it was supposed to be “quick” and “easy.” Ten West Link became difficult to complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a “massive” inflationary period and supply chain issues.

Saxena and his team never gave up, however, as they knew it was something Arizona really needed.

“This is the right project at the right time,” Saxena said. “And this is a project that will propel us into a cleaner future, so we never gave up. And that’s what we do.”

At one point, Saxena said, Ten West Link had more than 100 people on a team developing the project.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, it actually takes a village to build a transmission line,” he joked. “It has taken us years of effort to work through processes in Arizona and California on federal land. We have worked very closely with a number of federal agencies. These things take time, but we are grateful for all the help and support that we have received from everybody.”

gressional delegation to the Abraham Accords countries of Israel, Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. A steward of renewable energy and tackling climate change, he is looking forward to seeing Ten West Link’s completion.

“Today’s announcement is one of the many ways Arizona is leading the way to a renewable energy future,” Kelly said in a statement. “I welcome the administration’s partnership on this crucial project. I’ll continue working with Republicans and Democrats to deliver renewable energy investments that create more good-paying Arizona jobs, lower energy costs, and meet our state’s growing energy needs.”

Ten West Link uses the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Energy Corridor” and U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s-designated utility corridors. Additionally, the project avoids the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and all major population centers.

As such, United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm were both in attendance for the groundbreaking.

Haaland said Ten West Link is a “momentous milestone” in President Joe Biden’s goal of adding at least 25 gigawatts of onshore renewable energy by 2025.

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Sen. Mark Kelly was unable to attend the groundbreaking, as he is currently on a bipartisan international con-

“At the Department of the Interior, we know that the time to act on climate is now,” Haaland said. “From coastal

towns and rural farms to urban centers and tribal communities, climate change poses an existential threat not just to our environment but to our health, our communities and our economic well-being.

“The demand for clean energy has never been greater. The technological advances, increased interest, cost effectiveness and tremendous economic potential make these projects a promising path for diversifying our energy portfolio, while at the same time combating climate change and investing in our communities. I could not be prouder to be a part of an administration that cares so deeply about protecting our lands, our waters and our air.”

Granholm, like Haaland, spoke on Biden’s goals as he took office. This matches the president’s goal of building a clean American energy sector on American soil using American workers.

“This is a fantastic example of what we want to see happening all across the country quicker, and we’re going to start that process,” Granholm said. “This is actually a symbol of us really launching our effort to be able to do transmission projects across the country. … (Arizona) has the capacity, the solar capacity, to be No. 2 in the country, No. 2 in terms of solar generation. … You’ve already begun that, but we want to get you up to that capacity.”

“Look at all of this land,” she added, looking at the project’s to-be location.

Tonopah...continued on page 4

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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the groundbreaking of Ten West Link in Tonopah. (Jordan Rogers/Staff)

port the events Downtown so that we know where to take our Downtown.

“We’re in a revitalization process now, where we’re coming up with what they call the DSAP, the Downtown Specific Area Plan, and the city is really, really invested in the revitalization. It is going to be a long process, but we want to know what the community wants from our Downtown. It is the soul of our city.”

Buckeye Days Festival will kick off on Friday, Jan. 27, with a barbeque dinner that benefits the Friends of the Buckeye Library and will be held at the Buckeye Elementary School in the gym. It will be coupled with live music and entertainment, as well as a 50/50 raffle.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, the cattle drive parade rumbles through Monroe Avenue at 9:30 a.m., with vendors available on-site. Come 10 a.m., Dr. Buck’s Wild West Show will herd in the crowd following the cattle drive until 4 p.m. Dr. Buck will bring the cowboy energy to Downtown with performances in

trick roping, six-gun spinning and bullwhip cracking.

At 2 p.m., the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo and the South Buckeye Equestrian Group put on an event for those looking for the thrill of angry bulls and well-trained horses.

The night ends with a cookout starting at 5 p.m. that will have food, live music, and a live and silent auction, where proceeds will go toward the Buckeye Lions and Buckeye Rotary Clubs.

The event will ride into the sunset on Sunday, Jan. 29, with another showing from the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo and the South Buckeye Equestrian Group at 2 p.m.

“It does give you a chance to show off your Downtown of what is unique and beautiful,” Youngker said. “It also entices you to come back to support our locals.

“What I’m most excited about is the sense of community and a sense of hometown.”

More event details and ticket prices can be found at buckeyemainstreet.org/ events.

“Every time you see vacant parcels of land, you think American energy is possible, and that means resilient energy. And that means that Arizona and California are reinforcing each other with the energy that will be produced and moved along this transmission line.”

Gov. Katie Hobbs was also in attendance. She is adamant that Arizona play a huge role in developing cleaner energy moving forward.

“Our state should lead the way in sustainable and renewable energy development,” Hobbs said. This effort is an example of what we need to build a 21st century, clean energy economy that puts Arizona on a path to longterm prosperity.”

Hobbs said she established the Governor’s Office of Resiliency to better leverage state and federal resources to modernize Arizona’s energy and transportation sectors and to support the state’s clean energy future. That, however, isn’t enough.

Leadership and focus from the federal government will be key in moving Arizona in the right direction as it per-

way in sustainable and energy development.

tains to renewable energy. This project, she said, gives the state just that.

“This is a major step forward for our state in terms of achieving a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” Hobbs said. “I’m confident that with the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, coupled with leaders from around the state and from the private sector, we can build upon the success of this project.”

For more information about Ten West Link, visit tenwestlink.com.

Tonopah...continued from page 3

Gov. Katie Hobbs spoke about Arizona’s need to lead the

(Jordan Rogers/Staff)

Dr. Buck’s Wild West Show includes performances in trick roping, six-gun spinning and bullwhip cracking. (City of Buckeye/Submitted)

Gillis excited to serve as Goodyear councilmember

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

After the most recent election, Goodyear City Council welcomed its newest councilmember, Vicki Gillis, to the dais. This is Gillis’ first term with the city and first city council stint of her career.

“I’m excited about what I can do to help the people and Goodyear,” Gillis said. “When you finally get to a point where you’ve really achieved something, you’re excited about working for the people.”

Formerly from Washington state, Gillis grew up in a family of firefighters and police officers, and saw the importance of public safety officers from a young age.

“I grew up with that and how important it was to take care of those who take care of us and to remember that,” Gillis said.

Eventually moving into her adult life, she became a singer. Her performing career took a turn for the worst, as she lost her singing voice, causing her to look into other careers. Viewing her passions, she went into event planning and soon fell into the political side of things by way of planning events for politicians.

“I just kind of fell into it accidentally,” Gillis said.

Moving to Goodyear over a decade ago, Gillis fell in love with the charm of the city when it was inhabited by just 63,000 people. That charm would eventually charge her to run for city council, to make changes in the city that won her over.

“I love the fact that this is a growing city, only being 12-13% built out,” Gillis said. “However, we do have 100,000 people, so we are getting to be a bigger, little city. And so I wanted to see more of what was going on with the development. We had several different downturns where we were going to build shops and malls and restaurants and different things, and that came to a halt.

“So now that things are starting back up, I’m really excited to be a part of the development that is going on in the

city to give people what they want. So, they can work, play and do their whole thing in their own city.”

Gillis’ main goal comes from her upbringing — public safety. She strives to make changes in that department to better improve upon the system that is already in place in hopes of making public safety a bigger priority.

“It’s important to me that when you have a fire in your home, who do you call? The fire department,” Gillis said. “When you have somebody breaking into your house, who do you call? They call the police. These are the kinds of things I grew up with, and so it’s important for me to keep going with it. I tend to like to take care of people, I want to make sure people are secure, and secure especially in a growing city like this.”

Gillis’ prior experience as a political fundraiser will be an asset for Goodyear’s city council, as she plans to use that experience to help the city grow even further into a place where people want to come to and stay in for years to come.

“I’m excited for the citizens to get their shops and get their restaurants and all the things that they’ve wanted for so many years,” Gillis said. “I think we have a beautiful city, and I think we’re really starting to show that. I think Goodyear could be a real place on the map eventually. I think it’s starting to be that now.”

Vicki Gillis plans to improve many parts of Goodyear, starting with public safety, all to help the growth of the budding city. (City of Goodyear/Submitted)

Buckeye police arrest homicide suspect

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

ABuckeye man is in custody following a deadly shooting. Officers arrested the suspect shortly after he arrived at the police station to report that he shot his wife.

At about 4:45 a.m. on Jan. 17, 54-year-old Hercelyn Mayo arrived at Buckeye Police headquarters near Yuma and Dean roads and told officers he shot his wife at their home near Desert Bloom Street and 201st Drive after the two had an argument.

The suspect was taken into custody while officers responded to the home where they found 52-year-old Charon

Goodyear police make arrest in deadly hit-and-run

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

Mayo deceased with gunshot wounds.

Investigators later learned Hercelyn had left the scene shortly after the shooting and drove to a relative’s home before going to the police department to report the incident. He was later arrested on homicide charges.

“Buckeye police want to remind everyone that if you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or you can reach the Buckeye police nonemergency line at 623-386-4421 to be directed to local services,” Buckeye Police said in a release.

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On Jan. 16, Goodyear police made an arrest in a fatal hit-and-run crash. Joy Joyner, of Phoenix, was taken into custody without incident and has been booked on one count of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of leaving the scene of a collision.

At about 9 a.m. Jan. 14, Goodyear police officers responded to the area of Bullard Avenue and Catalina Drive regarding a vehicle-pedestrian collision.

Joy Joyner was handed one count of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of leaving the scene of a collision after killing a man and his dog in a fatal hit-and-run crash. (Goodyear Police Department/Submitted)

Upon arrival, the male pedestrian and his dog were both deceased and the

vehicle had fled the scene. The victims were local Goodyear resident Thomas Stenoien, 71, and the 11-year-old family dog Judge. Multiple witnesses remained on scene to assist officers, while another alert member of the community observed a suspicious vehicle pull into a private parking lot in the area at the time of the collision and reported their observation to police. Patrol officers secured both scenes, while Traffic Unit and Criminal Investigations personnel investigated the incident and worked to identify the driver who fled the scene.

Goodyear to host festival for furry best friends

BY COLE JANUSZEWSKI West Valley View Staff Writer

On Jan. 28, the city of Goodyear will host its annual Wag and Tag Festival. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the Goodyear Civic Square.

Rosie Becerra, the festival and events coordinator for the city of Goodyear, said the festival will be packed with activities for you and your dog.

“It’s like a combination of a party for your pet and an outing for your pet,” Becerra said. “You and your pet are having a best friend date. You come out and enjoy some shopping with your pet. You join the puparazzi photo booth, you walk the runway, and you get an award if you win best dressed.”

Goodyear’s website also advertises a pet agility course, arts and crafts for both animals and humans, raffles, giveaways, food trucks, music and puppuccinos — whipped cream in a cup for your dog. In addition to the activities, Becerra said the festival will focus on the pets’

wellness and health care. Pet adoptions hosted by Pound PuppyZ rescue and on-site pet vaccinations will be available along with a 20-minute pet obedience class.

“We focus alot on the pet and the services we can provide for the pet,” Becerra said. “There are some nice things for humans as well.”

The main focus of the festival is for pet owners to spend time with their pets. However, the event is also open to non-pet owners.

“This is definitely a good event to shop around if you are interested in being a pet owner,” Becerra said. “If you are a pet lover but don’t have any pets it is definitely still an event for you to just enjoy the space, music and food trucks.”

Dawn Stipe, a pet owner as well as the mother of a 13-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, attended the Wag and Tag Festival in 2021. She raved about her experience in last year’s event.

“It was a lot of fun,” Stipe said. “I am definitely going to go again this year.

The raffle prizes were great and made you want to stay the whole time. They had a little photo booth for your pups, too. I got great pictures with my dog for social media. I cannot wait for this year’s event.”

She described the festival as a “fun-loving event for everyone to get to see each other’s dogs and let the dogs have fun.” She said people thinking about attending the event need to be prepared to “be patient with your pup. They will be really excited to see all the different dogs out there and they want to have fun, too.”

Stipe also said people should plan “on spending a good amount of time there because there is so much not only for your dog to see and do but for yourself and your family as well. It’s for your furry best friend but also for your family as well.”

The event is free and open to the public. However, Becerra stressed that this is “definitely an on-leash event.” She is expecting around 2,000 people at the

event and said the area is not fenced in. For more info about the event, visit goodyearaz.gov/Home/Components/ News/News/12598/1549.

If You Go...

WHAT: Goodyear’s Wag and Tag Festival

WHERE: Goodyear Civic Square W. McDowell Road & N. 150th Drive, Goodyear

INFO: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 28

Puppuccinos — whipped cream in a cup — will be available. (City of Goodyear/Submitted)

What’s up with the ‘Docs…’ and the Dems?

BY J.D. HAYWORTH West Valley View Columnist

History recalls the brutal reign of a father and son in the impoverished island nation of Haiti. Francois Duvalier (“Papa Doc”), a physician educated in the U.S., was initially elected president in 1957, but soon proved to be more despot than doctor. Aided by an undercover death squad, he eliminated opponents and consolidated power, naming himself “president for life” in 1964.

Upon Papa Doc’s death in 1971, son Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed “Baby Doc,” became president and ruled until he was overthrown in 1986.

Current events have prompted some to apply those nicknames to America’s first family. Joe “Papa Doc” and Hunter “Baby Doc” Biden have not earned those monikers for medical training; they have acquired them for their suspected illegal mishandling of classified documents.

Sadly, but predictably, Ol’ Joe and his legal team — attorneys both inside and outside government — are writing a narrative on the fly, counting on the continued indulgence of the left and the press (pardon the redundancy) to help both Papa and Baby Biden skate.

But what worked so well two years ago in the heat of a presidential cam-

paign may not yield the same results in the wake of the recent midterm elections.

Now, it appears that key elements of the Democrat base have decided to pursue a new pre-2024 policy and personnel imperative. Simply stated, they want to prove to the cognitively impaired octogenarian they labored to install as the 46th president that this is no country for old men. What prompted this progressive call to action?

Joe’s loud and repeated outbursts that he would be more than happy to continue wandering off, eating ice cream and mumbling incoherently as the “leader of the free world” for a second term. Make no mistake, this decision has nothing to do with principle but politics.

After successfully using COVID-19 as the crisis for “reform” in elections nationwide, the left is no longer confident that it can muster more votes than registered voters, as was done by the Dems in 2020.

In other words, the Democrats have determined that they can’t entirely depend on an outcome that uses mailboxes and drop boxes as de facto ballot boxes, especially not with Joe Biden atop the ticket.

They no longer feel comfortable mailing it in, and their reasons are both sound and several, as the policy performance of the Biden Bunch has proven pathetic.

If you’re scoring at home — or con-

OUR READER’S V IEWPOINTS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR America is not a democracy

Editor:

In the Jan. 11 edition of the West Valley View opinion section, a former eighth grade civics teacher proposes changes to “improve” our electoral system. He first describes how he taught his students that the founders “designed a system to pro-

tect democracy.” Unfortunately for his now-misinformed students, the word democracy appears nowhere in our nation’s two most fundamental documents — the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The founders saw democracy as another form of tyranny, and therefore laid the ground rules for a republic (see Constitution Article IV, section 4), a limited government designed to protect liberty, not to foster democracy. Calling America a

sidering for whom to vote in 2024 — it is painfully obvious that “America last” only excites indoctrinated Gen Z’ers, the culture-canceling comatose misnamed as “woke,” and brain-addled ’60s radicals who have grown fat, happy and nostalgic for the old-fashioned nation loathing that is so intrinsic to their collective self-image.

Misfits, malcontents and miscreants do not a majority make, nor a winning margin that can be easily rigged through further “reform.” So for the Dems, the decision is simple: help Ol’ Joe realize that he can have even more ice cream — and longer naps — as a former president.

Most assuredly, that decision is not unanimous, nor can its implementation thus far be described as deft. But again, through the collective lens of the left, it has been handled with the proper “chronological considerations.”

According to the timeline, CBS News confirmed on Jan. 10 that the U.S. attorney in Chicago was directed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to review documents marked classified and discovered in the office of the Penn Biden Center in Washington, “according to two sources with knowledge of the inquiry.”

White House attorney Richard Sauber then went on the record, confirming that the classified materials were “identified

democracy instead of a republic obscures the real meanings and principles of American government. Segueing to his proposed changes to the electoral system, the author posits that ranked-choice voting “solves the problem of vote splitting and spoiler candidates,” while in actuality, it does precisely the opposite. In this system, candidates with less support often surpass candidates with more support, as was the case in Alaska’s recent congressional special election. In the 2010 Australian house election, rankedchoice voting gave the victory to the Labor Party even though the Liberal-National coalition got the majority of first-place

by attorneys for Mr. Biden on Nov. 2,” no doubt prompting a giant sigh of collective relief from the Dems, who quickly noted that the news had been suppressed for two months — and especially for the six crucial days before the midterm elections, no doubt limiting Democrat losses.

More disturbing revelations followed. Most notoriously, more classified documents were found at Joe’s Delaware home, in the garage behind his prized 1967 Corvette; Hunter paid almost $50,000 monthly to his Pop, while living at that same residence from March 2017 to February 2018; and Chinese communists were paying big money to Hunter, while donating the same type of big bucks to the Penn Biden Center.

How bad is it for the Bidens? Bad enough to have Dem “pitbull” attorney Andrew Weissmann accuse Ol’ Joe of a cover-up and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) suggest that our national security was jeopardized — echoing his accusation against President Trump.

Bad enough for “Papa Doc” and “Baby Doc” Biden to yearn for a Haitian vacation.

J.D. Hayworth represented Arizona in the U.S. House from 1995-2007. He authored and sponsored the Enforcement First Act, legislation that would have mandated enforcement of Federal Immigration Law in the 109th Congress.

votes. In other words, more voters wanted a center-right government than a left-wing government, but ranked choice made sure that did not happen. In the mayor’s race in Oakland, California, in 2010, the candidate who received the most first-place votes lost the election to a candidate on the strength of nearly 25,000 second- and third-place votes after nine rounds of redistribution of votes. Ranked-choice voting also disenfranchises voters, because ballots that do not include the two ultimate finalists are cast aside to manufacture a faux majority

Heartbreaking tragedy, heartwarming response

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ West Valley View Columnist

Sometimes buried in the most heartbreaking tales we discover a glimmer of hope. It is one good reason to read the news, even now, when so much that makes headlines involves the worst of us doing the worst things.

The goodness of people still exists. It surfaces at unexpected moments, especially when the unimaginable happens. Like the deaths of three Chandler residents, 49-year-old Narayana Muddana; his wife Haritha, age 36; and family friend, husband and father of one, 47-year-old Gokul Mediseti.

The trio died Dec. 26, according to police, when they fell through the ice at Woods Canyon Lake outside Payson. The story of their winter picnic gone wrong has resided in the pit of my stomach for three weeks — especially the knowledge that among the witnesses were the Muddanas’ two daughters, ages 11 and 7, as well as Gokul’s wife and child.

I’ve been to that lake. It’s idyllic, a perfect place to spend a cold holiday afternoon, a spot for pictures, laughter and making memories. But imagining the sound of cracking ice and the screams — it’s something I can’t shake.

Moments after the three plunged in, a woman and two children on shore waded in to attempt a rescue. They failed, but made it out of the 30-degree water alive.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and firefighters responded. They pulled out Haritha, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Rescue divers located the two fathers the next day.

“You never get used to it. Especially when you’re dealing with the children,” John Paxton with the sheriff’s office told ABC15. “We wanted to make sure they felt as safe as possible. Tried to keep them warm and away from the scene as best we could.”

The Arizona Department of Child Safety came to the lake that night and took custody of the Muddanna girls, suddenly orphaned. The children have

traveled back to India to live with their grandparents.

The story would be a tragedy start to finish, save for the astonishing generosity that has followed. It comes courtesy of the 12,700 donors who chipped in to a GoFundMe campaign started the day after the deaths by a family friend named Parvathi Mettu.

Mettu stopped accepting donations a few days in, when the GoFundMe’s balance stood at $611,996.

“We offer our deepest heartfelt gratitude to all donors with folded hands and heads,” Mettu wrote on the donation page. “With the same sincere gratitude, we bring this initiative to a close.”

The last update, Jan. 1, indicates an attorney and an accountant have been engaged to secure the donations for the surviving children, to pay for “kids education and future expenses.”

The largest donation was $2,000. A dozen people donated $1,000 or more. But the giving that heartened me the most came from the hundreds of charita-

ble souls who gave 10 bucks or 20 bucks anonymously.

Such small acts of kindness appear to have fallen out of fashion nowadays, when we are more riveted by celebrity and cultural influencers, political food fights and the latest Netflix serial killer documentary. I don’t say that as a scold, because I am no less desensitized than any other member of the masses.

Some days I pore over the news mindlessly, half-reading, the words disconnected from meaning. The murders blend together; the mayhem feels like one long horror film. It’s all I can do to flip to the comics, to Blondie, where at least Dagwood Bumstead never ages.

Every once in a while, though, people still have the capacity to surprise and to care. My heart aches for Narayana, Haritha, Gokul and kin.

But epic giving in the face of epic loss? Out of such things, we make meaning from the senseless.

David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com

for the winner. It is only a majority of the voters remaining in the final round, not a majority of all the voters, who actually cast votes in the elections. Former California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill expanding ranked-choice voting because it is “overly complicated and confusing” and “deprives voters of genuinely informed choice.” Open primaries are an even worse idea. The point of primaries is so people with very specific values have a chance to pick the candidate who best represents those values. With open primaries, though, people who share specific values don’t get to pick their champion. Instead, the primary is just a pre-election with the two top candidates facing each other in a final election in November. We must be vigilant against so-called reformers who want to change process rules so they can manipulate election outcomes to obtain power. The aforementioned reforms would actually make the electoral system worse. In 2005, the nonpartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, found that

the “electoral system cannot inspire public confidence if no safeguards exist to deter or detect fraud or to confirm the identity of voters.” The commission issued a report that proposed a uniform system of requiring a photo ID to vote in U.S. elections. Those opposing such commonsense measures to ensure integrity in U.S. elections are not motivated by a concern for democracy but by partisan interests. Despite the noted inaccuracies, the author does conclude his essay with sage advice: “Do your own research and make your own decision.”

Steve Harrison Buckeye

Voting Starts February

BESTOF 2023

Business Briefcase

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

The West Valley is constantly growing, and restaurants and businesses are choosing to flock here to continue to open their doors to the thousands of people that call it home. This week, the Business Briefcase is breaking down a restaurant opening in Goodyear that is a local favorite wherever it has a location.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Location: 14950 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear

California-based BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse has opened its fifth Valley location next to the Harkins Theatres on the northeast corner of McDowell Road and 150th Drive in Goodyear. BJ’s currently has locations in Chandler, Mesa, Peoria and Phoenix’s Desert Ridge.

BJ’s originally opened in 1978 with a twist on deep-dish pizza. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant has grown to become the energized, welcoming getaway where craft beer is the hero. The Goodyear location boasts 40 beers on tap — half its own brews and the

other half local and national brands.

An expansive menu featuring other items such as pastas, burgers, sandwiches, salads and its world-famous, trademarked Pizookie offers something for everyone to love. Following core values of sustainability, community, people and partners, BJ’s has 215 locations nationwide as of 2022.

The new location has even broken a new restaurant opening record for the company that was originally set in Texas back in 2012.

General manager Gabe Halliday had been working at the Peoria location prior to the new location opening. He said multiple guests on a daily basis would come in and ask for a location deeper into the West Valley.

Since opening, he said the community has really responded.

“We’re super excited to be out here,” Halliday said. “I’ve been a longtime team member or manager for this company, and we’ve been welcomed with open arms to the Goodyear community for sure.”

For more information, visit bjsrestaurants.com.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse boasts a variety of beers, half of which are its own and the other half local and national brands. (BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse/Submitted)

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Cardinals hire Monti Ossenfort as GM

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The Arizona Cardinals have made their first move in what could be a long offseason, as they hired former Tennessee Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort to steer the ship as their new general manager.

With so many things in flux, Ossenfort has a blank canvas to work with in hopes of turning the 4-13 team back into a winning franchise.

“When Michael (Bidwill) called yesterday and offered me the job, I said, ‘When can we get started?’” Ossenfort said. “I’m extremely excited. I’ve already had some good conversations this morning with some of the people here. I’m excited to have some more this eve-

ning. I can’t wait to get everybody on the same page with my vision and our vision and all of our visions of how we see this thing going forward.”

Ossenfort, who will be getting his first crack at a general manager job, has a lengthy resume behind him. After starting as a pro personnel intern during the Houston Texans’ inaugural season in 2002, he worked his way up in the league, ending up with the New England Patriots for 15 seasons, during which he saw seven Super Bowl appearances and four Super Bowl titles as the assistant director of college scouting and the team’s director of college scouting.

After the Titans hired him as the director of player personnel in 2020, he helped sign quarterback Ryan Tannehill

to a four-year deal, as well as helped bring in big names like Bud Dupree. Additionally, he assisted with the draft picks of Treylon Burks, Roger McCreary and Caleb Farley.

“I’ve never been a general manager, but I’m excited for the opportunity,” Ossenfort said. “I feel like the experiences that I’ve had at the three organizations that I’ve been with, I’m going to take pieces from each of those organizations, things that I’ve learned, things that I’ve liked, processes that I’ll keep, but I’m also going to put my own spin on it.”

That said, Ossenfort’s job moving forward is a bit of a double-edged sword.

On one side, he has plenty of room to make his mark early on. The Cardinals have secured the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, giving the team opportunities to address key needs with a premium player or trade out of the pick to get more value and address more needs.

The team is also ranked ninth in total cap space, with $23 million available to spend on free agents and re-sign key talent. Lastly, the team has a vacancy at head coach after having fired Kliff Kingsbury, which gives Ossenfort the opportunity to search far and wide for the right leader for this Cardinals team. Bidwill announced the team will look internally and externally for that leader, interviewing defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as well as requesting interviews with other coaches across the league.

“We’re looking for a head coach that can lead this entire organization,” Ossenfort said. “We’re looking for a head coach that can develop all the players, so we want the right coach. And whether

that’s an offensive coach or a defensive coach, it, frankly, doesn’t matter. We want the best coach.”

On the other side, there are looming problems that need to be addressed. Starting with the impending 30 unrestricted free agents the Cardinals have this year, including names like Rodney Hudson, Byron Murphy, Will Hernandez and A.J. Green, among others, it will be a task in itself to find the right players to bring back.

Other problems will be dealing with the rumors of trading star wide receiver Deandre Hopkins and the recovery of quarterback Kyler Murray, making Ossenfort’s job difficult from the start.

“I believe it represents a lot of opportunity, and I think there are pieces in place here that we can work with, that we can improve, that we continue moving in the right direction,” Ossenfort said. “And I think there’s a ton of opportunity here. And when we get the right head coach in place and we get our vision aligned, I think there’s an opportunity for us to grow.

All in all, the new hire brings a fresh

Monti Ossenfort was introduced as the Arizona Cardinals’ newest general manager. (Arizona Cardinals/Submitted)

Young Diamondbacks determined to end postseason drought

BY DANIEL MACHAJ Cronkite News

Let’s face it: The Arizona Diamondbacks have had a rough decade, especially in recent years. The team has one postseason appearance in 10 years, and that ended with a decisive defeat to the eventual league champion Dodgers. The last time they won a playoff series was in 2007, before they were swept by Colorado in the NLCS.

That said, hope may be on the horizon.

The Diamondbacks organization has one of the best groups of young players making their way to the big leagues and is currently ranked as the fifth-best farm system in the majors. In fact, Arizona ranked top 10 in farm systems in each of the last five polls, including during the preseason and midseason.

The Diamondbacks need to meet many goals, and the biggest among them has to be ending their current postseason drought. High hopes began to build to start the 2022 season, as Alek Thomas made his major league

debut back in early May.

“You don’t know how good you are until, you know, you play here,” Thomas said.

The rookie outfielder got off to a strong start, impressing fans with his standout defense and showing off his aggressive bat. A Chicago product out of Mount Carmel High School, Thomas is one of many young Diamondbacks who played ball at a top baseball high school in the country. He committed to Texas Christian to play baseball and football before choosing to go straight to pro ball and swiftly earned his way into the majors.

Another piece of a potentially great outfield core is Jake McCarthy. He debuted late last season, putting up average rookie numbers, and has quietly improved his batting average from .220 to .283 at the end of his first full season this year. Taking more at-bats this year, McCarthy has taken full advantage of the opportunity to become a solid big leaguer. He touched on his burst of success late in the season.

“A little more experience, a little more at-bats under my belt — I wouldn’t say there’s a glaring change in my game, just understanding that I’m capable of playing at this level,” McCarthy said.

There is plenty of excitement about the current young Diamondback big leaguers, but perhaps no one is attracting more attention than outfielder phenom Druw Jones. Jones was just recently selected second overall in the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft and is ranked 12th overall on MLB’s 2022 top prospect list.

He is expected to have a smooth and speedy experience through the minors before joining the bigs and following in the footsteps of his father (Andruw Jones), who won 10 Gold Gloves and earned five All-Star appearances during his 17-year career.

In high school, Druw led Wesleyan School to a Georgia state title while

— to have a playoff-caliber ball club without good pitching.

So while the new guys gain experience in their first few seasons, it’s a great time to let them develop and acquire better pitching.

history, the decision was easy.

The Diamondbacks see Jones as a great combination of power and speed with his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame. They see him as the final puzzle piece to complete this young and highly skilled outfield core.

The outfield seems to be covered from a scouting standpoint, but reinforcements are needed for the rest of the field and the pitching staff. It’s difficult — and that’s putting it lightly

GM...continued from page 16

set of eyes to a team that struggled heavily last season. Ossenfort’s fresh ideologies might be what cures the ailment of the 2022-23 season for the Cardinals. This culture shock will show itself in time, but for now, the team has made its first step to recovery.

The Diamondbacks ended the season with the eighth-worst team ERA in the majors — an improvement from ending the 2021 season with the second-worst mark. If it wasn’t for Zac Gallen’s excellent 2.54 ERA, they would certainly be closer to the bottom of that list.

So, how long will it take for the Diamondbacks to get back to the postseason?

Well, it’s a bit more realistic with the new 12-team playoff format, but the organization will have to make some serious moves and acquisitions to end the drought.

And behind a plethora of young talent, big things could be on the horizon.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

“We are not just collecting talent, we’re going to build a team,” Ossenfort said. “We’re going to look for the right type of players. Ego will not be tolerated in this organization. We are going to look for focused, driven people that are willing to put the team first at every step of the way.”

Diamondbacks rookie Alek Thomas got off to a strong start, impressing fans with his defensive chops and aggressive bat. (MLB.com/Submitted)

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e West Valley View publishes on Wednesday. e weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonpro t groups — runs every issue.

Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the View’s coverage area, which is south of Northern Avenue, west of Loop 101, plus all of Tolleson, extending to Estrella in the south and Tonopah in the west. Events such as concerts and theatrical performances that fall outside the View’s circulation area will be considered because there are no concert halls or theater venues within our boundaries.

Weekly calendar items print on a space-available basis. e only way to guarantee that an item will print is to purchase an advertisement.

Submissions must reach our o ce by 4 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for the following Wednesday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@TimesLocalMedia.com

Buckeye Valley Museum Open

WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

The Buckeye Valley Museum is a place with a passion for local history, holding an impressive collection of pre-Columbian pottery, artifacts from Buckeye’s earliest days, and a number of historical photographs detailing how the Buckeye Valley came to be what it is today. Visit the open on Wednesdays and Fridays for thrilling looks into the past.

Buckeye Valley Museum, 116 E. MC 85, Buckeye, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

623-349-6315, buckeyeaz.gov/residents/buckeye-valley-museum

Yoga Nidra and Sound Bath

SATURDAYS

Treat yourself with a nourishing yoga nidra and sound bath session. Lie on your yoga mat, do nothing, and restore your mind and body. A sound bath is a nurturing listening experience that uses sound to invite gentle and natural restorative processes in the body.

206 N. Florence Avenue, Litch-

field Park, 2 p.m., $20, soulshealinghumanity.com/events

6 to 7 p.m., free admission, wigwamarizona.com

built this house, adobe by adobe.” Learn more about the history of Mexican women in company owned townships in the state’s past, as well as the lives they led under the harsh conditions there.

Georgia T. Lord Library, 1900 N. Civic Square, Goodyear, 10 a.m., free, mcldaz.org

Ecstatic Dance

SUNDAYS

Dance like nobody’s watching with an uninstructed freestyle dance session. There are no steps to follow and no guidebooks to use. People of all age groups and skill levels are encouraged to simply do what they feel and enjoy a judgment-free environment of love and inclusivity.

Turtle Park, 675 N. Villa Nueva Drive, Litchfield Park, 2 p.m., $20, soulshealinghumanity.com/ events

Wigglers to Walkers

JAN. 18

Babies, toddlers and their caretakers are invited to come to the library for rhymes, short stories and language enrichment. Boost their mental development and give the kids some playtime afterwards.

Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale, 11 a.m. to noon, free, avondalelibrary.org

The Questers Organizational Meeting

JAN. 18

Come to La Placita Cafe for a meeting of Buckeye’s The Questers, a society dedicated to preservation, education and restoration of America’s history. New members are always welcome to join.

Basic Yoga

La Placita Cafe, 424 Monroe Avenue, Buckeye, 1 p.m., free, dldavisinteriors@gmail.com

The Fabulous Keen Brothers at Wigwam Bar

JAN. 21

The Fabulous Keen Brothers perform on the Wigwam patio, gracing patrons with their musical talent to help end the night on a high note.

The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 6 to 9 p.m., free admission, wigwamarizona.com

Jay Soto at Litchfield’s

JAN. 20

Join local musician Jay Soto at Litchfield’s bar for smooth music while you dine with friends and family. Enjoy high-quality food and drink.

The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 6 to 9 p.m., free admission, wigwamarizona.com

NHBA Arizona Super Show

JAN. 20 TO JAN. 22

Secondhand Treasures

JAN. 24

Check out all kinds of secondhand treasures on sale for lower prices than you’d find buying them new at PebbleCreek. With over 35 resident vendors selling a wide variety of things, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

PebbleCreek, 16222 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear, noon to 4 p.m., free admission, traci.baker@robson.com

Trivia Night

JAN. 18

Each Wednesday, new and old practitioners of yoga are encouraged to expand their mind and relax their body with basic yoga courses at The Wigwam. Bring your own yoga mat and towel.

The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park,

Mexican Women’s Work and Cultural Lives in a Company Town

JAN. 19

The Litchfield Park Historical Society lectures return with this week’s lecture: “I

Have a grand day at the races and watch the many horses of the National Barrel Horse Association perform grand feats of equine speed for the hungry public. Open races will be held and money will change hands for the fastest rider on the track.

South Buckeye Equestrian Center, 10300 S. Miller Road, Buckeye, check website for prices and times, nbha.com

JAN. 24

Those of legal drinking age are invited to the Scale & Feather Meadery for a night of drinks and fantasy trivia. Teams of four to six players are invited to come together and test their mettle and knowledge of the magical realms of fantasy, from Tolkien to “Dungeons & Dragons.”

Scale & Feather Meadery, 1050 N. Fairway Drive, Building E, Suite 112, Avondale, 6 to 7:30 p.m., free, avondalelibrary.org

West Valley View Dining

PUBLIC NOTICE OF HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS ON ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY (“APS”) RATE APPLICATION.

(DOCKET NO. E-01345A-22-0144)

Summary

On October 28, 2022, APS filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission (“Commission”) a Rate Application (“Application”) requesting approval of rates, charges, and schedules that would result in an annual increase in revenue from base rates of $772.27 million, or 22.9%. The Application uses a test year ending June 30, 2022. APS reports that the net revenue increase experienced by customers would be significantly lower, at $459.94 million, or 13.62%, because of a test year adjustor revenue transfer (-$107.83 million), a Power Supply Adjustment Mechanism (“PSA”) revenue reduction (-$220.59 million), and a Renewable Energy Standard Adjustment Clause (“REAC”) revenue increase (+$16.09 million).

The Application proposes a return on equity of 10.25%, a 7.17% weighted average cost of capital, and a return on the fair value increment of 1.0%, resulting in a proposed fair value rate of return of 4.92% on a proposed fair value rate base of $16.6 billion. APS reports a test year fair value rate of return of 1.43%.

Adjustor Mechanisms

APS proposes:

• To eliminate the Environmental Improvement Surcharge adjustor mechanism (“EIS”) and have $10.3 million in test year EIS-eligible costs recovered through base rates;

• To eliminate the Lost Fixed Cost Recovery Mechanism (“LFCR”), have $58.5 million of test year LFCR-eligible costs recovered through base rates, and have future LFCR-eligible costs recovered through a revised Demand Side Management Adjustment Charge (“DSMAC”);

• To increase the DSMAC-eligible costs recovered through base rates from $20 million to $59.4 million;

• To revise the DSMAC performance incentive to align better with peak load reduction goals and change its annual processing schedule;

• To revise the REAC to allow recovery of the capital carrying costs of new APS-owned clean energy resources and energy storage facilities, to recover Coal Community Transition obligations, and to change its annual processing schedule;

• To retain the PSA and increase the base fuel and chemical rates, with a corresponding reduction to the PSA;

• To retain the Transmission Cost Adjustment mechanism (“TCA”); and

• To retain the Tax Expense Adjustor Mechanism (“TEAM”), which is set at zero.

Limited-Income Residential Customer Assistance Programs

APS proposes to change its current Energy Support Program to a two-tiered program that would provide a 60% monthly bill discount (capped at $165 per month) to customers with verified income levels up to 75% of the federal poverty level (“FPL”) and a 25% monthly bill discount (capped at $95 per month) to customers with income levels of 76% to 200% of the FPL. Customers with income levels of 76% to 200% of the FPL who have qualifying medical equipment would receive the current 35% discount (with a new cap of $95 per month).

AG-X Program

APS proposes to modify its AG-X program:

• By providing AG-X customers two resource adequacy options (provided by APS or provided by the customer) and corresponding reserve capacity rates, to facilitate eliminating the $15 million currently being recovered through the PSA mechanism;

• By reducing the AG-X administrative management fee;

• By requiring longer notice to leave the AG-X program for AG-X customers who provide their own resource adequacy; and

• By expanding AG-X program eligibility.

Coal Community Transition (“CCT”)

APS requests approval of those portions of the CCT proposal from its last rate case that the Commission did not approve in Decision No. 78317 (November 9, 2021), specifically requesting to recover $106.5 million from ratepayers through the REAC over nine years, with $16.09 million to be recovered in year one.

Residential Rate Design Changes

APS proposes to eliminate credit card fees and in-person kiosk fees and to provide two additional off-peak holidays for time-of-use rate plans.

Bill Impacts

The following table shows APS’s proposed revenue increase percentages for customer classes:

The actual impact of the proposed revenue increase on any customer’s bill depends on the customer’s rate plan and usage.

For example, a residential customer on the “Time-of-Use 4PM to 7PM Weekdays” plan would see a 25% increase in basic service charge, approximately a 24% increase in on-peak energy charges per kWh (summer and winter), approximately a 22.4% increase in off-peak energy charges per kWh, and a 16.1% increase in super off-peak energy charge per kWh.

A residential customer on the “Fixed Energy Charge Plan” would see an increase in basic service charge by 24.4–25% (depending on tier) and an increase in energy charge per kWh of 22.6–22.7% (depending on tier).

APS reports that on the effective date of its new rates, the average net class bill impact for residential customers will be a 13.6% increase, and the average net class bill impact for general service customers will range from 9.2% to 15.9%.

Other Requests

APS also proposes to modify several service schedules, to modify decommissioning funding allocations for the Palo Verde Generating Station, to eliminate several Commission-required compliance and reporting requirements, and to defer Energy Support Program costs for possible recovery or refund in a future rate case.

NEITHER THE COMMISSION’S UTILITIES DIVISION (“STAFF”) NOR ANY INTERVENOR HAS YET MADE ANY RECOMMENDATION REGARDING APS’S APPLICATION. THE COMMISSION IS NOT BOUND BY THE PROPOSALS OF COMPANY, STAFF, OR ANY INTERVENORS. THE COMMISSION WILL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE RELIEF TO BE GRANTED IN RESPONSE TO APS’S APPLICATION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THIS MATTER. THE FINAL RATES APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION MAY BE HIGHER, LOWER, OR DIFFERENT THAN THE RATES PROPOSED BY COMPANY OR BY OTHER PARTIES.

If you have any questions concerning how the Application may affect your bill or other substantive questions about the Application, you may contact APS at: its office at 400 N. 5th Street, M.S. 9708, Phoenix, Arizona, 85004, Attn: Rate Case Manager, call 602-250-2767 or email ratecase@aps.com

How You Can View or Obtain a Copy of the Application

Copies of the Application are available from APS at www.aps.com/ratecase; at the Commission’s Docket Control Center at 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona, and its Tucson office at 400 West Congress Street, Suite 218, Tucson, Arizona, during regular business hours; and on the Commission website (www.azcc.gov) using the e-Docket function.

Public Comment Meetings at Commission Offices

The Commission will hold the following public comment meetings in this matter at the Commission’s offices at 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007:

June 1, 2023 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., or until the last caller is finished speaking, whichever comes first

June 7, 2023 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., or until the last caller is finished speaking, whichever comes first

June 20, 2023 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or until the last caller is finished speaking, whichever comes first

June 20, 2023 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., or until the last caller is finished speaking, whichever comes first

July 31, 2023 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or until the last caller is finished speaking, whichever comes first

During public comment meetings at the Commission’s offices, both telephonic and in-person public comment may be provided.

To provide telephonic public comments, call 1-877-309-3457 and use passcode 801972877##.

If you plan to attend a public comment meeting held at the Commission’s Phoenix offices in person, please complete a “Request to Speak” on one of the kiosks in the lobby at the Commission’s Phoenix office or on any computer or mobile device through the ACC Portal (available on the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) using “Cases and Open Meetings” and “Request to Speak at Open Meetings”).

Written public comments may be submitted by mailing a letter referencing Docket No. E-01345A-22-0144 to Arizona Corporation Commission, Consumer Services Section, 1200 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007, or by submitting comments on the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) using “Cases and Open Meetings” and “Make a Public Comment in a Docket.” If you require assistance, you may contact the Consumer Services Section at 602-542-4251 or 1-800-222-7000.

The Commission will impose a 3-minute time limit per speaker to ensure that everyone who desires to speak has an opportunity to do so.

Commission Public Hearing Information

The Commission will hold a hearing on this matter beginning August 2, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the Commission’s offices at 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007.

If you do not intervene in this proceeding, you will receive no further notice of the proceedings in this docket unless you sign up to Follow the Docket. However, all documents filed in this docket are available online (usually within 24 hours after docketing) at the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) using the e-Docket function. Information on how to Follow a Docket is available on the Commission’s website using “Cases and Open Meetings” and “Follow a Docket or Document Type.”

About Intervention

The law provides for an open public hearing at which, under appropriate circumstances, interested persons may intervene. An interested person may be granted intervention if the outcome of the case will directly and substantially impact the person, and the person’s intervention will not unduly broaden the issues in the case. Intervention, among other things, entitles a party to present sworn evidence at hearing and to cross-examine other parties’ witnesses. Intervention is not required for you to attend the hearing and provide public comment, to file written comments in the record of the case, or to receive emailed notice of each filing made in the case by following the docket.

Information about what intervention means, including an explanation of the rights and responsibilities of an intervenor, is available on the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) by clicking on “Cases and Open Meetings” and then clicking on “Intervene in a Case.” The information includes a Sample Intervention Request and a Fillable Intervention Request Form.

To request intervention, you must file a written request to intervene, either (a) by filing a hard copy request (meeting filing requirements) with Docket Control (Docket Control, 1200 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007), or (b) by eFiling the request. Your request must be filed or eFiled no later than March 3, 2023 Instructions and restrictions for eFiling are available on the Commission’s website at http://azcc.gov/hearing/efile-for-utilities-instruction. You also must serve a copy of the request to intervene on each party of record, on the same day that you file the request to intervene with the Commission.

Your request to intervene must contain the information below:

1. Your name, address, and telephone number;

2. The docket number for the case in which you are requesting to intervene;

3. A short statement explaining:

a. Your interest in the proceeding (e.g., a customer of APS),

b. How you will be directly and substantially affected by the outcome of the case, and

c. Why your intervention will not unduly broaden the issues in the case;

Abrazo Health giving away smartwatch

BY KEITH JONES West Valley View Contributing Writer

Abrazo Health hospitals are celebrating Heart Month by offering the opportunity to win a smartwatch and get a free downloadable cookbook of heart-healthy recipes along with weekly health tip emails just for entering.

Sign up by Wednesday, Feb. 1, at abrazohealth.com and you’ll get a link to download a complimentary “Recipes with Heart” cookbook with tasty and healthy recipes for snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cookbook from the American Heart Association also includes information on making good food choices and how to

read nutrition labels.

As a bonus, starting Feb. 1, entrants will receive four weeks of helpful information including exercise ideas and interactive quizzes to learn more about keeping your heart healthy.

“February is Heart Month and the perfect time to embrace a healthier you because Heart Care + Health Tips are better together. Your heart is better when we work together to make it stronger,” said Tammy Querrey, cardiovascular services director for Abrazo Health.

“Better together means that you have the support you need from a compassionate, professional team. Heart care can be a team effort

with Abrazo hospitals and doctors aligning together for quality patient care. A heart health journey is best taken together with friends, family and your trusted physicians.

“Our goal is to help you move forward to feel your best as you care for your heart and embrace the support you have for your journey to good health.”

To enter for a chance to win a smartwatch and download the heart-healthy cookbook, visit abrazohealth.com.

Tammy Querrey, cardiovascular services director for Abrazo Health, said your heart is better when we work together to make it stronger. (Abrazo/Submitted)

4. A statement certifying that you have sent a copy of your request to intervene to APS’s attorney and to the representatives for all other parties of record in the case; and

5. If you are not represented by an attorney who is an active member of the Arizona State Bar, and you are not representing yourself as an individual, sufficient information and any appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with Arizona Supreme Court Rules 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 38, 39, and 42, as applicable. This only applies if you are NOT representing yourself and you are not an Arizona licensed attorney.

The granting of motions to intervene shall be governed by A.A.C. R14-3-105, except that all motions to intervene must be filed on or before March 3, 2023

ADA/Equal Access Information

The Commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to its public meetings. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, as well as request this document in an alternative format, by contacting the ADA Coordinator, Carolyn Buck, E-mail ADACoordinator@azcc.gov, voice phone number 602-542-2247. Requests should be made as early as possible and no later than 48 hours in advance of the event to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Vertical farm promotes sustainability, technology, water conservation

BY SCIANNA GARCIA Cronkite News

Imagine a farm that grows crops on platforms in a controlled environment, uses 99% less water than a traditional farm and grows seasonal produce year-round — all without soil or anyone driving a tractor.

This is the goal of OnePointOne, a 12,000-square-foot “vertical farm” in an Avondale industrial park that grows kale, arugula, spinach, basil, dill, baby leaf lettuce and strawberries. Vertical farming grows produce in vertically stacked layers rather than horizontally in an open field. The practice can use soil, hydroponic or aeroponic growing methods.

The Silicon Valley startup was launched in 2017 by brothers Sam and John Bertram, who studied engineering at Santa Clara University in California and sought to provide a healthy food source that would alleviate hunger.

In a news release issued by Avondale, CEO and co-founder Sam Bertram said “1.1 billion people entered the millennium hungry. This is a startling truth my brother and I discovered, which inspired us to create OnePointOne and Willo Farm.”

“We knew we needed to do something big and impactful, so we set out on a mission to unleash the power of plants on human health to nourish and heal humanity.”

OnePointOne is not the first vertical farm in Arizona; others are located in shipping containers and greenhouses, which make for easily controlled environments. With artificial intelligence technology,

the OnePointOne farm is tended by autonomous robots responsible for inspecting the plants and managing the crops. Bertram told Cronkite News that operators can control environmental factors on a computer up to 2,000 miles away.

OnePointOne uses vertical plane aeroponics, which grows plants in an environmentally pristine environment using mostly air. Tall columns consisting of growboards that contain individual plant pods allow plants to be grown in an environment consisting only of air and a nutrient-packed mist with no soil and very small amounts of water.

“This system is by far the most advanced and efficient compared to any other across the globe,” Bertram said. “Plants grown in this manner have proven to absorb more minerals and vitamins — making the plants healthier and more nutrient dense.

“This method paired with full automation capabilities, AI and robots is incredibly reliable and consistent and results in much greater yields compared to other vertical farm technologies, such as hydroponics or aquaponics.”

Because plants are grown vertically rather

than horizontally, a significant number of crops are able to be produced with fewer resources, including water.

OnePointOne’s website says that’s 250 more plants per acre than a traditional farm.

Aside from greater crop production, the indoor farm has the ability to grow seasonal produce year-round, produce hybrid crops, and harvest and deliver produce in a short timeframe.

The vertical farm uses significantly less water than traditional farms. Irrigated agriculture is the largest user of water in Arizona, consuming about 74% of the available water supply, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Water is an existential issue for the state, with the two major reservoirs on the Colorado River at historic lows and more cutbacks expected for central Arizona farmers. Nearly 47% of Arizona is classified as in moderate drought, and nearly 13% is in severe drought.

Kevin Fitzsimmons, a professor of environmental science at the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, said vertical farming could help Arizona’s water outlook.

“We only use 10% to 20% as much water in vertical farming than we would if we were doing field crop agriculture,” he said. “In a drought situation, that’s critical, if we can get five to 10 times as much product out with the exact same volume of water.”

Additionally, the production rate of vertical farming can lead to economic benefits and reduced food waste.

“You can get fresh produce yearround, on things that otherwise would be seasonal, so if you want to look on a macro scale, it’s going to impact imports on fruits and vegetables that we bring in from other countries,” Fitzsimmons said.

“I think this is going to be one of the ways that we’re going to produce more food to feed people. Because it can be harvested so fresh and delivered so quickly, it will help to reduce the loss and spoilage that we have.”

OnePointOne does not distribute its produce to local grocers; rather, a subsidiary, Willo Farm, distributes it straight to people’s front doors.

Bertram said the vertical farm has the potential to grow the “highest-quality plants on the earth … produce that is a step beyond organic.”

The Environmental Protection Agency defines organic food as that grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Organic food may still use pesticides and herbicides, but the pesticides must be derived from natural sources, such as biological pesticides, and not contribute to the contamination of crops, soil or water. Formaldehyde, for example, is an approved biological pesticide.

Bertram said OnePointOne produce is non-GMO and free of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, and grown free of pollutants, devoid of pests and virtually free from human interaction.

But despite the benefits, the process has drawbacks.

OnePointOne utilizes custom, modular and mobile LED lighting. Lighting is automated and creates an ideal environment for the plant, responding to each crop’s unique requirements adjusting as needed. The benefit is the amount of light is controlled, which creates a more consistent and predictable product.

But Bertram said the energy requirements are not very sustainable and is an issue that the vertical farm has yet to solve.

“We don’t like how much electricity we use, but nothing’s a panacea,” he said. “We have to really be mindful about what problems we solve and when.”

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

Scott Hunter, lead engineer of robotic operations for OnePointOne, shows how the cameras in the vertical farm help monitor crop health. (Samantha Chow/Cronkite News)

Cameras monitor the growth of savanna brassica, a spinach and mustard hybrid, at OnePointOne in Avondale. (Samantha Chow/Cronkite News)

See Life Better

Temple Beth Shalom’s classes open to people of all faiths

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

People of all faiths are welcome to participate in Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley’s education classes, “America’s Four Gods” and “Gratitude,” in February at the temple.

America’s Four Gods

This interactive four-week program will be led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and temple President Fay Henning-Bryant from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursdays Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23. It is based on the book “America’s Four Gods: What We Say About God — And What That Says About Us,” written by Paul Froese and Christopher Bader.

The authors developed a self-administered survey instrument that enables each participant to answer a series of questions that provides them feedback about how they conceive of God and the role God plays in their daily lives. Individual survey results are private.

Through discussion led by Kaplan and Henning-Bryant, participants will be able to see how one conceives of God is relevant to current conditions in America and to better understand how perceptions of God are powerful predictors of how we feel about some of the most contentious issues in America today.

Cost is $18 for members and $36 for nonmembers. Advance registration and payment are required by Monday, Jan. 30. Contact the Temple Beth Shalom office at 623-977-3240 or templebethshalomaz@gmail.com to register.

Gratitude

This four-week class about gratitude will be led by Kaplan and Reva Litt, a Temple Beth Shalom member, from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays Feb. 7, 14, 21

and 28.

The program will draw from many sources, including “The Psychology of Gratitude and The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a life of Happiness and Wellbeing by Giving Thanks.”

Gratitude will be explored from many perspectives. Throughout history and around the world, religious leaders, philosophers, psychologists and research scientists have extolled the virtue of gratitude:

Cost is $18 for members and $36 for nonmembers. Advance registration and payment are required by Thursday, Feb. 2. Contact the Temple Beth Shalom office at 623-977-3240 or templebethshalomaz@gmail.com to register.

Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan will co-lead both the “America’s Four Gods” and “Gratitude” classes. (Tempe Beth Shalom/Submitted)

Pediatric Eye Exams • Glaucoma

GO FIGURE!

SUDOKU TIME

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. ANSWERS

King Crossword

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!

Thomas "Tom" Stenoien

T h o m a s " T o m "

Stenoien died January 14, 2023. He was born

M a r c h 1 1 , 1 9 5 1 i n

M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n -

n e s o t a I n l i e u o f flowers, the family req u e s t s d o n a t i o n s b e made to the World Wildlife Federation Service planning is in progress.

To read the full obituary, please visit: www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/thomas-stenoien

Mary Johnson

M a r y J o h n s o n , 8 8 , o f A v o n d a l e , A r i z o n a d i e d J a n u a r y 1 0 , 2 0 2 3 S h e w a s b o r n N o v e m b e r 3 , 1934 in Sublette, Kansas t o E r n e s t a n d J e w e l l W a l t e r s S h e w a s p r eceded in death by her siblings Jays, Lois, a n d E t h e l M a y S h e i s s u r v i v e d b y h e r h u s b a n d o f n e a r l y 5 0 y e a r s , C l i f f o r d Johnson, daughters, Virginia Marble and T e r r y R a m o s , s o n s , G r e g o r y M i c h a e l and Mark Marble, sister, Helen Royer, 3 g r a n d c h i l d r e n , a n d 9 g r e a t - g r a n d c h i ldren

Services in care of Thompson Fune ral Chapel

Jeri-Ann Goodman

J e r i - A n n G o o d m a n ,

8 7 o f L i t c h f i e l d P a r k ,

A Z d i e d J a n u a r y 1 5 ,

2 0 2 3 . S h e w a s b o r n

M a r c h 1 6 , 1 9 3 5 i n

S t a n l e y , W I t o H a r r y

a n d D o r o t h y ( S t a i r )

W e b b e r

A H o l y R o s a r y f o r J e r i - A n n w a s r e -

c i t e d o n J a n 2 4 a t T h o m p s o n F u n e r a l Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held at 1 p m o n J a n u a r y 2 5 a t S t T h o m a s A q u in a s C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . A p r i v a t e i n t e rm e n t w i l l b e a t t h e A Z N a t i o n a l M e -

m o r i a l C e m e t e r y a t a l a t e r d a t e .

To read the full obituary, please visit: www thompsonfuneralchapel com/ obituary/jeri-ann-goodman

Obituaries - Death NOtices iN MeMOriaM

We are here to make this difficult time easier for you. Our 24 hour online service is easy to use and will walk you through the steps of placing a paid obituary in the West Valley View or a free death notice.

Visit: obituaries.WestValleyView.com

n g e r s i s t e r , S h a r y E v av o l d .

J e r r y ' s f a t h e r w a s a c h a p l a i n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e A i r F o r c e , w h i c h r e q u i r e d f r e q u e n t u p r o o t i n g . J e r r y a t t e n d e d a pproximately 16 high s chools , ultimately g r a d u a t i n g i n J a p a n J e r r y e a r n e d a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronauti c a l e n g i n e e r i n g f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f O m a h a , a f t e r a l s o a t t e n d i n g A u g s b u r g C o l l e g e i n M i n n e a p o l i s , M N J e r r y w a s a v e t e r a n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A i r F o r c e H i s c h i l d h o o d d r e a m was to become a pilot, which he accomplished at the age of 20. Jerry trained to be a fighter pilot while stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona learning to fly the F-100 Super Sabre He had multiple s t a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g o v e r s e a s a t R A F B e n t w a t e r s i n E n g l a n d

After serving six distinguished years in th e military, Jerry joined American Airlines and enjoyed a long career as a commercial pilot where he flew multiple airc r a f t a n d s e r v e d a s c a p t a i n a n d c h e c k airman. During the first Gulf War, Jerry v o l u n t e e r e d a n d w a s s e l e c t e d t o f l y t r o o p s i n t o S a u d i A r a b i a , w h i c h h e w a s h o n o r e d t o p a r t a k e i n . I n r e t i r e m e n t , J e r r y e n j o y e d b o a t i n g a n d d r i v i n g h i s RV across the country as well as spending time with his grandchildren.

Jerry was father to three sons, Jerome "Jay" Jr , Kevin, and Eric, grandfather to s i x a n d g r e a t g r a n d f a t h e r t o e i g h t J e r r y w a s p r e c e d e d i n d e a t h b y h i s p a r e n t s .

Phoenix Children’s cures needs with new Avondale campus

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

After over a decade of planning, Phoenix Children’s Hospital unveiled its Avondale campus on Jan. 12, helping to bring top-notch children’s health care to the West Valley.

The three-story, 71,250-square-foot multi-specialty facility will serve as an anchor for Avondale in providing high-quality pediatric care for years to come.

“I think there are things that make a community whole,” Avondale Mayor Kenneth Weise said. “One of them is the ability for people to have great education options, have great recreation options, and then also to have great health care options. And Phoenix Children provides that for our community.”

The colorful building located off of Avondale Boulevard and McDowell Road is the first Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Avondale, bringing a new repertoire of care to Avondale’s children. The new campus will offer nearly 25 different types of specialty care, including cardiology, orthopedics and neurosurgery, among others.

The project comes as an investment from Phoenix Children’s, as the $40 million project serves as a great way to benefit both the city and the company.

“It’s those things we look at and you say every city when they go after any kind of economic development,” Weise

said. “You’re looking at not only the best fit for the community, but you’re also looking for the top level in that industry. We’re going to use (Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s) name when we go out and we look for other companies that are at that high level.”

In years prior, families in need of medical attention for their children would have had to drive almost 30 minutes to the nearest PCH location. Now they have one in their backyard. This is especially important with the boom in population in the West Valley, as within the next seven years, the population of the area is expected to increase to half a million people.

“In 10 years, we’re probably going to be 115,000 to 120,000 people,” Weise said. “So we will be close to building out within the next 15 years, and having a stable organization like Phoenix Children’s makes a difference.”

The plans for the facility in the coming future are bright. This includes building out the existing building to include a stand-alone emergency department specifically for children.

“It will be a free-standing (emergency department) out here in this part of the Valley, which is excellent for the families,” said Russ Korcuska, Phoenix Children’s Hospital senior vice president of construction and special projects. “So, they don’t have to drive

to a children’s emergency department, and there is a difference when you go to emergency medicine for adults versus childrens. So, both of these buildings have been planned for the future expansion into a hospital.”

Bringing in the new Avondale campus allows for more employment opportunities as well. The new campus will provide roughly 164 new job opportunities for medical professionals in the area, whether it be an employee transferring from a different Phoenix Children’s location or someone in the area looking to get into pediatric medicine.

“I would like to say that this is the next step in our service to the entire West Val-

ley,” Korcuska said. “It is a really important community asset for the West Valley. And I know our staff that live out here are super thrilled that we have places for them to work. … Taking care of our staff, that’s really my job. Making spaces that our staff can then deliver the high level of care for our patients.

“So I’m super, super happy that we’re able to do that and bring the high level of care that we have been doing, but expand upon it and create more opportunities for patients to experience it here in West Valley.”

Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Avondale campus can be found at 1665 N. Avondale Boulevard.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital has a new three-story, 71,250-square-foot multi-specialty facility in Avondale. (Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Submitted)

Big Brothers Big Sisters seek male mentors

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, along with chapters across Arizona, is leveraging National Mentoring Month to highlight the tremendous demand for male mentors across the state.

“Having a great role model in your life is remarkably powerful,” said Laura Capello, president and chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona.

“As people are considering how to make positive changes in the new year, we are encouraging them to make the big resolution to get involved, better themselves and the life of a child. Recruiting volunteers is one of our top priorities, and this is a great time for people to get involved.”

The organization launched the Be Bold Be Big recruitment campaign, designed to be laser-focused on the current need of male mentors, or Big Brothers. While the organization en-

courages both female and male Bigs to sign up, the list for young boys waiting to be matched is considerable.

Throughout the month, Big Brothers Big Sisters will share the importance of mentoring and the tremendously positive impact it can have on the personal growth and development of young people. It will stress the need for males to step up for local youth now more than ever. The Be Bold Be Big campaign will include network television, local radio and digital media across Arizona.

The core model of the organization is focused on building bridges in communities by connecting one adult with one child and supporting that match at every stage. The organization focuses on a child’s potential and the role of positive adults in helping children achieve their best possible futures.

For more information, visit bbbsaz. org/bebold or 602-264-BIGS.

The Be Bold Be Big recruitment campaign is designed to be laser-focused on the current need of male mentors, or Big Brothers. (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona/Submitted)

Kids eat free at these WV restaurants

BY CHRISTIAN COPUS-SALLAS AND KAILYNN QUENGA West Valley View Staff Writers Litchfield

Denny’s

4865 N. Dysart Road, Litchfield 602-830-8505, dennys.com

Offered Tuesday through Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m. Two free kids meals are provided per adult meal.

Buckeye

Café Rio Mexican Grill

1177 S. Watson Road, Buckeye 623-259-4259, caferio.com

Free quesadillas are served for kids 10 and under with the purchase of one adult meal throughout the week.

Denny’s

9960 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye 623-440-6235, dennys.com

Offered Tuesday through Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m. Two free kids meals are provided per adult meal.

Avondale

Café Rio Mexican Grill

10120 W. McDowell Road, Avondale 623-748-2100, caferio.com

Free quesadillas are served for kids

10 and under with one adult meal purchased all throughout the week.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

10005 W. McDowell Road, Avondale 623-936-2011, dickeys.com

On Sundays, kids can receive a free meal with the purchase of a meal for a minimum of $12.

IHOP

1491 N. Dysart Road, Avondale 623-925-1260, ihop.com

Free kids meals are provided throughout the week after 3 p.m.

NYPD Pizza

1619 N. Dysart Road, Suite 103, Avondale 623-536-6973, aznypdpizza.com

On Wednesdays, free kids meals are provided after 4 p.m., but on Saturdays, with the purchase of one small pizza, it is offered all day for kids 10 and under.

Village Inn

10010 W. McDowell Road, Avondale 623-478-0895, villageinn.com

On Mondays, one free kids meal is provided per every adult meal purchase.

Tolleson

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

9860 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Tolleson 623-936-8298, dickeys.com

On Sundays, kids can receive a free meal with the purchase of a meal for a minimum of $12.

Goodyear

Applebee’s Grill and Bar

13832 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear 623-536 8440, applebees.com

Free kids meal provided with the purchase of any full adult entrée.

Chili’s

1371 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-535-4222, chilis.com

Chili’s Rewards members can earn free kids meals for kids 12 and under with the purchase of a regular entrée.

Clubhouse Grill

14175 W. Indian School Road, Suite C01, Goodyear 623-535-4857, clubhousegrillaz.com

Kids ages 10 and younger eat free every day, all day with a purchase of an adult entree.

Manuel’s

13319 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear 623-435-3793, manuelsaz.com

Free kids meals are provided all day on Wednesdays with the purchase of an adult entrée.

THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Easy-To-Read Digital Edition

Foster Home Providers Wanted

CERTIFIED STAFF JOB FAIR

Saturday, February 11, 2023

9 a.m. to Noon

Interviews will be held in the Governing Board Room 38201 W. Indian School Road Tonopah, AZ 85354

CERTIFIED STAFF JOB FAIR

SMUSD offers opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits.

Interviewing for the following positions for the 202 3-24 school year:

 K-5 Teachers

 6-8 Middle School ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies & ELL

 Special Areas, Technology, Foreign Language, Music& PE

 High School Math, Science, History, CTE, ELA & Special Areas

 Special Education K-12 LD Resource and Self -Contained

 Counselors

Math, Science, Social Studies & ELL

 OT/PT, COTA, SLP, SLPA

 Special Areas, Technology, Foreign Language, Music& PE

 ELL Coordinator

 Substitute Teachers

 High School Math, Science, History, CTE, ELA & Special Areas

 Special Education K-12 LD Resource and Self-Contained

We are looking for caring people to welcome developmentally disabled people into their homes similar to a foster home. Homes funded by the State of Arizona, Division of Developmental Disabilities are administered by provider agencies such as ours, Consumer Advocacy Projects, Inc. (CAP). CAP was founded in 1997 and has provided services to hundreds of disabled members primarily in their group home system.

Becoming a Foster Care Provider requires several steps to become licensed as a State of Arizona approved provider. Steps include background checks, physical environment inspections and training to ensure a safe environment for the member(s). Our agency provides guidance to work through these steps with you and / or your family. Individuals or families wanting to welcome our adults into your home, should be caring, compassionate and attentive to the needs of the members.

If interested, please email ddfosterhomes@az-cap.com to learn more, or if you have questions or would like to initiate this exciting process.

Classified positions and Certified positions are posted online and qualified applicants are encouraged to apply using our AppliTrack link at: www.smusd90.org/Human_Resources

All Walk-Ins are welcomed!

 Counselors

 OT/PT, COTA, SLP, SLPA

 ELL Coordinator

 Substitute Teachers

4 Day School Week

District Paid Medical Insurance

Classified positions and Certified positions are posted online and qualified applicants are encouraged to apply using our AppliTrack link at: www.smusd90.org/Human_Resources

Appointments preferred

Latest Technology

Credit for Prior Teaching Experience

4 Day School Week District Paid Medical Insurance Latest Technology Credit for Prior Teaching Experience

SMUSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer

To Schedule an interview: Contact 623-474-5115 or email Juanita.villa@smusd90.org & Mayra.gavia@smusd90.org

To Schedule an interview: Contact 623-474-5115 or email Juanita.villa@smusd90.org & Mayra.gavia@smusd90.org

preferred

Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Peoria Phoenix SanTan Scottsdale Queen Creek West Valley

CLASSIFIEDS.PHOENIX.ORG

To Advertise Call: 480-898-6500 or email

If you have TOO MUCH BUSINESS, don’t call us.

INVITATION TO BID

Bids Due: February 6, 2023 – 11:00am

Project: Highlands Mountain Trail Ph 2

CFD Landscape Improvements - REBID

If your child was enrolled at our school for the years 2013 to 2019 and you are in need of their records, please notify us by February 8, 2023. As we will be destroying these records in accordance with our retention schedules.

But if you’re looking for more business, call the West Valley View at 623-535-8439 to schedule an ad in this section and Place your ad in the Business & Service Directory for as low as $45/week!

DMB White Tank LLC seeks qualified General Contractors, with a minimum CR-21 Landscaping and Irrigation Systems, to submit sealed bids for the above referenced project which consists of, but is not limited to, all work associated with installation of the landscape and irrigation in accordance with the plans and specifications (the “Work”). The Successful Contractor shall be responsible for all coordination associated with the Work. Copies of the plans, bid documents and detailed information for this project are available now. All interested parties should contact Deana Burris at dburris@dmbinc.com to obtain access to the electronic bid documents. Please reference the project name listed above in the email subject line.

BRING IN MORE BUSINESS!

DEADLINE!

Thursday at 5pm for Wednesday’s edition

For details call 623-535-8439 or email class@ timespublications.com

A MANDATORY pre-bid meeting will be held on January 30, 2023, at 1:00pm. The pre-bid meeting will be held via Zoom call. A meeting invitation will be sent to all interested parties. Sealed bids will be received until 10:30am on February 6, 2023, at the DMB Verrado Offices – 4236 N. Verrado Way Suite A200, Buckeye, AZ 85396. Bids submitted after 10:30am will not be accepted. Bids will be opened privately but read aloud at 11:05am via Zoom call. A meeting invitation will be sent to all interested parties. Unless all bids are rejected, the Contract will be awarded within twenty-one (21) days. The Contract will be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder that submits a complete and accurate bid. A complete and accurate bid will include all information requested in the bid documents. Every bid made by a Contractor pursuant to this Notice shall be accompanied by a surety bond for ten percent (10%) of the bid amount, listing DMB White Tank LLC as the Obligee, as a guarantee that the Contractor will enter into a contract to perform the Work, or as liquidated damages in the event the Contractor refuses or fails to enter into the Contract with DMB White Tank LLC upon award. The bonds will be returned to all Contractors whose bids are not awarded the Contract, and to the successful Contractor, upon execution of the Contract, and receipt of Payment and Performance bonds for the Work. The cost for providing Payment and Performance bonds shall be included in the bid submittal. A Payment and Performance bond will be required in the amount of 100% of the original Contract value for the duration of the Contract. All bidders shall be required to submit, with their bid proposal, a completed Certificate of Insurance evidencing their ability to meet the insurance requirements for this project. The Contractor shall carry property damage and public liability insurance and shall hold and save harmless DMB White Tank LLC, the City of Buckeye and the Verrado District 1 Community Facilities District from any employer’s liability and from any and all liens for materials or labor in connection with this Work as specified in the bid documents. Any bids submitted without the bid bond, certificate of insurance and any other items as required in the bid documents will be deemed incomplete and will be rejected. DMB White Tank LLC reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to withhold the award for any reason DMB White Tank LLC determines necessary and appropriate. Award of the successful bid shall be subject to approval by DMB White Tank LLC or its representatives. Interested parties shall refer to the bid package and addendums for further information or contact Deana Burris at dburris@dmbinc.com – reference Highlands Mountain Trail Ph 2 CFD Landscape Improvements . No engineer’s estimate will be distributed.

Published in the West Valley View, Feb 1, 2023

-Harvest Preparatory Academy

928-782-2052

Published in the West Valley View, Jan 25, Feb 1, 2023

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for Maricopa County, Arizona and Incorporated Areas

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, reflecting proposed flood hazard determinations within Maricopa County, Arizona and Incorporated Areas. These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. Technical information or comments are solicited on the proposed flood hazard determinations shown on the preliminary FIRM and/or FIS report for Maricopa County, Arizona and Incorporated Areas. These flood hazard determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. However, before these determinations are effective for floodplain management purposes, you will be provided an opportunity to appeal the proposed information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, as well as a complete listing of the communities affected and the locations where copies of the FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www.f loodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp, or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-3362627).

Published in the West Valley View, Jan 18, 25, 2023

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