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Buckeye Air Fair, fly-in merge for free event
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
For Buckeye officials, its annual Air Fair is about more than economic impact. The key is to provide a fun activity for families around the Valley.
“We allow people behind the scenes at the airport,” said the city’s recreation manager, Miranda Gomez. “With security, it’s hard to get that up close and personal look at airplanes, but we allow that.”
This year’s Buckeye Air Fair is two days – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10 – thanks to the city’s partnership with the Copper State Fly-In, which was formerly held at Falcon Field in Northeast Mesa. This year’s Copper State Fly-In is free.
The Copper State Fly-In begins Thursday, February 7, with vendor setup and continues to Sunday, February 10. The Air Fair is Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10. Air shows are Friday to Sunday, according to Copper State Fly-In President Martin Kirkhuff. An air show is something that Falcon Field couldn’t accommodate.
“That’s controlled airspace,” Kirkhuff said. “There’s a tower there, and it’s under Phoenix class B. At Buckeye, we can have an air show and we are.
“The Air Force is providing F35s and maybe F16s. We have a whole acrobatic
crew of performers. It’s two hours long.” The shows are 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 8, and noon Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10. The two-hour events feature stunt pilots Jeff Boerboon with his YAK110, Brad Wursten and Jon Melby. Friday is kids’ day for the Copper State Fly-In, when 500 grade-school and junior high school students will visit. They will tour the exhibits and hear speakers. Satur-
day, the Sci-Tech Fest comes to Buckeye Municipal Airport.
“That’s what it’s all about: exciting the younger generation about aviation,” Kirkhuff said. “There’s a severe shortage of pilots for the airlines. The Air Force is not discharging pilots. They have to come from the civilian side. We have to excite a
Air Fair...continued on page 3
Police release video of Verrado bus ‘assault’
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The Buckeye Police Department released two black-and-white bus surveillance videos last week that capture the activities of the Verrado High School baseball team as they returned to the school April 5 from a game against Maricopa High School.
As reported by the West Valley View last
spring, the boys were joined on the bus by the girls softball team, two of whom said the boys sexually assaulted their baseball teammate. The videos are inconclusive because the teens’ faces are blurred and the conversations are unintelligible.
The videos are taken from the front and back of the bus, and show a group of boys
near the rear of the bus, with two girls sitting adjacent to them.
The video clip begins with loud conversation. A few of the boys shuffle seats, where horsing around appears to become more serious. The boys are holding down a teammate,
Bus...continued on page 3
The Buckeye Air Fair will feature air shows at noon Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10. (Photo courtesy the city of Buckeye)
Homicide suspect sought by sheriff’s office
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Melkyseddek Munoz-Garcia in connection with the murder of his ex-wife.
On Friday, June 8, 2018, around 8 p.m., Laura Hernandez was abducted at her workplace in the Deer Valley area by Munoz-Garcia, according to MCSO officials.
Munoz-Garcia drove Hernandez from the worksite in her vehicle. Just before 9 p.m., she attempted to escape from Munoz-Garcia at the intersection of MC85 and Estrella Parkway in Goodyear.
der, however, he hasn’t been apprehended.
He chased Hernandez in the roadway shot her dead. He fled the scene in her vehicle, which was later recovered by investigators. Detectives discovered evidence directly linking Munoz-Garcia to Hernandez’s mur-
Investigators determined there was an extensive domestic violence history that included reported and nonreported incidents, the MSCO said in a press release.
Munoz-Garcia was convicted of aggravated assault stemming from an incident on November 24, 2012, in which Hernandez was victimized.
Munoz-Garcia is from Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico. He may be working in construction and/or as an auto-mechanic/motorcycle mechanic. He frequents Latino-themed bars/ clubs. He has been known to pass himself off as an auto broker.
Munoz-Garcia uses aliases including Melky, Octavio Olivas, Octavio Olivas Martinez and Oscar Munoz. He was last believed to be driving a 2001 white
Melkyseddek Munoz-Garcia was last seen driving this white truck, registered to his ex-wife, Laura Hernandez. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office says he murdered her. (Photo courtesy Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
Ford Ranger extended cab with Arizona license plate BTV5380, which was registered to Hernandez. If anyone has any information re-
garding Munoz-Garcia, contact the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office at 602-876-1011 or 602-876-TIPS (8477). Reference IR# 18-016859.
Melkyseddek Munoz-Garcia is wanted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in relation to the death of his ex-wife, Laura Hernandez. (Photo courtesy Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
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who seems to be struggling to get away, while they’re trying to remove his clothing.
One of the girls gasps and a male onlooker looks at her. The two look back at what an earlier police report called “horsing around.”
“Get off of me” is heard. The kids return to their original seats and the video ends with the boys taking photographs or using their flashlight on their cellphones. The girls continue texting and laughing.
Neither the girls nor the victim’s teammates appear to offer any assistance, as they’re laughing or looking away.
Police report
Before the videos were released, police said the victim refused to press charges, though Agua Fria School District chose to reprimand the students, according to Superintendent Dennis Runyan.
“The incident was a disruption to school function and inappropriate behavior,”
Air Fair...continued from page 1
Runyan told the West Valley View in 2018.
“All individual students involved received disciplinary action. Because of privacy rights the students’ individual discipline is not disclosed as a student record under FERPA. The incident was also reported to the SRO (school resource officer) with a follow-up investigation.”
He said the “normal discipline for this type of disruption” is a three- to nine-day suspension, possible missed games or potential removal from a team if it involves athletes.
Runyan said staff suggested further training for the coaches. Coach Michael Ward resigned in August, but remains a teacher at Verrado.
“Through our investigation and the police investigation of the incident, I do believe this incident has been processed correctly,” Runyan said. “There were no additional charges that we are aware of.”
According to Buckeye Police, a girl’s mother called police after her daughter saw a “baseball player get pinned down in the
generation of youth to be involved in aviation and get their licenses. If they don’t, that doesn’t bode well for the industry.”
Kirkhuff said the Copper State Fly-In moved from Falcon Field to Buckeye because it was a better deal, financially.
“In Mesa, we were required to give all tenants on the airport free admission,” Kirkhuff said. “They all got letters from the city for two passes. The first year it worked great, but then they started copying the letters. Attendance went way up, and revenue went way down. We were losing quite a bit of money.
“Our whole point is to provide aviation-based scholarships to deserving youth. If we continued to lose money, we couldn’t do that. It defeats the purpose.”
Admission is free in Buckeye, but the city paid for the portable bathrooms, security through the Buckeye Police Department, and refuse collection by Republic Services. The portable bathrooms alone cost $12,000 last year.
“The Copper State Fly-In is a nonprofit group who’s been doing a fly-in event for 45 years,” Gomez said. “Their event is a general aviation event for pilots, a fly-in and expo. Our event is for the public. We’ve taken those two ideas and merged them into one giant event.”
The event will be held at Buckeye Municipal Airport, 3000 S. Palo Verde Road. Parking and admission are free. Gomez said the partnership is a godsend.
“We just realized it presents an opportunity for folks to have a front-row seat at an air show, enjoy some refreshments and kick back,” she said.
back of the bus and forced to perform a sexual act” on his teammate, according to police. The report said other players held their hands over the boy’s mouth. The girl didn’t tell the coaches or bus driver for fear of retaliation.
According to police, an athletic director said the girl was a “liar” and he would check the school bus’ three cameras the following day.
Detective Tamela Skaggs said the video appeared to show a boy struggling to get free, while others attempted to pull his pants down. She said a female student was observed covering her mouth in shock from what she saw and smiling.
“The video shows (name withheld by police) being let go by the others involved and seen buttoning and fastening his belt,” Skaggs wrote. “In the video, you do not see any genitals or private areas.”
Skaggs spoke with the students, witnesses and parents, many of whom refused to cooperate. One victim chalked it up to “roughhousing” and “tickling” because “that’s what guys do.”
tickets are $80, while two-day tickets are $125.
Those who want even better seats can purchase VIP packages, which give preferential parking, front-row seats to the air show, light refreshments and access to private restrooms. One-day VIP
Plane rides and helicopter rides will be available for a charge, and a candy drop for kids at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for activities in the children’s zone are $10 in advance.
For more details and event information, visit buckeyeairfair.com or copperstate.org.
Measure would call for additional car insurance
By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services
Arizona motorists who purchase just the bare minimum liability insurance now required could be forced to spend more – if Gov. Doug Ducey goes along. A measure approved January 30 by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Public Safety would mandate that vehicle owners purchase policies that provide for at least $25,000 worth of coverage for injuries caused to any one person. The current minimum is $15,000, a figure that was put in place in 1972.
SB 1087 boosts total coverage for all injuries in any one mishap from $30,000 to $50,000. And the property coverage – essentially damage to someone else’s vehicle – would go from $10,000 to $15,000.
How much more that would cost, however, remains a bit unclear.
Lobbyist Rob Dalager, who represents groups backing the higher limits, told lawmakers he has heard figures of anywhere from $3 to $8 a month. He said, though, the only people affected are those who buy the bare min-
imum. The bills for those who already purchase more extensive coverage would remain unchanged.
Similar bills have failed amid complaints from insurance industry lobbyists that the higher bills would result in some motorists choosing to ignore the law and purchase no coverage at all.
So Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, scaled back this year’s ver-
sion with slightly lower minimums in hopes of blunting opposition.
That apparently helped, with only Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, voting against the measure. He told Capitol Media Services after the hearing that his objections are philosophical.
“I’m not a big fan of mandatory insurance,’’ he said.
But he also expressed concern that increasing those limits beyond what they were when he was 8 years old –he’s 54 now – would make insurance less affordable for those at the bottom of the income scale.
And that, he said, could result in some motorists choosing to drop coverage altogether, even though it’s required under state law and even though a first-time violation results in a $500 minimum penalty.
Gubernatorial press aide Patrick Ptak declined to comment Wednesday about whether his boss would be willing to sign this year’s version.
Attorney Geoff Trachtenberg, who for years lobbied for even higher liability limits, said January 30 he can live with the compromise. He said it reflects the average of what’s required elsewhere.
“We’re catching up to the national average,’’ Trachtenberg said. “So it will be just as safe to drive here as it is in any other state.’’
“Nobody mandates you have insurance in business,’’ Farnsworth said. “And you can do a lot of damage that way.’’
The bill now goes to the full Senate. But securing legislative approval may be the smallest part of the problem.
Brophy McGee managed to get approval for her plan last year, only to have it quashed by the governor.
“I am open to the idea of revising our minimum liability limits,’’ Ducey said in his veto message.
Sen. Lupe Contreras, D-Avondale, acknowledged the increased financial burden on some of his constituents. But he said he sees this as providing protection for those who get into accidents.
Contreras said many of the vehicles on the road cannot be replaced for the $10,000 maximum that an errant motorist’s insurance company would have to pay out. Any additional costs would be borne by the at-fault driver, assuming that person actually has the finances to make up the difference.
“I would want to protect them in a sense of them paying $3 to $8 more a month to make sure that they’re getting what they need out of their vehicles,’’ he said.
But Contreras said he is under no illusion that higher coverage for personal injury is going to make a significant dent in the kind of medical costs after a major accident. And that, he said, comes from personal experience.
“The limits were nothing close to my million-dollar bills from the hospital from being revived twice,’’ he said. That same 1990 accident also claimed the life of his 18-year-old sister.
“These liability limits, it doesn’t bring a person back, doesn’t do anything,’’ Contreras said, but does provide at least some additional coverage. “You can’t put a price on a life when you’re talking about a few dollars a month.’’
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WV business leaders celebrate Avalon Apartment Homes
By West Valley View staff
West Valley business leaders gathered during a VIP reception to celebrate the opening of Avalon Apartment Homes at 2005 N. 103rd Avenue in Avondale.
Among those in attendance were Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise, WESTMARC President Sintra Hoffman, Rep. Lorenzo Sierra and Heers Management President Brett Heers.
Avalon Apartment Homes is the first luxury multifamily complex to open in Avondale in more than a decade.
“Heers Management couldn’t be more proud to bring these luxury-style apartment homes to Avondale,” Heers said. His company owns five other apartment communities in the West Valley.
“Throughout our company history, we have made it a point to deliver responsible and sustainable projects to the communities we are fortunate to be a part of. Avalon Apartment Homes is that type of project here in the West Valley.
“Projects like these would not be possible without the hard work and
dedication of city staff and, of course, the mayor and city council. The Avondale City Council and the city planning department, under the direction of
Tracy Stevens and senior planner Rick Williams, were instrumental throughout the entire process.”
Avalon Apartment Homes are locat-
ed near the I-10 and Loop 101 and just minutes from State Farm Stadium and the Westgate Entertainment District as well as theaters, shopping and several grocery options.
The development features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 700 to nearly 1,200 square feet. Unique amenities include: a 2,500-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with outdoor Cross-Fit training station; resort-style pool with cabanas; lush landscaping; pet experiences, including two pet parks on property; and a social pavilion with barbecues and a fire pit.
“Avondale prides itself as a wonderful community for people to live, work and play,” Weise said. “As one of the area’s fastest-growing communities, the city strives to provide open spaces and recreational amenities, and works to attract quality businesses and employers to the area. Developments like Avalon are critical to ensuring the businesses and employers we attract to our city will have first-class living spaces and state-of-the-art amenities for years to come.”
WESTMARC’s Hoffman addressed the crowd during the reception.
“The West Valley is home to 1.6 million residents, a thriving business community, abundance of education options, and world-class sports and entertainment amenities,” she said. “Together, thanks to projects like this, we are one voice moving the West Valley forward.”
The $80 million, 400-unit luxury apartment home complex broke ground in August 2017. The apartments are 50-percent occupied.
Inland Empire Builders served as the general contractor, and Eric Miller Architects served as the architect on the project in partnership with Heers.
Quarles & Brady zoning attorney Ben Graff was proud of this accomplishment in Avondale.
“It was great working with Brett Heers and his team to take this development from concept to brick and mortar,” Graff said. “Avalon stands apart from other multifamily developments in Avondale and we are grateful to have earned the approval and support from the mayor, city council and planning department.”
Avondale Vice Mayor Bryan Kilgore, Avondale Councilwomen Tina
WESTMARC president Sintra Hoffman celebrates Avalon Apartment Homes with Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise and Brett Heers. (Photo courtesy Heers Management)
Illnesses depleting blood banks’ supply
By West Valley View staff
As severe winter storms continue to traverse the country, and with cold and flu season in full swing, the onetwo punch is hitting blood centers hard and drastically impacting community blood.
It takes about 3,500 blood donations each week to meet the needs of patients in Arizona and to be ready for unexpected events. Many Vitalant locations across the country have had to cancel blood drives and may need to close donation centers. The organization is looking for blood donors in the coming days.
To schedule an appointment to give blood, go to bloodhero.com or call 877-258-4825 (877-25-VITAL).
There is a West Valley Donor Center at 14270 W. Indian School Road, Goodyear, that is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays. Otherwise, there is a host of blood drives:
• 1:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, February
Avalon...continued from page 6
Conde and Veronica Malone, Avondale Economic Director Daniel Davis, Avondale Assistant City Manager Gina Montes, Avondale Assistant Superintendent William Santiago, Arizona
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• 8:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 6, Manheim Phoenix, 201 N. 83rd Avenue, Tolleson.
• 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, February 10, St. Henry Catholic Church, 24750 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye.
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, February 14, Universal Technical Institute, 10695 W. Pierce Street, Avondale.
• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, February 17, St. John Vianney Parish, 539 E. La Pasada Boulevard.
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 19, Avondale City Hall, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive.
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, February 21, Goodyear City Hall, 190 N. Litchfield Road.
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, February 23, Abrazo West Campus, 13677 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear.
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, February 24, Trinity Lutheran Church and School, 830 Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park.
Coyotes Vice President Mike Berry, Washington Federal Senior Vice President Paris Davis and Pioneer Title Agency Vice President Tom Davis also attended.
For more information, visit heersmanagement.com.
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Tour today or visit beazer.com for additional information.
*Offer valid only for new contracts for which the buyer signs a purchase agreement between 2/7 – 27/19 and closes escrow per the terms of the contract. The up to $20,000 in savings is based on average savings of $17,000 on homes available as of the date of this publication, and is computed based on a percentage of the total price and age of home for available product at the time of publication and will vary by available plan and community. Also included for buyers of Quick MoveIn homes is a Move-In Ready Package with an estimated retail value of products and installation of $3,000 depending on plan specifications. Amount and type of savings package varies depending on whether home is New Build or Quick Move-In and varies by community. New Build Buyers will receive a Beazer Home Design Studio credit, to be paid for by Beazer Homes, of up to a value of $17,500 on select new build home sites at participating Phoenix division communities. (Design Studio credit not to exceed $15,000 for Mission Hermosa, Morning Sun Farms Stetson, Mountain Trails and Zanjero Trails Stetson; $17,500 at Alessandria at Windrose, June Skies Gallery, Morning Sun Farms Gallery, Peralta Canyon and Zanjero Trails Gallery). Design studio credit can be used exclusively at the Beazer Homes Design Center. Not valid on structural options. Savings for Quick Move-In buyers are already included in the published sales price of the home. Also included in this offer is a Move-In Ready Package with an estimated retail value of products and installation of $3,000 depending on plan specifications (package includes a pre-selected Whirlpool® side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator and Whirlpool® white top load washer and dryer). Beazer may substitute similar valued appliances but buyers may make no substitutions or changes to the package. Move-In Ready Package includes installation by Beazer or third party vendor designated by Beazer. There is no cash or exchange value for this offer, it may not be used to reduce the home’s price and it may not be combined with other offers. Homes pictured may not be available at the lowest advertised price. Options and savings vary depending on home, plan and community, and not all options are available in every home. Pricing, features and availability
Nominations open for first Estrella Shines award
By West Valley View staff
Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) is accepting nominations for its first Estrella Shines Faculty Award.
EMCC employees and students, as well as community members, are invited to nominate faculty members they believe should be recognized for their innovative practices or projects that support student success.
Nominees should:
• Demonstrate EMCC core values
• Have a “wow” factor
• Promote effective teaching and learning
• Promote student success
• Be relevant to his or her discipline and/or service to the college.
The nomination period ends February 15. To nominate a residential or adjunct faculty member, go to https:// bit.ly/2sJz0d4.
The award recipient will be announced at EMCC’s All-Faculty meeting in May. The winner will receive
an award created in college’s MakerSpace.
“My hope is that we recognize faculty who have positively impacted students through innovative teaching and/or programs,” said Vice President of Learning Dr. Rey Rivera.
Two arrested after child inhales potential meth fumes
By West Valley View staff
Two people are in jail after a 10-year-old child inhaled what police believe to be meth fumes.
According to Buckeye police, the child reported a hurting heart and shortness of breath while attending Sundance Elementary School on January 24.
The principal notified the school resource officer, and the child told officers his or her father, Michael R. Nash, 49, and his girlfriend, Ashley M. Mahaney, 34, smoked drugs in the car before school that morning.
The child also told police they were homeless and living in their car, and that this kind of activity was a regular occurrence.
The Buckeye Fire Department took the child to the hospital, and the child was eventually turned over to the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
tested positive for methamphetamine,” and Nash admitted to smoking illegal narcotics in the car before school, police said.
The pair was arrested, and police learned Mahaney already had a felony warrant out for her arrest on previous charges of child abuse.
As for Nash and Mahaney, police tracked them down in the car. Upon contact, officers found “a myriad of drug paraphernalia” and “a bag of a white crystallized substance that field
Nash and Mahaney were booked into Maricopa Count Fourth Avenue Jail on charges of possession or use of a dangerous drug, possession or use of drug paraphernalia, child abuse and endangerment. Mahaney is charged with two counts of child abuse.
Buckeye hosts military open house
By West Valley View staff
The sixth annual Veterans Lift Up
event is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, February 16, at Odyssey High School 1495 S. Verrado Way, Buckeye.
This free, annual event connects veterans from all branches of the military with businesses, organizations and nonprofits that offer programs, services and information specifically for veterans.
A few of the benefits and services offered include registration with the VA; educational and job opportunities; discounts on products and services; wellness checks, blood pressure and eye exams; legal services; and connections with other veterans organizations.
The event is open to military veterans of all ages, and a complimentary breakfast is provided courtesy of “Up By Their Bootstraps,” a local nonprofit that assists veterans and their families.
Additional information about the event is at buckeyeaz.gov/events.
Michael R. Nash (Photo courtesy Buckeye Police Department)
Ashley M. Mahaney (Photo courtesy Buckeye Police Department)
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Bill would give assault victims more time to sue
By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services
State lawmakers want to give child sex abuse victims more time to sue their assailants, so they can process and understand what happened to them.
SB 1255 would provide a seven-year window to bring a civil claim to court. And the clock would not start running until the victim turns 18 or the person first reports the assault or abuse to a medical provider, whichever comes later.
Current law has a two-year statute of limitations. And Joelle Casteix, who said she was raped, impregnated and given a sexually transmitted disease while a teen attending a Catholic high school in California, said that’s not nearly enough.
It was only when she turned 32, she said, that she felt comfortable coming forward and filing suit, something she could do only after California changed its laws to extend its own time period for litigation.
That lawsuit, Casteix said, resulted in her getting documents that the
school knew about abuse, that he had signed a confession to assaulting, not just her but other girls, “and he was allowed to resign and quietly move on to high schools and universities where he continued to work with children.’”
It is what a lawsuit can do, she said, that makes such legislation important.
“It’s not about the money,” Casteix said. What it is about, she said, is accountability: the ability to demand every single document that those who shielded the abuser have.
More to the point, she said, is getting the person exposed so they can’t harm others.
“It takes survivors of sexual abuse decades to come forward and talk about what happened to them,” Casteix said. And that, she said, means exposing their assailants.
“These adults are still in our schools, our churches, our youth-serving organizations and our sport groups right now,” she said. “More than 90 percent of the child predators out there have never been exposed.”
Sen. Lupe Contreras, D-Avondale,
said the issue is personal for him, too – at least indirectly.
“I stand here as a proud Catholic,” he said. But Contreras said there was a predator at his parish church.
“So, I know the victims of that time period,” he said.
“It’s saying, you know what, we’re tired of the cover-up, we’re tired of taking the voices of these young individuals,” Contreras explained. “Since that, their life is no longer the same.”
Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, the prime sponsor, said the two-year limit on sexual abuse claims makes no sense. He pointed out that civil suits over the terms of a written contract can be brought up to six years after.
He also said more than 40 states have statutes of limitations on these kinds of abuse cases longer than in Arizona. The result, said Boyer, is victims abused elsewhere have more rights.
At this point the measure faces an uncertain future: It has not yet even been
assigned to a committee for a hearing. Boyer did manage to push an identical measure through the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, but just barely on a 4-3 vote.
Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa, complained that a seven-year window was “putting organizations that may not have had good procedures in place in the past .... at a tremendous financial risk.” That brought an angry reaction from Contreras.
“I have people that are still hurt,” he told Worsley, saying, “They all have to pay for the harm they’ve done.” It died because it was never allowed to go to the full Senate for a vote.
Nationally Known Hearing Aid Expert, Mitch Marcus, will be available for our special event — AT
Tolleson’s new judge takes his seat
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Tolleson Judge John Lamb was sworn in during the January 22 City Council meeting.
The Northeast Mesa resident moved to Tolleson to make the commute to his new job as presiding magistrate easier.
“I’m the head judge of Tolleson, essentially,” he said. “We’re the court that mainly handles criminal misdemeanors within the city, and DUIs are included in that.”
Lamb has been a judge for 24 years, serving for two decades with the Superior Court of Arizona; and then as a judge for Salt River Maricopa Indian Community and chief judge for Yavapai Apache Nation.
“I didn’t plan on being a judge,” said Lamb, 60. “I wanted to be a lawyer.”
As a lawyer, he frequently heard about open judge positions. That, Lamb said, sounded more appealing than working in a corporate environment.
“Someone recommended me for judge, and he was a judge I respected,” Lamb said. “I decided to put my hat in the ring. I ran for office in Navajo County for judge. I was in 12 elections, including general and primary. I was fortunate enough to have the highest vote total of anyone who was running.
“But when one journey ends, another journey begins. My career as a tribal judge just came to an end,” he said.
Lamb said he’s confident about his new job because the city leadership is “top notch.”
“I’m extremely excited to be with them,” he said. “The next stop is the nursing home. I believe this is where I will end my career.
“It’s a great thing to be a judge. I’m in charge of my own schedule. Theoretically, I get to dispense justice. Hopefully I do it and I get to help people. That’s why I think a lot of people go into law. You don’t always see the rewards or hear about them, but you know you’re helping people and protecting the community.”
Lamb compares his job to watching television.
“There’s always something different in court,” he said. “Even after 24
years, there’s something that shocks you, even though you’ve done it for so long.”
The job is emotional and heart-wrenching, mostly because of child molestation cases.
“I hear from the victim, and her father is supposed to be her protector, but he’s here because he had no locks on the bathroom door. She’d keep towels in there to keep him from coming in,”
Lamb said with a sigh.
“When they’re testifying, I’m supposed to keep my emotions in check as a judge. Those are the hardest ones. A person has stolen the childhood from this other person. It’s tough.”
Murder trials are difficult as well.
“It’s always tough to hear from a victim’s family,” he said. “I had one mother say, ‘This was our gift from God and he was killed.’ It eats you up.
“I remember another case I did where a man went up to Show Low to go on his first date with this woman. Her ex-husband stabbed him 63 times.”
Throughout his career, Lamb learned to put the cases in perspective.
“I always say, ‘It doesn’t matter what type of case it is, the case is always the most important one to the person in the courtroom.’ That’s the way you have to treat it.”
Judge John Lamb moved from Northeast Mesa to Tolleson so he could be closer to his new job. (Photo courtesy city of Tolleson)
OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Just for laughs
Editor:
In an attempt to bring a little laughter to our very polarized culture, I would like to submit the following comments – all in jest, of course.
I heard a few opinions expressed by some of my friends recently concerning illegal immigration. Two very innovative strategies for dealing with the problem are as follows:
One suggestion was all of the illegals who are apprehended by the border patrol be given a one-way bus ticket to California. That makes all kinds of sense because California is the most welcoming, progressive state. The illegals could get free medical insurance, drivers licenses, voter registration ID cards, free child education, food stamps, and a monthly allowance of, say, $1,000, all financed by California tax payers.
Thus the oppressed people who want a better way of life, the criminal fringe, as well as any terrorists who might be in the group, can realize the American dream.
California would soon go bankrupt and then apply for a federal bailout, because they are too big to fail. In the process, it is possible California could become the first American “banana republic” in the northern hemisphere.
The second suggestion for handling the illegal immigration problem is not quite so dramatic. Someone said we should seed the Rio Grande river with alligators and crocodiles. Actually, I like that idea better because it would not be as expensive as the first idea, and it could help feed the indigenous animal population.
Think about it. Both of these ideas are on the cutting edge, and both definitely ahead of the curve.
Roy Azzarello Goodyear
We will move forward
Editor:
I’ve lived in the area for over a year now and look forward to reading the West Valley View. For the January 23, 2019, issue, I actually enjoyed reading the section “Our Readers’ Viewpoints” because it had different opinions and
the people submitting the articles didn’t resort to name calling. What a sorry state we are in if the majority of articles written are only submitted to sling mud/verbally abuse and target others because of differing viewpoints. This bad behavior tells the rest of us readers that the writer can’t articulate something well and/or he/ she doesn’t know how to address people who don’t support their viewpoint. I shake my head and attempt to wade through the vitriol to see if I can gleam something of value. If these name-calling folks feel this poor behavior puts them on some sort of moral high ground or their communication skills will somehow win people over, persuade them to “see the light” or even think about different viewpoints, they are sadly mistaken. No matter how witty, true, funny or whatever other adjective is used in these discussions, tearing people down will only widen the divide we all see today in our government and society.
This behavior is inexcusable and we need to stand up to it. Trolling online or in newspapers should not be socially acceptable, but at some point, we allowed it to happen. How can we hope to fix our societal issues if we can’t even communicate with each other? We need to stop acting like we are living in a sitcom. We may never agree 100 percent of the time, but we all have truths and experiences which can be used to make this country better than what it was yesterday.
Tell me your concerns, don’t yell and sling names. Explain your position, don’t try to knock down mine. I want to expand my viewpoints, but can only do so if you communicate with me instead of throwing vile words at me. By working together will we make progress, slowly, painfully, and sometimes we need to regroup, but we will move forward.
Jeremy Thompson
Buckeye
Property rights issue
Editor:
My name is Tinee Carraker. I wanted to point out Trump’s Elephant standing in the middle of the room. Its name is Property Rights
Donald Trump has businesses worldwide yet doesn’t seem to understand property rights? Let that sink in.
Donald Trump ran on the promise Mexico would pay, right?
One cannot pledge assets one doesn’t own. There is no way for Donald Trump or the United States to make Mexico do anything because neither one owns Mexico.
The 1970 U.S.-Mexico treaty is clear. Neither country can make the other do anything. Both countries’ property rights must be respected. Those property rights include both countries’ currencies.
Donald Trump made a promise that he cannot keep. He can’t make Mexico use its property for building his wall on U.S. soil.
Mexico’s land and currency belong only to Mexico.
Trump’s shutdown is pointless. It’s hurting people and this country for no reason. Please point out Trump’s Elephant out to as many people as possible.
The poor thing has been ignored this entire time.
Tinee Carraker Buckeye
Questionable statistics
Editor:
When Florida Georgia Line vocalist Tyler Hubbard offered up a video message in November in support of Toms founder Blake Mycoskie’s antigun campaign, he said, “I just saw a statistic that said there were 307 mass shootings in the last 311 days in our country.”
Antigun activists apparently subscribe to the belief that a lie repeated often enough becomes accepted truth. So, when the media and celebrities continue to mindlessly parrot an anti-gun stat, their hope is that people will believe them, as happened in Washington State with the draconian antigun initiative 1639, which will have no impact on crime and will only affect law-abiding gun owners.
Just how wrong is this blatantly false statistic? Rally for Our Rights did a deep dive into the Gun Violence Archive numbers to find out.
The Congressional Research Service groups mass shootings into three categories: public, familial and felony.
A mass public shoot is defined as “a multiple homicide incident in which four or more victims are murdered with firearms, within one event, in at least one or more public locations, such as a workplace, school, restaurant, house of worship, neighborhood or other public setting.”
With that as the basis, 287 of the 307 incidents were immediately removed as there were zero to three deaths per incident. Of the remaining 20, 14 were either related to family or domestic violence, therefore not qualifying as a mass public shooting. That leaves a total of six, which means “307 mass shootings in 311 days” isn’t just wrong, it is a monstrous lie designed to deceive a gullible public.
DJ Hammond Buckeye
Past due for hands free cellphones
Editor:
California passed its hands-free cellphone law over 10 years ago, in July 2008. I was living there at that time and the freeway traffic is the same nightmare as Phoenix. It’s sheer stupidity how Arizona lawmakers sit on their hands, instead of passing strict cellphone laws to make it mandatory to use hands-free cellphones and no texting, with at least a $2,000 fine for first-time offenders.
Arizona is one of only three states left that does not have a strict cellphone law. Finally, two or three cities got fed up and passed their own phone laws, but it must be statewide to do any good.
I lost count of how many close calls I’ve had with phone junkies driving right for my car. I was driving on the I-10 freeway recently and a van in front of me slowed down to 45 mph and two cars and I passed it. I looked over and the lady driver was staring at her phone texting and had no clue she was driving on a freeway. These idiots with smartphones are just as dangerous as wrong-way drivers. I was hit from behind at the Loop 101 interchange with the I-10 freeway west on May 31. During rush hour, this interchange comes to a stop and I stopped along with everybody in front of me. The fool behind me was busy texting, having a fight with his mother-in-law, and was too busy looking at his phone to put on his brakes. He did $4,000 damage to my car and a few thousand dollars to his.
Today I passed a convertible on the Loop 101 and it had its top down. I looked over as I passed him and the
driver was texting in the middle lane. I’ll have to check the news tonight to see if he made it home alive. I saw a great sign today, “Honk if you love God; Text while driving if you want to meet Him.”
If Arizona lawmakers get off their well-paid butts and finally pass a hands-free/no texting law, for the sake of humanity, make the fine so hefty that nobody would dare talk on a phone while driving. A simple $250 for first offense is a slap on the wrist and there’s a 99-percent chance they will keep endangering innocent lives. When, not if, they kill an innocent driver and his/her occupants, chances are they will be uninsured.
This has to stop. We elected lawmakers, and it’s time they made a handsfree cellphone law that is the strictest in the nation, with the heaviest fines. Too bad we can’t freeze their pay till they do this.
James Logan Buckeye
Democrat genius
Editor:
In response to “Inept Republicans,” West Valley View, January 16, I have the following comments.
U.S. Sen Mazie Hirono, D- Hawaii, recently said that Democrats, due to their vast amount of knowledge, have a hard time connecting to Americans hearts because they tend to appeal to their brains.
“Bue,” Mazie said, “we have a really hard time doing that and one of the reasons it was told to me at one of our retreats was that we know so much, that is true.”
So, on the Hirono Scale, let us look at some of these intellectual giants.
Five stars go to Rep. Hank Johnson,
D-GA: “My fear is that the whole island (Guam) will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize.”
Four stars for Barack Obama: “I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go?”
Five stars to Al Gore: “A zebra doesn’t change its spots.”
Five stars: Former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry (drug user and lover of prostitutes), “If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very, very low crime rate.”
Three stars: Bill Clinton, (international rapist), “It all depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
Four stars: Nancy Pelosi: “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”
Five stars: Joe Biden: “I said, ‘Jill, if there’s even a problem just walk out on the balcony here... put that double-barreled shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house.’”
The bottom line: Don’t throw stones if you live in a very shaky glass house.
DJ Hammond Buckeye
250 N. Litchfield Road, Ste. 130, Goodyear, AZ 85340
E-mail: editor@westvalleyview.com
The West Valley View welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. The West Valley View will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The West Valley View will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the View, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.
Polar vortex reminds us how good life is here
By David Leibowitz
You’re never too old to learn new tricks, and I’m proud to report having picked up a new hobby even as I slide into middle age.
For more than 50 years, I’ve studiously ignored the weather in other places. Then the news started blabbing about a “polar vortex” last week and suddenly I had a new pastime:
Checking the low temperatures in places like Grand Forks, North Dakota, where it dropped to -27 degrees Thursday before dawn, or 100 degrees colder than the high of 73 degrees predicted for the Valley that afternoon.
And that’s not even counting the wind chill, which cooled down Grand Forks to an arctic 48 below.
As a guy who moved to Arizona from New Jersey in 1995 and kept his windshield ice scraper on his desk for a decade as a grim reminder of life before Phoenix, I can’t help but wonder aloud about the sanity of people who subject themselves to such conditions.
I mean, the deepest chill I’ve ex-
perienced since moving here was two Novembers back, when I saw Hillary Clinton speak in person. Fortunately, personality-induced hypothermia is a temporary condition that recedes the minute you leave the room.
Not so with actual life-threatening cold, which claimed lives across the Midwest last week, prevented the U.S. Postal Service from delivering mail in parts of 10 states and reduced the Grand Forks Herald to running a story headlined, “Sure It’s Cold … But It Could Be Worse.”
“By the time I got back – we probably found (the fisherman) midday –that evening the pain started,” Bensen explained. One of his top teeth had frozen, the Herald reported. This necessitated a root canal and a crown.
“It was quite a process,” Bensen told reporter Brad Dokken. “People are fortunate if they don’t have to go out in these elements. They’re smart not to go out in these elements. No matter what amount of clothing you put on, you feel it come through every seam.”
My response: I’ve been here 23 years and I’ve never had to install “heat tires” to drive on the 202 in August. We don’t have “heat plows” and we don’t have to “steer into the skid” on scalding surface streets during mid-summer.
Nor do we have our beer deliveries disrupted by frozen product, the way they did in Minnesota last week.
“Most of the folks up north are not delivering,” Mike Madigan, president of Minnesota Beer Wholesalers Association, told CNN. “Most distributors are not delivering in the Twin Cities, down south and out west.”
The highlight? Conservation officer Stu Bensen recalling a call he ran in the mid-1980s to retrieve the body of a fisherman who froze to death near Lake of the Woods.
It was a 30-mile trip by snowmobile, Bensen recalled, then 30 miles back towing the frozen corpse on a sled – in a strong wind and temperatures of -25.
I suppose that’s one moral to the story. The other is never go fishing when it’s 25 below zero – or live in a place where 25 below is even a remote possibility.
Some snowbird types will likely point out that it rarely reaches temperatures of 115 degrees in the Midwest, whereas that happens with some frequency during Arizona summers.
Meanwhile, here in the Valley, a million people in T-shirts and shorts consumed 10 million frosty drinks at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The Cactus League starts in a few weeks and we haven’t had a frozen fisherman in Phoenix since, oh, ever.
This checking the weather elsewhere is a real eye opener about how good we have it here. The occasional Hillary Clinton speech is a small price to pay for life in paradise.
Abrazo Medical Group welcomes Dipak Jana, M.D., to our growing network of physicians. Originally from India, Dr. Jana brings over 40 years of experience as a practicing Cardiologist. Board certified in the treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, he is proud to serve the heart health needs of west Phoenix.
David Leibowitz (Photo courtesy Advisor Group)
Shutdown should have never happened
By Rep. Debbie Lesko
On December 20, I voted to keep the government open. The bill I voted for in the House of Representatives not only funded the government, but also funded the comprehensive border security we need to end the crisis that is happening at our southern border. Unfortunately, not one single Democrat in the House voted to avoid the partial government shutdown.
We could have prevented the shutdown right then and there, but when the bill passed by the House made its way to the Senate, it languished and died due to the chamber’s 60-vote cloture rule. Over 800,000 federal employees were impacted by the partial government shutdown that lasted for 35 days.
Now that we have funded the government until February 15, it’s clear both parties will have to resolve their differences before government funding runs out again. While I’m pleased that our federal workers will now get paid, I am very disappointed that we did not get funding for the border fence. Democrats have repeatedly said that they’ll
negotiate on border security once the government reopens. Now is their chance to come to the table and live up to their promise.
I have been and am willing to compromise, but my Democrat colleagues need to compromise, too. Unfortunately, the Democrats refused to do just that. They rejected requests to meet with President Trump at the White House and provided no counter offer. What’s worse is that Republicans even offered legislation three times to get federal workers paid immediately, so they didn’t have to miss another paycheck. But Democrats kept voting no, and the efforts failed. Our federal workers were held hostage by Democrats who refused to negotiate.
Republicans are still asking for funding for a border fence that equates to one-tenth of 1 percent of the overall federal budget. A fence is only part of the solution, but it’s absolutely necessary if we are going to end this crisis once and for all. That’s because fences work. Here are the facts. In 2000, the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity (DHS) built a fence in the Tucson, Arizona sector. Over 15 years, illegal traffic dropped 90 percent. In 2005, DHS built a fence in Yuma. There, illegal traffic dropped 95 percent over nine years. Similar results have been achieved in other states.
Even some Democrats agree that we need a border fence. Rank-and-file Democrats are increasingly saying they support border security – including fences. This isn’t new or recent. In 2006, Democrats supported a border fence. Chuck Schumer and then-Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton voted to fund $52 billion for 700 miles of fencing. Now, $5.7 billion led them to shut down the government. They refused to negotiate and refused to deal with this national security crisis.
Now is the time for Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats to come back to the negotiating table. This shutdown should have never happened, and we have to find a solution before February 15.
Rep. Debbie Lesko (Photo courtesy Debbie Lesko)
By Erin Thorburn WESTMARC
economic development victories feed explosive growth
Shooting stars can travel as rapidly as 291,000 miles per hour. While the West Valley isn’t technically a shooting star, its growth is certainly meteoric.
Simply put by Arizona Strategies’ founder and president, Karrin Taylor Robson, “The next decade belongs to the West Valley.”
Want proof? WESTMARC’s collaborative work with Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) has plenty to show for how and why all eyes are turned west.
In 2000, MAG reported a population of 1,027,995 in the West Valley. By 2015, the population rose to 1,565,518, and by 2030 the West Valley will be home to 2,094,824 residents.
What is behind the lightning-fast growth?
“The West Valley is still considered to be a fairly young region,” Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord said. “In Goodyear, through extensive planning and investing in critical infrastructure, we are beginning to see an influx of techbased companies interested in our city.
It is because of our shovel-ready sites and our growing, talented workforce that we are prepared for the expected development of the future.”
One of the tech-based companies Lord refers to is Vantage Data Centers. The first building of the 50-acre, 1 million-square-foot data center campus located on the southeast corner of Van Buren Street and Bullard Avenue is slated to be up and running by 2020. There are hints that another household tech company will establish roots near MC 85 and Lower Buckeye Road in the near future.
While the advent and expansion of tech jobs is attracting skilled, highwage earners, other occupations are on the rise and continuing to attract new residents to the West Valley.
“Over the last six years, the city of Avondale has experienced some tremendous growth, specifically in our burgeoning Health-Tech Corridor that runs from 99th Avenue to Dysart Road along McDowell Road,” Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise said.
Avondale’s newest addition is the AKOS Medical Campus, which breaks
ground this spring. It will add 130,000 square feet of two new class-A medical office buildings.
Between the tech and health-tech additions in Goodyear and Avondale, jobgrowth potential will shoot to upward of 1,000 available employment opportunities in 2019 alone.
The additions of Vantage Data Centers and AKOS illustrate a significant shift in the West Valley’s job pool. Largely viewed as a manufacturing-based corridor, the top West Valley occupations have shifted to encompass health care, technology, management, business, and financial- and salesbased employment.
“South of Interstate 10 in Avondale, nearly 8,000 new homes are planned for growth,” Weise said. “The addition of State Route 30 along the Salt River will add a new opportunity for expanded retail, office and industrial growth.”
And, MAG reports that the average West Valley household income has risen between $70,000 and $100,000 per household. In addition to increasing high-wage earners, statistics demonstrate that 34 percent of the West Val-
West Valley Women’s Care
ley’s residents hold an associate degree or higher, with overall education attainment on the rise due to increased post-secondary education opportunity.
“Avondale’s Estrella Mountain Community College will embark on a $31 million expansion project. Plans call for a 37,000-square-foot building that will contain multiuse classrooms, flex labs, offices and student support space,” Weise said. “The expansion includes 6,000 square feet specifically dedicated to vocational and occupational labs as part of the Gateway Community College Southwest Skill Center, dedicated to preparing the next generation of workforce.”
It takes just the right combination of stardust material to create a supernova – helium, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. For the West Valley, high-earning potential, expanding industries, added entertainment offerings and top-notch educational institutions have become the West Valley’s proverbial stardust. But there’s something else, too.
“Leadership, planning and patience are what makes the West Valley primed for incredible growth,” Weise said.
“Our West Valley leaders understand the importance of regional collaboration,” Lord added. “The mayors meet for dinner once a month to discuss their respective cities and maintain a strong working relationship. Together, we campaign for each of our cities and the West Valley region as a whole because our residents deserve it. The West Valley has preserved the small-town feel through the rapid growth, and it is our civically engaged and active residents that make our region one community.
Gema Fernandez, M.D.
Cari L. Cowling, M.D.
James M. Johnson, M.D.
Briggs J. Geier, D.O.
Raymond D. Suarez, M.D.
Erica McLaughlin, M.D.
Business Briefcase
By Connor Dziawura
Hello, readers! This week I only have a few developments, but I have quite a bit of details to make it worth your while. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve covered Buckeye here at the Briefcase, so that’s where we’ll start –and it’s a good one!
But beyond that, there’s always development going on in Goodyear. Mixed-use project with retail and housing? Check! Firm details for the Arby’s I mentioned last week? Got it! Let’s dive in!
First, Buckeye Stereo and Tint LLC opens Saturday, February 16. The shop, noted as Buckeye’s first full-service car audio and tint store by owner John Rico, will offer a variety of car audio and aftermarket car, truck, boat and UTV products, and be home to three specially equipped bays that handle on-the-spot product installation. Taking the place of the former Double D Fuel and Oil, it will be part of the city’s historic Main Street, near Miller and Baseline roads at 824 N. First Street.
“Buckeye Stereo and Tint is honored to open our store here in Buckeye, and we look forward Main Street’s continued growth,” Rico said in a press release. “We look forward to becoming a driving force for economic and employment growth for Buckeye and the Far West Valley.”
Hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit buckeyestereoandtint.com or facebook.com/buckeyestereoandtint.
Next, Sunbelt Land Holdings LP is planning to build a mixed-use project consisting of multifamily and retail space at the northeast corner of I-10 and Bullard Road in Goodyear. The San Diego-based developer spent $6 million on the 36-acre purchase. Brian and Tom Woods of real estate services and investment management company Colliers International represented Sunbelt Land Holdings LP and the seller, RP Palm Valley LLC. The duo will also handle leasing on the site.
“Goodyear and other West Valley cities are experiencing remarkable popu-
lation and business growth,” Brian said in a press release. “This site is ideally situated adjacent to a full diamond interchange of Interstate 10 and surrounded by noteworthy retail, hospitality and corporate establishments. The developer is actively seeking retailers and restaurants interested in establishing a presence at this location.”
Back to the Arby’s I mentioned last week, FX4 Vice President Jay Johnson, the company’s Arizona franchisee, said the drive-thru will reopen Thursday, February 7, and the dining area will reopen Monday, February 25. Expanding on the details previously given by general contractor Craig Eckhardt, Johnson – whose company is based in Gilbert and owns 45 Arby’s locations across Arizona and one in Silver City, New Mexico – said the renovation will contemporize the restaurant’s exterior, with white and dark brown finishes, as well as a red wrap-around lighted canopy that “gives it the Arby’s accent.”
Inside, the dining and restrooms will have brand new finishes, from the floor
to the ceiling, and everywhere in between; this includes new sinks, wallpaper and lighting. The dining room, Johnson said, will have wood finishes, LED lighting that looks like old-school light bulbs, and a pounded brass light fixture over a communal table, all of which give it a throwback to the first Arby’s restaurants. Its size has also been increased. As for the kitchen, Johnson said it’s the first dual-line Arby’s west of the Mississippi.
“It really gives us the opportunity to produce twice as much food so we can serve customers faster,” he said. “Either if you’re in drive-thru, you should have a faster drive-thru experience; if you’re inside, you should have a faster inside experience, because we have twice as many people able to make sandwiches as we did before.”
For more information on the popular franchise, visit arbys.com.
That’s all the briefs for this week. Thanks for reading.
Have an item for Business Briefcase? Email Connor Dziawura at cdziawura@timespublications.com.
The Southwest Valley Chamber is all about you
By John Safin President/CEO
Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
So, what do you want? Seriously. What do you want for your business or career, your family, your neighborhood, your community? That’s the question the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce asks thousands of people every year. Well, everyone usually tells us their want or need without us having to ask. Business owners, tourists, students, working parents, career-minded professionals and everyone else knows the Southwest Valley Chamber is the go-to place. We have the answers to questions, solutions to problems, and ways to help people get what they want.
It all starts with good people supporting the Southwest Valley Chamber’s vision as the leading voice of business and regional prosperity. As chamber members, they want to expand the reach of their business, interact with other professionals, and be seen as a community influence through their association with the chamber. Our mem-
bers do business with each and watch out for each other. It’s the relationships created and the camaraderie between like-minded people that attracts many to the chamber of commerce.
Because of the caring nature of its members, one of the best services the Southwest Valley Chamber offers to everyone in the community is the online calendar. Any organization, group, club or person holding an event in the four-city area can post their event free. Club meetings, fundraisers, festivals and fairs are some examples. There literally is something happening every day. See what’s happening at southwestvalleychamber.org.
We’re a state-designated visitor information center for tourists, people relocating to the one of our four cities, and year-round residents. Nearly 5,000 people stop at the Southwest Valley Chamber office every year. It’s a great place to find out what’s happening, where to find local products and services, and get answers to any question.
Our primary focus is support and services for local and regional com-
merce. I’m very excited to tell you about a new offering. Starting in February, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will have regular hours at the Southwest Valley Chamber office. It’s a huge opportunity for you to take advantage of SBDC services. Details and appointment scheduling are online at southwestvalleychamber.org.
The Southwest Valley Chamber has an amazing internship program for high school and college students, is active at the State Capital with government affairs and public policy on behalf of business, offers training classes for business owners and professionals, produces and participates in many community events, and much more.
Stop by the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce office to learn what’s in it for you and the reason why it’s always a great day in the Southwest Valley!
Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce 289 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-932-2260 jsafin@southwestvalleychamber.org
Both accounts are FDIC-insured up to the maximum allowable limit. Platinum Savings offer available in AZ, NM and NV. Fixed Rate CD offer available in AL, AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NM, NV, NY, PA, SC and VA. Portfolio by Wells Fargo® customers are eligible to receive an additional interest rate bonus on these accounts.3
1. To qualify for this offer, you must have a new or existing Platinum Savings account and enroll the account in this offer between 01/21/2019 and 03/22/2019. This offer is subject to change at any time, without notice. This offer is available only to Platinum Savings customers in the following states: AZ, NM and NV. In order to earn the Special Interest Rate of 2.08% (Special Rate), you must deposit $25,000 in new money (from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or its affiliates) to the enrolled savings account and maintain a minimum daily account balance of $25,000 throughout the term of this offer. The corresponding Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for this offer is 2.10%. The Special Rate will be applied to the enrolled savings account for a period of 12 months, starting on the date the account is enrolled in the offer. However, for any day during that 12 month period that the daily account balance is less than the $25,000 minimum, the Special Rate will not apply and the interest rate will revert to the standard interest rate applicable to your Platinum Savings account. As of 12/10/2018, the standard interest rate and APY for a Platinum Savings account in AZ and NV with an account balance of $0.01 to $249,999.99 is 0.01% (0.01% APY) and with an account balance of $250,000 and above is 0.05% (0.05% APY) and for a Platinum Savings account in NM with an account balance of $0.01 and above is 0.01% (0.01% APY). Each tier shown reflects the current minimum daily collected balance required to obtain the applicable APY. Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly. The amount of interest earned is based on the daily collected balances in the account. Upon the expiration of the 12 month promotional period, standard interest rates apply. Minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $25. A monthly service fee of $12 applies in any month the account falls below a $3,500 minimum daily balance. Fees may reduce earnings. Interest rates are variable and subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo may limit the amount you deposit to a Platinum Savings account to an aggregate of $1 million. Offer not available to Private Banking, Wealth, Business Banking, or Wholesale customers. 2. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective for accounts opened between 01/21/2019 and 03/22/2019. The 11-month New Dollar CD special requires a minimum of $25,000 brought to Wells Fargo from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank N.A., or its affiliates to earn the advertised APY.
John Safin (Photo courtesy Southwest Valley Chamber)
Verrado boys’ soccer nearing repeat postseason appearance
By Griffin Fabits
The Verrado High School boys’ soccer team is on the verge of a second consecutive postseason appearance with a 9-3-1 record sparked by a talented young core and the leadership of four seniors.
The Vipers’ final game of the regular season was played on February 5 versus Willow Canyon, but results were not available at press time. On February 1, they lost to Barry Goldwater 2-0.
As of January 31, the Vipers resided in third place in the 5A Desert West Region and 10th overall in the 5A Conference, according to AZPreps365. com. Unsure of his team’s postseason fate, head coach Travis Roux is gearing up for the second postseason of his three-year head coaching career.
“This is my ninth year with AIA, and seeing how everything can change from day-in-day-out, the playoff scenario will probably change five times, but we’re looking to still win the next two games and give us the best seed heading into the playoffs.”
A year removed from a 12-4 record coupled with a first-round exit in the state tournament, Verrado entered this season with just three returning starters.
A good chunk of Verrado’s success this year can be credited to the emergence of a loaded junior class, headlined by juniors Alejandro Mizquez Gil, who leads the team with nine goals, and captain Angel Saldana.
“Other teams have the benefit of having a lot of seniors who take the reins and have been there, whereas a lot of (our) guys weren’t playing on the team last year when we went to the playoffs. But they still know the program and what a defeat looks like in the playoffs,” Roux said.
Of the 17 players on the active roster, 11 are juniors, one is a sophomore and one is a freshman. Headlining the short list of four seniors is three-year starter and captain Price Johnson, who’s been instrumental in anchoring down the Vipers’ back line as a defenseman.
Johnson, who’s started each of the Vipers’ 13 games this season, is optimistic that his last go-round at the state tournament could treat Verrado well.
“I feel very confident in the team as we approach playoffs,” Johnson said. “Throughout our season we have improved on our play and strategy, so we know how to play against some of the better teams in 5A.”
Roux added, “Price is a great leader
on-and-off-the-field. He’s definitely a leader by example. He’s a great young man and I’m so happy he’s on the team. He’s definitely helped in holding down that back line this year.”
Ryan Bruggeman, Julian Buenrostro and Anthony Hernandez join Johnson as the team’s four senior players. All four have at least one goal scored and have played in at least 10 games this season.
Last season, the Vipers were spoiled by the arrival of foreign exchange student Khris Bergdahl, a Sweden native who led the team with 13 goals en route to a 12-win season.
This year has allowed a similar story to unfold.
Verrado’s starting goaltender is Remon Drent, a foreign exchange student hailing from the Netherlands, who’s made 58 saves in 11 games in net, holding opponents to just 1.05 goals per game.
The 6-foot-1 Drent seemingly gets better every night, but his goalkeeping tenure got off to a peculiar start, according to Roux.
Drent told the coaching staff in the season’s infancy he had “problems with his eyes,” Roux recalled, and went to the doctors to get them examined.
“He said his contacts were different – the brand was different – and the ball was pixelated when it was in the air. So, finally, he got the different contacts and he can see the ball a lot better.
“I was telling my assistant coaches, I’m glad our goalie can now see the ball. It’s helpful when the goalie can see,” Roux teased.
Of the Vipers’ nine wins recorded this season, seven have been of the shutout variety, a testament to the work Drent has engineered in net.
“He’s very vocal, he’s very aggressive, doesn’t mince words. He likes to tell me the way he’s feeling during practice or during the game. Remon’s been great this year for us. He’s definitely helped us out in many games,” Roux said.
While the Vipers await their postseason fate, they got a taste of it January 29 when they traveled to sixth-ranked Independence and left wearing a 4-1 defeat.
Roux billed it as a good, humbling learning experience just a week before the state tournament begins.
“I thought the goalie made some great saves. The goalie had a great game, their team had a great game. The first half, I thought we matched up pretty well against them. We had a couple lapses in decision-making, and they
were able to capitalize.” Their loss to Independence marked just their third defeat of the season. The other two came at the hands of Casteel and Westview, both highly touted programs in the 5A and 6A conferences, respectively. The three teams who have beaten Verrado this season will make the postseason.
While Roux and the Vipers are locked in on what transpires in the waning few weeks of the season, it’s easy to peek ahead to the future of Verrado soccer. The program boasts a wealth of younger talent, which, on paper, already pencils them as contenders in the 5A conference next season.
On top of this potent junior class, the Vipers also have sophomore Alejandro Parra and freshman Diego Torres getting minutes on the current varsity roster.
“I’m always excited about the future, but I’m really focused on the next two games and trying to get into playoffs,” Roux said, putting any thoughts of future Verrado teams on hold as he’s looking to notch the first playoff win of his head coaching career, and the school’s first since 2013.
Anthony Hernandez from Verrado gets fouled at a game against Goldwater (West Valley View photo by Pablo Robles)
La Joya HS female wrestlers eager for state tournament
By Griffin Fabits
Jaylin Miranda and Nicole Cuellar are just three years into their wrestling careers, but they’ll have the opportunity to compete for the first Division I state title in Prescott on February 8.
The two juniors at Avondale’s La Joya High School are among the final 15 female wrestlers in the state championship tournament after they both finished second place in their weight classes at the January 26 sectional matches to clinch a spot in the final round.
In May 2018, the Arizona Interscholastic Association tabbed girls’ wrestling as its own high school sport. Before the ruling, the only opportunity for females at the high school level was to wrestle boys.
In the sport’s inaugural season at the high school level in Arizona, Miranda and Cuellar are putting the Fighting Lobos wrestling program on the map.
“Arizona just realized girls can wrestle,” La Joya’s head wrestling coach Sean Nelson joked. “The issue is, (girls) didn’t have the opportunity the guys did. So, they’re kind of like the pioneers.”
In Prescott, Miranda and Cuellar will
grapple with the other 13 wrestlers in a single-elimination, one-day tournament.
Leading up to the state championship round, a plethora of emotions have consumed the thoughts of the wrestlers – which often results in tears, both girls revealed with a chuckle.
“I’m just really nervous for going to state because it’s the first state with AIA, and when I first heard about it I was really excited, but now that it’s getting closer, it’s like, OK, this is really happening. I’m excited for the opportunity,” Cuellar said.
At the sectionals event, both girls said they were so nervous they cried.
“I was doubting myself leading up to it,” Cuellar said. “I honestly didn’t think I was going to place at it. It was my first year ever for sectionals.”
On a roster of 38 wrestlers at La Joya, just three are girls. But it doesn’t matter, Nelson said, these two are pretty special.
“Being able to show up every day and do that is really teaching self-confidence.
“Wrestling is not easy by any means,” he said. “You’re literally pushing your body to the extreme almost every day
– and just showing up every day is telling something about their character. They’re great young ladies. In current days, everybody wants to be alike, and these two young ladies stand out.”
The girls “struggled” through the regular season, Nelson said, because they wrestled boys and girls. But with the regular season in the rearview mirror, they’re zeroed in on delivering their best performance of the season at the state tournament.
“We’re excited,” Nelson said. “We’re just happy for the opportunity. I try to push that as much as possible. Be happy for the opportunity and go out there and do better than your best.”
Before they step foot inside the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley with dreams of a state title in mind, it’s compelling to trace back to three years ago, when Miranda and Cuellar’s paths had yet to cross.
Cuellar was a freshman at La Joya, who had just been introduced to the sport, thanks to a male cousin who wrestled for a different school. She watched his tournaments and soon after realized she, too, wanted to wrestle.
“I was like, ‘Hey, this would be really cool to start,’” she said. “So, my freshman year I joined, and I got really connected with my team and the coaches and from there on, it was just a sport for me.”
While Cuellar was discovering her love for wrestling, Miranda was attending her freshman year of high school in California. She was just getting familiar with the sport, thanks to a coach who talked her into joining the team after she played on the freshman football team.
“My coach sold me into it, and I fell in love with it,” she said about her school, which had a girls’ wrestling team. “After my first win, I was like, ‘I have to be here.’”
It’s been “about six months now” since Miranda has been enrolled at La Joya, but she’s already spotted a best friend in Cuellar. Because of wrestling, the two have grown to be inseparable.
“Jay is like another sister to me when it comes to wrestling,” Cuellar said. “When I’m at my worst, she’s there to support me.”
Said Miranda: “I want to see her do well, she wants to see me do well. As long as she keeps me pushing, I’ll keep pushing her. We’ve got each other in this.”
Jaylin Miranda, left, and Nicole Cuellar, right, chalk up their success to their coach, Sean Nelson. (Photo courtesy Corina Cuellar)
Library, 101 W. Wigwam Boulevard. Registration is required. For information, call 602-652-3000.
e West Valley View publishes on Wednesday. e 9 Days a Week calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit 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.
9 Days a Week 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 office by 4 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for the following Wednesday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Rachel Hagerman, rhagerman@timespublications.com or faxed to 623-935-2103.
FEBRUARY
Wednesday
CPR and First Aid Training
Learn CPR and how to react in emergencies such as bleeding, shock and burns from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. at the Dr. Saide Recreation Center, 1003 E. Eason Avenue, Buckeye. Registration for this class is $35 to $45. For information, visit goo.gl/oYWFQ5.
Grief Support Group
Those struggling with grief after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend can find support and encouragement at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Desert Springs Community Church, 14440 W. Indian School Road, Goodyear. Discover ways to cope with grief in a group led by individuals who have also experienced loss. For information, call 623-435-2105 or email Angela at angela@dscchurch.com.
Richard Booker Artist Talk Artist Richard Booker will share his presentation, “Living my dream through Art during the Jim Crow Era in the South,” at 6 p.m. at the Glendale Public Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale. For information, call 623-930-3600.
and include front row seats to the airshow, light refreshments and private restrooms. For information, visit buckeyeairfair.com.
Kay Taylor Oliver Book Talk and Sale
Kay Taylor Oliver, the author of Winter’s Love, will host a book talk and sale at 3 p.m. at Arts HQ Gallery, 16126 N. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise. For information, call 623-584-2626.
Soulful Expressions
Open Mic Night (Ages 13+)
The Avondale Civic Center Library at 11350 W. Civic Center Drive invites poets, comedians and musicians to share their art with others from 5 to 7 p.m. Arrive at 4:30 p.m. to sign up for a performance slot. For information, call 623-333-2602.
Paws for Reading
Preschoolers and school-age children can visit Goodyear Branch Library with a parent to practice reading with a registered therapy dog. The Paws for Reading program starts at 2 p.m. at 14455 W. Van Buren Street. For information, call 602-652-3000.
Sunday
and their caregivers to an interactive play time at 10 a.m. For information, call 623-936-2746.
Hope Stop by Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Classroom C at 918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, for the Hope support group from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The goal of the group is to provide help for those struggling with any mental disorder by sharing experiences and supporting others. For information, call 480-994-4407.
Ignite Yoga at Fitness in the Park
Fitness in the Park is a free workout program that will feature yogic postures, alignment and breathing on Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Buckeye Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road. For information, call 623-349-6350.
#MarriageMondays
Night Out with Your Spouse
at Haymaker Restaurant, 1800 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. Dinner will be available from a select menu. For information, call 480-438-7582.
Wednesday
Preschoolers Storytime
The Tolleson Public Library at 9555 W. Van Buren Street invites preschool-age children to read books, sing songs and take part in activities at 11 a.m. For information, call 623-936-2746.
Disciple Outreach Ministries Bible Study
Disciple Outreach Ministries, a non-denominational ministry, invites all to a Bible study at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 10486 W. Emerald Lane, Avondale. For information, call 623-772-0144.
Friday POUND
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King of Kings Church at 3095 N. 140th Avenue, Goodyear, invites couples drop off their children for free daycare and listen to a 10-minute talk on a topic pertaining to marriage before going out on a date from 6 to 8 p.m. Email gail@kkchurch.org to register.
Tuesday
tezuma Hall, room 156, at Estrella Mountain Community College, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale. The choir invites all to sing and prepare for their performance on May 14. Membership is $50.
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Litchfield Park Museum
The Litchfield Park Museum has returned to its winter schedule: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Admission and parking are free. The museum is located at 13912 W. Camelback Road. For information, call 623-535-4414 or visit litchfieldparkhistoricalsociety.org.
Junior Book Club (Ages 8-12)
Children are encouraged to read a book each month before joining Lila for a book discussion and activities from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Tolleson Public Library, 9555 W. Van Buren Street. For information, call 623-936-2746.
Come and Play with Me
Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library hosts a weekly open-play group at 495 E. Western Avenue, Avondale, at 11 a.m. for children through age 5. For information, call 623-333-2601.
Children’s Christian Community Choir
The Church at Litchfield Park offers a free music program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 300 N. Old Litchfield Road. For information, call 623-935-3411.
Lunch and Bunco
Come down to the Goodyear Community Room at 14455 W. Van Buren Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, Bunco and prizes. The cost is $15. Participants can register by phone or in person at 3075 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. For information, call 623-882-7525.
Estrella Mountain Community College Community Choir
The Estrella Mountain Choir meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in Mon-
Vision + Sounds Gallery
Opening Reception
Visit the Goodyear Library Gallery at 14455 W. Van Buren Street, Goodyear, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the opening reception of an exhibit featuring artwork by Patricia Bohannon, Jimmy James Greene, Bob Martin, Michael Cunningham and Kiera Mitchell. Refreshments will be served, and music will be performed by Jonathan Levingston.
Thursday
at Fitness in the Park Fitness in the Park is a free workout program that will feature an interactive workout with lightly weighted drumsticks from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the Buckeye Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road. For information, call 623-349-6350.
Nancy Christy-Moore Art Exhibit
Christy-Moore’s acrylic and mixed media paintings will displayed from 4 to 8 p.m. on February 8 and February 9 by the Sun Lounge at The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park.
Tai Chi @ the Library
Sea Lions at Shipwreck Cove Come see an educational show starring California Sea Lions and skilled trainers at 11:30 a.m. in a pirate-themed exhibit at Wildlife World Zoo, 16501 W. Northern Avenue, Litchfield Park. This show is free with admission. For information, call 623-935-9453.
Contemplative Prayer and Meditation
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 400 Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park, invites people desiring to deepen their meditation practice or try meditation for the first time to join them from 3 to 4 p.m. Sundays. All faiths are welcome. For information, call 623-935-3279.
Al-Anon Stepping Stones
The Christ Presbyterian Church at 925 N. Sarival Avenue, Goodyear, hosts a weekly Al-Anon meeting at 7 p.m. Al-Anon seeks to support the friends and families of alcoholics. For information, call 623-882-0721.
CrossFit at Fitness in the Park
Fitness in the Park is a free workout program that will cover basic strength and bodyweight training from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Buckeye Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road. For information, call 623-349-6350.
Landscaping Class: Pruning for Beauty and Health
Learn how to maintain a healthy, vibrant yard from 6 to 8 p.m. at Avondale City Hall, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive. Registration is free. For information, call 623-333-4400.
After School:
Minecraft Club (Ages 7-11)
Join others in a game that lets people think creatively and solve problems in three dimensions from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Litchfield Park
Certified Tai Chi instructor John Leo will give free weekly lessons for adults and teens ages 12 and older at the White Tank Branch Library at 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Registration is required. For information, call 602-652-3000.
Saturday
Children’s Program Book Talk and Sale Guy Lodge, the author of Valedictorian, and Shamirrah Hill, the author of The Shy Monster, will present a book talk and sale at 2 p.m. at Goodyear Library, 14455 W. Van Buren Street. For information, call 602-652-3000.
February
Arts in the Park Concert
Bingo
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The American Legion Post 61 hosts bingo Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. These bingo nights have 17 games including Quickie, Early Bird, Double Action and a $1,000 progressive game. Come down to 35 N. Dysart Road, Avondale, to support the area’s youth and veterans. For information, call 623-932-4960.
Buckeye
Business Connection
Buckeye Chamber hosts the Buckeye Business Connection from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the Chamber office at 508 E. Monroe Avenue. This group serves coffee and a light breakfast and networks with business members in the community. Each week, there will also be a different guest speaker. For information, call 623-386-2727.
LD4 Democrats
Zumba at Fitness in the Park Fitness in the Park is a free workout program that will feature a dynamic and aerobic Zumba dance on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Buckeye Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road. For information, call 623-349-6350.
Agua Fria Toastmasters
Visit a weekly Toastmasters Community meeting to become a stronger public speaker and leader from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Mimi’s Cafe, 1220 N. Dysart Road, Goodyear. For information, call 623-398-5550.
Learn
Robert’s Rules of Order
The Agua Fria chapter of the National Association of Parliamentarians will meet for an open discussion and training session at 9:30 a.m. at AmTrust Bank, 14543 W. Grand Avenue, Surprise. The group meets on second Wednesdays of the month to learn more about how the parliamentary process can streamline meetings for non-profit boards, clubs and HOAs. For information, call 480-477-1881.
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St. Peter’s RePete Boutique
Stop by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 400 S. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park, for casual and formal apparel, jewelry, books, household items and home décor between 9 a.m. and noon. For more information, call 623-935-3279.
Free Tax Assistance
Free tax preparation services will be offered to households that make less than $55,000 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Care1st Avondale Resource Center, 328 W. Western Avenue. Contact the center at 623-333-2703 for a complete list of documents to bring.
Buckeye Air Fair
Stop by Buckeye Municipal Airport at 3000 S. Palo Verde Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 9 and February 10 for a free family-fun day with aircraft displays, an airshow, Arizona SciTech exhibitions, live entertainment, food vendors and more. VIP tickets are available for purchase
Enjoy a free live concert performed by Come Back Buddy from 3 to 5 p.m. on the front lawn of The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating and may bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages. The Wigwam will have a bar onsite for concertgoers wishing to purchase beverages. For information, call 623-935-9040.
West Valley Symphony
Listen to music from Beethoven and his two close colleagues, Ravel and Stravinsky, performed by the West Valley Symphony at 3 p.m. at Valley Vista Performing Arts Center, 15550 N. Parkview Place, Surprise. Prices vary. For information, call 623-876-7918.
Monday
Meet candidates running for office, learn about political issues and become a more informed voter at 6:30 p.m. second Tuesdays at Total Wine & More, 1416 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. For information, call 623-696-5962.
Estrella Toastmasters
Visit a Toastmasters Community meeting to become a stronger public speaker and leader from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. at the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, 289 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. For information, call 602-391-5781.
West Valley Rock and Mineral Club
Join fellow rock hounds at 6:30 p.m. every second Tuesday at Painted Desert Academy, 2400 S. 247th Avenue, Buckeye. For information, call 623-329-2519.
PiYo
at Fitness in the Park
Thursday In Stitches in Goodyear
Enjoy tea and coffee and meet fellow crafters and work on crochet, knitting or sewing projects. Come by the Goodyear Branch Library at 14455 W. Van Buren Street from 1:30 to 3 p.m. to join. For information, call 602-652-3000.
Bosom Buddies Bosom Buddies breast cancer support group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. second Thursdays of the month at the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. For information, call 623-328-5494.
Goodyear Lions Club
Baby Time
The Tolleson Public Library at 9555 W. Van Buren Street invites babies
Fitness in the Park is a free workout program that will feature Pilates and yoga on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Buckeye Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road. For information, call 623-349-6350.
Thomas D. Rabjohn American Legion Post 143 Meeting
The Thomas D. Rabjohn American Legion Post 143 will meet at 7 p.m.
Goodyear Lions Club is a service group that provides free eye screenings, raises funds for veterans and their families, collects hearing aids and glasses and more. The Goodyear Lions meet at noon second Thursdays of the month at Haymaker, which is located at 1800 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. For information, call 623-455-3253.
Toddler Time Help prepare children ages 2-3 for reading through music, books, games and more from 11:15 a.m. to noon at the Litchfield Park Branch Library, 101 W. Wigwam Boulevard. For information, call 602-652-3000.
EMCC celebrating Black History Month with signature events
By West Valley View staff
Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) is celebrating Black History Month with a month’s worth of events.
It kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 9, with the Communitywide Black History Celebration from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the ceremonial plaza.
The theme is “Being Strong While at the Center of Change.”
This annual event is a collaboration with the Southwest and Northwest
Black History Committee, the city of Avondale, Estrella Mountain International Education, and Estrella Mountain MCBAAA.
Each year, the community celebrates the contributions African Americans have made to the American culture and to the world.
This all-day event is free and fea-
tures vendors, entertainment and performances of various genres of music including jazz, gospel, soul, rhythm and blues, and hiphop. For more information, email studentlife@estrellamountain.edu.
A luncheon will commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. from noon to 1:30
p.m. Thursday, February 14, at the Estrella Conference Center.
The lunch will be catered by Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q. It is free and open to all students, staff, faculty and the community. For reservations, email studentlife@estrellamountain. edu.
Staff will helm a workshop on “Trauma in the Black Community” from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, February 25, in the Estrella Conference Center. For more information, email studentlife@ estrellamountain.edu.
West Valley View Dining
Avondale impresses Portillo’s with booming retail scene
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Portillo’s executives chose Avondale for its next Arizona location due to its strong retail and entertainment offerings.
“The I-10 and the Loop 101 will provide convenient access for our customers,” said Peggy Hart, Portillo’s vice president of real estate.
“We are very excited to be part of the thriving Avondale community.”
Specializing in Chicago-style favorites, Portillo’s recently announced Avondale will join locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, and an outpost at Chase Field.
“Since our first location in Arizona opened in 2013, Portillo’s has continued to build a strong and loyal fan base across the Phoenix area,” said Michael Osanloo, CEO of Portillo’s. “Our team is excited to expand to the modern city of Avondale and make a home in their vibrant retail scene.”
The restaurant will feature a diner-themed interior, drawing décor in-
spiration from the 1950s and 1960s.
The 9,000-square-foot restaurant will include seating for more than 200 guests, an outdoor patio and a double-lane drive-thru. Guests will be able to enjoy a variety of Portillo’s classic menu items including Chicago-style hot dogs, family Italian beef, chargrilled burgers, fresh salads and chocolate cake.
Hart said she and her staff look at a number of factors when choosing a location.
“When selecting an area for a future Portillo’s, we look for a strong retail presence with a great mix of residential and daytime population,” she said.
“We also have noticed we’ve established a loyal market in the area, which continues to encourage our expansion in Phoenix.”
Fans are invited to register for a chance to attend a sneak peek meal prior to the opening and receive updates on the Portillo’s Avondale location at portillos.com/avondale.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 6 – 10 PM
THOMAS ROAD, JUST WEST OF DYSART
(Parking at Estrella Mountain Community College | 3000 N. Dysart Rd., Avondale)
A rendering of Portillo’s upcoming Avondale concept (Rendering courtesy Portillo’s)
Transplant City Brewing Co. owes success to Coyotes
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Two West Valley men have parlayed their love of the Arizona Coyotes into a burgeoning Litchfield Park taproom.
Justin Egbert of Avondale and Paul Powers of Phoenix were part of a Coyotes tweetup group when they discovered they were both homebrewers. They started creating beer together at home in 2014, and turned their passion into Transplant City Brewing Co., which opened on November 24.
“We’re huge hockey fans,” Egbert said, playing with his long beard. “The tweetup is a group of fans on Twitter who organize meetings at the Jose Cuervo margarita bar at Gila River Arena.
“Sometimes there are 50 people, sometimes five. I asked Paul why we weren’t friends on social media. That’s how it started. I had been homebrewing for a couple years at that point.”
sient nature. Egbert relocated from San Diego and Powers from Idaho.
The duo is making its mark at Transplant City, named after the state’s tran-
Available in December and January, an Oreo beer – oREO Speedwagon –
Mahoney Law Office, PLLC
was a hit, Egbert says. To create the beer, Egbert and his daughter handcrushed 12 packages of Oreos. It was an 8 percent chocolate stout brewed with 10 packages of Oreos and then conditioned on two packages of Oreos to top it off.
“They came in droves for it – from North Phoenix, Central Phoenix, Mesa. It was nice. That doesn’t happen very often,” said Egbert, who recently quit his job as a concrete dispatcher to devote time to Transplant City.
For Valentine’s Day, Egbert and Powers are producing a white chocolate-covered strawberry beer. They’re unsure if it’ll be a stout, as they’re in the planning stages.
“We just like playing with beer and the different flavors” said Powers, who works in title insurance. “We’re outside-the-box thinkers when it comes to beer. We don’t stick with the standard stout.”
Egbert added, “We believe beer should be fun, so we have fun with it.”
They want to make Transplant City Brewing Co. the West Valley’s version of Cheers . The bathroom is even adorned with a poster of Sam Malone, the titular character in Cheers
The taproom is cozy, with long community tables to encourage conversation, not staring into cellphones.
“We’re big on craft beer being a
community thing,” Powers said. “We want you to talk to people you don’t know. That’s the kind of drinker I am. Talk about stuff you’ve never talked about with somebody you don’t know. The craft beer community needs to come together.”
Egbert and Powers purchased the equipment from the owners of Peoria Artisan Brewery, which used the building for its Litchfield Taproom.
“We took over the brewing equipment here that Peoria Artisan Brewery had,” Egbert said. “We consider ourselves home brewers, but our equipment is nanobrewery, it’s not even microbrewery. It’s a one-barrel system. We only get two kegs out of it, compared to a company that has a seven-barrel system.”
Transplant City rotates its taps frequently, Powers said. It’s big on IPAs, including Booze Hound, a black IPA brewed with brown sugar and molasses (84 IBU, 7 percent).
“We had Let’s Be Cordial, a cherry cordial porter, for Christmas,” Egbert said. “That went gangbusters. We had a Mexican chocolate stout, too. But the Oreo hit it on the head.”
They are also serving Fanta-inspired beers, and planning a crisp “spa beer” for Spring Training. Powers and Egbert have collaborated with nearby tea shop Ribbons as well.
“We want to support the community,” Powers said. “We have the menus of other businesses here. We don’t serve food, but guests are welcome to bring in food or order it through delivery services.
“I always say, ‘You’re more than welcome to bring a meatloaf dinner,’” Egbert added with a laugh.
The secret weapons behind Transplant City Beer Company are Egbert and Powers’ wives, Lacijay and Heather, respectively.
“Justin and I are both pretty lucky,” Powers said. “The wives are supportive and helpful. If you see anything you like, that’s the wives who put the visual together. Our only art is in the beer.”
But Egbert and Powers owe a debt of gratitude to the Arizona Coyotes.
“If it wasn’t for them, this may not have even come to fruition,” Egbert said. “The Coyotes have a big part in this.”
Justin Egbert of Avondale and Paul Powers of Phoenix work in the back of Transplant City Beer Co. in Litchfield Park. (West Valley View photo by Pablo Robles)
King Crossword
GO FIGURE!
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.
EVEN EXCHANGE
by Donna Pettman
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!
around the neighborhood
Avondale Fire takes the heat
In honor of National Hot Sauce Day on January 22, The Halal Guys invited the Avondale Fire Department to compete to see who could finish the hot sauceeating challenge. The Halal Guys’ hot sauce is hotter than Thai chile and twice as hot as Tabasco or cayenne. Two teams of four firefighters from the Avondale Fire Department Station 172 gathered at The Halal Guys at 10277 W. McDowell Road, Suite 100, to see who could consume four small platters (consisting of chicken/gyro, rice, lettuce, tomato) topped with three The Halal Guys hot sauce packets each, the quickest. Team No. 1 included firefighters R.B. MacTurk, Mason Bernal, Evan Titterington and William Brott, who competed for Avondale Fire Charities. Team No. 2 was firefighters Calen Smith, Justin Ernst, Jesse Martinie and Steve Mayhew, who competed for Care1st Avondale Family Resources. Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce’s John Safin was the emcee. Team No. 1 took home the trophy and $500 for Avondale Fire Charities. Team No. 2 walked away with $250 from The Halal Guys for Care1st Avondale. Additionally, The Halal Guys gifted Station 172 a catered event of their choice valued at $250.
1. Downing the hot dishes proved to be difficult; 2. The teams of Avondale firefighters prepare for the competition, water in hand; 3. R.B. MacTurk, Evan Titterington, Mason Bernal and William Brott win a trophy during the Halal hot sauce competition; 4. The firefighters consumed four small platters of chicken/gyro, rice, lettuce and tomato topped with three The
packets each.
4 2 1
3
West Valley View photos by Pablo Robles
Halal Guys hot sauce
Millennium students bring plays to life
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Mia Johnson has had plenty of experience on stage, having appeared in last fall’s Newsies at the Herberger Theater.
This week, the Millennium High School senior is helming The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a musical comedy based on a fictional spelling bee in Putnam Valley Middle School. Johnson is directing it along
with Raquel Jacobsen.
“It’s a completely different perspective, but I think one that everyone should experience,” she said about stepping behind the scenes. “It teaches you a whole different area of theater on the director’s side. Directors aren’t appreciated enough.”
The first senior-directed theater shows will be staged at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 7, and Friday, Feb-
ruary 8, at Millennium High School. Tickets are $7 at the door for the show sponsored by theater teacher Kim Laguardia.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be presented as a double feature with Radium Girls, a drama based on the true story of female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. That is di-
rected by Blake Sullivan and Brian Le.
“It’s a really intense drama,” Johnson said. “I’ll leave it there because I don’t want to spoil the ending.”
Putnam County is a musical that Johnson has always wanted to do.
“It’s a one-act (musical) where the characters are on stage the whole time,” Johnson said. “It’s challenging to not have to on and off the stage.”
Buckeye health seminar geared toward teens
By Taylor O’Connor
Buckeye officials are hosting the first Environmental and Public Health Awareness workshop for students ages 11 to 20, in partnership with multiple Maricopa County services to educate students about environmental and personal health.
The event is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Coyote Library, 21699 W. Yuma Road, Buckeye. Reg-
istration is required for the free event that features lunch.
Public health officials from around the Valley will present lectures and discuss career paths within the public health field.
“The presentations provided by these public health officials are popular speakers and top managers within their field,” said Amy Murray, Buckeye environmental compliance officer.
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Some of the topics include sustainability, recycling, stormwater, pollution prevention, landfill operations, vector control, monsoons and flood control, personal health and awareness, and drug abuse and prevention.
“As teenagers are preparing to go into college or the workforce, we are giving them a look into a new direction with the county or city health,” Murray said. Scouts will be invited to the program
so they can earn public health merit badges, which are hard to earn, according to Murray.
Scout or not, this event is beneficial for all students.
“The overall purpose is to target teens and young adults to provide them an education on environmental and personal health, and an increased awareness of career opportunities.”
To register, call 623-349-6300.
MEDICATION ASSISTED OPIOID ADDICTION TREATMENT
Boy Scouts Of America’s Troop 90 turns 90
By Connor Dziawura
Ninety years is a long time. Just ask Boy Scouts of America’s Troop 90.
At the end of January, Litchfield Park-based Eagle Troop 90 reached its 90th anniversary, and one day earlier the 65th anniversary of the Scout Lodge in which it operates.
“It was mostly fun,” Scoutmaster Brian Lien said of the troop’s celebratory meeting. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. Mondays at the Scout Lodge, 99 W. Fairway Drive, Litchfield Park.
“The boys played games. They picked their activities they wanted to do, and we goofed around. That was kind of like our goof-around meeting, for our birthday, and then we had cake and we just had a nice dedication of prayer from our chaplain.”
Troop 90 has evolved since it was chartered on January 31, 1929, by the Litchfield Park community. Changing hands to numerous organizations over the years, the nonprofit Litchfield Park Scout Lodge Preservation assumed the charter in 2011, according to the Litchfield Park Historical Society.
Lien has been a scoutmaster for less than a year, but he has been involved in Troop 90 much longer. His son has been a Boy Scout for three years, and prior to that in Cub Scout Pack 90, which graduates to Troop 90. Lien was a Boy Scout as a child, too.
Though Lien hasn’t been scoutmaster for long, he notes the organization itself has likely changed over the years, though it doesn’t necessarily affect them as a local troop. Troop 90 is just having fun.
“Stuff happens at the national level and you hear the news and stuff like that. Some of that trickles down into the troop level or even just at the local level, but for the most part we’re all volunteers and we like the scouting program. We just try to focus on that,” Lien said.
According to the Litchfield Park Historical Society, the troop met in various locations, such as schools and a community hall, until 1954, when the men of the Goodyear Farms built an official Scout Lodge. The troop was, at the time, chartered by Goodyear Farms and intended for the boys of Goodyear Farms.
The Scout Lodge was founded later.
It was dedicated by Paul Litchfield on January 30, 1954, and, as Litchfield Park Historical Society information shows, despite not having sons of his own the city’s founder had a history with scouting.
grown up with these common ideals, world peace and understanding might not be the impossible goal it often seems now,” Litchfield is documented as having said in 1958.
“The brotherhood of man starts with the brotherhood of boys.”
Now, the Scout Lodge and Scout Park belong to Litchfield Park. The city acquired them in 2013 in a preservation effort.
He knew of the organization but didn’t encounter it until 1911. Litchfield had been traveling to the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, but, due to an onset of heavy fog, the ship on which he was traveling was stopped at the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Thanks to a Boy Scout troop from Alberta, however, passengers’ spirits were lifted.
From thereon out, Litchfield was interested in the organization, and his efforts helped to establish him as the Father of Scouting in Ohio.
He created an Akron, Ohio-based troop in 1913, sponsored by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and in doing so was recognized numerous times over the years. In 1945, he was awarded BSA’s highest honor, the Silver Buffalo award. Other awards include the Silver Antelope and Silver Beaver.
Two years into the formation of the Akron troop, Litchfield helped organize the Akron Council of BSA, and in 1936 he was elected to represent Akron on BSA’s National Council. In 1956, Litchfield’s work was recognized with the presenting of the 15 millionth copy of The Handbook for Boys
Due to his lengthy tenure with BSA, in 1936 he received a 20-year Veteran Boy Scout Pin and in 1953 a 40-year Veteran Boy Scout Pin.
“I have sometimes thought, too, that if every nation had utilized the basic values of scouting as America had done, and the boys everywhere had
“It has not changed. It’s still the same,” Lien said of the Scout Lodge with a laugh. “Well, it has carpet now. Before, when I was there (as a child), it was just a slab.”
Troop 90 isn’t the only Boy Scout troop with access to the Scout Lodge. Other Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops, as well as Girl Scouts, use the Litchfield Park Scout Lodge, which is exclusively for scouting activities and meetings.
“It was actually built for scouts, and scouts have free use of it,” Lien said.
Led by its scouts, according to Lien, Troop 90 participates in all kinds of activities, from biking to hiking, camping and a recent visit to Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff. One hundred and 37 members have reached Eagle Scout status.
On top of celebrating 90th and 65th anniversaries, Lien noted the Scouts held an election for positions that were up for grabs.
“It gives them opportunity to learn in a safe environment that they can fail and gives them leadership roles to actually lead,” Lien said of letting the scouts take charge.
He added of the election, “We’re there just to give them a program and give them something to do and move and move forward and obtain things and
and experience.”
The Scout Lodge was dedicated by Paul Litchfield on January 30, 1954. It is used exclusively for scouting activities by Troop 90 and many others. (Photo courtesy Litchfield Park Historical Society)
West Valley girls overcoming STEM biases
By Connor Dziawura
A group of West Valley girls saw a lack of representation and diversity in the fields of robotics, so they took matters into their own hands.
Now known as the West Valley GEMS, which stands for Girls Empowering, Mentoring and Supporting, the group consists of current and former robotics students of the team that now teaches at the newly opened Edison School of Innovation.
The GEMS dedicate their time and expertise to mentor younger students and spark an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) throughout the community at large, especially in other girls.
“We didn’t see as much in IQ (plastic robotics) because – that’s the younger kids – everyone’s doing that; they’re kind of learning the basics of robotics. But when we moved to EDR, which is the metal robots (for older, more advanced students), we see that it’s mostly boys. There’s not a lot of girls there,” explained Sidney Casillas, a ninth-grade student at Avondale’s Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center – Estrella Mountain who volunteers as one of the GEMS.
“It’s kind of disheartening – I guess would be the right word – because it’s kind of hard to bond with the boys because they don’t want to talk to us. So, I mean, it’d be nice to have those other girls there who want to speak to us and can talk about the struggles that we’ve been through.”
The GEMS group was solidified last fall, though its roots date back much earlier. REC Foundation and VEX Robotics host Girl Powered events and encourage local groups to partner and hold their own. The students that now comprise GEMS got involved two years ago, and since then have held visits to Glendale’s START @ West-MEC campus and REI’s Litchfield Park distribution center.
According to the Glendale- and Peoria-serving K-8 STEM charter school’s principal, Cheryl Rose, successful Girl Powered events led them to increase the frequency, and following the school’s opening in August the GEMS became an official group.
The group also applied for – and was awarded – an $8,000 STEM grant from Grand Canyon University (GCU). Its volunteers will present to GCU in May about how the grant has been used thus
far.
The West Valley GEMS participates in other events, too.
Four mentors attended the University of Arizona’s Connect2STEM event, which was held at the downtown Phoenix medical campus on Saturday, January 26.
In the near future, the group will participate in Glendale Public Library’s Technology and Do-It-Yourself Fair, which is part of the Arizona SciTech Festival. The free event is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 16.
Ten days later, the school will hold a community fair in conjunction with Harvest Church. (The Edison School of Innovation is located on the church grounds at the northwest corner of 83rd and Northern avenues.) From 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, the event will feature businesses from the community, a Goodwill recycling drive and fundraiser, a blood drive and more. The GEMS will be there, too.
“It’s just another opportunity for the GEMS to let families know what they’re doing, the programs that they offer, because they feel very strongly about girls being involved in STEM,” Rose explained.
In late March, another Girl Powered event is planned at the START @ WestMEC campus, and, in April, the GEMS volunteered to help with the Kadima. Ventures’ Innovation Fair 2019 at the Phoenix Convention Center, though
Rose added, “It’s one of the things that they wanted to do, is overcome that bias in the robotics world.”
Casillas noted that one of her fellow GEMS members was on a high school robotics team, but was never asked her about her skills and was instead assumed to serve as an organizer.
Rose chimed in, “So she quit, because she decided that that’s not why she joined.”
Now mostly in high school, the girls who comprise GEMS won’t always be around, though. So, inspiring younger students to eventually take the reigns is important.
“They’re currently seventh-grade students that are in the robotics (program at Edison School of Innovation),” Rose said.
they are waiting for more information. That event is held on Thursday, April 4, and Friday, April 5.
With more resources now, thanks to GCU’s grant, Rose says GEMS is ramping up. In June the group will hold a summer camp and next school year it will conduct biweekly meetings.
“We’re kind of in that birthing stage where we’ve done a little bit and now we’re getting ready to just go full force and get everything going full time,” Rose said.
Teams often travel to robotics competitions, too. VEX Robotics hosted a Night at the Museum competition in Chantilly, Virginia, in January, and the Prescott Mile High VRC Qualifying Competition MS/HS was earlier this month. On February 16, some students will participate in the Google VEX Turning Point High School Tournament in Sunnyvale, California, and in April the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Championship’s VRC High School Division in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The stigma against girls in robotics shows even at competitions, according to AAEC-EM ninth grader Kaitlyn Strickland.
“We go to robotics competitions, and we won second place but no one, not even the sixth-place team, would want to pair with us just because they saw we’re girls and were like, ‘Oh, it must have been an accident you got to where you are,’” she said.
“They’re learning from the high school students so that they can take over the mentoring as they get older. It’s always wanting to make sure that we’re partnering students together –and with older and younger students –so that we can maintain the mentoring program over the years.”
From left to right, AAEC-EM ninth-grade student Kaitlyn Strickland, Edison School of Innovation Coach Chris Strickland, AAEC-EM ninth-grade student Sidney Casillas, and Desert Mirage seventh-grade student Alex Dwyer show off an EDR robot, which is made of metal and intended for older, more advanced students. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
Dolores “Dee” Maslyn
S h e always h ad joy in h er heart
1 1 1 940 in New ark, N Y to Elizab eth “Betty” an d Raymond Shelters. From the age of 7, she also had Vincent Cill to call her father after he and Betty married
Dee had a vivacious spirit She was a cheerleader at New a r k H i g h S c h o o l a n d w o r k e d a s a d e n t a l h y g i e n i s t i n Phelps NY which is where she met her husband Edwin Maslyn Ed and Dee married in 1962 and had four children She worked at Scott Libby Elementary School for 20 years
They were an adventurous family traveling the country
i n a S u b u r b a n a n d t r a v e l t r a i l e r f o r s e v e r a l m u l t i - w e e k trips Later on Ed and Dee enjoyed traveling together all o v e r t h e w o r l d D e e l o v e d h o l i d a y s a n d w o u l d s p e n d d a y s d e c o r a t i n g a n d b a k i n g i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f f a m i l y gatherings. She was always the first to call her children a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n o n t h e i r b i r t h d a y s t o s i n g H a p p y Birthday and loved to send greeting cards for every holiday, especially ones filled with confetti to make a mess a n d t h e n l a u g h a b o u t i t D e e t a u g h t h e r f a m i l y t h e i mp or tan ce of send in g thank y ou n otes and lo v ed r ead ing s tories to her grandchildren an d gr eat gr an d ch ild .
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 , E d , h e r c h i l d r e n T o d d M a s l y n , M i c h e l ( C h r i s ) S a v i n i , K e l l e ( C l i f f ) M a s l y n ,
a n d J a m i e ( S c o t t ) L a r s o n ; h e r g r a n d c h i l d r e n T e r a
( Er ik k a) V an d er P u t ten , A l y s s a a n d J o s h u a M a s ly n a n d Annika Larson; her great grandchild Elizabella Vander-
P u t t e n ; a n d h e r b r o t h e r M a r k C i l l a n d s i s t e r N a n c y
C o m e l l a
S e r v i c e s t o c e l e b r a t e h e r a m a z i n g l i f e w i l l b e h e l d o n
Monday, Feb. 11 at 10:30 am with a mass at St. Thomas
A q u i n a s C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a t 1 3 7 2 0 W T h o m a s R d ,
A v o n d a l e , A Z 8 5 3 9 2 T h e f a m i l y r e q u e s t s n o f l o w e r s ,
h o w e v e r m e m o r i a l d o n a t i o n s c a n b e m a d e t o t h e S t
M a r y ’ s F o o d B a n k , 2 8 3 1 N 3 1 s t A v
C o n d o l e n c e s a n d w o r d s o f c o m f o r t m a y b e
JewelReginaMcLemore
Jewel ReginaMcLemore,age64 ofAvondale,diedJanuary23,2019 inGoodyear,AZ.Shewasborn September5,1954inPineBluff, ARtoWillieMcLemoreand FurtureMaePorter.
Sheissurvivedbyherdaughters, LatondaM.McLemore,KatriciaM. Cox(Joe),NatashaS.McLemore (Spencer),DominiqueColman; sons,DonaldR.McLemore (Ewanda),andDemetriceD.Colman;sister,Darlene Terrell;35grandchildren,16great-grandchildrenand GodsonJaCariByers..Shewasprecededindeathbyher mother,FurtureMaePorterandfather,ElgerMagreger. ServiceswereheldonSaturday,February2,2019at ThompsonFuneralChapel,926S.LitchfieldRoad, Goodyear,85338.Condolencesforthefamilymaybe leftatwww.ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Thomas Aaron Lambert
January 26, 2019 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer
Originally from Cannelton, West Virginia he served in the US Air Force from 1960 to 1965, he then moved to the Chicago area in later lif e
pany and retired to Arizona in 1999
Thomas is preceded in death by his sisters, Ramona Kirtley & M
Jansen He is survived by his loving wife, Alice Lambert, step
daughter Misty Lambert, Ashley Minjares, Haley Jansen, Brittany Leon, Amber Leon, grandson Dylan Andersen and 5 grea
Need help writing an obituary? We have articles that will help guide you through the process.
Deadline for obituaries is Thursday at 5pm for Wednesday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays. Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions. Visit: obituaries.WestValleyView.com
Chloe Sanchez
s T o m my Sanchez and Cindy Foree-Gentry; and uncles Adan Mitchem-Sanchez and Michael Mueller
C o n d o l e n c e s f o r t h e f a m i l y m a y b e l e f t a t w w w s i m p l y c r e m a t i o n a z
RogerL.Kemp
RogerL.Kempwenthometobe withourLordonJanuary27,2019. HewasbornJanuary5,1937,in Detroit,MI.Heisthecherished husbandof59yearsofSally (Buchanan);thelovingfatherof Kathleen(Edward)Marceau, BridgetWeamer,MollyMackie, Michael(Marguerite)Kemp,Peter (Kristy)Kemp,PatrickKemp,and ColleenKemp;Belovedgrandfather of34grandchildren;deargreat-grandfatherof18andis survivedbymanyotherfamilymembers.
Avisitationwillbeheldat4:00pmwitharosaryat 5:00pmonFriday,February1,2019atThompson FuneralChapel,926S.LitchfieldRd.Goodyear,85338. Afuneralmasswillbeat1:00pmonMonday,February 4,2019atSt.HenryCatholicChurch,24750W.Lower BuckeyeRd,Buckeye,85326.BurialwillbeatHoly SepulchreCemeteryinSouthfield,MI.
Inlieuofflowers,thefamilyrequestsdonationstobe madeinRoger'snameto:St.HenryCatholicChurch BuildingFund,24750W.LowerBuckeyeRd.Buckeye, 85326,sthenry.weshareonline.org-CapitalCampaign Fund.Condolencesforthefamilymaybeleftat www.ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Miguel V. Escobar
ia Bonita Aguayo
ary Ellen Aguayo Belia left the world
for the last 15 years and also
ent out of the lines Belia loved to dance, sing, play guitar, grow flowers, and take walks in the park She l
She is very much loved and missed by her family and friends
), Michelle Jaramillo, and Angelique Aguayo Grandparents preceded before her: Jose (Kiki) and Belia Gallego and Pedro an d Aurelia Valdez Aguayo
Services to be held at Our Lady of Fatima, 1418 S 17 th Ave, P
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LANDSCAPING SERVICES
Jose's Landscape, General landscape clean up & Maintenance service, free cactus removal, please cal for free estimate, 602-615-6231
O N B Specializes in landscaping and trimming Also Concrete: patios, driveways, sidewalks, additions and more Free estimates 623-249-0610 - Robert Residential/Commercial
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
Solid Oak Dinning Set, table with six chairs, has four leaf extensions from 55 inches to 99 inches, like brand new, excellent condition $700, please call 623-824-4370
PETS/SERVICES
HORSE Pellet Delivery 250# outdoor container with lid, SSS, 623-556-7597
LAND FOR SALE
ACREAGE for sale, Mohave County, Family liquidation, 2 1/2 to 500 acres, call owner now 888-444-1220
10 Acres Power, water, natural gas available. $79,000 556th Ave, Tonopah AZ Owner will carry for 3 years at low 7% 602-618-1159 www.firstbuyusa.com
6 7 acres, near Dean Rd & Southern Rd $130,000 Terms available, call Ken owner/agent 602-510-8900
HOMES FOR SALE
TUSCANY FALLS IN PEBBLE CREEK
Stunning golf course waterfront lot, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 3,018 sq ft home for sale by owner, Open House Friday & Saturday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm 15693 W. Edgemont Ave. Goodyear Call Owner. @ 602-885-1193
PUBLISHER's Notice:
All real estate advertised herein is
tion or discrimination because
such preference limitation or discrimination " We will not know-
real estate which is in violation of
vertised are available on an equal opportunity basis
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
OFFICE/Retail/Premium/ Affordable suites available 722' - 2000' Dysart/ Van Buren/ Litchfield 602-694-3158
ROOMS/ ROOMMATES
Looking for a Female roommate, utilities are included, $410 00/Month, please call 623-889-4619
WANTED TO BUY
Cash for Junk Cars all " as is" autos! Good condition more $$$$ Best Prices! Fast, free pickup 602-391-3996
PUBLIC NOTICE
G Patrick HagEstad, Esq Arizona Bar No 034447 Montana Bar No 4804 MILODRAGOVICH, DALE & STEINBRENNER, P C 15331 West Bell Road, Suite 212-8 Surpr se, AZ 85374 P O Box 4947 Missoula MT 59806-4947 (406) 728-1455 (406) 549-7077 fax gpatrick@bigskylawyers com
Attorney for Applicant/Persona Representative
SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA, MARICOPA COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANDREW FARREL BREDON, Deceased Case Number: PB-2019-000685
NOTICE TO CREDITORS (For Publicat on)
Not ce is given that Jackie A Meek was appointed Personal Representative of this Estate A l persons having c a ms aga nst the Estate are requ red to present the r claims with n four (4) months after the date of the f rst publicat on of th s notice or the c a ms w ll be forever barred C aims must be presented by de ivering or ma ling a wr tten statement of the c aim to the Personal Representative at: G Patrick HagEstad, Esq MILODRAGOVICH DALE & STEINBRENNER P C P O Box 4947 Missoula MT 59806-4947
DATED th s 22nd day of January 2019
MILODRAGOVICH DALE & STEINBRENNER P C Attorneys for Appl cant I
Persona Representative
By: /s/ G Patrick HagEstad G Patrick HagEstad
Publish: West Valley View, Jan 30, Feb 6, 13, 2019 / 18165
Person Fi ng:
drain, concrete, paving, street lights, signage & striping 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, specifications, bid documents and detailed information for this project will be available on Monday, February 11, 2019 Contact Terri Kading at tkading@dmbinc com to make arrangements to receive the bid documents A MANDATORY pre-bid meeting will be held in th e DM B o ffic e
00 , Buckeye – February 19, 2019 at 1:30 pm All interested parties are invited to attend It is recommended that interested parties RSVP prior to the meeting Sealed bids will be received March 7, 2019 at the City of Buckeye, City Clerk’s Office, located at 530 E Monroe, Buckeye, AZ 85326 Time of bid submittal will be posted in the bid documents Bids submitted after specified closing time will not be accepted Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately after the specified closing time 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, L L C
enter into a contract to perform the Work, or as liquidated damages in the event the Contractor refuses or fails to ente r into the C o n t r a c t w i t h D M B
checks will not be accepted 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 Pay ment 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, 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 wil l be deemed incomplete, and will be rejected DMB White Tank, LLC reserves the right to reject any
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 Terri Kading at tkading@dmbinc com – reference Verrado East District Ph3 Exeter CFD Civils No engineer’s estimate will be distributed
Published: West Valley View, Feb 6, 13, 2019 / 18339
TO BID
Bids: Thursday, March 7, 2019
Time to be confirmed with Bid Instructions
Project: East District North Boundary Channel
DMB White Tank, LLC seeks qualified General Contractors,
Boundary Channel which consists of, but is not limited to, all
shade ramadas, park landscape and hardscape 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, specifications, bid documents and detailed information for this project will be available o
tkading@dmbinc com to make arrangements to receive the bid d
Channel” in your Email subject line A MANDATORY pre-bid meeting will be held in the DMB Associates Offices located at 4 2 3 6 N V
February 19 at 11:30 am All interested parties are invited to attend It is recommended that interested parties RSVP prior to the meeting Sealed bids will be received at the City of Buckeye, City Clerk’s Office, located at 530 E Monroe, Buckeye, AZ 85326, on Thursday, March 7, 2019, Time to Be Determined Bids submitted after specified closing time will not be accepted Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately after the specified closing time 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 accom-
guarantee that the Contractor will enter into a contract to perform the Work, or as liquidated damages in the event the Con-
White Tank, LLC upon award Cashiers checks will not be accepted 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 evidenc in g th eir ab il ity to me e t the ins ura nce req uirem ents for th is 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 w i t h o u t t h e b i d b o n d , c e r t i f i c a t e o f i n s u r a n c e a n d a n y o t h e r 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 Whit e Tank, LLC or its representatives Interested parties shall refer to the bid package and addendums for f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , o r c o n t a c t T e r r i K a d i n g a t tkading@dmbinc com – reference East District North Boundary Channel No engineer’s estimate will be distributed Published: West Valley View, Feb 6, 13, 2019 / 18340
is excellent. I will de nitely continue to use your paper for our ads.
ank you and have a great day! :)
V. Meloy, McDonald’s
REPAIR
