West Valley View 02-15-2023

Buckeye Air Fair cleared for take off

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

The Buckeye Air Fair, a weekend full of planes, food and family fun, is landing at the Buckeye Municipal Airport.

This year’s event features two-and-a-halfhour action-packed air shows from eight of the best aerial acts in the country, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Fly-In, Aviation Academy, and a VIP experience for a front-row view of the air show.

“It’s definitely our biggest (event) of the year,” said John O’Halloran, public information and communications project manager for the city of Buckeye.

“It’s just a fun event if you’re into aviation and that sort of thing.”

Split into three days from Friday, Feb. 17, to Sunday, Feb. 19, each day has its own individ-

Reed takes over as Goodyear city manager

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The city of Goodyear is entering a transition period, as city manager

Julie Karins stepped down as city manager. She is leaving the duties to Wynette Reed, who had been the deputy city manager.

She is more than excited to pick up where Karins left off.

“I’m so honored and proud to work with (the council),” Reed said. “I’d put them up against anybody that I know. I truly mean it. I’ve been with Goodyear for 11 years, and Goodyear is my home. This is where I see finishing my career, and when it’s time to retire is the pinnacle. And it is, I think, the best place to do this.”

With over 30 years of experience, Reed brings plenty to the table when it comes to

needing to make the important decisions. Being the deputy city manager for the past decade also makes her a known commodity to the council, which is a massive asset to the city.

Karins has all of the faith in Reed to continue the strides that have made Goodyear the ninth-fastest-growing city in the coun-

Reed...continued on page 3

Air shows will be taking place at the Buckeye Air Fair in two-and-a-half-hour blocks on Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19. (City of Buckeye/Submitted)

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“Wynette has been with the city of Goodyear for more than 10 years; she’s been 10 years as deputy city manager, and she was instrumental in my education,” Karins said. “And when I joined the city of Goodyear, (Reed introduced) me to the community in the culture of Goodyear. And so she was instrumental to my success from the very first day I stepped foot in Goodyear.”

The feeling is mutual from Reed as well, as she considers Karins to have been one of her biggest mentors in getting to where she is today.

“She has been absolutely amazing for this organization in this community, and in the short five years I’ve worked for her, I learned quite a bit from her,” Reed said. “She’s been my greatest support and also my mentor.”

As Karins moves to Kansas City to become the deputy county manager for Johnson County in Kansas, and to be closer to her children, Reed is more than ready to hit the ground running as Goodyear’s city manager.

Reed will be advocating for a positive workplace culture and will also look to develop future strategic planning, organizational development and human capital planning. Her prior experience will be vital to her pending success in the new role.

Goodyear itself has been in transition for some time now, as former Deputy City Manager Dan Cotterman recently became the city manager of Buckeye. In addition, Andy Granger came over from Peoria to serve as Goodyear’s deputy city manager.

That said, the group of people in place now are more than capable to keep positive change coming to the city. Although from afar, Karins will be rooting for her “alma mater” and wishing them nothing but the best throughout their new journey.

“I’m grateful for Wynette and her ability to move the city forward,” Karins said. “And I’m going to be their greatest cheerleader, and the future of Goodyear is bright. This is a special moment in time for our community, and it certainly is not going to stop with me. It’s something that I’m going to look forward to seeing what the future

holds in five, 10, 15 years for sure.”

For Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzilo, Reed has all the tools to be successful from the very start.

“Wynette has a wealth of experience, and I’m confident she will continue our momentum and provide stability to employees and our community,” he said. “I have complete

trust in her leadership and her desire to move Goodyear forward on its current path.”

All in all, the city is moving forward through this transitionary period, but Reed is confident the city is in good hands.

“We do have the best here,” Reed said. “I’m not making that up.”

Home delivery of the West Valley View is complimentary and o ered to residents in the southwest region of the Valley of the Sun, saturating parts of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litch eld Park, Tolleson & Waddell. The West Valley View can also be found free-of-charge at nearly 600 local businesses in the area.

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Julie Karins is stepping down as Goodyear city manager. (City of Goodyear/Submitted)

Wynette Reed is taking over as city manager for the city of Goodyear. (City of Goodyear/ Submitted)

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Buckeye police make arrest in murder of 15-year-old boy

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The Buckeye Police Department arrested a 17-year-old on Feb. 5 in connection with the murder of 15-year-old Brendan Valenzuela.

The suspect’s name has not been released to the public, but reports say the underage suspect could be facing adult homicide charges.

On Jan. 22 at 3 a.m., Buckeye police responded to reports of a boy who had been shot. Valenzuela was given emergency care by officers while awaiting medical personnel.

When paramedics and fire arrived, he was then transferred to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Later that day, Valenzuela passed away.

Buckeye police released more about the night of the incident.

“Investigators learned the victim was with a group of people earlier this morning near St. Charles Court and 255th

Drive,” the report said. “An altercation took place and a male suspect displayed a handgun and shot (Valenzuela). The suspect fled the area in an unknown vehicle. Another individual drove the victim to the location near Crown King Road and 257th Drive where they called 911.”

After Valenzuela’s passing, detectives began searching everywhere, while asking the community for any tips. Finding success in its search, Buckeye police received a tip that led to a home in the Buckeye area, where a search warrant was issued to the homeowners.

It was there where officers found the suspect and made the arrest. The suspect was booked into a juvenile detention center awaiting homicide charges.

“The Buckeye Police Department thanks members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and our community for their assistance,” Buckeye police said in a statement.

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U.S. Navy Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Nathan Bumanglag, from Buckeye, networks a printer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. Seventh Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samuel Osborn/Submitted)

Abrazo West Campus plans hospital hiring event

BY KEITH JONES West Valley View Contributing Writer

Abrazo West Campus is holding an open house hiring event on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. for all current vacancies throughout the hospital.

Applicants are encouraged to bring their resume and meet hiring managers during the job fair at 13677 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear.

The hiring event offers an opportunity to meet and interview with hiring leaders, see the hospital and learn more about our career opportunities available in clinical and entry level positions. Qualified applicants may receive an on-site job offer.

“Walk-in applicants are welcome, as we are having on-site interviews at the event,” Abrazo senior recruiter Wendy Fitzpatrick said. “This is a great time to come see for yourself why Abrazo is a leading employer in the West Valley. If you would like to pre-register, please email your resume to wendy. fitzpatrick@tenethealth.com.”

Abrazo West Campus has evolved into a thriving medical center serving the West Valley and beyond. Offering complex services like a Level 1 Trau-

ma program, orthopedics, interventional cardiology, stroke and vascular care, robotic-assisted surgery, spine surgery, obstetrics and more, Fitzpatrick said that Abrazo West has become the hospital of choice for thousands of Arizonans.

To review current opportunities and apply online, visit abrazohealth.com/ careers.

If You Go...

WHAT: Abrazo West Campus hiring event

WHEN: 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

WHERE: Abrazo West Campus –second-floor room

13677 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear

INFO: Walk-ins welcome; bring your resume; visit http://spr.ly/60143iRZ4 for more info

Buckeye council approves land purchase in Harquahala Valley

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

Buckeye City Council recently approved the purchase agreement of a 1-acre parcel of land in the Harquahala Valley.

The purchase of this land, and the associated water rights that come with it, allows the city to expand its water portfolio with the addition of a new water source. The property includes an annual allocation of 5,926 acre-feet of water over a guaranteed 100 years.

“The approval of this purchase agreement was more than a year in the making,” Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn said. “This is a major step toward ensuring our current and future residents enjoy a great quality of life. The council and I appreciate every effort Water Resources staff has accomplished so far, knowing there are other opportunities on the horizon.”

This new water source is one of many sources identified in Buckeye’s Water Resources Master Plan approved by council in 2020.

This purchase agreement took several months to complete, and Buckeye is continuing to actively work on secur-

ing other solutions to enhance its portfolio.

Funding for this purchase was included in the current fiscal year budget which was approved in June 2022. At that time, Buckeye council authorized $80 million dollars for the purpose of this land purchase.

This agreement was the first major purchase in several years that expands the city’s water portfolio.

It will take up to 180 days to complete the deal, and it will likely take several years to determine the most cost-effective method to transport the water to the city.

Buckeye is also in the process of updating the Water Resources Master Plan, which is expected to be completed later this year.

In the future, the water may be used for residential, commercial, retail and/ or industrial uses, but at this time it cannot be specifically attributed to any future developments.

For residents, the most important aspect of this purchase agreement, when finalized, is that Buckeye has access to these water rights and a more diversified water portfolio.

Held on the majestic grounds of the Wigwam Resort, a short drive from the Phoenix Metro area. The festival is a life-size picture postcard framed by towering palms, lush green lawns, and flowering gardens—creating a stunning outdoor gallery.

Featuring 125 accomplished fine artists and craftsmen from around the nation, the three-day event guarantees its patrons an unparalleled cultural experience. Amenities include daily music, performance art, and trendy food, wine and beer concessions. The resort also offers upscale restaurants and patio dining.

Buckeye City Council recently approved the purchase agreement of land in the Harquahala Valley, which allows the city to expand its water portfolio with the addition of a new water source. (City of Buckeye/Submitted)

300 E. WIGWAM BLVD • LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ

Rain” by Kim Seyesnem Obrzut

ual allure for the next generation of aviation career seekers. Day one is “Field Trip Friday,” day two is “SciTech Saturday” and day three is “Flight School Sunday.”

On Field Trip Friday, fifth through twelth graders will explore aviation through hands-on activities, booths and guest speakers. With SciTech Saturday, kids explore aviation related STEAM with engaging booths and activities. Finally, Flight School Sunday invites the kids to learn the basics about flying and practice what is learned in flight simulators.

“Basically, what we do is we put together this big event out there for kids across the state to come and check out and really just see if aviation is something that they’re into and really inspire them to be pilots,” O’Halloran said.

“So, a bunch of stuff going on out there to get kids and the next generation aviation enthusiasts.”

The dual two-and-a-half-hour air shows will take place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19.

This is all part of a plan to grow the

Buckeye Air Fair organically. O’Halloran said in its first year, the fair was more or less an undocumented open house.

Through word of mouth, the event has grown into what it is today — a weekend that is expected to bring in 30,000 people over the three days.

O’Halloran said the extra foot traffic is a huge revenue driver for the city.

“We have people flying in from all over the country,” he said. “Pilots from all over the country are flying into the airport, and they camp with their planes. They stay out there all week long, so it’s really big for our local restaurants and hotels. Even the people that don’t want to camp out there, they still have the hotel nights.

“So, it’s huge for not only Buckeye, but the West Valley with the amount of people that it draws in.”

Due to the city’s partnership with Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), a Maryland-based nonprofit organization that advocates for general aviation, O’Halloran is expecting a record number of planes to fly in and out throughout the course of the weekend.

While unable to confirm it, he also said he expects to see planes fly in from out of the country.

“That was our goal with AOPA was to really reach out to their constituents, their pilots, their members, and really get the word out about the Air Fair because it’s been growing every year, and I think with our partnership with them that it’s really just going to explode,” he said.

For those interested in something more intimate, the Buckeye Air Fair has that covered. The VIP experience includes the best seat to catch all the high-flying action, all-day refreshments, private restrooms and VIP parking. It runs $60 per person for one day and $85 for a two-day pass.

“We’ve been kind of growing that experience over the last few years,” O’Halloran said. “That experience is definitely worth it. I mean, you’re right there with the air show performers. I know a lot of (the pilots) come into the tent and hang out, too. So, it’s pretty cool.”

Gates open for the Buckeye Air Fair at 9 a.m. each day, and admission is free. Parking passes are $10 if purchased online in advance, but parking is $15 the day of the event.

For more information, visit buckeyeairfair.com.

The Buckeye Air Fair will bring in 30,000 spectators this year. (City of Buckeye/Submitted)

OUR READERS’ V IEWPOINTS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

West Valley roads aren’t keeping up with the growth

Editor:

I have to speak my piece here on this subject. The West Valley, especially the Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park (unincorporated) section, are growing at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, the roads are not keeping up with the traffic flow. With the recent increase in houses built along the Camelback Road/ Jackrabbit Trail corridor, the county and local towns have failed to offer any type of relief for the recent congestion. With the recent closure of Camelback Road between Cotton Lane and Citrus Road for two months causing “nightmare” congestion, there doesn’t seem to be any corrective measures taken by Goodyear or Maricopa County to give us West Valley residents any type of relief. The road closure has created hourplus-long delays going from the Loop303 to Jackrabbit Trail. Indian School Road has mile-long backups between Citrus and Perryville roads. McDowell Road also has massive delays. Bethany Home Road also has massive delays, especially during the start of school hours and end of school hours at Canyon View High School. It’s a complete nightmare. And is there any reason why Citrus Road is closed between Bethany Home and McDowell roads except for local traffic? Also, in the morning hours when people are headed to work and early evening hours when they are coming home. The stop signs along Indian School, McDowell and Bethany Home roads including Perryville Road, Citrus Road and Jackrabbit Trail are insane. I have a few suggestions that could possibly alleviate some of the horrible congestion.

Station police officers at the stop signs to keep traffic moving and help alleviate every car stopping during the peak hours.

If you can’t do that, police officers should install temporary traffic lights to help.

At the intersection of Indian School and Perryville roads, create a righthand turn lane heading west on Indian School Road to allow people to smoothly turn right (north) onto Perryville Road. We all know there is more than enough room to do so.

Someone in either MCDOT or the Goodyear road department should have their head handed to them for allowing such a disaster to happen. I know that I am not the only person affected by this debacle. Please find us some sort of relief, and whoever is responsible for all these closures give us an explanation as to why they decided to close all these roads at the same time. I also understand that the growth is happening and road improvement is necessary, but really, did we have to create such havoc and delays for many peoples’ commute? I’m sure if more thought was put into this, there could have been a better solution found.

Johnny Roncinski Litchfield Park

Gravel cement trucks on Camelback Road are dangerous

Editor:

The amount of gravel cement trucks driving down Camelback Road has become dangerously insane. It was bad before last year, but now this year it is out of control. I’m so tired of driving to work every morning having a gravel truck driver blasting his horn for me to

HITCH’S OPINION — King Features

speed up. So dangerous and rude. Pretty scary having a 50-ton vehicle behind you blasting his horn in my Toyota Prius. What are they even doing in town anyway? I thought they were banned. They are not delivering any produce to supermarkets. They are delivering gravel back and forth to a plant outside Litchfield Park district. They have absolutely no business driving back and forth like pingpong balls damaging and polluting Litchfield Park. I would like to see a count published on the total number of gravel cement trucks a day passing through Litchfield Park. It has to exceed 1,000. The amount of damage they have done to Litchfield Park through road damage, noise and pollution is irreparable. Now I heard the powerful trucker’s union has lobbied to pass a bill in the state Senate Bill 1097 to ban all truck restrictions. Haven’t they done enough damage? If this passes, Camelback Road will be even more scary to drive on.

Candace Thomas Litchfield Park

‘Santa’s in Blue’ should be an annual event

Editor:

Christmastime is full of wonderful events and very caring people, but sometimes, some especially good events and very good people go unnoticed. And this year, I think it may have happened again to our Buckeye Police Department. Rotary International is the largest service organization in the country, with thousands of local community clubs across the nation. The Rotary clubs find ways to make money to support their local community charity programs; however, in many cases, the Rotary members also offer their time and talents to help various projects. Here in Buckeye, we have three terrific Rotary clubs that support a number of community efforts and charity organizations — the Buckeye Rotary; the Rotary Club of Verrado; and the White Tanks, Verrado Rotary. By way of an

Letters...continued on page 13

Balloon fiasco raises questions about Biden

BY J.D. HAYWORTH West Valley View Columnist

He may not wear a white suit, or a string tie — nor sport a silver goatee — but it appears as if Joe Biden wants to emulate the late Colonel Harland Sanders.

Sanders made millions with Kentucky Fried Chicken and franchising that fried fare… well after his 65th birthday.

The popularity of KFC now extends all the way to the People’s Republic of China.

Biden, for his part, hopes to increase his popularity here at home so that he can stay in the White House for eight years — even though he’s now 80. Certainly, he must have fatherly pride in the popularity that his son, Hunter, now enjoys in China, in addition to his business success there.

That’s why it now appears that Ol’ Joe — with considerable help — has developed a national security “secret recipe.”

Admittedly, it is a curious concept — the notion of a deliberately delayed takeout service. Call it “Slow Joe’s ‘Biden’ Our Time.” Ask for it Wednesday, and you’ll see the order carried out on Saturday.

So what transpired off the South Carolina coast on the first Saturday in February could accurately be described as a new type of “Chinese takeout.”

An American fighter jet finally shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had unfettered access to some of our most sensitive military sites after a weeklong trek across sovereign U.S. airspace.

Continuing “changes in narrative” emanating from the Potomac swamp began as soon as a video of the balloon taken over Montana was posted to social media sites, and the Billings Gazette published its account on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The reports from Big Sky gave birth

to a rapidly changing Big Lie.

The immediate challenge for the “Biden Bunch” was clear — somehow how our “woke” military leaders had to appear awake, in charge and giving clear advice to the increasingly befuddled “Leader of the Free World.”

Instead of exhibiting the fundamental instinct expected of military leadership — protecting Americans — our now hyper-politicized Pentagon officials were engaging in what they believe to be a much more urgent priority: shielding a lone American octogenarian from any further collapse in his poll numbers.

That led, in turn, to a seemingly endless stream of “clarifications” that could be more accurately described as contradictions.

We were initially informed that American intelligence had been tracking the balloon since it had taken fl ight in China. Then, for good measure, “unnamed sources” insisted that similar balloons had breached American airspace on four earlier occasions during Donald Trump’s presidency. It was subsequently reported that those incursions had previously been undetected.

To modify the “orange man bad” narrative, the NORAD commander had to go on the record and appear red-faced. Said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, “It’s my responsibility to detect threats to North America, (and) I will tell you that we did not detect those threats.”

VanHerck then made himself an early favorite for the “Best Bureaucratic Euphemism” award, describing the failure as a “domain awareness gap.”

The ever-helpful Politico then took its turn at creative writing, publishing a “timeline” of the events surrounding the balloon’s flight across America and insisting that Biden wanted the balloon shot down over Montana but that VanHerck — in cooperation with Joint Chiefs’ Chairman Gen. Mark

Hayworth...continued on page 13

Arizona lawmakers won’t drag you down

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ West Valley View Columnist

When you consider the many threats faced by Arizonans on a daily basis, the usual evils come to mind: double-digit inflation; chaos along the southern border; the fentanyl crisis; the Valley’s massive shortage of housing; our rising violent crime rate.

Toss in political turmoil and the ongoing insanity surrounding the 2022 election and it’s a long list.

All of which explains why this year’s session of the Arizona Legislature has seen conservative Republicans introduce no less than four bills targeted at that noted scourge … drag shows.

Apparently, there are gangs of marauding drag queens all over the state plotting to corrupt your kids. Or as freshman state Sen. Justine Wadsack,

who seems to be driving this crazy train, explained at a Senate judiciary committee hearing last week:

“I have enjoyed many drag queen performances in my day, as an adult, around adults, in a roomful of adults. It’s been a great time. I have nothing wrong with the drag queen performances. … What I do have a problem with is when they go into the public libraries or the schools. I have watched them literally stand onstage wearing a G-string with breast implants. “And leaning over to a 5-year-old girl who has a dollar bill in her hand ready to put the dollar bill in this person’s G-string while this person leans over and says, ‘Are you thirsty for some milk, little girl?’ … A 5-year-old does not need to be going up to a drag queen and putting dollar bills in their G-string.”

My guess is you, too, find the above absolutely absurd and completely unbelievable.

There’s not a chance in hell that

southern Arizona Republicans sent someone named “Wadsack” to the Legislature.

Sadly, they did.

Wadsack’s bill to combat drag shows is SB 1698, a poorly written affair which seeks to make it a felony to expose a minor to “an adult-oriented performance or an adult-oriented business,” including a “drag show,” defined as a performance involving folks who “engage in singing, dancing or a monologue or skit in order to entertain an audience of two or more people,” while wearing clothing or makeup “opposite of the performers or group of performers gender at birth.”

This heinous offense would carry a minimum five-year prison sentence — surely sobering news for the actors set to appear in the June performances of “Hairspray” at Gammage on the Arizona State University campus.

Also at risk, as I read the bill: any parent who screens “Tootsie,” “Mrs.

Doubtfire” or “Big Momma’s House” for a kids’ sleepover party.

Wadsack claimed to have evidence at the committee hearing, where a different anti-drag bill — Anthony’s Kern’s SB 1028, which would ban drag shows on public property or anywhere a child might see it — passed out of committee by a vote of 4-3.

Said Wadsack: “If you guys don’t believe that these things happen, I have the documented proof. I just can’t put them up on the screen for you.”

If you ask me, these proposals sound like what our Legislature has specialized in for as long as I can remember: a solution in search of a problem.

Do I support sexualizing children or a massive expense of tax dollars to sponsor Drag Queen Story Hour? I absolutely do not.

But the screeching here far outweighs the threat, given that such

Leibowitz...continued on page 13

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Letters...continued from page 10

example, our most recent effort was the Santas in Blue program, where we worked with the Buckeye Police Department to have them give out $100 bills to help those in senior centers and the less fortunate here in Buckeye, as well as to help the public image of our police force. The three Rotary clubs in Buckeye and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 5, all worked together to raise $20,000, and we are grateful to the members of the clubs, and to Discount Tire, Walmart, the Buckeye Post Net Stores, the Fraternal order of Police, Lodge No. 5 and countless other community members who gave us assistance and their money. Our Santas in Blue officers spent time in Walmart to find shoppers who could use a $100 bill or a very full gift basket this holiday season. Then, our Santas in Blue kindly approached Buckeye residents to say Merry Christmas from the Buckeye Police Department. And this is exactly what the three Buckeye Rotary clubs had in mind. It was quite heartwarming to see the public’s reaction and to also see that some of our Santas

in Blue got a little choked up as well. We are hopeful that this effort will be an annual event in Buckeye and that our police department becomes recognized for the terrific department that it is, and our men and women in uniform become known as the very nice, professional and compassionate people they are.

George Hester Buckeye

How to get a letter published

250 N. Litchfield Road, Ste. 130, Goodyear, AZ 85340

E-mail: editor@TimesLocalMedia.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.

We will not print personal attacks or hateful language. Lengthy letters will be edited for space and grammar. Please do not submit multiple letters on the same topic.

Hayworth...continued from page 11

Milley — persuaded Mr. Biden to wait until the balloon was off the Atlantic Coast before taking any military action.

It’s not enough to call Milley “silly,” but that must suffice for this family publication.

Any American military commander who would brag to Bob Woodward that he intervened to disrupt the chain of command because of his distrust of Donald Trump — to the point of secretly calling his Chinese counterpart to pledge that America would not launch an attack — is not courageous but confused, to put it mildly.

In stark contrast to his oft-observed

Leibowitz...continued from page 12

events targeting children appear to be nonexistent. From where I sit, the best defense against children being exposed to drag shows — or other sexual material — is something else that apparently doesn’t exist in our state.

confusion, Joe Biden had a clear-eyed motive to delay shooting down the balloon — his son’s “business connections” to Beijing.

Hunter Biden hasn’t had the longterm relationship that Kentucky Fried Chicken has enjoyed there, but the younger Biden has been generously compensated by businesses connected to the Chinese Communist Party. And unlike Colonel Sanders, Joe Biden’s “secret recipe” may result in our collective goose getting cooked.

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

Responsible parenting. I miss the days when Arizona’s legislative leaders believed in such principles, instead of political make believe. Because silly bills like Wadsack’s? They’re a real drag.

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

Business Briefcase

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

The West Valley is constantly growing, and restaurants and businesses are choosing to flock here to continue to open their doors to the thousands of people that call it home. This week, the Business Briefcase is breaking down a delivery-only food concept and a well-known grocery store brand expanding its footprint in the Valley.

Give Me Sum

Location: N/A

California-based Give Me Sum, a delivery-only dim sum concept, has expanded its Arizona footprint to Good-

year as well as Chandler.

Give Me Sum launched last year in seven cities, including Mesa and Glendale. It now serves 32 total cities in five states. It is available through Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash.

The dim sum concept’s menu boasts an assortment of Asian-inspired food such as steamed dumplings and bao buns, but also includes nontraditional offerings such as loaded fries.

For more information about Give Me Sum, visit givemesumdimsum.com.

Florian T. Walter, D.O. Raj S. Rathee, M.D.

Jordan Oland, M.D.

B.J. Ho, D.O.

Sarah Colwell, D.O. Akanksha Murray, MD.

Ingrid Gold, CNM

Britt Michie, RNC, MSN, WHNP, CNM

Jennifer Woodruff, RNC, MSN, WHNP

Anna Gomez, CNM

Yisel Carter, PA-C

Karline Snyder, CNM

Kristen Watras, WHNP

Brittani Freeman, WHNP, Madison Ginnis, PA-C, Jasmin Vasquez, PA-C, Jessica Olano, CNM Nicole Gonzalez, CNM

Fry’s Food Stores

Location: 16400 N. Pat Tillman Boulevard, Surprise

Grocer giant Fry’s Food Stores is expanding its reach in the West Valley by opening a new 128,000 square-foot full-service grocery store in Surprise.

The store will employ over 300 associates and feature a variety of upscale amenities including a sushi station, an extensive wine department, Murray’s Cheese shop, Chompie’s with a wide selection of sandwiches and soups in a grab-and-go case, a pharmacy offering same-day delivery and drive-thru services, pickup services for conveniently ordering groceries online, and an 18pump fuel center.

In addition, local artist Garrett Etsitty, was commissioned by the West Valley Arts Council, in partnership with Fry’s/Kroger to create indoor artwork for the new store. Garrett uses complex unions of vivid colors and layers to articulate an Indigenous understanding

of thought, creation and ideology that moves beyond time and space.

“We are thrilled to open the new store in Surprise and accommodate the growing needs of the community,” said Jeremy Valdez, store leader of the new Fry’s Marketplace. “Shoppers will enjoy our beautiful store which includes a variety of state-of-the-art amenities, that will offer an enhanced shopping experience. We hope everyone will come out and celebrate with us.”

Speaking of celebrating, Fry’s held a grand opening ribbon-cutting event on Feb. 22. festivities included giving a $30 Fry’s gift card to the first 150 guests that were in line at 7 a. m., remarks by Surprise Mayor Skip Hall, and, as part of its effort to end hunger in local communities through Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan, Fry’s presented a $5,000 check to St. Mary’s Food Bank, who provides much needed food to hungry neighbors in the West Valley communities.

“Fry’s Food Stores has been a huge supporter of St. Mary’s Food Bank for years, through volunteerism, food donations and funds to help us run our operations,” said Lisa Notaro, chief development and communications offi cer, St. Mary’s Food Bank. “They are true partners of the food bank and the entire community. Millions of people are fed because of the support St. Mary’s gets from Fry’s. We are honored to be included in the grand opening of this beautiful new store.”

The new Fry’s Marketplace will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., beginning Thursday, Feb. 23.

For more information about Fry’s Food Stores, visit frysfood.com.

&

Give Me Sum, a delivery-only dim sum concept, is now delivering to Goodyear. (Submitted)

Go beyond the basics with the Academies of Math & Science

BY ALISON STANTON West Valley View Contributing Writer

Parents who are looking for a tuition-free school where students are treated as individuals and family involvement is encouraged will find that and more at the Academies of Math & Science.

As Superintendent Nate Lowry noted, the Academies of Math & Science (AMS) currently has seven campuses throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area — including Avondale, Glendale and Peoria — as well as two in Tucson and an online Advanced Virtual Academy. AMS serves kindergarten through eighth grade.

Additionally, some campuses accept early kindergarten students, which are children who turn 5 years old between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31.

Since the first campus opened in Tucson 21 years ago, the charter school has strived to offer a STEM-based curriculum paired with creative art and music classes that not only helps students in their academic development and achievements but also provides academic and extracurricular variety for

all interests.

AMS uses an online assessment tool to set benchmarks and provide tailored support for students to reach their educational goals.

In addition to individualized academic support for students, AMS offers a large variety of K-8 clubs and sports, a strong emphasis on parent communication, and affordable before- and after-school care, all in safe and secure facilities.

The nine campuses across Arizona provide support for students and families by offering two meals a day through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), intervention services for English Language Learners, and a 1:1 computer-to-student ratio.

Lowry is proud to be part of a school that not only values the importance of a well-rounded education but also a strong sense of community and partnership with parents.

“As parents and educators, we understand the challenges families are faced with today,” Lowry said. “We all want the best opportunities for our children, and that is why AMS goes beyond our

classrooms and offers programs and fun for entire families. As a collective group we are very passionate about building a community within the communities we serve.

“What really makes AMS special is the people; there is a common passion for not only providing students

with the best education but also with the best environment. We are a strong team of network staff, teachers, and school staff and leadership that want to go above and beyond for our students.”

For more information about the Academies of Math & Science visit enrollams.org or call 602-584-6625.

Basketball a family affair for Millennium’s Amundsens

BY HALEY SMILOW Cronkite News

Basketball is in the Amundsen family’s blood, and it has taken the trio to Millennium High School, where they are fighting for the chance to play in the 5A state championships.

Daughter Mia is going for her fourth state championship with the girls basketball team, and son J.T. hopes he and his father, Ty, who coaches the boys basketball team, can win their first state title together.

The boys’ team went 23-2 in the regular season and posted a 12-0 record in divisional play. The girls team also went undefeated in the 5A Desert West conference with a 12-0 record and

sports a 16-8 record overall.

Both teams are starting their playoff pushes this week. The girls play Tuesday at home against Boulder Creek High School, and the boys tip off Wednesday at home against Sandra Day O’Connor High School.

For the Amundsens, basketball is about more than on-the-court success. It has bonded them as a family and helped them grow closer.

“Their relationship is really good,” Ty said of Mia and J.T. “They both care for each other and what they’re doing for their teams.”

It wasn’t always like that, his kids say. When they were younger, they would fight and argue, but neither has time for that anymore.

“He’s OK,” Mia said laughing while looking over at her younger brother. “I like to mess around with him, because he thinks he’s too cool to be around me now.”

J.T. said their relationship is nothing out of the ordinary. “We’re just normal brother and sister,” he said.

Most siblings haven’t helped lead their teams to undefeated conference seasons.

Mia, a senior guard, averaged 8.1 points, 1.6 steals and 1.9 rebounds per game this season, according to MaxPreps, but winning three back-toback-to-back state championships at Millennium remains her greatest accomplishment, she said.

Along the way, she has also received college offers and challenged the assumptions attached to those who play for family members.

“Being a coach’s kid, there’s a lot of controversy,” Mia said. “Winning those state championships was proving my point. I don’t get nothing handed to me.”

J.T., a sophomore guard, agreed that having a father as a coach comes with stereotypes. Many people questioned his starting role, but he blocked it out and moved on, he said.

“It’s been different having to be a coach’s son,” J.T. said. “But he’s been my coach my whole life, so really nothing has changed, just more so what other people think of me, (but) nothing has changed between me and him.”

Ty has coached J.T. since first grade, and also coached Mia until she was 16

“Both of my kids play like coaches, son and daughter,” Ty said. “Strength No. 1 for both is basketball IQ. They both don’t have a ton of turnovers, and they both play really hard. They have heart and passion for the game.”

A passion that came from their dad, both kids said.

“It’s all he talks about and all he does,” J.T. said, laughing.

He then mentioned some of his early basketball memories, including going to games when his dad coached at Estrella Foothills High School, where he won three Arizona high school state titles.

Mia agreed and said her dad has coached basketball for as long as she can remember.

“He brought it to the family,” Mia said. “He really got me into it and seeing him winning all these titles, I just continued to pursue it.”

Ty is also sensitive to the perception of coaching a child and acknowledges with J.T., “I feel like I try to be a little harder on him. It’s easy to say he plays because he’s a dad kid, which is nothing further from the truth in my mind. Since he’s been with us, we’ve won 20 games this year. We’re 38 and 10 with him.”

Ty just hopes his children’s time at Millennium is defined by more than just basketball.

“At the end of four years leaving high school, I want them to say, ‘That was the best four years of my life.’”

Basketball has always been a part of the lives of Ty Amundsen, center, and his children Mia, left, and J.T. (Haley Smilow/Cronkite News)

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

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

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

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

Buckeye Valley Museum Open

WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

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

Buckeye Valley Museum, 116 E.

MC 85, Buckeye, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 623-349-6315, buckeyeaz.gov/residents/buckeye-valley-museum

Yoga Nidra and Sound Bath

SATURDAYS

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

invite gentle and natural restorative processes in the body.

206 N. Florence Avenue, Litchfield Park, 2 p.m., $20, soulshealinghumanity.com/events

Ecstatic Dance

SUNDAYS

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

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

Buckeye Air Fair

FEB. 17 TO FEB. 19

Over 30,000 spectators have kept their eyes on the skies for the Buckeye Air Fair in years past, and this one promises to be the biggest yet. Check out a grand airshow, military vintage aircraft, AZ SciTech exhibitions, and a grand fly-in from AOPA. Buckeye Airport, 3000 S. Palo Verde Road, Buckeye, 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, free general admission, jthompson@buckeyeaz.gov, buckeyeaz.gov

Heart & Sole 5K and 1 Mile

FEB. 18

In celebration of National Heart Health Month, the city of Goodyear is hosting its 18th annual Heart & Sole race. Held at the new location at Goodyear Civic Square, check out the event for a family and pet-friendly race for serious and recreational runners alike. The course on a

paved walking path along Bullard Wash is perfect for breaking that personal record or a leisurely walk. Participants will receive a race shirt while supplies last, and everyone crossing the finish line will receive a Finisher medal. Plus, the top male and female finishers will receive an additional medal in numerous categories. The 1-mile fun run and walk is $15, and it’s $25 for the 5K. Register at bit.ly/ RegisterHeartSole2023.

Goodyear Civic Square, 1900 N. Civic Square, Goodyear, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, price depends on race, goodyearaz.gov/events

Hiring Expo

are hosting an in-person Hiring Expo to support local Avondale businesses with their 2023 hiring needs. Job seekers will get the opportunity to meet and network with employers from multiple industries located in Avondale currently hiring for hundreds of open positions. Candidates have an opportunity to explore a variety of positions from entry level to executive. This is the first in a series of career and hiring expos that will be hosted by Avondale EDGE in the coming year of 2023.

Avondale Visitor & Conference Center, 11490 Civic Center Drive, Avondale, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, free, ashipley@ avondaleaz.gov, avondaleaz.gov

FEB. 22

Avondale Edge and Career Connectors

Tres Rios Nature Festival

FEB. 25 AND FEB. 26

Families and nature lovers are encouraged to enjoy the great outdoors on the banks of Avondale’s rivers. Attendees will be able to see local birds, go canoeing or fishing with Arizona Game & Fish, view wildlife up close, enjoy a thrilling zip line, rock-climb, and create a craft. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. each day, but bird watching is available both days beginning at 7:30 a.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase as well. There will be plenty of great food options to tease your taste buds.

Tres Rios Base & Meridian Wildlife Area, 5 miles south of I-10 on Avondale Boulevard, Avondale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, free, avondaleaz.gov/tresrios

West Valley View Dining

Crucial Catch initiative betters Adelante Healthcare

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

On Feb. 7, the NFL and American Cancer Society gathered at the Adelante Healthcare facility in Goodyear to present the work that was being done in the NFL’s partnership, Crucial Catch.

The event was interactive, allowing attendees to see the screening unit at the facility, with a presentation from important members that make the Crucial Catch initiative happen. In attendance were NFL place kicker Luis Zendejas and Crucial Catch ambassador and former Arizona Cardinal and current Tennessee Titans running back Jonathan Ward.

“Our goal as a community health center is to be a safe place and to help break those barriers down so that individuals have access, education and willingness to help them through the barriers of the health care journey that they’re on,” Adelante Healthcare CEO Pedro Cons said. “It’s an important role that we know that we can’t do alone, and the grants such as the Crucial Catch with the NFL and change within American Cancer Society are very important to us and they help us create programs and opportunities that our community members may not otherwise have. So, with their partnerships, we are able to reach out and support and guide people through the system.”

Crucial Catch is a partnership that the NFL has made with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to help fight cancer and provide help to people in need of care. Since 2009, the program has helped fund many different aids, including the ACS Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE).

These grants help the health systems in underfunded areas get more access to health and cancer screenings.

“In the last year, this grant alone

has helped us connect with over 1,400 individuals that may consider cancer screening based on their age or circumstance,” Cons said. “Of those 1,400, we are very proud that we were able to get half of them into the program, to get them scheduled and to navigate the system. It’s a tremendous feat.”

The 1,400 is just a small number in the grand scope of the program’s success across the nation. The Crucial Catch initiative helped provide 600,000 screenings and reach over one million patients, while helping them be more educated and properly screened. The initiative is a leaguewide-supported fund, and it helps contribute and amplify the success that the program has in this field.

“For the last 14 years, the NFL and ACS have teamed up to support the fight against cancer through Crucial Catch by helping more people detect cancer earlier when it’s easier to treat,” said Christina Hovestadt, senior manager of community relations for the NFL. “Funds that we raise to support centers like the one we’re in today at Adelante, and it increases access to low- or no-cost cancer screenings around communities, especially those that needed the most new this year.”

The event was one that hit close to home with Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo, as his wife is currently battling cancer.

“I know what it’s like; She’s been fighting it for five years,” Pizzillo said. “I know the ups and downs that you have to deal with and the support that you need to accomplish that. So, I really appreciate all (Adelante, the ACS and the NFL) do, whether it’s a mental health issue, whether it’s the support staff that gets you through that. It’s important because it makes a big deal in her day-to-day life. But she gets that support. So again, thank you.”

Natural Gas Safety

Wherever you live, work, or play.

natural gas lines can be buried anywhere, even in areas where homes don’t use natural gas. So it’s important that EVERYONE knows how to recognize and respond to a natural gas leak, wherever they are.

A leak may be present if you:

or standing water continuously bubbling.

IF YOU SUSPECT A LEAK

• E xit the area or building immediately. Tell others to evacuate and leave doors open.

• From a safe place, call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020, day or night, whether you’re a customer or n ot. A Southwest Gas representative will be there as soon as possible.

• Don’t smoke or use matches or lighters.

• Don’t turn on or off electrical switches, thermostats, or appliance controls; or do anything that could cause a spark.

• Don’t start or stop an engine, or use automated (garage) doors.

For more information about natural gas safety visit swgas.com/safety or call 877-860-6020

The NFL and American Cancer Society joined Adelante Healthcare in celebration of the Crucial Catch iniative. (Adelante Healthcare/Submitted)

Andrew McMahon reunites with Weezer, Green Day

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor

When Andrew McMahon was a teen in California, he adored Green Day and Weezer. He showed his love of them by playing in a tribute to both acts called Tweezer.

“We played three shows,” McMahon said with a laugh. “We were pretty good, as far as cafeteria lunch performers go.”

Fast forward to 2004 and he met his heroes. His former band, Something Corporate, opened for Weezer on its Australian tour.

“That was life changing, getting back into that sphere,” he said.

Now, he’ll reunite with Weezer and Green Day when Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness joins the bands to play Innings Festival’s first day on Saturday, Feb. 25.

“It really hit me,” he said about the schedule. “It makes me nostalgic.”

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness is gearing up to release its fourth album, “Tilt at the Wind No More,” on

Friday, March 31. He expects to preview a few songs from the record at Innings.

“My goal, at least by Innings, is to learn the song ‘Lying on the Hood of Your Car,’” he said.

“We have (the first single) ‘Stars’ in the mix. Until the record comes out, we’re going to lean on the tunes that are out.”

He recorded “Tilt at the Wind No More” with producer Tommy English, who also turned the knobs for McMahon’s 2017 effort “Zombies on Broadway.” He said while he was recording, he pined for that moment of freedom and youth.

“I’m so proud of it,” he said about “Lying on the Hood of Your Car.”

“When you do this for as long as I have, you’re always on the hunt for something that feels like magic, something to hang your hat on. That song is really special.”

McMahon wrote the first verse in 2019 and loved it, but struggled with the storyline.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness will play Innings Festival at the Tempe Beach Park and Arts Park on Saturday, Feb. 25. (Lyndsey Byrnes/Contributor)

“It has this sort of nefarious, scary setup for a story, possibly,” he said. “When I came back to it last January/February, suddenly this is a song about me and my friends and my early romantic relationships and how we were driving around after curfew. It’s all centered around the freedom of our cars. Through that lens, I connected the dots and finished the song.”

The songs were written in various sessions. “Stars” was started before the pandemic. He finished “New Friends,” but once the pandemic hit and the world locked down, he switched gears and penned the book “Three Pianos: A Memoir.”

By writing “Three Pianos,” he cleared his head of trauma — his father’s struggle with addiction and his public battle with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in 2005 at the age of 23.

“I was clearing the deck of a lot of trauma and history that I hadn’t quite confronted,” he said. “It set me up for the writing sessions that followed this album and started the process of me getting back in the studio.

“I’ll be turning 40 when the record comes out. I will have been on the road

for more than half of my life. I wanted the songs to reflect that, to reflect the places I had been through, an aspiration to be free of past trauma and to be looking forward to the future and what could be.”

Over the last two decades, McMahon has experienced musical rebirth many times and has consistently arrived on the other side stronger.

The East Coast-born, SoCal-based artist first co-founded the pop-punk outfit Something Corporate in 1998, serving as the group’s singer, pianist and songwriter and leading the band to major chart success in the early 2000s.

Soon after, McMahon resurfaced with the more personal solo project Jack’s Mannequin, finding success through three studio albums. In 2014, McMahon released his debut album under his own name and new moniker, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, featuring the breakout top 5 alternative radio singles “Cecilia and the Satellite” and “Fire Escape.”

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness — McMahon (lead vocals, piano), Bobby Anderson (guitar), Jay McMillan (drums), Mikey Wagner (bass) and

Zac Clark (keys) — has since released the hook-packed albums “Zombies on Broadway” (2017) and “Upside Down Flowers” (2018), amassing over 275 million total streams to date, performing at such marquee festivals as Lollapalooza.

McMahon has also sold nearly 2.5 million albums across all of his musical projects, and received an Emmy nomination for his work on the NBC show “Smash.”

Additionally, in 2006, McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation after surviving ALL. The nonprofit charity provides programming that directly benefits adolescent and young adults diagnosed with cancer to improve quality of life and create positive health outcomes from treatment to survivorship for patients and their families. For more information or to donate, visit dearjackfoundation.org.

McMahon said there’s an existential bent to the music, a sense of trying to pass on some of his wisdom.

“The crazy, early stages of life can be kind of tricky and test your mettle,” he added.

He admitted he’s had a difficult few

years. He learned to breathe and take the good when he could get it right.

“I understood that if I’m standing on two feet and I have a roof over my head and I’m feeding my family, I’m doing better than a lot of people,” he said.

“I appreciate that on the hard days. I had to find a way to celebrate the fact that I’m alive. I tried to write some of that into this music.”

If You Go...

WHAT: Innings Festival

WHEN/WHO: Saturday, Feb. 25: Weezer, The Black Crowes, The Offspring, The Pretty Reckless, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Glorious Sons, Heartless Bastard and Annie DiRusso

Sunday, Feb. 26: Eddie Vedder, Marcus Mumford, The Revivalists, Mount Joy, The Head and the Heart, Umphrey’s McGee, Magic City Hippies, Paris Jackson and Hazel English

WHERE: Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe

COST: Tickets start at $112

INFO: inningsfestival.com

NFL Hall of Famers visit Avondale Senior Center

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The Avondale Senior Center was visited by six of football’s great players on Feb. 9 to help spread cheer and support to the community of people that they had watched throughout their lives.

Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Orlando Pace, Darrel Green, Morten Anderson and Anthony Muñoz were the special guests at a community gathering to give back to the community of Avondale and bring smiles along the way.

“One of the great opportunities we have been given in the program Hall of Famers, we get a chance to first of all go to the Super Bowl and big-time events, but we also get to come into these communities where the Super Bowl is and get a chance to see these communities and meet people,” Moon said. “And it’s great that we get a chance to come

Accompanied by Avondale Mayor Ken Weise and Arizona Complete Health leadership, the Hall of Famers

were given the opportunity to explore the facility. After visiting the veterans hospital and Luke Air Force Base, they then got to meet and greet all of their eager fans at the Avondale Senior Center, signing autographs and taking pictures with them, bringing smiles and joy to the community.

of hand. Here are five situations when an inspection is warranted.

Your vehicle’s warranty is expiring. If the warranty on your car is due to expire soon, it’s a good idea to bring it to a mechanic for an inspection. They’ll complete any necessary repair work while it’s still covered.

You’re planning a road trip. An unexpected breakdown can put a damper on your road trip. To avoid unpleasant surprises and enjoy your vacation, have your vehicle inspected and repaired in advance.

You’re shopping for a used car. Checking the mechanical condition of your future vehicle is a must. You’ll find out what type of condition it’s in and can negotiate a lower price if repairs are necessary.

Your lease is coming to an end. You may have to pay a hefty bill if the dealership determines your vehicle doesn’t meet their repair standards. It’s a good idea to have your car inspected a few months before the end of your lease so you can correct any lingering problems.

You’re selling your vehicle. If you sell someone a defective car, you could be held liable for any injuries they suffer as a result. It’s best

“That’s what our original objective was,” Green said about the goal of Arizona Complete Health. “You take this childhood game and all the fortune that it brings us, and we can draw crowds, we can position ourselves to present and explain something to someone and make things available to people.

“At the end of the day, when all the dust is cleared with the Super Bowl and all that, it really is about people. I learned that when I was just a young man, fortunately. And so now this is what I love. This makes me happy.”

The happiness was reciprocated by more than just the fans though, as everybody was happy to see a community event of this magnitude come together.

“We’re very fortunate to have a partnership with the NFL Hall of Fame,” said Monica Coury, vice president of external affairs for Arizona Complete Health. “It’s tremendous that they’re

VIP guests of ours for the Super Bowl, for our state for the Super Bowl because we are the host, that they wanted to make time to give back to the community to visit with the people who live here.

“(We have) tremendous gratitude for the NFL Hall of Fame and to the individual gentlemen that have made time to come out here. They don’t have to be here. They can be at VIP parties or events or whatever. But they said no and they partnered with us because we are the local connection.”

For Weise, the event was a huge success and he thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the positive turnout in the community.

“I think for them, it’s a lot of these people, this is their only outlet. They come here for their meals, they come here with friends, and then they go back to their homes or their care center, whatever that looks like, they may not have that ability to interact with a lot of people,” Weise said. “And to have people who are coming out her Hall of Famers. For them. … I’m saying it probably makes their week. And just the excitement, everyone’s kind of dressed up, they have their jerseys on. It’s a big deal for us.”

Lastly, the gratitude for the event was amplified from the seniors in attendance, who were gleaming at getting to meet their idols.

“It’s great because it shows that they care,” Avondale Senior Center attendee Luis Matamoros said. “And you can hear the words that they think you were at the VA hospital, that means something to me, because I was in the army so that they go out there and really mean it. That’s something special.”

NFL Hall of Famers, including Dan Marino, Warren Moon and Morten Anderson, visited the Avondale Senior Center at a community gathering to give back to the Avondale community. (City of Avondale/Submitted)

GO FIGURE!

SUDOKU TIME

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

King Crossword

by Linda Thistle

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

11

In the -- way (very much) 17

22

H

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

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

SCRAMBLERS

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

Ob uaries

623-535-8439 • obits@timeslocalmedia.com

Deadline: Thursday by 5pm for next week

Anthony Madden

Anthony Madden of Goodyear, Arizona passed away February 2, 2023. He was born August 24, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois to Willie and Victoria Madden.

A graveside service will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (Phoenix, Arizona) at 1pm on Wednesday, February 15.

To read the full obituary and leave the family condolences, please visit: www.thompsonfuneralchapel. com/obituary/anthony-madden

Obituaries - Death NOtices

iN MeMOriaM

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

Visit: obituaries.WestValleyView.com

Domingo Gonzales

Domingo Gonzales

78, of Tolleson, Arizona passed away on February 4th 2023. He was born August 4th, 1944, in Maricopa Arizona to Santiago and Macaria Gonzales.

Domingo lived in Tolleson hos whole life.

He enjoyed old trucks, cruising Tolleson and loved Music. He worked as a landscaper, He is survived by his longtime family friends Frank Rodriquez and Rosemary Rodriquez.

UTI receives gold-level distinction for service to veterans

BY COLE JANUSZEWSKI West Valley View Staff Writer

The Universal Technical Institute in Avondale was named a Military Friendly School for 202223. It was also awarded the highest honor in the Military Friendly distinction: gold level.

Military Friendly said that “the honor recognizes the efforts of the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to educate and empower America’s veterans.”

Military Schools determines which schools receive the honor of being recognized as a Military Friendly school through “extensive research, using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions.”

According to Military Friendly, its data included the institution’s survey scores, an assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

UTI’s gold distinction was also distinctive. Out of the 1,800 schools that participated in the 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools survey, 665 schools earned distinctions for going above the standard set by Military Friendly, and only 282 schools achieved the gold level distinction.

Mark Brenner, UTI’s vice president for corporate affairs, said this distinction was a reflection of UTI’s focus of serving military families in the classroom.

“I think it is our long-standing commitment to military families that has led to this,” Brenner said. “It’s more by the work we do day in and day out on our campuses to support those military families.

“Everything from understanding their GI Bill benefits to having staff on-site that is former military who can help those students through their journey. And then, ultimately, having programs in skilled trades and transportation that lots of former military personnel prefer.”

Specifically, Brenner said that programs such as UTI’s manufacturer-specific advanced training in diesel and welding is important in Arizona. He also said their immense size sets UTI apart from other institutions.

“We are the largest national automotive and skilled trade educational institution in the country,” he said. “So we have a broad network of employers that we work with from Ford to GM to Volvo to BMW. We are doing a really good job serving first-generation college students, and we have programs that help people find their careers with employers who actively look every day to hire our graduates.”

Brenner said UTI also caters to students who are still active in the military. He said they have created programs on military bases to help students get a jump on their post-military careers before they even leave the military.

“We have created three on-base military programs including Fort Bragg with BMW,” he said. “So we are not just having students come to us but we’re also working within the military framework for those active-duty personnel and their families that are looking at their post-military employment.”

Chris Oliveira, a veteran and current student at UTI, raved about the institution’s programs. He said the institution gives real-world experience in every class.

“It’s been great,” Oliveira said. “They are very in-depth with good hands-on learning. You are always getting your hands on every class. You will be physically doing it and not just reading in a book about how to do it.”

Programs such as UTI’s manufacturer-specific advanced training in diesel and welding is important in Arizona. (Universal Technical Institute/Submitted)

Oliveira served in the Marine Corps from 2011 and 2015. He was deployed to Afghanistan for a year and is now going through the General Motors program while considering his possible career options once he graduates.

“It’s honestly kind of open-ended right now,” he said. “I’m looking at a dealership group out of Texas for General Motors, but I am also interested in possibly buying used cars like a mechanic’s special car and motorcycles and fixing them and flipping them. So I’ve got a couple of different options there.”

While Oliveira isn’t sure about what he wants to do yet, he said the military dedicated team has helped to keep him on track as he figures out his career path.

“They have a military dedicated team — they call it a military team, but it’s a veterans team — to help get people enrolled, get their documents handled, and help you get through the VA requirements for your GI Bill, as

well as the school requirements,” he said. “They tell you how to file what’s needed, and they stay up on it instead of just saying, ‘Hey, we need this at some point.’”

Oliveira said these programs and support for veterans is what draws students to UTI. He also said veterans choose to come to UTI because they feel appreciated by the institution.

“A lot of people have said that UTI needs veterans,” he said. “I don’t see that as the case. I see that they appreciate veterans, and they like to come here because it’s hands-on just like you are hands-on in the military.”

Ultimately, Brenner said UTI is just focused on making “sure that we are helping individuals on their journey in skilled trade and transportation. We are proud of our ability to serve military families and appreciate the recognition we’ve recently received.”

The Universal Technical Institute in Avondale can be found at 10695 W. Pierce Street, Suite 100, Avondale. For more information, visit rev.uti.edu.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Open House Meeting for Belmont Energy Center Generation Tie Line Project

Belmont Energy Center, LLC (Belmont Energy) is hosting a public open house meeting for the Belmont Solar Generation Tie Line Project on March 1, 2023 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Tonopah Valley High School Cafeteria, 38201 W Indian School Road, Tonopah, AZ.

Belmont Energy is planning to build a 500-kilovolt (kV) alternating current generation intertie transmission line (gen-tie) and associated substation facilities (Project). The proposed gen-tie would connect the future Belmont Energy Center, a 450-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar generation and battery storage facility, to the electrical grid via the existing APS Delaney Substation. The Project would be located southwest of the community of Tonopah in unincorporated Maricopa County.

The Arizona Corporation Commission and Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee are permitting authorities for the Project. Belmont Energy will be applying for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility through the Committee to allow for construction and operation of the Project gen-tie.

Belmont Energy is in the process of analyzing gen-tie alternatives for the Project. As part of this analysis, the project team is soliciting public and stakeholder input. If you would like to learn more about the Project or have questions or comments, you may talk with a project member at the in-person open house meeting or submit a comment via writing, email, or voicemail through the forums listed below:

Mail: Clinton Spencer Senior Project Manager

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC

700 Universe Blvd.

Juno Beach, FL 33408

Email: BelmontSolar@nexteraenergy.com

Voicemail: 1 (623) 335-6315

Project Website: www.BelmontEnergyCenter.com

In addition to an in-person public open house meeting, Belmont Energy is hosting an online virtual public open house at BelmontSolarOpenHouse.com. The comment period for the Project will extend from Feb. 15, 2023, to March 9, 2023. We look forward to receiving your input.

Published in the West Valley View, Feb 15, 22, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF THE PRELIMINARY DECISION TO ISSUE AN INDIVIDUAL AQUIFER PROTECTION PERMIT

Seamstress/Ironing needed at dry cleaners near Luke Air Force Base.

Public Notice No. 22-46

Published on Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Published in West Valley View

Pursuant to Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 9, Article 1, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality intends to issue a significant amendment to an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) to the following applicant: City of Peoria

Facility Name: Beardsley Road Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)

Individual Aquifer Protection Permit No. 100091, LTF 93158

Permittee: City of Peoria

The facility is located in Maricopa County, Arizona, in Township 4N, Range 1E, Section 30 of the Gila and Salt River Base Line and Meridian.

The draft permit and related documentation are available for public review, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at ADEQ, 1110 West Washington Street, Records Management Center, Phoenix, Arizona, 85007. These documents are also available digitally by e-mail or print and mail (fee may apply), please call (602) 771-4380 or e-mail RecordsCenter@azdeq.gov 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the file. The permit and executive summary may be viewed online at http:// www.azdeq.gov/search/node/public%20notice.

The public comment period is in effect from February 15, 2023. Comments may be submitted in writing to: Shivani Shah, ADEQ, Groundwater Protection Value Stream, 1110 West Washington Street, MC 5415B-3, Phoenix, AZ 85007 or via email Shah. Shivani@azdeq.gov. Comments must be received or postmarked by March 16, 2023.

A public hearing request must include the reasons for such request.

ADEQ will take reasonable measures to provide access to department services to individuals with limited ability to speak, write or understand English and/ or to those with disabilities. Requests for language translation, ASL interpretation, CART captioning services or disability accommodations must be made at least 48 hours in advance by contacting the Title VI Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Leonard Drago, at 602-771-2288 or Drago.Leonard@azdeq.gov. For a TTY or other device, Telecommunications Relay Services are available by calling 711.

Published in the West Valley View, Feb 15, 2023

Name tapes made Call Thanom 623-935-1575

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Experience and English-speaking a plus, but can train right person.

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