West Valley View 02-22-2023

Avondale city councilmembers to serve nationally

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The National League of Cities recently appointed two of Avondale’s councilmembers to their National Committees.

Councilmembers Veronica Malone and Gloria Solorio will serve one-year terms in various committees in the NLC.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” Malone said. “With the growth of Avondale and being able to be on a national level and being able to do policy at a federal level and bringing our issues to the table, as well as listening to similar challenges other cities are. So, I’m extremely blessed to be on the committee. I’m excited to be at the table.”

Malone and Solorio will serve on multiple committees for the 2023 NLC Council. They both will be serving on the Youth, Education and Families Committee, where Solorio is a co-chair of the council. Malone will be a member of the Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee.

Solorio will also be a part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Services Fed-

eral Advocacy Committee.

“I feel privileged to serve in these roles and look forward to working together with local leaders from around the country,” Solorio said.

Both serving on the Youth, Education and Families Committee, they will be able to inspire change in local leaders across the

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Cactus League ballparks prepare for Spring Training

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

Spring Training is right around the corner, and baseball is back in the Valley for yet another year.

Fans from across the world will pile into the Valley to experience the Cactus League at full force in 2023, a sight that has been a rarity for nearly half a decade.

The past couple of years have been hard on ballparks, as each have had to weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020 and 2021 Spring Training and

the MLB players lockout prior to the 2022 Spring Training.

With the restrictions and obstacles lifted, however, the ballparks around the West Valley are ready for these fans armed with a series of new improvements, upgrades and more, geared toward making this year’s Spring Training one to remember.

Goodyear Ballpark

Goodyear Ballpark, the home of the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds, is focusing on bringing back all of the fun

and excitement that Spring Training fans have grown to love over the years in 2023. While there haven’t been any major upgrades or improvements to the park, the ballpark is honing in on the fan experience.

One of the main things being brought back that was successful in 2022 is an exciting lineup of food and beverages. Food options start with specialty burgers, a taquito dog, desserts and sliders that are served out of Hangar 46.

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Councilmembers Veronica Malone, left, and Gloria Solorio are excited to show o the policies that have led to Avondale’s growth at the national level. (City of Avondale/Submitted)

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nation to work on beneficial policies to collaboration, networking and development of resources.

A contributing factor to both Malone and Solorio being appointed is the rapid growth of Avondale. With a population over 90,000 people, the council’s contribution has been a key factor throughout this period.

“With the growth that Avondale has had, projects that we have had come through the last six years that I’ve served on the city council, it’s been tremendous,” Malone said. “So, I think that I bring a lot of knowledge of how we’re growing and what we’re doing. And I want to be able to share those types of things of what we’ve done, to grow our city, and to have projects come and be a part of the city, but also want to share what other cities do so that we can make shows there.

“So, we’re ensuring that we’re speaking for the people and building a solid community for Avondale.”

This opportunity to show off what Avondale has been doing to be successful has Malone excited, as she has been spending nearly two decades advocating for the community of Avondale. This dedication to her hometown will now be on display for the nation to see, as some of the policies that she has been instrumental in implementing could be used across the country.

“It’s kind of exciting to know that all the advocacy and all the speaking for my city that I’ve been able to do all these years has got me all the way to the NLC,” Malone said. “You’re just gung-ho about getting stuff done in my community. I guess that experience will be fun and exciting.”

The feeling is mutual from the NLC to have Malone and Solorio supporting the cause to inspire positive change across the country.

New food options will be implemented as well, including a variety of popcorn chicken served in souvenir helmets out in centerfield. Tossed in Buffalo and barbeque sauce, these are sure to become a fan favorite.

Goodyear Ballpark is all about the fans, though, as it will bring in some new and old activities to 2023. Returning is Kids Run the Bases each Sunday

game day and the Senior Stroll, happening on Wednesdays March 1 and March 8.

Giveaways are slated for the Cactus League season, too. Among them are opening day with a reusable grocery bag giveaway; St. Patrick’s Day, a commemorative pint glass giveaway; and the final day of the season, which is fan appreciation day and will offer

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“I am excited to have Councilmember Solorio and Councilmember Malone serve on these committees and look forward to working with them to ensure every city, town and village in this nation has the resources they need to thrive,” NLC President Victoria Woodards said.

Home delivery of the West Valley View is complimentary and offered to residents in the southwest region of the Valley of the Sun, saturating parts of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield 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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Goodyear Ballpark is keeping ghe fans engaged throughout the Cactus League season by way of giveaways and other gameday activities. (File photo)

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giveaways throughout the day.

“Spring Training is a short timeframe, and it’s only here for 30 days,” Goodyear Ballpark general manager Bruce Kessman said. “It’s a great opportunity to come watch the Guardians and the Reds before the season starts, and just enjoy baseball here in your backyard.”

Camelback Ranch

Ranked as one of the best ballparks in the Valley, Camelback Ranch, home to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, is primed and ready to capitalize off of a big event season in Glendale.

With no restrictions on events in 2023, the anticipation is through the roof.

“I am incredibly excited,” Camelback Ranch general manager and President Matt Slatus said. “To be able to bring a full Spring Training to the Valley for the first time since 2019 is just an incredible experience. Coming off the Super Bowl and the Phoenix Open to be able to continue to capture that energy and excitement that sports

brings makes this year rather unique.”

The goal at Camelback Ranch this year is to bring the most authentic viewing experience possible, to make every fan feel like they are in their home stadiums. This is done by offering foods and beverages that local fans will recognize whether said fan is from Chicago or Los Angeles.

Dodger fans will be greeted to local favorite beer from Golden Road Brewing and, of course, the world-famous Dodger Dog to make it feel like they are in Dodger Stadium while watching their team. White Sox fans will be greeted similarly, as Camelback Ranch will offer Chicago-favorite beers from Goose Island Brewery as well as Chicago Dogs “with all the fixins.”

“Baseball season doesn’t begin at Dodger Stadium or Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago; it begins in the Valley,” Slatus said. “The first impression to me is the most important. As we kick off the baseball season, it’s so important that we make that positive first impression.

“For me, as a youngster growing up in New York City, it was a Sabrett hot dog that I associated with Shea Sta-

dium. If you’re from Southern California, it’s the taste of a Dodger Dog, it’s the taste of a Vienna beef dog from Chicago, so we try to extend the brands of our teams from Los Angeles and from Chicago. To me, that was a no-brainer.”

All in all, Camelback Ranch is dedicated to making the entire Spring Training experience a success and kicking off baseball season in the best possible way.

“I think that if you launch the season correctly, the players go home happy, feeling like the Valley paid dividends for them,” Slatus said. “The media’s got some great opportunities to provide coverage, and fans feel like their club has a chance to win the World Series. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Peoria Sports Complex

The Peoria Sports Complex, home to the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners, will enter its 30th season hosting Spring Training baseball in the Valley.

Opened in 1994, the park has been a mainstay in the Peoria area as a great place for residents to see quality baseball in their backyards. To honor that milestone, they will lean into promotions to give back to the community, as well as heighten their fans’ experience.

Partnering with the Peoria Diamond Club, they will host their “30 Days” celebration, inviting charities from throughout the West Valley and celebrating the great work they do for the

community.

Other things happening around the park are a new mascot team that will help engage the fans, the addition of the American Furniture Warehouse “Oasis,” a group social area for fans to relax in an upscale lawn area with a private bartender which seats groups of 15 to 25 people.

The park will also feature aesthetic changes, such as a new mural that will honor the 30-year anniversary with baseball and cityscape-themed art, representing Arizona, San Diego and Seattle.

Lastly is the implementation of a new merchandise shipping container that will broaden the merchandise pool for all fans that want to look the part while at the game.

“We’re super excited about all those things that aren’t necessarily stadium improvements, but new to this year and fan engagement, fan experience, items to introduce our fans,” Peoria Sports Complex Superintendent Mike Hyland said. “It was tough the last couple years not seeing the ballpark filled.

“People probably still had a good time; we did our best to make their experiences the best that we could, but it wasn’t at the level that we wanted it to be. So (we are) looking forward to that buzz in the ballpark that we’ve missed for the last couple of years.”

With Spring Training rapidly approaching, the ballparks all seem to be ready to kick off the 2023 baseball season with a bang.

Goodyear Ballpark is ready to welcome fans to the 2023 Cactus League season to root on the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds. (File photo)

Maricopa Home and Landscape Show celebrates 30 years

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The Maricopa Home and Landscape Show will celebrate its 30th annual event at State Farm Stadium in Glendale from Friday, Feb. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 26.

The fun and interactive show is all about showing everybody how to make home improvement, gardening and landscaping an activity to get excited about.

“We’re really excited to have this show,” Maricopa Home and Landscape Show Director Katie Jones said. “(There were) a lot of moving pieces to be able to get this show to happen inside the stadium. … I feel very excited. I know all of us feel very lucky to be in such a venue. It is a world-class venue. They (hosted) the Super Bowl, they host these amazing concerts, and just to be able to be a part of that in the way that we are is really exciting.”

Being one of the first events held in State Farm Stadium, the Maricopa Home and Landscape Show has something for everybody.

Although admission starts at $8, the event boasts an abundance of free activities and seminars geared toward home improvement, fun hobbies and even health improvement.

Notable seminars include classes about roof repairs, birdhouse making and clay jewelry tray design.

The event’s activities are packed every day, including gardening help from University of Arizona Master Gardeners, bird house woodworking, DIY hacks, home hacks, free landscape design consultation, storage tips and organizing tips, among others.

“We have something that you can do for everybody,” Jones said. “Whether you’re a homeowner, you lease an apartment, you lease a home, you’re older, a senior or you’re even a kid, the Home Show is for everyone. And that’s a message that we want to get through.”

The show also gives a clear path for local artisans and businesses to shine through at a large event. They are put on display for the public to see and give them all the opportunities to succeed in their artistic endeavors.

“We like to really show off and showcase the local artisans and give them a platform to be able to show their products and their services on a bigger scale,” Jones said. “So it is something, for us, that we’re really passionate about.”

This 30th annual show means more than any normal show to them — for both the longevity and perseverance of the show through some tough years.

The show, like many other events, was rattled by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions were tough to weather, as it wasn’t able to put out at full capacity, which presented many issues for the show and even questioning if they would be able to continue.

“COVID was difficult for everybody in the events industry,” Jones said. “We always hear that the event industry was one of the first to close down and one of the last to be able to operate. Thankfully, with the help of the stadium and some of the local government representatives, we devised a very comprehensive content mitigation plan and we were able to host (three) shows.”

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The event shows how home improvement, gardening and landscaping can be fun. (Maricopa County Home Shows/Submitted)

NEWS BRIEFS

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

Avondale to hold household hazardous waste drop-off event

Did you know that some items cannot be collected with your normal trash pickup due to safety concerns? Residents of Avondale are invited to take part in a free household hazardous waste drop-off event on Saturday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to noon. Items will be collected at Avondale Civic Center Complex at the City Hall North Parking Lot at 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is any unwanted household product labeled as flammable, toxic, corrosive or reactive. Hazardous materials, if not properly disposed of, may have an adverse impact on the environment. Improper disposal of these products in the curbside container can contaminate drinking water and seriously injure garbage and recycling collection and landfill employees. The household hazardous waste event is free to residents to ensure safe disposal. There is no charge; however, Avondale residents will be required to provide proof of residency such as a recent city utility bill or driver’s license. This event is for residential hazardous waste only. Commercial waste will not be accepted. It is requested to transport materials in a cardboard box in the trunk or truck bed of vehicles.

A complete list of acceptable and un-

Celebrate...continued from page 6

In 2022, the show turned a new leaf, as it was able to host a show with promoters from across the United States, which gave it new motivation to stick out the last of the restrictions and make the 2023 show the best it has ever been.

“What can we do that was better than two years ago? And that’s something

acceptable items can be found online at avondaleaz.gov/hhw. For more information call the city of Avondale Public Works Department at 623-333-4400.

Avondale hosts STEAM Fest

Avondale Libraries will host a family-friendly event to inspire the next generation of scientists, programmers, engineers, artists and mathematicians.

The STEAM Fest Family Event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Avondale Civic Center Library at 11350 Civic Center Drive, Avondale.

STEAM Fest Family Event, a signature event of the Arizona SciTech Festival, is for all ages and is free to attend. Come explore booths featuring experiments, games, activities and exciting demonstrations all related to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The festival will feature city exhibits, local organizations and local businesses, and a variety of interactive and hands-on booths. A free giveaway science book and book bag from First Things First will be offered to the first 150 attendees.

At 3:30 p.m. presenters from the Phoenix Zoo Center for Nature and Conservation will share their expertise about wildlife and wild places. Three surprise live guest animal ambassadors — not seen on exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo — will make a special appearance for attendees of this event.

For further details on this and other programs offered at the libraries in Avondale, visit avondalelibrary.org.

that we really stuck with,” Jones said. “So we’ve seen growth because of that, but it was hard. It was really, really hard. It was a devastating couple of shows, but we held very true and very strong to that mission.”

Tickets start at $8, and the show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found at mchomeshows. com.

Goodyear providing support for education

BY CAMERON CHESTER West Valley View Staff Writer

The first-ever education fair for the city of Goodyear is coming for the benefit of the city’s residents.

Anyone interested in furthering their education or who is debating the idea can get their questions addressed directly from the various professionals from multiple schools set to appear at Education Fair in the Square.

“For the city of Goodyear’s inaugural Education Fair in the Square, we will have representatives onsite from many colleges and universities, including Arizona State University, The University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University and Maricopa Community Colleges, as well as Yavapai College and Pima Community College,” said Lyman Locket, director of human resources for the city of Goodyear. “There will also be representatives from high school and nonprofit career and technical education programs, such as the Maricopa Institute of Technology and the East Valley Institute of Technology.”

This free event includes an expo with representatives from a dozen schools including traditional universities, community colleges and nonprofit Career and Technical programs, and sessions answering the most common college

enrollment questions.

“The main goal of the city of Goodyear’s Education Fair in the Square is to grow a strong local workforce,” Lockett said. “We hope to contribute to this by connecting residents interested in furthering their education be it through a trade program or an advanced degree with representatives from traditional universities, community colleges and high school or nonprofit career and technical education programs. We’re also introducing debtfree education solutions ranging from scholarships and government loan programs to apprenticeship and leveraging employer benefits.

“Attendees will be able to hear from experts on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and on applying for financial aid and scholarships. Adults and new graduates will also learn about free education tools that can be found at the Goodyear Branch Library, and they’ll have the opportunity to hear about leveraging employee benefits to achieve a debt-free education from a panel of local employers.”

Education Fair in the Square will be held at the Goodyear Civic Square, 1900 N. Civic Square, Goodyear on Wednesday, March 1, from 3 to 6 p.m.

For a complete list of speakers, exhibitors, and an event schedule, go to goodyearaz.gov/educationfair.

Arizona’s first pygmy hippo born at Wildlife World Zoo

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

For the first time ever, one of the most endangered and beloved animals of Africa was born in the Arizona desert.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park recently announced the birth of a pygmy hippo named Bubbles. This is a significant birth not only for Wildlife World but for animal enthusiasts and conservationists, because fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos are left in the wild.

Bubbles was born Jan. 15 to his parents, Nessie and Tootsie, and is in excellent health. Bubbles is on exhibit now, and the timing of the pygmy hippo’s birth was perfect, as Feb. 15 was World Hippo Day.

Hippos are highly intelligent animals, and the team at Wildlife World was able to train complex medical behaviors allowing the mother Nessie to participate in procedures like ultrasounds, long before the calf was conceived. By Nessie participating in her own health care, the animal team,

including two veterinarians, veterinary technicians and specialists, was able to better monitor her and Bubbles’ health through every step of pregnancy.

That ensured the birth of a healthy calf, and helped maintain the health, comfort and well-being of mom.

The pygmy hippopotamus is mainly found in West Africa and is a far more terrestrial species compared to common hippos. Both types of hippos are threatened by habitat loss due to logging and human settlement.

Although conservation initiatives are ongoing, without more information on the species’ status and a coordinated conservation strategy, the pygmy hippo may disappear from the wild.

Fortunately, Arizona’s climate is much like parts of West Africa and provides the young hippos with a perfect environment to flourish and thrive, all the while being an ambassador for their species and inspiring people to conserve and protect their wild counterparts.

Bubbles was born on Jan. 15, one month before World Hippo Day. (Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park/Submitted)

Raquel Welch was a modest kind of sexy

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ West Valley View Columnist

The news caught my eye late on a mid-February morning: Actress Raquel Welch had died at the age of 82. If you are an adult of a certain age — and especially a male — you surely can close your eyes and conjure visions of Raquel, who was to Hollywood sex symbols what John Adams was to presidents — second in line.

In Welch’s case, behind only Marilyn Monroe when it came to earning headlines not for her acting talent but for the way she looked. This isn’t to say Welch was untalented — she won a Golden Globe for her role in “The Three Musketeers” — but more to give credit to her beauty, which was otherworldly. It’s considered politically incorrect to comment on female attributes in the 21st century, but there is no way to think about Welch without acknowl-

edging the obvious. As a beauty, she had few peers.

In 1998, when Playboy magazine made a list of the 100 sexiest female stars of the 20th century, Welch placed third, behind Monroe and Jayne Mansfield and ahead of Greta Garbo.

Me, I think Raquel got robbed by the judges. Not merely because I had a teenage crush on her, but also because Welch accomplished something precious few sex symbols have ever done: She went her entire movie career, from her first role as a call girl in 1964’s “A House Is Not A Home” to her last movie, 2017’s “How To Be A Latin Lover,” without ever once appearing nude in a movie.

“I’ve definitely used my body and sex appeal to advantage in my work, but always within limits,” Welch once said. “I reserve some things for my private life, and they are not for sale.”

Nowadays we live in a time when nudity is never more than a click away, and OnlyFans, webcam shows and YouPorn

OUR READERS’ V IEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A thank you to ‘Hektner’s Heroes’

Editor:

On Dec. 26, my friend, David Hektner, collapsed near the driving range at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear. Due to the quick thinking and trained actions of several individuals, David is home and doing great. As David collapsed, several golf cart keepers recognized an urgent situation and called 911.A golfing bystander, Dale Smi-

gelsky, immediately began CPR. Two more golfers came over and helped Dale with “full-on” CPR. Key golf pro shop staff Craig Swanson and Matt Phillips also assisted on the scene and directed EMT personnel to the emergency and provided details of the situation. The emergency responders continued lifesaving efforts and transported their patient to the Abrazo West Campus, where hospital staff took over. We can’t thank these Hektner’s Heroes enough for their recognition of the urgent situation, their fast re-

have made cashing in on being naked the easiest side hustle imaginable.

By contrast, Welch embodied a sense of mystery and a sense of decorum that died many, many years before she did.

Now? Selling and sending nudes has become little more than a hobby for the masses. We are urged to be thankful for this newfound liberation, but somehow Raquel Welch managed to strike a balance between feminine power — think of her in that famous deerskin bikini from the poster for “One Million Years B.C.” — and feminine modesty.

Even when Welch finally appeared in Playboy in 1979, she stripped down only as far as a red bikini. My father kept that issue hidden on the top shelf of his closet, a hiding spot I will confess to visiting on many occasions.

Speaking of fathers, Welch said her dad was another reason she never appeared nude.

“I am my father’s daughter, and that’s just not the way you behave,” she said. “You don’t do that if you are a certain

kind of a woman, and that’s the kind of woman I was raised to be.”

As legend would have it, Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner summoned Welch to his mansion after the photo shoot to complain.

As Welch recalled the meeting: “I said, ‘What’s the problem, Hugh?’ And he said, ‘Well, there’s no t–s and there’s no a–’. I said, ‘Isn’t that the deal we made?’ He said, ‘Yes, but it’s boring.’”

It seems quaint now, the notion that modesty ever existed and that it was once possible to be sexy — in fact the sexiest woman on Earth — and to keep certain assets and certain images to yourself.

Somehow, Raquel Welch managed to shock without being shocking, to be sexy without being lewd. In 2023, the age of the Kardashians and Pornhub, that seems like a trick we may never glimpse again.

sponse and their lifesaving skills. I do not know the names of the emergency responders, but they saved David Hektner’s life. May I repeat a thank you to Dale, the two men who assisted Dale, the staff at Palm Valley Golf Club, the

emergency responders and the medical personnel, and all who were involved that day.

Maura Houston Goodyear

Lengthy letters will be edited for space and grammar. Please do not submit multiple letters on the same topic.

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

HomelandSecurity’sborderpoliciesnotsosecure

BY J.D. HAYWORTH West Valley View Columnist

Before Tinseltown’s glitterati descended on the Valley of the Sun for Super Bowl 57, an inhabitant of “Hollywood for the cosmetically challenged” preceded them. One

of Washington, D.C.’s “celebrated public servants” stood before a multitude of microphones and cameras five days before the big game.

And talk about an acting job!

To hear Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas hold forth, you would have thought that a motion picture portrayal akin to Pat O’Brien as Knute

Rockne — or a performance recalling that old made-for-TV movie with Ernest Borgnine as Vince Lombardi — was in production.

What has made Joe Biden’s selection of Mayorkas unbearable for many residents of this border state is his unflagging effort to erase the international boundary that supposedly exists along our southern state line.

It even led Arizona’s 5th District congressman, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, to file articles of impeachment against him six days prior to his latest visit.

“Every day Secretary Mayorkas remains in office America becomes less safe,” Biggs said.

Perhaps to prove that our nation is the “land of second chances” — not to mention third, fourth and fifth opportunities for chronically criminal border crossers — Mayorkas played the part of “Mr. Enforcement” when he addressed the press.

Of the efforts to secure Glendale’s State Farm Stadium, Mayorkas said, “We screen everything that comes into this stadium … not just the people, but the food, the concessions … we screen everything!”

The media passed along this headline: “Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas says there is no credible threat against Super Bowl in Arizona.”

Of course, the same cannot be written about the border — if we can still truly call it a border.

It seems the worldview of Sec. Mayorkas and others of his ilk was reflected in the graffiti scrawled across a wall meant for messages instead of security: “Borders are scars upon the Earth!”

Nope.

Borders are reasonable and rational lines of geopolitical demarcation between and among nation-states for their mutual security and sovereignty.

As President Reagan put it, “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.”

Sadly, that basic truth is willfully ignored by Mayorkas.

How else to explain his failure to recognize that if the same screening in place at State Farm Stadium for the

Super Bowl — as well as the military and law enforcement personnel needed to conduct it — were likewise present along our southern border, it would likely result in a similar outcome: no credible threat.

Instead, Mayorkas is similar to a muttering motivational speaker — insisting to himself and the rest of us — that this crisis is a “threatening opportunity.”

We need to take Mayorkas literally. That’s why that when he testifies on Capitol Hill, he repeatedly says, “Things are going according to plan.”

And it’s also the reason he discounts the obvious threats to embrace “opportunity.”

Nothing matters more to Mayorkas than a mass amnesty that would make millions of illegal aliens into instant American citizens.

Biggs points out that the Secretary’s “policies have incentivized more than 5 million illegal aliens to show up at our southern border — an all-time figure.”

But as gratifying as the impeachment of Mayorkas would be, the sad fact is that the Democrat-controlled Senate would not vote to convict and remove him from office.

That’s why the best course for the House would be to pull on the purse strings and reduce funding to both the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service.

If the operating budgets of both those entities were reduced by 25% each and reallocated for genuine border enforcement during the appropriations process, it would prompt positive results.

Of course “enforcing that enforcement” would have to come through aggressive and constant oversight.

Otherwise, Mayorkas would seek mere cosmetic changes to maintain the ugly truth of a wide-open border that imperils the security of every law-abiding American.

And it’s not a game.

Act, legislation that would have mandated enforcement of Federal Immigration Law in the 109th Congress.

J.D. Hayworth represented Arizona in the U.S. House from 1995-2007. He authored and sponsored the Enforcement First

Business Briefcase

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

The West Valley is constantly growing, and restaurants, businesses and homemakers 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 new communities slated to begin the building process.

Villas Litchfield Park and Villas Goodyear

Locations: On Camelback Road, just east of Dysart Road, Litchfield Park/on Sarival Road, just south of I-10, Goodyear

Family Development, one of the country’s premier homebuilders with a multitude of projects throughout the Southwest, has announced plans to build two new luxury lease communities in Arizona — Villas Litchfield Park and Villas Goodyear.

Construction will commence in February, with both projects expected to be completed in 2024.

Villas Litchfield Park is being financed by Old National Bank, an Indiana-based institution founded in 1834, and will feature 153 units. Villas Goodyear will have 151 units and is being financed by Choice Bank, which was recently recognized as one of the best banks to work within the U.S.

Residents.

Both communities will enjoy proximity to everyday services and attractions including retail, restaurants and major thoroughfares.

Beyond their desirable locations, both Villas Litchfield Park and Villas Goodyear will feature single-story residences with exceptional design elements, including one to two bedrooms, open kitchens, extensive storage, private backyards, and convenient laundry rooms with side-by-side washers and dryers.

Both developments will be gated, offering residences an abundance of privacy and amenities, such as community gardens, a resort-style pool and spa,

barbecues and pocket parks.

“Family Development is excited to be at the forefront of the build-to-rent housing market with innovative new communities like the Villas,” Family Development Principal Rudy Herrera said. “We believe the appeal of these communities — in which individuals and families of all kinds choose to rent rather than buy — will only increase as these projects near completion.”

For more than two decades, Family Development has built thousands of homes in some of the most desirable communities in the Southwest while developing land for many more residences. The family-run company

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has earned numerous industry accolades from the sales and marketing, the Building Industry Association, the Desert Contactors’Association and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, among others.

Family Development is committed to creating high quality homes and communities for families of all kinds to enjoy for years to come.

“We believe that renters should be able to have luxury that exceeds most of today’s rental options,” Family Development Principal Vincent Barbato said. “With Villas Litchfield Park and Villas Goodyear, now they can. Family Development is applying our collective expertise to the luxury lease arena, and we think our residents will be very pleased with the results.”

For more information, visit familydevelopmenthomes.com.

Encanto Villas

Location: Corner of Encanto Boulevard and N. Avondale Boulevard, Avondale

Trilogy Investment Company, a leading national provider of build-torent housing communities, has created a strategic joint venture partnership with Cimbra Partners LLC through its subsidiary Cimbra Investors Encanto LLC, and has closed on 7 acres of land at the corner of Encanto Boulevard and N.Avondale Boulevard in Avondale.

The 84-unit townhome community called Encanto Villas, a Reve Community, will include three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath townhomes with a garage, flex third bedroom/office, ninefoot ceilings, full stainless steel appliance package and granite countertops, among other in-unit amenities. The first few units will be available in the first quarter of 2024.

Situated directly across from stateof-the-art West Point High School and in close proximity to all that Avondale has to offer, residents will enjoy a true homeowner experience with the privacy and security of a gated, townhome community.

The neighborhood boasts boutique amenities with a dog park, clubhouse with a pool, grilling stations and more amenities that will facilitate an active and social community. The bestin-class property management team will also organize and facilitate guest

events to build community for our residents, which is our ultimate mission for each neighborhood we develop.

“We continue to see attractive buildto-rent investment opportunities across the Phoenix MSA, including in the city of Avondale,” said César J. Rodríguez, managing partner for Cimbra Partners.

“The growth in this sector is being propelled by shifting demographics, increasing concerns around housing attainability and financial flexibility. Our partnership with Trilogy is critical to our investor confidence with their knowledge and expertise in this new burgeoning asset class.”

Led by a team of investment, development and construction professionals, Trilogy Investment Company provides build-to-rent homes for Americans seeking the stability and social benefits of home ownership but rent by choice or have been priced out of the competitive housing market. Located in desirable neighborhoods in proximity to good schools and major economic drivers, these build-to-rent communities offer luxurious finishes and coveted amenities for like-minded families and young professionals desiring rental opportunities beyond traditional apartments.

Created with targeted demographics in mind, these communities offer the flexibility of rentals with the stability, privacy, and social benefits of homeownership.

The team’s build-to-rent speed to market offers a competitive advantage over traditional multi-family construction in the form of intentionality. Their communities offer stability to people who want to surround themselves with social infrastructure and others in the permanent workforce but do not want the obligations of home ownership.

“The city of Avondale is a strategic priority for Trilogy with strong job and wage growth, industry fundamentals, and tremendously high barriers to entry within the booming Phoenix market,” said Jason Joseph, managing partner and chief executive officer of Trilogy Investment Company. “Encanto Villas is the first of three purpose-built communities our team is excited to deliver to the city of Avondale.”

For more information, visit trilogyrez.com.

Tolleson Union football participates in Super Bowl Experience

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The Tolleson Union High School

football team was invited out to an interactive day at the Super Bowl Experience on Feb. 10.

The team participated in a slew of activities that most notably ended up in Nike and the Arizona Cardinals donating new jerseys to the program for the next football season.

“It was just an opportunity that was great for our kids, and then (being) able to go down to the Experience and get all the things that go with that (is) something that I’m sure they’ll never forget,” Tolleson Union football head coach Rich Wellbrock said.

The school’s athletic director, Dr. Ray Perkins, was contacted by the Su-

per Bowl Experience, as organizers wanted to recognize the school at the event and be a part of a ton of activities. He jumped on the opportunity to get the players involved.

After a bus ride from the West Valley to Downtown Phoenix, the Wolverines were invited to participate in a modified NFL combine experience, where the players got to test their skills in the same events the pros do. The event tested their individual 40-yard dash and shuttle drill times, as well as their vertical and standing long jump scores.

After the modified combine experience, the team attended a motivational talk with world-famous motivational speaker Eric Thomas, who gave a motivational speech that Wellbrook said had him ready to run through a brick wall.

“There’s very few people in the industry altogether that would make my jaw drop, and seeing him and talking to our kids and being able to just get a couple of words with him was just incredible,” Wellbrock said. “His speech was probably 10 minutes, but it’s going to be something that lasts a lifetime and will continue to come back.

“It has already continued on and (we) have already built off of what he already talked about in the weight room.”

Following the motivational speech, the players were invited by Nike to a seminar about how the professional jerseys were made. They also were shown the more technical side of the business, like graphic design and how the representatives got into the position they are in.

“Our kids in general don’t end up going to the NFL,” Wellbrock said. “So it gave a different perspective. Those guys were always around sports and wanted to find something else that they can do in sports, and that’s what they did.”

At the end of the seminar, Nike, the NFL and the Cardinals donated jerseys to the program to be used next season.

“It was an honor,” Wellbrock said. “From an adult standpoint, you really realize how honored those kids should be. Those kids work hard, and I was so excited for them. I even talked to the kids afterward and stuff like that. I think it was such a whirlwind for them.

“They’re going to look back here in a couple of years and go, ‘Wow, how cool was this? That we were one of the only couple teams that got to go down there and go through this experience?’”

After the shock of the jersey reveal from Nike and the NFL, the players got to go experience how Riddell makes its helmets for the NFL’s best. Similar to the Nike presentation, Riddell repre-

sentatives talked to them about how they got into the business and what steps they can take to end up in a spot of their choosing.

The culmination of the experience was the players got to make their own miniature helmets to take home as a memento of their time at the Super Bowl Experience.

Through the “whirlwind” of events that the players got to be a part of, the recognition from massive organizations that they look up to will motivate them to keep on following their dreams, whether it be to play in the NFL or just be involved in sports down the road.

From not even having a football program just four short years ago to now being invited into an experience unlike any other, the players will take this motivation and carry it over for the rest of their lives.

“I don’t think you can’t underestimate it,” Wellbrock said. “In today’s day and age, kids are always looking for motivating factors.

“And we’re in a sport right now and at a school where we’re always looking for motivating factors to get kids to jump on board, and this has definitely put the spotlight on us in a very, very good way, and we’re just going to continue to build from that.”

The Tolleson Union High School football team participated in a slew of activities. (Tolleson Union High School District/Submitted)

Brent Wilson, OD • Anna Moore, OD, FAAO Brayden Lundquist, OD, FSLS, FAAO • Tyler Mullen, OD • Michael Furey, OD Optometrists

Durant talks return, playing with Booker in intro presser

BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Managing Editor

With the NBA All-Star break over, Kevin Durant’s highly anticipated return to the court and debut with the Phoenix Suns is about ready for tipoff.

The superstar forward has been out since mid-January with an MCL sprain in his right knee. Prior to his injury, he was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists on 56% shooting with the Brooklyn Nets.

“I don’t know, but hopefully soon,” Durant said at his Jan. 16 introductory press conference on when he will be returning to the court.

“Hopefully you can feel my enthusiasm in wanting to get out there and get ready to play. But I’m going to follow the training staff and follow what they have me on. But hopefully soon after the (All-Star) break.”

The Suns almost single-handedly changed the landscape of the remainder of this season acquiring Durant. In a flurry of moves that took place around

the NBA’s trade deadline, Durant to the Suns is arguably the most impactful to both the Suns and the rest of the NBA’s title contenders.

It has been known for quite some time that Durant was interested in becoming a Sun. A large factor in that, he said, had to do with Devin Booker and the respect he has for him and his game.

“I’m looking forward to playing with somebody like (Booker) who plays kind of similar to how I play,” Durant said. “We use the same spots on the floor, but try to do it quick and efficient, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“He has a pure game,” he later said. “He can score at every area of the floor with good efficiency. … He goes about his business on and off the court in just a mature manner, and I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to be a part of this journey to see how good he can get from here. He’s just one of those players that I really admire. People will be doing classes on him once he’s done playing.”

As it turned out, Durant’s interest in the Suns and the Valley isn’t something

that has become a recent development. The two-time NBA champion has kept his eye on Phoenix since his rookie year in 2007-08.

“I feel like once I got into the league, Phoenix was always one of the top teams in the league,” Durant said. “They always had a solid team, always had someone I respected. When you came in here (as the away team), this was a battle. You knew the crowd was going to be into it from the tip.

“You always keep an eye out on organizations and teams throughout the league throughout your career. This is one of the teams and cities that I always respected. I’m glad this was able to come full circle and I’m here now.”

Durant’s interest in a move to the Suns would not have existed if he didn’t think the team would win a championship. At his introductory press conference, he said this Suns team has “all the pieces to be successful.”

Despite the obvious pressure that comes with that, he doesn’t see it as a failure if the Suns don’t win a champi-

onship with him on the roster.

“I know there is always pressure because I’m one of the best players to ever play the game,” Durant said. “Every time I step on the floor, people are going to expect me to do great things. But I enjoy getting better as a player every day. I enjoy just waking up and getting to do this, so I don’t ever say anything is a failure if I’m healthy enough to play the game of basketball.

“But I know what’s on our backs; we understand that. We want to get the most out of this opportunity.”

That said, the Suns are among 12 NBA teams to have never won the NBA Finals. Having been on the cusp over the last couple years, Durant knows this team has a real opportunity to “accomplish something.”

“I know how significant a championship is to a franchise and to a city,” Durant said. “I’ve been a part of two of those and I’m looking forward to getting back on the road and try to build again, but I know how tough it is. This fanbase is looking forward to cheering for a winner.”

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

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

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

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

Buckeye Valley Museum Open

WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

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

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

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

Yoga Nidra and Sound Bath

SATURDAYS

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

206 N. Florence Avenue, Litch-

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

apple upside down cake doughnuts, a s’more doughnut with roasted marshmallow in the middle, and boysenberry-filled doughnut, among others. Get there early, as doughnuts are known to be sold out quickly.

8-Bit Aleworks, 1050 N. Fairway Drive, Building F, Suite 101, Avondale, 9 a.m. to noon, https://bit. ly/3Eh0c7T

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

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, five 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

Veterans Administration, resume services, blood pressure and eye exams, volunteer opportunities and education/job opportunities. A complimentary breakfast will be provided courtesy of Buckeye Elks. Odyssey Institute, 1595 S. Verrado Way, Buckeye, 8 to 11 a.m., buckeyeaz.gov

Beer and Doughnuts

FEB. 25

8-Bit Aleworks is partnering with Sugar & Spice to bring some custom doughnuts to pair with the plethora of beers o ered at the microbrewery. Options include pine-

West Valley Job Fair

FEB. 28

Spring Training

FEB. 25

Spring Training is back in the Valley. The first game coming to Goodyear Ballpark is between the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds. Check out the Cactus League website at cactusleague.com for the full schedule.

Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, 1:05 p.m., $12-$35, goodyearbp.com

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,

The general public is invited to meet face to face with Phoenix and Glendale’s businesses for onsite job inquiries. Attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of resumes and come dressed for success. Businesses include Desert Diamond Casinos, Terros Health, Fry’s Food Stores, Valley Life, Glendale Elementary School District and Progress Residential. Glendale Civic Center, 5750 W. Glenn Drive, Glendale, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., http://bit.ly/418MTQL

Veterans Lift Up

MARCH 4

This free event connects veterans from all branches of the military with businesses, organizations and nonprofits that o er programs, services and information specifically for veterans. A few of the benefits and services o ered include registration with the

Litchfield Park Art & Wine Festival

MARCH 4

Get ready for the annual fine art festival with over 200 art booths, a beer and wine garden with tastings from a variety of Arizona wineries and breweries, plus live music and an assortment of food options. Buy wine and/or beer tasting tickets ahead of time to bypass the lines at the gate. Six tickets with a commemorative wine glass or one ticket for a 16-ounce beer or 9-ounce cocktail with a commemorative pilsner glass is $15. Ten tickets and wine glass or two beer/cocktail tickets and a pilsner glass is $20. The festival is open to all ages, while the beer and wine garden is 21 or over. Downtown Litchfield Park, E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., http://bit. ly/3S8hlX8

West Valley View Dining

HomeBase Surprise tackles rising homeless youth

BY LAUREN KOBLEY AND SAMIA SALAHI Cronkite News

Expanding its reach beyond Phoenix, Native American Connections has opened a second transitional housing facility and program for homeless youth in Surprise.

The HomeBase Youth Services center demonstrates the dire need for youth emergency housing. Previously used as a retirement home, it can house up to 40 young men and women.

Kayla Harcharik and Kumarri Owens were among the early residents. Case manager Chris Madden has already helped them adjust to their new environment and is advising them on finding a job and permanent housing.

“He helps you get a job, manage your money and look out for you,” Owens said of Madden. “He makes sure you’re doing what you gotta do and be independent but still support you.”

Arizona saw the largest increase in the number of homeless youth in the nation last year, adding 284 unaccompanied youth, for a 44% increase from 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress.

The Maricopa County Association of Government’s Point-in-Time Homeless Count in January 2022, the most recent for which data is available, identified more than 9,000 people in Arizona as homeless. Of those, 749 were 18 to 24 years old.

Diana Yazzie Devine, CEO of Native American Connections, said the nonprofit realized there was a considerable gap in services for homeless youth throughout the Valley, not just in Central Phoenix. The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families through behavioral health, affordable housing and community development services. While it supports Indigenous people in need, its

services are for people of all races and ethnicities. Unsheltered youth are more at risk of being trafficked, exploited and addicted, Yazzie Devine said.

“Some youth are really disconnected from their family and other support systems, and they’ve experienced a lot of trauma,” she said. “It makes them vulnerable for trafficking and for other domestic violence abuse. They’re just very vulnerable on the street and (are) being approached for victimization or for drugs.”

Teens meet with a case manager to determine what services they need, and together they come up with a plan of action. Daily check-ins help residents maintain a sense of stability and continue progress toward their overall goal of achieving permanent housing and an education, said Michael Lafitte, director of HomeBase Surprise.

To be part of the program, a teen must be enrolled in school or working. HomeBase Surprise also trains residents on skills such as resume building and interview etiquette.

“The program really focuses on education, employment and saving,” Lafitte said. “We teach independent living skills so that once they transition from the shelter, they’re able to be self-sufficient and then usually within a three- to four-month time period, they’re able to transition into permanent housing.”

He said he hopes the new center will mirror the success of the Phoenix program and he hopes to partner with other Surprise organizations.

The city of Surprise “really welcomed us in and we want to be a part of the community and work together to end the growing problem (of homeless youth) that we’re seeing all over our community,” Yazzie Devine said.

Funding for the expansion in Surprise came, in part, from the Arizona

Diana Yazzie Devine, CEO of Native American Connections, right, introduces Michael Lafitte, director of HomeBase Surprise, at the grand opening of HomeBase Surprise on Feb. 2. (Logan Camden/Cronkite News)

Nature festival takes over Avondale

BY CAMERON CHESTER West Valley View Staff Writer

The city of Avondale is inviting families and outdoor enthusiasts to the banks of the rivers in Avondale encouraged to relax.

The 2023 edition of the Tres Rios Nature Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Visitors to the Wildlife for Tomorrow-sponsored Tres Rios Nature Festival can anticipate another fantastic, free, outdoor festival with activities for people of all ages.

“It is an outdoor area where passive recreation activities take place such as walking, hiking, bicycle riding, birdwatching, photography, fishing, etc.,” Avondale Recreation Supervisor Stacy Swainston said. “There will be all sorts of vendors including local honey, jewelry, art and fishing items, among others.”

The Tres Rios Base & Meridian Wildlife Area has hosted the yearly festival at the junction of the Gila,

Salt and Agua Fria rivers for almost 20 years. The event honors the local wildlife, vegetation, sustainability, ecological relationships and other recreational options.

Over 10,000 attendees are expected to enjoy folk, bluegrass and country entertainment provided by Desert Diamond Casino West Valley. Educational exhibits and nature center lectures will be available as well.

Attendees at the two-day festival can observe local birds, go canoeing or fishing with Arizona Game & Fish, get up close to nature, enjoy an exhilarating zip line, go rock climbing, and make a craft.

For those early risers, the Tres Rios Nature Festival is offering a bird-watching hike on both days beginning at 7:30 a.m. and running until 9 a.m. A guided tour of the area’s bird-watching options will be given by Audubon specialists. Osprey, red-tailed hawk, peregrine falcon, orange-crowned warblers, and even a bald eagle are a few of the birds that may be seen.

Registration for the bird-watching hike is necessary. Send an email to mcbobaz@aol.com or text 602-373-2952 to register.

Due to the nature area’s location, accessibility might be restricted, and getting there isn’t the easiest. The location requires a halfmile walk on a gravel path surface from the parking lot, and there is no available foot transportation in the neighborhood.

That said, there will be a free shuttle service provided by First Transit to and from the event from the Old Town region to

Festival...continued on page 23

1. You might skip the waitlist: Limited seats are available! Offers are sent on a first-come, firstserved basis. Act now to beat the rush!

2. You can drop your stress level: Secure your child’s seat in our affordable before and after school programs. It’s one less thing to worry about!

3. You can get the jump on next year: Start getting involved now with our events and extracurriculars updates to set up your student’s best year yet!

HomeBase...continued from page 21

Department of Housing. Native American Connections received $7.8 million as part of the American Recovery Act. The nonprofit also relies on other grant money and donations.

Each room has two beds, a private bathroom and a shared closet. The rooms come with linens for each resident that have been donated to the center. The facility has an open courtyard, game room, commercial kitchen, conference rooms, computer lab and classrooms. The facility also has a drop-in center that allows any unhoused youth to come in and do laundry or take a shower. The youth are always encouraged to talk to a case manager if they are doing a drop-in and to see the place in hopes that it might be a good fit for them to enroll in the program, Yazzie

Festival...continued from page 22

the Avondale Resource Center located at 995 E. Riley Drive, Avondale.

“This is a great event to bring awareness to the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area as many people in Avondale aren’t aware it exists,” Swainston said. “Families can then continue to enjoy the area for years to come. This event also allows the Avondale community to participate in more outdoor activities and bring awareness on ways they can keep the area clean and safe for all to enjoy.”

If You Go...

WHAT: Tres Rios Nature Festival

WHERE: The Tres Rios Base & Meridian Wildlife Area

Near Phoenix Raceway, five miles south of I-10 on Avondale Boulevard

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26

COST: Free

Devine said.

The Surprise facility expects between 100 and 200 youth in its first year.

Native American Connections has operated a transitional housing program near Ninth Street and Indian School Road in Phoenix since 2010.

HomeBase Youth Services teaches atrisk and homeless youth to live healthy and independent lives. Its vision is “No kid sleeps on the streets,” and its message to youth is that all are welcome and respected.

Services include temporary housing, weekly medical screenings, behavioral health services, case management and job training. The age range is 1824 years old, and the typical stay in transitional shelter is from four to six months.

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

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend. (City of Avondale/Submitted)

Pageant MC Radio Personality Danny Davis

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.

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.

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

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

Elizabeth “Libby”

Prewitt Sparks

Elizabeth “Libby”

Prewitt Sparks, 75, born and raised in Sandy Hook, Kentucky. She was born June 16, 1947 the daughter of the late Mosie and Myrtle Prewitt. She passed away in Buckeye, Arizona on February 2, 2023 with her family at her side. She graduated from Sandy Hook High School, Ottawa University, and has a Masters degree from Northern Arizona University. She was in the education field for ten years and taught computer technology at Tolleson Union High School District for twenty-one years. She is survived by her husband, Phillip L. Sparks, of 57 years, her sons, Robert Sparks Sr. (Amanda), Chris Sparks (Kim), daughter Kimberly Walker (Greg), twelve grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Libby was a Christian and a member of The White Tanks Southern Baptist Church.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at the White Tanks Southern Baptist Church 1420 N. 192nd Ave Buckeye, Arizona on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 1pm. A Memorial Service will follow at 2pm.

Online condolences can be given at www.chapelofthechimesmortuary.com

Funeral Chapel

623-535-8439

Deadline: Thursday by 5pm for next week

Isidro Ramirez

It is with great sadness that we let you know about the passing of our father, Isidro Francisco Ramirez, on Wednesday February 8, 2023. He was born May 15, 1943 in Mexico City.

He was a veteran of the United States Navy.

We love you dad and you will be missed.

To read the full obituary please visit: www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/isidro-ramirez

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

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

Anthony Madden

Girl Scouts take to Westgate, hosting 5K to cap cookie season

BY JOE MCHUGH West Valley View Staff Writer

The Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus Pine (GSACPC) and the State Forty-Eight Foundation will host a second Bring Home the Cookies 5K Run/Walk event at Westgate in Glendale on Saturday, Feb. 25. The culmination of a long cookie-selling season, this event will mark the end of the season for these young girls, in an event that will allow them to showcase their cookie-selling skills as well as promote local entrepreneurs in the area.

“We’re really, really excited to have this event,” said Zuri Torres, GSACPC senior manager of multicultural communication. “I think the whole community knows about the Girl Scout

cookies season happening right now, but it’s really exciting to have everyone in one space to celebrate all of our girls’ efforts.”

Although outlined by the 5K run, the GSACPC event is loaded with tons of other fun activities for attendees to do. The family-friendly event will host many booths with young Girl Scouts and local businesses as well, promoting the empowerment of these entrepreneurs the whole way through.

“We have the media always sharing about our delicious cookies, but it goes beyond that,” Torres said. “One hundred percent of our proceeds stay local. So girls are not just learning these skills, but they’re also using these funds to give back to the community through service projects and donations.

Programs that will further their own leadership skills that they can use as adults to give back.”

Other activities that will service the community range from featured music, food and, of course, the highly sought after Girl Scout cookie.

The 5K race comes with its own set of perks as well. For starters, all registered racers will be given a complimentary State Forty Eight T-shirt, a package of Girl Scout cookies and a medal, among others.

The race will also have local mascots and special guests in attendance, making the experience that much better as the runners race.

After the race is concluded, there will be a full Runner’s Village, that will have even more vendors for racers to check out, which will include cook-

neurs to become successful. The Bring Home the Cookies event is a shining example of that partnership, as the skills that will be on display from both local entrepreneurs and the Girl Scouts themselves will be a motivating factor for them to build off of in the future.

“I think one of the most inspiring things about Girl Scouts is that they always want to see growth in themselves and each other,” Torres said. “I think that’s something that’s reflected within our staff and our organization as well.

“So, our girls are working hard, so we want to make sure we’re working hard alongside them. So really, this 5K was really born out of that motivation.”

All in all, the core of the event is to inspire these young girls that they are the future leaders of the country. In addition, they can do anything that they set their minds to, and it all starts with a simple cookie that teaches massive life lessons.

Eight side as well,” Torres said. “It’s always really exciting to see all these different pieces come together and for us to also celebrate our own efforts.”

The partnership between State Forty Eight and the Girl Scouts has been one of mutual sight, as both strive to empower and motivate local entrepre-

“I think by the community coming out and supporting this event, it really means that they’re supporting the Girl Scout mission, which is creating girls of courage, confidence and character in that they also believe that girls and women are capable of accomplishing anything,” Torres said. “That we are leaders of the world, that we do create change, and that we are contributing to making the world a better place.”

Launching the construction site at Agua Fria

BY JENIELLE SEPHIA BONGO Agua Fria High School

Agua Fria High School recently celebrated the opening of a new and improved space on the back of T-building, thanks to the partnership with Lowe’s and Chasse Building Team.

Agua Fria High School District officials and staff, along with representatives from Lowe’s and Chasse, joined the construction program students on Jan. 24 to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of this career and technical education project.

A $250,000 grant from Lowe’s was awarded to the Agua Fria Union High School construction program to upgrade the workspace and materials. The improvements included a tool cage, material storage cage and an outdoor workspace, which consisted of an extended cover and a flat surface for proper drainage.

“The motivation behind this project was the extreme need for beautification

of the area to help the skills and trade of the construction program,” Principal Autumn Daniels said.

This project not only provides this program with a larger workspace, bringing it up to OSHA’s industry standards, but it helps students get ready for a post-secondary education in construction.

“Lowe’s is happy to support the students of this community by giving them the tools and the training to enable them to go into the field right out of high school,” said Greg Jiron, Lowe’s manager.

The Agua Fria Union School District hopes to attract more students to the program, potentially leading them to a career in this field.

Kyle Brumbaugh, construction instructor, expressed his gratitude to all the organizations that made this possible.

“We are so thankful for Lowe’s, Chasse and everyone at Agua Fria High School for putting in the time to make this happen. At the end of the day, this project il-

The Agua Fria High School ribbon-cutting ceremony featured governing board members, Principal Autumn Daniels and the Lowe’s team. (Agua Fria High School/Submitted)

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