Glendale Star 5.19.22

Glendale’s water supply threatened

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Glendale Star Staff Writer

Arizona and other Western states that take water from the lower Colorado River for cities and farms were hoping for a good season of rain and snow this winter to keep water levels in the river’s reservoirs above dangerously low levels.

Instead, they got another bad year.

Recently, Glendale Water Resources Manager Drew Swieczkowski updated city council on the city’s water situation following disappointing projections for the reservoirs released by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in April.

Swieczkowski told council that the city

should plan for deeper cuts than expected to its allocation of Colorado River water in the next few years.

The good news, he said, is Glendale has a diversified water portfolio and years of water stored in groundwater to cushion the blow during this “really stressful time on our water resources.”

The disappointing spring runoff this year, on top of 22 years of regional drought, has shortened the time that states and the federal government have to avert a series of dangerous scenarios that could unfold in the next two years without action.

About 36% of Arizona’s water — and 44% of Glendale’s water — comes from the Colorado River. Lake Mead and Lake

Powell store water that goes to population centers, and they have less water now than they’ve ever had.

The upshot of the disappointing winter is that water officials are accepting a future where less Colorado River water is available — so they are redoubling efforts to make alternate plans.

But at the same time that they are doing long-term planning, water officials are also engaged in a short-term rescue mission to keep the Colorado River flowing and the reservoir system intact.

A 24-month model created by the Bureau of Reclamation predicts that without action, Lake Powell could drop below the

City says homeless response

BY JORDAN ROGERS Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Glendale City Council approved the start of the Homeless Master Services Agreement on June 22, 2021.

The agreement was to be for two years and not to exceed the amount of $3,394,008 of funding coming from allocations of ESG and CDBG as well as special allocations of ESG CARES Act one-time funding over that period.

At a city council workshop on May 10, Jean Moreno, community services director, discussed the projects, services and strategies related to homelessness in Glendale.

“The important point, though, is that

when we are designing solutions to address homelessness, we have to make that sure we don’t lose sight of the people who are experiencing homelessness,” Moreno said.

“We have to pay attention to the types of services and programs that we deliver. We have to understand what the gaps in services are, and we also have to understand what is going on within our neighborhoods and within the community to really design solutions that will address the overall concerns about homelessness in our community.”

Along with funded activities, interdepartmental coordination, interagency co-

ordination and collaborative community partnerships with faith-based and nonprofit organizations are happening regularly to organize homeless response efforts.

As was the agreement when council approved the Homeless Master Services Agreement, the initiative has provided assistance in eviction prevention, medical services, employment and vocational services, street outreach, identification assistance, pet support, criminal justice diversion, food support, case management, shelter bed nights, emergency housing support, outreach events, resume and job placement services, day work programs,

Glendale native returns home for Stir Crazy shows

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level needed to generate hydropower, 3,490 feet, by next spring or as early as the end of December.

In recent briefings, officials noted that the reservoirs are V-shaped, which means the rate that the water levels drop accelerates at lower levels.

“We’re being piled on in a lot of ways, including by Mother Nature,” Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said in a joint briefing with the Central Arizona Project.

While Buschatzke emphasized that there is no “imminent threat” to water flowing from the tap in Arizona homes and businesses, officials made clear that Arizona and other states face a gauntlet of bad scenarios if they can’t halt the decline in the Colorado reservoirs.

While Buschatzke emphasized that there is no “imminent threat” to water flowing from the tap in Arizona homes and businesses, officials made clear that Arizona and other states face a gauntlet of bad scenarios if they can’t halt the decline in the Colorado reservoirs.

The most immediate threat to the Colorado water system is the loss of hydropower generated by the dams that hold back the water, when the level drops below the intake for the turbines.

Rural communities, like Page, rely on that hydropower, but it’s also “a crucial part of our (Arizona) energy grid,” Swieczkowski said in a presentation. “It is a really big energy producer.”

CAP, the state agency that delivers Colorado River water via canals and water credits, only relies on hydropower for 6% of its energy needs, but the loss of the power would put upward pressure on water rates.

After losing power production, the next problem dam engineers would face is the need to release water from the reservoir via rarely used low water outlets. Dam operators don’t want to rely on these, because they have little experience using them.

“There are reliability concerns about long-term operations and a lot of uncertainty,” Buschatzke said of dam operations at extreme low water. “I think you’ll hear that word ‘uncertainty’ quite a bit today in terms of what’s facing us.”

About 120 below the loss of hydropower, Lake Powell would reach “dead pool,” when water is below the low water outlet and there is no more active

storage.

At dead pool on Lake Powell, “the maximum amount that could be released (from the dam) is limited to the amount coming in, so-called ‘run of the river,’” a spokesperson for CAP said.

CAP said it could continue delivering to cities through its canals as long as Lake Mead stayed above dead pool. The agency also has secondary storage in Lake Pleasant north of Phoenix, for “critical deliveries to Phoenix-area cities.”

Many Valley cities, including Glendale, have diversified water portfolios, drawing water from groundwater and surface water other than the Colorado River. In a worst-case scenario, Glendale could keep the taps running for years using stored groundwater and water from the Salt River Project.

But a rapid reduction in the availability of Colorado River water would still likely have local officials scrambling to keep water operations steady. Many cities, including Glendale and Mesa, are drilling new wells to enhance their ability to quickly add groundwater to their water systems.

One bit of good news is 43% of Glendale’s water comes from SRP, and SRP’s reservoirs on the Salt and Verde rivers are healthy, Swieczkowski said, sitting at 77% and 33%, respectively. SRP is studying a plan to raise the height of Bartlett Dam to improve storage capacity on the Verde River.

A project like this, which might take a decade to complete, would help Valley cities adjust to a permanent reduction in Colorado River water.

The bad year on top of many bad years seems to have forced state water officials to face the reality that the Colorado will permanently deliver less water each year, and it has galvanized officials to act.

Climate change is one reason water officials are resigned to reducing dependence on the Colorado River.

One of the findings from this year’s April water projection was that much less water reached the river than actually fell as snow and rain in the watershed. In terms of snowpack, it actually wasn’t that bad a year, with 92% of average. But that snowfall only led to 62% of

Heat Relief Network keeps public cool

BY JORDAN ROGERS

Glendale Star Staff Writer

The city of Glendale is continuing its partnership with the Maricopa Association of Governments to support and launch the Heat Relief Network.

The Heat Relief Network was instituted in 2005 and began on the back of a heat wave causing the 30 deaths in the homeless population. This year, it went into effect on May 1 and will wrap up Friday, Sept. 30.

It is a regional partnership of the Maricopa Association of Governments, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, the faith-based community, and businesses, providing hydration stations, refuge locations and water donation sites throughout the Valley.

“The city of Glendale’s motto is to improve the lives of the people we

serve every day,” Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said. “Participating in this program that assists those who are homeless, homebound, or anyone in need of water or a cool place to escape the summer heat is another way we live that motto.”

Currently, the city offers 10 heat relief sites, which is two more than last year.

Those sites include the Glendale Community Action Program Office and Public Housing Office, the Glendale Adult Center, the Foothills Recreation and Aquatic Center, the Glendale Municipal Courts building, the Glendale Cemetery, and the four Glendale Public Libraries.

Over 10,000 bottles of water were distributed among Glendale-based facilities.

Glendale offices closed for Memorial Day

BY JORDAN ROGERS Glendale Star Staff Writer

The city of Glendale is closing its offices in accordance with Memorial Day on Monday, May 30. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 31.

All residential garbage, recycling and bulk trash collection services will be carried out as usual for regularly scheduled collection days throughout the holiday week. However, the Glendale Municipal Landfill and the Solid Waste customer service office will be closed.

GUS Bus One will be the only one available on Memorial Day, and it will be running on the Sunday schedule, which is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ADA service is available, but on a holiday Sunday fixed-route schedule. Same-day Dial-a-Ride services will not be available. Reservations to be

used on Memorial Day must be made by noon, Friday, May 27.

Valley Metro bus and rail will run on Sunday schedules. Express or RAPID services are unavailable, and Valley Metro Customer Service will be closed.

The Glendale Municipal Airport will be open during the holiday; however, the airport’s administrative offices will not be.

Glendale Public Libraries, along with the Visit Glendale offices, will be closed.

The splash pads featured at Heroes Regional Park and O’Neil Park will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but Glendale’s Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center, the Glendale Community Center and the Glendale Adult Center are all scheduled to be closed.

For additional information about the City of Glendale’s programs and services, visit glendaleaz.com.

transportation assistance, temporary hotel stays, and a 24-hour homeless services line specifically for the homeless population.

Taking a deeper dive into the Eviction Prevention Program, the presentation showed that 2,450 households have been assisted since March 2021. Moreno expects that number to hit 3,000 before the end of the fiscal year.

In total, 14,275 months of rent were paid through governmental funding, which is an average of six months per household.

The presentation also went over the Jan. 25 “Point in Time Count” to try quantifying the unsheltered homeless population in Glendale. The results showed to be 406 people who were counted across 21 geographic zones. The majority of those counted were in the southern and southeastern areas of the city.

This number’s previous most recent peak was 194 in 2019 and settled at 170 in 2020. A count was not completed in 2021 due to the pandemic.

While it is valuable information, Moreno did acknowledge that it is hard to gauge accuracy based on the practice of that program, as 34% of the 406 people deemed homeless came from observations. The other 66% came from interviews.

“It’s a good piece of information,” Moreno said. “It’s fairly accurate when it comes to understanding the bigger picture. When you get down to the city level, it is very difficult to specifically state that this is our number of home-

less people, because it is probably not accurate.”

The presentation cited common factors that contribute to homelessness. According to the presentation, those include increased housing costs, domestic violence, low-wage jobs, job loss, lack of a support system, medical conditions or expenses, unexpected expenses, and a lack of housing diversity.

After someone becomes homeless, it can be difficult to recover due to numerous reasons, such as increased hopelessness, criminal activity, sexual exploitation, becoming a victim of violence, risk of overdose, decline of mental health, and increased substance abuse.

“Every person, and every person who experiences homelessness, has a unique situation,” Moreno said. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to address these issues.

“You have to have a multitude of partners and service providers that come to the table, but I think the most important thing to remember is that as people who care about other people in our community — and who care about improving the lives of the other people in our community — we have to remember that it takes a partnership of government, service providers, residents, and people who are experiencing homelessness themselves to truly design solutions that will create an impact on the problem.

“I’m happy to report that with the strategy we have put forward, the Homeless Master Services Agreement is doing just that.”

average inflow to the reservoirs. Officials blame drier soil soaking up more water.

It is a “troubling trend that we do seem to be getting the precipitation,” said Dan Bunk, Bureau of Reclamation deputy chief. “But other factors such as warmer temperatures, the dry soil conditions, increased evapotranspiration, they all seem to be conspiring to some extent against the actual runoff that is occurring on the system.”

Officials are talking frankly about reduced flows of the river.

Swieczkowski spoke of the “aridification of the western U.S.” to describe the long-term reduction in soil moisture due to climate change. He said the Colorado River now has a new estimated annual yield of 10 to 11 million acrefeet of water, compared to 16.5 MAF allocated to U.S. states and Mexico.

This reckoning with the Colorado’s oversubscription has energized longterm planning and water development efforts, and stimulated cooperation among local and federal officials.

“We can’t rely on Mother Nature

“We’re proud to offer this valuable service that helps keep our vulnerable populations safe during these extremely hot months,” said Michelle Yates, Glendale community engagement program manager.

“Partnering with (the Maricopa Association of Governments) gives Glendale the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations such as older adults, economically challenged residents, individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and individuals with disabilities.”

Located at 6010 W. Northern Avenue, the city has an Emergency Heat Relief

Station at the Salvation Army Glendale Corps.

As the triple-digit-degree days trend in the upward direction as the Valley races toward the summer, the Heat Relief Network offers these tips to remain as safe as possible: increase fluid intake and stay hydrated; limit exercise and outdoor activity between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; when outside, be sure to properly dress for the extreme heat and wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15; rest frequently in cool or shady areas; never leave any persons or pets inside a parked vehicle; and check on elderly neighbors and/or family members.

somehow restoring the Colorado River to what’s been allocated,” one official said.

Officials in the joint briefing appeared focused rather than discouraged.

Western states — including California, which has traditionally fought fiercely to hold on to its water — have been working together to keep extra water in the reservoirs. This year, states voluntarily left 500,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead as part of the 500+ Plus compensated conservation program.

The city of Glendale contributed 350 acre-feet of water to that effort.

Buschatzke said this and other conservation efforts have added 70 feet of elevation to the reservoirs, buying planners valuable time.

California, Arizona and Nevada are working on another version of 500+ Plus for 2023. Officials expect voluntary cuts like these, on top of cuts already outlined in drought contingency plans, to keep the Colorado River flowing.

“It won’t stop at 2023, but one year at a time,” Buschatzke said.

COMMENCE THE Cele ation

POOL FROM PAGE 4

by Donna Pettman

July 4 at the Peoria Sports Complex

For more info, visit peoriaaz.gov/events Featuring Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers and The Sidewinders

We all play a role in ensuring secure, transparent and accurate elections. The Maricopa County Elections Department is here to help your community Be Ballot Ready! What can you do?

Disagreement now discredited as ‘disinformation’

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Glendale Star Columnist

Through the mists of memory comes this observation from the now-retired Washington Post columnist Robert J. Samuelson: “When one side deliberately distorts and misstates the arguments of the other, the intent is not to debate, but to destroy.”

Samuelson’s mid-1990s assertion came to mind following the recent announcement that the Department of Homeland Security is establishing a “Disinformation Governing Board,” or DGB.

Talk about a “pot-meet-kettle” moment!

The imagination calls forth similar absurdities: Picture Hugh Hefner in his heyday, taking vows of chastity. Or Bill Clinton announcing that he will forswear “senior statesman status” to devote the rest of his days to marriage counseling. Or Martha Stewart disclosing that she’s really a “hoarder” rather than the “doyenne of domesticity.”

The difference, of course, is that the secretary of homeland security remains adamant in ignoring the abundance of absurdity that accompanied his announcement. But the willful ignorance of Alejandro Mayorkas doesn’t dissuade

wizened Washington observers from offering an accurate assessment of what’s really going on here.

In a word, politics.

How best to put tax dollars to work to discredit political opponents? Just claim that those opponents are disseminating disinformation… dangerous disinformation. And so, for the “public good,” not to mention its own political advantage, the left rises to say those on the right are wrong and must face consequences — consequences far beyond losing elections.

Obviously, this isn’t politics as usual. It is a threat to our constitutional republic.

Disagreement wasn’t always viewed as dangerous or deceitful. For most of our history, it was considered the principle that underpinned our political process.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the greatest fighting force ever assembled in defeating one of the most evil regimes the world has ever known, was eventually promoted by the American people from general of the army to commander-in-chief.

Upon taking the oath of office as our 34th president in January 1953, the man

who had just assumed the position widely regarded as the “most powerful on Earth” appealed to an even higher power.

“May cooperation be permitted,” Ike prayed, “and be the mutual aim of those who, under the concepts of our Constitution, hold to differing political faiths.”

Sixty-nine years later, it can no longer be taken as an article of faith that the left still accepts the most basic of our constitutional concepts.

Barack Obama, who vowed to “fundamentally change America” in his 2008 presidential campaign, continues on that mission as an ex-president.

Appearing at an April symposium sponsored by his comrades at The Atlantic and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics titled “Disinformation and the Erosion of Democracy,” Obama couldn’t resist indulging in some rhetorical misdirection of his own.

Seeking to inoculate himself from what he was about to suggest, the former president asserted, “I am close to a First Amendment absolutist.”

Then, the self-described “absolutist” absolutely declared war on free speech, calling to “put in place a combination of regulatory measures and industry norms that leave intact the opportunity for these platforms to make money, but say to them that, there, there, there’s certain

practices that we are not, that we don’t think are good for our society and we’re gonna discourage.”

What are those “certain practices” Obama doesn’t think “are good for our society?”

Why, any efforts to oppose the leftist vision of a fundamentally transformed America!

Thus, the establishment of the “Disinformation Governing Board,” more accurately described in Orwellian fashion as a real-life “Ministry of Truth.”

Perhaps seeking its own inoculation, the Washington Post featured an article from Glenn Kessler, its designated “fact checker,” calling out the assertion of DHS Secretary Mayorkas that the illegal aliens he allows in the United States are promptly deported.

Kessler described that claim as “mostly false.”

Thus far, that publication has remained silent on the establishment of the DGB. But if the Post truly believes that “Democracy dies in darkness,” there’s one direct action the newspaper could take immediately: Bring Robert J. Samuelson out of retirement.

J.D. Hayworth worked as a sportscaster at Channel 10, Phoenix, from 1987 until 1994 and represented Arizona in Congress from 1995-2007.

Only the victim should deserve our sympathy

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Glendale Star Columnist

The man who raped and murdered Deana Bowdoin was put to death by the state of Arizona on May 11 at 10:30 a.m. This was 44 years, four months and four days after the homicide in question — or about 44 years too long by my reckoning. Even so, this column has little to do with Deana’s killer. This piece is about

a 21-year-old girl subtracted from the world decades too soon, a young woman for whom there were no candlelight vigils this week, no protesters, no legal motions long enough to deforest the state.

That’s the thing about the anti-death-penalty conversation: All the focus is on the wrong loss of life, the wrong final heartbeat.

The only death I mourn here is Dea-

na’s. The ASU coed was mere hours from graduation on Jan. 7, 1978, courtesy of three stab wounds and strangulation with a belt.

“When you think about it, you think how could this possibly have happened to this cute, good little girl?” Deana’s mother, Bobbie, told the local ABC TV station back almost 15 years ago. “How could somebody treat her like that? And it hurts. It hurts a lot.”

Bobbie died in 2009 after a fight with cancer. Deana’s father, Dean,

lived nine more years before he passed at age 86. Justice for Deana took more time than they had.

One wonders what Deana would have given this world had she lived deep into adulthood, say as long as the man who snuffed out her life. He was allowed to live until age 66 and still managed never to contribute a single thing to mankind. If only Deana had been given the time he was gifted with, the oxygen, the attention.

HOME SECTION

She graduated with honors from Camelback High School. A debutante for the Phoenix Honors Cotillion, she went on to ASU, where she was about to graduate with a degree in marketing management.

Perhaps Deana would have become an attorney or a diplomat — she’d already taken the law school admissions exam and the Foreign Service test — or maybe she’d have returned to Europe, where she had and lived with her family, to pursue a career in international marketing.

That we will never know compounds the tragedy of her murder.

We do know how Deana’s sister feels. Leslie Bowdoin James has been eloquent about the long wait her family endured before a lethal needle finally slipped past the killer’s flesh.

As Leslie put it to reporters a few minutes after the execution: “Forty-three and 20: the number of hearings and the number of years I have attended since the indictment. Thirteen: the number of women that this inmate victimized. One and zero: the number

of sisters I had up until, and after, Jan. 7, 1978.”

Outside the state prison in Florence, those who oppose the death penalty bemoaned the unfairness of it all. They carried signs for the killer. Nowhere was the name Deana Bowdoin mentioned.

We forget the dead all too soon, but let this 21-year-old girl be remembered far longer than the trash who ended her life. She had amber eyes and long dirty blonde hair, plank-straight and parted down the middle. A poet, some of her writing made the local newspaper after her death, 44 long years ago.

“Parents and friends (with good intention)/ Beg ‘slow down!’ But I just can’t mention/ Why summer’s magic has its hold on me/ I am too enveloped; can’t be set free/ So while I am both young and innocently aware/ I will exist in summer and be safe in its care.”

Not safe enough, as it turns out. Deana Bowdoin was lost to a killer and to time but never, ever forgotten.

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

The Glendale Star welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number.

The Glendale Star 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 Glendale Star will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the Glendale Star, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.

BY JUDY BLUHM Glendale Star Columnist

Oh, Rich Strike, how we love thee! The underdog who stunned the racing world! The horse who barely had an opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby and was only given a spot through default of another horse.

The biggest longshot to win the derby in the modern era. The winning horse that was outmatched, dismissed, given an 80-1 shot to win. There was nothing in his previous races that suggested he had a chance. Well, his original owners gave him up for a mere $30,000, not like the million-plus-dollar colts that were “born to win.”

And against all odds, the racing world was turned upside down. Throw your hats off, ladies! Spit out that mint julep. Something great just happened.

Running from the outside post, in a field of 20, Rich Strike was behind when the opening quarter was run by the leading horses at a blistering pace. The fastest opening quarter in the race’s history set up a possibility for a late closer. Horses, like cars, simply can run out of gas. At the pace of 21.78 seconds in the first quarter mile, the horses leading the pack were at a supersonic speed that could not be sustained. Riding at the outside and the back of the field, Rich Strike’s jockey started methodically angling to the inside position along the rail. And history was made.

The racing world thought that the top prize might go to Zandon or Epicenter, elite horses deemed best by handicappers. Instead, it went to a chestnut colt named Rich Strike, which was beyond

reason, logical handicapping or lucid dreams. This horse hadn’t run a race in six months and came to the derby on a five-race losing streak. He was down on his luck and had few chances to seriously compete with the “champions” in the ring.

Imagine about 150,000 people roaring at Churchill Downs and becoming eerily quiet momentarily as the longshot of the century goes tearing past the two lead horses. Whoa! Is this happening? From last to first?

When Rich Strike blazed across the finish line, fans erupted, joyful cries (especially from those who placed a bet on Rich Strike), squeals and laughter ran through the hallowed stands of Churchill Downs.

We probably know what it feels like to be driving on I-17 with everyone going full speed, almost bumper to bumper, at 70 mph. It can be scary and requires focus! Now imagine sitting on a horse, in a thick pack of 20, going about 35 mph around that final turn of the derby, with dirt flying, traffic closing in, a crowd screaming, and then accelerating to weave in and out of tight spaces.

Oh, yeah, this is a bit different than my trail-riding days on my old horse, Baxter. He did like to run (on occasion), but I think his pace was more like 5 minutes for a quarter mile, not 21 seconds.

We don’t even have to like horse racing to appreciate a winner. This is the American story that we love: believe, give it your all, never give up and dreams can come true.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email her at judy@judybluhm.com.

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Planet Fitness opens new Glendale gym

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Planet Fitness recently opened its second Glendale location at 4414 W. Cactus Road, near ASU West Campus.

The new, nearly 19,000-squarefoot club features a variety of cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, a Cardio Theater filled with flat-screen TVs, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, Black Card Spa (for PF Black Card members) including HydroMassage loungers, tanning beds and massage chairs.

“We’re proud to open another club in Glendale and make it more accessible for the community to stay active,” said Scott McCreery, regional director at United PF Partners, the largest Planet Fitness Franchisee Group.

The club features a variety of strength equipment, plus the 30-Minute Express Circuit. (Planet Fitness/Submitted)

line, visit planetfitness.com or follow @PlanetFitness on Facebook and Twitter.

“With our PF Black Card membership, you can access any of our 38 locations across the greater Phoenix area and more than 2,200 clubs across the world.”

$22.99 per month and provides members access to the Black Card Spa, the ability to bring a friend anytime, and entry to over 2,200 clubs.

The classic membership invites members to join for $10 per month. The PF Black Card membership is

The club is offering $0 down on both memberships until April 14. For more information or to join on-

Planet Fitness recently achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and is the first fitness brand to do so.

Sigma Contracting expands its medical portfolio

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Sigma Contracting completed site work and is going vertical with Arrowhead Endoscopy Center in Glendale.

The 12,280-square-foot building sits on 2.3 acres at 17438 N. 71st Drive, Glendale.

Owned by Pavasime LLC, the facility is scheduled to open this summer. The architect is Phoenix-based triARC Architecture & Design.

The new construction project consists of a single-story medical facility with associated site improvements and parking for a group of practitioners that has been together for 11 years. It will become the new facility for this group of doctors expanding their ability to help the local community that requires these procedures.

Demand for outpatient medical services, including upper endoscopies, colonoscopies and endoscopic ultrasound, has necessitated a larger facility. The new facility will have six pre-procedure bays, procedure rooms and six post-procedure recovery bays, as well as consult and office space.

“Sigma has been very excited to be working with triARC Architecture & Design, a noted leader in medical facility design and architecture,” Sigma President Dan Hinkson said. “This project will bring needed space to accommodate the market demand for Arrowhead Endoscopy’s services in the surrounding community, as well as add to Sigma’s continually expanding portfolio in medical projects.”

Glendale is growing in commercial development and job creation. With a 2020 population of approximately 260,000 residents, it is the seventh largest city in Arizona and the 87th

largest city in the United States.

Glendale is growing at a rate of 0.94% annually, and its population has increased by 14.53% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 226,721 in 2010.

“It was delightful to have the opportunity to create this project for Arrowhead Endoscopy with the great team at Sigma. Despite supply chain challenges, Sigma is delivering this top-notch medical facility to the West Valley,” said Jill B. Hamblen, AIA, principal at triARC Architecture & Design.

Subcontractors on Arrowhead Endoscopy include Crawford Mechanical Services, HVAC, plumbing and medical gases; C&G Masonry, masonry; Decode Electric, electric; Amber Steel, steel; and Mission Underground, utilities.

Arrowhead Endoscopy Center will open on 2.3 acres in Glendale this summer. (Submitted)

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Glendale native returns home for Stir Crazy shows

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor

Glendale native Brian Kohatsu is a late bloomer when it comes to comedy.

Friends and family frequently complimented him on his humor, but he didn’t take advantage of that talent until he was 38. Now he’s traveled the country.

Kohatsu is headed back home Friday, May 20, to play a weekend’s worth of shows with Chris Cope at Westgate Entertainment District’s Stir Crazy Comedy Club.

“I’m a clean comic,” said the Apollo High School graduate who now lives in Sun City.

“I do some observational stuff, pop culture stuff. I’m 53, so it’s more for our generation. I play more to my age. It’s not that younger people will not get it. They just have to ask the older people they’re with.”

The topics of his stage banter are sometimes his pro golfer wife, Cary, and his two children.

Kohatsu has more to celebrate

than his upcoming shows. Earlier this month, Dry Bar Comedy released his first comedy special, “Japanese Bedtime Story.”

“It’s been tough to get out during the pandemic, so it’s great that my Dry Bar special will introduce me to a whole new audience,” Kohatsu said.

Fans can watch the special for free by downloading the Dry Bar Comedy+ app and use the promo code BRIANKOHATSU to get the first month free.

Before he jumped on stage, Kohatsu started a video production company at age 20. In his early 30s, he started appearing on a syndicated radio show doing imitations and sketches.

When the station folded, he took improv classes until he felt he had the talent to embark on his own.

“It’s the perfect introduction to comedy,” he said about improv.

“With other people, the pressure isn’t just on you. If you bomb as a group, it’s not you individually. It’s a good training ground to get the base work down. You can then

work on what’s funny and what’s not funny.”

He still has his video company, but he focuses primarily on demo reels for comics or their side projects.

“It’s taken some time, but it’s definitely worth it,” he said. “I like production, don’t get me wrong. Now, I don’t have to bring anything but myself to the stage, whereas with production, I have to take the lighting, cameras and mic. I love showing up, going up and going home.”

Chris Cope and Brian Kohatsu

WHEN: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21

WHERE: Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E-206, Glendale

COST: $23

INFO: stircrazycomedyclub.com, briankohatsu.com

Sun City resident Brian Kohatsu will open for Chris Cope at Stir Crazy Comedy Club in the Westgate Entertainment District on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21. (Aaron Beaubien/Submitted)

Student Chronicles

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Kathryn Waycaster of Peoria was named to the president’s list at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. A freshman, Waycaster is studying biochemistry and molecular biology. She’s among more than 620 Bob Jones University students named to the list. The president’s list recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher grade-point average for the semester. Bob Jones University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in religion, education, fine arts and communication, arts and science, health professions and business.

Utah State University recently held its commencement ceremonies. The graduates are from USU’s statewide campuses, as well as USU Online, earning degrees and certificates during the summer 2021, fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters. Included in them were Caitlyn Collins of Glendale and Caleb Price and Megan Updike of Peoria. Collins graduated with an Associate of Science in general studies from USU Eastern. Price earned

a Bachelor of Science in physics from Utah State University, while Updike received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Utah State University.

Seven Central College Students attended Chicago’s Latino Film Festival and Mexican Art Museum. Keaton Rodgers, class of 2023 from Peoria, participated in this multicultural weekend in Chicago. Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, four-year liberal arts college.

Peoria’s Jordyn Upton was among

5 tips to ace college entry exams

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Because most colleges and universities require applicants to submit ACT or SAT results as part of admissions consideration, prepping for the test itself can be a critical component of that process. While it can oftentimes be hard to deal with the anxiety that comes with a rigorous test meant to show your mastery of certain subjects and concepts, such as reading and mathematics, consider these test prep tips to help boost your score while simultaneously lowering stress.

Register early

To allow yourself as much flexibility as possible, taking college entrance exams during your junior year of high school is encouraged. If you don’t get an ideal score, you can refine your approach and retake the exam with a better idea of what to expect.

Take a practice test

Any test prep plan should start with a practice SAT or ACT exam. Taking practice tests under realistic conditions can help you gain a better understanding of the content of the test, improve

winners in Kennesaw State University’s Symposium of Student Scholars held on campus in Kennesaw, Georgia. A total of 668 student researchers presented 438 projects across a variety of disciplines.

“This is the greatest number of students we’ve had participate in the symposium,” said Amy Buddie, director of undergraduate research and professor of psychology. “We are so proud of all the research our undergraduate and graduate students presented.”

Central College student Leah Gilbertson secured an internship at Crossroads of Pella in Pella, Iowa. Gilbertson is from Peoria and in the Central Class of 2024. Central College is a private, four-year liberal arts college. Central is known for its academic rigor and leadership formation and for cultivating diversity of thought and culture through the arts and sciences, professional fields of study, and experiential learning.

NAU’s Adriana MacDonald was inducted into the the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. The Peoria resident is

your time management and help combat test anxiety. You can use your practice test as a baseline to set goals and focus the rest of your prep on areas you would like to improve before the real thing.

Sign up for a prep course

If you find studying on your own difficult or not as successful as you’d hoped, a prep course can put you through the paces and hold you accountable. Complete with homework and in-class practice, prep classes can range from small groups to larger classes taught by test experts. Some school districts even offer after-school programs dedicated to ACT or SAT prep.

Gather supplies

To help reduce test day stress, gather everything you’ll need the night before. Check the list of banned items — cellphones aren’t permitted — to

among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10% of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Glendale’s Tyler Graham and Peoria’s Carmen Montes Quinones were named to the dean’s list at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. The dean’s list recognizes students who earn 3.0 to 3.74 grade-point average during the semester. Graham is a junior Biblical counseling major, while Quinones is a senior studying criminal justice. BJU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in religion, education, fine arts and communication, arts and science, health professions and business.

make sure you don’t accidentally bring something you’re not allowed to have. Ensure your bag is packed with your admission ticket, valid photo identification, several sharpened pencils with erasers, an approved calculator (with fresh batteries), and a watch if allowed.

Sleep and eat well

While it can be tempting to stay up late the night before the test to cram, you’re likely to perform better with a full night’s sleep. Sleep is important for retention, and eating a balanced breakfast before heading out the door can aid in your ability to focus. To make your morning easier, prep breakfast before bed to keep an early morning from starting even earlier.

Remember, the college admissions process involves more than just test scores. Visit elivingtoday.com for more education tips and information.

(Submitted photo)

CAREER & EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

[Your complete guide to local career and education]

VETERANS UPWARD BOUND ................ 4 Organization helps Marine

success after service

DIAMOND JIM’S

JEWELRY STORE .... 8

Business provides premier service at popular prices

SYLVAN LEARNING CENTERS ............. 10

Summer is children’s opportunity to learn

Degree enhances career options in medicine

BY DESIREE DAVIS

Midwestern University College of Graduate Studies MPH Program Specialist

In May, Midwestern University celebrates its first graduates to complete a health profession doctoral degree program and the concurrent, online Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program.

Launched in 2020, the M.P.H. program is a dual-degree option for students enrolled in one of four doctoral degree programs at Midwestern University: osteopathic medicine, optometry, dental medicine or veterinary medicine.

The M.P.H. program curriculum provides students with foundational knowledge in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, social and behavioral health, and public health policy and is scheduled to coordinate with each doctoral program’s curriculum.

Knowledge for the M.P.H. degree is gained through engaging online courses, an applied public health practice experience, and a capstone project.

Coursework is designed to prepare students to tackle complex public health issues through a One Health approach that integrates human, animal and environmental health principles and practices.

Sophia Fasani, a second-year student in the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, chose to pursue a dual M.P.H. degree.

“As an osteopathic physician trained in patient-centered medicine, I have a responsibility to educate and care for my

community,” she said.

“To do so, I want to understand the current health disparities and issues within our population and its individuals who will someday be my patients. The M.P.H. combined with the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree will enable me to best serve our current and future patient populations.”

Earning an M.P.H. degree can also help graduate doctors to be more competitive applicants for internships, residency programs and career opportunities in the rap-

idly growing health care field.

Midwestern’s dual-degree M.P.H. graduate doctors will be prepared with an intellectual foundation and specialized skills to prepare them to lead change and make a difference in communities around the world.

Students interested in pairing an M.P.H. with a doctoral health profession degree can learn more about Midwestern University at midwestern.edu or by contacting the admissions team at admissaz@ midwestern.edu or 623-537-3215.

The dual-degree Master of Public Health program at Midwestern University provides graduate health care professions students with foundational knowledge in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, social and behavioral health, and public health policy. (Midwestern University/Submitted)

Glencroft is a great place to work

BY ANTOINETTE FOX

Glencroft Director of Nursing

Glencroft has had many successes lately.

It boasts a great new leadership team and positive state survey and longevity with current nursing staff that is compassionate in day-to-day duties.

Most importantly, Glencroft is like getting a chance to spend time with family.

The Glencroft staff put in 12hour days, and they spend a lot of time developing meaningful relationships with the residents.

Glencroft does not take the staff for granted. That is especially important now because the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the health care system.

In honor of Nurses Week, Glencroft staff brought fun back to the workplace by allowing them to be celebrated. That fits our culture at Glencroft.

the theme of Decades Day. (Glencroft/Submitted)

District offers signature learning experience

BY GLENDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Students in the Glendale Elementary School District can partake in the Verizon Innovative Learning Program at Challenger Middle, Desert Spirit and Sunset Vista schools.

The district’s signature program equips every student and teacher with a device and up to a four-year data plan in partnership with Digital Promise and Verizon. The program also includes mobile hotspots to students without reliable home internet access.

In addition to free technology and access, the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools in the district receive extensive teacher training, support and the opportunity to engage in an immersive curriculum to leverage technology in their classrooms.

“Our partnership with Verizon and Digital Promise continues to grow and help bridge the digital divide for our students and families,” said Cindy Segotta-Jones, Glendale Elementary School District superintendent.

“The pandemic led to a widening uptake and understanding of technology, and we are committed to ensuring that our students are prepared. Our staff is also dedicated to professional learning and effectively leveraging technology in the classroom.”

In addition to free mobile devices and accompanying 4G LTE data plans, participating schools are assigned a full-time technology coach from Digital Promise to train teachers in effectively integrating

technology into their lessons.

During the initiative, Verizon Innovative Learning allows students to leverage emerging technology such as augmented and virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

For more information about the district’s Verizon Innovative Learning Program or its signature programs, including Accelerated Academy; Spanish Dual Language Immersion; or Academies for Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), visit gesd40.org or call 623237-7180. Follow the district on social media at @GESD40.

Students receive 24/7 internet access, tablets and technology coaches in partnership with Verizon. (Glendale Elementary School District/Submitted)

Antoinette Fox, nursing director, and Venus Hamilton, assistant nursing director, dress up during the Nurses Week celebration, which carried

Midwestern University offers diverse opportunities in graduate health professional degree programs. All programs offer a collaborative, interprofessional, One Health approach, leadingedge technology, extensive hands-on experience in outstanding clinical rotations, and foundational training for compassionate patient

Arizona College of Optometry

Midwestern University Colleges

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine

College of Dental Medicine–Arizona

College of Graduate Studies

College of Health Sciences

College of Pharmacy, Glendale

College of Veterinary Medicine

Midwestern University Clinics

Dental Institute

Eye Institute

Multispecialty Clinic

Therapy Institute

Companion Animal Clinic

Equine and Bovine Center

VALLEYLIFE helps to enhance quality of life

BY VALLEYLIFE

VALLEYLIFE is a nonprofit organization that provides premier services to individuals with disabilities to enhance their quality of life.

The agency does so by enriching their lives with rewarding experiences and valuable opportunities — and enabling them to live a life with choices, independence and dignity.

VALLEYLIFE services are delivered through caring and dedicated staff, specialized programs and advocacy.

VALLEYLIFE provides residential services, day services, home- and community-based services, and vocational services to people with disabilities. Residential services operate 26 group homes, which function like traditional family homes, throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Day services provide programs designed to improve independent living, social and recreational skills, and of-

fer opportunities for community involvement.

Home- and community-based services provide valuable support to people with disabilities and their families in the comfort of their own homes.

Vocational services provide opportunities for people with disabilities to obtain and maintain meaningful employment through job search and placement, job coaching and development, and training opportunities.

VALLEYLIFE members’ diagnoses range from physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities to behavioral health diagnoses, age-related conditions and traumatic brain injury. VAL-

LEYLIFE has an in-depth understanding of how to meet the unique needs of each member it serves.

Founded in 1947, VALLEYLIFE has been serving the greater Phoenix area for 74 years. For more information, visit valleylifeaz.org or contact Dede Houston at 602-216-6328.

VALLEYLIFE

VUB helps Marine find success

BY T. ULLRICH Veterans Upward Bound

Elizabeth Preayer is a Marine — and a good one. She relished the challenge of becoming a Marine, and she is proud of her service.

However, when she separated in 2018, she was caught in a whirlwind of personal challenges and issues transitioning to civilian life.

“It was a tough go for me,” she said.

Her only direction was “knowing education was going to play a part in the journey.”

At the end of 2018, a Veterans Upward Bound representative helped her navigate some separation issues and explore her higher education options — and there were many.

After joining Veterans Upward Bound and receiving needed tutoring and academic coaching, Preayer enrolled at Phoenix College and completed her Associates of Arts with an emphasis in social work.

At Phoenix College, she was in honors classes, was invited to be in Phi Theta Kappa, and served in several student leadership roles.

At the end of 2020, with the assistance of Veterans Upward Bound, she

transferred to ASU, where she is now earning her bachelor’s degree in social work with honors. She’s concurrently working for Veterans Upward Bound as a VA and social work intern.

“I am now achieving goals that once seemed out of reach while I continue to enrich my work experience and character,” she said.

Veterans Upward Bound, she added, has been here “to support and to encourage me to press through the challenges. I would not have quite the sense of direction and confidence in my education journey without the Marines and VUB.”

Learn more about Veterans Upward Bound and enroll today at vub.asu.edu or email T. Ullrich at tullrich@asu.edu.

TRIO Veterans Upward Bound participant Elizabeth Preayer, second from left, enjoys a day out with VUB family. (Latisha Brown/Submitted)

VALLEYLIFE members’ diagnoses range from physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities to behavioral health diagnoses, age-related conditions and traumatic brain injury. (VALLEYLIFE/Submitted)

Veteran

VETERANS UPWARD BOUND

FastSigns of Glendale makes statements come to life

BY LISA LUTZ

FastSigns of Glendale Owner

FastSigns takes pride in its dedication to quality, customer service, and timely delivery of all projects. It provides consultation, graphic design, production and installation of many types of signs. Let the staff help you with any of the following projects:

• Wall graphics (interior and exterior).

• Window graphics and lettering.

• Business cards, fliers and other printed materials.

• Trade show signs and promotional products.

• Vehicle graphics and magnets. It installs the graphics for many fleets in the Valley.

• Banners and A-frames.

• Graphic design (including logo design).

• Medical, hospital and government signs that require Braille. It can print Braille.

• Property management signs.

• Construction site signs.

• Real estate signs.

• Monument signs and panels.

• Storefront signs.

Let FastSigns help make your statement with wall graphics. Great for school pride or corporate offices that

want to add color and culture to their walls or simply communicate their mission and values. The possibilities are endless.

Examples of exterior and interior wall

6020 W. Bell Road, Suite E101, Glendale 602-439-4242 sales.194@fastsigns.com

Keep learning — help others

BY BOBBI MAGDALENO

During his commencement address, former ASU President Lattie Coor encouraged graduates to keep learning and help others. I have not heard that address for 20 years, yet I remember it vividly. Why? Because it was powerful. It was impactful. It was important.

As chamber leaders, members and business owners, in order to take advantage of the two pieces of wise advice, let’s look at each more closely. Keep learning. Change is constant. Learning also needs to be constant. We read about upskilling, new tech-

nologies, artificial intelligence and augmented reality. I encourage you to explore the areas that interest you and where you might find new pathways for growth. Continuous learning has many benefits. These include income growth, wider networking circles, better job opportunities and staying healthy. There is a strong link between education and staying healthy. Other benefits include discovering new interests and broadening your perspectives. With our fast-paced environment and changing technologies, the need to gain new certifications and training and even finish your college degree may be at the top of your to-do list to remain competitive in today’s job market. Help others. Engaging with others

will build creative partnerships and innovative thinking that will attract new ideas and ventures. There are numerous ways we can help others while on our journey. These include listening, mentoring, serving as a sponsor, sharing our skills, volunteering, and guest speaking or writing. Our quality of life is enhanced when we collectively work toward our shared goals, our shared vision.

I am proud to serve as the incoming chair of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where our sense of community allows us to keep learning and help others. It is then that we truly advocate, build and connect to one another and to our broader Peoria community.

Bobbi Magdaleno of ASU is the co-chair/incoming chair of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. (Peoria Chamber of Commerce/Submitted)

Diamond Jim’s provides premier service, popular prices

BY ROY SCHOTT

Diamond Jim’s Jewelry Stores Arizona Director of Operations

Many people wish for the days when stores with individual owners cared if their customers were delighted with their service experience. Well, wish no longer. Diamond Jim’s Jewelry has gone one step beyond its already five-star service.

Diamond Jim’s Jewelry has always featured a master goldsmith in each store. That means jewelry is repaired personally, in the store, under the watchful eye of quality inspectors.

Customers are always assured of the

finest-quality repairs, sizing and stone settings, done right the first time and at a fair price. Each goldsmith station has conventional goldsmithing tools, as well as state-of-the-art laser welding equipment for the most demanding repairs.

In his quest to set the bar for industry-leading service, owner Diamond Jim has added an in-house watchsmith, who is a master at performing full service, repairs and rebuilding of mechanical, automatic and quartz watches. No longer will treasured watches need to sit in the back of a dresser drawer. Bring them to Diamond Jim’s, where we will restore them to cosmetic and mechanical per-

fection. Clients can wear and show off their treasured time pieces again.

Jim has, for more than 34 years, been a jewelry store owner. He personally curates the jewelry displayed in his stores and attends multiple jewelry shows annually. Jim travels biannually to Antwerp, Belgium, to personally hand-select the diamonds for his stores. He is obsessed with attention to detail and providing the highest-quality customer service experience for everyone.

For more information, visit Diamond Jim’s Jewelry, 10001 W. Bell Road, Suite 127, Sun City; call 623-977-2299 or visit DiamondJims4Diamonds.com.

Westside Head Start offers an innovative education

BY JENNIFER ADAIR Westside Head Start

Once you look inside a Westside Head Start classroom, you’ll quickly see we are educating our children in an effective and innovative way. It’s much more than the content of the curriculum that is important — critical areas of focus like relationships and routines are all intended to create a safe and welcoming environment where they

can grow.

The schools offer programs for young students from 12 months to 5 years old for both on-site and homebase options. The teachers and faculty work with children and parents to max-

imize the learning potential of each student. Parents will even share positive achievements they see at home because of Head Start. Simple tasks like

washing hands, gathering utensils and serving their own food help to develop motor skills and establish healthy eating habits.

These are just a few examples of what makes a WSHS classroom different. Everything here serves an important purpose to prepare a child for lifelong love of learning. Westside Head Start is a growing nonprofit organization that serves all of those, regardless of faith, across the Valley; and we are enrolling new students and families.

Catholic Charities also offers a number of unique career opportunities, and we are hiring preschool teachers, assistant teachers, behavioral health specialists, among many other openings. Apply online at westsideheadstart.org.

Catholic Charities is a place where miracles happen every day in the lives of more than 22,000 individuals every year. Join us in the incredible work and be a miracle to someone today.

Stop by the Airman & Family Readiness Center

BY THE AIRMAN & FAMILY READINESS CENTER

The Airman & Family Readiness Center at Luke Air Force Base offers myriad workshops and other programs for DoD military, AFR, ANG, military retirees, DoD civilians and their eligible family members.

In other words, anyone with base access.

While visiting Luke Air Force Base, stop in and take advantage of the fabulous programs offered at your Airman & Family Readiness Center.

The next virtual Luke Air Force Base Job Fair will be announced. Network with more than 40 local and national employers, have on-site interviews, visit with airline industries, and inquire about health care and top government agencies.

• Career enhancement programs: The Department of Labor TAP Employment Workshop is held for separating and retiring members and their spouses. The workshop details job-search strategies, networking, resume writing, interviewing, VA benefits and more.

The mandatory program officially started in January 2013. “Marketing Yourself for a Second Career” is a professional lecture for officers and senior NCOs leaving the military. Learn about salary negotiations, benefit packages, networking and resume writing to help compete for jobs in the marketplace.

bers, spouses, family members, children and staff. The MFLC Program provides confidential support for a range of issues, including relationships, crisis intervention, stress management, grief, occupational, and other individual and family issues.

Mandatory pre-separation counseling briefing on separation/retirement entitlements:

• Discovery Resource Center: Resources for relocations, transition, employment, housing, schools and more.

• AMVETS: Provides medical records screening and assistance with VA disability claims.

• School liaison officer: Addresses educational issues involving military children and youth in the local school community.

• Military & Family Life Counselor Program: The counselors are here to listen and available to help service mem-

SERVICES AVAILABLE:

• Transition Services (Active Duty to Civilian)

• Family readiness programs.

• Relocation readiness programs.

Contact the Airman & Family Readiness Center for more information by calling 623-856-6550, emailing 56fss.fsfr@luke. af.mil, or visiting its Facebook page at Luke A&FRC. The address is 7282 N. 137th Avenue, Building 1113, Luke AFB, AZ 85309. range

• Financial management programs: Some of these programs are available to active-duty military only.

• The Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to provide support to military family members with special needs. This program’s services include a variety of personnel, medical and family support functions.

AIRMAN & FAMILY READINESS CENTER

- Mandatory Separation\Retirement\Preseperation Counseling

- Mandatory 5 Day Department of Labor TAP Employment Workshop

- Employment Assistance

- SBA quarterly Boots to Business Workshop

- Higher Education Training

- Resume Writing and Federal Employment Workshops

• Discovery Center

- Resources for relocation, transition, employment, housing, schools, and more!

• AMVETS

– Provides medical records screening and assistance with VA disability claims

• Personal Development Information & Resources

- Like us on Facebook: Luke A&FRC

• Military & Family Life Counselor Assistance

• Financial Counseling Education

• Relocation & Sponsorship Services

• School Liaison Officer

- Addresses educational issues involving military children and youth in the local school community

Summer is children’s opportunity to learn

BY DARCY BLANCHARD Sylvan Learning of Goodyear Center Director

For most children, summer is a time to leave classes and homework behind.

However, after the long summer break, students can find themselves struggling.

According to Sylvan Learning, after a month without reinforcement, approximately 80% of what a student has recently learned can be lost.

Parents can play a key role in reinforcing learning. Keep the learning moving forward.

Summer fun that’s educational, too

• Read with your child. You can’t start too early. You can’t read too much. Read the books together with your children.

• Search for fun activities for your child to do. Sylvannation.com is every parent’s go-to place for free educational resources, tips and strategies on navigating school. Sylvan Nation is free for everyone.

• Plan a field trip. Together, research the trip in advance and discuss it afterward.

• Find pen pals. Write notes and letters to family and friends to practice writ-

ing.

• Visit the library. Libraries can recommend books appropriate for your child’s reading level and interests.

• Keep a journal. Give your child an empty notebook to keep a summer journal.

Darcy Blanchard is the center director at the Goodyear Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages. Sylvan helps transform kids into inspired learners with the skills to do better in school and the confidence to do better in everything else.

GCC offers career resources for job seekers

BY GCC

Glendale Community College provides personal guidance, individualized attention and

group learning opportunities in career management, exploration and development. It provides free services, tools and resources to help community

members as well as students, staff and alumni prepare for success in today’s workforce. This includes assistance with resumes, practice interviewing, and reviewing and creation of LinkedIn accounts.

Do you need help preparing for a job or internship? Free monthly workshops covering job readiness topics such as resume writing, interviewing, job-search strategies and LinkedIn. For upcoming workshops, visit gccaz. edu.

Looking for a job or career? Glendale Community College provides a free job fairs that are open to the public. Students and community members from across the Valley participate to find part-time and full-time positions in a variety of industries. Employers attend these events to share information about their companies and will accept resumes.

Need a job now or need online resources? Maricopa Community Col-

24/7

lege’s Career Services department has recently launched the new career management tool, Maricopa CareerLink, maricopa.edu, where individuals can easily search and apply for jobs and internships, store and build resumes, and practice interviewing.

Are you an employer? Connect with GCC through CareerLink, maricopa.edu/careerlink. We are looking for opportunities to partner, including internships, jobs, and discussing workforce needs.

www.peoriatimes.com

Glendale Elementary School District welcomes new and returning families for Pre-K through 8th Grade for the 2022-2023 school year.

WHY CHOOSE

Voted Glendale's Best School District two years running

FREE All-Day Kindergarten

Highly-qualified and dedicated educators

Social-emotional learning and services

Gifted, Arts, Music & Physical Education

FREE healthy breakfast & lunch programs

Parent/family engagements events and workshops

Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program

STEAM & Verizon Innovative Learning Academies

Glendale students Reili Geiser and Matthew Loretta recently graduated from Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. During the ceremony, held on May 6 in Greater Zion Stadium on the DSU campus, the university honored the Class of 2022, with 60% earning bachelor’s degrees, 38% associate degrees and 2% master’s degrees. Candidates ranged from 16 to 79 years of age and included students from 49 states and 15 countries. Of the graduates, 63% are female and 37% are male. “What a tremendous honor it is to celebrate the achievements of our graduating Trailblazers,” Dixie State University President Richard B. Williams said. “Thanks to the experience they have gained through our hands-on educational opportunities, the Class of 2022 is graduating career ready and will continue to blaze their own trails and make a difference in the world for years to come.”

Glendale students Edward Bojorquez and Sidney Mikes were named to the spring semester dean’s list at University of Jamestown in Jamestown, North Dakota. Students are named to the dean’s

list for maintaining a semester GPA of 3.5 or better.

Freshmen Rebecca Ong of Glendale and Kathryn Waycaster of Peoria were named to the president’s list at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Ong is a freshman studying music education, while Waycaster is a biochemistry and molecular biology major.

Glendale student Olivia Proctor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. On May 7, Concordia University awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees to more than 400 graduates.

The Class of 2022 was honored during undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies.

Glendale’s Angela Dirkers graduated with an Associate of Science degree in general studies with honors from Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, Utah, spring 2022 commencement ceremony.

Peoria’s Patricia Benjamin and Glendale’s Paula Turner graduated from Upper Iowa University. Benjamin graduated cum laude meritum, while Turner graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Choose

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Peoria Unified School District students received more than $54 million in scholarships, which is on track to be a record for the organization. According to district officials, as of May 10:

• Centennial High School: More than $18 million

• Liberty High School: More than $16 million

• Peoria High School: More than $7 million

• Sunrise Mountain High School: More than $13 million

• Peoria Flex Academy: $2,600 for the nontraditional high school

Congratulations Seniors. Your future awaits and Glendale Community College is a great place to get started on your next journey. At GCC you get the following, and more.

• Choose from hundreds of course offerings

• Small class sizes taught by world class faculty

• Numerous class offerings; in-person, hybrid, and online, including live-online

• Affordable tuition that is thousands of dollars less than colleges and universities

Register Now at enroll-gcc.com Get more info here www.gccaz.edu/fall2022

(Submitted photo)

The Glendale

tar

Chris Cope

MAY 20 TO MAY 21

Chris Cope is bringing his Southern comedic charm to Glendale. Cope has previously appeared on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show,” “Laughs” on Fox, and “Tosh.0.” He was also the winner of the 2015 Big Sky Comedy Festival. Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E206, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, stircrazycomedyclub.com

Stars on Ice: 2022 Tour

MAY 20

The U.S. Figure Skating team will visit Gila River Arena to give residents the chance to witness world-caliber skating. The show will feature Olympic bronze medalist Nathan Chen, twotime U.S. champion Alysa Liu, Olympic bronze medalist Jason Brown, Phoenix native Brandon Frazier and others.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $25, gilariverarena.com

Premier Boxing Champions: Benavídez vs. Lemieux

MAY 21

David Benavídez (25-0-0) returns home to Phoenix to fight David Lemieux (43-4-0) for the WBC Super Middleweight In-

terim Title in a battle of knockout artists. Also on the card is a super welterweight clash between Yoelvis Gomez (5-0-0) and Jorge Cota (30-5-0).

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $50, gilariverarena.com

Pam Morita & Friends

MAY 22

Performing under the message that “music unites us all,” Pam Morita has been entertaining audiences as a pianist for over 40 years. A Chicago native, Morita moved to Norway in 1994 and to Phoenix in 2000. She uses her experience to wow audiences across the Valley and teach students in her home studio.

Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

New Funny Comedy Show

MAY 22

Ten comedians with less than a year of experience will showcase their skills in front of a live audience and a panel of three judges. The judges will critique the performers on their writing skills, stage presence and delivery.

Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E206, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, stircrazycomedyclub.com

Real to Reel:

The Leisure Seeker

MAY 25

Real to Reel gives Glendale residents the chance to talk about books that were eventually made into movies. This month’s topic is “The Leisure Seeker.” Anybody that has read the book or seen the film is encouraged to join the discussion. Glendale Main Public Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale, 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Stir Crazy Comedy All-Stars

MAY 26

Four Stir Crazy favorites team up for a stacked night of comedy. The lineup will consist of Tim Bateman, Lamar Mitchell Jr., Gene Moore and Ashley Rose. Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E206, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, stircrazycomedyclub.com

The Glendale Star publishes on Thursday. The weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit groups — runs every issue. Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the Star’s coverage area, which is in the city of Glendale. Weekly calendar items print on a space-available basis. The only way to guarantee that an item will print is to purchase an advertisement. Submissions must reach our office by 4 p.m. Thursday to be considered for the following Thursday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@timespublications.com.

NOLAZ Band

MAY

27

The NOLAZ Band aims to bring the energy and soul of New Orleans to the Valley. The group emphasizes the use of vocals, horns and rhythm in their performances. Led by Ted Belledin, the seven-piece ensemble performs songs by artists such as Allen Toussaint, Jon Cleary, Galactic and the Neville Brothers. Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

Code with Daisy: Tween and Teen Coding Club

MAY

28

Software engineer Daisy Murillo guides 10- to 18-year-olds through the world of coding through fun and interesting projects. This month, the club will continue work on its robot.

Despite the ongoing project, new members are encouraged to join.

Heroes Regional Park Library, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 1 to 2 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Alice Tatum Band

MAY

29

For over 30 years, Alice Tatum has been a part of Phoenix’s music scene with her vocal talent. Her work has been featured in nationwide commercials, television and film. She has also performed alongside Alice Cooper, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Nancy Wilson, Tom Scott and the Righteous Broth-

ers during her career. Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

MexTour Somos Locales:

Mexico vs. Uruguay

JUNE 2

The Mexican men’s national soccer team will make a Glendale stop on the road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As part of the MexTour, the team will face Uruguay, who also qualified for the World Cup. Mexico leads the all-time series between the two nations with eight wins, seven draws and six losses.

State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 6 p.m., tickets start at $40, statefarmstadium.com

Arizona Aviculture Society Spring 2022

Bird Mart

Sunday May 29, 2022 • 9am-3pm

Admission: Adults $5.00

Children 12 & Under Free

Held at the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium

552 N. 40th Street, Phoenix (S. of the 202 Freeway on 40th Street)

Offering a large variety of Exotic Birds, Cages, Toys, Feed, and Assorted Supplies for the bird owner

Benavídez, Lemieux are ready for Gila River Arena

BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Interim World Boxing Council Super Middleweight Title clash between David Benavídez and David Lemieux on May 21 is set to last 12 rounds.

However, both men will enter the ring at Gila River Arena in Glendale hoping to end the fight before it goes the distance. Across both fighters’ 68 career wins, 58 of the contests ended in a knockout victory.

Because of that, neither fighter underestimates their opponent’s skills. Benavídez has a professional record of 25-0-0. He knows he’ll have to perform at his absolute best to stay undefeated and continue his rise in the sport.

“I see flaws in David’s game, and I’m sure he sees flaws in me,” Benavídez said.

“I know he wants to stop me, and I want to stop him. This is going to be a great fight for the fans. This could be the fight of the year because of what’s at stake and because of the type of fighters we are. We’re two bulls going in there to see who has the most heart.”

Lemieux will enter the matchup with a professional record of 43-4-0. The experienced French Canadian has the edge in experience. He has 22 more fights under his belt than Benavídez, and he’s also eight years Benavídez’s elder. He knows that many are predicting Benavídez to continue his march to the top levels of the sport, but Lemieux is confident that he will put a stop to it.

“Anything can be done. You just have to go out and do it,” Lemieux said. “David Benavídez is a very good fighter, but everybody is beatable. Nobody is invincible. That’s what we have to prove. There’s no cheating boxing.

You train hard for a fight. You don’t underestimate your opponent, and surprises can happen.

I’m planning on bringing that title back home to Montreal.”

A Phoenix native, Benavídez will undoubtedly have the “home advantage” on fight night in Glendale. His last fight, which ended in a TKO victory against Kyrone Davis, was at the Footprint Center in Downtown Phoenix last November. The atmosphere was electric that night, and it should

be no different at Gila River Arena.

“I wanted to fight back in Arizona again because we had a great event in November,” Benavídez said.

“This is my first title fight back at home, and it’s a dream come true for me. Everything has fallen into place for me. I’ve had an amazing camp, and I’m preparing for a great opponent. This has all the makings for a great fight. The energy is right. This is one of the biggest fights of my life, and that’s how seriously I’m taking it.”

Many are touting Lemieux as the clear underdog due to his age, facing a fighter the caliber of Benavídez, and the fight location. Lemieux, who cites his experience, is embracing it.

pionship.

“Regardless of your age, it’s really now or never in every fight in the boxing ring,” Lemieux said. “You don’t get many chances to leave a good mark in the game, so every fight needs to be taken very seriously, especially a fight of this magnitude. There’s a lot at stake for me. I know I’m the underdog, but I don’t care. I’m just going in there to fight, underdog or not. I’ve been the underdog in the past, and I’ve won the fights. It doesn’t really bother me.”

Although Benavídez is focused on this matchup, he thinks about the potential reward for winning the interim title: challenging Canelo Alvarez for the WBC Super Middleweight Cham-

“If you win the interim title, that means the next fight has to be for the title,” Benavídez said. “I don’t think it should be any difference in this case. If Canelo Alvarez wants to fight at light heavyweight, then he’s going to have to vacate. It’s only fair.”

Lemieux knows he could claim that opportunity as well. But, like Benavídez, he is focused on this fight first and foremost.

“I’m not looking past this fight,” Lemieux said. “I’m just concentrated on Benavídez. This is a big fight ahead of me. Canelo chooses a lot of his fights, but there are rules in boxing that you have to respect. The winner of the inter-

David Lemieux

David Benavídez

im belt has to fight the champion, so if he follows the rules, the rules are the rules. That’s it.”

The men are confident they will walk out of Gila River Arena as Interim WBC Super Middleweight Champion. That result will be determined not just by the fight but the preparation that the men have put in for weeks.

A theme in both camps has been motivation. For Benavídez, it’s the motivation to prove that he belongs with the best.

“I feel like I deserve the biggest fights,” Benavídez said. “I’ve paid my dues, and I’ve been here for a long time. But I have plenty of fuel in the gym solely because of how big this fight is. I think the other top guys are making a mistake not giving me the fight now, because the more I’m in the ring, the more I’m learning. It’s going to turn around and bite them when it’s time to get in the ring with me. Everything is

going to be through the roof.”

For Lemieux, it’s the chance to shake up the landscape in the super middleweight division.

Lemieux said. “When a tough fight. He’s a

“It’s definitely a big task in front of me,” Lemieux said. “When I sat down with my team and Benavídez’s name came up, we knew it was a tough fight. He’s a tough fighter and a big guy, but we’re preparing and getting ready for him. It’s all in the preparation. Styles make fights. I have the style to hurt Benavídez, and I’m training hard to beat this guy.”

Premier Box Champions: David Benavídez vs. David Lemieux

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21

WHERE: Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale COST: Tickets start at $50 INFO: gilariverarena.com

You should give the Book of Romans a chance

Throughout history, clarity has been a rarity.

Joseph Pulitzer once said the following about writing to readers.

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”

When I read Pulitzer’s quote, it’s as if Paul, the writer of the Book of Romans, had mentored Pulitzer about writing. Why do I think this? Because this is how Paul wrote the Book of Romans for his Roman audience. They appreciated and admired the form in which Paul wrote it. It was a more Roman (Western) way of writing. The reason why people today have trouble reading the Book of Romans is we aren’t living in the Roman context and times.

In his introduction to Romans in the Message Bible, author Eugene Peterson enlightens us about Paul’s letter to the Romans. I quote him below. It’s a perfect example of what Pulitzer says about writing to an audience.

“The event that split history into ‘before and after’ and changed the world took place about 30 years before Paul wrote this letter. The event — the life, death and resurrection of Jesus — took place in a remote corner of the extensive Roman Empire: the province of Judea in Palestine. Hardly anyone noticed, certainly no one in busy and powerful Rome.

“And when this letter arrived in Rome, hardly anyone read it, certainly no one of influence. There was so much to read in Rome — imperial decrees, exquisite poetry, finely crafted

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Glendale Star Columnist

moral philosophy — all of which were world class. And yet, in no time, as such things go, this letter left all those other writings in the dust. Paul’s letter to the Romans has had a far larger impact on its readers than the volumes of all those Roman writers put together.

“The quick rise of this letter to a peak of influence is extraordinary, written as it was by an obscure Roman citizen without connections. But when we read it for ourselves, we begin to realize that it is the letter itself that is truly extraordinary and that no obscurity in writer or readers could have kept it obscure for long.

“The letter to the Romans is a piece of exuberant and passionate thinking. This is the glorious life of the mind enlisted in the service of God. Paul takes the well-witnessed and devoutly believed fact of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and thinks through its implications. How does it happen that in the death and resurrection of Jesus, world history took a new direction, and at the same moment, the life of every man, woman and child on the planet was eternally affected? What is God up to? What does it mean that Jesus ‘saves’? What’s behind all this, and where is it going?

“These are questions that drive Paul’s thinking. Paul’s mind is supple and capacious. He takes logic

and argument, poetry and imagination, Scripture and prayer, creation and history and experience, and weaves them into this letter that has become the premier document of Christian theology.”

Excellent writing, huh? I hope Peterson’s short introduction motivates you to read the book of Romans. It’s as relevant now as it was then. If you are new to the Bible, read Romans in the Message version of the Bible. The Message Bible is a contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events and ideas in everyday speech.

There are 16 chapters in Romans. Every chapter has a unique focus relevant then and relevant now. Today, let’s walk through the first eight chapters of the Roman road in short snippet form.

Chapter 1 was written to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), in this case, the Romans. Paul reveals what happens when Gentiles ignore God. It leads to a downward spiral in national and individual power and status. Romans was a prophetic alert to Rome not to become shipwrecked like other civilizations in past times who ignored God.

Chapter 2 was written for the Jewish people. God reveals to the Jewish people that, just because they are religious, they are not better than other people. Paul says God is kind, but God is not soft. Religion can’t make you right with God. Christ does.

Chapter 3 Paul summarizes that the Jews and the Gentiles are both in the same sinking boat because all have

sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Chapter 4 declares that the way to escape sin’s wages and access God’s grace and eternal life is through faith in Jesus. At birth, everyone is given the power to believe; therefore, all people have access to God.

Chapter 5 implores us to enter what God wants for us, that is, for us to be right with him. We don’t change ourselves; God changes us from the inside out by grace (unearned favor from God) through faith in Jesus.

Chapter 6 elevates us from our worldly condition to our heavenly position in Jesus and self-sufficiency to God’s sufficiency. We are under new management.

Chapter 7 declares that all believers will be torn between our old ways and our new God ways for a while. Christlikeness is a process. It will require perseverance.

Chapter 8 answers the question of Christian living. The solution is living life on God’s terms, not ours. We don’t have to live life under a black, low-lying cloud. God is for us, not against us. How was that for a road trip? I hope you will invest time in reading the book of Romans. All God is saying is give me and my peace a chance.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

GOD’S LOVE IS ETERNAL

AM Live-Streamed at www.scfaith.org

SUNDAY, MAY 22

Revs. Mike & Sheryl Campbell

www.fsbcg.org

10250 N. 59th Ave. 623-937-9216

Sunday Services:

Bible Study (All ages) 9:15 am

Morning Worship 10:30 am Youth Discipleship 4:45 pm

Wednesdays:

Adult Bible Study & Prayer ...........6:00 pm Children/Youth 6:30 pm

Dr. Mark Mucklow, Pastor

• Worship Saturday 4pm, Sunday 9:30am

• Holy Communion both services

• Pancake Breakfast 8-10am

Last Saturday Every Month

Dine-In and Drive Thru

• End In-Person Bible Study Wed 6pm effective June 1st

Harvest CHurCH

8340 W. Northern Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305

Information 623.334.9482

Dr. Ron G. Rockwell – Pastor

Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

Nursery Provided Wednesday: Family Night 7:00 p.m. www.hcaz.org

NOW OPEN!

Join

shepherdofthedesertelca.org

Email: sodsecretary@qwestoffice.net

Jehovah’s Witnesses keep congregants active, safe

BY JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Eddie Alvarado would rarely go more than a few days without knocking on a door or visiting a Bible student as part of his volunteer ministry.

That abruptly changed in the spring of 2020 when Jehovah’s Witnesses suspended their in-person public ministry, meetings and large conventions.

Two years later, Alvarado of Phoenix said: “The ministry work during these times has kept us busier than I thought.” Multiple times a week he reaches out with a Bible-based message of hope to the Phoenix community.

Alvarado participates in this work regularly, writing letters, calling people, sending text messages and using video conference. “I have (been in constant) contact for over a year (with) an older gentleman in his 70s, and we have Biblical conversations weekly,” he added.

With this historic change, the num-

ber of Jehovah’s Witnesses grew 3% in the United States in 2021 alone, matching the most significant increase for the organization over the past decade and the second-largest percentage increase since 1990.

Bible courses via telephone and video conference.

Last year, the international organization reported all-time peaks in the number of people participating in their volunteer preaching work, increased attendance in video conference meetings and more than 171,000 new believers baptized. In the past two years, more than 400,000 have been baptized worldwide.

Some whose ministry or attendance at religious services had slowed because of age and poor health said they feel reenergized with the convenience of virtual meetings and a home-based ministry.

“Staying active in our ministry while remaining safe has had a powerful preserving effect on our congregants and communities,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“The wise decision not to prematurely resume in-person activities has united us and protected lives while comforting many people in great need. The results speak for themselves.”

For congregants like Alvarado, the virtual pivot has meant trading his bookbag for a landline, laptop, tablet and smartphone and his walking shoes for slippers. His tools have changed, but his message is the same. He regularly shares Scriptures with dozens of community members and offers free

By sharing the Bible’s hope remotely, the fewer than 3,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Alaska can rapidly preach across the 586,000 square miles of their sparsely populated state. “We’re talking to more people in a day than we did in a month,” said Marlene Sadowski of Ketchikan.

The official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, translated into more than 1,000 languages, has also leveraged the organization’s outreach.

After starting a free self-paced Bible course on jw.org in December 2019, Lisa Owen requested a free, interactive Bible study over video conference. She was one of nearly 20,000 baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses last year in the United States in private settings, including backyard swimming pools, tubs and even rivers.

“Jw.org gave me somewhere to learn, somewhere to land, and to start living the way God wants me to. It taught me so much,” said Owen of Moriarty, New Mexico.

To start an online Bible study course, receive a visit or attend a virtual meeting locally, visit jw.org.

Phoenix resident Eddie Alvarado and his wife use a publication found on jw.org to offer a Bible-based message of hope. (Jehovah’s Witnesses/Submitted)

Eddie Alvarado and his wife enjoy Bible-based discussions with members of their Phoenix community.

JOB SEEKERS

The Art of a Thank You Note

EXPERTS AGREE

Recruiters, human resource professionals and others in job-hiring positions recommend that you send a custom letter of appreciation within 24 hours of your interview. This is a great way to show appreciation for the opportunity to discuss their job opening. You’re reinforcing your interest in the open position, while showcasing your attention to detail and good manners.

WHEN TO WRITE

It may occur to you to compose this note as you’re wrapping up your day, but timing can be important. Try not to fire off a word of thanks at midnight, since hiring professionals aren’t likely to be at their desks. You’re putting yourself in a situation

where your letter might get lost in the inevitable early-morning wave of work-related emails. With that in mind, aim for an early-afternoon submission window, after they’ve filtered through the morning’s correspondence.

GET SPECIFIC

A bland, obviously generic thank you note might be almost as damaging to your candidacy as forgetting to send one in the first place. Be specific to the company and the interviewer, reminding them of a key moment from your talk. If you discussed a future project or a shared past business contact, reference that directly so the hiring professional is sure to remember you.

KEEP IT SHORT

By the same token, don’t be tempted

to go overboard. A thank you note is not supposed to be so details that it reads like a synopsis of your meeting, nor so conversational that it grows boring. Try to keep your note to about three sentences: Thank the person who met with you, mentioning the specific date of your interview. Add a sentence tailored to your experience, then a line that reiterates your interest in the open position.

DON’T PITCH AGAIN

This is not the venue to pitch yourself again for the job, to further explain how you’re perfect for the job, or to correct any missteps you may have made in the interview process. You’re interview will stand on its own. Simply focus on letting company officials know that you appreciate the interview opportunity and would welcome their consideration.

CMC Steel Arizona is growing! We are hiring immediately for multiple open positions in operations, maintenance and more!

We also have current openings for Core, our career path rotational program that provides you with broad exposure and cross-training across CMC’s lines of business, helping build the foundation you’ll need for a long career of opportunity with CMC! Visit us online to apply today!

•

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is a non-profit organization that provides programs and services to men, women, and children with developmental disabilities.

Time

and Part Time Caregivers

We are currently looking for caregivers to work in group homes throughout Glendale, Phoenix, Peoria and Scottsdale. Must pass background check.    Please apply at www.valleylifeaz.org

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Glendale Elementary Online Learning first-grader gives back to his community by helping people experiencing h

During the most recent GESD Governing Board meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Glendale presented the Kiwanis Superintendent Student of the Month award. The recognition program honors students who demonstrate good citizenship. This month's honoree is Glendale Elementary Online (GEO) Learning first-grade student Joshua Carrillo.

Joshua is a humble and kind seven-year-old. Every Saturday, Joshua and his family help people experiencing homelessness in West Valley neighborhoods They prepare and pack food to distribute to families in need. He also helps organize and distribute basic school supplies to homeless children. Joshua's family and his GEO Learning online school community say that he has a good heart and loves to share his kindness with others.

Kiwanis President Patrick Kiser and members of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale presented a certificate and gift card to Joshua with his proud family in attendance.

The Kiwanis Club of Glendale sponsored this inaugural program in GESD this school year and recently announced that Kiwanis will extend its generosity to continue the program in the 2022-2023 school year. Students are chosen by Superintendent Segotta-Jones for their servant leadership If you would like to learn more about Kiwanis of Glendale, the club meets every Wednesday at noon at Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant at 5670 W. Peoria Ave., Glendale.

Segotta-Jones,