Local designer showcases dress at Tonys
BY LAURA LATZKO West Valley View Contributing Writer
Mia Torres has designed clothes for former Miss Arizona USA Yesenia Vidales, actor Paolo Cesar Ramirez and Quinceañeras Magazine cover model Joyce Medina.
Now, Torres, of Avondale’s Melissa Torres Designs, is hitting the Great White Way.
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack — the executive director of ASU Gammage and the lone Arizona Tony Awards voter — will wear a Torres gown at the Tony Awards red carpet on Sunday, June 12.
Each year, Jennings-Roggensack choos-
es local designers to feature at the awards ceremony and other red-carpet events. Previously, she donned dresses from Galina Mihaleva, Esteban Osuna and Loren Aragon.
She also wore Aragon’s dress at a Metropolitan Opera opening of “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.”
“I am committed to Arizona designers because a lot of people think if it’s not in New York or LA, it’s not happening,” Jennings-Roggensack said.
“We have some very talented young designers here.”
Torres...continued on page 7
Sen. Kelly tours EMCC @ West-MEC
BY JORDAN ROGERS West Valley View Staff Writer
To get a better understanding of the Maricopa County Community College District’s Semiconductor Technician Quick Start job training program, Sen. Mark Kelly visited Estrella Mountain Community College @ West-MEC campus on May 31.
The program teaches students the necessary skills to fill high-paying jobs in the semiconductor field without a four-year degree.
“Workforce development is part of our plan and our dedication as we move forward and other degree
programs,” said Susan Bitter Smith, Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board member. “Our training program is a great opportunity to place people in jobs in Arizona, which has two of the three largest semiconductor firms.”
While on campus, Kelly toured the manufacturing laboratories.
“It’s always great to be to see this stuff hands-on; what young people are learning when they decide not four-year university, that’s not for everybody,” Kelly said. “We also need a workforce that is highly skilled and highly trained to be able to work in
Kelly...continued on page 3
Sen. Mark Kelly tours the Flow Loop Lab at EMCC @ WestMEC with Energy Institute faculty member Timothy Wilson. (Cassandra Tomei/Contributor)
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, left, wears a design inspired by Lady Diana, created by Mia Torres. (Tim Trumble/Contributor)
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Kelly...continued from page 1
places like the Palo Verde nuclear power plant, which is the biggest nuclear power plant in the country.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to provide the on-demand power that that we need here in the state many years to come.”
A member of the bipartisan conference committee, Kelly has worked to increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing since becoming senator in 2020.
This work includes the CHIPS Act, a $52 billion legislation to boost American microchip manufacturing and research.
Kelly said the CHIPS Act is very close to being pushed “passed the finish line.”
“The best semiconductor chips — the ones that are in phones, fighter jets, even your car, your vacuum cleaner — come from Taiwan, and they come from South Korea,” Kelly said.
“There’s a lot of risk involved for us from a national security perspective of relying on other countries. We need to bring that manufacturing capability back to the United States. Fortunately, a lot of that is going to come to Arizona.”
Kelly said the country provided 40% of worldwide semiconductor manufacturing capacity. That number is presently down to about 12%, and for Kelly, those figures are a huge reason of as to why he is working so hard to finalize this legislation.
“This is exciting for our state,” he said. “We only really kind of stand out in this industry with a couple of states. I think we could really become the hub. We (need to) get this legislation across the finish line; that is the key. This could result in multiple jobs. This is a big, big win for Congress.”
While at the West-MEC campus, Kelly showed gratitude toward the district for offering the valuable training needed to fill the highly anticipated thousands of positions expected to open in Arizona, which is quickly becoming the global leader in semiconductor manufacturing.
Sen. Mark Kelly and Susan Bitter Smith, a Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board member and interim chancellor for Maricopa Community Colleges, are presented with Estrella Mountain Community College’s training program for hightech manufacturing. (Cassandra Tomei/ Contributor)
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“If you want a high-paying career in manufacturing, there’s nothing more high tech than the manufacturing of semiconductor chips,” Kelly said. “That career could start right here at Estrella Mountain Community College.”
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Sonic Drive-In donates to local schools
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Sonic Drive-In donated $1.5 million to help fund local education needs through DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit that allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom requests submitted by teachers.
As part of Sonic’s ongoing Limeades for Learning initiative, the brand matched 50% of each donation made to teacher requests on DonorsChoose for Teacher Appreciation Day on May 3, donating a total of $1.5 million. With this donation, Sonic helped fully fund more than 9,000 projects from teachers across the country.
In Buckeye, nine teachers from six schools received a combined donation of $1,327, including:
• Brittany Kacer at Blue Horizons Elementary School for the project Mrs. Kacer’s Stronger Readers for grades three to five.
• Denisse Conchas at Buckeye
Elementary School for the project First Year Teacher Looking Forward to Starting New Year! for grades three to five.
• Jessica Aguiar at Buckeye Elementary School for the project Classroom Organizational Materials for grades three to five.
• Jessica Haller at Buckeye Elementary School for the project Falcon Super Readers for prekindergarten to second grade.
• Leticia Rodriguez at Buckeye Elementary School for the project PBIS Rewards for A+ Behaviors for pre-kindergarten to second grade.
• Leticia Rodriguez at Buckeye Elementary School for the project Ink to Help Us Think for prekindergarten to second grade.
• Michelle Barahona at Buckeye Preschool for the project Kindergarten Fun! for prekindergarten to second grade.
• Francine Brown-Thompson at
Marionneaux Elementary School for the project Online Reading with Depth and Rigor! for grades three to five.
• Monika-Elma Munoz at Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies for the project Getting Started with Art for grades six to eight.
• Teresa Gollihare at Sundance Elementary School for the project Kindergarten Butterflies for prekindergarten to second grade.
In Goodyear, four teachers from three schools received a combined donation of $226, including:
• Shelly Eubanks Wright at Estrella Foothills High School for the project Intervention for Mental Health and Indigenous Students for grades nine to 12.
• Tami Ngo at Millennium High School for the project The New Algebra 2 for grades nine to 12.
• Amy Marinelli at Wildflower Accelerated Academy for the project Explore with Books! for grades prekindergarten to second.
• Erika Yoney at Wildflower Accelerated Academy for the project Write On for grades three to five.
In Litchfield Park, two teachers from two schools received a combined donation of $195, including:
• Edith Marquez Rodriguez at Litchfield Elementary School for the project Love for Books for grades three to five.
• Jessica Walker at Palm Valley Elementary School for the project Rock Your School-Water Day! for pre-kindergarten to second.
“Limeades for Learning is an initiative that Sonic holds dear, and we’re proud to partner with DonorsChoose on this important work,” said Lori
Arizona cities continued booming growth last year
BY DAISY GONZALEZ-PEREZ Cronkite News
Arizona had five of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the United States last year while Phoenix continued to add residents, bucking the trend of major cities that lost population during the pandemic, according to the Census Bureau.
Census data released recently showed Queen Creek, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Maricopa City and Goodyear all grew at rates ranging from 5.4% to 8.9% between July 2020 and 2021. The report also said Goodyear and Buckeye were among the six cities nationwide that topped 100,000 residents last year, with populations hitting 101,733 and 101,315, respectively.
“We are growing, and growing quickly, considering that Buckeye was under 7,000 people in the year 2000,” said Deanna Kupcik, president and CEO of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Buckeye’s growth rate of 8.6% was
fourth-highest in the country, right behind Queen Creek, which grew by 8.9% to 66,346 residents last year.
The census said close to half of the 795 U.S. cities with 50,000 people or more lost population last year, but none of the 20 Arizona cities on the list posted a loss.
Flagstaff saw the smallest percentage growth, adding 29 residents to bring its population to 76,989.
When asked what was driving the growth of their cities, officials across the board pointed to quality-of-life issues.
“We’re investing in our public safety. Earlier this year we launched the Queen Creek Police Department, as well as opening two new permanent fire stations,” Queen Creek Town Manager John Kross said.
“Beyond prioritizing transportation and public safety, we are furthering the quality of life through our wash trail system and expanding parks and recreation opportunities,” said Kross, adding that the city is also focused on attracting more
large-scale employers to provide jobs for residents.
Phoenix, not surprisingly, added the largest number of residents in the state last year, but the extra 13,224 residents amounted to a growth rate of 0.8%. But of the 10 biggest cities in the country, only Phoenix and San Antonio saw population gains. All the others lost residents, led by New York City’s loss of 305,465.
“It’s no accident Phoenix is growing rapidly, attracting global corporations, startups, and legacy companies,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in an emailed statement.
“The quality of life here is exceptional and combines with smart policies and a welcoming business operating environment to deliver a diverse ecosystem of opportunities in which workers can obtain high-quality jobs and families can thrive,” her statement said.
Municipal officials said the qualities that have attracted new residents have also attracted new businesses.
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“We are excited for the businesses that have chosen Casa Grande as their base,” said Renée Louzon-Benn, executive director at the chamber of commerce in Casa Grande, which grew by 6.2% last year to 57,699 residents. That was the seventh-biggest percentage increase in the country.
Louzon-Benn pointed to electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid motors, which established a plant within the city last year, and Kohler Co., which is scheduled to open a plant in Casa Grande. Best known for its plumbing products, Kohler also makes furniture, cabinetry and tile.
Growth comes with its challenges.
Louzon-Benn said the planned widening of Interstate 10, currently just two lanes in each direction between Casa Grande and Chandler, should help both residents and businesses in the area.
Realtor Steve Larson, a longtime Buckeye resident, said the city is “growing exponentially, one of these days we are going to be a major city in Maricopa County.” That optimism is backed up by a report from the city that projects Buckeye could triple to as many as 305,000 by the year 2040.
Larson said that for those looking to move to the area, the housing “market is
Five Arizona cities — Queen Creek, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Maricopa City and Goodyear — were among the top 15 cities in the nation for population growth rate from July 2020 to July 2021, according to the Census Bureau. No large city in the state saw a population decrease during the pandemic-wracked year, the new numbers show. (Arizona Department of Transportation/Submitted)
back to normal” — for now. COVID-19 made it difficult for homebuilders and sellers, but with the pandemic waning the possibility of rising interest rates could create challenges for homebuyers again.
“For people making the move, we have gotten spoiled with low interest rates,” he said.
But growth comes with its benefits, too.
“I was born and raised here and started in the chamber of commerce in 1988.
The biggest want … from our citizens was grocery stores,” Kupcik said. “Before we used to drive east to Goodyear or further.”
Now, she noted, Buckeye has two Fry’s, a Walmart and an Aldi.
Kross said the population growth is proof that cities’ investments are paying off.
“All of these investments and plans, along with the diversity of housing, continue to make Queen Creek a desirable place to live, and we’re seeing that continue through the recent census numbers,” he said.
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
During the Tony Awards ceremony, Jennings-Roggensack will distribute Torres’ business cards.
“I believe designers are artists, just like the performing artists I work with onstage,” Jennings-Roggensack said.
Torres said it’s important to get to know clients on a personal level by meeting with them multiple times.
“I want to know their style. I want to know what colors they like, what they feel most comfortable in,” Torres said.
The design was two years in the making but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her dress is inspired by fashions from “Diana: The Musical,” a show about the life of Princess Diana, but has Torres’ signature designs, like embellishments and circle skirts.
“I love the way that circle skirts lay and how they flow,” said Torres, whose given name is Melissa.
“You can do a little twist and see that cute, little twist.”
Torres grew up inspired by Princess Diana and her fashions.
“She was so iconic in my youth. I definitely remember a lot about her,” Torres said.
Award winner
Torres won the Phoenix Fashion Week’s Emerging Digital Designer bootcamp challenge, during which she completed tasks related to social media marketing and branding.
“I definitely learned to put myself out there, not be afraid and just be persistent,” Torres said.
Her clothing was recently featured in Gladys Magazine. During the shoot, she offered suggestions on the pose. The “power” pose ended up being in the magazine.
“It was really cool to actually be there watching
behind the scenes and having the photographer call me over and allow me to incorporate something,” Torres said.
In 2019, Torres staged a fashion show in Downtown Phoenix to feature her designs. She said that show led to opportunities like working with local pageant contestants and with Jennings-Roggensack.
She assembled the collection to chalTorres..continued from page 1
Torres...continued on page 8
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Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, the only Arizona Tony Awards voter, will wear a dress by Avondale designer
Mia Torres of Melissa Torres Designs at this year’s ceremony. (Tim Trumble/Contributor)
Suspect in custody after shooting at police
Voters OK Litchfield Square land sale
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Asuspect is behind bars after shooting at a Buckeye police officer.
Just before 9:30 a.m. June 2, police responded to a report of a man walking on Palo Verde Road near Southern Avenue who pointed a gun at a passing motorist.
The arriving officer exited the patrol vehicle and gave commands for the suspect to stop. That’s when the suspect fired at the officer. The officer
Torres..continued from page 7
lenge herself and further develop her construction and design skills.
“Even since then, it’s almost like an adrenaline rush,” Torres said.
“Once you do it and you get that feeling of accomplishment, you want to keep going. You have to put yourself out there and ask. Even if people say, ‘No, it’s OK,’ you just say, ‘Who else can I ask?’” Torres said.
Torres has been keeping busy with fashion since she stepped down from her property management job of 10 years.
“I just feel this liberation. I just feel like I can be myself completely,” Torres said.
Torres said she hopes to work with male and female clients who show at red carpet events, galas, awards ceremonies, press conferences and athletic drafts.
She describes her style as classic, but she hopes to dabble in more colorful, modern designs. Torres doesn’t just like to create beautiful clothes for others. She likes to wear them herself.
“If you are brave enough to live your life and dress the way you want to dress, do it,” Torres said.
Fashion sense
As a child, Torres looked up to her aunt and mother’s fashion sense.
“It opened my eyes to you pair these shoes with this dress, or you wear this
fired back. A short time later, police arrested the suspect and recovered the weapon. The officer and suspect were not injured. The suspect was transported to the hospital as a precaution.
The suspect has been identified as 22-year-old Juan Daniel Ortega. He will be booked on two counts of aggravated assault. The West Valley Incident Response Team is investigating. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave which is standard protocol.
color with this,” Torres said.
Her favorite outfit as a child was a purple hoop dress, which she donned on the last day of kindergarten.
Along with her mother and aunt, her husband, cousins, good friends, former colleagues, clients and others have been in her corner.
“I just feel the love and feel the support. Everyone is just rooting for me,”
Torres said.
One of her first jobs was working at Desert Sky Mall’s Max Rave, which helped her to develop her fashion eye.
“It was really cool to see how these things work behind the scenes, why we do what we do in clothing stores, and why we put items with other items,” Torres said.
She has two degrees, one from Phoenix College and a second in fashion.
“I said, ‘I’m from the desert. I don’t know anybody who has made it from Arizona as a fashion designer.’ I talked myself out of it. … After graduating, I couldn’t stop thinking about fashion design, and I just realized maybe I could be the one to make it and make a difference,” Torres said.
“It’s so important to believe in yourself, no matter what you want to do.”
Melissa Torres Designs
Instagram: @MelissaTorresDesigns Web: melissatorresdesigns.com
BY RON SANZONE West Valley View Contributing Writer
Litchfield Park voters authorized the city to sell land at Litchfield Square in a special election held on May 17.
Litchfield Park’s City Council officially adopted the result at a May 25 special meeting.
The measure, which was approved by 76% of voters, covers all parcels of land in a 400,00-square-foot commercial development at the corner of Wigwam Boulevard and Litchfield Road. The city will maintain ownership of some of the land to develop parking structures.
When built, Litchfield Square will be a mixed-use commercial development featuring retail shops, restaurants and offices.
Rather than being anchored by a grocery store or big-box retailer, the project will center around a 2.5-acre park that the city will own and maintain. The park’s design, as presented to the city council by EPS Group, envisions a splash pad, stream, amphitheater, playground and shaded structures.
The park will host festivals and special events that are currently sprinkled throughout locations in Litchfield Park. Accommodations will be made to host food trucks during those occasions.
Work on the project began months before the special election was held. Roads have been graded, retention containers for stormwater drainage built, utility lines laid, and ground broken on a roundabout at the intersection of Litchfield Road and Village Parkway. The entire concept of Litchfield Square can be dated back much further.
Litchfield Park created a plan for a
Sonic...continued from page 4
Abou Habib, chief marketing officer of Sonic.
“Drink purchases at Sonic bring joy to our guests while supporting students and teachers in the classroom.”
Sonic donates a portion of drink proceeds to support local public schools
city center in 1996 and wanted to locate it on land it did not own. That land, the current site of the project, was just dirt at that time. A dispute between the city and the owners of the land ensued and eventually led to a recall of several city councilmembers.
The city eventually began purchasing the land in 2014 and completed the acquisition of all of it in 2017. It was focused on developing the area according to the desires of the city’s residents rather than using it to extract the greatest possible profit.
As the project came closer to fruition, the city consulted with its attorney to determine the best path forward to proceed with selling the land to commercial parties. The result was calling for a special election to cover all parcels, rather than returning to the ballot every time a bid of $1.5 million or more was submitted. One single election covering all parcels would streamline the bidding process and spare additional expenses of holding future elections. None of the parcels have yet been sold, but one is subject to a purchase agreement. The city hired Jones Lang LaSalle, an international marketing group, to market the remaining parcels. There is no time limit within which the properties must be sold, but Litchfield Park is required to sell them through a public auction process.
As a condition of all sales, the city will require developers to design structures that are consistent with the architectural themes that characterize the community. Specifically, they must not contrast with the building styles of the Litchfield Elementary School, the Church at Litchfield Park, and the Wigwam Resort.
through Limeades for Learning, in partnership with education nonprofit, DonorsChoose. Sonic has donated more than $20 million to directly fund local education programs since 2009. Anyone wishing to donate can visit donorschoose.org.
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OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The core problem
Editor:
Outrage, prayers and calls for change follow each mass shooting.
The shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde are no different. The proposals, such as universal background checks and red flag laws, are tiny steps to solve a huge problem.
We need to fix the core problem. The Second Amendment.
The U.S. Constitution was ratified on Sept. 17, 1787. Article 5 allows for amendments and the first 10, the Bill of Rights, were ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. Since then, there have been 17 amendments to the Constitution. The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment. That was Prohibition and proof that a failed amendment can be repealed.
The Second Amendment is short. “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
The Second Amendment made sense in 1791. Rifles were single-shot Flintlocks and not high-capacity killing machines. The amendment has been hijacked and makes no sense in 2022. What “well-regulated militia” did the Buffalo and Uvalde murderers belong to?
We need to repeal the Second Amendment!
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Leonard Kirschner
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Get used to it
Editor:
If you are hoping for gas prices to eventually come down sometime in the near future, you are sadly mistaken.
President Biden made that very clear when he recently said that the country is going through an “incredible transition” from fossil fuels to something greener via higher gas prices. That is, we will force you to buy electric cars — like it or not — by keeping gas prices very high.
By declaring war on the oil and gas industry from day one of his presidency by canceling the Keystone Pipeline project, President Biden has remained true to his radical goal of transforming America from the greatest producer of energy to one dependent on rogue countries and dubious green technologies that rely on mining rare metals like lithium and cobalt that destroy the environment in the process.
Igor Shpudejko
Goodyear
Biden a fool?
Editor:
Watching Biden on TV reminds me of the saying, “There is no fool like an old fool.” If the United Nations can’t handle Russia’s invasion, maybe it should disband. Quit giving away billions of dollars, and start taking care of the things he has screwed up at home.
Robert Jones Goodyear
Run away from lockdowns
Editor:
In the wake of another school shooting, it is sad to see that we are repeating so many of our previous mistakes. Most solutions cited are gun control (not feasible) or hardening schools (marginally effective but highly un-
economical). However, I think that the ways that schools are responding to active shooters altogether needs to be questioned.
There is an obvious difference between how students and workers are trained and drilled to deal with an active shooter. Workers in large office buildings are usually taught “Run! Hide. Or Fight!” in that order. This is also what most martial arts and self-defense programs teach as well. For whatever reason, schools ignore this time-tested philosophy and opt instead for lockdown strategies, which only serve to facilitate the shooter by conveniently arranging the targets for him.
Police officers are not obligated to protect citizen lives at the cost of their own.
It is not surprising then that first responding police officers will choose to establish a perimeter at a safe distance and then wait hours if needed for a hardened SWAT team to arrive and confront the shooter.
This is not meant as a criticism of law enforcement. I would probably do the same if I were in that situation. My own valor does not extend far be-
yond my circle of family and friends, and we should not blindly expect that sacrifice from strangers. The only person you can count on to defend you is you, which is why we have a Second Amendment. Beware of throwing that baby out with the bath water amid the emotional outrage.
We need to be straight with students
Letters...continued on page 16
‘Get acquainted’ exercise was like ‘The Twilight Zone’
BY J.D. HAYWORTH West Valley View Columnist
Rod Serling must have written this scene, the congressman thought to himself.
He and an aide sat in the rooftop suite of a downtown hotel, in serious disrepair. The worn,
early ’60s decor only added to the sensation of life inside a “Twilight Zone” episode, compounded outdoors by the monsoonal conditions of a mid-August afternoon.
The threatening storm clouds were more like Miami than Phoenix, but the changing hues aloft put to rest any notion that this was occurring in black and white.
Seated across the room were visitors
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from the East — the Far East — though the delegation had come to Arizona from the consulate general of China in Los Angeles.
Ostensibly, this was a “get acquainted” exercise, but the congressman understood that the visitors had come as part of a “charm offensive” by the Chinese.
Sadly, for his foreign visitors, the congressman saw nothing charming in the Chinese presentation. While he was inclined to give them “an A for effort,” even their intended overture of hospitality was ham-handed. Rather than call room service and prearrange a beverage service for all in attendance, a junior member of the delegation hurriedly brewed coffee in the small, hotel-issued device in the suite.
The young diplomat’s hasty decision to pour the hot beverage into highball glasses only added to the ill-fitting atmosphere of the encounter. So, with steaming hot coffee served in glasses better suited for happy hour, the senior Chinese official began his happy talk.
“China desires friendship with the United States,” the consular officer said. “And there is no better way to encourage friendship between our two nations than to build on the trade policy already in place. If the United States Congress extends ‘normal trade relations’ with our nation, it will add to the prosperity and security of both our peoples.”
The congressman offered a response couched in diplomatic niceties, but clearly stating his concerns: “Welcome to Arizona; you honor us with your visit. Thanks also for stating your desire for friendship between our nations. In that spirit, let us speak to each other candidly, as friends. Your kind words notwithstanding, it is very difficult to reconcile those comments with some troubling remarks recently made by one of your senior military officers. Specifically, it was Lt. Gen. Xiong Guangkai who said of our nation and our people, ‘…you care a lot more about Los Angeles than Taipei.’ How are we to interpret that, other than as a direct threat?”
The senior Chinese diplomat had a ready response: “Congressman, per-
haps you have had the experience of being misquoted in the press? I believe that was the case with Gen. Xiong in this instance.”
“Besides,” he continued, “because we are headquartered in Los Angeles, I can assure you that my colleagues and I have considerable personal interest in that great city!”
Despite the diplomat’s effort at deflection through humor, the conversation did nothing to change the congressman’s mind. When the question of extending “normal trade relations” with communist China came before the full House, he voted no.
Fast-forward through two decades and five occupants of the White House. The congressman is now a columnist, but serious questions about U.S.-China relations remain.
Of the five men who have occupied the Oval Office through those years, only Donald Trump remained skeptical of trade with China. The other four were pro-China trade, with one, Bill Clinton, “evolving.”
Gov. Clinton campaigned as an opponent of trade with China, only to change his mind as president, and campaign finance records explain why.
Financial contributions by Chinese citizens to the Clinton-Gore campaign in 1996 led to changes in U.S. Campaign Finance Law but were of no legal consequence to President Clinton.
Undaunted, the Chinese shifted their strategy. Instead of presidential campaigns, they concentrated on “princelings,” the children of prominent politicians. Most notably, Hunter Biden, who has been involved in questionable business dealings with Chinese entities.
Something has certainly affected Hunter’s dad, the current commander-in-chief. On a recent overseas trip to visit Asian allies, there was no stop in Taiwan, but Joe Biden brought the traveling White House Press Corps to a “full stop” when he said that the United States would intervene militarily if the Chinese attacked Taiwan. White House staffers immediately “walked back” his comments, but Ol’ Joe had taken
Remembering every body is a bikini body
BY JUDY BLUHM West Valley View Columnist
Isn’t summer wonderful? So, are we all ready for donning a swimsuit?
Hmm… some of us would rather walk a plank with a gang of blood-thirsty pirates behind us and a bunch of sharks with their jaws wide open waiting for us to jump before going “public” in a bathing suit. About 80% of American adults over the age of 40 claim that they are “uncomfortable” with the way they look in a swimsuit. A shocking 50% of middle-aged American women say they would rather “have a heart attack” than wear a bathing suit out in public.
My grandkids want me to take them
to a resort pool and go down the slides. Hey, I’m a grandma and in no mood for walking around poolside with a hundred folks. If I want to wear a swimsuit, it will be in the privacy of my own backyard. And then again, maybe not. I do need to buy a bathing suit because I am soon making my annual family vacation to San Diego. We all like to splash around in the ocean and maybe grab a boogie board to ride a wave.
I hate the thought of having to buy a swimsuit! Have you done this lately? It is intimidating to go to a store and try one on. This is not an exercise for the weak, as only the brave can survive. There, under the unforgiving florescent lights and the horror of three-way mirrors, it is the “time of reckoning” that will make many women physically ill. Every bulge, ripple, lump, bump, cel-
lulite, flab, tummy and thigh will be completely and grossly exposed. Every potato chip, high-carb treat, piece of pie and plate of pasta is suddenly staring back at you in a room full or mirrors. It’s more terrifying than a “Fun House.” There is no mercy, no denial — just absolute honesty made worse by the glare of bright lights!
A woman in her 60s went bathing suit shopping in a mall with her husband. She went to the dressing room, tried on a swimsuit, and when she stood in front of the three-way mirror, she was so horrified that she let out a blood-curdling, “Noooooo.”
A sales associate called security. Her husband, who was somewhere else in the store, heard his wife’s shrieks and ran into the women’s dressing room to stop whoever was murdering her. He
was met by a woman walking out who hit him with her handbag several times until he was screaming, too. Oh, yeah, buying swimsuits can get ugly.
Need a bathing suit? No worries. Head for the gym, run that mile, lift those weights, skip dessert, and by October you will look fabulous! Or, go ahead, expose yourself and be proud! Why shouldn’t everyone, all shapes and sizes, have fun this summer? It may take determination to try on a bathing suit and courage to wear it, but we can do this! My solution? I might get a wet suit. It’s the perfect cover up with head-to-toe spandex! See you at the beach!
Judy Bluhm is a writer and local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@ judybluhm.com.
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and give them the option to run if that is the best option available. It won’t save all lives, but it would save many, and we deserve to give our kids the best possible chance. Life and death situations allow for more creativity in creating emergency exits. Maybe one day we will see classroom windows broken from the inside and empowered students running to safety.
into our home and 10 shots from a rifle, shotgun or handgun aren’t enough. They fear that banning any gun will lead to a ban on all guns. And they repeatedly say, “This is not the time to talk about gun safety.” Meanwhile, about 100 people a day are killed by gunfire in the United States.
Charles Peabody Goodyear
On the issue of gun safety
Editor:
One side says there are too many guns capable of killing a lot of people in a few seconds in civilian hands, and we should try to do something to limit access to them by unstable or criminal people. They support our Second Amendment but note that countries that have enacted restrictions on military-type weapons — such as Australia, Japan and Great Britain — have a fraction of gun deaths per capita compared to the United States.
The other side argues that average folks need assault-type weapons to defend themselves against our own government. Or to prevent rival nations (China? Iran?) from invading us.
Or in case criminals are breaking
“strategic ambiguity” to greater levels of contradiction and confusion.
Or could that be the elder Biden was making his own “deflection play,” mindful of suspicions that he could be a blackmail target?
Meantime, press accounts indicate China may soon move militarily against Taiwan — just as Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year. Two communist nuclear powers going to war
All of these gun advocates’ reasons are unsupportable, imaginary or paranoid. About 80% of guns used in crimes are legally obtained. The shooters at Las Vegas, Virginia Tech, Parkland and many other massacres were not convicted criminals before they murdered dozens of people. Fewer than 10% of them had known mental problems. A stunning 90% of children killed by gunfire in stable countries are in the United States. Easy access to high-capacity, rapid-fire guns is part of the problem, but gun sales soar as the NRA and Republican politicians continue to stoke fear in their followers.
The founders called for a “militia” to defend this country. Since then, we have added the military, the National Guard and hundreds of police agencies to do that. They use semi-automatic and automatic guns with 30-bullet magazines. As Justice Scalia noted, there is no Second Amendment right for civilians to have these weapons. It’s time for Congress to do something about the horrific gun violence in this country.
John Flynn Goodyear Letters...continued from page 10
against their neighbors in 2022? What might happen next?
It sounds like the plot of a “Twilight Zone” episode from 1962 — or perhaps, if miscalculations continue, like “Twilight’s Last Gleaming.”
J.D. Hayworth represented Arizona in the U.S. House from 1995-2007. He authored and sponsored the Enforcement First Act, legislation that would have mandated enforcement of Federal Immigration Law in the 109th Congress.
Jennifer Mahoney Attorney
Business Briefcase
BY SCIANNA GARCIA West Valley View Staff Writer
As more rooftops are going up in the city of Goodyear, so is the development of new businesses and retailers in the surrounding neighborhoods.
This week, we’ll look at the newest chain companies making their way into the West Valley.
Eye Tactics opens
Location: Shops at Serafina, 633 S. Estrella Parkway, Suite 135
Eye Tactics has opened a lash lift studio in Goodyear, its first location in Arizona.
The recently established franchise comes from Las Vegas, where it found success providing dark and lifted lashes and other services for women and men.
Lash lifts are an alternative to eyelash extensions, with the benefits of saving money and no post-maintenance. Eye Tactic’s signature procedure takes 75 minutes to complete and lasts for roughly six weeks.
Tialutrell McCormick, owner of Eye Tactics Lash Lift Studios, said her studio has a diverse clientele, ranging from high schoolers to those in their 90s.
“I love our location because it seems to be in the heart of a really amazing, fast-paced, growing market,” McCormick said.
“We’re surrounded by very popular, little cities all around. What I love about what makes us special, what makes Goodyear special, is that Eye Tactics is as eclectic and as diverse as the city.”
Services include lash lifts, eyebrow lamination and waxing, and lash Botox. Lash lifts start at $75.
“I would love to see us expand in Arizona very fast. My expectation is that Eye Tactics will continue to grow, and we’ll get more investors into the Arizona market and open some more stores,” McCormick said.
Wingstop opening soon
Location: Canyon Trails Towne Center, 783 S. Cotton Lane, Suite C-120
Known for its menu of 11 flavors of classic and boneless chicken wings, Wingstop is opening at Canyon Trails Towne Center.
What began as a small Buffalo-style chicken wing restaurant in Garland, Texas, in 1994 has more than 1,500 restaurants across the globe. Wingstop is one of the fastest-growing concepts in the country, with the goal to become a top 10 global restaurant brand.
The newest flavors to hit the Wingstop menu include hot lemon, lemon garlic and Bayou barbecue, a blend of hickory smoked barbecue spiked with Cajun seasoning.
For a limited time, the new $15.99 boneless meal deal comes with 20 boneless wings in any choice of four flavors, with a large fry and two dips, enough to feed a family of three or four.
A firm opening date is not available yet.
Noodles & Company under construction
Location: Market at Estrella Falls, 15290 W. McDowell Road
Since 1995, Noodles & Company has been redefining the fast-casual dining industry to satisfy all customer cravings from salads, sides and desserts, and a multicultural variety of noodle dishes.
Signature menu items include the penne rosa, Japanese pan noodles, and Wisconsin mac and cheese.
“Our mission is to nourish and inspire every team member, guest and community we serve,” said Danielle Moore, communications director for Noodles & Company.
“We do this through our dedication to ‘uncommon goodness.’ From how we treat our team members and create a unique guest experience to how we carefully select ingredients and positively impact the communities we serve, we strive to infuse ‘uncommon goodness’ into everything we do.”
Noodles & Company regularly introduces menu items, including LEANguini, pasta fresca, and cavatappi lemon Parmesan with shrimp.
“Throughout the month of June, we are celebrating Pride Month with the return of our signature pride crispy,” Moore added.
“All month, proceeds from our pride crispy, up to $25,000, will benefit Out
& Equal Workplace Advocates, the premier organization advocating exclusivity for LGBTQIA+ workplace equality. It’s just one way we’re showing ‘uncommon goodness’ throughout the month.
“We are very excited about our recent opening in Goodyear. We have a lot of brand recognition throughout Arizona, and our opening in Goodyear was met with demand from our guests, and we’re still seeing that support and excitement from the community today. We look forward to continually serving the Goodyear community and giving back however we can. We are always looking for local organizations to partner with for fundraisers, and interested organizations can reach out to us online.”
Career fair
Closing out this week is an upcoming career fair.
Legacy Traditional Schools is hosting a career fair for teachers, administrative, noninstructional and support. Applicants will interview directly with principals and hiring representatives, and sign-on bonuses are available for select positions.
Applicants are asked to bring a resume, credentials and any other supporting documents.
The next one is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at each of its schools. To find the nearest one, visit legacytraditional.org. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3zcf9Xl.
Anyone with questions is asked to email careers@legacytraditional.org. Have
Please email your business news and tips to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at Christina@TimesLocalMedia.com
Cox promotes West Valley native Rachel Aja
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Rachel Aja has been promoted to director of government affairs for Cox’s Southwest region.
Her territory includes the Phoenix metro, Southern Arizona and Las Vegas. She will lead a team focused on legislation and city actions focused on technology, construction and permitting. She will also lead efforts as Cox expands and enters new markets in the Southwest.
“Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge in the legislation process, as well as deep relationships with cities and municipalities across Arizona,” said Percy Kirk, Cox senior vice president and Southwest regional manager.
“She is a great leader with a true Arizona spirit and knowledge of the communities where Cox employees live and work.”
She has been with Cox for the past six years, responsible for Cox’s local government relations in Arizona. She played a key role in helping secure the passage of the simplified and streamlined cable licensing law in 2018 and then secured all of Cox’s municipal and county cable licenses in the state.
Aja also played a significant role in working with network construction and municipal permitting departments as Cox continues its expansion in Arizona.
This focus on working with new Cox expansion markets will continue in her new role.
“Rachel has a wonderful energy and true commitment to the communities that Cox serves,” said Susan Anable, Cox Southwest vice president of pub-
Wendy Bridges named president of AAED
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
The Arizona Association for Economic Development tapped
Wendy Bridges, Goodyear’s economic development project manager, as president of its executive board for 2022-23.
“It is an honor to serve as the next president of AAED,” Bridges said.
“Working alongside AAED’s officers and board members, who represent communities and organizations across Arizona, will be an experience that is second to none. I look forward to building on AAED’s pillars of advocacy, collaboration and education, and guiding the organization as it heads into its 50th anniversary next year.”
Bridges served as president-elect of the organization last year and has held other roles within AAED over the past 15 years.
She brings over 25 years of expe-
lic affairs.
“Rachel has contributed countless hours to volunteering in the community as an honorary commander at Luke Air Force Base and reading to kids after school as a longtime volunteer at Read Better Be Better.”
She has developed a strong reputation for her trusted relationships with local governments and elected officials, and her collaborative, problem-solving style.
Prior to Cox, Aja served as adviser to the mayor of Goodyear, intergovernmental affairs coordinator for Peoria, and political consultant to former Sen. Kate Brophy McGee.
She is a former co-chair of the Arizona Technology Council Public Policy Committee.
An Arizona native, Aja grew up in
Buckeye and is part of a family with deep roots in ranching.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from the UA in 2003 and was recently nominated to the Women in Cable Television Rising Leaders Program.
She is an alumna of Leadership West Class XII and the Luke Air Force Base Honorary Commander Program for the 310th Fighter Squadron.
In 2020, she was recognized as that organization’s Blue Blazer Volunteer of the Year. In 2021, she was invited to serve as an honorary commander for the 161st Air Refueling Wing of the Arizona National Guard.
Aja and her husband, Joe, live in Phoenix and enjoy traveling, cooking, gardening and beekeeping.
rience in county and municipal government, having served communities throughout Arizona.
Her primary focus in Goodyear is the health care and higher education sectors. Bridges earned her Arizona economic development professional designation from AAED, is licensed in real estate, earned a degree in management from Yavapai College and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in public administration from NAU.
The nomination was approved at AAED’s general membership meeting in Tucson.
AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development through an effective program of professional education, public policy and collaboration.
Info: 602-240-2233, aaed.com
Kennedy embracing mentorship role with D-backs
BY JOSHUA WEISBLY West Valley View Staff Writer
The Arizona Diamondbacks made some moves in the offseason to shore up a bullpen that struggled during the 2021 season.
Among them was signing veteran right-handed reliever Ian Kennedy.
A familiar face, Kennedy was excited to get the opportunity to be back in the Valley. He pitched for the Snakes from 2010 to 2013 and finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting in 2011.
“I’m familiar with the area,” he said. “I have a lot of good memories playing here. There are just a lot of good feels coming back wearing the Diamondbacks logo again.”
The league-imposed lockout delayed the pitcher’s signing with a team, but that did not deter the Diamondbacks’ interest in him.
“As soon as the lockout ended, they were one of the first teams to call,” Kennedy said.
During his first stint with the Diamondbacks, Kennedy was part of a rotation that included another young starter in Daniel Hudson. The two were key pieces to a Diamondbacks team that made the playoffs in 2011 by way of winning the National League West Division title.
Kennedy recalls their time on the team fondly.
“We just felt like we were two young guys just having fun, and we were,” he said. “We didn’t view it as like we’re
The Diamondbacks signed right-handed reliever Ian Kennedy. (Jill Weisleder/Arizona Diamondbacks)
the anchors of the staff; we just felt like part of the staff.
“I’m still chasing 2011 and that feeling I had going into the playoffs. There were so many good memories, and that’s the best time I’ve had.”
The duo’s relaxed approach often spilled over to other sports and offfield activities.
“We were probably more worried about the hitting component in our golf games on the side,” Kennedy said jok-
ingly.
Kennedy’s career has been full of stops around Major League Baseball since his departure from the Diamondbacks after the team dealt him to the San Diego Padres during the 2013 season.
From there, he logged innings for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies.
During the 2019 season while he was with the Royals, he was floated the idea of permanently moving to the bullpen.
“It’s just something totally different than the previous 10 to 12 years of (my career), or even my whole life of just starting,” Kennedy said.
“So, it’s totally different, but I’m having a crazy amount of fun doing it.”
Though he was initially unsure of the transition to the bullpen, Kennedy now knows it was ultimately for the best.
“I really like it,” he said. “I think it gave me another life, allowed me to play longer, and gave my arm and my body a lot more life.”
Kennedy’s role on this team, he said, is not just about shoring up the back end of the bullpen. Joining a young
group, Kennedy recognizes his responsibility to pass his experience down to the younger players.
“To be able to pass on the knowledge of what I’ve done, of what I’ve seen, what I’ve tried, what didn’t work, what did work, and being able to watch guys and give that advice,” Kennedy said. “Helping as best as I possibly can is what I really enjoy now.”
This new role is something that he is not looking to shy away from. Instead, he is embracing it.
“I’m comfortable being in this scenario where I get to help young guys,” Kennedy said. “That doesn’t scare me. I find joy in that.”
With the team in a rebuild mode, one of the things Kennedy and the veterans of the roster are looking to instill is a different attitude going into games.
“You also have to help guys be winners,” Kennedy said. “If we’re going in there already beat before we get there, you have to help change that mentality.”
Going beyond just helping the younger players from a baseball perspective, Kennedy is committed to assisting his teammates in any way needed.
“I come in every year thinking of that,” he said. “If I go in there, start focusing on other guys, whether it’s helping with off-the-field stuff or onthe-field things.
“Me personally, that’s when I’m like, ‘My personal things will be to the side.’ I want to be the best team I possibly can.”
The West Valley View publishes on Wednesday. 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 View’s coverage area, which is south of Northern Avenue, west of Loop 101, plus all of Tolleson, extending to Estrella in the south and Tonopah in the west. Events such as concerts and theatrical performances that fall outside the View’s circulation area will be considered because there are no concert halls or theater venues within our boundaries.
Weekly calendar items print on a space-available basis. The only way to guarantee that an item will print is to purchase an advertisement.
Submissions must reach our office by 4 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for the following Wednesday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@timeslocalmedia.com
Verrado Farmers Market
SUNDAYS
Peruse locally made items and support small business.
1829 N. Verrado Way, Buckeye, 7 to 11 a.m., free admission
Bad June
JUNE 10
Bad June is comprised of four performers
from across the country — vocals/ percussion June Moreno, guitars/vocals
Jim Miller, bass/vocals/harmonica Lee Kirkham, and drums/percussion/vocals
Jimmy Fernandez. Hidden Lake, 24445 W. Sunrise Drive, Buckeye, 7 to 11 p.m., tickets start at $10, 623-777-5814, hiddenlakeaz.com
The Backstage Crew
JUNE 11
The Backstage Crew is “America’s premier classic rock/variety cover band.”
Hidden Lake, 24445 W. Sunrise Drive, Buckeye, 7 to 11 p.m., tickets start at $10, 623-777-5814, hiddenlakeaz.com
The Blooming Expo
JUNE 12
The shopping event features raffles, sales, giveaways, and music by DJ Yellawave. The first 30 guests receive a free goodie bag.
Sonny’s Wedding & Event Center, 100 E. Western Avenue, Goodyear, noon to 5 p.m., free, eventbrite.com
Mindset Shift Workshop
JUNE 15
JT Seminars’ Justin Thorstad, founder of Libertas Real Estate, is hosting a free mindset shift workshop. Held at Libertas Real Estate’s Goodyear branch, the session provides an inspired course that encourages
attendees to elevate away from the hustle and grind. Instead, guests will gain a plan on how to implement new ways of operating immediately, empowering them to live a life limited only by their imagination.
Libertas Real Estate, 250 N. Litchfield Road, Suite 261, Goodyear, noon, free, reservations required by emailing libertas.classes@ libertasrealestate.com, libertasrealestate.com
MissConduct Band
JUNE 17
The rock ’n’ roll cover band promises a “wild ride.”
Hidden Lake, 24445 W. Sunrise Drive, Buckeye, 7 to 11 p.m., tickets start at $10, 623-777-5814, hiddenlakeaz.com
Vegas Comedy Night
JUNE 18
Ryan Bourassa leads the lineup, joined by friends Joe Pedoto, Tanner Tuttle and Anthony Victorson. Musical guest Aluna Dragon will perform after the comedy show.
Whiskey on Western, 613 E. Western Avenue, Avondale, 9 to 11:30 p.m., tickets start at $10, eventbrite.com
Josh Scott
JUNE 18
Josh Scott is an Arizonaborn and -raised, singer/ songwriter, and a family man trying to get his songs heard and reach people through the lyrics.
Hidden Lake, 24445 W. Sunrise Drive, Buckeye, 7 to 11 p.m., tickets start at $10, 623-777-5814, hiddenlakeaz.com
Juneteenth Family Day
JUNE 19
The city of Goodyear is hosting a Juneteenth Family Day that includes soul food, live music and dancing, and storytelling/poetry reading. Can’t forget about dad. Attendees can make Father’s Day cards, see live art demos and win prizes.
Goodyear Recreation Campus, 420 Estrella Parkway, Goodyear, 6 to 9 p.m., free, goodyearaz.gov
Steak Out at Angry Crab Shack
JUNE 19
Angry Crab Shack is offering an exclusive Steak Out menu combining proteins of the land and sea in celebration of Father’s Day. The limited menu includes surf and turf ($38): a juicy 8-ounce filet with a Maine lobster tail; steak sandwich ($19): fresh grilled steak served on a pretzel bun with horseradish mayo, bleu cheese and caramelized onions; steak bowl ($19): juicy steak strips, vegetables over rice or noodles; and steak salad ($19), house or Caesar salad topped with grilled steak strips. Angry Crab Shack, 310 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, call for hours, various pricing, angrycrabshack.com
Nurse Tim Holloway honored with Stevie Award
BY LAURA LATZKO West Valley View Staff Writer
Nurse Tim Holloway of Buckeye made a difference in a life of a stiff-person syndrome patient when he raised $2,500 for a wheelchair through GoFundMe.
Holloway, who transported the wheelchair from Lake Havasu to Safford, will be honored June 13 with a Stevie Award in the support staffer of the year category.
Due to his wife’s health concerns, Holloway cannot attend the ceremony in New York. But representatives from his company, Soleo Health, will accept on his behalf.
The business-centric Stevie Awards honor organizations and individuals for their contributions and achievements.
Holloway was chosen by 230 professionals around the world during the three-month judging process.
One of Holloway’s managers nominated him for the award. He said while he is honored to receive the award, the most important rewards come through his work as a nurse and connections with his patients.
“It’s always nice to be recognized and to get an award, but with the situation being the way that it is, it taught me that maybe awards aren’t all that
important. What’s important is all the handshakes, the hugs I get from my patients, all the thank-yous,” Holloway said.
For four years as a Soleo Health nurse, Holloway has given home infusions to patients with conditions that affect the immune system, such as multiple sclerosis. With his job, he gets to know patients on a more personal level over time.
“You really develop a good rapport
with the patients when you go into their homes,” Holloway said.
Holloway was inspired to help his patient after hearing his story.
“I thought if I could help him get some of his mobility back, it would make him feel better,” Holloway said.
Along with the Stevie Award, Holloway has been in the top three for the March of Dimes’ Nurse of the Year Awards.
He helped organize a water drive at the Abrazo West Campus hospital in Goodyear, where he worked for 22 years. The water drive yielded thousands of cases of water.
“We collected so many cases of water at the hospital that we had to have a truck come into the hospital. We filled that trailer up and took it to a food bank,” Holloway said.
A nurse for nearly 30 years, Holloway plans to retire soon. His resume also includes a 10-year stint with a hospital that cared for long-term patients on ventilators.
Nursing wasn’t an immediate choice for Holloway. He was inspired to attend nursing school after conversations with two acquaintances and a church friend in that field.
He said that although nursing comes with long hours — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic — he stuck
with it because it’s a good fit.
“It’s been a very wonderful, rewarding career,” Holloway said.
When Holloway isn’t working, he enjoys playing music and writing poetry. He plays the guitar, mandolin, banjo and Native American flute.
In 2021 he released the romantic mystery novel “Sister, It’s Complicated,” and he is working on the sequel.
He recently wrote a poem about his experience as a nurse during COVID-19.
About four years ago, he wrote a song called “Dark Marble Wall,” which pays tribute to Vietnam veterans. He also has more lighthearted songs such as “Passing Time with Bluegrass,” which he describes as a “handclapping, toe-tapping” piece.
Through his poetry and music, he addresses larger societal topics or pays tribute to others, such as patients who have passed.
One poem he wrote about a deceased patient was featured in a national magazine.
He has recently been working on a tribute banner for the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that incorporates two of his poems.
King Crossword
GO FIGURE!
by Linda Thistle
The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
EVEN EXCHANGE
by Donna Pettman
Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.
SCRAMBLERS
Ob uaries
Clarence Brady
On Monday, May 16, 2022, Clarence Lytle Brady, loving husband, father of three and grandfather of three children, passed away at the age of 102.
Brady was born on October 6, 1919, in Lilly, Pennsylvania to Jacob V. Brady and Bessie Belle Lytle. Although his name is Clarence, his family called him “EI”, in the military he was known as CL, and later in life everyone just called him “Brady”. He grew up during the Great Depression and this instilled in him the importance of family and hard work. After graduating from Scott High School in North Braddock, PA in 1939, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and was part of their program to shape the national park systems of the United States. He received a monthly pay of which most was sent home to help his family.
Brady enlisted in the U.S. Air Force soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when he was 21 years old. He received his Aviation Wings in June of 1944 and became a P-51 fighter pilot in the Air Force during WWII. He flew his P-51 fighter from 1943 to 1945 and carried out 40 missions in the pacific theater. One memorable day, he and his 341st fighter squadron were flying back from a mission over Japan when they noticed a very bright flash of light. They would soon find out that they had witnessed the dropping of the first atomic bomb. After WWII, Brady returned home to live in Williamsport, PA, where he attended art classes at Penn State.
While home, he and a friend decided to go to the local YWCA Dance. It was there that he met the love of his life, Jean Le-
onora Peeling. They were married on June 17, 1950. Their life together was filled with love, adventure, and fun.
Brady began a job as an illustrator for Sears and Roebuck creating artwork for advertising before getting recalled back to active duty in January 1951. Due to his experience and skills as a fighter pilot, he was assigned as a radar controller, protecting our borders by identifying aircraft entering US airspace.
Together Jean and Clarence raised a daughter, Susan and two sons, Mark and Michael. Brady stayed in the Air Force for a total of 27 years until 1970 when he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and moved to Litchfield Park. He then started a new career as a 5th grade teacher at El Mirage Elementary school and taught there until retiring after 15 years.
During his life he loved traveling the world. His trips took him from Europe, South America, Australia, China, and every State in the US including Alaska and Hawaii. He enjoyed working with his hands building furniture and creating paintings and artworks. He was especially proud of his Munds Park cabin that he built from the ground up.
Brady was a giving man who would do anything for anyone and was kind to all he met. He cherished his family and was always there to support them, give advice or just a big hug (1-2-3 squeeze!). He was an artist, teacher, warrior, and a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.
Clarence Lytle Brady is survived by his wife of nearly 72 years, Jean Brady; his daughter Susan Jeanne Brady, sons Mark William Brady (wife Ann), Michael Robert Brady, (wife Stephanie). He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Harper, Caden and Meagan.
A memorial service for Brady will be held at The Church at Litchfield Park, on Saturday June 18th, 2022, at 2PM.
Lupe Antunez
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G u a d u l u p e A n t u n e z i n
Waddell, Arizona
A C e l e b r a t i o n o f L i f e w i l l b e h e l d o n Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 8 to 11am a t T h o m p s o n F u n e r a l C h a p e l i n G o o -
d y e a r , A r i z o n a
To read the full obituary and leave the family condolences, please visit thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/lupe-antunez
Terrell Bruce Koger
l l i e B r a nnin.
A funeral service will be held at 12pm J u n e 4 a t S k y w a y C h u r c h i n G o o d y e a r , A r i z o n a
T o l e a v e t h e f a m i l y c o n d o l e n c e s a n d
r e a d t h e f u l l o b i t u a r y , p l e a s e v i s i t thompsonfuneralchapel com/ obituary/bruce-koger
Elia F Martinez, 93, of Avondale Arizona passed a
Hutchinson, Jesus Martinez, Linda Yae-
Northern California and moved to Litchf i e l d P a r k , A Z i n 1 9 5 5 , a n d t h e n s e t t l e d in Avondale, AZ where they raised their family Elia was a hardworking, passiona t e f i g u r e o f s t r e n g t h w h o n e v e r w a n e d in her support or love of her family She w a s t h e p i l l a r o f t h e f a m i l y S h e l o v e d c o o k i n g , g a r d e n i n g , c r o c h e t i n g , m u s i c , dancing , tak ing care of h er family and a good laugh over coffee with friends. Elia w a s k n o w n b y h e r f a m i l y a s " T h e U mp i r e " b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s n o w i n n i n g a d ispu te w ith h er Before she p ass ed , she t o l d h e r c h i l d r e n s h e d r e a m t s h e w a s d a n c i n g w i t h t h e l o v e o f h e r l i f e –Daddy We know they're dancing together now. Elia's fi nal words were: "I am so proud of my four children " WE LOVE YOU MORE. V
2300 W Van Buren, Phoeni x Services under the direction of Thompson Funeral Chapel
Elia Martinez
Ronald Roberts
Ronald Roberts, 81, of Goodyear, Arizona, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2022. He was born September 19, 1940, in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada, to William Roberts and Maud Anderson Roberts.
Ron lived an amazing life full of laughs, adventures, and memories that will last a lifetime. Ron spent his childhood years in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada, and has visited his hometown almost every summer since. In 1957, Ron and his family permanently moved to Arizona.
Knowing Ron was unforgettable and unlike any other interpersonal interaction. He had a unique way of carrying himself, which spread life through any room he stepped into. He was larger than life and is known never to go unheard. Ron was very outgoing, and he found enjoyment in going out and making new friends wherever he went. His ability to connect with any single person makes him memorable in the eyes of many. He would often be found, and most thought of, telling stories, describing the countless memories that he was a part of. Ron will forever be known for his lively sense of humor. If you were in a room with Ron, you were sure to be shedding tears from laughing so hard. He was proud of his work in the construction industry. Ron helped build some of the Phoenix Zoo enclosures and even created a pool for James Pierce, the first actor to play Tarzan. But construction wasn’t his only work; he also built and sold mobile homes and parks, and
owned the Raven Inn bar. Ron’s adventures took him across the world throughout his life, including memorable visits to Australia, Europe, Greece, Fiji, Mexico, and all over North America. A lover of motorcycles, boats, cars (especially Rolls Royce’s), and motorhomes, Ron raced on one of the first Harley Davidson flat tracks. Ron was an avid fisherman and was happiest when he was out boating on the water, specifically at Queen Charlotte Lodge. A couple of his favorite hobbies included racing boats and playing tennis at John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch. Ron was also a collector of pretty much everything, from tools to trailers to European swords. He had a menagerie of pets that included birds, dogs, a goose, and rabbits (but definitely not snakes). Ron’s proudest achievement was his family. He would take them on long trips to Canada or Washington in the summer and force them to listen to country music on the AM radio. His family remembers him fondly as their own “Archie Bunker” and “The Godfather.” His passing leaves a gaping hole in their hearts, but they are proud holders of his memories and stories. His presence will be missed in so many lives, but it will always be a blessing to have had the opportunity to share part of their lifetime with Ron. Ron’s memories will be cherished by his children: Tina Hayes, Dan Roberts, Heidi Johnson, Rebecca Roberts, Steven Roberts, and Melissa Mullard, his 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of life on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at 4:00 pm to honor him at Dino’s Greek & Italian Grill at 1550 N Dysart Rd B-8, Goodyear, AZ 85395. To leave the family condolences, please visit www.thompsonfuneral chapel.com/obituary/ ronald-roerts
Funeral Chapel
Francisco Isidro Valenzuela
Mr. Valenzuela, 79 was born in Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico to Bernave Valenzuela Leal and Maria Luz Pacheco. He is survived by his daughters Jessica and Mary Lou Valenzuela, nephew Bob Beltran Jr. (Barbara), niece Rose Nield (Ken) and 25 great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Maria Jesus “Chuy” Valenzuela, sister Maria del Socorro Valenzuela Lombrozo and brothers Jose “Pepe”, Antonio, Alejandro and Jorge Barrera; sisters-in-law Esperanza “Hope” Beltran (Robert) and Guadalupe Encinas, brother-in-law Francisco “Frank” Encinas (Carmen), nephew Antonio Arturo Encinas and niece Carol Lawrence. He grew up in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico after his mother’s death and later moved to Tijuana, Baja California where he lived with his sister Maria del Socorro. In his mid-20s, he moved to Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico where met the love of his life, Chuy. They celebrated 51 years of marriage.
Isidro worked as an electrician for La Comisión Federal de Electricidad in Magdalena, and for more than 35 years worked as a foreman for various fencing
companies in the Phoenix area. His work took him to different communities across Arizona, New Mexico and California where he met and became friends with many wonderful people. He often shared stories of the great food, friends, and cultures he experienced through his work. Our dad was a dedicated family man. He was a great friend to many. He enjoyed cooking for his family and friends. He was an avid sports fan and loved everything baseball and basketball. As a young man, he played both sports in Magdalena and as an adult, played in local slow-pitch leagues in Phoenix. He was an assistant coach for the girls’ basketball team at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. He took great pride in caring for his wife, daughters, nieces, nephews, and God chil-dren. He was a man of great faith, a faithful servant of St. John Vianney Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 40 years. Isidro was a devoted husband, father, uncle, friend and “abuelo”. He was a giving person, always willing to lend a helping hand, cook you a delicious meal, talk with you for hours, and provide friendly advice. Visitation and rosary were held at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery & Funeral Home in Avondale on June 6 from 5-8 p.m. (rosary at 6:30 p.m.), and a funeral mass was held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Goodyear on June 7 at 10 a.m. Interment followed at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
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p l e a s e v i s i t w w w t h o m p s o n funeralchapel com/obituary/jackchambers
Bradley Ward Eklund
Buckeye Aquatic Center sets hours, pricing
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
The Buckeye Aquatic Center at 207 N. Ninth Street jumped into the 2022 season on May 28, providing aquatics programs, lessons, passes and rentals.
Summer programs include swim lessons, open/night swim; water aerobics; lap swim; tot time; and, new this summer, family night swim.
General hours of operation:
• Open swim hours: noon to 5 p.m.
Monday to Saturday
• Night swim hours: 7 to 9 p.m.
Monday and Wednesday
• Family night swim hours: 7 to 9 p.m.
Family passes for up to six members are $150 for the swim season at the Buckeye Aquatic Center. (City of Buckeye/Submitted)
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To read the full obituary and leave the family condolences, please visit thompsonfuneralchapel com/ obituary /bradley-eklund
A WORD ABOUT OBITUARIES
The West Valley View publishes free and paid obituaries for residents or former residents of the West Valley cities.
Free Obits: Submit via email to obits@timeslocalmedia.com
Paid Obits: Place online at: obituaries.westvalleyview.com or email to: obits@ westvalleyview.com
Deadline: Thursday at 5pm for Wednesday’s paper. Questions? 623-535-8439.
Thursday
The daily admission is $2. Aquatic season passes are available for purchase in person only; they are $50 for a single pass and $150 for a family pass for six.
Season passes are valid for the following: open swim, night swim and tot time swim.
For more information, visit buckeyeaz.gov/aquatics.
...continued from page 23
He has been asked to read his poems or play “Amazing Grace” on the flute during several memorial services.
His poetry has struck a chord. Holloway read a poem at the funeral of a co-worker’s son; the other son had the poem tattooed on his arm.
“He came into the hospital one day and showed it to me. I didn’t have words,” Holloway said. He gave another patient a copy of his poem, “What I’ve Learned from Cancer.” He said an oncologist he worked with expressed just how much this
poem meant to the patient.
“She had a big smile on her face. She goes, ‘Hey, I want you to know that this patient takes that poem with her wherever she goes,’” Holloway said.
Avondale UTI student receives TechForce award
BY SCIANNA GARCIA West Valley View Staff Writer
Avondale UTI student Joshua Finell is the grand prize runner-up winner of the 2022 FutureTechs Rock awards.
Finell, 20, was nominated in the diesel off-road category, which is specific to students learning equipment such as tractors, forklifts, excavators and bulldozers.
“Honestly, I was pretty surprised,” Finell said.
“I assumed there were going to be a lot of people entering, so it feels good that the work that I’m putting in is being recognized.”
TechForce created this award to honor aspiring technicians and recognize those students with a promising future in the transportation industry.
Each of the 10 category winners received $1,800 in prizes sponsored by the likes of Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Caliber Collision, Cengage Learning, CRC Industries, Ford Motor
Co., Snap-on Industrial and WD-40 Company.
Category winners were selected by a panel of industry expert judges from a pool of nearly 370 nominations, representing 95 schools across 33 states.
The 2022 category winners represented six states and nine schools and were equally split across high school and post-secondary programs.
Finell’s nominator describes him as a humble individual who “just does his best and appreciates when he receives
the award.”
As a technician, Finell loves wrenching and dedicates most of his time to his studies.
With a 4.0 GPA, Finell has been named student of the course in 12 of the classes he has completed. He often fixes cars for free in the community because he enjoys the work and satisfaction that comes from serving others.
The Laveen native said he entered the automotive industry after a short stint in college. Opting trade school over college, Finell has found success. He had little mechanical knowledge, but shortly after beginning an apprenticeship mechanic position, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in this field.
“I was determined to find a career that was going to be enjoyable for me
and was lucky enough to find it quickly,” Finell said.
Finell is scheduled to graduate in July, when he will begin a Cummings Diesel Power Generation course.
Once he graduates, Finell hopes to find an apprenticeship for heavy diesel equipment where he can gain more experience with a company that is willing to put the time and effort in to make him the best technician he possibly can be. Eventually, he’d like to start his own off-diesel equipment mechanic business.
The FutureTechs Rock Awards are part of TechForce Foundation’s workforce development initiative to help inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, with the mission to champion all students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually.
Anderson 3rd graders earn free tuition from Rosztoczy
BY SCIANNA GARCIA West Valley View Staff Writer
Eighty-four third graders at Michael Anderson Elementary School in Avondale have been given the chance to attend college at no cost through the Promise to Go to College program.
The Rosztoczy Foundation, a private family organization, surprised families and teachers with the opportunity at a special governing board meeting.
For a second time, the Avondale Elementary School District students have been granted a life-changing opportunity for attending higher level education without a financial barrier.
In 2012, the Rosztoczy Foundation awarded scholarships to the third grade class for the first time. That class grad-
uated in 2021.
Recently, the foundation also awarded third graders at Bernard Black Elementary School in South Phoenix with college scholarships.
Avondale Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove said Michael Anderson Elementary School has become a “lighthouse school” for the College Promise program.
“This is a school you can go to and learn how it’s done, and how others could see the vision of it, and perhaps even replicate it in their own communities,” Hargrove said.
For students to maintain the full scholarship, they must graduate from the local public high school district, maintain a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in college, and earn at least 12
credits per semester.
The scholarships cover all expenses, including tuition, room and board, and books for any accredited in-state college or university.
Students who decide to attend an outof-state college will receive the equivalent of what it would cost for in-state tuition.
Hargrove said the third grade classes were chosen specifically because it’s a key time in their development and the pinnacle year for their assessments.
“They start envisioning themselves in the future, and selecting what it is that they want to do as adults, to be able to explore different professions, and to do that in a set of circumstances where they don’t have to worry about the financial implications of that,” she said.
Hargrove said this opportunity opens up additional opportunities for other children and families. It allows families to have more options for how they allocate their funds and enables them to be able to access opportunities they wouldn’t have had before.
“It’s about the fact that we’re all in this together in making sure that our children are able to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. And it takes all of us to do it,” she added.
The Rosztoczy Foundation was founded in 2005 by the late Ferenc E. Rosztoczy, the father of Tom Rosztoczy. Tom’s father had been concerned for the peace between Hungary and the United States during the war and wanted to come up with an approach for the
Universal Technical Institute/Submitted
Agua Fria aims to be the nation’s best high school district
BY MARK YSLAS
Agua Fria Unified School District Superintendent
With a deep commitment to our past and our eyes set toward the future, the Agua Fria High School District belongs to the people in the communities it serves. We are proud that our boundaries contain four wonderful, fast-growing cities: Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Our district is filled with neighborhoods of unique culture, character and charm — not to mention the business and industry growth that will make the Southwest Valley a powerful economic driver for many decades to come.
We are honored to serve the people of the West Valley by educating over 9,300 students. We recognize that now more than ever, the high school experience must not only provide rigorous academics but be intentional about fostering critical thinking, developing work-place skills and increasing job preparedness so our youth can thrive in our complex, rapidly changing world.
As I have previously mentioned, we set forth an ambitious community effort called the “Decade of Dreams”
two countries to get to know each other better.
He began a program in which he would sponsor postgraduate Hungarian students to spend a year in the United States for their education.
His aim was to provide scholarship opportunities to Hungarian students so they could experience the states on their own.
Rosztoczy said he and his wife sought out to do something similar within their own community. They searched for a school that was considered “socioeconomically disadvantaged,” specifically one where a majority of students qualified for reduced lunches, in which 97% did. Besides this, they looked for a school that had strong leadership and chose to commit to the Michael Anderson Elementary School.
The Rosztoczy’s dream is to commit to two sets of third graders every year, just like they have done with Michael
to set a vision of what we can accomplish over the next 10 years to ensure that our district can achieve its full potential. Through work and input from over 300 community part-
ners, I am excited to announce that the framework for our Decade of Dreams is complete.
The plan recognizes each of our five campuses and online school are unique, but all are connected by a shared aspiration: students have a pathway to pursue their future. With that in mind, our strategic plan is built around three pillars that stakeholders identified: choice, character and community. This is more than simply a document; it is a reflection of our firm commitment to working with parents to craft good character traits in our teenagers. Our plan also underscores how critical it is to forge positive relationships with the community throughout our district
Anderson and Bernard Black this year.
Rosztoczy said he would need some help with funding to pull it off, but he’d like to commit to the dream to make the idea of college become a reality.
“They don’t view college as a real possibility because they view it as too expensive and not attainable,” Rosztoczy said.
“My No. 1 goal for those kids is that they start to rethink that at a young age — instead, they start thinking about the possibility of going to college, it’s a real thing — and that maybe they think differently about their future and their education,” Rosztoczy said.
Rosztoczy said he wants as many students as possible to actually take advantage of the opportunity and go to college. He wants the school and district to continue to improve and support the ongoing benefits of the program, not just for these students but for those who come after them.
and beyond. And, most importantly, through academic choice, our Decade of Dreams sets us on a pathway to becoming the best high school district in the nation!
We are hard at work finalizing the plan. This fall the community will be invited to dig in and read for themselves how the Decade of Dreams will prepare students for a bright future. The path to success will be clearly defined in this plan. Now, it needs your support.
As we build our Decade of Dreams, we need forward-thinking partners who share our vision and hold us accountable to our plan. We need collaborators to help evaluate and modify this working document so it can continue to guide us and provide strength and value for the next 10 years.
The work we do together to implement the strategic plan will result in graduating a generation of citizens who are prepared to become a vital part
of the West Valley, the state of Arizona, and the United States. Our future depends on excellent schools that protect our quality of life and a well-trained workforce for companies to hire.
So, I welcome retirees, businesses, faith-based leaders, parents and community members to become part of the high school district’s success. As the Southwest Valley continues to grow, the Agua Fria High School District is on a mission to expand its reach and deepen its roots within the neighborhoods we serve.
Please let me know if there is an opportunity to present our 10-year strategic plan to an organization that you are part of such as a service organization, a booster club, neighborhood association or social club.
Or if you are interested in lending your expertise, talent and time to accomplish this important work, email me at myslas@aguafria.org. Together, let’s make it happen.
Tuition...continued from page 28
NOW HIRING
JOB SEEKERS
Understanding Age Discrimination
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Nearly half a million workers filed an age-discrimination claim between 1997 and 2020, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In fact, this workplace issue led to some 22 percent of all EEOC claims in 2020 alone. As many as one-third of those surveyed by the AARP said they or someone among friends and family had suffered age discrimination over the previous four-year period. Those numbers are only going to grow. Nearly 20% of the older population was employed or looking for work in 2020, after having made up just 10% of the workforce in 1985. Older workers are expected to increase some 52% by 2030, according to Senior Living.
IT’S THE LAW
More than a third of the American workforce was 50 and older in 2020, the AARP reports. That amounts to more than 16 million people. Almost 15% of those employed, or 6.4 million workers, were 60 and older. They earned protection under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act in 1967, which states that hiring
decisions may not be made solely on the basis of age. The law applies to workers who are 40 and older at any company with 20 or more employees, and also covers decisions relating to being fired, promotions or demotions and layoffs.
GETTING HELP
An AARP survey found that two-thirds of older workers were willing to learn new skills if that helped them rejoin the job market. Yet they’re often overlooked for younger applicants. That led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Protect Older Job Applicants Act in 2021, a bill that was more specifically aimed at age discrimination against those who are looking to enter the workforce or make a change in their career. If you’ve applied for a job and feel you were overlooked simply because of your age, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 800-669-4000. The National Employment Lawyers Association website
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Job Description
A Good Candidate Possesses
• An energetic and upbeat attitude
• A minimum of two years of office experience
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CLASSIFIEDS.PHOENIX.ORG
SONAL
claims against the Estate are required to
southwest corner of S 125th Avenue and W Illini Street from R ural Low Density Residential to Me-
Site program while introducing the Steadfast Farm
ing units within the Alamar community To learn more about the land use request, please plan on
tending our neighborhood open house on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from
7:00 pm at the La Joya
If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air.
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Arizona Water Company (the “Company”) has released its 2021 Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) for its White Tank water system, PWSID 07-128. Copies are available: at the White Tank office located at 21765 W. Yuma, Bldg. C, Suite 105, Buckeye; via mail by sending a request to Arizona Water Company, P. O. Box 5744, Buckeye, AZ, 85338-0613; via our website at www.azwater.com; or by calling the White Tank office at 623-246-7570. A copy of the report will be mailed to customers with their monthly water bill June 1 through June 30, 2022. The Company recommends that customers serving more than one housingunit post a copy of the 2021 Water Quality Report in a conspicuous place.
ARIZONA WATER COMPANY
– 2021 ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT FOR WHITE TANK, ARIZONA, PWSID NO. 07-128 –
This report contains important information about your drinking water. Este informe contiene información importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
Arizona Water Company provides groundwater to its White Tank customers from wells located throughout the White Tank area, and from surface water from the Colorado River transported through the Central Arizona Project canal system and treated at EPCOR’s White Tank Treatment Facility For more information you can view EPCOR’s Agua Fria District Water Quality Report at this website: https://www.epcor.com/products-services/water/water-quality/ water-quality-reports-usa/Pages/water-quality-reports-agua-fria.aspx.
All water samples are collected by state-certified employees of Arizona Water Company or by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”). Samples are analyzed by state-certified independent laboratories and the results are forwarded to ADEQ. The following report provides detailed information about the quality of the water delivered to customers. The water supplied by Arizona Water Company complies with all state and federal safe drinking water standards and regulations.
DETECTED WATER QUALITY CONSTITUENTS - GROUNDWATER
Your drinking water complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (“USEPA”) safe drinking water standard for arsenic, though it contains low levels of arsenic. USEPA’s safe drinking water standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. USEPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.
Note: In addition to the constituents listed in this report, Arizona Water Company conducted monitoring for over 80 additional constituents and the results show none of those constituents were detected in the water. Data presented are from the most recent testing done in accordance with applicable regulations. Some constituents are monitored less frequently than once a year because either their concentrations do not change frequently or they are not likely to be detected. Therefore, some of the water quality testing data contained herein, although representative, may be more than one year old. If you have questions about this water quality report, please contact Regina Lynde, Environmental Compliance Manager, Arizona Water Company, P. O. Box 29006, Phoenix, Arizona 85038-9006; telephone (602) 240-6860 or email mail@azwater.com. If you have a question, concern or suggestion about your water system, please contact our local office at 623-246-7570.
In 2004, ADEQ completed a Source Water Assessment of the water sources used by Arizona Water Company’s White Tank water system. ADEQ reviewed the adjacent land uses that may pose a potential risk to the water sources. The result of the Assessment was a low risk to the water sources.
The complete Assessment is available for inspection at ADEQ, 1110 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Electronic copies are available from ADEQ at recordscenter@azdeq.gov. For more information, visit ADEQ’s Source Water Assessment and Protection Unit website at: www.azdeq.gov/node/735.
The USEPA and ADEQ require Arizona Water Company to provide the following information:
This is an alert about your drinking water and a cosmetic dental problem that might affect children under nine years of age. At low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities, but children drinking water containing more than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of their permanent teeth (dental fluorosis). The drinking water provided by your community water system has a fluoride level ranging from 1 to 2.5 mg/l.
Dental fluorosis in its moderate or severe forms may result in a brown staining and or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine should be provided with alternative sources of drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist about proper use by young children of fluoride-containing products. Older children and adults may safely drink the water.
Drinking water containing more than 4 mg/l of fluoride (the USEPA’s drinking water standard) can increase your risk of developing bone disease. Your drinking water does not contain more than 4 mg/l of fluoride, but we’re required to notify you when we discover that the fluoride levels in your drinking water exceed 2 mg/l because of this cosmetic problem.
Some home water treatment units are also available to remove fluoride from drinking water. To learn more about available home water treatment units, you may call NSF International at 1-877-8-NSF-HELP.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents. The presence of constituents does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about constituents and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-4264791).
Some people may be more vulnerable to constituents in drinking water than the general population.Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial constituents are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radiological material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Constituents that may be present in source water include:
• Microbials, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganics, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
• Organics, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production. They can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
• Radiological material, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain constituents in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for constituents in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Arizona Water Company is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/lead.
DEFINITIONS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND UNIT DESCRIPTIONS:
Action = The concentration of a constituent which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must Level follow.
CDC = United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FDA = United States Food and Drug Administration
HLRAA = Highest Locational Running Annual Average
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level, the highest level of a constituent that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs using the best available treatment technology as is economically and technologically feasible.
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, the level of a constituent in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MRDL = Maximum Residual Disinfection Level, the highest level of a drinking water disinfectant that is allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
MRDLG = Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goal, the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial constituents.
NA = None adopted
ND = None detected
NS = No standard
pCi/L = Picocuries per liter
ppb = Parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L)
ppm = Parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
PWSID = Public Water System Identification
Public Water System ID Number
Consumer Confidence Report for Calendar Year 2021
Public Water System Name
AZ0407079 Valley Utilities Water Co., Inc.
Contact Name and Title Phone Number E-mail Address
Jerry King, Operations Manager 623-935-1100 jerryking@vuwco.com
If you have any questions about the information within this report, please don't hesitate to contact us anytime at 623-935-1100. We encourage you to visit our website at www.vuwco.com
Drinking Water Sources
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and in some cases, radioactive material, and can pickup substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Our water source(s): 7 active wells pump groundwater from the Phoenix AMA West Salt River Valley Basin
Consecutive Connection Sources
A public water system that receives some or all of its finished water from on e or more wholesale systems by means of a direct connection or through the distribution system of one or more consecutive systems. Systems that purchase water from another system report regulated contaminants detected from the source water supply in a separate table.
PWS # AZ0407046, Liberty Utilities, provides us a consecutive connection source of water.
PWS # AZ0407073, Tierra Buena Water Company, provides us a consecutive connection source of water.
Drinking Water Contaminants
Microbial Contaminants: Such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife
Inorganic Contaminants: Such as salts and metals that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming
Pesticides and Herbicides: Such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses that may come from a variety of sources
Vulnerable Population
Organic Chemical Contaminants: Such as synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also may come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive Contaminants: That can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV-AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, or to receive a copy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and microbiological contaminants call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800426-4791.
ADEQ Consumer Confidence Report - Template Revised July 2017 Page 1 of 3
Source Water Assessment
Based on the information currently available on the hydrogeological settings of and the adjacent land uses that are in the specified proximity of the drinking water source(s) of this PWS, the department has given a low risk designation for the degree to which this PWS drinking water source(s) are protected. A low risk designation indicates that most source water protection measures are either already implemented, or the hydrogeology is such that the source water protection measure will have little impact on protection.
Further source water assessment documentation can be obtained by contacting ADEQ.
Definitions
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water
Level 1 Assessment: A study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria was present
Level 2 Assessment: A very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria was present
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment, or other requirements
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of disinfectant added for treatment at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on health of persons would occur
Lead Informational Statement:
Minimum Reporting Limit (MRL): The smallest measured concentration of a substance that can be reliably measured by a given analytical method
Millirems per year (MREM): A measure of radiation absorbed by the body
Not Applicable (NA): Sampling was not completed by regulation or was not required
Not Detected (ND or <): Not detectable at reporting limit
Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU): A measure of water clarity
Million fibers per liter (MFL)
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): Measure of the radioactivity in water
ppm: Parts per million or Milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb: Parts per billion or Micrograms per liter (µg/L)
ppt: Parts per trillion or Nanograms per liter (ng/L)
ppq: Parts per quadrillion or Picograms per liter (pg/L) ppm x 1000 = ppb ppb x 1000 = ppt ppt x 1000 = ppq
Lead, in drinking water, is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Valley Utilities Water Co. is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead Water Quality Data – Regulated Contaminants
Inorganic Contaminants
Radiological Contaminants
Microbiological Contaminants
Disinfectant/Disinfection By‐product (D/DBP) Parameters
