Glendale’s Community Newspaper
www.glendalestar.com
Vol. 78 No. 25
Inside This Week
Café lighting to have official first light-up BY JORDAN ROGERS
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Glendale Star Staff Writer
BUSINESS ......... 14 Tanger Outlets Phoenix adding EV chargin stations
SPORTS ............. 18 Stars come out for Section 7 basketball tourney
hat was once just a city council workshop topic in 2020 will finally come to fruition on Thursday, June 30. Downtown Glendale is set to receive brand new café lighting over Glendale Avenue from 58th Drive to 58th Avenue. The lights will be turned on for the first time 30 minutes prior to the Glendale Summer Band’s final performance. Glendale Vice Mayor Jamie Aldama, who initially brought the project before city council, said he was very excited to bring the idea to city council, and is now
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Glendale Star Staff Writer
Stephanie Hayes is transforming lives
OPINION.......................... 10 BUSINESS.......................14 SPORTS ...........................18 CALENDAR .....................19 FEATURES.......................20 YOUTH.............................22 RELIGION ........................23 CLASSIFIEDS ..................25
even more excited that it has come to pass, as he believes it can help make Downtown Glendale a destination. “One of the driving reasons for bringing that forth is that we’re embarking on a new direction for Downtown; we’re revitalizing Downtown,” he said. “We have invested a lot of dollars into Downtown, and one of the guiding reasons for that is we want to make Downtown a destination. That’s my vision. Part of that vision is to make it a walkable Downtown. “We want people to enjoy themselves. We want you to know that when you’re here, you’re here. The cafe lighting will bring that ambience to Downtown. I think
it’ll help market Downtown and make it a destination.” Funded entirely by the Community Development Block Grant, the project’s total cost rounded out at $721,000. Aldama said this can be a sign of things to come for Downtown Glendale. “Developing the cafe lighting is just a glimpse of where we’re going with Downtown,” he said. “It’s important to note that the entire council, from myself to everyone else on the council, believes in Downtown. We believe in our business owners, we want to help them grow, and this is just the tip of the iceberg on our investment in SEE LIGHTING PAGE 7
FirstBank supports WNBA star’s shoe drive BY JORDAN ROGERS
FEATURES ......... 20
June 23, 2022
s the Phoenix Mercury and fans across the country await the safe return of WNBA superstar Brittney Griner, the community continues Griner’s Heart and Sole Shoe Drive. To continue the momentum the community has shepherded, Mercury partner FirstBank is showing its support by hosting collection bins at Valley branch locations for fans to donate new or gently used shoes. Branch locations are located in Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sun City West.
“Being the official bank of the Phoenix Mercury means more than supporting the team when it comes to game time but also doing what we can to amplify our community impact,” said Joel Johnson, East Valley market president at FirstBank. “With bank branches across the Valley, we decided to act on our motto of ‘banking for good’ to offer our locations as additional drop-off locations for (Griner’s) Heart and Sole Shoe Drive to help make this year’s campaign as successful as possible.” With the help from fans and teams around the WNBA and NBA, the drive has collected more than 500 pairs of shoes and raised more than $12,000 for the Phoenix Rescue Mission, making it the most suc-
cessful drive since its first go in 2016. The drive will continue through the 2022 season, and, in addition to FirstBank branches, fans can bring donations to all Mercury home games or to the Team Shop at Footprint Center during business hours. “We say all the time that what separates our fans is how supportive they are of our mission, on and off the court, and that’s true of our partners, as well,” Phoenix Mercury President Vince Kozar said. “FirstBank’s commitment to BG’s Heart and Sole Shoe Drive is further demonstration of the alignment between our two organizations and our shared desire to make a difference in the Valley — and this time
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