THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
Litchfield Park government honored PAGE
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westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
SPORTS ........ 13 Buckeye runners have high hopes
9 DAYS ......... 16 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
ARTISTS ........ 22 Teen artists’ works on display at library
LETTERS ..........................8 BUSINESS..................... 10 SPORTS ..........................13 FEATURES .....................19 NEIGHBORHOOD......22 SCHOOLS .....................23 OBITUARIES .................27 CLASSIFIEDS................28
WEST
Haymaker provides comfort PAGE
The Voice of the West Valley for 32 years
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September 13, 2017
WV boasts top master-planned communities By Wayne Schutsky
The West Valley is home to two of the nation’s best-selling master-planned communities as Goodyear’s Estrella and Buckeye’s Verrado each ranked in the top 30 on RCLCO Real Estate Advisor’s Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities Mid-Year 2017 report. Estrella made the largest leap of any community listed in the report. After ranking 50th on RCLCO’s 2016 yearend report with 270 homes sales, the development approached that total with 214 sales midway through 2017, good for the 29th spot on the mid-year report. “We are definitely experiencing an uptick in sales, and as of late July, Estrella’s sales are ahead year over year by more than 50 percent,” said Newland Communities Senior Vice President and Division Manager William Olson. Newland Real Estate Group is the developer. Verrado ranked 26th on this year’s list with 228 home sales after coming in at 20th on RCLCO’s year-end report with 413 total home sales last year. Verrado could make up that ground in the coming months and rank in the top 20 again by the end of 2017 because the community
tends to see a sales spike in mid- to late summer that is not reflected in the midyear report, said Lauren Charpio, Verrado’s marketing director. Verrado attracts moveup buyers and first-time buyers with its range of homes in the $100,000s to the high $500,000s, Charpio said. That spike is largely driven by families moving to the community before the start of the new school year. The schools in Verrado are a major draw for the community, which saw about half of its home Estrella resident Kim Doud, left, helped establish the Weststar Hill sales this year go to young Trail with Ken Hill, John Peters and Brian “Harv” Roberts. (Photo courtesy Estrella) families. Verrado Elementary standardized test scores in science, math and Verrado Middle schools received and English. 9/10 overall scores from BestSchools, a Verrado High School received a 6/10 national nonprofit that provides school rating from BestSchools and had mixed information to families. The schools each Master...continued on page 3 received scores above the state average for
Goodyear educator appointed as representative By Israel Gonzalez
When Geraldine Peten was appointed to represent Legislative District 4 in the Arizona House of Representatives, she thought of the positive impression she is making on her grandchildren. “I was ecstatic. I was honored,” Peten said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to impact change.” A Democrat and retired Goodyear educator, Peten took the oath of office for her position in late August after Jesus Rubalcava vacated his seat. She is one of only two African-American representatives in the State Legislature. She didn’t always think she would be
in the position she is in now, though. From being an educator, to learning to be politically active, Peten has always modeled dreaming big and promoted learning.
Educational background One thing Peten always knew was she wanted to be a teacher. “As a little girl, my mom was a teacher, my grandmother was a teacher and the only thing I ever thought of being was a teacher,” Peten said. “I think that there weren’t very many role models for AfricanAmericans in any other field. Again, what do they say, ‘The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.’ So, I became a teacher.”
Peten started her teaching career in her home state of New Jersey. She focused her teaching on work and real-world skills. “Basically, my core discipline has been vocational education,” Peten said. “I am a strong advocate for that. Teaching students to have marketable skills and skills that will help to improve the quality of their life and make themselves sufficient.” Peten moved to Arizona in 1992 and continued teaching and learning. She has earned several degrees, including a Master of Science degree from the Del E. Webb
Educator...continued on page 4