Scott Libby PTA earns national recognition
BY LAUREN SERRATO West Valley View Staff Writer
As an “A”-rated school, the Scott Libby Elementary School Roadrunners are no strangers to awards and national recognition. Their most recent honor is now shining a light on the school’s PTA.
The national PTA School of Excellence recognition program named Scott Libby’s PTA team of about 125 members an A+ PTA of Excellence.
“This award confirms that our PTA is among the country’s best of the best when it comes to parent engagement. I’m so grateful for the families who partner with us to ensure quality education in our community,” said Corby Naylor, Scott Libby Elementary School principal.
“Our PTA leaders are fun, creative and deeply committed to staff and student success. They go so far above and beyond to demonstrate appreciation for our staff and to provide quality experiences for our families.”
first day back to school after summer break. (Photo courtesy of Scott
The National PTA School of Excellence is a recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between local PTAs and schools by acknowledging the best among the more than 4 million parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, foster parents and other caring adults who serve on the PTA throughout the country.
Scott Libby received a $2,000 grant, and the national distinction that spans over two years.
Located in Buckeye, Scott Libby’s PTA
PTA...continued on page 3
Benign tumor wreaking havoc on woman’s body
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
Melony Olgin suffered from sharp pains near her left groin in November 2020. The Goodyear resident went to urgent care and her primary care physician only to be subjected to a variety of tests and diagnoses.
“I just assumed it was a cyst or something associated with my menstrual cycle,” she said.
“But it continued after it would end. One day, the pains were just so bad that I went into an urgent care. The doctor did a physical exam and it felt like a swollen lymph node. She sent me for an ultrasound.”
Olgin was diagnosed with a hematoma, hernia and routine stomach pains.
Frustrated, Olgin became her own advocate. Several months later, she found a Cancer Treatment Centers of America specialist who discovered a mass that was
Tumor...continued on page 2
Andrea Thomas, Bibiana Rice and Melissa Andrews served breakfast to Roadrunner teachers and sta on their
Libby Elementary School)
causing her pain.
“I decided to send my images to CTCA, and there was a surgical oncologist willing to look at my scans,” she said. “She said, ‘Thankfully, I think this is a desmoid tumor.’ I wasn’t diagnosed until after another MRI and biopsy in January.”
Desmoid tumors, also called aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid-type fibromatosis, which are rare and often debilitating and disfiguring soft-tissue tumors, have no FDA-approved treatment option. September is Desmoid Tumor Awareness Month.
Nearly 30% to 40% of desmoid tumors are initially misdiagnosed, partly due to a lack of awareness. Many patients, the majority of whom are women, present symptoms such as severe pain caused by compressed nerves or muscles, internal bleeding, difficulty using affected parts of the body and, in rare cases, death.
According to the National Cancer Institute, desmoid tumors are most common in people between the ages of 15 and 60 years. For every 1 million
people worldwide, two to four persons are diagnosed with a desmoid tumor per year.
Unfortunately, treatment options are imperfect, such as surgical resection, which has a high recurrence rate, or chemotherapy, which can compromise a person’s quality of life.
“My blessing in all of this is it’s not something that can spread to other organs. I really feel blessed in that regard,” she said.
Since January, Olgin has been through oral chemotherapy treatments, but all failed. She’s preparing to start intravenous chemotherapy.
“They’re technically benign,” she said. “It’s so deceptive. It doesn’t really highlight the fact that these tumors are painful. I’m virtually going through all the same treatments as someone with cancer.”
Always healthy
Olgin grew up in Peoria and attended Sunrise Mountain High School. She said she was “really healthy.”
“I always get my physicals every year, and my bloodwork always comes back as normal,” she said. “I knew
Melony Olgin of Goodyear suffered from intense pain for about six months, when she was diagnosed with a rare desmoid tumor. (Photo courtesy of Melony Olgin)
something was off, though, as far as the pain. It was just something new, and I knew it was out of the ordinary.”
Olgin said the desmoid tumor has taken an emotional toll on her and her family. It was terrifying when she was diagnosed with it. Numerous options
were “thrown at her.”
The physical toll has been equally as tough. Olgin lost her energy, which cut her activity level.
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“You’re just hoping and praying you’re making the best decisions for yourself,” she said. “It’s a little hard. I’ve struggled with self-image. I’ve gained a lot of weight.
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“I kept thinking, ‘Why am I putting on so much weight?’ I’ve since learned it’s from the estrogen feeding into the tumor.” She attempts to go for 15-minute walks but soon thereafter has to call it quits.
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“Dealing with those things and being a mom, it’s hard keeping up with those responsibilities,” Olgin said.
That’s especially true with debilitating side effects from treatments. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Olgin tried tamoxifen with sulindac for about six months. It caused cysts on her ovaries.
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The next course of action was Gleevec, another chemotherapy drug that’s used to treat leukemia.
“I felt really sick the first two weeks,” she said. “My body did adjust but, unfortunately, it didn’t do anything. The tumor was still growing.”
While she awaits IV chemotherapy, Olgin is taking it one day at a time.
“I’ve been doing OK,” she said quietly. “I’m still taking it day by day, treatment by treatment — one step at a time. The best thing is just keeping a positive attitude.”
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focuses on major events throughout the school year and potential grants for the elementary school. Events and projects completed in the past year include a $5,000 National PTA COVID-19 Relief Grant, $2,500 National PTA COVID-19 Relief Continuation Grant and a virtual boosterthon dance fit fundraiser that raised over $10,000.
Melissa Andrews, vice president of Scott Libby’s PTA, said the award means even more to her and the board, as they were able to organize successful events despite the pandemic limiting their access to volunteers and in-person meetings.
“We couldn’t have any volunteers. Nobody was allowed on campus except for PTA members, and that was because it was at the discretion of the principal. So it was really hard to do everything that we did last year with the limitations that we had. That’s why I take so much pride in the school of
3 children treated for near drowning
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
Three children were treated after a near-drowning in Buckeye on Sept. 11, according to Battalion Chief Tommy Taylor, spokesman for Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue.
At 10:36 a.m., Buckeye Fire was dispatched to the 25700 block of West Hess Avenue in Westpark for a drowning report.
When units arrived on scene, first responders found three pediatric patients, all under the age of 4, who were removed from the backyard swimming pool.
The three patients were transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital — two by helicopter in critical condition and a third by ground ambulance in serious condition. Two additional patients were evaluated at the scene and refused transport.
excellence, because it was very limited in what we were able to do,” she said.
Andrews added that the pandemic further showed how dedicated the members of the PTA are to the success of the school, no matter the circumstances.
“Our PTA worked really hard last year during such a trying time, and to be recognized for those efforts, it’s just been an overwhelming sense of accomplishment,” she said.
Despite serving a student population of more than 700, last year’s PTA board consisted of three moms looking to make a difference at Scott Libby Elementary School.
“We’re like-minded in that we want to be all-inclusive. We want to include every child at Scott Libby,” she said. “We want to include every teacher at Scott Libby, no matter what their role is. So, the three of us really tried to put forth that effort and try to make everybody feel welcomed. I think us just being so small, it was the major hurdle that we had in starting something that’s big, because it is a lot of work.”
With two children of her own who attend Scott Libby Elementary, Andrews said she takes pride in her role
as vice president.
“I love building a great school for my children,” she said. “I want to bring them as many wonderful experiences as I possibly can. I like getting as much as I can for free and helping as much as I can, because what better way to show your kids you care and put all that effort in something tangible that they can see every day and say, ‘My mom helped get that.’ So it kind of gives me a little peacock chest,” Andrews said.
Now, with a new chair member and volunteers able to help again, Andrews said the goal for this school year is to be bigger and better than last year.
Principal Corby Naylor has every confidence that her PTA will be able to do so.
“We’ve been named an ‘A’-rated school by the Arizona Department of Education and an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation. This national award for our PTA is the trifecta of recognition for our Roadrunner family,” Naylor said. “Our Roadrunners hit the jackpot when it comes to our quality PTA leaders who work hard to develop partnerships to support our school family.”
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There was no fence around the swimming pool, Taylor said.
The Buckeye Police Department and the city of Buckeye fire marshal are investigating the incident.
Celebrate Fall-tastically
Avondale allocates $113K to human service organizations
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Twenty-five nonprofit agencies that provide services and programs to the Avondale community received a combined total of $113,300 in funding as part of the city of Avondale’s annual Contributions Assistance Program.
Representatives from the various agencies joined Avondale councilmembers and city staff at a check presentation ceremony held recently at city hall.
The Contributions Assistance Program annually provides direct monetary grants to nonprofi t organizations for projects and activities that provide health and human services to improve the quality of life of Avondale residents. Nonprofi t 501(c)(3) agencies that meet the eligible criteria are invited to apply annually in April. The following is a list of agencies who were awarded grants this year:
• A New Leaf - VITA.
• A New Leaf Inc. Siemer.
• Agua Fria Food Bank.
• Arizona Service Project.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.
• Buckeye Lions Foundation.
• Community Bridges Inc.
• Diana Gregory Outreach.
• Helping Families in Need.
• Homeless Youth Connection.
• Jobs for Arizona Graduates.
• Junior Achievement of Arizona.
• Lutheran Social Services.
• Mercy House Community Center.
• Mission of Mercy.
• Multicultural Family Network.
• Phoenix Rescue Mission.
• Raising Special Kids.
• Read Better Be Better.
• Sounds of Autism.
• Southwest Human Development.
• Southwest Lending Closet.
• Southwest Valley YMCA.
• St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
• The Opportunity Tree.
Tolleson charter school hosts 9/11 ceremony
BY LAUREN SERRATO West Valley View Staff Writer
To honor the fallen heroes of 9/11, the students, teachers and staff at Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain in Tolleson hosted a remembrance ceremony on Sept. 10.
Students gathered on the lawn in the courtyard of the campus and formed a heart to begin the ceremony led by Principal Joseph Schiff.
The Tolleson Fire Department and Tolleson’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Robert “Bobby” Diaz Lopez Post 6310 were honored during the ceremony, followed by breakfast served by AAEM staff.
Even though none of the students was alive in 2001, Schiff said it’s important to hold events to ensure the younger generation never forgets.
“The purpose of this ceremony is to remember those that lost their lives that day and honor those that continue to put their lives on the line every day,” he said.
let’s focus on this part right now, the selfless part of the action, let’s just focus on that for this year, next year, see if we can adjust a little bit. It’s that constant remembrance that we want to keep hammering in so that the kids understand that value and what we need to pull out of such a tragic event.”
While the pandemic prevented in-person ceremonies last school year, Schiff said it was exciting to see the children gather safely to honor the fallen, as well as Tolleson’s local first responders and veterans.
“We’ve been here for almost 17 years, and we want to make sure that they know we’re here and we are about the community,” Schiff said.
“That is what is important to us, we want to have that reaching out, bringing people in with open arms, socially distancing of course, the right way of being out there and letting them know that we’re here and we care. We want to have our students grow and learn and know what’s going on around them, because this is where they’re growing up. They should know about it.”
“We want to try and keep that going, let them know that this is something serious. This is something that we want to remember and the different aspects of it, getting the firefighters here, getting our veterans here, connecting the community. That’s what we want to do and we continue to do here. It’s a nice feeling to have that community feel, that togetherness.”
In his first year as principal, Schiff said he’s excited for more events that engage the community, especially local heroes like the ones who attended the ceremony. Richard Durso, the VFW’s post commander, said the ceremony was perfect for the students.
When trying to teach children who weren’t born yet during the attack on the Twin Towers, Schiff said a major focus at AAEM is to try to stray from the status quo and keep the children engaged.
“It’s easy to fall into cliche, and when kids hear the same things over and over again, it just falls on deaf ears after a while, so we want to try and keep some things fresh,” he said. “Let them know
“I think it’s a great thing that happened today,” Durso said. “It’s for the kids so they can understand what 9/11 is all about. None of these kids were even born when it happened, so something like this is important for them. But for me, I remember it like it was yesterday.” Durso was 60 miles from New York City at the time, close enough to see the dark clouds of smoke.
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Voting rights activists demand White House action
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
The League of Women Voters-Northwest Maricopa County, along with a contingency of league members from across Arizona, traveled to Washington, D.C., to make their voices heard on Aug. 24.
“It was an honor to be advocating for all Arizonans and the people of our country so they can take part in democracy and vote without barriers,” Linda Napier of the League of Women Voters-Northwest Maricopa County said.
The League of Women Voters, along with allies at People for the American Way, hosted a rally and protested in front of the White House, demanding President Joe Biden and his administration take swift action and use the full extent of their power to ensure the passage of voters’ rights legislation.
The rally — billed “No More Excuses: Voting Rights Now!” — called on the administration to bring lawmakers together and work to remove all obstacles standing in the way of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
“It is time President Biden lives up to his promise to make voting rights a priority of this administration,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
“Mr. president, you have the power to bring lawmakers together from both sides of the aisle and ensure these vot-
ing rights bills become law. Now is the time. The American people are counting on you.”
“In 1965, Lyndon Johnson negotiated, twisted arms and did whatever it took to ensure passage of the Voting Rights Act,” said Charly Carter, executive director of the Democracy Initiative, representing 75 labor, civil rights and environmental groups with a combined membership of 45 million people.
“Like President Biden, President Johnson confronted implacable opposition and seemingly impossible procedural obstacles. Unlike President Biden — so far — he did not allow these hurdles to stand in the way of taking action to protect the right to vote. This is President Biden’s Lyndon Johnson moment; history will not be kind if he fails to show leadership.”
Jana Morgan, director of the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition, said democracy is facing the greatest threat of “our lifetimes.”
“President Biden must let nothing stand in the way of protecting our freedom to vote and ensuring fair elections,” she said.
“We need national standards to ensure that we can safely and freely cast our ballots, have our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities. President Biden, failure is not an option.”
League of Women Voters members Maryann Kenney, Pinny Sheoran, Kara Pelletier, speaker Virginia Kase Solomón (League of Women Voters chief executive officer), Terri Farneti and Kate Stewart rally in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of the League of Women Voters)
Debbie Lesko briefs
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Lesko: Biden trampled on liberties
Rep. Debbie Lesko released the following statement on President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate plan on Sept. 10.
“Throughout his time in office, President Biden has repeatedly trampled on the individual liberties of all Americans through mask mandates and now again with a broad, overreaching vaccine mandate,” Lesko said.
“His proposed vaccine mandate plan is yet another attempt by the left to assert their control over our daily lives. This blatant disregard for the rights of American citizens cannot stand. Make no mistake, if an American wants a vaccine, they should be able to get one, but no one should be forced to do so under penalty of law. President Biden has gone too far.
“I’m working with my colleagues and elected officials across Arizona to stop this authoritarian government overreach. I will not stop until this unconstitutional action has been rescinded.”
Lesko supports Congressional Gold Medals for fallen in Afghanistan
Rep. Debbie Lesko joined colleagues in introducing legislation to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to the 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives during the attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, amid evacuation efforts on Sept. 3.
“The brave men and women who
Activists...continued from page 6
In response to the protest, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated that Biden “stands by the activists and their vocal calls for more and for forward action. I would say he’s with them.”
Later that day, the U.S. House of Representatives took a major step forward in their work toward voter equality by passing the John Lewis VRAA. This essential legislation would restore the Voting Rights Act and its protec-
aided our mission to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies and tragically lost their lives in those efforts deserve recognition for their profound sacrifice,” Lesko said. “I am proud to join my colleagues and recognize these young service members with the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal. We must never forget their sacrifice on behalf of our nation.”
Lesko calls for resignations amid Afghanistan debacle
Rep. Debbie Lesko called for the resignations of President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken amid the ongoing chaos in Afghanistan.
“After numerous intelligence briefings and reviewing the situation on the ground, it is clear that someone must be held accountable for the chaos that has unfolded in Afghanistan and led to the loss of American lives,” Lesko said. “From the outset, it has been apparent that the Biden administration had no plan for a safe and effective withdrawal of U.S. military personnel, American citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan.
“After much consultation with my congressional colleagues who served in Afghanistan and studying of the ongoing situation, it is clear that the issues unfolding could have been avoided and, in many cases, that the poor decision-making that led to this chaos came straight from the top. It’s time for a change in leadership before any more American lives are lost. I call for the immediate resignation of President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken.”
tions regarding discrimination against voters of color.
League of Women Voters of the United States President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner said the passage is a “critical piece of legislation.”
“Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate is deadlocked on voting rights, which is why the League of Women Voters is calling on the White House to bring lawmakers together, remove the obstacles in the way, and work collectively on behalf of the American voters to see this legislation become law.”
Juan Ojeda makes run for city council in 2022
BY LAUREN SERRATO West Valley View Staff Writer
AGoodyear man is looking to segue from tacos to local politics after officially announcing his city council candidacy.
Juan Ojeda, 35, called himself an atypical Goodyear City Council candidate.
“I’m not a typical politician,” Ojeda
said. “If I’m able to one day be able to work for my community and represent my constituents, that would be awesome. I’m excited, and if elected I’m going to do anything that I can to help with the education system and helping develop small business here within the city of Goodyear. Residents are going to get somebody who’s not going be afraid to roll up their sleeves. I promise you that.”
Born and raised in Arizona, Ojeda graduated from Peoria High School in 2005, completed his associate degree at Estrella Mountain Community College in 2012 and later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from ASU.
Growing up, Ojeda said he had two goals in mind for his future: run for local office and own a business.
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• Water Treatment Systems
In 2016, he checked one of his goals off the bucket list when he opened Taco Head. What started as a small taco cart has transformed into a taco truck and a full-blown professional catering business.
Aside from claiming to have the best red salsa in town, Ojeda said being a small-business owner has perfectly prepared him for the opportunity to serve as a council member.
“I have been serving my local community for over five years and want to take it a step further by rolling up my sleeves and serving my community even more,” he said. “I’m honestly the black sheep coming into this race, but I really think I can do it because I’m already in tune with my local community. I see hundreds and hundreds of Goodyear residents on a weekly basis, who I have that relationship with through Taco Head.”
Ojeda said his time owning Taco Head prepared him for this candidacy.
“I’ve really been able to develop relationships with the local community because I do a lot of catering for different small businesses and residents, so through that I’m able to develop long-lasting relationships that go past me just doing their catering for them,” he said.
Win or lose, Ojeda said he intends to continue with Taco Head.
“I hope to one day have a fleet of taco trucks across the Valley,” he said.
As a city council candidate and a Goodyear resident, Ojeda said residents should be proud of their hometown. In particular, he is excited about seeing Goodyear grow as a city council member.
If elected, Ojeda would like to see the city’s economic development expand as well. As a local businessman, he said he is the perfect advocate for small businesses in Goodyear.
“I want to help small-business development, as well as affordable housing for the marginalized population,” he said. “I not only went to school here, straight down the street at EMCC and Arizona State, but I am a business owner. I have that entrepreneurial spirit. I know what it takes to start something from the ground up, to be able to manage it and manage the budget, the finances.”
“If I’m elected, I will continue with my business, and I don’t think that’s going to interfere with my responsibilities at all. If anything, it is going to help me. I learned a lot by being an entrepreneur and a small-business owner.”
As an early candidate, Ojeda said he hopes his commitment to hard work will win over the voters during election time.
“I come from a family of migrant farm workers. I know about working hard,” Ojeda said. “Residents should know that they’re going to be getting a local kid who has been serving the community. I want to work for the community that I grew up in. Residents of Goodyear are going to get somebody who is hard working, who is going to do what he says and who is really going to listen.”
Juan Ojeda
Celebrate Sundance’s grand opening
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Buckeye city officials will host the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sundance Recreation Center, 21765 W. Yuma Road, Buckeye, at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.
Enjoy refreshments, class demonstrations and great giveaways as part of the festivities. Guests can also drop in on classes scheduled that day.
Mayor Eric Orsborn and other city council members will be on hand for the celebration.
Goju ryu karate is offered at Sundance Recreation Center for those ages 6 to 11, and 12 and older.
(Photo courtesy of the city of Buckeye)
The new Sundance Recreation Center hosts a variety of classes for all age groups, private rentals and specialized programs for Buckeye residents.
Make sure to check out and pre-register for all the free programs and ac-
tivities available to residents at the Sundance Recreation Center. Classes include mommy and me music, judo and family fun night activities. To register, visit bit.ly/FreeRecClasses. For details, visit buckeyeaz.gov/parksrec.
Youngker students support a disabled vet
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
Youngker High School’s Hands 4 Paws club members are spending the year raising funds to purchase a service dog for a disabled vet.
“Service dogs run about $30,000, so my kids have their work cut out for them,” club sponsor Marie Buquicchio said.
The first event, Dye-ing for a Cause, is 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at Youngker, featuring vendors, inflatables, games, food and adoptable dogs.
“It’s called Dye-ing for a Cause because students, administrators and teachers are getting people to sponsor them,” Buquicchio said. “If they reach the goal of $500, they’re
going to dye their hair a funky color.” Vendors are still being sought. Those interested in renting a space can contact Buquicchio at marie.buquicchio@ buhsd.org. The fee is $40 for the use of a table and one chair.
Other fundraising events include Cutest Pet Contest, a virtual beauty contest for pets that is open to anyone, and Loose Coin Contest, in which participating classes donate their change. The class that collects the most money wins a prize. The culminating event is a golf tourney at Sundance Golf Course on April 23.
To donate prizes to the winning classes or for the golf tourney, contact Buquicchio.
COVID-19 vaccinations available at Abrazo West Campus
BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
Apop-up COVID-19 vaccination is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 18, at Abrazo West Campus, 13677 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be offered at no charge. Walk-ins are welcome, and
appointments are available by calling 646-755-9951 or register online https:// app.rrtesting.com/en/#/registration.
Insurance or ID are not required for the vaccination clinic. Abrazo Health is partnering with Maricopa County and DocGo to host the COVID-19 vaccination pop-up event.
The COVID-19 delta variant is highly transmissible from person to person, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women, and those planning pregnancy, get vaccinated against COVID-19.
More than 95% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States are unvaccinated, according to the CDC. Unvaccinated people are much more likely to be sicker for longer, be hospitalized with COVID-19 and have a higher mortality rate.
Boosters will be available for those who are immunocompromised, per CDC recommendations.
For more information on services available at Abrazo Health hospitals, visit AbrazoHealth.com and follow on Facebook @AbrazoHealthCare.
WEST VALLEY VISION
OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Nice story
Editor:
Clint Hickman told a nice story about former Congressman Bob Stump.
It does seem the former congressman did stand with integrity during both 9/11 and as a World War II vet. Too bad the story rings hollow coming from Hickman.
He and the rest of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors have obfuscated and obstructed the senate’s election integrity investigation so much that it leads one to wonder what other nefarious activities they’re hiding.
With around 200,000 questionable votes because of a multiplicity of fraud in the 2020 election, and a continuation of election machines that can be manipulated over the internet, integrity and confidence are lost.
It’s time for Hickman to resign and go back to counting his chickens before they’re hatched. For posterity, he can tell a story about the integrity of Bob Stump. Sadly, it’s not about him and the supervisors in the 2020 election.
Robert Wagenfehr
Litchfield Park
Legalize cannabis nationwide
Editor:
Isn’t it about time we encourage our elected leaders in Washington, D.C., to get their act together and follow Arizona’s lead by making cannabis legal? I know with the delta variant, concerns over inflation, and the rapid advance of the Taliban in Afghanistan, there’s a lot going on these days. But, I think we’re overlooking a simple issue that promotes economic growth in a time of relative economic hardship: cannabis!
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer unveiled the Cannabis Op-
portunity and Administration Act in July, and Sen. Mark Kelly voiced his support for nationally legalized cannabis last year. Arizona legalized medicinal cannabis in 2011. Brisk recreational sales raised $74 million in tax revenue in the first six months of 2021 alone, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue. Yet despite these successes, there’s still a stigma and air of uncertainty around Arizona’s legalized cannabis market.
Will you get nabbed by the feds? Will your small business be shut down or denied access to business loans? It’s time for Congress to catch up to Arizona and legalize pot already.
Rep. Cesar Chavez District 29
Putting our children first
Editor:
Dan Dillon states that the governor of Arizona needs to be held accountable for every child, teacher or staff member who gets COVID-19 and dies because he is prohibiting mask mandates.
Mr. Dillon states this with absolutely no evidence that cloth or paper masks worn during this pandemic do anything to reduce the disease threat. There is not one study that supports it. There are studies that support the opposite.
States with mask mandates and strict lockdowns have experienced the worst of the pandemic (i.e., New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania). So how can anyone say they work?
What is most confounding here is that there is never a cost-benefit analysis discussed by the totalitarian pro-lockdown crowd regarding the child deaths aspect of this. Automobiles are by far the biggest child killers in the United States. We, as a society, made a cost-benefit
analysis long ago that, despite all the deaths caused by automobiles, the convenience and other improvements in our lives were worth all the deaths. In fact, we would reduce the deaths significantly by lowering highway speed limits by 10 miles per hour, but we don’t!
If we follow the control freak logic, then automobiles should have been banned or seriously curtailed long ago. See https://bit.ly/ CostBenefitAnalysisCOVID.
Child deaths from COVID-19 are extremely low. But we have already deprived them of more than a full year of reasonable education and socialization necessary for their effective development. We routinely terrify them about this
Correction
A column by David Leibowitz about school boards erroneously stated that at an August meeting of the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board, a mother had falsely accused a district employee of distributing a neo-Nazi comic book on some campuses. The mother did not make such an accusation.
disease and want to make them cover their faces. I’m sorry but this just smells like child abuse to me. The cost clearly outweighs any benefit from treating our children like this. By the way, I’m a former teacher, too. I just never belonged to the union.
Michael Kelly Buckeye
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20 years later, the fight for our freedom continues
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ
West Valley View Columnist
The first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, hit the North Tower at 5:46 a.m. our time. I was at my desk, sifting through topics for a radio talk show that would never air.
Seventeen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 cored the South Tower. By 7:30, the World Trade Center was a pile of rubble, twisted steel and lost humanity.
On the radio and in public conversations, there would be no other topic for months.
Somehow, 20 years have passed since Sept. 11, 2001.
This anniversary was a day for remembrance and a day to inventory all we have lost. It was also a day that begs a question: If al-Qaida delivered this evil in an attempt to defeat a mortal enemy, to claim victory over us, did
they in fact win?
As a boy in New York, those twin towers were perpetually present, forever jutting 1,300 feet into the sky. As a young man, I rode the elevator to the 106th floor for dinner at Windows on the World. I was wearing a borrowed sport coat too short in the sleeves, but still I felt like a million bucks eating off the white linen tablecloths.
Human beings have a limited capacity to pay attention: We catalogue things in the background of our consciousness, taking them for granted until they’re uprooted from their customary place.
It’s one way terrorists shake us: They carve out a hunk of the ordinary, stealing something we may not notice every day, but that’s no less a part of us.
Striking the Twin Towers was a subtraction like that: If they could knock down skyscrapers before our very eyes, strike at the heart of the world’s financial markets, what else could they do?
America’s response to the attack revealed the best of us and the worst.
Flags flew everywhere, people stood in line for hours to donate blood. The Phoenix Fire Department sent the best urban search and rescue team in the world to comb the wreckage.
Partisan politics gave way to national unity, a heartening respite that felt like it should last forever but didn’t.
As for the worst, four days after the attacks, Frank Roque took his .380 pistol to the Mesa Chevron station owned by Balbir Singh Sodhi, an immigrant from Punjab, India. Roque had been ranting for days that he wanted to “shoot some towel-heads.”
Sodhi wore a turban and beard in keeping with his Sikh religion. Roque, primed to shoot anyone whom he adjudged Muslim, killed Sodhi with five bullets in the first hate crime of the 9/11 era.
Roque’s death sentence was later commuted to life. In what I can only brand a shame, Roque is still with us, living out his days at the Lewis prison in Buckeye. His disciplinary record shows 36 violations during his time in-
carcerated, everything from disorderly conduct to assaulting staffers to manufacturing a weapon.
Some people never learn.
Maybe we haven’t learned either. The terrorists lured us into a 20-year war that we exited disastrously only weeks ago. American unity has never seemed like more of an oxymoron, the Civil War excepted.
We killed Osama Bin Laden, but new enemies of freedom are minted every day in far-off places like Iran, Syria and Afghanistan.
The terrorists stole some valuable things from us on 9/11, including almost 3,000 sons and daughters, firefighters and would-be rescuers. Even so, I would estimate we have fought them to a draw in the 20 years since.
This remains the most free nation on earth. The fight to defend those freedoms continues.
David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com
The embers of Sept. 11
BY J.D. HAYWORTH West Valley View Columnist
Twenty years. Two decades.
Time enough to encompass a youthful lifespan. Time enough to grow up, grow tired, grow old.
Many of us have done all three.
For 2,977 victims on Sept. 11, 2001, time stopped and eternity beckoned.
For the 19 terrorist hijackers who thought they would become martyrs, history now regards them as murderers.
For the paradise they thought they were promised, there is instead perdition.
For the “masterminds,” there has been manipulation of our justice system. Pre-trial hearings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four other alleged Sept. 11 plotters just opened at Guantanamo Bay on Sept. 7 of this year
For the elites who offered legal aid to the “masterminds,” there is an insistence on constitutional rights for enemy com-
batants but an unwillingness to extend the same to lawful citizens.
For “sophisticates” at the alphabet networks, there was a refusal to wear American flag lapel pins on camera in the days and months following the Sept. 11 attacks, because it would suggest “favoritism.”
For common-sense Americans, there was no confusion between patriotism and favoritism, nor between survival or suicide.
For George W. Bush, it was a shock that he put in historical context: “The Pearl Harbor of the 21st century took place today,” he dictated into the White House daily log, upon his return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
For the Bush administration, clarity of purpose was modified by the muddle of multiculturalism; thus the “war on terror,” rather the “the war on Islamic terror.”
For “official Washington,” there was an initial imperative to remember the first role of government: protection of its citizens. Sadly, it didn’t last.
For “bureaucratic Washington,” a sub-
sequent, unfortunate imperative: expanding the role of government — more agencies, more spending, more bureaucrats — leading to less protection of citizens.
For “political Washington,” initial unity — soon sacrificed on the altar of ambition. In its place, a strange type of unanimity. At the behest of major financial institutions, agribusiness and multinational corporations, “establishment” officeholders basked in media adulation by claiming that we could not stem the flow of illegals across our southern border and that we had to allow illegal aliens from Mexico to open bank accounts using a matricula consular — a form of ID issued by the Mexican consulate.
These same officeholders still use the poll-tested phrase, “We must secure the border!”
But the fact that such sloganeering endures simply reinforces the reality that elected officials view this as a political problem to be managed — instead of a national security threat to be removed.
And what of our national security apparatus — the Pentagon, intelligence agencies and the Department of State? Apparently influenced by politics and culture, it seems that the notion of “victory” has
been replaced by “virtue signaling.” From the outset of our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan we tried to achieve two very different goals at the same time: destruction and reconstruction.
As we took up occupation of both countries, that changed our military posture from offensive to defensive, putting targets on the backs of our warriors and ensuring stalemate in the best of situations.
As just witnessed, the occupation of Afghanistan ended in calamity. Joe Biden ordered our military to leave, and left Americans behind in the process. Now, that same Joe Biden has spoken at Sept. 11 ceremonies in New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. It is problematic that the commander-in-chief who ordered us to flee tried to extol the virtues of our “land of the free.”
It all but ensures that his successor — or that Mr. Biden himself — will one day say, “The 9/11 of the 2020s took place today.”
If Joe can remember it.
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.
Business Briefcase
BY LAUREN SERRATO West Valley View Staff Writer
Hello and welcome back to Business Briefcase! This week we are looking at three businesses opening in Goodyear, Avondale and Litchfield Park. As the West Valley continues to grow, there surely is no shortage of grand openings of major corporations and small businesses.
As always, feel free to email lserrato@ timespublications.com with any questions or Business Briefcase inquiries.
Christian Brothers Automotive to open in Goodyear
Ranked No. 1 by J.D. Power in Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers twice, Christian Brothers Automotive signed an agreement that will bring a new location to Goodyear.
Owned by local entrepreneur Mike Hassenger, the new shop carries the mantra “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Christian Brothers Automotive shop in Goodyear is anticipated to open
in November and will be Hassenger’s second Christian Brothers Automotive location, adding to his flagship store in Litchfield Park.
“We are incredibly excited to open our second Christian Brothers Automotive shop in Goodyear,” Hassenger said.
“Through our Litchfield Park location, we have been able to do a great amount of work supporting special needs families in the community, and we are eager to extend our support to even more families in West Valley. We are proud to continue serving our neighbors as a locally owned business where guests can find honest, trustworthy and reputable services for all types of automotive care and that also gives back to the community.”
Prior to opening his Christian Brothers Automotive locations, Hassenger served in the U.S. Navy and as a business professional with more than 15 years of supply chain experience.
“At the foundation of our services is the understanding of how to build confidence with our consumers and earn their trust in us as aftermarket automotive profession-
als. With this signed agreement, we’re focused on providing a better experience for more guests in Goodyear,” said Donnie Carr, president of Christian Brothers Automotive. “I’m confident that Mike’s passion for providing quality service makes them the perfect fit for the Goodyear area.”
For more information about the Christian Brothers Automotive franchise opportunity, visit christianbrothersfranchise.com.
Libertas Real Estate celebrates new branch in LP
Libertas Real Estate is continuing its growth with a new branch in the West Valley. The company celebrated by hosting a grand opening at the new location, 4830 N. Litchfield Road, Suite 102, on Sept. 1.
During the event, the community toured the offices and noshed on beverages and bites from neighboring restaurant Ground Control, which was reserved for guests during the event. Attendees were also treated to mini pampering services from other local businesses.
The boutique-style branch features two private offices and a communal open space
for team meetings and client consultations. For more about Libertas Real Estate, visit libertasrealestate.com.
Family Dollar to reopen in Avondale
The Family Dollar store at 12214 W. Lower Buckeye Road will officially reopen on Sept. 16.
In addition to providing everyday low prices, the renovated store will offer a broader assortment of frozen and refrigerated food, a large selection of pantry goods, beauty and health merchandise, household and cleaning supplies, pet food, basic apparel, baby and toddler necessities, electronics, party supplies, Hallmark greeting cards, seasonal items, home décor, crafting and school essentials, holiday gifts and toys. The store will also now include many $1 deals.
“Family Dollar is excited to welcome back Avondale shoppers to our refreshed store, which will offer even greater value on everyday products and exciting $1 finds,” said Kayleigh M. Painter, Dollar Tree’s investor and media relations manager.
- Wednesday 4:00pm-9:00pm
- 11:00am - 9:00pm • Friday 11:00am-10:00pm
Local film festival returns after pandemic hiatus
BY CONNOR DZIAWURA West Valley View Staff Writer
Peoria Film Festival Executive Director Jason Carney sees film festivals as fostering their own little community.
“There’s just that sense of comradery from film lovers,” Carney described. “It’s not your casual filmgoer, so everybody’s just got this sense of belonging and really wanting to discover the next great film.”
Perhaps that “next great film” will be screening at this year’s Peoria Film Festival, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to put it on pause last year. This year’s event will run from Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 19, at Harkins Arrowhead 18, hosting a variety of short and feature-length films, as well as Q&As with filmmaker participation.
An opening-night cocktail party at Headquarters will kick the weekend off, benefiting parent organization Phoenix Film Foundation’s education programs. Then, the screenings will formally begin at Harkins with director Maria Schrad-
er’s “I’m Your Man,” about a scientist living with a humanoid robot designed as her perfect partner for three weeks as part of a study.
On the closing night, the festival will screen director Franz Kranz’s “Mass,” in which two sets of parents attempt to overcome a tragedy together. Additionally, winners for Best Feature Film and Best Short Film will be announced.
Common throughout the festival, Carney said, are lighter themes about overcoming obstacles. Tying in with current events, for one, is the Kristine Harrington-directed documentary “Empty Seats, Full Hearts.”
“It’s about a teacher working through COVID guidelines and COVID rules when she’s trying to educate her students,” Carney summarized. “This documentary was made by a local television station, and so we’re going to be showcasing a longer version of it.”
More “Rocky-esque,” according to Carney, is “Platform,” or “a great documentary about three Iranian sisters competing to become international champions of a martial art (Wushu).”
Then there are narrative features like Jarrett Bryant’s “Maxie,” about two unalike but drug-addicted teens (Miles Dixon and Liv Tavernier) who “form a bond as they try to get clean over a weekend,” Carney said.
As for Tim Dahlseid’s music-based drama “Sold Out,” Carney previewed it as telling the story of “a talent scout who takes an unknown under her wing and tries to help mold him and be successful.”
In addition to a variety of newly selected films — and free screenings of family films — award winners from the Phoenix Film Festival, the Peoria festival’s sibling event, will offer an extra chance to catch up on recent releases viewers may have previously missed.
“Because that way, if folks might’ve missed our Best Picture (‘Trees of Peace’) or a couple other award winners, they can catch them at Peoria and get a chance to see them there,” Carney said.
Programs under the Phoenix Film Foundation, the Peoria and Phoenix film festivals were postponed when the pandemic hit last year. The usual spring Phoenix Film Festival was impacted first, and as summer rolled on, Carney said, it became clear the fall Peoria festival would be halted as well.
“It just didn’t make sense for us to try to put on the Peoria Film Festival when
“Sold Out” is a music-based drama about a female talent scout who takes a down-on-his-luck construction worker under her wing and helps him rise to his potential as a singer-songwriter. (Photo courtesy of the Peoria Film Festival)
there really weren’t any other community events going on in Peoria at the time,” he explained.
After the Phoenix Film Festival was ultimately rescheduled for last November — and turned out to be “a really small shell of what it normally would be,” Carney admitted — this year’s event was held last month. With vaccines now widely administered, it was more of a success, something organizers hope to parlay into the fast-approaching Peoria event.
And it will also be a scaled-down event, mindful of coronavirus concerns. Reserved seating will reduce lines, Carney said, and health guidelines will be in place.
“I think, you know, that really helped us in executing the festival,” Carney explained of holding this year’s Phoenix festival in August as opposed to the original spring plans. “While it wasn’t, you know, crowds the size of pre-pandemic, they felt really, really excited about the crowds that came out and they were really, you know, just happy to be in the theater again, along with the filmmakers.
“And so I think that really sets us up to be successful continued in Peoria coming up in just a few weeks.”
If You Go…
WHAT: Peoria Film Festival
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 19
WHERE: Harkins Arrowhead 18, 16046 N. Arrowhead Fountains Center Drive, Peoria
COST: $12 single tickets, $60 festival pass, $30 opening-night event; discounts available for Peoria residents INFO: peoriafilmfest.com
Mirage mirrors Fleetwood Mac’s talents
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
Michelle Tyler of the Fleetwood Mac tribute act Mirage has heard the words many long to hear: Stevie Nicks would like to meet you.
Tyler, who was playing in the Nicks-only band Belladonna, was performing acoustically with her husband when a woman approached her backup musicians backstage.
She said her husband was Steve Real, Nicks’ vocal coach, and she was so impressed that she was hoping to get Tyler on the phone with the legendary singer. Unable to get to Tyler, she recorded Belladonna with her phone and sent it to Nicks.
“They flew my husband and I up to Reno, and we went backstage during a meet and greet,” Tyler recalled. “I said, ‘Hi, Stevie. I’m Michelle Tyler. I think you heard me on a phone call?’ She put her hands on my shoulders and said, ‘We tried so hard to get that call through. It was great to hear somebody doing a good job with my music.’ She then leaned in and said, ‘I’ll tell you what. Anytime you want to take over, you just let me know. I’ve about had it.’”
The two shared a laugh, and that was the first of a handful of meetings.
“She’s been very supportive, and her backup singers have said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” she said. “That’s the only endorsement that Stevie would give anybody. They’re not a band that goes around and does that. Saying I could take over at any time, that was a pretty good pat on the back.”
Fans can see what Nicks admires when California-based Mirage plays a number
of shows in the area: Saturday, Sept. 18, at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral; Sunday, Sept. 19, at PebbleCreek in Goodyear; and Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Anthem Golf and Country Club.
Mirage sticks with the “Rumours”-era of Fleetwood Mac.
“We’re very authentic,” she said. “Everyone plays an actual role. We play the very biggest hits, the best of Fleetwood Mac. We have a lot of visuals going on.
“If the venue permits, we have a synced multimedia show. Otherwise, we still do a 90-minute show with a lot of costume changes. It’s a high-energy show. We like to get the audience involved. It’s good for all ages and families.”
Before Mirage, Tyler helmed Belladonna, which focused on Nicks’ solo career. After 15 years, Tyler and her musicians transitioned into Mirage.
“I’ve been playing Stevie Nicks for almost 20 years,” she said. “In Belladonna, I was the only one dressing up and portraying a character. Belladonna is still on our books. It’s a big show. It’s an eight-piece band with backup singers and two guitar players. It’s hard to take on the road. It’s more expensive.
“But we focus on Mirage now.”
Her husband, Bob Weitz, plays the role of John McVie and music director. His day gig is as a Warner Bros. engineer who won an Academy Award for designing equipment. They started their career playing the bar and nightclub circuit but evolved into tribute acts.
“Becoming a famous rock star is like winning the lottery,” she said. “There are so many talented people out there on any given day, at any club in LA. There are singer-songwriter showcases, and
you can hear phenomenal people. You’re wondering why they play there for no money.
“It’s luck, timing and talent in that order. Talent is the last thing. Anyway, I was asking myself, ‘Am I going to be a rock star?’ Eventually, it became a career.”
Tyler explained she does not ever tire of the music. She loves her job and the music. Plus, meeting Nicks is a bonus.
“When you meet somebody — whether they’re a movie star or rock star — you have a certain perception. None of us really know these people. We only know what we see.
“You hope they’re nice people. They’re warm. I’ve met strangers and a lot of people. She was actually warm and friendly and down-to-earth. She made me feel like I was the one who was the star. She sent me to make me calm.”
If You Go…
WHAT: Mirage
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18
WHERE: Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek COST: $55 to $450 INFO: haroldscorral.com
WHEN: 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19
WHERE: PebbleCreek’s Renaissance Theater, 16666 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear COST: $30 INFO: pebblecreekhoa.org
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22
WHERE: Anthem Golf and Country Club, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive, Phoenix COST: Call for info INFO: 623-742-6200
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.
EVEN EXCHANGE
by Donna Pettman
SUDOKU
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
Goodyear’s Desert Star commemorates 9/11
BY ANNIKA TOMLIN West Valley View Staff Writer
The nation forever changed following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Desert Star Elementary School students did not see it on television or in the newspapers. Instead, they learned about it at school.
The school honored the 9/11 events and victims and included the community in its memorial on Sept. 10.
“For most of you, this is something that you have learned about in the past couple of years,” Jessica Worthington, principal at Desert Star School, said at the beginning of the tribute. “For some of our littlest guys, maybe even the last couple of days, as we have been doing activities in our classrooms.”
Worthington was joined by Assistant Principal Ryan Vaughn during her opening remarks.
“I would like to thank our distinguished guests for joining us today,” Worthington said. “The Junior ROTC members, we also have the (Goodyear) Fire Department, chief (of the fire department) and (Goodyear) police, military, city personnel and also nursing staff.
“We are grateful for their service
and to all of those who served and or supported during Sept. 11 many years ago.”
District members also in attendance included governing board member Elizabeth Canchola and Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove.
“To all of our Desert Star staff, students and community thank you for the beautiful decorations and star mural up here, it’s amazing and for today’s organization to Mrs. (Kim) Knapp, our social worker,” Worthington said.
The ceremony began with Agua Fria High School’s Junior ROTC presenting the flags for the national anthem performed by Desert Star band teacher Andrew Nelson on saxophone.
Among the Junior ROTC members was junior Alyssa Hernandez of Agua Fria High School. She was born after Sept. 11, 2001.
“My parents were pushing me and influencing me to try out new things, and when we found out that the school offered the JROTC program, I thought it was very interesting, so I wanted to try it out and see if I would like it,” Hernandez said. “It got me interested in joining the Air Force after I graduate.”
When asked what she knows about
the events that took place on Sept. 11, Hernandez said, “I know with the Twin Towers and how the planes crashed in and how unfortunately many officers and firemen and many people died that day. It was just very sad and very hard for our country.”
Hernandez and three other Junior ROTC members took part in the presentation of the colors at the 9/11 tribute event.
“I feel very honored to be part of this especially since I’m in ROTC,” Hernandez said.
“Not a lot of people will appreciate this stuff, but I will appreciate that I was able to be a part of it. It’s very cool to me that I am able to say that I know what it is like.”
Following the national anthem, Goodyear Fire Department Chief Paul Luizzi talked to the students about the heroic events. That led to the release of the 20 white doves that represented the 20 years since the initial terrorist
attacks.
“I just think it is an amazing opportunity for all of the adults who have really lived through this and experience this to come back and remember the event, and then to bring kids alongside in the historical aspect of it is just so empowering for everybody,” Worthington said.
The principal credits the school’s social worker for “creating this event and organizing it,” including the attendance of the various fire and police members and the presentation of the white dove tribute.
“She partnered up with our chief from the local fire department who they also mentor with our kids, so we already had that connection,” Worthington said. “And then we have an SRO (school resource officer) that is assigned to our school, and so those sort of connections began to filter out into the larger community to bring everybody together today.”
Desert Star School Assistant Principal Ryan Vaughn, left, and Principal Jessica Worthington look back on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. (Photo by Annika Tomlin)
around the neighborhood
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
Desert Star Elementary School honored the 9/11 attacks with a ceremony on Sept. 10. The schoolwide event hosted members from the Goodyear Police and Fire departments, along with the Goodyear fire chief, former military members and Agua Fria High School’s Junior ROTC.
1. Desert Star Elementary School created a 9/11 Never Forget board with students coloring in stars to represent the men and women lost that day; 2. Junior ROTC from Agua Fria High School stands in attention for the national anthem; 3. Chief Paul Luizzi of the Goodyear Fire Department talks to Desert Star Elementary School students about the heroic events that took place on 9/11; 4. Band teacher Andrew Nelson plays “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Desert Star Elementary School 9/11 event; 5. Officers from the Goodyear Police Department attend the Desert Star Elementary School 9/11 event; 6. Junior ROTC from Agua Fria High School in Avondale presented the flags for the 9/11 event at Desert Star Elementary School;
ROTC member Alyssa Hernandez is a junior at Agua Fria High School in Avondale.
3 4 6 2 5 7 1
West Valley View photos by Annika Tomlin
7. Junior
OBITUARIES
RandyBramlette
Mr.RandyBramlette,65,ofLitchfieldPark,ArizonadiedAugust31 , 2021inPhoenix,Arizona.Hewasborn January9,1956,toJackBramletteand IdaCarrinTaft,California.
HeissurvivedbyhiswifeConni e Bramlette,3sons,1daughter,15grandchildren,5great-grandchildren,and1sister. Youcanleavethefamilycondolencesat https://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/randy-bramlette/
Dale Bell
Mr. Dale Bell, 73, of Goodyear, Arizona died peacefully in his home Augus t 30, 2021. He was born November 5, 1947 to Arthur Bell and Katherine Salzman in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The family will hold a private memorial service in Portland, Oregon. A celebration of his life will be scheduled for a later date in Goodyear, Arizona.
You can view the full obituary and leave the family condolences at https://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/dale-bell/
Laura Russell
Laura Russell (59) of Pahrump, NV passed away after a brief illness on September 1, 2021 at her mother’s hom e in Buckeye, AZ surrounded by loving family.
Laura attended Liberty School, Buckeye Union High School (Class of ‘80) , and graduated with honors from the University of Arizona.
Laura lived in many countries during a long and respected career with Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals as Projec t Controls Trend Manager. She retired in 2017 to Pahrump, NV.
Laura was beautiful, kind, intelligent, and truly authentic.
Grieving family are her mother, Harriett Russell of Buckeye, AZ; brother, John Russell (Valorie) of Buckeye, AZ; sister, Kimber Russell of Oro Valley, AZ and two nephews Tyler and Aiden of Oro Valley, AZ. Sh e was preceded in death by her father Donald Russell in 2010.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Contributions may be made in the name of Laura Russell to: Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St. , Phoenix, AZ 85014 or by calling (602) 530-6992 or www.hov.org/donate.
You can leave the family condolences at https://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/laura-russell/
Arcelia"Archie"Romero
Arcelia"Archie"Romero,65,ofBuckeye,ArizonadiedonSeptember3,2021in Goodyear,Arizona.ShewasborntoJuan CanoandIreneLueraonJanuary13,1956 inPhoenix,Arizona.
Youcanviewthefullobituaryandleavethefamily condolencesatYoucanleavethefamilycondolencesat https://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/arcelia-archie-romero/
Ignacio (Nacho) Acosta Sr.
Ignacio (Nacho) Acosta Sr. went peacefully into the arms of Jesus on August 31, 2021 holding his wife’s hand. He wa s born in Riverside, California on July 31, 1926 to Julian Valdivia and Rita DeLeon He is preceded in death by his parent s and siblings. He is survived by his wife, c hildren, many grandchildren, great- and great-grea t g randchildren.
He was our “Energizer Bunny”; never stopping, always fixing and inventing. He was an amazing and loving father and husband of 73 years, an inspiring, honest, and giving friend to many.
You can leave the family condolences at https://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/ignacio-nacho-acosta-sr/
CharlesLeeMiglio
CharlesLeeMiglio,76,ofBuckeye, AZ.wascalledtohiseternalhomein heavenwithhisLordandSaviour,JesusChristonAugust30,2021.Charles wasborntoHenryC.andBettyR. MiglioonJuly22,1945,inGlendale, AZ.
Charlesissurvivedbyhis3sons:CharlesThomas Miglio,TonyRayMiglioandJeremyLeeMiglio,as wellashisbrotherMichaelC.Miglio,4grandchildren: RachellN.Miglio,LindsayA.Miglio,AnthonyC. Miglio,KadenceR.Miglio,3great-grandchildren: GavinC.Miglio,CharleeR.Stout,VioletJ.Miglio. Hehasalsoleftbehindmanycountlessfamilyand friendswhomhelovedandcherished.
Charlesspentthemajorityofhisworkingyearsasa farmequipmentmechanicinBuckeye,beforeretiring toShowLow,AZ.Throughouthislife,hewaspassionateaboutrestoringandracingcarsandalways lovedagoodcarshow.Healsolovedtogohunting andfishing.Charles'vastlove,contagioussmileand ornerysenseofhumorwillliveoninallofthelimitlessheartshetouched.
Aviewing(wake)willbeheldfrom5:00PMto7:00 PMon09-09-2021atGanley'sBuckeyeFuneral Home,104EastBaselineRoad,Buckeye,AZ,USA. Agravesideservicewillbeheldat10:00AMon0910-2021atLouisB.HazeltonMemorialCemetery, 23100WestBroadwayRoad,Buckeye,AZ,USA.
BarbaraL.Foguth
Mrs.BarbaraL.Foguth,87,ofGoodyear,ArizonadiedonAugust28,2021in Avondale,Arizona.ShewasbornAugust 8,1934inChicago,IllinoistoErnestand FreidaCsolkovits,andlivedmostofher lifeinGrandville,MI.
TherewillbeafuneralforBarbaraatSt.Thomas A quinasCatholicChurchinAvondale,AZonFriday , S eptember10,2021at1pm.
Youcanviewthefullobituaryandleavethefamily condolencesathttps://www.thompsonfuneral chapel.com/obituary/barbara-l-foguth/
CharlesHenryByrnesIII
Mr.CharlesHenryByrnesIII,39,of Buckeye,ArizonadiedSeptember2 , 2021inGoodyear,Arizona.Hewasborn June8,1982inHouston,Texasto CharlesHenryByrnesIIandSylvi a Byrnes.
HeissurvivedbyhispartnerJennifer Escobedo,daughterAlexisByrnes,andsonsXavier , Ruben,andElijahByrnes.Heisalsosurvivedbyhis motherSylviaByrnes,sistersSharonByrnesandGabrielaQuiroz,andgrandparentsJerryandDeloresGibson. HeisprecededindeathbyhisfatherCharlesHenry ByrnesIIanddaughterSerenityByrnes. Youcanleavethefamilycondolencesat https://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/charles-henry-byrnes-iii/
Christina E. Gonzalez
Mrs. Christina E. Gonzalez, 100, o f Avondale, Arizona died August 31 , 2021 in Goodyear, Arizona. She wa s born December 15, 1920 in San Marcos, Texas to Simon Espinoza and Preciliana Mendoza. She is survived by children Ramiro Gonzalez (Juanita) , R oberto Gonzalez (Mary), Maria Isabel Montelongo , B lanca Quilantan (Tony), Pedro Gonzalez (Mila), and Socorro Petty. She is also survived by siblings, Gabino E spinoza, Josephine Escobedo (Baldemar), Pedro Espinoza, as well as 28 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded i n d eath by her husband Jose Aleman Gonzalez, childre n J uan Gonzalez, Jose Gonzalez, Ramon Gonzalez, and M aria Luisa Gonzalez.
Christina was a devoted wife and mother with a genero us and loving heart. She was our everything and she w ill be deeply missed.
G od bless our beautiful mother Ama'. Que dios te ' b endiga.
You can leave the family condolences at h ttps://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/mrs-christina-e-gonzalez/
Mary Carmen Carranza
68, native of Avondale, AZ , died August 28, 2021. She wa s born on March 22, 1953, Anastacio and Guadalupe Cabrera. Sh e was a homemaker and to famil y and friends. She had many talents and took on many roles fo r all of us. Her kindness, generosity, and sense of humor will never be forgotten. She is survived b y her husband, Refugio "Pancho" Carranza, her children, Xavier and Karen Carranza and Corrina DeLeon , her sisters, Tina Valenzuela, Guadalupe Lopez, Anastac ia Gonzales, and her brother, Domingo Cabrera, her grandchildren, Jacob, Anastasio, Savannah, and Sabrin a C arranza, Isaac and Janessa DeLeon, and her grea t grandchildren, Anaya and Julieesa Carranza.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF THE PRELIMINARY DECISION TO ISSUE A SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL AQUIFER PROTECTION PERMIT
Public Notice No. 21-13
Published on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 Published i n West Valley View
Pursuant to Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 9, Article 1, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality intends to issue a significant amendment to an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) to the following applicant:
Facility Name: Luke 303 Water Reclamation Facility
Individual Aquifer Protection Permit No. 511700, LTF No. 90283
Permittee: EPCOR USA, Inc.
The facility is located in Maricopa County, Arizona, in Township 2N, Range 1W, Section 18, Gila and Salt River Baseline an d Meridian.
The draft permit and related documentation are available for public review, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., a t ADEQ, 1110 West Washington Street, Records Managemen t Center, Phoenix, Arizona, 85007. These documents are also available digitally by e-mail or print and mail (fee may apply), please call (602) 771-4380 or e-mail RecordsCenter@azdeq.gov
24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the file. The permit and executive summary may be viewed online at http://www.azdeq.gov/search/node/public%20notice.
The public comment period is in effect from September 15, 2021, to October 14, 2021. Comments may be submitted in writing to: Shivani Shah, ADEQ, Groundwater Protection Value Stream, 1110 West Washington Street, MC 5415B-3, Phoenix, AZ 85007 or via email Shah.Shivani@azdeq.gov. Comments must be received or postmarked by October 14, 2021.
A public hearing request must include the reasons for such request.
ADEQwilltakereasonablemeasurestoprovideaccess todepartmentservicestoindividualswithlimitedabilityto speak,writeorunderstandEnglishand/ortothosewit h disabilities.Requestsforlanguagetranslation,ASLinterpretation,CARTcaptioningservicesordisabilityaccommodationsmustbemadeatleast48hoursinadvanceby contactingtheTitleVINondiscriminationCoordinator,LeonardDrago,at602-771-2288o r Drago.Leonard@azdeq.gov.ForaTTYorotherdevice, TelecommunicationsRelayServicesareavailablebycalling711.
ADEQtomarálasmedidasrazonablesparaproveeraccesoalosserviciosdeldepartamentoapersonasconcapacidadlimitadaparahablar,escribiroentenderinglé s y/oparapersonascondiscapacidades.Lassolicitudes deserviciosdetraduccióndeidiomas,interpretaciónASL (lenguadesignosamericano),subtituladodeCART, o adaptacionespordiscapacidaddebenrealizarsecona l menos48horasdeanticipacióncomunicándoseconel CoordinadordeAnti-DiscriminacióndelTítuloVI,LeonardDrago,al602-771-2288 o Drago.Leonard@azdeq.gov.ParaunTTYuotrodispositivo,losserviciosderetransmisióndetelecomunicacionesestándisponiblellamandoal711. Ad #41311
STJOHN’SIRRIGATIONDISTRICTANNUALELECTIONOFDIRECTORwillbeheldonTuesday,November9 th ,2021from8:00amto4:00pmat10219W. SouthernAve.Tolleson,AZ85353.Pleasecall602769-7219LindaReitzwithanyquestions.
NOTICEOFELECTION OFDIRECTOROF ROOSEVELTIRRIGATIONDISTRICT
NOTICEISHEREBYGIVENthatanelectionfortheofficesof DirectorofDivisionIIofRooseveltIrrigationDistrictwillbeheld onTuesday,November9,2021.Thepollswillbeopenat8:00 a.m.andwillcloseat6:00p.m.Thepollingplaceshallbeatthe Districtoffice,locatedat103WestBaseline,Buckeye,Arizona 85326.3391558.110/18113DATEDthis7thdayofSeptember,2021/s/DonovanNeese,SecretaryRooseveltIrrigation District.Published:WestValleyView,Sept.15,22,2021/ 41319
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