THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
Goodyear master teaches taekwondo PAGE
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westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS .............. 6 Realtor appointed to Avondale council
SPORTS ........ 15 Desert Edge kicker breaks records
9 DAYS ......... 18 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
LETTERS ........................10 BUSINESS..................... 13 SPORTS ..........................15 FEATURES .....................20 NEIGHBORHOOD......22 SCHOOLS .....................23 OBITUARIES .................26 CLASSIFIEDS................27 NORTH
Health comes first at Avondale pharmacy PAGE
The Voice of the West Valley for 32 years
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September 20, 2017
Catholic school on track for August opening By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Sister Mary Jordan Hoover has seen firsthand the effect new Catholic schools have on a community, having opened a facility in northern Virginia. Now, she is at the helm of the forthcoming St. John Paul II High School, set to open in August 2018 in Avondale. “To open a school for a second time is quite a privilege,” she said. “Most Catholic high school principals don’t get to open a high school at any time in their lives. “I know the joys and I know the work that goes into opening a new school. A new school can give life to a community. Those joyful moments are the ones I’m really looking forward to.” The Diocese of Phoenix is hoping to raise $23 million for building and supporting St. John Paul II High School through a $100 million campaign. “Together Let Us Go Forth – Juntos Sigamos Adelante” is a three-year campaign that will provide for the future of local Catholic schools, charities and the faithful. For information, visit togethergoforth.com. “I encourage the entire community to join together on this historic campaign as we seek a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” said The Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, bishop of
Sister Mary Jordan Hoover, the new principal of St. John Paul II High School in Avondale, stands at the construction site of the future facility. St. John Paul II High School is scheduled to open in summer 2018. (West Valley View photo by Ray Thomas)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. “We will go forth to strengthen our families, our churches and schools and we will build up our charities in support of the poor and most vulnerable.”
Serving the community
school on January 27, celebrating the first Catholic facility to serve the growing number of Catholic students and families in the far West Valley. Adjacent to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish,
The Diocese broke ground for the
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Valley.” This week, the nonprofit is hosting a shopping event at Kohl’s for underprivileged children. “This is our third year for Childspree,” Grjegian said. “This is a hands-on Maverick event. We’re going to take 150 kids who are in need, transport them via bus to Kohl’s at McDowell and Dysart roads.” The kids will have breakfast, courtesy the Wigwam, and receive gift bags. Then, each child will be allowed to spend a
minimum of $100 at the department store with a designated Maverick. Grjegian said previous events have been moving. “There are so many tears of joy, heartbreak and sadness during those four very emotional hours,” Grjegian said. “I go home feeling blessed. “We also give the children directions on how to go through life. In previous years, I gave my cellphone number for kids to call
Mavericks: ‘Good guys’ who want to give back By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Litchfield Park resident Mike Grjegian saw groups like the Thunderbirds and Hohokams helping kids in other areas of town. He thought the West Valley needed a similar charitable organization. Several “movers and shakers” founded the West Valley Mavericks in 2012. “Nobody was doing anything for the West Valley,” Grjegian said. “We thought we would do something for them. We have more than 55 members. Our goal is to donate our time and services to raise money for those in need – only in the West
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