THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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‘Farm-to-couch’ project moves ahead on Bullard
BUSINESS .... 14 The Style Twins and Amazing Lash Studio
FEATURES .... 18 A drive-In Hanukkah event brings light to Goodyear
OPINION ...............12 BUSINESS.............. 14 FEATURES ..............16 YOUTH ..................22 OBITUARIES ...........24 CLASSIFIEDS ..........26 WEST
December 9, 2020
The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
A mother grieves a ‘lost soul’ BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
NEWS .............. 4
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If tears could summon back a loved one, Jared Garcia would float home, hug his mom and say he’s sorry, grab his phone and see all the text messages and social media hits saying “im worried call me,” “where r u” and “you ok bro?” But this isn’t a fantasy movie, the tears of Stephanie Garcia and all of Jared’s loved ones only wash bitterly down their exhausted faces. The messages will go forever unanswered, save for the chilling finality of his gravestone: Loved By All Who Knew Him Jared A. Garcia 01/16/2000 to 10/02/2020 “He would’ve been 21 in January—it breaks my heart,” his mother said. All he wanted to do was rap out his freestyle rhymes to the world, but Jared ended up silenced, lying under a stone marked R.I.P. Gasping for breath two months after her
youngest son’s overdose death, Stephanie checks her heaving chest long enough to blurt out a sentence: “If only I can save someone else.” She is quelling her grief with action, leading a march in Jared’s honor starting at noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at 75th and Glendale avenues, turning on 67th Avenue before stopping at Myrtle Avenue. The route, significantly, covers the neighborhood where Jared used to buy drugs—probably including the batch that took the life from his body. Jared was raised in Tolleson and Avondale, graduating from Westview High two years ago, before moving to his mother’s Glendale apartment. Except for occasional stints in Peoria, where he went to rehab and lived with a roommate briefly, his world swirled around Avondale and Glendale. Jared Garcia and his mother, Stephanie, celebrate The night of Oct. 2, he was found at his graduation from Westview High School. Two
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years later, he died from a drug overdose. (Photo courtesy Stephanie Garcia)
Westview grad thrives at Amazon BY BRIAN CANO SR.
West Valley View Contributing Writer
As Amazon rapidly expands its operations in the West Valley, a local success story thanks the global giant not just for his career but for helping him overcome health challenges and providing educational opportunities.
Edgar Garcia, 33, is a Westview High graduate and cancer survivor (he is not related to Jared Garcia). He was hired by Amazon at 21 to an entry-level position and is now an area manager. “Things happen out of nowhere, and this happened to me when I was 21,” Garcia said.
“I was extremely fortunate to just be at Amazon at the right time and take advantage of those benefits, because it’s the reason why I’m alive today and healthy.” Garcia felt his cancer diagnosis was sure
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