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February 3, 2022
Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
INSIDE
This Week
SPORTS......... 16 Deven Raper, Chris Blose anticipating local race
Ruiz investigation tied to HR complaint BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Peoria Times Staff Writer
Peoria Fire-Medical Chief Bobby Ruiz was investigated before he retired Dec. 31 due to an anonymous complaint the city received in the fall, according to documents obtained by the Peoria Times. Ruiz was the chief for nine years. The October complaint alleged that Ruiz had shown favoritism toward a recently promoted deputy chief, whose name is redacted in documents, allowing him to
“remain at home, not work,” for 83 days while on the payroll so he could study for a paramedic exam. Ruiz and others told the city during the investigation that the 24-year firefighter in question accepted a promotion to a vacant deputy chief position last spring, and, while not strictly required, the paramedic certification is important for leaders in that role to have credibility. Paramedic certification requires more extensive training than the emergency medical technician certificate, and para-
Peoria Times Staff Writer
City of Peoria celebrates district’s young artists
OPINION...................... 9 BUSINESS.................. 14 SPORTS...................... 16 FEATURES.................. 18 RELIGION................... 20 YOUTH....................... 22 CLASSIFIEDS.............. 25
medics earn on average 33% more than EMTs nationally, according to the jobs site Indeed. But the employee was having difficulty passing the exam after attending the sixmonth paramedical school in 2020-21. After failing the exam three times, Ruiz ordered the employee to “go home and do what (he needed) to pass the exam,” according to an interview in the report. During the time away from duties beSEE COMPLAINT PAGE 3
Teacher’s award nets $1K for Peoria kids BY SCOTT SHUMAKER
YOUTH.......... 22
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A Cheyenne Elementary math teacher and basketball coach has won an award from education company McGraw Hill, and the recognition will pay dividends for local students. On Jan. 26, McGraw Hill announced four national winners of the ALEKS All-Star Educator Award, and among the winners was Cheyenne Elementary sixth and seventh grade math teacher CeCe Jacobs. The Peoria Unified School District teacher was one of only two K-12 teachers recognized. The award honors teachers who have used the company’s ALEKS program, an adaptive learning tool for students in math and chemistry, to improve learning for stu-
Cheyenne Elementary math teacher CeCe Jacobs won the ALEKS All-Star Educator Award from education company McGraw Hill on Jan. 26. The award comes with a $1,000 donation to a nonprofit of Jacobs’ choice.
dents. Jacobs uses the program, which assesses students’ math knowledge, then she tailors exercises to their needs. She said it’s something students can use when they finish a class activity early, or she can assign it as an “intervention” for students who need extra help. She said the program’s ability to check students’ knowledge is helpful in closing learning gaps resulting from pandemic disruptions. “Learning loss over the last few years in the pandemic is evident,” she said. “(ALEKS) is just helping us close all these gaps.” All-Star Educators receive a $250 gift card from McGraw Hill, and the company will also donate $1,000 to a nonprofit of the
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February 3, 2022
China Before Communism 2022 PRODUCTION WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA
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Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1952 The Peoria Times is a circulation weekly published every Thursday.
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Peoria Times
NEWS
Donors needed to end blood shortage BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
A national blood shortage is further stressing the nation’s fragile health care system. Vitalant — which services about 900 hospitals across 28 states, including 62 in Arizona — is experiencing a historic, two-year low blood supply. The fast-spreading omicron variant is the latest COVID-19 complication forcing additional community blood drives to cancel and lessening the number of healthy and available donors. “It’s important for people to remember that they can give blood immediately after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re healthy and well,” Vitalant Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ralph Vassallo said. “To ensure patient care isn’t jeopardized, we need people to schedule an appointment today. Even if the appointment is several weeks from now, COMPLAINT FROM PAGE 1
tween Aug. 1 and Oct. 25, the employee said he attended a remedial paramedic course at Glendale Community College and took the exam two more times, failing on both attempts. The ethics complaint claimed having paid time off to study has not been given to other firefighters, and the employee’s extended absence was felt in the department. Firefighters interviewed by the city heard about colleagues being allowed to study during downtime at the station but not stay home. The complaint also alleged that the employee in question had received a spot in that year’s paramedical school without having to go through the department’s competitive selection process. The city pays the $5,000 tuition for firefighters selected to attend the training. The person who submitted the complaint was concerned that if the deputy chief failed the exam a sixth time, the maximum number of failures without having to retake the course, the deputy might be sponsored for a second ses-
setting and keeping it will help replenish what’s needed for both routine treatments and emergencies.” Donors can make an appointment by visiting vitalant.org or calling 1-877-25-VITAL (1-877-258-4825). West Valley donor centers • Glendale: 18583 N. 59th Avenue. • Goodyear: 14270 W. Indian School Road. • West Phoenix: 5757 N. Black Canyon Highway. Public blood drives by city
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Civic Center Drive. • 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, Avondale Baptist Church, 1001 N. Central Avenue. Buckeye • 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, Summit Community Church, 20555 W. Roosevelt Street. • 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Feb. 7, Desert Hills Baptist Church, 20909 W. Yuma Road. • 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, St. Henry Catholic Church, 24750 W. Lower Buckeye Road.
Avondale • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, Estrella Mountain Community College, 3000 N. Dysart Road. • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, Estrella Mountain Community College, 3000 N. Dysart Road. • 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, city of Avondale, 11465 W.
Glendale • 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, St. Helen Roman Catholic Parish, KOC, 5510 W. Cholla. • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, Dream City Christian School, 21000 N. 75th Avenue.
sion of paramedic school. The promoted deputy chief told the city he did not intend to go through the course a second time. Ruiz and other personnel interviewed said the employee in question was struggling following his promotion to finish paramedic school, study for the exam and transition to a new job at the same time and may have been struggling with “personal issues.” Soon after the employee returned to work in late October, he submitted his notice of retirement to the city. Following HR’s formal investigation, the city “sustained” or “partially sustained” all of the allegations in the complaint, concluding in a Nov. 18 report that Ruiz had shown “lack of judgment, preferential treatment, and policy and ethical violations” in his actions related to the employee’s paramedic certification. The HR department recommended “appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.” Ruiz’s attorney, Stephen Montoya,
said that while his client “takes responsibility for his actions,” he disagrees with many of the report’s findings. He also said it was unfair that Ruiz did not have an opportunity to see the report before it was finalized. “What the report leaves out is substantial,” he said. “The firefighter in question was a 24-year veteran of the department. … He was a distinguished firefighter, who had repeatedly risked his life for the city of Peoria, and that counts a lot for Mr. Ruiz.” He said that Ruiz felt his job as chief included supporting the people beneath him and believes that “one of the things he owes them is to look out for them and protect them,” which included support for the paramedic certification. Montoya disputed that a spot at the paramedic school was taken away from another firefighter, saying the spot in question was reserved for commanders. Ruiz told the HR department during the investigation that the fee for
SEE BLOOD PAGE 5
SEE COMPLAINT PAGE 4
4
Peoria Times
NEWS
February 3, 2022
COMPLAINT FROM PAGE 3
the spot did not come out of the budget for sending firefighters to paramedic school. Montoya also disputed the claim in the report that the studying firefighter’s absence negatively impacted the department, which the report characterizes as “partially sustained.” “The firefighters of the city of Peoria know what to do without being supervised,” he said. “The chain of command was left unimpacted. “The bottom line is people can object to Bobby giving this guy another chance or chances … but Bobby is not
SEE MORE NEWS ONLINE AT PEORIATIMES.COM
going to leave any of his guys behind. He didn’t have the heart to turn his back on this guy.” On Nov. 22, following the completion of the investigation, City Manager Jeff Tyne placed Ruiz on paid administrative leave. A month later, on Dec. 22, Ruiz and the city signed a “confidential settlement agreement and general release” outlining the terms of Ruiz’s retirement on Dec. 31. “The parties have determined that it is in their mutual interest to amicably terminate the employment relationship upon the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement,” the release states. The agreement stipulates that Ruiz will not sue the city of Peoria for any reason, and the city will pay Ruiz seven months’ severance pay of $119,914 plus 50% of his unused sick leave, totaling $18,141. “It’s been a hurtful process (for Ruiz),” Montoya said. “He’s 69 years old. He’s devoted his life to fire service. To face this at his stage in his career is
difficult.” Ruiz received high marks from the city during his last performance review in July 2021.The review noted many department achievements over the previous year, including a third accreditation and coordinating COVID-19 emergency relief. Deputy City Manager Andy Granger wrote that Ruiz had “created a strong work environment that allows for the successes that have occurred within the fire-medical department over the past year.” Montoya also noted Ruiz’s accomplishments during his tenure. “He expanded (medical service) in the city substantially,” he said, noting the hiring of numerous firefighters and Retired Fire Chief Bobby Ruiz led the Peoria Fire-Medical Department for the expansion of service to Lake Pleasnine years before retiring Dec. 31. The ant. “Bobby did a lot for the departdeparture followed a city investigation ment.” He added, “Bobby was not termiof an ethics complaint the month prior. Ruiz has disputed some of the investi- nated, he retired,” noting that the city gation’s findings through his attorney. manager thanked Ruiz publicly for his service to the city. PT TEACHER FROM PAGE 1
winner’s choosing. Jacobs has decided to direct her donation to a local group she volunteers with: Zuri’s Circle, a nonprofit that runs youth programs and helps students with meals at Cheyenne Elementary and other schools. Jacobs knows the community well. She grew up across the street from Cheyenne Elementary, attended school there and went on to graduate from Peoria High School. Now she’s teaching in the halls of her alma mater. One of her colleagues was her eighth grade English teacher. “It’s full circle, which is cool,” she said. Jacobs, who has been teaching for three years, said she “had an unconventional way of getting into education.” After earning a degree in business and marketing from Hawaii Pacific University, she worked as a project manager at an education technology company for two years. The work was OK, she said, but she realized she didn’t like working behind a desk all day; she needed a
more active line of work. Jacobs was passionate about coaching basketball, and she thought teaching might be the most similar to coaching. She said administrators at Cheyenne Elementary showed her a pathway to begin teaching, starting with a nine-month teaching program. For Jacobs, deciding on a subject to teach was easy. “I love math. Math was my favorite subject growing up,” she said. Jacobs said she believes that one of the most important things for getting kids to be successful in math is “encouraging kiddos to remain in this growth mindset.” Jacobs said when students encounter a concept they don’t understand at first, there can be a tendency to just shut down in response. When students are curious and confident, they want to keep working on the problem until they understand it. “When you can keep kids curious and wanting to learn, it just makes it so much easier,” she said. PT
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022 BLOOD FROM PAGE 3
• 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, Arrowhead Towne Center, 7700 W. Arrowhead Towne Center. • 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 19, Thunderbird Park Community Blood Drive, 5104 W. Pinnacle Peak Road. • 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, 18701 N. 67th Avenue. • 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, Apollo High School, 8045 N. 47th Avenue. Goodyear • 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, St. John Vianney Parish, 539 E. La Pasada Boulevard. • 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, city of Goodyear, 190 N. Litchfield Road. • 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, The Refinery Christian Church, 16721 W. Indian School Road. • 7 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, Abrazo West Campus, 13677 W. McDowell Road.
Peoria • 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, Huntington University, 8385 W. Mariners Way. • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, Trilogy at Vistancia, 27980 N. Trilogy Boulevard East. • 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, Axiom Church, 8295 W. Jefferson Street. • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, Sunset Heights Elementary School, 9687 W. Adam Avenue. • 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, Lunde’s Peoria Volkswagen, 8801 W. Bell Road. • 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 19, Vistancia Community, 29701 N. Sunrise Point. • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, Honoring Karsten Boman Blood Drive @ Rio Vista Recreation Center, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road. • 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, St. Charles Borromeo, 8615 W. Peoria Avenue. PT
NEWS
Peoria police investigating homicide BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
Peoria police are investigating a Jan. 25 homicide at 78th Drive and Sweetwater Avenue after a caller reported gunshot noises and a man lying in the street. Officers arrived on scene at 4:11 a.m. and found the man with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aid to the victim, who was transported to a local hospital by the Peoria Fire-Medical Department. The victim later died of his injuries. Police said this is believed to be an isolated incident. Originally, officers had detained individuals but later determined they were not involved. There were roadway restrictions at 78th Drive, as it was closed in both directions from Sweetwater Avenue and Windrose Drive. This incident occurred on a street near an elementary school before hours. Upon investigation, surveillance vid-
eo was retrieved from the neighborhood. The video showed a white SUV pulling a trailer, with a gray passenger car on the trailer, which is believed to be the suspect’s vehicle. The victim’s car was traveling just a few feet behind the suspect’s vehicle before they went out of sight of the video. Anyone with information on the suspect or suspect’s vehicle, they are encouraged to call the Peoria Police Department or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. PT
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Peoria Times
NEWS
February 3, 2022
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Pictured are Jonathan Bailey, along with his service animal in training, Anubis; Tim Harris, business development manager at Soldier’s Best Friend; and Joel Daniel and Greg Wooten, the general manager team at Culver’s of Peoria. (Photo courtesy of Culver’s)
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Culver’s of Peoria, located at 83rd Avenue and Thunderbird, carried on the chain’s goal of supporting the community by raising money through its annual calendar sale in December. The calendars, which include coupons, are sold for a $5 donation to Soldier’s Best Friend. This year, the team raised $4,000. Soldier’s Best Friend is a Peoria nonprofit that serves the veteran community by training and pairing service dogs to eligible veterans, at no cost to the
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veteran or their family. Soldier’s Best Friend has helped graduate more than 300 veteran/dog teams and rescued almost 200 homeless Arizona dogs to pair with the veterans. “We would like to thank our guests who donated. Their donation is going directly to helping a veteran in their own community,” Peoria Culver’s owner Rob Bullock said. “We strive to make a difference in the community we share with so many others, and working with Soldier’s Best Friend allows us to help support individuals and families in our area.” PT
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Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
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Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
OPINION
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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN
Sometimes you find yourself lost in life BY JUDY BLUHM Peoria Times Columnist
Have you ever been lost? Yes, I guess at some time or another most of us have taken a wrong turn, had trouble following directions, or just gotten mixed up about where we are headed. Being a Realtor and often in rural areas, sometimes I find that street signs do not exist, easements are not always marked, landmarks change (the big saguaro where you are supposed to make your left turn looks the same as every other one) and GPS works best in cities that are neatly platted out. Imagine my surprise while driving on a dirt road in New River (lost) and finding an old, black horse standing in the middle of the two-lane
goat path. He looked as bewildered to see me as I was to see him. Evidently, he did not think I belonged there, because he made no effort to move. A roadblock of the strangest kind! Pulling over to the side, I stopped and got out. The horse stood his ground, just sizing me up as I carefully approached him. He was pretty thin, well-mannered and seemingly curious, if not happy to see me. Looking around, I pondered where the big fella came from. Not normal for a horse to be standing in the middle of a road with no one else around! About 300 feet to the north, I noticed a driveway and walked, gently resting my hand on the horse’s backside, as together we headed up a long, narrow dirt drive leading to an old ranch house. The black horse and I got up the driveway and we both stood still for a
moment, while an elderly man ran out from the garage with arms open like he might hug me. Well, he did embrace his horse and for a few minutes seemed confused, then asked what I was doing here with Rocky. When I said that I found Rocky standing in the middle of the road, the man looked shocked. He said, “Rocky is 34 years old and has arthritis, doesn’t eat much and barely walks any more. He usually just stands by my back porch or in his mare motel. He hasn’t walked this far in two years!” Clearly the man was flabbergasted, and then chuckled, saying that he better be sure to close his gates. There might be another type of “lost.” A lady emailed me to say that she was married for 45 years and every day “knew what to do.” When her husband died, she said she “drifted” for one year, with no particular purpose or
goal to do anything, except the basic chores of daily living. It can happen to us at any age. A loved one is snatched away too soon and we become bereft, struggling to find that new “normal” when all we really want is to go back to that place in time where we were before. This begs the question, can we be in the most familiar of places yet be completely lost? Life is one heck of a journey. Sometimes roads don’t take you where you expected. Lost? It happens. Grab a compass, dear readers, because there might be times when we need a little help finding our way. PT Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@ judybluhm.com.
Color alone not the only criterion for Supreme Court BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Peoria Times Columnist
United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his upcoming retirement on a Wednesday morning. Within the hour, reporters, pundits and politicos had settled on a must for the 83-year-old’s successor: The next justice, the 116th in the history of our nation, must be a Black woman. This certainty dates back to a promise President Biden made during the 2020 primaries. Struggling to get traction, especially with Black voters, Biden went to South Carolina needing a jump
start to his campaign. His promise at a February 2020 debate: “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented.” The applause was loud. Biden won a seven-way primary with 49% of the vote. I understand we live in a nation where 108 out of 115 members of the highest court in the land have been white men. I understand and see value in diversity, of justices who bring different perspectives and cultures to the court — even if they tend to vote in lockstep with either one of America’s two dominant, disastrous political parties. But for days I’ve been scouring the
news waiting for someone to say what to me seemed abundantly obvious: Shouldn’t the president, a Democrat, nominate the most qualified liberal justice to the court, as opposed to filtering out candidates based on race and gender? I mean this as no slight to the jurists on the short list: Ketanji Brown Jackson, who currently sits on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, considered the second most important court in the country. Harvard educated, a former editor of the Harvard Law Review, Brown Jackson clerked for Breyer early in her career. Also getting serious consideration is Leondra Kruger, who currently sits on the California Supreme Court. Kru-
ger previously clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens and, as an assistant U.S. solicitor general, she argued a dozen cases before SCOTUS. If either of these two amazing Black women is the most qualified choice for the court, then I celebrate the appointment. Ironically, next year the court is scheduled to hear a case on affirmative action in education. The original lawsuits contend that Harvard and the University of North Carolina discriminate against Asian students, who scored higher than other racial cohorts on admission criteria like grades, tests scores and extracurriculars but were SEE COURT PAGE 12
10 OPINION
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
Peoria numbers show positive direction BY BRIDGET BINSBACHER Peoria Councilmember Peoria Mayoral Candidate
From the countless years of Little League and school sports for my kids to my service to the Cactus League and the Peoria Diamond Club before that, baseball has been a big part of my life for many years. Not only is it “America’s Pastime,” but it is also the original sport where numbers matter. Even before this era of modern analytics and “moneyball,” generations of fans spoke in hushed tones about batting averages, home runs, strikeouts and other important numbers. People kept score on their own, and stadiums tracked most games around the league in real time. Maybe that’s
why records and rankings really seem to matter so much in baseball. Perhaps, also, it’s why Peoria’s records and rankings mean so much to me and why I want to run for mayor to rack up even more wins for our city. When you look at our city by the numbers, you find a community that is definitely heading in the right direction. Peoria scores high in both national and local rankings, and when you take in our track record, it comes as no surprise Peoria was named No. 1 City to Live, Work and Play in Arizona (Ranking Arizona, 2021) and No. 1 Best City to Live in Arizona and the 29th in the country by Money Magazine (2018). For the stat-minded, that’s literally one in a million. The numbers show that Peoria is a safe community. We have a mayor and council who work well together and a proven track record of commitment to public safety.
Our hard work has paid off with Peoria being named in the Top 15 Safest Cities in the United States (Wallethub, 2019 and 2017) and 22nd Safest City in the United States (Phoenix Business Journal, 2018). Not satisfied to rest on our past success, the council also recently voted to invest even more money into police officers and firefighters to ensure our first responders can be there when you need them most. We are also hitting home runs when it comes to attracting jobs and economic opportunities. The city was ranked Fourth-Best Place to Get a Job (WalletHub, 2018) and the No. 1 city with booming employment growth (CNBC, 2017). The proof is in job numbers as well. Peoria’s labor force commuting to jobs in other cities is down to 69% from nearly 90% just a few years ago. Our city also remains a top tourist destination, racking up rec-
ognition as Best Winter Destination in the United States (Expedia, 2017) as well as a Top 10 Unique Destination (USA Today, 2019). Peoria also offers outstanding choices for those of all ages and abilities who live in our city. Certainly, our active adult population can agree with Forbes, who ranked Peoria in the Top 25 Places to Retire in the Country (2017). The city has also scored top 10 Best City to Raise a Family (2017) and Top 5 Disability-Friendly Cities in the United States (2016) by WalletHub. In the 180 square miles where Peoria resides, it houses Lake Pleasant, more than 30 parks, 20 miles of trails, the Seattle Mariners’ and San Diego Padres’ Spring Training complex, and a historic downtown, and it’s home to a lively entertainment district. Rent. SEE NUMBERS PAGE 12
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
OPINION
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Kelly joined at Biden’s hip in upcoming race BY J.D. HAYWORTH Peoria Times Columnist
There’s no mistaking Mark Kelly for the late comedian Don Knotts — especially since our junior senator bears an uncanny resemblance to Uncle Fester of “The Addams Family” — but similar themes have emerged in the body of work from both the contemporary legislator and the comedian of a bygone era. Knotts, who won multiple Emmy Awards for his portrayal of bumbling Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show,” parlayed that success on the small screen into a five-picture deal with Universal Studios in the mid1960s. Sen. Kelly parlayed his fame from piloting the space shuttle into winning a seat in the Senate. Certainly Kelly’s fundraising abilities have proven as-
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tronomical; his campaign pulled in $9 million in the final three months of last year, giving him an estimated war chest of $22 million as he attempts to win a full six-year term this November. Of course, $22 million — or more — won’t buy what it used to… not even as recently as the campaign year of 2020. That’s because of Jan. 20, 2021… the day Joe Biden took up residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Immediately afterward, the politico-economic condition now known as “Bidenflation” took hold. Ol’ Joe began by revoking authorization for the Keystone XL pipeline in an executive order. In so doing, he killed 10,000 jobs and took $2.2 billion in payroll out of workers’ pockets. One of the newly unemployed, Neal Crabtree of Fouke, Arkansas, told the “Boston Herald” his concerns extended beyond his family to friends, neighbors and his fellow countrymen. “Now we’re seeing rising energy
prices,” said Crabtree, a common-sense kind of guy, who was working as a welding foreman before Joe Biden got a new job… and took away his. Sadly, common sense is in short supply at the White House and within the Senate Democratic Caucus. Then again, lots of things are in short supply these days. A crippled supply line and a predictable decline in domestic energy production prompted a spike in prices. The result? The worst inflation rate our nation has seen in 40 years. As costs increased across the board for food, shelter, clothing and transportation, prices at the pump were especially troubling: a hike of almost 50% by December. Adding even more fuel to the inflationary fires was the spending spree of the Biden Bunch. Unilaterally enacted by the Democrats, a $1.9 trillion cash infusion actually paid bonuses to some
lucky workers to stay off the job, kept the Bureau of Printing and Engraving churning out greenbacks, and further bloated our money supply. Whether due to economic illiteracy or delusion — perhaps both — Joe Biden then claimed that his horribly misnamed “Build Back Better” initiative would somehow reduce inflation. Left unexplained is the dubious rationale behind the misguided notion that an exponentially more obscene orgy of spending — $5.5 trillion dollars’ worth — will do anything other than launch inflation to even “greater” heights and plunge our standard of living to even lower depths. Thankfully, the “Build Back Bummer” has been scrubbed for now… no thanks to Mark Kelly. Instead, Kelly has been a dependable vote for Bidenomics and Bidenflation, but Republicans aren’t exactly biding SEE RACE PAGE 12
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OPINION
February 3, 2022
COURT FROM PAGE 9
scored down on qualities like courage, kindness, personality and likability. The end result? A racial quota system that kept the number of Asian students artificially low in favor of admitting a more diverse student body. The concept that every facet of life requires equal representation by skin color is a shaky proposition, easy to turn on its head. For example, the National Basket-
ball Association in 2020 was about 74% African American, 17% white, not quite 3% Latino and Asian, and 6% players of other races. Today, non-Latino whites comprise 58% of the U.S. population. Latinos make up 19%, Blacks 12%. Imagine the insanity that would ensue if the NBA mandated that each 15man roster needed to proportionally express the racial composition of the
NUMBERS FROM PAGE 10
other lines. We have come too far and worked too hard to erase our good work by those who want to foster discord and division. As I said before, our city is heading in the right direction and the numbers don’t lie. I am running for mayor to build on what has been done in the past by excellent leaders like mayors Keegan, Barrett and Carlat, and to take Peoria to the next level. If we focus on “One Peoria” — one community — we will continue our domination of countless rankings lists. Every part of our city is All-Starworthy, and that makes for one spectacular team. PT
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of our nation’s best and brightest primarily through the prism of skin color and gender — with their hard work, qualifications and successes tossed in as a footnote — demeans the process and the judges in it. PT David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com.
RACE FROM PAGE 11
com has also taken notice of the staggering number of parks, trails, Lake Pleasant Regional Park and multiple mountain preserves, and ranked Peoria No. 7 on the list of cities with the most open space; the city also scored as the 12th Highest City for Green Space in the United States (2019). However, the most important number I care about is “One Peoria.” My vision as mayor would be to see our city as a single community who can come together to build a stronger place to live, work, and enjoy an active lifestyle. We cannot and should not be pitting parts of the city against one another or creating divisions along regional, economic, social or
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U.S.? Who among the Phoenix Suns’ 14 African American players would the team cut in favor of white ballers of presumably lesser talent? Would the new, perfectly representative squad still sell tickets or perform to NBA Finals levels? Doubtful and doubtful. It’s long past time for a Black woman to sit as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. But speaking about some
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their time in the effort to scrub Mark Kelly’s political mission. This summer’s primary for the Arizona GOP Senate nomination will be crowded and spirited. The eventual winner will face a cash-infused but performance-imperiled incumbent, joined at the hip to Joe Biden. Mark Kelly’s handlers are doing what they can right now to start a midcourse correction, recently making their man available for an interview with “Yahoo!,” which, like most Big Tech media organs, would be more accurately named “Hooray!” when covering Democrat politicians. Despite the kid-glove “Yahoo!” cov-
erage, Kelly cannot shake his Biden connection. He even mimicked Ol’ Joe’s attempted blame shifting to big corporations — the same folks financing the freshman senator’s campaign. If Kelly remains reluctant to politically separate from Joe Biden, the ex-astronaut will have a lot of time on his hands a year from now to watch reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Or “The Addams Family.” PT J.D. Hayworth worked as a sportscaster at Channel 10, Phoenix, from 1987 until 1994 and represented Arizona in Congress from 1995-2007.
JUDGE’S OPINION — King Features
February 3, 2022
Peoria Times
OPINION
Rep. Lesko wants to offer quality services BY REP. DEBBIE LESKO Eighth Congressional District
As your representative in Congress, my top priority is to ensure that the people of Arizona’s eighth congressional district receive quality constituent services. During the past year, our office assisted hundreds of constituents with cases involving Social Security, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal agencies. Our office is ready to assist you with whatever you may need. Our district is proud to be home to Luke Air Force Base and over 70,000 veterans. It is my mission to give back to those who have dedicated their lives to our country. Veterans who need assistance with their VA benefits reach out to our office quite often. For example, a constituent
reached out to our office because the chiropractic office they use was not receiving payments from the VA for himself and multiple veterans. Our office reached out to the VA and ensured the payments were made, resulting in the constituent not being liable for the payments. In addition, our office ensures that disabled veterans receive their correct disability payments and liaises with the VA on their behalf. Our office can also assist seniors navigating Social Security and Medicare benefits. One constituent contacted our office after she could not get an answer from the Social Security Administration regarding her disability claim. Our office contacted the Social Security Administration and her claim was processed after a year in the system. The constituent recently started receiving her new monthly benefit payment because of the decision. Our office can also help in the hearing process. We can answer questions regarding Medi-
care and Social Security enrollment. Our goal is to assist seniors so they receive their full benefits. We can also assist with travel- and immigration-related concerns, including working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to process work permits and assisting constituents with scheduling appointments and applying for passports from the U.S. State Department. A constituent once contacted our office with concerns about the processing of her permanent resident card. Our office worked with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to receive it. No matter if you’re traveling abroad or trying to assist a loved one with a visa, our office can make the necessary contacts and expedite your visa application. In addition to helping constituents in need, I recognize outstanding young people in our community. As your member of Congress, one of my great-
est privileges is nominating deserving individuals to the U.S. Military Service Academies. I consider this an honor, and I enjoy learning about these outstanding students in our community. My office offers two additional programs for which students can be recognized and rewarded for their achievements in a particular field. Middle and high school students can showcase their creativity and ingenuity in the arts and sciences by participating in the Congressional App Challenge and the Congressional Art Competition. Each year, it is wonderful to see the beautiful artwork and unique apps that students create. These are just some of the many ways our office is here to serve you. If you need assistance with a federal agency, please contact our district office in Surprise at 623-776-7911. I am honored to continue to serve as your representative in the 117th Congress, and it is my hope that our office can successfully assist you, whatever you may need. PT
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14 BUSINESS
February 3, 2022
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Scorpion Bay hiring 12 for 2022 season BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
Scorpion Bay Marina is hiring for the 2022 season. Positions range from dockhands and deckhands to security, office rental agent and boat dry storage attendant. Individuals 18 and older may apply to support Scorpion Bay as it enters its busiest season this summer. The recent attendance surges mean Scorpion Bay needs to expand its team. Marina crew members will assist with guest relations, safety and operations orientations, boat maintenance, cleaning and more to keep the marina running smoothly and safely. “Working at Scorpion Bay is a tremendous opportunity for each of us,”
said Lynn Lovelady, marina manager. “Being able to show up for work at a dream location, help our guests have a safe and enjoyable visit, and collaborate with such a dedicated crew is something I’m incredibly grateful for. As we expand our team, it’s important that we bring on additional hard-working individuals to provide premium service to the wide variety of local and international guests that visit the marina each season.” Full- and part-time and seasonal positions are immediately available. Full benefits available for full-time employees. Mail resume to info@ scorpionbayaz.com. Scorpion Bay is located at 10970 Peninsula Boulevard, Morristown. PT
Peoria USD hosting career fair
BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
The Peoria Unified School District is inviting seasoned or aspiring teachers to its career fair from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at Ironwood High School, 6051 W. Sweetwater Avenue, Glendale. There are job openings in all pre-kindergarten to 12th grade across Peoria Unified’s 42 schools. At the teacher career fair, interviews will be conducted on-site. Peoria Unified’s human resources team will be at the event to assist with certification questions. Letters
of intent may be offered to select candidates at the Teacher Career Fair to join Peoria Unified. The district offers valuable salaries, benefits, incentives and support. To view job openings, visit Peoria Unified’s website at jobs.peoriaunified.org. For more information about the teacher career fair, call 623-412-5302. PT
Affirm Wealth Advisors taps MacLean as CEO BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
HAVE BUSINESS NEWS? Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-898-5631 or christina@timespublications.com
Affirm Wealth Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC, named Matt MacLean, to the position of chief executive officer. MacLean has 19 years’ experience with Ameriprise Financial. “I am excited for the opportunity to lead Affirm as we continue to guide our clients and future clients towards a confident financial future,” MacLean said. Former CEO Stephen Harnden, private wealth adviser, has transitioned into a new role with Affirm Wealth Advisors, leading the firm’s wealth management division. “After nearly 30 years leading Af-
firm, it’s the right time to transfer practice leadership to Matt,” Harnden said. “He is passionate about serving clients holistically and guiding our talented team on how to deliver the best service to our clients. I’m excited to continue supporting our loyal clients in my new role, where I will focus on the integration of investment portfolio design, tax planning and estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and owners of small businesses.” The Ameriprise office is at 7992 W. Thunderbird Road, Suite 110, Peoria. Find info at 623-972-3133. PT
Matt MacLean has been named chief executive officer for Affirm Wealh Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC. (Submitted photo)
February 3, 2022
Peoria Times
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Peoria Times
SPORTS
February 3, 2022
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Supercross’ Deven Raper, Chris Blose anticipating local race BY BRENDAN MANI
Peoria Times Staff Writer
The Valley’s Deven Raper and Chris Blose will hit the dirt on their home field for the Monster Energy Supercross Championship tour at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 5. “It’s super fun,” said Blose, who graduated from North Phoenix High School in the Paradise Valley district. “So many fans and friends and family come and watch me do what I do. And something I get to enjoy with everybody.” The Glendale appearance marks his last tour in his storied career. The 34-year-old started racing Supercross in 2006 and earned a bronze medal at the X Games, a ninth-place finish at the 2019 Western Regional 250SX Class; a 2019 Australian Supercross SX2 championship the 2016 AMSOIL Arenacross Championship runner-up; eight AMSOIL Arenacross overall wins (250AX Class); six Monster Energy Supercross 450SX Class top 10 finishes and 13 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX top 10 finishes. Last season, he landed in 11th place overall on the tour with four top 10 finishes. “Since this is definitely my last year, I’m trying to enjoy all the moments,” he said. “When I sit on the line, I see all the fans around me. It’s those little moments that I’m trying to take in. I want to do the best I can and have it be my best year yet. I want to go out with a bang.” This season has a different meaning for the 31-year-old Raper, a Red Mountain High School graduate. It’s his first tour since suffering a broken pelvis and two broken vertebrae in a preseason crash in November 2019. “That was one of the biggest injuries you can have in motocross, for sure,”
Professional supercross and motorcross racers Deven Raper, left, and Chris Blose will head to their home field for the Monster Energy Supercross Championship tour at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 5. The event, kicking off at 8 p.m., is one of the most competitive and high-profile off-road motorcycle racing series. (Submitted photo)
Raper said. “It was a bad one. And I always thought if I had a big injury like that, that I would probably just call it. But I didn’t want to let it go. I wasn’t ready yet. So, I worked hard to get back into shape, and it took me four months of doing physical therapy every day to be able to just like walk alone. Once I healed, I went back to racing, but it was still like a very big mental block to kind of open back up and go to speed.” Raper, who has been racing professionally since 2009, has had his best season start. “In years prior, I’ve haven’t peaked in the season until after the halfway point,” Raper said. “So, with Phoenix being the fifth round (of the tour), it’s pretty soon, but I’ve got everything kind of lined up. And I think this year is the year where I can make my first
main event in my hometown race, so I’m really looking forward to it and really just working towards it every single day.” Blose and Raper come from motocross families. Blose started pushing the pedals at age 3, while Raper started at 8. Raper’s father and older brother are professional riders. However, Raper has financially supported his efforts, and that motivated him. Qualifying for the main event in Phoenix may seem like “doing the impossible, but (it’s something) I’ve done before” being a privateer on this stage. A privateer is a racing entrant who is not directly supported by a manufacturer. He strives to use this platform to influence the next generation. “I want to find somebody who has the passion and the talent to go as far
as I have just being a privateer with a small budget with the best in the world,” he siad. “I would love to be in a position to make a living running a team and giving someone else like me as a kid the opportunity.” Blose is considering what he’s going to do next. “I’ve been doing this since 2006, so it’s definitely taken its toll on me,” he said. “And now I have a wife and two kids, so I want to be home more and experience that life with them. I started my own dirt bike suspension company just recently on the first of the year. So once the season’s over, it’ll be full on with that.” Like Raper, Blose wants to inspire SEE SUPERCROSS PAGE 19
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
SPORTS
SUPERCROSS FROM PAGE 18
up-and-coming riders. “When I’m at the practice track, I really tried to talk with people and be friendly and just be like a normal person, even though in their eyes I might be someone who might race supercross and kind of who they look up to. But I just tried to be a normal person that can sit down and talk with them and have fun,” he said. “People always ask me, ‘What do you tell people to make them be better? What can I do?’ “Honestly, just have fun. We all started racing dirt bikes and riding dirt bikes because it was fun. If you’re not having fun, it’s not worth it. So, it’s just to be stay safe and have fun with it.” Raper is proud to be one of two pro riders from Arizona. “My whole family is there,” he said. “This race is an annual thing, and my title sponsors are from Arizona. Kelly’s Kawasaki is a bike dealership in Mesa. And then RJC racing, my sponsor Dale, is a general contractor out
of out of Mesa as well. So, he owns restaurants, and we always have a get-together at his restaurant the night before the race and it’s a cool feeling. I’m stoked that we get to race in my hometown, because it definitely brings a lot more energy than any another one.” PT
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FEATURES
February 3, 2022
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Peoria concert celebrates Black music history
BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
The city of Peoria and the West Valley Arts Council will celebrate Black composers and musicians with concerts performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. “An Evening of Music Celebrating Black History” features singers from the cast of the musical “Antigone in Ferguson,” a show that blends dramatic readings from the ancient Greek play with choral singers. The musical was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014 as a collabora-
tion between Theater of War Productions and community members from Ferguson, Missouri. During the Peoria Center concerts, “Antigone in Ferguson” composer Dr. Philip A. Woodmore and off-Broadway artist De-Rance Blaylock will perform duets honoring Black composers and musicians throughout time. The evening concerts will conclude with a performance by John Leggette, an “Antigone in Ferguson” soloist and detective in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The matinee performance of “An Evening of Music Celebrating Black History” on Feb. 26 will include a
community discussion facilitated by Dr. Neal A. Lester, foundation professor of English and founding director of Project Humanities at ASU. The discussion will focus on the importance and musical influence of gospel music in America. The February concerts are part of WVAC’s Imprint: Celebrating Cultural Diversity in America, an initiative to support African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Indigenous Americans in the arts. The concerts coincide with the WVAC exhibit “IMPRINT: Celebrating African Americans in the Arts,” showing through Feb. 25 at Arts HQ Gallery, located at 16126 N. Civic
Center Plaza in Surprise. The exhibit features local artists Tiesha Harrison, Jerome Fleming, Stephen Marc, Sidney Hurd, Nik Ridley and Kesha Bruce. PT
IF YOU GO
An Evening of Music Celebrating Black History WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 WHERE: Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 10580 N. 83rd Drive, Peoria COST: $20 for adults; $15 for veterans, youth and students INFO: peoriaaz.gov
Benevilla hosting Dinner in the Desert fundraiser BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
Benevilla is kicking up its heels for the new year by hosting its annual fundraiser, Dinner in the Desert, on Friday, March 25, at the Barn at Desert Foothills in North Phoenix. The event includes fireside cocktails at sunset, dinner, dancing, raffles, and music by Honeygirl, performing old and new country favorites. In addition to an evening of dinner and dancing, there will be fundraising activities that support Benevilla’s work. These include chances to win raffle prizes for various dining, sports, shopping, staycation and entertainment items. Benevilla is a West Valley not-forprofit that enriches the lives of older adults, intellectually disabled adults, children, and the families who care for them. Benevilla has been serving others for 41 years through life-enriching programs and services, including day programs for adults with dementia and
Benevilla will host its annual Dinner in the Desert fundraiser on Friday, March 25, at Barn at Desert Foothills in North Phoenix. (Photo courtesy of Benevilla)
other disabilities, intergenerational programs, free grocery shopping services, transportation to medical appointments, caregiver support groups, and other vital services. Individual tickets to the event are
$175, or $2,000 for a table of 10, the latter of which includes the name on event signage and listing in the event program book. There are also several sponsorship levels available from $500 to $3,000.
For more information about Dinner in the Desert, tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit benevilla.org or call Daphne Vincent, donor relations manager, at 623-584-4999. PT
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
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20 RELIGION
February 3, 2022
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Our lost and found department is in Luke 15 CHURCH-COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Pastor Ed Delph Peoria Times Columnist
One of my favorite chapters in the Scriptures is Luke 15. There are three stories of loss and recovery, all designed to communicate that no matter how lost one feels in this life, the way for healing is always there. God’s waiting, loving, wanting, wishing and hoping all of us “flawsome” people will someday return. What does “flawsome” mean to God? It’s God knowing our flaws but also knowing we are awesome. Heaven is a lost and then found department, not just a found department. Jesus didn’t come to judge the world; He came to save or rescue us from the world. Jesus says to us, “You are
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the found son. They once were lost, but now they’re found. These three lost and found examples were given by Jesus to the assembled Pharisees, who have accused him of dining with “sinners.” The Pharisees weren’t fair, you see. They judged everyone by their behavior. The Pharisees represent religion at its worst. But Jesus came to show us what God thinks of people. The Pharisees knew the “sinners” names but called them by their sin. Jesus knew their sin but called them by their names. Who people are and what they do are two different things. Jesus uses the example of a man with 100 sheep. If he lost one of them, he would leave the other 99 to go and find the lost one and rejoice when he found it. Leaving the 99 sheep to find the one sheep seems stupid unless
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a precious lesson. It did not decrease in value. Even though the $20 bill is crumpled up and dirty, it is still worth $20.” In our lives, we are often dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. As a result, we feel we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God’s eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless. Let’s visit our lost and found department in Luke, Chapter 15. First, we see the lost sheep. Next, we see a lost coin. And last, we see a lost son. Notice that I focused on lostness. People tend to see the negative side of things. We think in terms of shame and missteps. So, I’m changing it. God believes another way. God sees the found sheep, the found coin and
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worth dying for.” When we find out how much we are worth to God, we will stop giving discounts. When people hate you for no reason, remember God loves you for no reason. Check out this short story illustrating “flawsome.” A well-known speaker started his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of over 200 people, he asked a question, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I will give this $20 to one of you, but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the $20 bill up. Then he asked, “Who still wants it?” All the hands stayed in the air. “Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” All the hands were up in the air. “People, you have all learned
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Revs. Mike and Sheryl Campbell Thursday Feb. 10 “My Valentine” Sun City Ukulele Club Supper 6 pm $12 Feb. 7 Program 6:30pm- Freewill Offering Accepted
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Peoria Times
LUKE FROM PAGE 22
you’re the one sheep. Sheep are sometimes dumb, but they are also valuable. So Jesus, overflowing with joy, says, “Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep! Count on it — there’s more joy in heaven over one lost person’s rescued life than over 99 good people in no need of rescue.” Then Jesus tells a story relating to a woman who has 10 coins of silver, loses one, lights a candle, and sweeps the house to find the missing coin. She rejoices when she sees the lost coin. Being less visible doesn’t make something less valuable. Once again, he draws a parallel with heaven and repentance. Jesus’ emphasis is on not giving up on those things — or people — which are feared lost. Lesson: Regaining something valuable, thought to be lost forever, is always a reason to rejoice. The coin, which has significant value to its owner, was lost but now is found. Lastly, we have a father and two sons. His wayward son strays from his upbringing through living a godless life in a country far away. He loses his inheritance, insults his father’s honor, and wrongs his father’s love for him. Isn’t it interesting how those who walk away from God move far away from God? Coming to his senses, the wayward son returns to the father. When the father sees his son returning from some distance away, it’s as
if he knew his son would return. The father runs to him, forgives him, and welcomes him back into the fold, celebrating his return with a feast. The father declares, “My son is here, given up for dead, and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!” Lesson: Those who forget God humble themselves and then realize how much they need God afterward will experience a guiltless and glorious homecoming when they return. Why? God’s not dead; God’s dad. The sheep story addresses a broken relationship with God. The coin addresses a broken identity; part of the woman was missing. The son represents a broken home. The sheep story addresses spiritual lostness. The coin story addresses systematic brokenness in people. Finally, the son’s story addresses social pain. Notice the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in action, addressing these issues, if people let them. The found sheep represents the Good Shepherd, Jesus as the Son who saves. The found
coin represents the Good Comforter, the Holy Spirit who reveals and restores. The found son represents the patient Father who loves. Today, our takeaway is that the Godsquad loves us crumpled and dirty $20 bills. In the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and the Pharisees. It’s not what you know, but who you know, that matters in heaven. PT
RELIGION
21
Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com. For more info, see nationstrategy.com.
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Peoria Times
22 YOUTH
February 3, 2022
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City of Peoria celebrates district’s young artists BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat and councilmembers recently celebrated 22 young artists from the Peoria Unified School District, spanning kindergarten to eighth grade, who participated in the 11th annual exhibition of the Mayor and Council’s Young Artists Program. Covering Glendale and Peoria, these district students were recognized: Andrew Fastrup and Xenia Sledge from Apache Elementary Daylene Barcelo Barraza and Sawyer Harris from Cheyenne Elementary Jaela Dees and Samantha Machado from Cotton Boll Elementary Ali Alroubaiee and Mallory Sardella from Coyote Hills Elementary Marissa Walker-Deitzler and Kiley Webb from Desert Harbor Elementary Lukas Lakatos and Becca McClary from Frontier Elementary Ivan Begay and Emilea Rogers from Ira A. Murphy Elementary Dutch Jarrett, Kamden Quijada and Austin Rollins from Lake Pleasant
Desert Harbor Elementary School student Marissa Walker-Deitzler talks with Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat about her artwork. (Photos courtesy of the Peoria Unified School District)
Elementary Fiona Baker, Elic Hinderer and Levi Martin from Oakwood Elementary Kai Beaudoin and Ashley Wudarski from Oasis Elementary Students were honored with a certificate of recognition for their creative contributions and the framing of their personal artwork.
The West Valley Art Museum (WVAM) selected one students’ artwork to have on display near the museum through March. Becca McClary, an eighth grader at Frontier Elementary School, was chosen. The WVAM is on the first floor of Peoria City Hall, located at 8401 W. Monroe Street. The gallery is open free
Eighth grade Frontier Elementary School student Becca McClary was chosen to have her artwork on display at the West Valley Art Museum through March.
to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, contact WVAM at 623-972-0635 or wvam. org. To experience art in Peoria, visit peoriaaz.gov/arts. PT
Coyote Hills student wins district spelling bee BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
The Peoria Unified School District held its annual spelling bee on Jan. 27, when top spellers from across the district competed in front of their peers. The winner of this year’s bee is Ethan Greenwood from Coyote Hills Elementary School. Greenwood won in the 12th round with the word “quinary.” The seven runners-up include: Archer Hill from Apache Elementary School of Peoria Jackson McLean from Lake Pleasant Elementary School of Peoria
Brian Fielder from Sun Valley Elementary School of Peoria Aidan Clark from Desert Harbor Elementary School of Peoria Vinh Le from Parkridge Elementary School of Peoria Gerald Sanchez from Oakwood Elementary School of Peoria Julia Bergner from Her- Ethan Greenwood from Coyote Hills Elementary School in Peoitage Elementary School ria won the district spelling bee in the 12th round with the word “quinary.” (Photo courtesy of the Peoria Unified School District) of Glendale These eight students
will compete in the Maricopa County Region IV Spelling Bee in February. The winners of the Regional Bee will move on to the state-level Arizona Spelling Bee in March, followed by the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C., in the summer. Those who were unable to attend the annual district spelling bee may watch the recorded event on the district’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3o6wBWN. PT
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Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
CLASSIFIEDS 23
Tips for Having a Great Sale!
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1. Sort through your closets, cupboards and garage for items to sell. 2. Partner up with a neighbor or friend. This is helpful to give each other breaks during the day. 3. Advertise your sale — ask us for our Yard Sale Special! 4. In your ad include the type of sale, (e.g., Yard Sale, Multi-Family Sale), date, time, address/cross streets, and be specifi c on prices for high dollar items. Popular items you can include: furniture, appliances, electronics, tools, yard equipment, designer/ children’s clothes and shoes, craft items, antiques, unique items and collectibles/ collections. 5. Place signs on major cross streets and on the corners leading into your neighborhood. Just a fat, solid black arrow on colorful poster board works fine. 6. Price your items. If having a Multi-Family sale, each family should have a different colored price tag. You can do a $1 table, $5 table, etc., to save time. 7. Money. Be prepared with change, including coins. Do not accept checks. Cash only! 8. Have electricity available to test items. 9. Be safe. Do not let anyone into your home. Take your phone outside with you Have an extra person relieve you occasionally. 10. If it’s warm, offer cold bottled water for sale to cool off your customers! Happy customers buy things! 11. After the sale, remove your signs and donate leftover items to a local charity.
Call Classifieds at 623-847-4600 or email Deeanna
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OBITUARIES Michael Anthony Talerico
Michael Anthony Talerico, 75, of Peoria, Az. passed away peacefully January 21, 2022 at his daughters home surrounded by his family. Michael was born on June 8, 1946 to Angelo and Theresa Talerico in Paterson, New Jersey, and he was raised in Little Falls, New Jersey. He graduated from Passaic Valley High School in 1964 and joined the Army where he was a proud member of the 101st Airborne Division. He later served in Vietnam as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Upon returning from war he married his high school sweetheart Judith Claire (Perrotta) Talerico and they lived in Pompton Plains New Jersey. In 1986 he and his family moved to Peoria Arizona and opened their first of eight video stores. In addition to his wife Judi, Michael was preceded in death by parents Angelo and Theresa Talerico. and sister Josephine (Talerico) Gosman. Michael is survived by his children, daughter Christine Morrow and her husband Dan, son Michael and his partner Mackenzie, son Steven and his fiancé Lesley and son Angelo, his brother William Talerico. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren Andria Shepard, Kaigen Talerico, Madeline Talerico, Taylor Talerico, Jordy n Talerico, Rylee Talerico, Heather Hartman and Darren Moffet, and great grandchildren Ezra, Violet, and Leo Shepard. Michael loved his children and grandchildren and they were always in his thoughts. He also spent many years recruiting for the VFW. After being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease he joined Rock Steady Boxing, a local non-profit organization that was created to help victims of Parkinsons. He thoroughly enjoyed his boxing sessions with his friends. A viewing for Michael will be held at At Season's End Mortuary 861 W. Superstition Blvd, Apache junction AZ 85120 on Thursday January 27, 2022 from 11:00-12pm and a service will follow at 12pm. A burial will take place at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Tuesday February 1, 2022 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be contributed to Rock Steady Boxing Phoenix C/O Sun Valley Lodge 12415 N 103rd Ave, Sun City AZ 85351 or at www.rocksteadyboxingphoenix.com
Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details - 623-847-4600, or obits@timespublications.com
Peoria Times
24 CLASSIFIEDS
February 3, 2022
OBITUARIES
CLASSIFIEDS
Gertrude Christine Jefferson
Gertrude Christine Jefferson was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma to Alfred D. and Eva Olga Barber. She was raised in Dover, Oklahoma. She gave her life to Christ at an early age. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Enid, Oklahoma and attended Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. Gertrude was a seamstress and worked in the Los Angeles Garment District for several years. She was later hired and eventually retired from Orthopedic Hospital in Los Angeles. She was a member of Crenshaw United Methodist Church in Los Angeles before relocating to Peoria, Arizona where she joined Real Life Ministries. In Peoria, she was a popular member of her Westbrook Village Community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Eva Olga Barber, her husband Charles Jefferson, brothers Alfred D. Barber and Melvin O. Barber. She leaves to cherish all of the beautiful memories shared by her nephew James Barber, sister-in-law Oneda Barber, four generations of great-nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and a host of special people whose lives were greatly impacted by her presence. Services were Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, AZ 85381.
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February 3, 2022
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EMPLOYMENT
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Peoria Times
26 CLASSIFIEDS
February 3, 2022
EMPLOYMENT PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY 623.847.4600 & DIRECTORY SERVICE DIRECTORY BUSINESS & SERVICE 623.847.4600 BUSINESS &BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY FUN JOB!!!! AUTO SERVICES DOORS NOW HIRING!! $ 100-$500+
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NOTICE FOR BID *** MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 9875 N. 85th Ave Peoria, Arizona 85345 Phone: (623) 7737115 BID NOTIFICATION INFORMATION SOLICITATION NUMBER: P220017 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: IFB BUYER NAME: Viorel D. Gheorghita BUYER PHONE NUMBER: 623-7737077 DESCRIPTION: 67th Ave Landscape Enhancements SOLICITATION DUE DATE: February 10, 2022 @ 2:00 PM (Arizona Time) Solicitations are available through the City of Peoria Purchasing Portal (Bonfire) website at https://peoriaaz.bonfirehub.com/portal. Published: Peoria Times, Jan 27, 2022 / 44134
NOTICE FOR BID *** MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 9875 N. 85th Ave Peoria, Arizona 85345 Phone: (623) 7737115 BID NOTIFICATION INFORMATION SOLICITATION NUMBER: P220044 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: RFP BUYER NAME: Viorel D. Gheorghita BUYER PHONE NUMBER: 623-7737077 DESCRIPTION: This contract consists of a licensed Contractor performing the appropriate cathodic protection evaluation services on the water treatment plants, reclaimed and potable water storage reservoirs, and buried pipelines. This service will be performed three times per year at the Greenway Water Treatment Plant (GWTP), and annually on water storage facilities and the pipelines. SOLICITATION DUE DATE: February 8, 2022 @ 5:00 PM (Arizona Time) Solicitations are available through the City of Peoria Purchasing Portal (Bonfire) website at https://peoriaaz.bonfirehub.com/portalPublished Peoria Times Jan 27, Feb 3, 2022/ 440xx
PUBLIC NOTICE
Riverwalk (Z12-0001A.2): Minor PAD Amendment Taylor C. Earl of Earl and Curley, P.C, has submitted a request for a text only Minor Amendment to the Riverwalk Planned Area Development (PAD). Riverwalk PAD consist of approximately 68.5 acres generally located between 77th Avenue and 75th Avenue north and south of Pinnacle Peak Road. The proposed amendment revises the “Project Development Standards” to allow residential lots with a minimum square footage of 18,000 square feet to increase the maximum lot coverage from 35% to 40%.
The Minor PAD Amendment will be processed through case Z12-0001A.2. Minor PAD Amendments are conducted as an administrative review unless written opposition is received within the required notification period. The notification period will end on February 14, 2022. If written opposition is received, the case will be scheduled for consideration at an upcoming Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council meeting. Further information related to this request may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Planning & Community Development Department, 9875 N. 85 th Avenue, Peoria, Arizona 85345, or by calling the Planning Division at 623-773-7200. Published: Peoria Times, Feb 3, 2022 / 44303
SUMMONS AMENDED SUMMONS (Family Law) NOTICET O RESPONDENT(N ame): OLUWAFEMIA SAMUEL DOSUNMU AVISOA L DEMANDADO (Nombre): You have been sued. Read the Information below and on the next page. Lohan demandado. Lea la lnformacion a contlnuaclon yen la pagina slguiente. Petitioner's name is: BONNIE HACK Hombre de/ demandante: CASE NUMBER (Numero de caso): FLIN2002575 You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call, or court appearance will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting y our marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. For legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp) the California Legal Services website (www.lawhelpca.org) or by contacting your local county bar association. NOTICE-RESTRAINING ORDERS ARE ON PAGE 2: These restraining orders are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders. They are enforceable anywhere In California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them. FEE WAIVER: If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. The court may order you to pay back all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for you or the other party. Tiene 30 dias de calendarlo despues de haber recibido la entrega legal de esta Citaci6n y Peticion para presentar una Respuesta (formulado FL-120) ante la corte y efectuer la entregal egal de una cop/aa l demandante. Una corte llamada telefonica de una audiencia e la corte no basta para protegerlo. Si no presenta su Respuesta a tiempo, la carte puede dar ordenes que afecten su matrimonio o pareja de hecho, sus bienes y la custodia de sus hijos. La carte tambien le puede ordenar que pague manutencion,y honorarios y costos legales. Para asesoramientlo legal, pongase en contacto de inmediato con un abogado. Puedeo obtener informacion para encontrar un abogado en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de Callfornia (www.sucorte.ca.gov) en sitio web de los Servicios Legales de Callfornia (www.lawhslpca.orqo) o poniendose en contacto con el colegio de abogados de su condado. AV/SO-LAS ORDENESD E RESTRICCIONS E ENCUENTRANE N LA PAGINA 2: Las ordenes de restriccion estan en vigencia en cuanto a ambos conyuges o miembros de la pareja de hecho hasta que se despida la petlcion, se emita un fallo o la carte de otras ordenes. Cualquler agencia del orden publico que haya recibido oista una copia de estas ordenes pudee hacerias acatar en cualquier lugar de California. puede hacerlas acatar en cualquier lugar de California. EXENCION DE CUOTAS: Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario un formulario de exencion de cuotas. La corte puede ordenar que usted pague, ya sea en parte o por completo, la cuotas y costos de la corte previamente exentos a petlcion de usted o de la otra parte. 1. The name and address of the court are (El nombre y direccion de la carte son): 1. SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 46200 Oasis St. 46-200 oasis St. Indio, CA. 92201 2. The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner's attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney are: (El nombre, direccion y numero de telefono del abogado de demandante si no tiene abogado, son): TONY DEAZTLAN TONY DEAZTLAN Attorney at Law Indio, CA 92201 (760)347-3449 84350 Date (Fecha): 4/5/2021 Clerk, by (Secretario, por) /s/ A. Rodriguez, Deputy. Published: Peoria Times, Jan 20, 27, Feb 3, 10, 2022/ 43952
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SUPERCHARGED ELECTRIC
FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL
PATIOS, WALKWAYS, DRIVEWAYS, RV PARKING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CONCRETE DEMOLITION & PLACEMENT SPECIALTY CONCRETE FREE ESTIMATES
ROC Lic. #K-09 149540 • Insured • References Available
Office 623-872-7622
Indoor/Outdoor Lighting Spa Circuits Panel Replacement/ Upgrade
Ceiling Fans Troubleshooting/ Inspection Repairs Remodels/Additions
623-546-7714
Family - Owned and Operated LICENSED ROC#181530 BONDED • INSURED www.superchargedelectric.com
PAINTING
HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs
We Are State Licensed and Reliable! Free Estimates • Senior Discounts
480-338-4011
ROC#309706
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
623.847.4600 GARAGE DOOR/ SERVICES • Service & Installation • Door Off Track • Routine Maintenance • Licensed, Bonded & Insured • Valley Wide Service 24/7 • Hablo Español ROC# 319202
BROKEN SPRINGS
623-225-1930
www.azbestgaragedoors.com
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
PLUMBING
POOL SERVICES
PLUMBING, INC.
Pools Plastering Co. LLC
Dobash AE&Sons Quality Plumbing with Quality Service
REPAIR • REMODEL WATER/SEWER/GAS WATER HEATERS REMOVE & REPLACE
GLASS SERVICES
All Complete Pool Remodeling Plastering, re-plaster & pebbles All types of custom plastering Dive-to-play pool conversion New Pool Builds We accept credit cards
FALL SPECIALS FREE Estimates BEST Prices COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED Lic# C37R122566 L37-122567
www.aeandsons.com
623-418-9941 602-505-8066 Cell
623.878.1102
Lic’d, Bonded • ROC #235771 • ROC #235770
MARINE SERVICES
POOL SERVICES
REMODELING
SPORTS CENTER
YOUR AD HERE!
JOHNSON - EVINRUDE VOLVO - OMC - MERCRUISER Fishing Boats - Runabouts Pontoons - Trailer Repair Welding - Parts
Don't let the competition get all the leads!
G & G DESIGN and REMODELING
Sales & Service
623-937-9233 12405 W. Glendale Ave. Glendale
www.boatrepairaz.com
PLUMBING
Advertise here for as low as $15/week! Call today 623-847-4600
CLASSIFIEDS 27
Se Habla Espanõl
• HOME ADDITIONS • PATIO COVERS • KITCHENS & BATHS • FREE ESTIMATES
ROOFING
PHILLIPS
Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service
Serving All Types of Roofing: • Tiles & Shingles • Installation • Repair • Re-Roofing
FREE ESTIMATES
sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com
602-471-2346
We can make your phone ring!
623-847-4600
FREE ESTIMATES
Michael Kite
602-329-2790 “Licensed, bonded and insured” ROC #267604
Buckeye Plumbing • Water Treatment Specialists • Residential & Commercial • Water Heaters • Slab Leaks
623-386-0710 FREE Water Heater Flush with Service call.
Valley Wide Service
Veteran & Senior Discounts Available Licensed • Bonded • Insured ROC Lic #138051
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona Free Estimates Monday through Saturday
623-873-1626
Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured
PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net
Honey-Do List Too Long? Check out the Business & Service Directory!
Call 623-847-4600
dacosta@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM
ROOFING
Almeida Roofing Inc.
Veteran Owned
Kite Plumbing
ROOFING LLC
HAVE A SERVICE BUSINESS?
WINDOWS
PLUMBING
ROOFING
All Types of Roofing
623-332-0672 www.GGDesignRemodeling.com
Licensed * Bonded * Insured ROC #271402
PUBLIC SERVICE
602-743-3175
Is your house ready for a makeover? Building your dream house? We can help! • Replacement windows • New construction windows • Multi-slide - Bi-folding doors • Entry, french and patio doors • Barn doors & hardware • Interior doors and trim • Window covering and shutters Stop by our new showroom: 4454 E. Thomas Road ROC#179513
602-667-3667 Phoenix www.liwindow.com
• Free Estimates / Free Inspections • Tile
• New Roofs
• Shingles
• Re-roofs
• Foam
• Repairs
• Coating • Modified Bitumen
www.almeidaroofing.com Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC #215758
28
Peoria Times
February 3, 2022
Dear Future Kindergartner... (and parent!)
Did you know DVUSD Kindergarten students participate in special classes
.
Art, Music and & P.E.
EVERY DAY as part of their learning?
“Specials classes enhance our Kindergartner’s education by giving them more
time to develop their motor skills. More of their brain is activated at this young age with these classes. Students develop quicker, expanding their capacity for learning, taking in information, and excelling in the classroom!”
- Mr. Acevedo, DVUSD Music Teacher
Deer Valley Spring Kindergarten Preview Nights! March 1-3, 2022
For a Full List of Deer Valley’s Preview Nights Dates & Times: www.dvusd.org/kinderevents