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Someburros expanding to the West Valley

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor

Someburros Chief Executive Officer Tim Vasquez is excited about his brand’s expansion to the West Valley.

This spring, Goodyear will see a Someburros at 50 N. Estrella Parkway, while Peoria residents can have enchiladas, chorizo, egg and potato breakfast burros, and margaritas in the fall near Thunderbird Road and 83rd Avenue.

“They’re super locations,” Vasquez said. “It’s been a long time coming for both of those areas. Goodyear is just bustling. It’s growing. A lot of young families are moving into that area. We wanted to find the perfect location.”

Vasquez said he looked just as hard for a spot in Peoria.

“My son was a high school baseball player,” he said. “When he played at the Peoria Sports Complex, we would see lines wrapped around the building for Chick-fil-A or In-N-Out Burger.

“We found the location that we thought would be perfect for Someburros.”

Both stores will have drive-thru windows and the same, extensive menus with items like breakfast burros and tacos; tacos; “traditional favorites” like tostadas, enchiladas, tamales, Mexican pizza and nachos; burros; and salads and bowls. Margaritas and beer will be available. Vasquez called the pollo fundido its signature dish, with its marinated chicken breast, wrapped in a flour tortilla, then deep fried and topped with jalapeno cream cheese, grated cheddar and green onions.

“The pollo fundido is so good,” he said. “It’s life changing.”

The restaurants’ design will match

Someburros this fall will be heading to Goodyear, at 50 N. Estrella Parkway, and Peoria, near Thunderbird Road and 83rd Avenue. The new restaurants will offer residents enchiladas, chorizo, egg and potato breakfast burros, and margaritas. (Submitted photo) SEE SOMEBURROS PAGE 18

Touch-A-Truck returns to Lake Pleasant

BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF

Kids can interact with large vehicles such as firetrucks, earth movers, dump trucks, backhoes, excavators and the APS Condor Bucket Truck during Touch-A-Truck from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, on the southeast side of Lake Pleasant.

The Condor Bucket Truck can reach a 20-story building and is the largest such vehicle in North America.

The event is free; however, there is a $7 per car entrance fee.

In addition to the large vehicles, this interactive event features food trucks, DJ and numerous hands-on kids activities. The event is sponsored by Pleasant Harbor and Maricopa Water District.

“Touch-A-Truck is a unique opportunity for kids,” said Deneen Ramirez, event director at Pleasant Harbor.

“They will be able to be hands-on and explore a wide variety of large vehicles.”

For more information, call the event line at 623-203-5173 or visit pleasantharbor.com. PT

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ANSWERS PAGE 22

ACROSS

1 Fine, to NASA 4 “Misery” star James 8 Garbage barge 12 -- -mo (replay speed) 13 Taj Mahal city 14 Ocean motion 15 Sunbather’s goal 16 Insect organ 17 Oklahoma city 18 Patsy Cline song 21 Shoe width 22 Little rascal 23 Brilliance 26 6 on a phone 27 Gaiety 30 “Dream on!” 31 Ginormous 32 Flintstones’ pet 33 Abolish 34 Curse 35 Summoned with a beeper 36 Frenzied 37 Jewel 38 Words of empathy 45 Made into lumber 46 Drescher or Tarkenton 47 TV schedule abbr. 48 Currier’s partner 49 Plane-related 50 Debussy’s “La --” 51 Antitoxins 52 Lincoln in-law 53 Farm pen

DOWN

1 Wine region 2 Norwegian saint 3 Hawaiian coast 4 Pill variety 5 Marble type 6 Woody’s son 7 Taking a siesta 8 Precipitous 9 Title akin to POTUS 10 “Garfield” dog 11 Marries 19 Piece of lettuce 20 “As I see it,” via text 23 Hearing thing 24 Hit CBS series 25 Cover 26 Blend 27 Pear-shaped fruit 28 French article 29 Affirmative action? 31 Adipose tissue 32 Slightly wet 34 Chum 35 Anise-flavored liqueur 36 High-IQ group 37 Sentry 38 Egyptian deity 39 Top choice, for short 40 Pitcher 41 Crunchy cookie 42 $ dispensers 43 “Yeah, right” 44 Not even one

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

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.

Winter Water Safety Day and Polar Plunge

PHOTOS BY DAVID MINTON

The city of Peoria’s annual Winter Water Safety Day and Polar Plunge returned to the Centennial Pool to raise water safety awareness. Participants received a free T-shirt and a hot breakfast provided by the Peoria Firefighter Charities.

1. Jovanti Brooks reacts as he swims across the frigid water at the Peoria Winter Water Safety Day and Polar Plunge. 2. Layla Brooks offers her dad, Jovanti, a towel as he lies on the side of the pool. 3. Jovanti Brooks hesitates to jump in as other swimmers make their way through the cold water. 4. James and Tony Van Goethem fist bump while getting psyched up to jump into the frigid water. 5. Brandon and Ernie Valenzuela splash into the pool. 6. Cianna Brooks gasps as she grabs a towel after getting out of the cold water. 7. The first group leaps into the pool at the Peoria Winter Water Safety Day and Polar Plunge. 8. Cold swimmers make their way across the pool.

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Collectors to converge at annual button show

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor

Janet Parker has traveled the world, learned about history and studied art — theoretically, of course — all thanks to her collection of buttons.

For 23 years, the Sun City resident has cobbled together a collection of fasteners that most people would not think twice about. However, hers recall the Statue of Liberty, the USS Arizona Memorial and churches.

Parker will add new pieces to her collection at the Arizona State Button Society annual show on Saturday, Feb. 19, and Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Avondale.

Themed “Hats Off to Buttons,” the show features educational programs, exhibits, creative works, dealers and competitions. Vintage, studio and craft buttons from the 18th century onward will be exhibited.

“A lot of people pick up the hobby as kids when they went through their grandmother or mom’s button box,” said Roberta Schuler of Tucson. She’s the society’s show chair.

“Serious collectors, like myself, go to the show looking for specific buttons that we don’t have. Say I’m looking for birds and I don’t have a peacock. I have to find a dealer who’s going to have a peacock button.”

Buttons come in a variety of materials as well, including celluloid, glass, vegetable ivory, and ivory.

“When you collect, the goal is to represent all different materials,” Schuler said. “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Some people just collect to hang on the wall or to make jewelry or crafty things.”

The National Button Society was founded in 1938, with many state and local organizations subsequently forming. The first national button show was held in 1939 in Chicago.

The National Button Society has more than 2,700 members on four continents with 39 of the 50 states represented by state and local clubs. Parker is a member of the Button Hooks Club, who meets the first Saturday of the month at the Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown Street.

For Schuler, button collecting is an offshoot of quilting. During a visit to her local quilt shop, she saw “beautiful pearl buttons” on a block.

She was working as a dental assistant, when one of her patients opened an antique store. There, she saw trays of buttons and quickly learned about the hobby.

“The first show I went to was in Phoenix,” she said. “I walked in and everyone was friendly and I got the hang of it. The best thing to do when you’re a beginner — not just a casual hobbyist — is go to a show and ask to be an observer at judging day.

“You can’t talk or interrupt them. You get a feeling for what’s going on, though. Then, the next year, ask to be a runner. Then ask to be a clerk. Finally, you can ask to be a judge. It’s easy to learn.”

IF YOU GO...

WHAT: Arizona State Button Society WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20 WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn, 11460 W. Hilton Way, Avondale COST: Call for charge INFO: 623-882-3351; 520-296-8196; bklassic@comcast.net

SOMEBURROS FROM PAGE 13 the 12 existing Someburros locations.

“They’re both Someburros-style design,” Vasquez said. “They will have the Santa Barbara look on the outside — 3,600 square feet with a capacity of 92 people inside. It’s just a beautiful interior design as well. It’s the perfect place to stop by for a quick lunch, but it’s nice enough inside for a Friday or Saturday night date.”

The locally owned Someburros’ restaurants feature recipes passed down from generation to generation in the Vasquez family. Vasquez finds this is the best occupation for him.

“I wouldn’t be doing anything else,” he said. “It has been a challenge over the last year and a half.

“It’s also been very rewarding. We just have a great company culture. During the pandemic, the company culture got us through. We not only survived, but we thrived because of that culture.” PT

The Someburros restaurants feature recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in the Vasquez family, according to the restaurant’s chief executive officer. (Submitted photo) According to Someburros Chief Executive Officer Tim Vasquez, the new eateries’ designs will match the 12 existing Someburros locations. They will also offer a capacity of 92 people inside. (Submitted photo)

February 17, 2022

Skatin’ for Leighton also honors Matt Shott

BY RYAN SCHWAGER Cronkite News

The Arizona hockey community rallied together recently for the second Skatin’ for Leighton event to honor Leighton Accardo, the youth hockey player who was diagnosed with germ cell cancer as a 7-year-old and passed away after a two-year battle with the disease.

But in many ways, the event was “A Shott for Matt” as well.

Matt Shott, the senior director of hockey development for the Arizona Coyotes, was instrumental in developing the Kachinas girls youth hockey organization that included Leighton. During his tenure with the Coyotes from 2012 to 2021, the number of girls playing youth hockey in Arizona tripled, according to USA Hockey.

Shott lost his own battle with cancer in December.

So Shott, who was only 34 when he passed from liver cancer, was also in the thoughts of those who celebrated Leighton at Phoenix Raceway, where the event was held this year.

“Matt was the one who, day one, was there as the Coyotes representative when Leighton got sick — not only as a member of the Coyotes but as a friend,” said Carly Accardo, Leighton’s mother. “I wish so bad that Matt could be here today, because this event was really special to him.”

Shott and Lyndsey Fry — a Coyotes radio analyst, community ambassador, and director of external engagement for youth and women’s hockey — organized the first Skatin’ for Leighton event last year.

In the inaugural year, Fry skated 96 miles around the Valley, visiting eight hockey rinks along the way to raise money for the Leighton Accardo Scholarship Fund. The former Team USA hockey star set out on her 14-hour journey last February, and she was greeted by large crowds at each rink, all there to support the cause and celebrate Leighton’s legacy.

However, this year’s event aimed at bringing people together at one location, with the added twist of mixing in some of the other things in life that Leighton loved.

“When we planned out this event, our guiding light was ‘Would Leighton think this is the coolest thing ever?’” Fry said. “We really tried to integrate elements that she would have loved. We have our slides, our Slap Shot (game), we have street hockey. We have a movie theater room that’s playing her favorite movies throughout the day. “We really wanted it to be something where Leighton could walk in and be like, ‘Whoa, this is so cool!’” Phoenix Raceway provided the perfect location. For 12 hours there, participants could come in and out as they pleased and could now join Fry in a pair of roller skates or just to walk or run around the racetrack. Or, they could take part in the other activities.

One lane of the Phoenix Raceway mile oval was set up for rollerbladers and roller skaters. Another was reserved for participants who just wanted to walk or run in Leighton’s honor.

“There’s beautiful weather out here. … You can skate, walk, run or just hang out,” Fry said at the event. “I think that is just a wonderful way for everybody to come together and think about the impact that she had.”

Carly was impressed and appreciative.

“They’ve gone above and beyond like they always do,” she said of the Coyotes organization. “They’ve had our backs with Leighton from diagnosis all the way through. The Coyotes knocked it out of the park.”

The baseball reference might not seem to fit for a young girl known for her love of hockey, but Leighton wasn’t just a hockey player. The Accardo family wanted to remind everyone that she was a multi-sport athlete and some of the earliest support after diagnosis came from her all-girls baseball team in Chandler’s East Valley Baseball league.

After raising more than $49,000 last year (a tribute to Leighton’s No. 49 jersey she donned for the Kachinas), the Fry and the Coyotes challenged the community to raise $149,000 this year. Thanks to the Skatin’ for Leighton event, the Leighton Accardo Memorial Fund, as it is now known, already has raised more than $54,000 toward that goal.

The proceeds are used to help young girls get started playing hockey, especially those facing financial hardship.

“We used a lot of the money last year on girls this season,” Fry said after skating some laps around the track. “Obviously, we are in the desert and hockey is a very expensive sport, so it can be challenging for families. We have about 20% of our girls on the Kachinas that are the beneficiaries of this fund, and we want to be able to continue to offer this to people.”

Carly said her daughter would have loved what the Coyotes are doing for girls in hockey.

“She would love it,” she said. “When Leighton would get on the ice, and she’d see another pink helmet or another blonde ponytail coming out the bottom of the helmet, she would get so happy and so excited that there was another girl on the ice.

“Leighton was very fortunate that we were able to put her in hockey and sup-

Siblings of Leighton Accardo skate together during the second annual Skatin’ for Leighton at Phoenix Raceway held by the Arizona Coyotes. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News)

Leighton Accardo, who played hockey and baseball, passed at 9 after battling germ cell cancer for two years. The team autographed her jersey. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News)

SKATING FROM PAGE 20 port that desire to be on the ice. There’s a lot of girls who don’t have that, so for us to be able to help them and get them on the ice is amazing.”

And Fry said Shott remains an important part of the effort.

“To just have the permission and the relationship to be able to do this on behalf of someone’s child, that takes a lot of trust,” Fry said. “Obviously, our connection to her was through hockey. When Leighton got sick, it was imperative to (Shott) that we bring her into our family. I think that’s what it is now. We feel like we’re all one family.”

That was true in a literal sense for the Accardos. Leighton’s siblings LeeAnne, Larson and Locke were on the track along with Carly and Leighon’s father, Jeremy, when they weren’t keeping their eyes peeled to see what Howler, the Coyotes mascot, was up to.

“Seeing her siblings out here is so meaningful to me because they all look so similar and they all have the same energy,” Fry said, chuckling. “Just firecrackers, and that’s exactly what Leighton was. I think that’s special. To see her siblings have that reaction was really heartwarming.”

To further help build the sport for kids, the Coyotes also started the Team 94 General Donation in honor of Shott. That campaign has raised $9,700, surpassing the goal of $9,400.

The Accardos and Fry expect Skatin’ for Leighton to become an annual event, hopefully with the involvement of Phoenix Raceway and, of course, the Coyotes.

“As long as I’m around, we’re doing this,” Fry said. “It’s so important, as we’ve talked about, to keep Leighton’s memory alive. And this is such a fun way to do it.”

Carly agreed.

“I don’t think we can ask for much more than this, right?” she said. “This is pretty amazing. This is the perfect event for the sports community.”

For more information about contributing to the Leighton Accardo Memorial Fund and Team 94 General Donation, visit https://leighton.securesweet. com/default.asp. PT

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February 17, 2022

Bellevue Heights Church celebrates 50 years

BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Peoria Times Staff Writer

Bellevue Heights Church Pastor Rob Boyd is proud of his congregation’s strength and drive.

For 50 years, members have upheld Bellevue Heights Church’s beliefs. To celebrate, Boyd offered a series of sermons called “A Season of Thankfulness.” They focused on building a strong church anchored by biblical principles and the mission statement “Following Jesus, Loving God, Loving His Church, Loving His World.”

“It’s a great reminder of men and women of faith who put forth the time, the effort and the energy to start a church in an area where there was no church,” Boyd said.

“We are thankful that people had a vision to plant a church in Sun City 50 years ago. We are thankful that they laid a solid foundation on which we can build our church today. We are thankful that they persevered and overcame so many obstacles to allow us to have such a vibrant church today.”

Founded as a mission church, Bellevue Heights welcomed its first members on Jan. 30, 1972. Bellevue Heights was once affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA; however, it is now a Bible-based community church, partnered with Transformation Ministries.

“Bellevue Heights began with a group of about 20 people in 1972 who were committed to start a church in Sun City,” Boyd said.

“Statistics say that 4 out of 5 churches do not last over five years. That means 80% of all churches die within the first five years because there are so many obstacles to overcome. These 20 people were committed to their task and continued to trust in God during many difficult times and with their faith and perseverance and God’s blessing, a solid foundation was laid, and the church has continued to grow.” Boyd said there have been many “ups and downs in the last 50 years,” God was faithful and allowed the congregation to bless Sun City and the Northwest Valley. Born and raised in Mississippi, Boyd graduated college with a degree in accounting. While working for a CPA firm, he spent his vacation time on a mission to Jamaica. While there, he had an epiphany: God wanted him to spend his life as a pastor. “I came home, resigned my position with the CPA firm, and enrolled in seminary,” Boyd said. “I have served as a pastor for the past 35 years in churches in Mississippi, Texas and, for the last 18 years, in Las Vegas.” In February 2021, he accepted the call as Bellevue Heights Church’s lead pastor. “Although I felt successful as an accountant, I was not fulfilled,” Boyd said. “My two greatest loves in life are God and people. Being a pastor enabled me to combine these two loves by dedicating my life to loving God and loving people as a pastor of a local church. After 35 years of being a pastor, it is not a job, it is a calling from God. I love what I do and cannot imagine ever doing anything else. I love God and I love people, and I get the opportunity every day to talk to people about God.

“Now we have cast a vision for the future that we will become a great big small church.”

Boyd shared some of this in “A Season of Thankfulness.” Two of Boyd’s sermons discussed the church’s foundation, relating it to “the foundation of Jesus Christ.” His sermon “Thus Far has the Lord Helped Us” reminded the congregation that “God has brought us these 50 years, and He has helped us along the way.”

“The last sermon was ‘God has Future Plans for Us’ from Jeremiah 29, ‘God knows the plans for us in the future,’” Boyd said. “Basically, thanking God for helping us in the past but thanking Him in advance for leading us in the future.”

The signature celebration was a Feb. 4 banquet at Palmbrook Country Club.

“We had a 50th anniversary banquet where we had 300 people gather at a local country club to celebrate the 50 years,” Boyd said. “Talking about turning the page from focusing on the past to focusing on the future.”

It concluded with a Feb. 13 concert featuring sacred music composer Mary McDonald. She directed the Bellevue Heights singers and other community choir members in many of her wellknown works.

Boyd said the celebration was moving, especially because he spoke with 102-year-old Betty Ball, one of the only surviving founding members.

“She was the first choir director back in 1972,” Boyd said. “Just hearing the stories of the beginning of the church from the one person who is still alive to talk about it (was something special).”

As far as his time with the church, Boyd has enjoyed meeting Bellevue Heights’ members.

“I enjoyed hearing the stories of the faithfulness of God during good times and in bad,” Boyd said. “But mostly the family atmosphere and the desire to gather together and meet together as a church family even in times like these where churches are not gathering anymore.” PT

Send your news to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-898-5631 or christina@timespublications.com

Bellevue Heights Church Pastor Rob Boyd has offered a series of sermons called “A Season of Thankfullness,” focused on connection anchored by biblical principles. (Submitted photo)

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