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March 25, 2021
Peoria Fire-Medical celebrates 100 years BY ALLISON ENGSTROM Peoria Times Staff Writer
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Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Peoria Fire-Medical department staff took the time to recall the changes and growth the organization has experienced. It also serves as a time of remembrance for Fire Chief Bobby Ruiz and his staff. “For us it’s more of a memorial for the people who came before us and setting the foundation for the fire department in Peoria,” Ruiz said. In 1917, a fire nearly destroyed the entire Peoria district. Shortly thereafter, lo-
cal business leaders and the chamber of commerce met to discuss forming a fire department. In 1921 the Peoria Volunteer Fire Department was formed, and Frank W. Atkins was named the first fire chief. During this time, the department had 53 volunteer firefighters, until 1954, when the city was incorporated and Jack Ramsey was named fire chief. Now 100 years later, the department has grown to 196 personnel and 24 administrative support staff with Ruiz at the helm. Ruiz said the department has changed a lot during his eight years as chief. It grew
from about 117 firefighters to 196. What was once a volunteer department 100 years ago now includes paramedics, technical rescue technicians, a hazardous material team, rescue swimmers, wildland capabilities and an all-hazards department. “We’ve gone from a volunteer fire department and purchasing one fire truck to being an all-hazard fire medical department,” Ruiz said. The department purchased its first fire apparatus, a 1922 Ford Pumper, capable of pumping 55 gallons per minute. It was SEE CELEBRATION PAGE 4
Peoria art educator selected as Governor’s Arts Awards finalist
BY LAUREN SERRATO Peoria Times Staff Writer
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Twenty-four finalists from 10 communities throughout the state have been selected for the 40th anniversary Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards. Andre Licardi of Peoria is one of four finalists in the arts educator category. “It’s an honor. It’s like the Academy Awards. You may not actually get the award, but getting honored is a pretty big deal. I feel like I’ve already won by just being nominated and selected as a finalist,” Licardi said. Licardi’s career in the arts began in 1973, when he became an art teacher in New York. After moving to Arizona in 1979, he began teaching art classes for the Peoria Unified School District. Altogeth-
er, Licardi committed 22 years to teaching various levels of art classes, from elementary school to community college courses. Following his teaching career, Licardi served as a principal, director of arts for the Peoria Unified School District, and an arts coordinator for the city of Peoria. Licardi officially retired in June 2020. During his time as an arts educator, Licardi said he found that art itself is much more than just the act of painting or drawing. “The arts have a much bigger role in people’s lives than just taking an art class in elementary school. It teaches people how to view the world with some compassion and empathy and teaches them how to be more observant,” he said. Regardless of the class he taught, Licardi said he enjoyed watching his students
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grow as artists and appreciate the class. “I used to make the statement to my students, ‘I guarantee you I can teach you to draw, but it’s not about teaching you to draw, it’s about teaching you how to look, to see and absorb what’s around you.’ And that’s honestly something everybody can do, everybody can enjoy and everybody can use,” Licardi said. Despite not being able to have a normal awards ceremony due to the pandemic, Licardi said he is excited to watch and celebrate other artists. “I feel like I already won. It’s a very good feeling to know that there are members of the community that felt strong enough to nominate me and that a panel felt strong enough to forward the nomination to a fiSEE
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