Peoria Times
September 16, 2021
YOUTH 27
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Kids are diving into Hubbard Family Swim School BY LILA BALTMAN
Peoria Times Contributing Writer
Now that kids are back in school, many parents are enrolling their children in after-school swim lessons at the Hubbard Family Swim School in Peoria. “Back-to-school is a great time to enroll children in swim lessons during the week or on the weekend,” said Ann Marie Sunderhaus, chief executive officer of Hubbard Family Swim Schools. “Not only is swimming excellent exercise for children to enjoy after school and a wonderful way for them to burn off energy, we don’t want children to lose the important swim skills and swim strokes they learned over the summer.” The temperature of the heated indoor pools remains at a very warm and comfortable 90 degrees year-round.
Founded in 1998 by co-owners Bob and Kathy Hubbard, Hubbard Family Swim School offers lessons to children 2 months to 12 years of age. The Hubbard’s basic philosophy is “Chil-
tive and physical abilities than other children, according to research led by Griffith University in Australia. Its groundbreaking 2013 findings of a four-year study indicate that swimming children have many advantages when There are Hubbard Family Swim Schools in Phoenix, Peoria, starting school. Mesa and Goodyear. Peoria’s Hubbard Family Swim Schools Swimming chiloffers swim lessons seven days a week at 8402 W. Thundren scored sigderbird Road. (Photo courtesy of Hubbard Family Swim Schools) nificantly better dren everywhere must learn how to than the normal population on a number swim. Learning to swim should not be of measures that are very important for their transition to school — their coga choice.” Children who learn how to swim SEE SWIM PAGE 28 demonstrate more advanced cogni-
Driving school officially opens at Arrowhead Ranch BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF DrivingMBA will host a ribbon-cutting event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at its newest site in Glendale. Located at Il Palazzo at Arrowhead Ranch, 5940 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite D210, Glendale, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony will include appearances by the mayor, council members and Glendale Chamber of Commerce members, along with local businesses focused on car and driver safety. The special outdoor event will also include an official dedication to Jennifer Hinds. The daughter of Frank Hinds, the founder of Red Means Stop, Jennifer was killed by a red-light runner in 1997 when she was a senior in
DrivingMBA will have its mobile unit onsite during the ribbon-cutting ceremony in October, when attendees can take a turn on the defensive driving simulator. (Photo
courtesy of DrivingMBA)
high school. Frank has worked tirelessly to pass “Jennifer’s Law,” increasing the penalties for red-light runners who injure and kill others. “The relationship between Red Means Stop and DrivingMBA is significant. Among other things, in the past, Red Means Stop has provided scholarships for students who have been unable to afford quality driver training,” said Maria Wojtczak, chief operating officer at DrivingMBA. “We are dedicating the West Valley office to Jennifer because she was a student at Ironwood High School in Glendale,” Wojtczak said. “This dedication is an important reminder that we need to do better, that Jennifer’s life wasn’t lost in vain, and we need to continue to ed-
ucate the public about the horrific consequences of running a red light. “Unfortunately, Arizona remains No. 1 in the country for red light running, so we haven’t been able to move the needle on this just yet. But we will continue to fight to bring awareness to this important cause.” To further raise awareness in the community, DrivingMBA is combining the West Valley grand opening event with a Safe Driving Expo. DrivingMBA will have its mobile unit on-site, where attendees can take a turn on the defensive driving simulator. The afternoon will raise awareness for all aspects of driver safety. Greulich’s Automotive will be on-site to demonSEE DRIVING PAGE 28