Circulation Assistant: Linda Ryan lryan@westvalleyview.com
Press: Brent Fitzgerald
bfitzgerald@westvalleyview.com
Larry Crawford, Alfred Delgado, Daniel Sesma, Jorge Veloz
West Valley View is published each Tuesday and Friday by West Valley View Inc.
Vista is published semi-annually by West Valley View Inc.
Subscriptions: Home delivery of West Valley View is free upon request within western Maricopa County west of State Route 101 and south of Northern Ave. as well as all of the city of Tolleson. Requested mail subscriptions within Maricopa County: $150 per year, $80 for 6 months. Out of county & state: $175 per year, $90 for 6 months.
Copyright: The entire contents Copyright 2012 by West Valley View Inc.
Vista is printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks. 9/14/2012 • 80,400 - 4,000
Welcome to Vista
Vista is a Spanish word. Its translation is “view.”
This is in reference to the West Valley View, but also to the actual view you’re getting by flipping through this magazine. Within these pages you will see a part of the West Valley you might be very familiar with, or have never seen before. Maybe you’ll learn something you never knew, or maybe just admire the West Valley’s past as you try to remember how it all used to be. We like to think our semi-annual Vista magazine is a window to this rich, diverse area, our home.
Our last Vista magazine focused on Arizona’s Centennial, but since that runs all year long — not just on Feb. 14, the state’s birthday — we thought we’d bring you some more history from the area. In this magazine you will find articles about some of the local churches, the White Tank Mountains and its famous scar, the many past and present entertainment venues, the history of the freeways
that brought us here (or take us out) and also some background on Frank Luke Jr., the World War I ace whose name graces our local military base. In addition to these articles and many others, you will find some additional history as it was originally reported by the West Valley View. We call these features
Oct. 22, 1986
From the Archives. For instance, here’s one from the very first Vista magazine (then called Western Gateway Guide) from 1986.
We hope you enjoy this and the other features of Vista, and urge you to also keep reading the West Valley View
— Michael Clawson
The cover of Vista is a montage of historical photographs culled from the West Valley View’s photo archives. Some of the shots are of Phoenix International Raceway, the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium, the Goodyear blimp, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the giant Duncan Farms baby cutout, World War I pilot Frank Luke Jr. and various images of farming. The photos are arranged in the shape of Arizona’s flag.
Uniting the Valley 1 lane at a time
Freeways bring massive growth to West Valley
Dirt roads? Who needs them when you’ve got freeways?
But once upon a time — a time that some of you might remember — there were no freeways in the West Valley.
The area now home to the thriving cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park and Tolleson looked more like the Old West than the boomburbs of today.
Interstate 10 had yet to connect. Loop 101 hadn’t been built. And Loop 303 wasn’t even a concept.
The few who called the area home during most of the last century would maneuver through the area on unpaved streets, or travel into Phoenix by way of local thoroughfares, such as MC-85 or Buckeye and Lower Buckeye roads.
“And at one point, Wickenburg served as one of the busiest transportation hubs in the Phoenix region,” recalled Doug Nintzel, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transportation. “That’s because travelers used US-60 as a major route to travel between the Valley and California.”
Freeways for all
West Valley has “made a tremendous difference in the movement of both people and products across the region,” Nintzel said.
Loop 101 — or the Agua Fria Freeway, as it’s known — was completed in the West Valley in 2000.
Loop 303’s construction as an interim highway between Thomas Road and Grand Avenue was completed in 1992.
Over the years, freeways such as Interstate 10, Loop 101 and Loop 303 have changed the face of the West Valley, and more freeway projects are on the horizon.
Here’s a look at what West Valley residents, businesses and visitors can expect in the years to come:
· A South Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) connection to I-10 near 59th Avenue later in the decade.
· An extension of Loop 303 south of I-10 to MC-85, with construction expected to start in 2021.
· Another potential freeway, State Route 30 (also known as the I-10 reliever), which would stretch east and west between the South Mountain Freeway and State Route 85 in Buckeye.
Even after I-10 connected through the area in the 1980s, the Southwest Valley was largely considered just a bunch of fields and truck stops people passed by on their way to California, local residents may remember.
It took years for that perception to change.
‘Freeways mean everything’
Over the course of the past couple decades, the Southwest Valley has bloomed; new residential and commercial developments sprouted up; and area advocates have freeways to thank for the population explosion.
“The freeways mean everything to the West Valley,” said Michelle Rider, president and CEO of Westmarc (Western Maricopa Coalition). “The freeways created an enormous amount of traffic and really enabled the area to be visible.”
Indeed, the development of the modern freeway system in the
In the past decade, the Maricopa County Department of Transportation opened the segment of Loop 303 between Grand Avenue and Happy Valley Parkway in the Peoria area. And ADOT finished the connection of Loop 303 between Happy Valley Parkway and Interstate 17 in north Phoenix in May 2011.
Interstate 10 was completed between Dysart Road and 99th Avenue in 1984 and between 99th and 59th avenues in 1985.
“As the area has grown, the freeways have provided the capacity to get drivers to their destinations in much less time,” Nintzel said. “Freeway access has allowed for economic development, including warehouse and manufacturing facilities, housing, hotels and entertainment venues.”
And of course, freeway access has brought people — lots of people. Today, the entire West Valley — not including portions of Phoenix that fall west of Interstate 17 — is home to some 750,000 residents. By 2030, that number is expected to jump to 1.9 million.
“Although the growth has slowed in Arizona during the recession, demographers still project significant growth in Arizona and, specifically, the Southwest Valley,” Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers said.
Oh, raily?
Light rail, commuter rail could be West Valley reality
Freeways have proven themselves to be all-important in the growth and development of the Valley’s west side, but now the region’s leaders are turning to another alternative to get people moving into and throughout the area — and it all goes back to the train.
The Southwest Valley Rail Partnership — a collaboration by the cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Gila Bend, Goodyear, Tolleson, Litchfield Park, community groups, chamber and business leaders — is working on expanding transportation options to the West Valley.
In particular, the coalition has set its sites on a rail system that would accommodate both freight and passengers.
“Rail will bring great opportunities to the Southwest Valley,” said Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers, who chairs the partnership. “One of the greatest advantages is that it will help attract economic development to the region.”
In July, Valley Metro received regional approval from the Maricopa Association of Governments to extend the light rail system 11 miles west from downtown Phoenix to approximately 79th Avenue and Interstate 10.
That line is expected to open in 2023.
“We’re very excited for the light rail extension,” said Michelle Rider, president
“Rail will bring great opportunities to the Southwest Valley…One of the greatest advantages is that it will help attract economic development to the region.”
Marie Lopez Rogers
Avondale mayor
and CEO of Westmarc, a West Valley advocacy group.
“One of the biggest limitations our area faces is the lack of foot traffic,” she said.
“Being able to bring people here is going to be a big deal.”
Rider said rail would bring more economic activity to the area, “and spur developments that will encourage people to live, work and play here.”
Train-based transportation would “provide access to jobs, shopping, services, schools and even access to affordable housing,” Lopez Rogers said.
Sharolyn Hohman, chair of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the partnership is looking at both light and commuter rail options for the area.
“We are looking for both ways to attract
employers and get our employees to work, but we’re also interested in connecting our residents to regional attractions,” she said.
“It’s a quality-of-life thing.”
While it could be years before rail becomes a reality for the West Valley, Lopez Rogers said she remains optimistic.
“We need to manage the congestion before it gets here,” she said. “And we have learned from many other communities that rail moves the most people in the most efficient and cleanest way.”
The bottom line, Lopez Rogers said, is that rail connections give residents options for travel that “discourage sprawl, are environmentally conscious and encourage walking to and from destinations.”
— Frank Morris
A VALLEY METRO train makes a stop in downtown Phoenix. West Valley leaders are encouraging Valley Metro and the state to extend the light rail project west.
Elementary School District is the District of Choice
Avondale Elementary School District educates over 5,000 children in preK - 8th grades. We are passionately committed to providing outstanding educational opportunities for all students, no exceptions.
Cotton’s final
resting place
Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery serves as landmark in West Valley
It may be easy to forget that there was a time when the West Valley wasn’t sprawling suburbs and blinking traffic lights, much less the thousands of people who helped make the region thriving by the sweat of their brow by growing and picking cotton.
When World War I was under way, the fluffy white crop served as a valuable resource in the manufacture of rubber tires for aircraft. In 1918 Paul Litchfield set up his Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and employed thousands of people to pick the plant branches clean.
Many of the farmers were migrants who moved to the West Valley to live in the farm’s labor camps. Some came with families, others soon married and had children of their own and many ended up calling the area home and staying until their death.
Today, approximately 1,350 former employees of Goodyear Farms are buried at Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery at 3000 N. Santa Fe Trail in Avondale, which was established for farm employees during a deadly flu epidemic in 1918.
Changes in ownership
Avondale resident Belen Moreno has a special connection to the cemetery and the West Valley. Her father came to work for Goodyear Farms as an irrigation foreman in 1936 when she was only 9 months old.
Moreno grew up in one of the labor camps along with her siblings. Today, her grandfather, younger brother and several aunts and uncles are buried at Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery.
Her father died in the 1970s and also wanted to be laid to rest with his family. However, the cemetery was in such poor maintenance at the time that Moreno and her siblings couldn’t bear to bury him there, she said.
“Kids would go in with their mountain bikes and some of the headstones were taken out and thrown into the canal. When he died he had always wanted to be buried there, but us kids, we wouldn’t have it because it was in such disarray.”
Because of the missing headstones, many people do not know exactly where their loved ones are buried.
“I have an idea of where my grandfather is buried, but I don’t know exactly. In fact I have an aunt there, too, and I don’t know where she is buried. It’s a common problem, a lot of people don’t know where their loved ones are buried but they still know that that’s where they are,” Moreno said.
Eventually, Suncor Development Co. took ownership of the land and cemetery until 2010, when it was transferred to Avondale along with a trust fund for its continued maintenance.
Now the cemetery is in much better condition than it has been in the past, Moreno said.
“It’s important for us to maintain because of the historic value, the sentimental value. A lot of our residents have family members there and we just think it’s important as a historical landmark, we wanted to make sure that it stayed and was taken care of,” Avondale Parks and Recreation Director Christopher Reams said.
Community Involvement
Moreno not only recognizes the importance of maintaining the cemetery for her own family members who have died, but also for others who may not be able to.
“Even though there are some people buried there who we don’t know, we have to take into consideration that some of them were buried a long time ago, and some have relatives that have moved from the area or passed away themselves,” she explained.
This is what keeps her motivated to help with community efforts to keep the cemetery clean and organized, she said. For the last three years she has volunteered with Ballet Folklorico Esperanza, a local dance group that holds annual fundraisers for the cemetery’s maintenance.
“It makes me feel really good to know that there’s people who care about it. I’m very grateful to them and what’s why I got involved to help,” she said.
— Rachel Trott
CONCRETE GRAVESITES, some a century or more old, are sprawled out in a cemetery near Dysart and Indian School roads in Avondale.
The entertainment scene of the West Valley has taken on dramatic change over the years.
Sounds of horses stampeding around a track and carnivals being held in the streets have been replaced with the crack of the bat and musical delights.
That’s not to say any one form of entertainment is better than the other, but the options have gotten larger, mainly because of the impact professional sports have on society today. In the last 10 years the West Valley has seen a hockey arena, football stadium and pair of spring training ballparks sprout up. It’s changed the ways in which people can have fun out here.
One of the West Valley’s icons of the past is Trotting Park, a horse racing track that was built in Goodyear in 1964.
“Bringing harness racing to sunny Arizona back in the 1960s was the brain child of a New Yorker named James J. Dunnigan, who owned a harness racing track in Buffalo, N.Y.,” Goodyear Public Information Officer Nora Fascenelli said. “Dunnigan liked to spend his winters in Paradise Valley.”
When it opened in January 1965, attendance figures soared. However, there was no freeway to Trotting Park and dirt roads allowed the only access, so it quickly found itself struggling to bring in fans.
“The highway department here, which is now ADOT, assured Dunnigan and his buddies that the interstate (Interstate 10) would soon be built, something that really excited Goodyear residents back then, when roadways were far less developed and travel was quite a challenge,” Fascenelli said.
Trotting Park was unable to hold on long enough to see the freeway finished. Despite its quick fall to obscurity, the futuristic looking design can still be seen from I-10, just west of Cotton Lane, but has been vacant since 1968.
Another source of entertainment from the past is the Helzapoppin’ Days in Buckeye. Today, there is still a Helzapoppin’ Rodeo that occurs every year, but when the idea first began, in 1935, it was instead a festival that included street dances, a parade and carnival. The name of the event has an interesting story behind it.
“They were trying to think of a word for the name, and they couldn’t come up with a name,” Buckeye historian Verlyne Meck said. “Many names were suggested and nobody could agree upon it, and finally one person said, ‘If we don’t come up with a name all hell is going to pop loose.’ Helzapoppin.’”
It wasn’t until 1946 that the rodeo took over, and it’s been around ever since. Some of the famous people who have been associated with it include Gene Autry and
An Arizona Sky Hawks parachute team member skydives into the Indians-Reds home opener for Spring Training at the Goodyear Ballpark in 2011.
Learning at your child’s f ingertips.
Kids today are “one” with technology. They’ve been swiping screens and tapping on keyboards since
They are Digital Natives. That’s why we designed SylvanSync™ our solution to give students the edge they need using the digital tools they love.
Call us today to learn more about what’s new at today’s Sylvan!
Today’s Sylvan includes:
• A personal learning plan
• Digital lessons that come alive when taught by Sylvan teachers, using the intuitive iPad®
• Lessons that adapt to your child’s skill level and pace
• Instant feedback and recognition
• mySylvan™; your personal Sylvan website with up-to-date progress tracking and educational activities and resources*
Come see what’s new at Sylvan - today.
William Boyd.
Buckeye’s first rodeo arena was on the east side of Fourth Street. The town was a perfect place for rodeo because of how agricultural the community was, Meck said.
“A lot of the farmers and people had horses and they roped, a lot of people had ranges in their backyards,” Meck said. “People did their own rodeoing. People had rodeos everywhere.”
Changing culture
With Trotting Park and Helzapoppin’ Days in the rearview mirror, major professional sports have taken over the entertainment scene in the West Valley.
Jobing.com Arena brought the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League out here, and University of Phoenix Stadium followed shortly after, putting the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals in our backyard.
Major sporting events aren’t the only use for these venues, as both host concerts. The arena is also used for high school basketball and wrestling championships, while the stadium hosts high school football title games.
More recently, Major League Baseball got added to the fold with spring training complexes opening in both Glendale and Goodyear. Camelback Ranch and Goodyear Ballpark have brought something to the West Valley that most of Phoenix already had.
“Goodyear Ballpark has given Goodyear the opportunity to become a destination for out-of-state tourists and businessmen alike through recognition of spring training baseball, the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds,” City of Goodyear Ballpark Supervisor Debbie Diveney said.
The ballparks are not single-use facilities, though. Goodyear uses its park for several other events.
“The multi-use facility hosts year-round events and activities including the city of Goodyear’s annual signature events, including the Star Spangled 4th, Field of Screams and Home Plate for the Holidays, in addition to tournaments, concerts, festivals, expos and private/corporate rentals,” Diveney said.
With three of the four professional sporting events now in our backyard, it’s no wonder why the West Valley has become such a hot spot. The entertainment trends have transitioned with the times, but the West Valley has always been a great place to play, no matter what era.
— Casey Pritchard
ENTERTAINMENT from V10
SPRING TRAINING FANS cheer on the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds during the 2011 home opener at Goodyear Ballpark.
The headline read:
“Indians commit to Goodyear.” And just like that professional baseball in the West Valley was a reality.
The September 2006 story would go on to say that Goodyear and the Cleveland Indians (and later, the Cincinnati Reds) were enthusiastically moving forward with their Spring Training plans, but one large issue still remained, the funding of the Goodyear stadium that the team would eventually play in. In the end, everything worked out and baseball commenced.
— Michael Clawson
In this moment...
It doesn’t matter if you saved money in 15 minutes.
It doesn’t matter if your neighbor has the same insurance you do.
What matters right now is the quality of your independent insurance agent and the company that stands behind them.
Auto-Owners Insurance is “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Claims Experience, Four Years in a Row” according to J.D. Power and Associates.
Buckeye
Goodyear
Scottsdale
Creating jobs, access, new perceptions
Rider admits the West Valley has had a bit of an image problem compared to its Phoenix and East Valley counterparts. But the freeway system is changing that, she said.
“One of the perceptions about the West Valley is that there’s nothing going on here; that there are no jobs,” she said. “We know in the West Valley that’s absolutely not true. People need to come out here to experience, and once they do, they’ll keep coming back. It’s all about access.”
Rider said Loop 101 was the catalyst for changing perceptions years ago.
“And now the 303 through Goodyear, Peoria and Surprise is really going to be phenomenal,” she said. “It’s really going to bring access to areas where people couldn’t get to before. This is where the population is moving to.”
The I-10 corridor has also been huge in terms of attracting high-wage jobs to the area, Rider said.
“The Southwest Valley is one of the largest markets in the country, and obviously with its proximity to California, it’s a very attractive region,” she said. “Its ease of access to California is a huge reason companies look to move to the
She said West Valley cities have been “really aggressive” in terms of economic development, and have put their best foot forward to lure more high-quality manufacturing and advanced business services to the region.
Along with bringing in more green and clean manufacturing jobs, the West Valley has been particularly strong at attracting health care services and institutions of higher education, Rider said.
“Transportation and access are key,” she said. “Once you can bring people easily to the area, the more the economy can flourish.”
— Frank Morris
oodyear’s Trotting Park, which has been empty and derelict for decades, was last in the local and national spotlight in December 1997 when the movie No Code of Conduct blew it up for a movie scene. It was especially newsworthy to some because the pyrotechnic blast didn’t just engulf the dilapidated building, but also some pigeons as well.
“We don’t feel it’s appropriate to do something like this where birds are living,” an Arizona Humane Society spokesperson said in the original Dec. 10, 1997, article about the movie’s production in Goodyear. (Pictured right is what the Trotting Park looked like during an equestrian event in March 1990.)
DEC. 10, 1997
The film, starring Martin Sheen and son Charlie Sheen, was a clunky action thriller that is not widely remembered today. The explosion, though, is a different story: it is occasionally cited in lists of all-time great movie explosions.
— Michael Clawson
Estrella Animal Hospital
• William L. Joslin, DVM • Valery K. Stevens, DVM • Diane M. Paster, DVM, DABVP, CCRT
Motorists traveling along Interstate 10, in the vicinity of Verrado Way, may have noticed the alabaster-colored trail that runs from the base of the White Tank Mountains to the summit, and wondered what caused it.
It was caterpillars. Or, more precisely, Caterpillars.
The area was once home to Caterpillar, Inc.’s Arizona Proving Grounds.
Cheap land, a climate that allows for year-around testing of products and a variety of terrains and soil conditions made Arizona an attractive place for automobile and heavy-equipment manufacturers to test their products, and that’s what attracted Caterpillar.
The proving grounds, which opened in 1945, encompassed 8,600 acres on the east slope of the White Tank Mountains, approximately 24 miles west of central Phoenix.
“We used the facility for product testing and evaluation and new product development,” said Bridget Young, a Caterpillar media relations representative.
Equipment tested at the site, “likely included our larger machines, such as wheel loaders, wheeled tractor scrapers and large mining trucks,” Young said. “Historically, we have tested those larger products at our proving grounds in Arizona.”
The facility operated until early 1988, when it was decided to move the operation to the Tucson area. Caterpillar employed 44 people at the Buckeye location at the time of its closure.
Caterpillar announced on May 24, 1988, that it had acquired 6,200 acres approximately five miles west of Green Valley, south of Tucson, for the relocation of the Arizona proving grounds and marketing center.
The Green Valley facility, which opened in 1990, is known as Tinaja Hills Learning and Demonstration Center.
The encroachment of housing developments and the increased value of the land for such subdivisions were largely responsible for the site closure.
Caterpillar sold the 8,600-acre parcel to DMB Associates in 1998, before the land had been annexed into Buckeye, for the development of Verrado.
Good neighbor
Caterpillar proved to be a good neighbor in the Southwest Valley and played a major role in the development of Estrella Mountain Regional Park.
Scar on the mountain
Caterpillar leaves permanent mark on White Tanks
“My dad [Jim] ran into an old war buddy in the early 1950s and they discussed creating a park [in the Southwest Valley],” recalled Ed King, former Maricopa County supervisor. 100 years See CATERPILLAR on V18
A RUGGED PATH up through the White Tank Mountains indicates where Caterpillar once tested heavy equipment. The bulldozers, earthmovers and backhoes long ago vacated the mountain.
Sept. 1992 Present Day
CATERPILLAR from V18
Jim King approached local farmer Casey Abbott to gauge his interest in the park idea.
“Casey Abbott had 1,000 acres,” King said. “Casey had some farm equipment and my dad had a little but they needed heavy equipment; scrapers.”
Caterpillar came to the rescue.
“Caterpillar was a big part of putting in the loop road leading to the park, as was Case [Construction Equipment Co], which was out there, too,” King said,
With Caterpillar’s assistance, the 19,840-acre park was built and was dedicated in 1954.
“It was the first in the Maricopa County Park System, which has been the largest county parks system in the United states for the last 20-25 years,” King said.
Caterpillar equipment, to a lesser degree, also was used to construct a golf course at the park.
Hunting area
Before Caterpillar occupied the land in the White Tank Mountains, the area was popular with local hunters.
“I started hunting up there with my father [Ronald] when I was in grammar school,” longtime Goodyear resident Ken Wood said. “In 1942, there was nothing up there but deer, mountain lions, fox, coyotes and a few big-horn sheep.
“We built a little pyramid-like monument up there, about 3-feet tall, and would leave messages in a Prince Albert can in the monument for other family members when they went up there to hunt. One year, when we went up there, the Prince Albert can was gone. That was the saddest thing.”
Even after Caterpillar occupied the land, the Wood family continued to hunt on the property.
“They gave my dad a key to the gate,” Wood said.
The senior Wood never abused the privilege and never let the key out of his possession, said his daughter, Margaret Wood Carl, who has hunted in the White Tank Mountains for more than 60 years.
“Dad would always call ahead and get permission to hunt on the property,” Wood Carl said. “They always told him, ‘You don’t need permission.’”
Wood Carl remembers seeing the heavy equipment being put through its paces at the proving grounds.
“They took those Caterpillars and started at the top of the mountain and went along the boundary line,” she said. “You had to see it to believe it what they could do.”
Memories and the alabaster-colored trail up the mountain are all that remain from that bygone era.
— Mike Russo
Desert-tested, highway approved
In addition to Caterpillar, numerous automobile and heavy-equipment manufacturers have found Arizona’s abundant wide expanses of relatively inexpensive land, diverse and rugged terrains, and 300-plus days of sunshine annually advantageous for testing their products.
Toyota and Ford both currently maintain facilities in the West Valley.
Toyota’s Arizona Proving Ground, one of the largest in the world, is located about 20 miles north of Buckeye, in unincorporated Maricopa County, near Patton Road and Grand Avenue.
Ford’s facility is approximately 12 miles north of Surprise, in unincorporated Maricopa County, near 207th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. It was formerly a Volvo facility. Chrysler used to maintain a test facility north of Surprise but sold the 5,500-acre site to Toll Brothers and Meritage Homes, and retail developer Simon Property Group in 2005 for $312 million. Chrysler relocated its proving grounds to Yucca.
Volkswagen has a test site in Maricopa near Murphy Road and the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.
General Motors sold its 3,200-acre proving grounds in Mesa to DMB Associates in 2006 for $265 million, and had relocated to a new 2,400acre testing center in Yuma, which it shares with the U.S. military.
CATERPILLAR, which used mountainous terrain near White Tank Mountain Regional Park to test equipment, carved "Caterpillar Tractor Co” into the desert. The string of letters, which could be seen in satellite imagery, was approximately 242 feet tall and stretched for nearly a mile in what is now the Verrado area. The letters have since been removed.
Luke AFB named for a hero
Frank Luke Jr. was 1st aviator to receive Medal of Honor
FRANK LUKE JR. stands next to his 13th confirmed kill in a French field Sept. 18, 1918.
Eleven days after this photo was taken, Luke was shot during a strafe run on German ground troops. He landed his plane in a field and died after a short shootout with enemy soldiers.
Every day, heroes walk the streets of Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. They maintain the jets, man the tower and perform a multitude of other tasks that help keep this country free.
So it’s no surprise the base is named after a man whose valiant actions led him to become the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor.
Frank Luke Jr. was born in Phoenix in 1897. He’s been described as a man who loved sports, and was the captain of the football team at Phoenix Union High School.
He enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was stationed in France a year later.
World War I had been going on for four years, and a new weapon, the observation balloon, was being used to spot enemy targets for artillery.
Most pilots saw attacking the balloons as suicide, because it meant repeatedly facing ground fire and enemy fighters since the balloons would not always explode after a single attack, but not Luke.
During an 18-day span, he was able to destroy 18 balloons in seven missions.
His approach included waiting for sundown as the balloons were being lowered to the ground, when he would then make the attack with his wingman, 2nd Lt. Joe Werner.
With Werner flying high to fend off defending fighters, Luke attacked and fired on the target until the hydrogen-filled balloon exploded.
On Sept. 12, 1918, he evaded enemy fire and made two attacks on a balloon, which did not explode. When his gun jammed, he flew off still evading enemy fire, fixed his gun and returned for a third attack and his first kill. Two days later, he destroyed two more balloons.
During his third flight, he made three kills and gained the status of flying ace, which is given to pilots who have five or more kills.
His tactics soon gained him the title of Arizona balloon buster.
Luke flew again Sept. 18 and posted a single-mission record by destroying two balloons and three enemy fighters. He did not fly again until Sept. 28, when he shot down another two balloons.
The next day, Luke flew what would be his last mission.
He had been grounded the day before, but disregarded the restriction and took to the air, where he spotted and destroyed two balloons and then found a third.
It was during the third attack that his aircraft was hit by defending fire and Luke was wounded. After destroying the balloon and bringing his total victories to 18, he tried to get home.
He reached the occupied French town of Murvaux, where he spotted German infantry and began an attack. After killing six soldiers and wounding six more, his aircraft failed and he landed in enemy territory.
Advancing enemy soldiers witnessed Luke kill a number of their comrades. When he pulled out his pistol and began shooting, they returned fire and killed the lone pilot. Luke was 21.
For his extraordinary accomplishments, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on May 3, 1919.
More than 20 years later, the U.S. Army sent a representative to Arizona to choose a site for an Army Air Corps training field for advanced training in conventional fighter aircraft.
The city of Phoenix had purchased 1,440 acres of land, which it leased to the government at $1 a year effective March 24, 1941.
Del. E. Webb Construction then began excavation for the first building at what was known then as Litchfield Park Air Base.
A few months later, another base known as Luke Field in
Photo courtesy of the 944th Fighter Wing
The future of Luke AFB
In August, the Air Force declared Luke Air Force Base as its choice to become a training site for the new F-35 fighter jet. The decision secures the base’s future in the West Valley for decades to come.
The F-35A is the Air Force’s variant of the Lightning II jet, which will replace the F-16 Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt as the new multi-role fighter.
It’s designed for extraordinary air-to-air combat performance and uses advanced stealth to avoid detection, stated Lockheed Martin, the company developing the aircraft.
With supersonic speed, the ability to carry weapons internally and avoid the aerodynamic drag of external stores, it will provide close- or long-range combat capability second only to the F-22 jet, Lockheed Martin stated.
The Air Force’s Record of Decision cited several reasons why Luke was its top choice, including facility and ramp capacity, range access, weather and capacity for future growth.
Luke will receive 72 jets and a total of three fighter squadrons, which will require an additional 2,052 personnel, according to the Air Force’s report.
The aircrafts will begin to arrive at Luke between late 2013 and mid-2014, although exact timing will depend on production schedules, officials said.
Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, released its name when the base was transferred to the Navy.
This allowed the Arizona base to be called Luke Field at the request of its first commander, Lt. Col. Ennis Whitehead.
“It’s a wonderful honor that they paid to Frank,” said his nephew, Don Luke, 67, who lives in the Valley. “It’s a fitting honor, because that base is a fighter aircraft base and that’s what he was. It’s a good fit.”
The base was reactivated Feb. 1, 1951, as Luke Air Force Base soon after combat developed in Korea.
“As the namesake of our base, Lt. Luke’s bravery and sacrifice are very meaningful to us,” said Capt. Tristan Hinderliter, chief of Public Affairs at Luke. “As we carry out our mission of training the world’s greatest fighter pilots, we strive to honor Lt. Luke’s
West Valley Health Care Directory
Assisted Living
Palm Valley Rehabilitation
13575 W. McDowell Rd. Goodyear (623) 536-9911
Cardiologists
Cardiac Solutions (623) 876-8816
13065 W. McDowell Rd. #C-105 Avondale
13128 N. 94th Dr. #100
Peoria
14420 W. Meeker Blvd. #305 Sun City West 5310 W. Thunderbird Rd. #201 Glendale
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona
9305 W. Thomas Rd., #270 20940 N. Tatum Blvd., #325 1331 N. 7th St., #375 (602) 307-0070
Chiropractic
Goodyear Chiropractic 11 W. Van Buren St. Avondale (623) 932-4060
Dentistry
All Smiles Dentistry 4130 N. 108th Avenue #101 Phoenix (623) 535-9164
Goodyear’s West Valley Hospital opened at 7 a.m. Sept. 4, 2003. By midday, it had its first expectant mother. By that evening it had its first baby. All in a (first) day’s work.
The View marked the occasion of the first baby born at a new hospital by putting the baby — Valerie Espino, 9-pouns, 14-ounces — on the cover with her adoring mother, Glendale resident Maricela Becerra. At the time, West Valley Hospital was the first major hospital in the area, though now there are several.
A picture of it still under construction can be seen above; notice there are floors missing. After it opened, the hospital underwent an expansion.
— Michael Clawson
Sept. 10, 2003
NATHAN LAUFER, M.D. Medical Director ASHISH PERSHAD, M.D. Interventional Cardiology ADAM BRODSKY, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
ALAN GROSSMAN, M.D. Noninvasive Cardiology PARMINDER SINGH, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
JASON KLEIN, M.D. Noninvasive Cardiology REBECCA ALLISON, M.D. Interventional Cardiology STUART BILIACK, M.D. Noninvasive Cardiology
ASHISH SADHU, M.D. Electrophysiology
Hospice of the Valley 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix (602) 530-6900 www.hov.org
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Estrella Womens Health Ctr.
10240 W. Indian Sch. Bldg. 2 Ste 140 Phoenix (623) 846-7558
Palm Valley Women’s Care
Miles W. Howard, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
William Sun, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Thylma Sta. Maria, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Erica Takimoto, D.O.
13555 W. McDowell #205
Goodyear (623) 535-0740
10815 W. McDowell, #301
Avondale (623) 433-0106
Buckeye location opening Oct. 525 S. Watson Rd. #205
Call Goodyear office for appt.
Excellent
West Valley Women’s Care
Mystie L. Johnson, M.D.
James M. Johnson, M.D.
Raymond D. Suarez, M.D.
Gema Fernandez, M.D.
Dr. Phillip M. Harmon, M.D.
Maria R. DiLeo, M.D.
Briggs J. Geier, D.O.
Kim Roberts, W.H.N.P.
Meaza Ejigu, W.H.N.P.
Christy Brown, F.N.P. 9305 W. Thomas Rd. #155
Phoenix (623) 936-1780
Survey Rating and 5 Star Quality Rating
Palm Valley invites you to experience our team of professionals that are dedicated to quality of life and care for each guest. We believe our commitment to uncompromised care on a daily basis is what each of our guests deserve. Palm Valley provides an elegance wrapped in love and care.
Pain Management
Aquatic Therapy
Wound Team with Certified Physician
Free WIFI
& Surgeons, MD
Estrella Mountain Medical Group
Mark Lonquist, M.D.
Kevin Houlihan, M.D.
Emese Torok, F.N.P.
Susan Scott, F.N.P.
Emily McWaters, F.N.P-C
13555 W. McDowell Rd. #103 Goodyear (623) 932-1157
Megan Blackburn, M.D.
Rukiya Chavers, F.N.P.
C Jason Vastine, F.N.P. 10815 W. McDowell Rd. #304 Avondale (623) 433-0100
In 1917, Paul Litchfield set up the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in the West Valley.
Along with the company came thousands of farmers who helped put the West Valley on the map by toiling in the Arizona sun to farm crops such as cotton. They brought their families, established a home and places to worship, leaving behind a rich history of churches and lasting congregations.
Historical churches
By 1939, the Church at Litchfield Park was built and commissioned as the company’s official church. Its building, much of which is still original to this day, was constructed by the Southwest Cotton Crew’s engineering company using adobe mud from on site to build the walls, according to research done by church historian Meredeth Stucky.
For the next 25 years it would be the only Protestant church in the city.
Another unique feature of the Church at Litchfield Park is the bell atop its building, which was brought from a mission in San Diego by Litchfield, Stucky said.
While it’s in need of some WD-40 before it can be rung again, Stucky said that as far as she knows the Church at Litchfield Park is the only church with a bell in the area.
“I just assumed that churches have bells, because we have a bell, but when President Reagan died, all across the nation churches rang their bells so I went around to the churches in Litchfield Park saying let’s do this, but they didn’t have bells.”
Modern congregations
Many other churches in the West Valley have stood the test of time, such as the Liberty United Methodist Church in Buckeye, which recently reached 103 years old.
While the church has attempted to keep as much of the building intact as possible, the Rev. Bev Ritland said she balances appreciation for its history with meeting the demands of a modern congregation, such as using Internet prayer.
“I just feel like I want the congregation to keep growing and not just be a relic,” she said. “It’s a fun challenge because I believe that the building isn’t the most important thing, but it does mean a lot to me and it means a lot to the members there. I think churches mean a lot more to people than some would realize.”
Ritland also recognizes the long history of farmers in the area and sees it reflected in her church.
“There’s a history within the church of people who have always rolled up their sleeves and gotten to work. We’re pretty involved with All Faith Community Services in Buckeye right now and we just really try to do what we can to reach out.”
A PASTOR PERFORMS a baptism with a couple and their child at the Church at Litchfield Park. The story goes that Paul Litchfield requested the church be built before the Wigwam built its cocktail lounge.
The Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Goodyear, which was established in the early 50s, also strives to continue establishing itself in a new century by reaching out to the community.
The Rev. Dr. Jeff Gallen has been the church’s longest serving pastor on record. Apart from the area’s history of farming in the early 20th century, he said he has seen the congregation transition from when he first began in 1988.
“From 2000 to 2010, Goodyear, Avondale, Tolleson and Buckeye all exploded with growth and went from sleeper communities to fairly decent sized cities. So the biggest transition was from a rural mindset to an urban mindset,” he explained.
Today, one community project Christ Evangelical is focused on is working to help the poor, such as hosting Project Connect, which is a monthly, one-day event to make social and human services accessible to the homeless and poor.
“So we transitioned from a small little church into a parish that is really focused on the poor,” Gallen said. “The poor are among us, it’s a matter of getting the information out.”
— Rachel Trott
THE REV. BEV RITLAND shares a lesson with Sunday School children at Liberty United Methodist Episcopal Church in Buckeye, which was founded in 1909 and built in 1910.
GOLF
Avondale
Abundant Harvest Church
919 N. Dysart Road, Suites N and O, Avondale 623-810-2355 www.ahconline.org
Avondale Apostolic Church — Truth Tabernacle 825 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-0893 www.avondaleapostolic.com
Avondale Christian Assembly of God 541 E. Main St., Avondale 623-932-1670 www.avondalechurch.com
Cashion
Apostolic Church 11132 W. Joblanca, Avondale 623-936-4480
Christ Community United Methodist Church 104 W. Western Ave., Avondale 623-932-3480 www.myccumc.com
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10930 W. Garden Lakes Parkway, Avondale 623-772-9275
Coldwater Church 15 N. Fifth St., Avondale 623-249-9694 www.coldwaterchurch.com
Cornerstone Christian Center 11301 W. Indian School Road, Avondale 623-877-3220 www.cornerstoneaz.org
Desert Springs Worship Center 10714 W. Fourth St., Avondale
Faith Harvest Corte Sierra Elementary 3300 N. Santa Fe Trail, Avondale 623-444-9762 www.faithharvest.com
First Baptist Church
Garden Lakes 2517 N. 107th Ave., Avondale 623-936-7148 www.gardenlakesbaptist.com
First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale 1001 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-2723 www.fsbca.org
PAUL WEEKS LITCHFIELD requested the Church at Litchfield Park be built before the Wigwam constructed its cocktail lounge. Construction began on September 10, 1939.
Gateway Baptist Church
12409 W. Indian School Road, Suite C312, Avondale 623-628-8885 www.gatewaybaptistavondale.com
Goodyear Friends Inc.
104 N. Dysart Road, Avondale 623-932-2292
Harvest Outreach Christian Center
715 E. Western Ave., Avondale 623-932-6453 www.harvestoutreachaz.com
Heritage Baptist Church
Rio Vista Elementary School 10237 W. Encanto Blvd., Avondale 623-882-2351 www.HeritageBaptistAZ.org
Iglesia Armonia
918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-760-2025 www.iglesiaarmonia.com
Iglesia La Luz Del Mundo
7 E. Kinderman Drive, Avondale 623-882-8487
Kingdom in the Valley
13048 W. Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale 623-584-3113 www.kivcc.org
Lighthouse Baptist Church
Collier Elementary School 350 S. 118th Ave., Avondale 480-721-2206 www.lbcavondale.com
Litchfield Park First Baptist Church
901 E. Plaza Circle, Avondale 623-935-3163
La Misión Assembly of God
11147 W. Buckeye Road, Avondale 623-936-3703
Morning Star Baptist Church
500 S. Seventh St., Avondale 623-932-4320
Pathway Bible Church
2150 Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale www.pathwaybibleaz.com
Primera Iglesia Bautista de Ant
12610 W. Whyman St., Avondale 623-932-5723
Rivers of Living Water Ministries
Littleton Elementary School 1252 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale 623-205-6809
Rose of Sharon World
Evangelistic Church 919 N. Dysart Road, Suite W, Avondale 602-446-5790 www.wecintl.com
The Rock of Refuge 19 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-1009
The Sanctuary Community Church 1233 S. 111th Ave.,, Avondale 623-936-6793
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 13720 W. Thomas Road, Avondale 623-935-2151 www.stacc.net
St. William Catholic Church
11001 W. Third St., Avondale 623-936-6115
Sufficient Grace Christian Center
Homewood Suites
11450 W. Hilton Way, Avondale 480-522-5196
Temple of Faith
201 E. Main St., Avondale 623-680-6683
Trinity Lutheran Church
830 E. Plaza Circle, Avondale 623-935-4665
Word of Life Christian Center
1435 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-2055 www.wordoflifechristiancenter.net
Buckeye Arlington Baptist Church
32700 W. Arlington Road, Buckeye 623-386-1447
Buckeye
Christian Church
214 S. Fifth St., Buckeye 602-386-3513
Buckeye First Assembly 23230 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4783
www.buckeyefirstassembly.net
Buckeye
Light & Life Church
304 E. Roosevelt Ave., Buckeye 623-386-4759
buckeyelightandlife.com
Buckeye Seventh Day Adventist
501 N. Fourth St., Buckeye 623-386-4588 www.buckeyesda.org
Buckeye Worship Center
104 W. Corona St., Buckeye 623-340-4289
Camino de Santidad
First Assembly of God Church 23230 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-1376
www.buckeyefirstassembly.net
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1002 Eason Ave., Buckeye 623-386-4188
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
22487 W. Sundance Parkway, Buckeye 520-421-0322
Community Church of Buckeye
A United Methodist Church 810 Eason Ave., Buckeye 623-386-2674
www.gbgm-umc.org/ccobumc
Crossroad
Baptist Church
Verrado Middle School cafeteria
20880 W. Main St., Buckeye 623-341-0490
www.crossroad-az.org
Desert Baptist Church
201 W. Baseline Road, Buckeye 602-386-7636
Desert Hills
Baptist Church
Jasinski Elementary School
4280 S. 246th Ave., Buckeye 623-202-2822 www.dhbcb.org
First Southern Baptist Church of Buckeye
405 N. Third St., Buckeye 623-386-5614 www.buckeyebaptist.org
Grace Fellowship Church
1300 N. Miller Road, Buckeye 623-393-8386 www.graceinbuckeye.com
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Buckeye Congregation
23427 W. Pioneer St., Buckeye 623-386-2775
Liberty United
Methodist Church
19900 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4090 www.libertyunitedmethodist.com
Lifeway Church
18926 W. Latham, Buckeye 623-853-0686 www.lifewaychurchaz.com
Living Water
Lutheran Church
The Odyssey Academy
6500 S. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-266-1835 www.livingwateraz.org
Mountain Vista Community Church Youngker High School auditorium
3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-474-5757 www.mtvistaonline.org
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
403 N. Fourth St., Buckeye 623-386-6365
New Jerusalem Ministries 508 Clanton, Buckeye 623-386-2714 www.njmonline.net
Our Saviour Lutheran Church 10 N. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-386-6708
Palo Verde
Baptist Church
29600 W. Old Highway 80, Palo Verde 623-393-9628
www.paloverdebaptistchurch.org
The River Church
Verrado High School gymnasium
20050 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye 623-262-4969 www.theriverchurchaz.com
St. Henry
Catholic Church
(Sunday Mass) Sundance Elementary School , 23800 W. Hadley St., Buckeye (All other Masses) 128 S. Third St. , Buckeye 623-386-6407 www.sthenrybuckeye.com
Summit
Community Church
Verrado High School auditorium
20050 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye 623-535-0251 www.summitcc.org
Summit of Hope Assembly of God
Bales Elementary School
24500 W. Maricopa Road, Buckeye 623-695-0224
Sundance
Community Church
West Park Elementary School 2500 S. 257th Ave., Buckeye 623-327-1940
www.sundancechurch.com
Valley Christian Ministries
Bales Elementary School 25400 W. Maricopa Road, Buckeye 623-505-6220
www.vcm1.ws
Victory Baptist Church
Rainbow Valley Elementary School 19716 W. Narramore Road, Buckeye 623-386-3240 www.victorysbc.org
Way of Grace Church
Youngker High School
3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-478-2130
www.wayofgracechurch.com
West Valley Church of Christ
18604 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye 623-695-5623
www.wvcochrist.org
West Valley Free Will Baptist Church
19956 W. McDowell Road, Buckeye 623-853-0570
www.wvfwbc.org
White Tanks Southern Baptist Church 1420 N. 192nd Ave., Buckeye 623-853-0089 www.wtsbc.org
Goodyear
Avondale Christian Assembly of God
Desert Star Elementary 2131 S. 157th Ave., Goodyear 623-932-1670 www.avondalechurch.com
Calvary Chapel
3673 S. Bullard Ave., Goodyear 623-925-2440 www.calvarygoodyear.org
Christ Evangelical
Lutheran Church, ELCA
918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-932-2394
www.christevangelical.org
Christ Presbyterian Church
925 N. Sarival Ave., Goodyear 623-882-0721 www.cpcgoodyear.org
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 425 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear 623-925-0106
Citrus Road Community Church of the Nazarene 418 S. Citrus Road, Goodyear 623-932-2733
www.crccnazarene.com
Compass Church
16060 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 623-935-3060 www.compasschurch.info
Crossings Church
Desert Edge High School 15778 W. Yuma Road, Goodyear 623-239-1096 www.goodyearcrossings.org
magine a new church committed to a very simple purpose--"Love God, love people, serve the world." No tricks, no manipulation--just the truth. That's GracePointe.
Imagine a new church, in the formative stages, for 55+ adults that is all about community, closeness and authenticity--no put-on's, no one pretending to be something they're not. That's GracePointe.
Imagine a new Evangelical church that believes what the Bible teaches and opens its doors to anyone who wishes to attend. That's GracePointe.
Desert Springs Community
Church West Campus
14440 W. Indian School Road, Goodyear 623-435-2105
14130 W. McDowell Road, Suite 222, Goodyear 623-385-6607
www.kkchurch.org
Palm Valley Church
431 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-536-2106
www.palmvalley.org
The Refinery
Christian Church
600 N. Bullard Ave., Suite 10, Goodyear 623-925-2000
www.therefinerycc.com
The River Church
Millennium High School auditorium
14802 W. Wigwam Blvd., Goodyear 623-262-4969
www.theriverchurchaz.com
River in the Desert
Christian Fellowship 918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 602-628-4465
St. John Vianney Catholic Church and School
539 E. La Pasada Blvd., Goodyear 623-932-3313
www.sjvaz.net
St. Thomas
Lutheran Church 16260 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 602-375-7773
www.stthomaslutheranchurch.org
Skyway Church of the West Valley 14900 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 623-935-4858 www.skywaychurch.com
Vineyard Church
255 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-932-2500 www.azvineyard.org
Vision Baptist Church
Desert Thunder Elementary 16750 W. Garfield St., Goodyear 623-687-7118 www.visionbaptistchurch.com
West Valley Assembly of God 1781 N. Central Ave., Goodyear 623-932-5737
www.westvalleyassembly.com
West Valley Church of Christ
18604 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Goodyear 623-695-5623 www.wvcochrist.org
West Valley Fellowship 18503 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 602-525-8467
West Valley United Pentecostal Church 16277 W. Jackson St., Goodyear 623-692-6850
Litchfield Park
The Church at Litchfield Park 300 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park 623-935-3411 www.churchatlitchfieldpark.org
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 301 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park 623-536-2098
Desert Joy Christian Fellowship
Dreaming Summit Elementary School
13335 W. Missouri Ave., Litchfield Park
623-872-0721 www.desertjoy.org
Desert Springs Community Church East Campus
447 S. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park
623-435-2105 www.dscchurch.com
Iglesia Bautista Bilingue
13500 W. Maryland Ave., Litchfield Park 602-761-0334
In His Presence
Christian Center
P.O. Box 930, Litchfield Park 623-688-3447 www.ihpcconline.com
Lighthouse Fellowship
3015 N. Jackrabbit Trail 623-853-1050
www.lighthousefellowshipaz.webs.com
Litchfield Park SeventhDay Adventist Church
901 E. Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park
541-944-5342
St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church
400 S. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park
623-935-3279
www.stpetersaz.com
Turning Leaf Community, A Church of the Nazarene
Barbara Robey Elementary School 5340 N. Wigwam Creek Blvd., Litchfield Park
602-743-3790
www.turningleafchurch.org
Westpointe
Baptist Church
Wigwam Creek Middle School
4510 N. 127th Ave., Litchfield Park
623-521-3549
www.westpointebaptist.org
Peoria
Lighthouse Church 14185 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria
623-979-4392
www.lighthouseaz.com
Pentecostal Deliverance COGIC
8668 W. Mountain View Road, Peoria
623-486-7782
South Peoria
Baptist Church
9000 W. Olive Ave., Peoria
623-486-1556
www.spbch.com
A Church of Grace
8 S. 92nd Drive, Tolleson 623-936-4629
www.achurchofgrace.com
Blessed Sacrament
Catholic Church
512 N. 93rd Ave., Tolleson 623-936-7107
Open Doors Ministries Church
9302 W. Monroe St., Tolleson 602-908-0608
www.
opendoorsministrieschurch.org
Wings As Eagles
International Church Country Place Elementary School 10207 W. Country Place Blvd., Tolleson 800-450-0966 www.waeic.com
Wings As Eagles International Church
Come be a part of a church that is committed to all people.
Empowering God’s people to soar to the highest potential in God and life.
We are a multicultural ministry dedicated to spiritual growth.
Visit us this Sunday @ 11am Intercessory Prayer 10:45am Country Place Elementary School 10207 W. Country Place Blvd. Tolleson, AZ 85353 800-450-0966 www.waeic.com
Tonopah
Valley Baptist Church of Tonopah/Wintersburg
37702 W. Indian School Road, Tonopah 623-393-0211 www.tonopahvalleybaptistchurch.org
Waddell
Cotton Lane
Community Church 6240 N. Cotton Lane, Waddell 623-935-1776
Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple of Arizona 17212 W. Maryland Ave., Waddell 623-935-2276
W. Phoenix, Glendale, Sun City, Surprise
Alleluia Lutheran Church
8444 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix 623-849-4327 www.AlleluiaChurch.com
Beth El Congregation 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix 602-944-3359 www.bethelphoenix.com
Beth Emeth Congregation 13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West 623-584-7210 www.bethemethaz.org
The Bridge Christian Worship Center Alleluia Church 8444 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix 623-399-8540 www.bridgeworshipcenter.com
Calvary United Methodist Church 7949 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-849-1676 www.calvaryumcphoenix.org Camelback
Community Church 7634 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623-846-3497 www.camelbackcommunity.com
The Carpenter’s House of Worship Independence High School 6602 N. 75th Ave., Glendale 623-266-2469 www.thechowchurch.org
St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Bible Based — Christ Centered
St. Thomas Lutheran Church cordially invites you to
Worship with us Sundays 9:00 A.M.
Study the Bible with us Sundays 10:30 A.M.
Pastor Tom Schulz • 602-375-7773 16260 W. Van Buren, Goodyear • www.stthomaslutheranchurch.org
FIRST COUNTRY BAPTIST CHURCH
Featuring Blue Grass, C Country & Southern Gospel Music & Hymn Books
Pastor
12844 W. Santa Fe Dr. Surprise, AZ Sat. Worship 6:00pm Sun. Bible Study 9:30am Sun. Worship 8:15am and 10:45am For more information call Pastor Coy G. Wilkerson 623-583-9838
Tolleson
Artis & First Lady Terri Smith
Oct. 22, 2003
In Him Church
St. Andrew’s Reformed
On Oct. 22, 2003, a front-page article in the View announced the successful move of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church from its old home in Litchfield
Park to its new home in a massive cathedral-like church in Avondale.
Parishioners lined up and followed local church leaders as they walked the mile or so to the sprawling $10.5-million, 33,000-square-foot church. The church featured a 72-foot, 200-ton dome and a mission-style bell tower and could seat 5,000 churchgoers in its wooden pews.
At the time the new St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, which still stands today, was the largest Catholic church in the state. Today is even larger with auxiliary buildings and a school now on its campus.
— Michael Clawson
Kellis High School
8990 W. Orangewood Ave., Glendale 623-930-6351 www.inhimchurch.org
Kingdom in the Valley Christian Church 15002 N. 25th Drive, Phoenix 623-584-3113 www.kivcc.org
Love Life Church
8016 W. Camelback Road, No. 108, Glendale 623-872-4998 www.lovelifechurch.com
Our Lady of the Sun Catholic Church Inc. 12546 W. Peoria Ave., El Mirage 623-974-4133 www.ourladyofthesun.com
Real Life Ministries
Arizona Charter Academy 16011 N. Dysart Road, Surprise 623-933-4999 www.rlmdestiny.com
Episcopal Church
The Chapel at Faith Lutheran Church 801 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix 623-377-8698 www.saintandrewsrec.com
St. Paul Lutheran Church 6301 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-846-2228 www.stpaullutheran-az.com Streams
Christian Church 6532 N. El Mirage Road, Glendale 623-363-7450 www.streamschurch.org
Temple Beth Shalom
Jewish — Reform 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City 623-977-3240 www.templebethshalomaz.org
Thomas Road
Central Christian Church
8600 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale 623-937-2741 www.centralaz.com
Davids 400
7905 N 71st Ave., Glendale 602-400-1056 www.davids400.com
The Door Christian
Fellowship Church
7342 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-848-0849
First Church of Christ, Scientist 8228 W. Orangewood Ave., Glendale 623-937-9258 www.christianscienceaz.com
First Country Baptist Church
12844 W. Santa Fe Drive, Surprise 623-583-9838
www.firstcountrybaptist.org
Grace Walk
Community Church
7840 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix 623-907-8991 www.gracewalkchurch.org
Hamblen Chapel
Evangelical Methodist Church
1614 S. 111th Ave., Phoenix 623-936-9524
The Rock
Luke Elementary School 7300 N. Dysart Road, Glendale 623-932-1009 www.therockaz.com
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 6300 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623-846-8046 www.standrewsglendale.azdiocese.org
Baptist Church 5735 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix 623-247-5735
www.trbcphx.org
West End
Baptist Church 9101 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-877-2815
West Valley Family Church 6115 N. 91st Ave., Glendale 623-872-1734
Not listed?
If we forgot your church in the religion directory, please let us know by emailing news1@westvalleyview.com to be included in the next Vista magazine.
Valley Business Directory
Automobile Dealers
Tom Jones Ford
23454 W. Hwy 85
Buckeye (623) 386-4429 www.nocitysalestax.com
Automotive
Avondale Service Center
722 E. Western Ave.
www.avondaleserviceandparts.com (623) 932-1190
Batteries
AZ Battery Store
560 N. Bullard Ave., Ste E-50 Goodyear (623) 853-3321
Beer Distributors
Golden Eagle Distributors Inc.
Budweiser 26815 W. Baseline Rd. Buckeye (623) 386-6312 www.gedaz.com
Chamber of Commerce
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce (623) 386-2727
www.buckeyevalleychamber.org Chamber of Commerce of Tonopah P. O. Box 1104, Tonopah (623)393-8184 www.coctonopah.org
Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
289 N. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear (623) 932-2260 www.southwestvalleychamber.org
Construction
CORE Construction, Inc. 3036 East Greenway Road Phoenix (602) 494-0800 www.COREConstruct.com
Credit Union
First Credit Union 1310 N. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear (480) 831-2645
Dog Grooming
Little Paws Grooming 623-261-0167
puppy2love@live.com
Entertainment
Webb Center for the Perf. Arts (928) 684-6624 www.delewebbcenter.org
Equipment
Rentals
Palo Verde Rentals Equipment Rentals for Home Owners & Contractors 3617 S Jackrabbit Trail Buckeye (623) 386-5000
Estate Auctions
Pot of Gold Estate
Liquidations
215 E. Western Ave.
Avondale (623) 935-9907
Event Planning
New Wave Events
Doris Goetz (623) 512-9725
www.new-wave-events.com
Funeral Homes
Avenidas Funeral Chapel
522 E. Western Ave.
Avondale (623) 925-1525
Buckeye Funeral Home
104 E. Baseline Rd.
Buckeye (623) 386-4812
Thompson Funeral Chapel
926 S. Litchfield Rd.
Goodyear (623) 932-1780
Golf
ACE Custom Golf Carts
600 N. Bullard Ave. A#12
Goodyear (623) 523-0263
PebbleCreek Golf Resort
Eagle’s Nest Country Club
3645 Clubhouse Drive
(1 mile W. of Litchfied Rd. on Indian School)
Goodyear (623) 935-6761
Tuscany Falls at PebbleCreek
I-10 W. Exit 126, 1-1/2 mile N. on Pebble Creek Parkway to Clubhouse Drive. Goodyear (623) 935-6757
Guns & Ammo
Azfirearms.com
215 E. Western Ave.
Avondale (623) 925-2345
Gymnastics
Estrella Gymnastics for Kids
Goodyear (623) 932-1053
www.estrella-gymnastics.com
Home Improvement
Ace Hardware
5110 N Dysart Rd
Litchfield Park 85340 (623) 535-1303
Insurance
Farmers Insurance
Alice Dryer
Serving Buckeye over 30 Years
423 E. Monroe Ave.
Buckeye (623) 386-6102 adryer@farmersagent.com
Powers/Leavitt Insurance
111 E. Monroe #200
Buckeye (623) 386-4452
1650 N. Dysart #2
Goodyear (623) 932-4652
14301 N. 87th St. #209
Scottsdale (480) 348-1100
State Farm- John Manobianco
3301 N. Litchfield Rd. #100
Goodyear (623) 535-1000
Jewelers
E.D. Marshall
1721 N. Dysart Rd., Ste 103
Avondale (623) 536-4746
10261 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale (480) 922-1968 www.edmarshallbuys.com
Osborne Jewelers
Litchfield & Van Buren (Fry’s Shopping Center) Goodyear (623) 925-1815
Landscaping
All Brite Fencing and Landscape Materials 18421 W. McDowell Rd. Goodyear (623) 853-9594
Tables, chairs, linens, china, dance floors, patio heaters & more! 1457 N. Eliseo Felix Jr. Way #102 Avondale (623) 386-5491 www.itsacelebrationpartyrentals.com
Pool Services & Supply
Accent Pool & Spa (623) 670-1498 accentpoolspa.com
Real Estate
Home Smart
Mary Westwood
“Your Estrella Specialist” (623) 386-7272
Recycling
Saguaro Metals
201 W. Main (Hwy. 85) 1/4 mile E. of Litchfield Rd. Old Buckeye Road Avondale (623) 932-2060
Schools
Arizona Preparatory Academy
10720 W. Indian School Rd., #7 Phoenix (623) 907-2661 cyberhs.com
Avondale Elementary School District
235 W. Western Ave. Avondale (623) 772-5000 www.avondale.k12.az.us
Cyber High School
14970 W. Indian School Rd., #230 Goodyear (623) 907-2661 cyberhs.com
Estrella High School 510 N. Central Ave Avondale (623) 932-6561
Christian Schools
Wagner Leadership Institute 14900 W. Van Buren Goodyear (623)935-4858
Colleges & Universities
Communiversity@Surprise www.azcommuniversity.com (480) 384-9000 or (866) 330-6892 15950 N. Civic Center Surprise, AZ 85374
Estrella Mountain Community College
www.estrellamountain.edu
EMCC campus 3000 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale (623) 935-8000 EMCC Buckeye Educational Center 902 E. Eason Ave. Buckeye (623) 935-8755
Rio @ Avondale 420 N. Central Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323 (480) 377-4400
Rio Salado College
Lifelong Learning Center 12535 W. Smokey Drive Surprise, AZ 85378 (480) 377-4250
Rio Salado College Online www.riosalado.edu 2323 W. 14th Street Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 517-8000
Southwest Skill Center 3000 N. Dysart Avondale (623) 535-2700 www.estrellamountain.edu/swsc
Septic
Septic Technologies “Pump Every 3 Years” West Valley (623) 932-3464
Sewing Machines
35th Ave. Sew & Vac
3548 W. Northern Ave. Phoenix (602) 841-5427
Shipping
The UPS Store 14175 W. Indian School Rd., Ste. B4 Goodyear (623) 935-9720
Solar
Argent Solar Electric Inc. 671 N 137th Ave., #105 Goodyear (623) 444-5808 www.argentsolar.com
Tires
S & S Tires
Dysart Rd. South of I-10 (623) 932-3511
Tutoring
Sylvan Learning Center
13770 W. Van Buren #100 Goodyear (623) 932-5714
The Learning and Language Institute Goodyear (623) 234-9031 Affordable www.A-LLI.com
Veterinarians
Agua Fria Animal Hospital 13330 W. Van Buren Goodyear (623) 932-3611
Scott Duston, D.V.M. Rees Jackman, D.V.M. W. Robert Doster, D.V.M.
Dreaming Summit
Animal Hospital 5115 N. Wigwam Creek Blvd. Litchfield Park (623) 935-1555
Durango Equine
Veterinarian Clinic
Lloyd H. Kloppe, D.V.M. Traci Hill Hulse, D.V.M. Alana Hendrix, D.V.M. Sicilia Grady, D.V.M. 20908 W. Durango St. Buckeye (623) 386-2928
Estrella Animal Hospital 10865 W. Indian School Rd. Avondale (623) 877-1088
Zoo
Wildlife World Zoo 165th Ave & Northern (623) 935-WILD
Directory of Schools
High Schools
Agua Fria Union High School District
Superintendent: Dennis Runyan District office: 1481 N. Eliseo
Felix Jr. Way, Suite 110 Avondale, AZ 85323
623-932-7000
www.aguafria.org
Board president: O.K. Fulton School board meets: 5 p.m.
second Wednesday of each month Place: District office
Agua Fria High School
530 E. Riley Drive Avondale, AZ 85323
623-932-7300
Principal: Mathew Bentz
Coldwater Academy
750 E. Riley Drive Avondale, AZ 85323
623-932-7106
Desert Edge High School
15778 W. Yuma Road Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-932-7500
Principal: Bob Grey
Millennium High School
14802 W. Wigwam Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85395
623-932-7200
Interim principal: Tamee Gressett
Verrado High School
20050 W. Indian School Road Buckeye, AZ 85396
623-932-7400
Principal: Tom Huffman
Buckeye Union High School District
Superintendent: Beverly Hurley District office: 1000 E. Narramore, Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-386-9700, www.buhsd.org
Board president: Brian Turner School board meets: 6:15 p.m. second Monday of each month Place: District office
Buckeye Union High School 1000 E. Narramore Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-386-4423
Principal: Tawn Argeris
Estrella Foothills High School
13033 S. Estrella Parkway Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-327-2400
Principal: Leslie Standerfer
The Learning Center 751 N. 215th Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-474-0332
Principal: Karen Sanders
Youngker High School
3000 S. Apache Road Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-474-0100
Principal: Randy Stillman
Tolleson Union High School District
Superintendent: Lexi Cunningham District office:
9801 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-4000, www.tuhsd.org
Board president: Mike Watson
School board meets: 6 p.m. second and fourth Tuesday of each month
Place: District office board room
Copper Canyon High School
9126 W. Camelback Road
Glendale, AZ 85305
623-478-4800
Principal: Alan Potts
James A. Green Continuing Education Academy
9701 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-4120
Director: Travis Johnson
La Joya Community High School
11650 W. Whyman Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-478-4400
Principal: Brandi Haskins
Lighthouse Academy
9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-4377
Director: Travis Johnson
Sierra Linda High School
3434 S. 67th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043
623-474-7700
Principal: Tim Madrid
Tolleson Union High School
9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-4200
Principal: Ernie Molina
University High School
9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-4380
Academic Dean: Courtney Stevens
Westview High School
10850 W. Garden Lakes Parkway Avondale, AZ 85392
623-478-4600
Principal: Michele Wilson
Elementary Schools
Arlington Elementary School District
Superintendent: Chad Turner District office: 9410 S. 355th Ave. Arlington, AZ 85322
623-386-2031
www.arlingtonelem.org
Board president: Joe Weathersby School board meets: 6 p.m. second Monday of each month
Place: Arlington Elementary School
Arlington Elementary School 9410 S. 355th Ave. Arlington, AZ 85322
623-386-2031
Principal: Kyle Hart
Avondale Elementary School District
Superintendent: Betsy Hargrove District office: 235 W. Western Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-772-5000
www.avondale.k12.az.us
Board president: Mark Gonzales School board meets: 6:30 p.m. one Tuesday a month Place:
Meetings rotate among schools
Centerra Mirage School
15151 W. Centerra Drive South Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-772-4800
Principal: Talmadge Tanks
Copper Trails School
16875 W. Canyon Trails Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-772-4100
Principal: Margaret Carroll
Desert Star School
2131 S. 157th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-772-4600
Principal: Patricia Scarpa
Desert Thunder School 16750 W. Garfield St. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-772-4700
Principal: Wayne Deffenbaugh
Eliseo C. Felix School 540 E. La Pasada Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-772-4300
Principal: Bryan D’Alessio
Lattie Coor School 1406 N. Central Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-772-4400
Principal: Lori Goslar
Michael Anderson School 45 S. Third Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-772-5100
Principal: Randy Watkins
S.T.A.R. Academy
44 S. Third Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-772-5195
Assistant principal: Bradley Knudson
Wildflower School
325 S. Wildflower Drive Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-772-5200
Principal: Kyann McMillie
Buckeye Elementary School District
Superintendent: Al L. Steen
District office: 25555 W. Durango. Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-925-3400
besd.k12.az.us
Board president: Marcus Eads School board meets: 6:30 p.m. first Monday of each month Place: District office
Bales Elementary School 25400 W. Maricopa Road Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-847-8503
Principal: Fred Lugo
Buckeye Preschool 640 Centre Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-925-3333
Preschool director: Sue Johnson
Buckeye Elementary School 210 S. Sixth St. Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-386-4487
Principal: Lorrese Roer
Inca Elementary School 23601 W. Durango Street Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-925-3500
Principal: Corey Christiaens
Steven R. Jasinski Elementary School
4280 S. 246th Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-925-3100
Principal: Michael Bartlett
Sundance Elementary School 23800 W. Hadley St. Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-847-8531
Principal: Tracy Casey
West Park Elementary School
2700 S. 257th Drive Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-435-3282
Principal: Nick Forgette
Liberty Elementary School District
Superintendent: Andy Rogers
District office: 19871 W. Fremont Road
Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-474-6600
www.liberty.k12.az.us
Board president: Lew Coleman
School board meets: 6:30 p.m.
second Monday of each month Place: District office
Estrella Mountain Elementary School
10301 S. San Miguel Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-327-2820
Principal: Sharon Marine
Freedom Elementary School
22150 W. Sundance Parkway Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-327-2850
Principal: Cindy Robinson
Liberty Elementary School
19818 W. Hwy. 85 Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-327-2810
Principal: Jennifer Gray
Rainbow Valley Elementary School
19716 W. Narramore Road Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-327-2830
Principal: Mike Cagle
Westar Elementary School 17777 W. Westar Drive Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-327-2840
Principal: Dave Bogart
Litchfield Elementary School District
Superintendent: Julianne Lein
District office: 272 E. Sagebrush St.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-535-6000
www.lesd.k12.az.us
Board president: Shawn Watt School board meets: 6:30 p.m. second Tuesday of each month Place: Western Sky Middle School
Barbara B. Robey Elementary School
5340 N. Wigwam Creek Blvd.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-547-1400
Principal: Sandra Flood
Corte Sierra Elementary School
3300 N. Santa Fe Trail
Avondale, AZ 85323
623-547-1000
Principal: C.R. Barnes
Dreaming Summit Elementary School
13335 W. Missouri Ave.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-547-1200
Principal: Jodi Gunning
L. Thomas Heck Middle School
12448 W. Bethany Home Road
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-547-1700
Principal: Ron Sterr
Litchfield Elementary School
255 E. Wigwam Blvd.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-535-6100
Principal: Mary Ann Hartwick
Mabel Padgett Elementary School
15430 W. Turney Rd. Goodyear, AZ 85395
623-547-3200
Principal: Gina DeCoste
Palm Valley Elementary School
2801 N. 135th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395
623-535-6400
Principal: Sarah Pearson
Rancho Santa Fe Elementary 2150 Rancho Santa Fe Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-535-6500
Principal: Caren Walker
Scott Libby Elementary School
18701 W. Thomas Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-535-6200
Principal: Rachelle Morris
Verrado Elementary School
20873 W. Sunrise Lane Buckeye, AZ 85396
623-547-1600
Principal: Molly Evans
Verrado Middle School
20880 W. Main St. Buckeye, AZ 85396
623-547-1300
Principal: Kimberly A. Franz
Western Sky Middle School
4095 N. 144th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-535-6300
Principal: Luke Jankee
White Tanks Learning Center
18825 W. Thomas Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-535-6085
Director: Jennifer Benjamin
Wigwam Creek Middle School
4510 N. 127th Ave. Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-547-1100
Principal: John Scudder
Littleton Elementary School District
Superintendent: Roger Freeman
District office: 1600 S. 107th Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-478-5600
www.littletonaz.org
Board president: Jeannie Myrick
School board meets: 6 p.m. second Tuesday of each month
Place: Underdown Learning Center
Collier Elementary School
350 S. 118th Ave.
Avondale, AZ 85323
623-478-5900
Principal: Gioia Pitts
Country Place
Elementary School
10207 W. Country Place Blvd. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-6100
Principal: Lance Chebultz
Estrella Vista Elementary School
11905 W. Cocopah Circle Avondale, AZ 85323
623-478-6200
Principal: Sienna Bettencourt
Littleton Elementary School 1252 S. Avondale Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-478-5700
Principal: Chance Whiteman
Quentin Elementary School 11050 W. Whyman Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-478-6000
Principal: Laura Couret
Tres Rios Elementary School 5025 S. 103rd Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-6300
Principal: Sarah Macdonald
Palo Verde Elementary School District
Superintendent: Robin Berry District office: 10700 S. Palo Verde Road Palo Verde, AZ 85343
623-327-3690
www.paloverdeschools.org
Board president: Todd Hall School board meets: 5:45 p.m. second Monday of each month
Place: District office
Palo Verde Elementary School 10700 S. Palo Verde Road Palo Verde, AZ 85343
623-327-3680
Principal: Robert Aldridge
Pendergast Elementary School District
Superintendent: Ron Richards District office: 3802 N. 91st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2200 www.pesd92.org
Board president: Rene Rosales
School board meets: 7 p.m. first and third Tuesday of each month Place: District office; periodically at schools on a rotating basis.
Amberlea Elementary School 8455 W. Virginia Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2900
Principal: Brian Winefsky
Calderwood Elementary School 10730 W. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2356
Administrator: James House
Canyon Breeze Elementary School 11675 W. Encanto Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85392
623-772-2610
Principal: Jeff Byrnes
Copper King Elementary School 10730 W. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2580
Principal: Molly Watson
Desert Horizon Elementary School 8525 W. Osborn Road Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2430
Principal: Suzie Jaramillo
Desert Mirage Elementary School 8605 W. Maryland Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305
623-772-2550
Principal: Susie Torrejos
Garden Lakes Elementary School 10825 W. Garden Lakes Parkway Avondale, AZ 85392
623-772-2520
Principal: Harold Waltman
Pendergast Elementary School 3800 N. 91st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2400
Principal: Mike Woolsey
Rio Vista Elementary School 10237 W. Encanto Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85392
623-772-2670
Principal: Siobhan McCarthy
Sonoran Sky Elementary School 10150 W. Missouri Ave. Glendale, AZ 85307
623-772-2640
Principal: Natasha Camp
Sunset Ridge Elementary School 8490 W. Missouri Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305
623-772-2730
Principal: Carrie Prielipp
Villa de Paz Elementary School 4940 N. 103rd Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2490
Principal: Danelia Portillo
Westwind Elementary School 9040 W. Campbell Road Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-772-2700
Principal: Margaret Santa Cruz
Saddle Mountain Unified School District
Superintendent: Mark Joraanstad District office: 38201 W. Indian School Road Tonopah, AZ 85354
623-474-5115
www.smusd90.org
Board president: Dave Masch School board meets: 6 p.m. second Wednesday of each month Place: District office
Ruth Fisher Elementary School
38201 W. Indian School Road
Tonopah, AZ 85354
623-474-5501
Principal: Jim Keith
Tartesso Elementary School
29677 W. Indianola Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85396
623-474-5400
Principal: James “JP” Ketcham
Tonopah Valley High School
38201 W. Indian School Road Tonopah, AZ 85354
623-474-5201
Principal: Edgar Garcia
Tolleson Elementary School District
Superintendent: Lupita Hightower
District office: 9261 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-936-9740
www.tollesonschools.com
Board president: Elizabeth Hunsaker School board meets: 6 p.m. first Wednesday of each month Place: District office
Arizona Desert Elementary School
8803 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-907-5260
Principal: Brenda Catlett
Desert Oasis Elementary School
8802 W. McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-533-3901
Principal: Claudia Espinoza
Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School 9401 W. Garfield Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-907-5181
Principal: Cindy Mills
Sheely Farms Elementary School 9450 W. Encanto Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-907-5270
Principal: Melissa Marze
Union Elementary School District
Superintendent: Pat Gillespie District office: 3834 S. 91st Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-5005
www.unionesd.org
Board president: Delson Sunn School board meets: 6 p.m. second Thursday of each month Place: District conference room
Dos Rios Elementary School 2150 S. 87th Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-474-7000
Principal: Milton Collins
Hurley Ranch Elementary School 8950 W. Illini Drive Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-478-5100
Principal: Tommie Dyer
Others
Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center High School
3400 N. Dysart Road Avondale, AZ 85392
623-535-0754
www.aaechighschools.com
Principal: Mona Ramirez
Arizona Preparatory Academy
10720 W. Indian School Road, No. 7, Phoenix, AZ 85037
623-907-2661
cyberhs.com
Principal: Carolyn Birney
Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain 2504 S. 91st Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-474-2120
www.plcaaem.com
Site director: Ruben Ruiz
Bradley Academy of Excellence
16060 W. Lower Buckeye Parkway Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-932-9902
www.bradleyacademyaz.com
Director: Tanya Burston
Crown Charter School 12450 W. Maryland Ave. Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-535-9300
www.crowncharter.com
Director: James Shade
Cyber High School
14970 W. Indian School Road, Suite 230, Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-907-2661
cyberhs.com
E-Institute at Avondale 1035 E. Van Buren St., Suite 111 Avondale, AZ 85323
623-760-9061
Principal: Fernando Madrid
www.e-institute.us
E-Institute at Buckeye 6213 S. Miller Road Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-505-7118
www.e-institute.us
Principal: Tisha Jones
Estrella High School 510 N. Central Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323
623-932-6561
www.estrellahs.com
School Leader: Casey Zordani
Grace Fellowship Academy 1300 N. Miller Road
Buckeye, AZ 85326
623-393-8883
www.gracefellowshipacademy.org
Principal: Geri Parker
Heritage Elementary School
6805 N. 125th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85307
623-742-3956
www.hesglendale.org
Principal: Austin Thies
In 1994 the Internet might as well have been Martian poetry — no one really knew what to make of it. The internet turned up in this Feb. 16, 1994, article about the opening of Agua Fria Union High School’s new library. The piece contained this funnyin-hindsight sentence: “The center also features Internet, in addition to other local, national and international information superhighways.”
— Michael Clawson
Hope Montessori School
5348 N. 106th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85307
623-877-2985
www.hopemontessori.info
Director: Kathy Selland
Imagine Avondale
950 N. Eliseo C. Felix, Jr. Way Avondale, AZ 85323
623-344-1730
www.imagineavondale.com
Principal: Kim Agnew
Montessori in the Park 1832 N. Litchfield Road Goodyear, AZ 85395
623-535-4863
www.mipschool.org
Director: Lisa King
Montessori West Preparatory School 13034 W. Solano Drive Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
623-935-2017
www.montessoriwest.com
Director: Cora Gaabucayan
The Odyssey Preparatory Academy - Buckeye 6500 S. Apache Road Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-327-3111
www.odyprep.com
Principal: Kenneth Olson
The Odyssey Preparatory Academy - Goodyear 17532 W. Harrison St. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-882-1140
www.odyprep.com
Principal: Liz Douglass
St. John Vianney Elementary School 539 La Pasada Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-932-2434
www.sjvazschool.net
Principal: Sister Cecilia Henry
St. Peter’s Episcopal Montessori School
400 S. Old Litchfield Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-935-7737
School administrator: Karin McMillan
www.stpetersaz.com/ montessori/index.html
Feb. 16, 1994
St. Thomas Aquinas Grade School
13720 W. Thomas Road Avondale, AZ 85392 623-935-0945
www.stacc.net
Principal: Patrick Reardon
Trinity Lutheran School 830 E. Plaza Circle Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-935-4690 school.trinitylcs.org
Principal: William Luedtke
West Valley Christian School 14900 W. Van Buren St. Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-234-2100 wvchristianschool.org
Principal: Bob Byrd
Colleges/Trade Schools/ Universities
Arizona State University West 4701 W. Thunderbird Road Glendale, AZ 85306
602-543-5500
www.west.asu.edu
Estrella Mountain Community College 3000 N. Dysart Road Avondale, AZ 85392 623-935-8000 www.emc.maricopa.edu
Glendale Community College 6000 W. Olive Ave. Glendale, AZ 85302 623-845-3000 www.gc.maricopa.edu
Park University 7383 N. Litchfield Road, Suite 3114 Glendale, AZ 85309
623-935-4424 www.park.edu/luke University of Phoenix 9520 W. Palm Lane Phoenix, AZ 85037 480-557-2000 www.phoenix.edu
Universal Technical Institute 10695 W. Pierce St. Avondale, AZ 85323 623-245-4600 www.uti.edu
State Directory
U.S. Senate
Sen. John McCain (R)
241 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-2235; mccain.senate.gov
Local office: 5353 N. 16th St., Suite 105, Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-952-2410
Sen. Jon Kyl (R)
730 Hart Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-4521; kyl.senate.gov
Local office: 2200 E. Camelback Road, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-840-1891
U.S. House of Representatives
District 2
Rep. Trent Franks (R)
2435 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4576; franks.house.gov
Local office: 7121 W. Bell Road, Suite 200 Glendale, AZ 85308 623-776-7911
District 5, which includes Goodyear, Tolleson, Avondale, south Buckeye
301 W. Jefferson Ave., 10th floor Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-7092
mrwilcox@mail.maricopa.gov maricopa.gov/dist5
Max Wilson (R), Supervisor
District 4, which includes Avondale, Litchfield Parvk, Goodyear, north Buckeye
301 W. Jefferson Ave., 10th floor Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-7642
mwwilson@mail.maricopa.gov maricopa.gov/dist4
State Legislature
District 4
Sen. Judy Burges (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 220 Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 926-5861; jburges@azleg.gov
Rep. Jack W. Harper (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 113 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-4178; jharper@azleg.gov
Rep. Phil Lovas (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 343 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-3297; rlovas@azleg.gov
District 12
Sen. John Nelson (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 301 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5872; jnelson@azleg.gov
Rep. Steven Montenegro (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 218 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5955; smontenegro@azleg.gov
Rep. Jerry Weiers (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 131 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5894; jpweiers@azleg.gov
District 13
Sen. Steve Gallardo (D)
1700 W. Washington, Room 315 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-5830; sgallardo@azleg.gov
Rep. Martin J. Quezada (D)
1700 W. Washington, Room 325 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5911; mquezada@azleg.gov
Rep. Anna Tovar (D)
1700 W. Washington, Room 323 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3392; atovar@azleg.gov
photo courtesy State of Arizona A commemorative stamp, issued by the United States Postal Service to celebrate Arizona’s Centennial, depicts the natural beauty of the 100-year-old state.
District 23
Sen. Steve Smith (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 311 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-5685; stevesmith@azleg.gov
Rep. John Fillmore (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 331 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-3012; jfillmore@azleg.gov
Rep. Frank Pratt (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 223 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5761; fpratt@azleg.gov
District 25
Sen. Gail Griffin (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 302 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5895; ggriffin@azleg.gov
Rep. Peggy Judd (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 126 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5836; pjudd@azleg.gov
Rep. David W. Stevens (R)
1700 W. Washington, Room 312 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-4321; dstevens@azleg.gov
Cities at a Glance
Year of Incorporation: 1946
Population: 76,238
Median age: 29.43
Median household annual income: $75,000
Land area: 54 square miles
City Hall: 11465 W. Civic Center Drive (623-333-1000) www.ci.avondale.az.us
Mayor: Marie Lopez Rogers
Vice Mayor: Stephanie Karlin
Council Members: Jim Buster, Jim McDonald, Frank Scott, Charles Vierhout and Ken Weise
City manager: Charlie McClendon
Police Dept.: 11485 W. Civic
Center Drive (623-333-7000)
Police chief: Kevin Kotsur
Fire Dept.: 11485 N. 107th Ave. (623-333-6000)
Fire chief: Paul Adams
Libraries: Avondale Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive (623-333-2602); Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave. (623-333-2601)
Post Offices: Avondale Post Office, 401 W. Western Ave. (623925-2924); Cashion Post Office, 1216 N. 111th Drive (623-9361362)
Year of Incorporation: 1929
Population: 50,876
Median age: 30
Median household annual income: $38,000
Land area: 375 square miles
City Hall: 530 E. Monroe Ave. (623-349-6000) www.buckeyeaz.gov
Year of Incorporation: 1946
Population: 65,275
Median age: 33.6
Median household annual income: $76,523
Land area: 191 square miles
City Hall: 190 N. Litchfield Road (623-932-3910) www.goodyearaz.gov
Mayor: Jackie Meck
Vice Mayor: Brian McAchran
Council Members: Robert Garza, Michelle Hess, Ray Strauss, Craig Heustis and Eric Orsborn
Town manager: Stephen
Cleveland
Police Dept.: 100 N. Apache Road, Suite D (623-386-4421)
Mayor: Georgia Lord
Vice Mayor: Joanne Osborne
Council Members: Gary
Gelzer, Sheri Lauritano, Bill Stipp, Wally Campbell and Joe Pizzillo
City manager: Brian Dalke
Police Dept.: Venida Business Center, Bldg. E, 175 N. 145th Ave. (623-932-1220)
Police chief: Jerry Geier
Year of Incorporation: 1987
Population: 5,476
Median age: 45
Median household annual income: $86,726
Land area: 3.5 square miles
City Hall: 214 W. Wigwam Blvd. (623-935-5033) www.litchfield-park.org
Mayor: Tom Schoaf
Vice Mayor: Paul Faith
Council Members: Tim Blake, Diane Landis, Peter Mahoney, John Romack, and Paul Stucky
City manager: Darryl Crossman
Police Dept.: Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office (602-876-1011)
Year of Incorporation: 1929
Population: 7,083
Median age: 29.4
Median household annual income: $38,773
Land area: 6.6 square miles
City Hall: 9555 W. Van Buren St. (623-936-7111) www.tollesonaz.org
Mayor: Adolfo Gamez
Vice Mayor: Kathie Farr
Council Members: Clorinda
Erives, Jose “Diego” Espinoza, Linda Laborin, Albert Mendoza and Juan Rodriguez
City manager: Reyes Medrano
Jr.
Police Dept. : 8350 W. Van Buren St. (623-936-7186)
Police chief: Larry Rodriguez
Police chief: Mark Mann
Fire Dept.: 404 S. Miller Road (623-349-6000)
Fire chief: Bob Costello Library: 310 N. Sixth St. (623349-6300)
Post Office: 51 E. Monroe Ave. (623-386-3117)
Fire Dept.: 175 N. 145th Ave., Bldg. E (623-932-2300)
Fire chief: Mark Gaillard
Library: 250 N. Litchfield Road (602-652-3000)
Post Office: 875 S. Estrella Parkway (623-882-9148)
Fire Dept.: Goodyear Fire Department (623-932-2300) Library: 101 W. Wigwam Blvd. (602-652-3000)
Post Office: 591 Plaza Circle (623-935-2089)
Fire Dept. : 9169 W. Monroe St. (623-936-8500)
Fire chief: George Good Library: 9555 W. Van Buren St. (623-936-2746)
