Vista - Spring/Summer 2011

Spring/Summer 2011

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– Richard Steele Publisher Elliott Freireich publisher@westvalleyview.com Editorial Managing editor: Jim Painter editor@westvalleyview.com News editor: Cary S. Hines chines@westvalleyview.com Assistant editor: Rich Ott rott@westvalleyview.com Sports editor: Mike Russo mrusso@westvalleyview.com Assistant sports editor: Casey Pritchard Staff writers: Sara Bisker, Emily McCann, Frank Morris, Brent Whiting news1@westvalleyview.com Staff photographers: Michael Clawson, Ray Thomas Advertising Director: Stephanie Hillebrand Stephanie.H@westvalleyview.com Account executives: Rachael Freireich rachael.f@westvalleyview.com Kathy Harned kathy.h@westvalleyview.com Julius Tiritilli julius.t@westvalleyview.com Advertising assistant: Julie Sargent-Helm advertising@westvalleyview.com Production Manager: Arthur Schneider aschneider@westvalleyview.com Assistant manager: Veronica Verdugo-Lomeli vvlomeli@westvalleyview.com Staff: Jonathan Barnes, Shannon Mead production@westvalleyview.com Bookkeeping Manager: Rene Hartmann Alejandrina Trujillo bookkeeping@westvalleyview.com Classified advertising Linda Santa Cruz classifieds@westvalleyview.com Circulation/Distribution Manager: Chris Yee cyee@westvalleyview.com Circulation Assistant: Linda Ryan lryan@westvalleyview.com Press: Terry Webb twebb@westvalleyview.com Chris Garrison, 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 2011

by West Valley View, Inc. Vista is printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks.

02-25-2011 • 78,500 - 4,000

Spring/Summer 2011

TABLE OF Welcome to Vista ...............................................................V4

SPOTLIGHT ON

DIRECTORY OF

Government ..................... V6 Education ......................... V8 Personality ...................... V12 Religion .......................... V16 Arts ................................ V18 Events ............................ V20 Sports ............................ V33 Outdoors ........................ V35 Adventure ....................... V36 Food............................... V39

Cities ................................ V7 Health Care .................... V26 Dining ............................. V40 Golf ................................ V41 Worship .......................... V42 Businesses/Services ....... V48 Schools .......................... V51 Arizona ........................... V54

The cover was photographed by Michael Clawson and designed

by Jonathan Barnes. The hands are those of students at Trinity Lutheran School in Avondale.

Spring/Summer Vista 2011 was conceived and designed by Michael Clawson and Jonathan Barnes. All photos by Michael Clawson unless otherwise noted.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V3

WELCOME TO

D

avid Letterman may joke about how Arizona is the Wild West — and maybe there’s an element of sarcastic truth to that — but beneath the jokes the state grinds ever forward.

Behind the headlines, our humanity thrives.

Nowhere is this more clear than in the West Valley, where average people go about their lives working, learning, teaching and playing in the communities that they created, communities to which they are unofficial stewards.

No single politician, or group of politicians, makes a city great. Businesses hold very little sway as well. Cities and communities are made great by the people in them. And nowhere in the state are the people greater than out here in the West Valley, from the bustling central corridor of Avondale and Goodyear, to the green and quaint serenity of Tolleson and Litchfield Park, to the agriculturally bountiful and sun-drenched lands of Buckeye. For the people of the West Valley, this is all home.

V4

Cities and communities are made great by the people in them. And nowhere in the state are the people greater than out here in the West Valley ...

As Arizona makes steps to remake itself — its budget, its image, its politics — so does the West Valley. That job falls to the people living here. For it to work its residents must be the best versions of themselves. They must rise above the economy, the headlines and the negativity so that they may become proud Arizonans. Butchers, bakers, farmers, teachers, store owners, police officers, construction workers, firefighters, clerks, secretaries, doctors … these people, and many more, are the threads that make the wonderful tapestry that is the West Valley. Arizona has seen hard times. But it will rebound. And when it does, it will be the people within its

boundaries who can lay claim to its renewed greatness.

We’re naming this issue of our biannual Vista magazine The Best of Us, with “us” being the entire population of the West Valley. But “us” also refers to something grander: it is the collective force of people who make the West Valley so magnificent. It’s an idea that we’re all members of this community, and that together we can make it thrive.

In this Vista we honor a cross-section of community members, people who are bringing out the best in themselves and, in turn, their communities. They are the people who make this grand experiment work.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

When You Were A Kid, Everything Got A Second Look.

EVENTS LISTING AND MORE ONLINE Looking for something to do in the West Valley? You can start with the Vista events listing on Page V20, which includes a number of prominent events, including the Litchfield Park Trout Derby, pictured above.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive listing of events on a daily and weekly basis, please visit the Calendar section at westvalleyview.com.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V5

SPOTLIGHTON

All together now Spirit of cooperation flows through West Valley mayors

N

o man is an island, and for that matter, neither is a city.

Five municipalities, with populations as few as 5,000 residents and as large as 70,000, make up the Southwest Valley.

Avondale leads in population but is closely followed by Goodyear with 65,000 residents. Buckeye is in the middle with about 53,000 people and Tolleson is just larger than Litchfield Park with about 7,000 residents.

All these figures are bound to change when the 2010 Census numbers are published, but one fact remains true: issues facing residents in each city are not unique to that city and are often handled from a regional perspective.

“A mayor’s job is a full-time job,” Goodyear Acting Mayor Joe Pizzillo said.

He was named mayor after a shuffle in the City Council left the position vacant.

He will be replaced by a permanent mayor in the March election, but until then he’s filling the shoes as best he can, he said.

“I’m a firm believer that we’re all in this together,” he said.

V6

East meets west as Tolleson Mayor Adolfo Gamez, right, shakes hands with Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck as Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo, second from right, Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers and Litchfield Park Mayor Tom Schoaf look on.

“

We still cooperate and deal and discuss and talk about a lot of things that are unique not only to us individually but to us as a West Valley city.”

Jackie Meck Buckeye Mayor

Teamwork among the cities is a must, said Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers.

“I think the No. 1 key thing we do that through is with communication,” she said. “We really cannot read each other’s minds and figure out what one is doing with the other.”

The mayors’ communication efforts go beyond phone calls and e-mail correspondence. Every month, all five meet

for a breakfast and a dinner where no one comes to the table with an agenda.

“I thought it was important that we get to know each other on a different level,” Lopez Rogers said. “My thought is, food always makes people comfortable.”

“The purpose is for the city leaders to get to know each other, then to talk about what’s currently impacting us and what

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

See GOVERNMENT on V37

AVONDALE

BUCKEYE

GOODYEAR

Population: 74,000 Median age: 29.43 Median income: $75,000 Land area: 54 square miles 2010-11 fiscal-year city budget: approximately $157.5 million City Hall location: 11465 W. Civic Center Drive Phone number: 623-333-1000 Mayor: Marie Lopez Rogers Vice Mayor: Jim McDonald Council Members: Jim Buster, Stephanie Karlin, Frank Scott, Charles Vierhout and Ken Weise City manager: Charlie McClendon Police Dept. address: 11485 W. Civic Center Drive Police non-emergency number: 623-333-7000 Police chief: Kevin Kotsur Fire Dept. address: 11485 N. 107th Ave. Fire chief: Paul Adams Fire non-emergency phone number: 623-333-6000 Post Office: Avondale Post Office, 401 W. Western Ave. 623-925-2924

Population: 52,764 Median age: 30 Median income: $38,000 Land area: 375 square miles 2010-11 fiscal-year city budget: $159.3 million City Hall location: 530 E. Monroe Ave. Phone number: 623-349-6000 Mayor: Jackie Meck Vice Mayor: Brian McAchran Council Members: Robert Garza, Elaine May, Ray Strauss, Craig Heustis and Eric Osborn Town manager: Stephen Cleveland Police Dept. address: 100 N. Apache Road, Suite D Police non-emergency number: 623-386-4421 Police chief: Mark Mann Fire Dept. address: 404 S. Miller Road Fire chief: Bob Costello Fire non-emergency phone number: 623-349-6000 Post Office: 51 E. Monroe Ave. 623-386-3117

Population: 64,600 Median age: 35.2 Median income: $77,606 Land area: 190 square miles 2010-11 fiscal-year city budget: $255 million City Hall location: 190 N. Litchfield Road Phone number: 623-932-3910 *Acting Mayor: Joe Pizzillo *Council Members: Frank Cavalier, Gary Gelzer, Sheri Lauritano, Joanne Osborne and Dick Sousa City manager: John Fischbach Police & Fire Dept. address: Venida Business Center, Bldg. E, 175 N. 145th Ave. Police chief: Mark Brown Police non-emergency number: 623-932-1220 Fire chief: Interim Paul Luizzi Fire non-emergency phone number: 623-932-2300 Post Office: 875 S. Estrella Parkway 623-882-9148 *Elections will take place March 2011

LITCHFIELD PARK Population: 5,097 Median age: 45 Median income: $86,726 Land area: 3.5 square miles 2010-11 fiscal-year city budget: $7.8 million City Hall location: 214 W. Wigwam Blvd.

Phone number: 623-935-5033 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 Police non-emergency number: 602-876-1011 Fire Dept.: Goodyear Fire Department Fire non-emergency phone number: 623-932-2300 Post Office: 591 Plaza Circle 623-935-2089

TOLLESON Population: 7,083 Median age: 29.4 Median income: $38,773 Land area: 6.6 square miles 2010-11 fiscal-year city budget: $67 million City Hall location: 9555 W. Van Buren St. Phone number: 623-936-7111 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. address: 8350 W. Van Buren St. Police non-emergency number: 623-936-7186 Police chief: Larry Rodriguez Fire Dept. address: 9169 W. Monroe St. Fire chief: George Good Fire non-emergency phone number: 623-936-8500 Post Office: 8805 W. Van Buren St.; 623-907-0206

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

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SPOTLIGHTON

Education

The school that Harold built Longtime principal talks success

G

arden Lakes Elementary is the school that Harold Waltman built.

He’s been the only principal at the Avondale school since it opened in 1990, and has spent the last 21 years molding the campus, building the curriculum and hiring the right teachers.

But Waltman, who is a “young 66 years old,” recently announced his plans to retire at the end of this school year.

“I think I always knew I wanted to be a principal,” he said. “My mom was a school secretary when I was growing up, and I was one of those kids who always liked school. I enjoyed teaching, but I wanted to have an effect on more children and I thought I could being a principal.”

His keys for a successful school are to hire good teachers and help make them better, get the community involved and simply to treat everybody like real people.

“So many schools and teachers and principals think the parents are their adversaries, but they’re not. They’re our friends,” Waltman said. “They know more about their kids than we do.”

He’s also worked to develop a strong partnership with Westview High School V8

right across the street, which opened a year before Garden Lakes.

“It’s like we’re all one big family,” Waltman said. “That would be hard to duplicate somewhere else; it takes a long time.”

Waltman has been a staple in the Pendergast Elementary District for almost four decades, having previously served as principal at Desert Horizon for 10 years and an assistant principal and seventhgrade math teacher before that.

“The thing that’s most impressive to me — and this sounds pat but it’s so true with him — is that every decision he makes is based on what’s best for kids,” Assistant Principal Tim Ramsey said.

“Sometimes that’s not always the easiest type of decision to make, but it’s the best one.”

Waltman’s most memorable times are when former pupils return to the school or recognize him out in public, he said.

“Lots of time you don’t get that feedback, but those are the moments,” he said.

While he’s not very good with names, Waltman said he remembers pupils’ faces

Principal Harold Waltman stands next to one of his sign slogans outside Garden Lakes Elementary School in Avondale.

EXCELLENT GROWTH

See EDUCATION on V10

When the economy went tumbling down, more people turned back to education just to survive. As a result, Estrella Mountain Community College’s enrollment was up by 13 percent this year. Since the campus received accreditation in 1997, its enrollment has almost tripled to 8,100 students.

To help accommodate the growth, the college continues to expand under the leadership of EMCC President Ernie Lara, pictured above. Last year, it opened Mariposa Hall, a Gold LEED certified building that comprises 25,000 square feet with nine classrooms, two nursing labs, one multi-purpose lab and faculty office space.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

EXCELLENT LEADERS When it comes to great educators, Beverly Hurley, pictured left, is the queen bee this year. The Buckeye Union High School District leader was named the Arizona Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators.

Cathy Stafford in the Avondale Elementary District won the award for large school districts and Roger Freeman with the Littleton Elementary District took the top honor for medium-sized districts.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V9

EXCELLENT SCHOOLS EDUCATION from V8 and tries to visit every classroom almost every day.

“If you’re ever having a bad day, all you have to do is walk into a kindergarten classroom. They’re always glad to see you,” he said.

Waltman also spends at least one morning a week greeting every pupil who walks onto campus.

“We found out a long time ago that the most important thing for kids is to be recognized as individuals, so we make it a point to do that,” he said.

The hardest part about being a principal is when a child is struggling and the reasons are out of his control, he said.

“You do the best that you can to help school be a safe and happy place for them and a successful place,” Waltman said.

“Where the rest of their life might not be very successful and we can’t fix some of that stuff. It’s difficult for all of us.”

To help put a smile on people’s faces, he often puts silly sayings on the school’s marquee. Recently, “Zip a Dee Doo Dah” donned the message board, but Waltman once put up the words, “For sale.”

“It was just a joke, but parents came in V10

and said, ‘What are you doing, selling the school?’” he said. “Sometimes I put really strange stuff up there on purpose just to see what reaction I’ll get.”

One guy even asked how much they wanted for it, Waltman said.

Another thing he’s known for is wearing a different tie practically every day.

For his 60th birthday, pupils in kindergarten through third grade made paper ties in art class and wore them to an assembly.

“I think we’re in the danger as school people of taking ourselves too seriously,” Waltman said. “We want school to be a fun place. It’s an important place to learn, but it’s a lot easier if it’s fun.”

That could be one of the factors that led Garden Lakes to be labeled an “Excelling” school four years in a row.

“Last year was the first time we missed it in five years, but we expect to be back there this year,” Waltman said. “It’s fairly difficult to maintain Excelling once you get there. We’re very proud of what they did last year and we didn’t miss it by much. Our goal is to be the very best school we can be every day, no matter what the rating happens to be.”

– Emily McCann Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

With 67 public schools scattered across the West Valley, it can be hard to stand out in the crowd. But when last year’s school labels were released by the Arizona Department of Education, four campuses rose above the rest.

Estrella Foothills and Millennium high schools held on to their their excelling labels from the year before.

(Above, Millennium culinary teacher Chris Contreras stands in the school’s test kitchen with his students.) Estrella Mountain and Palm Valley elementary schools also held on to their excelling labels, while six others dropped from the highest ranking.

The state uses the assessment program AZ LEARNS to monitor achievement levels of public and charter schools. It gives one of six labels: excelling, highly performing, performing plus, performing, underperforming and failing.

EXCELLENT PROGRAMS If any group should be allowed to toot its own horn, it would be the marching band at Millennium High School. The 124-member outfit took second place at the Field Show USA competition last October in Washington, D.C. The inaugural event featured five high schools from across the country invited to perform in the shadow of the White House. They were selected based on recommendations of outstanding bands throughout the years.

Spring/Summer 2011

SPOTLIGHTON

Goodyear business owner

S

ome West Valley Roman Comer sits in his bar, Roman’s Oasis in figures are larger Goodyear. than life, much like outlaw Billy Moore, or the tall pirate fectionately dubbed “Uncle statue that was stolen last Billy,” ever got to being a year from atop a Goodlegal renegade was putting year tavern. the iron shoes on a real The same probably can outlaw’s horse. be said for Roman Comer, Details of his life are 77, a colorful personality unclear, but he spent $30 and the owner of Roman’s and acquired 280 acres Oasis, 16825 W. Yuma under the Desert Lands Road, the bar from which Act of 1877. The tract the 300-pound statue was eventually became part of stolen.

Avondale.

“If Billy Moore was an Now a legendary figure outlaw, then I must be an in the West Valley, Moore A commemorative stamp of former West Valley resident Bill Mauldin. in-law,” Comer said with died May 26, 1934, at an easy laugh. “People age 92 and is buried in a memorabilia and accents of the Southmay compare me to Billy Moore, but I Phoenix cemetery. west. The design style is that of Comer’s certainly hope they don’t start shooting Since 1954, Billy Moore Days has been own personality — eclectic and robust. at me.” an annual festival and parade in AvonAs for Moore, he is a reputed outlaw Comer’s statue, Captain Morgan, an dale, but that took a turn last year. who has been credited with settling Avonadvertising symbol for the Captain MorThe Avondale City Council, citing dale, even though he was not the first per- financial issues, voted in August to postgan Rum Co., was stolen Sept. 9 then son to own land there, or even the area’s quietly returned 20 days later. It was repone the next parade until 2012. biggest landowner. stored then placed back atop the famous For Comer, the Goodyear tavern operaSome people dispute the outlaw label bar, which is a series of interconnected and argue the closest that Moore, afrooms decorated with kitschy NASCAR See PERSONALITY on V14 V12

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

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FROM BASEBALL GLOVE TO SADDLE PERSONALITY from V12 tor, the decision came as unexpected and disappointing news, since Comer has particpated in the Billy Moore parade since he began operating Roman’s Oasis on Sept. 1, 1987.

Comer said he savors the reputation he has enjoyed as both a parade participant and as a business owner; however, Comer said he doubts that people in future years will speak of him and Billy Moore in the same breath.

“Well, I hope they do,” Comer said.

“And if they do, that’s great.”

In the meantime, two former West Valley figures continue to command attention from a remembering public.

They are Bill Mauldin, a political cartoonist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and Bob Stump, a former U.S. congressman from Tolleson.

In March 2010, Mauldin, a former Tonopah-area resident and student at Litchfield Elementary School, had a U.S. postage stamp issued in his honor.

He became famous during World War II for his cartoons published in the Stars and Stripes newspaper, depicting two V14

Billy Moore, Avondale’s famous outlaw (maybe)

infantrymen he named Willie and Joe. He died Jan. 23, 2003, at age 81.

Stump, a World War II Navy veteran, owned a cotton and grain farm in Tolleson for many years before embarking in 1959 on a long political career in the Arizona House and Senate.

Stump was a Democrat when he was elected to the U.S. House of RepresentaVista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Larry Gura, a retired Major League Baseball player, and his wife, Cindy, both pictured above, are the operators of Dale Creek Equestrian Village, 13424 W. Camelback Road, a stable just north of Litchfield Park.

“Business has been good,” Larry said. “The stable is really going well.”

The Guras took over the stable, which has a 31-year history, in 2000.

Larry pitched 16 seasons with the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs before leaving professional sports.

His wife grew up on the 43-acre ranch, which her parents opened in 1945. The stable usually has from 40 to 60 horses.

Larry, 63, said some people still recognize him from his baseball days, but most of them don’t know about his past. When asked if he tosses the ball around much, he said he had helped some local high school teams out, then shrugged and said, “Other than that, not much.”

tives in November 1976, but he later switched his party affiliation to Republican in 1981.

He served until Jan. 3, 2003. He died June 20, 2003, at age 76.

See More West Valley Personalities on Page V37 Spring/Summer 2011

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SPOTLIGHTON

Religion

Out of darkness, light Buddhists use faith to forget, forgive and move forward

I

t is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.”

That’s a quote by Dalai Lama XIV, and it’s one that could apply to Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple in the West Valley.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the massacre that occurred there, which saw the death of six monks, a nun, a monk-in-training, and a temple worker.

But that’s not something Buddhists at the temple like to dwell on.

“I think deep down inside, we still think about it. Something had been taken away, it cannot return. But I think everyone had already coped with what happened. Life goes on,” said Achariya Weerasa, secretary-general for the Thai Cultural Council of Arizona, which is headquartered at the Waddell temple at Cotton Road and Maryland Avenue.

An incident like the one that occurred in 1991 not only affects the monks, but the entire community as well, Weerasa said. Because of their culture and faith, “we put everything behind and look forward to what’s happening in the future.”

V16

“

Buddhists stress three things: Do no evil, do only good, and purify the mind.”

Phra Bill Callaway Buddhist monk

There exists an entire generation of youths under the age of 21 who “don’t really know the history of the temple. They come to the temple and learn later what happened,” Weerasa said. “But let’s give them strength. They have questions for us, but we teach them that sad things we … don’t keep. We always keep the good things.”

Bill Callaway — or “Phra Bill” as he’s known at the Temple — is an American who, upon retiring as a real estate appraiser five years ago, set off to Thailand See RELIGION on V38 Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Phra Bill Callaway meditates Feb. 4 at the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple in Waddell.

Chabad of Goodyear: Mazel tov!

The local Jewish community has something to celebrate. Thanks to the vision, passion and efforts of Rabbi Berel Zaklikofsky, the Southwest Valley will finally land its first synagogue this year.

“We’re talking about a place that the Jewish population has grown so much, there hasn’t been anyone to help them, to serve them,” Zaklikofsky said. “In fact, there’s a very, very big void that I have heard about from quite a few people in the area. There are Jewish centers in Glendale, Sun City, Phoenix and Scottsdale, but none here.”

That will soon change.

The New York rabbi plans to move to the area in the coming months, and will begin operating the Chabad Jewish Center of Goodyear out of his new house. In time, the center will move out of his home and into its own facility, where the rabbi promises to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To learn more, e-mail Zaklikofsky at jewishgoodyear@gmail.com.

Spring/Summer 2011

Mt. Pleasant: Spiritual, social, services At Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Buckeye, Pastor Richard Burrell advocates for three things: faith in Jesus Christ, self-reliance and social services.

“One thing you’ll always hear me talking about is self-reliance,” Burrell, pictured right, said.

Six years ago, Burrell launched Buckeye Outreach Social Services, or B.O.S.S., as a nonprofit arm of the church.

The organization offers a wide range of services, from assistance with housing and jobs to drug counseling and help with women’s issues, he said.

While Burrell lives to help people in need, he admits at times he and his church have taken a hit. A few years ago when Burrell made the decision to offer HIV/ AIDS testing, counseling and an embrace of patients suffering from the disease, not everyone in his ministry was happy and some members left.

Still, Burrell marches on and is proud of the fact that his church was the first in Arizona to stand up for and wholeheartedly embrace the HIV/ AIDS community.

“I’ll keep fighting,” he said.

St. Peter’s: Celebrating diversity Gae Chalker is unique. She’s a woman and she heads a local parish.

“Within Catholic and evangelical traditions, women are excluded from preaching and celebrating the sacrament,” Chalker, pictured left, said. “But the Episcopal Church is known for being a very inclusive community where everyone is welcome.”

At the Litchfield Park sanctuary, church-goers will find a diverse community: seniors, singles, young families, gays, lesbians, Republicans, Demo-

crats, new Christians, life-long Catholics, and a variety of cultures represented under one roof.

The church is also known for its Montessori pre-school; outreach to the poor, homeless and incarcerated; its candlelight Taize services of prayer, chant and silence every first Sunday of the month; and its Sunday meditation sessions.

To learn more about St. Peter’s or to take part in its celebration of diversity, visit www.stpetersaz.com.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V17

SPOTLIGHTON

With these hands Avondale man uses talents to inspire, motivate others

B

ryan Kilgore has his hands in everything. From paint to pen to acoustic guitar, this man’s hands have remarkable abilities.

“It’s a God-given talent. I thank God for it,” the 35-year-old Avondale artist said. “I remember being at my cousin’s house, I must have been in the first grade. He was up in the room drawing a picture, and he had the table light on it, and I was just mesmerized by it. Ever since then I just knew I loved drawing.”

His cousin would eventually give up the art form, but Kilgore, realizing that the pencil is mightier than the sword, would find ways to harness his skills for a cause greater than himself.

“Apparently, I’m good at motivating and inspiring people of all ages in a positive way,” said Kilgore, who’s also an art teacher at Freedom Elementary School in Buckeye. “I make them think in creative ways, in ways they normally wouldn’t see things, in a different perspective, in a way to enhance their life.”

Perhaps that’s because art had a way of enhancing his own life.

Kilgore remembers being the “designated poster-drawer” throughout his V18

Avondale artist Bryan Kilgore takes aim at his next art project.

youth. In high school, his creative talents took off. An art piece entered into a contest by his teacher would eventually win him a scholarship to Grand Canyon University.

There he began creating murals, and since, he’s conjured up countless scenes on walls and in windows of schools and city structures. It was also in college when Kilgore began honing his skills in the realm of music.

“Ever since I was younger, my mom made me sing in a choir. So, I’ve always been singing, I just didn’t have the musical background,” he said.

As for ability to play an instrument, Kilgore would be the first to admit that his talent, for the longest time, was a bit out of tune.

“I was in band when I was little. I couldn’t even play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ on the saxophone. I was horrible,” he said. “But in college, it just clicked.”

Today, Kilgore sings and plays acoustic guitar, he performs praise and worship music at his church, and helped write and compose a Christian hip-hop musical a few years back. He even has an album out that serves as a soundtrack to

Logos, a Japanese animation series of biblically inspired graphic novels he created.

And that’s just one of Kilgore’s comic series. He’s got another called Bre Bre & BJ, which he created and based on his children in 2006.

Some of Kilgore’s publications are now available in the Avondale Public Library system, and one day — all things permitting — Kilgore said he’d like to see his comics turned into an animated cartoon series.

“I grew up on that kind of stuff,” he said. “I loved Saturday morning cartoons.”

Kilgore is also a member of the Avondale Municipal Art Committee. Currently, he and his students in the Liberty Elementary School District are working on a mural of Larry Fitzgerald for Black History Month. The giant portrait of the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver joins the likes of Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk on a classroom’s superhero-themed wall.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

See ARTS on V19

ARTS from V18 It’s through this wall that Kilgore said he hopes his students will learn the true meaning of being a hero — and it’s through his own artand faith-filled existence that Kilgore feels moved to do even more.

“I know for a fact I inspire, I motivate people,” he said.

“I think all my life I’ve been prepared to serve, through my life as a school teacher and as a servant. I feel called by God to serve, and I feel that’s where I should go next.”

So what’s the subsequent logical step for Kilgore in his colorful life? Make a run for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2012, if it weren’t obvious enough.

“With the time that we’re in right now. I really believe I have something to offer. I want to help paint our future in a positive way,” he said.

To learn more about Kilgore and his array of artistic works, visit www.bryankilgore.com.

– Frank Morris

DECORATING THE WEST VALLEY Goodyear-based Art League West is transforming the West Valley — for the brighter. The 14-year-old organization of amateur and professional artists has been involved in the community, working to promote creativity through education, demonstrations, and of course, displays of visual art itself.

If you’ve been one of the thousands of people to attend the art walks on Western Avenue, you’ve

probably met an artist — or 12 — from Art League West. It’s this organization, along with the city of Avondale, that makes these art walks a reality.

More examples of what these artists can do can be found at Avondale’s Civic Center Library.

That’s where you’ll spot a giant wall-sized mural depicting children’s fantasy themes, as well as a brand new art gallery showcasing these artists’ pieces.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V19

Mark your calendars No shortage of events in West Valley

O

ne thing about the West Valley that makes it great is the sheer number of events. Residents of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park and Tolleson don’t have to travel to downtown Phoenix or the East Valley for world-class events.

We have plenty of them right here to keep us busy throughout the year.

Here is a small sampling of some of the more prominent events of the West Valley, in chronological order:

river is why we settled in this area in the first place,” Vasiloff said in a 2009 issue of the View. “The river should be our crown jewel.”

So they took a vote about conducting an annual event, and by this posting, you know the result.

Due to the possibility of high water flows, this year the event will be held at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. in Goodyear. Event dates are March 5 and 6.

Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival

Litchfield Park Spring Art and Culinary Festival

The annual two-day event is put on by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Arizona Game & Fish Department, and centers on the flowing waters where the Salt and Agua Fria rivers join the Gila River.

Goodyear resident Heidi Vasiloff was one of the founders of the 9-year-old event. Its first year was just a meeting at Avondale’s Estrella Mountain Community College explaining to local dignitaries what the group wanted to do with the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s Base and Meridian Wildlife Area near the river.

“The story we wanted to tell was the

The annual two-day festival features hundreds of artists selling their wares along the streets of Old Litchfield Road and Wigwam Boulevard in downtown Litchfield Park.

The city has a similar fall festival as well, Festival of the Arts; however, the spring event incorporates culinary delights, including cooking demonstrations as well as wine and beer tastings. Musicians are also scattered throughout the event to entertain the crowds.

The event draws about 45,000 people

V20

View photo by Ray Thomas

SPOTLIGHTON

LUKE DAYS The annual two-day event is an open house and air show for Luke Air Force Base, which contributes $2.1 billion a year into the local economy.

This year’s show is being called “70 Years of Thunder” and will feature numerous performances by various groups, including the Thunderbirds, Golden Knights, Red Bull Aviation and Red Eagles Air Sports.

“The Thunderbirds are always the headliner and they’re always fantastic,” said Maj. Brian Healy in a 2009 View story.

The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force’s aerial demonstration team. The squadron was activated in 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit at Luke.

Currently, the Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas and tour the world performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in F-16 jets.

Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replacements must be trained for about half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience.

Show dates this year are March 19 and 20 at the Air Force base, which is just west of Litchfield Road between Northern and Maryland avenues.

See EVENTS on V21 Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

EVENTS from V20 to the streets over two days.

“People who come to the festival absolutely fall in love with it,” said Candy Vermillion, an event organizer, in a 2010 interview with the View. “For those who have never visited, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Southwest.”

And she’s not talking the southwest portion of the state, she means the country.

This year it will take place on March 12 and 13 and center on the Litchfield Branch Library area, 101 W. Wigwam Blvd.

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URBAN COWBOY WVV: What the heck is mutton bustin’, anyway?

Bobby Joe Ruth, then 6: I don’t know.

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See EVENTS on V22

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From the annual Halloween haunt Fear Farm to soccer fields providing youths and professionals a spot to play, Sheely Farms is a destination point for West Valley entertainment.

The farmland is regularly the sight of concerts, remote-controlled racing and most recently, a Christmas-themed attraction featuring 7 million lights.

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The annual event is big on rodeo but also features some mutton bustin’ action. What is mutton bustin’ you ask? Read on, courtesy of the 2005 West Valley View archives: West Valley View: What the heck is mutton bustin’, anyway?

Nick Karpenko, then 8: I don’t know.

WVV: You just signed up to do it, and you don’t know what it is? What do you think it is?

Nick: I think it’s sheep you ride on and try to win.

WVV: How do you win?

Nick: I don’t know.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V21

WHOOPEE DAZE FESTIVAL

EVENTS from V21 WVV: What the heck is mutton bustin’, anyway?

Josiah Karpenko, then 7: I don’t know.

WVV: “You don’t know? What if they make you get into a cage with a big, mean lion? Would you still want to do it?

Josiah: No. But there are no lions. Just sheep.

WVV: What do you have to do with the sheep in order to win? Do you have to wrestle them? Race them? Beat them at checkers?

Josiah: No. You just sit on it and ride it, and you win a bike.

This year’s Helzapoppin’ Rodeo is marking 80 years of events at the Helzapoppin Arena, 613 N. Fourth St. in Buckeye, and will also have a Western Weekend Vendor Fair both days in the arena’s parking lot.

This year the rodeo will be March 19 and 20.

V22

Fear Farm This 11-year attraction is not for the faint of heart.

Long-time West Valley resident and farmer Ken Sheely has turned his fields into haunted houses where more than 125 “haunters” are waiting to scare visitors to death.

“Nothing like having some kids to scare,” Brian Louder told the West Valley View in 2007. Louder has been working at the annual event for the past seven years.

“I get a thrill out of it. If you’re into scaring people, this is the place to be.”

Last year, the event had five separate haunted houses to walk through, including one where the haunters got up close and personal to their customers, touching them at times to pull them out of a trap and move safely from enemy fire.

The event runs Thursday through Sunday in October, with select dates in September as well. Fear Farm is just north of McDowell Road on the east side of 99th Avenue.

The annual four-day event initially celebrated the founding of Tolleson; however, the most popular attraction in the city has grown to become much more.

Its first day, Youth Day, is reserved for students to participate in various activities, followed by three days of carnival fun, sports tournaments, musical entertainment and plenty of craft and food vendors. The Saturday morning parade is also a crowd pleaser.

And for those wondering where the name came from, here is the answer, courtesy of Shirley Caudle, the 51-year-old festival’s first queen.

“At one point when I was really little, we had what we called Gold Rush Days, but then it just fizzled out,” she said in a View story from 2007. “So P.J. Green and some of the other business owners in Tolleson got together and said, ‘We need to have some kind of thing once a year.’

Somebody said, ‘Oh, whoopee,’ in the conversation and that’s how the actual name came about.”

The event runs this year from April 7 to 10 at Tolleson Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren St.

See EVENTS on V24 Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

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SMALL TOWN, BIG PLANNER Ask around the city of Tolleson who is most responsible for an event running smoothly or that police station being built and odds are the answer is the same: John Paul Lopez.

The Assistant City Manager is in his 10th year with the city, though he has been working his favorite event, the Whoopee Daze Festival, much longer.

Lopez — who graduated from Tolleson Union High School in 1985 — recalls working at the founders day celebration first as a Boy Scout and then as a teenager with various groups.

The reason it’s his favorite still, “We bring top-quality entertainment and it’s free,” he said.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V23

PARK PLANNER EVENTS from V22

Winter Trout Derby Tierra Verde Lake in Litchfield Park is the site of this annual January event.

About 1,000 trout are brought in from a Colorado-based fish hatchery each year.

The day-long event attracts upwards of 600 people.

The annual fishing event originally “started as a catfish derby for the Fourth of July,” Sonny Culbreth said in the View in January. “It was too hot one year and the fish wouldn’t bite for anything.”

The Litchfield Park Recreation director had heard of trout derbies and began looking into the prospect.

“So I checked into a trout derby and found out we could do one as long as the lake is cold enough,” he said. “And in January it is cold enough.”

Native American Art Festival Another event that takes place near downtown Litchfield Park, this 19-yearold festival features Native American V24

artists and performers.

A staple of the event in the past has been musician Arvel Bird. The Southern Paiute is a regular festival entertainer throughout the southwest U.S. “Anytime I get to play the flute or violin, it’s a good day,” said Bird, who began playing at age 9, in a 2009 View article. “Music has been my way of life. I let my violin and flute do the singing for me. Everyone takes away what they want and need; it’s very fulfilling to me and satisfying.”

The event is conducted over a weekend in January at Scout Park, 200 W. Fairway Drive. It features more than 170 different artists representing several tribes.

Wander through any of the worldclass events that bring thousands of people to the streets of downtown Litchfield Park and chances are you’ll see Sonny Culbreth.

Culbreth — who has two titles for the city, recreation director and assistant city manager — is the calm behind the scenes, making sure things go off without any major mishaps.

Always smiling and friendly, his easy-going personality has rubbed off on the Litchfield Park events, making them some of the best the West Valley has to offer.

Now in its third year, this trek takes runners throughout the West Valley.

The 26.2-mile course starts in the Verrado community of Buckeye, and meanders through Goodyear, Avondale, Litchfield Park and west Phoenix, passing several area landmarks, before reaching its conclusion at Westgate City Center in Glendale.

Local officials, such as mayors, cheer on runners as they cross the finish line.

The event is the brainchild of Litchfield Park resident Debra Undhjem, who paired her love for running with her passion for the West Valley, and managed to forge community partnerships that would result in the regional multi-city marathon.

“My imagination was never great enough to know that it would be embraced so wholeheartedly,” she told the View this year.

The February event also features a health and fitness expo.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

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BATTER UP America’s pastime has become the West Valley’s pastime now that Major League Baseball Spring Training has clobbered a home run into two local stadiums: The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds play at the Goodyear Ballpark, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox play at Glendale’s Camelback Ranch.

The games take place throughout March at the new stadiums. Tickets vary in price, though each ballpark has affordable tickets that start around $10 or lower. And unless two popular teams are playing each other, most games never sell out, which means decent tickets can be purchased at the stadium the day of the game.

Goodyear Ballpark is at 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. Camelback Ranch is at 10710 W. Camelback Road, Glendale. Tickets can be purchased at the gates of each stadium the day of a game or by phone by calling 1-800745-3000.

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona

3 Valley Locations... We are always here for you.

Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona exemplifies Heart Care at its Best! The Cardiologists at Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona are leaders in cardiovascular diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and education.

The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona physicians provide the highest level of cardiovascular care to patients through their expertise, with over 25 years experience treating cardiovascular disease in Arizona.

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Heart disease can be prevented or controlled. The risk factors include: high blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, overweight, diabetes, inactivity and a family history of early heart disease.

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623-535-5488 V30

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

The Vibrant Retirement Choice!

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

View photo by Ray Thomas

SPOTLIGHTON

Coaching success Football coach Jeff Bowen leads Westview to greatness

T

he West Valley is fortunate to have many fine coaches in a multitude of sports. One who particularly stands out is Westview High School football coach Jeff Bowen.

He is the region’s longest-tenured gridiron leader since Kelly Epley stepped down at Agua Fria.

Bowen has coached for 24 years, the last eight of which have been at Westview, where he has compiled a 63-34 overall record and an 11-6 playoff mark.

The Knights have made playoff appearances in each of the last six seasons, including trips to the state championship game in 2007 and ’08. They have advanced to the quarterfinals all six seasons.

“We have never lost in the first round,” Bowen said. “We didn’t make it the first two years, but have made it every year since.”

Westview has become a perennial playoff contender despite not having many blue-chip athletes and a willingness to face any opponent.

“He’ll play anyone in the state,” Westview Athletic Director Mike Warren said.

Four Knights have received NCAA Football Championship Series (formerly Division I) scholarships during Bowen’s Spring/Summer 2011

“

We preach community, school and the football program.

Jeff Bowen Football coach

years at the helm.

Shelley Smith played at Colorado State University before being drafted in 2010 by the NFL’s Houston Texans. Jourdon Grandon is playing at the University of Arizona, and Guy Reynolds and Vince Kenner are at the University of Idaho.

Several factors have contributed to the success, Bowen said.

“I have an administration that supports me,” he said. “I have a great coaching staff.

“We haven’t had many kids move to play at Westview. We do it with neighborhood kids that grow up wanting to play Westview football. We have hardworking neighborhood kids that have busted their butts and that has led to success on the field.”

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Football coach Jeff Bowen calls a play to a Westview football player.

The decision to hire Bowen at Westview was an easy one for Warren, who had worked with Bowen at Phoenix North Canyon High School. It’s worked out great.

“It was an easy decision to hire Jeff when I was looking for a football coach,” Warren said. “It was very important to me to bring him in. We were very fortunate to hire him.”

Bowen epitomizes what an athletic director looks for in a football coach, Warren said.

“Jeff is a workhorse,” Warren said.

“I think he is one of the best football coaches in the state. He works on working to get better. That’s who he is and that translates to his players.

“In addition to winning games, he brought in boosters and has his kids involved in the community. The football program is always really important and sets the table for other sports.”

Community involvement is important to Bowen.

“Our players are involved with the See SPORTS on V34 V33

West Valley students move to the big leagues

T

Photo courtesy Shawn Wood/Studio 7

Local heroes he West Valley has had its share of prominent athletes move on from local high schools to greater heights.

Perhaps the most famous alumnus among West Valley athletes is Agua Fria’s Randall McDaniel.

An all-state performer for the Owls, McDaniel went on to become an AllAmerican at Arizona State University before moving on to a star-studded 13-year career with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the following year.

Following McDaniel’s path leading from Agua Fria to the Vikings is Everson Griffen.

Griffen was the Vikings’ fourth-round

draft pick out of the University of Southern California in 2010 and played in 11 games as a rookie defensive end.

A pair of former Owls — Aaron Altherr and Sammy Solis — has been drafted by Major League Baseball teams in the last few years and are progressing through the farm system on separate teams.

Altherr was the ninth-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. He played for the Gulf Coast League Phillies and Williamsport Crosscutters in 2010 and was named the Phillies No. 10 prospect

by Baseball America.

Altherr batted .287 with seven doubles, three triples and 10 RBI the Gulf Coast League. That performance earned him a promotion to Williamsport, where he batted .304 with a home run, six doubles, a triple and 15 RBI. Left-handed starting pitcher Sammy

Solis was the 2010 second-round selection of the Washington Nationals out of the University of San Diego.

Solis pitched two games for Hagerstown in Low Class A before performing well for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a 2-0 record, including earning the victory in the league championship game with a 3.58 earned run average in 27 2/3 innings. He struck out 15 and walked eight. Baseball America named Solis the Nationals’ No. 6 prospect.

Nick Hysong, the 2000 Olympic gold medal winner in the pole vault, still holds the state high school record for the event, clearing 17 feet, 4 ¾ inches while competing for Tolleson High School in 1990.

Brent Fisher, a left-handed pitcher,

SPORTS from V33

factors we judge kids on. For the most part we have had really good kids in the program.”

Bowen also is active off the gridiron.

He has served on the Arizona Football Coaches Board of Directors for several years and he is currently the organization’s acting president.

Bowen’s career path was determined early in life and Warren is pleased with the choice.

It was always his intent to follow a career path in coaching, Bowen said.

“The people who influenced me the most when I was in high school and college were my teachers and I always knew I would teach and coach,” he said.

“At this point, you expect the success,” Warren said. “As long as he is here, our football program will be good.”

Fiesta Bowl Youth Clinic,” Bowen said.

“Our players do the West Valley passing camp. They work our championship football camp. Our players have also been highly involved with the Race for the Cure, raising funds for breast cancer awareness.

“We preach community, school and the football program. Those are the three V34

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

See ATHLETES on V41

– Mike Russo Spring/Summer 2011

SPOTLIGHTON

Say hello to your tour guide Park Ranger brightens the day at Estrella Mountain park

P

atricia Armstrong didn’t set out to be a park ranger; it just kind of happened.

Armstrong, who works at Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear, puts together ranger programs to teach visitors all about Arizona’s deserts and what they have to offer.

“Being out in nature helps brains work better,” she said. “Being in nature elevates your mood, so it makes you happy, which is especially important these days when times are tough and people have a lot of worries. It’s a really good way to make yourself a little happier, get out, get healthy, breathe some fresh air, look at the beauties all around us. Arizona is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.”

The best part about Armstrong’s job is the creativity she gets to use when putting a program together. Not only that, but she learns new things every day. After five years on the job, there are not many questions that stump her anymore.

“Most of the time I know the answer Spring/Summer 2011

to most things, and if I don’t know the answer and somebody asks me a question, I go and look it up and I have more information,” Armstrong said. “That’s very helpful to me.”

Before working at Estrella, Armstrong led tourists through the desert on horseback rides at the White Tanks Riding Stables. She would take people on one- to two-hour rides and tell them about the desert.

“I actually pretended I was a park ranger,” Armstrong said. “So I learned about the different plants, just something to talk to people about as we were riding by, point out interesting things we saw in the park.”

Armstrong has a bachelor’s degree in history and has done coursework for a master’s in archeology. In addition to taking people out at the White Tanks on horseback, she also worked part time at the Phoenix Zoo as a mule handler at Harmony Farm. When someone would ask her a question during her horseback rides, she would go to the zoo and find Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Park Ranger Patricia Armstrong portrays infamous stage-coach robber Pearl Hart on a trail inside Estrella Mountain Regional Park.

the answer, helping increase her knowledge of the area.

“After a few months I pretty much had heard all the questions and had most of the answers,” she said.

Becoming a park ranger was still not on her radar, though. One day while looking in the want ads, she saw that a position was open and she decided to apply.

“It seemed very fateful to me, because who hasn’t wanted to be a park ranger?” she said. “It’s one of the fun jobs.”

She applied, not thinking she would actually get it, and aced the interview because of her vast knowledge of the desert.

“It’s actually a wonderful job that really suits me because I love teaching people, I’m interested in everything, and a park really encompasses everything.”

Armstrong’s ranger programs include See OUTDOORS on V55 V35

SPOTLIGHTON

Soaring over the Valley Luke pilot, Capt. Chris Morton, recounts the feeling of flight

I

sit down in the jet and right away the habit patterns begins: all the switch actuations, all the checks I do, everything that I’ve been trained to do begins. I’ve done it all a thousands of times. It’s almost instinct to get the jet up and running.

You actually start the jet with the canopy open, and that’s always a part that gets my heart pumping. You flip the engine from the off position to the idle position, you flip a switch and start getting fuel flow and then the RPM starts winding up. These things really get your blood moving pretty fast. By the time that canopy comes down, it’s showtime, and it goes from very loud to very quiet.

We hear some chatter on the radio, like from the crew chief, who is checking the jet outside as I’m doing my checks inside.

We pass some checks back and forth, but other than that radio talk back and forth and this soft hum I’m sitting in a bubble with very little noise.

Taxiing out to the runway looks strange to people watching because my hands are usually up resting on the glare shield. It looks like the plane is moving itself, but really I’m controlling it with my feet.

During takeoff, it’s almost like you can hear an audible sigh of relief once you V36

Capt. Chris Morton stands next to an F-16 near the flightline at Luke Air Force Base.

“

[At night] we see shooting stars and things like that. It’s incredible. In some respects, it’s very peaceful up there.

Everyone is kind of tucked away in their beds down below and we’re up there just keeping an eye on things.

Capt. Chris Morton F-16 Pilot

leave the ground and the gear comes up as it should. Take-off is one of the most critical phases of flight, so when we’re in the air it feels good. Taking off feels a lot like it would in a commercial jet — or even in a sports car taking off after a red light — but it’s more intense. An F-16 isn’t as heavy and doesn’t need as much runway to take off as a commercial jet, so I’m feeling that speed at a more intense level.

On the ground the jets are, of course, very loud. People standing next to them need double hearing protection. But up in the air, with the engine behind you,

you would be amazed how quiet it is. It’s an eerie silence. But then there’s also this excitement as well. My heart rate seems to be linked to the jet’s RPM gauge: as I go faster and faster, I feel more of a rush of what I’m doing. The first time I flew in the front seat I had the sensation I was going to fall out of the seat. The canopy rail literally comes up to my lower mid-section. It’s kind of unnerving, but it provides an amazing view.

The lower you are the more power you

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

See ADVENTURE on V55

PERSONALITY from V14

Another figure, Jimmy Ruiz, 66, is a historian and lifelong Tolleson resident who was the town’s postmaster for 28 years before retiring in 2000.

“I take a lot of pride in my Tolleson background,” Ruiz told the View.

In 2008, Ruiz and Jim Green, another longtime resident, combined their extensive knowledge of the city and turned it into a book titled Tolleson.

“My favorite part is Chapter 5 in which we detail the tremendous contribution made by Tolleson residents in serving in the nation’s armed forces,” Ruiz said.

Goodyear resident Jim McCoy, 89, an enthusiastic World War II veteran, travels the West Valley performing “America’s Freedom — a Salute to our Veterans” to school and community groups.

“It’s a wonderful life,” McCoy said. “In addition, I tell horse and railroad stories, as well as write books, not to mention finding the time to be able to play golf practically every day.”

McCoy, who writes both poetry and prose, said working as a grade-school and college teacher, as well as fathering seven children, have served to keep him active.

Besides his extensive writing, public speaking and intense golf schedule — he typically holds court from his golf cart, where he tells stories and greets friends — McCoy is also a keen humorist. He said, facetiously, that he is thinking of running for Congress in 2012.

GOVERNMENT from V6 may be in our future,” Litchfield Park Mayor Tom Schoaf said.

Those friendly meals fed a strong working relationship and helped to create a united front when the southwest cities needed to tackle a large project, such as the widening of Interstate 10.

The major thoroughfare of the Southwest Valley touches Tolleson, Goodyear, Avondale and Buckeye. Thousands of people regularly drive I-10 when commuting from home to work and back again.

The roadway was not scheduled for expansion until this year but leaders rallied along with Maricopa Association of Governments to begin the expansion three years early.

The stretch of I-10 through the Southwest Valley was often considered a high-risk accident area because traffic merged from several lanes to two, before the widening.

“It’s a regional transportation corridor,” Tolleson Mayor Adolfo Gamez said. “It could be anyone on that highway.”

Partnering with your neighbors makes economical sense, too, Schoaf said.

Litchfield Park and Goodyear have an agreement for fire and emergency services. Goodyear is paid an annual sum to supply services to Litchfield Park, which Spring/Summer 2011

would otherwise be without such critical services.

“In almost every situation, there is a benefit on both sides for these different relationships,” Schoaf said. “Given today’s economic reality in which all of the cities are looking for ways to be more cost effective, it gives everyone a shared perspective.”

Many such examples of partnership are alive and well in the Southwest Valley. Partnerships exist in the areas of fundraising, education, domestic violence, transportation and economic development.

A few years back, Snyder’s of Hanover considered Tolleson as a possible place to locate a new facility, Gamez said. When it turned out not to be exactly what the manufacturer needed, Tolleson gave it an alternative location to consider.

“Hanover, instead of turning them away, we asked them to go to Goodyear; we thought that was a good fit for them,” Gamez said. “And what’s good for a business that locates in Goodyear is good for Tolleson, too.”

Today, cities need to look outward in resolving their problems, Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck said.

Towns across the country have their own sets of unique situations and problems, but that doesn’t mean they can’t draw inspiration and resources from others, he said.

“All of the West Valley is all of us and all of our constituents,” Meck said. “I don’t look at us as apart or separate. We still cooperate and deal and discuss and talk about a lot of things that are unique not only to us individually but to us as a West Valley city. Roads, streets, they all connect.”

– Sara Bisker

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V37

The West Valley mayors

Buddhist worshipers Vanida Vithagarath, right, Prasert Pratumsiri, Mayora Pratumsiri and Suthirat Soimora pray Feb. 4 at the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple in Waddell. The Temple, along with other religious buildings, stands as a testament to the diversity of the people and faiths throughout the West Valley.

RELIGION from V16 to learn more about Buddhism. It was a match made in Buddhist heaven, and six months later, he became a monk.

“Buddhists stress three things: Do no evil, do only good, and purify the mind,” Callaway said. “The Buddha believed if you purified your mind and thought no bad thoughts, there wouldn’t be.”

It’s through this mindset that the Thai community at the Buddhist temple has been able to heal and progress, he said.

“I’ve never met anyone on the path to enlightenment or who wasn’t already enlightened that wasn’t really strong into meditation,” Callaway said. “You have to practice it. I know a lot of monks, who for

20 years, still haven’t been [enlightened].

But then again, I know some who have.”

Meditation plays a big role in the Buddhist faith, but the important thing to keep in mind when practicing meditation, Callaway said, is to choose a form — there are about 40 total — that works best for you, and to stick with it.

“Then some magical things happen,” he said. “You’ll see some things you wouldn’t believe.”

Buddhism plays such a huge role in the Thai community, Weerasa said: “I think it’s kind of the heart and soul. For us, we believe in kindness, the good nature of things, and in doing good.”

Weerasa described Thai Buddhists as “a humble people.”

“We don’t get really angry when something bad happens, or try to get revenge,” she said. “There’s just acceptance, a lot of forgiveness, because something happens for a reason.”

And for those interested in Buddhism or Thai heritage, Wat Promkunaram exists for a reason: It is a place of hope and love and faith, Weerasa said.

“We only do good stuff, we only do good things,” she said. “Whoever wants to harm us, we give them love. They get angry with us, we give them more love back.”

For information on Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple of Arizona, visit www. watprom.com.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

– Frank Morris

St. Thomas Aquinas: Big faith There’s no question about it: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is big. It’s the largest Catholic church — both in terms of physical size and in congregation numbers — in Arizona. About 20,000 believers attend this Avondale parish, which also has an army of some 1,800 volunteers to keep things going. Overseeing all this is the Rev. Kieran Kleczewski.

“I think probably what I do best is I’m a teacher. I’m a teacher of faith, a teacher of church and history, and drawing out of our past, work to set the vision for us as we move into the future,” Kleczewski said.

Along with developing plans for a Catholic high school on the church grounds, Kleczewski is working on ways to address “our large immigrant population and dealing with your young people dropping out of school, trying to keep them engaged,” he said.

On top of all that, the father said he tries to pass on an appreciation for music and the arts, “the kinds of things that make us all humans.”

To be a part of the big plans at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, visit www.stacc.net.

V38

SPOTLIGHTON

Chef delivers back-to-basics food

C

hef Matthew Steffen has visited the Nubian dairy goats responsible for producing the cheese raviolis complementing his pork saltimbocca dish at Red Allen’s in Litchfield Park.

Crow’s Dairy in Buckeye, where the goats live, is a family-owned and operated farm delivering fresh goat cheese to the restaurant at the Wigwam Resort, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd.

More than locally produced milk has been incorporated into the Chef de Cuisine’s menu, which focuses on “sustainability, locality, seasonality and tasteality,” he said.

“My concept behind what a good meal is, to me, is knowing where your food comes from. You go to a lot of restaurants and they prepare a good meal but just because it’s good food, doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” he said. “What I like to do is use a lot of local farmers so we can actually go to the place and see where it comes from and kind of get a feel for the food to know exactly how it’s raised, whether it be beef, vegetable, or a produce of some sort.”

Whole chickens are bought, then roastSpring/Summer 2011

“

Chef Matthew Steffen, left, and Julio Lerma cook up some breakfast and early-lunch meals Feb. 9 at Red Allen's restaurant in Litchfield Park.

I think there’s a beautiful thing the food simple, most of it — from Engto the simplicity lish muffins to corned beef — is prepared in-house. of food.”

Steffen wouldn’t have it any other way, Matthew Steffen Chef de Cuisine

ed and boiled for use in chicken pot pies.

Fish from trout farms in Sedona supply the protein for entrees and sandwiches and the more than 130,000 chickens nesting at Hickman’s Family Farms in Glendale and Buckeye lay the main ingredient for hollandaise sauce used on the eggs benedict.

Knowing where your food comes from is inspirational, Steffen said.

“You can feel proud of what you’re serving,” he said. “When you go to the grocery store and you pick up a piece of cheese, you don’t really know what’s in that cheese until you look at the ingredients label.”

Not the case at Red Allen’s. Not only is Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

he said, it’s a trend people of the Southwest Valley appreciate.

“I think there’s a beautiful thing to the simplicity of food,” he said. “Do I think that’s re-inventing the wheel? Absolutely not, but I think it’s going back to the basics and make sure everything I touch out there — everything I’m putting on a plate — I’m taking the time and dedication to make sure it’s absolutely perfect.”

Red Allen’s serves food from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. More information is available by calling 623-8561094 or viewing the Web site www.wigwamresort.com/dining.html – Sara Bisker See Matthew Steffen’s best hamburger tips on Page V40 V39

FOOD from V39

Tips for a great burger by Matthew Steffen, Chef de Cuisine at Red Allen’s at the Wigwam in Litchfield Park.

DINING

Bread: Start with a nice, thick buttery bun. Brioche or challah are good options.

Add a mist of water and sprinkling of salt to the top.

Take it to the next level by grilling or toasting it.

Toppings: Be creative and keep it fresh. Old tomatoes don’t do a burger justice, but crisp lettuce paired with your favorite cheese — perhaps an aged cheddar or bleu cheese — will give it personality.

Sauce: Again, be creative.

Go beyond the A1 sauce and instead mix together mayonnaise with diced jalepeño or garlic, and onion. Some liquids such as soda or a stout beer can be used to baste the burger with, too.

Meat: Chuck or browned sirloin or a combination of the two make for a good patty. Keep the meat a little fatty, about an 80/20 ratio.

Some fattiness in meat is good because that’s where the flavor is.

Cooking: When cooking the patty, don’t smash the meat. If you press it on the grill, the juices will run and with it the flavor. Cook it on a hot grill — hotter the better. Searing the outside creates a crunchy exterior and juicy center. Most importantly, don’t overcook it. And here’s a big tip: medium rare is where all the flavor is.

Something Fishy is Going on at Pete’s Something Fishy is Going on at Pete’s

FREE

Monster Burger with any purchase over $5.00

1.00 OFF

$

Any Seafood Combo

Limit 1 per customer per visit per day

Limit 1 per customer per visit per day

Value $1.45. Expires 8/31/11.

Offer good at Tolleson location only.

Not valid with any other offer or coupon.

Sorry no checks, no credit or debit cards.

Expires 8/31/11.

Offer good at Tolleson location only.

Not valid with any other offer or coupon.

Sorry no checks, no credit or debit cards.

9309 W. Van Buren 623-936-3111 Downtown Tolleson Call in your phone order Pete’s FISH & CHIPS Hours INC. Drive thru/Take out Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-10:30 pm www.petesfishandchips.com Our specialty

9309 W. Van Buren 623-936-3111 Downtown Tolleson Call in your phone order Pete’s FISH & CHIPS Hours INC. Drive thru/Take out Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-10:30 pm www.petesfishandchips.com Our specialty

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

ATHLETES from V34

Tolleson graduate Mike Bell

Angels of Anaheim in 2010 and batted .292 with seven home runs and 42 RBI. He also had 14 doubles, four triples and 39 walks for the Orem Owlz.

– Mike Russo

On The Green Tee off with Call today and reserve your Golf Ad in September’s Vista!

AT PEBBLECREEK GOLF RESORT

COUNTRY CLUB GOLF WITH AFFORDABLE PRICES 45 CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF HOLES AVAILABLE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC • TEE TIMES 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE TOURNAMENTS WELCOME INDIVIDUAL & GROUP LESSONS AVAILABLE GREAT PRACTICE FACILITY APPROPRIATE GOLF ATTIRE REQUIRED. SOFT SPIKES & NO JEANS. y.

Eagle’s Nest

Fw Fria Agu a 99th Ave.

Golf Resort

Litchfield Rd.

N Pebble Creek

Pebble Creek Parkway (Exit 126)

Call 623-535-8439 Spring/Summer 2011

I-17

Gr

an

dA ve

.

Indian School Rd.

I-10

(623) 935-6750 Tuscany Falls (623) 536-2491

PEBBLECREEK GOLF RESORT 3645 Clubhouse Drive 1 Mile W. of Litchfield on Indian School

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

2/11 WVV

Take exit 126 off West I-10 Go North on PebbleCreek Hwy 1 mile to Clubhouse Drive V41

GOLF

graduated from Tolleson in 2005 and was the seventh-round selection of the Kansas City Royals that June. He pitched five seasons with the Royals’ organization before having his career curtailed by injuries.

Another pair of Tolleson graduates made their marks on the gridiron: Mike Bell and Marcus Thomas.

Bell, a 2001 graduate, earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2009 New Orleans Saints. He broke into the NFL in 2006 with the Denver Broncos and played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns in 2010.

When he was in high school, Bell was the second player in state history to rush for 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons, earning him a college scholarship to the University of Arizona.

Thomas still holds the state single-season and career rushing records at 3,573 and 5,878 yards, respectively.

Thomas, who gradated from Tolleson in 2003, went on to star at the University of Texas at El Paso and played briefly in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.

Westview has produced four graduates who have played professional football in recent years:

• Nick Harris has put together a 10year career in the NFL, punting for the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions.

• Wide receiver Andrae Thurman has played with the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans of the NFL, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, the Dallas Desperadoes of the Arena Football League and Las Vegas of the United Football League.

• Drisan James played for Boise State University in one of the more memorable bowl games in collegiate history, the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, in which the Broncos upset the University of Oklahoma, 43-42 in overtime. He went on to play for the Hamilton Tigers of the CFL. • The most recent former Knight to play professional is Shelley Smith, who was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2010 following a standout career at Colorado State University. Smith started the season on the Texans’ 53-man roster before finishing the year on the practice squad.

Kole Calhoun, a 2006 graduate of Buckeye Union High School, enjoyed a highly success collegiate career at Yavapai College and ASU. He was the eighthround draft pick of the Los Angeles

DIRECTORYOF

WORSHIP

Avondale, Goodyear

Abundant Harvest Church

919 N. Dysart Road, Suite N and O Avondale 623-810-2355 www.abundantharvestchurch.org

Avondale Christian Assembly 541 E. Main St., Avondale 623-932-1670 www.avondalechurch.com

Calvary Chapel

3673 S. Bullard Ave., Goodyear 623-925-2440 www.calvarygoodyear.org

Christ Community United Methodist Church 104 W. Western Ave., Avondale 623-932-3480 www.myccumc.com

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church 918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-932-2394 www.christevangelical.org

V42

Christ Presbyterian Church

Cornerstone Christian Center

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Crossings Church

925 N. Sarival Ave., Goodyear 623-882-0721 www.cpcgoodyear.org

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

Coldwater Church

15 N. Fifth St., Avondale 623-249-9694 www.coldwaterchurch.com

Compass Church

16060 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 623-935-3060 www.compasschurch.info

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

11301 W. Indian School Road, Avondale 623-877-3220 www.cornerstoneaz.org Desert Edge High School 15778 W. Yuma Rd Goodyear 623-239-1096 www.goodyearcrossings.org

Desert Springs Community Church

14440 W. Indian School Road, Goodyear 623-435-2105 www.dscchurch.com

Estrella Falls Baptist Church Centerra Mirage Elementary 15151 W. Centerra Drive South Goodyear 623-932-2723 www.estrellafallsbc.org

Estrella Mountain Church

10485 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear 623-386-0300 www.emcaz.org Spring/Summer 2011

Faith Harvest

Corte Sierra Elementary 3300 N. Santa Fe Trail Avondale 623-444-9762 www.faithharvest.com

Faith on Fire Church

13770 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 602-690-1442 www.faithonfirechurch.com

First Baptist Church Garden Lakes

2517 N. 107th Ave., Avondale 623-936-7148 www.gardenlakesbaptist.com

First Southern Baptist Church

1001 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-2723 www.fsbca.org

Gateway Baptist Church 12409 W Indian School Rd, Ste C312 Avondale 623-628-8885

Goodyear Church of Christ

807 N. La Jolla Blvd., Goodyear 623-932-1042 www.goodyearchurchofchrist.org

715 E. Western Ave., Avondale 623-932-6453 www.harvestoutreachaz.com

Heritage Baptist Church Rio Vista Elementary 10237 W. Encanto Blvd., Avondale 623-882-2351 www.HeritageBaptistAZ.org

918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 602-750-3411 www.holyfam.webs.com

In His Presence Christian Center Comfort Suites 15575 W. Roosevelt St., Goodyear 623-688-3447 www.ihpcconline.com

Jehovah’s Witnesses 14038 W. Yuma Road, Goodyear 623-932-1708

King of Kings P.C.A.

Western Sky Middle School 4095 N. 144th Ave., Goodyear 623-385-6607 www.kingofkingspca.org

Litchfield Park First Baptist Church

901 Plaza Circle, Avondale 623-935-3163

Morning Star Baptist Church

500 S. Seventh St., Avondale 623-932-4320

The Sanctuary Community Church

Palm Valley Church 431 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-536-2106 www.palmvalley.org

Avondale Community Center 1007 S. Third St., Avondale 623-936-6793 www.thesanctuarycc.com

The Rock

Skyway Church of the West Valley

Luke Elementary School 7300 N. Dysart Road, Glendale 623-932-1009 www.therockaz.com

14900 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 623-935-4858 www.skywaychurch.com

COME GROW WITH US Uplifting Music/Inspiring Sermons 9:15am - Worship Service/Nursery 10:45am - Contemporary Worship Service/Nursery and Elementary Church School Rev. Robert L. Simmons

CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WWW.CPCGOODYEAR.ORG

Spring/Summer 2011

PASTOR

Rev. Brett Everett DIR. OF CHILDREN, YOUTH & CHRISTIAN ED

St. John Vianney Catholic Church and School 539 E. La Pasada Blvd., Goodyear 623-932-3313 parish.sjvaz.net school.sjvaz.net

WORSHIP

Harvest Outreach Christian Center

Holy Family Independent Catholic Church

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 13720 W. Thomas Road, Avondale 623-935-2151 www.stacc.net

Where Jesus is the Focus of Everything We Do

Worship Services: ". t ". t ". t 1.

DESERT SPRINGS COMMUNITY CHURCH

14440 W. Indian School Road Goodyear, AZ 85395 623-435-2105

Joe Honsberger DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

925 N. SARIVAL AVE. GOODYEAR, AZ 85338 623.882.0721

For complete information:

www.dscchurch.com

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V43

St. Thomas Lutheran Church 16220 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 623-925-1095

Temple of Faith

201 E. Main St., Avondale 623-680-6683

Trinity Lutheran Church 830 E. Plaza Circle Avondale 623-935-4665

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

18503 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 602-525-8467

1002 Eason Ave., Buckeye 623-386-6435

West Valley United Pentecostal Church

Community Church of Buckeye 810 Eason Ave., Buckeye 623-386-2674 www.ccobumc.org

16277 W. Jackson St., Goodyear 623-692-6850

Word of Life Christian Center

Truth Tabernacle Church — Pentecostal United 825 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-0893

Vineyard Church

255 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-932-2500 www.azvineyard.org

Vision Baptist Church

Desert Thunder Elementary 623-687-7118 www.visionbaptistchurch.com

West Valley Assembly of God 1781 N. Central Ave., Goodyear 623-932-5737 www.westvalleyassembly.com

Desert Hills Baptist Church

1425 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-2055 www.wordoflifechristiancenter.net Buckeye

Jasinski Elementary School 4280 S. 246th Ave., Buckeye 623-202-2822 www.dhbcb.org

Arlington Baptist Church

Buckeye First Assembly

Arlington Road and Old Highway 80 P.O. Box 70, Arlington 623-386-1447

23230 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4783 www.buckeyefirstassembly.net

Buckeye Light & Life Church

First Southern Baptist Church of Buckeye

304 E Roosevelt Ave., Buckeye 623-386-4759

Buckeye Seventh Day Adventist

North 4th Street and Narramore Avenue Buckeye 623-386-4588 www.buckeyesda.org

Camino de Santidad

First Assembly of God Church 23230 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-986-0933

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

Schedule of Services Tuesday: Sunday: Sunday School ......9:30am Tuesday Night Live-Bible Study Morning Worship .10:45am (Youth 7th-12th Grades).......... 7:00pm Wednesday: Children’s Church 10:45am AWANA Clubs Evening Worship ...6:00pm *(Age 3-12th Grade) .............. 6:30pm Adult Bible Study ............ 7:00pm

Santa Fe Trail

Impacting Kids’ & Youth Ministries | Annual Marriage & Parenting Conferences Christ-Centered Discipleship | Purpose-Driven Small Groups

Indian School Rd.

Dysart Rd.

WORSHIP

West Valley Fellowship

N

Sundays, 9 & 11am 3300 Santa Fe Trail Avondale, 85392

101

Osborne

10

FaithHarvest.com

623-936-7148 • www.gardenlakesbaptist.com

Garden Lakes Christian Academy A ministry of First Baptist Church, Garden Lakes

Garden Lakes Christian Academy is a center of academic excellence for toddlers and preschool age children offering a positive and caring environment where your child may develop social behaviors, moral values, and Godly principles.

12 MONTHS-5 YEARS • DAYCARE & PRESCHOOL BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE K-6TH

623.444.9762

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623-936-9147 • www.glcacademy.org 2517 N. 107th Avenue, Avondale, Arizona 85392 V44

Z Z Z V W U H D P V F K X U F K R U J

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

Jehovah’s Witnesses

New Jerusalem Ministries

Liberty United Methodist Church

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

Buckeye Congregation 23427 W. Pioneer St., Buckeye 623-386-2775

19900 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4090

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

Maranatha Baptist Church 201 W. Baseline Road, Buckeye

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church 403 N. Fourth St., Buckeye 623-386-6365

Mt. Zion Christian Assembly 1421 S. Palo Verde Road, Hopeville 623-386-9677 www.zionitis.org

508 Clanton Buckeye 623-386-2714

10 N. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-386-6708

Palo Verde Baptist Church 29600 W. Old Highway 80 623-393-9628

Summit of Hope Assembly of God 24500 W. Maricopa, Buckeye 623-695-0224

Valley Christian Ministries

Bales Elementary School 25400 W. Maricopa Road, Buckeye 623-505-6220 www.vcm1.ws

Victory Baptist Church

The River Church

Verrado High School gymnasium 20050 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye 623-262-4969 www.theriverchurchaz.com

St. Henry Catholic Church

Sundance Elementary School — Sunday Mass 23800 W. Hadley St., Buckeye 128 S. Third St. — All other Masses Buckeye 623-386-6407

Summit Community Church

4291 Verrado Way, No. 232, Buckeye 623-535-0251 www.summitcc.org

12808 S. Tuthill 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 Rd., Buckeye 623-695-5623

West Valley Free Will Baptist Church

19956 W. McDowell Road, Buckeye 623-853-0570

Traditional

Fresh

Some would say you can’t have it both ways ...

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Spring/Summer 2011

You Can! A traditional church can still be ...

• Exciting • Practical • Friendly • Relevant • Inspirational • Fun

Meeting at: Wigwam Creek Middle School 4510 N. 127th Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ • (623) 521-3549 www.westpointebaptist.org

Sunday Services: 10:30a.m. & 6:00p.m.

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V45

WORSHIP

AND

White Tanks Southern Baptist Church

Pathway Bible Church

South Peoria Baptist Church

Litchfield Elementary School 13825 W. Wigwam Blvd.

Litchfield Park www.pathwaybibleaz.com

1420 N. 192nd Ave., Buckeye 623-853-0089 Litchfield Park

9000 W. Olive Ave., Peoria 623-486-1556

Tolleson, Cashion

The Church at Litchfield Park

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

300 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park 623-935-3411 www.churchatlitchfieldpark.org

400 S. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park 623-935-3279 www.stpetersaz.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Westpointe Baptist Church

14111 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park 623-536-7231

Wigwam Creek Middle School 4510 N. 127th Ave., Litchfield Park 623-521-3549 www.westpointebaptist.org

Desert Joy Christian Fellowship Dreaming Summit Elementary School 13335 W. Missouri Ave., Litchfield Park 623-872-0721 www.desertjoy.org

Kingdom of the Valley Christian Church

512 N. 93rd Ave., Tolleson 623-936-7107

The Bridge Christian Worship Center The Arts Academy 2504 S. 91st Ave., Tolleson 623-399-8540 www.bridgeworshipcenter.com

Peoria

Cashion Apostolic Church

Lighthouse Church

11132 W. Joblanca Cashion 623-936-4480

14185 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria 623-979-4392 www.lighthouseaz.com

Pentecostal Deliverance COGIC

Church of Zion

447 S. Old Litchfield Road Litchfield Park 623-584-3113

8668 W. Mountain View Road, Peoria 623-486-7782

10909 W. Hopi Cashion 602-936-4637

Real Life Ministries

The Church of Grace

Lighthouse Fellowship

Arizona Charter Academy 16011 N. Dysart Rd. Surprise 623-933-4999 www.rlmdestiny.com

3015 N. Jackrabbit Trail 623-853-1050 www.lighthousefellowshipaz.webs.com

8 S. 92nd Drive Tolleson 623-936-7303

LIGHTHOUSE FELLOWSHIP

Every Sunday Sunday School ..............9:30AM

WORSHIP

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Lighthouse Fellowship is a non-denominational church that teaches God’s word, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation, and how the Bible’s teachings apply to our lives.

Morning Worship ........10:30AM Evening Worship ........... 6:00PM

Come see what you’ve been missing!

12409 W. Indian School Rd. Ste. C312 ~ Avondale Call 623-628-8885 for further information

Every Wednesday Kids’ Club (K-6th Grades)... 7:00PM Truth For Teens ............. 7:00PM Adult Bible Study & Prayer ........................ 7:00PM

Heritage Baptist Church “A Christ Centered Community” Meeting Sunday at 10am Phone: 623-882-2351 www.HeritageBaptistAZ.org at Rio Vista Elementary School 10237 W. Encanto Blvd., Avondale (North of Costco off 103rd Ave.)

V46

3015 N. Jackrabbit Trail (1 blk. N. of Thomas Rd.) Litchfield Park For more information - 623-853-1050, or visit www.lighthousefellowshipaz.webs.com Listen to “STREETLIGHT”, Saturdays, 6:15PM on KXEG 1280AM, or 7:15PM on KXXT 1010AM

At Pastors Kevin & M’Lisa Goff

you’ll experience...rship!

e & Wo ise ais Pra lt Pr fellt ing Heartfe ing tin ciiti cit xci x Ex messages! d se ba rd Wo Relevant ch!

Bible based Kids Chur

therockaz.com | 623-932-1009 Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

SUNDAY SERVICE 10AM Glendale Ave.

Luke Elementary School 1 block North of Glendale & Dysart

Dysart Rd.

We ‘continue in doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers.’ Acts 2:42

Sunday Morning Service 10:15AM Sunday Evening “Lighthouse Cafe” 6PM Wednesday Bible Study 7:00PM Wednesday Youth Night 7:00PM

Spring/Summer 2011

Hamblen Chapel

Evangelical Methodist Church 1614 S. 111th Ave., Cashion 623-936-9524

La Misión Assembly of God 11147 W. Buckeye Road, Cashion 623-936-3703

St. William Catholic Church 11025 W. Third St., Cashion 623-936-6115

Wings As Eagles International Church

Country Place Elementary School 10207 W. Country Place 623-643-9069 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

W. Phoenix, Glendale, Sun City, Surprise

Alleluia Lutheran Church

8444 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix 623-849-4327 www.AlleluiaChurch.com Jewish — Conservative 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix 602-944-3359

Beth Emeth Congregation

13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West 623-584-7210 www.bethemethaz.org

7949 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-849-1676

Camelback Community Church

Rivers of Living Water Ministries

3045 W. Buckeye Road Phoenix 623-205-6809

7634 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623-846-3497 www.camelbackcommunity.com

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

The Carpenter’s House of Worship

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Independence High School 6602 N. 75th Ave., Glendale 623-266-2469 www.carpentershouseofworship.com

Church on the Word

8016 W. Camelback Road, No. 108 Glendale 623-872-4998 www.cotw.org

6300 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623-846-8046

6301 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-846-2228

Streams Christian Church

6532 N. El Mirage Road, Glendale 623-363-7450 www.streamschurch.org

Temple Beth Shalom Jewish — Reform

Crosspoint Christian Church 8600 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale 623-937-2741 www.crosspointchristian.org

12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City 623-977-3240

Thomas Road Baptist Church 5735 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix 623-247-5735 www.trbcphx.org

Davids 400

7905 N 71st Ave., Glendale 623-889-0313

West End Baptist Church

The Door Christian Fellowship Church

West Valley Family Church

9101 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-877-2815

7342 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-848-0849

6115 N. 91st Ave., Glendale 623-872-1734

First Church of Christ, Scientist 8228 W. Orangewood Ave., Glendale 623-937-9258 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

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.

1420 N. 192nd Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85396 Church Phone: 623-853-0089 Ch Need transportation?

Ask about our bus ministry

Sunday

8:30 am • First Worship Service • 9:45 am • Sunday School – All Ages 11:00 am • Morning Worship Service • 11:00 am • Children’s Church 6:00 pm • Evening Worship Service • 6:00 pm • Youth Group Monday 6:00 – 8:00 pm • Open for Prayer Wednesday 1:00 pm • Afternoon Bible Study • 6:00 pm • Prayer Meeting

Visit our website for more information: www.wtsbc.org Don’t forget to ask for your free bible Spring/Summer 2011

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

V47

WORSHIP

Beth El Congregation

Calvary United Methodist Church

West Valley Business Directory The following businesses have paid to participate in this directory. To be listed in the Fall/Winter Vista, advertisers should call 535-VIEW.

Automobile Dealers Tom Jones Ford 23454 W. Hwy 85 Buckeye (623) 386-4429 www.nocitysalestax.com

Banks Wells Fargo Bank 1050 N. Estrella Pkwy.

Goodyear (623) 882-3400

Wells Fargo Bank 11425 W. Buckeye Rd. (Inside Fry’s) Avondale (623) 478-1584

Wells Fargo Bank 540 S. Watson Rd. Buckeye (623) 925-3000

Wells Fargo Bank Goodyear / Avondale 13470 W. Van Buren (623) 932-1410

Beer Distributors Golden Eagle Distributors Inc. Budweiser 26815 W. Baseline Rd. Buckeye (623) 386-6312 www.gedaz.com

Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce

Donations

289 N. LItchfield Rd. Goodyear (623) 932-2260 www.southwestvalleychamber.org

Salvation Army (800) 479-0210 www.sarmygift.org

Clothing

Equipment Rentals

Hi-Fashion Corner of Dysart & Van Buren Avondale (623) 925-1885

Credit Union

Chamber of Commerce

First Credit Union 1310 N. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear (480) 831-2645

Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce

Buckeye Funeral Home 104 E. Baseline Rd. Buckeye (623) 386-4812

AC

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Inland

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Carpet Cleaning

Computers

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Landscaping

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Handyman

Interior Decorating

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V48

FREE ESTIMATES

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“Interior Design on any budget”

Serving the West Valley for:

• Color Planning • Window Treatments • Design Consultations • Reupholstery & Furnishings • Special Event Planning

We offer 1 Free Hour of Design Time in your home

602-931-0904 HandymanIam@cox.net

Call 623-594-6415 Debbie Jolly, Interior Designer

Plumbing

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Custom Landscaping & Hardscaping

ROC#202397 ROC#219652

Meduna, CPA

AZ Lic# ROC266828

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Licensed • Bonded • Insured

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623-466-9300

LANDSCAPING

• Pavers • Synthetic Grass • Putting Greens • Concrete • Fireplaces • BBQ • Retaining Walls • Curbing • Sprinkler Installation & Repair • Tree & Plant Installation

TAX ACCOUNTING 25 Years Serving The Valley!

FLATIRON Mowing, Raking, Bushes, Trim, Sprinklers, Drip, Rock, Planting, General Clean-up, Sod, Maintenance

Equipment Rentals for Home Owners & Contractors 3617 S Jackrabbit Trail Buckeye (623) 386-5000

Funeral Homes

(623) 386-2727 www.buckeyevalleychamber.org

AC

Palo Verde Rentals

24 Hr. Service Plumbing Service & Repair Sewer & Drain Cleaning Free Estimates Free Plumbing Inspection 623-322-9100 Licensed • Bonded • Insured ROC 229722 • PORA & HOA Gold Member

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Tell more than 76,500 View readers about your business for as little as

$46.13 per issue!* Call (623) 535-8439 to start your ad! *Plus applicable tax

Spring/Summer 2011

Thompson’s Valley West Funeral Chapel 926 S. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear (623) 932-1780

Golf Bunker Indoor Golf 2333 Pebble Creek Pkwy.

Goodyear (623) 298-4540 www.bunkerindoorgolf.com

PebbleCreek Golf Resort Eagle’s Nest Country Club 3645 Clubhouse Drive (1 mile W. of Litchfied Rd. on Indian School) Goodyear (623) 935-6750

Tuscany Falls at PebbleCreek I-10 W. Exit 126, 1-1/2 mile N. on Pebble Creek Parkway to Clubhouse Drive.

Goodyear (623) 536-2491

Gymnastics Estrella Gymnastics for Kids Goodyear (623) 932-1053 www.estrella-gymnastics.com

Insurance American Family Insurance Kathi Roberts Agency Home-Auto-Business-Life 15655 W. Roosevelt St. #101 Goodyear, AZ 85338 Ph: (623) 877-8700 Fax: (623) 877-8800 Krobert1@amfam.com

Plumbing

R.G. Riggs

Plumbing LLC A Family Tradition since 1948 All plumbing service and repairs, water softeners, remodels and installations Commercial and Residential

623-935-5878 www.riggsplumbingaz.com ROC254685 • Licensed & Inured

The Az. Registrar of Contractors says: “When having work done – make sure you understand the terms of the contract before signing” A suggestion from the Registrar of Contractors, 3838 N. Central Ave., Ste 400 Phoenix, Az 85012 • 602-542-1525 www.azroc.gov

Spring/Summer 2011

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

Jewelers

Pet Services

Restaurants

Pete and Mac’s

Pete’s Fish & Chips

13034 W. Rancho Santa Fe Avondale (623) 536-2303

9309 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson (623) 936-3111

Pool Services & Supply

School Uniforms Corner of Dysart & Van Buren Avondale (623) 925-1885

Accent Pool & Spa (623) 670-1498 accentpoolspa.com

Schools

Litchfield Park Pool Service & Supply 4900 N. Litchfield Rd., Ste. A Litchfield Park (623) 935-5121

Osborne Jewelers Litchfield & Van Buren (Fry’s Shopping Center) Goodyear (623) 925-1815

Newspapers West Valley View 1050 E. Riley Drive Avondale (623) 535-VIEW (535-8439) www.westvalleyview.com

Party Rentals It’s a Celebration!

Event & Party Rentals Tables, chairs, linens, china, dance floors, patio heaters & more!

1457 N. Eliseo Felix Jr. Way #102 Avondale (623) 386-5491 www.itsacelebrationpartyrentals.com

Plumbing

Real Estate

from

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4900

Remodels • Repairs • Leaks • Toilets Gas • Sink/Faucets

200 N Dysart Road Avondale (623) 932-9902 510 N. Central Avenue Avondale (623) 932-6562

Independence Realty Professionals Mary Westwood “Your Estrella Specialists” (623) 386-7272

Recreation Litchfield Park Recreation 100 S. Litchfield Rd. Litchfield Park (623) 935-9040

Christian Schools Phoenix Christian West Valley Preschool - 7th Grade 14900 W. Van Buren Goodyear (623) 234-2100

Wagner Leadership Institute 14900 W. Van Buren Goodyear (623)935-4858

Recycling Saguaro Metals 201 W. Main (Hwy. 85) 1/4 mile E. of Litchfield Rd. Old Buckeye Road Avondale (623) 932-2060

Pool Acces.-SVC

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RV Repair

Security Doors & Sunscreens

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Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

“1 Call & We Do It All”

623-935-9221

T L C Sprinkler Repair, Inc. • Installs (Sprinklers, Drips) • All Repairs

• Troubleshoot • Outdoor Lighting 31 years experience

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ROC 194296 • Bonded • Insured

(623) 877-6151 V49

Colleges & Universities Communiversity@Surprise www.azcommuniversity.com (480) 384-9000 or (866) 3306892 15950 N. Civic Center Plaza Surprise, AZ 85374

Estrella Mountain Community College

Rio Salado College Lifelong Learning Center

Storage

Veterinarians

12535 Smokey Drive Surprise, AZ 85378 (480) 377-4250

Palm Gate RV & Self Storage

Agua Fria Animal Clinic

“Air Conditioned” 14050 W. Van Buren Goodyear (623)535-9676 www.palmgatestorage.com UPS STORE ON SITE

13330 W. Van Buren Goodyear (623) 932-3611 Rees Jackman W. Robert Doster

Rio Salado College Online www.riosalado.edu 2323 W. 14th Street Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 517-8000

Southwest Skill Center

Tires S & S Tires

3000 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale (623) 935-8000

3000 N. Dysart Avondale (623) 535-2700

Dysart Rd. South of I-10 (623) 932-3511

Rio @ Avondale

Septic

Tobacco Products

Septic Technologies

Big K’s Discount Cigarette

420 N. Central Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323 (480) 377-4400

Rio Salado @ West Valley Luke Air Force Base Rio West Valley @ LAFB 56th Missions Support Center Rm 3138 7383 N. Litchfield Rd. Glendale, AZ 85309 (480) 377-4010

“Pump Every 3 Years” West Valley (623) 932-3464

101 E. Monroe Ave Buckeye (623) 386-5047

Shipping

Tutoring

The UPS Store

Sylvan Learning Center

14175 W. Indian School Rd., Ste. B4 Goodyear (623) 935-9720

Solar

13770 W. Van Buren #100 Goodyear (623) 932-5714 16578 W. Greenway Rd. #B-202 (Loop 303 & Greenway) Surprise (623) 556-1900

Durango Equine Veterinarian Clinic Lloyd H. Kloppe, D.V.M. Traci Hill Hulse, D.V.M. Alana Hendrix, D.V.M. Bridget Bourke, 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

Argent Solar Electric Inc. Goodyear (623) 444-5808 www.argentsolar.com V50

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Spring/Summer 2011

DIRECTORYOF

High Schools

Agua Fria Union High School District Superintendent: Dennis Runyan District office: 1481 N. Eliseo Felix Jr. Way, 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: Matthew 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 Principal: John Speer Verrado High School 20050 W. Indian School Road Buckeye, AZ 85396 623-932-7400 Principal: Tom Huffman

Spring/Summer 2011

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 The Buckeye Academy 402 W. Narramore Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-386-1072 Principal: Bernie Garcia 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 Youngker High School 3000 S. Apache Road Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-474-0100 Principal: Johnny Ray

Tolleson Union High School District Interim superintendent: Margo Olivares-Seck District office: 9801 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-478-4000 www.tuhsd.org

Schools

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: Cheryl Ingram 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: Tom Hernandez University High School 9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-478-4212 Academic Dean: Courtney Stevens

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Westview High School 10850 W. Garden Lakes Parkway Avondale, AZ 85392 623-478-4600 Principal: Brandi Haskins 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: Cathy Stafford 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. first or third Tuesday of each month Place: Meetings rotate among schools

Continued on V52 V51

From V51 Centerra Mirage School 15151 W. Centerra Drive Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-772-4800 Principal: Talmadge Tanks Copper Trails School 16875 W. Canyon Trails Blvd.

Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-772-4100 Principal: Tom Green Desert Star School 2131 S. 157th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-772-4600 Principal: Patricia Scarpa Desert Thunder School 16750 W. Garfield 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: Evangeline Diaz 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 Wildflower School 325 S. Wildflower Drive Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-772-5200 Principal: Kyann McMillie

Buckeye Elementary School District Superintendent: Allen L. Steen District office: 25555 W. Durango.

Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-925-3400 www.besd.k12.az.us Board president: Marcus Eads School board meets: 6:30 p.m. first Monday of each month Place: Buckeye Elementary School Library Bales Elementary School 25400 W. Maricopa Road Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-847-8503 Principal: Fred Lugo Buckeye Preschool 640 Centre Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-386-4487 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 V52

Steven R. Jasinski Elementary School 4280 S. 246th Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-925-3100 Principal: Montessa Banning 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: Ruben Ruiz

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 South Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-327-2850 Principal: Cindy Robinson Liberty Elementary School 19818 W. Hwy. 85 Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-327-2810 Principal: Nancy Bogart Rainbow Valley 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: 553 Plaza Circle 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: Melissa Wisner

Corte Sierra Elementary School 3300 N. Santa Fe Trail Avondale, AZ 85392 623-547-1000 Principal: Chris 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: Kevin Sotomayer Litchfield Elementary School 13825 W. Wigwam Blvd.

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-535-6100 Principal: Mary Ann Hartwick Mabel Padgett Elementary School 15430 W. Turney Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395 623-547-3200 Principal: Gina DeCosta 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 85392 623-535-6500 Principal: Caren Walker Scott Libby Elementary School 18701 W. Thomas Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-535-6200 Principal: Lee Nelson 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: Kim Diaz 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: Mary Morrison Wigwam Creek Middle School 4510 N. 127th Ave. Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-547-1100 Principal: Dave Mayer

Board president: Sandi Nielson School board meets: 5:45 p.m. second Tuesday of each month Place: ULC Auditorium 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: Richard Stinnett Estrella Vista Elementary School 11905 W. Cocopah Circle Avondale, AZ 85323 623-478-6200 Principal: Michael Halley Littleton Elementary School 1252 S. Avondale Blvd.

Avondale, AZ 85323 623-478-5700 Principal: Juliet Mendez Quentin Elementary School 11050 W. Whyman Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323 623-478-6000 Principal: Jazmin Pacheco Tres Rios Elementary School 5025 S. 103rd Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-478-6300 Principal: Tracy Faulkner

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: Cutter Holt 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: Hilda OrtegaRosales School board meets: 7 p.m. first and third Tuesday of each month Place: District office; periodically at schools on a rotating basis.

Littleton School District Superintendent: Roger Freeman District office: 1600 S. 107th Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323 623-478-5600 www.littletonaz.org

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Continued on V53 Fall/Winter 2010

From V52 Amberlea Elementary School 8455 W. Virginia Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037 623-772-2900 Principal: Brenda Martin Calderwood Elementary School 10730 W. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037 623-772-2356 Principal: Jef Heredia Canyon Breeze Elementary School 11675 W. Encanto Blvd.

Avondale, AZ 85392 623-772-2610 Principal: Jeff Byrnes Copper King Elementary School 10730 W. Campbell Road 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 85307 623-772-2550 Principal: Susie Torrejos Garden Lakes Elementary School 10825 W. Garden Lakes Parkway Avondale, AZ 85323 623-772-2520 Principal: Harold Waltman Pendergast Elementary School 3800 N. 91st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037 623-772-2400 Principal: Michael Woolsey Rio Vista Elementary School 10237 W. Encanto Blvd.

Avondale, AZ 85392 623-772-2670 Principal: LeeAnn Lawlor 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: Kathy Welsh Westwind Intermediate School 3802 N. 91st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037 623-772-2460 Principal: Brian Winefsky Westwind Primary School 9040 W. Campbell Road Phoenix, AZ 85037 623-772-2700 Principal: Danelia Williams Spring/Summer 2011

Saddle Mountain Unified School District

Union Elementary School District

Superintendent: Mark Joraanstad District office: 38201 W. Indian School Road Tonopah, AZ 85354 623-474-5100 www.smusd90.org Board president: Paul Roetto 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 623-474-5500 Principal: Deborah J. GarzaChavez Tartesso Elementary School 29677 W. Indianola Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-474-5400 Principal: Deborah J. GarzaChavez Tonopah Valley High School 38201 W. Indian School Road Tonopah, AZ 85354 623-474-5201 Principal: Edgar Garcia Winters Well Elementary School 35220 W. Buckeye Road Tonopah, AZ 85354 623-474-5300 Principal: Jim Keith

Superintendent: Patricia Gillespie District office: 3834 S. 91st Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-478-5005 www.uesd.org Board president: Joshua Hitt 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: Sheri Kennedy Hurley Ranch Elementary School 8950 W. Illini Drive Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-478-5100 Principal: Melanie Block

Tolleson Elementary School District Interim Assistant Superintendent: Lupita Hightower District office: 9261 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-533-3900 www.tollesonschools.com Board president: Adriana Garza 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 623-533-3952 Principal: Clint Smith Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School 9401 W. Garfield Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-907-5181 Principal: Juan Medrano Sheely Farms Elementary School 9450 W. Encanto Blvd.

Phoenix, AZ 85037 623-907-5270 Principal: John Scudder

Other Schools

AAEC High School 3400 N. Dysart Road Avondale, AZ 85392 623-535-0754 Principal: Roman Ramirez Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain 2504 S. 91st Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-474-2120 Site director: Maureen DeGrose Bradley Academy of Excellence (Charter, K-8) 200 N. Dysart Road Avondale, AZ 85323 623-932-9902 Director: Douglas Williams Crown Charter School 12450 W. Maryland Ave. Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-535-9300 Director: James Shade Estrella High School (Leona Group Arizona charter high school) 510 N. Central Ave., Avondale, AZ 85323 623-932-6562 School Leader: Casey Zordani Grace Fellowship Academy (K-7) 1300 N. Miller Road Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-393-8883 Principal: Geri Parker Heritage Elementary School (Charter, K-8) 13419 W. Ocotillo Road Glendale, AZ 85307 623-935-1931 Director: Raena Janes Hope Montessori School (Preschool, kindergarten) 5348 N. 106th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85307 623-877-2985 Director: Kathy Selland

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

Montessori in the Park (For children 3 to 9 years old) 1832 N. Litchfield Road Goodyear, AZ 85395 623-535-4863 Director: Lisa King Montessori West Preparatory School 13034 W. Solano Drive Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-935-2017 Phoenix Christian, west campus 14900 W. Van Buren St. Goodyear, AZ 85323 623-234-2100 Principal: Donn Start PPEP Tec High School 725 N. Central Ave., Suite 112 Avondale, AZ 85323 623-925-1077 Principal: Carol Myers St. John Vianney Elementary School (Preschool through 8th grade) 539 E. La Pasada Blvd.

Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-932-2434 Principal: Sister Ignacia Carrillo St. Thomas Aquinas School (Pre-K through 8th grade) 13720 W. Thomas Road Avondale, AZ 85392 623-935-0945 Principal: Patrick Reardon Trinity Lutheran School (Pre-K through 8th grade) 830 E. Plaza Circle Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-935-4690 Principal: William Luedtke Colleges/Universities/ Trade Schools

Arizona State University West 4701 W. Thunderbird Road Phoenix, AZ 85069 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, #3114 Glendale, AZ 85309 623-938-4424 www.park.edu/luke University of Phoenix 9520 W. Palm Lane Phoenix, AZ 480-557-2183 www.universityofphoenix.com Universal Technical Institute 10695 W. Pierce St. Avondale, AZ 85323 623-245-4600 or 1-800-510-5845 www.uticorp.com V53

DIRECTORYOF

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 7 Rep. Raul Grijalva (D)

1440 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-2435; grijalva.house.gov V54

Rep. Judy Burges (R) Maricopa County W. Washington, Room 220 Board of Supervisors 1700 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Mary Rose Wilcox (D), Supervisor

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. Scott Bundgaard (R)

1700 W. Washington, Room 212 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-3297; sbundgaard@azleg.gov

Rep. Jack W. Harper (R)

1700 W. Washington, Room 113 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-4178; jharper@azleg.gov

602-926-5861; jburges@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. Richard Miranda

1700 W. Washington, Room 332 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5911; rmiranda@azleg.gov

Sen. John McCain speaks with members of the media at an event in Goodyear.

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 Griffen

1700 W. Washington, Room 302 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5895; ggriffen@azleg.gov

Rep. Peggy Judd

1700 W. Washington, Room 126 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-5836; pjudd@azleg.gov

Rep. David W. Stevens

1700 W. Washington, Room 312 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-4321; dstevens@azleg.gov

Rep. Anna Tovar (D)

1700 W. Washington, Room 323 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-926-3392; atovar@azleg.gov

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

For a list of city officials, see Page V7 Spring/Summer 2011

ADVENTURE from V36 feel in that jet. I can push the engine faster and I’ll feel it as my body sucks into the seat a little harder and the jet bumps a little on the turbulence — it can be a rough ride. But the higher you go, the smoother the ride gets and the less you notice the speed. The air up there gets very thin and it becomes very calm.

Depending on the mission, we go different speeds.

But if the mission takes us up over 30,000 feet we easily go supersonic and faster. Supersonic, or Mach 1, is roughly 760 mph. I will tell you that going supersonic in this jet is very anti-climactic. There’s no tunnel-vision kind of thing, or seeing into the future, no loud bangs. I wouldn’t even know I was going supersonic unless I looked down at the Mach gauge and watched it roll over from .99 to 1.0. That’s the only thing that will give that away.

Of course, closer to the ground supersonic is a different story, but up where we’re at it doesn’t even really register to us.

The one sound we do hear, and hear clearly, are the guns.

When we do training and fire them off you couldn’t miss it.

The guns sit three or four feet from my head and it rattles the whole jet. The firing rate is unbelievable — it’s something like 100 rounds per second. It scares the hell out of you the first time you do it. At night you can see the sparks and it gets pretty wild.

On regular night flight we use these night-vision goggle, or NVGs. They work great but they have only a 40-degree field of view — it would be like holding toilet paper tubes up to your eyes and looking

An F-16 on the flightline at Luke Air Force Base

through them. The NVGs, though, provide a cool picture to the Valley because we see the cultural lighting of the Phoenix area and we also see stars that you are never able to see, even on the clearest night. We see shooting stars and things like that, it’s incredible. In some respects, it’s very peaceful up there. Everyone is kind of tucked away in their beds down below and we’re up there just keeping an eye on things.

The F-16 is a 9-G airplane,

OUTDOORS from V35 talks about gold mining, bird and geology walks and even snake and arachnid feedings.

She gets visitors from all over the world, as well as many locals who are practically neighbors to the park.

“There are people who live right next door to the park that don’t know the park is here,” she said. “That’s amazing to me because this is the oldest park in the county park system. It’s a 30-square mile Spring/Summer 2011

which means it can pull turns that will simulate nine times the weight of gravity on the person inside. At 9 Gs I weigh about 1,800 pounds. Not only do I weigh that much, but now I have to fly the jet, and also assess what my adversary is doing and maintain the advantage over him. They’re intense maneuvers. If you’ve seen any movies, like Top Gun or Iron Eagle, you’ll see these guys pulling hard turns and the whole time they’re talking on

the radio. It’s just not possible.

At 9 Gs it takes every muscle in my body to keep from going into G-LOC, which is a loss of consciousness due to the blood that’s flowing out of my head and brain and toward my lower extremities due to high-G maneuvers. Going from full-awake to something like an unconscious sleep happens in just seconds. As soon as I rip back on the stick, all my blood gets sucked down.

To help prevent that I wear a G suit that has these bladders in them that squeeze my legs to keep blood from pooling in my lower half. I also do this thing where I tense up all my muscles, and take a deep breath and hold it real tight, like I’m trying to make my face turn red. We call it the L1. So with the bladders and the L1s we can keep enough blood in our brain to stay awake and be able to fly. When we fly high-G sorties we get what pilots call the geasles. It’s when all the little capillaries close to the surface of your skin burst under that extreme blood flow during the flight. They look like the measles and last for several days.

Pulling G’s is fun to talk about, but really it’s killed a lot of good pilots. It’s very serious.

Once we’re back on the ground, it’s back to school in a way. Our time in the air is a small fraction of what goes into pilot training here at Luke. As much as we’d like to, we don’t really have the time or the fuel to go chasing clouds. When we’re up there, though, it’s a rush.

— Capt. Chris Morton, 30, F-16 instructor at Luke Air Force Base (as told to Michael Clawson)

park, it’s gigantic. We have lots of stuff going on, so I’m really surprised the local people don’t know about it.”

It’s only fitting that Armstrong is a ranger. When she was young, her family did a lot of camping in Michigan and she became very fond of park rangers. Now, she’s that person.

“It’s really fun being a park ranger because when you tell people you’re a park ranger, everybody thinks you’re interesting right away, even though they don’t know you, and they also think you’re a

nice person,” Armstrong said. “So it’s really cool being a park ranger, and the things I learn about are stuff people are interested in talking about. It’s not like insurance, or stocks and bonds, it’s stuff people are interested in. So it’s a very fun job that I’ve really enjoyed.”

It also gets her recognition around town.

“A lot of people in the supermarket recognize me now,” she said. “Nobody asks for my autograph though. Well, little kids do.”

– Casey Pritchard

Vista — West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona

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