Classified advertising Anna Brandt classifieds@westvalleyview.com
Circulation/Distribution Manager: Tina Hopkins thopkins@westvalleyview.com
It’s a cruel, cruel, cruel summer in the Valley of the Sun. Anyone who’s spent one here knows what we’re talking about, but also knows that for those fi ve or six fall/winter/spring months of near perfect weather, it’s all worth it.
And despite what our friends and relatives — the ones who live in parts of the country that see average summer temperatures in the low- to mid-80s — think, our summers are survivable.
And this is your guide to doing just that.
In this Vista, we’ll give you ideas for activities you can do during the day (swimming for instance) without risking heat stroke (we’ll also talk about that), as well as activities you can do at night after the sun has set. Did you know our two county parks offer ranger-guided night hikes? Usually during full moons,
and everyone is encouraged to take their scorpion lights (can your friends and relatives back east do that?)
We’ll talk about dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke and share the signs with you.
We’ll talk about the importance of sun screen and keeping covered during the hottest parts of the day.
We’ll talk about the dangers of leaving children or pets in hot cars and give you ideas to implement so that it never happens.
We’ll also talk about the dangers of jumping into a canal — they may be tempting when it’s 120 degrees outside, but not worth risking your life over.
We hope you find this Vista both enjoyable and useful.
Don’t forget to check out our handy listings toward the back.
— Cary Hines
Circulation Assistant: Linda Ryan lryan@westvalleyview.com
Inserting: Larry Binkowski, Matt Holland Press
Head Pressman: Ryan Westfall rwestfall@westvalleyview.com
Santos Cervantes, Michael Helm II, Antonio Montenegro, and Gabriel Rivera West Valley View is published each Tuesday and Friday by West Valley View Inc.
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How to handle the heat
Hydration is key to surviving summer
Aryn Kodet, a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear, takes a drink from her water bottle while keeping an eye on the pool. The Verrado High School senior keeps hydrated by keeping her water bottle with her at all times and drinking before she’s even thirsty, because once the body is thirsty, it’s already on the verge of dehydration.
More deaths are attributed to heat in the United States than any other type of weather, with 675 people nationwide dying from it each year, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported.
The Valley is one of the hottest places in the country, with summer temperatures that can reach more than
120 degrees. About 1,400 Arizonans visit emergency rooms annually because of heat-related illnesses, the Health Services department reported.
One of the best things Valley residents can do to survive the summer heat is be prepared, said Sue Pistoia, community services coordinator for Avondale FireRescue.
People should check the news for
potential heat advisories and stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, which spans from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., she said.
“It’s always good to stay somewhere cool,” Pistoia said. “A building with air conditioning is optimal.”
View photo by Charity Yodis
View photo by David Weibel
HEAT from V5
If you don’t have air conditioning, go somewhere that does, such as a library, mall or grocery store. Don’t rely on a fan as your primary cooling device, she said.
“When it’s hotter, sometimes a fan has the opposite effect,” Pistoia said. “It sounds weird, but it’s true.”
If you’re going to be outside, wear a hat and loose, light-colored clothing, because dark colors absorb the heat and can make you hotter, she said.
The best way to stay safe is keeping hydrated, Pistoia said. If you’re working or exercising in the sun, drink two to four cups of water per hour and avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, because they are very dehydrating.
Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink water, because by that time, you’re already on the verge of dehydration, she said.
Always carry water with you at all times, because you never know when your vehicle could break down and you have to wait outside for long periods of time, Pistoia said.
People should also check on elderly relatives and neighbors multiple times a day, she said.
“Every year, we find elderly people living alone who are suffering from a heat emergency,” she said. “Maybe they don’t realize that they’re feeling the effects of the heat, so they ignore it and go about their day.”
Libraries make an ideal sanctuary from the scorching summer heat. Read a book, surf the web or participate in one of several library programs. The West Valley has a slew of libraries to choose from: The Avondale Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale; the Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale; the Buckeye Public Library, 310 N. Sixth St., Buckeye; the new Buckeye library at Sundance Crossings, set to open Feb. 28; the Goodyear Branch Library, 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite C101, Goodyear; the Litchfield Park Branch Library, 101 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park; the Tolleson Public Library, 9555 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson; and the White Tank Branch Library, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell.
The following are heat-related illnesses to be aware of during the summer:
• Heat cramps — symptoms include cramps in the abdomen or legs. It’s the first sign that the heat is becoming too much, and you should stop what you’re doing, get to a cool place and hydrate.
• Heat exhaustion — symptoms include excessive sweating; feeling weak, like you can’t stand up; pale and clammy skin; and a weak pulse. You should move to a cool place, loosen clothing, apply cool, wet cloths to as much of your body as possible and sip cool or tepid water. Seek medical attention if vomiting occurs.
• Heat stroke — symptoms include a very high body temperature, above 103 degrees; dry and red skin; and a rapid, pounding pulse. Seek medical attention immediately, apply cool, wet cloths to the body and don’t drink fluids.
“A lot of people think it’s not a real emergency and that they’ll feel better later, so they don’t want to call 911,” Pistoia said about heat stroke. “The firefighters will tell you, they’d rather go on 100 calls that were nothing than miss one that was really something.”
— Emily Toepfer
View
Amber Bittick, then 8, of Avondale plays at the Goodyear Community Park splash pad last summer. Splash pads can be found throughout the West Valley in public parks and in neighborhood parks. They’re a great, safe way to beat the heat. Don’t forget to apply the sunscreen liberally and often.
In the swim of things
Lessons are key to drowning prevention, experts say
There are few things nicer than dipping into a cool pool during an Arizona summer, but with an average of 10 people dying every day across the country from unintentional drownings, swimming isn’t without risk.
One in five drownings per year is a child 14 years or younger. For every child who doesn’t die, five are sent to emergency departments for medical care, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Don’t hang up the swim trunks just yet. Apart from keeping a close eye on children while they swim and closing off home pools with barricades when not in use, the CDC has found that participating in formal swim lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning for children 1 to 4 years old.
“Swim lessons build your strength and endurance,” said Jessica Thompson, a
W.V. public pool hours, locations, amenities
Buckeye Aquatics Center
207 N. Ninth St., Buckeye 623-349-6690
Features a 10-foot-high dive and 160-foot slide.
Opens May 23
Price is between $1 and $2 for lap swimming, open swim, night swims, toddler swimming and water aerobics.
Goodyear Swimming Pool
430 E. Loma Linda Blvd., Goodyear 623-932-4809
Has eight lanes, a diving well, two diving boards and a wading pool. Anticipated to open in May.
Litchfield Park Recreation Center
100 S. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park 623-935-9040
Has a heated lap pool, a therapy spa and baby pool.
Opens April 1
Tolleson Swimming Pool
9419 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson 623-478-4398
Opens during the summer months.
Southwest Valley Family YMCA
2919 N Litchfield Road, Goodyear 602-404-9622
Has a heated, Olympic-sized pool. Open year-round.
Timmy Benson, left, of Goodyear practices a water rescue technique with Jennifer Garcia of Atlanta during a lifeguard training session Dec. 20 at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear. The West Valley has several public pools to choose from to beat the summer heat, all come standard with lifeguards on duty.
View photo by Ray Thomas
recreation supervisor with Buckeye’s Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s a confidence builder. People can overcome their fear of water. It’s an opportunity for children to learn. They’re listening to an instructor and putting that teaching moment into a learning moment to develop fi motor skills.”
According to the CDC, children are ready to start learning to swim as soon as they’re independently moving, which can be as early as 6 months old. Young children often learn emergency water safety skills first, including how to roll over, float or call for help.
All public pools in the West Val-
Lifeguard James Parsons gives instructions to swimmers as they join in to smash the 2013 Guinness World Record for Largest Swimming Lesson (multiple venues) last summer at the Litchfield Park Recreation Center pool. The focus of the event was to spread the word that swimming lessons save lives.
View photo by Ray Thomas
See SWIM on V13
Sunscreen vital to skin health UV rays can cause cancer, premature aging
In Arizona, the sun is something we’re definitely not lacking, and while it can provide plenty of vitamin D, it’s also harmful to the skin.
Exposure to ultraviolet rays can leave behind lasting damage, such as wrinkles, leathery or sagging skin and brown spots. In fact, more than 90 percent of those visible changes commonly attributed to skin aging are caused by the sun.
“Contrary to popular belief, the harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation can be almost immediate,” Skin Cancer Foundation Senior Vice President Dr. Deborah Sarnoff said. “That’s why practicing proper sun protection is so critical. You’ll help prevent future damage and you may even reverse some of the damage that has already been done.”
In addition to premature aging, sun exposure plays a significant role in the development of skin cancer. About 86 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV rays, according to
the Skin Cancer Foundation.
“The most important thing is to really try and avoid excessive sun exposure, but being in the Valley of the Sun, that’s not always easy,” said Dr. David Boyd, intake physician and director of Wellness, Prevention and Primary Care at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Goodyear.
The best thing Valley residents can do for their skin is to plan ahead by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, such as wide brim hats, he said.
“We don’t have many cloudy days here in Phoenix, but you still have UV rays that come through,” Boyd said. “Very often, people will look outside and think if it’s an overcast day, they don’t need to apply the sunscreen. You need to still be vigilant no matter what the weather.”
Apply sunscreen with an SPF 50 at least 30 minutes before outdoor activity to allow the product time to soak in. The higher the SPF number, the more time you can spend in the sun compared to if
you don’t have sunscreen on, Boyd said.
“SPF 4 is virtually worthless. It’s basically like putting oil on yourself,” he said. “SPF 100 essentially doesn’t exist; that would be like house paint. Usually, the more money you spend on SPF 65, 75, 85 — you’re actually not getting that much of a difference than you are with the 50.”
Just as important as the SPF number is what the product actually does, Boyd said. Brands don’t matter as long as the label says the sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays.
Also, there’s really no such thing as waterproof sunscreen, so reapply often if you’re sweating or swimming, he said.
“As soon as you go in the water, it starts to come off,” Boyd said. “Especially in Phoenix, where you put it on and go jump in the swimming pool, you probably wash off a good half of it.”
Aryn Kodet, a senior at Verrado High School in Buckeye, applies sunscreen often when she’s on duty as a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear.
View photo by David Weibel
SUNSCREEN from V10
Many people also forget to apply sunscreen to their lips and the tops of their ears, he said. A regular sunscreen can be used for those areas, or a balm with SPF in it.
“Exposure to ultraviolet light is cumulative, so if your kids are playing outside, make sure that you apply the sunscreen liberally so they don’t get sunburns,” Boyd said. “Sunburns they get now could affect health later on in life.”
People with a history of skin cancer in their family or those with fair skin need to be even more vigilant, as they have a higher chance of developing skin cancer, he said.
In order to detect possible skin cancer early, use the ABCDE rule, Boyd said.
• Asymmetry — if there’s a mole or skin lesion that doesn’t look the same on one side as the other, that’s something to take into consideration.
• Borders — check if the borders are irregular in any way, meaning they look hazy, blended or nicked.
• Color — looks blotchy or is darker or lighter in some spots.
• Diameter — if the lesion is larger than 6 millimeters, it should be checked out.
• Evolving — changes in size, shape, color, elevation or other traits point to possible danger.
— Emily Toepfer
9/1/15.
9/1/15.
Crista Cook of Goodyear slides into the Southwest Valley Family YMCA swimming pool last summer in Goodyear. Experts remind swimmers to apply sunscreen often as much of it washes off immediately upon entering the water.
View photo by David Weibel
Stylish and sun savvy
A pair of trendy sunglasses can really up the style level of an outfit, but it also helps to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Radiation from the sun can damage not only the skin on your eyelid, but also the cornea, lens and other parts of the eye. It also contributes to the development of certain types of cataracts and possibly macular degeneration, said Dr. Stephen Martin, an optometrist at West Valley Vision in Goodyear.
When choosing sunglasses, look for UV-protection details on the label to find a pair that blocks at least 99 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
The color and degree of darkness sunglasses provide have nothing to do with their ability to block UV rays. Also, opt for wraparound sunglasses or close-fitting ones with wide lenses that protect the eyes from every angle.
Polarized lenses are good, because they reduce reflected glare, such as sunlight that bounces off water. It’s also important to block blue light, Martin said.
getting more exposure to it through electronic devices,” he said.
Wearing sunglasses is something everyone can do to protect themselves, including children, Martin said.
“Blue light is something that’s present in all light waves, but we’re
“The damage from UV is cumulative over the course of a
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— Emily Toepfer
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SWIM from V9
ley offer swim lessons.
The Buckeye Aquatic Center begins registration for swim lessons for people ages 6 months to adult beginning April 1 at www.buckeyeaz.gov/recreation.
Swim lessons begin in May.
Goodyear’s swimming pool begins offering swim lessons in May.
For information, go to www.goodyearaz.gov.
The Litchfield Park Recreation Center offers swim lessons when the pool opens April 1.
For information, visit www.litchfield-park.org or call 623-9359040.
Tolleson’s swimming pool offers swimming lessons beginning in the summer for toddlers and parents, as well as teenagers and adults.
For information, call 623-478-4000.
The Southwest Valley Family YMCA offers swim lessons for youths, teenagers and adults.
For information, visit www.valleyymca.org or call 602-404-9622.
Watchful eyes
If you’re still anxious about letting your little one get wet, you can relax knowing that trained lifeguards are always keeping a watchful eye at public pools.
In December, more than 60 lifeguards from various YMCA locations around the Valley visited the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear for a three-day retraining course in first aid, CPR, AED and oxygen usage.
Participants earned a certification that is good for two years that ensures every lifeguard is saving lives the same way.
Denise Stewart, the lifeguard coordinator for the Southwest Valley Family YMCA, swam competitively for five years before becoming a lifeguard. She described the information she learned during the retraining as “life saving.”
“I’ve been able to use the training I’ve had from the Red Cross and now the YMCA,” Stewart said. “The worst [incident] I’ve had was a little girl who fell from the diving board back onto the deck.
“It was scary at the time seeing all the blood because I was 17, but I was able to not panic and try to keep her calm; with all the training, I was able to get through it.”
On average, lifeguards earn about 40 hours of basic lifeguard training, which includes written tests, physical tests such as swimming as well as practical exercises with mannequins.
— Rachel Trott
The Buckeye Aquatics Center is the place to be when temperatures hit triple digits. The pool, at 207 S. Ninth St., which features a 10-foot high dive and 160-foot slide, opens May 23.
View photo by Ray Thomas
A late-afternoon monsoon rolls through Buckeye last summer. The monsoon, which officially begins in the Valley of the Sun June 15, comes from a shift in winds and brings with it huge dust storms, terrific thunderstorms and two of the wettest months of the year.
Arizona is famous for its “dry heat.” During the summer, going more than 100 consecutive days without measurable rainfall is not so uncommon.
But the dry heat only lasts for so long. Every June 15, the monsoon begins its three-and-a-half month stay in the Valley, and with it comes terrific thunderstorms.
The monsoon in the Valley occurs because of a change in the wind. During the winter, wind moves in
View photo by Julie Sargent-Helm
MONSOON from V14
from the north and northeast, but during the summer, it comes from the south. The summer winds bring moisture from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The moisture mixed with the extreme heat produces the thunderstorms.
It’s not grammatically correct to call it the monsoon season. The word monsoon comes from an Arabic word that roughly translates to season, so monsoon season is akin to “season season.” Yikes.
The monsoon brings two of the wettest months on average for the Valley: July and August. Both of those months hover around 1 inch of rainfall throughout, while June is the driest month on average.
The monsoon started when the
dew point averaged 55 degrees or higher for three consecutive days until 2008. The National Weather Service took the guesswork out of the starting dates by defining the season as June 15 through Sept. 30.
Often sweeping across town before the storms hit are dust storms called haboobs. The word haboob is not just some strange, made-up phrase for the dust storms. It’s from an Arabic word that means “wind.”
There are a lot of dangers associated with the monsoon. Haboobs can be dangerous because of the low visibility, resulting in car accidents and other unfortunate events across the Valley.
The thunderstorms can create flash floods, which can cause big chunks of damage and even take lives.
With Arizona’s Stupid Motorist
Law, it can get pricy for those who don’t follow directions. If a motorist becomes stuck while trying to cross an area that is under water that has a sign warning not to enter when flooded, the person is tabbed with the cost of the rescue and various fines. It can be a potentially dangerous time, but the Valley is famous for its stormy skies during these summer months. Just remember to leave the pool when the lightning starts flashing, and it should be an enjoyable summer for everyone.
Information from the National Weather Service and the Arizona State University School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning was used for this article.
— Shane McOwen
Hike the night away
During the summer months, heading to one of the Maricopa County Regional Parks not only sounds like a bad idea, but a dangerous one, as
well. The sweltering desert heat kills people every year. So, how do you get people to visit the Valley’s great park system in
View photo by David Weibel
HIKE from V16
County park rangers
figured out an option years ago: moonlight hikes.
Both White Tank Mountain and Estrella Mountain regional parks offer group night hikes to enjoy the desert from a different perspective.
“We’ve been doing night hikes for many years,” White Tank Mountain Regional Park Supervisor Raymond Schell said. “It’s not just the White Tanks, other parks do them as well.”
The parks offer various night hikes throughout each month, about two every month.
“We do moonlight hikes, not necessarily on the fullmoon night, but as close to the moonlight as we can, usually Friday or Saturday,” Schell said.
The moonlight hikes are split between two days, with one being for adults only.
“We do a family night hike for everybody, and on the second night, we’ll have an adult one where it’s 16 years old and over,” Schell said. “[It’s] so people can actually hear the ranger. It’s a whole different feel.”
The hikes usually begin before the sun sets and last approximately 90 minutes, Schell said.
“It depends on the time
of year, because in the summer, it doesn’t get dark until 8:30 [p.m.], almost 9,” Schell said. It’s usually about 7:30 in the summer and they last for around an hour and a half, depending on how fast people walk.”
For those interested in the creepy-crawlies, scorpion hunts also go on every few months.
“We also do scorpion hunts in the evening,” Schell said. “We bring the UV lights, and we sell UV lights here. We just go out and see the scorpions and the ranger will talk about various creatures you will find in the night.”
The scorpion hunts are less frequent, and happen two or three times each year. Schell said the hikes typically have between 40 and 80 people participating. “We can get anywhere from 40 to 50 to 100 people,” Schell said. “Even in the summer, we can get a large amount. On average, it’s probably 40 to 80.”
Most of those hikers are trying out the night hikes for the first time, Schell said. “For every hike, even though we’ve been doing this for years, the majority of people are doing this for the first time,” Schell said. “Even though we do the moonlight hike every month, it’s still a new thing for most of them.”
White Tank Regional Park
The Orion Nebula can be seen through a telescope during “Stargazing for Everyone” at White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell. Both White Tank and Estrella Mountain Regional parks offer several nighttime events throughout the summer.
is located in Waddell at 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road. Estrella Mountain Regional Park is at 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. in Goodyear.
The parks update the events schedule to have
two months planned out in advance. Check www. maricopa.gov/parks to find a full listing of events, including the moonlight hiking options.
— Shane McOwen
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Hours of Operation • 11am to 4pm Tuesday-Sunday www.sunvalleypets.org
View photo by David Weibel
Hot cars can be deadly
Don’t leave children, pets unattended in vehicles
Leaving children or pets alone in a car can have deadly repercussions with 38 children dying last year from heat related illness after being left inside vehicles. If the outside temperature is 95 degrees and the car windows are rolled up, it only takes 20 minutes for the inside temperature to reach 122 degrees and another 20 for the temperature to reach 150.
If you’ve spent a summer in the Valley, you know what it’s like to get into a car that’s been sitting in the sun all day — everything is scalding hot, and you might get burned just putting on your seat belt.
So imagine being trapped in that car without air conditioning. It’s a reality many youths and pets experience each year.
On average, 38 children die annually nationwide from heat-related illness after being left inside vehicles, according to the website kidsandcars.org.
Most incidents happen because of miscommunication between parents about who is caring for the child, said Sue Pistoia, community services coordinator for Avondale Fire-Rescue.
Last year, a 3-year-old boy died Oct. 5 in Phoenix after he was left in a car for several hours. The outside temperature was in the mid- to high-90s that day.
Less than three weeks later, a 7-monthold girl died Oct. 22 in Tucson after she was found in the family car. Her father thought he was driving alone, but then noticed the unconscious infant in the back seat, police said.
If the outside temperature is 95 degrees and the car windows are rolled up, the inside of the vehicle can reach 122 degrees in 20 minutes and 150 degrees in 40 minutes, Pistoia said.
“You should never leave your child or your pet in the car, even for a very small period of time,” she said. “Even if you
just think you’re going to run into the store, grab three things and get right back out.”
Even if the windows are cracked open, it still gets hot in a car, Pistoia said.
“Everything gets trapped in there,” she said. “Say you have a car with a black dashboard; that’s absorbing heat and distributing it throughout the car.”
Heat stroke can occur when the body temperature passes 104 degrees. It overwhelms the brain’s temperature control, causing symptoms such as dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, loss of consciousness and possibly death.
— Emily Toepfer
Look before you lock
The following tips were provided by kidsandcars.org to help people avoid leaving a child in the car:
• Put something you’ll need, such as your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case on the floor in the back seat.
• Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind. This will soon become a habit. It’s known as the “Look Before You Lock” campaign.
• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. This creates a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front, you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.
• Make arrangements with your child’s daycare center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled.
• When a child is missing, check your vehicles immediately.
• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If the child is hot or seems sick, get him out as quickly as possible. Call 911 immediately.
• Be careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.
• Use drive-through services when possible for places such as restaurants, banks, dry cleaners and pharmacies.
• Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.
— Emily Toepfer
Man on the Street:
“I swim and drink beer with my buddies.”
— Bill Scott, Goodyear
“I have kids so we do sprinklers, swimming pools, and lots and lots of popsicles and trips to the library.”
— Amber Kinion, Avondale
“I try to stay in the pool as much as possible.”
— Ryan Chonka, Goodyear
“I stay inside or go to the movies a lot and do pretty much all of my grocery shopping after dark.”
— Michelle Breaux, Avondale
How do you keep cool in the summer?
“I usually shower a lot. At least three times a day so that I don’t feel sticky all the time.”
— Salvador Cruz, Goodyear
“I usually go back to Wisconsin in the summer. We have a place up by the lakes that we go in the summer months.”
— Robert Hess, Goodyear
With the arrival of summer, canals can be quite tempting, but safety officials are reminding West Valley residents to stay out of them or risk serious injury or even death.
Canals are used to transport water for irrigation, not for cooling off or swimming in, officials said.
“You look down and you see a piece of water that doesn’t look like it has a lot effects like you would have in a large lake where you see waves coming in and crashing,” said Ron Deadman, Avondale deputy fire chief. “It doesn’t seem to have much of a current unless you happen to be at the end of the canal where you
see swirling water.”
Canals are deceptively deep, Deadman said, adding they can vary in depth from 3 feet to 6 feet.
The side slopes of canals are either dirt or concrete and neither is
View photo by David Weibel
easy to climb, Deadman said. Their height is designed to guard against waves or unexpected rises in the water level, and allow the least amount of resistance so water can flow swiftly.
When irrigation is being done for certain areas, canals carry a very fast and strong current.
“It would force someone down towards the end of a viaduct, which transfers into a different direction,” Deadman said. “It could even pull them under the water, because it would be difficult to stand.”
Swimming in canals can also cause many illnesses, he said.
“Canals are not drinkable water. They’re not potable water. This kind of water can carry bacteria and all kinds of things on it,” Deadman said.
Officials urge West Valley residents looking to cool off this summer to visit a municipal swimming pool.
— Jeannette Cruz
IMAGINE AVONDALE SCHOOL
View photo by David Weibel
That’s a cool house!
Summer is a time when people want to spend money on fun activities and vacations, not their electric bills.
Arizona Public Service Co. has several ways in which people can stay cool inside their homes, yet keep their energy bills down at the same time. According to Jenna Shaver, a spokeswoman for APS, it all starts with the thermostat.
“When temperatures start to soar outside, people start to crank their air conditioners to keep their house and their families cool,” Shaver said. “There’s kind of a rule, for every 1 degree you turn up your thermostat, you can save 2 to 3 percent on the air conditioning portion of your electric bill. So it’s kind of a 1-2-3 rule.”
While turning the thermostat up won’t make people cooler, it will save them money, and things can be done to make their homes more comfortable.
Shaver said it’s really important to take advantage of ceiling fans.
“If you’re in the room where a ceiling fan is located, turn the fan on,” Shaver said. “It works wonders at cooling you, but it will not cool the room, so if you leave the room, turn the fan off.
“If you walk from one room to the next, you would notice if the light’s on, but not necessarily the fan. It’s little things like that that can make a difference on your bill.”
Shade screens can also help keep the house much cooler and negate extra charges to the electric bill.
“A lot of heat enters into the home through direct sunlight, or sunlight in general,” Shaver said. “Anything customers can do, install shade screens, curtains, can keep the sun out of your home, which can keep the heat out of your home.”
While ceiling fans and shade screens are the biggest help, people should be aware of other things
View
photo by Charity Yodis
WEST VALLEY HEALTH CARE DIRECTORY
535-VIEW.
Assisted Living
Palm Valley Rehabilitation
13575 W. McDowell Rd. Goodyear (623) 536-9911
Cardiologists
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona
9305 W. Thomas Rd., #270
20940 N. Tatum Blvd., #325 1331 N. 7th St., #375 (602) 307-0070
Dentistry
All Smiles
4130 N. 108th Avenue #101 Phoenix (623) 535-9164
Omega Dental
14551 W Indian School Rd. #200. Goodyear (623) 535-8777
Patrick Martin, D.D.S.
Gary R. Gibbs, D.D.S.
14044 W. Camelback #200 Litchfield Park (623) 535-5488
Internal Medicine
Samuel Figueroa M.D. PLC Internal Medicine & Total Vein Care
2970 N. Litchfield Rd., Ste. 110 Goodyear (623) 535-6638
Medi Spas
Golden Apple® Skin Laser & Veins
2970 N. Litchfield Rd., Ste. 110 Goodyear (623) 535-0504 www.goldenapplemedicine.com
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Estrella Womens Health Ctr. 10240 W. Indian Sch. Bldg. 2 Phoenix (623) 846-7558
Palm Valley Women’s Care (623) 535-0740 www.pvwomenscare.org
West Valley Women’s Care
James M. Johnson, M.D.
Raymond D. Suarez, M.D.
Gema Fernandez, M.D.
Maria R. DiLeo, M.D.
Erica McLaughlin, M.D.
Briggs J. Geier, D.O.
Kim Roberts, W.H.N.P.
Meaza Ejigu, W.H.N.P.
Christy Brown, F.N.P. 9305 W. Thomas Rd. #155 Phoenix (623) 936-1780
Vein Care
Optima Vein Care 9305 W. Thomas Rd. #490 Phoenix (480) 496-2653
Urgent Care
Good Night Pediatrics
10320 W. McDowell Rd. Bldg. L Avondale (623) 643-9233 8801 W. Union Hills Dr. Peoria (623) 241-9026 www.goodnightpeds.com
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.
Our practice is committed to spreading the word about the risks of heart disease and early detection. 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.
NATHAN LAUFER, M.D. Medical Director
ADAM BRODSKY, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
ALAN GROSSMAN, M.D. Noninvasive Cardiology
PARMINDER SINGH, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
JASON KLEIN, M.D. Noninvasive Cardiology
REBECCA ALLISON, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
JOSHUA WAGGONER, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
ASHISH SADHU, M.D. Electrophysiology
Survey Rating
COMING UP NEXT...
West Valley events calendar sure to keep
February
28 — Litchfi eld Park’s Community and Recreation Services Department is hosting the annual Litchfi eld Park Friends of the Rec 5K, 10K and 1-mile Run & Healthy Classroom Challenge at 6:30 a.m. at Old Litchfi eld Road and Wigwam Boulevard. The top three male and female fi nishers in each age group will receive a medal. The overall male and female winners in each event will receive an additional award. Race registration is $15 per person. Online registration is at www.active.com. For information, call 623-935-9040.
28 — Buckeye will celebrate the opening of its newest library from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sundance Crossing, 21699 W. Yuma Road. Events will include an interactive tour, featured authors, the launch of the Innovation Center and a book sale. For information, call 623-349-6321.
28 — Explore how science is helping Buckeye grow by visiting the following sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
• Buckeye Fire Station No. 703, 2582 N. Verrado Way; Learn about the science of fire and police forensics work.
• Estrella Banner Verrado Medical Clinic, 20751 W. Market St.; Learn about health and wellness.
• Palo Verde Educational Center, 600 N. Airport Road; Explore the world of energy with hands-on activities. WestMEC, Estrella Mountain Community College and the Civil Aviation Patrol will also be on site giving demonstrations.
• Sundance Buckeye Water Treatment Center; Learn the science behind where water comes from and where it goes.
• Buckeye Public Library, 310 N. Sixth St.; the Public Works Department will be giving a demonstration.
For information, contact Councilwoman Michelle Hess at 623-349-6943 or email mhess@buckeyeaz.gov.
All About Pets Pets
Pick up your copy at Pick up your copy at the following locations: the locations:
-Scruff’s
-Buckeye Library
-Avondale Civic Center Library
-Buckeye City Hall
-Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
-Litchfield Park Library
-Petz Place
-Emergency Animal Clinic
-Eye Care for Animals
-Camp Bow Wow
-Sun Valley Animal Shelter
-99th Ave & Lower Buckeye Animal Hospital
-Dreaming Summit Animal Hospital
-Estrella Animal Hospital
-Camel West Animal Hospital
-Northstar Animal Hospital
-Karstens Ave Hardware
-Triple D Feed
-Agua Fria Animal Clinic
-The Petstop
Thousands watch the fireworks July 4, 2014, at the Star Spangled Fourth Celebration at Goodyear Ballpark.
March
7 — Dog Days of Buckeye will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sundance Park, near Rainbow and Lower Buckeye roads. The event will feature K9 activities, shopping, demonstrations and Chihuahua races. For information, call 623-3496600.
7 & 8 — The Tres Rios Nature Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Base & Meridian Wildlife Area, 7602 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale. The event focuses on wildlife, habitat, history and the culture of the Gila River. The festival will offer kayaking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, hiking, live entertainment, arts, crafts and food. For information, visit www.tresriosnaturefestival.org.
7 & 8 — The 17th annual Litchfield Park Art & Culinary Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Florence Brinton Library’s lawn, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. More than 250 artists will exhibit original fine art, handcrafted creations and culinary samples. For information, call 623-935-9040.
Good Night Pediatrics
All-Night
Urgent Care
for
Kids
Open 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM, EVERY NIGHT of the Year at most locations.
13 — Buckeye will show Despicable Me 2 at dusk at Tartesso Sports Park, off of Tartesso Parkway and 303rd Avenue. Take a picnic dinner, blankets and chairs. Food vendors will sell food on site.
13 — Tolleson is hosting its 28th annual Boys & Girls Club Golf Tournament at the Wigwam, 300 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. For information, call 623-936-2754 or email respinoza@tollesonaz.org.
15 — The Rave British Invasion Show will take place during the Arts in the Park Concert Series from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wigwam, 300 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. For information, call 623-935-9040.
17 — Indians and Reds Fan Fest 2015 will take place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way. Fans will get the chance to meet their favorite Indians and Reds players, participate in on-field activities, eat ballpark food and get a behind-the-scenes view of the Goodyear Ballpark. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Purchase tickets at the Goodyear Ballpark Ticket Office or at www.goodyearbp.com. For information, call 623-882-3130.
20 & 21 — The 48th annual Buckeye melodrama will take place at 9:30 p.m. at Buckeye Union High School, 1000 E. Narramore Ave., Buckeye. Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 6 to 12. For information, call 623-349-6320.
27 — The Lil’ Debbie Band will play blues and rock music during Concerts in the Park from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye.
28 — Buckeye’s annual Easter egg hunt will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye.
3-31 — Spring training is under way at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. For a complete schedule and ticket prices, visit www.goodyearbp.com.
4 – 31 — Spring training is under way at Camelback Ranch, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. For a complete schedule and ticket prices, visit www.camelbackranchbaseball.com.
April
1 — Spring training is under way at Camelback Ranch, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. For a complete schedule and ticket prices, visit www.camelbackranchbaseball.com.
1-3 — Spring training is under way at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. For a complete schedule and ticket prices, visit www.goodyearbp.com.
10 — Cold Shott & the Hurricane Horns will play during the Arts in the Park Concert Series finale from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wigwam, 300 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. For information, call 623-935-9040.
11 — The eighth annual Kiwanis Sprint in the Park will take place at the Litchfield Park Recreation Center, 100 S. Old Litchfield Road. Events will include a 300-yard swim, an 8.4-mile bike ride and a 2K run. All entrants will receive a Tshirt, fruit, bagels, muffins, snacks and hydration. Medals will be given to the top three finishers in each age group for men and women. An awards ceremony and raffle will take place after the race. For information, call 801-791-3929.
11 — The Goodyear Lakeside Music Festival at Estrella will kick off at noon at 10300 S. Estrella Parkway. The festival will feature live music, food vendors and art vendors. Parking is free. For information, visit www.westvalleyarts.org or call 623-935-6384.
11 — Avondale’s KidFest will celebrate “the week of the young child” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Friendship Park, 12325 W. McDowell Road, Avondale. Families can enjoy bounce activities, entertainment, services, food and programs geared toward young children. For information, visit www.avondale. org.
17-19 — Tolleson’s Whoopee Daze Festival will take place at Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson. The annual festival includes a carnival, contests and entertainment. For information, visit www.tollesonaz.org or call 623-474-4992.
24 — Come Back Buddy will play ’50s music during Concerts in the Park from 7 to 9 p.m. at Festival Foothills Park, 26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd., Buckeye.
25 — The K9 Golf Tournament will raise money for the Buckeye Police Department K9 Unit from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sundance Golf Club, 900 S. Sundance Parkway, Buckeye. The cost is $65 per person and includes the greens fees, cart with bottle of water, lunch, awards for the top three teams and one general raffl e ticket. All proceeds will benefi t the Buckeye Police K9 program. For information, call Dave Smith at 623-349-6443 or John Larson at 623764-4834.
25 — Buckeye’s Public Works and Water Resources departments will celebrate Arbor Day from 8 to 10 a.m. at Buckeye Town Park, 207 N. Ninth St., Buckeye. Learn how to prune and plant trees while watching irrigation demonstrations. For information, call 623-349-6605.
28 — Goodyear’s first State of the City address will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse in the PebbleCreek Community at 16262 Clubhouse Drive in Goodyear. The cost is $25. For information, call 623-882-7053.
May
1 — Uvon Brooks will play jazz music during Concerts in the Park from 7 to 9 p.m. at Tartesso Sports Park, 30300 W. Tartesso Parkway, Buckeye.
9 — Buckeye’s Spring Demolition Derby will begin at 7 p.m. at the Helzapoppin Rodeo Arena on Miller Road, just south of Baseline Road. In addition to the derby, events include lawn mower races, a children’s race, bounce houses and face painting. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger. A family pack, which includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets, costs $25.
29 — Buckeye will show Despicable Me 2 at dusk at Festival Foothills Park at 26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd. Take a picnic dinner, blankets and chairs. Vendors will also sell food on site.
July
4 — Litchfield Park’s July 4 “Splash Bash” will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Litchfield Park Recreation Center Swimming Pool, 100 S. Old Litchfield Park. The cost is $2 per person with a valid Litchfield Park pool pass; free for children younger than 3. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. For information, call 623-935-9040.
4 — Buckeye’s Fourth of July Celebration will take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Youngker High School, 3000 S. Apache Road.
4 — Goodyear’s Star Spangled Fourth of July Celebration will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way. Fireworks will be at 9:15 p.m. The celebration will include live music, food vendors and inflatable and water-related rides for children; some fees apply.
September
19 — Tolleson will host its annual Tardeada Latina Celebration. For information, call 623-474-4992.
Zeta’s GRILL
Rebecca Bouquot of Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center explains about the great horned owl March 2004 at the Tres Rios Nature Festival in Avondale.
that can make a difference, too. Shaver said people tend to use the most electricity in the evening hours after getting home from work, which is part of the hottest time of day, so she advises being conscious against using too many home appliances around that time. The oven, dishwasher and dryer produce a lot of heat.
“Anytime you can do heat-producing chores not during the hottest time of day, which is 3 to 7 p.m., if you can do those chores outside of that time, it will reduce the heat that’s in your home,” Shaver said.
“Vampire appliances” use electricity when they’re not in use, Shaver said.
“Even if you leave a charger on in your home, it might not add a lot of heat, but it will continue to pull electricity, which will increase your bill.”
Light bulbs can also produce heat, but people can avoid that by using the right ones.
“We really encourage customers to switch to CFL bulbs because they produce less heat,” Shaver said.
More tips and information can be found on aps.com. The information is not only to help save people money, but also helps APS meet its goals for a greener world.
“We have very strict energy efficient goals in this state, goals we’re committed to meeting, so our programs are a big part in helping customers reduce their energy, be more energy efficient and ultimately save money on their bill,” Shaver said.
— Casey Pritchard
WORSHIP DIRECTORY
Avondale
Abundant Harvest Church
919 N. Dysart Road, Suites N and O, Avondale 623-810-2355 www.ahconline.org
Avondale Apostolic Church — Truth Tabernacle 825 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-932-0893 www.avondaleapostolic.com
Bethany Church of God in Christ
10825 W. Garden Lakes Parkway, Avondale 602-339-7433
www.bethanychurchphx.com
The Carpenter’s House of Worship
13048 W. Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale
623-266-2469
Christ Community
United Methodist Church
104 W. Western Ave., Avondale 623-932-3480 www.myccumc.com
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
10930 W. Garden Lakes Parkway, Avondale 623-772-9275
Cornerstone Christian Center
11301 W. Indian School Road, Avondale 623-877-3220 www.cornerstoneaz.org
Desert Springs Worship Center
10714 W. Fourth St., Avondale 623-936-4166 www.dswc-pcg.org
First Baptist Church
Garden Lakes
2517 N. 107th Ave., Avondale
623-936-7148 www.gardenlakesbaptist.com
First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale
1001 N. Central Ave., Avondale
623-932-2723 www.fsbca.org
Goodyear Friends Inc.
104 N. Dysart Road, Avondale 623-932-2292
Harvest Outreach
Christian Center
715 E. Western Ave., Avondale 623-932-6453 www.harvestoutreachaziconosites.com
Heritage Baptist Church
La Joya High School 11650 W. Whyman Ave., Avondale 623-882-2351
www.HeritageBaptistAZ.org
Iglesia Armonia
1035 E. Van Buren St., Avondale 623-760-2026
Iglesia Bautista del Oeste
19 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-925-1960
Iglesia La Luz Del Mundo
7 E. Kinderman Drive, Avondale 623-882-8487
In His Presence
Christian Church
316 N. Central Ave., Avondale 623-688-3447 www.ihpcconline.com
Lighthouse Baptist Church
Collier Elementary School 350 S. 118th Ave., Avondale 480-721-2206 www.lbcavondale.com
La Misión Assembly of God 11147 W. Buckeye Road, Avondale 623-936-3703
Morning Star Baptist Church
500 S. Seventh St., Avondale 623-932-4320
New Life Covenant Church
541 E. Main St., Avondale 623-932-1670 www.avondalechurch.com
Pathway Bible Church 2150 Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale www.pathwaybibleaz.com
Primera Iglesia Bautista de Ant 12610 W. Whyman St., Avondale
623-932-5723
Redemption Christian Church
305 W. Western Ave., Avondale 623-521-0621
redemptionchristianchurch@q.com
Rose of Sharon World
Evangelistic Church
919 N. Dysart Road, Suite W, Avondale 623-363-0585 www.wecintl.org
The Sanctuary
Community Church
1233 S. 111th Ave., Avondale 623-936-6793
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
13720 W. Thomas Road, Avondale 623-935-2151 www.stacc.net
St. William Catholic Church 11001 W. Third St., Avondale 623-936-6115
Sufficient Grace Christian Center Homewood Suites 11450 W. Hilton Way, Avondale 480-522-5196
Temple of Faith
201 E. Main St., Avondale 623-695-6670
Wings As Eagles
International Church
16 N. Fifth St. Avondale 623-932-3156 www.waeic.com
Word of Life
Christian Center
1435 N. Central Ave., Avondale
623-932-2055
www.wordoflifechristiancenter.net
Buckeye
Arlington Baptist Church
32700 W. Arlington Road, Buckeye 623-386-1447
Buckeye Christian Church
214 S. Fifth St., Buckeye 602-386-3513
Buckeye First Assembly 23230 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4783 www.buckeyefirstassembly.net
Buckeye Light & Life Church
304 E. Roosevelt Ave., Buckeye 623-386-4759 buckeyelightandlife.com
Buckeye Seventh Day Adventist
501 N. Fourth St., Buckeye 623-386-4588 www.buckeyesda.org
Buckeye Worship Center 7707 SW Hwy 85, Buckeye 623-340-4289
Calvary Chapel
Buckeye Elementary School District building 25555 W. Durango St., Buckeye 623-282-1086 www.calvarychapelbuckeye.com
Camino de Santidad First Assembly of God Church 23230 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-1376 www.buckeyefirstassembly.net
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1002 Eason Ave., Buckeye 623-386-4188
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
22487 W. Sundance Parkway, Buckeye 520-421-0322
Community Church of Buckeye
A United Methodist Church
810 Eason Ave., Buckeye 623-386-2674
www.ccobumc.weebly.com
CrossPointe Church
Tartesso Elementary School
29677 W. Indianola Ave., Buckeye 623-313-5857
www.xpointe.net
Crossroad Baptist Church
Verrado Middle School cafeteria
20880 W. Main St., Buckeye 623-341-0490 www.crossroad-az.org
Desert Baptist Church
201 W. Baseline Road, Buckeye 602-386-7636
Desert Hills
Baptist Church
Odyssey Institute
1495 S. Airport Road, Buckeye 623-202-2822 www.dhbcb.org
Elevation Church
Inca Elementary School
23601 W. Durango St., Buckeye www.elevationbuckeye.com
First Southern Baptist Church of Buckeye
405 N. Third St., Buckeye 623-386-5614 www.buckeyebaptist.org
Grace Fellowship Church
1300 N. Miller Road, Buckeye 623-393-8386 www.graceinbuckeye.com
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Buckeye Congregation
23427 W. Pioneer St., Buckeye 623-386-2775
Liberty United Methodist Church
19900 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4090 www.libertyunitedmethodist.com
Liberty Worship Center
3020 N. 191st. Ave., Litchfield Park 480-254-3163
Lifeway Church
18926 W. Latham, Buckeye 623-853-0686 www.lifewaychurchaz.com
Living Water
Lutheran Church
The Odyssey Academy
6500 S. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-266-1835 www.livingwateraz.org
Mountain Vista Community Church Youngker High School auditorium
3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-474-5757 www.mtvistaonline.org
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
403 N. Fourth St., Buckeye 623-386-6365 www.mtpleasentbaptistchurch.org
13331 W. Indian School Rd., #205 Litchfield Park (623) 246-5120 www.alhambracu.org
Day Spa
Massage Envy 1468 N. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear (623) 935-5495 9945 W. McDowell Rd. Avondale (623) 209-3939 9744 W. Northern Ave. Peoria (623) 872-3689 5143 W. Olive Ave. Glendale (623) 931-3689
Donations
Salvation Army (800) 479-0210 www.sarmygift.org
Funeral Homes
Avenidas Funeral Chapel
522 E. Western Ave. Avondale (623) 925-1525
Thompson Funeral Chapel
926 S. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear (623) 932-1780
Furniture
Lina Home Furnishings 1487 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale (623) 882-9232 5870 W. Bell Rd. Glendale (602) 993-1338
Golf
Eagle’s Nest Country Club 3645 Clubhouse Drive (1 mile W. of Litchfield Rd. on Indian School) Goodyear (623) 935-6761
Tuscany Falls at PebbleCreek I-10 W. Exit 126, 1-1/2 mile N. on Pebble Creek Parkway to Clubhouse Drive. Goodyear (623) 935-6757
Josh LeForce of Buckeye, center, makes a jump as his sister Kimmy LeForce, right, holds Hunter Miller inside a bounce house at Buckeye Valley Fire Station 326 in Arlington at their community night event Sept. 24.
Verrado Golf Club
4242 N. Golf Drive
Buckeye (623) 388-3008 www.verradogolfclub.com
Insurance
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
Newspapers
West Valley View 1050 E. Riley Drive Avondale (623) 535-VIEW (535-8439) www.westvalleyview.com
Pet Services
Scruff’s Dog Food Co.
14175 W. Indian School Rd, Ste C-4 Goodyear (623) 935-9553
Plumbing
1 Buckeye Plumbing (623) 386-0710
www.1buckeyeplumbing.com
Recreation
Litchfield Park Recreation 100 S. Litchfield Rd. Litchfield Park (623) 935-9040
Restaurants
The Verrado Grille 4242 N. Golf Drive Buckeye (623) 388-3013 www.verradogolfclub.com
Zetas Grill 2935 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale (623) 547-4612
Retail
Brass Armadillo 13277 W. McDowell Rd. Goodyear (623) 889-0290 12419 N. 28th Dr. Phoenix (602) 942-0030
Local office: 7121 W. Bell Road, Suite 200 Glendale, AZ 85308 623-776-7911
9555 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Board of Supervisors
Clint L. Hickman (R)
Board of Supervisors
District 4, which includes Avondale, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, north Buckeye 301 W. Jefferson Ave., 10th floor Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-7642 chickman@mail.maricopa.gov
State Legislature
District 4
Sen. Lynne Pancrazi (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 315 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3004; lpancrazi@azleg.gov
Rep. Charlene R. Fernandez (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 126 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3098; cfernandez@azleg.gov
Rep. Lisa Otondo (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 123 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3002; lotondo@azleg.gov
District 13
Sen. Don Shooter (R)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 200 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-4139; dshooter@azleg.gov
Rep. Darin Mitchell (R)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 307 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-5894; dmitchell@azleg.gov
Rep. Steve Montenegro (R)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 218 Phoenix, AZ 85007
Steve Gallardo (D)
District 5, which includes Goodyear, Tolleson, Avondale, south Buckeye 301 W. Jefferson Ave., 10th floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 602-506-7092 gallardos001@mail.maricopa.gov
District 19
Sen. Lupe Contreras (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 313 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-5284; lcontreras@azleg.gov
Rep. Mark A. Cardenas (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 122 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3014; mcardenas@azleg.gov
Rep. Diego Espinoza (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 118 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3134; despinoza@azleg.gov
District 29
Sen. Martin Quezada (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 313 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-5911; mquezada@azleg.gov
Rep. Richard C. Andrade (D)
602-926-5955; smontenegro@azleg.gov
1700 W. Washington St., Room 125 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3130; randrade@azleg.gov
Rep. Ceci Velasquez (D)
1700 W. Washington St., Room 124 Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-926-3144; cvelasquez@azleg.gov
Cities at a Glance
Year of incorporation: 1946
Population: 83,420
Median age: 29.9
Median household annual income: $64,289
Land area: 54 square miles
City Hall: 11465 W. Civic
Center Drive (623-333-1000)
www.ci.avondale.az.us
Mayor: Kenn Weise
Vice mayor: Stephanie Karlin
Year of incorporation: 1929
Population: 58,100
Median age: 30.8
Median household annual income: $64,268
Land area: 600 square miles
City Hall: 530 E. Monroe Ave. (623-349-6000)
www.buckeyeaz.gov
Mayor: Jackie Meck
Vice mayor: Eric Orsborn
Year of incorporation: 1946
Population: 72,864
Median age: 33.6
Median household annual income: $76,523
Land area: 191 square miles
City Hall: 190 N. Litchfield Road (623-932-3910)
www.goodyearaz.gov
Mayor: Georgia Lord
Vice mayor: Joe Pizzillo
Year of incorporation: 1987
Population: 5,568
Median age: 44.2
Median household annual
income: $84,204
Land area: 3.5 square miles
City Hall: 214 W. Wigwam Blvd. (623-935-5033)
www.litchfield-park.org
Mayor: Tom Schoaf
Vice mayor: Paul Faith
Year of incorporation: 1929
Population: 6,756
Median age: 29
Median household annual income: $37,972
Land area: 5.75 square miles
City Hall: 9555 W. Van Buren St. (623-936-7111)
www.tollesonaz.org
Mayor: Adolfo Gamez
Vice mayor: Linda Laborin
Council: David Iwanski, Bryan Kilgore, Jim McDonald, Sandi Nielson and Lorenzo Sierra
City manager: David Fitzhugh
Police Dept.: 11485 W. Civic Center Drive (623-333-7000)
Police chief: Dale Nannenga
Fire Dept.: 1825 N. 107th Ave. (623-333-6000)
Fire chief: Paul Adams
Libraries: Avondale Civic Center
Council: Robert Garza, Michelle
Hess, Craig Heustis, Brian McAchran and Ray Strauss
City manager: Stephen
Cleveland
Police Dept.: 100 N. Apache Road, Suite D (623-349-6400)
Police chief: Larry Hall
Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive (623-333-2602); Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave. (623-333-2665)
Post Offices: Avondale Post Office, 401 W. Western Ave. (623-882-9148); Cashion Post Office, 1216 N. 111th Drive (623-936-1362)
Fire Dept.: 100 N. Apache Road (623-349-6700)
Fire chief: Bob Costello
Library: 310 N. Sixth St. (623-349-6300)
Post Office: 51 E. Monroe Ave. (623-386-3117)
Council: Wally Campbell, Sharolyn Hohman, Sheri
Lauritano, Joanne Osborne and Bill Stipp
City manager: Brian Dalke
Police Dept.: 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite E-101 (623932-1220)
Police chief: Jerry Geier
Fire Dept.: 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite E-103 (623-932-2300)
Fire chief: Paul Luizzi
Library: 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite C-101 (602-652-3000)
Post Office: 875 S. Estrella Parkway (623-882-9148)
Council: Tim Blake, Peter Mahoney, Jeff Raible, John Romack and Paul Stucky
City manager: Darryl Crossman
Police Dept.: Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office (602-876-1011)
Council: Lupe Bandin, Clorinda
Erives, Kathie Farr, Albert Mendoza and Juan Rodriguez
City manager: Reyes Medrano Jr.
Police Dept.: 8350 W. Van Buren St. (623-936-7186)
Police chief: Larry Rodriguez
Fire Dept.: 203 N. 92nd Ave. (623-936-8500)
Fire chief: George Good
Fire Dept.: Goodyear Fire Department (623-932-2300)
