Vista - Spring/Summer 2016

WELCOME TO VISTA

Welcometo the spring/ summer 2016 Vista. Spring and summer can be (and by “can be” we mean “surely will be”) brutal with the mercury rising above the 100-degree mark for several months at a time. It’s not exactly the best time of year to take a hike or play tennis, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay inside all summer long. It just means if we want to spend any quality time outside, water better be involved.

We’re not talking about drinking water, although that is crucial to surviving any time of year in the desert, we’re talking about water we immerse ourselves in.

In this spring/summer 2016 Vista, aka the water issue, we tell you about all the great swimming holes (public pools) and splash pads. We delve into lifeguarding, exploring what it takes to be one and sharing true stories. We cover drowning prevention, from swim lessons and pool fence

TABLE

laws to CPR.

We talk about Tres Rios and what it has to offer — namely canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing, which is especially exciting since the fish consumption advisory on the Gila has been lifted for the first time since being implemented in 1991. We even have a little something for boating and jet skiing enthusiasts. We may live in the desert, but Lake Pleasant is only about an hour’s drive from the West Valley.

As always, we have plenty of handy information readers will want to hold on to until the next Vista comes out, such as our calendar of events, worship listing, schools directory, city information and a directory of state and county officials within our coverage area.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!

— Cary Hines Managing editor

1050 E. Riley Dr., Avondale, AZ 85323 (623) 535-8439 [535-VIEW] FAX (623) 935-2103

“The noblest motive is the public good.’’ – Richard Steele

Publisher Elliott Freireich publisher@westvalleyview.com

Editorial Managing editor: Cary S. Hines chines@westvalleyview.com

Assistant editor: Emily Toepfer etoepfer@westvalleyview.com

Sports editor: Casey Pritchard caseypritchard@westvalleyview.com

Sports writer: Shane McOwen

Staff writers: Glenn Gullickson, Shane McOwen, Kathleen Stinson news1@westvalleyview.com

Staff photographers: Ray Thomas, Jordan Christopher

Advertising Julie Sargent-Helm advertising@westvalleyview.com

Account executives: Rachael Freireich rachael.f@westvalleyview.com

Donna Lindly donna.l@westvalleyview.com

Julius Tiritilli julius.t@westvalleyview.com

Production Shannon Mead Erica Evans production@westvalleyview.com

Bookkeeping

Manager: Rene Hartmann

Alejandrina Trujillo bookkeeping@westvalleyview.com

Classified advertising Lynne Montanus classifieds@westvalleyview.com

Circulation/Distribution

Manager: Tina Hopkins thopkins@westvalleyview.com

Circulation Assistant: Megan Boys mboys@westvalleyview.com

Inserting: Matt Holland

Press

Head Pressman: Ryan Westfall rwestfall@westvalleyview.com

Matt Holland and Antonio Montenegro

West Valley View is published each Wednesday 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: $63 per year, $32 for 6 months. Out of county & state: $76 per year, $38 for 6 months.

Copyright: The entire contents Copyright 2016 by West Valley View Inc.

Vista is printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks. 2/24/2016 • 73,160 - 4,000

Monica Koby of Avondale introduces her 2-month old daughter Jade to the pool experience last summer at the Litchfield Park Recreation Center pool. The pool, at 100 S. Old Litchfield Road in Litchfield Park, opens for the season April 1.

View photo by Ray Thomas

DIVE IN!

W. Valley has plethora of public pools to choose from

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

Dive right in!

That’s a common phrase during the summer months in Arizona, as people love taking a dip in the pool to cool off when the temperatures soar. Although many Arizonans have pools in their own backyards, not everybody does. Never fear, several pools around the West Valley are open to the public if you’re looking for a place to swim.

The Goodyear Municipal Pool is at 430 E. Loma Linda Blvd. in Goodyear. The pool is open from June 1 through Sept. 7.

The pool has eight competitive lanes, a diving well and a 1-meter diving board.

The Goodyear Municipal Pool offers adult water aerobics classes, diving lessons and lifeguard certification courses, among other things. It’s also available to rent for private parties. For information, call the pool office at 623-932-4809.

The Buckeye Aquatic Center is at 207 N. Ninth St. in Buckeye.

The pool offers a 10-foot high dive, a low dive and a 160-foot water slide. A variety of programs are available, including shallow water aerobics, lap swim and teen splash nights. The Buckeye Aquatic Center also offers a Red Cross lifeguard certification class, which is $150 for residents and $175 for non-residents.

For information, call the Dr. Saide Recreation Center at 623-349-6350.

The Litchfield Park Recreation Center is at 100 S. Old Litchfield Road in Litchfield Park.

It’s open from April 1 through Labor Day and has a 25-yard heated lap pool, a therapy spa and a baby pool. The pool can also be used for group parties, and it varies in price by the number of guests.

The Litchfield Park Recreation Center also has youth and adult programs, including swim lessons, water aerobics classes and lifeguard training.

The hours of operation vary by month. The daily fee is $3, which includes access to the tennis courts, basketball courts and weight room.

For information, contact the Litchfield Park Recreation Center at 623-935-9040.

The Tolleson Pool is at 9419 W. Van Buren St. in Tolleson. It’s on the campus of Tolleson Union High School.

The pool opens May 30.

Open swim fees are $3 for ages 18 and older, $1 for ages 4-17 and free to children 3 and younger.

Swim lessons are available, and run in two-week sessions.

The pool is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 1 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

For information, call Tolleson City Hall at 623-936-7111.

View photo by Ray Thomas

Swimmers take advantage of a free swim day last spring at the Buckeye Aquatic Center. Pool amenities include a 10-foot high dive and a water slide.

ABCs of CPR

Lifesaving skill is crucial to

surviving a drowning

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

CPR performed immediately after a drowning incident can be the difference between life and death.

Since a person’s chance of survival significantly decreases with each passing minute, citizens play a crucial role in the lifesaving process, said Tim Erickson, an engineer with Avondale Fire-Rescue.

In Avondale, it takes firefighters about five to 10 minutes to arrive on scene after getting an emergency call, Erickson said.

“A lot of brain can die in that amount of time, so all the difference in the world can be made by that person before we get there,” he said. “I think one of the fears people have with doing CPR is not knowing if they’re doing it right, but something is better than nothing.”

The chain of survival starts with someone calling 911 and starting CPR, said Sue Pistoia, public education specialist for the fire department.

“There’s a tendency in our society to not want to get involved,” Pistoia said. “So the more people who know CPR and get trained, the better.”

In fact, Avondale has an initiative called “CPR in Schools” with a goal to teach as many seventh- and eighthgrade pupils as possible.

“We’re preparing the next generation with their lifesaving skills,” Pistoia said.

Because of the strength required to do effective compressions, anyone younger than 12 years old can’t be certified, she said.

“You have to have that upper body strength to be able to do compressions down to 2 inches,” Pistoia said.

While recent guidelines for CPR have switched to compressions only instead of also incorporating rescue breaths, that’s not the case in most drowning situations, Erickson said.

“With infants, because their respiratory drive is so much more important, they say it’s OK to take that

View photo by Jordan Christopher

Sue Pistoia, Avondale Fire-Rescue public education specialist, demonstrates and explains the importance of knowing CPR Jan. 14 in Avondale.

CPR from V6

break and interrupt compressions for two rescue breaths,” he said.

An infant takes a breath about 30 to 40 times per minute, compared to an adult’s normal respiration of 12 to 20 breaths a minute, Erickson said.

The procedure could change to only chest compressions in the future, but for now, the recommendation is to also do rescue breaths, he said.

ABCs of CPR

After coming across a person who has drowned, the first step is to see if the victim is alert.

If there is no response, make sure someone calls 911, and quickly check the person for signs of breathing.

“If you don’t know the person and you’re not willing to put your mouth on a strange person, which is totally understandable, then we do what is known as continuous chest compression, or the hands only CPR, where you just do 100 compressions per minute until advanced help arrives,” she said.

When there is no visible breathing, do 30 compressions at the center of the chest right below the nipple line.

Then tilt the head back and lift the chin to give two rescue breaths that are one second each. For a baby, cover the nose and mouth completely with your mouth.

However, firefighters don’t want people to put themselves at risk if they don’t feel comfortable performing rescue breaths on a stranger, Pistoia said.

Immediately go back to compressions and repeat the cycle until rescue crews arrive.

In an emergency situation, it’s always important to quickly assess a victim for breathing and a pulse before starting CPR, Pistoia said.

“We are doing CPR on people, babies, children, whose hearts are not beating,” she said.

Sometimes, an infant who has been in the water won’t be breathing, but

Increase Income!

his heart is still beating. If held upside down, water will exit the lungs and the infant will start breathing again, Erickson said.

Another important aspect is trying to calm down before helping a victim, because a hysterical parent won’t be very focused, Pistoia said.

“You just have to get that mindset that you’re going to help, you’re going to do it and just do it,” she said. “That’s why classes are so good, because people don’t really have an idea of what it’s really like.”

During a CPR class, participants get down on the ground to do compressions and rescue breathing similar to a real scenario.

“That way, it’s kind of like a learned memory, so when you have to do it, you remember it,” Pistoia said. “I just think everyone needs to know how to do CPR.

“The biggest thing about the chain of survival, though, is to keep the little ones from getting into that problem in the first place. So prevention is key.”

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or Twitter @EmilyToepfer.

LIFE OF A LIFEGUARD

Seasonal employment offers challenges, rewards

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Time spent at the pool can be fun and relaxing on a hot Arizona summer day, but for a select group of people it’s another day on the job.

Working as a lifeguard offers seasonal employment for scores of young people in the West Valley.

“For the most part, it’s a really fun summer job, from what I hear from most kids,” said Jessica Thompson, a recreation supervisor who helps hire lifeguards at the Buckeye Aquatic Center, 207 N. Ninth St., Buckeye.

But it’s also a job that requires special skills as lifeguards serve on the front line for providing safety in the water.

“They’re usually the first set of eyes to see someone struggling in the water,” Thompson said.

That means that those who want to become a lifeguard have to successfully complete lifeguard training and undergo other tests that continue even after they’ve secured a spot in the chair.

Chris Gallagher, who supervises the lifeguard operation in Goodyear as the city’s recreation coordinator, said lifeguard hopefuls have to pass a pretest before they’re admitted to lifeguard training.

“First and foremost, they have to

know how to swim,” Gallagher said. “Some have the misconception that they will be taught how to swim.”

Other prerequisites to attending training include treading water and retrieving an object from the bottom of the pool.

The seasonal jobs start in May and continue into September.

Guards at the Buckeye pool work up to 40 hours a week in six- to eight-hour shifts that start as early as 7 a.m. or end as late as 10 p.m., Thompson said.

Gallagher emphasized that lifeguard candidates can’t wait until summer to start preparing for the job, but need to sign up for training classes well in advance of the pool season.

Classes are frequently offered over school breaks, including the spring break in March, and teach rescue techniques, CPR and first aid in sessions over several days that run 30 to 40 hours.

The cost to attend the classes ranges from $150 in Buckeye to $195 in Goodyear.

Successfully completing the class doesn’t mean a lifeguard has landed a job, Thompson said, adding the hiring process in Buckeye requires new applicants and returning staffers to demonstrate their skills.

“They essentially have to retake the

[training class] exit exam to get the job,” she said.

But lifeguard applicants are in demand, according to Gallagher and Thompson, and the pools at Goodyear and Buckeye compete with lifeguard opportunities at pools in Tolleson, Litchfield Park and the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear.

“The demand outweighs the supply,” said Gallagher, who expects to hire three to 10 people for his staff this year.

Most guards are high school or college students, but since there’s not a college in Buckeye, Thompson said her pool can struggle to find guards.

“We don’t get a lot of kids out here who have that lifeguard certification,” Thompson said. “We’re trying to offer more classes so more kids get certified. We need these kids.”

Thompson, who expects to hire 10 to 15 guards to round out this summer’s pool crew of 35, said Buckeye has tried to reach out to get more experienced guards.

“Getting people in their 20s or 30s to lifeguard would be amazing,” she said.

To help generate interest in lifeguard jobs, Gallagher noted that Goodyear

See LIFEGUARD on V11

View photo by Ray Thomas

Alex O’Keefe, right, of Litchfield Park performs a rescue exercise with Timmy Benson of Buckeye Jan. 24 during a lifeguard training exercise at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear.

Jennifer Mahoney Attorney

LIFE SAVING SKILLS

Helping others motivates lifeguards

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Thedesire to help others is what motivated Samantha Petrey to become a lifeguard, and her skills have been put to the test more than once at the Buckeye Aquatic Center, where she plans to work as a lifeguard for a third summer this year.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” said Petrey, 18, a senior at Verrado High School in Buckeye, where she is a member of the swim team.

She got the chance to help last summer during a lifeguard shift when a 7-year-old girl followed her father and brother into deeper water and got in over her head.

Petrey said she noticed the situation, blew her whistle and went to the girl’s aid.

“My adrenaline kicked in,” Petrey remembered. “All these thoughts were running through my mind. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, I hope she’s OK.’ I had to get there as quick as I could. It was a little nerve-wracking.”

Petrey said she got the girl to the side of the pool, but CPR wasn’t required.

Another time, Petrey helped a boy who was struggling after jumping off the pool’s diving board.

Such incidents have to be followed up by filing a report, said Petrey, who also works at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear and plans to study physical therapy in college.

Petrey said she enjoys interacting with children and finds that the lifeguard job puts her in touch with the community.

Samantha Petrey, left, and Timmy Benson, both of Buckeye, perform a backboard rescue on Jacob Chase of Litchfield Park Jan. 24 during a lifeguard training exercise at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear.

“It’s nice to get to know the community really well,” she said. “Families come [to the pool] frequently.”

Vanessa Paquette, 19, of Buckeye agrees that working with children is the best part of being a lifeguard, a job she’s held at the Buckeye pool the last two summers.

“I thought it would be a good first job for me,” said Paquette, who is a freshman at Arizona State University studying business administration. “You learn a lot of useful skills, like CRP and first aid.”

Other than helping children who went too deep in the pool, Paquette hasn’t done a major rescue, but always understood the importance of the job, she said.

“Just watching and knowing, it’s on you if someone is helpless and drowning, it’s on you to save them,” she said.

Among the things she said she’s learned as a lifeguard is determining when something is an emergency.

Still, Paquette admitted that sitting in the chair can become boring. “I kept myself awake by using the proper scanning technique, making sure to always look around,” she said.

The worst part of the job is the heat and the inevitable tan lines, she said.

But it’s all worthwhile, Paquette said.

“Anyone who is thinking about being a lifeguard, it’s a great job,” she said. “When I go to work, I feel like I’m valued.”

View photo by Ray Thomas

LIFEGUARD from V8

offers a junior guard program for youths ages 12 to 14 years old to get acquainted with the pool and shadow the guards.

Those who apply to be lifeguards are motivated, Gallagher and Thompson agreed.

“They’re pretty active kids, in sports or student council, clubs, band or swim team,” Thompson said.

Beyond being good swimmers, Gallagher looks for potential lifeguards who are dependable, responsible, quick learners and customer-service oriented, he said.

“These kids have to be pretty dedicated,” he said.

A big part of the job is staying focused, Gallagher said.

To help maintain that focus, lifeguards are advised to get a good night’s sleep before their shift, Thompson said.

Eight to 10 guards work at a time at the Buckeye pool, rotating in the chairs for two 20-minute periods, then taking a 20-minute break, Thompson said.

One downside is sitting in the heat. Thompson said the guards are

encouraged to hydrate and slather on the sunscreen during their breaks.

Each guard is responsible for a portion of the pool as they all scan the water in an overlapping pattern.

While lifeguards watch the water, supervisors at the Buckeye pool watch the lifeguards to see that they stay alert, something that can be determined by watching how guards sit, move their heads or by looking at their eyes, Thompson said.

The Goodyear pool sees active rescues every summer, sometimes in unexpected circumstances, Gallagher said.

“Something’s going to happen when they least expect it,” he said. “Anything more than 6 inches or a foot of water is dangerous. Even a good swimmer can drown.”

It’s not unusual for lifeguards to get into the water at the Buckeye pool, Thompson said. The bottom of the slide is among the trouble spots, as children sometimes panic when they create a splash entering the pool.

Another frequent issue occurs when children get in over their heads where the water gets deeper after they’ve entered the pool’s zero-depth, beachlike edge.

To prepare to react to emergencies, lifeguards attend regular in-service

Crown Charter School

trainings at the pools, Thompson and Gallagher said. Gallagher said guards are also expected to swim a number of laps every week.

Lifeguards may convey a sense of authority at the pools, but the job isn’t glamorous.

In Goodyear, they have to clean the pool’s restrooms, and if someone gets sick in the pool it’s the guards who are on clean-up duty, Gallagher said.

Lifeguards also don’t get rich — the pay can be a couple of dollars over minimum wage — but Thompson and Gallagher said the experience offers more than money.

“It teaches all kinds of life skills,” including first responder-type skills and conflict resolution, Gallagher said.

“The atmosphere is different than flipping hamburgers or retail,” Thompson said. “It really sets them up for success not just in school but down the road professionally.”

She said youths with lifeguard experience often go on to be firefighters, teachers or medical professionals.

“These kids go on and continue their lives helping others in some way or other,” Thompson said.

Glenn Gullickson can be reached at ggullickson@westvalleyview.com.

1 SECOND TOO LONG

Drownings leave lasting impact on all involved

story,” Braden said. “The minute you get in there and realize it’s a child — not to lessen any other drowning, but that really does take it up a notch. That’s because we’re all parents, and we know we’re going to go to a very emotional scene for everyone involved.”

Firefighters start forming an action plan before they arrive, which includes patient care, calming hysterical parents and sometimes how to guide a helicopter to land on a residential street.

“If it is a true drowning or a really bad submersion injury, it takes a lot of folks,” Braden said. “They’re a big incidence for us, emotionally and technically.”

One thing all firefighters hope for is to hear a crying child, he said.

“That is music to our ears. That means they’re breathing, they’ve got a heartbeat and generally, they’re either scared or angry. That’s good,” Braden said. “We get there and the only ones we hear upset are family members and there’s a child laying there lifeless, that’s going to be a bad call.”

Most of the drowning calls Braden has responded to could have been prevented if the pool had had a fence or someone was designated to watch the water, he said.

“You see on the news, there was a party going on and 30 people in the pool when the kid went under, but nobody knew it until they bumped up against him,” Braden said.

Lori Schmidt, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, said drowning prevention is a three-pronged approach and comes down to the ABC’s:

• Adults — A sober adult needs to be designated to watch the pool and give eye-to-eye contact with children in the water, Schmidt said.

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

At fire stations across the Valley, drowning calls have their own alarm tone, and it’s a sound that fills many firefighters with dread.

“When that goes off, you can be in a room full of 50 guys and they hear that tone go off, you now can hear a pin drop, just because we know what it is,” said Battalion Chief Russ Braden with

the Goodyear Fire Department. “It’s very stressful, and it starts before we get there.”

Details about the call trickle in once firefighters are en route to the scene.

A computer on the truck tells them the age and sex of the patient, whether or not he’s alert and if CPR is being performed.

“They give you that information and you’re starting to try and build that

“Which means, we don’t try to do yard work, we’re not at the barbecue grill, we’re not messing around on our smart phones, we’re actually being the lifeguard and keeping our eyes on the water and on the kids so that they’re safe,” she said.

Because children are often topheavy, they can easily lose their center

View photo by Jordan Christopher

Duff Wilson, 6, reaches for a toy Jan. 18 that fell into a backyard pool in the West Valley. Firefighters urge people to always watch children around water.

of gravity and fall forward into water, Braden said.

“That’s why they call it a silent death — the kid’s just trying to do something and he falls in, and that’s it,” he said. “They can’t scream out; they just go under, and it’s very quiet. Until someone finds them, then it’s anything but quiet.”

• Barriers — Put something in place to keep children from having direct access to the water, which usually means a wrought iron pool fence.

“That’s the one that we know has been tested and researched, and we know it’s one of the best layers of protection,” Schmidt said.

When it comes to mesh fencing,

which is a newer removable barrier, Schmidt recommends getting one that is at least 5 feet tall, because there have been occasions recently when children were able to climb over a shorter fence.

“The higher you go, the more difficult it is for the kids to climb over,” she said. “We need to make it as challenging as possible for kids to be able to access the water.”

Another option is pool nets, but Schmidt suggests only using them if you don’t have children in the house full time, because they are a hassle to put on and take off.

“Because there’s a time requirement to put it on and do it correctly, a lot of the families will leave the net off. Well, now you have no barriers,” she said.

Additional precautions should include covering spas, closing toilet lids and shutting bathroom doors, Schmidt said.

• Classes — Children taking swim lessons and adults knowing CPR can save lives, Schmidt said.

“Just because they have swimming lessons doesn’t mean they’re drownproof — people drown all the time, and they’ve had swimming lessons — but it does give you a layer of protection if they have some familiarity with the water,” she said.

Children who have not been introduced to water will sometimes sink to the bottom and wait for somebody to come get them, she said.

“If they’ve had experience with water and consistency in training, then we’ve seen an ability to be able to have that muscle memory to come back up and potentially give us those few precious

See DROWNINGS on V26

LEARNING TO SWIM

Lessons a good step to preventing drownings

Jack Uttech, 4, of Avondale practices his kickboard skills at a swim lesson taught by Lifeguard Nicholas Williams Jan. 20 at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear.

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

While swim lessons alone likely won’t prevent drowning, they will give a child a fighting chance to get out of the water and also help first responders by giving them a few extra minutes to rescue the child.

Marissa Berhorst, lifeguard coordinator for the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear, recommends introducing babies to the water as soon as possible.

“We’re just trying to get people in the water, comfortable with the water, know how to swim, know how to save themselves — those crucial skills are just absolutely phenomenal and essential to any life around the water,” she said.

A child’s comfort level with the water has a lot to do with the parents’ attitude, Berhorst said.

“If the parent has always taught them, ‘No, don’t go around water, it’s

Swim lessons

Swim lessons are offered at the following West Valley pools:

• Buckeye Aquatic Center, 207 N. Ninth St. in Buckeye; 623-349-6690 or buckeyeaz. gov/recreation.

• Goodyear Swimming Pool, 430 E. Loma Linda Blvd. in Goodyear; 623-932-4809 or goodyearaz.gov.

• Litchfield Park Recreation Center, 100 S. Old Litchfield Road in Litchfield Park; 623-935-9040 or litchfield-park.org.

• Tolleson Swimming Pool, 9419 W. Van Buren St. in Tolleson (on the Tolleson Union High School campus); 623-478-4398 or www.tuhsd.org, under “Programs” and then “Community Pool.”

• Southwest Valley Family YMCA, 2919 N. Litchfield Road in Goodyear; 602-4049622 or valleyymca.org.

not safe,’ or if the parent themselves is terrified of water, then it’s usually a little bit more difficult,” she said.

Parents who encourage their children and support the instructors while also teaching their children about the

possible dangers of water make the process much easier, Berhorst said.

See SWIM on V15

View photo by Jordan Christopher

“Pools can be a lot of fun if you know how to swim or if you have an adult,” she said. “Be knowledgeable of the dangers that can come with water, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to have fun and get in and learn how to swim.”

The YMCA has classes parents can take with their children, Berhorst said.

“Even if they don’t participate in classes, having parents in the water with their children, holding them and getting them comfortable so they’re not terrified of it once they hit the age where they are mobile and can take swim lessons by themselves,” she said. “It’s absolutely critical to get them in and get them comfortable and familiar with the water.”

The first thing Berhorst teaches children how to do is float.

“That alone can be a lifesaving skill,” she said. “Teaching someone to float on their front or on their back — it conserves energy and will teach them how to breathe and bring in that air.”

Kicking is another crucial skill, because it can help a child get forward momentum to the side of a pool or the shore, Berhorst said.

“If anyone’s going to be around a body of water, whether it’s a lake, home pool, public pool, ocean — just being able to get back to land if they happen to fall in is important. It makes the lifeguards’ jobs a little easier,” said Nicholas Williams, who has been a lifeguard for about three years.

As children get older, Berhorst teaches them the arm-over-arm stroke to increase that progression.

Depending on a student’s level, the older classes are mostly geared toward stroke refi nement. However, if a youth is still terrifi ed of water, the instructor will start from scratch with fl oating and basic rotation, Berhorst said.

The YMCA holds private swim lessons in the winter, but group classes start to pick up around March, said Ashley David, aquatics director at the Goodyear site.

“There’s also a vast number of adults who don’t know how to swim around here,” Berhorst said. “For the YMCA, hopefully going out into the community and bringing people in, we can teach people how to swim and teach people those absolute lifesaving skills.”

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @EmilyToepfer.

FENCED IN Swimming pool ordinances designed to save lives

by Kathleen Stinson staff writer

While backyard swimming pools are a great way to cool off on a hot day, the construction of and access to the water trigger some specific safety requirements monitored by the various building inspection departments across the West Valley.

“The foremost reason to have a pool ordinance is to ensure life safety,” said Randal Westascott, building inspection supervisor and acting building official for the city of Goodyear.

“It’s important to have these [laws] and more important to enforce them,” said Brett Harris, chief building official for the city of Avondale.

“In the Valley of the Sun, it gets warm in the summer. Water is enticing to young children. It’s important to have

barriers to restrict their free access.”

In 1990, Arizona statute 36-168 was enacted requiring swimming pools to be protected by specific enclosures. Local ordinances must be as or more stringent than the state law, according to building officials.

Avondale enforces the statute as it is written for the safety of its residents.

Buckeye, Tolleson and Litchfield Park have adopted their own ordinances that contain some additional requirements, as have other cities in the metro area, as stated on the city of Avondale website.

The law requires a primary barrier to the pool, which in many cases is the concrete block fence around a backyard, building officials say.

For homeowners who have children younger than 6 years old living in

the house, a secondary barrier is also required, such as a pool cover or a fence around the pool, Harris said about Avondale’s ordinance.

Phil Marcotte, chief building official for the city of Buckeye, said ordinances across the municipalities primarily differ on the issue of whether a secondary barrier is also required regardless of the age of the home’s occupants.

Buckeye, for example, requires a secondary barrier and that the pool be entirely enclosed regardless of the age of the occupants.

And, the city differs from some others in that it does not accept secondary

View photo by Jordan Christopher

Secondary pool barriers such as this fence that surrounds Avondale resident Daryl Donahue’s swimming pool, are required statewide if children younger than 6 years old are living in the home. Some West Valley cities have written their own ordinances making secondary barriers required no matter the age of the residents.

barrier options, such as alarms and pool covers, in lieu of a complete enclosure.

The secondary barrier is needed to protect both children and adults, Marcotte said. Some adults don’t know how to swim or can be mentally or emotionally challenged.

He said audible barriers such as alarms “can be circumvented.” And, ordinances that only require a primary barrier for people older than 6 do not address the issue of visiting grandchildren, for example.

Another issue is a house with a pool may be sold to a person who has young children, although it was constructed and approved without a secondary enclosure, he said. Often, people are not aware of the pool safety ordinance when buying a home.

“Whatever we can do to promote pool safety,” [the city] does to have a better, safer Buckeye,” he said. “In the 22 years since I have been [with Buckeye], there have been no fatal drownings.”

By contrast, 14 people drowned at a private pool in Avondale from Jan. 1, 2011, through December 2015, according to the Avondale Fire-Medical Department.

The state law also requires any gate into the yard be self-closing, selflatching and swing open away from the pool. That way, if the gate is ajar and pushed, it will latch.

The city of Goodyear has adopted the state statute as well as the 2012 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Westascott said.

The barriers are designed to keep unsupervised children out of the pool area, but they are also for the protection of adults, he said. Adults who consume alcoholic beverages can be at risk of danger around a pool.

“We want everybody to be aware of safety around water,” he said.

The municipalities require building permits for the construction of a pool and make two inspections. The cities inspect the electrical and plumbing systems and the primary and secondary barriers before the pool can be filled with water, according to building officials.

“It is the responsibility of the occupant to maintain the barrier in workable condition,” Westascott said.

In Buckeye, the property owner has the responsibility “to ensure that any pool enclosure fence and its appurtenances (i.e., gates, latching devices, locks, etc.) are maintained in safe and good working order,” as stated in the city of Buckeye Ordinance

Chapter 7 Section 5.4.5D.

“The best type of barrier is to teach your children to swim,” Harris said.

The city of Buckeye has a code compliance office within its police department that receives complaints about private pools that do not comply with its ordinance.

Marcia Story-Greco is a code compliance officer for the Buckeye Police Department.

If the city receives a complaint from the public, it will inspect the pool, Story-Greco said.

The city will send a letter to the owner and/or tenant if it finds a violation, she said. The letter notifies the person of the violation, the code and gives a period of time within which to comply.

If the pool owner does not comply, the city sends a second letter with a time frame to bring the property into compliance or at least contact the city to begin the process, she said.

Then, if the owner does not respond, he or she is issued a citation to come to court and answer for the violation, she said. The violation is a civil offense.

The pool owner will continue to receive letters until the property is brought into compliance, she said.

Kathleen Stinson can be reached at kstinson@westvalleyview.com.

HIDDEN DANGERS

Officials warn residents to steer clear of canals

View photo by Jordan Christopher

Tolleson Fire Department Chief George Good warns Valley residents of the dangers of canals, such as this one at 91st Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix. While canals may seem inviting when temperatures reach triple digits, they can be deadly to even the most experienced swimmers.

by Kathleen Stinson staff writer

Canals may seem like an inviting place to fish, and people like to walk their dogs along the roads nearby, but both those activities pose safety hazards.

“Canals pose a hazard and a danger,” said Division Chief Ben Avitia with Avondale Fire-Rescue.

“There are a lot of dirt roads near the canals and people jog there or walk their dogs,” Avitia said. “If the dog gets spooked, he could fall in.”

He said canals are dangerous because the sides are steep and it is difficult to get out of the canal because there aren’t any handles or ladders on the sides.

“I don’t advise people to use canals for recreation, but they do and it poses a danger depending on the depth of the water, which on average is 6 to 9 feet,” he said.

Also, canals contain debris and other obstacles that are not visible from the surface of the water, he said.

About six months ago, a husband and wife were fi shing at a canal at about 5 a.m. when the husband fell in and the water swept him away, said Chief George Good of the Tolleson Fire Department. The man did not survive.

“It is a real danger,” Good said. “People can’t gauge how fast the water is traveling or how deep it is.”

He said the department has responded to a number of incidents involving cars that got pushed into canals as a result of car accidents.

“It is definitely not a good idea to be swimming in those canals,” he said. “Most people realize the dangers of swimming in canals.”

He said if people walk near the canals, they should be careful to

maintain their distance from the edge.

About six months ago, a man fell into a canal in the late evening, Avitia said. Someone heard his screams and the fire department was able to rescue him.

It is not always easy for someone to get help because the canals don’t have a lot of traffic or people walking by.

Some canals have signs that warn people not to go into them, and it is prohibited to use the Central Arizona Project Canal for recreation, Avitia said.

“The main danger is in walking near the canal and falling in,” he said, adding that the canals have very few areas for self-extrication.

The department has recovered a number of “fatalities” from canals that floated down the water from other areas, he said.

Kathleen Stinson can be reached at kstinson@westvalleyview.com.

MAKING A SPLASH

Splash pads offer escape to summer heat

Jackson Rogers, 6, of Goodyear plays in the 4,000-square-foot splash pad at Goodyear Community Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road in Goodyear.

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Thepopularity of the splash pad at Goodyear Community Park proves that a swimming pool isn’t the only way to get a break from the heat of a desert summer.

“It’s just a way to cool off,” said Jeremy Figueroa, parks superintendent in Goodyear. “We live in an area where it gets very hot. Everybody’s looking to get out of the heat a little.”

It’s a concept that’s also coming soon to Avondale as the city builds the West Valley’s newest splash pad at Friendship Park, 12325 W. McDowell Road.

“We’ve had a lot of requests for some kind of water feature kids could play in,” said Christina Underhill, assistant

director of parks, recreation and libraries. Underhill noted that splash pads are an alternative to the swimming pools that some people have at home and public pools, which can be expensive for a city to operate.

“The City Council thought it would be something the community would love,” Underhill said. “We believe the splash pad is going to draw a big crowd.”

That’s a good bet, since Figueroa said Goodyear’s 4,000-square-foot splash pad at 3151 N. Litchfield Road typically is a wet playground for 50 to 100 or more children — from toddlers to teens.

“We get lots of schools that come at the end of the school year,” Figueroa said.

It’s also a destination for day care

Splash site

The splash pad at Goodyear Community Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily April 18 to Oct. 17. The park is at 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. For information, call 623-882-7225.

providers, he noted. (Children who aren’t potty trained are required to wear swim diapers.)

See SPLASH on V21

Photo submitted by city of Goodyear

SPLASH from V20

The splash pad drives usage at Goodyear Community Park, where Figueroa said the ramadas get lots of reservations when the splash pad is open from mid-April to mid-October.

“During the season, they specifically ask if the splash pad is going to be open,” he said.

Other times, children may use the splash pad while parents or siblings are in the park participating in recreation leagues, Figueroa said.

A splash pad is characterized as a water feature with little to no standing water, a concept that has become popular in recent years with water features at parks and shopping centers.

The Goodyear splash pad, which opened in 2008, has several features, including five arches that spray water, buckets that fill and drop water, ground nozzles that spray water upward and water cannons.

Water for the splash pad is supplied by a 2,000-gallon tank and is recycled during the day, Figueroa said.

That means the water has to be chlorinated to the same standard as a swimming pool, he said. The splash pad is monitored by the county with a couple of checks annually.

Maintenance includes cleanings, which means the splash pad is closed for about 15 minutes a couple of times a day when fewer children are using it, he said.

While there’s no lifeguard, there is a call box at the splash pad to summon park staffers and a posting to call 911 in case of an emergency.

Children younger than 6 using the splash pad should be accompanied by someone at least 13 years old, according to

city rules.

Goodyear splash pad users will notice that the feature has had an update this year, including the resurfacing on the impact-resistant floor.

“It looks newer,” Figueroa said.

Meanwhile, construction is expected to start in April on Avondale’s splash pad, with an opening anticipated in the fall, according to Underhill.

The design of the 1,900-square-foot, $270,000 splash pad is expected to become a symbol of the city’s Friendship Park, where the water feature is part of a renovation project.

About 20 West Valley high school students interested in the arts participated in a project last year to design the splash pad’s base, Underhill said.

Organized by the West Valley Arts Council’s Gallery 37 program, the project developed a mosaic design of a tortoise with a head, arms, legs and tail that incorporate other symbols, including a cactus, roadrunners and desert fl owers.

“It’s not a typical splash pad,” Underhill said. “It will be unique.”

As the city works on the splash pad’s features, Underhill said low water usage is a goal for the project.

To save on costs, the splash pad will use city drinking water, which will not need additional chlorination, Underhill said.

The water will be used to irrigate fields in the park at the end of the day, she said.

“We’re trying not to waste water,” she said.

Glenn Gullickson can be reached at ggullickson@westvalleyview.com.

Estrella Animal Hospital

TREADING CAREFULLY

Experts offer advice for water dog owners

Orion, a 5-year-old Labrador retriever, makes his way into his backyard

by Jack Hines III special to the View

Swim season is coming up, meaning it is the perfect time to invite your four-legged friends into the pool. But there’s more to it than just doggy paddling. Quite a few different factors are involved with keeping your dog happy and safe in the water.

The first thing to remember is that not all dogs can swim, according to animalplanet.com. Dogs with larger chests in comparison to their hindquarters have a harder time swimming, so taking a bulldog into the water is not the best idea. While some bulldogs and boxers can swim, it is often very difficult and tiring for them, as it is constant work to stay afloat.

Another good rule to abide by is that dogs with short legs and short muzzles shouldn’t swim. So that counts out wiener dogs. Furthermore, not all dogs like to swim. Dr. William Joslin of The Estrella Animal Hospital in Avondale said dogs that don’t want to swim shouldn’t be forced to as the first thing

they want to do is get right back out. Even dogs of a swimming breed may avoid the water. However, dogs can be taught to swim, using shallow water.

Throwing a dog into a pool is not a great idea, as it can lead to panic and damage the trust the dog has with its owner, according to petmd.com. A dog won’t want to learn how to swim after a traumatic experience in the water.

When it comes to taking the pooch to a pond or lake, it should be equipped with a life vest and shoes or booties for walking in unfamiliar conditions, according to dogtipper.com. And, of course, one should always carry water for himself and his dog. In addition, one should carry a first aid kit for his dog. Owners should also look out for plenty of things such as stagnant water and blue-green algae when taking their dogs to a water source as they can be fatal to canines, according to dogtipper. com. One should also keep an eye out for water snakes or water moccasins. One should also dry his dog, especially in its ears if they are floppy. Once home,

owners should check their dogs and brush them to make sure they haven’t suffered any cuts or picked up any thorns.

In addition, dogs should not be without supervision, according to pet360.com. Dogs can get tired without realizing it and drown. Even well trained dogs may not follow their commands if they are focused on something, such as swimming for a toy.

Overheating is also a concern, as exertion in water provides insulation, raising body temperature, according to pet360.com. A good way to check is to observe panting and then check the dog’s gums. When their gums and tongue start to turn a darker shade of pink than normal, they should rest and cool off. As the only way for dogs to get rid of heat is through panting and evaporation of saliva, they must have access to clean, fresh water. When a dog is falling victim to heat stroke, it will have a more rocky walk and

View photo by Cary Hines

pool last spring in Buckeye.

appear drunk. In such a case, it is best to go to the nearest animal hospital or veterinarian. A higher than normal body temperature can lead to brain damage.

Generally speaking, being prepared is the best option to keep dogs safe. Life jackets, for humans and dogs, can avert a disaster situation. It is important for the owner to be a strong swimmer so his dog can have someone to help in case of an emergency. In addition, learning CPR for humans and dogs can save lives. The American Red Cross provides information on pet first aid and CPR and even has a free pet first aid mobile app available.

Dogs that swim should be rinsed off and given baths regularly. Dog skin is very similar to human skin and can suffer rashes and abrasions. Swimming in a pool will leave chlorine on the dog, which can cause irritation.

“It’s not a bad idea to basically just hose them off,” Joslin said, adding it is more important to rinse off dogs that swim a lot.

For dogs with floppy ears, such as Labrador retrievers, commercial ear cleanser is a good way to keep them from developing ear infections.

One must also take extra care of his pool if his dog swims in it. Dogs can produce up to three times as much debris and hair as humans, according to the American Kennel Club. A pool will have to be maintained more often than normal because of that.

Swimming is a fun way for dogs to be active and cool off, and is completely safe with proper supervision and responsiveness, according to animalplanet.com.

Jack Hines can be reached at jhines@westvalleyview.com.

WEST VALLEY HEALTH CARE DIRECTORY

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

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

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Estrella Womens Health Ctr.

1170 N. Estrella Parkway, #A-107

Goodyear, AZ 85338

10240 W. Indian Sch. Bldg. 2 Phoenix, AZ 85037 (623) 846-7558

Palm Valley Women’s Care

10815 W. McDowell Rd., Suite 301

Avondale (623) 433-0106

13555 W. McDowell Rd., Suite 205

Goodyear (623) 535-0740

4920 W. Baseline Rd., Suite C103 Laveen (602) 237-0808 www.pvwomenscare.org The following businesses have paid to participate in this

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.

Cari L. Cowling, M.D.

Briggs J. Geier, D.O.

Kim Roberts, W.H.N.P. 9305 W. Thomas Rd. #155

Phoenix (623) 936-1780

www.westvalleywomenscare.com

Primary Care

IMS Primary Care

Avondale (623) 936-3312

Buckeye (623) 386-5785

Goodyear (623) 935-4700 www.imsaz.com

Senior Living

Sun Health (623) 236-3767

sunhealthseniorliving.org

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

DROWNINGS from V13

seconds to rescue them from the water before tragedy strikes,” she said.

The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona was created almost 23 years ago and has been studying drowning ever since, Schmidt said.

“We were really focused on child drowning, because the number of incidents was so astronomical at the time that we started,” she said.

In the early 1990s, Arizona had 64 drownings per 100,000 children. Now, it’s down to about seven per 100,000, Schmidt said.

“The population has gone up, and typically if you don’t have any interventions, then exponentially those incidents and

drownings should be going up, but that’s not happening here,” she said. “A lot of it’s because of us getting out and sharing that message and getting the barrier laws passed.”

Although the state has made progress in reducing the number of drownings each year, it was still ranked No. 4 for child pool and spa drownings in 2015, with 20 fatalities, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

If a person dies within 24 hours of a submersion incident, it’s considered a drowning. If it’s hour 25, it’s called a near drowning and the person died from another cause, Braden said.

More than half of drowning victims treated in emergency departments require further care, compared with a rate of about 6 percent for other unintentional injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning, the CDCP states.

“Survive isn’t really a fitting term sometimes for the quality of life they have anymore,” Braden said.

Last year, 87 water-related incidents in the Valley involved children younger than 12 years old, according to childrensafetyzone.com.

Each one left a lasting impact on the firefighters who responded.

“We’ve got to provide support not only for the parents or family members during the incident, we’ve got to look after our folks, because drownings are really tough,” Braden said.

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @EmilyToepfer.

Your Wellbeing, Your Plan, Your Home

Introducing Sun Health at Home™, a new “continuing care at home” program offering highly personalized support and coordinated services to help you remain in you age.

A New Approach to Plan For Long-Term Needs

Provides a lifetime guarantee of care at a fraction of the cost of “pay-as-you-go”

Protection From the Rising Cost of Long-Term Care

Offers predictability for future long-term care costs and can be used to replace or complement long-term care insurance

Highly Personalized Support and Services

Membership includes a personal wellness coordinator

Peace of Mind for You and Your Family

Removes the burden of coordinating services and providing care from your spouse or family

Multiple Options to Fit Your Needs

Five membership plan options to meet your individual goals

An Established, Trusted and Reliable Partner

partner and champion of healthy living and superior health care for nearly 50 years

To attend a free no-obligation Discovery Seminar, call 623-227-HOME (4663) or visit SunHealthatHome.org. We have several seminar dates and locations scheduled throughout the West Valley. Call or click today to reserve your seat!

LAKE LIFE

Lake Pleasant offers water sports fun

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

When the summer heat hits the Valley, there’s no better place to cool off than in the water. Thankfully, for Phoenicians, several good lake options exist to take a dip and beat the heat.

Lake Pleasant is one of those places, and probably the best option for West Valley residents because of its proximity. The lake is just north of Carefree highway in Peoria, approximately 10 miles west of Interstate 17.

The lake has two marinas, Scorpion Bay and Pleasant Harbor. Scorpion Bay’s docks are reserved for members, and its launch pad is not open to the public, but guests can rent boats and kayaks to take on the lake.

Boat rentals vary in price and type at Scorpion Bay. Deck boats, which are also called sport boats, can be rented

for $150 per hour, or $570 for the entire day. Pontoon boats that fit eight or 12 passengers are also available. Those are $95 and $130, respectively, per hour. Kayaks can also be rented, and are $25 per hour.

“The deck boats have 150 horse outboards, you use them for skiing, knee boarding, tubing,” said Rick Hammer, a manager at Scorpion Bay. “Pontoon boats are eight- and 12-passenger boats that are built for cruising around the lake.”

Jet ski rentals are also available, but not from Scorpion Bay. They refer customers to Arizona Outdoor Fun.

Although boats cannot be launched at Scorpion Bay unless you’re a member, two other areas on the west side of Lake Pleasant exist for the public to launch their boats: a four-lane ramp near the northern part of the lake and a 10-lane ramp at the southern part. The fee for

vehicles with watercrafts is $8.

When boating, there are a few rules to follow. Just like driving on the roads, the captain of the boat has to be sober at all times. Open containers of alcohol are allowed on the boat, but glass is strictly prohibited. If the driver of the boat is caught intoxicated, he or she can receive an OUI, or operating under the influence.

“Lake Pleasant is a very busy body of water, there are lots of sheriffs in the summertime trying to protect everyone,” Hammer said. “They don’t take the whole drinking and driving thing lightly.”

If boating enthusiasts plan to partake in water sports activities, they’ll have to have an orange flag in the boat to signify when somebody is in the water, and an observer must be present. That means a minimum of three people must

See LAKE on V29

LAKE from V28

be present: the captain, an observer and the person in the water.

“If you fall, immediately the flag goes up and that tells all the other boaters on the lake, someone is in the water, stay clear,” Hammer said. “As soon as you’re up and skiing again, you can put the flag down.”

Because of the rule, a single person on

a jet ski can’t pull somebody behind him.

The lake is most popular in the summer months when school is out. Hammer said it is basically non-stop chaos during that time.

The rest of the year, Lake Pleasant is still a popular place for fishing. Hammer said the lake has just about every type of freshwater fish, except walleye, pike and trout.

“There’s large-mouth [bass], small-

mouth [bass], white bass, striped bass, a couple kinds of catfish, blue gill, tilapia,” Hammer said. “There are lots of fish in the lake.”

A fishing license is required to fish, although Hammer joked that the best bait comes from the french fries at the marina’s restaurant. The restaurant is called Scorpion Bay Grill and is operated by Troon Golf. The marina also features a convenience store.

When your child is ill after hours, a long wait in the ER isn’t necessary. Our Pediatricians will take care of your child, newborns thru 18 year olds.

Open 5:00pm to 5:00am every night of the year at most locations.

Most insurance accepted. All AHCCCS accepted. Discounts for cash pay patients.

HIDDEN GEM

Tres Rios a small boater’s paradise

Lilly Osborne, 12, and Nikki Nagel, 12, of Avondale try out the canoes during last year’s Tres Rios Nature Festival at the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area in Avondale. The Agua Fria, Gila and Salt rivers converge at Tres Rios, making it a bird watcher’s paradise.

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Because of the desert climate and dams regulating water control across the state, the Valley’s river system doesn’t seem to have too much going for it, aside from the occasional concrete mixing plant.

Tres Rios, however, effectively dispels that notion, and offers a variety of water-based activities to an area sorely lacking natural options.

The Tres Rios area encompasses the basin where the Agua Fria, Gila and Salt rivers collide and head west toward the Colorado River, just north of the Sierra Estrella Mountain boundary. To the west, the Arizona Game & Fish Department takes care

of the Base and Meridian Wildlife area, while the east portion is run by the city of Phoenix. Both areas offer recreational and nature-centered activities, and have been spruced up in recent years, opening the way for visitors to enjoy the region.

The Base and Meridian Wildlife area is ripe for recreation activities, said Christina Underhill, assistant director for Avondale Parks, Recreation and Libraries.

“People are able to take nonmotorized boats and paddle around,” Underhill said. “We get a lot of people down there that take their canoes, kayaks and paddle boards, even.”

Underhill said smaller boats rule the waterway at Tres Rios.

“There’s probably more kayaking because you do have to park on top [of the hill], and then have to walk down,” Underhill said. “Kayaks are a little bit lighter and easier to get down there.”

Underhill said the nature aspect is a very popular feature of the area.

“Bird watching is huge,” Underhill said. “We get a lot of people who not only come from the region, but around the country and out of the country. It’s a really popular activity. Depending on what time of year you head down, you see a lot of different species of birds stopping on the way down to Mexico, or wherever they’re headed.”

View photo by Ray Thomas

The city of Phoenix runs the Tres Rios Wetlands area. It’s east of the Base and Meridian Wildlife zone, and is more a nature preserve and watertreatment area over a recreational destination. Like the Base and Meridian Wildlife area, the wetlands are ripe with nature sightseeing activities, said Heather Finden, a Phoenix Water Department project coordinator.

“It’s one of the best kept secrets in the city,” Finden said. “Probably, 90 to 95 percent of the calls I’m getting are for bird watching. People from all over the state call. I’ve issued permits for outof-town travelers coming to Arizona, too. They make it a priority to visit our location. I’ve received calls from 14 states.”

The wetlands area, with its shallow water, isn’t conducive to water activities, but plays an important role in the quality of water across the entire Valley, Finden said. The Tres Rios Wetlands Project’s water treatment plant receives 240 million gallons per day.

“It’s almost like five wastewater treatment plants in one,” Finden said. “It’s one of the largest in the Southwestern United States. We actually receive wastewater from all over the Valley, including Tempe, Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa [and] Gilbert. Between the entire metropolitan area, we can receive 240 million gallons per day. That’s what the plant is rated for, it’s huge.”

Fishing is also an important aspect of Tres Rios life. There’s been some good news recently for those anglers who like to eat their haul. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality lifted a fish-consumption advisory for the Gila River in September 2015. The Gila River fish are now safe to eat for the first time since the advisory was established in 1991.

“There were some fish consumption concerns due to some metals that have historically been in the Salt River area,” Finden said. “Those signs were removed and they removed some of the limitations on the waterway because the quality of water is improving.”

A fishing permit is required through Game & Fish, and the area boasts a wide variety of fish. Underhill said Avondale has received reports of strange catches along the river, and has a theory of why that is.

“I know people have caught some pretty cool fish down there, some odd stuff where we think people emptied their aquariums,” Underhill said.

Festival goers stop to admire Harris hawks during last year’s Tres Rios Nature Festival at the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area in Avondale.

This year’s festival is set for March 5 and 6.

Tres Rios Nature Festival

The Tres Rios Nature Festival will go on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5 and 6 at the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area, just east of Avondale Boulevard, north of Phoenix International Raceway.

The event is a celebration of the rich diversity of wildlife, habitat and culture of the Tres Rios area, and will feature canoe excursions, archery, wildlife photography hikes, fishing clinics, bird watching, nature walks, a recycling fashion show and an enclosed BB gun shooting range.

“The nature festival is a good showcase of what activities can be done down [at Tres Rios],” said Christina Underhill, assistant director for Avondale Parks, Recreation and Libraries. “That’s a good opportunity to come check it out and see what kind of activities you can do year round.”

The nature festival is free to attend, and will take place rain or shine. Sponsorship opportunities are available at www.tresriosnaturefestival.com/sponsors.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase, as will various arts and crafts from different vendors.

For information, call 623-333-2400 or visit www.tresriosnaturefestival.com.

Tres Rios has come a long way in developing into a destination location, but the site still has a ways to go before it’s complete.

“Eventually, we hope to have something more down there,” Underhill said. “Where there will be year-round activities.”

People are able to visit the Base and Meridian Wildlife area, west of Avondale Boulevard, at their leisure. People wanting to visit the Tres Rios Wetlands area, east of Avondale Boulevard to 91st Avenue, need a special temporary permit. The temporary-access permits are needed because the city occasionally closes the area for construction, Finden said.

“We don’t know when in the near future we’ll have to shut things down

for construction,” Finden said.

Underhill said the recreation area is a perfect getaway without having to sacrifice time or money on travel.

“It’s actually great water,” Underhill said. “It’s usually not very busy down at Tres Rios, so you’re able to get on the water, and kind of have a whole lot of peace. There’s not a lot of people down there.”

For permits to the wetlands area, email Finden at heather.finden@ phoenix.gov.

For information on the Tres Rios area, visit www.phoenix.gov/waterservice/ tresrios/wetlandsinfo or www.adgfd. com/wildlife/viewing/wheretogo/base.

Shane McOwen can be reached at smcowen@westvalleyview.com or Twitter @ShaneMcOwen.

View photo by Ray Thomas

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Vista calendar has your spring/summer plans covered

race to the

line during the annual Dog Days of Buckeye event at Sundance Park. This year’s event is

February

27 — The Litchfield Park Friends of the Rec 10K, 5K and 1-mile run/walk will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Old Litchfield Road and Wigwam Boulevard in Litchfield Park. The price to enter is $20 for any of the events except the Healthy Classroom Challenge, which is $10. Early check-in is available from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 26.

27 — The Buckeye Farmer’s Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye.

27 — The Coyote Branch Library’s 1st year Anniversary Celebration

will begin at 9 a.m. and will include activities such as book signings, sales, AZ Sci-Tech exhibits and demonstrations at 21699 W. Yuma Road, Suite 116, Buckeye.

March

1 — Reds vs. Indians Spring Training Opening Day will begin at 1:05 p.m. at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear.

5 — Dog Days of Buckeye will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye. The annual event will feature performances by the Phoenix Disc Dogs and Buckeye K-9 units; pet health and nutrition education; Chihuahua races; and plenty of food and beverages.

5-6 — The Tres Rios Nature Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area, 7602 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale. The annual event will feature wildlife and habitat information as well as information on the history and culture of the area. Activities such as canoeing, fishing, archery and bird tours will be available. Admission and activities are free.

View photo by Ray Thomas

Chihuahuas

finish

set for March 5.

5-6 — The 18th Annual Litchfield Art and Culinary Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Florence Brinton Litchfield Park Library Lawn on the corner of Old Litchfield Road and Wigwam Boulevard in Litchfield Park. Admission is free.

10 — A day trip to Jerome is being sponsored by the city of Goodyear. A bus will depart Goodyear Community Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m. Travelers will get to visit the Douglas Mansion State Park and Gold King Ghost Town. The cost is $35 for Goodyear residents and $39 for non-residents. The price includes transportation and admission. Meals are not included.

11 — Minions will be shown from 7 to 9 p.m. at Tartesso Community Park on east Tartesso Parkway in Buckeye.

13 — Tolleson’s Boys & Girls Golf Tournament will be held at the Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. For information, call 623-936-2754 or email respinoza@tollesonaz.org.

13 — The Arts in the Park Concert Series will kick off with Come Back Buddy, a ’50s-style rock and roll band, from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Wigwam’s front lawn, 300 Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. Admission is free.

18 — Buckeye’s Concerts in the Park will feature Uvon Brooks from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye.

Kole Calhoun, right-fielder for the Los Angeles Angels, runs to first base during a spring training game last year at the Goodyear Ballpark. The Goodyear Ballpark’s annual FanFest event will take place March 26 and give fans a chance to get autographs, play catch and tour the ballpark.

19 — Buckeye’s Spring Celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye. The annual event will feature an egg hunt, face painting, train rides, bounce houses and a petting zoo.

26 — The Buckeye Farmer’s Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye.

26 — FanFest 2016 will be held after the game ends at Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear.

FanFest goers will be able to get autographs, play catch and take a tour of the facility. Admission costs $25 for adults, $10 for children 3 to 12 and free for children younger than 3.

27 — The EGG-stravanganza will be held after the game at Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. Children up to 12 are invited to the field to hunt for more than 5,000 candy and toy-filled eggs.

April

1-2 — Buckeye’s 49th annual melodrama will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Youngker High School, 3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye.

2 — Flavors of the West 2016 will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. The event allows patrons to sample food and beverages from several different Valley establishments.

9 — KidFest will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Friendship Park, 12325 W. McDowell Road, Avondale.

15-17 — Tolleson’s Whoopee Daze Festival will be held at Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson. For information, call 623-936-2754 or email respinoza@tollesonaz.org.

16 — The Lakeside Music Fest will be held from noon to 9 p.m. at

View file photo

View file photo

Clowns throw candy to children during last year’s Whoope Daze parade on Van Buren Street in Tolleson. This year’s festival will kick off April 15.

the Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear.

22 — Buckeye’s Arbor Day Expo will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at Town Park, 207th N. Ninth St., Buckeye. The expo will include tree planting demonstrations and pruning education just to name a couple.

22 — Buckeye’s Concerts in the Park will feature HWY 85 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Festival Foothills Park, 26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd., Buckeye.

23 — The Buckeye Farmer’s Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sundance Park, 22865 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye.

29 — Buckeye’s Concerts in the Park will feature Come Back Buddy from 7 to 9 p.m. at Tartesso Sports Park, 30300 W. Tartesso Parkway, Buckeye.

30 — Avondale Viva Fiesta will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Western Avenue in Historic Downtown Avondale. The fiesta will feature food, drink and a salsa contest just to name a few.

May

7 — The Buckeye Demolition Derby

will kick off at 7 p.m. at the Helzapoppin’ Rodeo Arena on Miller Road south of Baseline Road in Buckeye.

14 — Skate Fest will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Goodyear Skate Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear.

27 —The Good Dinosaur will be shown at 7 p.m. at Festival Foothills Park, 26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd., Buckeye.

28 — Buckeye’s Veteran’s Memorial Ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Louis B. Hazelton Memorial Cemetery, 23100 W. Broadway Road, Buckeye.

28 — The fifth annual Wigwam Championship will last all day at the Wigwam Golf Club, 451 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park. The entry cost is $150 per player. The championship is intended to be played by amateur golfers.

30 — Litchfield Park’s Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 7 a.m. on the west lawn of Litchfield Elementary School, 13825 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.

30 — Avondale’s Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at Avondale City Hall, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale.

June

14 — A flag-raising ceremony will be held from 8:15 to 9 a.m. at Litchfield Park City Hall, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. Light refreshments will be served.

July

4 — Buckeye’s 4th of July Celebration will begin at 6 p.m. at Youngker High School, 3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye.

4 — Goodyear’s Star Spangled 4th will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. Admission and parking are free.

4 — Litchfield Park’s 4th of July celebration will be held at 8:30 p.m. at the Wigwam, 300 Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.

August

20 — The Quarter Auction Craze will be held at 6 p.m. at the Dr. Saide Recreation Center, 1003 E. Eason Ave., Buckeye. Admission is $3 and includes refreshments, a bidding paddle and a raffle ticket.

September

16 — A flag-raising ceremony will be held from 8:15 to 9 a.m. at Litchfield Park City Hall, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. Light refreshments will be served.

Avondale

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Avondale Apostolic Church —

Truth Tabernacle

825 N. Central Ave., Avondale

623-932-0893 www.avondaleapostolic.com

Bethany Church of God in Christ Garden Lakes Elementary School 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 www.thechowchurch.org

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

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

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

Life Elevation Church 2517 N. 107th Ave., Building A, Avondale 623-396-6290 www.lifeelevationchurch.org

Love on Fire Church

La Joya Community High School 11650 W. Whyman Ave., Avondale 602-690-1442 www.loveonfirechurch.org

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

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.org

Rose of Sharon World Evangelistic Church

919 N. Dysart Road, Suite W, Avondale 623-363-0585 www.wecintl.org

The Sanctuary Community Church

10739 W. Mountain Drive, 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

www.sufficientgraceaz.org

Sword of the Spirit Ministry

501 W. Van Buren St., Avondale 623-932-4448 www.swordofthespiritaz.org

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. MC85, 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

www.buckeyeworshipcenter.com

Calvary Chapel

Buckeye Elementary School District building

25555 W. Durango St., Buckeye 623-282-1086

www.calvarychapelbuckeye.com

Camino de Santidad

22953 W. Morning Glory St., Buckeye

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 623-866-4225

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. Verrado Way, Buckeye 623-202-2822

www.dhbcb.org

Elevation Church

Inca Elementary School

23601 W. Durango St., Buckeye

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

Liberty United Methodist Church

19900 W. Highway 85, Buckeye 623-386-4090 www.libertyunitedmethodist.com

Lifeway Church

18926 W. Latham St., 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

Steven R. Jasinski Elementary School

4280 S. 246th Ave., Buckeye 623-474-5757 www.mtvistaonline.org

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church

403 N. Fourth St., Buckeye 623-386-6365 www.mtpleasentbaptistchurch.org

New Jerusalem Ministries

508 Clanton Ave., Buckeye 623-386-2714 or 623-386-5049 www.njmonline.net

Our Saviour Lutheran Church 10 N. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-386-6708

Palm Valley Church

Youngker High School

3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye 623-536-2106 www.palmvalley.org

Palo Verde Baptist Church

29600 W. Old Highway 80, Palo Verde 623-393-9628 www.paloverdebaptistchurch.org

The River Church

19923 W. Edgemont Ave., Buckeye (Wednesdays) 623-262-4969 www.theriverchurchaz.com

St. Henry Catholic Church 24750 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Buckeye 623-386-0175 www.sthenrybuckeye.com

Summit Community Church

Verrado High School auditorium

20050 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye 623-535-0251 www.summitcc.org

Summit of Hope Assembly of God Buckeye Elementary School 210 S. Sixth St., Buckeye 623-695-0224

Sundance Community Church

Inca Elementary School 23601 W. Durango St., Buckeye 623-680-4615 www.sundancechurch.com

Valley Christian Ministries Bales Elementary School 25400 W. Maricopa Road, Buckeye 1-855-808-2553 www.vcm1.ws

Victory Baptist Church Rainbow Valley Elementary School 19716 W. Narramore Road, Buckeye 623-386-3240 www.victorysbc.org

Way of Grace Church Sundance Elementary School 23800 W. Hadley St., Buckeye 623-478-2130 www.wayofgracechurch.com

West Valley Free Will Baptist Church 19956 W. McDowell Road, Buckeye 623-853-0570 www.wvfwbc.org

White Tanks Southern Baptist Church 1420 N. 192nd Ave., Buckeye 623-853-0089 www.wtsbc.org

Goodyear

C3 Church 15652 W. Ashland Ave., Goodyear 623-694-2939 www.c3phx.org

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

Christ Presbyterian Church

925 N. Sarival Ave., Goodyear 623-882-0721

www.cpcgoodyear.org

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

425 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear 623-882-0156

Citrus Road Community Church of the Nazarene 418 S. Citrus Road, Goodyear 623-932-2733

www.crccnazarene.com

Compass Church

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

Crossings Church

Desert Edge High School 15778 W. Yuma Road, Goodyear 856-455-2671 crossingschurchaz.org

Desert Springs Community

Church West Campus

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

dscchurch.com

Estrella Mountain Church

10485 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear 623-386-0300

www.emcaz.org

GracePointe

Palm Valley Community Center 14145 W. Palm Valley Blvd., Goodyear 623-933-0118

www.gracepointechurchaz.com

Heritage Baptist Church

Christ Presbyterian Church 925 N. Sarival Ave., Goodyear 623-882-2351

www.HeritageBaptistAZ.org

Harvest Baptist Church

535 N. Sarival Ave., Goodyear 602-361-8025 www.hbcgoodyear.org

Jehovah’s Witnesses

14038 W. Yuma Road, Goodyear 623-932-1708

King of Kings Church

Archway Trivium Academy 14130 W. McDowell Road, Suite 222, Goodyear 623-385-6607 www.KKChurch.org

New Foundation

122 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 623-444-9762 www.newfoundation.org

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

Redeeming Grace Church

3673 S. Bullard Ave. Suite 104, Goodyear 623-925-2440 www.rgcaz.org

The Refinery

Christian Church

600 N. Bullard Ave., Suite 10, Goodyear 623-925-2000 www.therefinerycc.com

The River Church

Millennium High School 14802 W. Wigwam Blvd., Goodyear 623-262-4969 www.theriverchurchaz.com

River in the Desert

Christian Fellowship 918 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear 602-628-4465

River of Life

Lutheran Church

3690 S. Estrella Parkway, Suite 107, Goodyear 623-312-8650 riveroflifeaz.org

The Rock

877 N. Sarival Ave., Goodyear 623-932-1009 therockaz.com

St. John Vianney

Catholic Church and School

539 E. La Pasada Blvd., Goodyear 623-932-3313 www.sjvaz.net

Skyway Church of the West Valley 14900 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear 623-935-4858 www.skywaychurch.com

Vineyard Goodyear Church

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

Wellspring Church

Great Hearts Academy 2001 N. Bullard Ave., Goodyear 480-455-8244 www.wellspringchurch.com

Westpointe Baptist Church

Desert Thunder Elementary School 16750 W. Garfield St., Goodyear 623-521-3549 www.westpointebaptist.org

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

West Valley Church of Christ 18604 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Goodyear 623-695-5623 www.wvcochrist.org

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

West Valley United Pentecostal Church 16277 W. Jackson St., Goodyear 623-692-6850

Litchfield Park

The Church at Litchfield Park

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

www.churchatlitchfieldpark.org

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

301 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park 623-536-2098

Liberty Worship Center 3020 N. 191st. Ave., Litchfield Park 480-254-3163

Lighthouse Fellowship 3015 N. Jackrabbit Trail 623-853-1050

www.lighthousefellowshipaz.webs.com

Litchfield Park

First Baptist Church

901 E. Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park 623-935-3163

www.litchfieldparkfirstbaptist.com

Litchfield Park SeventhDay Adventist Church

901 E. Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park 541-944-5342

wwwlitchfieldparkadventistfaith.org

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

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

Trinity Lutheran Church

830 E. Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park 623-935-4665 www.trinitylcs.org

Peoria

Fresh Start Church

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

Pentecostal Deliverance

COGIC

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

South Peoria Baptist Church

9000 W. Olive Ave., Peoria 623-486-1556 www.spbch.com

Tolleson

A Church of Grace

8 S. 92nd Drive, Tolleson 623-936-4629

Beth Yeshua Ha Go’el

1010 N. 95th Ave., Tolleson 623-535-3122

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

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

The Bridge Community Church 10 S. 93rd Ave., Tolleson 623-399-8540 www.bridgeworshipcenter.com

Open Doors

Ministries Church

9302 W. Monroe St., Tolleson 602-908-0608

www.opendoorsministrieschurch.org

Tonopah

Valley Baptist Church of Tonopah/Wintersburg

37702 W. Indian School Road, Tonopah 623-393-0211 www.tonopahvalleybaptistchurch.org

Waddell

Cotton Lane

Community Church

6240 N. Cotton Lane, Waddell 623-935-1776

Wat Promkunaram

Buddhist Temple of Arizona

17212 W. Maryland Ave., Waddell

623-935-2276 www.watpromkunaram.org

W. Phoenix, Glendale, Sun City, Surprise, El Mirage

Abundant Harvest Church

3306 W. Catalina Drive, Phoenix 623-810-2355 www.ahconline.org

Abundant Living Unity

The Courtyard Marriott 1650 N. 95th Lane, Phoenix 623-243-3501 www.abundantlivingunity.org

Alleluia Lutheran Church

8444 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix 623-849-4327 www.AlleluiaChurch.org

Beth El Congregation 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix 602-944-3359 www.bethelphoenix.com

Beth Emeth Congregation

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

Calvary United

Methodist Church

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

Camelback Community Church

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

Central Christian Church

8600 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale 623-937-2741 www.centralaz.com

Davids 400 7905 N 71st Ave., Glendale 623-889-0313 www.davids400.com

The Door Christian Fellowship Church

7342 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-848-0849 www.doorwphx.blogspot.com

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

First Country Baptist Church

12844 W. Santa Fe Drive, Surprise 623-583-9838

Grace Walk

Community Church

7840 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix 623-907-8991 www.gracewalkchurch.org

Hamblen Chapel

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

Iglesia Armonia

9495 W. Coyotes Blvd., Glendale 623-760-2026

In His Presence

Christian Church

Comfort Suites 9824 W. Camelback Road, Glendale

Jehovah’s Witnesses 2448 W. Colter., Phoenix 623-386-2775

Kingdom in the Valley Christian Church 11640 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix 602-441-0540 www.kivcc.org

LifeSpring Church

12336 W. Butler Drive, Suite 200, El Mirage 623-935-3202 www.lifespringaz.com

Love Life Church

8016 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623-872-4998 www.lovelifechurch.com

Our Lady of the Sun

Catholic Church Inc.

12546 W. Peoria Ave., El Mirage 623-974-4133 www.ourladyofthesun.com

Real Life Ministries

13174 W. Foxfire, Bldg. B, Surprise 623-933-4999 www.rlmdestiny.com

The Refuge Church

10550 W. Mariposa St. 623-282-4970 www.refugechurchaz.com

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

6300 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623-846-8046 www.standrewsglendale.azdiocese.org

St. Andrew’s Reformed

Episcopal Church

The Chapel at Faith Lutheran Church

801 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix 623-377-8698

www.saintandrewsrec.com

St. Paul Lutheran Church

6301 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix 623-846-2228 www.stpaullutheran-az.com

Streams Church

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

Temple Beth Shalom

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

www.templebethshalomaz.org

Thomas Road Baptist Church

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

Turning Leaf Community, A Church of the Nazarene Heritage Elementary School 6805 N. 125th Ave., Glendale 602-743-3790 www.tlcnaz.org

Vision Baptist Church 13419 W. Ocotillo Road, Glendale 623-505-5631

www.visionbaptistchurch.com

West End Baptist Church

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

West Valley Family Church

6115 N. 91st Ave., Glendale 623-872-1734 www.wvfcnaz.com “Where

WEST VALLEY BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Attorneys

Mahoney Law Offices

2980 N. Litchfield Rd. #120

Goodyear AZ 85395

Automobile Dealers

Jones Ford Buckeye

24600 W. Yuma Road (623) 386-4429 www.jonesfordbuckeye.com

Boats- Sales & Service

Valley Marine

7018 N. 53rd. Ave. Glendale AZ 85301

Camp Grounds

Gila Bend KOA

800 S Butterfield Trail

Gila Bend (800) 562-1895

Chamber of Commerce

Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce

508 E. Monroe Ave., Buckeye (623) 386-2727

www.buckeyevalleychamber.org

Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce

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

Credit Union

Alhambra Credit Union

13331 W. Indian School Rd., #205 Litchfield Park (623) 246-5120 www.alhambracu.org

Day Spa

Massage Envy

1468 N. Litchfield Rd. Ste. M3

Goodyear (623) 935-5495

9945 W. McDowell Rd. Ste. 107 Avondale (623) 209-3939

9744 W. Northern Ave. Ste. 1340 Peoria (623) 872-3689

Donations

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

Farming

Rousseau Farm Company

www.farmfreshaz.com (623) 936-7100

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

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

Jewelers

Jewelry By Victor 14175 W. Indian School Rd. #B2 Goodyear AZ 85395

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

Scruff’s Grooming for Cats & Dogs

14175 W. Indian School Rd, Ste C-4

Goodyear (623) 535-3159

Recreation

Litchfield Park

Recreation

100 S. Litchfield Rd.

Litchfield Park (623) 935-9040

RV Resort

Leaf Verde RV Resort

1500 S. Apache Road

Buckeye (623) 386-3132

www.leafverde.com

Schools

Crown Charter School

12450 W. Maryland Ave.

Litchfield Park 623-535-9300 www.crowncharter.com

Heritage Elementary School

6805 N. 125th Ave.

Glendale (623) 742-3956 www.hesglendale.org

Incito Schools

877 N. Sarival Rd.

Goodyear (623) 398-6968

165th Ave & Northern (623) 935-WILD

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

DIRECTORY OF SCHOOLS

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: Tom Rosztocsy School board meets: Visit website for times and dates Place: District office

Agua Fria High School

530 E. Riley Drive Avondale, AZ 85323

623-932-7300

Principal: Thom Luedemann

Coldwater Academy

750 E. Riley Drive

Avondale, AZ 85323

623-932-7106

Coordinator: Shelle Schlosser

Desert Edge High School

15778 W. Yuma Road

Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-932-7500

Principal: Julie Jones

Millennium High School

14802 W. Wigwam Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85395

623-932-7200

Principal: Tamee Gressett

Verrado High School

20050 W. Indian School Road

Buckeye, AZ 85396

623-932-7400

Principal: Terry Maurer

Buckeye Union High School District

Superintendent: Eric Godfrey District office:

1000 E. Narramore

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-386-9701

www.buhsd.org

Board president:

Steve Warner School board meets: 6:15

p.m. second Monday of each month

Place: District office

Buckeye Union High School

1000 E. Narramore

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-386-4423

Principal: Tawn Argeris

Estrella Foothills High School

13033 S. Estrella Parkway

Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-327-2400

Principal: Leslie Standerfer

Learning Center

751 N. 215th Ave.

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-474-0332

Principal: Karen Sanders

Youngker High School

3000 S. Apache Road

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-474-0100

Principal: Randy Stillman

Tolleson Union High School District

Superintendent: Lexi Cunningham District office: 9801 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-4000

www.tuhsd.org

Board president:

Steven Chapman

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: Mindy Marsit

James A. Green Continuing Education Academy

9701 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-4120

Director: Travis Johnson

La Joya Community High School

11650 W. Whyman Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-478-4400

Principal: Brandi Haskins

Lighthouse Academy 9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-4377

Director: Travis Johnson

Sierra Linda High School

3434 S. 67th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043

623-474-7700

Principal: Tim Madrid

Tolleson Union High School

9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-4200

Principal: Ernie Molina

University High School 9419 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-4380

Academic Dean: Susan Thompson

Westview High School 10850 W. Garden Lakes Parkway Avondale, AZ 85392

623-478-4600

Principal: Michele Wilson

Elementary Schools

Arlington Elementary School District

Superintendent: Chad Turner District office: 9410 S. 355th Ave. Arlington, AZ 85322

623-386-2031

www.arlingtonelem.org

Board president: Thomas Vanosdel School board meets: 6 p.m. second Monday of each month

Place: Arlington Elementary School or the Harquahala Fire District

Arlington Elementary School 9410 S. 355th Ave. Arlington, AZ 85322 623-386-2031

Avondale Elementary School District

Superintendent: Betsy Hargrove

District office:

295 W. Western Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-772-5000 www.avondale.k12.az.us

Board president: Mark Gonzales School board meets: Visit website for times and dates Place: District office

Avondale Middle School

1406 N. Central Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-772-4500

Principal: Lillian Linn

Centerra Mirage School

15151 W. Centerra Drive Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-772-4800

Principal: Casey Frank

Copper Trails School

16875 W. Canyon Trails Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-772-4100

Principal: Stacy Ellis

Desert Star School

2131 S. 157th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-772-4600

Principal: Kara Largent

Desert Thunder School

16750 W. Garfield St. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-772-4700

Principal: Wayne Deffenbaugh

Eliseo C. Felix School

540 E. La Pasada Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-772-4300

Principal: Bryan D’Alessio

Lattie Coor School

1406 N. Central Ave.

Avondale, AZ 85323

623-772-4400

Principal: Patricia Scarpa

Michael Anderson School

45 S. Third Ave.

Avondale, AZ 85323

623-772-5100

Principal: Lori Goslar

S.T.A.R. Academy

44 S. Third Ave.

Avondale, AZ 85323

623-772-5195

Administrator: Patrick Becker

Wildflower School

325 S. Wildflower Drive

Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-772-5200

Principal: Araceli Montoya

Buckeye Elementary School District

Superintendent: Kristi Sandvik

District office:

25555 W. Durango

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-925-3400

www.besd33.org

Board president:

Marcus Eads

School board meets: Visit website for times and dates

Place: District office

Bales Elementary School

25400 W. Maricopa Road

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-847-8503

Principal: Fred Lugo

Buckeye Preschool

640 Centre Ave.

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-925-3333

Preschool Director: Brittany Tarango

Buckeye Elementary School

211 S. Seventh St.

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-386-4487

Principal: Nick Forgette

Inca Elementary School

23601 W. Durango Street

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-925-3500

Principal: Laura Wilson

Steven R. Jasinski

Elementary School

4280 S. 246th Ave.

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-925-3100

Principal: Donna Fitzgerald

Sundance Elementary School

23800 W. Hadley St.

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-847-8531

Principal: Neva Burlingame

West Park Elementary School

2700 S. 257th Drive

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-435-3282

Principal: Lorrese Roer

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:

Kathryn Shelton School board meets: 6:30 p.m. second Monday of each month

Place: District office

Estrella Mountain Elementary School

10301 S. San Miguel Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-327-2820

Principal: Sharon Marine

Freedom Elementary School

22150 W. Sundance Parkway

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-327-2850

Principal: Cindy Robinson

Las Brisas Academy

18211 W. Las Brisas Drive

Goodyear

623-327-2860

Principal: Matthew Flagg

Liberty Elementary School

19818 W. Hwy. 85

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-327-2810

Principal: Jennifer Gray

Rainbow Valley Elementary School

19716 W. Narramore Road

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-327-2830

Principal: Terri Matteson

Westar Elementary School

17777 W. Westar Drive

Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-327-2840

Principal: Dave Bogart

Litchfield Elementary School District

Superintendent: Julianne Lein

District office:

272 E. Sagebrush St.

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-535-6000

www.lesd.k12.az.us

Board president: Steven Yamamori

School board meets: 6 p.m. second Tuesday of each month

Place: Litchfield Elementary School

Barbara B. Robey

Elementary School

5340 N. Wigwam Creek Blvd.

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-547-1400

Principal: Sandy Flood

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: Sarah Lewis

L. Thomas Heck

Middle School

12448 W. Bethany Home Road

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-547-1700

Principal: Ron Sterr

Litchfield Elementary School

255 E. Wigwam Blvd.

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-535-6100

Principal: Sabine Hopper

Mabel Padgett

Elementary School

15430 W. Turney Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395

623-547-3200

Principal: Gina DeCoste

Palm Valley

Elementary School

2801 N. 135th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395

623-535-6400

Principal: Jennifer Benjamin

Rancho Santa Fe Elementary

2150 Rancho Santa Fe Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85392

623-535-6500

Principal: Laura Combs

Scott L. Libby

Elementary School

18701 W. Thomas Road

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-535-6200

Principal: Rachelle Morris

Verrado Elementary School

20873 W. Sunrise Lane Buckeye, AZ 85396

623-547-1600

Principal: Luke Jankee

Verrado Heritage Elementary School 20895 W. Hamilton St. Buckeye, AZ 85396

623-547-3300

Principal: Kimberly Franz

Verrado Middle School 20880 W. Main St. Buckeye, AZ 85396 623-547-1300

Principal: Karen Williams

Western Sky Middle School 4095 N. 144th Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395

623-535-6300

Principal: Tami Garrett

White Tanks Learning Center

18825 W. Thomas Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-535-6085

Director: Carl Burks

Wigwam Creek Middle School 4510 N. 127th Ave. Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 623-547-1100

Principal: John Scudder

Littleton Elementary School District

Superintendent: Roger Freeman District office: 1600 S. 107th Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-478-5600

www.littletonaz.org

Board president: Amy Soucinek

School board meets: 6 p.m. second Tuesday of each month Place: Underdown Learning Center

Collier Elementary School 350 S. 118th Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-478-5900

Principal: Gioia Pitts

SCHOOLS

Country Place Elementary School

10207 W. Country Place Blvd. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-6100

Principal: Michael Cagle

Estrella Vista Elementary School 11905 W. Cocopah Circle North Avondale, AZ 85323

623-478-6200

Principal: Richard Ramos

Littleton Elementary School 1252 S. Avondale Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-478-5700

Principal: Lorie Eastep

Quentin Elementary School 11050 W. Whyman Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-478-6000

Principal: Eric Atuahene

Tres Rios Elementary School 5025 S. 103rd Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-6300

Principal: Karen Grose

Palo Verde Elementary School District

Superintendent:

Robert Aldridge District office: 10700 S. Palo Verde Road Palo Verde, AZ 85343

623-327-3690

www.paloverdeschools.org

Board president: Todd Hall School board meets: 5:45 p.m. second Monday of each month

Place: District office Palo Verde Elementary School 10700 S. Palo Verde Road Palo Verde, AZ 85343

623-327-3680

Principal: Robert Aldridge

Pendergast Elementary School District

Superintendent: Lily Matos DeBlieux

District office: 3802 N. 91st Ave.

Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2200

www.pesd92.org

Board president: Jose Arenas School board meets: Visit website for times and dates Place: District office; periodically at schools on a rotating basis.

Amberlea Elementary School

8455 W. Virginia Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2900

Principal: Amy Bonilla

Canyon Breeze

Elementary School 11675 W. Encanto Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85392

623-772-2610

Principal: Kate Laser

Copper King Elementary School

10730 W. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2580

Principal: Janine Ambrose

Desert Horizon Elementary School

8525 W. Osborn Road Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2430

Principal: Suzanne Jaramillo

Desert Mirage Elementary School 8605 W. Maryland Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305

623-772-2550

Principal: Susie Torrejos

Garden Lakes Elementary School 10825 W. Garden Lakes Parkway Avondale, AZ 85392

623-772-2520

Principal: Jill Helland

Pendergast

Elementary School

3800 N. 91st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2400

Principal: Mike Woolsey

Rio Vista Elementary School 10237 W. Encanto Blvd. Avondale, AZ 85392

623-772-2670

Principal: Siobhan McCarthy

Sonoran Sky Elementary School

10150 W. Missouri Ave.

Glendale, AZ 85307

623-772-2640

Principal: Joseph Jacobo

Sunset Ridge Elementary School

8490 W. Missouri Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305

623-772-2730

Principal: Jef Heredia

Villa de Paz

Elementary School

4940 N. 103rd Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2490

Principal: Shakira Simmons

Westwind Elementary School 9040 W. Campbell Road Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-772-2700

Principal: Rod Henkel

Saddle Mountain Unified School District

Superintendent: Mark Joraanstad District office: 38201 W. Indian School Road

Tonopah, AZ 85354

623-474-5115

www.smusd90.org

Board president: Dan Blackson

School board meets: 6 p.m. first Tuesday of each month

Place: District office

Ruth Fisher Elementary School 38201 W. Indian School Road

Tonopah, AZ 85354

623-474-5501

Principal: Rene Molina

Tartesso Elementary School 29677 W. Indianola Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85396

623-474-5400

Principal: Liz Burton

Tonopah Valley High School 38201 W. Indian School Road

Tonopah, AZ 85354

623-474-5201

Principal: Edgar Garcia

Tolleson Elementary School District

Superintendent: Lupita Hightower

District office: 9261 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-936-9740

www.tollesonschools.com

Board president: Adriana Morado

School board meets: 6 p.m.

first Wednesday of each month

Place: District office; periodically at schools on a rotating basis

Arizona Desert Elementary School

8803 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-907-5260

Principal: Brenda Catlett

Desert Oasis Elementary School

8802 W. McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-533-3901

Principal: Claudia Espinoza

Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School 9401 W. Garfield Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-907-5181

Principal: Cynthia Mills

Sheely Farms Elementary School 9450 W. Encanto Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-907-5270

Principal: Melissa Marze

Union Elementary School District

Superintendent: Jim Rice

District office: 3834 S. 91st Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-5005

www.unionesd.org

Board president: Delson Sunn

School board meets: 5 p.m. second Thursday of each month

Place: District conference room

Dos Rios Elementary School

2150 S. 87th Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-474-7000

Principal: Milton Collins

Hurley Ranch

Elementary School

8950 W. Illini Drive

Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-5100

Assistant Principal: Adam Klingelhoets

Union Elementary School

3834 S. 91st Ave., Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-478-5000

Principal: Michael Welsh

Others

Archway Classical

Academy-Trivium West

2001 N. Bullard Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395

623-414-4883

www.archwaytrivium.org

Headmaster: Theresa Krueger

Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center Estrella Mountain High School

3400 N. Dysart Road Avondale, AZ 85392

623-535-0754

www.aaechighschools.com

Principal: Ramona Ramirez

Arizona Preparatory Academy

4200 N. 99th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85037

623-907-2661

cyberhs.com

Executive Director: Kurt Huzar

Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain 2504 S. 91st Ave. Tolleson, AZ 85353

623-474-2120

www.plcaaem.org

Principal: Ronald Alexander

BASIS Goodyear

15800 W. Sherman St., Goodyear, AZ 85338

480-276-8592

www.basisgoodyear.org

Head of School: Robert Bowley

Bradley Academy of Excellence

16060 W. Lower Buckeye Parkway

Goodyear, AZ 85338

800-993-1458

www.mybradley.org

Director: Daniel Hughes

Crown Charter School

12450 W. Maryland Ave.

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-535-9300

www.crowncharter.com

Director: James Shade

E-Institute at Avondale

1035 E. Van Buren St., Suite 111

Avondale, AZ 85323

623-760-9061

www.e-institute.us

Principal: Curtis Gardner

E-Institute at Buckeye

6213 S. Miller Road, Suite 109

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-505-7118

www.e-institute.us

Principal: Marty Acosta

Estrella High School

510 N. Central Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-932-6562

www.estrellahs.com

School Leader: JD Corey

Grace Fellowship Academy

1300 N. Miller Road Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-393-8883

www.

gracefellowshipacademy.org

Principal: Geri Parker

Harvest Preparatory Academy

14900 W. Van Buren St., Building E Goodyear, AZ 85338

602-708-2334

www.harvestprep.com

Site Director: Kellye Carroll

Heritage Elementary School

6805 N. 125th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85307

623-742-3956

www.hesglendale.org

Principal: Justin Dye

Hope Montessori School

5348 N. 106th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85307

623-877-2985

www.hopemontessori.info

Director: Kathy Selland

Imagine Avondale

950 N. Eliseo C. Felix, Jr. Way

Avondale, AZ 85323

623-344-1730

www.imagineavondale.org

Principal: Kim Agnew

Incito Schools

877 N. Sarival Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-398-6968

www.incitoschools.org

Principal: Jayson Black

Legacy Traditional School

12320 W. Van Buren St. Avondale, AZ 85323

623-344-0330

www.avondale.

legacytraditional.org

Principal: Kristin Smith

Montessori in the Park 1832 N. Litchfield Road Goodyear, AZ 85395

623-535-4863

www.mipschool.org

Director: Fiona Quinlan

Montessori West

Preparatory School

13034 W. Solano Drive Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-935-2017

www.montessoriwest.com

Director: Cora Gaabucayan

The Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies

1495 S. Verrado Way Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-327-1757

www.odyprep.com/oi

High School Principal: Bryan Pratt

Junior High School Principal: Mary Daniels

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy - Buckeye 6500 S. Apache Road Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-327-3111

www.odyprep.com

Co-principals: Kenneth Olson and Angie Price

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy - Goodyear

17532 W. Harrison St. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-882-1140

www.odyprep.com

Principal: Liz Douglass

St. John Vianney

Elementary School 539 La Pasada Blvd. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-932-2434

www.sjvazschool.net

Principal: Doug Weivoda

St. Peter’s Episcopal Montessori School

400 S. Old Litchfield Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-935-7737

www.stpetersmontessori.com

Director: Shiffa Mashood

St. Thomas Aquinas Grade School 13720 W. Thomas Road Avondale, AZ 85392

623-935-0945

www.stacc.net

Principal: Cynthia Scheller

Skyview High School

4290 S. Miller Road

Buckeye, AZ 85326

623-386-6799

www.skyviewhs.com

School Leader: Danielle Calderon

Trinity Lutheran School 830 E. Plaza Circle

Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

623-935-4690

www.trinitynewthinking.org

Headmaster: William Luedtke

West Valley Christian School 16260 W. Van Buren St. Goodyear, AZ 85338

623-234-2100

www.wvchristianschool.org

Principal: Tanya Mooney

Colleges/Trade Schools/ Universities

Arizona State

University West 4701 W. Thunderbird Road Glendale, AZ 85306

602-543-5500

https://campus.asu.edu/west

Estrella Mountain Community College 3000 N. Dysart Road Avondale, AZ 85392

623-935-8000

www.estrellamountain.edu

Franklin Pierce University 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite 100, Building A Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-518-2386

www.franklinpierce.edu

Glendale Community College 6000 W. Olive Ave. Glendale, AZ 85302

623-845-3000

www2.gccaz.edu

Universal Technical Institute 10695 W. Pierce St. Avondale, AZ 85323

800-510-5845

www.uti.edu

University of Phoenix 9520 W. Palm Lane Phoenix, AZ 85037 602-557-2000

www.phoenix.edu

STATE DIRECTORY

U.S. Senate

Sen. John McCain (R)

218 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-2235; mccain.senate.gov

Local office: 2201 E. Camelback Road, Suite 115, Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-952-2410

Sen. Jeff Flake (R)

413 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-4521; flake.senate.gov

Local office: 2200 E. Camelback Road, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-840-1891

U.S. House of Representatives

District 3

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) 1511 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-2435; grijalva.house.gov

Local office: 1412 N. Central Ave., Suite B, Avondale, AZ 85323 623-536-7479

District 4

Rep. Paul Gosar (R) 504 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-2315; gosar.house.gov

U.S. House of Representatives

District 7

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) 1218 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4065; rubengallego.house.gov

Local office: 411 N. Central Ave., Suite 150 Phoenix, AZ 85004

602-256-0551

District 8

Rep. Trent Franks (R) 2435 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4576; franks.house.gov

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)

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 308 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 313 Phoenix, AZ 85007

602-926-5894; dmitchell@azleg.gov

Rep. Steve Montenegro (R)

1700 W. Washington St., Room 208 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: 85,167

Median age: 32

Median household annual income: $64,785

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: 61,000

Median age: 32.1

Median household annual income: $69,361

Land area: 600 square miles

City Hall: 530 E. Monroe Ave. (623-349-6000)

www.buckeyeaz.gov

Mayor: Jackie Meck

Vice mayor: Michelle Hess

Year of incorporation: 1946

Population: 74,625

Median age: 35.6

Median household annual income: $74,727

Land area: 191 square miles

City Hall: 190 N. Litchfield Road (623-932-3910)

www.goodyearaz.gov

Mayor: Georgia Lord

Vice mayor: Sheri Lauritano

Year of incorporation: 1987

Population: 5,392

Median age: 44.2

Median household annual income: $77,481

Land area: 3.3 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: 6,929

Median age: 26.6

Median household annual income: $34,485

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, Craig Heustis, Brian McAchran, Eric Orsborn and Ray Strauss

City manager: Stephen Cleveland

Police Dept.: 100 N. Apache Road, Suite D (623-349-6499)

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.: 21699 W. Yuma Road, Suite 101 (623-349-6700)

Fire chief: Bob Costello

Libraries: Downtown Branch, 310 N. Sixth St.; Coyote Branch, 21699 W. Yuma Road, Suite 116 (623-349-6300)

Post Office: 51 E. Monroe Ave. (623-386-3117)

Council: Wally Campbell, Sharolyn Hohman, Joanne

Osborne, Joe Pizzillo 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-102 (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)

Library: 101 W. Wigwam Blvd. (602-652-3000)

Post Office: 591 Plaza Circle (623-935-2089)

Library: 9555 W. Van Buren St. (623-936-2746)

Post Office: 8805 W. Van Buren St. (623-907-0206)