West Valley View - April 27, 2016 by Times Media Group

HIGH WINDS FUEL WEST VALLEY HAY FIRES,

State funding for school in jeopardy

ALL ZENTANGLED UP

W.V. libraries offering classes on relaxing art form — Page 12.

CRYING FOUL

Tonopah residents oppose permit for Hickman’s Family Farms — Page 9.

GUILTY PLEAS

Buckeye men plead guilty in 2015 murder — Page 10.

MINT JULEPS, ANYONE?

Kentucky Derby party to help homeless youths — Page 12.

AFUHSD moving forward with planning

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

The Agua Fria Union High School District is moving forward with designs for a fifth campus despite uncertainty about whether or not it will get state funding that was already approved for the build.

In February, the district was awarded $33.4 million from the Arizona School Facilities Board to help fund the new campus, but now the money is in jeopardy.

District officials received a draft copy of the proposed senate budget earlier this month, which included a suggestion by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for eliminating funding for the school as a way for the state to save money. If approved, the line item added to the budget would change the formula used to determine a school district’s capacity and whether or not a

Funding on Page 3)

View kicking off annual food drive

Nonperishable donations collected May 1-31

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

When the weather heats up, food donations go down, leaving local food banks with depleted supplies.

In order to stock their shelves with essentials during the summer, the West Valley View is launching its 11th annual summer food drive May 1-31.

Boxes will be placed throughout the West Valley this month to collect non-perishable food donations.

“The summer food drives are very beneficial for us, because most people think about donating and giving around the holiday season,” said Leanne Leonard, executive director of the Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank

Charges dismissed in freeway shooting case Free man

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

All charges have been dropped against a man who spent seven months in jail accused of terrorizing Valley freeways last fall.

Judge Warren Granville ruled Monday to dismiss the case against Leslie Merritt Jr. after the state filed a motion to do so April 22. The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be filed again in the future if new evidence is presented.

In his order, Granville told defense attorneys if they want to pursue action with prejudice, they must file a written motion no later than May 6. Merritt, 21, was charged with 15 felony counts in connection to four of the 11 shootings last August on Interstate 10.

Granville ordered his release with an electronic monitor April 19 after new evidence came into play.

“I told you guys in the beginning I didn’t do it. I’m telling you now as I’m going home,” Merritt said as he left the jail. “Right now, I just want to go home and be with my kids.”

He was arrested Sept. 18, 2015, after the Arizona Department of Public Safety allegedly matched his 9mm handgun to bullet fragments collected from vehicles.

“Essentially, the only evidence was the link between the gun pawned by Mr. Merritt and the bullets,” defense attorney Jason Lamm said in court before Merritt’s release. “The state’s own expert now says that the identification or match that DPS made does not exist.”

Merritt denied responsibility for the freeway shootings since his arrest.

Last month, he filed a $10 million notice of claim alleging that no evidence had been produced that put him at the scene of the shootings.

The claim seeks to recover lost wages, legal expenses and compensation for “suffering, pain, anxiety and fear.” He is seeking $2.5 million each from the state, Maricopa County, Gov. Doug Ducey and County Attorney Bill Montgomery.

The defense filed a motion Tuesday to unseal the pleadings in the case.

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

View photo by Jordan Christopher

LINDSEY WILLIAMS of the Avondale Library sets up a food donation box Monday at the Avondale Civic Center Library. The Avondale Library is partnering with the View’s annual food drive by offering the Food for Fines program, which allows library patrons to exchange food donations for library fines.

55 Plus.

Plus

Victory at Verrado gives you choices like no other active adult community in Arizona. For starters, it’s part of the all-ages town of Verrado. An inviting mountain community packed with restaurants, shops, coffee houses and a year-round calendar of fun events. Plus you get a place of your own, with more charming and diverse home styles than any other active adult community in the state.

Funding

new campus is deemed necessary. It only affects districts with more than 7,500 students, and the SFB determined Agua Fria’s capacity to be 7,505.

Currently, districts are allowed to exclude 25 percent of a school’s square footage from calculations to determine capacity if the space was funded by taxpayers through bond money.

The state’s determination of available square footage can include hallways, storage and other nonclassroom spaces, said Dennis Runyan, superintendent at Agua Fria.

to receive funding from the SFB for six years, but the department hasn’t paid for new school construction since 2009.

“Every year that you wait, construction costs generally will increase,” Runyan said. “If you look carefully at the cost of building a school, the more immediate time frame is usually cost effective for these things.”

Building struggle

It’s not the first time the criteria for funding new schools have been changed. In 2013, it was altered so a district must exceed capacity in the current school year for money to be awarded.

“Changing the SFB formula from 10 percent to 25 percent represents the Republican majority’s unwillingness to adequately fund public education in Arizona.”

The change would reduce that amount to 10 percent, allowing 59,248 square feet of “invisible” space in the Agua Fria District to be used in the formula, which the JLBC states would increase capacity to 7,979 students and accommodate two more years of growth.

The district has a current enrollment of 7,947 students, said Tom Huffman, the district’s executive director of operations and safety.

“Changing the SFB formula from 10 percent to 25 percent represents the Republican majority’s unwillingness to adequately fund public education in Arizona,” said Sen. Lupe Contreras, D-District 19. “For years, me and my fellow Democrats have fought for our schools, but sadly, Republicans would rather see our kids crammed into overcrowded classrooms so they can give away more of our hard-earned tax dollars as tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.”

Agua Fria’s four campuses have long surpassed their original capacities, and the district anticipates continued growth. The following is a snapshot of each existing school:

• Agua Fria — Year opened: 1955; enrollment: 1,821; capacity: 1,750.

• Desert Edge — Year opened: 2002; enrollment: 1,848; capacity: 1,750.

• Millennium — Year opened: 1999; enrollment: 2,291; capacity: 2,100. Some classroom space was added over time with capital funding and a bond passed by voters in 2006.

• Verrado — Year opened: 2006; enrollment: 1,987; capacity: 1,800.

The district has grown for 18 straight years and has added more than 3,000 students since its last school was built, Huffman said.

Agua Fria has been at the top of the list

— Lupe Contreras State senator, D-District 19

Before, the SFB was authorized to award a project up to three years in advance of a school district’s exceeding capacity.

The last time a West Valley district received state funding for a campus was in December 2006 for Inca Elementary in the Buckeye Elementary District.

Agua Fria got almost $25 million in state funds in 2004 to build Verrado, which cost almost $43 million. The land for the campus, valued at $12.5 million, was donated, Huffman said.

The district estimates it will cost about $68 million to build a comprehensive new high school, which includes items such as permits, furniture, equipment and fixtures, Huffman said.

Agua Fria will also have to buy land, and is currently looking at property northwest of the Interstate 10 and Loop 303 interchange. Officials estimate land and development could cost about $10 million.

To help pay for the new campus, the district went to voters last November for a $70 million bond, which was approved.

However, the money wasn’t designated solely for a school, but also for deferred maintenance, technology and projects at the other four campuses.

The district has identified $131 million in existing capital costs, including air conditioning units, flooring and roofing repairs, Huffman said.

In December, Agua Fria High School’s 56-year-old electrical system failed and the campus had to be run on generators costing $16,000 a week. Repairs totaled about $500,000, which was partially paid by SFB emergency funding, Runyan said.

“Not many people realize that was the situation we were in this year to keep the lights on and the ability for the school to remain functional,” he said.

The $33 million from the SFB would free up some of the bond money and allow the district to start on the upgrades and repairs, and also eliminate the need to build a new school in phases or go back to the community for another bond to

complete it, Runyan said.

“None of this would be happening without local community support and the understanding of the importance of having an educated workforce,” he said.

“We’re not attempting to add additional tax burden, we’re asking for the state to partner with the local community that stepped up to the plate.”

If the funding is cut, items such as bioscience labs, athletic fields, parking and a competition gym would not be included initially at the new school, and a portion of the classroom and administrative space would be built as a shell, Runyan said.

“Those are things we’re struggling with now to decide which is priority and which is not,” he said. “We’re not attempting to build a Taj Mahal, we’re attempting to build a comprehensive high school that is sustainable into the future for the needs of the community.”

Innovative campus

The 200,000-square-foot school, which will have a science focus, is scheduled to open in fall 2018 and would house only freshman students the first year.

The location should be announced by July 1, and a committee will be created to determine boundaries, a school name, colors and a mascot, Runyan said.

More than 100 students have already been involved in the process, as well as teachers from each campus and community members.

Conceptual designs call for the school to have four learning suites, which the district has nicknamed “forts,” that will

have moveable walls. Each suite would have six classrooms, two lab spaces and a common area in the center.

“It’s fundamentally going to change the way the classroom looks, but in a very positive way,” Runyan said. “It’s reflective of industry and project learning.”

The suites can be reconfigured into seven or eight different shapes depending on what the teachers have planned for the day, Huffman said.

“The classrooms are designed to kind of force the instructors to not just be in the regular classroom all the time and get them out and be out on campus,” he said.

The school will also incorporate the latest technology, which has changed drastically since Verrado opened in 2006, before Chromebooks, iPads or Facebook was popular, Huffman said.

“This is our first chance to build a school since those things happened,” he said. “We plan on using that school as an accelerator and a launching pad for what happens at our four current schools.”

While the new campus is innovative, the district has worked to minimize costs wherever possible, Runyan said.

“It’s not so much that you’re using space-age materials and super cool this and that; it’s more how you organize your space,” Huffman said. “You can either just line the classrooms up and put walls between them, or use the latest in brain research and listen to what the community and real world is saying — that kids need to collaborate, there needs to be engagement and a real-world connection and project-based learning.”

AN ARTIST’S RENDERING shows what Agua Fria Union High School District’s fifth high school would look like once completed.

TUHSD super resigning

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

The Tolleson Union High School District’s top position will need to be filled for next year after Superintendent Lexi Cunningham accepted a position in Utah.

The Salt Lake City School District Board of Education voted Monday night to appoint Cunningham as superintendent of schools effective July 1.

Lexi Cunningham

“I was looking for an opportunity to grow as a leader and to move to a larger district, a K-12 district, and when I came upon the Salt Lake City position, I was excited about the opportunity to be in a capital city and to work in a district that was already doing so many amazing things,” Cunningham said.

The unified district has about 24,000 pupils in 27 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools and one alternative high school, according to its website.

Its board selected Cunningham based on her experience and abilities related to urban education leadership, instructional leadership, shared governance and collaborative leadership and relevant work history, according to a press release.

Cunningham has led Tolleson since September 2011, and before that was the assistant superintendent of educational services for the Agua Fria Union High School District in Avondale.

Tolleson has six high schools and two alternative campuses. It will have a projected enrollment of about 11,500 students this fall, Cunningham said.

The Tolleson Governing Board has not started talking about the process to find a replacement, said Karyn Morse Eubanks, a district spokeswoman.

Cunningham is under contract with the Tolleson district until June 30.

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

Food drive

(From Page 1)

in Avondale. “So we always have a high influx in the fall, and then as it gets closer to summer, people are thinking more about school wrapping up, vacations and the heat. They’re not thinking about collecting food and donating, but it is one of our busiest times.”

The newspaper launched its first food drive in June 2006 after the nonprofits reported a shortage of donations during the summer. Since then, 62,775 pounds of food has been collected for five West Valley sites.

Currently, the food banks are focusing on collecting items that are easy for children to open and make on their own since school will be out soon.

Individually packaged items such as granola bars, fruit cups, juice packs, canned meats and peanut butter and jelly are great, said Cassie Wilkins, director of All Faith Community Services Food Banks.

Shelf stable milk that doesn’t require refrigeration until it’s open is another item that’s needed, Wilkins said.

kids from the elements as much as possible,” she said. “Even if we have to put it on them to send them home.”

Water is another essential that food banks always need, Leonard said.

“It’s important that we have enough food to sustain those that are in need, and specifically water — we always need bottled water, especially in the summer,” she said.

Summer food drive

The West Valley View’s annual summer food drive benefits the following sites:

• Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank, 405 E. Harrison St. in Avondale; 623-932-9135. Open 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.

• Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank Tonopah site, 36827 W. Indian School Road in Tonopah; 623-932-9135. Open 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday.

• All Faith Community Services Buckeye Food Bank, 214 S. Fifth St. in Buckeye; 623386-3513. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

• All Faith Community Services Goodyear Food Bank — In the process of relocating. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Avondale location, 127 E. Western Ave. in Avondale; 623-925-1100.

• Tolleson Food Bank at the Tolleson Assembly of God, 10 S. 93rd Ave. in Tolleson; 623-936-5199 or 623-936-1169. Open 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday for donations and gives away food from 5 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, until food is gone.

“We’re making sure that they’re really getting those vitamins and nutrients along with the proper categories of fruits and vegetables,” she said. “Even if it’s coming out of a can, it’s still better than not getting that at all.”

A non-food item Wilkins would like to get donations of during the summer is sunscreen, she said.

“Especially if these kids are walking to and from the summer food programs out there in the heat, I think it’s really important that we’re protecting our

Food for fines

Avondale’s library branches are once again partnering with the View’s food drive by holding the “Food for Fines” program, which allows patrons to deduct $1 in fines off their accounts for every food item given, up to a maximum of $50 through May 31.

Donations will be accepted at both sites, Avondale Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, and Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave.

Last year, the library waived $1,751 in fines, Avondale Library Manager Ava Gutwein said. Donations can’t be used toward fees for replacing lost or damaged materials, collection agency fees, printing or processing fees, card replacement fees or future overdue fines.

Homemade food, glass containers and expired, opened or damaged food items won’t be accepted.

For information, call Avondale Public Library at 623333-2665.

Check back with the View each week in May to learn about the food banks in your cities and how they’re helping the West Valley.

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

Gema Fernandez, M.D.

Maria R. DiLeo, M.D.

Kim Roberts, W.H.N.P.

Cari L. Cowling, M.D.

James M. Johnson, M.D.

Briggs J. Geier, D.O.

Raymond D. Suarez, M.D.

Erica McLaughlin, M.D.

Botched case reminiscent of Temple Murders

Bill Montgomery, you have a lot of explaining to do.

The last time a high proﬁle case was botched this badly, it was 1991 and ﬁve men from Tucson spent about two months in jail for a crime they did not commit.

It was the worst mass murder in the state’s history. Six monks, an elderly nun and two acolytes were murdered at the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist temple in the West Valley.

In the state’s haste to pin the grizzly murders on someone, the men, who would become known as the Tucson Five, were indicted. The sole evidence: their confessions.

One of the five, Michael Lawrence McGraw, a patient at a mental hospital in Tucson, confessed and fingered the other four. Only the four men and the police officers conducting the interviews at a downtown Phoenix motel know exactly what happened, but confessions were extracted.

Defense attorneys for the Tucson Five claimed the confessions were coerced and cited the state’s inability to produce any additional evidence.

That additional evidence would surface when a .22-caliber riﬂe was found in the car of two Agua Fria High School students attempting to enter Luke Air Force Base.

The riﬂe turned out to be the murder weapon, and the two teenagers were arrested and convicted.

Fast forward 25 years and it feels like déjà vu.

Last summer, the Valley was terrorized by a string of freeway shootings.

Much like the Temple Murders, police hastily hauled in Leslie Merritt Jr., a former Avondale man who pawned his 9mm around the same timeframe. That very night, Gov. Doug Ducey took to Twitter, proclaiming, “We got him!”

Although the shootings numbered 11, the state could only tie four of them to Merritt.

But that tenuous tie would begin to unravel when it was determined that his gun was in a pawn shop during one of the shootings. Still steamrolling ahead, the state simply changed the date of the shooting, claiming that the car tire, which had been shot, must have held air for a few days afterward.

Throughout Merritt’s seven-month stretch in solitary, his lawyers fought for his release, arguing that the state had no physical evidence tying him to any of the shootings.

The state’s case unraveled further April 19 when his bond was reduced to zero, and completely fell apart Monday when the case was dismissed. Apparently, that evidence the state claimed it had linking bullet fragments to Merritt’s 9mm never existed.

Either the test conducted to match the bullet fragments to the 9mm was done so hastily that it resulted in a false positive or they made it all up.

But just like with the Temple Murders, in a rush to catch the “bad guy” and ease our minds, they arrested the wrong guy and then did everything in their power to make the charges stick.

Merritt is seeking $10 million for lost wages, legal expenses and compensation for suffering, pain, anxiety and fear. He is seeking $2.5 million each from Montgomery, Ducey, the state of Arizona and Maricopa County.

He will probably get it and rightfully so. He will never get those seven months back. While everyone who put him there was enjoying the freedom to eat dinner every night with their families, to sleep on their pillow top mattresses in their cozy homes, to pick out Christmas trees and see the excitement on their children’s faces, Merritt was in a cage for a crime he did not commit. Who can put a price tag on something like that?

The Tucson Five got a total of about $2.8 million, but considering that was 25 years ago and they only spent two months behind bars for a crime they did not commit, $10 million sounds about right.

And considering we the taxpayers are going to foot that bill, we’d like to know when the state realized its evidence was bogus, if that’s what it was. How much longer did an innocent man have to suffer? Or, even worse, we’d like to know if it was a lie, if the state lied about evidence it never had, and why.

And ﬁnally, we’d like to know if anyone is back to looking for the bad guy.

L etters to the editor are published without any

2 disasters

Editor:

Tuesday March 22nd

That day there were two disasters. One in Brussels Belgium, the other in Arizona. The one in Brussels, by terrorists. The one in Arizona by Republicans. People went to vote, and they waited, and waited for hours in the hot sun, some for 3-4-5 hours. Just because the Republicans have to cut back on everything. While people were baking in the sun, your Governor was tweedling his thumbs, some where.

Well as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Alfred C. Molina Tonopah

Stadium just ﬁne as is

Editor:

Can you believe that the owner of the Diamond-backs wants the people of Maricopa county to

pay more money to modernize his stadium for the team? It’s only 18 years old! Many other teams stadiums were much older than that when they had work done on them. Fortunely if the county gives in on this I won’t see my taxes go up. My neighbors have actually gone to some games over the years. When I was little and we visited relatives in the Chicago area, I had an Aunt that took me to one Whitesox game and later two Cubs games. I remember the Cubs games. My best baseball memories were of the triple A Phoenix Giants. A friend of mines Father took us to three Phoenix Giants games. I saw Willie McCovey hitting home runs and a Short-stop named Andre Rogers doing the same along with stolen bases. We were surprised that Rogers didn’t make the Pros!

For true fans it isn’t the Stadium that draws them, it is the GAME! I’m on retirement income and I live so far from the Stadium that I wouldn’t drive that far for a game, when I can watch it on my T.V.

Bernard Oviatt Sr. Salome

Hooray for Harkins

Editor:

Like many of you out there,

I cannot wait until the new Harkins theatre opens up in Goodyear later this year. We are not getting the mall . That is for sure despite the rosy picture the Goodyear city council paints for us about anchor stores and all that other malarkey . However as for me I am just thankful that we in the west valley are going to have something the east valley does not have, which would be the largest Harkins theatre in the state of Arizona ! Speaking of which, I am also very thankful it is not an AMC theatre. It has been reported that AMC is strongly considering allowing texting in their theaters while the movie is going on . They want to please the younger generation. Isn’t that thoughtful. First it was ok to put your feet on the sear ahead of you. Then it was ok to bring screaming little kids into the theatre. Soon it may be ok to text during the movie at AMC theaters

Anyway one ﬁnal thought. Maybe with all the added sales tax revenue the new Harkins will produce for Goodyear, maybe the Goodyear city council could lighten up on the food tax shoppers have to pay at the super market . Maybe but as the saying goes “ Don’t hold your breath “

Roy Azzarello Goodyear

Richard Steele

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Letters

(From Page 6)

Trump not qualiﬁed

Editor:

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is unqualiﬁed to run for president, simply by what he say’s and what he believes. Examples. Mexico will pay for the wall, by the U.S withholding all money from all people [ That’s Billions ]sending their own money, south into Mexico. The British say he unqualiﬁed, for his idiotic comments about getting rid of Nato. Donald Trump says we are headed for another recession. No we are not. The real fun is yet to happen. When the RNC have their convention in Cleveland. That’s when the carnival barker will preach his real motto of fear, hate, devide and conquer america, like only he can. Why is Cleveland using 20 million dollars of federal money, for riot gear, needed for the convention. I mean if everybody has a gun , wouldn’t that make clevaland the safest place to be in america at that time?

David Rice Avondale

Vegan diet saves planet

Editor: With the 47th annual observance of Earth Day just around the corner, this is a great time to explore more effective ways of slowing climate change and conserving Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

A 2010 UN report charged animal agriculture with 19% of man-made greenhouse gases — more than all transport — and recommended a global shift to a vegan diet. A subsequent World Watch study placed that contribution closer to 50%. Meat and dairy production also dumps more water pollutants than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force in global

deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

Last fall, England’s prestigious Chatham House declared that reducing meat consumption is critical to achieving global climate goals. A report from Oxford University found that global adoption of a vegan diet would reduce greenhouse emissions by two thirds. The 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended reduced meat consumption and an environmentaslly sustainable diet.

Just as we replace fossil fuels by wind, solar, and other sustainable energy sources, we must replace animal foods with the more sustainable vegetables, fruits, and grains. Being mindful of this can help us make better choices at the supermarket.

Walter Vincent Litchﬁeld Park

Gun show loophole a myth

Editor:

Re “Gun Control Is No Laughing Matter”, WVV April 13th. I refer to the writer from Avondale by his initials, “PO”.

A string of studies by the FBI and Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) have consistently shown that a very tiny minority of criminals get their firearms at gun shows. The “Gun Show Loophole” is a myth. A 2006 FBI study of Criminals who attacked Law Enforcement Officers found that NONE of the attackers rifles, Shotguns, or handguns were obtained from gun shows or related activities.

Ninety-seven percent of guns in the study were obtained illegally, and the assailants interviewed had nothing but contempt for gun control laws.

As one offender put it, “the 8,000 new gun control laws would have made absolutely no difference, whatsoever, about me getting a gun….I never went into a gun store or to a GUN SHOW or to a pawn shop or any place else where ﬁrearms are legally bought and sold.

An earlier BJS report which used information from surveys

with 18,000 inmates at state prisons revealed that less than one percent (0.7%) of guns used by criminals came from Gun Shows.

Closing the so called “Gun Show Loophole” actually translates to closing Gun Shows, I suspect that “PO” lacks the moral ﬁber to admit that.

Incidentally the noun “PO”, is, in the UK, a slang word for a chamber pot. A chamber pot is a porcelain vessel which would be a most suitable receptacle for “PO’s” idiotic rhetoric regarding law abiding gun owners who oppose his hoplophobic opinions by exercising their constitutionally protected 2nd Amendment rights. As always, with respect.

DJ Hammond Buckeye

Get over yourself!

Editor:

Time again to consider a few “minor” details Roy (“The Factless Wonder”) ignored in his jihad against the dreaded “Progressive” menace. First, his denunciation of “religious bigots” who attacked Romney in 2012 (Letters, March 23rd), and then complaints about attempts

to silence him on these pages (April 13th).

Roy conveniently forgot that the bigotry came from Evangelical Christians (like Rick Perry supporter: Pastor Robert Jeffress) who denounced Romney’s Mormon faith as a “cult”! (A charge Billy Graham’s website also has made.)

But then, Roy’s engaging in religious bigotry too. Why must the next President be an Evangelical Christian, or any Christian at all? The Constitution doesn’t require that. In fact, it forbids such religious tests for public ofﬁce. (Article 6, Paragraph 3) Wouldn’t a nice Jew do as well (or don’t we have “spiritual values”)? Isn’t Judaism “Conservatively Correct”?

Regarding those attempts to “silence” him: I have regularly defended his right, and the right of all “conservatives”, to express their views here. (See my letters of 1/21/11 and 12/30/11.) And I’ve been the subject of such “attacks” too. (For example, by Mr. Reth, who on 1/13/14 desired the View cease publishing my letters and Roy’s.) More recently, last Summer there was a spate of letters demanding I be silenced.

2016

Which brings me to his truly pathetic whine about being “mistreated” by a local Bocce League. I’d credit his “reporting”, except he is “The Factless Wonder”, and one must be skeptical about his “accuracy”. Perhaps “the other side” can be heard from, before the rest of us decide who to believe?

Meanwhile, some advice: Roy, get over yourself!

But while (liberal that I am) I’ve defended Roy, he never saw ﬁt to return the favor (so far as I can recall). I guess Free Speech is only for the “Conservatively Correct”!

Gordon P.R. Posner Tolleson

Satisﬁed with coot culling

Editor:

Regarding recent comments about slaughtering or “culling (my word) of Coots.” As a resident living on the shoreline of the south end of South Lake in Estrella Mountain Ranch for 15 years, I can attest to the deplorable ﬁlthy mess left by Coots impacting foot trafﬁc around the lake. Not only is it unsightly and disgusting, It is also challenging to avoid stepping in Coot poop and it does create a potential health hazard

(See Letters on Page 8)

West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona, Wednesday, April 27,

Letters

(From Page 7)

to both people and their pets. As being part of EMT efforts to mitigate this situation for several years, it always came back to the need to reduce the Coot population during their migration period but we were reluctant to implement such a measure for humane reasons. So as we kept trying other methods the problem continued to get worse. Now, I have noticed a large decrease in Coot population and accompanying mess in the last two years as a result of EMR management taking the responsible action of culling to a manageable size. Therefore, as a dues paying EMR resident I am very pleased with the current policy and can ﬁnally enjoy my walk on the sidewalk around the lake.

Lastly, I don’t know where or how those witting letters of complaints are coming up with their positions but I can attest it is not accurate or worse, dishonest. Protecting people over messy fowls is not extreme; and yes, I do realize this issue is small potatoes when compared to the mess this nation and the world is in — but it is something we can directly remedy.

Roy Sharp Goodyear

He has arrived

Editor:

While channel surﬁng last night I ran into the Jim Baker Show. I fondly remember spending a very dull summer

watching the Jim Baker and Jessica Huhn Saga play out. Later Jim Baker was sent to prison for 100 years by some government agents who also were have a very dull summer.

The Show was about the newest ﬁndings concerning the 2016 arrival of the Anti-Christ. It was said that the Ant-Christ had made himself known to a group of Rabbis in Israel and they had determined he was the real deal.

Carrying on my channel surﬁng I ran across one of Trumps wake up calls, Trump, “ We are going to kick their Ass !” I don’t know if Ass has an S on the end of it or not, since it is referring to the whose group of Democrats ?

We need to look no further the Anti Christ is here and its Trump , no tests needed.

Vickie Chelini Buckeye

Dems offer positive points

Editor:

A couple of WVV readers have recently accused me of bias in some of my letters. I am “shocked, shocked I tell you” by the charge. In my defense, I cite the campaign rhetoric of the GOP candidates. They promise to build a big wall on our southern border, kill the families of foreign terrorists, increase our military activity in the Middle East, punish a woman for having an abortion, restrict Muslims and members of the LGBT community, repeal the ACA, get tough on crime, cut taxes, increase military spending and balance the budget. And they deny that human activity

contributes to dangerous global warming.

In contrast, the Democratic contenders offer a more positive and realistic perspective. They recognize that our borders and ports of entry are more secure than ever. They oppose un-American restrictions on minorities. They favor affordable health care for every citizen and a reduction in our prison population. They are aware the tax cuts and wars under the Bush administration have built our deﬁcit by trillions of dollars and that a better way to grow the economy is to have more middleclass and lower-income workers with living wage salaries. They realize the U.S. should be a major contributor in a multi-nation

destruction of ISIS but do not want American troops to bear the brunt of this effort. And they have detailed plans to combat humancaused climate change.

These are some of the differences that separate the conservative and liberal positions. If voters can look beyond the slogans and hyperbole of the campaigns, I think they will choose a future with the values espoused by Clinton and Sanders and not the anger and fear that Trump and Cruz employ to distort traditional Republican positions.

John Flynn Goodyear

School

Editor:

Egg ranch’s critics appeal for county help

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Neighbors of an egg processing operation in the far West Valley are expressing frustration with a county agency whose help they need to eliminate an ongoing odor problem they say is affecting their way of life.

Residents near Hickman’s Family Farms in Tonopah are asking the Maricopa County Air Quality Department to deny the egg ranch’s latest request for permits for additional equipment at the plant that houses millions of chickens.

Opponents said the plant already violates federal emission standards, creating what one critic called a “stench zone” that causes health and environmental issues and hurts business and property values in the rural community.

Area resident Dan Mack said scores of complaints about the poultry manure odor is evidence that the plant is violating pollution standards and suggested the county isn’t doing enough for residents.

“You’re supposed to protect us,” Mack told officials conducting a public hearing on the permits April 19 in Tonopah. “Government is here to protect people. We shouldn’t have to fight the government to get things done.”

Hickman’s is seeking permits for eight emergency engines and two boilers at the Tonopah facility, which will create emissions critics say will increase negative air quality and cause a stench that will include hazardous levels of ammonia.

The plant’s opponents said it has been operating without proper permitting since opening in 2014 at Indian School Road and 415th Avenue.

Steven Brittle, president of the environmental group Don’t Waste Arizona, said a criminal investigation is warranted, claiming the public has been misled about the odor issue.

“You’re setting a standard that allows people to sicken

View report

Buckeye and Avondale police have issued public alerts about registered sex offenders who have moved into their cities.

Louie Gonzales, 29, is living at a home in the 90 block of Third Avenue West in Buckeye, southeast of Miller and Maricopa roads, police said. Gonzales is not wanted by any law enforcement agency, said Officer Tamela Skaggs, a Buckeye police spokeswoman.

In 2005, Gonzales was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Skaggs said.

Authorities have classified Gonzales as a Level II, or intermediate-risk, sex offender, Skaggs said.

William Duncan, 70, is living at a home in the 2000 block of North 104th Drive,

and die,” Brittle told the state hearing officers. “The little children in this area are doomed.”

Michael Wirth invited public officials to witness the stench by staying at the Saddle Mountain RV Park, which he operates about a half mile from the plant.

“You have to see this to believe what’s happening,” Wirth said. “I’m scared to death what we’re breathing is going to have a long-term affect on our health.”

Wirth said he gets daily complaints from seniors who stay at the park, where staffers regularly scoop feathers from the community’s pool.

He said he expects the situation to get worse as the facility continues to expand.

Opponents claim the egg ranch houses 3 million hens, with the capacity for 10 million birds, in a facility that includes 28 laying houses and four wastewater ponds.

The odor is particularly bad in the evening, according to Linda Butler, a longtime critic of Hickman’s and leader of the citizens group Save Tonopah Oppose Poultry Plant, which made up the majority of about three dozen people who attended the 100-minute hearing.

She said the worst of the odor occurs from about 7 to 10 p.m.

“That’s after county agencies are closed, so no one comes out to monitor it,” she said.

Butler’s son, David, said he had moved from Los Angeles to what he hoped was his dream home before the odor changed his opinion of the region.

“It’s at the whim of the wind whether I get to enjoy a day or not,” he said.

Steven Love of Arlington said the smell has gotten worse since the Air Quality Department approved a permit for additional equipment at a similar plant Hickman’s operates in nearby Arlington.

That permit application raised objections at a hearing in October and opponents have also filed a complaint

southwest of Encanto Boulevard and 103rd Avenue in Avondale, police said.

Duncan is not wanted by any law enforcement agency, said Sgt. Brandon Busse, an Avondale police spokesman.

In 1984, Duncan was convicted in Maricopa County Superior Court of attempted child molestation, and he was convicted this year for failure to register as a sex offender, Busse said.

His victim, a 15-year-old girl, was known to him, Busse said.

Authorities have classified Duncan as a Level II, or intermediate-risk, sex offender, Busse said.

The alerts are the result of the Arizona sex offender law that took effect in 1996. The law requires community notification for some sex offenders.

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Love said the situation has caused him and his parents to put their property up for sale, which he claimed is a trend in the region.

“We just can’t fight this anymore,” he said.

“Apparently, no one wants to live next to this. Values are dropping like a stone.”

Love said a survey he did found 39 properties for sale around the Arlington plant and noted that a house across the street from that Hickman’s location had been abandoned.

He said there are 265 properties for sale in Tonopah, including 70 within five miles of the plant.

The Hickmans are “simply taking advantage of weak laws on the books,” Love said. “This whole area is going to turn into a chicken republic.”

Love and others noted that the area’s representative on the County Board of Supervisors, Clint Hickman, has a conflict of interest since he is a co-owner of the business causing him to recuse himself from decisions regarding the plant.

Mike Butler said the issue has brought the community together.

“We’ve had to become a family out here to oppose this thing that was forced upon us,” he said. “We’re not Hickman haters, but their business is affecting our lifestyle.”

Hearing officers said they could take testimony, but couldn’t respond to questions, which they said will be answered by the department as it makes its decision, perhaps as early as a month after the hearing.

Billy Hickman, co-owner and vice president of operations for the egg ranch, did not respond to a phone message requesting comment for this story.

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

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help locating a woman who allegedly left her dog in a locked car at a shopping center near Watson and Yuma roads in Buckeye.

Deputies are looking for Mary Newell-Finger, 41, who they say left a Siberian husky unattended in her vehicle at about 11:30 a.m. April 6 as she went into a local business, said Detective Doug Matteson, a spokesman with MCSO.

The vehicle’s motor was turned off and the windows were closed, leaving no air circulation as the temperature inside the car reached more than 115 degrees, Matteson said.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian for a medical check-up, and it appears he will have no lasting health issues. He is being cared for at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office M.A.S.H unit, Matteson said.

Several attempts have been made by detectives to locate Newell-Finger but with no success, he said.

She is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds and having brown hair and blue eyes. If you have information on the case, or know the whereabouts of NewellFinger, contact MCSO at 602-8761011.

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

William Duncan Louie Gonzales

Avondale man arrested in Glendale murder

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

An Avondale man was arrested April 19 in connection to the murder of a teenager in Glendale, which police believe was committed during the sale of a gaming console, officials said.

Aaron Ott, 19, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery after the April 17 fatal shooting near 65th Avenue and Mountain View Road in Glendale, police said.

Ott allegedly set up a meeting that day with 16-year-old Miguel Navarro after seeing an Xbox for sale on the website OfferUp, court records state.

According to records, when Miguel refused to give up the gaming console, Ott allegedly shot him in the back and ran off.

Miguel was able to call 911 and request an ambulance before collapsing, and a neighbor performed CPR until medical crews arrived, records state.

Glendale police were called to the scene at about 4:50 p.m. and found the teen shot in his driveway, police said.

The Peoria Fire Department treated him on scene for life-threatening injuries and transported him to a local hospital, where he later died, police said.

Witnesses provided detectives with a possible description of the suspect and said he fled eastbound on foot and then left in a vehicle, police said.

Ott’s vehicle was also allegedly seen leaving the scene on multiple residential surveillance cameras in the area, police said.

Text messages on Miguel’s phone

detailing the sale were traced through OfferUp to Pedro Claro-Fernandez, records state.

Police conducted surveillance April 18 on a house connected to Claro-Fernandez and allegedly saw a vehicle pulling up that matched the one from the shooting, records state.

Claro-Fernandez was taken in for questioning and allegedly told police Ott asked him to help find a gaming system and also install an app on his phone to block his number, records state.

On the day of the scheduled meet-up, Ott allegedly picked up Claro-Fernandez and they went to Miguel’s house, parking around the corner, records state.

Claro-Fernandez told police he waited in the vehicle and about three minutes after Ott left, he heard a gunshot and saw Ott running with a backpack, records state.

When they discussed what happened, Ott allegedly told Claro-Fernandez that he “did what he had to do” when Miguel wouldn’t give up the Xbox, records state.

Claro-Fernandez told detectives that he didn’t know Ott had a gun or that he was planning to shoot Miguel, records state.

Ott allegedly asked Claro-Fernandez to keep the Xbox for a while, because he couldn’t get caught with it, records state.

After conducting search warrants, police allegedly found the Xbox, video games and a gun magazine with .45-caliber ammunition at Claro-Fernandez’s house, records state.

Ott allegedly told police he has no memory of what happened, because he was high on marijuana, and denied shooting Miguel, records state.

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

Buckeye men plead guilty to 2015 murder of friend

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Two Buckeye men charged with the April 28, 2015, death of a friend changed their pleas this month to guilty of second-degree murder, court records state.

Richard Burns, 19, and Zakary Howard, 22, who originally faced charges of first-degree murder and aggravated armed robbery, are due back in court June 15 for sentencing.

They were arrested last April in the death of Matthew Christensen, 19, of Buckeye who was found dead April 29 near 236th Lane and Hilton Avenue in Buckeye.

According to court records, Burns told investigators he took a .22-caliber rifle to the scene the night of April 28 to shoot some cans and target practice.

But Howard said Burns asked him if he wanted to make some money, and they agreed to rob Christensen and split the profits, records state.

They both claimed the other began shooting Christensen once he arrived, records state.

After Christensen was shot, he fell down in a small wash area and Burns kicked him in the head, records state.

The two left the scene in Christensen’s

vehicle, picked up a friend in Buckeye, and returned to the scene, where they found Christensen still breathing, records state. They took the car again and drove to Avondale where they stopped at a McDonald’s and then went to Phoenix so Burns could see his girlfriend, records state.

When Howard and Burns returned to Buckeye, they left the vehicle near Dean and Yuma roads and walked back to the scene, where Christensen was dead, records state.

Burns’ story changed several times, but his 12-year-old brother told police Burns was the shooter and that he had evidence to prove it, records state.

Court records show Burns asked his brother to dispose of his blood-stained shoes and threatened him not to say anything.

The shoes Burns’ brother described were later recovered in a trash can at Burns’ residence after a search warrant was issued, records state.

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

Man, 28, shot in Buckeye

View report

A 28-year-old man suffered non-lifethreatening injuries after he was shot April 23 near Miller Road and Roosevelt Street in Buckeye, police said.

The man, whose name is not being released, was transported to a local hospital, said Sgt. Jason Weeks, a spokesman with the Buckeye Police Department.

Police responded to the area at about 1:45 a.m. after receiving multiple calls about someone being shot, Weeks said.

Arriving officers determined the shooter had fled the scene and began rendering first aid to the victim, he said.

Police don’t have anyone in custody, but numerous leads are being investigated, Weeks said.

W.V. man arrested after allegedly texting nude photos to teen girl

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A West Valley man was arrested April 21 after allegedly texting nude photos to a 16-year-old girl, officials said.

Abraham Pimentel, 34, who lives on county land southeast of Litchfield and Glendale roads, faces six counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor, court records state.

Deputies with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at about 2:50 p.m. April 21 in reference to a girl receiving pictures through text of a man’s genitals, records state.

The victim, who is known to Pimentel, reported he had hugged and kissed her earlier in the week, records state.

Shortly after the incident, she began receiving messages from Pimentel, who allegedly sent six nude photos, records state.

During questioning by deputies, Pimentel allegedly admitted to sending the photos, but claimed that the victim requested them, records state.

He later stated he sent the photos with the expectation of receiving pictures of the girl in return, records state.

Aaron Ott

Richard Burns Zakary Howard

Abraham Pimentel

EMCC dance program taking a ‘Journey’

Theme of spring show reflects on life’s transitions

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

The Estrella Mountain Community College dance program’s process of settling into the campus’ new Performing Arts Center this year suggested the theme for its spring recital.

The show titled “Journeys” will be presented at 3 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the EMCC Performing Arts Center, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale.

“We want the entire production to feel like a journey,” said Janaea Lyn McAlee, DancEstrella’s artistic director.

addition to acting as the show’s assistant artistic director. Peck, who started dance at age 9 at a neighborhood studio, will complete her associate’s degree in the fall and plans to continue dance studies at Arizona State University or the University of Arizona.

Like all of the student-produced work, Peck’s dance developed from a process that started with McAlee asking for inspirational quotes and images and a sample movement.

WHAT: DancEstrella presents “Journeys”

WHEN: 3 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday

WHERE: EMCC Performing Arts Center, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale COST: Free

Since January, McAlee has been working with 18 dancers who will perform 14 solo and group dances that address a theme familiar to students undergoing their own life transitions.

“The making of a dance is a metaphor for the theme,” McAlee said.

Among those taking the journey is Taylor Peck, who will present her graduation project, a performance she choreographed titled “Finish Line.”

Peck, 20, a graduate of Verrado High School who lives in Litchfield Park, said her four-and-a-half-minute piece was inspired by going through the obstacles of her own life.

“Life comes at you unexpectedly,” Peck said.

In the story the dance tells, dancers Shaggy McCloud, Antonette Fleming and Nichole Olmstead — who worked with Peck in two-and-a-half-hour weekly sessions — represent emotions as they support one another in life’s race.

Set to “Time” by Hans Zimmer, music featured in the movie Inception, the freestyle and modern movements of the dance include a runner’s stance in a piece that starts delicately and becomes more aggressive.

Peck will also dance a solo and perform with a group in

Students with similar ideas worked together to develop their dances.

For example, three students inspired by roller coasters collaborated to create a dance they call “Carnivale.”

McAlee contributed two pieces to the show, including the opening dance, a ballet titled “Tipping Point.”

“Every journey has a tipping point,” she said.

The finale choreographed by McAlee, a six-minute modern dance titled “Riptide,” which features the full cast, was inspired by the cycles of life, friendship and relationships, she said.

McAlee said the dance includes a forward movement toward the audience that suggests a wave “so you feel like you’re part of the dance.”

For the dance featuring an original score, McAlee collaborated with composer David Anderson, who will play the guitar for the performance.

Also presenting a graduation project will be Dazzmin Brown, who will stage her dance, “Breaking Free.”

Instead of an intermission, the show will feature a Power Point presentation that McAlee said will cover “the journey of the program … from there to here” as it’s taken up residence in the Performing Arts Center, which opened last fall.

“It’s starting to take wings,” McAlee said of the program she has led for three years.

The recital will be followed by a talk back between

April 11 at the Estrella Mountain Community College Performing Arts Center in Avondale. The free show will run Friday and Saturday.

dancers and members of the audience.

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

W. Valley cities presenting fiscal year budgets

View report

West Valley cities will be approving their fiscal year 2017 budgets in the next couple of months, but residents still have an opportunity to add their input.

The following is a roundup of when each city will discuss and approve its budget:

Avondale has been reviewing its budget at City Council meetings this month. Its tentative budget is scheduled to be adopted at the 7 p.m. May 16 meeting at the City Council Chambers, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive. The final budget is expected to be approved June 20, and

the property tax levy will go before the council July 11.

Buckeye will hold a council workshop to discuss its budget proposal at 3 p.m. May 3 at the Council Chambers, 530 E. Monroe Ave.

The tentative budget will be presented at 6 p.m. June 7 at the Council Chambers, and the final budget will go before the council for approval June 21. The property tax levy will be adopted July 5.

Goodyear will host a public forum on its draft budget at 6 p.m. May 4 at the Justice Center, 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite B101, in Goodyear.

Residents will be presented with a

summary of the proposal and have the opportunity to provide feedback, which will be considered by staff and presented to the City Council before its final adoption.

The tentative budget is scheduled to be adopted at the 6 p.m. May 23 meeting, and the final budget is expected to be approved at 6 p.m. June 27. The primary and secondary property tax levies are expected to be approved on July 11.

For information about the budget, visit www.goodyearaz.gov/transparency.

Litchfield Park held a series of special budget meetings in March and adopted

its tentative budget on April 20. The final budget is expected to be approved after a public hearing at 7 p.m. May 18 at the Florence Brinton Litchfield Memorial Library, 101 W. Wigwam Blvd.

Tolleson kicked off its budget talks in January and presented its proposed budget at two council meetings last month. The tentative budget is scheduled for approval at the 7 p.m. May 10 meeting, and the final budget is expected to be approved at 7 p.m. June 14, both at City Hall, 9555 W. Van Buren St. The property tax levy will go before the council June 28.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

DANCESTRELLA DANCERS Shaggy McCloud, front, Antonette Fleming and Nichole Olmstead practice for the upcoming production of “Journeys”

Tangling with Zentangle

West Valley libraries hosting classes on relaxing art form

by Jack Hines special to the view

If you’re a fan of our 9 Days a Week calendar, you might have seen a listing or two for something called “Zentangle art.” If you’re like us, you had absolutely no idea what a “Zentangle” was. Well, hopefully, we can clear that up today, and maybe open a whole new form of art to some people.

Zentangle, as described by Megan Jacobson of the Litchfield Park Branch Library, is like an adult coloring book, focusing on drawing patterns in predetermined spaces. It doesn’t require any skill or special equipment to get into, and isn’t harsh if one makes a mistake.

“If you mess up, it’s not a big deal,” Jacobson said, adding that Zentangle is useful for relaxing, meditation and reducing anxiety, and doesn’t require much to get started with. According to zentangle.com, the art increases focus, creativity and promotes personal satisfaction.

Zentangle art starts with a template, which come in many different forms. Some are the outline of shapes and animals, while others are a series of lines, dots, shapes or some combination. The basic idea behind Zentangle is to not spend time and effort on the shape but rather create within the provided shape.

Jacobson offered several different reasons for creating Zentangle art. Besides the meditative effects, it can be used as a personal gift for someone, or just as a fun and wholesome way to spend one’s time.

Becoming adept at Zentangle is not very difficult, Jacobson said, adding that she started last summer and has only been doing it for about eight months, but she already has a multitude of complex pieces. While it can be difficult at first, it shortly becomes second nature, she said.

AGNES MALONEY of Avondale creates a Zentangle masterpiece Feb. 27 during a class at the Litchfield Park Branch Library. Upcoming classes are offered at the Litchfield Park and White Tank branch libraries.

Zentangle.com has a few different tips for beginners: don’t have a preconceived plan for the final result, instead work as you go; simple, repetitive steps for making designs is the core of the art form and should not be stressed over; the core to Zentangle is the creation of the piece, rather than the finished product; and the focus should be on mellowing out and reducing stress and anxiety through creation of the art itself.

Tanglepatterns.com calls Zentangle a type of “artistic meditation.” Zentangle is designed to be a free-form type of art, and isn’t bound by any schedule. One can have a set time to work on it every day or just start a piece when one has some free time or is feeling especially stressed.

As Zentangle is easily accessible to all ages and skill ranges, it is easy to get started. The Litchfield Park Branch Library has Zentangle books that can be checked out, and often offers free classes on the subject. To find a class, check the library’s calendar of events at mcldaz.org

or keep track of the West Valley View’s 9 Days a Week calendar.

Zentangle can be done with minimal materials. Basic patterns and shapes can be printed out, and all one needs is a pen.

Jacobson said “some people use a ruler, some don’t,” and that she prefers a pen to a pencil.

To get your hands on a Zentangle book, visit the Litchfield Park Branch Library at 101 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, or pop into one of its classes. The next class will offer a Star Wars themed Zentangle for youths from 12 to 17 years old from 3:45 to 5 p.m. May 5.

The White Tank Branch Library will hold a class for adults followed by one for children April 30. The adult class will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon and the children’s class will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell. Registration is required, visit www.mcldaz.org.

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

Litchfield Park Museum exhibit opens

The Litchfield Park Museum has opened a new exhibit called “The Doctor, the Dentist and the Drugstore.” The exhibit gives a view into early

Litchfield Park by showcasing some of the first medical professionals in the region.

The museum is free to enter and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday

through Friday. The exhibit will be open through spring 2017.

The Litchfield Park Museum is at 13912 W. Camelback Road, Litchfield Park.

Derby party to benefit homeless youths

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

All the traditions of the Kentucky Derby will come to the West Valley for an event that will benefit an agency that helps homeless youths.

Racing for Hope, a benefit for Homeless Youth Connection, will be from 1 to 4 p.m. May 7 at the Wigwam, 300 Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. The deadline is Friday to reserve tickets, which are $100.

“We like the fact that it’s a little different than a typical black tie event,” said Aimee Yamamori, Homeless Youth Connection’s community engagement director. “It’s less stuffy and more fun.” While up to 380 guests will be assigned to tables, Yamamori said mingling will be encouraged.

The 142nd Kentucky Derby, a horse race described as “the greatest two minutes in sports,” will be screened on monitors set up in tents on the lawn of the Wigwam, Yamamori said.

“People are really engaged in the derby. They love watching the races,” she said. There will be wagering using “Derby Dollars,” with the payout raffle tickets used to enter drawings that will include travel packages for a cruise and trips to Disneyland and Las Vegas.

Mystery boxes will be offered for sale for $25, $50 or $100, with prizes including golf and spa packages, dinners and electronics. Those attending are encouraged to dress up as they do at the derby, which is famous for spectators sporting hats. Prizes will be awarded for the best hat and the best dressed woman, man and couple, Yamamori said.

Mint juleps, the Derby’s signature drink, will be among the beverages available, she said.

Buffet stations will feature southern and southwestern cuisine.

It’s the second year the nonprofit organization has done a derby-themed benefit to raise funds for its mission of supporting homeless youths.

The organization that was established in 2009 to help West Valley youths has recently expanded to offer services in the East Valley, Phoenix and Deer Valley, Yamamori said. For tickets or to volunteer for the event, call 623-374-3747.

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

View photo by Ray Thomas

View report

The following three pages of West Valley View are zoned for the 04/27/16 edition.

Each zone pages 13 & 14 (13N=North, 13E=East, 13S=South, 13W=West) appears in its designated geographical zone within the West Valley View circulation boundaries. For the purpose of the online edition, all zone pages appear.

Fiesta Avondale to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Entertainment, food and wrestling will be the main events when Avondale presents a cultural street festival celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Fiesta Avondale will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday on Western Avenue in Historic Avondale.

“It’s focused around good food and entertainment,” said Christina Underhill, who is helping to organize the event as assistant director of parks, recreation and libraries in Avondale.

New this year, the event will feature a lucha libre wrestling ring, showcasing four matches with 20 wrestlers from the region.

Lucha libre wrestling was developed in Mexico, where it’s known for tag-team wrestlers in colorful masks doing highflying maneuvers.

“I think that’s going to be a huge draw,” Underhill said.

While the wrestling ring will be set up on the west end of Western Avenue, a stage on the east end will feature entertainment.

Headliner Carmela Y Mas is a Phoenix band that describes its sound as a “kaleidoscope of Latin musical flavors,” including Latin jazz and salsa rhythms.

Underhill said there will be space in front of the stage if the music moves those attending.

Wild Willie’s Cantina will be set up near the stage.

Mexican food will be provided by restaurants along Western Avenue, Underhill said.

WHAT: Fiesta Avondale

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday WHERE: 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale

COST: Admission is free; food and beverage available for purchase INFO: 623-333-2400

“We encourage people to get up and dance and have a good time,” she said.

Also performing will be Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and Mariachi Via Mexico.

A beer and margarita garden hosted by

Schedule your appointment today and we can evaluate you for signs & symptoms of a brain injury, as well as, recommend effective rehabilitation treatment methods.

GEORGE W. KUKURIN, DC DACAN 12409 W. Indian School Rd. #C304, Avondale AZ 623-547-4727 • www.kcpv.info

“People can go in and get tacos and burritos,” she said.

Those attending will act as judges for a salsa contest, which is open to salsa prepared in commercial kitchens, Underhill said. There will be a $1 charge to do the salsa taste-testing.

There will also be activities for children, including a face painter and a bounce house, Underhill said.

Several vendors will sell arts and crafts

or promote services. Fiesta Avondale will be celebrated the Saturday before Cinco de Mayo, which observes the Mexican army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The city of Avondale sponsored the local celebration for years before events were canceled in 2009 because of budget constraints resulting from the economic downturn, Underhill said.

This is the third year the event has been held since it was re-established, she said.

After being held elsewhere the past two years, the event is being moved to Western Avenue.

“We thought it was a good fit for this event,” she said.

Underhill said about 1,000 people are expected to attend.

Parking will be available along the streets or in nearby parking lots.

Fiesta Avondale is produced by Goosebump Marketing and Events.

Fiesta Avondale to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Entertainment, food and wrestling will be the main events when Avondale presents a cultural street festival celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Fiesta Avondale will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday on Western Avenue in Historic Avondale.

“It’s focused around good food and entertainment,” said Christina Underhill, who is helping to organize the event as assistant director of parks, recreation and libraries in Avondale.

New this year, the event will feature a lucha libre wrestling ring, showcasing four matches with 20 wrestlers from the region. Lucha libre wrestling was developed in Mexico, where it’s known for tag-team wrestlers in colorful masks doing highflying maneuvers.

“I think that’s going to be a huge draw,” Underhill said.

While the wrestling ring will be set up on the west end of Western Avenue, a stage on the east end will feature entertainment.

Headliner Carmela Y Mas is a Phoenix band that describes its sound as a “kaleidoscope of Latin musical flavors,” including Latin jazz and salsa rhythms.

Underhill said there will be space in front of the stage if the music moves those attending.

Wild Willie’s Cantina will be set up near the stage.

Mexican food will be provided by restaurants along Western Avenue, Underhill said.

WHAT: Fiesta Avondale

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale

COST: Admission is free; food and beverage available for purchase INFO: 623-333-2400

“We encourage people to get up and dance and have a good time,” she said.

Also performing will be Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and Mariachi Via Mexico.

A beer and margarita garden hosted by

“People can go in and get tacos and burritos,” she said.

Those attending will act as judges for a salsa contest, which is open to salsa prepared in commercial kitchens, Underhill said. There will be a $1 charge to do the salsa taste-testing.

There will also be activities for children, including a face painter and a bounce house, Underhill said.

Several vendors will sell arts and crafts

or promote services.

Fiesta Avondale will be celebrated the Saturday before Cinco de Mayo, which observes the Mexican army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The city of Avondale sponsored the local celebration for years before events were canceled in 2009 because of budget constraints resulting from the economic downturn, Underhill said.

This is the third year the event has been held since it was re-established, she said.

After being held elsewhere the past two years, the event is being moved to Western Avenue.

“We thought it was a good fit for this event,” she said.

Underhill said about 1,000 people are expected to attend.

Parking will be available along the streets or in nearby parking lots.

Fiesta Avondale is produced by Goosebump Marketing and Events.

Fiesta Avondale to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Entertainment, food and wrestling will be the main events when Avondale presents a cultural street festival celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Fiesta Avondale will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday on Western Avenue in Historic Avondale.

“It’s focused around good food and entertainment,” said Christina Underhill, who is helping to organize the event as assistant director of parks, recreation and libraries in Avondale.

“I think that’s going to be a huge draw,” Underhill said.

While the wrestling ring will be set up on the west end of Western Avenue, a stage on the east end will feature entertainment.

Headliner Carmela Y Mas is a Phoenix band that describes its sound as a “kaleidoscope of Latin musical flavors,” including Latin jazz and salsa rhythms.

Underhill said there will be space in front of the stage if the music moves those attending.

Wild Willie’s Cantina will be set up near the stage.

Mexican food will be provided by restaurants along Western Avenue, Underhill said.

WHAT: Fiesta Avondale

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale

COST: Admission is free; food and beverage available for purchase INFO: 623-333-2400

“We encourage people to get up and dance and have a good time,” she said.

Also performing will be Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and Mariachi Via Mexico.

A beer and margarita garden hosted by

“People can go in and get tacos and burritos,” she said.

Those attending will act as judges for a salsa contest, which is open to salsa prepared in commercial kitchens, Underhill said. There will be a $1 charge to do the salsa taste-testing.

There will also be activities for children, including a face painter and a bounce house, Underhill said.

Several vendors will sell arts and crafts

or promote services.

Fiesta Avondale will be celebrated the Saturday before Cinco de Mayo, which observes the Mexican army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The city of Avondale sponsored the local celebration for years before events were canceled in 2009 because of budget constraints resulting from the economic downturn, Underhill said.

This is the third year the event has been held since it was re-established, she said.

After being held elsewhere the past two years, the event is being moved to Western Avenue.

“We thought it was a good fit for this event,” she said.

Underhill said about 1,000 people are expected to attend.

Parking will be available along the streets or in nearby parking lots.

Fiesta Avondale is produced by Goosebump Marketing and Events.

Fiesta Avondale to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Entertainment, food and wrestling will be the main events when Avondale presents a cultural street festival celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Fiesta Avondale will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday on Western Avenue in Historic Avondale.

“It’s focused around good food and entertainment,” said Christina Underhill, who is helping to organize the event as assistant director of parks, recreation and libraries in Avondale.

New this year, the event will feature a lucha libre wrestling ring, showcasing four matches with 20 wrestlers from the region.

Lucha libre wrestling was developed in Mexico, where it’s known for tag-team wrestlers in colorful masks doing highflying maneuvers.

“I think that’s going to be a huge draw,” Underhill said.

While the wrestling ring will be set up on the west end of Western Avenue, a stage on the east end will feature entertainment.

Headliner Carmela Y Mas is a Phoenix band that describes its sound as a “kaleidoscope of Latin musical flavors,” including Latin jazz and salsa rhythms.

Underhill said there will be space in front of the stage if the music moves those attending.

Wild Willie’s Cantina will be set up near the stage.

Mexican food will be provided by restaurants along Western Avenue, Underhill said.

WHAT: Fiesta Avondale

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday WHERE: 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale

COST: Admission is free; food and beverage available for purchase INFO: 623-333-2400

“We encourage people to get up and dance and have a good time,” she said.

Also performing will be Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and Mariachi Via Mexico.

A beer and margarita garden hosted by

Schedule your appointment today and we can evaluate you for signs & symptoms of a brain injury, as well as, recommend effective rehabilitation treatment methods.

GEORGE W. KUKURIN, DC DACAN 12409 W. Indian School Rd. #C304, Avondale AZ 623-547-4727 • www.kcpv.info

“People can go in and get tacos and burritos,” she said.

Those attending will act as judges for a salsa contest, which is open to salsa prepared in commercial kitchens, Underhill said. There will be a $1 charge to do the salsa taste-testing.

There will also be activities for children, including a face painter and a bounce house, Underhill said.

Several vendors will sell arts and crafts

or promote services.

Fiesta Avondale will be celebrated the Saturday before Cinco de Mayo, which observes the Mexican army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The city of Avondale sponsored the local celebration for years before events were canceled in 2009 because of budget constraints resulting from the economic downturn, Underhill said.

This is the third year the event has been held since it was re-established, she said.

After being held elsewhere the past two years, the event is being moved to Western Avenue.

“We thought it was a good fit for this event,” she said.

Underhill said about 1,000 people are expected to attend.

Parking will be available along the streets or in nearby parking lots.

Fiesta Avondale is produced by Goosebump Marketing and Events.

Fiesta Avondale to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Entertainment, food and wrestling will be the main events when Avondale presents a cultural

celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Fiesta Avondale will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday on Western Avenue in Historic Avondale.

“It’s focused around good food and entertainment,” said Christina Underhill, who is helping to organize the event as assistant director of parks, recreation and libraries in Avondale.

New this year, the event will feature a lucha libre wrestling ring, showcasing four matches with 20 wrestlers from the region.

Lucha libre wrestling was developed in Mexico, where it’s known for tag-team wrestlers in colorful masks doing highflying maneuvers.

“I think that’s going to be a huge draw,” Underhill said.

While the wrestling ring will be set up on the west end of Western Avenue, a stage on the east end will feature entertainment.

Headliner Carmela Y Mas is a Phoenix band that describes its sound as a “kaleidoscope of Latin musical flavors,” including Latin jazz and salsa rhythms.

Underhill said there will be space in front of the stage if the music moves those attending.

Wild Willie’s Cantina will be set up near the stage.

Mexican food will be provided by restaurants along Western Avenue, Underhill said.

WHAT: Fiesta Avondale

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday WHERE: 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale

COST: Admission is free; food and beverage available for purchase INFO: 623-333-2400

“We encourage people to get up and dance and have a good time,” she said.

Also performing will be Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and Mariachi Via Mexico.

A beer and margarita garden hosted by

“People can go in and get tacos and burritos,” she said.

Those attending will act as judges for a salsa contest, which is open to salsa prepared in commercial kitchens, Underhill said. There will be a $1 charge to do the salsa taste-testing.

There will also be activities for children, including a face painter and a bounce house, Underhill said.

Several vendors will sell arts and crafts

or promote services. Fiesta Avondale will be celebrated the Saturday before Cinco de Mayo, which observes the Mexican army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The city of Avondale sponsored the local celebration for years before events were canceled in 2009 because of budget constraints resulting from the economic downturn, Underhill said.

This is the third year the event has been held since it was re-established, she said.

After being held elsewhere the past two years, the event is being moved to Western Avenue.

“We thought it was a good fit for this event,” she said.

Underhill said about 1,000 people are expected to attend.

Parking will be available along the streets or in nearby parking lots.

Fiesta Avondale is produced by Goosebump Marketing and Events.

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Welcome to the Business Briefcase, coming live from the mobile headquarters.

It’s a long story, but I’d appreciate some sort of teleportation technology right now. Get on that, scientists.

The good news is whether mobile or not, Briefcase HQ is operating at full capacity!

Here’s this week’s business news.

Copper Springs Hospital will open May 10 in Avondale at 10550 W. McDowell Road.

The 72-bed behavioral hospital will offer inpatient and outpatient mental health and addiction treatment.

The hospital will have various levels of treatment, from

24-hour care, to a partial hospitalization option that’s five to six hours a day, five days a week, to outpatient services up to three days a week.

According to the company’s website, Copper Springs is always on the lookout for physicians to join the team.

For information, call 480-565-3035 or email copperspringsinfo@spsh.com.

Heading west to Goodyear, but staying in the healthcare field, the facility going in at the southeast corner of Van Buren Street and Estrella Parkway will be a freestanding Adeptus Health Emergency Room, licensed under Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital.

Way back in the Sept. 22, 2015, issue of the Briefcase, a former Briefcase columnist (happy graduation, Rachel!) reported it was going to be a First Choice Emergency Room. Adeptus Health is the parent company of First Choice Emergency, but as the opening got closer, the details changed on exactly what the facility was going to be.

The emergency room is expected to open within the coming weeks.

For information, visit www.dignityhealth.org.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR TREATMENT IS NOT WORKING?

BEVERAGE BARBERS

Scissors • Sports • Spirits Not Your Ordinary Barber Shop 13045 W. Rancho Santa Fe, A103, Avondale, AZ 85392 (I10 & Dysart, by LA Fitness) 480-442-1427 • beveragebarbers.com

Ruben & Mary’s Treasures, first reported in the April 13 Briefcase, is ready to open for business. The Goodyear antique shop, 13370 W. Van Buren St., Suite 104, will officially open its doors at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Co-owner Ruben Salcedo said the shop doesn’t have official closing hours, but if you see him working away in there, head on in.

Casa de Plata restaurant will be going in at Avondale Boulevard and Van Buren Street, at 210 N. Avondale Blvd., Suites 104 and 105, in Avondale.

The restaurant’s signage says it serves Mexican, seafood, sushi and pasta, basically a little bit for everyone.

Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies is now open at Mountain Ranch Marketplace in Estrella, 17650 W. Elliot Road, Suite A140, in Goodyear.

The pool supply company has a ton of locations across the Valley, including five in our own backyard, selling chemicals, equipment, accessories, toys and parts for pools and hot tubs.

That’s it for the final Briefcase of April. Now begins the quest to see how many May flowers we’ll get from our one April shower. My guess is the stores will still be stocked with them. It’s not agriculture, it’s magic.

As always, send tips, comments, and/or questions to smcowen@westvalleyview.com.

Have a good week, everyone.

Restrictions announced for Loop 303/I-10 work

View report

Construction of Phase 2 of the Loop 303/Interstate 10 interchange has begun and the following traffic restrictions have been announced:

The westbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. May 2, 6, 9 and 13 for bridge work.

Dr. Jack Qui DC

Shane McOwen

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Welcome to the Business Briefcase, coming live from the mobile headquarters.

It’s a long story, but I’d appreciate some sort of teleportation technology right now. Get on that, scientists.

The good news is whether mobile or not, Briefcase HQ is operating at full capacity!

Here’s this week’s business news.

Copper Springs Hospital will open May 10 in Avondale at 10550 W. McDowell Road.

The 72-bed behavioral hospital will offer inpatient and outpatient mental health and addiction treatment.

The hospital will have various levels of treatment, from

24-hour care, to a partial hospitalization option that’s five to six hours a day, five days a week, to outpatient services up to three days a week.

According to the company’s website, Copper Springs is always on the lookout for physicians to join the team.

For information, call 480-565-3035 or email copperspringsinfo@spsh.com.

The emergency room is expected to open within the coming weeks.

For information, visit www.dignityhealth.org.

BEVERAGE BARBERS

Scissors • Sports • Spirits

Not Your Ordinary Barber Shop 13045 W. Rancho Santa Fe, A103, Avondale, AZ 85392 (I10 & Dysart, by LA Fitness) 480-442-1427 • beveragebarbers.com

Co-owner Ruben Salcedo said the shop doesn’t have official closing hours, but if you see him working away in there, head on in.

Casa de Plata restaurant will be going in at Avondale Boulevard and Van Buren Street, at 210 N. Avondale Blvd., Suites 104 and 105, in Avondale.

The restaurant’s signage says it serves Mexican, seafood, sushi and pasta, basically a little bit for everyone.

Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies is now open at Mountain Ranch Marketplace in Estrella, 17650 W. Elliot Road, Suite A140, in Goodyear.

The pool supply company has a ton of locations across the Valley, including five in our own backyard, selling chemicals, equipment, accessories, toys and parts for pools and hot tubs.

As always, send tips, comments, and/or questions to smcowen@westvalleyview.com.

Have a good week, everyone.

Restrictions announced for Loop 303/I-10 work

View report

Construction of Phase 2 of the Loop 303/Interstate 10 interchange has begun and the following traffic restrictions have been announced:

The westbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. May 2, 6, 9 and 13 for bridge work.

Shane McOwen

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Welcome to the Business Briefcase, coming live from the mobile headquarters.

It’s a long story, but I’d appreciate some sort of teleportation technology right now. Get on that, scientists.

The good news is whether mobile or not, Briefcase HQ is operating at full capacity!

Here’s this week’s business news.

Copper Springs Hospital will open May 10 in Avondale at 10550 W. McDowell Road.

The 72-bed behavioral hospital will offer inpatient and outpatient mental health and addiction treatment.

The hospital will have various levels of treatment, from

24-hour care, to a partial hospitalization option that’s five to six hours a day, five days a week, to outpatient services up to three days a week.

According to the company’s website, Copper Springs is always on the lookout for physicians to join the team.

For information, call 480-565-3035 or email copperspringsinfo@spsh.com.

The emergency room is expected to open within the coming weeks.

For information, visit www.dignityhealth.org.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR TREATMENT IS NOT WORKING?

Pamper mom for Mother’s Day

BEVERAGE BARBERS

Scissors • Sports • Spirits

Not Your Ordinary Barber Shop 13045 W. Rancho Santa Fe, A103, Avondale, AZ 85392 (I10 & Dysart, by LA Fitness) 480-442-1427 • beveragebarbers.com

Co-owner Ruben Salcedo said the shop doesn’t have official closing hours, but if you see him working away in there, head on in.

Casa de Plata restaurant will be going in at Avondale Boulevard and Van Buren Street, at 210 N. Avondale Blvd., Suites 104 and 105, in Avondale.

The restaurant’s signage says it serves Mexican, seafood, sushi and pasta, basically a little bit for everyone.

Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies is now open at Mountain Ranch Marketplace in Estrella, 17650 W. Elliot Road, Suite A140, in Goodyear.

The pool supply company has a ton of locations across the Valley, including five in our own backyard, selling chemicals, equipment, accessories, toys and parts for pools and hot tubs.

As always, send tips, comments, and/or questions to smcowen@westvalleyview.com.

Have a good week, everyone.

Restrictions announced for Loop 303/I-10 work

View report

Construction of Phase 2 of the Loop 303/Interstate 10 interchange has begun and the following traffic restrictions have been announced:

The westbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. May 2, 6, 9 and 13 for bridge work.

Dr. Jack Qui DC

Shane McOwen

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Welcome to the Business Briefcase, coming live from the mobile headquarters.

It’s a long story, but I’d appreciate some sort of teleportation technology right now. Get on that, scientists.

The good news is whether mobile or not, Briefcase HQ is operating at full capacity!

Here’s this week’s business news.

Copper Springs Hospital will open May 10 in Avondale at 10550 W. McDowell Road.

The 72-bed behavioral hospital will offer inpatient and outpatient mental health and addiction treatment.

The hospital will have various levels of treatment, from

24-hour care, to a partial hospitalization option that’s five to six hours a day, five days a week, to outpatient services up to three days a week.

According to the company’s website, Copper Springs is always on the lookout for physicians to join the team.

For information, call 480-565-3035 or email copperspringsinfo@spsh.com.

The emergency room is expected to open within the coming weeks.

For information, visit www.dignityhealth.org.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR TREATMENT IS NOT WORKING?

BEVERAGE BARBERS

Scissors • Sports • Spirits Not Your Ordinary Barber Shop 13045 W. Rancho Santa Fe, A103, Avondale, AZ 85392 (I10 & Dysart, by LA Fitness) 480-442-1427 • beveragebarbers.com

Co-owner Ruben Salcedo said the shop doesn’t have official closing hours, but if you see him working away in there, head on in.

Casa de Plata restaurant will be going in at Avondale Boulevard and Van Buren Street, at 210 N. Avondale Blvd., Suites 104 and 105, in Avondale.

The restaurant’s signage says it serves Mexican, seafood, sushi and pasta, basically a little bit for everyone.

Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies is now open at Mountain Ranch Marketplace in Estrella, 17650 W. Elliot Road, Suite A140, in Goodyear.

The pool supply company has a ton of locations across the Valley, including five in our own backyard, selling chemicals, equipment, accessories, toys and parts for pools and hot tubs.

As always, send tips, comments, and/or questions to smcowen@westvalleyview.com.

Have a good week, everyone.

Restrictions announced for Loop 303/I-10 work

View report

Construction of Phase 2 of the Loop 303/Interstate 10 interchange has begun and the following traffic restrictions have been announced:

The westbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. May 2, 6, 9 and 13 for bridge work.

Dr. Jack Qui DC

Shane McOwen

Desert Edge loses in extra innings; Estrella softball on a roll; Westview track sending multiple athletes to state

of Agua Fria reaches

during a match against St. Mary’s. Cordova won three times last weekend in the

individual singles tournament, reaching this weekend’s quarterfinals. Cordova is the only unseeded player in the bracket to make it

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

The individual state tennis tournaments have treated West Valley athletes very well so far.

Two doubles teams and one individual are still alive after three rounds in the Division II tournament, and a doubles team from Millennium has already reached the state semifinals in Division I. Everyone will compete this weekend at

Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale.

In Division II girls, the doubles team from Buckeye of Eleanor Ahlstrom and Olivia Napolitano made the quarterfinals.

“They’re playing really well,” Buckeye coach Allen Larm said. “To make it to the quarterfinals in Division II, we’re really impressed because you don’t really know, the competition at every match has been really strong. They have some really good players out there, the last two matches especially.”

After a pair of straight-set wins, the Buckeye duo was taken the distance in the third round by Sofia Festus and Erin Halvey of Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian. Ahlstrom and Napolitano won 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

“I think part of it is the experience they have playing together, the strategy they’ve developed, and they’re able to modify during the match,” Larm said. “If there’s something that needs to be changed because of the team

View photo by Jordan Christopher

Division II state

D.E. struggles defensively in extra-inning loss

Errors pile up on both sides in back-and-forth battle

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

Desert Edge lost a tough one April 22. Tough in the sense of how badly coach Sean McCorry wanted a victory for his seniors. The game, an 8-7 nine-inning loss to Surprise Shadow Ridge, was played at Goodyear Ballpark.

“I just wanted the seniors to win because they’re great guys, they’re good kids, great young men, and to lose that game is tough,” McCorry said. “We had plenty of opportunities, we just didn’t make plays.”

Desert Edge isn’t going to make the postseason, so the loss wasn’t difficult to swallow from that standpoint. However, the Scorpions had some golden chances and just couldn’t seal the deal. In the top of the eighth, Desert Edge had runners on first and second with no outs, but a bunt resulted in a force out at third and the Scorpions were never able to push across a run.

“They made a nice play on that bunt,” McCorry said. “Our kid got it down and their shortstop is on the run and makes the play [at third]. That was probably the difference, because we’re going to win the game if we score right there.”

Instead, the game went to the ninth inning, where Shadow Ridge got a walk and two singles to plate a run.

Desert Edge trailed most of the game, falling behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first. It was 4-1 in the fifth when the Scorpions put together a two-out rally, scoring four times to take a 5-4 lead. Jake Fear and Eduardo Jimenez had back-to-back two-run hits, as Fear singled hard to right and Jimenez followed with a double to left, putting Desert Edge on top.

“The guys have battled all year,” McCorry said. “They don’t quit, they work hard, we just have to get better going into next year. We have to physically get better in the weight room, we have to get stronger, because most of the teams we play, we’re a bit overmatched physically. I feel like we can play with anybody, but we have to be so great defensively, and that’s where we struggle.”

Desert Edge would take a 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth thanks to a bases-loaded single and Shadow Ridge error. With one out and runners on second and third, the Stallions intentionally walked Jordan Keanini to load the bases. Nick Kovar, who had fouled out with runners on base in his previous at bat, smacked a single to center, plating the go-ahead run and making it 6-5 Scorpions.

“When they walked Keanini to get to Kovar, I was like, I can’t believe they just did that, because that kid is aggressive and he wants to beat this team,” McCorry said. “Line drive, base hit, that was great.”

Jordan Brea followed with a ground ball to second base that likely would have been a double play, but it was booted, allowing another Scorpion run to score.

Giving up the lead

Desert Edge’s 7-5 lead quickly evaporated in the bottom of the sixth. Reliever Viktor Montes hit the first two batters of the inning, putting the Scorpions in an immediate predicament.

“I spent most of last summer using a walker as a result of severe stenosis. I had my surgery at 1 PM, one small incision, and on the way home at 3 PM. I needed nothing for pain from that point forward. Both my wife and I cannot say enough about Dr. Lieberman’s skill and followup. I’m so happy to be playing tennis again. Thanks Phoenix Spine!”

—Mike Murray, Phoenix, AZ

View photo by Ray Thomas

NICK KOVAR of Desert Edge reaches back to throw a pitch April 22 at Goodyear Ballpark. Kovar had a crucial RBI single to give the Scorpions a late lead, but they fell to Shadow Ridge 8-7 in nine innings.

riding hot streak into

Lady Wolves winners of 9 of 10, ready to host in Round 1

by Shane McOwen sports writer

The Estrella Foothills softball team has hit its stride, and will look to remain hot entering the postseason.

The Lady Wolves are 17-12-1, but have won 9 of 10 games in April, with one to play. Estrella Foothills’ last three victories have all come by at least 10 runs.

Estrella Foothills coach Randi Isaacs said the team is focusing on remaining in the zone at the plate.

“It’s something that kind of came a little bit slower to us this year,” Isaacs said. “[Lately], we’ve crushed the ball.”

Estrella Foothills began last week on a sour note, dropping an April 18 game to West Valley rival Agua Fria, 3-2.

“We didn’t hit, it was as simple as that,” Isaacs said. “I think they had a perfect game going into the fifth inning. We just didn’t hit.”

The Lady Wolves ended up with three hits, and put two runs across the plate in the top of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to win the game.

“I truly believe we should have won that game,” Isaacs said. “We could have won that game. [Agua Fria] came out and they just played their hearts out and straight up beat us.”

The Lady Wolves had the tying and

winning runs on third and second, respectively, with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Lexi Hernandez was tagged out at home trying to score on a wild pitch, which ended the game.

“The ending was a heart breaker,” Isaacs said. “Shoulda, coulda, woulda. We had Sonia Solis up to bat, and she’s one of our hottest hitters, and we took the bat out of her hands. That one was a heart breaker.”

Isaacs said the team took home some valuable lessons from the loss.

“Regardless if you think you’re going to win, you’ve got to play your hardest until the game is over,” Isaacs said.

The Lady Wolves seemed to respond positively, sweeping away the competition in the next three games by a combined score of 40-6.

Estrella started the win streak April 19 with an 11-1 drubbing of Scottsdale Saguaro.

“We hit really well against Saguaro,” Isaacs said. “We crushed the ball against them.”

The Lady Wolves tallied 14 hits in the contest. Eight girls had hits, and five had multi-hit games. Senior Megan Jesionowski went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Kyleigh Silverstein, Cherish Gonzalez, Briana Wilbur and Solis all had two hits.

Bethany Trammell added two RBIs.

Estrella Foothills continued swinging hot bats April 21 against Glendale Copper Canyon. The Lady Wolves erased an early 1-0 deficit with one run in the second, three in the third and six each in the fourth and fifth.

(From Page 17)

“We hit from top to bottom [against Copper Canyon],” Isaacs said. “The two subs both got in and both got hits. I can’t be more proud of my girls when they hit from literally the first batter to the No. 9 hitter. We laid down a bunt today that was beautiful. We had scoring opportunities, finally, so it was good.”

Estrella then crushed Coolidge, 13-3, April 23 in an early start.

Isaacs said if the team can remain in the mindset of bringing its A-game out every time, it will see some success in the postseason.

“Regardless if they’re a top team or ranked in the 20s, 30s, 40s, we’ve got to

get out there and we’ve got to win the game,” Isaacs said. “We’ve had some pretty close games with some teams that were ranked lower, and some pretty awesomely close games with some teams that were ranked around us and higher.”

Estrella Foothills entered the final week of the season as the No. 8 seed in Division III, and tied for second place in Section VII.

The Lady Wolves had a chance to force a three-way tie for first with a win Tuesday over San Tan Valley Poston Butte. The result was not available at press time.

The first round of the playoffs begins at 10:15 a.m. Saturday. Estrella will host an opponent to be determined.

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

Struggles

(From Page 16)

“He’s been inconsistent in the sense that he has a lot of walks, but I was shocked by the hit by pitches because he usually doesn’t hit guys,” McCorry said. “You have to throw a fastball and make the guy earn it. They hit the first guy with an off speed pitch, and they had two strikes on him.”

Shadow Ridge went on to score twice, including on a suicide squeeze, to tie the game.

“We had a pitchout on the squeeze they ran and threw it right down the middle and they executed it down,” McCorry said. “We would have broke their back because we would have pitched it outside, and just didn’t

get the ball out. Stuff like that, the little tiny things that make a huge difference.”

The loss dropped Desert Edge’s overall record to 9-15. The Scorpions are 6-11 and ranked 40th in the Division II power points. Only the top 24 make the postseason.

“I’m proud of the seniors,” McCorry said. “It’s been a really tough year because defensively, we’re not a good baseball team. We make too many mistakes. It’s been like that all year.”

Despite the loss to Shadow Ridge, getting to play at Goodyear Ballpark was a good experience for McCorry and his team, he said.

“I love it, the kids love playing here,” McCorry said. “We have senior night Tuesday. We have nine seniors, and nine seniors are going to play. They’re going to go out the right way.”

Desert Edge’s final game was Tuesday against Glendale Copper Canyon. The result was unavailable at press time.

Ada’s Fish Fry, a locally owned restaurant opened in Goodyear on July 11th 2014. Two years later, Vince and Lisa Poormon and the entire crew at Ada’s, are still serving up their best seafood - Haddock, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, Salmon, and Lobster Roll’s, plus much more, one plate at a time.

And now, Ada’s has recently expanded its menuagain! Adding to our Haddock, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, Salmon, and Lobster Rolls, Ada’s is now serving up Maryland style crab cakes and Hush Puppies as well! Ada’s still offers up grilled, sautéed, pan seared, or deep fried versions of any of its menu items as well as adding mixed green salad options in combination with any plate we offer. But they haven’t stopped there, Ada’s now hand cuts and breads their chicken tenders in house as well. All this coupled with our convenient and fast to go service make Ada’s the local stop for Lunch or Dinner.

Ada’s would like to remind everyone that we will once again be at the Flavors of the West food festival at the Goodyear Ballpark on April 2nd from 5-9 pm. General Admission tickets still available. All of us here at Ada’s (and especially Ada), would like to thank all our customers who support us every day! Bringing the West Valley great seafood choices, Ada’s aims to keep you from leaving hungry! Remember, fish are friends……..and food.

The following three pages of West Valley View are zoned for the 04/27/16 edition.

Each zone pages 19 & 20 (19N=North, 19E=East, 19S=South, 19W=West) appears in its designated geographical zone within the West Valley View circulation boundaries. For the purpose of the online edition, all zone pages appear.

Knights qualify 9 athletes to state tournament

Westview having all-around success during 2016 track and field season

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Westview’s track and field team will be well represented at the state meet beginning May 4.

The Knights have had nine athletes qualify already, with a chance to add a few more in the final meets of the season.

Westview did very well in one of its most recent events, winning the district championship and having 36 of the 46 athletes participating earn a medal.

“We had a ton of kids go, and they knew it was important,” Westview coach William Chaffee said. “We just wanted to set the tone.”

Arechiga and Mason.

Heckstall has had quite the season, and will be able to compete in four events at state, the maximum allowed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Flores and Parker have done well all year in the pole vault for the girls and boys team, respectively.

Flores has cleared 10-0, and Parker has vaulted 14-0.

Chaffee said the team’s success started early and has continued on throughout the season.

TRACK AND FIELD

“We started off with a high number, 120 kids, and we only dwindled down to about 90,” Chaffee said. “We’re having fun.”

Chaffee said the team did well across the board, and specifically in sprints and throws.

“The girls team did a great job in the sprints, and our jumpers were pretty strong for both sides,” Chaffee said. “Our throwers had a great night, all of them [set] PR’s.”

There were more than 20 PR’s set at the district meet, Chaffee said.

The Knights will be sending Tevin Mason, Jae’Nisa Heckstall, Alexxis Cabrera, Ji’Mya Chambers, Amanda Flores, Dawson Parker, and the boys 4x100-meter relay team of Stacy Campbell, Antonio Gilbert, Efrain

Chaffee said one of the team’s biggest strengths comes from the sprinter group. The boys have nine runners with a best time in the 100m under 12 seconds, with Mason at the top at 11.13 seconds. The girls’ top two runners, Heckstall and Cabrera, have sub 13-second 100m runs.

The Knights competed in the Last Knight Qualifier Tuesday at Westview High School, and will have their final regular season meet today in the Viper Last Chance meet at Verrado High School.

Division I track state finals begin May 4 and finish May 7.

View photo by Ray Thomas

TEVIN SIGMON, left, of Westview sprints to the finish line against Tolleson’s Alize Haley. The Knights have qualified nine athletes for the state meet, which is May 4 and 7.

Knights qualify 9 athletes to state tournament

Westview having all-around success during 2016 track and field season

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Westview’s track and field team will be well represented at the state meet beginning May 4.

The Knights have had nine athletes qualify already, with a chance to add a few more in the final meets of the season.

Westview did very well in one of its most recent events, winning the district championship and having 36 of the 46 athletes participating earn a medal.

“We had a ton of kids go, and they knew it was important,” Westview coach William Chaffee said. “We just wanted to set the tone.”

Arechiga and Mason.

Heckstall has had quite the season, and will be able to compete in four events at state, the maximum allowed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Flores and Parker have done well all year in the pole vault for the girls and boys team, respectively.

Flores has cleared 10-0, and Parker has vaulted 14-0.

Chaffee said the team’s success started early and has continued on throughout the season.

TRACK AND FIELD

“We started off with a high number, 120 kids, and we only dwindled down to about 90,” Chaffee said. “We’re having fun.”

Chaffee said the team did well across the board, and specifically in sprints and throws.

“The girls team did a great job in the sprints, and our jumpers were pretty strong for both sides,” Chaffee said. “Our throwers had a great night, all of them [set] PR’s.”

There were more than 20 PR’s set at the district meet, Chaffee said.

The Knights competed in the Last Knight Qualifier Tuesday at Westview High School, and will have their final regular season meet today in the Viper Last Chance meet at Verrado High School.

Division I track state finals begin May 4 and finish May 7.

View photo by Ray Thomas

TEVIN SIGMON, left, of Westview sprints to the finish line against Tolleson’s Alize Haley. The Knights have qualified nine athletes for the state meet, which is May 4 and 7.

Knights qualify

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Westview’s track and field team will be well represented at the state meet beginning May 4.

The Knights have had nine athletes qualify already, with a chance to add a few more in the final meets of the season.

Westview did very well in one of its most recent events, winning the district championship and having 36 of the 46 athletes participating earn a medal.

“We had a ton of kids go, and they knew it was important,” Westview coach William Chaffee said. “We just wanted to set the tone.”

Chaffee said the team did well across the board, and specifically in sprints and throws.

“The girls team did a great job in the sprints, and our jumpers were pretty strong for both sides,” Chaffee said. “Our throwers had a great night, all of them [set] PR’s.”

There were more than 20 PR’s set at the district meet, Chaffee said.

Arechiga and Mason.

Heckstall has had quite the season, and will be able to compete in four events at state, the maximum allowed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Flores and Parker have done well all year in the pole vault for the girls and boys team, respectively.

Flores has cleared 10-0, and Parker has vaulted 14-0.

Chaffee said the team’s success started early and has continued on throughout the season.

“We started off with a high number, 120 kids, and we only dwindled down to about 90,” Chaffee said. “We’re having fun.”

The Knights competed in the Last Knight Qualifier Tuesday at Westview High School, and will have their final regular season meet today in the Viper Last Chance meet at Verrado High School.

Division I track state finals begin May 4 and finish May 7.

View photo by Ray Thomas

TEVIN SIGMON, left, of Westview sprints to the finish line against Tolleson’s Alize Haley. The Knights have qualified nine athletes for the state meet, which is May 4 and 7.

Knights qualify 9 athletes to state tournament

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Westview’s track and field team will be well represented at the state meet beginning May 4.

The Knights have had nine athletes qualify already, with a chance to add a few more in the final meets of the season.

Westview did very well in one of its most recent events, winning the district championship and having 36 of the 46 athletes participating earn a medal.

“We had a ton of kids go, and they knew it was important,” Westview coach William Chaffee said. “We just wanted to set the tone.”

Arechiga and Mason.

Heckstall has had quite the season, and will be able to compete in four events at state, the maximum allowed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Flores and Parker have done well all year in the pole vault for the girls and boys team, respectively.

Flores has cleared 10-0, and Parker has vaulted 14-0.

Chaffee said the team’s success started early and has continued on throughout the season.

TRACK AND FIELD

“We started off with a high number, 120 kids, and we only dwindled down to about 90,” Chaffee said. “We’re having fun.”

Chaffee said the team did well across the board, and specifically in sprints and throws.

“The girls team did a great job in the sprints, and our jumpers were pretty strong for both sides,” Chaffee said. “Our throwers had a great night, all of them [set] PR’s.”

There were more than 20 PR’s set at the district meet, Chaffee said.

The Knights competed in the Last Knight Qualifier Tuesday at Westview High School, and will have their final regular season meet today in the Viper Last Chance meet at Verrado High School.

Division I track state finals begin May 4 and finish May 7.

View photo by Ray Thomas

TEVIN SIGMON, left, of Westview sprints to the finish line against Tolleson’s Alize Haley. The Knights have qualified nine athletes for the state meet, which is May 4 and 7.

Millennium enduring tough season

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Millennium baseball is enduring a down year by the team’s usual standards, going 10-15.

The Tigers have had a rough go of it in the second half of the season, winning only one time in the last 10 chances dating back to March 29.

Millennium coach Ryan Bethel said inconsistent fielding has been the team’s downfall in many of the losses.

“When we make that first one, it’s like, oh, now we’re in that situation again,” Bethel said. “We don’t just make one error, we make a couple.”

The Tigers are not without talent. Three players are hitting above .400 this season: Tyler Christensen (.460), Logan McDonald (.417) and Caleb Stull (.408). Michael Sears and Christensen both sport sub-3.00 ERAs.

BASEBALL

“We’ve had a knack of playing half games,” Bethel said. “We just have to find a way to play better defense. That was our strong point at the start of the year, and now we’ve just been struggling to make plays.”

Against Scottsdale Horizon April 21, the team made six errors in the first three innings and lost 7-2. On April 22 against Glendale Apollo, the Tigers trailed 4-2 before two errors opened the floodgates for a ninerun sixth inning for the Hawks. The Tigers lost the game 13-4.

“You take out half the game, and it was a pretty close game,” Bethel said. “Pitchers have been keeping us in games. We’re scoring a few runs, you always want more, [but] we’ve just been struggling on defense.”

The Tigers’ last win came April 15 against Peoria Centennial, 1-0. Millennium didn’t make any mistakes in the field in that game, Bethel said.

“We didn’t make an error and beat them 1-0, and they’re a pretty good club,” Bethel said.

A lot of the fielding mistakes are on the mental side, Bethel said.

“We’re a tough ballclub when we play a good game,” Bethel said. “It’s just been tough in the last couple.”

The Tigers look to be shut out of postseason contention in Division I. Millennium is currently ranked No. 29, five spots away from the final playoff spot.

Regardless of how the rankings shake out, Bethel wants his team to end on a strong note in the last week of the season.

“We want to finish out strong for the senior players that have been here, but also get [the returners] experience that we’ll use down the road,” Bethel said. “We’ve told them to keep working hard, don’t give up and play to the end of the game.”

The Tigers will graduate eight seniors, but will have 14 players scheduled to return next season.

Millennium played Phoenix Brophy Monday, losing 7-0. The Tigers wrap up the season with a home game at 6 p.m. today against Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor.

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

View photo by Jordan Christopher

ALEX FIGUEROA of Millennium sprints to third base April 22 during a game against Apollo at Goodyear Ballpark. Figueroa had a hit and scored a run, but the Tigers lost 13-4.