West Valley View - May 24, 2017 by Times Media Group

PERFECTING HER CRAFT 10-year-old leaves Goodyear for Hollywood — Page 14.

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN West Valley gearing up for Memorial Day — Page 3.

DAILY UPDATES!

Pool fence provides family peace of mind

Barrier is 1 method of creating safe space around water for children

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Trish Wilson is feeling better about having her young grandchildren visit this summer after she had a pool fence installed at her Avondale home.

“I love my pool,” Wilson said. “We use it all

the time during the summer.”

But Wilson became concerned about the safety of her grandsons — Weston, 2, and Everett, 5 months — who visit a couple of times a month with their parents, Levi and Tiffany Johnson of Avondale.

It’s a concern shared by pool owners, especially when the weather gets hot in Arizona.

Already in 2017, there have been four deaths of children 5 years old and younger in water-related incidents in Maricopa and Pinal counties, according to the Children’s

approves $217M budget

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Avondale is loosening the purse strings with a city budget that includes funding for a new community resource center, park improvements and expanded transit routes.

The Avondale City Council has approved a 2017-18 tentative budget of $217 million, a 6 percent increase over the previous year.

The council is expected to give final approval to the budget after a public hearing at its meeting on June 19.

The budget year begins July 1.

The budget includes $88 million for city operations and an additional $8.2 million to cover supplemental requests for one-time or ongoing new spending.

The $66 million budget for capital improvement projects includes $11.6 million for water upgrades, $7.2 million for street projects and $5.6 million for sewer improvements.

The budget lists $9.5 million for debt payments and an $11.8 million contingency fund.

All Faith’s faithful leader

Cassie Wilkins leads West Valley food bank for 21

By Jack Hines III special to the view

Twenty-one years is a long time. It is more than a fifth of a century, it is the legal drinking age in the United States, and it is how long Cassie Wilkins has been heading All Faith Community Services.

And she’s put a lot of hours into it.

“As a general rule, my days start at about 7 o’clock in the morning, because we have a lot of programs like the farmers market that we have to be prepared for,” she said. “Last week, it was even working Sunday on Mother’s Day to finish a grant that was due.”

“Usually for me, I work about a 60-hour week.” Wilkins

said, “My day can be about 10 to 12 hours long.” And it is not an easy job.

“I have a background in business management and accounting,” Wilkins said. Wilkins does the bulk of the administrative work and bookkeeping for the organization. But she doesn’t stop there.

“I do everything from cleaning the bathrooms to unloading trucks and sorting food and taking care of clients, working on special needs, handling the marketing for the organization and handling the books for the

Cassie Wilkins

View photo by Jordan Christopher

TRISH WILSON, left, stands with her daughter, Tiffany Johnson, son-in-law, Levi, and grandsons Everett, 5 months, and Weston, 2, in front of a newly installed pool fence May 20 at her Avondale home.

Brannon Hampton wins Goodyear runoff election

by Kourtney Balsan special to

the View

Goodyear has a new member on its City Council.

Brannon Hampton and Sara Gilligan competed May 16 for the remaining four-year seat on the Goodyear City Council after neither candidate reached the required majority vote in the March 14 primary election.

Hampton won the runoff election with 5,717 votes. Gilligan received 4,465.

“I’m excited, ecstatic and grateful and thankful to all of my supporters and everybody who came out to vote for me. I always appreciate your support. I won’t take this for granted. I’m just really humbled from all the support I’ve received,” Hampton said.

Hampton will be joining Mayor Georgia Lord and council members Wally Campbell and Joe Pizzillo as the newly elected members.

Brannon Hampton

“I’m looking forward to getting to work for Goodyear and represent the city and make a difference,” Hampton said.

One of his goals is to work on economic development by balancing the budget and attracting businesses to Goodyear, he said, adding that the budget deadline is fast approaching.

“My first priority is to make sure the budget is sound,” Hampton said. “I want to make sure we are spending dollars wisely.”

The 2017 election was Hampton’s second time running for the Goodyear City Council and second time in a runoff as he ran against Councilwoman Sharolyn Hohman in 2013, he said.

“I’m kind of the runoff guy,” Hampton said. “I don’t regret the first time running because I learned a lot and was able to run better this time. I’m relieved I won my second time. It’s a lot of work.”

Because of his experience as a candidate in a runoff election, Hampton was inspired and wants the council to look at how the city conducts elections and wants to see if there is a different way that would save money, he said. Goodyear requires candidates to meet a majority vote

to become elected outright in the primary election. If the majority isn’t met, a runoff election is held. Goodyear counts under votes — blank ballots or empty votes — and over votes — votes for more candidates than there are seats available — into the total number of votes used to determine the majority.

If the under and over votes had not been counted, Hampton would have won the March 14 election and the city would not have had to pay to conduct another election.

“That will be one of the first things I want to talk to the council and work with the council on and find out if there is a good reason for it and if not, how we would change it,” Hampton said.

Goodyear is the only West Valley city to count under and over votes, Hampton said, adding that although he needs more information, not including those votes would make more sense because the city takes them out and separates them just to add them back into the total at the end.

“It’ll hopefully help the city save money and time in future elections. Sometimes it’s OK to be an outlier in the world, but in this particular instance, I don’t think it benefits us,” Hampton said.

Hampton praised his fellow competitors and said Goodyear will see more of them in the future.

“Sara Gilligan and Jayson Black did a great job. Although the runoff was against Sara and I, Jayson did a great job, too. He was only like a hundred votes away from Sara,” Hampton said. “I think they’re both great people and I definitely look forward to working with both of them in the future because I know they’ll be active in the community going forward.”

Gilligan has hopes to join a committee of some sort to stay involved in Goodyear and is strongly considering running for the Goodyear City Council in the next election, which is less than two years away, she said.

“I feel that I made a great introduction to Goodyear residents,” Gilligan said. “While I am disappointed not to have won the recent runoff election, I’m very pleased with my campaign effort. I truly was honored to be considered along side Brannon Hampton for the City Council seat. I truly enjoyed connecting with people all over Goodyear. I made efforts in all various communities in the city.”

Kourtney Balsan can be reached at Kbalsan@westvalleyview.com.

Memorial Day events planned in West Valley

Ceremonies set in Avondale, Buckeye, Litchfield Park

View report

West Valley cities will remember men and women who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces during Memorial Day events.

Ceremonies are planned for May 29 in Avondale, Buckeye and Litchfield Park, part of a national observance that extends back to after the Civil War, when Decoration Day was established as a time to put flowers on the graves of war dead.

The holiday became part of a three-day weekend in 1971, when the federal Monday Holiday Act set its date to the last Monday in May.

The holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer, with many Americans partaking in recreational activities and shopping sales.

But whatever Americans are doing, they can take part in a demonstration of national unity honoring the fallen by participating in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.

Local events are free and open to the public.

Avondale

Avondale’s Memorial Day service will be at 7 p.m. May 29 at the amphitheater at the Avondale Civic Center, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale.

The one-hour event will include speeches, music, tributes and a candlelight vigil.

Avondale Mayor Kenneth Weise will deliver an address and a representative of Luke Air Force Base will be the keynote speaker.

The Anderson School of Music will provide musical performances.

Ceremonial presentations will include the posting of the colors and a POW/MIA ceremony.

To honor the memory of the fallen, a wreath will be laid on the flag-lined path that features bricks engraved with the names of veterans and flags of the six branches of the military.

The evening will end with a candle lighting remembrance.

(See Memorial Day on Page 4)

All Faith

(From Page 1)

organization,” she said.

All Faith isn’t just a food bank. The organization also provides a variety of services such as job training and help with finding housing as well as referral to other services.

“When that happens, we don’t want to send them to the wrong facility,” Wilkins said. “I like to be able to really assess what the need is first.

“We spend the time finding the resources, it’s really about working with the clients to really make sure to get them as many resources towards the things that are holding them back.”

All Faith focuses on a “hand-up,” as stated on its website.

“We really work on building that resource and relationship with other organizations,” Wilkins said. “They’re gonna work as hard as possible to work with us.”

Logistics is the name of the game for Wilkins.

“It’s hard when you’re working with a hundred volunteers a week,” she said, “And, they all have to be trained with grievance training, so they know when somebody is filing a complaint or having an issue.”

Wilkins also needs to be on call.

“I can get a call from security at the drop of a hat,” she said. “For example, somebody stole the fuses out of our building at 11 at night and we didn’t know it until the next day, so we didn’t have any refrigeration and we just have to handle those kinds of issues.”

Between issues that come up with clients and organizing a constantly changing inventory, Wilkins has a lot on her plate, but she’s happy to do it, she said.

Wilkins started All Faith in 1996 as a response to the changing of government funding to food banks and community action programs.

“The state just got block funding for organizations like us, so bigger organizations got the money while smaller

ones just got the crumbs,” Wilkins said. Because of those issues, it became crucial for churches to pitch in to help the community, a job they had been doing until the state took over, Wilkins said.

“All Faith is kind of a neutral ground for resources to flow between church and state,” Wilkins said.

All Faith has now become a cornerstone in several cities and communities.

“For Buckeye, we’re the only real resource that is available,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins has poured her heart and soul into All Faith. Her husband worked to ensure she was able to get things such as trucks and storage the organization needed. Her children worked within the organization as well as St. Mary’s when they were younger, assisting with distribution of food and renovation of buildings for All Faith’s use, and they assist currently in different programs and groups.

“It meant enough to her that she said that that’s where she got her work ethic from, from working with her mom and dad,” Wilkins said of her daughter. “Now, her son even comes out and helps, and her daughters probably will when they are older.”

“People usually think this is just for poor people, but it’s also for people that had a bad month or got an unexpected medical bill,” Wilkins said.

“When people come in and take, we’ve seen that a lot of them will come back later and help,” she said, “People say that 10 percent provide for the other 90 percent, but we haven’t seen that here — it seems much more even.

“The poor will always be with us, but they don’t need to be the same poor.”

The West Valley View ’s annual summer food drive, which runs through May, benefits the Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank in Avondale and Tonopah, All Faith Community Services Buckeye Food Bank and the Tolleson Food Bank at The Bridge Community Church. See Page 9 for a list of locations where you can donate food.

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

Memorial Day

(From Page 3)

Those planning to attend are encouraged to take lawn chairs or blankets.

The city is hosting the event in partnership with the American Legion Crandell Palmer Post 61, VFW Pat Tillman Memorial Post 40 and the Scottish American Military Society. For more information, contact the Parks, Recreation and Library Department at 623-333-2400 or avondaleaz.gov/ events.

Buckeye Buckeye’s Memorial Day ceremony will be at 9 a.m. May 29 at the Louis B. Hazelton Memorial Cemetery, 23100 W. Broadway Road, Buckeye.

The 30-minute event will include a keynote speech from Steven Borquez, an officer in the Buckeye Police Department, who will share his experience as an Army combat veteran. He received the Purple Heart after he was wounded by a roadside bomb wile serving in Afghanistan.

A bugle that was donated for use for special military events and funeral services for veterans will be used for the first time at such an event. The event will feature Buckeye residents and employees and include a tribute to fallen Vietnam servicemen of Buckeye and the Navy Seal cadets performing “Taps.”

Memorial Day schedules

The Memorial Day holiday means some closures and schedule changes in West Valley cities May 29.

Avondale city offices and facilities will be closed. The Zoom bus will not run. Trash will not be collected and pickups will be one day later than the routine schedule. Residents who normally have a Friday pickup will have service on Saturday.

Litchfield Park City Hall administrative offices and the magistrate court will be closed. The Recreation Center office and pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trash collection during the holiday week will be delayed by one day. The library will be closed. Goodyear City Hall will be closed. There will be no trash, recycling and bulk refuse service. Sanitation services will resume on a modified schedule with collection one day later than usual. The library will be closed. Buckeye city buildings, including the libraries, will be closed. The Aquatics Center will be open from noon to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. There will be regular trash and recycling service.

Tolleson city offices and the library will be closed. There will be regular trash service.

Master of ceremonies will be Scott Lowe, the city’s public works director, who served in the U.S. Navy.

The city is staging the event with the Buckeye Patriotic Committee, the local American Legion, Daughters of the American Revolution, Elks Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. For more information, contact Myra Curtis at 623349-6322.

Litchfield Park

The Litchfield Park Memorial Day ceremony will be at 7 a.m. at the World War II Memorial on the west side of Litchfield Elementary School, 255 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. The 30-minute program will be led by Mayor Thomas Schoaf and will include patriotic music, the placing of a floral tribute, a prayer and a moment of silence. Taps will be played, followed by a memorial presentation. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Sonny Culbreth, interim city manager, at 623-935-9040.

Verrado

(From Page 1)

The budget provides $9 million for a resource center, which would replace facilities used by Care1st Avondale Resource Center and the senior citizens center.

Kevin Artz, assistant city manager, said the money will be spent over two years for a project that’s in the planning stages.

“We still have to do the siting study to figure out where it would be located,” Artz said.

The budget allocates $531,500 in ongoing annual costs to establish a 10-mile route for the Zoom transportation service in the northern part of the city.

The new route could be operating in October with the addition of six buses that were purchased with funds from a regional transportation tax, according to Pier Simeri, director of community relations and public affairs.

The biggest expense in the operations budget is $24 million for public works, which includes, water, sewer, sanitation, recycling and street maintenance.

Other large budget lines are $23 million for police, $11.9 million for fire and medical and $6 million for parks, recreation and libraries.

The budget reveals detail on a smaller scale, too, including a $1,500 contribution to help fund the community garden and an increase of $1,000 in discretionary funds for members of the City Council.

Citing an improved economy, the council approved the sale of $7 million in general obligation bonds for projects that had been delayed during the economic downturn.

That funding will move up plans to improve Festival Fields with about $4 million and accelerate the start of the design and construction of a property and evidence building for the Police Department at a cost of about $3 million.

The decision to issue bonds came after a City Council discussion about the property tax levy, which city staff had recommended be reduced to $1.44 per $100 of assessed valuation from $1.70 the previous year.

During City Council budget discussions, Mayor Kenneth Weise noted that when property values increase, the city typically lowers the levy.

But Councilwoman Pat Dennis spoke against dropping the levy.

“I would prefer getting some projects done,” she said during one budget review session. “Let’s get the job done.”

To cover the new debt service, the tentative budget sets the property tax levy at $1.60 per $100 of assessed valuation.

That means the owner of a $167,000 house will see a city property tax bill averaging $248, down $3 from the previous year, Artz said.

Property taxes cover 3 percent of the city’s $169.7 million revenue pie, which includes 29 percent from other taxes, 22 percent from charges for services, such as water and sewer charges, and 18 percent from intergovernmental shared revenues.

The city is expected to start the budget year with a general fund balance of $41 million.

The city’s budget summary forecasts revenues to go up by almost 10 percent, which Artz termed as a “moderate to good” growth rate.

City officials said sales tax collections have grown steadily since 2010, taking nine years to recover to prerecession levels of 2007-08.

A 100 percent increase in income expected from licenses and permits was attributed to activity in commercial and home development.

The budget includes $2 million to continue a program that offers subsidies of 20 percent for residential and commercial development fees.

In 2016, the incentive was used for nine commercial projects, 81 multi-family developments and 215 houses.

Weise said the program has made a “major impact” on the city’s development.

Other city budget notes:

• City employees not covered by union contracts will be eligible for wage increases of up to 4 percent, which will cost the city $1.5 million. Raises for police and fire personnel covered by contracts will cost the city $700,000.

• The budget funds three new positions — including one in the Police Department to manage the body camera program — bringing the city work force to 523 full-time equivalent positions.

• The city will contribute $20,000 to a proposed regional veterans resource center. It’s the first installment in an anticipated $100,000 contribution to be paid over five years.

• The council approved spending $50,000 for improvements at the Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery, including landscaping and driveway repairs. The money will come from the cemetery fund, which officials said has a balance of about $260,000.

• The budget included funding for continuing Billy Moore Days, which was re-established by the city last year. Weise and Councilman Mike Pineda voiced support for funding a city July Fourth event in 2018. The council also heard a proposal to withdraw from the annual Tale of Two Cities, a parade and festival conducted in conjunction with Goodyear, and perhaps stage a block party instead.

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

(From Page 1)

Safety Zone, which gathers statistics on water-related fatalities in Arizona.

“It’s horrible. It’s heart-breaking,” Wilson said about a tragedy that has touched her family in the past.

In 1980, Wilson was at a family gathering in Scottsdale, where she said her infant niece drowned in the pool.

“She went in so quietly no one even noticed,” Wilson remembered.

Wilson, who has lived in Avondale for 15 years, said she had her backyard pool installed for her children after her husband died in 2007.

“Now, my kids are having kids and I need that protection,” Wilson said.

Just as the summer heat approached and Wilson was thinking about the need for a pool fence, she learned about a contest sponsored by Fulton Homes, a Valley builder.

In the entry she submitted that helped her win the fence, Wilson wrote, “I can’t really afford the luxury of a pool fence. I also know I can’t afford not to [have one].”

Wilson’s fence was installed in mid-May between her house and the pool, one of 15 fences Fulton Homes is giving away in the 15th year the company has promoted its “Fence Patrol” program.

It’s part of Fulton Homes’ “2 Seconds is Too Long” program that reminds adults that water-related emergencies can happen in seconds.

State law requires enclosures around pools at homes where there’s a child in the residence who is younger than 6 years of age. Some cities enforce more restrictive laws.

But Doug Fulton, CEO of Fulton Homes, acknowledged that pool fences are just one safety measure that homeowners need to consider.

“A pool fence is just a barrier and drowning is a sad reality in Arizona,” Fulton said in a news release.

“Watching children around water, teaching them to swim and having an adult who knows CPR are all critical for protection against drowning and near-drowning accidents.”

Experts say the most critical factor in water-related accidents involves a breakdown in supervision or a lack of focus when children are around water.

Besides the absence of pool barriers, risk factors include new parents, caregivers, new pool owners and new residents of Arizona.

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

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.

We remember

The following column, by Burt Freireich, was ﬁrst published in 1961 in the Sun City News-Sun, where Mr. Freireich was publisher. It is still representative of our thoughts on Memorial Day and wars of the past and future. Mr. Freireich, who was the chairman of the board of the West Valley View, died March 29, 2017, at the age of 91.

I remember you, Bill Goodwin. I remember you, Bob Jones.

I remember you, Lieutenant Tomaiko, and you, John Turner.

I remember you, Bob Jones, when I joined the 78th Division. Somebody high on the totem pole had decided that we needed fewer ﬂiers and more infantrymen, and you and many of your buddies who had just ﬁnished Air Force basic training were washed out and shipped to the 309th Infantry Regiment.

You fellows all had IQs of 120 and up. The cadre men, many of them with IQs in the neighborhood of 70, had some difﬁculty in proving their superiority.

I remember the squabble you got into while on KP, and the mess sergeant asked you your name so he could report you to the ﬁrst sergeant. I remember you replied gutterally, “Aw, Jones,” and nobody believed you.

I remember hearing of your death. For us fellows in the heavy mortar platoon, the war wasn’t nearly as personal as for you boys with the water-cooled machine guns.

The German tank came right at your position, and you fired and fired and fired. And the bullets bounced off the tank. And the tank fired back. It fired until you stopped shooting. You were dead. That’s the way we heard the story, Bob. And when we got the Bronze Star after all the shooting stopped for good, we felt ashamed — because that’s all they sent your parents, and you earned so much more.

And I remember you, Lieutenant. I remember the red beard that you grew. I remember the concern you had for the men in your charge, much more concern than so many other second looies in a similar position.

Remember how we dug in on the forward slope at the Roer River? We all knew it was stupid, with the Germans looking down our throats from the heights on the other side. Remember how you sent back for permission to move and how we found unknown energy to crawl out of that valley of hell?

I remember in the Remagen Bridgehead that the inevitable piece of shrapnel caught you, but it was a horribly big piece. It shot away your buttocks, and two boys stayed with you through the few hours of horror until you died there in that strange, hilly forest so far from home.

I remember the picture you showed me — of your wife and two daughters in Massachusetts. They had felt the terror and hope against hope when the “missing in action” telegram came. A graves registration detail from the Ninth Infantry Division had picked up your body, and you were “missing” as far as the 78th was concerned because we had no body.

But we knew you were dead, Lieutenant, and sometime later so did your family.

Bill Goodwin, you lived only 19 years. You were a Boy Scout for so long a time that you found some aspects of war a pleasure — the outdoor life and communing with nature, even though the 88s scared away the wildlife.

I remember how in England you had become introduced to Damon Runyan’s colorful characters in the pocket editions. You became so intrigued with this seedy but humorous kind of life so far removed from Okeechobee, Fla., that you began talking like Harry the Horse. I wonder what your girlfriend thought when she received your letters written in the gangland style.

The letters stopped about a quarter past February, 1945, on the slope overlooking the calmly ﬂowing Roer. It was a tree burst. Nothing entered my foxhole, but 8 feet away the shrapnel found yours.

I can remember thinking elatedly, it didn’t get me, it didn’t get me. I could smell the ghastly odor of high explosive and I heard you yell, “Medic.”

You got as far as the ﬁeld hospital. They said all you could move was the big toe on your right foot. Eighteen hours later, not even the big toe moved.

I remember you, Cpl. John Turner. I remember that whenever one of us found a pack of Old Gold cigarettes in our K-rations, we gave them to you. I didn’t smoke Old Golds for more than a decade after that war, John, because the brand always reminded me of you.

I remember the night in the Siegfried Line when we were on duty together in our mortar hole from 2 to 4 a.m. Remember how each Screamin’ Meemie sounded like it was headed right for our hole? You were scared. And you frightened me, too, John. It’s a contagious disease. You didn’t learn to live with terror; you must have had a premonition.

I can remember we received our candy and cigarette ration that day, John. I ate all my candy at once except for an Oh Henry bar. I planned to save it until the next day. But you scared me, John, and I didn’t want to have a good candy bar in my ﬁeld jacket if the sun rose on my corpse. I ate it right then and there. But I lived, John.

I remember the forestry camp that we captured and how we headed for the boiler room when the inevitable shelling came. There were 12 of us there, and of the eight wounded by the direct hit, you were the only one killed.

I couldn’t believe you were dead, John. You were still breathing, but your skull was crushed. We rolled you onto a stretcher, John, and ran through the mud, the snow and snipers’ bullets and shellﬁre.

The stretcher fell from my left hand as we ran, and you rolled into the mud. I pushed you back onto the stretcher. At the ﬁrst aid station nobody came to look at you, John. I protested. But the physician said it was too late. Even though you were breathing, you were dead.

The kitchen jeep came up with chicken that night, John. My hands were caked with mud and blood. We had no utensils. I used my ﬁngers and ate the chicken.

I’m alive John and Bill and Bob and Lieutenant.

Others who fought still live, too. Others from many lands. Our Memorial Day is at hand. They must have similar days to honor their dead. Let us hope they remember, too.

If we forget your sacriﬁce, we reject you. If other boys die in their teens and 20s, you will have died for nothing. And that would be a great tragedy.

L

Climate deal hurts U.S.

Editor:

Our government signed on to the Paris Climate Accord and committed to 100 billion dollars. The agreement impacts American immediately, but allows developing nations such as China and India thirteen years to start THEIR carbon emission reductions.

The United States of America is just over 4 percent of the worlds population or 325 million people agrees to immediately reducing our carbon emission by over 30%, but the same agreement allows 96 percent of the worlds population, 7.1 billions people to continue polluting for another 13 years or 2030 before THEY are held to the same standards.

Why would our nation agree to put United States at such an economic disadvantage. And before some people get to excited, we are not advocating that we ignore our environment just manage it smarter protecting Americans health.

This agreement is like Vermont embracing the carbon standards and the rest of the nation bring allowed 13 years to comply........ does this improve our nations environment or does it simply disadvantage Vermont.....

Virgil E. Warden Goodyear

Education reform needed

Editor:

With President Trump we now have the greatest opportunity in decades for genuine education reform. Since the late 1940’s & 1950’s the ﬂower children era, our education bureaucrats have taken more and more control of schools from parents in their communities. Teachers unions stood against meaningful reforms and our government became the nanny over parents rights. You cannot spank your child, Blah, Blah! Children were no longer taught civics, history and constitution, let alone read and write properly, that made our country a prosperous nation. Progressive theories and liberal fads had undermined our K to 12 school education. They just passed children from class to class, whether they qualiﬁed to move up or not. Parents had no say. Who paid? The child’s future. The progressives assault on liberty began on the takeover of our college educational systems.

The progressives has also attacked our religious liberties. Our ten commandments offends them! They want God off our coin’s, our pledge to the flag! This all came about by our own lackadaisical attitudes, and problems strangling us just to stay above water stopped us from giving them the fight they truly deserved. If our government cannot protect and defend free speech, then we are fighting the same fascism that started in the nineteen twenties, & thirties in Germany.

Before the end of his term, President Obama relaxed regulations on who can access highly classiﬁed information and national security intelligence, why?? To leak information and undermine Trump’s presidency? It would

also be a threat to our liberties and security. If this is truly true, pray that they uncover and dismantle these shadow groups. Anyone funded by Hollywood or Soro’s for ofﬁce like Democrat Mr. Ossoff, in Georgia has to be another like minded Obama. Wake up Georgia! May the light remain over this country.

Analie Maccree Goodyear

Progressives will never …

Editor:

They will never distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants. Doing so, would greatly weaken their empathy for everyone argument. They will never put their country ahead of their ideology. Everything Obama did was based on progressive ideology, and look at the mess he left . They will never debate fairly. If they cannot win the argument, they will label the opposition a racist, misogynist, a bigot or a Nazi, in an attempt to discredit. They will never tolerate a different point of view. Look at Ann Coulter being shut down and the riots at U C Berkeley, as well as almost daily unruly demonstrations, since Trump’s inauguration. They will never admit that the popular vote is absolutely irrelevant in determining who wins the presidency.

Accordingly, they will never acknowledge that Hillary lost the election , not because of Russian interference, but because she was an absolutely horrible, and dishonest candidate

Progressive judges will never

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etters to the editor are published without any editing. Any errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar are those of

Letters

(From Page 6)

make a ruling based upon how an issue complies with the law. instead they make their rulings based upon their preferred outcome .

Progressives will never embrace the values which made our country great. Instead they will try to use political correctness to pervert and destroy those values.

Progressives will never admit that global warming is NOT a settled science, needs to be measured over hundreds of years and may not be caused by humans .

Progressives will never support building that wall , because they know all those illegals will be voting Democratic . Yes, I said illegal and voting. Careful, progressives will try it . John Flynn, instead of calling for censorship, why not try to silence me HONESTLY, by rebutting this letter and telling the readers where you think I am going wrong .

Roy Azzarello Goodyear

Russia’s ‘yuge’ win

Editor:

It is clear to me that the Russian efforts to embarrass and undermine the United States government during the 2016 presidential elections have been extremely successful. Americans electing an ignorant buffoon like Donald Trump must surely be more than Vladimir Putin could have ever hoped for. Putin’s successful inﬁltration efforts will be paying big dividends to Russia for many years to come I am sure. And with the full support of American right wing propaganda media outlets like Fox news and AM hate radio, promoting denial and blind support for Trump 24X7, it all adds up to a “yuge” win, win for Putin’s Russia.

Remember when Republicans impeached Bill Clinton for an affair with an intern? Surly these same republicans won’t turn a blind eye to Trump’s incompetence and possible treason, will they? There was a time when the Flag waving, patriotic, Christian republicans viewed the Russians as the “great Satan”. What has changed?

Donald Trump is an embarrassment and a national security risk. Trump’s incompetence and his ties

to Russia don’t pass the stink test. I’ll bet Trumps tax returns will end up being the “Nixon tapes” of a Trump impeachment and “Believe me” that’s where you’ll ﬁnd the smoking gun (follow the money).

Let’s make America great again and impeach Trump! Our lives may depend on it.

Harry Callahan Goodyear

The science is settled?

Editor:

The global-warming science is settled.

I understand that to mean that our Planet is getting hotter because of man-caused CO2 and that the United States is a major contributor of the CO2 and that 2015 was the warmest year ever, warmer than 2014.

But the US CO2 output in 2015 was less that 1998.

So the warming was not coming from the United State’s created CO2. Either we get a free pass..... or the science is not settled. You choose.

Chris Slotten Goodyear

No oversight provided

Editor:

I have had at least one child in LESD since 1994. In recent months, I have been more attentive to what is going on in the district. The more I dig the more I have to ask how this happening. First, the problem is me! I have voted for people based on knowing them personally. To quote a new friend “I love my best friend but I wouldn’t’ want them to perform heart surgery on me”. I have done a poor job of selecting members to provide oversight. Second, is the LESD board. They don’t ask hard, fact-ﬁnding questions before they agree to take away dollars from the classroom. When they ask softball questions, Mr. Ceja tells how important it’s to have nice paper work so when the state screws up they can get the right amount of money. Therefore, it’s critical to have higher paid district positions. Yet he shared they were able to get the right amount because of their current paperwork

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Do you favor or oppose demolishing the Phoenix Trotting Park? • Favor • Oppose

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Do you think President Donald Trump was justiﬁed in ﬁring FBI Director James Comey?

the View’s online poll at the home page of our Website, www.WestValleyView.com Join the conversation! Share your thoughts

They have not stopped rubberstamping spending and claim they are here for ALL the children. I have yet to witness that. Words are empty! I challenge them to show us how. In the last four months, I have attended all but one meeting including the special board meetings — they have asked EIGHT questions primarily from President Jensen with no real answers. Yet they still approve to move forward. When you ask Ms. Baysinger why we are spending grant money to add a second science lab to EMES and Dr. Rogers answers because the other schools have two labs — and you accept that answer — it’s time for you to step down! I thank you for running and for your time served but it’s time to leave! Do LESD children, teachers, and principals a favor please step-down.

Kathy McNamara Goodyear

Schools: public or private?

Editor:

All this talk about giving vouchers so kids can go to private schools has got me to wondering! Public Schools are not for proﬁt and use our taxpayer money to educate children. Private Schools ARE for PROFIT and using our taxes for their proﬁts! Seems that using my tax money to make money for investors is not what schools are there for. If you want to send you kids to private schools that’s great just don’t expect me to be happy that I have to foot your bill.

Get an extra job like responsible people and do it for your kids. It means more if you have skin in the game and not just setting on the side lines.

Just a thought.

Lynda Fiorini Avondale

Derangement syndrome

Editor:

Why the panic? We have a ﬂexible innovate free thinker in the White House that has surrounded himself with some the ﬁnest military minds, uses unconventional communication and suggests ideas and actions that make some uncomfortable. This may cause Trump Derangement Syndrome. Don’t succumb to this paranoid tidal wave that is sweeping America. The negative energy that has been expended in the wake of the legitimate election of our Commander and Chief is simply pitiful. Anyone who has a device or sign to share their views is certainly expressing their right to “Free Speech”, however with our exploding “Social Media” disconnect the only thing that should “Go Viral” is support for our country and the leaders we voted for.

George F Massey III Litchﬁeld Park

Maximum wage

Editor: Fortune Mag had an article on

pages 49-50 discussing breaking the excessive CEO pay cycle I favor a cap on all wages, such that no individual may earn more (everything included) than 250 times the corporation’s earnings in billions the pay which the lowest paid worker is earning. (Part time worker OK, but no contract workers are permitted for the calculation.) If a CEO wishes to increase his pay, he can easily do so by increasing profits or by increasing the lowest paid salary. I think this evens the field much better than a minimum wage, but perhaps it’s too difficult for our dumb government to implement. We, the people, are smarter than those we elect.

Carl Deierling Goodyear

1st 100 wasted days

Editor:

One houndred days of wasted time. Things done none, oh I thing was accomplished the supreme court judge, and that underhanded, typical Republican way.

Other than the judge, you Republicans wasted the American peoples time. When I was in the air force we called Republicans like you, the blind leading the blind, If I would have known that I was going to the Vietnam War for a bunch of Republican loonys I would have done what Cassius Clay did, turned tail and run. But I care to much for my

Letters

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country to do that.

When I see Republicans bringing my country down I get mighty angry.

Promised actions that Donald Trump diden’t or can’t keep, we the American people will pay through the nose for the wall, Mexico said nyet, no way Jose.

Donald was going to demolish Obama care, its still here.

The Republicans were going to make America great, its worse than ever.

The hatred is every where.

Donald numbers for a ﬁrst timer is dismal 41 percent, does that tell you anything.

You Republicans probaly think 41 percent is his age.

I know you’ve heard the saying you get what you pay for, well you Republicans paid with funny money, thats why this country is in a mess.

The circus diden’t go out of business, it just moved to The White House, with its elephants and clowns.

Alfred Molina Tonopah

All Faith supports W.V.

Editor:

All Faith Community Services has been supporting the Southwest Valley for the past 17 years by helping others to understand and address their problems. The organization was driven by the continuous ask for assistance from the faith-based community with the intent to combine resources

and expand efforts. Through partnerships with local grocers and retail, they were able to feed over 4,675 Goodyear residents in 2016 and aside from volunteer time, have collected over 44,000 pounds of goods to date. All Faith Community Services offers emergency boxes, baby boxes, clothing and skills training to residents of all ages throughout the area. All Faith is a St. Mary’s Foodbank contracted agency, which allows local foodbanks to work in conjunction and lessen the likelihood of duplication and having the capability of reaching more residents in need. Last year, they were able to produce 2,000 meals per week and 500 weekend snackpacks for the children and seniors of our city. All Faith Community Services supports the quality of life everyone deserves and accepts donations year round, not just at the holidays. They hope to secure a Goodyear location in the near future to expand its services to our residents even more. These comprehensive services would not be possible without the coordination with the area businesses, social services agencies, crisis intervention centers, school districts, city governments, courts, churches, counseling centers, other agencies, and YOU. When it is time to clean out your shelves, don’t forget about All Faith and their efforts to “hand up” rather than “hand out”.

Wally Campbell Goodyear

The ‘funnies’

Editor:

The Letters section of your paper is becoming the “funnies” of the West Valley View. (Remember? “Daddy, can I have the funnies?”) It is comical that some of your contributors are

accusing “liberals” of being fascists when it is the boy they put in the White House who openly admits he wants to limit free speech and is already restricting freedom of the press.

Bob Golden Buckeye

The intolerant ‘right’

Editor:

Misters Shpudjko and Semmler (May 17th) provide two examples of the Intolerant “Right”. Through slander and deception, they demonize and want to silence anyone who refuses to be “Conservatively Correct”.

So, the most intolerant regimes have been on the “Left”? Gee, were Hitler, Mussolini, Pinochet, and Franco “Leftists”? Tell that to all the “lefties” they murdered, or to those “conservatives” in America who made excuses for, or express admiration of, such “strongmen”.

Anti-blasphemy laws? We’ve had them in this country (some States still do), but they weren’t passed by “lefties”, nor did they protect Islam. They were created by people who wanted to keep America a “Christian Nation”. (As they imagine Christianity should be, of course. No “liberal” version of Christianity allowed.)

The history of Christianity has hardly been one of tolerance and free speech. Ask the Jews whom Christians persecuted for almost two thousand years. Ask the Catholics persecuted by Henry VIII, or the Protestants persecuted by his daughter “Bloody” Mary. (Ask all the people killed during the Wars of the Reformation in the name of the “Prince of Peace”.) One can’t blame “liberals” for any of that!

As for Berkley, the assault on Free Speech there wasn’t by “liberals”. Those responsible hijacked a peaceful protest, pursuing a strategy known as “Black Bloc” — a cowardly campaign of violence committed while wearing black masks. And what do real Liberals think of such behavior? Chris Hedges (a very prominent “lefty”) considers Black Bloc a “cancer”, and says its members engage in “petty vandalism and a repellent cynicism”. Self-described “ultraliberal” Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) condemned “the hypnotized zombie-boys in black masks . . . clubbing people who hold different points of view”. That’s the Liberal opinion! Then there’s Lying Trump, who condemns and would silence all critics. How totalitarian! More on-line.

Gordon P.R. Posner Tolleson

Palestine, Israel explained 2.0

Editor: This letter is a response to Alan Rockman’s 5/17/17 letter addressed to me. It speaks volumes of your character that instead of using your 300 words to try to refute or debate facts I presented, you use your words to conﬂate all Palestinians with terrorists or violence and to libel me. So I will again state the obvious, most Palestinians are not terrorists and the presence of some terrorists does not justify human rights violations by Israel on the greater Palestinian civilian population. You see, you seem dismayed at Palestinians (although you are generalizing) who “slit baby throats” but don’t seem to care about the many many more babies

decapitated from Israeli state sanctioned bombs that we help finance. This creates more terrorism not less. Bibi has dominated, oppressed, and longs for 1 Jewish apartheid state where Palestinians are second class citizens. These aren’t actions of a leader seeking peace. Finally, no I won’t move to the Middle East. I was born in America and this land is as much mine as yours. I own no land to return and I had no say in the atrocities that our white supremacist government inflicted on Native Americans but I’ll be damned if I let that cycle continue quietly while I do have a voice. No, I intend to stay right here and continue fighting to make this country a better place because I do “practice what I preach.” So if you or anyone else reading this is tired of hearing these difficult truths (which are still not refuted), I suggest you stop responding to me by misrepresenting my sentiments or blatantly lying because I will keep coming back and back and back. Otherwise, I’ll write ya in a few weeks.

Your Progressive,

Trevor Keeley Goodyear

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Welcome to the Business Briefcase, readers. Glad to have you aboard.

This week’s edition will serve in memoriam to a West Valley landmark: the Phoenix Trotting Park.

I’m sure by now everyone is familiar with last week’s story on the upcoming demolition of the trotting park by reporter Glenn Gullickson. If not, I’ll give a quick summary. The Phoenix Trotting Park, near Loop 303 and Interstate 10 in Goodyear, is set to be demolished by the end of this year.

Back when I was a youngster from West Phoenix, the trotting park was the juvenile representation of the halfway point to California. Obviously, that’s a bit off — your Briefcase host has a much better understanding of geography these days. Between that, and the gigantic plywood baby, there wasn’t much to see before you hit the windmills of Palm Springs.

We’ll say goodbye this year, but won’t likely see anything like it again. It’s not often, anyway, that a building can remain vacant and in place for 50 years. Here are this week’s other business news items. We’ll start with some clarification.

Jersey Mike’s Subs was listed in last week’s edition, in Avondale at 10321 W. McDowell Road.

Avondale water super honored for performance

Leonard Moreno, water distribution supervisor for Avondale, has been awarded the Operations Supervisor of the Year award by the AZ Water Association. Moreno has worked for the department for 13 years and has implemented several initiatives, such as water hydrant maintenance, valve maintenance, leak detection and flushing programs. He received the award during the 90th Annual 2017 AZ Water Conference and Exhibition award ceremony May 4.

The address is correct, but that area actually goes by Park 10, not Gateway Village. Gateway Village is east of there.

There are a few new business announcements for the aforementioned Park 10 center. Starbucks and Rubio’s Mexican Grill are both slated to open at the complex sometime this summer. The Briefcase will give more concrete dates once those become available.

travelers who don’t necessarily have the need for a “home base,” among others.

Your Business News in our Best Read Feature

On its website, Marketplace Collaborative says it believes that working with other like-minded people helps everyone succeed, and working with a “work family” can help everyone grow and achieve their goals.

Get a write-up in Business Briefcase. Guaranteed exactly what you want, when you want. Only $80 per inch. Call Julie at West Valley View, 623-535-8439 or advertising@WestValleyView.com.

Sukie’s Bridal will eventually have a new home in Goodyear in the coming months, south of Roosevelt Street, east of Estrella Parkway.

The building is under construction, and will have additional pads for lease.

Sukie’s is currently located at 2025 N. Pebble Creek Parkway, Suite A8, next to Petco.

Marketplace Collaborative is celebrating its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon June 2 at its location in Goodyear, 13735 W. Auto Drive, Suite 112.

Marketplace Collaborative was launched earlier this month, and offers a coworking space for individuals looking to work independently, but in a friendly, positive atmosphere.

Coworking may seem like a fancy business insider term, but the concept has caught on over the last decade, and offers rented work spaces for work-from-home professionals, independent contractors or frequent

New

American Legion

35 N. 8th St.

Avondale Public Library

11350 W. Civic Center Dr.

Avondale Public Library

495 E. Western Ave.

Avondale Toyota

10005 W. Papago Freeway

Comerica Bank

10115 W. McDowell Rd.

Planet Smoothie

Frys Shopping Center

1573 N. Dysart, #B2

Rodeo Kia

10605 W. Papago Freeway

Stotz Equipment 11111 W. McDowell Rd.

West Valley View 1050 E. Riley Drive

BUCKEYE

Anderson Institute of Music 21055 W. Main St.

Allstate donates $22,000 to domestic violence shelter

Allstate agents presented a $22,000 check to New

Marketplace Collaborative offers various space rentals, from a one-day desk pass to annual contracts for private office spaces. All options can be found online at marketplacecollaborative.com.

The space is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information, email info@marketplacecollaborative. com or call 858-525-2498.

That’s all for this week, folks.

I have some pretty big items on the burners now, hopefully ready for next week once I can confirm a few pieces of information. Stay tuned!

Feel free to contact the Business Briefcase via email at smcowen@westvalleyview.com or through Twitter @ ShaneMcOwen.

I hope everyone has a great week. Until next time, take care.

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

Tolleson earns award for financial reporting

Tolleson has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers of the United States and Canada.

The award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

508 E. Monroe

Jones Ford Buckeye 24600 W. Yuma Rd.

Stotz Equipment 225 N. First St.

Verrado Coffee Co. 1829 N. Verrado Way GLENDALE

Desert Garden

Apts/Mini Storage 13621 W. Glendale

GOODYEAR

AZ Battery Store 560 N. Bullard #E-50

BMD Printing & Business

15605 W. Roosevelt St. C-A-L Ranch Store 2075 N. PebbleCreek Parkway

Grungy Galz 540 N. Bullard Ave., Suite 19

Oasis Bagels

17650 W. Elliot #A155

Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce 289 N. Litchfield Rd

LITCHFIELD PARK

Morrissette Martial Arts 116 N. Old Litchfield Rd., #B

TOLLESON

Shane McOwen

Life Center names director

Linda Volhein was appointed as New Life Center’s interim executive director replacing Paul Denial, who recently resigned. Volhein has served in several interim positions after she was chief executive officer at Florence Crittenton.

Life Center. The check was presented April 20 at Hope’s Closet in Goodyear.

Ernest and Dora Tarango

Tarangos celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

Ernest and Dora Tarango of Tolleson celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 9.

They were married on April 9, 1957, in Tolleson. Mr. Tarango was a warehouseman. He retired in 2000. Mrs. Tarango is a homemaker.

They have six children, Ernie Tarango Jr., Sandra Tarango, Mark Tarango, Lawrence Tarango, Cathy Tarango and Gloria Tarango; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Society notices run free

The View will gladly publish an announcement of a wedding or engagement within six months of the event. We also publish free announcements of wedding anniversaries beginning with the 50th and at five-year increments after that (55th, 60th, etc.)

We reserve the right to edit the copy to conform to our style and space limitations.

We also welcome professional-quality photographs.

Forms are available at the View offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Or send in your info as best you can, with a daytime phone number we can call for further details, to: Society Desk, West Valley View, 1050 E. Riley Drive, Avondale, AZ 85323.

Buckle up, Arizona

Law enforcement agencies launch annual seat belt campaign

by Chris Caraveo staff writer

Drivers caught breaking a primary law may save a few extra bucks by buckling up.

West Valley police departments are joining the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and other law enforcement agencies to enforce Arizona’s seat belt and child safety seat laws.

The efforts are part of the state’s Buckle Up Arizona...It’s the Law! enforcement campaign, running May 22 to June 4.

As part of the national Click it or Ticket campaign, law enforcement agencies across the state will be stepping up traffic enforcement patrols and increasing other enforcement efforts to remind residents to buckle up.

Arizona conducts enforcement under a secondary seat belt law and a primary child seat law. That means an officer cannot pull someone over solely for not wearing a seat belt.

“We encourage all officers to take a moment to see if the driver and passengers are wearing seat belts prior to making a traffic stop and then take enforcement action, whether with a ticket or a warning,” Officer Lisa Kutis said in an email.

Despite being a secondary law, it can be easy for the experienced officer to spot a primary violation and observe whether a vehicle’s occupants are wearing seat belts, Buckeye Police Officer David Grossman said.

“The campaign motivates officers who are assigned to the detail to only focus on seat belt violations and not

be worried about taking calls of service or completing sensitive paperwork,” Grossman said.

Police say regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

“When worn correctly, belts have proven to reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50 percent,” according to a release. “The proper and consistent use of child safety seats has been found to reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.”

The GOHS receives federal and state money to disperse to agencies throughout the state in the form of grants. Goodyear and Buckeye police departments each received $5,000 for the campaign. The money can go toward overtime pay for extra enforcement or for equipment and technology.

During last year’s campaign, Goodyear police issued 221 citations and Buckeye police issued 148 seat belt citations and six child restraint citations. Those numbers pale in comparison to 2014, when Buckeye police had 355 seat belt citations and 10 child restraint citations.

“I do know the numbers decreased because of previous contacts we had made with drivers and education we provided had brought those numbers down,” Grossman said. “There are some drivers who actually get a seat belt citation each year of the campaign.”

Reasons people give police for not wearing a seat belt include: “I forgot,” having a sun burn or the lining of the belt hurting their neck, it’s uncomfortable or they believe for safety reasons in the event of a crash that they would not be able to exit their vehicle.

Grossman said some drivers put the top belt under their arm to make it comfortable for them while they drive. However, the law states the belt must be over the shoulder and lap. Police have issued citations for not properly wearing seat belts.

“This is where education is a key component and we explain the importance of being properly restrained in the vehicle,” Officer Kutis said.

Chris Caraveo can be reached at ccaraveo@westvalleyview.com.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

tour

Avondale sisters Yaneli Prieto, 8, left,

Book-cess!

Buckeye Library Bookmobile gets new look

by Chris Caraveo staff writer

The next time Buckeye residents see the Bookmobile pass through the streets, there should be more material to take in.

The Buckeye Public Library designed a mobile wrap to plaster the side of its “library on wheels,” adorned with six native Arizona animals and a backdrop of the White Tank Mountains.

“With the new design, and the enhanced experience it brings to a great resource already operational, we are working on better informing our communities of the services available to them,” said Janene Van Leeuwen, the library’s education and entrepreneurship outreach coordinator. “The characters will help us do this.”

The city will unveil the wrap at its Summer Reading Program kick-off pool party at noon Friday at the Buckeye Aquatics Center.

The Bookmobile program began in fall 2009 to be the city’s “library on wheels,” providing services to residents without making them travel to one of Buckeye’s two branches. Residents can obtain a library card, check out and return books, and pick up book requests. Staff equipped the vehicle with MiFi to connect back into the Buckeye Public Library System.

Design and printing cost about $6,000, with funds coming from the Friends of the Buckeye Public Library, a nonprofit organization whose profits all go toward supporting library programs and projects.

“The design is meant to enhance one’s experience while visiting their ‘library,’” Van Leeuwen said.

The city has two libraries, the downtown branch at 310 N. Sixth St. and the Coyote branch at 21699 W. Yuma Road. Both are south of Interstate 10, leaving communities such as Verrado, Tartesso and Sun City Festival — which is 25 miles north of the Coyote branch — without a library in the near vicinity.

The vehicle shelves about 2,000 books, including adult, nonfiction, children’s juvenile, young adult and juvenile nonfiction selections. Patty Cross, the driver of the Bookmobile, also takes audio books and DVDs. If people request other books, the library staff gets them from one of the city’s branches and places them in the Bookmobile.

The library also contracts with Baker & Taylor to lease best sellers and “high demand” books.

“This keeps our adult patrons very happy,” Cross said.

On a rolling basis, the vehicle visits one location in each of Verrado, Tartesso, Festival Sage, Festival Ranch, Buena Vista, Sundance, the Buckeye Community Center and a couple of preschools.

Every two weeks, about 250 people take advantage of the Bookmobile, Van Leeuwen said. They check, return or donate books, place holds, create library cards and receive recommendations from Cross.

“We have received numerous calls and compliments from patrons who have shared how much they appreciate having the Bookmobile and the wonderful customer service and help they receive from Patty,” Van Leeuwen said.

The Bookmobile’s design includes the phrase “Be Inspired, Engaged & Connected….” Library Manager Jana White spearheaded the art hanging of the phrase inside the Coyote branch.

“[The phrase] is our mantra in the Buckeye Public Library System,” Van Leeuwen said.

“It was important to us these words were included in the design, to continue to remind people to be inspired, engaged and connected and to do so through one’s library using the many free resources available to them.”

Dan Budzban, a sixth- and seventhgrade teacher at the Fine Arts Academy in the Littleton Elementary School District, created the design for the Bookmobile. Through a 10-year relationship working with Van Leeuwen, Budzban was chosen after meeting with Van Leeuwen and White about his proposal for the wrap.

“Truthfully, as weird as it may sound, I allowed each of the animals to talk to me about how they would be placed,” Budzban said.

Cody the Coyote, the mascot of the library, holds a library card and runs toward the door of the vehicle to show how eager he is to get his books. The roadrunner has a book in its wing and runs away from the door appearing excited to read. The turtle buries its nose in a book with a stack of others at his side to “devour.”

With no arms, the rattlesnake curls next to a computer to connect people to the technology opportunities the Buckeye libraries offer. The jackrabbit with a tablet and the falcon with a smartphone emphasize the technology aspect as well as show how the library offers many resources in books and technology. The backdrop of the White Tank Mountains ties everything together with a local theme.

Van Leeuwen agreed with the idea that the new design will attract people who see the Bookmobile pass by, saying the wrap itself can be used as a teaching and informational tool.

For Budzban, an educator in English Language Arts, the importance of reading hits close to his heart.

“The amount of success someone has in their lifetime is often tied to the level they can read at,” Budzban said. “Therefore, having a great vehicle like the Bookmobile to promote the joy and accessibility of reading is such a huge asset to the community of Buckeye. Connect that continual reminder of reading, which is traveling through the Buckeye community along with the Summer Reading Program, and you’ve got a huge avenue for the kids of all ages to find the joy of reading and become lifelong readers. So not only does that Bookmobile have the power to literally drive down the road, but it also has the magic to drive kids’ excitement for reading and their long-term success. Now that’s pretty cool!”

Chris Caraveo can be reached at ccaraveo@westvalleyview.com.

Summer reading program begins

View report

As temperatures rise and schools let out, West Valley libraries launch the annual summer reading program.

One of the program’s goals is to combat the “summer slide” when students lose some of the progress made during the school year. According to the Maricopa County Library District, 20 minutes of reading every day can stop it entirely.

Buckeye is kicking off the summer reading program with a pool party at noon Friday at the Buckeye Aquatic Center, 207 N. Ninth St. Buckeye will feature more than 40 free events and programs during the Summer Reading Program, including movies, magic acts, animal programs, science exhibits and art displays.

County libraries will begin the program June 1, and offer events such as crafting workshops, silk screen shirt printing, games, robotics and juggling demonstrations.

Points can be earned by readers for reading as well as attending events. They can be logged online to earn prizes, including coupons and a free book at 1,000 points. Additionally, earning points will put readers in a list for prize drawings.

For a full list of events, sign up at www. maricopacountyreads.org. Otherwise, visit www. mcldaz.org or www.buckeyeaz.gov/library/ for event listings and other information.

The Summer Reading Program takes place at the following West Valley libraries:

Tolleson Public Library

Location: 9555 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Avondale Civic Center Library

Location: 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 1 to 5 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library

Location: 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Goodyear Branch Library

Location: 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite C-101, Goodyear Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Buckeye Public Library – Downtown Branch

Location: 310 N. Sixth St., Buckeye Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Buckeye Public Library – Coyote Branch

Location: 21699 W. Yuma Road Suite 116, Buckeye

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

White Tank Branch Library

Location: 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

Submitted photo by city of Buckeye

THE BUCKEYE BOOKMOBILE

a colorful wrap after years of having a white backdrop with the Buckeye Public Library name on it.

The following three pages of West Valley View are zoned for the 05/24/2017 edition.

Each zone pages 13, 14 & 16 (16N=North, 16E=East, 16S=South, 16W=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.

She’s got your back(pack)

West Valley girl creates nonproﬁt to give disadvantaged youths school supplies

KAITLYN MARTINEZ , 13, of Tolleson and volunteers fill backpacks with school supplies and personal hygiene items April 19 for the nonprofit Backpacks4Kids Kaitlyn started after seeing a need in her own school. To see all photos from this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.

by Kourtney Balsan special

to the View

Childhood is often spent playing games, going to school, eating candy and making new friends. One Valley youth is spending her childhood making sure other children don’t go without.

Kaitlyn Martinez, 13, of Tolleson created Backpacks 4 Kids AZ Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 2015 to help local disadvantaged youths fill their backpacks with necessary supplies.

“I created Backpacks 4 Kids AZ after one of my friends failed a writing assignment because she did not have pencils and paper at home and was too embarrassed to tell the teacher,” Kaitlyn said. “It made me start wondering how many other kids are failing for the same reason.”

Kaitlyn and her mother then created a Facebook page to introduce the community to the ever-growing problem and the school supply drives began, she said “When my daughter came to me about her friend failing because she did not have school supplies, I encouraged her to do something about it,” said Michele Tallberg, Kaitlyn’s mother. “Honestly, I [then] thought, ‘I did a good job, I raised a good kid who cares about others.’”

Kaitlyn and her mother realized the empty backpack dilemmas are not uncommon as the organization has already supplied more than 500 pupils with full backpacks, she said.

“I think [Backpacks 4 Kids AZ] is needed in our community as 25 percent of children in Arizona are living at or below poverty level,” Tallberg said. “Most of the basic items that we take for granted every day are out of reach for these children. Simple supplies like a pencil or paper can make a difference between children doing their homework or failing.”

Backpacks 4 Kids AZ is initiating a new program called Love Bundles, Kaitlyn said.

“Love Bundles are backpacks filled with hygiene products, a blanket and toy for children entering foster care or shelters,” she said. “I incorporated the Love Bundles as one of our programs because there are so many kids in Arizona entering the foster care system every day and I think they deserve to have something of their own to help provide a little comfort during a difficult time.”

The organization already distributed around 20

Love Bundles, but Kaitlyn has plans to make more distributions, she said.

“My goal this year is to supply 1,000 kids with backpacks full of school supplies and make 300 Love Bundles,” Kaitlyn said. “I plan on meeting my goals by doing more student-led donation drives at their schools and over the summer doing donation drives at local businesses and holding fundraiser events. I have also received a couple of grants that will help me with reaching my goals.”

Tolleson granted Kaitlyn $1,500 to use for her organization, she said, adding that she has received plenty of support from the city.

Arizona Gives Day on April 4 was Backpacks 4 Kids first time participating in the 24-hour statewide donation day, Kaitlyn said.

“Arizona Gives Day helped by getting more people to know about our organization. We received a little over $800 in donations, all from new donors,” she said.

Kaitlyn’s goal is to not only maintain the organization, but to also expand it, she said.

“My long-term goal is to have a free store where disadvantaged students can come and pick out their own school supplies with a referral from a teacher. Social workers and other agencies can pick up items for children entering foster care and shelters,” Kaitlyn said.

For now, Kaitlyn will focus on her schooling and planning events in the time she has off, she said.

“I have a lot of help from my mom. She wants me to focus on school and we plan things on the weekend and during the summer when I am out of school,” she said.

“[Creating Backpacks 4 Kids AZ] shows other people my age that they can make a difference, even at a young age. I hope to inspire other young people to get involved in their communities.”

Although Backpacks 4 Kids AZ has 10 full-time volunteers, the organization is always looking for more help, Kailtyn said.

“We can always use help whether you would like to host a fundraiser drive, donate items or volunteer your time when we need help sorting and organizing items,” Kaitlyn said.

For information, visit backpacks4kidsaz.com.

Kourtney Balsan can be reached at Kbalsan@westvalleyview.com.

View photo by Ray Thomas

She’s got your back(pack)

West Valley girl creates nonproﬁt to give disadvantaged youths school supplies

Thomas

View photo by Ray

by Kourtney Balsan

special to the View

Childhood is often spent playing games, going to school, eating candy and making new friends. One Valley youth is spending her childhood making sure other children don’t go without.

Kaitlyn Martinez, 13, of Tolleson created Backpacks 4 Kids AZ Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 2015 to help local disadvantaged youths fill their backpacks with necessary supplies.

Kaitlyn and her mother realized the empty backpack dilemmas are not uncommon as the organization has already supplied more than 500 pupils with full backpacks, she said.

Backpacks 4 Kids AZ is initiating a new program called Love Bundles, Kaitlyn said.

The organization already distributed around 20

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