volume 14, issue 11 • november 2012
www.northcentralnews.net
City will move up light rail extension By Teri Carnicelli Businesses on 19th Avenue north of Bethany Home Road are facing a mixed blessing as the city of Phoenix recently pledged to move up the construction timeline for the Northwest Extension (NEW) of the Metro light rail from 2023 to 2016. On the one hand, the expedited construction means job creation during the building phase, and potentially new customers from among those traveling along the new leg of the light rail route. On the other hand, torn up roads, detours and traffic headaches may mean a loss in business while construction takes place. Just ask the businesses that were affected on Camelback Road and Central Avenue. Or at least, ask the ones that are still there. Still, city officials are pleased about the accelerated timeline for the extension, which will run from the current endpoint at 19th Avenue and Montebello north to Dunlap Avenue. “I have consistently said we can only be a great city if we have a great transit system, and the backbone of that system is the light rail,” said Mayor Greg Stanton, after the City Council’s vote. “The Northwest Extension Project is a significant milestone for our city and our region—it will create jobs, further connect our community with sustainable transportation options, and create new economic
POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE IN-HOME DELIVERY BY NOVEMBER 7, 2012.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT NO. 5059
please see EXTENSION on page 10
Quin Lonetti, 2, shows his mom, Liz, two of the eggs he collected from their backyard chicken coop while many of the chickens graze nearby in the grass. The Lonettis’ home near 12th Street and Glendale Avenue will be on the Tour de Coops set for Saturday, Nov. 10 (photo by Teri Carnicelli).
Get the ‘scoop’ on chicken coops By Teri Carnicelli Raising chickens isn’t just for giant farms anymore. See how many Valley residents are raising these family-friendly egg layers in their own backyards during the fourth-annual Tour de Coops, set for 8 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Tour de Coops is a self-guided tour of some of the Valley’s unique and funkiest chicken coops. Many of the homes also will feature other methods of handson sustainability including composting, container gardening, hydroponic gardening, and more. Keeping chickens has become a grassroots movement among urbanites who want to ensure they have access to healthy food in a self-reliant and sustainable manner. Organized by the Valley Permaculture Alliance, the tour was created to give the community insight into the experience of raising chickens and inspiring others to start their own backyard flocks. “It's not as difficult as people think,” says Liz Lonetti, whose home near 12th Street and Glendale Avenue is on the tour. ‘The chickens get along fine with our dogs, and our son gets to see where food actually comes from, which isn't the grocery store.” Raising backyard chickens provides not only ethi-
cally-raised eggs, but helps to support gardens as chickens are well known to help with controlling pests, providing nutrient rich compostable manure and eating discarded garden scraps. The tour also will feature experimental, scale model chickens coops designed by members of the American Institute of Architects. Tour-goers will have the chance to enter to win some eco-friendly prizes. Purchase tickets online at www.TourDeCoops.org as well as at Urban Beans, located at 3508 N. 7th St., #100. Price of admission is $15 per adult in advance and $20 on the day of the event. Children under 14 are free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
in this issue New medical center aids homeless, page 3 Festivals help kick off the holidays, page 4 Local youths named as ‘All American,’ page 12 Big turnout for ‘Walk to School Day,’ page 30 Hearty food builds loyal customers, page 45