Glendale Star 05/04/2023

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Inside This Week

BY JORDAN ROGERS

Glendale Star Managing Editor

Ocer Greg Mills of the Glendale Police Department was recently honored on the Senate oor for his work in addressing homelessness by Arizona state Sen. Anthony Kern.

Kern, a Republican representing Legislative District 27, awarded Mills with a legislative recognition.

“O cer Greg Mills’ vision has always been to aid the community and make the city of Glendale a better place to live and work,” Kern said. “He has a very strong dedication to assisting the homeless population in our city and goes out every day to make a di erence in the lives of those who are less fortunate, mentally ill and drug addicted.

Glendale o cer honored by state senator

“He has spent countless hours getting to know numerous homeless citizens on a rstname basis and often knows their history as well.”

Mills, who calls himself “low-key,” was greatly honored by the motion from Kern.

Sheri ’s o ce holds 3rd annual safety summit

BY JOE McHUGH

Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Maricopa County Sheri ’s Ofce recently hosted its third annual School Safety and Security Summit, an event geared toward promoting positive changes in schools to keep the coming generations safe.

e three-day event held at the Glendale Civic Center covered topics surrounding school safety and included a number of keynote speakers to help the audience of over 400 people from across the state better prepare their school’s safety protocols.

“We hear about it every day in the news,

something happened here, and a lot of the violence is in schools making them vulnerable targets,” said Paul Tighe, executive director of Arizona School Administrators (ASA).

“We need to make sure our schools are safe for kids. at shouldn’t be a question.

So, we bring people together who are responsible for the safety and well-being of

O cer Greg Mills, middle, was honored on the Senate Floor by Arizona state Sen. Anthoy Kern for his work in combating homelessness. (Greg Mills/Submitted)

kids, because if schools aren’t safe, if students and sta don’t feel safe, education doesn’t matter. So that’s our rst priority.”

Numerous levels of government attended the summit. FBI, Secret Service, local law enforcement and teachers, each worked to do their part to educate people on what to look for and protocols that need to be taken in order for a school environment to be safe.

e event helped educate by way of going over the history of school safety, threat assessment, personal testimonies and breakout sessions.

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“It’s not just about school shootings and things like that, but really trying to be wraparound, comprehensive for the whole notion of school safety what we can do to prevent it,” Tighe said. “But also, what do we know? So, we need to share ideas, and then see what works and replicate things at work and how do we get that in every school.”

Tommy McKone, owner of McKone Strategies and member of the Summit’s host committee, said school safety is a very passionate topic of his.

“I have two young kids in elementary school,” McKone said. “Far too often this is happening across the country on a consistent basis. And Arizona, knock on wood, has had close calls, but not an active shooter that has resulted in a death. So, we are trying to get ahead of the curve and really lay a foundation for the rest of the country to bring awareness to the topic.”

McKone, who said the summit was seemingly a success, added that it is something that can become much bigger.

“I envision this being a national conference, absolutely,” McKone said. “But to do it, you have to take baby steps. Arizona is where we’re all from, Arizona is where we know the landscape the best. So, we wanted to obviously start in Arizona. But I think down the road next year, we’ll sort of start looking at other spots around the state, if not around the country.

“If we can just do a little bit for the schools and these kids and it can save one life, all this work has been worth it. We can save more than one, if we can save 100 or 1,000, down the road. But doing this work is by far the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my career.”

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Mayor Weiers tours Abrazo expansion unit

BY KEITH JONES Glendale Star Contributing Writer

Expansion of the neonatal unit at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus has surpassed another construction milestone with steel framing and decking complete, as workers are now installing HVAC equipment and ducting as the project continues to take shape.

“We like to say we’re ‘raising the roof’ of the hospital since we are adding 8,500 square feet and 14 new beds to the hospital’s second oor,” Abrazo Arrowhead Campus CEO Stephen Garner said. “It’s very exciting to see the progress, and we look forward to our upcoming special delivery to meet a critical need for families in this community.”

Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers met with Abrazo Arrowhead Campus o cials on April 24 to get an update on the neonatal expansion, tour the construction site, and learn about the importance of o ering specialized services for premature babies close to home.

Garner said that research shows that need exceeds capacity for higher-level neonatal care in the Northwest Valley.

“It’s very stressful for families that must travel for specialized care. We expect to be busy right away when the 14 new rooms open,” he said.

Abrazo Arrowhead Campus is a popular destination for maternity care. More than 3,000 babies, including high-order multiple births like triplets, are born every year at Abrazo Arrowhead.

“ e hospital expansion at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus aligns with our con-

tinuing e orts to keep the city favorable for families and businesses,” Weiers said. “I wholeheartedly believe Glendale is attractive for its quality of life as a great place to live and work with high-level services here in our community. I’m so pleased that there will soon be a larger facility to help families in the West Valley.”

Abrazo Arrowhead Campus is already a Level IIIA perinatal care center, capable of caring for premature babies as young as 28 weeks. Expansion will support pursuit of certi cation as a higher Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for more complex maternal and neonatal medical conditions, obstetric and fetal complications.

“Successful pursuit of the Level IIIB NICU certi cation means the hospital will be capable of providing complex care for babies of any gestational age,” Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Chief Nursing Ocer Julie Bowman said.

Abrazo Arrowhead Campus CEO Stephen Garner and Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers listen as hospital COO Matt Sartorius describes the Abrazo neonatal unit expansion project. (Abrazo Health/Submitted)

“I’m not necessarily comfortable with the spotlight, but with that said it was a great honor and completely unexpected,” Mills said. “I found out about it only a couple of weeks ago.”

Mills, who has been on the force in Glendale for 15 years, said his interest in taking aim at Glendale’s homeless population came on his rst day on the job.

“On my rst day on the job on my own, on one of the rst calls I went to, I literally had to step over people who were passed out to talk to a business owner that was having issues with that,” he said. “I’ve just taken upon myself from then on to, you know, try to better the community.”

Mills said that, early on, he was doing a lot of this work on his own time, but that was never something he was concerned with. He would go over to sections of the city with a heavy homeless population in between calls while on patrol to clean the area up.

“It’s for the good,” he said. “Whatever I could do to help on both sides of the spectrum, whether it be the residents or the business owners or people who are homeless. I was out there trying to ad-

In March,

dress things and make it better for everybody.”

O ering services, Mills added, is something that is never easy. He said he brings opportunities to the homeless population in the form of housing, drug treatment, mental health treatment and job

placement, among others.

Being out in the eld every day made it so he developed a good relationship with much of the homeless population.

“I’m out there every day, so they all know me,” Mills said. “ ey know they can walk up to me any time and talk to me. A lot of people do.”

Mills said that he does walk a ne line, though, as he focuses on outreach, but he is also doing law enforcement.

“We’ll make the most sincere attempt to help you get o the streets, get o drugs, get a job, get mental health treatment,” he said. “If you don’t want the services, that’s ne, it’s not illegal to be homeless in the city of Glendale. But if you continue to say no, we’re ultimately going to have to hold you accountable.

“I’ve had to put handcu s on people who I respect, and they respect me, and they understand. It’s a ne line that I walk, but I try to do it with as much integrity as I can.”

Mills said he feels support from everyone close to him. He said his family is always there for him, and the Glendale Police Department gives him everything he needs to succeed.

“I truly believe that I work for the best city in Arizona, and I feel like Glendale PD is the best department in the country,” he said. “You don’t hear of people leaving this department to go to other departments, but we have o cers who come from all over the country to be here. It’s truly a wonderful atmosphere; I can’t speak highly enough of the atmosphere and the leadership.

“I’m just a police o cer. I’m not a sergeant, lieutenant, commander or chief. I’ve been put in this position to try to

make things better for the city. It’s important to me that I walk the walk. I don’t I don’t want anybody to do what I don’t expect myself to do.”

at support was extended to assistance, as Mills no longer works alone tackling the homelessness issue. In March, the city approved for a squad of four o cers and a sergeant to work speci cally with what Mills was doing.

“It’s been great,” Mills said. “We’re all excited to come to work, excited to be around each other, excited to work. It’s been a great start to this process.”

Mills moved to the city of Glendale from his hometown of Moreno Valley, California, with a goal of becoming a police o cer. He said that he lived “probably the best childhood I could imagine,” but after a while the city began to deteriorate.

“I started seeing the city deteriorate and crime levels escalating,” Mills said. “It certainly wasn’t the place I grew up in, and I remember during that time I would look around and just kind of say to myself that I can’t be the only one seeing what’s going on here (and wondering) why isn’t somebody doing something?”

He acknowledged that many of Glendale’s residents and business owners have many of those same thoughts right now, but he will do whatever he can to try to x them.

“I know citizens of Glendale and business owners in Glendale have had the same concerns. I would just like to let them know that I see it, and we see it as a city as a department,” Mills said. “We’re doing everything we can to address it.

“My goal is to improve things. We have a lot of things in play, and I’ve been blessed to be able to work with city ocials. I know how rare that is for somebody in my position to have the ability and be granted the access that I have to work with various departments within the city. I take it very seriously, and I will do things to the best of my ability to make things better around here.”

e multimillion-dollar project will

late this year.

“ is is an exciting time for everyone at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus,” Garner said. “We are investing in our neonatal

capabilities, growing our other clinical programs, and on a trajectory for increasing access to high-quality, specialty care closer to home for residents of the Northwest Valley.”

For more information about Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, visit abrazohealth. com.

the city of Glendale approved a squad to help Mills in his e orts to tackle homelessness. (Greg Mills/ Submitted)

Glendale police make arrest in convenience store murder

BY JORDAN ROGERS Glendale Star Managing Editor

The Glendale Police Department have made an arrest in the murder investigation involving a woman who was shot more than 10 times.

e suspect, 20-year-old Mohammad Hussain Ataei, was arrested on April 27 in connection to the murder of 25-year-old Irma Rivera-Martinez, who was working at a convenience store near 51st and Glendale avenues.

Ataei is facing charges of rst-degree murder.

Glendale police detailed what happened leading up to Ataie’s arrest at a news conference on April 28.

was used, along with some of the clothing Ataei was wearing the night of the murder.

Ataei has refused to cooperate with detectives, and so far, a motive for this murder has not been established.

Detectives said that Ataei entered the convenience store just after 9 p.m. on April 21 dressed in all black. After he entered, he walked to the back of the store, where Rivera-Martinez was stocking shelves.

Ataei approached Rivera-Martinez and shot her over 10 times at close range. He then exited the store and ran from the scene.

Detectives managed to get surveillance video that showed the suspect wearing distinctive shoes. In addition, nearby cameras allowed the detectives to get a vehicle description — a dark blue Toyota Camry — along with a license plate, to help identify who was the car’s registered owner, which was Ataei.

“Surveillance is just really imperative when we’re trying to solve these crimes,” said O cer Gina Winn, public information o cer for the Glendale Police Department.

Detectives managed to locate and arrest Ataei near 48th and Glendale avenues. A search of his Avondale home produced evidence of the weapon that

“I think it’s really important to stress here that this was a really violent attack on this individual,” said Jose Santiago, public safety media relations/communications manager for the city of Glendale.

“ is was most denitely targeted. Our detectives are still trying to determine exactly what the motive was behind all of this. For someone to walk into a store and open re on an individual shooting multiple times like this individual did, this was a very heinous attack.”

Councilmember Jamie Aldama of the Ocotillo District was at the news conference, and he extended his sympathy toward the family of Rivera-Martinez, as well as his appreciation for the Glendale Police Department.

“My condolences to the family,” Aldama said. “We are saddened for you in the city of Glendale; mourn with you and for you. I want to thank Chief (Chris) Briggs and his entire police ocers — women, men and his team — for bringing justice so swiftly for the family and beginning the steps of closure for the family.

“I want our Glendale residents and those who live in the Ocotillo District, the visitors, (to know) you remain safe. We remain a warm, welcoming community, and I’m con dent in our police chief and the police o cers of the city of Glendale will continue to patrol and keep you safe. is was a targeted, heinous attack, and we condone none of it at all.”

Mohammad Hussain Ataei

For

Great Tamale War a nothingburger

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Glendale Star Columnist

When the New York Times came to town to cover the Great Tamale War of 2023, you knew this was big-times news. Forget in ation, the Arizona housing supply crisis, the epic drought, or our rising rate of violent crime. e burning question du jour at the state Capitol?

Will Arizona’s tamale-making abuelas and abuelos be able to legally sell their wondrous creations?

You likely have heard about this ruckus: e Legislature overwhelmingly passed House Bill 2509, “the tamale bill,” which expanded the types of “cottage foods” that can be sold by unlicensed home cooks to include perishables like tamales.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who may yet end up sidelined by a wicked case of Veto Elbow, nixed the measure, saying “the bill would signi cantly increase the risk of food-borne illness by expanding the ability of cottage food vendors to

sell high-risk foods.”

An April 24 e ort to override the veto failed when a number of Democrats decided to back Hobbs over the tamale ladies, whose wares “hold a special, Proustian place in Arizona’s culinary soul,” according to the Times.

I don’t know what that means either. I’m pretty sure the Legislature outlawed Proust a couple years ago.

Two things stand out about this conict.

e rst is that HB 2509 is what we call in the political business “a solution in search of a problem.” I’ve consumed no less than 15 stories about the bill recently; none included a single instance of an Arizonan being arrested or ned $500 for the sale of illegal tamales.

I’m pretty sure the cops have better things to do — like bust fentanyl dealers, not ladies selling green chili tamales. e same goes for the Arizona Department of Health Services, which oversees retail food and drink sales.

If there’s a tamale probe afoot some-

where, then we have bigger problems to solve than protecting Arizona residents from tamale-induced dysentery. is leads to my second point. It concerns what we expect government to do for us nowadays. Personally, I like my bureaucracy the way I prefer my homecooked foods: small and easy to digest.

If the state feels compelled to spend another 14 billion taxpayer dollars this year, let them fund schools, highways, public safety, and a safety net for Arizonans in crisis.

County government seems to do a pretty good job of picking up trash and inspecting restaurants — and tallying elections, which is a subject for 10 more columns on 10 other days. Our cities seem to do mostly good work keeping up roads and sta ng police and re departments.

Nowhere in all that “service” do I expect the government to keep me safe from the deadly dangers that loom from pork tamales, homemade barbecue sauces, or the palatero who occasionally bikes his cart up my street to sell me a mango ice cream pop.

Sometimes, people, you have to take your life into your own hands.

If you eat an illegal tamale, you may get a tummy ache. If you wander into the public library, you may read a book that o ends you. Cigarettes may give you lung cancer. Hot co ee may give you fourth-degree burns. If you ride a motorcycle without a helmet, you may end up on life support, with less brain function than your average member of Congress.

Life is dangerous, folks. Act accordingly.

I’m not angry at Hobbs for vetoing the tamale bill. Nor am I torqued by legislators on either side.

Because, when you get right down to it, the Great Tamale War wasn’t much of problem in the rst place. Here in Arizona, we eat tamales to our heart’s content, until our culinary souls get Proustian-level heartburn.

Any chance we can nd a real issue to debate?

David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com.

Does NBA mean ‘Not Basketball Anymore’?

BY J.D. HAYWORTH

Glendale Star Columnist

With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien, Phil Jackson rates as a real-life “Lord of the Rings” from his time as both a player and a coach in the NBA. He earned two championship rings on the roster of the New York Knicks, six more as coach of the Chicago Bulls, and another ve coaching the Los Angeles Lakers.

But now, the lone pro basketball luminary has booted NBA games o his television sets.

You might say that Phil has had his ll.

Jackson told podcaster Rick Rubin that the NBA has become too political, and for that reason, he has stopped watching.

Phil’s disenchantment bubbled to the surface amid the forced isolation of the COVID lockdown and the NBA’s much-ballyhooed plan to play its games within a “made-for-TV bubble.”

e medical intent of that “NBA Bubble” was to keep the teams free from

COVID, but the actual result was to infect the entire league with the political contagion of “woke.”

And disturbing to Phil was the fact that the oor of the basketball court was used to advocate for a certain viewpoint in the “court of public opinion.”

e former coach cited the “slogans on the oor, on the baseline. It was catering. It was trying to cater to an audience, or trying to bring a certain audience into play. And they (the NBA) didn’t know it was turning other people o .”

What was most o -putting for Phil was the league deliberately omitting

names on jerseys to instead feature virtue signaling.

“ ey had things on their back like ‘Justice’ and a funny thing happened,” Jackson recalled. “Like ‘Justice’ went to the basket and ‘Equal Opportunity’ knocked him down. … Some of my grandkids thought it was pretty funny to play up those names. I couldn’t watch that.”

Of course, if you watch ESPN, which now stands for “Expect Sports Politicized Non-stop,” you understand that

Abrazo Health honors nurses during Nurses Week

BY CHARLOTTE RANKIN Abrazo Health

Abrazo Health is proud to honor its nurses during National Nurses Week, an annual celebration that recognizes the critical role nurses perform in our hospitals and for our community.

e last three years have brought signi cant changes to the health care industry, our hospitals and the communities we serve. While our mission of providing quality, compassionate care to every patient remains the same, the expectations of patients, families and sta members have evolved.

We are grateful to all of our nurses and humbled by the hard work they do every day. Nursing is one of the most rewarding careers, but also one of the most challenging. Nurses Week is about paying tribute to nurses and the daily impact they have on our patients’ lives.

Nurses have many important roles at Abrazo Health hospitals across the Valley. Whether a sta nurse, nursing leader, educator, infection preventionist, nurse practitioner or any of the many hats they guratively wear, Abrazo nurses have a passion for the profession and a strong commitment to patient safety.

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Today, as Flor-

ence Nightingale did in her time, Abrazo’s nurses represent a profession of advocacy and strength and are respected for their professionalism and devotion to their patients, their families and for each other. We have all gained an even greater appreciation for their vital contributions and appreciate their tireless e orts on behalf of our patients and communities.

Our neighbors can be con dent in their local hospitals and health care providers. Abrazo’s nurses set an example in their commitment to safe, excellent patient care. When we lead with compassion and respect for each other, and hold ourselves to high standards, we all become better.

Our caring nurses make a positive di erence every day. ey are the hand our patients hold for comfort in time of need. It’s an honor to recognize their sel ess giving and relentless e ort. We celebrate their calling and commitment. HealthCare is Better Together.

Charlotte Rankin, RN, is market chief nurse executive for Abrazo Health, which includes Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital, Abrazo Central Campus, Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, Abrazo Surprise Hospital and Abrazo West Campus. For more information, visit AbrazoHealth.com.

If the law is applied–at a minimum–there will be a repeat of Maricopa County’s election. If the law is applied–as it’s written–Kari Lake will be deemed Arizona’s Governor and Abraham Hamadeh will be deemed Arizona’s Attorney General. Contrary to popular belief–this has happened before–and under identical circumstances. Learn more about the illegitimacy of Arizona’s “elected”

BY JUDY BLUHM Glendale Star Columnist

What’s in your attic? Look carefully, dear readers, as a hidden treasure might be tucked inside an old box. Before you take all your old “junk” to the thrift store, you might want to check exactly what you have stashed away. Of course, most of us Arizonans don’t have attics, but we have garages, closets and cabinets that might hold an item valued at millions of dollars.

quired it at a yard sale. Before donating it to a secondhand shop, they took the piece to be appraised by an Asian art expert at Sotheby’s.

he had passed away. ere in a shoebox was a handmade booklet (the paper was old cigarette packages) and written on each of the 50 or so pages that were tied together with string was the name of a serviceman, his home address and serial number. Dad had gotten this from one of his friends who was in a prison of war camp in WWII.

OK, so it might be a long shot, but imagine the luck of one couple in France, when they came across a rather “ugly” vase stored in a shoebox. e couple said that their grandparents had ac-

e exquisite porcelain vessel was made for the Qing Dynasty and is in perfect condition. Representing the images of wildlife in the Imperial hunting grounds of Mulan in northern China, the rare vase was made in the 18th century and is a “ awless” masterpiece. Oh, and someone paid the lucky couple 19 million bucks for it! Guess it won’t be kept in a shoebox.

I did nd quite a few treasures in my mother’s attic when she was moving into an assisted living facility. She had never really looked through dad’s papers when

Attics sometimes store family keepsakes. I discovered my father’s WWII uniform, the passenger list for the ship my mother took as child from England. I found my grandfather’s Bible, which was dated 1911. Written on the inside page was, “I must keep the faith.”

A young man bought a home in Utah and, while poking around in his new garage, found a hole in the ceiling with boxes containing rolled up cash. He and his family counted out $45,000. He contacted the sellers and “happily” returned the loot. He wanted to set an example for his children.

ere are many stories about wildly valuable items that people nd in the boxes in their closets or pick up at a garage sale. But mostly, the things we uncover will be only special to us.

And that’s OK, too. When selling a family home for a client, a forgotten box of family photos and memorabilia was discovered in a closet. ere inside was the greatest treasure trove of all, hundreds of letters tied with ribbon that were sent during WWII between two romantic parents. Beautiful and poignant devotions of hopes, dreams and passion were a lasting testimony of their love.

What’s in your attic? A vase worth millions? Probably not. But look carefully in those discarded shoeboxes. What you nd might be priceless.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email her at judy@judybluhm.com.

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FROM PAGE 8

honest observations like those o ered by Phil Jackson attract re exive rants from woke “contributors” to the sports channel.

Jalen Rose attacked Jackson’s remarks on social media. And in so doing, Rose employed a typical — though, in this case, ill- tting — leftist trope.

“You can’t make this up. … e same Phil Jackson that won championships with some of the greatest Black athletes in the history of the game — Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant — made millions on their backs. And o their sweat equity.”

Just for the record, Jalen … this isn’t 1619, 1859 or even 1969.

e four athletes you mentioned were not subjected to involuntary servitude, and collectively they made millions more than the millions paid to Phil Jackson as their coach.

e same applies to your use of “sweat equity.” e actions of a demanding coach who takes his players through physically exhausting workouts in pursuit of a championship that will further

enrich them all? at just doesn’t t the invited inference of a plantation foreman in the Antebellum South.

Of course, there was more to Rose’s rant … and it focused on the Jacksons’ reaction during “family viewing time.”

“You’re sitting there watching the game with your grandkids, and y’all think it’s funny when ‘justice’ passes the ball to ‘equal opportunity?’”

Well, no.

As Phil explained on the podcast, Jalen, humor was found in the irony of “Justice” driving to the hoop … only to be knocked down by “Equal Opportunity.”

Jalen Rose invites a predictable description to be foisted upon Phil Jackson … but Rose refuses to use the word.

“When somebody shows you who they are, believe them.”

at’s right … “Racist!”

But all Phil suggested was that basketball be the featured attraction of the NBA — not social justice nor “wokeism.” at’s altogether reasonable.

J.D. Hayworth worked as a sportscaster at Channel 10, Phoenix, from 1987 until 1994 and represented Arizona in Congress from 1995-2007.

HAYWORTH

Celebrate the best mom with the 2023 Mother in Business Awards

BY GLENDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As the world continues to change, so do the roles of women.

Today, mothers are not only raising their children but also pursuing their passions in the business world. The Glendale Chamber and March of Dimes have partnered to recognize and award three shining examples of Mothers in Business.

The Mom Entrepreneur, Mom Executive and Mom Manager are all standout women who have managed to balance their demanding careers with the responsibilities of motherhood. These awe-inspiring moms are setting a positive example for women in all fields who seek to achieve their goals and maintain strong family bonds.

The Mom Entrepreneur award was given to Karina Diaz Ortega, CEO of Certified Legal Document Preparer at Diaz Legal Services LLC. She has taken a risk by starting her own business, has poured her heart and soul into her venture, and has managed to make it a success.

Diaz Ortega celebrates every victory and learns from every defeat.

Her children see firsthand the determination it takes to make a dream a reality.

“I always knew I was destined for greatness,” Diaz Ortega said. “I don’t say that to sound arrogant or cocky, but I truly believe that women need to be unapologetically confident. For too long we have been told to sit quietly and look pretty. But in reality, when we stand in our power and start to manifest the things we want to achieve, our potential becomes limitless.”

The Mom Executive award was given to Victoria Franks, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Midwestern Uni-

versity. She is a leader in her field.

Franks has worked hard to climb the corporate ladder and has done so while maintaining her focus on her family. She manages to inspire those around her to work hard and play hard, setting an example that success can be achieved without sacrificing family time.

“I am humbled and honored to be the recipient of the 2023 Mom Executive Award,” Franks said. Balancing motherhood, a career, and being a wife is certainly challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Although it was hard at the beginning, I think achieving the acceptance of nonperfection has helped me keep a good work-life balance. My beautiful daughter has always been my reason to do what I do. By seeing that I’m happy pursuing my professional goals, I hope she will be empowered to do the same.”

The Mom Manager award was given to Susan Leon, work-based learning specialist at West-MEC. A true “Jill-of-alltrades,” she effectively juggles multiple tasks and responsibilities each day.

Leon is the glue that keeps her team together, and her ability to stay organized is inspiring. Her children see the importance of being able to balance multiple priorities without letting anything slip through the cracks.

“It is hard to describe how becoming a mom changed my life,” Leon said.

“Before growing our family, I focused on growing myself, seeking as much career growth and opportunities as possible. When I became a mom, that desire didn’t go away, but my children helped me to redistribute that drive into the most rewarding elements in my life.”

These women are more than just successful businesswomen. They are also devoted mothers who have managed to find a balance between their passion for their careers and their love for their

Karina Diaz Ortega Victoria Franks

Susan Leon

Biz 2 Biz West Valley Expo is coming soon

BY GLENDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the new venue space at Arizona State University West for the 2023 Biz 2 Biz Expo.

Don’t wait, as spaces fill up quickly and you don’t want to miss this unparalleled opportunity for all businesses throughout the West Valley and beyond to showcase their products and services to hundreds of decision makers and buyers.

Free to attend and open to the public,

this highly productive event offers the perfect opportunity for maximum impact within an efficient three-hour window.

While attending, you’ll have the opportunity to develop critical relationships with surrounding businesses and leaders throughout Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Tolleson, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Sun City, Sun City West, Wickenburg and Youngtown.

Register at bit.ly/2023Biz2Biz or call the Glendale Chamber at 623-937-4754 for more information.

AWARDS FROM PAGE 1

families, and their commitment to both is nothing short of awe inspiring.

“At the Glendale Chamber, we believe working moms can power through issues and problems with grit and resilience, because their parenting responsibilities have trained them well,” said Robert Heidt, president and CEO of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce.

“In fact, women who are working and raising children at the same time have strength and empathy that sets them apart. Additionally, they help their children understand the importance of a ca-

reer, and they encourage them to work hard to pursue their dreams. We love our moms.”

To the Mom Entrepreneur, Mom Executive and Mom Manager recipients of the 2023 Mother in Business award, we say congratulations! Your dedication to your families and profession is remarkable, and we are proud to honor your achievements. May you continue to inspire and motivate women everywhere to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals while maintaining strong family bonds.

The

Chamber of Commerce

the following members and extends a heartfelt thank-you for their support of the chamber and our community.

Arizona Savings Book

623-349-9463

City of Glendale Councilmember Lauren Tolmacho

623-930-2878

EOS Linx LLC

623-224-5989

Moxie Salon and Spa

623-780-7655

PB &

602-580-4160

Priddy Faces LLC

602-618-6493

Prospect Machine Inc. 623-780-3322

Red Bull

480-372-2575

Skin Haus Aesthetics 602-390-4711

Southwest Kids Cancer Foundation 623-910-1572

e

West 623-231-7597

“The first thing that people notice about me is my

WaFd Bank 623-334-9724 The

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Rainbow Ryders joins entertainment lineup

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

Rainbow Ryders, one of the biggest hot air balloon companies in the country, is celebrating its 40-year anniversary by opening a new facility in Glendale.

e presence in Glendale will provide never-before-seen views of the city’s scenery and will look to become a staple for tourists and residents looking to get their eye in the sky.

“Coming out to Glendale, working with the community there, as well as Luke Air Force Base, we are very pleased with our welcome and we’re looking forward to it,” said Scott Appelman, founder and CEO of Rainbow Ryders. “We’re thrilled.”

In 1983 Appelman founded Rainbow Ryders, which was formerly located in North Phoenix.

“At the beginning, to be honest with you, it was the idea of being able to make a living out of what I love to do — ying balloons, entertaining people and being part of their memories,” Appelman said. “We’re blown away by our growth, and we didn’t realize this type of size was possible. But we have a great team at Rainbow Ryders with 100-plus folks working on a daily basis in di erent locations.

“Our whole appeal is really simple. We want that ve-star experience. We want it to be the safest of any company out there. We have very high standards for balloon pilots. It’s just one of those

things, it’s a privilege to be part of people’s memories and we want to make sure that that’s a great memory.”

For Appelman, the move to Glendale’s fast-growing market is a big deal, but it wasn’t the thing that had him most excited.

“I don’t think in my career of business I’ve ever met a more welcoming and supportive government infrastructure for us being out there, once they heard.” he said. “I was just blown away by how welcoming they are and how excited they are to have another asset for the West Valley to be able to promote.

“ e timing is really great with the new resort and the new hotels going in out there. I see a very, very strong possibility of some really good stu from the tour-

ism aspect, especially with the city and the community support that we’ve seen.”

Rainbow Ryders adds another level of entertainment in Glendale, joining Westgate Entertainment District, State Farm Stadium and the under-construction VAI Resort.

“ is is probably one of those crowning jewels in my career,” Appelman said. “I am very pleased to think that, as I look at stepping further and further back from the business on a daily basis, I’m thrilled to have what we’re doing in Glendale, it’s really showing quite the evolution of Rainbow Ryders.”

Rainbow Ryders rainbowryders.com

After 40 years in business, Rainbow Ryders is locating its next hot air balloon ride facility in Glendale, adding to a plethora of activities to do in the city. (Rainbow Ryders/Submitted)

With Wellcare, you’ll get access to all of the top-tier benefits you want, plus a little extra, including:

Money back into your Social Security every year

Dental services with no annual max, including exams, fillings, extractions, implants, and dentures

Vision and hearing coverage

Benefits vary by plan. ‘Ohana Health Plan, a plan offered by Wellcare Health Insurance of Arizona, Inc. Wellcare is the Medicare brand for Centene Corporation, an HMO, PPO, PFFS, PDP plan with a Medicare contract and is an approved Part D Sponsor. Our D-SNP plans have a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Washington residents: Health Net Life Insurance Company is contracted with Medicare for PPO plans. “Wellcare by Health Net” is issued by Health Net Life Insurance Company. Washington residents: “Wellcare” is issued by Wellcare of Washington, Inc. Washington residents: “Wellcare” is issued by Wellcare Health Insurance Company of Washington, Inc. Wellcare by Allwell (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Superior HealthPlan, Inc. and Superior HealthPlan

Solutions, Inc. Wellcare (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Wellcare of Texas, Inc., Wellcare National Health Insurance Company, and SelectCare of Texas, Inc. Cosmetic procedures are not covered under this benefit.

tar The Glendale

The Glendale Star publishes on Thursday. The weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit groups — runs every issue.

The Open Mic WEDNESDAYS

Stir Crazy Comedy Club hosts its weekly open mic night. Those interested are likely to see new talent as well as seasoned comedians just looking to work on new material. Think you have what it takes to take the stage and make the audience laugh? Now is your chance. There are 10 sign-up spots that will become available online at noon on Monday.

Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E206, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, stircrazycomedyclub. com

Momma’s Organic Market SATURDAYS

Featuring food trucks, local artisans and fresh produce, this weekly farmers market gives locals the chance to shop local and shop fresh. Taking place near Dillard’s, new vendors grace this event weekly. Admission is free, and furry friends are allowed if they’re on a leash. Cash and cards are accepted as methods of payment, and the market runs from 8 to 11 a.m.

Arrowhead Towne Center, 7780 W. Arrowhead Towne Center, Glendale, 8 a.m., free, arrowheadtownecenter.com

Snap Battles

MAY 4

This is the Valley’s original insult comedy tournament. Eight comedians will face o in a series of head-to-head, no-holds-barred roast comedy matches until one is declared winner by audience applause. This show will keep you on your toes and rolling with laughter from beginning to end. Comedians to compete are Chris Herb, Andrew Orellana, Marc Silverstein, Celia Contreras, Chris Mosley, Kam Sneed, Bubba McComb and Leslie Barton.

Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Westgate Entertainment

Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the Star’s coverage area, which is in the city of Glendale.

Weekly calendar items print on a space-available basis. The only way to guarantee that an item will print is to purchase an advertisement.

Submissions must reach our o ce by 4 p.m. Thursday to be considered for the following Thursday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Jordan Rogers, jrogers@timeslocalmedia.com.

District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E206, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, stircrazycomedyclub. com com

Lego Mania

MAY 4

Stop in at the Velma Teague Library and build a Lego masterpiece. Families with kids ages 3 to 12 are invited to this hourlong program of free building with Legos. The supplies will be provided, and all you have to bring is your imagination.

Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale, 4 to 5 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary. com

Anime and Manga Club

MAY 5

Meet up with other teens and discuss manga both recent and old. Suggest your favorites to others, or find something new and exciting from those with similar interests. The club focuses not only on anime and manga, but around the culture that surrounds the community.

Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale, 4 to 5 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary. com

Bluegrass Jam

MAY 5

Bring your acoustic instrument and play bluegrass, country, folk, gospel and more, round-robin style. All levels of players are welcome. Audience and singers also are encouraged to attend. This event takes

place on the first and third Friday of each month.

Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale, 1 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Free Comic Book Day

MAY 6

Drawn to Comics, Downtown Glendale’s source for comic books, gaming and collectibles, will give away comics in celebration of Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 6, at the Velma Teague Library. Comics will be o ered on a first-come, firstserved basis and while supplies last. Enjoy select vendors, cosplay, and crafts and games for kids. Activities will take place inside the Velma Teague Library and at the Drawn to Comics store located across the street.

Velma Teague Library, 7010 N 58th Avenue, Glendale, Drawn to Comics, 5801 W. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Old-Time Music Jam MAY 6

The Old-Time Music Jam focuses on traditional instrumental music, including Appalachian fiddle tunes, Celtic and Canadian reels, jigs, hornpipes and other roots music. All acoustical instruments are encouraged to share in these traditional tunes: dulcimers, fiddles, banjos, guitars, harps, mandolins, Dobros, Irish whistles, etc. Players of all ages and ability are welcome to join in the time-honored tradition of gathering and playing music. This event takes place every first and third Saturday of the month.

Foothills Library, Roadrunner Room, 19055 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., glendaleazlibrary.com

Carmela y Mas MAY 6

Enjoy the hot Latin sounds of award-winning performing artist Carmela Ramirez and her eightpiece Latin jazz salsa band. Listen to a full kaleidoscope of Afro-Cuban rhythms delivered with electric energy.

Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

Pokémon Card Tournament MAY 8

Children ages 7 to 12 are invited to participate in a Pokémon card tournament. Bring your favorite cards and become a Pokémon Master! A number of prizes will be up for grabs. No registration is required. Velma Teague Library, VTL Meeting Room, Glendale, 7010 N. 58th Avenue, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., glendaleazlibrary.com

The Str8 Up Band MAY 11

For those looking for an upbeat act to see, the Str8 Up Band is one to check out. They play a variety of music from genres like hip-hop, disco and jazz in English to salsa, cumbias and Tejano in Spanish. They deliver across these genres thanks to their five singers. Audience participation will not only be welcomed but encouraged.

Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

they have shows in the

One Step Beyond hosts 2023 Showcase Festival

BY GREY GARTIN Glendale Star Staff Writer

One Step Beyond Inc., an organization focused on providing a variety of services and programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, is hosting an artistic showcase festival at Glendale Heroes Regional Park to give their program participants the opportunity to demonstrate their dance routines and music and culinary skills at a carnival-style family event.

One Step Beyond Inc. (OSBI) lists the values of inclusion, opportunity, person-centered thinking and understanding as key to their mission. Through OSBI’s outreach and programs, the nonprofit hopes to bring entire communities of people together in order to foster an understanding of one another.

OSBI offers visual art, theater, music and dance programs for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. The organization also has health and

wellness programs, vocational and culinary training as well as life skills programs.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many

of the smaller OSBI group artistic performances have been shuttered by in-person gathering restrictions and other mandates. Therefore, the organi-

zation wanted to give its participants the opportunity to get onstage and demonstrate all their hard work in their respective arts.

“This is our first time back at community-type events for our performing arts programs,” said Madison Blanton, CEO of OSBI.

Blanton said the OSBI Showcase Festival 2023 will be a day full of family fun. The retro carnival theme will bring activities like bounce houses, face painting, interactive art, cotton candy and sno-cones, among others, all of which will accommodate attendees of all ages.

“Our culinary program will also have a presence there,” Blanton added. “They’re going to be selling lunches throughout the day, but then also we have a hot dog cart that we cater out that’s going to be there. So plenty of food, plenty of activities … we wanted

Arizona’s veterinary grads aid shortfall of vets

BY SARAH MIN HELLER Cronkite News

Veterinarians and students dashed around and huddled over exam tables, as caged dogs and cats awaited or recovered from treatment at Midwestern University’s College of Veterinary Medicine on a recent spring weekday.

“I like making an impact on animals, as well as the people who care for them,” said Jazmine Kim, who is planning to graduate from Midwestern in 2024. “The opportunities that I’ve had here are ones that I will carry with me forever.”

Kim, 32, was a vet tech before starting at Midwestern. She planned to work with wildlife but found she enjoys dogs and cats. And because Arizona has made veterinary school extremely affordable through a new loan repayment program,

this Washington state transplant is planning to practice veterinary medicine in the Grand Canyon State for at least four years.

“That was actually a big motivator for staying in the state,” Kim said. “Having a little bit of loan forgiveness and loan support was extremely tempting, incentivising, I guess, to stay in Arizona. I’ve lived in Washington for most of my life, so I think I liked the change anyway.”

Kim is helping bolster the shortfall of veterinarians in Arizona and the United States. There has been a recent decline in veterinarians and vet technicians nationally, said Stephanie Nichols-Young, president of the Animal Defense League of Arizona.

Employment of veterinarians is pro-

One Step Beyond is gearing up for its 2023 Showcase Festival, an event that will feature games, interactive art, ra es, activities and food catered by food trucks and the OSBI Culinary Program. (One Step Beyond/Submitted)

Midwestern University’s Animal Health Institute Mobile Clinic gives doctors and students the ability to travel around the community to help animals and pet owners. (Izabella Hernandez/Cronkite News)

jected to grow 19% from 2021 to 2031, compared to 5% for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s in large part because new veterinarians are needed to replace ones who are retiring or leaving the occupation. The American Animal Hospital Association estimates about 2,000 veterinarians retire each year in the U.S., while others leave the often-demanding field, and only about 2,600 veterinarians graduate annually.

To help fill the gap, Arizona’s Legislature passed SB 1271 in 2022, creating the Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Program. It includes up to $100,000 of student loan reimbursement for veterinarians who obtain a degree after Jan. 1, 2023, and work in Arizona for at least four years.

Two of those years must be at a municipal, county or nonprofit shelter, or in an agricultural practice designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as having a shortage of vets.

The Arizona Humane Society, which was instrumental in pushing for the legislation, said in a statement the program

was badly needed: “Animal lives have been at risk because Arizona doesn’t have enough veterinarians to provide lifesaving services at public shelters and private clinics — in both urban and rural areas. This has negatively affected pet owners, ranchers, private veterinary practices, and animal shelters and rescues across the state.”

Compounding the problem, for decades, was the fact that Arizona had no official veterinary schools. There are only about 32 accredited veterinary schools nationwide, according to the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.

In 2012, Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine started a four-year program in Glendale, west of Deer Valley.

Midwestern expects 125 vets to graduate this May. And in 2020, because the veterinarian shortage was getting more pronounced, the University of Arizona created a College of Veterinary Medicine and started a three-year program in Oro Valley, north of Tucson, enrolling 110 veterinary students out of about 518 applicants.

The University of Arizona expects 105 vets to graduate this August. Together, the two schools will graduate about 230 veterinarians this year, and they contin-

ue to get more applications than they can accommodate. Midwestern alone said it gets more than 1,400 applicants annually for its veterinary medicine program.

At Midwestern — a private college with a main campus in Downers Grove, Illinois — students learn early on how to neuter an animal, which covers many surgery basics, according to Dr. Rachael Kreisler, associate professor of shelter medicine and epidemiology at the school.

“Our students are our primary surgeons for our cases,” said Kreisler, a veterinarian who had just finished talking to a pet owner whose cat needed its infected limb amputated. “We’re out here, trying to help the community.”

Midwestern works with nonprofits such as St. Vincent de Paul, the Humane Society and some tribal entities, including the Navajo Nation, Kreisler said. The partners schedule patients’ pets for students to learn and practice their skills in the college’s mobile surgery clinic — which was introduced in 2015 — or its

(Stock image)

pop-up clinic for nonsurgery cases, introduced in 2019.

Along with the college’s mobile and pop-up clinics, it also has the Companion Animal Clinic building, which looks like a traditional vet clinic, where people can have their pets treated.

The University of Arizona has a threeyear, year-round course, said Dr. Nellie Goetz, associate professor of practice at the school’s College of Veterinary Medicine. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree typically takes four years with summer breaks.

“The design of the vet school being three years was intended to address the vet shortage in that, over time, more veterinarians will be graduated due to the shorter duration of the program,” Goetz said. “They’re done a little earlier, so they’re not spending as much time in school, and also … they’re not spending as much money on school.”

UArizona’s vet program is distributive, which means there is no teaching hospital for students on campus.

“We’re sending the students out to general-practice clinics where they see

things that they’re going to see every single day once they graduate from vet school,” said Goetz, adding that rather than a curriculum full of lecture classes, UArizona students engage in active learning and check their knowledge with a team of classmates.

“They stick in those teams throughout the entirety of their school education until they get to their clinical year,” Goetz said. “They sort of answer those knowledge checks together as a team, which really helps learning.”

The school also has been trying to teach students about the overall challenges of veterinary medicine and running a practice.

A 2018 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found veterinarians in the U.S. at increased risk for suicide — a trend the CDC found spanned more than three decades. Factors cited

in the study included long work hours, work overload, difficult practice management responsibilities, poor work-life balance, and access to euthanasia used for animals.

UArizona isn’t ignoring issues of worklife imbalance, Goetz said.

“If I’m working from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus I’m not working on the weekends, but I’m called in on the weekends, or I’m answering phone calls on the weekends or texts on the weekends or things like that, I don’t have a lot of time to myself, and I’m not getting paid well, those are really difficult things to overcome,” Goetz added.

Both Midwestern and UArizona encourage veterinary students to nurture their mental health. At UArizona, students get mental health breaks, a gym, counselors, learning specialists and mental health specialists. Midwestern

The latest breaking news and top local stories in Glendale! Get Your Copy Today!

has free counseling and a mental health hotline, and the school works with a chapter of Not One More Vet, a mental wellness organization for veterinarians.

“The school is very forward thinking about those kinds of things,” Goetz said, “and really making sure they’re paying attention to what the students are feeling and thinking and what they’re going through.”

One of the side effects in Arizona of having fewer vets is an inability to offer adequate basic community services like trap-neuter-return, which is an effort to help lower the feral and stray cat population. The practice involves humanely trapping free-roaming cats, and neutering and ear-tipping them before returning them to their colony locations to stop overpopulation.

The Animal Defense League of Arizona, which specializes in TNR, says it neuters about 15,000 cats per year in Maricopa County alone. The Humane Society estimates there are 30 to 40 million outdoor, or community, cats in the United States.

When cats with microchips get trapped, their owners are contacted and asked for permission to neuter them, said Kelsey Dickerson, Arizona Humane Society media relations specialist.

“If it’s brought in by someone and they don’t know if it’s a community cat or if it’s not safe to put them back in the area that they’re from, we also have a Working Cats Program,” said Dickerson, explaining the program uses free-roaming cats that aren’t suited for inside living for adoption as pest control in warehouses, mills and barns.

With better knowledge of TNR, more cats are brought in to be neutered, which means more veterinarians will be needed. About 90% of pet owners spay or neuter their pets, Kreisler said.

Because Arizona’s loan repayment program is new, it isn’t yet clear how effective the program will be. Other states including North Dakota and Minnesota have veterinary loan repayment programs that encourage rural veterinary practice, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a national Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.

Dr. Steven Hansen, president and CEO of the Arizona Humane Society, said veterinarians are able to apply for Arizona’s loan repayment program after they have graduated and received an Arizona veterinary license.

Out-of-state graduates can also apply for the loan assistance if they get their veterinary license in Arizona. They must practice for four years in the state, after which they will receive

the loan repayment funds, Hansen said.

Veterinary student debt averaged $157,146 in 2020, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinarians’ median pay was $100,370 per year in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Garrett Steinbroner, 39, a UArizona student scheduled to graduate in 2024, decided not to apply for Arizona’s loan assistance program, because he’s not planning to stay in the state.

“It seems like a great option for those that want to give back to their community, are riddled with debt, and plan on living in Arizona long term,” said Steinbroner, who said he realized he wanted to attend veterinary school after seeing several community cats being fed by security guards at a Hawaiian harbor where he was working as a first officer on a ship that was docked there. He wants to work for the Humane Society after graduating.

“You just can’t feed them. You’ve got to fix them, or there’s going to be more and more,” Steinbroner said. “The biggest possible difference you can make in the most animals’ lives — the most animals you can reach would be through TNR.”

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

to have some fun things, so we’re gonna have carnival-style games.”

Entrance to the event is free, but tickets should be acquired online in advance. Once at the event, attendees can purchase food and drink from the food trucks and other vendors at Glendale Heroes Regional Park.

“Our big mission for the organization is to provide programs for people with disabilities, but not just that, it’s to really provide a service to our community so that if they’ve never worked or had an experience with a person with a disability before, that we create those kinds of opportunities so that they can get to know people with intellectual disabilities,” Blanton said.

Blanton started at the organization as a volunteer in high school. She later returned to the organization to finish what she had started years earlier — a robust performing arts program that focused on making community connections and

fostering new relationships.

“That’s what we’re hoping, that this event is going to be not just an opportunity for individuals to go out and dance and show their families and community members their skills, but an opportunity for the community to get together and celebrate inclusivity,” Blanton said.

One Step Beyond Showcase Festival 2023

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 7

WHERE: Glendale Heroes Regional Park, northeast corner of 83rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road, Glendale

COST: Entrance is free, but tickets must be purchased in advance online. Food and drink available for purchase.

INFO: More details at osbi.org/ showcase-festival-2023

Ask yourself what kind of impact impacts you

Here’s an example of a di erence maker who made a di erence for her boss.

A church secretary takes a call. e caller asks, “Is the head hog at the trough there?” e secretary says, “Please, sir, do not refer to our pastor as the head hog of the trough. at is very insulting.” “Oh, I’m very sorry. I meant nothing by that. It’s just a local phrase we use in the part of the country I come from. e real reason I called was to donate $50,000 to your building fund.” e secretary says, “Hold on. I see the ‘Big Oinker’ coming through the door right now.” Now, there’s a friend.

In times like these, it’s easy to be inuenced by movie stars, television stars, sports gures and media heroes. You know which big names in big lights capture your imagination. Many try to emulate their heroes without even knowing them. But is that wise? Is who you see from afar really who they are? Are your heroes real heroes in real life?

Readers, here are some questions to ask yourselves. You don’t have to answer the questions. Just read the questions, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the ve wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last ve Heisman Trophy winners.

3. Name the last ve winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name 10 people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer awards.

5. Name the last half-dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s World Series winners in baseball.

How did you do? e point is that very few of us remember the headliners of yesterday. ese are not second-rate achievers. On the contrary, they are the best in their elds. However, most of their achievements are forgotten after

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Glendale Star Columnist

the applause dies and the awards tarnish. Mostly, their accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Here’s another quiz. Let’s see how we do on this one.

1. List a few teachers who aided and eased your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a di cult time.

3. Name ve people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. ink of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. ink of ve people you enjoy spending time with.

Was this an easier quiz to answer? e lesson here is that the people who make a di erence in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most headlines, the most money or the most awards. ey are not faraway heroes.

ey are the ones who cared for you and were involved in your life. Some people talk to you in their free time, and others free their time to talk to you. Learn the di erence.

Let me give an example of a real difference maker. Her name is Amy Whit-

tington. I read about her in a book titled “Something to Smile About” by author/ speaker Zig Ziglar. People like Amy don’t just touch you, they change you by elevating you. ey make you feel better, act better, live better and relate better.

“Miss Amy Whittington would undoubtedly qualify as one who directly and indirectly in uenced thousands of people. At age 83, she was still teaching a Sunday school class in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. Amy learned that Moody Bible Institute in Chicago o ered a seminar to teach people how to be more effective teachers. She saved her pennies until she had the necessary money to buy a bus ticket to Chicago. She rode the bus all night to attend the seminary to learn new methods of procedures so she could do a better job.

“One of the professors, impressed with her age, enthusiasm, and the fact that she had ridden a bus all night to attend the seminar, engaged her in conversation. First, he asked her what age group she taught and how many were in her class. She responded that she taught a class of junior high school boys, with thirteen in the class. en the teacher asked her how many kids attended her

church. Miss Whittington replied, ‘Fifty.’ e professor was astonished that she taught more than 25% of the church’s youth and asked Any, ‘With that kind of record, we should have you teach us how to teach.’”

What kind of impact did Amy have? Eighty-six of those boys she taught in her Sunday school class through the years ended up in ministry. ink of all the thousands of people, directly or indirectly, touched by Amy’s students. I imagine almost every boy would recall Amy as a di erence maker.

Caring involves relationships, and the right relationships lead to real ministry, in uence and impact in people’s lives. at’s why God put all the “one another” verses in the Bible. God knows longterm, caring, and real and tangible relationships are powerful transformational agents that a ect people for the rest of their lives. God designed it that way. at’s why God calls us friends (John 15:15).

God has helped me up close and personal, and He wants to help you, too! God is a real di erence maker in your life. In our lifetime, each one of us in uences countless numbers of people by word and deed — either good or bad. We are di erence makers. Be the change for the better.

Hey, ain’t it good to know that you have a friend.

GOD’S LOVE IS ETERNAL

16000 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City AZ 85351 Tel: 623-974-3611

SUNDAY WORSHIP - 10 AM and Live-Streamed at www.scfaith.org

SUNDAY, May 7

10am worship service

11:15am mini-concert

University of Dubuque (Iowa)

Concert Choir & Chamber Singers

Refreshments following concert

Harvest CHurCH

8340 W. Northern Ave.

Glendale, AZ 85305

Information 623.334.9482

Dr. Ron G. Rockwell – Pastor

Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

Nursery Provided

Wednesday: Family Night 7:00 p.m.

www.hcaz.org

8340

“An inclusive, welcoming, caring community, serving Jesus Christ”

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GESD hosts performance to honor Mexican tradition

BY JOE MCHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

For the rst time, over 100 students at Horizon School marched toward their typical playground area, but this time not with a ball or jump rope in hand, rather as performers for a crowd of over 200 people.

Eager parents, family and friends watched and cheered along as their kids put on a Spanish dancing and singing performance, out tted in an array of rainbow-colored Latin skirts, ponchos, cowboy-style hats and tap dance shoes, to honor the long-standing Mexican tradition El Día de los Niños, also known as Children’s Day. is performance was inspired by the strides that the Glendale Elementary

School District has made in the way of its agship dual enrollment program, with Horizon and William C. Jack schools being the rst two in the district to o er it.   Centered around embracing both the English and Spanish sides of education, the program gives students the opportunity to take their rst half of the day in English and the second half in Spanish — an aspect of learning that Horizon School Principal Sarah Balder said can give students an advantage as they grow older.

“I’m a big believer, as a leader on this campus, if my sta comes to me and says they want to try something or do something, if it’s for kids, we’re going to do it,”

Children from Horizon School showed o their choreographed dance performances at the first annual Día de los Niños celebration. (Glendale Elementary School District/Submitted)

GCC student entrepreneurs receive grants

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Two Glendale Community College (GCC) students recently received $2,500 each from the “Make Business Happen at GCC” grant for their small-business startups.

Laura Morales won for Hands2Teach, a micro school for deaf and hard of hearing children, and Eva Meade will use the grant to grow her custom cake decorating business, Big Day Cakes.

Funding for the awards is courtesy of a donation from Wells Fargo Bank and is made available through entrepreneurship programs at GCC, as well as 10 sister colleges in the Maricopa Community College District and in cooperation with the Small Business Development Center.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of Wells Fargo that allows us to support our students with funding for their small business, in addition to mentoring and classroom instruction,” said Dr. Gabriela Cojanu, entrepreneurship and small-business faculty at GCC.

“GCC uses the Wells Fargo donation to fund scholarships and grants, which help student entrepreneurs with startup costs. ese scholarships and grants include the Advancing Entrepreneurship Scholarship, which covers tuition for GCC’s Small Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies program and the Make Business Happen at GCC grant, which awards $2,500 to two students each semester for starting or growing their business.”

Morales is the owner of Hands2Teach micro school for deaf and hard of hearing elementary school children. Her mission is to provide deaf and hard of hearing children a place where they can learn sign language alongside English and Spanish.

She completed a Deaf Studies Certi -

cate at Phoenix College and attended Arizona State University, where she earned her teaching degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. Her experience and expertise come from working in public schools and personal experience as a mom to a deaf child.

Morales can be reached by phone at 602-503-0062 or email at hands2teach@

PUZZLE PAGE

ACROSS

1 Cuts o

5 Cookout, brie y

8 Gridlock sound

12 Jacob’s brother

13 Actress Lucy

14 In -- land

15 Goatee’s spot

16 Here (Fr.)

17 Saharan

18 Submit

20 Give temporarily

22 Blue blood

26 Tour vehicles

29 Toe count

30 Actress Hagen

31 Sciences’ partner

32 Auction signal

33 Urban haze

34 Vitamin stat

35 Architect I.M. --

36 Stinging insects

37 Administrative worker

40 Lean to one side

41 Redacted

45 Poker variety

47 -- Victor

49 Art Deco master

50 Carton sealer

51 Texas tea

52 Albacore, e.g.

53 Cold War initials

54 ‘60s war zone

55 Once around the sun

DOWN

1 Nobelist Walesa

ANSWERS ON PAGE 28

2 Job-safety org.

3 Ache

4 Ice cream parlor orders

5 Russian pancakes

6 Pen name

7 Took part in a bee

8 Mel of many voices

9 Hearing aids?

10 Inventor Whitney

11 Knee protector

19 1040 org.

21 Many millennia

23 Unemotional

24 Perched on

25 Labels

26 Biting remark

27 Pakistani language

28 New companies

32 Uncharged particle

33 Full feeling

35 Crony

36 Bankroll

38 Duck down

39 Kingdom

42 Loyal

43 Sicilian spouter

44 Beloved

45 R-V link

46 Prof’s helpers

48 Spy org.

by Donna Pettman

LAURA MORALES

she said. “ is has been my vision for many years now.”

e community reception was positive, as parents were cheering alongside their children, who had worked hard to get ready for the performance and was the culmination of their dedication in the school year. Alongside that, the performance served as exposure for the program, showing o what it can teach its students while they are enrolled.

“( is is) what brings my community out,” Balder said. “I have over 200 open enrollments right now on this campus out of my 940. My boundaries are just a square mile or two around this campus, but I also have people that asked to come here. at’s a very proud moment for me as a principal because it tells me my sta , my team and I are doing something great. But also, my sta has kids. ey bring their children. So, it’s what they want their children to do.”

Balder said she has been looking for something like the dual enrollment

program for much of her time as an educator, as she feels that it brings many bene ts further down the line for the children.

“With a vision of mine and our district, our board and our superintendent for years, they believed in giving specialty or something unique to each campus in Glendale, and we were the one of the rst schools with William C. Jack, in 2018, to be a specialty school,” she said.

With the success that the performance saw, Balder said the schools will keep looking for ways to innovate and stay ahead of the curve in education, as well as help children nd whatever it is that makes them happy while at school.

“You can be successful maybe in sports, you can be successful maybe in the garden, you might be crochet, or you might be a singer,” Balder said. “I want to give you that opportunity because I think our children nowadays need to feel success some way, somehow, and if that’s what it takes, I’m going to give it to them.”

GRANTS FROM PAGE 27

gmail.com. For more information on Hands2Teach, visit hands2teach. com or visit its Instagram page at @hands2teach.

Meade is the owner and operator of Big Day Cakes AZ, a cake decorating company, selling custom cakes made to order. Eva has a passion for sculpting and is applying her talent to make beautiful cake creations all the way to life-size designs. She can be reached by phone at 602-510-9765 or email at eva@ bigdaycakesaz.com. For more information on Big Day Cakes AZ, visit bigdaycakesaz.com or visit its Facebook and Instagram pages at Big Day Cakes and @bigday_cakes.

GCC students are eligible to apply for the Advancing Entrepreneurship and Make Business Happen at GCC grant, and the next grant application deadline is on Sunday, Oct. 22.

For more information about small-business and entrepreneurship classes and funding opportunities at GCC, contact Cojanu at gabriela. cojanu@gccaz.edu.

Día de los Niños was inspired by the dual enrollment program at Horizon and William C. Jack schools (Glendale Elementary School District/Submitted)

Turn Off the Computer JOB SEEKERS

In 2023, most job hunting takes place online. From finding a job to researching it to interviewing—the internet is a job hunter’s best friend. However, there are still things that can and should be done the old-fashioned way.

What sort of tasks can be done once you close your computer and turn off your WiFi? You can attend job fairs, conduct in-person networking, use career counseling services, volunteer with service and charitable organizations or work at an internship.

JOB OR CAREER FAIRS

Job fairs, also known as career fairs, are events where representatives from multiple companies—or sometimes multiple hiring managers from a single company— gather for a day to meet with potential job candidates.

The most common type of job fairs are those organized for students so those who are graduating can connect with representatives of companies from around the country. The other common type of job fair are when a single organization is planning to do a lot of hiring because they’ve opened a new location, added services or are a start-up.

NETWORKING

While much networking can be done online, nothing replaces the impression that you make when you meet someone face-to-face. Get out in your community and in the places where people you want to work with are. Social hire recommends the following for off-line networking: be fearless, be cheerful, be energetic, ask people about themselves and really listen to the answers and track people down.

CAREER COUNSELING SERVICES

Career counseling can help you find a new career or adapt your skills to be more competitive in your current career.

Thriveworks, an organization that connects people with counselors, describes

career counseling as good for anyone who is thinking about a change in their career or who is just getting started with their work life. They describe career counseling as something that is:

• Designed to help you make informed occupational and education decisions.

• Participatory — the counselor won’t do all the work for you or make decisions for you.

• Multi-faceted and varying from person-to-person depending on their needs and skills.

• A place where you might take an IQ or personality test as a way of discovering potential career paths.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet people and beef up your resume. It can also be a personally rewarding experience.

Do you belong to a religious organization? Most synagogues, mosques and churches have opportunities for volunteering whether it is working on the building or grounds, doing clerical work or helping serve people in the community.

What are your interests? You may be able to match your personal passions and interests to a volunteer opportunity in your community. If you like reading, consider volunteering as a tutor to help people learn to read or help refugees learn English. Perhaps there is a reading program in one of your local schools where you can read to students. Do you enjoy the performing arts? Perhaps you could be an usher. Do you like working with others? Health care organizations, senior centers and community centers are often looking for volunteers.

INTERNSHIPS

While most internships don’t pay well — or at al — they can be a springboard into a long-lasting career. It is an opportunity to learn skills needed for a career that you want, make contacts and put valuable experience on your resume.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Advertisement FOR BIDS for construction contract

Sealed Bids for the construction of the Maricopa Mountain Domestic Water Improvement District (MMDWID) Water System Upgrades –

Phases 1, 2 and 3 at the offices of WestLand Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. (Issuing Office) , on June 15, 2023 no later than 3:00 p.m. Bids will be opened publicly immediately following Bid close at Issuing office. Bid submittals received after the specified time and date will not be considered.

Advertisement Date : April 18, 2023

Issuing Office : WestLand Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.

Electronic bid submittals should be emailed to : dmiller@westlandresources.com

Printed submittals should be mailed/delivered to : WestLand Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. (WestLand) Attn: Maricopa Mountain DWID, 4001 E. Paradise Falls Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85712

Project Summary: The project is intended to be Bid in 3 phases. Phase 1 includes (2) Storage tanks, hydropneumatic tank, liquid chlorinator, booster stations, well equipping, 9,950 lf 6-inch PVC transmission main, Phase 2 includes 23,500 4-inch & 25,200 lf of 6-inch PVC distribution waterline, Phase 3 includes well equipping, tablet chlorinator, 16,900 lf 4-inch PVC transmission main and distribution waterlines, all with related appurtenances.

Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bids shall be on a lump sum basis, as indicated on the Bid Form. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00AM3:00PM MST and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.

Bid Documents will be provided electronically by emailing a request to dmiller@westlandresources.com . A link will be provided to download the Bid Documents. Electronic copies of the Bid documents can also be obtained on a flash drive upon email request at WestLand’s Tucson offices for a non-refundable fee of $10.00.

All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of Bidder’s total. Bid amount as noted in Article 8 of the Instruction to Bidders.

A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid conference and site visit will be held at the MMDWID office located at 727 N. Amarillo Valley Road, Maricopa, AZ 85139, on May 18, 2023 at 10:00 am

No bid will be accepted unless it is made on the Bidder’s Proposal Forms furnished by the Issuing Office. All bids are to be compared according to Article 18 in Instructions to Bidders. Maricopa Mountain DWID reserves the right to reject any and all bids or any part thereof, or to accept any bids or any part thereof, or to waive any irregularity, informality, or technicality in any bid, or to withhold the award to the extent permitted by law. MMDWID further reserves the right to seek new bids if, in the judgment of MMDWID, the best interest of MMDWID will be promoted thereby. The Bidder may not withdraw his/her bid prior to execution of the contract by the successful bidder. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 10, Title 32, entitled “Professions and Occupations” of the Arizona Revised Statutes, no bid will be accepted from a bidder who is not fully and properly licensed as a contractor for the work to be done by him/her. Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the Work as described in the Instructions to Bidders.

The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible, responsive, qualified bidder. All contract awards are based upon budgetary constraints.

This project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The Contractor for this project is strongly encouraged to use DBE/MBE subcontractors whenever possible. American Iron and Steel : Section 746 of Title VII of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (Division A - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriat ions Act, 2017) and subsequent statutes mandating domestic preference applies an American Iron and Steel requirement to this project. All iron and steel products used in this project must be produced in the United States. The term “iron and steel products” means the following products made primarily of iron or steel: lined or unlined pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other municipal castings, hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and restraints, valves, structural steel, reinforced precast concrete, and Construction Materials.

The following waivers apply to this Contract: De Minimis, Minor Components. Pig iron and direct reduced iron. Potential Bidders may obtain further technical information from the office below:

Catherine McMillan, P.E.

WestLand Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. 4001 E. Paradise Falls Drive Tucson, AZ 85712

Phone: 520-206-9585

cmcmillan@westlandresources.com

Published in the Glendale Star, Apr 27, May 4, 2023

May 4, 2023

In the Matter of the Estate of:

ROBERT A.J. VELASQUEZ SR., an adult

LETTERS OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

MANUEL MIGUEL VELASQUEZ (name) is appointed as Personal Representative of this Estate without restriction except as follow:

Witness: April 20, 2023 (date)

Jeff Fine, Clerk

By, C. Cruz

Deputy Clerk Published in the Glendale Star, May 4, 11, 18, 2023