Glendale Star 06/01/2023

BY CHRISTIAN COPUS-SALLAS Glendale

Staff Writer

Glendale Avenue runs through the heart of the city of Glendale, and throughout the years, it has picked up its own history.

What may not be common knowledge is that the deep history surrounding the street and the buildings that rest on it have played a key part in why Glendale’s community is so tight knit and close today.

“Glendale is critically important not only to the business owners in historic Downtown Glendale, but because it’s the main

terial road that brings people from all parts of the Valley and all parts of the state,” said Lorraine Zomok, president of the Historic Downtown Glendale Merchants Association and member of the Glendale Arizona Historical Society.

“It’s also our namesake. Most great down-

Glendale Avenue encases history of the city

Throughout its history, Glendale Avenue has been home to numerous historical buildings and events that helped the city grow. (Glendale Arizona Historical Society/Submitted)

towns have a main street to them, and Glendale Avenue is our main street.”

Glendale Avenue is not only a focal point for the community to connect but also a business hub.

Councilmember Jamie Aldama, who is a lifelong, fourth-generation resident of Glendale, has always seen Glendale Avenue as a

Peoria Uni ed School District superintendent retires

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

After over 30 years of service to educating the future generations, Peoria Uni ed School District Superintendent Dr. Jason Reynolds will retire.

“I believe, at least for me, that that teaching is a calling and it’s hard because it’s more than a job,” Reynolds said. “And so, when you think about stepping away from that calling, and you think about stepping away from that work, it’s an emotional decision. It’s a hard decision, but it’s the right decision for me for my family, and we’re go-

ing to make sure that Peoria Uni ed is set up for continued success for years to go.”

From initially moving out to Yuma after “packing his car” and starting a new teaching job to becoming the superintendent of the fourth-largest district in the state, Reynolds said he never would have thought his career would take him as far as it did.

“It never even crossed my mind,” he said. “When I was a brand-new teacher, I really thought that I would probably be a career high school English teacher. I loved every day of it. But over time and working with people and being mentored and guided, op-

portunities presented themselves.”

Originally taking the deputy superintendent position in 2019, Reynolds took full control of the district in 2020 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For him, this was a time that could be considered the most di cult of his career, but he and the district overcame it.

“I think back to how our team responded to the pandemic and we created a plan to ensure that our students have all the things they need to recover from that time,” Reyn-

Throughout May, Superintendent Segotta-Jones and school administrators honored GENERATION GESD teachers with 10 to 20 years of service.

Bicentennial South

Kerry Bell

Kimberly Coopmans

Heather Daly

Leticia Fernandez

Joni Mulholland

Jessica Peck

Challenger

Traci Anderson

Elizabeth Gallas

Krista Hammer

Jessica Johnson

Susana Ocampo

Thomas Stitzer

Desert Garden Preschool

Elizabeth Manuel

Corrina Willie

Victoria Willingham

Sarah Wright

Discovery

Mark Balder

Crystal Estrada

Jennifer Luevano

Sheila Rowe

Don Mensendick

Javier Carbajal

Jenny Kagi-Vincente

Glenn F. Burton

Julie Berg

Margarita Fuentes

Toni Holt

Deborah McClenny

Maria Tejada

Yesenia Wancho

Glendale American Jody Szapiro

Desert Spirit

Geraldine Calhoun

Sonia Cole

Lindsay Comella

Stephanie Jakola

Maria Politis

Donna Sanchez

Dustin Smith

Clairissa Vinson

Glendale Elementary Online (GEO) Learning

Laurel Jarembo

Samantha Moyer

Glendale Landmark

Anne Ira

Mary Maynes-Dale

Glendale Success Academy

Deanna Driver

Horizon

Angelique Alvarez

Maria Amavisca

Kimberly Bradford

Dawn Deneault

Holly McEvoy

Morgan Quintana

Harold W. Smith

Harold Balthis

Mariela Renteria

Mitzi Reyes

Lance Sinclair

Catherine Tully

Sunset Vista

Nancy Guzman

Shannon Hasbrouck

Sydney Lindebak

Mary McGuire

Michael Perkins

Sarah Peterson

William C. Jack

Bobbi Coxon

Katie Eberenz

Kathy Joyner

Carmen Ortiz

Shyla Palmer

Cindy Segotta-Jones, Superintendent

“business hub.”

“Glendale Avenue has always hosted numerous businesses between 43rd Avenue and 47th Avenue, and 51st Avenue was the automotive dealer capital of the state; there were many Nissan dealers there,” Aldama said. “Mazda, Chevrolet and Ford, and all those dealers, were there until they moved over to Bell Road and other places.

“But Glendale Avenue is not only historical, it’s always served as a business hub for Glendale.”

One of the historical buildings that currently sits on Glendale Avenue is the Velma Teague Library.

Named after the rst librarian of Glendale, Velma Teague, the Velma Teague Library has a rich history on top of its wealth of knowledge.

“In 1955, was the year Glendale had hired its rst librarian: Velma Teague,” Aldama said. “So that was the inception of having a librarian serve its community.”

e Velma Teague Library, in addition, has laws that have stood the test of time.

“In the park near the library, you can-

not consume alcohol in that space,” Aldama said. “When the land was donated to the city, part of the understanding was that you could not consume alcohol, so when we have events around the library, there’s no permits for alcohol; you can’t consume it.”

Despite the current Velma Teague Library not being the exact same, as it has seen renovations, its historical tie to the city will always remain.

“It’s become a staple in that community,” Aldama said. “It’s become a place where all families can learn and use resources for the greater good.”

e Beet Sugar Factory, which was originally built in 1906, is another build-

ing that has garnered its own history sitting on Glendale Avenue. It was one of the rst buildings in the city.

“ e Sugar Beet Factory is one building you can concentrate on, as it is historic and worthy of mentioning,” Aldama said.

“(Glendale Avenue) is our Route 66 for Glendale. And along the way, there were buildings built like the Beet Sugar Factory.

Despite no longer being open, Aldama knows how important the Sugar Beet Factory was to Glendale’s upbringing.

“Sugar Beet Factory was a big manufacturing company that brought in a lot of workers from all over the state,” Aldama said.

Aside from the historical buildings, Glendale Avenue’s culture and history is deeply linked with the festivals and parades that have been hosted throughout the years.

Glendale’s Community

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“We’ve always had parades that have been held on Glendale Avenue,” Aldama said. “We had parades back in the 1950s, to parades in the ’80s and ’90s that were re prevention parades. … ere’s always been activity down Glendale Avenue.”

One of the rst festivities held on Glendale Avenue was the Watermelon Festival in 1949. Aldama said its initial intention was to boost the city’s economy.

“A lot of the watermelon that was brought in, it was a festival for the families to celebrate our culture, but it was also an economic driver,” he said. “It also helped people understand why our agriculture is so important to Glendale.”

Glendale Avenue, with all of the historical buildings that sit on it and events that have been held on it, has its roots ingrained in the city’s history.

“It’s where it all began more than a century ago, when those original pioneers came to Glendale to begin farming, ranching, bringing in the railway and the canal system,” Zomok said.

“Glendale remains today as a very diverse, multicultural, multi-generational community where families have existed — like my family — over 100 years, and we’ve not gone anywhere,” Aldama added. “I grew up in Downtown Glendale. Many families still reside, and many families have contributed in many ways.”

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HISTORY FROM PAGE 1

Sugar Beet Factory. (Glendale Arizona Historical Society/Submitted)

olds said. “ at’s a very proud moment for me.”

During his tenure as superintendent, Reynolds served as an advocate for pre-K-12 education in the state of Arizona. He was also instrumental in getting students back in the classroom after the wakes of the pandemic, and PUSD was one of the rst to do so.

From there, he helped create plans such as the Strategic Reset Plan, a program that was focused on student success, safety and well-being, stewardship of resources and community connection.

All of these successes were the answer to his life calling of supporting future generations succeeding in school.

“By coming to work every single day with one mission, and that is to ensure that every single student that I encounter feels known, valued, cared for and challenged,” Reynolds said. “ at means that that every child feels safe, every child feels as though there’s someone at school — someone on campus — who cares about them and knows them. As well as teachers and sta who are dedi-

and how I can continue to advocate for pre-K-12 education and how I can continue to support public education in the state of Arizona. Also, how I can continue to enrich my life with new experiences and new challenges and new adventures. at’s what’s most exciting.”

Reynolds admitted that above all else, he will miss the people and students that have been in his life for the past three decades but looks forward to the time he will get to spend with his family and reminisce on the fond memories created throughout his career.

cated to ensuring that every child has an engaging and rigorous learning environment to come to every day.”

•

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• Career mentorship and resume building assistance directly from Microsoft professionals

“I believe I have more to give,” he said. “And so, looking at new experiences

As he takes his step toward retirement, Reynolds will continue to advocate for the values he brought to PUSD and will look to keep inspiring youth in their education journeys.

“ ere is no way anyone can get to this point without the help of many, many people over a career,” Reynolds said. “And that starts back to being a brandnew teacher in an English classroom in in Yuma, Arizona, all the way through being a principal, being an assistant superintendent — all those mentors that come along the way and guide you and push you, and help you become the educator that you want to be.

“And so, I’m incredibly thankful and blessed to have some amazing people, including my wife and kids, who have supported me along the way.”

Isa

After over 30 years of service in public education — four of which serving with the Peoria Unified School District — Superintendent Jason Reynolds will retire. (Peoria Unified School District/Submitted)

PUSD to host job fair

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

The Peoria Uni ed School District is hosting a job fair for nonteaching positions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at the District Administration Center.

e district is looking for individuals who are passionate about making an impact for future generations while joining a team of highly quali ed sta in a community-oriented environment. Open positions include bus drivers, instructional aids, child care associates, food and nutrition workers and maintenance sta , among others.

“Peoria Uni ed o ers a strong sense of community with competitive salaries; professional growth; a desirable work schedule; coaching support for the rst year; loan forgiveness; a full onboarding team to support new employees; a

national award-winning employee recognition campaign; state retirement; longevity recognition; and a team that values each employee’s work, support and e ort,” the district said in a press release.

“In Peoria Uni ed, every employee is known, valued, cared for and challenged to reach their full potential.”

Individuals interested in applying should bring their identi cation card and a resume to the job fair.

To view current job openings or to nd out more information about the Peoria Uni ed School District, visit  peoriauni ed.org.

Peoria Unified School District job fair

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, June 7

WHERE: Peoria Unified School District Administration Center, 6330 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale

Vitalant donors will have the chance to win a car

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Through ursday, Sept. 7, those who donate blood at various blood drives set up by Vitalant will have the chance to win a 2023 Volkswagen Taos S.

Vitalant is the sole provider of the blood transfusion needs for patients in 100% of the hospitals throughout Maricopa County and 90% statewide, and the seven Valley Volkswagen dealers have donated the car and partnered with Vitalant in the 15th annual campaign to help inspire more people to give blood this summer.

Ten nalists will be drawn to participate in the Volkswagen grand-prize ceremony.

All blood types and platelets are critically needed. While matching a patient with their blood type is preferred, Type O blood is what doctors turn to when serious injuries and other emergencies

require immediate treatment.

Platelets help with bleeding and clotting disorders and must be used within a week of donation.

“While donors are generally eligible to give blood every eight weeks, the majority donate just once a year,” said Andy Fry, sr. director of donor recruitment for the Vitalant Southwest Division.

During the three-month summer campaign with Valley Volkswagen dealers, Vitalant hopes to attract more than 50,000 blood donors to save lives in Arizona hospitals.

BLOOD DRIVES

GLENDALE

8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sunday, June 11

St. Helen Roman Catholic Parish — KOC, Social Center

5510 W. Cholla Street, Glendale

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17

Arrowhead Towne Center, Community Room

7700 W. Arrowhead Towne Center

Noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 28

Glendale Elementary School District, Café

7677 W. Bethany Home Road, Glendale PEORIA

8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, June 6

ValleyWise Health Peoria, Conference Rooms 3B21 and 3B22

8808 W. Whitney Drive, Peoria

9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10

Lunde’s Peoria Volkswagen, Bloodmobile in showroom lot 8801 W. Bell Road, Peoria

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, June 23

Trilogy at Vistancia, Bloodmobile 27980 N. Trilogy Boulevard East, Peoria

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24

The Citadel of Praise Christian Church, Worship Center 8738 W. Cholla Street, Peoria

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25

The Rock Church Peoria, Bloodmobile 8615 W. Kelton Lane, Peoria

4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 27

Lotus Club Fight and Fitness, Bloodmobile in back lot

19085 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria

BY SENIOR CHIEF JAMES THORSON

Navy Office of Community Outreach

Petty O cer 2nd Class Matthew

Kau man, a native of Glendale, serves in Japan aboard a forward-deployed U.S. Navy warship.

Kau man joined the Navy nine years ago. Today, Kau man serves as a boatswain’s mate aboard USS Ralph Johnson.

“I joined the Navy to explore the world, see new places and continue the tradition of service in our family,” Kauman said.

Growing up in Glendale, Kau man attended Northwest Christian School and graduated in 2013.

Kau man relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Glendale to succeed in the military.

“Growing up in Glendale, I learned acceptance of others, which has helped me in the Navy,” Kau man said.

Modern U.S. Navy surface ships provide a wide range of war ghting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and

subsurface environments.

A Navy surface ship is capable of operating independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups or expeditionary strike groups.

Jobs aboard a U.S. Navy ship are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill, according to Navy o cials. e jobs range from maintaining engines to

handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times.

As a member of the Navy, Kau man is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive war ghting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“ e Navy helps keep the world safe,” Kau man said.

Kau man serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces.

ese naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Paci c region.

Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Paci c Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.

“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Paci c Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and con -

dence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Paci c Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend — across all domains — any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”

Kau man and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.

“My proudest accomplishment is being awarded a medal for being the best Mess Decks Master-at-Arms,” Kau man said.

As Kau man and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy gives me a sense of pride,” Kau man said.

Kau man is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my parents for their help and support,” Kau man said.

Petty

Matthew Kau man

Remembering a giant in Valley radio

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Glendale Star Columnist

Steve Clawson’s voice was a gift from heaven, and it took him far both in geography and his radio career.

He started as a reporter at WTRX in Flint, Michigan, an AM sports station with all the power of a hair dryer. en, 34 years ago, he moved west to work at KTAR.

Steve spent 14 years there as a reporter, anchor, a producer and the most decent human being in the newsroom. Later, he worked at KFYI, Fox 10 and with the Skyview Networks.

KTAR was where we met. It was where we passed thousands of hours, me at the microphone jabbering and Steve in my ear as the producer. To the extent that the show did not stink, Clawson made it so.

He was one of those rare souls who made you better every day. Steve taught me about radio and how, as he told me often, “to keep the needle moving.”

He was the voice of reason when I was too in ammatory and the voice of the listener when the show felt too slow. A night owl, he scanned the news during reruns of “SportsCenter” until I awakened at 4 a.m.

“Between the two of us,” he always joked, “we’ve got the clock covered.”

After radio, Steve joined me at a Downtown Phoenix ad agency, using his endless contacts to help clients make news.

Rarely did I stick my head in his o ce and nd him without a bottle of Coke in one hand and a raft of stats about the latest linebacker signed by his beloved University of Michigan Wolverines.

Steve’s voice, delivery and joyous grin made your name sound like an announcement. He’d singsong it, grinning: “Dayyy-vvvvid Lei-booo-wittzzzz.”

I hear him when I close my eyes. Which is why I can barely comprehend that Steve died last week at just 64.

Steve’s passing feels like the end of an era in Valley journalism. He was never unfair, always thorough, ever professional. In 1992, KTAR sent to him Los Angeles to cover the Rodney King riots and Steve did legendary work inside the chaos.

Twice named Associated Press Reporter of the Year, he wove stories in sound about the Northridge earthquake, the Oklahoma City bombing and the O.J. Simpson not-guilty verdict. In 2001, we ew to New York for shows about the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ World Series win over the New York Yankees.

If Steve slept more than a couple hours a night on that trip, he hid it damn well. His enthusiasm for news was boundless, as was his positivity. Our former colleague Diana Fronterhouse nailed Steve perfectly in a Facebook tribute.

“He had HOPE,” Diana wrote. ”In an industry that’s lled with jaded, hard-bitten realists, Steve always had this air of positivity and wanting to build something better for all of us.”

Steve loved “Seinfeld,” which he quoted at every possible opportunity. Steve also loved betting football, McRib sandwiches and the occasional practical joke.

In 1994, he got then-Suns owner Jerry Colangelo to play along with a worldclass April Fool’s gag, announcing that henceforth all Suns broadcasts would be “pay per listen.” KTAR even set up a special phone number for would-be subscribers.

Once they called, they were told the promo was a prank.

Steve had a laugh that made everyone laugh with him. I can picture him in heaven right now, cracking up with friends old and new about “Seinfeld’s” “Junior Mint episode” and Michigan’s chances of making it three in a row against Ohio State this season.

All his years in news represent just a piece of Steve’s legacy. A consummate reporter, he was a far better human being. Godspeed, buddy. You will be loved and missed forever.

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

Sinema crafts a McCain road to the 2024 race

BY J.D. HAYWORTH

Glendale Star Columnist

Arizona’s senior senator has received quite an education, and not all of it has come in the classroom.

Kyrsten Sinema can boast of earning a B.A. from Brigham Young University at 18 and no fewer than four advanced degrees from Arizona State University.

But, like many who run for public ofce, her real political education came from the school of hard knocks.

In 2002, Sinema mounted a campaign for the state House, running as an independent a liated with the Arizona

Green Party. She nished dead last in a eld of ve candidates, attracting 8% of the vote.

In 2004, as a newly minted Democrat, she won election as a state representative for Arizona’s 15th District. During her three terms in the House, Sinema rose through the party ranks, eventually becoming assistant minority leader.

Some other lessons were learned along the way.

In 2006, Sinema o ered a harsh, profanity-laced assessment of “new feminism,” saying, “ ese women who act

like staying at home, leeching o their husbands or boyfriends and just cashing the checks is some sort of feminism … that’s (expletive). What are we really talking about here?”

Facing a restorm of criticism, Sinema apologized and served up an I-was-justkidding rhetorical defense.

Sinema did a pretty good job herself in climbing the political ladder. Six years in the House, followed by less than one year in the state Senate, as she resigned that o ce to successfully run for Congress in the newly constituted 9th District.

Fast forward 11 years. Sinema is now gearing up to run for a second term in

the U.S. Senate and the political climate in Arizona re ects the seasonal change: It’s getting hotter.

So, like another Arizonan who served in the Senate before her, she is opting for an “unconventionally conventional path,” metaphorically saddling up a rhetorical race horse named “Maverick.”

Meet the “new” Kyrsten Sinema … who wouldn’t mind at all if you call her “McCain 2.0.”

at was clear when she was invited to “Face the Nation” on CBS from the McCain Institute’s Sedona Forum in early May. Margaret Brennan, the CBS inter-

BY DR. MARK CALLESEN

Jewish Family and Children’s Service

With Father’s Day coming up, give the gift of health this year. Going to the doctor for a checkup is not high on the list of priorities for most men — or maybe it’s not even on the list at all.

According to an annual Cleveland Clinic survey, 65% of men said they avoid going to the doctor as long as possible. Twenty percent admit they have not been completely honest with their doctors before, with the top reasons being embarrassment and avoiding the lifestyle they suspect the doctor will recommend. A Wall Street Journal article con rms that compared to women, more men continue to avoid going to the doctor, skip recommended screenings and practice riskier behavior. e article also states that men live with more years of bad health.

With that said, there are many ways to reverse those statistics and stay on top of healthy habits that will do wonders for your health and overall lifestyle. ere are several reasons why some men resist doctor visits and health checks — some psychological and some simply excuses. is includes convincing oneself that the condition will improve on its own, being too busy, the discomfort of being vulnerable with a doctor, or fear of something being wrong.

According to Rochelle Ryan LPC, clinical site director for the Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) West Valley Healthcare Center, regular screenings are needed to be set the benchmark for your doctor. If anything changes, it can be more easily detected and, therefore,

easier to treat.

“If you think scheduling an annual checkup takes too much time out of your busy schedule, imagine what multiple appointments and treatments for an actual health complication will do to your calendar,” Ryan said. “It’s better to save the stress and invest in your health now rather than later.”

So, what types of preventative screenings and exams are we talking about? Here are a few that should be on your schedule this year:

Prostate exam

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Annual prostate exams are painless and essential for early detection.

Blood pressure screening

Regular blood pressure screenings are essential for monitoring the risk for prehypertension or high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke.

Diabetes test

Starting at age 45, healthy men should begin diabetes screenings every three years. At whichever age, diabetes testing helps doctors nd diabetes sooner so they can work with patients to manage the disease and prevent health problems.

Cholesterol level test

High cholesterol can increase the risk

of dangerous health conditions like atherosclerosis, diabetes and heart attacks. Cholesterol level tests can help to stray away from these health risks. While not something that needs to be done annually, experts recommend getting cholesterol tested every four to six years.

Skin cancer screening

Exposure to the intense Arizona heat is practically impossible to avoid. Annual checkups with a dermatologist are essential to ensuring your skin is protected when outside in the beautiful sun.

Talking with a doctor can be uncomfortable, and sometimes we may even feel judged by our doctor (even if it’s just a gment of our imagination). is is why we encourage men to be seen before symptoms arise. is way, some of those uncomfortable conversations can be avoided altogether. Bradley Gill of the Cleveland Clinic makes an analogy to cars when discussing health care with men, quoted from AARP, “You rotate

your tires; you change your oil. What you don’t want to do is wait until there’s smoke coming out from under the hood and the car stops running. e same thing goes for men’s health.”

Staying on top of your health should be a top priority to being the best version of yourself, not only for your family and loved ones but also for yourself. Annual screenings are one of the most important things a man can do for his overall health because they nd diseases early when they are easier to treat.

One e ective way to stay on top of scheduling doctor’s appointments is to pick a date as a reminder. Every year on that day, make it a routine to schedule an annual checkup. Might we suggest Father’s Day?

Dr. Mark Callesen is Chief Medical Officer for Jewish Family & Children’s Service. For more information about behavioral health and primary care medical services or to schedule an appointment at one of JFCS’ Integrated Healthcare Centers, visit jfcsaz.org.

Politicians should resolve debt ceiling negotiations

BY JUDY BLUHM

Glendale Star Columnist

Debt ceiling. First enacted by Congress in 1917, it is the legal limit on the total amount of federal debt the government can accrue. Established to simplify the process and enhance borrowing exibility.

is is the federal government’s de nition. Mine is more like this: A bunch of elected o cials, sometimes with grave incompetence and lack of basic accounting skills, ght until the bitter end about whether our great country should go into default.

As of my writing, “no deal” has been made and we are running out of time before nancial Armageddon is unleashed. We, the citizens of this ne country, can blow it o as theatrics, become increasingly anxious or have a sti drink while we watch the train wreck. Hey, politicians, we voted. Now do your job! Agree to do something!

Brother, can you spare a dime? Or possibly 31 trillion bucks? No, I didn’t think so. So, here we are. Again. Our Congress has raised and revised the debt ceiling a stunning 78 separate times since 1960. We have plenty of experience doing this.

Here is a fresh idea. Why not create a budget that we could follow? en we could do away with this annual clihanger. Perhaps politicians could sit down, talk and negotiate. ese twohour meetings are not working! e American people do not want to hear that soon Congress will be leaving on their Memorial Day vacations. No one leaves the building! Sit down in a conference room. Lock the doors. Order pizzas. Get the job done!

Everyone has an opinion. at’s the beauty of a democracy. We can disagree.

But playing chicken with the full economic landscape of our nation is getting old and frightening. Surely, we can do better. How did we get here? e federal government was envisioned by the founders as one of limited powers, protecting the unalienable rights of individuals. e size and scope of government has overrun these guardrails. Taxpayers watch (repeatedly) the federal government respond to any problem with new programs, new agencies, more spending initiatives plus tax cuts, instead of reorganizing, analyzing and repurposing what is already available in our vast bureaucracy. We’ve become a big, bloated ATM machine with few enforcements of fraud or waste.

Time to look closely at our wallets, dear leaders. Some of the waste is almost comical. Except we don’t feel like laughing. Can we really nd a way to justify an “earmark” of $6 million to be spent on how beef jerky can be made less chewy? Isn’t $2.5 million spent on a Super Bowl party for federal employees a bit too much? Sounds like a whole lot of pork.

Still, raising the debt ceiling is not to be confused with a budget. It is our nation’s ability to pay our bills. Probably, by the time this column reaches print, all will be solved and both parties will claim “victory.” At the expense of a few million nervous breakdowns of their constituents.

A man was seen carrying a sign outside the Capitol building that reads, “Dear Lord, we need a miracle. Teach them math.” A tting bipartisan prayer.

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

GAMBLE’S OPINION – King Features

viewer, who, like Sinema, was a guest speaker at the Forum, began the broadcast by invoking McCain’s memory and his “straight talk.”

Brennan’s fulsome praise for the late Senator a orded Sinema the chance to talk straightaway about following her version of the McCain model of Senate stewardship.

Invoking memories of McCain’s last Senate oor speech, Sinema said, “He spoke about the importance of getting rid of the uninspiring activities you see now of partisanship and restoring the inspiring activity of working together.”

Actually, Sinema’s new “inspiration” was born out of necessity. Acting on a tip that a long-rumored challenge for the 2024 Democrat nomination would come to fruition from Rep. Ruben Gallego, Sinema opted for some early December drama as 2022 was drawing to a close. She announced she had become a registered independent in Arizona.

Her announcement beat Gallego’s entry into the Senate race by more than a month and sidestepped the need to beat him in a bruising primary.

dents, who trail GOP voters by a mere 10,000 registrations — and keep the Democrats still devoted to her from that party’s registered base, faces a de cit of 175,000 registrants less than the top two voter a liations.

Add the “open border” Republicans — who claim to be conservative, but feel most comfortable spouting pieties about “God’s children” while gladly shifting entitlement costs to American taxpayers and depressing wages for American workers — and Sinema believes that would comprise her winning coalition.

Unlike her rst run for public o ce as an independent two decades ago, the “Green” with which Sinema now identies is campaign cash.

Her latest fundraising totals reveal a war chest of $10 million. Among her donors: Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for Bush-Cheney 2004 and former chairman of the RNC now employed by the Wall Street rm, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

at’s why, in the style of John McCain, Sinema talks about “bipartisan solutions” to the border mess.

But it sets the stage for a three-way general election race in 2024.

Sinema’s campaign calculus? at she can attract Arizona’s fastest-growing group of voters — her “fellow” indepen-

It could work for her, too, unless Arizona voters are properly educated.

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

The latest breaking news and top local stories in Glendale!

HAYWORTH FROM PAGE 8

‘Crazy’ returns to housing market amid slim stock

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Glendale Star Staff Writer

High mortgage rates are discouraging homeowners from selling and fueling a growing lack of homes for sale in the Valley, a leading analyst recently warned.

And that likely will fuel a price increase for those houses that are up for sale, according to the Cromford Report, which analyzes the housing market in Maricopa and Pinal counties.

“With only 12,500 active listings without a contract,” it said, “we are once again approaching a dire shortage of homes for sale.”

“Even a modest increase in demand is likely to force prices higher and quickly recover the ground lost over the past 12 months,” it said. “The median sales price is down almost 9% compared to a year ago, but has recovered nearly 4% over the last three months.”

The Cromford Report said anxious buyers face a likely return of bidding wars already in Chandler, Glendale, Fountain Hills, Phoenix, Gilbert and Avondale. Those are cities where the Cromford Report’s analysis shows the market has tipped by more than 2-1 in favor of sellers.

Indeed, Cromford Report said recently that a Realtor reported, “Some of the crazy is coming back.”

“I recently wrote an offer $25,000 over list and my clients were beaten out by other offers ‘with more attractive terms’ on a home that needed flooring and paint throughout, new AC units and had evidence of water intrusion around the windows and roof leaks,” the Realtor wrote. “This was in the 85248 zip code in Chandler.”

“She added, ‘I also had another agent saying how she didn’t want the insanity to start again, but would we waive inspections to beat the competing offer. Another home needing significant work. We also came in over list on that offer. Clean, no concessions, no home war-

ranty.’”

The Cromford Report warned, “With sellers receiving multiple offers there will be fewer of them feeling pressure to be generous with concessions or agreeing to buy down the buyer’s mortgage rate.

“Many buyers will be surprised to find they have much less leverage than they expected in this so-called ‘weak market,’” it continued. “Buyer’s agents will have to do a lot of explaining to get them to understand the true nature of today’s market, especially if they have been watching YouTube videos by inexperienced and alarmist commentators. These are often so far removed from reality that they rival the flat-earth proponents.

“There are many crazies on YouTube that seem to get far more views and subscribers than the sensible commentators. If you need an effective antidote to the crazy stuff, I can recommend Jon Schwartz’s YouTube channel. He only has just over 3,000 subscribers, but he should be commended for dealing in balanced facts and realism.”

Looking at total sales in April, the Cromford Report found they were down 28% from April 2022 and down 12.3% from March 2023. That translates in whole numbers into a drop from 10,141 in April 2022 to 6,662 last month and down from 8,935 this past March.

The median sales price last month was

$425,000 versus $466,000 in April 2022, it said, but it crept up by 1.2% over the arch 2023 median of $419,000.

Taking a broader view, the Cromford Report said so far this year, only 33,506

This 7,971-square-foot house on N. 82nd Street in Scottsdale sold this month for $3.2 million. With six bedrooms and seven baths, the gated estate sits on nearly five acres and sports a full-size basketball and volleyball court, pool, custom movie theater, high-end chef’s kitchen and six-car garage, among other amenities.

(Zillow/Submitted)

homes have been listed for sale as opposed to 42,048 in the same four-month period of last year.

“To be down more than 20% from the prior year is very unusual and the flow of new listings is too low to compensate for the listings going under contract,” it said. “This means the active listing count has been in decline for over six months

now and is still trending down at a steep angle.”

“A year ago, the market was weakening fast, but pricing was approaching its peak of $306.46 per square foot,” the Cromford Report said. “And closings were still running high, fueled by the unwise purchasing frenzy of institutional investors and iBuyers.

“The slump that followed in the second half of 2022 is now well behind us and the market is displaying increasing resilience despite interest rates that are far higher than during most of the last 10 years.”

Listings under contract in April recorded an 11.6% month-to-month increase, the Cromford Report noted, calling that “one of the largest month-tomonth increases that we have ever seen for this time of year.”

“The net result is that demand is now growing again, while supply is falling even faster than before,” it warned.

“This is good news for sellers, but most homeowners are still uninterested in selling, deterred by the large increase in mortgage interest rate that would incur.”

Meanwhile, it said builders apparently are having a renewed confidence as the “new-home market remains robust with most publicly listed home builders in an optimistic mood, supported by their stock prices hitting new highs in the last few days.”

The National Association of Home Builders recently echoed that observation, reporting, “Limited existing inventory, which has put a renewed emphasis on new construction, resulted in a solid gain for builder confidence in May even as the industry continues to face several challenges, including building material supply chain disruptions and tightening credit conditions for construction loans.”

Some of the most aggressive improvements in sellers’ markets have occurred in Paradise Valley and Tempe, the Cromford Report said, basing that on a num-

ber of factors it uses to analyze the condition of Valley submarkets.

“Not far behind are Buckeye, Cave Creek, Glendale, Avondale and Queen Creek,” it added. “Improvements for sellers are relatively modest in Surprise, Chandler and Scottsdale.”

All of this means that some buyers may have to cast a distant eye for more affordable homes, according to the Cromford Report.

“To find a location that is still strongly favorable to buyers, we need to look at the secondary cities,” it said, pointing primarily to Casa Grande, which it called “the weakest market in Central Arizona.”

Overall, the Cromford Report said, while “the media have been full of stories for the last six months about the shortage of home buyers,” news organizations “have devoted very little coverage to the

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shortage of home sellers over the same period, which is in fact far more extreme and is having a bigger effect on the market.”

During most of 2022, it said, “we had plenty of sellers because those who saw their properties as investments were keen to avoid the risk of a major drop in value.

“Those were joined by the iBuyers who realized too late that they had purchased far too many homes for the market conditions since April. This caused a shortterm stampede for the exits.”

Conditions began to reverse course in November, with the Cromford Report adding, “we now have a real problem getting enough homes listed.”

It also advised homeowners: “If your home has an existing mortgage, the odds are high that it has a much lower interest rate than anything available today.

“So unless you really have to move, it makes more financial sense to stay put and avoid redeeming that bargain mortgage only to replace it with a much more expensive one.

“Many are choosing to upgrade or expand their home … instead.”

Former chamber chair sworn in as U.S. commissioner

BY GLENDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce congratulates Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz on her appointment and swearing-in by Vice President Kamala Harris as a member of President Biden’s Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.

e commission was formed to address issues related to Hispanic and Latino educational attainment, workforce development and economic mobility. is appointment is a testament to her dedication and commitment to education and the Hispanic and Latino community.

“I am so proud of you, Terry Leyba Ruiz. Having you on our board is an honor. e level of professionalism, experience and education our board members have is quite remarkable,” said Robert Heidt, president and CEO of the Glendale Chamber.

As an executive leader, Leyba Ruiz has developed partnerships with industry leaders, municipalities, K-12 and university partners, and local nonpro ts to support students and the community. She recently retired as the president of Glendale Community College in the Maricopa County Community College District and shortly after found her way back into the workforce for Education Forward Arizona as senior vice president and chief advocacy and programs o cer.

As a rst-generation college student and a proud Latina, she is passionate about student success and believes that education is the key to

uplifting families and communities and has served as an educator in Arizona for more than 30 years.

In addition to her service on the Glendale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Leyba Ruiz has also served on various community and education boards, including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Achieving the Dream. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her leadership in education, including the Valle del

Sol Pro les of Success Award, Arizona Diamondbacks Most Valuable Partner Award, and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year Award.

We are proud to have Leyba Ruiz as a member of our community and know that she will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of students and the Hispanic and Latino community through her work on the commission.

Congratulations, Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz!

Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz

E101 Glendale, AZ 85308 602-439-4242

sales.194@fastsigns.com

BY GLENDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Have you secured your exhibit space at the 2023 Biz 2 Biz Expo on Wednesday, Aug. 9?

You’ll love the new venue at ASU West, located at 4701 W. underbird Road, Glendale, with plenty of dedicated free parking on-site for exhibitors and attendees!

Free to attend and open to the public, this highly productive event o ers the perfect opportunity for maximum impact within an e cient 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, Litch eld Park, Sun City, Sun City West, Wickenburg and Youngtown.

Don’t wait! Spaces ll 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.

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

e Glendale Chamber of Commerce welcomes the following members and extends a heartfelt thank-you for their support of the chamber and our community.

Arizona Golf Association

602-944-3035

Arrowhead Carpet, Tile and Interiors

602-439-2745

Artisan Park Apartment

623-878-7394

Coldwell Banker Realty 480-291-1600

Creative Business Resources

602-200-8500

Elephant Car Wash 206-790-1550

Family Matters Community Care LLC

602-878-4136

Fishers Crew Records 602-980-1884

Gold Start Coaching & Consulting 602-931-3131

Helpside 801-443-1090

Homage Co ee House 623-694-8556

Innovative Minds LLC 623-248-4988

MCM Transportation LLC 480-486-4966

Paylocity 623-203-6213

PLAYzona 623-440-6333

Real Property Management Exclusive 602-361-9097

Sierra Walk Apartment Homes 623-931-0750

Solas Glendale Apartments 623-435-9988

e Village at Arrowhead 480-664-3004

e Zipeeeclean Cleaning Co. 602-885-2646

State of Arizona | Registrar of Contractors 602-771-6777

“The first thing that people notice about me is my SMILE!!”

Crowns, , Fillings, Sealants, Mouth Guards, Teeth Whitening, Denture Relines & Repairs

No Insurance – NO Problem!!

In-House

6677

Regular Office Hours: Mon thru Fri 8 am – 5 pm www.adentalsolution.com www.adenturesolution.com (623) 939-5870

Mission:

The Glendale Chamber serves the business community as the voice of commerce, provides programs and services to improve the economic environment for its members, and supplies leadership for improving the quality of life. For area residents and newcomers, the Glendale Chamber is a reliable source for community information and a dependable resource for business referrals.

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BY JAMES LOTTS

Glendale Star Staff Writer

When Peoria native Tanya Windle went to Utah Tech University to play softball, it was a culture shock for her.

She went from living in the Valley to the small town of St. George in Utah. Windle took time to adjust to her new environment, but once she settled in, she made the most of her opportunity.

Windle said she has loved playing softball since she was 10 years old, as being on the eld is relaxing to her. It has been her main sport for a long time, and she gained con dence in herself as a player after the state championship game against Salpointe Catholic High

School in 2018.

Windle and her Cactus High School teammates lost the game, but she learned a lot.

“I knew what I was capable of doing after that game,” Windle said. “I built so much con dence in myself after that game, and I decided I’m taking this to another level, and I want to pursue my dreams with it at this point.”

While at Cactus, Windle had a tough time getting recruited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she didn’t have many options.

“It was really hard,” she added. “I didn’t have a lot of schools reach out to me.”

Despite the lack of recognition com-

ing out of high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, Windle said Utah Tech gave her the best o er. She had choices, but she said Utah Tech was the right choice for her at the time.

“It was just because of the atmosphere at the time and that they have a great coaching sta ,” she said. “I love the coaching sta there.”

Windle put together a huge season in her freshman year at Utah Tech. She hit .432 with four home runs and 33 RBIs in 53 games, which led to her being named to the TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 List.

e award was created in 2014 to honor the best freshman softball players from around the nation, and Windle said her teammates and coaches all took the time to congratulate her when she got the news.

She added that it was awesome to get recognition for her skills and be named alongside players from some huge college softball programs such as University of Alabama, Florida State University, and University of Tennessee.

“Considering that my junior year, I always kind of dreamed of having these accolades because I didn’t get much recognition during COVID and every-

thing,” she said. “So yeah, de nitely seeing my name up there with them was awesome.”

Windle recently entered the transfer portal and is experiencing the type of recruiting she didn’t get from schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now that I’ve entered (the transfer portal), things have changed,” Windle said. “Times have changed, and I have a lot of those schools that I dreamed of going to reaching out to me.”

Cactus High School alum Tanya Windle moved from Peoria to St. George, Utah, to play softball for Utah Tech University. (Tanya Windle/Submitted)

ACROSS

1 Modern taxi alternative

5 911 responders

9 ER workers

12 Zero, in tennis

13 Scurry

14 Actor Kilmer

15 Wharton Sch. offering

17 506, in old Rome

18 Charon’s river

19 Speedy

21 Devil’s domain

24 Toppled

25 Writer Quindlen

26 Circus gymnasts

30 Call -- day

31 Kathy of “Misery”

32 Pro vote

33 “No worries ...”

35 GI dining hall

36 Cries of discovery

37 Third rock from the sun

38 Gantry of fiction

40 Stable diet

42 Napkin’s place

43 Coll. entrance considerations

48 Oahu or Maui (Abbr.)

49 Military group

50 “A Doll’s House” heroine

51 That lady

52 Tower city

53 Did the crawl

DOWN

1 Einstein’s birthplace

2 Short ‘do

3 Actress Longoria

4 It had a big part in the Bible

5 Jittery

6 “Das Kapital” author

7 Three, in Rome

8 Sound systems

9 Movie buff’s purchase

10 Sitarist Shankar

11 Lost traction

16 Roswell visitors

20 Cleric’s tunic

21 It grows on you

22 Initial chip

23 Crime lab specimen

24 Glenn of the Eagles

26 Very small batteries

27 Dol. fractions

28 Try out

29 Merit badge holder

31 Endures

34 Common title start

35 Brick workers

37 And so on (Abbr.)

38 Yale students

39 Cilium

40 Elevator name

41

44 Blackbird

45 Tier

47

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.

Shrinky Dink Take and Bake Keychains ALL JUNE

Teens between the ages of 12 and 18 can drop by the Velma Teague Library Teen Zone throughout the month of June to make a Shrinky Dink Keychain. Create a design of your own using colored pencils and Shrinky Dink transparent sheets, or select from a variety of design templates. Visit the public service desk to pick up a keychain, then take your masterpiece home, pop it in the oven, and watch it shrink and harden.

Velma Teague Library, 7010 N. 58th Avenue, Glendale, free, glendaleazlibrary.com

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

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.

Bluegrass Jam

JUNE 2

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

Big Pete Pearson: Arizona’s King of the Blues JUNE 2

Big Pete Pearson, Arizona’s very own King of the Blues arrives at the Westside Blues Jazz Club for a night of soulful, smooth sounding jazz. Beginning his first performance at age 9, Pearson has gone on to sing his soul out at clubs for over 75 years and has worked with Ray Charles, Tina Turner, B.B King and far too many others to list. Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

Teen Afterhours: Nerf Battle

JUNE 2

Teens from 12 to 18 are encouraged to come by the library and take part in the generations-old game of foam-based military might. Build armor, weaponry, dart carriers and forts out of cardboard, and prepare for war with Nerf guns and ammo provided by the library. Participants are encouraged to bring their own nerf guns as well, so long as they are not motorized or rival-made.

Heroes Regional Park Library, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Jungle Jill’s Animal Encounters JUNE 3

Jungle Jill brings eight live birds and reptiles for an up-close animal encounter and takes audiences on a trip around the world. See and hear things you have never seen or heard before as Jungle Jill shares her creatures — big and small — from around the world. Geared for ages 5 to 11, seating is first-come, first-served until the room reaches capacity.

Heroes Regional Park Library, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 11 to 11:45 a.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Clean Comedy Night JUNE 4

Clean Comedy USA presents Clean Comedy Night at Stir Crazy Comedy Club. The night will be filled with clean, family-friendly comedy for all ages featuring the best local and national clean comedians. This week will feature Brian Sheil and Mike Fisher.

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

with a large collection of other like-minded musicians. Any musician who can sight-read charts is encouraged to show up with their own music stand and instrument to play, getting an experience they could not get simply practicing alone at home.

Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale, 1 to 3 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Level Up! Tabletop Gaming JUNE 5

Meet new people and destroy your enemies at the Glendale Main Library. Choose from games like Uno, Cards Against Humanity (the Family Edition) and Codenames, among others, every first Monday of the month. This program is put on for teens, 12-18, only.

Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale, 6 to 7 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary. com

The Str8 Up Band JUNE 8

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 welcome but encouraged.

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

Paid Advertisement

Attention Registered Maricopa County Voters

On Election Day November 8, 2022, because of our government representatives’ misconduct, errors, omissions, negligence, and gross negligence, many registered voters were unable to cast their votes for many of the Republican candidates, one of which lost by only 280 votes, and Initiative 309 (Increased Voter ID requirements) lost by only 18,488.

Early glitches with Maricopa County Election Machines frustrate voters.

Sasha Hupka Arizona Republic

Accordingly, Heath Law, at its own expense, is drafting a Class Action Complaint against Maricopa County, its Board of Supervisors, various elections officials, and the State of Arizona agencies (and their representatives) that are responsible for the rampant failures that effectively disenfranchised far too many Maricopa County voters during the November 2022 General Election.

If you were a legal, registered voter here in Maricopa County for the November 8, 2022, General Election but were unable to vote at no fault of your own for your candidate of choice and/or for Initiative 309, then we would like you to please consider applying to join in as a Co-Plaintiff in our litigation—the costs of which (for those selected) will be fully funded at no cost to you.

We are not pursuing criminal or fraud claims. This is a civil, class-action lawsuit, seeking a Declaratory Judgment that your rights to vote were violated, that this election was defective and, therefore, must be redone and/or other corrective action taken at the expense of those that harmed your most sacred right.

Listed below are a few examples of the many ways that registered voters in Arizona could not vote for their preferred candidate or Initiative 309 on November 8, 2022. If any of the following apply to you, please consider contacting Heath Law at the contact information below to apply for representation.

1. I was in line to vote but was told by poll workers that the voting machines were inoperable, so I left and returned with my mail-in-ballot to submit my vote.

2. I was “checked in” by a Maricopa County employee at a voting center on Election Day and, because the line was too long, I was “checked out” and directed to another vote center. Ultimately, I was unable to check in at this new location to cast my vote or my vote or did not count for some other reason.

3. I am handicapped or elderly, but after waiting in a long line because of the voting machines being inoperable, I could not wait any longer and could not vote as a result.

4. I arrived at a voting center on Election Day and waited several hours (at least two) but could not vote because polls closed before I could vote.

5. Election day was a workday or worknight for me, and I could not wait several hours in line without knowing whether the voting machines would become operable, so I did not vote and went home.

6. I was told by a poll worker that the tabulators at my vote center were rejecting ballots and were inoperable. I was further told by a poll worker that the tabulator errors were county-wide, and I was not informed by an election official of any other location where I could vote, so I left after waiting in line for multiple hours.

Contacting Heath Law concerning the lawsuit contemplated by this advertisement does not create an attorney-client relationship. Heath Law reserves the right not to return calls responding to this advertisement for any reason. Having your call returned for follow-up does not guarantee representation. Those selected to participate in this class action shall be required to sign an attorney client agreement. Only those with fully executed attorney client agreements shall be part of the class action lawsuit. Selected Plaintiffs must also be willing to sign an affidavit to support their claims that they were disenfranchised according to events like the foregoing fact patterns.

If interested or need more information, please contact the Arizona law firm of Heath Law at (480) 432-0208 or email to redo22az@heathlaw.com

This advertisement paid for by the Arizona law firm: Heath Law, P.L.L.C.

For

Billy’s Place receives grant from underbird Charities

BY GIANNA MONTIEL Glendale Star Staff Writer

After receiving a $10,000 grant from underbird Charities, Billy’s Place is expanding its organization in Arizona and eventually to more places across the nation because child bereavement is a topic that is not talked about enough.

e new funding will help serve over 6,500 individuals bene ting from increased access to support and resources throughout their grief journey that will positively impact their mental and physical well-being. Funding from the underbirds Charities will support program expansion across all programs, schoolbased training and community outreach.

underbird Charities and Billy’s

Place, according to the latter’s executive director, Kris Friedman, said the two have worked together for a while.

“We wrote a grant for them, and we’ve done stu in the past where we receive money from them,” Friedman said. “ ey’ve actually supported some of our missions in the past, so it’s been great.

ey believe in us.”

Friedman herself is no stranger to loss — she lost her father when she was 19 years old.

“I talked a lot, and I cried a lot,” said Friedman, who added that it was an experience that could have altered her life and mind negatively.

She decided to cope with her grief by talking and sharing her experience with others.

“I feel that I navigated my grief in a pretty healthy way,” she said.

Years later, Friedman’s sister-in-law, Juli McGreal, who wound up founding Billy’s Place, lost her husband. eir son Billy was 15 months old at the time. at grief process came back to their family.

When Billy was 3, he had begun to grow angry about his father’s death. Juli was unsure how to go about it, but she found a nearby grief center.

“It just changed her life,” Friedman said. “It just normalized all of Billy’s feelings and made him realize he wasn’t alone.”

is wound up being the foundation in which Billy’s Place was started on.

“We kind of just started in the trenches with getting our 501(c)(3) and just kind of created a program where we in Northwest Peoria can make a di erence with kids,” Friedman said.

Billy’s Place is one of three organizations in the Phoenix metropolitan area and the only one in the Northwest Valley working to help young children overcome the grief that comes with losing a particular person in their life.

e nonpro t initially worked with family groups but over time built di erent levels of groups and now o ers several family groups for kids; young adult groups; adult men and women; a night entirely dedicated to kids; and a traumatic loss group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, drug overdose or homicide.

Billy’s Place also o er adult and kid virtual groups that can be accessed anywhere.

“We’re going to facilitate a conversation among grievers who have similar

stories,” Friedman said.

Friedman said the best way to describe their job and what they do for grieving families is that they are that shoulder that these families lean on and cry on.

“We know that grief will be forever,” said Friedman, who added she feels that this encompasses their story and their mission perfectly.

Billy’s Place, Friedman said, validates each person regardless of their emotions and wants them to feel heard. Each activity the nonpro t puts on is built on these emotions, and they allow for un ltered expression.

“All the activities are really simple, but they’re all very intentional about helping kids kind of talk about and understand and get coping skills for their grief,” Friedman said.

Billy’s Place works to be involved in the lives of each person and their families, and all groups and events are accessible to those who wish to participate or seek help.

“Our goal is to get those coping skills so they can use those throughout their life,” Friedman said.

“We’re hoping if we can get them those coping skills now when those bigger stressors come up. … Life can give and take, and if we know how to navigate this simple reality, it will make the sting that the lemons life throws at us a little less painful.”

Pastor o ers an incredible cure for see-sickness

Years ago, I wrote an article in this newspaper titled “It Is What It Is, or Is It?” Sometimes things are not as they appear. We tend to think, “It is what it is, that’s it, nothing’s going to change, turn out the lights, the parties over, end of story.” en God said quietly, “Is it?” Let’s explore some “It Is What It Is,” “What It Is” or “Is It?” perspectives below.

“We call it a scar, but God calls it a testimony. We call it a rejection, but God calls it a redirection. We call it pain, but God calls it pruning. We call it a mess, but God calls it a process. We call it a problem, but God calls it an opportunity. We call it religion, but God wants a relationship. We call it a coincidence, but God calls it a part of His plans.

We call it a failure, but God calls it a valuable lesson. We call it the end, but God calls it the beginning. We call it unexpected, but God calls it His perfect timing. We call it helpless, but God treats it as His ideal time to move. We call it a mystery, but God calls it a part of His ways.”

Most likely, our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, and our ways are not God’s ways. Sometimes, we humans see things di erently and incompletely. Even if you do not see what is happening to you or others, be assured God is behind the scenes working for God’s highest purposes and our best. If you can’t see God’s hand, trust in God’s character.

Instead of trusting your understanding, why not put your panic on hold, put your assessment on hold, sit back, and watch God be God? Say to yourself, “Humm, how is God going to redeem this mess, this crisis, this impossible situation? is will be interesting.” So often, God waits until the last minute, so we will know that God’s “in it.”

Don’t become “see-sick.” Don’t allow your see-sickness to morph into seasickness. Just like seasickness, see-sickness happens between the ears. It’s the way

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you’re thinking about what you’re thinking about.

Don’t allow the wind and the waves on the outside of you to get inside of you. e Lord may not be there when you want, but God’s always right on time. Your present distress is for your future best.

Let’s use the Apostle Paul in an impossible trial and torture situation in the Scriptures. It would have been easy for him to say “It Is What It Is” and quit his ministry. But he didn’t. He said, “It Is What It Is, or Is It?” Here’s what Paul said to himself, the people with him, and us. “So, we’re not giving up. How could we? Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God

is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. ese hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. ere’s far more here than meets the eye. e things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”

Essentially, Paul was saying things are not as they appear; they are much better. Paul viewed life from a higher plane, looking down at the situation, not a lower plane, trying to look up at the situation.

How do you do that? How can we, like Paul, keep our equilibrium in the worst of life’s storms?

Follow me closely. is illustration could change your life. Picture a pyramid in your mind with four di erent levels ascending upward. e bottom of the pyramid is called, “Your Experience.” e second level above it is called, “Your Beliefs.” e third level above Your Beliefs is called, “Your Decisions.” And the top level, “Your Harvest.” Harvest is the outcome of our experiences, beliefs and decisions.

Let’s say you are rejected by someone close to you or may have experienced a horrible divorce or even bankruptcy. at’s your experience. It happened, and nothing can change it. However, your experience is not as important as what you believe about your experience. If you believe, “I am a victim, they caused me pain, I’m a loser, I will never recover, I’m mad at everyone, or it could never turn into

anything good,” that is where you will stay. Why? Because you made a decision based on your beliefs about your experience. en you get stuck with the dark rewards of a negative harvest, resulting in depression, anger, hatred, fear, reverse momentum and the like.

Let’s take this same experience but with a di erent belief. But now your beliefs about the horrible experience are Biblical beliefs such as “all things work together for good for those who love God” or “God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.” Or “Hold on, deliverance is coming, nothing is impossible for God” or “I was rejected, but I don’t need to be negatively a ected” or “Whether life or death, these hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times.” Aha!

It’s not your experience that determines your harvest in life. Your belief about what happened to you and the decisions you make from your beliefs create the harvest you will reap. Hurt people hurt people. Why? ey decided to stay hurt, creating an awkward harvest.

Conversely, that same person with the same horrible experience believes “God can work all things together for good, even their horrible experience. at belief can create a harvest of good.” It’s the same experience but di erent harvests because of their beliefs.

Do you remember the list of perspectives at the start of this article? Right now, choose which of the two contrasting beliefs you believe before and after the word “but” in each sentence. Why? When storms come, your beliefs decide your harvest. So right now, give your “buts” to God.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

Pastor Ed Delph Glendale Star Columnist

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BASIS Peoria grad wins Flinn Scholarship

BY GIANNA MONTIEL Glendale Star Staff Writer

Nagasriya Ramisetty, a recent graduate from BASIS Peoria, has known nothing but success in her acadmemic career.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, a co-founder of her school’s mental health initiative, the president of her school’s Junior Classics League Chapter, and BASIS Peoria’s 2023 valedictorian.

at said, she added to her list of successes by being named a 2023 Flinn Scholarship award winner. e award is merit based and provides winners with a full-ride scholarship to one of Arizona’s public universities.

“ e Flinn Scholarship was something I’ve de nitely known about for a while,” Ramisetty said.

BASIS Peoria has had students apply for the Flinn Scholarship in the past, and two of its students won the award last year. One of the winners was a friend of Ramisetty’s, and it was this interaction that made her aware of the scholarship.

Ramisetty said that a few days before the Flinn Scholarship application was due, she had been procrastinating on writing the essay questions and getting everything turned in to apply.

“I asked my mom, ‘Do I really need

to apply to this?’” said Ramisetty, who added her mother told her she should at least try, as there is “no harm in it.”

ere are three di erent stages of the Flinn Scholarship application process — the application itself and two interviews. Ramisetty credits her moving up the ranks with the almost hasty nature of her write-up, she didn’t expect anything fruitful from it.

She said questions were self-re ective and “forced her to confront” herself through her writing, which in the end

was what caught the eye of the judges.

“It was something that ended up being very honest to me because I didn’t really have that time to go over it with a netooth comb and make sure that it was super clean and well presented,” she said. “I think it was a better representation of what I am as a writer, as a person, and the Flinn application was the thing that I really, truly loved.”

After her application had been accepted, she had an online interview.

“ at was very nerve-wracking,” said Ramisetty, who added that she found out her application had been accepted while she was at lunch with her friends.

As part of the Flinn Scholarship and ensuring that the semi- nalists knew what the scholarship stood for, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University each hosted Ramisetty so she could see what her life at school could be like if she wound up winning the award.

“ ose visits were de nitely helpful not only in understanding what the foundation was in terms of the resources and the access to research and the faculty connections, but I was also able to better understand the community,” Ramisetty said.

After visiting the schools, all that was left was to wait. After a week or so, the day nally arrived for the Flinn Foundation to announce the nalists.

“I remember refreshing my email the entire day like silently freaking out,” said Ramisetty, who was working on an art project the day she found out she had won. “I had paint all over my hands and couldn’t touch my phone all the time. It was just me running back and forth, and I think I was barefoot, and when I nally got it, I ran down the stairs trying to nd my teachers, and I was like, “Guys, I’m a Flinn nalist!’”

In mid-March, Ramisetty had her last interview‚ a 20-minute discussion amongst a panel of ve judges.

“I was actually the very last person to sign up (for the interview); there was only a particular spot left,” she chuckled.

After another week of waiting, the call came, and it was good news.

“It was so surreal, I actually asked her just to double-check, ‘ is is for Flinn, right?’” she said.

From there, Ramisetty had to make the big decision of which school she would attend — she said she was torn between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

e visit at the University of Arizona left a lasting impression on her. Prior to the visit, she hadn’t known much about the school other than the fact that it had a medical program.

Ramisetty fell in love with the community, the campus and the normality of the atmosphere, and she realized she wanted to be a part of it.

“I am so looking forward to hanging out with my cohort in the future,” she said.

Nagasriya Ramisetty (right) was awarded the 2023 Flinn Scholarship and will attend college at Arizona State University. (Nagasriya Ramisetty/Submitted)

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