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Buckeye teacher publishes book of short stories

BY MADELINE LEWIS

West Valley View Staff Writer

The pandemic gave Buckeye resident Barbara Wheeler the time to accomplish a dream task: writing her first book, “Cuahi Li Hix: A Tale of Hilarious and Sometimes Harrowing Adventures in the Jungle of Belize.”

Now a Litchfield Elementary School District teacher, Wheeler spent two years volunteering for the Peace Corps in Belize in the ’90s.

“‘Cuahi Li Hix’ is a fun, quick read about my experience and about the Mayan people and how they lived. It’s an entertaining group of stories,” said Wheeler.

“We moved to Arizona from Illinois, and as I was unpacking, I found a box with hundreds of letters. I asked my family and friends to keep the letters I wrote so I’d have a log. I went through them and remembered all these stories I’d forgotten,” Wheeler said.

March 2020 finally provided the opportunity to start chronicling those stories. “When COVID hit and we were pretty much locked down at home, I decided to start. This is the time I’m going to use,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler’s family and friends encouraged her along the way.

“I shared bits and pieces with my family. Hearing them laugh and seeing them tear up made me want to keep going,” she said.

Wheeler’s fifth grade students were included, too. She shared the stories with them before writing the book.

The book is titled after a common Mayan phrase, according to Wheeler.

“‘Cuahi li hix’ is a common phrase, similar to how we say, ‘Take care.’ When you are in the jungle, they say, ‘Beware the tiger.’ There are no tigers in Belize, but they really mean the jaguar or large jungle cat,” said Wheeler.

“The title is symbolic of all the things we had issues with. There were snake issues, dog bites, bats — even an actual jaguar.”

In college, Wheeler wanted to go abroad. A twist of fate led her to the Peace Corps.

“My roommate’s boyfriend had a packet for the Peace Corps, and I had a packet for a domestic job. We swapped

Stories...continued on page 17 Barbara Wheeler used the pandemic to write her first book. (Submitted photo)

REQUEST FOR ARGUMENTS “FOR” OR “AGAINST” THE SPECIAL BOND ELECTION TOLLESON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 214

Tolleson Union High School District No. 214 of Maricopa County, Arizona (the “District”), will hold a special bond election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. The District seeks authorization to issue bonds in the principal amount not to exceed $125,000,000. The estimated average annual tax rate for the proposed bond authorization is $0.51 per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes. The Maricopa County School Superintendent will be preparing an informational pamphlet that will be mailed to households containing one or more registered electors within the District. Any persons wishing to submit an argument “for” or “against” the bond question (not to exceed 200 words) may do so by mail or hand delivery of the argument to the Maricopa County School Superintendent, School Elections Office, 4041 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85012; telephone: (602) 506-3866.

To be included in the informational pamphlet, such argument must be received in the office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent on or before 5:00 p.m., August 6, 2021. Such argument must be signed and should include the name of the school district, the author’s name, address and telephone number. The last day to register to vote in order to be eligible to vote in this election is Monday, October 4, 2021. For more information concerning the election, please contact Tolleson Union High School District, 9801 W. Van Buren Street, Tolleson, AZ 85353, telephone: (623) 478-4000.

SOLICITUD DE ARGUMENTOS

“A FAVOR” O “EN CONTRA” DE LA ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL DE BONOS

DISTRITO ESCOLAR SECUNDARIO NÚM. 214 DE TOLLESON UNION

El Distrito Escolar Secundario Núm. 214 de Tolleson Union del Condado de Maricopa, Arizona (el “Distrito”), llevará a cabo una elección especial de bonos el martes 2 de noviembre de 2021. El Distrito solicita autorización para emitir bonos por una cantidad principal que no supere $125,000,000. El promedio de la tasa anual de impuestos que se calcula para la propuesta autorización de bonos es de $0.51 por $100 de valoración neta tasada para fines de impuestos secundarios sobre la propiedad. El Superintendente Escolar del Condado de Maricopa preparará un folleto informativo que se enviará por correo a todos los hogares que tienen uno más electores inscritos dentro del Distrito. Cualquier persona que desee presentar un argumento “a favor” o “en contra” de la pregunta sobre bonos (que no supere 200 palabras) puede hacerlo por correo o entregándolo en persona a la Oficina del Superintendente Escolar del Condado de Maricopa, Maricopa County School Superintendent, School Elections Office, 4041 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85012; teléfono: (602) 506-3866.

Para que se incluya en el folleto informativo, dicho argumento se debe recibir en la oficina del Superintendente Escolar del Condado de Maricopa el o antes de las 5:00 p.m. del 6 de agosto de 2021. Dicho argumento debe estar firmado y debe incluir el nombre del distrito escolar, el nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del autor. El último día para inscribirse para votar con el fin de ser elegible para votar en esta elección es el lunes 4 de octubre de 2021. Para obtener más información sobre la elección, por favor comuníquese con el Distrito Escolar Secundario de Tolleson Union, 9801 W. Van Buren Street, Tolleson, AZ 85353, teléfono: (623) 478-4000.

WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | JULY 21, 2021

Pebblecreek Gallery looks to make name for itself in West Valley

BY LAUREN SERRATO

West Valley View Staff Writer

Throughout the West Valley, there are many hidden gems for locals and tourists alike.

One such spot is Expressions Gallery and Gift Shop, located in the Creative Arts Center at PebbleCreek.

The gallery is fi lled with a variety of art pieces made by the residents of PebbleCreek, including sketching, painting, ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, quilts and much more.

“I can’t begin to tell you what we’ve seen in the quality of the work that is done in our Expressions Gallery and Gift Shop. It’s unbelievable,” said Cheryl Neel, the gallery’s co-manager. “We only display items that are created by residents. We don’t sell items that are manufactured, like the pro shop sells golf shirts — we don’t do that. Everything that’s in our building is made by a resident of PebbleCreek.”

While all the art must be made by the homeowners, the gallery itself is open to the public and almost all pieces are available for purchase. Sherry Blatner, a publicity volunteer for PebbleCreek, refers to the gallery as “one of the bestkept secrets in Goodyear.”

While the gallery was once fi lled with residents and guests, the pandemic created a setback in business, according to Neel.

The gallery had to close for about seven months, but now that it is back up and running, Neel hopes to see more foot traffi c in the gallery. She admitted that potential future residents touring PebbleCreek has brought in more business since the reopening.

“We see people coming to look at our models, and we’re located almost right next door,” Neel said. “The other thing is we’re seeing an increase in the number of people, believe it or not, visiting us in the middle of summer. We’re seeing more guests of our residents, including children, and now they can buy doll clothes, little bookmarks; or we have a lot of authors here, and they have the gamut, from fun books for children all the way up to serious books for adults.”

Neel said the items for sale inside the gallery are one of a kind, and each shopping experience is guaranteed to be new, as items are routinely changed out.

“The interesting thing is many of them never became artists. They retired and took the time to join a club here or take a class and have become extremely skilled over the years. They fi nd a passion, and their passion just explodes,” Neel said.

In addition to artwork, the gallery is a place where residents can sell items they no longer have use for.

“What happens is people retire and they move to our community, and many times they come in and they see what’s being made and sold here and notice their own closets and under their beds is so fi lled with their items that they look for an avenue to sell, become a consignor with us and they sell their items. There are so many unique, oneof-a-kind items in our gallery,” Neel said.

The store’s inventory continues to grow each year as more residents bring in items to display and sell in the gallery.

“We have over 300 consignors, and I’m proud of each and every one of them for supporting, both by taking classes and supporting our gallery by putting our display windows together and bringing guests to show them what the building looks like,” Neel said.

Blatner added that residents sharing their artwork created a camaraderie within the facility, which she said was much needed, especially in the past year.

“It’s a very warming and engaging environment, as opposed to going to a big-box store,” Blanter said.

As a co-manager, Neel said she has seen major growth in the gallery in terms of both the items being sold and the business itself.

“Growth? Absolutely. As far as people visiting and coming shopping, taking classes. It was actually here when I moved here 17 years ago, but it was a tiny little shop. We then moved into the building we’re in now, and we’re going on 14 years in this building,” Neel said.

During the summer, the gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Expressions Gallery and Gift Shop can be found at 16280 Clubhouse Drive. The building is located on the Tuscany Falls side of PebbleCreek, near the model home park.

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packets, and I ended up joining the Peace Corps.”

In 1990, Wheeler left her home in Illinois to go live and teach in the Toledo District for two years.

“At 22, the Peace Corps deemed me qualifi ed to move to a different country and teach,” she said.

Living in the Toledo District was very different from U.S. life.

“They live pretty much the way they’ve lived for hundreds of years. Subsistence farming is still the way they make their money. Belize is an English-speaking country, but they speak their Mayan languages as well. “Originally there were 50 volunteers set out for Belize. It isn’t a very large country, but it’s a very diverse country. They have tons of ecotourism with fi shing, snorkeling and scuba diving. There were six teachers working in the Toledo district, but we all lived in our own Mayan village.

“We lived alone in a hut with no electricity or running water. Water was a constant issue because we had to make sure it was clean. I was surrounded by a creek, so I would bring it back and boil it.”

This two-year experience changed Wheeler’s life.

“There are three goals for the Peace Corps. One is to go and teach your basic knowledge to the community. The second is to learn as much as you can from the community — not just how to build a fi re or smooth a mud fl oor, but how to live in the present. Third, to continually talk about the Peace Corps when you return. Very few people know about Mayan people and how they live now,” said Wheeler.

When she moved back to the United States, her experiences in the Toledo District infl uenced the focus of her career in government.

“I became an elected offi cer for the county and then the state of Illinois. One thing that was always very important to me was preserving water and understanding the importance of our natural resources. The Peace Corps taught me how to respect not only our families and communities but our natural resources.”

Wheeler said some of her stories may not show the Peace Corps in the best light due to some unsafe practices.

“The policies within the Peace Corps were a bit fl awed, but things have changed since then., she said.

“I’ve hopefully motivated people to join the Peace Corps to think outside their own situation and to give back to humanity.”

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 19

King Crossword

ACROSS

1 Circulate 5 Jolly laugh 9 Lustrous black 12 Zero, in tennis 13 Scent 14 -- glance 15 Border on 16 Reply to “Shall we?” 17 Rug cleaner, briefly 18 Gestation location 19 Goat’s plaint 20 Roman censor 21 Fib 23 Medit. nation 25 Cellist Pablo 28 Keep perusing 32 Muscat resident 33 Sky blue 34 Lively dances 36 “Be that as it may ...” 37 Sch. URL ender 38 Atty.’s title 39 Libretto 42 Plead 44 “Oops!” 48 Priestly garment 49 Competent 50 Tiny bit 51 2016 Olympics city 52 Composer Bartok 53 Figure skating leap 54 Gender 55 Mideast gulf 56 Helen’s home

DOWN

1 Imperfection 2 Timber wolf 3 Egg 4 Stick-in-the-mud 5 Baker Street sleuth 6 Classic theaters 7 Empty talk 8 Hosp. areas 9 Coffee 10 Coup d’-11 Mexican entree 20 Hodgepodge 22 Homer classic 24 Penn and Connery 25 Police officer 26 “I love,” to Livy 27 Bando of baseball 29 “Gee, ya think?” 30 Spanish gold 31 Just out 35 Filled in 36 Sea off Greece 39 Old salts 40 Author Wiesel 41 PlayStation alternative 43 Vogue rival 45 60 minutes 46 “Beetle Bailey” dog 47 Vague 49 Lawyers’ org.

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!