Glendale Star 07/27/2023

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

Jason Nuttall began his career in education in 2000 with the Peoria Uni ed School District. Now, 23 years later, he has returned as the district’s chief student services o cer.

Nuttall said he easily picked up the district’s inner workings since he started July 1.

“I’ve just tried to fall in line with that and see how I can contribute to what’s already been put in place,” he said. “People will ask me what my thoughts are — and hopefully I have a prepared opinion to contribute to the organization — but it’s been a lot of learning systems and things of that sort, to try and integrate myself into.”

Nuttall spent the rst 11 years of his career with PUSD, but then went on to other ventures across the Valley. He served as an as-

Jason Nuttall a familiar face in PUSD

sistant principal and athletic director in the Tolleson Union High School District. After further climbing the ladder — serving as an administrator and director of compliance — he spent the past ve years as the assistant superintendent of support services for the Liberty Elementary School District.

His career until this point though never came as a surprise. As with each position, he learned new skills that would apply to the next. Nonetheless, he is still excited to be back in the district closest to his family.

“I think every position prepares you for the next one,” he said. “I have lived in this community for 25 years,” he said.

“My three children have gone through the Peoria school system. To this point, we have a combined 33 years of education for

Glendale man arrested, accused of killing ex-girlfriend

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Glendale Police Department arrested 58-year-old Victoriano Alejo for allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend and roommate, 43-year-old Alma Escobar, after he is said to have stabbed her four times in their house near 86th Drive and Pasadena Avenue.

e mother of three was rushed to a local hospital after the incident and later died from her injuries.

On July 15, o cers responded to a residence after being noti ed by Escobar’s chil-

dren that their mother had been stabbed and that they were rushing her to the hospital to receive possible lifesaving treatment. According to investigators, the children told o cers that Alejo had stabbed their mother and threatened them, saying “that they would be ‘next.’”

O cers located Alejo after surrounding the residence and took him to a local hospital after observing a laceration to his throat.

Upon investigation, detectives found a large, decorative knife with blood on it in the residence. On the couch, there was a large blood stain next to the knife and sev-

eral cans of beer. Alejo was arrested after receiving medical attention.

“Alejo stated he had known Escobar for approximately one year before they started dating,” police reports said. “ ey had been dating for approximately ve months, and had moved in together with her three children.

“However, as his feelings for Escobar grew, she began to lose interest in him. Approximately two weeks ago, they decided to end their romantic relationship, but they would

Jason Nuttall returns to the Peoria Unified School District after a decade away and is looking to inspire positive work in the district. (Peoria Unified School District/Submitted)

host a high school exchange student (girl or boy) from Belgium, France, Germany, Ukraine, Scandinavia, Spain, Japan, Italy or other countries. Single parents, as well as couples with or without children, may host.

GESD hosted a "Grab, Gab, and Go" drive-thru welcome event for new GESD teachers. New teachers were greeted with welcoming cheers from Superintendent Segotta-Jones and GESD administrators. They also received Sr. Ozzy's Tacos Y Mariscos breakfast burritos, sponsored by the Glendale Uniting Students, Teachers, and Others (GUSTO) Foundation and a rolling cart full of classroom supplies.

Cindy Segotta-Jones, Superintendent

Also happening this week in GESD, all schools welcomed incoming kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students for the GESD Jumpstart program. Students participated in a one-week preview of learning for their upcoming grade level. New kindergartners gained social skills, practiced routines, met school staff, and more. The program also benefitted first and second graders who received a fun and interactive head start on their education this school year.

still reside together, as roommates.”

Alejo told police that after the two parted ways, Escobar began seeing someone else and the two started dating, which made him “angry and jealous.” is jealousy led to a string of arguments between the two.

On the morning of July 15, Alejo allegedly began consuming alcohol from the time he woke up, in which Escobar had joined him. e two then decided to watch a movie together at around 4:30 p.m., where Escobar eventually had fallen asleep.

“He became consumed by his feelings of jealousy and anger over Escobar’s new relationship with someone new,” reports further stated. “He felt that if she was not going to be in a relationship with him, then he would not allow her to be in any relationship.”

body,” the document stated. “She woke up and started screaming. (Escobar’s two children) entered the living room. He turned to them. He asked them if they were going to try to intervene, intending to intimidate and scare them. He is unsure, but believed he might have physically harmed them if they had tried to help their mother. He placed the blade of his knife to his neck and tried to cut himself, intending to kill himself.

Publisher

Steve T. Strickbine

Vice President Michael Hiatt

Associate Group Publisher

Laura Meehan, 623-777-1042 lmeehan@timeslocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL HOTLINE: 623-847-4604

Executive Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@timeslocalmedia.com

It was at this point that he is said to have grabbed the murder weapon from an upstairs closet and concealed it in his pants in the event that Escobar had woken up.

my kids. I’ve always felt that the gravity of Peoria is a real thing. ere is this constant pull back to the district that has giv-

“Alejo stated he stood up and thrusted the knife into the left side of Escobar’s

en you and your family so much.”

Now o cially back in Peoria, Nuttall hopes to bring nothing but success to PUSD.

“He is unsure how Escobar was taken from the residence but next remembers police o cers contacting him from outside. Alejo again stated his intention was to kill Escobar. He alone had made the decision; nobody asked or told him to do what he did. He understood he had willingly and voluntarily confessed to murdering her.”

Alejo is facing charges of premeditated rst-degree murder, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and threatening and intimidating.

“What we’re trying to do is ensure that student learning can be maximized,” he said. “We’re trying to ensure that the schools have the resources that they need to keep teaching and learning at their priority. All of the other components that come alongside, it’s our job as a district o ce to support their cause.

Managing Editor

Jordan Rogers, 480-898-5638 jrogers@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING: sales@timeslocalmedia.com

Advertising Representatives

Barbara Duran, 623-847-4608 bduran@timeslocalmedia.com

C.E. Williams, 623-847-4601 cwilliams@timeslocalmedia.com

CLASSIFIEDS AND OBITUARIES: 623-535-8439

LEGALS: notices@timeslocalmedia.com

“ ere’s lots of wonderful professionals that I’ve been fortunate enough to meet that are really intelligent individuals and capable to do their work.”

Nuttall and Dr. Teresa Hernandez will be the direct line of support to the schools and principals in the district.

ey will work to make sure that all of the schools are following the same guidelines to promote success in the district.

“My plan in the rst six months is to nd ways that I can be in alignment with

Production/Design Supervisor

Courtney Oldham, production@timeslocalmedia.com

Graphic Designer

Tonya Mildenberg, tmildenberg@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION: 623-535-8439

Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny, aaron@timeslocalmedia.com

Victoriano Alejo is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Alma Escobar. (Glendale Police

In ation hits animal shelters; adoptions decline

BY ALEXANDRIA CULLEN Cronkite News

With inflation causing higher prices for everything from lodging to groceries, animal shelters in Maricopa County are feeling a trickle-down effect: They’re reporting fewer adoptions and more animal surrenders.

Rising home prices and increases in the cost of everyday items go hand in hand with the negative effects of inflation, said Kim Powell, communications officer for Maricopa County Animal Care & Control.

One of the results is a surge in the number of dogs housed at the shelter. Nearly 800 dogs are being sheltered, she said.

“We have more dogs,” Powell said, “and we are over capacity at all times,” which means the shelter goes through donations like toys, towels, blankets and food at a faster rate.

With fewer adoptions, pets stay at the shelter longer and employees and volunteers use more resources to meet the animals’ needs. Those include everything from the number of volunteers necessary to walk dogs each morning to the amount of food they need.

Powell said the rising cost of housing also has forced more homeowners and renters to surrender their dogs.

“People are having to move, and they can’t find an affordable place or apartment that will allow them to have a dog or have a certain breed of dog,” Powell said.

Jennifer Armbruster, senior manager of public relations for the Arizona Humane Society, agreed that one of the biggest factors for the drop in adoptions is a lack of affordable housing.

“Cost and housing are usually the top two reasons why we have animals surrendered,” she said. “We are in a time where we are at very high capacity.”

Armbruster said the nonprofit shelter is on track to take in more than 20,000 pets this year, the highest in more than a decade.

Perry Fanzo, a volunteer at the Arizona Humane Society, said they have had to take on ad-

ditional tasks.

Fanzo said he and other volunteers have to “walk more animals, we have to clean more cages. I volunteer at a facility where we try to get the dogs out three times a day, and when we have the number of animals we have, that’s tough, particularly in Arizona when it’s 115 degrees outside.”

The hot temperatures add to the increased cost of operating shelters. When Arizona’s temperatures peak during July and August, air conditioning and water costs go up.

Other costs shelters face are basics such as food and cleaning supplies.

Powell said the county shelter has fed more than 63,000 pounds of dog food to sheltered animals, used more than 400 gallons of bleach and detergent for laundry, nearly 9,000 trash bags and 30,000 pairs of gloves to clean up after the animals so far this year.

The breed and size of a dog plays a role in adoption trends, too.

Armbruster said many families are

adopting smaller dogs better suited to apartments or smaller homes. That means larger dogs are being left at the shelter for longer periods of time before finding a forever home.

“It could absolutely be connected to a housing instability issue,” she said.

Fanzo also said higher costs could lead to people surrendering large dogs, even purebred German shepherds and huskies.

“The thing I point to is the economy that is causing the problem right now,” Fanzo said.

Both the county shelter and the humane society said the problem is not just in Phoenix but is affecting shelters throughout the country.

Armbruster said people also can volunteer or send in donations.

“A big portion of the reason why we can continue to support the community is through our donors,” Ambruster said.

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

"I am so happy I decided to go with Lisa. I almost settled with an investor for my dad's property and would have lost tens of thousands of dollars. She was highly recommended by a family member and I decided to hire her immediately when I consulted with her due to her warm, friendly, optimistic, and trustworthy presence. She knows her stuff..."

- April M. in Glendale

the (district’s) strategic plan, while supporting the academic side and the principals with all of the other things that come across their plate,” Nuttall said.

“I think it’s most important that student learning and achievement be at the very top of what we’re trying to focus on. And my job is to support those things along the way, in alignment with this strategic plan.”

All things aside though, Nuttall is happy to be back in Peoria and is ready to help the district achieve bigger and better things.

“Wherever I landed when I came back, I hoped to have a level of in uence that I could take what I’ve learned along my professional journey and contribute back to such a wonderful community that has given me so much,” Nuttall said.

Azula is ready for adoption at the Arizona Humane Society. (Alexandria Cullen/Cronkite News)

A unanimous Supreme Court limits government authority

BY JUDGE GERALD A. WILLIAMS

North Valley Justice of the Peace

Depending on your source of news and social media, you might believe the U.S. Supreme Court is an agenda-driven policy making club with clear divisions based on which president appointed which justice. Reality is signi cantly di erent.

In the most recent term, the percentage of unanimous decisions was 47%, compared to 28% in the previous term. Here is one of the many cases where every justice agreed with the result.

In Tyler v. Hennepin County, a county government in Minnesota seized and sold a 94-year-old woman’s property for $40,000 to satisfy a $15,000 tax bill. It was

a one-bedroom condo.

Instead of returning the surplus to the delinquent taxpayer, the local government kept the money. e federal trial judge dismissed her lawsuit. e Eighth Circuit agreed with the dismissal.

e local government argued the elderly resident still had a $49,000 mortgage and a $12,000 lien for unpaid homeowners’ association fees; therefore, those potential encumbrances exceed the value of any interest she had in the home above her $15,000 tax debt.

For that reason, she ultimately suf-

fered no nancial harm from the sale of her home. Without that harm, she would not have legal standing to le a lawsuit.

e Supreme Court disagreed and held, unanimously, that the lady had standing and had a claim under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

e Fifth Amendment guarantees that private property cannot be taken except for public use and if then with just compensation.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion, which, not surprisingly, included a history lesson.

“ e principle that a government may not take more from a taxpayer than she owes can trace its origins at least as far back as Runnymeade in 1215, where King John swore in the Magna Carta that when his sheri or baili came to collect any debts owed him from a dead man, they could remove property ‘until

the debt which is evident shall be fully paid to us; and the residue shall be left to the executors to ful ll the will of the deceased.’”

Even if there were encumbrances on the home worth more than the surplus from the sale, the local government still kept $25,000 that belonged to the elderly woman. She could plausibly (and easily) allege nancial harm.

An amicus brief from the Cato Institute noted, “One of the reasons the story of Robin Hood is so iconic in our culture is that we recognize there is something evil about taking more in taxes than is required by law for the government’s own pro t.”

e U.S. Supreme Court agreed.

How to keep cool during a heat wave

BY KARI BINLEY

Ecobee Senior Manager, Energy Partnerships

With the blistering heat wave in Arizona, residents will be using air conditioning and fans to keep cool, but higher energy use means bigger energy bills and threats to the state’s power grid. Outages can be extremely dangerous in a heat wave since air conditioning, fans and refrigerators all run o electricity. For people who use electric-powered medical equipment, it can be even worse.

It’s incredibly important to stay cool during a heat wave, and there’s a few ways to do so. First, in the midst of a heat wave, taking steps to stay as cool as possible are hugely important.

Use windows to your advantage

Windows and other openings in your home can have a big impact on indoor temperature. If the sun never hits

your windows, your home will be much cooler. But if it does, and you don’t have air conditioning, close your blinds, curtains or shutters during the day to keep the sun out. Covering your windows from the outside can make a two- to three-degree di erence in indoor temperatures.

When the temperature goes down as the sun sets, you can open them all back up and use fans to blow cool air into your house at night.

Head to cool, indoor locations

You’ll want to avoid staying outside for a prolonged period of time in this heat, but if you cannot bring the temperature in your home down or if the power goes out, head to a local cooling center. Alter-

natively, partake in indoor activities like going to the movies or another public venue with great air conditioning. Leave your home closed up with the shades drawn and head to the mall.

Once the current heat wave breaks, there are a few key ways you can prepare your home ahead of time to stay cool and comfortable, while saving energy and money.

Save energy and get rewarded for it

A key way to reduce energy use in the summer is by taking advantage of utility rebates or energy saving programs through local utilities like APS and SRP. In areas with time of use rates, electricity prices peak at di erent times, and understanding when electricity is less expensive and cleaner can help you lower your utility bill.

Your utility may also o er community energy savings programs that provide customers with an incentive in return for helping to save energy during periods of high demand and help support a more stable and reliable power grid in local communities. Ecobee smart thermostats take into account energy prices, local weather, home energy performance and custom comfort preferences to automatically cool homes when energy is less expensive and avoid cooling when energy is more expensive, all without impacting comfort. is year alone, there have been nearly 13,000 Ecobee smart thermostats in Arizona participating in the events, saving over 15 megawatts.

Look for Energy Star-labeled products

When deciding on replacing or upgrading your home appliances with new products, consider choosing Energy Star-certi ed products to help you save energy. For example, a home with Energy Star-certi ed products uses around 35% less energy.

Build a schedule for your smart thermostat

According to Energy Star, proper use of the preprogrammed settings of a smart thermostat can save about $180 every year in energy costs. By building a

schedule for your thermostat to follow, you can automate temperature changes throughout each day to suit your lifestyle and, more importantly, to optimize energy use.

Ecobee smart thermostats are Energy Star certi ed and can help you save up to 26% on your annual cooling bills. Ecobee knows when you’re home or away and, based on your Comfort Settings, will decrease cooling when you’re away from home and precool based on your Schedule to ensure you’re comfortable when you get home. You can also set a vacation setting to help conserve energy while you’re away from home this summer.

Seal in and insulate your home

When homes have proper air sealing and insulation, your home will stay cooler in the summer. On average, homeowners save around 10% on energy by sealing air leaks and adding insulation.

To help protect cool air from leaking, the rst thing you should do is thoroughly check your home to nd out whether it has proper air sealing and insulation. In most cases, when air travels out of your home, it is through doors and windows with spotty seals, poorly insulated attics, or openings along the outer walls. You will want to air seal any window trims, doors, vents, furnace ues, and any other xtures that penetrate the opening of your home with expanding foam.

After air sealing, you’ll need to seal in on ductwork — this captures the air conditioning meant to keep the cool air inside and improves your indoor air quality.

Lastly, you’ll need to insulate your attic space if you have one. Proper attic insulation helps regulate your home’s temperature and prevents any cool air from leaking out.

Kari Binley is the senior manager of Utility Partnerships on the ecobee Energy team. While working at Pacific Gas and Electric on the energy efficiency team, Binley found her passion for smart thermostats because of their ability to help customers save money while maintaining comfort and to help the electric grid be more stable and clean. Binley works with utility partners to offer customer programs that do just that.

For

Unical Aviation moves headquarters to Glendale

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

Unical Aviation Inc., a provider of aircraft parts and components to the commercial aerospace market, is opening its corporate headquarters and parts warehouse at the newly built Falcon Park 303 in Glendale.

With close proximity to Luke Air Force Base and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the company will be able to provide a valuable service to the Valley’s aviation profile.

“Being a pilot myself, I’m especially excited to welcome Unical Aviation to support supply chain needs within our growing aviation industry,” Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said. “Unical brings quality jobs to Glendale, which shows the continued strength of our economy. They join the ranks of numerous global corporations calling Glendale home.”

The company signed a lease on a near 600,000-square-foot building off Loop 303 and I-10. Being a parts distributions company, Unical Aviation will help provide a needed service across aviation — something they had seen success in

California for nearly 30 years.

“In California, a lot of the environmental aspects are very rigid, and so bringing that with us here hopefully helps Glendale, the Glendale population, the state of Arizona on environmental consciousness,” said Kim Hancock, chief human resource officer for Unical Aviation. “Certainly, we had a huge and diverse workforce, so we’re going to continue along those lines to continue to have a great and diverse workforce.”

Hancock said the opportunity in Glendale was something that piqued Unical Aviation’s interest, as the proximity and community fit the bill for the next place to relocate.

“I think that the economic package, the availability of space and the workforce were the most important,” Hancock said. “When we were in California, we were running out of space. We couldn’t attract the right workforce. And so, when we did our due diligence, it led us right here to Glendale.”

Unical Aviation will bring 70 to 80 new positions and 200 total jobs to Arizona across a diverse range of skill sets. The

company will offer “competitive wages and benefits” in warehouse, finance, aircraft repair, human resources, IT and other positions.

“We worked with our builders to build this building, so that created a bunch of construction jobs,” Hancock said. “And then we’ve got Unical itself. We’re going to be hiring about 200 people. We’re probably halfway through that right now. We still have about 70 more job opportunities.

“We’re looking for good warehouse material handlers, mechanics, engine, material, repaired route coordinators, IT support finance. So, in every role, we are looking for great talent, and we want to be the destination for top talent. That is our goal.”

Hancock said that they are looking for people who want to be a part of a growth opportunity and want to help Unical Aviation be an industry leader in their new space.

“We want to attract talent that wants to be part of the building of the future and grow with us because we do plan to grow,” Hancock said. “We want to grow well beyond where we’re at as far as our number of customers or sales and other things like that. There’s such a demand for parts in the aviation industry. So, we’re looking for talent that help us fill and satisfy our customers.”

The city’s response to having a new aviation company in its borders has

Veteran opens boba shop in Peoria

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

After returning from the Marine Corps in 2011, Loc Le didn’t know what he wanted to do for work. The fuel supply veteran tried his hand at machine work but felt no particular connection to the craft. Though he has experience in the mechanical field, there was always one thing that especially interested him — food.

“I just love food, and I like to make food and drinks,” Le said. “I wanted to do something for myself and something for the community. I wanted to have a really good place where kids and people could hang out in a family environment.”

That dream became a reality in April when Le opened Bee Happy Boba Tea off West Thunderbird Road in Peoria — a Taiwanese concept tea shop that serves

fresh tea and cuisine in a comfortable, fun and “friendly” environment.

The shop offers a variety of menu options. Starting with the namesake, Le has concocted a lineup of fresh tea, made with either a Jasmine or green tea base mixed with milk, lemonade or “whatever you may like.”

Along with an assortment of beverages, Bee Happy Boba also serves small food options like fried rice, finger food or popcorn chicken with a homemade sauce.

Le admitted that Bee Happy Boba isn’t “too much different from other boba shops” in terms of the menu, but he is devoted to creating a personable atmosphere in his shop.

“When I go to a shop, I don’t want it to be a franchise, I don’t want it to be

Local chain o ering free chicken wings on July 29

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor

ATL Wings is celebrating National Chicken Wing Day on Saturday, July 29, with a special promotion.

“Any customer who comes into the restaurant and purchases a 10-piece a la carte or combo can get six free wings,” said Cianna Kirksey, who co-founded the restaurant with her husband, Mike. “So, they buy 10 and get six free.”

The entrée at ATL Wings is a hot commodity. On Super Bowl Sunday 2022, they fried 6.2 tons of fresh jumbo chicken wings — served with 310 gallons of their homemade sauce — at 21 locations statewide.

Last year, the National Chicken Council reported Americans consumed 1.42 billion chicken wings during the big game. If placed in a line, that would circle the Earth three times.

Adhering to the mantra “It’s all about the sauce,” ATL Wings developed 18 original sauces, which complement bone-in

or boneless wings, and its spicy chicken sandwiches.

The sauces include ATL style, garlic Parmesan, honey barbecue, hot ranch, chef’s special, Lucky’s sweet red and smokey bacon cheddar.

The first ATL Wings opened in February 2012 and the Kirkseys have been “humbled, to say the least” by the success, she said. Mike is behind the recipes, which were necessary to fill a void they found in the Arizona market.

“We moved down to Arizona and there were no good wings in the Valley,” she said. “I owe that all to my husband, he’s the sauce master behind it.”

The company is hoping to open in Nevada later this year, in time for the Super Bowl.

ATL Wings developed 18 original sauces, which complement bone-in or boneless wings, and its spicy chicken sandwiches. (ATL Wings/Submitted)

Trusted Choice Pledge of Performance®

been “welcoming,” and with Weiers’ continued support of the military, the public-private cohesion has been seamless.

“We really appreciate that,” Hancock said. “Anything that we have gone to them with, they’ve been working with us and figuring out what we can do. And so, we really appreciate that collaboration.”

Unical Aviation will begin filling customer orders and making shipments from the new facility shortly.

“We’re all extremely excited,” Hancock said. “We’re just actually thrilled to be here.

“It’s a new opportunity and a new ad venture for many of us that have relocat ed here from the headquarters portion, and then of course we’re very excited to have a lot of the higher-level local talent to help us grow.”

corporate; I want it to feel like a family,” he said. “That’s what I want. I want to feel like I’m at home. That’s what I want my kids to feel like if they go or what I want to feel like if I go somewhere, that the owner personally knows me, so it feels like home to me.”

He contributes to this atmosphere by offering certain discounts to a variety of guests who come in. Whether for veterans, teachers or the local community, Le is all for the idea of giving back.

time being, he will continue to offer quality service in a comfortable and family-friendly environment.

“It’s hard work having your own business,” Le said. “Building your own business is hard, and then to maintain it and have it going up to where my goal is is a lot of work and a lot of stress. But I think it will be worth it in the end when I actually make profits and actually see families hanging out and have a great time.”

Preparation needed to host NCAA national championship

BY SEAN LYNCH Cronkite News

Collegiate athletics may be a seasonal scholastic competition, but there is never an o season for the NCAA.

e same could be said for Arizona State University, which will be the host institution for its third national championship event in a 10-month span by the time the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four is played in April. Two of which — the men’s and women’s golf championships — were hosted in a 13-day stretch starting May 19.

Now, Arizona State is preparing to host one of the biggest sporting events in the country: the Final Four. Phoenix will be the only city to host multiple Final Fours since 2017.

“We learned many useful lessons in 2017 and will apply our trademark innovation to provide an unforgettable experience for the NCAA, student-athletes, alumni and fans,” Arizona State Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson said in 2018 after Phoenix secured the 2024 bid.

Getting the bid to host

For the men’s basketball Final Four bidding process, hosts are selected as far as nine years in advance. Arizona State was awarded the bid to host the 2024 Final Four in 2018, but the competitive bidding process took months and required a team e ort involving the Phoenix Local Organizing Committee, alongside the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, the Arizona Cardinals and a variety of local municipalities.

“ e local organizing committees that (we’re) working with do a phenomenal job,” said Arizona State associate athletic director of operations and facilities J.D. Loudabarger.

e national championship host bidders — usually a university, multiple universities or even an athletic conference — have multiple years to plan from

the time a bid is submitted to when the event takes place. Di erent sports have di erent timelines for announcing how far in advance future tournaments will be played.

While sports like men’s and women’s basketball have National Championship locations con rmed through 2030, men’s and women’s soccer don’t have future sites con rmed past 2025.

Arizona State reviewed the sports that made sense to host within the Valley and weighed other factors, including corporate partnerships. Once the university decided upon a sport to bid for, it put a budget together and led an application that details the facility’s capabilities to host a national championship. e nal process includes gathering marketing plans and potential revenue and expenses. And then the fun part: Sending it to the NCAA and hoping to secure the bid.

If a program secures a host bid, it works directly with the NCAA in the years — and in some cases months —

before the national championship is held.

“We have meetings all the time to touch base and make sure everybody’s on the same page,” Loudaberger said. “ e NCAA was just here (last month) doing some pre-meetings and going through some items and if they have anything that they need us to tweak or change, they give us a heads up, and we can make those adjustments before the championship.”

Many team-based NCAA tournaments have playo hosts that are determined throughout the season. For example, the rst and second rounds of the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament are hosted by each of the top four seeds. Halfway through the season, a program will evaluate if they have the potential to host a regional or super regional game and decide whether to place a bid.

Unlike hosting a national championship, the process of hosting regional games is scaled down because the games are mostly held at a university facility.

But sometimes, things don’t always go according to plan. For example, South Carolina women’s basketball secured a No. 4 seed in 2019 and was slated to host the regional at its home arena in Columbia, South Carolina. e school could not host at Colonial Life Arena and had to host the Greensboro Regional at UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena due to the scheduled rst and second rounds of the men’s tournament during the same week.

e NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee granted the University of South Carolina a waiver to be able to accommodate the program’s needs.

“Sometimes you have to consider the circumstances,” NCAA Director of Me-

dia Coordination and Statistics for the Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament Rick Nixon said. “You de nitely want to reward teams for the seasons they’ve had to be able to host, so you try to work with them.”

Nixon works with 19 di erent hosts in a month for the women’s basketball tournament.

Each year, 16 venues host the rst two rounds. Two venues host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, and one venue hosts the Final Four.

“Each place has a di erent circumstance,” Nixon said. “Some hosts will have a large sta ; some will have a small sta ; some will have a lot of resources; some will have none. So, you’re always trying to balance everything to ensure it all ts and provide the student-athlete experience we all want. So, it’s an interesting jigsaw puzzle each year as you go into championships and try to see how it all plays out.”

Planning, planning and more planning

In the women’s basketball model, the top 16 teams host the rst- and second-round games. Many programs are capable of hosting these games, but it isn’t o cial until shortly before Selection Sunday.

Host teams have less than a week until the rst games of the tournament. Nixon and NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee members have tried to make the process as seamless as possible before the tournament begins.

“We’ve actually started doing videos in and around with the operations manual that you can make evergreen,” Nixon said. “For whatever reason, we didn’t do that so many years ago, but now that’s become part of the everyday exercises is producing di erent communication pieces that are evergreen that starting in January, early February, that if sites want

Phoenix will be at the center of men’s college basketball in April 2024 when the Final Four is held at State Farm Stadium after years of planning. (Robert Crompton/Cronkite News)

NCAA FROM PAGE 12

to start doing their homework, they have to have all the tools to be able to start to do that.”

Men’s and women’s golf are one of the few sports that host its national championships at the same venue. e completion of both tournaments takes approximately two weeks, where some sta members work as many as 17 hours a day.

Hosting two tournaments in a short amount of time can be complex. e landscaping of the course, the rmness of the greens and the pin locations are all things that need to be taken care of in a short amount of time.

Before the NCAA began hosting the men’s and women’s championships at the same venue in 2015, it was seldom that a course would hold a major championship at the same location. In 2014, the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Open was held at the same course, Pinehurst, for the rst time in the 128-year history of the prestigious tournament.

“It just takes such a keen attention to detail from everybody involved, and we’ve been so fortunate that we have

such good partners who did that,” said John Baldwin, managing director of championships and alliances for the NCAA. “ e Grayhawk (Golf Course) sta just had it dialed in and did so well with both events that they made it look easier than it was.”

One of the biggest causes for sudden planning of outdoor events is none other than the weather.

A eld of 156 players for each sport competes in varying lengths of the tournament across tee times that span throughout the entire day. A nearby lightning strike or torrential rainfall could cause delays that impact the tournament.

“ ere’s not hardly any margin for error in terms of weather,” Baldwin said. “But de nitely, with outdoor sports and spring sports and golf in this case, that’s a huge challenge a lot of times. … At regionals we had several sites this year on the men’s side that had had lightning delays and other weather delays throughout the regional rounds.

“It’s something that you just work through and kind of understand that it’s likely going to be a part of it at some

point and you work through it the best you can.”

The work of the selection committee

While the host sites do homework on hosting NCAA tournament games, selection committees do homework throughout the entire season on which teams should qualify for the most prestigious tournaments that amateur sports can o er. Roles on an NCAA tournament committee are a service in addition to a full-time job.

Many of these committee members are expert ambassadors of the sport. Most consist of individuals currently or formerly employed by athletic institutions or longtime, respected sports media members.

Countless hours are spent discussing the 68 best teams — 36 of whom are selected by the committee as at-large bids — to participate in the most prestigious intercollegiate athletic tournament. Conference calls occur from weeks before the season until postseason competition begins.

Committee members frequently use

rankings, polls and, most importantly, results to determine the best teams on a weekly basis.

“When you’re on the committee, you have to be in tune with who’s winning each conference and what seed they might deserve, as well as being aware of who might be deserving of an at-large bid,” former Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Rhonda Lundin Bennett said.

“You’re always watching everybody at the top of each conference, potentially, and teams who would be getting at-large bids because you have to be able to seed all of them.”

Conference monitors provide information to the committee during each committee call to provide information on the performance of teams within that conference. ere are 361 teams across 32 Division I conferences, and the conference monitors are tasked with providing information of each school to the committee.

e selection process is never easy despite having more e ective algorithms

than ever before.

“A team might have all this potential, but if they don’t produce and they don’t get the results and the quality wins they need, they shouldn’t be in the tournament,” Bennett said. “It can’t just be on reputation. So, I think having a metric that looks at their results is the way to go.”

Expecting the unexpected e beauty of NCAA tournaments is anything can happen. So, when Loyola Chicago thrust into the spotlight with an improbable run to the 2018 Final Four, there were sure to be storylines to come with it.

Enter Sister Jean, the 98-year-old nun who was the chaplain for the team’s athletic program. During the Ramblers’ run, she became one of the most recognizable faces in U.S. sports, not just the face of Loyola Chicago athletics.

She captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans nationwide with her longtime passion for Ramblers’ athletics. At the Final Four media availability, she sat in front of a packed media

session and took questions as if she were the NCAA Tournament star player.

Unexpected situations like these make the work of David Worlock, the NCAA director of media coordination and statistics for the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, all the more unpredictable.

“You have something like that you’re not expecting, and now all of a sudden there are so many requests to speak to Sister Jean that you have to set up a different room into a press conference area and make sure it’s accessible for her,” Worlock said. “It was the most crowded press conference event we’ve had.”

No matter how much planning goes into an event, there’s always one thing that doesn’t go according to plan, and in 2020, a global pandemic was the situation that no one could have ever expected.

Arizona State anticipated hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf National Championship for the rst time from May 22 to June 3 before all NCAA sporting events were canceled in March.

When planning for the national golf championships in 2021, mask mandates

were still in e ect for outdoor events. But two weeks before the start of the championships, the mask mandate was lifted in Arizona.

e NCAA approved lifting the mask mandate for any outdoor event, and much of the planning and preparation for months had to be rapidly adjusted.

“We ended up having to change all of our signage two weeks out from the very rst championship (in 2021),” Loudabarger said. “All student-athletes had to get tested, which had never happened for golf before. We had special sites at the hotel, bringing in all the supplies and the testing equipment and getting them through that process and cleared before they were allowed to play.”

Although some individuals and teams could not nish the championship because of COVID-19 protocols, golf was still played, and champions were crowned.

“Trying to run a championship at the level that it deserves while also trying to follow COVID protocols is something that I certainly hope we never have to do again for many di erent reasons,” Baldwin said.

Despite an unprecedented situation, the NCAA made necessary modi cations to provide the best experience possible for the student-athletes.

Across all sports, NCAA tournaments provide Cinderella stories, raw emotions, memories and moments that will last a lifetime among fans, coaches and athletes alike. Without the work of people determined to provide the best experience to the athlete, the memories that millions have associated with an NCAA tournament would be non-existent.

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

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

Jay Hollingsworth

JULY 28 AND JULY 29

“Big Irish” Jay Hollingsworth is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Hollingsworth set out to the East Coast and honed his craft on the stages of Boston. His “charmingly brutal” style has earned him first place in the March Comedy Madness Competition and the Best of Boston, and he was a finalist in the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition. Hollingsworth’s many appearances on All Def Digital, as well as multiple stand-up clips, have garnered Jay over 100 million views across YouTube and all social media platforms.

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

Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County

JULY 29

Join the Maricopa Audubon Society to explore the numerous species of birds that inhabit Phoenix and Maricopa County. Learn how to identify bird species by appearance and sound. Leave amazed by the diversity of birds in the region. In-person attendees will be put in the drawing for ra e prizes.

Heroes Regional Park Library — Yucca Room, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 2 to 3:30 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.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.

is limited, and this event is designed for children ages 5 to 11 years old.

Glendale Main Library — Storytime Room, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale, 2 to 3 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Big Band Grandstand JULY 31

Become part of a big band and practice your musical skills along 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

Teen Game Night JULY 31

Challenge your friends and other teens to a variety of board and card game favorites, including Chess, Checkers, Connect Four, Pictionary, Pokémon and UNO. Classic old-school video games will also be available. Each time you win a game, you’ll receive your choice of instant gratification in the form of candy or a drawing entry for the chance to win a grand prize at the end of the event. Feel free to bring along your own games. This event is aimed at teens ages 12-18, and registration is not required.

Velma Teague Library — VTL Meeting Room, 7010 N. 58th Avenue, Glendale, 6 to 7:30 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Builder Mania AUG. 1

There’s nothing better than building something from start to finish. Join the Glendale Main Library for some mini-engineering fun with Tinker Toys, Straw Builders, Magnetix and Marble Run, among others. Space

Willie Barcena

AUG. 3

A 20-year comedy veteran, Willie Barcena never shies away from a challenge. Willie’s talent has garnered him 12 appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” — more than any other Latino comedian in the history of the show. Leno also invited Barcena to perform for the troops in Afghanistan, where

he helped provide much-needed laughter. His numerous jobs prepared him for his comedy career. His security guard, plumber, roofer and limo driver gigs gave him a background for his humor about everyday life.

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

Child Crisis Arizona gifts pool fences to 9 WV families

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Glendale Star Contributing Writer

Each year, hundreds of children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning in the United States.

“Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old and remains in the top ve causes of death for children ages 5 to 9 years old,” said Caitlin Sageng, director of special projects and family resources at Child Crisis Arizona, whose mission is to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment by creating strong and successful families.

“In Arizona, we have one of the highest drowning rates in the nation. An average of 20 children drown every year in Maricopa County alone.”

No single device or solution can prevent a child drowning on their own; however, there are steps caregivers can take to place multiple barriers between children and water and minimize the risk. In an e ort to decrease the chance of accidents around water, Child Crisis Arizona partners with Salt River Project (SRP) and the United Phoenix Fire ghters Charities (UPFC) annually on a Pool Fence Safety Program.

Its mission is simple: to provide local families with pool fences.

is year, Child Crisis Arizona gave back to nine families across the West Valley in Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise, Peoria and Glendale as recipients of the program. Over the last few weeks, pool fences have been installed in all backyards, including families where the

grandparents are serving as caregivers, single-parent households, and in households where children are in the adoption process.

“SRP is deeply committed to improving water safety for the children and families of our community,” said Rori Minor, community engagement strategist for SRP. “As the largest provider of water in the Valley for the past century, continuing our e orts to improve water safety is a top priority not only for us, but also for the 1 million people we serve. rough our partnership with Child Cri-

sis, we hope to educate families and provide quality resources to help keep our children safe and comfortable around water.”

In addition to installing the fences, the Child Crisis Arizona Pool Fence Safety Program works across the Valley to educate caregivers on the importance of keeping their children safe around water through its Virtual Water Safety Workshop led by a Safe Kids Maricopa County Program Coordinator and available on the Child Crisis Arizona website at childcrisisaz.org.

Fast facts from the Child Crisis Arizona Pool Fence Safety Program for all caregivers:

• A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least ve feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.

• Make sure that all furniture is on the inside of the pool fence so that children cannot use it to climb over the fence.

• Ensure that the pool gate is always properly latched and closed and that it is not broken.

• Children should not be able to go under, over or around the pool fence.

• Children can be small enough to t through a doggie door when parents are not aware. Lock doggie doors so that it creates a barrier between the child and water.

• Never allow a child to sit on or next to a drain. Teach your child not to swim or play near the drain.

• Swim with a partner. Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure older children swim with a partner every time.

“In addition to this, we recommend that kids learn water survival skills starting at age 2 or sooner in some cases,” said David J. Ramirez, city of Phoenix re ghter and United Phoenix Fire ghters board member.

“ ey should be able to step or jump into water over their head and return to the surface, turn around in the water and orient to safety, oat or tread water, combine breathing with forward movement in the water, and exit the water.”

Nine families across the West Valley were gifted pool fences from Child Crisis Arizona. (Child Crisis Arizona/Submitted)

Avoiding the ‘blow-up’ holes in the game of life

As a golfer, I was impressed with a short story by Zig Ziglar. It’s called “Never Follow a Bad Shot with a Bad Decision.” This story is in Ziglar’s book “Something Else to Smile About.” Here’s the story. In this story, the golfer is a man but could be, just as easily, a woman.

“As an avid golfer, I’m often puzzled by the actions of the typical high-handicap golfer. With a driver in hand, he steps up to the tee box, takes his stance, thinks the shot through, and hits the ball about 210 yards to the right, where it lands amid some trees. He walks or rides to the ball, looks at the six-foot opening, and determines that all he’s got to do to reach the green is hit the ball 175 yards through that opening, send it over the lake, and fade the ball over the bunker to land on the green.”

Golfers are like dogs; they live in perpetual hope.

Zig continues with the story. “Let me remind you of the scenario; he just missed a roughly 60-yard-wide fairway with a ball teed up and in perfect position. He believes he can go through a six-foot opening for his second shot and

Pastor

make the ball act as it does when one of the top touring pros on the PGA Tour hits it. With confidence that generally goes with ignorance, he steps up, fires away and hits the ball into the lake. In anger and disgust, he hits the ball over the green into the sand bunker. Two strokes later, he’s on the green where he two-putts for a disastrous quadruple-bogey-8.”

What’s the lesson here? He followed

a bad shot with a bad decision, costing him. Following up a bad shot with a bad decision in golf and life generally leads to blow-up holes. The blow-up holes in golf are the holes that ruin your scorecard. Golf is one of those games where less is more. The lower the score, the better you did. As a golfer, the more blowup holes you have, the sooner you see a counselor.

Golf is a great game to learn some life lessons, the first of which is humility and wisdom. As the stock market joke goes about your investments, the broker makes money, the broker’s firm makes money, and two out of three is not bad. In the case of golf, the golf club manufacturer makes the money, the golf course makes the money, and two out of three

is not bad.

Who makes the money in golf? Hint — it’s not you. All you wanted was a new hobby and to enjoy some exercise and get out of doors. Now you have an expensive set of golf clubs, a frustrating life, a mediocre golf swing and 118-degree days to play golf if you live in Phoenix in the summer.

Often, you and I are like golfers in the game of life who have blow-up holes. We triple our trouble by making a bad shot and following it up with a wrong decision. Then we compound that bad shot by denying it, defending it, lying about it or rationalizing it instead of quietly thinking about it, acknowledging the mistake or working through the consequences of the mistake in a logical, forthright manner. That’s called damage control. And you can do it if fallen emotions don’t guide your decision.

I’ll access Philip Brunstetter’s wisdom about decision-making in times of bad decisions after bad shots. “There are no born decision-makers. The most suc-

DELPH FROM PAGE 18

cessful decision-makers follow rules that help them select the best alternative. The basic rules for decision-making involve six steps.

• State the apparent problem or situation you face.

• Gather the facts.

• Organize and interpret the facts.

• State the real problem or situation.

• Develop alternative solutions.

• Select the most appropriate alternative.”

My advice is to decide to use those six steps. I know what you’re thinking. “I really want to hit that ball out of the forest. I know I can do it. It will work out this time.” That’s what I feel like when I’m playing golf. Somehow, I will do what Tiger Woods can’t or won’t even do. Here’s advice for you from the first “Star Wars” movie in 1977: “C-3PO, let the Wookie win.”

Do you know what? The idea I’m writing about today is good advice in golf and life. I like to play golf in Pinetop. There’s plenty of forest there to blow-up in. Being a typical high-handicap golfer, I used to try to hit my errant ball through

syllable

29 Fanatical

30 Rowing need

31 Frequently

36 Half the weekend

37 Chemical suffix

38 Groove

41 Kansas City’s st.

42 Quotable Berra

43 Opposite of “sans”

44 Bubblehead

46 O’Hara estate

47 Cameo shape

48 Fedora fabric

51 Victory sign

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.

narrow gaps at the green. Inevitably, my ball would ricochet off several trees and end up further in the forest.

I became who and what I am writing about. All I had to do was hit the ball sideways to the fairway, regroup and then I could limit the damage.

What did I do to lower my score? I started making better decisions after making a bad shot. Now I don’t have as many blow-up holes as before. I’ve limited my mistakes and maximized my score. I even shot a 41 the other day on nine holes. Of course, being golf, I shot a 51 the next day. Don’t believe those golf advertisements. Golf is a four-letter word. Life is a four-letter word, too. Just saying.

I double-dog dare you to live a better life. How? Follow up the bad shots that you will make with good decisions. And may the course be with you.

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.

For more youth visit

ASU Prep Academy o ers dual enrollment

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

Founded in 2018, ASU Preparatory Academy o ered everything a traditional online high school experience did, with one caveat — easily accessible college credits.

Due to a close partnership with Arizona State University, the academy instituted a concurrent enrollment program which allowed for students to earn credits toward a high school diploma and receive college credits at the same time. is is available for students across the Valley.

“ e students don’t pay tuition to another school. is is their school of choice, and they get a diploma through us. ose students are able to receive a waiver to take two classes per semester at the university,” said Karen Sanderson, learning success coach at ASU Preparatory Academy. “ ey take a combination of high school and college classes. When they take those college classes, it transfers back to the high school transcript as a credit.

“So, it’s really nice for the students who want our diploma, but also then to start building up their ASU transcripts.”

Only a few students took advantage of the concurrent enrollment at rst, but the program then took o during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many students ocked to ASU Prep as a benecial educational option during a time when online learning was at its peak.

“As the years have progressed and word has gotten out a lot of families come because they were talking to another family,” she said. “But now, last year, that’s about 25% of my kids that took at least one class and 40%. So, it’s only been, I think, four or ve years, and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”

Along with the size of the classes increasing, the quality of the students the school was producing, Sanderson said,

(ASU Preparatory Academy/Submitted)

increased similarly. By giving an abundance of demographics a free way to earn college credits, students took advantage of the accessibility of the program.

Sanderson named one student who was able to amass 78 college credits through their time at ASU Prep, essentially making that student a senior in college.

“I mean, that’s huge,” Sanderson said. “Out of all the reasons to take the ASU classes, the No. 1 reason why families do this is nancial.” is model of getting their students into college-level education while still in high school has presented many bene ts. While enrolled in the university class, the advisers at ASU Prep are “hands o ,” allowing for the student to grow in their independence — something that Sanderson said the school feels is bene cial to their growth and

success.

“I think it’s amazing, I really do,” Sanderson said. “At the high school, there’s a little bit more hand holding. We accept late work. We’re very exible to meet the needs of all of our students. But then when they get to that university level, it’s serious.

“I think that de nitely prepares them for life after high school. I would say 99% of these kids are going to be going to university when they graduate from high school, but they are going to be way ahead of the rest in terms of understanding time management and understanding how to reach out to professors.”

To be a part of the concurrent enrollment program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to take two college-level courses per semester. e school aims to have every student graduate with at least 15 college credits

completed at no cost.

ASU Prep’s goals to help students attain college credits was working in 2023, as 45% of the students took college courses and compiled 3,712 college credits in total. ese numbers alone are staggering to Sanderson, who said the work is rewarding, as she gets to watch each student start their path to success through ASU Prep.

“I love it so much because I don’t ever really get to meet them until they graduate from high school,” Sanderson said.

“To me, the most rewarding thing is to get the kids that started here and went there toward the end. And then taking ASU class is the cherry on the top.”

To learn more about ASU Prep and enrollment information, visit asuprep. asu.edu/enroll, call 1-844-692-3372, or email asuprepdigitaladmissions@ asu.edu. Enrollment for fall 2023 is still open.

ASU Preparatory Academy is o ering students the opportunity to take high school- and college-level courses at the same time, free of cost.

Westgate hosting backpack drive through end of July

BY JAMES LOTTS Glendale Star Staff Writer

Westgate Entertainment District is hosting a backpack drive through the end of July to help Glendale students who may need assistance getting school supplies.

rough Sunday, July 30, anyone looking to donate can drop supplies o at the Retail erapy AZ kiosk in Westgate during normal business hours or at the Westgate tent during Artisan Alley.

Retail erapy AZ can be found in Westgate in between SALT: Tacos y Tequila and Bar Louie.

Erica Jerido, owner of Retail erapy AZ, said they are looking for backpacks and school supplies such as scissors, pencils and glue sticks. Jerido added that she knows how important the supplies are in the classroom as a former teacher herself.

“Actually, before I started my small business, I was a teacher for the last 10 years in a Title I school district and I denitely know how many families were in need and how much the school could bene t from these kinds of drives,” Jerido said. “So, it’s really dear to my heart. Coming from the education eld, I still want to be able to use my platform to be able to support the schools.”

Donations from this drive are going to be sent to the Glendale Elementary School District to be given to kids who

need them. Title I schools help low-income students who present a need for nancial assistance.

Jerido said 300 backpacks were collected during last year’s backpack drive. She said they ran the rst drive alone but are working with Westgate Entertainment District for this year’s drive.

She saw the opportunity to expand the drive when Retail erapy AZ opened up a new location at Westgate.

“ is year we’re brand new to the Westgate community, so we thought what an awesome opportunity to expand it by working with such a well-known platform as Westgate,” Jerido said.

Jerido said people who are unable to donate during this drive will have an opportunity to donate at a di erent time and there are plans to do another drive near the holidays to help replenish school supplies halfway through the school year.

Jerido said the supplies will be donated before the start of the school year on Monday, Aug. 7. She assured that the supplies would be given to families in need.

“ e community could de nitely know that this is going speci cally to families in need, and we’re just super appreciative for everyone that can help contribute,” Jerido said.

For more information on the backpack drive, visit westgateaz.com.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF Pauline Nancy Longo

NOTICE IS GIVEN to all creditors of the Trust or Estate of Pauline Nancy Longo as follows:

1. William Frederick Longo TA is the Trustee of the Longo Family Trust dated January 28, 2013.

2. Claims against the Estate or Trust must be presented within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or be forever barred.

3. Claims against the Estate may be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to William Frederick Longo TA c/o Lisa Keylon, Esq. at Ahead Of The Curve Law®, 11811 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite P-112, Phoenix, AZ 85028.

DATED July 10, 2023.

/s/ L. Keylon

Lisa Kurtz Keylon, Esq., Attorney for the Trustee

Published in the Glendale Star, Jul 20, 27, Aug 3, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA IN MARICOPA COUNTY SUMMONS Case No. FC2023-051300, Name of Plaintiff and Alicia Franklin Name of Defendant WARNING: This is an official document from the court that affects your rights. Read this carefully. If you do not understand it, contact a lawyer for help. FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO: Alicia Franklin Name of Defendant WARNING: This is an official document from the court that affects your rights. Read this carefully. If you do not understand it, contact a lawyer for help.

1. A lawsuit has been filed against you. A copy of the lawsuit and other court papers are served on you with this “Summons.”

2. If you do not want a judgment or order taken against you without your input, you must file an “Answer” or a “Response” in writing with the court, and pay the filing fee. If you do not file an “Answer” or “Response” the other party may be given the relief requested in his/ her Petition or Complaint. To file your “Answer” or “Response” take, or send, the “Answer” or “Response” to the: • Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, 201 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 850032205 or electronically file your “Answer” or “Response” through one of Arizona’s approved electronic filing systems at http://www.azcourts. gov/efilinginformation. After filing, mail a copy of your “Response” or “Answer” to the other party at their current address. NOTE: If you do not file electronically you will not have an electronic access to the documents in this case.

3. If this “Summons” and the other court papers were served on you by a registered process server or the Sheriff, within the State of Arizona, your “Response” or “Answer” must be filed within TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS from the date you were served, not counting the day you were served. If this “Summons” and the other papers were served on you by a registered process server or the Sheriff outside the State of Arizona, your Response must be filed within THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date you were served, not counting the day you were served. Service by a registered process server or the Sheriff is complete when made. Service by Publication is complete thirty (30) days after the date of the first publication.

and JOANN FRYER

4. You can get a copy of the court papers filed in this case from the Petitioner at the address listed at the top of the preceding page, from the Clerk of the Superior Court’s Customer Service Center.

Notice is hereby given that, on March 21, 2023, Helen Cheng and Pi-Wan Cheng, filed an action in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, Case No. CI 23-5334, against Defendants Desiree Garcia, Randy Garcia and JoAnn Fryer. The object and prayer of the Complaint against Defendants is for unpaid rent and damages pursuant to a lease signed by Defendants on February 24, 2020.

In its Complaint, Plaintiff seeks unpaid rent, utilities and yard maintenance, for their default under the terms and conditions of the aforementioned Lease, together with attorney’s fees as allowed by law, costs, and such further relief as the Court deems appropriate under the circumstances.

5. If this is an action for dissolution (divorce), legal separation, or annulment, either or both spouses may file a Petition for Conciliation for the purpose of determining whether there is any mutual interests in preserving the marriage or for Mediation to attempt to settle disputes concerning legal decision making (legal custody) and parenting time issues regarding minor children.

You are required to answer the aforementioned Plaintiff’s Complaint on or before September 10, 2023, or said Complaint against Defendants Desiree Garcia, Randy Garcia, and Joann Fryer, will be taken as true.

Dated: July 17, 2023.

HELEN CHENG and PI-WAN CHENG, Plaintiffs 13266-1/6P21709

Published in the Glendale Star, Jul 27, Aug 3, 10, 2023

6. Requests for reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities must be made to the division assigned to the case by the party needing accommodation or his/her counsel at least three (3) judicial days in advance of a scheduled proceeding.

7. Requests for an interpreter for persons with limited English proficiency must be made to the division assigned to the case by the party needing the interpreter and/or translator or his/her counsel at least ten (10) judicial days in advance of a scheduled court proceeding

SIGNED AND SEALED this Date: May 11, 2023