Glendale Star 08/03/2023

www.glendalestar.com

This Week

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Peoria Unified Governing Board approved its fiscal year 2024 budget at a July 13 board meeting, allocating approximately $423 million for district use.

Michelle Myers, chief financial officer of the Peoria Unified School District (PUSD), presented the proposed total to the board.

The new budget of $423 million is over $15.7 million more than the budget for fiscal year 2023.

Over $307 million of this year’s total is allotted to the maintenance and operating budget, a $5 million increase from last year. This will be used on the majority of the expenditures put forward by the district.

The unrestricted capital fund for 2024 is

Peoria Unified adopts budget for 2024

$58.6 million — a $16.5 million increase set to be spent on safety, technology and new buildings and repairs. The district is also receiving $57.1 million in federal projects other than impact aid.

As the largest portion of the overall funding, the maintenance and operations budget is set to be the foundation on which the district can cover its costs. Including fiscal year 2023 carryover, the fund will include an abundance of changes in employee salaries and wages, as well as new positions and programs.

Myers later explained there were a number of topics to be addressed in the fund. These included an increase of bus driver hourly pay from $17 to $19 an hour, classified hourly salary schedule adjustments,

merit and performance pay increase, a Spanish immersion stipend, and aid in funding new positions or reclassifications across the district.

The maintenance and operations fund will also help increase base compensation pay based on years of service to 4%, 4.5% and 5% — a $7.4 million projected cost.

The capital fund is where the district will see the majority of physical changes to its schools.

The largest expenditures from the capital fund are two new education buildings at Lake Pleasant Elementary School and Liberty High School.

The district is also planning to invest $5.3

Missing Glendale teen reappears after 4 years

BY JOE McHUGH

Glendale Star Staff Writer

Jessica Nuñez reported that her 14-year-old daughter, Alicia Navarro, went missing from her Glendale home on Sept. 15, 2019. Only one thing was left behind — a note to her family.

“I ran away,” the note read. “I will be back, I swear. I’m sorry. — Alicia.”

In a panic, Nuñez did everything in her power to find her child. After taking the case to the police, she made flyers, took to social media and even hired a private investigator to bring the girl back.

Nearly four years later — long removed from any updates on the case — a young woman en-

tered a police department in Havre, Montana, asking to get an ID and to remove herself from a missing person’s list.

Local officers asked her name to search their database, getting the response “Alicia Navarro.”

Now age 18 and located more than 1,300 miles away from her Arizona home, Navarro was unharmed and in good spirits, according to the Glendale Police Department — ending a near-half-decade search.

Alicia Navarro was reported missing at age 14. Now 18, she turned up in Havre, Montana. (Glendale Police Department/Submitted)

THE VOICE OF BUSINESS

The

Kiwanis

Colibri

West

Glendale

Cindy Segotta-Jones, Superintendent

After being reported missing for nearly half a decade, Alicia Navarro was found in Havre, Montana. (Glendale Police Department/Submitted)

Finally reunited with her daughter via video call, Nuñez is elated to know Navarro is OK.

Now, investigators are turning their attention to answering the question of what happened to her in the four years she was gone.

The department provided details about the situation during a press conference July 26.

According to Glendale Lt. Scott Waite, they received a call that Navarro had identified herself to police officers the week of July 24.

“There’s a lot of mixed emotions with this announcement that we are having,” Glendale Police Department media manager Jose Santiago said during the conference. “We are happy, and at the same time we are hopeful that we are able to supply this family with a little bit more closure.

“I can’t even begin to express to you all the pride that I personally have in the men and women here at our police department.”

Upon discovery, Navarro was contacted by the department, with which she

has been cooperative and is assisting in the investigation in small portions at a time.

She was able to shed a little light on the situation on a video call with detectives.

“No, no one hurt me,” she said during the call.

Detectives then thanked her for her cooperation.

“Of course, thank you for offering to help me,” she responded.

While still in the early stages of investigation, the question begs as to if there was someone involved in her disappearance.

According to the Glendale Police Department, detectives have conducted several interviews with possible suspects but have made no arrests as of Monday, July 31.

“We can only begin to put together the puzzle that is her disappearance and her returning,” Waite said. “I would ask, patience. Not only for us as law enforcement and the investigation, but patience for Alicia and for her family; we can only imagine what she is going through mentally and emotionally, as well as her family.

“And as much as we would like to say that this is the end, we know that this is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go. We will continue to work with our state, local and federal partners — and even across state lines — to make sure that Alicia has everything that she needs.”

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

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

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 Published

Suspect arrested after Glendale shooting

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Glendale Police Department arrested a suspect in the shooting of a 23-year-old man on July 27 near the 14000 block of North 67th Avenue in Glendale. The victim, pronounced dead at the hospital, was allegedly shot by 21-year-old Nevaeh Worsley, who was charged with one count of second-degree murder.

“Worsley invoked her rights and did not provide a statement,” noted the official Form IV police report.

Just after 4 p.m., officers responded to calls regarding a motorcyclist injured on North 67th Avenue. Upon arrival, officers identified a possible gunshot wound on the victim, who was laying on the southbound curb lane near his motorcycle.

While the fire department treated the victim’s through-and-through wound, officers spoke to a witness who remained on scene and described the account.

“The witness was in the eastbound lanes, stopped at the red light behind a silver four-door sedan,” the report described. “In front of this sedan was (the victim). While stopped, the witness saw the occupants of the silver sedan appearing to be in a verbal altercation with the victim on the motorcycle.”

The witness then explained to police that the passenger of the suspect vehicle got out of the car “holding what the witness believed to be a black handgun to their side.

“The witness stated the passenger reentered the silver sedan at which time the victim began driving away, making a southbound turn,” the report continued. “Both the motorcycle and the sedan sped up significantly, to the point that the witness could no longer clearly see them. As the witness continued traveling southbound, he came upon the victim lying in the roadway near the motorcycle.”

Police found a .45 caliber casing, later determined to be from a .45 caliber Glock.

Piecing the story together, detectives pulled video footage from a local Circle

K and a church, which showed the altercation and from where the suspect vehicle initially came.

Through further investigation, video surveillance and a license plate reader showed Worsley in the suspect vehicle — identified as a silver Hyundai Elantra — and confirmed the witness’ testimony of Worsley confronting the victim, according to the report.

“After learning of these connections, undercover detectives responded to Worsley’s residence,” the report continued. “They observed the suspect vehicle in question backed into the driveway. A short time later, they observed two occupants enter this vehicle. The driver was identified as Worsley.

“Based on the video evidence in this case and the license plate reader data that identify this suspect vehicle, combined with Worsley’s matching description and ties to this vehicle, a search warrant was drafted and granted for the vehicle and residence.”

Police later detained Worsley and brought her in for questioning.

After she was placed under police custody, detectives searched the Elantra, locating the handgun in the center console.

Officers then searched the residence where the suspect vehicle was initially located, finding the gun box as well as ammunition in Worsley’s room.

Testing identified this as the weapon used, revealing the casing found on the scene was fired from it, the report detailed.

Police also brought in the person operating the suspect vehicle at the time of the incident for a Mirandaized interview.

The new witness revealed she dropped Worsley off at around 8 a.m. the day of the incident at an unarmed security officer’s class held at the same church where the vehicle was identified — noting that Worsley’s weapon was in the car.

Returning just before 4 p.m., the witness then provided information similar to the footage obtained during the investigation.

“(The witness) acknowledged turning

Neveah Worsley is being charged with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist in Glendale. (Glendale Police Department/ Submitted)

onto Greenway Road in front of the victim on his motorcycle, causing the victim to become upset,” the report detailed.

“She advised the victim was stopped in

front of her and looked back. She then rolled down both windows to her vehicle and yelled to the victim. No physical altercation occurred. When confronted with the video footage showing Worsley exiting the car at this time (with a firearm), the witness denied knowing this occurred.”

The witness then described the incident, initially saying she was the one to fire the weapon at the victim’s back tire. But when detectives presented the video evidence of Worsley firing the gun, the witness reportedly confessed.

According to the report, the witness stated she was not looking when Worsley fired the weapon and was unsure of what the victim was doing at the time.

“When asked if she saw any weapons, she stated she was not looking but did not ever see any weapons,” it continued. “She stated she saw Worsley holding the firearm after hearing a shot and placing the firearm back into the center console area.”

While in custody, Worsley invoked her rights and did not provide any statement.

The Peoria Unified School District adopted its budget for 2024, allocating over $423 million for improvements and funding for the coming year. (File photo)

million into safety protocols and technology at its institutions, including door hardware and access, intercom replacements, cameras and vape sensor, and front office remodels.

Other capital fund projects include $6.8 million toward technology improvements, white fleet replacement, auditorium repairs and upgrades, and priority or critical projects.

Another important topic in the budget presentation was the Classroom Site Fund (CSF), which is money set aside as state statute that can be used as classroom teacher or student support funds. It is funded by a six-tenths-of-a-cent state education sales tax.

With a pool of nearly $66 million, the CSF will provide additional funding to full-time employees, as well as increase both performance pay and portions of salaries for eligible full-time employees.

Several cash-controlled and nonlevied funds are also included in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

One of the most important inclusions for the district is school resource and liaison officers.These officers will be placed at every high school in the district, with four liaison officers roaming all other schools in the district. This addition was passed at the Peoria City Council’s June 27 meeting.

Other projects from the budget include $7.5 million toward roofing and weatherization, $2.9 million in E-Rate technology and a $2.1 million retention stipend from Medicaid in Public Schools.

Myers then explained the Elementary and Secondary School Education Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), external funding the district first received in 2019. With its second stipend — ESSER II combined with its third stipend, ESSER III — the district has nearly $40 million to spend on new textbook adoptions, summer school technology, aid and resources, as well as staff training and professional development.

Myers noted there are no bond dollars or bond budget included in next year’s budget, as there are no more bond sales to include in the total due to the district’s 2012 bond authorization being exhausted.

The presentation concluded with the explanation of primary and secondary tax rates, a number that has decreased from 3.99% to 3.38% and 3.02% to 2.11%, respectively, since 2019.

With the budget adopted, there will be two revision sessions this December and in May 2024.

Gallego raises, spends more for potential Senate run

BY LAUREN IRWIN Cronkite News

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., is putting her money where her mouth isn’t — in a race for reelection that she has not yet said whether she will enter.

Sinema reported raising more than $1.6 million in the last quarter, leaving her with just under $10.8 million in cash on hand, according to her most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission.

That’s half as fast as the fundraising by Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, who reported bringing in $3.1 million in the last quarter, for a total of $6.8 million for the year. While he is raising more, he is also spending more: Gallego, who represents the 3rd Congressional District, including parts of Glendale, had $3.8 million on hand as of June 30.

The only other candidate to file a report with the FEC, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, trailed well behind the other two. Lamb, who is seeking the Republican nomination, reported raising $607,722 in the quarter and having $335,337 on hand.

Even though Gallego would not face off in a primary against Sinema, who left the Democratic Party in December to become an independent, analysts point out the different sources of their fundraising support so far.

Gallego reported that $3.8 million of his total has come from donors giving $200 or less, with his campaign saying the average donation was $29.

In contrast, Sinema said $1.4 million has come from small donors but $6.8 million came in the form of donations of $2,000 or more. Her largest donations were transfers from her own political action committee, Sinema Leadership Fund, totaling more than $1 million.

“With two quarters of momentum and a strong foundation of grassroots support, we are the only team in this race that is built to win,” Nichole Johnson, Gallego’s campaign manager, said in a statement.

Rodd McLeod, an Arizona political campaign strategist, thinks Gallego’s focus on grassroots donations has put him in a strong position against the indepen-

dent incumbent.

“I think that Congressman Gallego has proven to be a successful fundraiser two cycles in a row,” McLeod said. “And I think what you’ve seen from Sen. Sinema is that there’s no grassroots fundraising base for her at all.”

Erin Covey, a reporter and analyst for Inside Elections, thinks Sinema’s second quarter fundraising numbers do not provide any indication about her intention to run: Her totals keep her competitive, without officially entering the race.

“I really think that it wasn’t enough to be like a clear signal that she’s maybe leaning more towards running for reelection, but it wasn’t low enough to … spur any more retirement rumors,” Covey said.

Where Sinema currently holds the upper hand is in the amount of money she has available to spend, said Sean Noble, a political consultant for Compass Strategies.

“Gallego is out-raising her in the sense of a quarter-by-quarter over the last two quarters, but he’s also spending a lot of money to get that money,” Noble said. “So his burn rate is pretty high and her’s is not.”

Gallego’s campaign has spent more than $2 million in each of the first two

Trump’s pick for vice president.

“It’s all unclear how it all plays out,” McLeod said.

Noble said Lamb’s fundraising is “not a strong start” and that his “lackluster, flat financing” is a good sign for Gallego.

“If Lamb can’t figure out a way to really turn on the fundraising, that’s going to cause other people to really take a look at that race,” Noble said. “That could be Kari Lake, that could be others. I don’t think that’s settled at all.”

No matter who ends up as the nominees, Covey thinks Arizona will see a lot of attention in the coming months, but not as much as Ohio or West Virginia.

“I think Arizona is definitely in that second tier, and depending on what the senator does and depending on which Republicans end up running, this could be certainly one of the most competitive races in the country,” Covey said.

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

quarters, according to his FEC filing. The high burn rate is likely necessary. While Sinema has name recognition as the incumbent, Gallego needs to spend money to establish himself across the state, Covey said.

“This is the prime time for him to be introducing himself to voters and getting his message out there before he’s actually going to face serious negative ads,” she said.

A Sinema spokesperson said the second-term senator is not focused on campaigning right now.

“Kyrsten promised Arizonans she’d be an independent Senator who delivers lasting solutions, and that’s exactly what she’s done. She remains focused on solving challenges facing everyday Arizonans, not campaign politics,” the spokesperson said in an email.

If Sinema does get in, it would set up a three-way race next fall that would be the first between three major candidates. But it’s not clear that Lamb will be the Republican nominee.

Rumors that failed GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake might enter the Republican primary continue to circulate. McLeod thinks her bid “seems likely” but with her eyes ultimately set on becoming former President Donald

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, at the 2022 Arizona Democrats election party, has made a strong fundraising start in the 2024 race for the seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., shown in a 2019 Senate Commerce Committee hearing. But Sinema, who has not announced her plans, has more cash on hand for now. (Gallego photo by Mary Grace Grabill; Sinema photo by Keerthi Vedantam/Cronkite News)

Return of missing girl gives us some hope

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Glendale Star Columnist

News of the miracle broke on July 26 at midday with a press conference held by the Glendale Police Department: Alicia Navarro, who went missing at the age of 14 on Sep. 15, 2019, had been located safe after she walked into a Montana police station and identified herself.

In a video released by Glendale PD, an investigator on a video call asks Alicia, now 18, “Did anybody hurt you in any way?”

“No,” the girl with the tousled dark hair says. “No one hurt me.”

Glendale Lt. Scott Waite, who led the investigation, told the gathered reporters:

“I don’t think you could put enough words (to) the joy that we feel. … Not only the relief and joy for us, (but) for Alicia, for her family, and for our community.”

The lieutenant explained Glendale’s investigation remains ongoing, even as they work to reunite the autistic teenager with her family.

“I would ask for patience not only for us as law enforcement in this investigation, but patience for Alicia and for her family,” Waite explained.

“We can only imagine what she’s

going through mentally, emotionally, as well as her family. As much as we’d like to say this is the end, we know this is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go.”

Alicia’s mother, Jessica Nuñez, posted a video on the “Finding Alicia” Facebook page an hour after the press event.

“I first of all want to give glory to God for answering your prayers and for this miracle,” Nuñez said. “For everyone who has missing loved ones, I want you to use this case as an example that miracles do exist and never lose hope and always fight.”

That was where your mind went immediately in the wake of Alicia sud-

denly reemerging in plain sight: not to the many questions that accompany her case, but to the hundreds of other cases that have yet to end in a miracle.

Currently, the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children database lists 253 Arizona children who have gone missing and stayed missing dating back to 1958.

Robert Parks, a 13-year-old blue-eyed boy, was last seen leaving his home in Mesa in April 1974. He has never been heard from again. He would be 62 now.

Diego Hernandez went missing from Tempe on his first birthday, Nov. 18, 2010. Investigators suspect the infant

Putting the ‘vice’ in ‘vice president’

BY J.D. HAYWORTH

Glendale Star Columnist

John Adams, our nation’s first “No. 2,” captured the essence of his office and his status succinctly.

“I am vice president. In this I may be nothing, but I may be everything.”

Imagine the current VP coming to the same realization. It’s easy to envision Kamala Harris reacting with unrestrained cackling.

Laughter and derisive jokes have long been the primary response to those holding the penultimate position in the executive branch.

Even though nine vice presidents have assumed the presidency due to the death or resignation of their predecessors, the body politic can’t seem to shake the collective response of ridicule

toward “the deuce.”

The 1930s musical comedy “Of Thee I Sing” concocted a fictional “less-than-ideal” in the character of Vice President Alexander Throttlebottom. Overlooked, forgotten, inconsequential and virtually invisible, he gains access to the White House by joining a tour group, and learns of his official duty — presiding over the Senate — directly from the tour guide.

Bewilderment is not a common trait for those real-life politicians who find their names displayed directly underneath their party’s presidential nominee on bumper stickers, balloons and posters.

But it’s fair to say that surprise upon receiving the official word of their selec-

tion to the ticket occurs with great regularity.

In 1968, that reaction of surprise was shared by party regulars and the press — as well as the GOP vice presidential nominee.

Maryland Gov. Spiro Agnew began that campaign year as a supporter of New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, whose initial reluctance to run prompted Agnew to reassess his allegiance and instead back Richard Nixon.

At the Republican Convention in Miami Beach, Nixon warmed to the notion of Agnew on the ticket. When Agnew appeared at a press conference following his announcement, Mike Wallace of CBS News prefaced a question to the governor by saying, “Spiro Agnew isn’t exactly a household name.”

The year 1969 proved both eventful and event filled. The inauguration of Nixon and Agnew in January. Americans walking on the moon not once but twice — Apollo 11 in July and Apollo 12 in November. Woodstock in August. A World Championship for the “Amazin’ Mets” in October.

But just as amazing was Agnew’s rise

in popularity and notoriety. It exploded on Nov. 13, the eve of the Apollo 12 launch, just like the liftoff of the Saturn V rocket the following day.

As the speaker at the Midwest Regional Republican Committee Meeting in Des Moines, Agnew held forth on “The Responsibilities of Television” and concentrated on liberal bias in network news.

Agnew decried the partisan “instant analysis” that followed a recent presidential address on Vietnam, and rightly noted no similar panel of critics immediately followed President Kennedy’s 1962 televised speech on the Cuban Missile Crisis.

While insisting he was not calling for censorship, Agnew hoped “that the networks were made more responsive to the views of the nation and more responsible to the people they serve.”

With calls jamming the network switchboards and running 5-1 in favor of Agnew, the news execs at the nets got the message, and immediately “instant analysis” was gone.

Are your bulging or varicose veins causing you pain? Varicose veins are a result of a condition known as Venous Insufficiency or Venous Reflux. This condition occurs when the valves in the legs that regulate the one-way flow of blood in the veins become diseased and unable to function properly, leading to blood flow in both directions. Simple interventions, many with no recovery or downtime, may improve your vascular function and reduce your symptoms. Schedule an appointment for a vein screening today

AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Speeders, keep your trap shut

BY JUDY BLUHM

Glendale Star Columnist

Iwas speeding in my Subaru down a lonely road.

There, I confessed to my carefree, fast-driving ways, and I already feel a lot better about it. Have you ever driven a bit over the limit?

I thought so. Approximately 41 million American drivers receive speeding tickets each year. That’s about 112 million drivers getting citations every single day. A financial $6 billion windfall to cities, counties and state revenues.

Anyway, a perfectly beautiful, sunny day was ruined when I saw those flashing lights in my rearview mirror. My heart pounded as I moved to the side of the road. I said a little prayer.

The officer who pulled me over was a rather prickly fellow. Of course, the first thing he did was ask me why I was in a hurry. Ha! As if I am dense enough to fall for that trap. I have read plenty and talked to enough people who have told me to never answer that question if you get stopped because it only leads to ridicule and humiliation.

In fact, there are comedians who have created entire acts based on people’s wild and crazy answers to an officer’s question, “Why were you going so fast?”

A 40-year-old woman in Phoenix told the officer who stopped her for speeding that her biological clock was ticking.

She then went on to say, “I was rushing home for a rendezvous with my husband because I am ovulating.” Lady, do not tell a police officer you are speeding because you are going home to have sex. Use some common sense. Do you want

to get arrested? Evidently the most oft-given excuses for speeding are “I must go to the bathroom, or “I was just keeping up with traffic.” These stories do not work. Speeders beware: Say nothing when asked why you just broke the law.

Well, back to my predicament, when I didn’t offer a good reason for speeding, I simply apologized. The officer sighed and after running my license told me to “slow down and have a good day.” I felt like hugging him. When I told my family what happened, my grandson said the cop’s radar had to be wrong, claiming I always “drive slow like a granny.” Really? Evidently not.

The excuses folks give for speeding could make up a book (of lies). One man was pulled over on Carefree Highway by Lake Pleasant and told the officer he was going fast to get away from a herd of wild donkeys that were chasing his truck (no donkeys in sight). Perhaps the most utterly stupid response was when a young man was stopped on I-10 in Tucson by a state trooper. When asked why he was going so fast, the man replied, “I just robbed a convenient store and was trying to get away.”

Be quiet! Take your punishment and apologize! Dear readers, are you going for a drive? Slow down (like me) and enjoy the scenery. Stay alert because life is not to be rushed, and neither is the ride.

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

How to get a letter published

250 N. Litchfield Road, Ste. 100, Goodyear AZ 85338

E-mail: jrogers@ timeslocalmedia.com

The Glendale Star welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number.

The Glendale Star will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The Glendale Star will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the Glendale Star, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.

BRANCH’S OPINION – Houston Chronicle

boy was abducted by his father, Arby Pat-Herrera, and taken across the border to Mexico. Diego would be 12 now.

James Williams disappeared at the age of 13 in February 2020. He was 5 feet tall at the time and 100 pounds. No one has heard from him. He would be 17 now.

Angelisa Bridges, 17, was last seen in Queen Creek on June 3 of this year. Brianna Cox, age 16, also went missing from Queen Creek on that same day.

This month alone, five girls from across the Valley have been reported missing and listed on the Center’s database. The girls are all between the ages of 14 and 17.

Each headshot shows a smiling teen-

HAYWORTH FROM PAGE 9

But by October 1973, so was Vice President Agnew. Accused of criminal conduct from his time as Baltimore county executive and Maryland governor, Agnew pleaded no contest to a single charge of tax evasion and resigned.

Fast forward 50 years. Another ex-vice president — from Agnew’s neighboring state of Delaware — now sits in the Oval Office.

Credible evidence exists that accuses Joe Biden and his son Hunter of receiving $5 million from a Ukrainian company when Joe was vice president. That story broke on June 8, the same day the Special Counsel indicted ex-President Donald Trump.

ager looking straight into the camera lens. Each girl and the loved ones they have left behind are sorely in need of another miracle.

If you know anything at all about any missing child, please put down the newspaper and pick up the phone. Call 1-800-The-Lost.

Miracles are few and far between these days, as I am sure you are well aware. Alicia’s story and its happy ending should remind us of all the other children who are gone but never forgotten.

If it can happen once, it stands to reason it can happen again. Or so you can hope.

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

By July 18, ABC, CBS and NBC had devoted 527 minutes to the Trump indictment but no time to the Biden allegations.

Agnew estimated more than 40 million Americans watched evening news on the “Big Three” networks in his Des Moines speech. Now, those viewing numbers have been cut in half and blatant leftist bias has obviously increased.

Whatever Agnew’s wrongdoing, it appears Joe Biden really put the “vice” in the vice presidency. Just don’t expect the networks to report it.

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

LEIBOWITZ FROM PAGE 8

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

Park West’s newest tenant, Amor Collective, has one goal in mind: empowering Latina-owned businesses and providing them opportunities to succeed.

“I don’t think there’s a flower arrangement or dinner or a letter that could actually encompass the sense of gratitude that I have for the city of Peoria and Park West as a whole,” said Stephanie Vasquez, the founder of Empowering Latina Leaders in Arizona, the nonprofit organization opening the Amor Collective.

Set to open Saturday, Aug. 5, the Amor Collective is a subset of Park West specifically tailored to Latina-owned businesses. It also features an incubator space used to provide education to store owners through resources and classes, as well as offer a place to hold community events for business exposure.

“What I was learning and have experienced as a business owner is that there’s this really huge gap in the middle space of pop-up business or at home business and storefront,” Vasquez said. “And I just thought, we really need to bridge that

gap and also have a space in the mainstream market where we can showcase all of our brands and ideas.”

The impetus for the Amor Collective is to offer Latinas ample opportunity to succeed, which Vasquez feels is hard to come by in the business world.

“Latinas are the lowest-paid people on the planet,” she said. “And when we look at it, we’re the highest-grossing segment when it comes to businesses. However, it is less than 1% of us that ever reach a million dollars in revenue. There are really horrible numbers, and then some really exciting ones when we’re talking about business growth. But then again, there’s still such a low ceiling.

“I really feel like it’s just access. I feel like the Amor Collective really does focus on a lot of those issues that are keeping women-owned businesses from growing to that next level.”

The educator-turned-entrepreneur is one of those few Latina women who has seen success. A business owner in Downtown Phoenix, she knows the ins and outs of the trade and feels she can contribute to helping other Latinas grow their businesses effectively.

“Through that, I’ve mentored and

coached, and I see so much similarity between my experience and those of others,” Vasquez said. “I just felt like I needed to do something about it. And this is me doing that; this is what that looks like for me.”

The Amor Collective built its foundation off of three main components: connect, collaborate and cultivate. With these steps in place, Vasquez will ensure these business owners have a community environment around them — something that will help them achieve their dreams.

“I feel like if you’re surrounded by people that believe in what you’re doing — support you and pick you up when you fall — the amount of success that you’re going to get and in that time is going to

make a large difference when we do it in a collective space,” she said.

With the Amor Collective’s opening around the corner, Vasquez is thankful for the opportunity Park West and Peoria have given her to help empower a population she is passionate about.

“The city of Peoria has been instrumental in this,” she said. “Without their guidance and support, I don’t think this would have happened. We are (also) beyond excited to be part of Park West.”

Amor Collective

Park West Lifestyle Center, 9744 W. Northern Avenue, Peoria @amorcollectiveaz amorcollectiveaz.com

"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

Inspired by her passion of empowering Latina-owned businesses, Stephanie Vasquez and her nonprofit organization, Empowering Latina Leaders in Arizona, are opening the Amor Collective in Park West. (Amor Collective/Submitted)

Delta Dental, Banner Health announce protocol expansion

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ Glendale Star Contributor

After piloting the program for nearly a year at Banner — University Medical Center Phoenix, Delta Dental of Arizona and the Banner Health Foundation are pleased to announce the expansion of the Hospital Oral Care and Periodontal Disease Education (HOPE) program protocol to Banner’s 28 acutecare hospitals across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.

The expansion will enable all Banner medical centers to implement the oral health protocol, potentially serving up to 300,000 patients each year.

“Our primary goals with this program are to lower hospital-acquired pneumonia and to increase positive patient outcomes,” said Dr. Nimit Agarwal, a geriatrics and internal medicine physician leading the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Banner — University Medical Center Phoenix and the University of Arizona College of Medicine — Phoenix.

“The simple act of removing the biofilm from teeth with regular toothbrushing can help prevent pneumonia.”

Inadequate oral hygiene can lead to devastating disease and a significant loss of quality of life, particularly in the elderly, who represent the largest proportion of hospitalized patients. Bacteria from the oral cavity can travel to the lungs and cause older patients to contract hospital-acquired pneumonia, a serious and potentially fatal infection.

The Banner HOPE program creates a means to support patients across hospital units and departments through collaboration with nursing staff and therapists to identify barriers to dental care and facilitate access to proper oral health routines including brushing and flossing.

While the pilot program specifically addressed the brushing and flossing routines of patients aged 65 and older and adults with disabilities, the protocol now being shared across the system is designed to serve all adult patients. The partnership also includes development

and delivery of patient oral health care training for nurses and patient care assistants.

with friends in our private dining room or movie theatre. At The Forum at Desert Harbor, we strive to create a warm, welcoming, and supportive community that residents are proud to call home.

“Delta Dental of Arizona is a longtime advocate of increasing collaboration between dental and medical providers to reduce barriers to care,” said Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona. “Studies continue to show that Medical-Dental Integration (MDI) improves positive health outcomes in vulnerable populations, such as seniors and those in need of chronic disease management.

“The Banner HOPE program directly supports our mission to create a path to better health and wellness and healthier lives for everyone by expanding access to care, advancing health equity through systemic change and building resilient communities.”

“The HOPE program is a shining example of the power of philanthropic investment to fuel innovation at Banner,” added Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief medical officer for Banner Health. “This funding allowed us to create a new and unique program to address an unmet need among vulnerable patients.

“Thanks to these resources, our team has been able to implement the program, collect useful data and now expand its reach to serve all of our adult patients in

six states. This is clearly a strong return on investment, and we are so thankful to Delta Dental Foundation of Arizona for partnering with us on this important initiative.”

Banner Health System’s acute care facilities where the HOPE program protocol are available for implementation with adult patients are located at:

• Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, 10401 W. Thunderbird Boulevard, Sun City

• Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City West, 14502 W. Meeker Boulevard, Sun City West

• Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, Glendale, 5555 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale

From left to right are Nicole Petit, RDH; Sandra Badzak, PCA; Michael Jones, president and CEO, Delta Dental of Arizona; Josefa Pucti, PCA; Susan Dimpfel, RN; and Dr. Nimit Agarwal, MD, FACP. (Delta Dental of Arizona/Submitted)

Chamber to host education, workforce forum

BY GLENDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce will host a dynamic forum, Education and Workforce Readiness Now and For the Future, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale. Breakfast will be served.

The forum will provide attendees with a firsthand look at the current state of education in Glendale and the West Valley, and how it relates to students, educators and the workforce.

This special program will feature two panels of esteemed leaders, innova-

tors and education stakeholders who will discuss proposed innovative policy ideas for shaping the future of K-12 education. They will also address the workforce challenges currently faced by employers and discuss how higher-education efforts can develop a strong workforce in the West Valley.

Panel A: K-12

Dr. Jennifer Cruz, superintendent of Pendergast Elementary School District (moderator)

Dr. Jennifer Cruz graduated from Arizona State University with her doctorate in leadership, innovation and policy

studies and went on to teach fourth grade, sixth grade and identified gifted students in Phoenix.

Her experiences are varied and include serving as a teacher, mentor/coach, principal, federal programs manager, director of innovation, adjunct university professor, consultant, assistant superintendent and chief academic officer.

Cruz was chosen by the Pendergast Elementary School District Governing Board as the second Latina superintendent in the Pendergast district in Febru-

ary 2021.

Cruz has worked throughout the United States and abroad coaching educational leaders; facilitating strategic planning sessions; serving as a liaison between city agencies and school systems; and providing professional development workshops on project based learning, leadership, continuous improvement strategies, curriculum mapping and design thinking.

Cindy Segotta-Jones, superintendent of Glendale Elementary School District SEE FORUM PAGE

Cindy Segotta-Jones is the proud superintendent of the Glendale Elementary School District (GESD). The district was voted the best school district in Glendale by the readers of The Glendale Star in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

As a dedicated educator and servant leader, Segotta-Jones has experience as a teacher, principal, director and assistant superintendent. Her leadership focuses on ensuring balanced and strategic systems for the academic growth and social-emotional well-being of all students and staff. Under her leadership as superintendent, GESD was recognized as the first Model Professional Learning Communities (PLC) school district in Arizona.

In addition to GESD, Segotta-Jones has served in the Cartwright and Aldine Independent (Texas) school districts and as a member of the online faculty at Grand Canyon University.

Segotta-Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education/Spanish from Adams State College and a master’s degree in elementary education from Arizona State University.

Dr. Jason Reynolds, superintendent of Peoria Unified School District

Dr. Jason Reynolds is the proud immediate past superintendent of the Peoria Unified School District, where he led 43 elementary and high schools, serving 36,000 students. He retired from this role in July 2023.

Reynolds also served as deputy superintendent of Peoria Unified. Before joining the district, he held the role of assistant superintendent of leadership and secondary instruction in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Other previous roles in Paradise Valley include director of curriculum and instruction, principal, assistant principal and, where it all began, teacher.

Growing up in Iowa, Reynolds is the son of a pastor and a retired public-school teacher. He is supported by his wife, Mara, and two children, who drive his passion for education and support his position at the helm of the

fourth largest pre-K-12 school district in Arizona.

Upholding the Peoria Unified mission of ensuring every student, every day is prepared to shape tomorrow, Reynolds is still committed to ensuring the district is a safe and welcoming place for students and staff to work and learn, and that students and employees feel valued.

Brian Capistran, superintendent of Glendale Union High School District

Brian Capistran is currently the superintendent of the Glendale Union High School District (GUHSD), where he manages the day-today operations and the growth and development of an award-winning district.

Capistran has spent his entire career serving the GUHSD community. Over the past 27 years, he has applied his professional preparation and extensive experience as a teacher and leader to make significant contributions to the success of GUHSD.

He began his teaching career at Sunnyslope High School and would later become the principal at Apollo High School. Capistran also served GUHSD as an assistant principal, school safety administrator, assistant superintendent of student services and associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction before becoming superintendent of the GUHSD in 2015.

Throughout his career, he has sought opportunities to make meaningful contributions to GUHSD, by serving on local- and state-level committees, commissions and boards including Glendale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Dr. Scott Spurgeon, superintendent of Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC)

Dr. Scott Spurgeon earned his doctorate in educational leadership from St. Louis University.

districts; and has a background in career and technical education (CTE) that dates back to his high school educational experience.

Spurgeon’s experience includes his current role of superintendent/CEO at West-MEC; 18 years of senior-level leadership, including nine years as superintendent of the Riverview Gardens School District; assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development in Northwest RI School District; associate superintendent for curriculum and school leadership and interim superintendent in Rockwood School District; and superintendent in Belleville High School District No. 201.

He has been an administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels, including alternative education. Additionally, he has taught graduate courses for Lindenwood University.

Spurgeon has also been an educational consultant providing leadership training and professional development to more than 100 schools and districts across America.

Panel B: Higher Education & Workforce

Kelli List, owner of Charley’s Sports Grill, Charley’s at The Lakes and Saguaro Grill (moderator)

STEM education that has included over 50 countries.

Todd Sandrin, vice provost at Arizona State University West Campus

Todd Sandrin serves as vice provost at ASU’s West campus and leads ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences as dean.

Since his appointment to these roles in 2017, ASU’s West campus has experienced vigorous rates of enrollment growth as well as remarkable student success outcomes. He has led multiple Valleywide collaborations, including working with a team of leaders and faculty from across ASU and Maricopa County Community College District to secure $5 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support transfer student success in STEM disciplines.

Prior to his service in his current roles, he coordinated efforts to build and launch several vigorously growing programs in ASU’s School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, including those in forensic science, cybersecurity, health-related fields and environmental science.

Spurgeon is the superintendent of the Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC); is an educator with 30-plus years of experience serving communities in rural, suburban and urban school

Kelli List is the chief accountability officer and partner of Charley’s Sports Grill and Charley’s at The Lakes and owner of Saguaro Grill. List is also the co-founder of the STEM Leadership Alliance and CEO of the STEM Happens Network.

She previously was the executive director for Global Education and Skills at the GE Foundation. She designed and executed a portfolio that focused on building education, skills and training initiatives to prepare the next generation for the demands of the workforce and the changing labor economy both nationally and globally.

List has collaborated with schools and districts around the world. She was selected by the U.S. Department of Education to partake as the business U.S. delegate for a global education. She has led national and international convenings reaching over 30,000 leaders in

He also led efforts to create ASU New College’s unique undergraduate research program, NCUIRE, which provides students with real-world, practical experience beyond the classroom.

He also teaches both advanced courses in microbiology and introductory courses such as ASU 101, STEM success and introductory biology.

Marilynn Babyar, Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC)

Marilynn Babyar is the director of student services and has been with West-MEC for 13 years.

In her long educational career of 40 years, Babyar has been a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and recruiter. She oversees school counseling, recruitment, exceptional student services, post-secondary partnerships and career services for the growing West-MEC CTED in the West Valley.

NEW MEMBERS

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

• ARIZONA@WORK Maricopa County

• Bright Beginnings Preschool and Childcare

• Cubanitas Kitchen

• E3 Cryo & Wellness Center

• Extreme Game Truck

• Five O Alarms & Security

• Flora Medspa

• HP Law

• Insignia Event Services

• Jet Vacations LLC

• Just Solar LLC

• Keller Williams | Patty Ortega

• Oak Street Health

• Price Mortgage

• Quiznos

• Republic Finance

• Silent Service 3D Printing LLC

CHAMBER TRIPS

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce offers signature travel trips to interesting destinations — planning everything from air travel to accommodations, meals and sightseeing.

2024 destinations

Saturday, April 20, to

Monday, April 29

Discover fascinating history and cul-

FORUM FROM PAGE 2

Babyar has been named ACTEAZ CTE Counselor of the Year (2007) and, most recently, ACTEAZ CTE Administrator of the Year (2020) from the Association of Career and Technical Education AZ.

Lorelei Konopka, Glendale Community College

Dr. Lorelei (Lore)

Konopka is the interim vice president of academic affairs at Glendale Community College (GCC).

In this executive leadership position, Konopka provides oversight to the college academic departments and academic support services as well as directs and evaluates college instructional offerings to meet student, community and industry needs. She coordinates college curriculum development, assures compliance with all regulatory agencies, and promotes innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

Konopka most recently held the role of senior associate vice president through which she supported student success

ture on the Egypt, Land of Gods tour, exploring Cairo, Aswan, Nile Cruise, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Valley of the Kings and more. It features an optional preextension to Istanbul and starts at $4,589, including airfare from Phoenix.

For more info, email info@ glendaleazchamber.org, call 623-9374754 or visit glendaleazchamber.org/ chamber-trips.

and community outreach while providing strategic planning and operational oversight for the North Campus of GCC.

Before that role, Konopka held various roles at GCC including interim dean of academic affairs for projects and planning, accreditation liaison officer for the Higher Learning Commission, as well as overseeing the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Lauri Perdue, University of Phoenix

Lauri Perdue has spent over 25 years in higher education and workforce development.

She is currently the national workforce director for the University of Phoenix. Perdue is responsible for the oversight and facilitation of on-campus and online higher education and serves as a community partner in Nevada and Arizona, promoting workforce development, while partnering with community and industry leaders to address the needs of higher education and workforce development.

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

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.

•

•

•

•

•

Perdue has extensive experience working with a diverse range of students in various post-secondary education administration roles. This includes working with traditional post-secondary college students, adult students, commercial arts and trade school students.

Perdue’s roles in higher education have afforded her the opportunity to manage and train teams on a national level in the areas of market research, program development, curriculum development and state licensure. Additionally, at the national level, she has served as a consultant on new school openings.

Baker received his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, earned a master of science in secondary science education from Syracuse University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Illinois College of Optometry. He completed a residency in primary care at the Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as a part of the Northeastern State University College of Optometry.

The panel discussions will cover topics such as barriers to postsecondary achievements, workforce needs and challenges, and strategies for impacting employee retention and satisfaction.

There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A session where businesses and individuals can engage with the panelists to learn more about the future of K-12 and postsecondary education.

Joshua C. Baker, O.D., M.S., senior vice president and chief academic officer, Colleges of Health Sciences, Optometry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Joshua C. Baker is responsible for the administration of the health sciences, optometry and pharmacy programs on both the Downers Grove and Glendale campuses, as well as the veterinary medicine program on the Glendale Campus.

Baker, originally from Blossvale, New York, came to Midwestern University in March 2013 after serving as the chief of optometry service at the U.S. Army Health Clinic in Stuttgart, Germany. As an army major, he spent time deployed in Al Asad, Iraq and received the Bronze Star.

The event aims to refine existing policies and create actionable steps forward in preparing students for their future careers.

Overall, this event is a major step in bridging the gap between education and the business community and improving the preparation of students as our workforce.

Thank you to our generous Platinum Sponsors — Amazon, Southwest Airlines and SRP — and to our Gold Sponsors — Credit Union West, Desert Financial Credit Union, Mountain Park Health Center and Wells Fargo.

For more information, contact Shea Torres at 623-937-4754 or storres@ glendaleazchamber.org. Register to attend at glendaleazchamber.org.

West Valley youth football team nds success

BY JAMES LOTTS

Glendale Star Staff Writer

When Sean Lanzarotto joined the Southwest Stampede organization in 2008, it was as a player. Now he nds himself running a successful youth football program of the same name.

e Southwest Stampede Football organization is based in the West Valley, o ering youth tackle football all the way from 6U (6 years old or younger) to 13U.

e team, which practices at the Glendale Youth Sports Complex, plays in the National Youth Football and Cheer Association (NYFCA) and is a part of American Youth Football (Arizona AYF).

Lanzarotto played for the Stampede until he was 35 years old when it had a semi-pro football team, eventually taking over ownership of the organization going into 2011. It was around 2018 when Lanzarotto and his wife, Nicole, committed to building up the youth program.

“Now the adults took the backseat, and now we’re just full on going with the youth,” Lanzarotto said.

Lanzarotto said there was not a lot of success at the beginning because most of the kids didn’t have tackle football experience.

“We just kept working on them and coaching them up and getting them to the point where they’re at now,” he said. “ ey’ve just been growing and getting better each year.”

Lanzarotto said a lot of the kids on the original teams were a part of the 9U and 10U teams that made it to nationals in

Florida in December 2022. He said the 9U team nished in fourth place and the 10U team nished in sixth place.

e recent success from all of their age groups has helped attract more kids to come play for the Stampede, Lanzarotto said. Currently, the organization has 250 kids on its eight teams.

e fees to play for the Stampede include a $75 team fee and $140 for three sets of uniforms. Kids do have to provide their own helmet and shoulder pads, however.

Lanzarotto said kids only need to try out for the competitive travel teams.

e Stampede recently played the Las Vegas Black Wolves at La Joya Community High School in Avondale. According to Lanzarotto, the competition against teams from other states is good preparation for the kids to move up to higher levels of play.

with their respective high schools, they’ll be ready and coached up to play at that level.”

“Just the fact that we’re going out there and traveling and being able to play other states, it’s good. It’s good football for these kids,” he said. “So by the time they go to high schools, or wherever they go

Sean Lanzarotto and his wife, Nicole, dedicated themselves to building up the Southwest Stampede, a successful youth football program based in the West Valley.

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

D.A.D. AUG. 4

Andy Ham and his trio of seasoned musicians bring smiles to faces and love to entertain crowds. They have years of experience that brought them together in the Valley, including gigs in Taipei, Taiwan and Norway. They’ve also performed at state fairs and festivals across the Midwest and Alaska; Chicago festivals, bars, bookstores and co ee shops; down to Nashville shows on Broadway. The band plays acoustic covers with soaring guitar leads on classic rock, country, folk, oldies and ’90s favorites. It is sure to play something for the entire family.

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.

Fountain Park, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Glendale, 7 p.m., free, westgateaz.com/event

NF AUG. 4

NF is bringing his Hope Tour to Desert Diamond Arena with special guest Cordae.

Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $39.50, desertdiamondarena.com/ events

Come Back Buddy AUG. 5

Come Back Buddy is a three (and four) piece rock ’n’ roll band inspired by the legendary Buddy Holly and the Crickets. The group’s repertoire includes the music of many artists from the ’50s era. Those artists include Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson and Buddy Holly.

Fountain Park, 6751 Sunset Boulevard, Glendale, 7 p.m., free, westgateaz.com/event

Grupo Frontera & Luis R. Conriquez AUG. 5

Grupo Frontera with Luis R. Conriquez are headed to Desert Diamond Arena.

Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $59.50, desertdiamondarena.com/ events

Don Williams Sr. & Company AUG. 5

Don Williams Sr. has been building a reputation as a true visionary in the music scene. Starting out creating music and playing gigs in the Cleveland area, Don Williams Sr. quickly built a devoted fanbase. Rocking dance floors and opening minds ever since, this artist draws crowds from far and wide and continues to spread musical light in every new destination.

Westside Blues & Jazz, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale, 9:30 p.m., tickets starting at $20, 2 drink minimum per guest (alcohol or nonalcohol), eventbrite. com

Beginning Technique ClassThe Perfect Peach Bowl AUG. 11

Indulge in the sweetness of creativity while savoring the essence of summer. Join As You Wish Pottery Painting Place in their Perfect Peach Bowl Class, where you can paint a vibrant peach-themed bowl and treat yourself to the farm-fresh Utah peaches from the Perfect Peach. The Utah peaches are available in convenient bundles of 5, 10 and 22 pounds. All orders must be placed by Aug. 1, and peaches must be picked up the day of the class on Aug. 11. For more info and to sign up, visit asyouwishpottery.com.

As You Wish Pottery, 9410 W. Hanna Lane, A-109, Glendale, 6 p.m., tickets starting at $45, westgateaz.com/event

Broncos vs. Cardinals AUG. 11

The Cardinals open the preseason at home Aug. 11 for a 7 p.m. kicko against the Denver Broncos. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 7 p.m., cost TBA, statefarmstadium.com/ events

Fighter Country Talent Squad AUG. 11

The Fighter Country Talent Squad is a military music group that provides military service members the opportunity to develop their creative and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of music. The group contains almost 50 members ranging from operatic sopranos to an entire heavy metal band; some are music hobbyists, and others are professional musicians.

Fountain Park, 6751 Sunset Boulevard, Glendale, 7p.m., free, westgateaz.com/event

Donut Run AUG. 12

The second Saturday of each month, walk or run and meet new friends. The run starts at Tortoise & Hare Sports and has three distanc-

For

Chicken N Pickle set to open doors in Westgate

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

Eight years ago, David Johnson was visiting a friend in Arizona and he became intrigued by the trend of people flocking to a small tennis-like court hitting a Wiffle ball with a small racket.

This initial intrigue sent Johnson down the proverbial rabbit hole of pickleball, of which he became a sponge for the sport.

Eventually, Johnson decided to act on this newfound interest and create his own new and original business around it.

Equally passionate about scratch kitchens, Johnson decided to pair his interests into a whimsi-

cal space that would encircle pickleball courts with a full-service restaurant that provides indoor and outdoor entertainment. This birthed the name Chicken N Pickle.

With nearly a decade of business under Chicken N Pickle’s belt, Johnson and his team have decided to open a new location back in the place that started it all — Glendale’s Westgate Entertainment District. The location is set to open later this month.

“It’s very, very humbling, it really is,”

Chicken N Pickle Pres-

ident Kelli Alldredge said. “We know Arizona is just going to love our concept and embrace it. We cannot wait for be there.”

Chicken N Pickle embraces

America’s most popular sports, pickleball.

(Chicken N Pickle/Submitted)

Food City spices things up for Hatch green chile season

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

In celebration of the Hatch green chile season, Food City is inviting the general public to participate in a recipe contest by answering the question “How do you Hatch?”

However, everyone in Arizona with a Facebook or Instagram account is encouraged to publicly respond to the question, now through Monday, Aug. 14. Hatch chile recipes can be shared on Facebook or Instagram publicly, using a photo and #FoodCityHatchChile2023, or at myfoodcity.com/ hatchchilecontest.

benefits.

Hatch chile recipes might include anything from slow-simmered sauces and spicy enchiladas to savory chile rellenos and melt-in-your-mouth casseroles — and everything in between.

Food City will select three winners and announce them Monday, Aug. 21. The first winner will receive $600 in prizes,

including a $400 Food City gift card. The second winner will receive $400 in prizes, including a $300 Food City gift card. The third winner will receive a $200 Food City gift card.

The Hatch green chile harvest has become a culinary celebration in the Southwest. Fresh, authentic Hatch green

chiles can add flavor to any at-home meal, from cheeseburgers to enchiladas. The harvest time frame is limited, so many people stock up during the season and freeze Hatch chiles so they can use them year-round.

In addition to adding spiciness to a meal, green chiles also have many health

Food City grocery stores are the headquarters for all things Hatch green chile. Nearly all Food City locations in Arizona roast Hatch green chiles for customers at no charge. (Dates and times of Hatch Chile roasts are available by calling or

Chicken N Pickle is coming to Westgate, hoping to provide a relaxing space with a number of games, entertainment and food, surrounding the concept of one of

Hatch green chile season runs through the end of August, so Food City — including its Glendale location — is holding a contest to find the best recipes. (Food City/Submitted)

visiting your neighborhood Food City store.)

Additionally, the grocery store’s produce departments sell fresh and roasted Hatch green chiles; its bakery departments make Hatch chile cornbread, Hatch chile and cheese jumbo cornbread muffins, and Hatch chile and cream cheese bolillos (bread rolls); and its deli departments make made-to-order Hatch green chile breakfast burritos, Hatch green chile beef meal combo plates, roasted Hatch chile shrimp ceviche, Hatch chile pico de gallo and salsa molcajete with Hatch green chiles.

In addition to being tasty, green chiles have many health benefits:

• One medium Hatch green chile pepper has the vitamin C of six oranges.

• The hot flavor triggers a thermodynamic burn in the body to speed up your metabolism.

• Some teas and lozenges are made with Hatch green chile peppers to treat sore throats.

Food City has a location at 6020 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale. For more information, go to myfoodcity.com. HATCH

an “eater-tainment” concept, mixing together a number of activities with high-quality food and drinks in hopes of creating a fun experience for their customers.

“We hope they feel like (they’re at) home, that’s our goal,” Alldredge said. “We want them to feel like this is truly theirs. We want people to walk on our property and feel at home and feel like they’re in their best friend’s backyard.”

The facility is outfitted with a number of different spaces, including full-service bars and large pavilions that give it the ability to host a variety of events.

However, the goal of Chicken N Pickle is to be a place where pickleball players of all skills can come and learn the sport. It even has plans to offer classes to new players to get them inspired in the sport.

“To get to teach and introduce that game of pickleball to those first-time customers and players, we love that and we thrive in that,” Alldredge said. “In our Newbie Nights and our beginner classes, what is so great about them, you can just sign up by yourself. You don’t have to have someone to play with or you don’t

have to have three others to play doubles; you can just sign up individually.

“You will meet this warm, welcoming group of people, ready to learn the game with you. So, they’re really special to see, and they’re very important to us as a company and a brand.”

Along with hosting nights for beginners, Chicken N Pickle will look to host tournaments for all types of players.

In conjunction with the being a proverbial pickleball epicenter in the West Valley, Chicken N Pickle is also looking forward to the opportunity of being a positive community member. It already has a number of outreach and community support programs that benefit a variety of organizations and will be looking to host charity pickleball tournaments in order to raise money for local nonprofits.

Additionally, Chicken N Pickle will look to boost its philanthropy through its Tuesday night Cup Campaign, which donates the profits from drinks served in a commemorative cup to a local charity or nonprofit.

But Alldredge still wants to do more within the community.

“We’d love to donate space for different nonprofits,” she said. “We’d love to donate courts to different groups. We’d love to get out and volunteer in the community. We’d love to donate meals. We’d love to come to schools and introduce the game of pickleball.”

Overall, Chicken N Pickle is aiming to provide the Westgate community a place to detach from the trials of daily life and just enjoy “human connection” through the use of one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.

“From the second you walk in, I want you to be able to disconnect,” Alldredge said. “I want you to be able to put your cellphone away or your laptop down … and just really enjoy that human connection that our properties are built for.

“I would love for everyone to get a court booked, get a paddle in your hand, and try pickleball if you haven’t tried it yet.”

Chicken N Pickle is located at 9330 W. Hanna Lane, Glendale, and will open in mid-August.

For more information, to view the menu or to book a pickleball court, visit chickennpickle.com.

Amazing grace recognizes consequences but refuses abandonment

Most of us have heard about Jonah, the prophet. He was the prophet who got swallowed up by what the Bible calls a “ sh” and got a whale of a taxi ride. e name Jonah means “dove.” God called him to be the messenger dove to a rough, tough, truth-hardened group of people living in the city called Nineveh. Nineveh had sunk lower than a snake’s belly in essential character, morality and human injustice. God said, “Jonah, y away to Nineveh. Speak to them for me; they are in trouble and desperately need help.”

Instead of being the love dove from above that ew to Nineveh with God’s message about repentance, forgiveness, kindness and restoration, Jonah the dove ew from Nineveh, not to Nineveh. He got on a boat, paid the fare and sailed in the opposite direction that God wanted him to go. e Bible says, “But Jonah rose up to ee to Tarshish (Spain) from the presence of the Lord.”

Jonah didn’t like the Ninevites’ behavior and demeanor. Sometimes even a God-appointed prophet can misunderstand the nature and character of God.

e Bible says, “God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, and one who relents concerning calamity,” (Jonah 4:2). Jonah said “no thanks” to God. at took him from God’s presence rather than to God’s presence. So, here we have a God-appointed prophet who did the exact opposite of what God wanted. It’s like that old Western song where the cowboy does something stupid. Afterward, he thought, “I know what I was feeling, but what was I thinking?” Who knows what’s going on inside people’s heads these days? I saw a poster saying, “Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes. at

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Glendale Star Columnist

would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. at’ll freak you right out.”

What happened to “What was I thinking?” Jonah and the boat he was on? e ship encountered a massive storm at sea, which scared all the passengers on the boat to death. e passengers discovered Jonah was eeing from the Lord and his disobedience was causing it. Jonah admits the storm resulted from his issues with the Ninevites and God.

Isn’t that amazing? When we ee from what God assigns us or asks us to do, it a ects others, too. Jonah got thrown o the boat by the mob. When Jonah hit the water, he landed right into the mouth of a custom-made super-cruiser sh. Once inside the sh, there was a revival going on. Jonah started calling God for help and pleaded for the same mercy God wanted him to share with the Ninevites. Crisis does that. Jonah prayed, “God, help me, save me, have mercy on me. I’ll go to Nineveh if you get me out of this.” Does this sound familiar?

Jonah took a three-day taxi ride in the Mediterranean Sea, returning him to his purpose, calling, vision and destiny. e sh vomited him on an ocean shore near Nineveh. ink of it: Fish usually make a person sick. is time the person made the sh sick. Once, I heard a dynamic speaker saying the following about Jonah: “At this point, Jonah was so small spiritually that a guppy could have swallowed him.”

Lessons: When God xes a x to x you, and you try to x the x that God xed to x you, God will nd another x to x you. When you run away from the Lord, you never get to where you want to go and always pay your own fare.

So, Jonah reluctantly spoke God’s message to those in Nineveh. What happened next? e people “repented and relented” of their iniquity and bu oonery. As a result, God freed them from their self-in icted bondage. When the people of Nineveh changed direction and revived, Nineveh changed direction and revived.

You would think this revival should have made Jonah happy. Not in your life. Jonah was still angry at the people and angry at God for forgiving and restoring the city. He wanted condemnation, not liberation. Jonah wanted God to judge them and teach those people a lesson or two. Isn’t it interesting that we plead for mercy and forgiveness when we are in trouble? When we dislike those in need or don’t believe the way we do, we want justice. We want God to judge and condemn them.

What was God revealing to Nineveh and Jonah here? First, that mercy triumphs over judgment. Second, the kindness of the Lord can bring people to repentance. ird, there are consequences to people’s choices, but a loving God always uses consequences as a last resort to teach us. Grace recognizes consequences but refuses abandonment.

Fourth, it’s possible to know about God but not know the nature and essence of God. Lastly, the same thing that brings us down can also bring us up, just like Jonah and the citizens of Nineveh. erefore, we need not cast away our faith concerning Christians who refuse to do God’s will. Neither should we give up on a generation of people who won’t change direction. God can bring correction and redirection to His people and repentance and salvation to those who don’t know Him. Our present circumstances don’t determine where we can go; they merely determine where we can start.

God’s bigger than we think, so let’s change how we think about God. God is essence driven rst and behavior driven second. Amazing grace means God’s not mad at you; God’s mad about you. God catches the sh rst. en God cleans it. us saith the sh and the dove.

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

WORSHIP SUNDAYS - 10 AM IN CHURCH SANCTUARY

Good Sermons & Music, Quilting, Study Groups, Knit/Crochet Mondays

Faith Church supports Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank, Valley View Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and more missions

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

1

6

9

20

8340 W. Northern Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305

Information 623.334.9482

Dr. Ron G. Rockwell – Pastor

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

Nursery Provided

Wednesday: Family Night 7:00 p.m.

www.hcaz.org

8340 W. Northern Harvest CHurCH

35

4

45

49

5

7

10935 W. Olive Ave. Peoria 85345

Phone (623) 972-8479

office@westolive.com

www.westolive.com

Sunday Bible Study 9 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Classes for all ages - 7:00 p.m. Harvest

Worship 10 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Everyone Is Welcome!

For more youth visit

Deer Valley Uni ed hosts back-to-school rally

BY JOE McHUGH Glendale Star Staff Writer

The Deer Valley Uni ed School District hosted its back-to-school rally July 27 at Grand Canyon University to rev up the district for the coming school year.

With a packed crowd including teachers, sta and administration from the district’s institutions, the event was headlined by keynote speeches from Deer Valley Uni ed School District (DVUSD) Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch and performances.

is was the rst rally since 2019 and was themed “Building Brilliance,” which alludes to the goals and vision the district has for its students and sta .

Opening with a performance of “ e Star-Spangled Banner” by the DVUSD sta choir, the lion’s share of the rally featured Finch, who rst imparted inspiring life sentiments.

He related to his audience by sharing how he formed a positive, inspiring mindset and how some of his life’s struggles have made him the person he is today.

“If you’re struggling with purpose, start putting the needs of others over yourself, and then your purpose will become apparent,” he said as his closing remarks to the crowd.

Finch also gave an informal district presentation providing insight on DVUSD’s performance in past years and

SECTION COMING AUGUST 10TH!

The Deer Valley Unified School District hosted its first back-to-school rally since 2019, headlined by multiple keynote speeches and fun acts to get the district ready for another exciting school year. (David Minton/Sta Photographer)

how the district expects to perform going forward.

“Deer Valley Uni ed School District just happens to be the future epicenter of Arizona,” he said. “But the future is now.”

ated due to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s location within district lines.

Our reader poll is designed to let YOU tell us about your favorite people, places, shops, restaurants and things to do in Glendale.

He explained the importance of students staying within the school district for their 13 years of education, and taking what they learn in order to become “community contributors and e ective communicators” and “problem solvers with a sense of purpose.”

Finch noted some achievements that have stemmed from DVUSD’s strategic plan, which guides the district’s future.

“(About) 92% of our schools are A or B (rated),” he said. “ at is a big deal. We are ahead of our competitors as well. … We have the No. 1 online school in Arizona. Here is another one: We have 22 A-plus Schools of Excellence.”

He explained there is “excellence in accountability,” evaluating the cost per pupil and students per admin position. He depicted the district is around the peer average in cost per pupil but well above the state average in students per admin position — holding a student-teacher ratio of 16:2.

Finch also announced DVUSD has been named the back-to-back winner of the Forbes Best Midsize Employer Award for 2022–23, in addition to how a number of district bene ts will be cre-

He nished o with the maintenance and operation override and bond, explaining that the district will be bond supported for additional safety improvements, resources for accommodation of student growth, technology improvements and upgrades, replacement buses and school vehicles and maintenance of their campuses.

Another keynote speaker, Dave Davlin, looked to inspire the crowd with his skills as a former basketball player.

With the assistance of DVUSD sta members, Davlin spun basketballs on pencils, performed his best ashy passes and fed a sta member pudding while spinning a basketball on top of the serving spoon.

He earned laughs and amazement from the crowd before jumping into his speech. He explained the three ways to make a positive life, achieved by recognizing the “person you become, the memories you make and the di erence you make.”

In conjunction with the two main speakers at the event, DVUSD presented an abundance of fun and congratulatory performances and activities to round out

DVUSD FROM PAGE 24 the morning.

e district highlighted leaders in its community by presenting “di erence maker” awards to 12 employees nominated by their co-workers, such as teacher Kelly Moore for the lengths she goes to support her students and sta members.

After the awards, the event then took a turn of levity, as the DVUSD sta band gave a performance of the popular earworm “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley — a song choice that got laughs out of the audience due to the

popular internet joke “Rickrolling.”

Keeping on the trend of music, Arizona Diamondbacks organist Bobby Freeman was invited to the stage. Explaining that he has family roots in DVUSD, he took to 61 keys that made him famous, playing songs like “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “Let’s Go + Charge + Crowd,” among others.

Finch thanked everyone for all of their e orts in the district’s operation.

“I am looking forward to an awesome school year,” he said.