West Valley View - West Zone - 10.12.2022

Long-awaited Downtown Goodyear plans detailed

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE West Valley View Staff Writer

The city of Goodyear and investment company Globe Corporation have detailed their plans to develop the downtown area.

The site, called GSQ, spans approximately 150 acres north of McDowell Road between Bullard Avenue and PebbleCreek Parkway in the country’s ninth-fastest growing city. In the coming years, the area will include a mixed-use, walkable urban center featuring a range of amenities that have been highly anticipated by the community.

Several public meetings will be held over the next few months to allow residents to ask questions and comment on the project. The first is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Georgia T. Lord Library’s multipurpose room, located at 1900 N. Civic Square.

The announcement follows the grand opening of the adjacent Goodyear Civic

Square on Aug. 1, which was made possible thanks to a public-private partnership between the city and Globe Corporation.

“I have so much pride and excitement

for what the heart of our city is about to become,” Mayor Joe Pizzillo said after

GSQ spans approximately 150 acres north of McDowell Road between Bullard Avenue and PebbleCreek Parkway. (City of Goodyear/Submitted) Goodyear

Wood Partners’ Alta Avondale in the works at The BLVD

BY KAILA MELLOS West Valley View Staff Writer

TheBLVD, located under the Avondale EDGE development office, is partnering with a new company to bring more units to its new luxury apartment homes.

Wood Partners broke ground during a formal ceremony on Sept. 29 for the new luxury apartments, Alta Avondale. The developer won the admiration of the most

outstanding proposal to the Avondale Economic Development team when it put out a public request for proposals (RFP) for the new luxury apartment idea.

“About two years ago, we went out for a public RFP, and we had a lot of really great submissions for that,” said Kenneth Chapa, economic development and tourism director for the city of Avondale.

“Wood Partners just rose to the top because of their commitment to producing

a quality product. They have a great reputation throughout the Valley of being a strong partner.”

Wood Partners, a national leader in developing multifamily residential community builders based out of Atlanta, will add around 360 multifamily units to the 1,493 already built, planned or currently under construction at The BLVD.

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“We immediately were intrigued by Avondale’s BLVD vision and wanted to be a part of its future. Avondale’s vigorous and hardworking economic development team immediately won us over, coupled with the strong demographics, infrastructure and pro-business-friendly environment,” said Clay Richardson, managing director of Wood Partners.

Alta Avondale is just one of the residential areas at The BLVD. Five other communities have either already been completed or are livable for residents.

The BLVD, being a mixed-use development, has many other attractions for residents of The BLVD and outside to visit.

“The BLVD is Avondale’s premier mixed-use development,” Chapa said.

“Anchored by the American Sports Centers Avondale at the Randall McDaniel Sports Complex, The BLVD also comprises Aveda West Valley Institute, Tap2, Soda Bomb, Dutch Bros, Phoenix Children’s Hospital Physical Therapy and New Penny Cafe; a three-story parking garage; and an open space amenity with a lake water feature and a splash pad.”

Wood Partners representatives are excited to work together with the city of Avondale to bring 360 more multifamily units to add to the housing in the metro Valley area.

“Every single person we’ve worked with at the city of Avondale has been hardworking, optimistic, and dedicated to their goals of Avondale,” Richardson said.

“It is just a fine group of people, and I can not stress enough the fact that there is a significant undersupply of available homes and all their forms in the Phoenix metro area, and we, as a development community, are seeking to solve that problem.”

For more information about The BLVD and Avondale’s EDGE development, visit avondaleedge.com.

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City and Wood Partners o cials broke ground on

Civic Square lit purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

Goodyear is going purple in October as part of the statewide

Lighting Arizona Purple campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple lights are shining at Goodyear Civic Square, home of the city hall and library, as well as at the Goodyear Police Department headquarters and at the Goodyear Recreation Campus.

Mayor Joe Pizzillo proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Oct. 3 city council meeting.

Since 2017, the city has granted New Life Center, a domestic violence shelter in Goodyear, a total of $54,000. Goodyear awards grants each year to non-

Goodyear...continued from page 1

the announcement. “GSQ is the ideal example of how a city and a private investor can work together to create a

profits who serve Goodyear residents.

The Goodyear Police Department Victim Assistance Program provides assistance to domestic violence victims. In an emergency, victims should call 911.

Resources for victims of domestic violence:

• Goodyear Police Department Victim Assistance: 623-882-7677, goodyearaz.gov/police.

• New Life Center: 623-932-4404, newlifectr.org.

• Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 602-279-2900 or 1-800-7826400, acesdv.org.

• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), ncadv.org.

new downtown in an environment that would otherwise be too risky if relying on private capital alone.”

The city and Globe Corporation will create a vibrant downtown area offer-

Purple lights are shining at Goodyear Civic Square, home of the city hall and library, as well as at the Goodyear Police Department headquarters and at the Goodyear Recreation Campus. (City of Goodyear/Submitted)

ing popular restaurants, entertainment, shopping and residential living so residents will not have to travel far for their needs.

Goodyear City Manager Julie Karins told the West Valley View the city aims to go to council Dec. 12 to discuss planned area development (PAD) zoning for the property and a development agreement to begin laying out their vision for the area.

purchased the vacant land from Macerich in addition to the property occupied by Harkins. This resulted in the company owning all of the remaining property in the project.

Karins assures that the new plans for the property’s usage will ultimately be more beneficial to the Goodyear community than the original model.

Florian T. Walter, D.O.

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If all parties come to an agreement by the end of the year, there is a possibility that announcements about future amenities and planning and design activity may occur earlier in 2023.

“This is going to be an upscale destination restaurant, retail and entertainment, truly creating an urban core for our community,” she said.

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Woodruff,

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Karline Snyder,

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“The team is working very diligently. It’s an important project,” Karins said. “We want to make sure we get it right. But we’re also excited to move quickly because I think the market is ready to see something exciting there.”

The parcel has been owned by Globe Corporation, a family business, since it was purchased as scallion farmland in the 1970s.

A release stated that in 2006, Globe Corporation had sold 105 acres to Macerich, a real estate investment trust company, for the development of a regional mall. However, aside from the Harkins Theatre, the project never progressed due to the drawbacks of the recession from 2007 to 2009.

In June 2020, Globe Corporation re-

“We want it to be that pedestrian friendly, urban, open space, and be able to leverage Civic Square with city events. We can really just see a sense of what this could look like in the immediate future.”

According to Karins, the 2020 census stated that Goodyear was home to over 101,000 residents, with a high median income.

“I believe the time is now where the restaurant, retail and entertainment arena sees us as a viable market, where I think they haven’t in the past,” she said. “So I feel like we’re really hitting our stride, and to have the right partner at the right time, at the right location, is really that magic sauce that I think is going to finally make this a reality.”

To remain informed about GSQ’s progress, visit goodyearaz.gov.

Community input sought for library plan

BY ELYSIA CASILLAS West Valley View Contributing Writer

Libraries are nostalgic: the walls of bookshelves, the collection of tables and chairs, and the chime of the checkout desk when a book is scanned.

The Buckeye Library Master Plan outlines the changes that the city will make to increase the number of facil ities. In addition, the city will use the community’s input to build the future of libraries for the next 10 to 20 years.

Buckeye Library manager Liz Garcia also runs the city’s museum. She works closely with consultants to envision the master plan.

“I think this was just the right time (for the master plan) because we’re seeing the growth in Buckeye,” Garcia added. “So, this was the perfect opportunity to engage in this process.”

Garcia and her staff sponsor weekly meetings with the consultants, Margaret Sullivan and Holly Street studios. In those meetings they work on their course of ac

tion, what’s going to be on their surveys, when to schedule community meetings, and “where to put those community meet ings to make sure we’re encompassing ev ery neighborhood in Buckeye,” she said.

Five community meetings are planned at schools and libraries across Buckeye.

The first is 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Buckeye Public Library Coy ote Branch, followed by 5 to 7 p.m. Tues day, Oct. 18, at the Tartesso Elementary School Library

Residents may attend also from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Down town Buckeye Public Library. The final two meetings are 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Festival Saguaro, and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Festival Foothills Elementary School Library.

For more information, visit buckeyeaz.gov/libraryplan.

“We encourage everybody to come to one of the community meetings that we’re planning. We, like I said, want to hear everyone’s voice and want to hear the people,” Garcia said.

Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers coming to Goodyear

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE West Valley View Staff Writer

Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers is under construction on a health care facility in Goodyear.

The health care system’s newest site oc cupies 6 acres at the corner of 159th Ave nue and McDowell Road and will feature a 28,634-square-foot facility, according to the company. While housing a range of special ties and employing about 52 full-time po sitions, the location’s addition to the Good year community will expand upon the city’s growing cancer care system.

“We have a lot of great people around the area and it will continue to grow, and we need to be a part of this part of town as we continue to grow,”

Joseph Nabong, Iron wood’s chief of strategy and development, said at a recent groundbreaking ceremony.

“This is a great location, so that’s why I’m happy and I think it’s going to be special. We’ll be able to provide a lot of major care in the west side, which we need.”

The Goodyear facility’s services will include radiation and medical oncology, CT and PET diagnostic imaging, radia tion and modern chemo and immunother apy treatments, and women’s oncology services. Daily collaboration amongst the different specialties and accelerated individualized care will be possible with these services all under the same roof.

There is no official completion date; however, Nabong hopes to see the proj ect finished within a year.

Brian Washburn, executive director for Ironwood Cancer & Research Cen

Avondale Municipal Art Committee pays tribute to hometown heroes

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

Motorists

driving along a por tion of the Dysart Road corri dor will see a tribute to those who are serving, have served or have given their lives in service in the U.S. armed forces. Banners featuring the faces of Avondale’s military Hometown Heroes are displayed on street light poles along Dysart Road just in time for Veterans Day.

Hometown Hero streetlight banners showcase the faces of Avondale’s mil itary veterans. The program is funded in part by the Avondale Municipal Art Committee, which wanted to recognize

members of our military family and demonstrate that Avondale is proud of their service and dedication to America. The Hometown Heroes can be viewed in the median area along Dysart Road be tween McDowell and Van Buren.

To be eligible, an individual must be currently serving in the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) or a veteran who was honorably discharged or given their life in service in the U.S. armed forces. The individual must also be, or have been, a permanent resident of Avondale during some point, or have a close family member (spouse, parent, legal guardian,

grandparent, child or sibling) currently living in Avondale.

The Hometown Hero Banner Program will rotate the veteran banners annually; the next cycle is scheduled to display for Veterans Day. Each cycle of the program is intended to run a minimum of one year; at the end of that cycle, the retired banner may be claimed by the service member or their family.

Space is limited. An application fee of $50 is required. Applications are due Oct. 20 for consideration for the next install ment. For more information, and to ac cess the application, visit avondaleaz.gov/ hometownhero or call 623-333-1616.

ters, said in a release that they chose to open in Goodyear due to the city’s rapid growth and its 2020 accolade as one of the best locations for a business.

He also highlighted the city’s com mitment to cultivating a healthy com munity for its residents with high-quali

ty health care and oncology services, in addition to its dedication to creating a strong business environment.

“The leadership at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers is delighted to be breaking ground in Goodyear and looks forward to offering comprehensive and supportive care services in the West Val ley,” he said.

Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers was established in 1993 and has since expanded to 15 locations and 700 em ployees throughout metro Phoenix by merging with other cancer care provid ers and oncology practices in the area. It prides itself on its patient-centered mindset and high-quality care, believ ing in compassion through kindness.

Hometown Hero streetlight banners show case the faces of Avondale’s military veter ans. (City of Avondale/Submitted)

The Goodyear facility’s addition to the Ironwood network will extend the city’s Medical Innovation Corridor and subsequently make it one of the biggest medical and health care districts in West Valley.

To stay updated with the center’s progress or for more information, visit ironwoodcrc.com.

County attorney’s office hosts panel about fentanyl

BY SAMANTHA REA West Valley View Staff Writer

Increasingamounts of the deadly synthetic drug fentanyl are being trafficked into Maricopa County, and drug dealers are focusing their efforts on Arizona’s youth.

That message was the focus of a community presentation and Q&A at Independence High School in Glendale on Sept. 27. Moderated by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, a panel of drug experts discussed how fentanyl is being pushed into communities using a variety of tools.

“The seizure quantities that we see now are something that I would never have expected to ever see,” said Jeffrey Beaver, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Drug Enforcement Bureau chief.

According to a recent press release by the DEA, over 10.2 million fentanyl pills and 980 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized this year in Arizona alone between May 23 and Sept. 8.

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin, 100 times stronger than morphine, and can be snorted or smoked.

At the presentation, Shelley Mowery, demand reduction coordinator at Arizona High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), compared the potency inconsistency of the pills to a chocolate chip cookie.

The HIDTA is a grant-funded initiative of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The program aids various law enforcement agencies which operate in critical drug trafficking areas of the country.

“That fentanyl can be anywhere in that pill…” Mowery said. “There can be enough fentanyl to kill four people in one pill, and there could be another pill that has no fentanyl at all in it.”

Beaver said parents should look out for small blue tablet pills about the size of a straw opening, stamped with the letter “M” and a “30.” Police seizures in Arizona have also recently discovered rainbow fentanyl pills, made col-

orful to target young people. Parents should also be wary of cut-up straws or metal straws they might find, as well as tinfoil with any burn residue on it.

Counterfeit medications are rapidly increasing in presence within the state and among the country’s youth. Matt Long, school resources officer with Glendale Union High School District, warned parents to monitor their children’s social media where young kids and adults may be in contact with dealers.

Access to these drugs is easily attainable, and Long compared the buying and selling process to the food delivery app DoorDash.

“A lot of our kids … say that they can get most anything they want through social media, and they don’t have to go to the seedy side of town in a trench coat and try to find the drug dealer,” Long said. “It’s almost like DoorDash; they will come to you.”

For Long, the emojis in a username are often an indication of whether or not someone is a drug dealer.

The presentation included a slide with a legend of decoded emoji drug codes. Some emojis commonly used by dealers are the gas pump, leaves, trees, a honey pot, snowflakes, a solid blue circle, pills, a shopping cart and an electrical plug, among others.

Long also recommended monitoring behaviors. He referred to what is known as “the nod” — a side effect experienced by opioid users after using the drug where they fall asleep virtually anywhere, doing just about anything.

For parents with children who don’t know what drugs are, the panel warned of opioid naiveness and emphasizes the importance of discussing the dangers of drugs with their kids. “One Pill Can Kill” is the motto when discussing drugs like fentanyl with kids.

Stephanie Siete, public information officer for Community Bridges Inc., said when it comes to a warning sign if kids are using marijuana, underage drinking, vaping nicotine or THC, it’s likely that they are obtaining the substances from an online dealer who will more than likely offer them pills at some point.

“We all need to be heightened alert and (aware)…” Siete said. “Do your homework. … This isn’t a joke. This isn’t just kids. This is Arizona. It’s our community. This is where we live. This is our lives.”

Kim Humphrey, founder and CEO of Parents of Addicted Loved Ones, was also in attendance to speak at the presentation. He shared his own journey and turmoil as the father of two addict sons.

Humphrey said he, like many parents, never thought his son ever would or ever was doing drugs, until another parent raised concerns for his eldest.

Fentanyl can hold a very strong grip on a user’s life, and parents of addicts who struggle to find help and care for their underage and adult children can know that Humphrey’s knowledge is from experience and that the advice he gives is worth hearing.

Since his sons’ addictions began, his eldest is nine years recovered and just recently had another child with his wife. His youngest is also recovered and living a professional, fulfi lling life.

“The most important thing that you can remember is that in all situations, you will always be a role model to your children,” Humphrey said. “So if they refuse, even as adults, to get the help they need, you can get the help you need. And by showing them how you are going about getting help … then you are setting an example for them.”

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Avondale earns national accreditation in parks and recreation

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

The

city of Avondale’s Parks and Recreation Department joins the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country that have earned accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference.

CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. This mark of distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. The city of Avondale is one of only 199 accredited park and recreation agencies in the United States to have successfully achieved national accreditation to receive this designa-

tion, and one of 11 in Arizona to have earned this National Accreditation.

“I am extremely proud of all of the hard work that was done to earn this designation. It speaks to the quality of the staff and their commitment to providing parks and recreation programs and amenities to the Avondale community,” said Bryan Hughes, Avondale Parks and Recreation director.

As part of the accreditation process, the city of Avondale had to demonstrate compliance with 154 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. Often the process helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher-quality service and operation to benefit the community.

The process for accreditation involves

a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years.

The commission comprises representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network, and the Council of State Executive Directors.

For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit nrpa.org/CAPRA.

For more information about Avondale Parks and Recreation, visit avondaleaz.gov/government/ departments/parks-recreation or follow @AvondaleParksandRec.

FOR THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION

City of Avondale Parks and Recreation employees are awarded during the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference. (NRPA/Submitted)

OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS

TO THE EDITOR

Keep passing good legislation, Congress

Editor:

I am happy to see that our legisla tors in Washington are actually passing legislation. Recently they passed the Inflation Reduction Act as well as the CHIPS and Science Act. I am hopeful this trend will continue with the Open App Markets Act, which seeks to cre ate a level playing field for our small and medium app developers.

Currently, the big tech platforms, namely Apple and Google, run their app stores almost like a monopoly. They charge app developers huge fees, up to 30%, for every in-app purchase — which they are required to use the tech giants system for all in-app trans actions. The tech giants also make it hard for the app developers to commu nicate directly with their own custom ers and promote the tech giants’ own apps over those of the app developers.

The courts have tried to fix these is sues but have not had much success. Congress needs to act now to fix these problems to foster innovation and rein in costs that are passed on to us, the consumers.

Lane Thomas Avondale

Keeping neighbors awake

Editor:

Ever since the powerful trucker as sociation overturned the town of Li tchfield Park’s thru traffic commercial truck ban, the amount of cement trucks driving back and forth down Camel back Road in the middle of the night has become insane.

Do the rich owners of the cement factory care at all about the citizens who live along the communities of Palm Valley North or Litchfield Park, who have to sleep hearing the constant drone of the loud buzzing sounds of the dump cement trucks all night long?

From midnight to 4 a.m., there have to be at least 500 cement trucks alone, driving back and forth from the plant to the next mega warehouse being built. Why in the middle of the night when families are trying to sleep and get the children ready for school the next day and themselves ready for work do the trucks not take Northern Parkway?

Northern Parkway is only 3.3 miles away and does not cut right through our backyards. It was built for this pur pose yet isn’t being used.

The trucker association is so rich and powerful, they are like a modern-day

SMITH’S OPINION — Las Vegas Sun

mafia. They know they can get away with whatever they want. They already have the votes paid for in their pocket. All while the Litchfield Park citizens have to suffer hearing the noise all night long and breathing the toxic die sel fumes in our backyard.

Bethany Lopez Litchfield Park

Mayor Pizzillo:

You can’t have it both ways

Editor:

I’m Luke Garrison. I live in Good year and work for the Liberty Elemen tary School District. Liberty is home to three Goodyear schools: Westar, Es trella Mountain and Las Brisas Acade my, schools where many of the city’s workers send their children.

One thing I hear frequently in Good year council meetings is pride in the quality of the city’s schools and how that improves the community. I couldn’t agree more. But words are one

thing; actions are another.

Liberty, just like the Litchfield and Agua Fria districts, is going out for a budget override in this community. I personally wish these weren’t nec essary, but Arizona continues to rank near the bottom for public education funding.

If it doesn’t pass this year, Liberty may have to cut nearly 30 teaching positions, eliminate after-school sports and activities, stop teaching art and music, and maybe even stop offering full-day kindergarten.

It’s why I’m baffled that Mayor Joe Pizzillo, who, when asked to support Liberty, did not. But he did throw his name behind Agua Fria and Litchfield. So why support some of his city’s schools and not others?

Listed on the campaign website for those other overrides, Pizzillo says he supports them because they’re budget continuations, not true tax raises. Keep in mind those overrides and all over rides began as tax raises.

Liberty’s override averages out to

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about $12 more a month for the aver age homeowner. But is quality educa tion for our students really not worth your $12 a month?

You simply can’t have it both ways. You can’t promote quality schools if you’re not willing to support them at the ballot box. Mr. Mayor, your lack of support is a slap in the face. I really hope you can tell the public why you would support some schools in this city and not others.

Luke Garrison Goodyear

Practice what you preach

Editor:

Mr. Veltri, re-read your letter to the editor from Sept. 21, with special atten tion to your last paragraph. What you preached in those closing comments is exactly opposite of how and what you wrote about in the bulk of your letter prior to concluding remarks. Gee… if you can’t follow your own advice (aka,

practice what you preach), sir, please don’t virtue-signal others.

Susan Hewitt Goodyear

All presidents’ words matter

Editor:

In regard to the opinion article “Un easy feeling” on Sept. 7, I find it so ironic that all of the sudden it matters what a president says. During Trump’s tenure he said all matters of disrespect ful, demanding and threatening things, from shooting someone and not losing a vote to making fun of a handicapped reporter, to grabbing a woman’s private parts, to very personal attacks against anyone opposing him. It was endless! Yet Republicans would say it’s more important what he does, not what he says, and that the Democrats were blowing things out of proportion. This went on for four years! It’s funny how that works, isn’t it? All of the sudden it does matter what a president says… if they are a Democrat. I would propose this: It matters what a president says no

matter the party they belong to. It’s too bad when we let partisanship make dis respectful behavior and words OK or not OK depending on your party. As a president, it always matters… period!

Mike Getz Goodyear

ready done. Look at all the sickness that has come into the country because of open borders.

Stay focused and vote for change. Not all the new people that are running for different positions are great, but we have already seen what the ones in of fice have done and will continue to do.

Abortions

Editor:

I find it disturbing that with all the things on the line with this midterm voting the politicians have made abor tions the main topic. I think that far more people are affected by high fuel, food and housing prices; inflation; and 11 million illegals in the country than by abortions. The truth is abortions are a choice made by the people who got them into that problem. Be responsi ble. If you get into that problem, get yourself out.

Start thinking about whether we want to put up with all the problems the politicians have put us in or change the people who got us here in the first place. They all promise to do this and that now that they are up for reelection, but judge them by what they have al

Robert Jones Goodyear

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Prop 310 could solve revenue problems for Arizona fire districts

BY MARK BURDICK Buckeye Valley Fire Chief

Since

1949, the Buckeye Valley

Fire District has proudly provided service to the citizens, around and passing through the Buckeye area. The BVFD was one of the first agencies in the state to provide am-

a

bulance transportation for sick and injured people to hospitals in the Valley and continues to do so today.

Currently, the Buckeye Valley Fire District provides all-hazard service to an area of 205 square miles and advanced life support ambulance transportation to an estimated 100,000 people in an area just over 2,500 square miles. This area consists of Buckeye Valley, the city of Buckeye, Tonopah

and Harquahala Valley and is about half the size of the state of Connecticut. Several freeways, state highways, rail lines and county routes traverse this rural region, and chances are if you are visiting California you will pass through a service area covered by Buckeye Valley or another neighboring fire district to the west.

Like all Arizona fire districts, Buckeye Valley is funded through property taxes; however, revenue has been limited due to Proposition 117, a passed law that places a cap on the amount of property tax that can be collected. This tax cap, coupled with the economic recession in 2008, has had a lasting drastic effect on the service levels provided by Buckeye Valley and other fire districts throughout the state. Since 2008, Buckeye Valley has been forced to close one fire station, remove an ambulance and squad company from the service, and delay the acquisition of critically needed equipment until sustainable funding mechanisms could be found. These closures have resulted in emergency response times over 30 minutes in many cases.

Since Buckeye Valley is a fire district with a capped tax rate and does not receive the same revenues that cities or towns do, it is almost impossible to financially recover from the losses sustained since 2008 and provide the same levels of service that citizens have come to rely on and population growth demands.

Proposition 310 could be the answer to these serious problems.

Through a collaborative effort brought forward by a group of Arizona legislators and firefighters, a temporary increase in the state’s sales tax (one-tenth of a cent), has the potential to generate approximately $150 million in new revenues for Arizona fire districts annually. This revenue would ease the pressure on our firefighters and paramedics while providing for improved response times when lives

are in danger.

As an example of how Proposition 310 would work, if you spend $10 on an item, Proposition 310 would cost you 1 cent. Spend $20, the cost would be 2 cents.

This measure would help all of Arizona’s fire districts and the estimated 1.5 million people who are served by them.

The Buckeye Valley Fire District’s citizens stand to significantly benefit from this initiative and could be provided the following services with this new revenue:

• Place paramedic ambulances back into service that were lost due to declining revenue.

• Construct new and replacement fire stations that provide better response times.

• Place a paramedic squad unit back into service that was lost due to declining revenue.

• Staff new paramedic units to better deliver services and reduce response times.

• Expand the Wildland/Urban Interface Division and provide a regional response as needed to at-risk communities threatened by wildfire.

• Restore full staffing to the Air and Light unit that provides foreground and incident support.

• Provide increased special operations capabilities (hazardous materials response and technical rescue) for the area in conjunction with the automatic aid partners.

• Expand physical and cancer screening for district personnel.

• Explore community paramedicine options for district residents.

• Replacement of aging equipment and fire apparatus.

• Acquisition of critically needed new fire equipment.

We welcome the chance to discuss this serious issue with you. Please feel free to contact our administrative offices during business hours or send us an email.

Veep’s post-hurricane remarks create a storm

BY J.D. HAYWORTH West Valley View Columnist

relief in Ian’s aftermath.

There’s no con-

fusing a haboob with a hurricane.

While Arizonans can attest that the howling wind and desert dust from a haboob may present genuine hazards, the recent travails of Floridians remind us that hurricanes can become life altering.

Hurricane Ian unleashed its fury upon Southwest Florida, bringing tragic loss of life, almost unbelievable damage to homes and roads, and other awful, awesome examples of nature’s power.

There was also ample evidence that the hurricane season intersects with the political calendar.

Vice President Kamala Harris, fresh from a faux pas abroad where she mistakenly lauded a longtime American alliance with “the Republic of North Korea,” proved equally maladroit when she returned home and advocated race-based

Appearing at a forum sponsored by the Democratic National Committee, the nation’s “No. 2” emphasized equity as job one, even in the wake of a killer storm.

“It is our lowest-income communities and communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions and impacted by issues that are not of their own making,” Harris said.

“And so we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity, and understanding that not everyone starts out at the same place. And if we want people to be in an equal place, sometimes we have to take into account those disparities.”

Got that?

“Equity” is not synonymous with “equality.” Instead, it is based on retribution and redistribution.

While America’s historic civil rights movement advocated for equality of opportunity, today’s woke elites envision the role of government as enforcing unifor-

mity of outcomes. Equity is the blunt tool of social justice warriors intent on exacting a price in the here and now from those they deem “historically advantaged.”

In 2020, that translated into riots in major American cities, which Harris described as “mostly peaceful protests.” In 2022, it would translate into selective relief in spite of widespread suffering if Harris had her way.

Unsurprisingly, a self-appointed “praetorian guard” from the partisan press quickly intervened to try to protect the vice president from her own statement.

So-called “fact checkers” blamed extenuating circumstances — a long, multilayered question and an even longer response from Harris — before falling back on the three favorite words of all post-quote revisionists: “out of context.”

Despite the empathy and action from “advocacy journalists” eager to jump to Kamala’s defense, it became abundantly clear to President Joe Biden’s White House that the subject had to be changed — and quickly.

Whatever the shortcomings of the Biden

Bunch — and they are legion — Ol’ Joe and his handlers saw the obvious course of action: Visit the hurricane-ravaged portions of Florida, meet with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, and pledge that the federal government would help everyone adversely affected by Ian — period.

As the flood waters began to recede, so did the controversy concerning “equity.”

The sight of Biden and DeSantis standing in the sunshine, sharing a common concern and a common goal, proved once again that sometimes good policy can make for good politics — especially when it involves potential political opponents.

But don’t be deceived.

Even without the forecast of a haboob here in Arizona or another hurricane in Florida, the outlook will again turn stormy.

After all, Election Day is Nov. 8.

J.D. Hayworth represented Arizona in the U.S. House from 1995-2007. He authored and sponsored the Enforcement First Act, legislation that would have mandated enforcement of Federal Immigration Law in the 109th Congress.

Spare me the food snobbery; chains are just fine

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ West Valley View Columnist

Ofall the many sorts of snob

bery that ex ist in the world today, surely the most annoy ing is dining snobbery. You, too, have that one friend, I imagine — the Certified Restau rant Adventurer©.

Ask the CRA© how his/her/their weekend was and the conversation turns into a Travel Channel monologue about the joys of eating fried calf testicles off a food truck in a Maryvale back alley.

My eyes glaze over during such tales — and not in a honey-glazed epicure an way — before I say something like, “That’s just nuts,” and wander off.

I’m an adventurous eater. I like steak, medium rare. I love cheesesteaks, cheese burgers, cheese fries, pizza, and caffeinat ed beverages ordered without substituting Italian numbers for sizes. Hold the cheese on the coffee, thanks. But only there.

In sum, I have always believed myself to be a typical American eater. Meaning I am not a gastronomic explorer, nor am I a big chain restaurant purveyor.

However, I don’t look down my nose at people who think Olive Garden is the best Italian food known to man. By the same token, I’m tired of hearing about Pizzeria Bianco and how it’s worth camping out for a week for a slice of Sonny Boy pizza, because, oh Lord, the soppressata is to die for!

Salami is salami, people. They do a nice pepperoni pie at Pizza Hut, too. And they have 6,600 locations in the United States, which means less waiting.

That’s what chain restaurants are for: people who see meals not as opportu nities for reverie and humble bragging about their palate, but as fuel for the body and a chance to chat with loved ones, friends and colleagues.

Dining snobs will scoff, but there’s a reason that chain restaurants continue to be popular. They’re not the devil, or even Red Devil Pizza, with three loca

tions in the Valley and one in Pinetop.

Chains are thriving, and regular peo ple must like them, because chain restau rants comprise the majority of dining op tions in the United States, according to recent data from two scholars at Georgia Tech University’s Friendly Cities Lab.

Dr. Clio Andris and Ph.D. candidate Xiaofan Liang compiled statistics on more than 700,000 restaurants nationwide, in cluding nearly 400 chains of 50 locations or more. The most prolific restaurant in the study? Subway, with more than 24,000 lo cations in the United States.

Restaurants with only one location comprised about 44% of the study, or about 310,000 locations total.

Liang told the Washington Post, “the foodscape is very political,” meaning the study’s big takeaway was that “places with a high percentage of Trump voters have a higher percentage of chains. We didn’t expect it.”

Yawn. Sounds like food snobbery to me.

My big takeaway is that Arizona is not the fast-food capital of America, as many

Valley food snobs would have you believe.

The most franchise-y state in the na tion? Kentucky, where 46% of restau rant options have 50 or more locations.

Arizona ranked 21st, with chains com prising 35% of restaurant offerings — as compared to Vermont, the least fran chise-y state, where only 13% of restau rants had 50 or more locations.

As for metro Phoenix, it ranked 204th among more than 380 metropolitan ar eas, with chains comprising about 37% of restaurant options. So we’re not New York City, with 18% chains, nor are we Aniston, Alabama, with 57% chains.

We’re right in between, not unlike the beef patty in a Cold Beers & Cheese burgers All American Burger. CB&C has 12 Arizona locations, by the way, which makes them something of a local chain.

Regardless, they don’t serve pig cheeks, rattlesnake bites or other food snob fare, so I can’t recommend the place highly enough.

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

area.

New independent bookshop opens in Avondale

BY KAILA MELLOS West Valley View Staff Writer

CharityHarrington and Amy Miller, former English teachers from Odyssey Institute in Buck eye, were looking to start a new chap ter in their lives.

So, they opened Immortal Trees Bookshop in Avondale.

“We just let go of our teacher con tracts last spring, and we finished the year,” Harrington said. “Before that, we had been joking about buy ing an old school bus and turning it into a mobile library or a mobile bookstore because we don’t have any independent bookstores around here.

“But then I texted Amy one Sunday

morning and said, ‘Hey, you know how we have been pushing around that sil ly idea of doing a bookstore? Do you want to open a real brick-and-mortar bookstore?’ And the text came back with ‘Yes.’”

Harrington and Miller noticed that finding good secondhand books any where in the Valley, besides libraries, was tough. So they wanted to start a place where anyone could buy second hand books from various genres and authors.

“We have a natural love for all things books, and there’s just a need for a bookstore in the area,” Miller said. “The community we live in, Buckeye, and the whole surrounding area, there’s just nothing.”

“We do have the public library. But a book to keep that’s yours, that you could own, there isn’t anything out here,” Harrington add ed.

On top of that, when browsing for secondhand books, there is no consid eration for kids authors and genres. Most secondhand books found at Goodwill or other stores are geared toward adults.

The two will also sell coffee and tea to patrons who just want to come in and browse for a new read. Eventually, Immortal Tree Bookshop will offer classes and events. (Immortal Trees/Submitted)

“There isn’t anything for the kids, who were a big inspiration in the book store idea. Some place for kids to go that is safe, fun, and that encourages learning and curiosity,” Miller said.

Since they have had many years of students with incredible talents, the two former teachers hope to showcase some of that.

“We have so many art students who are crazily talented in high school, and it would be wonderful for them to be able to create things they’re super proud of,” Harrington said.

“We hope to put them on display so people can purchase them, which makes a little bit of money for that art ist who has to pay for their art supplies or maybe help them pay for a class when they go to college.”

Along with art they hope to display and sell eventually, they are looking for other items to sell along with their books that will average from around $3 to $5.

“We have a few friends of ours that handmake things. One of our teacher friends makes these cool lotion bars, which she puts in tins,” Harrington said.

“My mom is a part of the Las Noch es Woman’s Club, which is a club in the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, and they are giving us things to sell here like coat bags and jewelry that

we are donating the money we make back to their club, and they’re going to spend that on education. My dad has also made tons of jewelry we will sell. But we’d love to do consignment for people who make quality products and support any of our former students who create.”

The two will also sell coffee and tea to patrons who just want to come in and browse for a new read. Eventual ly, Immortal Tree Bookshop will offer classes and events.

“Some of our past students were art ists, and we’ve been talking with them about coming and doing a computer comic book or a graphic novel class for young teens. We will also do scrap book classes and an ornament kit,” Harrington said.

“We are open to any community ac tivities on a small scale. We are think ing of parties of 10 to 15 for each one of our classes or our events. We want to invite poets and authors to come and read and do signings and maybe even creative writing workshops. We have so many ideas to come.”

Immortal Tree Bookshop will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more info, visit immortaltrees. com or @immortaltreesbookshop on Instagram.

Entrepreneurs, local business owners invited to Fuerza Local Fair

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

For the first time, Fuerza Local, the Spanish-speaking part of Local First Arizona, will hold its annual fair to provide business resources and vital information for entrepreneurs and local Arizona business owners.

Local First Arizona, along with Avondale Local Edge and Southwest Key Programs, is organizing the first Annual Fuerza Local Fair from 10 to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Avondale Visitor & Conference Center, 11490 Civic Center Drive.

The 2022 Annual Fuerza Local Fair is a free community event, in Spanish, that provides attendees with business resources from local organizations and businesses.

Participants will gain a better understanding of the procedures and/or requirements on how to open a business in the state of Arizona. During the event, they will also be able to hear directly from professionals on a variety of topics that will help them make informed decisions for their business.

The Annual Fuerza Local Fair will also be open to business owners and entrepreneurs who have not been able to participate or who have not yet applied to the Business Accelerator educational program. All attendees will have the opportunity to apply to the Business Accelerator Program. The application process is open during the months of October, November and December for 20th Cohort that will include the cities of Avondale, Maryvale, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix and South Phoenix. Applications for the 3rd Cohort for Cottonwood and Sedona will be open during the month of October only.

The local community, business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to join with their families and friends to celebrate the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. This event will be full of business resources, educational information, food and entertainment.

Details are available at facebook. com/events/808845220132168 and localfirstaz.com.

This event is sponsored by Nuñez

The 2022 Annual Fuerza Local Fair is a free community event, in Spanish, that provides attendees with business resources from local organizations and businesses. (Stock art)

Law Firm, Gk2 Floor Prep LLC, Pineda’s Auto Glass LLC & Clean and Clear Cleaning LLC.

It is the mission of Fuerza Local to continue supporting local business owners and entrepreneurs in Arizona to promote equality of opportunities for all through these free community

programs and events.

Visit fuerzalocal.org to learn more about Fuerza Local. For more information about Avondale Economic Development (Avondale EDGE), go to avondaleedge.com or call 623-333-1400, or follow @AvondaleEDGE on social media.

MARK KELLY = OPEN BORDERS

Paid

Avondale EDGE video series wins 2 awards

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

TheAvondale EDGE video series, an exciting, short-format digital series about a city with big ideas and a strong vision, won two awards in September.

The nine-episode series was produced and launched last year, in collaboration with Avondale’s Office of Econom ic Development and Tourism and the city’s marketing department, along with well-known Valley media personality, Emmy-award-winning journalist Carey Pena, CEO of Inspired Media 360. The series explores the tremendous growth and momentum in Avondale, and fea tures stories about local businesses, innovative companies moving to Avon dale, the exciting NASCAR Champion ship Weekend taking place at Phoenix Raceway, and much more.

The Avondale EDGE video series took home an Award of Excellence at the annual City/County Commu nications and Marketing Association (3CMA) national conference in Port land, Oregon, on Sept. 8, followed by

a Silver Award on Sept. 20 at the 2022 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) conference in Oklaho ma City, Oklahoma.

“Producing these videos not only allowed the Avondale EDGE team to share updates with the communi ty, it also served as an opportunity to ‘pass the mic’ and give a platform to our local businesses and community partners,” said Ken Chapa, Avondale’s economic development and tourism di rector. “Working with a seasoned jour nalist like Carey Pena further helped to amplify the message about the tremen dous growth, economic vitality and unique personality of Avondale.”

At the wrap of Season 1, the team successfully produced nine stand-alone videos, each with unique storylines ranging in topics from the housing market to the eclectic Avondale food scene. The videos were distributed through the Avondale EDGE social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as cross-promoted on the city of

Ken Chapa, city of Avondale economic development and tourism director, is honored at IEDC with the Silver Award. (City of Avondale/Submitted)

Avondale’s official accounts.

The award-winning video series in its entirety can be viewed on Avon dale EDGE YouTube, or follow

@AvondaleEDGE to watch the re-re lease of these features.

For more information about Avon dale EDGE, visit avondaleadge.com.

Fall League brings in players with Arizona ties

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor

catcher Carson Kelly.

Toward

the end of each MLB sea son, the teams send six top pros pects to the Arizona Fall League. There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: the Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javeli nas and Surprise Saguaros, who play in the Spring Training parks used by the Mariners, Padres, Cubs, A’s, D-backs and Rockies.

Among the plays with Arizona ties are current D-backs catcher Cooper Hummel (AFL player in 2021; made his MLB debut April 7, 2022); Jordan Lawlar (Arizona first-round selec tion in 2021) and Nick Gonzales of Vail (Pittsburgh first-round selection 2020).

Lawlar and Hummel are playing for the Salt River Rafters at Salt Riv er Fields, while Fall League returnee Gonzales is on the Surprise Saguaros squad.

Cooper Hummel

Hummel, in his MLB career, had 176 at-bats with 31 hits, three home runs and 17 RBIs. He sees the benefits to playing in the Arizona Fall League’s Salt River Rafters.

“I’m going to get to catch when I’m there,” said Hummel, who started the season in the outfield and feels he needs to hone his catching skills.

“I can get more reps, and those reps are what’s important to the team. When you’re switching positions, you focus on the outfield; that’s one set of mus cles. When you’re catching, that’s an other set. This way, I can hit, stay in shape and work out. It’s definitely a different grind.”

A Portland, Oregon, native, Hummel sees the Arizona Fall League as a learn ing experience, just like working with longtime friend and fellow D-backs

“Carson and I grew up playing against each other in high school,” he said. “I have been able to watch him for a long time. We had the same hit ting coach in high school. I really ad mire all the work he’s done offensively and defensively for a long time.

“I love watching the way he plays the game.”

Hummel is, as they say, a longtime “stu dent of the game.” He’s always had a passion for baseball and for catching.

“There’s just some thing about putting the gear on and working with the pitchers and being in every play that just draws me in,” he said. “There are little nuances that you get to understand and be a part of.

“I’m definitely a fiery competitor sometimes, though. I don’t want to say it gets people in trouble. I use it in the right way. When you’re behind the plate, working with the umpire, trying to get calls, there are ways to use it in the correct manner. Watching the way Carson handles that is amazing. He’s a great communicator and a great peo ple person. Picking his brain has been awesome.”

Nick Gonzales

Like Hummel, the Vail native is hop ing to get more games under his belt with the Surprise Saguaros.

“I enjoyed my time here last year, learning from the guys and the coach es,” he said.

In his MiLB career, he’s had 593 atbats with 101 runs, 169 hits, 25 home runs and 91 RBIs.

Baseball is a longtime passion for

A Portland, Oregon, native, Cooper Hummel sees the Arizona Fall League as a learning ex perience, just like working with longtime friend and fellow D-backs catcher Carson Kelly. (Arizona Diamondbacks/Submitted)

Gonzales; it’s a sport he’s loved since he was a child.

“I just love the game a lot,” the sec ond baseman said.

“I love its history. I love the compe tition aspect. I put the work in every day.”

Jordan Lawlar

With the Arizona Fall League and Salt River Rafters, Lawlar is hoping to network and improve upon his skills.

“Getting to meet all these different guys around the league will be fun,” Lawlar said. “I’ll be working on dif ferent defensive things and then facing upper-level competition every day.”

As a member of the Diamondbacks organization, Lawlar said the team has been supportive as he’s been focused on his plans.

“They’ve been in tune with what all of us need,” he added.

After batting .351 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 24 stolen bases over 44 games, he was promoted to the Hill sboro Hops of the High-A Northwest League in late July.

The same month, he was named to the 2022 All-Star Futures Game along with Corbin Carroll, who made his D-backs debut on Aug. 29.

After the All-Star break, he went to the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Dou ble-A Texas League and batted .212 over 20 games. Lawlar said it’s been fun watching former teammates Car roll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy succeed with the D-backs.

“Seeing these young guys come up and make an impact and having fun playing at the highest level and in front of fans is great,” he said.

interactive, and will allow kids to get experience programming robots, making games, and experimenting with animations.

Tolleson Public Library, 9555 W. Van Buren Street, Tolleson, 4 to 4:45 p.m., free, 623-936-2746, tollesonaz.gov

e West Valley View publishes on Wednesday. e weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit groups — runs every issue.

Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the View’s coverage area, which is south of Northern Avenue, west of Loop 101, plus all of Tolleson, extending to Estrella in the south and Tonopah in the west. Events such as concerts and theatrical performances that fall outside the View’s circulation area will be considered because there are no concert halls or theater venues within our boundaries.

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

Submissions must reach our office by 4 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for the following Wednesday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@TimesLocalMedia.com

Buckeye Valley Museum Open

WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

After its recent grand reopening on Sept. 8, the Buckeye Museum has once again begun to bring the past to locals. The museum o ers historical exhibits, programs and school tours. Join the open and take a look inside to explore the past. Special Saturdays are Oct. 8 and Nov. 11.

Buckeye Valley Museum, 116 E. MC 85, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 623-349-6315, buckeyeaz.gov/ residents/buckeye-valley-museum

Teen Volunteer Wednesdays

WEDNESDAYS

On the road to college and careers, it’s incredibly valuable to have volunteer hours racked up for the resume. Teenagers are encouraged to come by and learn valuable work skills, as well as get some volunteer hours in for school.

Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale, 3 to 5 p.m., free, 623-333-2602, avondalelibrary.org

Device Advice Appointments

THURSDAYS

Everyone struggles with supposedly basic technology at some point in their life, whether it be due to a new phone, a software change or countless other issues. The library is o ering help figuring out technology person to person in scheduled appointments for those having trouble.

Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale, 1 to 3 p.m., free, 623-333-2602, avondalelibrary.org

Ecstatic Dance

SUNDAYS

Dance like nobody’s watching with an uninstructed freestyle dance session. There are no steps to follow and no guidebooks to use. People of all age groups and skill levels are encouraged to simply do what they feel and enjoy a judgment-free environment of love and inclusivity.

Turtle Park, 675 N. Villa Nueva Drive, Litchfield Park, 2 p.m., $20, soulshealinghumanity.com/events

Code Club

Wigglers and Walkers United Way

OCT. 12

Babies, toddlers and their caretakers are invited to come to the library for rhymes, short stories and language enrichment. Boost their mental development and give the kids some playtime afterward. This storytime is held by United Way, with free books for the home library of any child who participates.

Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Avenue, Avondale, 11:15 a.m. to noon, free, avondalelibrary.org

Cloak and Dagger (Adults)

OCT. 13

Jay Soto at Litchfield’s

OCT. 14

Join local musician Jay Soto at Litchfield’s bar for smooth music while you dine with friends and family. Enjoy high-quality food and drink.

The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 6 to 9 p.m., free admission, wigwamarizona.com

Keen Brothers at Wigwam Bar

OCT. 15

The Fabulous Keen Brothers perform on the Wigwam patio, gracing patrons with their musical talent to help end the night on a high note.

The Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 7 to 10 p.m., free admission, wigwamarizona.com

Genealogy Club

OCT. 20

Digital Escape Room

Mystery novels have been a staple of children’s literature for over a century now, and their popularity has yet to decline. In these devious situations, children are encouraged to work together in escape room scenarios, figuring out the details of puzzles and interesting conundrums meant to challenge the mind based on these same mystery books.

Litchfield Park Library, 101 W. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., free, mcldaz.org/en-us/ locations/litchfieldpark

Grow Your Garden (Adults)

OCT. 22

OCT. 19

FRIDAYS

Teach kids 8 and older the basics of computer science and learn an increasingly relevant skill in the modern world of technology. Activities are hands-on and

For the second Sunday each month, meet up with others who love true crime and discuss the gripping cases of the past, or more recent criminal developments. Bond over the macabre and the bloody with each gripping case.

Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Avenue, Avondale, 3 to 4 p.m., free, avondalelibrary.org

Dive into the study of family trees and ancestry and figure out details about the past. Get an overview on what tools are needed to study genealogy, as well as what techniques are used to figure out family trees. Share tips and experiences with other people interested in family history, and figure out how to find old relatives

Coyote Branch Library, 21699 W. Yuma Road, Buckeye, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free, buckeyeaz.gov

Nobody needs to be born with a green thumb to figure out gardening. Learn tips and tricks with these fun gardening classes to make the most out of a household garden, as well as what conditions are favorable for growth and what not to do when nurturing your plants.

Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale, 2 to 3 p.m., free, 623-333-2602, avondalelibrary.org

Buckeye nonprofit supports cancer patients with free wigs

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE West Valley View Staff Writer

Octoberis Breast Cancer Aware ness Month, and it’s the EBeau ty nonprofit’s time to shine in pink.

The Buckeye-based organization is dedicated to supporting women under going cancer treatment and other hairloss conditions. Thanks to generous donations and tireless volunteers, its team is able to change lives across the country by providing free wigs through its programming. EBeauty’s cause es pecially rings true during a month de voted to spreading awareness about breast cancer.

“I feel like we primarily give wigs to women with breast cancer. When I look at the data when they send their forms in, it is primarily breast cancer,” Chief Operations Officer Laura Jirsa said. “All of us that are part of EBeauty — myself, my sister and my sister-inlaw — are all breast cancer survivors. So Breast Cancer Awareness Month is very near and dear to our hearts.”

The only program of its kind in the country, EBeauty’s Wig Exchange Pro gram allows women who have com pleted chemotherapy to donate their wigs to other women. It has donated over 60,000 wigs to individuals across the country over the course of 10 years.

EBeauty also directly provides hospi tals with wigs for distribution to patients on-site through its adjacent Hospital Partnership Program. More than 50 hos pitals across the nation have partnered with the organization since its inception.

The premise of EBeauty was brain stormed by Jirsa’s sister Carolyn Keller, who was inspired by her own experience as a two-time cancer survi vor and witnessing Jirsa and her sisterin-law battle the same illness.

For many women, hair is a significant aspect of their identity — especially in some religions and cultures. Experi encing hair loss can take an emotion

al toll on the individual, adding to her physical battle, so a wig often holds more value than just as a hairpiece.

When Jirsa was receiving treatment, she said that her wig not only helped her but also helped her family process and get through her cancer and treat ment journey.

“It’s really a very personal decision to wear a wig, to wear a wig cap or hat or scarf or nothing at all,” she said. “The majority of people I’ve come into contact with, it really affects your self-esteem. You want to feel more like yourself.”

Wigs can cost between several hundred to thousands of dollars and sometimes ar en’t covered by insurance. EBeauty aims to eliminate these obstacles, and operates solely on donations from individuals and wig companies around the nation, such as UNice and Torico.

Jirsa said the EBeauty House, locat ed in the Victory at Verrado commu nity, is home to between 10,000 and 15,000 wigs. Approximately 60% of its inventory is new and still bears tags.

On a given day, the team can receive up to 20-plus packages of wigs from people across the U.S., many accompa nied by heartfelt letters from previous owners’ loved ones about whom the wig used to belong and their desire to pass it along for another to enjoy.

“They are heartwarming. I have a board here where I post all the letters,” Jirsa said. “They’ll say, ‘My beautiful wife wore this wig,’ and maybe her memorial is in it, and they say, ‘It’s re ally important to us to pass this on to the next person,’ or, ‘My mother, my sister, my friend or I wore the wig and I want to pay it forward to someone.’”

After its arrival at the EBeauty House, a wig’s journey to its new own er is simple. It is first sorted by volun teers before going to a Paul Mitchell beauty school, where future profes sional stylists can volunteer their time to clean and style wigs and write en couraging “love notes.”

Following its return to EBeauty, the wig is packaged with care and clean ing instructions and available products, stands, caps and brushes. To ensure that recipients are given the highest-quality wigs possible, volunteers sort the wigs at least half a dozen times prior to be ing shipped off to fulfill hospital and individual requests.

Depending on their inventory, Jir sa approximates that they could send out a couple thousand wigs to hospital partners and individuals a month.

“It’s really this circle, if you see all those different components of how it just completely goes in that cycle of vol unteering and giving, which is probably my favorite thing about it,” Jirsa said.

EBeauty heavily relies on assistance from volunteers and has a number of lo cals who devote their time and energy to the nonprofit. Each day, they usually see between two to eight people come in for around two to four hours at a time.

“We have the most amazing group of volunteers. They drive their golf carts, they walk, some even drive from Phoe nix,” she said. “They’re here on most days of the week sorting wigs that we get individually in the mail, getting hospital orders ready, sorting wigs to be cleaned by Paul Mitchell Schools

and just gathering together.”

Upon their relocation from Washington, D.C., to the West Valley in April, Jirsa said they dreamed of creating a place “where people in the community can come, volunteer, gather together and do good.” Im mediately, that vision became a reality due to the individuals in the community.

As the organization serves its local community and beyond, its team is al ways working on new ways to grow its programming, provide more services for others and assist women with alo pecia, not just cancer.

They make an effort to give each woman two wigs when inventory al lows, and aim to provide every recipi ent with a wig stand, cap and hairbrush.

“That’s really our goal: to be able to reach more women and give them a really all-inclusive gift so they don’t have to go and purchase anything else,” Jirsa said.

One wig at a time, EBeauty will continue to empower and enhance the confidence of women everywhere — during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the rest of the year.

For more information about the non profit or to donate, visit ebeauty.com. Its team requests a donation of $25 along with each wig to cover the high cost of shipping.

The women who are part of EBeauty are breast cancer survivors. The nonprofit supports women undergoing cancer treatment and other hair-loss conditions. (EBeauty/Submitted)

Pistoleros documentary looks at Tempe band from the ’90s

BY VINCENT ARRIETA West Valley View Contributing Writer

Unless you were there at the time, one might not realize how excit ing it was to be a music lover in Tempe in the ’90s.

From the breakthrough of the Meat Puppets with their career-altering appear ance on Nirvana’s “Unplugged” special to Gin Blossoms’ jangle-pop brilliance, the national spotlight was shining bright

ly — on the Valley’s musical riches.

Unfortunately, one of the acts primed for breakout success has gone largely unnoticed by those outside of Arizona’s burning sands — the Pistoleros.

Now, the band fronted by brothers Lawrence and Mark Zubia is finally get ting its due with a documentary chroni cling its extraordinary story called “Pis toleros: Death, Drugs and Rock n’ Roll” directed by Steven B. Esparza. Filled with

interviews from members of the band along with members of the Meat Puppets, Gin Blossoms and other Tempe musical mainstays, the documentary smartly fo cuses not specifically on the “rise” of a band — we’ve seen that movie before — and instead chronicles the tumultuous relationship between brothers Lawrence and Mark, and how that relationship both made — and nearly broke — the band.

The documentary is scheduled to have its premiere with a sold-out screening at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the AMC Centerpoint theater in Tempe, with more screenings to follow. The film will then be available to rent on Vimeo the same day and is scheduled to arrive on DVD and streaming platforms in early November.

Whereas many rockumentaries these days either glorify the story of bands whose trajectories are similar or simply repackage information widely known about a certain artist, Esparza and pro ducers Henry Eshelman and Jeff Freun dlich focus on the emotional “madness” that comes when two artistic minds bound by blood are tested by drug addic tion, codependency and mental illness.

Make no mistake, though. The Pistole ros story is a triumphant one, albeit with a twist of sadness. While it is difficult to discuss and write about the documenta ry without spoiling its fragile narrative, one can say that the manner in which the brothers’ respective battles with them selves and one another is quite an en lightening one — especially Lawrence’s.

“The music is almost a gateway to fall ing in love with the story of these two brothers,” Freundlich says. “If you lis ten to the lyrics in the songs, you realize whether it’s consciously or subconscious ly, these guys are often singing about their firsthand experiences, quite frankly, with each other. Obviously, we don’t want spoilers, but, you know, love wins, right?”

In addition to highlighting the Zubia brothers’ literal brotherhood, the docu mentary almost inadvertently spotlights the brotherhood between many of the other bands in the Tempe music scene. One particularly heartfelt and bittersweet stretch of the documentary depicts the Zubias and others talking about the late Gin Blossoms guitarist Doug Hopkins, whose death had a profound impact on not only his own band’s career trajectory

but on the Zubia brothers’ own struggles with mental health.

“Think about the Haight-Ashbury scene in the ’60s,” Freundlich says. “You had Janis Joplin living with the Grateful Dead, and Quicksilver Messenger Ser vice living in the same house, right? The Live Nudes’ (precursors to the Pistole ros) house was where all of these bands would party when they were done with their gigs. That’s the magic that happens when all these creative people are com ing together. They’re not competing with each other, but they’re trying to lift each other up, and look what happened.”

That sense of camaraderie runs throughout the documentary, from the Zubia brothers themselves to their con nection with their Mexican American roots via playing in mariachi groups with their father as children.

“The brothers are Mexican American, our director is Mexican American, and our picture editor is Mexican American,” Freundlich says. “The story that Mark and Lawrence tell about playing in a mariachi band with their father and then realizing that those chords worked for Van Morrison and the Doors, the Rolling Stones — our editor said, ‘That is the experience of so many Mexican American kids and teenag ers that are embracing the culture of their family historically and then also assimilat ing fully into American culture.’ For every Mexican American kid or musician, that is going to resonate with them greatly.”

“Pistoleros: Death, Drugs and Rock N’ Roll” premieres this month. (Submitted)

Il Volo takes flight with Morricone tour

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Valley

Executive Editor

Sitting around a phone on FaceTime in Atlantic City, Il Volo’s three singers — baritone Gianluca Ginoble and tenors Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto — are enthusiastic about returning to the Valley.

“That’s the brown city, right?” Barone asked, flashing his trademark smile. “It’s hot there.”

This tour — which comes to the Orpheum in Phoenix on Thursday, Oct. 13 — supports the 2021 release “Il Volo Sings Morricone.”

Ennio Morricone, who died in July 2020, was an Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor and trumpeter who wrote more than 400 scores for cinema and television, and over 100 classical works.

His filmography includes “Exorcist II,” “The Untouchables,” “Bugsy,” “In the Line of Fire” and “The Hateful Eight.” His score to the 1966 movie “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is recognized as one of the most influential soundtracks.

“As you probably know, our latest album is a tribute to Morricone, right?” the bespectacled Barone said.

“It’s beautiful to sing these melodies he wrote. He’s one of the most (famous) Italian composers of all time. It’s beautiful to share these songs with audiences. They’re all recognizable melodies. These melodies belong to each one of us. We have to say thanks to what he wrote, and this tour is wonderful.”

Ginoble said the concerts are a tribute to Morricone but Il Volo’s fans as well. That said, Il Volo is always thinking about the next show.

“We try to be unique in our style,” Ginoble said. “There are many influences who have inspired us. We are the only guys of our age singing this kind of music.

“We (Il Volo) have different tastes, but we love the same songs. For the show, it’s important to say it’s a good show for our fans and for the people who are not lovers of (this music). It’s a show that gets to the heart of the people.

“It’s a vocal show where you can have fun and listen to amazing songs — standards, Italian music, American standards. I used to see people come to our shows with many family members, their grandmas. You can have fun with your family, and we’ll do our best to take you

away for two hours.”

Barone, Boschetto and Ginoble met in 2009 when they were competing in the Italian televised singing competition “Ti lascio una canzone” at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo.

The show’s creator, Roberto Cenci, put the three together, emulating the Three Tenors of Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti. During the fourth episode, they won as a group singing the Neapolitan song “O Sole Mio.”

The trio was “discovered” in America by producer and Italian singer-songwriter Tony Renis. Eventually, Il Volo signed a deal with Geffen Records, making them the first Italian artists to directly sign with an American recording label.

Then known as The Tryo, the teens participated in the charity single “We Are the World 25 for Haiti” in 2010. Later that year, they changed their name to Il Volo, which means “the flight.”

Since 2010, Il Volo has released eight albums and the men are working on a “surprise” project for Christmas.

“The audience is like oxygen for us,” Boschetto said. “It’s the truth. We feel ourselves onstage. We look into the audience’s

Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto honor Ennio Morricone on their latest tour, which comes to Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 13. (Il Volo/Submitted)

eyes and see the reaction. It’s beautiful being onstage, and the beauty of sharing our art is the reason why we keep doing this.”

If You Go...

WHAT: Il Volo

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13

WHERE: Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix

COST: Resale tickets available

INFO: ticketmaster.com

West Valley View Dining

GO FIGURE!

by Linda Thistle

SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK

EVEN

Donna Pettman

H

DIFFICULTY

SCRAMBLERS

WEEK

Ob uaries

623-535-8439 • obits@timeslocalmedia.com

Deadline: Thursday by 5pm for next week

Dr. Lloyd Herbert Kloppe

Dr. Lloyd Herbert Kloppe, DVM, DACT passed away peacefully at his home in Buckeye, Arizona on Sunday, July 24th, twelve days after his 67th birth day. He was surrounded by loving family and friends. Raised in New Haven, Missouri, Lloyd was the son of Herbert and Pauline Kloppe. He is survived by wife Jana, son Bryan, daugh ter-in-law Amy, granddaughter Taylor, sib lings Barb Scheer (husband Ralph), Larry Kloppe (wife Lana), and Wayne Kloppe (wife Kathy) as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Lloyd graduated with New Haven High School’s class of 1973 and went on to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri in 1980. After four years in mixed animal practice at Agua Fria Animal Hospital in Goodyear, Dr. Kloppe went on to complete a residency in Large Animal Reproduction at Texas A&M University. He then became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. In 1988, both Lloyd and Jana opened Durango Equine Veteri nary Clinic and Command Performance Horse Farms in Buckeye, Arizona. They built, owned and managed both the prac tice and farms together for 34 years. Dr. Kloppe served as a member of the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board from 1995 through 2000 and was award ed the Arizona Equine Practitioner of the year in 1997. He served as the Society for Theriogenology’s conference chairman in 1998 and President in 1998-99. Between 2011 and 2014 he served as a board mem ber for the American College of Theriog enologists.

Dr. Kloppe was loved by his employees, colleagues, and clients who considered him a friend. He mentored many veterinarians, and regularly hosted students at the clinic while never missing one of Bryan’s base ball games, swim meets, band concerts, phone calls or the chance to play catch or hit in the batting cage. He also volun teered to coach Bryan’s teams through lit tle league. He enjoyed traveling the world

alongside Jana and Bryan, making family time and their experiences his top priori ty. Lloyd was an avid sports fan. He had season tickets for the Diamondbacks since their inaugural season, highlighted by at tending 75 games- including the World Se ries victory- with his family in 2001. He was a passionate runner, hiker, and adven turer and finished his first of 8 marathons at the age of 55. In the last two years, he hiked and summited a 14,000 foot peak in Colorado, went sky-diving with daugh ter-in-law Amy and also managed in one day to complete the 28 mile Rim-to-Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. The latter feat was accomplished just one month before undergoing surgery for the rare form of brain cancer that would take his life. He was blessed to know his granddaughter Taylor and read stories to her every chance he could. Lloyd loved to serve at church, supporting the start of both Christ’s Church of the Valley and of the Refinery Christian Church and frequented mission trips with a desire to help those both in his community and around the world. His life verse was Philippians 4:4-13. He was generous to all people with both his time and with his fi nances. As a leader, he led by his example, inspiring those around him to both fulfill ing work and better lives. He had a brilliant way of teaching through demonstration with incredible patience, kindness, and hu mility. Those close to him came to believe that the Lord must have given him more time in the day than most and he lived live to the fullest.

It is difficult to do justice for a man who was as close to perfect as it gets. Lloyd Herbert Kloppe was a great man and hum ble servant leader who lived the words of the Bible, without fear, and possessed a ge nius of simplicity even in the most difficult and trying times. He surrounded himself with amazing friends. His judgement was trusted by all. He never spoke a bad word about anyone or complained, even during his hard fought cancer battle. We have also yet to find anyone with a bad word to say about him. The joy in his eyes radiated love for life, family, friends and the Lord. His legacy lives on in all who knew him, leaving the world a better place. Celebration of life (lunch to follow): 10:00am Saturday, October 15th Refinery Christian Church 16721 W Indian School Rd Goodyear, AZ 85395

Ricardo Olvera Bustos Jr

Mr. Ricardo Olvera Bustos Jr. of Avondale, Arizona died October 1, 2022 at the age of 50. He was born March 14, 1972 in Waukegan Illinois to Richard and Stella Bustos.

Ricardo is survived by his partner Megan Mytczynsky. His children Christian, Dominic, Genesis, Euriah, Ricardo III, Eliza. His grandchild Angel. His siblings Terri, Sonia and Eduardo. His nephews Martin and Cj. His nieces Ciara, LaRae and Harmony.

His services will be held in Cashion at LA MISION, DE LAS ASAMBLEA DEDIOS, 11147 W Buckeye Rd., Avondale, AZ 85323 on October 18, 2022 at 11:00am.

Maureen Bohl

Maureen Bohl of Avondale, Arizona passed away on October 1, 2022 at the age of 82. She was born November 28, 1939 in Mishawaka, Indiana to Francis "Russ" Noonan, Sr. and Irene Noonan (neé Vens).

A visitation was October 11, at Thompson Funeral Chapel. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery.

To read the full obituary, and leave the family condolences, please visit www.thompsonfuneral chapel.com/obituary/maureen bohl

Nicole Jean Bryden

LilaSwift

LilaSwiftof Buckeye,passed awayattheageof 63onAugust 14,2022atherhome surroundedbyfamily.Shewasbornin StCharles,ILand movedtoBuckeyeArizonain1970. Shortlyafter,Liladecidedtolaydown rootswhenshemetandmarriedhigh schoolsweetheartGerald(Jerry)Swift. Thecouplehad3childrentogetherand remainedhappilymarried.Lilaliveda mostlyprivatebutfulfillinglifeasa wife,mother,grand-motherandfriend. Sheenjoyedspendingtimewithherfamily,reading,cookingandduringfootball seasonshelovedtotaunthernon-ArizonaCardinal'sfans.

LilaissurvivedbyherhusbandGerald,daughtersMarySwift(RL)and HopeKahlstorf(Chris)5-Grandchildren, TylerSwift(Kayla),DakotaMadron, TiffanySwiftandKaitlynnandStacey Hamelaswellas3Great-grandchildren. Lilawasproceededindeathbyherparents,LeonardandLillie,brotherRoger, sonJerry(Seline)andgrandsonJerryJr.

AtLila'srequest,a smallcelebrationof lifewillbeheldonOctober22ndwith herimmediatefamilyandfriends.

Ms. Nicole Jean Bryden, age 40, of Tempe, AZ was born in Phoenix, AZ on July 6th, 1982 and was called home to rejoice in her Heavenly Life on September 28th, 2022.

She was preceeded in death by her grandparents, Samuel Charles & Daisy Isabelle Gannuscio; her mother, Theresa Diane Bryden; and her son, Ahlyjah Thomas Bryden.

She was a loving mother to her four children, Ahlyjah T. Bryden, Aasiyah P. Venerable, N'vey J. Davis and Ivey L. Davis Jr. and three step-children, Hayley and Isaiah Brysslebout and Mya Lowrey; a dedicated sister to her two siblings, Angela D. Huckaby (Carlton) and Scott W. Bryden II; a doting aunt to her seven nieces and nephews, Keith C. Huckaby (Jessica), Alyzandra D. Huckaby, Camronn K. Huckaby, Lisa M. Shirai (Makali'i), Byanka N. Bryden, Angelina G. Bryden, Rhianna P. Bryden; and she was an adoring great-aunt to her four great-nieces/nephews, Carter K. Huckaby, Aubrey D. Huckaby, Alaya A. Aguilar and Aydrian A. Aguilar.

Nicole absolutely loved being a mom, she spent as much time as possible with her family and a host of wonderful friends she made throughout her life. She will be loved and missed by all for an eternity.

Ioan O'Neal Shinn

Ioan O'Neal Shinn , 96 of Avondale passed away September 11, 2022. She was born in Winslow, Navajo County, Arizona on June 22, 1926 to Lawrence Porter and Katherine Marion (Brown) O'Neal. She joined siblings John F. and Katherine (Kitty).

When Ioan was 3 years old, the family moved to Phoenix where they farmed 20 acres near 20th Street and Thomas. The farmhouse still exists. Ioan attended Creighton Elementary and North High graduating in 1944. Ioan enjoyed taking the bus to Luke Air Base to attend dances during World War II. She married William Francis Day, Jr in 1946. In 1968 she married Raymond A. Shinn. Ioan loved crafts,, reading and word searches.

Ioan is survived by her children Rev. William Lawrence (Valerie) Day and Lynda Ioan (Albert) Fiorini; grandchildren: Tracy Fiorini, Theresa Attwood, Anthony (Veronica) Fiorini, Thomas Day, Christopher (Angela) Day, Laura (James) Benhardus, and great grandchildren: Laurie Attwood, Allessandro Fiorini and Isabella Fiorini; her sister-inlaw, Juanita Day; and several nephews and nieces.

A WORD ABOUT OBITUARIES

West Valley View

Obits:

Funeral Chapel

Mary Alice Nunez

November 16, 1955 - October 2, 2022

Mary Alice Nunez 66, of Avondale , d ied October 2. Alice loved being out d oors, cooking, and drinking her bud w eiser with family. Alice is survived b y h er father Luis Lopez Jr., son Rudy , d aughter Cynthia, grandchildren: Angel , Briana, Analysa, Angela and Isaac, great g randchildren: Emily and Vanessa, sib lings: 4 sisters, 6 brothers, nieces, neph e ws and cousins. She was preceded i n death by her mother Mercedes Lopez and sister Frances Lopez. Services will be held on Thursday October 13th at 3:30pm Loc a tion: Advantage Funeral Crystal Ros e l ocated at 9155 W. Van Buren St . Tolleson, Az. 85353.

Euna Sexton

Euna Lee (Bowman) Sexton passed away on September 25, 2022 in Goodyear, Arizona. She was born in Fancy Gap, VA to Clayton Bowman and Ossie (Edwards) Bowman. She is survived by her husband Doug; her daugher in law, Jenna Stauffer and her children, Ruby, Luke, and Wyatt; her daughter, Angelia Mathis, and her sons, Charlie and Matthew Coleman. Euna worked for the Department of Defense for 35 years in the states of Montana, California, Texas, Utah, and Colorado; the Pentagon; the Philippines and Germany. In May 1999, she retired as Personnel Officer for the HQ Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, CO and moved with her husband to the PebbleCreek Community in Goodyear, AZ. She loved to travel and spend time with her family and friends. A private memorial service will be held at a later date at A rlington National Cemetery.

Walter Spears

Walter N. Spears of Avondale, Arizona, died September 26, 2022 at the age of 87.

He was born August 23, 1935 in Phoenix, Arizona to Robert Spears and Doris (nee Crim) Spears. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert & Doris Spears, and his sister Mary Ruth Sharp.

Walter lived a full life. He was a veteran of the United States Army where he served in the 101st Airborne division. He spent several years as a fireman in Madisonville, Kentucky. Back in Arizona, he was a police officer from 1960 to 1973. He was also part owner and operator of Maryvale Refrigeration and Heating with his son, Chris.

Walt is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sue Spears; daughter, Cheryl Miller; and son, Chris Spears. He is also survived by his granddaughters Jennifer Butler and Taylor Spears.

A graveside service will be held in Madisonville, Kentucky at a future date. Condolences can be sent to Thompson Funeral Home.

To leave the family condolences, please visit www.thompsonfuneral chapel.com/obituary/ walter-spears

Steven Cunningham

Steven Alfred Cunningham, 61, of Goodyear, Arizona passed away peacefully on September 26, 2022. Steve was born on January 19, 1961 to Alfred and Jean Cunningham at RAF Sculthorpe, England. He was a veteran of the US Air Force. To read the full obituary and leave the family condolences, please visit: www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/ obituary/steven-cunninngham

Agustina Medrano

Agustina "Weda" Medrano went home with Jesus on September 27th, 2022

Surviving parent's Rebecca Medrano and Camilo C Medrano

Proceeded daughter Aayannah R Elijah. Survivors include her companion Alex Leon "Awak" Elijah, her children Isaac E Medrano, Orlando D Medrano, Alex Leon Elijah Jr, Kenyon Y Elijah, Aayannah R Elijah her brother Nathan Bustos, Aquiles D Delgadillo, Camilo C Medrano Jr, her sisters Brandy W Bustos, Melissa Nelmida, Ernestina C Cresse, Barbarita Medrano and Jasmine M Medrano.

A viewing (wake) will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on 2022-10-06 at Avenidas Funeral Chapel, 522 E. Western Avenue, Avondale.

Agua Fria honors community at induction ceremony

BY LEAH MELISSA West Valley View Contributing Writer

Spirits were high as the community rallied together to celebrate and recognize five individuals and organizations selected by the cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear and Litchfield Park and the Agua Fria Union High School District. Sponsored by the Friends of Agua Fria Foundation, the high school district hosted its Inaugural Hall of Fame luncheon on Oct. 5.

Superintendent Mark Yslas emceed the event that honored police officers, coaches, organizations and community leaders that positively impacted the lives of others.

“Whether it be through bravery, compassion or dedication, we have people from different walks of life, we have people from different industries, from different jobs and careers, but we’re all here together to honor and celebrate people that have made a significant contribution to our way of life,” Yslas said.

More than 100 people attended the event, including community members, municipal leaders and school district staff.

Avondale Police Chief Cuauhtemoc “Memo” Espinoza was the first to re-

ceive recognition. Espinoza grew up in Avondale and graduated from Agua Fria High School. Serving in the police department for 25 years, it is clear that Espinoza has a deep love for his community.

David Ellison of the Buckeye Police Department was also recognized for his contributions to the West Valley and was noted as being approachable

and trustworthy. Ellison served 10 of his 12 years in the department working at Verrado High School as a school resource officer. In addition to ensuring the safety of students, Ellison also volunteers in the community and speaks in government classes.

Litchfield Elementary School District’s Megan Chavez has made significant contributions to the community through her work as an exceptional

needs instructional coach. Chavez, described as “passionate about special education,” has taught for 15 years. Her dedication to improving the lives and learning environments of her students has truly made a positive impact.

Walter “Sonny” M. Culbreth Jr. has been a Litchfield Park resident for more than 40 years. Due to his employment tenure with the city of Litchfield Park, he has seen his community grow and flourish for the past 40 years. Coaching swim for 24 years at Agua Fria and Millennium high schools and working for the city of Litchfield for 34 years, it’s clear that Culbreth has a passion and love for the community that goes beyond fulfilling his job responsibilities.

Helping One Woman is an organization that makes it a priority for women in the community to receive the help they need after an irreplaceable loss. Since the establishment of the Goodyear chapter in 2019, Helping One Woman has donated more than $85,000 to 25 women in the community. Through sisterhood, Helping One Woman changes the lives of West Valley women one month at a time.

Yslas said he intends to keep this tradition alive and annually induct other representatives from the community who significantly impact the Southwest Valley.

Yslas reflects on district’s successes, future

GABRIELLA COMER

Superintendent Mark Yslas continues transforming the Agua Fria Union High School District while preparing it for the future.

At the recent state of the district address, he shared the district’s accomplishments and goals with leaders from the cities of Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye and Lichfield Park and stakeholders including businesses, retirees, parents and the faith-based community.

During the address it was noted that the governing board holds the staff accountable to exceeding the high standards on academics, community embeddedness, safety and transparency.

“The governing board expects us to become an A-rated district and has set very high expectations and standards for the future,” Yslas stated.

“The executive team will help me lead the district into a bright future. We are constantly challenging ourselves to be better and more innovative.”

Excellent leadership throughout the district has allowed it to plan for the future on solid ground. Over the last year, the district gathered more than 300 community members to develop a strategic plan to shape the Agua Fria Union High School District over

the next 10 years. The “Decade of Dreams” is an all-encompassing plan that ensures that the district grows with the community, which Yslas views as important.

With this plan, the district will offer stu-

and career development, provide resources to improve students’ well-being, and ensure district resources are prioritized for things that matter to the community.

The plan establishes five key tenets: community outreach, career opportunities, academic success, wellness and connectedness, and resource stewardship.

The plan addresses these tenets by including goals such as adding a new high school and increasing students’ options in electives to prepare students for employment opportunities in the Southwest Valley.

Yslas is hopeful. “Agua Fria Union High School District is going to be a firstrate school district that earns the trust of its community members because it is accountable and transparent,” he said.

“We will bring everyone back in the spring to update them on the district’s progress and provide updates to the strategic plan.”

To check on the district’s progress in reaching the community goals in real time, visit aguafria.org/strategic-plan.

Superintendent Mark Yslas speaks

Building a Personal Brand

• Employer was able to get a good feel for the candidate’s personality.

• Candidate displayed great communication skills.

Employers

no longer rely only on resumes, cover letters and background checks. To day, most hiring managers take to the in ternet and google their potential hires.

The site “We Work Remotely” reports that 80% of hiring managers consider it important for a candidate to have a personal website and 47% of companies say they won’t hire someone if they can’t find them online.

Your personal brand, according to Dr. Sean Gresh, a faculty member at Northeastern Uni versity, is your story. It is who you are, what you stand for, the values you embrace and the way you express those values, he said. It helps you to “communicate a unique identity and clear value to potential employers.”

So what are the dos and don’ts of creating your online brand?

Keep it clean

According to a Career Builder survey in 2018, 57% of hiring managers who search for informa tion about candidates online have found content that caused them not to hire a person. CareerBuilder list ed both what led employers not to hire a candidate and what made them more likely to hire a candidate.

What do you want to avoid? These things made hiring managers turn a person away, ac

cording to the survey:

• Candidate posted inappropriate or provocative photographs, videos or information.

• Candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs.

• Candidate made discriminatory comments re lated to race, gender, religion, etc.

• Candidate was linked to criminal behavior.

• Candidate lied about qualifications.

• Candidate had poor communication skills.

• Candidate bad-mouthed their previous compa ny or fellow employee.

• Candidate’s screen name was unprofessional.

• Candidate shared confidential information from previous employers.

• Candidate lied about an absence.

That said, there were several factors that caused hiring managers to look more favorably on a candidate. Many are under your control.

What do they include?

According to CareerBuilder’s survey:

• Background information supported a candi date’s professional qualifications.

• Candidate was creative.

• Candidate’s site conveyed a professional image.

• Candidate was well-rounded with a wide range of interests.

• Candidate received awards and accolades.

• Others posted great references about candidates.

• Candidate interacted with the company’s so cial media accounts.

• Candidate posted compelling video or other content.

• Candidate had a large number of followers or subscribers.

Creating your brand

Take control of creating a strong personal brand for yourself, which means knowing what it is and making a plan.

Capitol One suggests the following steps to create your personal brand:

1. Define who you are.

2. Understand your audience.

3. Decide what you want to be known for.

4. Prepare your elevator pitch.

Let those guide how you act online, what you put out there and how you promote yourself. Decide the best places to pitch yourself. Co lumbia University’s Career Center recommends focusing on a few professional social networks and not saturating the market.

Once you have established your brand, main tain it. Even after you get the job, managers may be monitoring you and making decisions about your future promotions.

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