Glendale Star 10.27.22

Super Bowl unveils supporting events

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and National Football League unveiled an expanded lineup of events taking place in the lead-up to Super Bowl LVII during an Oct. 24 press conference at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

“Arizona will provide a unique backdrop for a weeklong celebration heading into Super Bowl LVII, which will culminate what is proving to be a remarkable 2022 NFL season,” said Peter O’Reilly,

executive vice president, club business and league events for the NFL.

“We look forward to providing an incredible Super Bowl experience for the Arizona community, our players, clubs, partners and fans.”

Events will be held across the Valley, from Mesa to Glendale, leading up to the Sunday, Feb. 12, game. Jay Parry, president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, revealed Hance Park will host the first Official Super Bowl Watch Party on game day.

“Locating Super Bowl events throughout the Valley is a testament to the collab-

oration and leadership of our partners and elected officials, with each community having something unique to offer visitors and locals,” she said.

Parry was quick to thank Avondale and Peoria for “their terrific support of the Super Bowl.”

ESPN selected Scottsdale as its hub for bringing “Super Bowl coverage to the world,” she said. The ESPN Main Street Tailgate will kick off Feb. 8.

“Fans know the thrill of being caught on camera behind some of the world’s best broadcasters,” Parry said. “Now that’s re-

Glendale earns national recognition for finance

BY JORDAN ROGERS Glendale Star Managing Editor

Forthe 34th year in a row and 36th year in total, the city of Glendale has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

The city won the award for its financial reporting for the 2020-21 fiscal year, and for Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios, the city is excited about the award.

“This type of award, or just putting together the financial information itself, is a big joint effort between all of our accounting staff, and also, there’s some input from other people around the organization for statistics and that type of thing,” Rios said.

“So, it’s a big effort. It takes a big team to do, so it’s always nice when you put that much work into something.”

This Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and represents a significant accomplishment by the city of Glendale.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios and her team for the great job they have done to continue to earn the city this award for over three decades,” Mayor Jerry Weiers said. “Their commitment to excellence in preparing the

city’s annual comprehensive financial report is evidence of the quality of work from the entire department.”

The fact that it takes such a large group of people to put together a thorough financial report and, still, Glendale continues to receive this award, Rios said, shows exactly what the city is about.

“The way we do things here in Glendale in general is collaboration and working together to produce good products across the city,” she said.

Despite having won the award 34 straight years, Rios said people may not

Vicki Rios

SUPER BOWL FROM PAGE 1

ferred to as a photo bomb. But, as every major network converges on the Valley in February, there will be so many opportunities for our locals to earn some on-air time.”

Fox Sports, the official broadcast partner of Super Bowl, chose Glendale for its weeklong coverage leading up to

RIOS FROM PAGE 1

know that the standards that are needed to be reaching to earn the award change every year.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, and it takes a lot of effort and a lot of education on the part of our staff, but they’re willing to do it, and they are proud of their accomplishments,” she said.

On top of that, it is widely known how much Glendale is growing as a city. While not easy to keep track of, Rios said they manage.

“Just in general, the number of transactions and the volume of revenue and expenses going through the city (has) grown,” she said. “It’s just a lot more to keep track of.”

Rios has been with the city for eight

the game at State Farm Stadium.

The Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center, O’Reilly said, calling it the “crown jewel” of fan events. Tickets, which start at $20 or free for kids younger than 12, go on sale Dec. 17.

Super Bowl Opening Night Present-

and a half years, and the award has come each year since she has been with Glendale. Despite that, she gave credit to everyone around her.

“For me, what I’m more proud of is just the work that we have done and the council has done to improve the city’s overall financial condition. Getting the award from PFOA is just kind of icing on the cake.”

“I was just pleased that it had been so many (years),” she added. “You think 25 years would be a lot, or 27. And then when I saw, ‘Oh, gosh, it’s actually 34 in a row and 36 overall. That’s a lot.’

So, I was just pleased to see that the number was that, but I’m not surprised.

“I don’t expect that we won’t see No. 35 next year.”

ed by Fast Twitch is set for Feb. 6. Fans can take part in a meet and greet with players at the Footprint Center. Tickets are $20 as well and go on sale Dec. 17.

“All of the participating players in the game are there,” he said. “It’s an incredible fan experience to see the players, helmets off, up close and personal. It really sets the tone for the week.”

Acts will be announced soon for the three-night Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest at Footprint Center.

Feb. 9 fans can watch NFL Honors Presented by Invisalign at Symphony Hall or on NBC.

“It’s such a beautiful venue,” he said. “It really shines where our biggest football stars and celebrities will walk the red carpet. That’s the night when the MVP is revealed, same with the Rookie of the Year, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.”

Taste of the NFL will offer the country’s best chefs at Chateau Luxe on Feb. 11.

“That’s our annual purpose-driven culinary event that takes place each year,” he said. “That’s an event featuring celebrity chefs from around the country.”

O’Reilly said he’s proud to be part of the team scheduling the peripheral events.

“It’s amazing to be partnered again

this with Super

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Bowl 49,” he said. “That was my first year in this role, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner back then. We’re a better partner right now.”

Besides leaving a strong economic impact, the Super Bowl yearns to help the community in other ways.

“We discuss how we can leave a positive legacy in the community, and we do that through incredible programs,” O’Reilly said.

“We’re back here in order to do something special and put our marker out there as the greatest Super Bowl ever. We’re incredibly excited and ready to roll.”

This is the fourth time the Super Bowl has been in Arizona.

“We’ll continue to look at Arizona as a Super Bowl home,” he said. “There have been incredible games here. Hopefully that continues with Super Bowl 57. You have the special sauce here. The people are supportive, and it’s just a beautiful location to draw with locals and people from around the world.”

Big Game calendar

In addition to these events, community projects are in progress across the state and will continue through February, including beautification projects, habitat restoration, a student STEAM program and youth football clinics.

The highlights include: Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee 5K-9

Fun Run presented by PetSmart Jan. 7

Riverview Park, Mesa Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, and Feb. 9 to Feb. 11

Phoenix Convention Center Opening Night presented by Fast Twitch Feb. 6

Footprint Center, Phoenix

Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Feb. 8

Mesa Center for the Arts

Historic Old Town ESPN Main Street Tailgate Feb. 8 to Feb. 12 Old Town Scottsdale

Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest Feb. 8 to Feb. 11

Footprint Center, Phoenix

NFL Honors presented by Invisalign Feb. 9

Symphony Hall, Phoenix

Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s

@ Hance Park

Feb. 9 to Feb. 12

Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix

FanDuel Party Feb. 10

Tempe Beach Park

Taste of the NFL Feb. 11

Chateau Luxe, North Phoenix

FOX Sports Broadcast Set Programming throughout the week The Great Lawn at State Farm Stadium, Glendale

Official Super Bowl Watch Party Feb. 12

Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix

Super Bowl Feb. 12 State Farm Stadium

Foothills

10:00 a.m.

85308

11:00 a.m.—11/1, 11/9

and

Delta Dental donates to local nonprofit

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

DeltaDental of Arizona President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Jones recently surprised executives at A New Leaf, a local nonprofit organization providing a broad spectrum of support services to help individuals and families in need.

The donation, which was in the amount of $5,000, was the result of an employee-led voting effort that allowed team members to direct a donation to a local organization in honor of the dental insurer’s 50th anniversary. The donation will support A New Leaf’s Healthy Smiles for Life program, which provides dental hygiene education and supplies for preschool to high school age children from low-income and underinsured households.

For Jones, the donation is one of many activities commemorating Delta Dental’s 50th anniversary throughout the rest of the year. The contribution was in addition to a $10,000 community grant made toward this program by the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation earlier this year.

“The program impacts approximately 800 children and youth served by A New Leaf’s after-school family shelter and housing and early childhood education programs,” Jones said. “Healthy Smiles for Life emphasizes preventive oral health care and provides referrals

for treatment to prevent serious oral health issues.”

In addition to this most recent effort, Delta Dental is working with valued partners on additional volunteer efforts that provide essential support for various organizations while benefiting the community at large to honor the 50th anniversary. This includes both volunteer efforts with St. Vincent de Paul, as well as Arizona Mission of Mercy dental clinics in northern Arizona earlier this summer.

The organization also partnered with Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health to release a free “Mouth-Health Cookbook” in both English and Spanish and with Arizona PBS on an educational outreach program to promote good oral health to children in rural communities across the state.

One of the leading dental benefits providers in Arizona, Delta Dental of Arizona serves more than 1.2 million enrollees and more than 3,500 contracted dentists across the state. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its foundation, gave $15 million to support oral health education and disease prevention programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state.

For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit deltadentalaz. com.

Delta Dental of Arizona recently surprised executives at A New Leaf, a local nonprofit organization, with a $5,000 donation toward its Healthy Smiles for Life program. (Submitted)

Quaker unveils its ‘Quaker Hunger Clock’ at Westgate

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Super Bowl LVII, set to take place at State Farm Stadium, is fast ap proaching, and Quaker, a subsid iary of PepsiCo, is counting down the days — and minutes — a little differ ently this year. As the official oatmeal sponsor of the NFL, Quaker recently introduced the Quaker Hunger Clock in partnership with Feeding America at the Westgate Entertainment District.

The Quaker Hunger Clock counts down the minutes to Super Bowl LVII while counting up to Quak er’s goal of funding for 5 million meals donated. The QR code featured on the clock will direct people to QuakerHungerClock.com where they can help by donating to Feeding Amer ica. Every donation made through QuakerHungerClock.com triggers a change in the clock’s meal tally and helps Feeding America tackle hunger. Quaker will match donations to Feed ing America that are made through the QR code up to $250,000.

“At Quaker, helping individuals and families in need gain access to warm and nutritious foods is at the heart of what we do,” said Kristin Kroepfl, vice

president and chief marketing officer for Quaker Foods North America at PepsiCo. “We’re excited to continue our long-term partnership with Feed ing America and engage NFL fans to help tackle hunger — a mission that aligns with our purpose and broader Pep+ commitments.”

Many Arizona residents “food des erts” or more than one mile from fresh and healthy food. There are 43 food deserts in Phoenix, which is more than 75% of the total number of food des erts in Maricopa County. Through the Quaker Hunger Clock, the brand also hopes to bring awareness to the large number of people facing hunger not only in Phoenix but across the United States.

The donations made to Feeding America through the Quaker Hun ger Clock QR code will help support Feeding America with their everyday mission of advancing food security and helping make a positive impact on communities in need.

“More than 34 million people face hunger in America, including nearly 9 million children. We are grateful to Quaker for their commitment to help ing our neighbors in need and inspiring action,” said Lauren Biedron, vice pres ident of corporate partner ships at Feeding America.

donation will help provide nourishing meals to communities across the country.”

more informa tion and to donate to Feeding America, visit QuakerHungerClock.com.

additional information about Quaker products, vis it QuakerOats.com.

Donna Pettman

with Feeding America at the Westgate

District.

more opinions visit glendalestar.com

Border policies spell ‘election erasure’ for Dems

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Glendale Star Columnist

Efforts

to erase our southern border are accelerating as Election Day approaches.

The timing is absurdly dangerous — first and foremost for the security of all American citizens — but also for the political prospects of the Democratic Party.

While the left will likely pay a political price for this deliberate effort to shred our sovereignty and national security, the sheer brazenness of these latest actions should culminate with even larger Democrat losses in the midterms.

The latest initiative from the Biden Bunch is best described as “Americans Last.”

Alejandro Mayorkas, who has sur-

passed ex-Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano in the “Hall of Shame” as the worst Homeland Security Secretary of all time, has reportedly issued an “All Bureaucrats Bulletin,” requesting volunteers from every government agency to deploy to the border in support of the ongoing illegal invasion.

These “volunteers” — who would be paid for their efforts and reimbursed for travel expenses with our tax dollars during their 60 days of “service” — would essentially become personal assistants to illegal aliens.

You read that right.

Their “volunteer duties” would include meal preparation, basic housekeeping, and running errands for the

“newcomers.”

So much for securing the border.

Actually, all of this began in April as an underreported — and therefore little-noticed initiative — that at the time was focused exclusively on employees of Homeland Security.

What makes it news now, and even more of an election issue, is the effort to expand this peculiar type of “volunteerism” into every agency of the federal government.

It is bad enough that DHS workers are volunteering to destabilize the homeland security they supposedly provide.

Now we could very well see personnel from the Departments of Defense and Justice take a two-month sabbatical from their jobs to undercut both national security and existing immi-

gration law.

You can’t make this up.

But some back it up.

Predictably, many in Washington — whether holding a government post or a reporting job — have rationalized the policy outlined above as — wait for it — rational.

Among the D.C.-based press corps, there seems to be an indulgent attitude of trusting the current crowd in charge.

That “trust-the-bureaucrats” outlook was on full display during CNN’s Oct. 16 telecast of State of the Union.

The aptly named Dana Bash hosted back-to-back interviews with Arizona’s Republican and Democrat nominees for governor.

When discussing border issues with GOP candidate Kari Lake, the CNN

Candidate’s hopes shrivel when caught red-handed

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Glendale Star Columnist

Finally we have a definitive test about the ignorance of voters and the notion that when it comes to public relations, any story that builds more name recognition is a win.

That test is named Randy Kaufman, and he’s a candidate for the Maricopa County Community College District at-large seat.

His race appears on the front of your seemingly endless November ballot, in the middle column.

Kaufman’s opponent in the battle to help oversee the district’s 10 colleges and $763 million annual budget is Kelli Butler, a state legislator seeking to switch roles and potentially the luckiest candidate in the history of Arizona elections.

Caution: The rest of this column is

not safe for work, dirtier than “50 Shades of Grey” and full of awful puns. You have been warned.

On Oct. 18 news broke — courtesy of Hank Stephenson, a reporter for the Arizona Agenda website — that on Oct. 4, candidate Kaufman had been arrested in the parking lot of Rio Salado College in Surprise.

Per the police report, Kaufman was in the midst of watching porn and pleasuring himself in his Ford F-150 pickup truck when a police officer approached and, uh, caught him red-handed.

“Seriously?” the cop asked.

“I’m sorry,” Kaufman replied. Then, in the understatement of 2022 so far, he added: “I (expletive) up. I’m really stressed.”

Henceforth, I believe this will be known as both an interesting election strategy and a disgusting erection strat-

egy by serious journalists everywhere. Not only was Kaufman fully visible in a busy parking lot, he also was within sight of a child care center where little kids were outside playing.

Officer: “What brings you down here?”

Kaufman: “I live in Buckeye, but I came out here to buy rebar nearby. I was stressed and just pulled into the lot.”

I myself have purchased rebar, commonly used to put up election signs. While I have not personally found buying hardware items super stressful, each of us tolerates Home Depot to varying degrees.

Also, like MCCCD says in its mission statement, I also “value and embrace an innovative and risk-taking approach” in the dogged pursuit of excellence.

To his credit, Kaufman requested to “say something off the record,” before

name-dropping Jim Hill, president of the Maricopa County Colleges Police Officers Association, which endorsed Kaufman before his citation for public sexual indecency, a possible felony given his close proximity to the preschool.

By day’s end, Kaufman, running for the nonpartisan seat as a MAGA conservative complete with flag-draped headshots, had been spurned by the Arizona Republican Party.

Hours later, he released a statement suspending his campaign because “a personal legal matter has recently arisen.”

Yep, those things sometimes arise out of nowhere, am I right?

It should be noted that Kaufman waited to address the incident until after early ballots had been mailed, thus allowing people to vote for him with no knowledge of his arrest.

GlendaleStar.com

Four things to consider when renting out your home short term

BY LEVI CLARIDGE The Cavanagh Law Firm

Online home shar ing, such as Airb nb, VRBO and HomeAway, has become increasingly popular for both hosts and guests. Ac cording to a recent study by Roofstock, a real estate invest ment marketplace, about 10.6 million people in the U.S. earn money from more than 17 million rental properties. And according to Statista, there will be 64.7 million home-sharing users in 2022 and more than 68 million in 2023.

While it can be very appealing for the property owner to secure extra in come, there are risks associated with renting out your home to strangers. Knowing these risks and liabilities be fore jumping in can save you a lot of headaches and future expenses. Here is a list of four things to con sider before renting out your home.

Follow city, county and state regulations

When considering home shar ing, it’s important to understand your city, county and state laws. For example, in Phoenix, rent ers are required to be registered with the city of Phoenix, and all residential rental units — in cluding vacation and short-term rentals — must be registered with Maricopa County. It’s also important to consid er your contracts with leases, condo boards, mortgage lenders, HOAs, etc. There may be limitations you need to be aware of.

Be aware of tax implications

As a renter, you’ll have to pay tax es on your earnings, but you can also deduct some expenses related to your rental. It’s also important to understand the various taxes applicable when rent ing your home. Phoenix assesses a sales tax on property rentals and a tran sient lodging tax for guest stays of few

er than 30 days. Consulting a tax expert is always a good idea.

Check your insurance

Before renting out your house, you must ensure you have appropriate in surance coverage. Most homeowners assume they have protection under their homeowners’ policy, but this may not be the case. Websites like Airb nb offer some property protection for hosts against property damage by a guest but do not include liability insur ance. You may need to invest in an um brella insurance policy that will cover loss due to injury, loss of belongings or damage to your home. If you rent your home with Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO or the like, you will need Landlord Pro tection Insurance or Vacation Rental Insurance.

Know what you are getting into

Renting your home short term can be a big responsibility. In addition to the

aforementioned risks, a renter should also consider additional expenses that will incur, such as stocking the home with all the necessities like towels, kitchen essentials, toilet paper, etc. It’s also likely you will see higher-than-nor mal utility bills. Additionally, Airbnb, for example, charges hosts 3% per res ervation. And, of course, don’t have anything in the home that you’d be heartbroken of if it was damaged.

If you’re thinking of renting your home out as a side hustle, don’t forget to do your research. There’s much more to it than just deciding and listing it on websites like Airbnb. Consult with an attorney on the legal implications and do your homework when it comes to the demand in your area, pricing, laws, taxes and insurance. Happy renting!

Levi Claridge is a member at The Cavanagh Law Firm and represents clients in commer cial litigation, transportation and insurance defense, and products liability.

‘Witching’ you a very haunted week

BY JUDY BLUHM Glendale Star Columnist

Díade los Muertos is approaching. So is Halloween. In Mexi co, the holiday is a time when families welcome back the souls of their deceased rela tives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

At midnight Oct. 31, the gates of heaven are opened and spirits of chil dren rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on Nov. 2.

It is a festive time of music, dance and feasts as deceased loved ones are hon ored and welcomed back.

We Americans like to make things as scary as possible around Halloween and try to terrify each other with spooky witches and ghouls. Heck, we do not want any ghosts coming around us.

Actually, I prefer to focus on the candy aspect of Halloween. This year Americans will spend $2 billion on confection and another $5 billion on decorations.

You might see cute little kids in your neighborhood all dressed up in costumes. That tradition goes back to the medieval times, when poor adults and children went around in costumes during “Hallowmas,” the Autumn hol iday which included folks begging for food and money in exchange for prayers. This annual routine was called “souling” and was brought to America by the Irish early in the 20th century.

The idea of walking around asking for candy completely went away during WWII when sugar was rationed, but by 1952 trick-or-treating was hugely pop ular again. And it has been ever since. Even with fears (mostly unfounded) about kids getting razor blades stuck

in their candy, children going house to house asking com plete strangers for candy is one big American tradition.

Doesn’t a bloody mary sound good? Oops, no I mean to talk about the ghost of Bloody Mary. Evident ly, on Oct. 31 each year, she will appear if you stare into a mirror in a darkened room by the light of 13 candles and chant “Bloody Mary” 13 times. Don’t do it! The vengeful spirit might appear at your left shoulder and will either kill you or make you insane.

Have you decorat ed yet? About 70% of Americans will dec orate their homes for Halloween with ev erything from pump kins to hanging skel etons from trees. You get the picture — lots of black cats, witch es, devils, demons, ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns out there to set the mood. Our habit of lighting up pumpkins dates back centuries when the thought was that ghouls and ghosts hate light. So, a pumpkin placed at your door, with a candle flickering inside, would keep away any restless spirits flying around that might land at your house.

No wonder we like to eat candy on Halloween! We must comfort ourselves in our fight against the witches, ghosts and vengeful spirits that might come to our doorstep! So, get ready! Carve a pumpkin, light a candle, drink a bloody mary (do not chant for her spirit), enjoy the decorations, avoid demons and start eating candy right now.

Boo! The scariest day of all is com ing soon. Witching you a very haunted week.

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

HAYWORTH FROM

10

reporter cited a DHS statistic claiming that less than 1% of migrants encoun tered at the border have a criminal re cord.

The Republican nominee politely took issue, then pointed out: “We have a million ‘gotaways’ — these are peo ple who are intentionally entering our country, mainly through the Tucson Sector — and we don’t know what their background is. There’s a reason to try to get in unnoticed. It’s because they have a criminal background.”

Viewers could not help but notice the on-camera reaction of Dana Bash, which conveyed both frustration and irritation, amplified by her effort to counter the candidate’s assertion: “Let me just tell you that this stat — that this stat that I just cited — comes from the Department of Homeland Security!”

Duly noted, Dana.

Of course, it should also be noted that there seems to be a profound dis

LEIBOWITZ FROM PAGE 10

I’ll also note that back in May, he posted on Facebook that he was run ning to keep “our children protected (from) the progressive left.”

I’m assuming he meant the woke bri gade and not his left hand, but I guess only Kaufman knows for sure.

This race now stands as a perfect litmus test of voter education and PR value. Until last week, perhaps a hand ful of voters had ever heard of Randy Kaufman, a former prison guard turned

interest on the part of many in the socalled “mainstream media” concerning the “factually challenged” assertions made by DHS personnel.

Where was the coverage concerning Secretary Mayorkas and the knowingly false statements he made about the al leged “whipping” of illegals by border patrol agents on horseback?

How many reports appeared on CNN or the “alphabet networks” spelling out the details of late-night flights of ille gals from the border to various loca tions around the country?

No matter. If the media won’t hold government officials accountable, vot ers will.

Prepare for the “electoral erasure” of several Democrat incumbents on Nov. 8.

J.D. Hayworth worked as a sportscaster at Channel 10, Phoenix, from 1987 until 1994 and represented Arizona in Congress from 19952007.

political wannabe.

He had a couple of political endorse ments and zero name ID. Now? His campaign has been featured every where from the New York Post to the London tabloids. Being caught with your pants down can still make a can didate famous, even in 2022.

Now we’ll know for sure: Will peo ple actually cast a vote for him?

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

Industry partners are the key to West-MEC’s future

BY DR. SCOTT SPURGEON West-MEC Superintendent

partners are essential to Western Maricopa Education Center’s (West-MEC) future as a career and technical education school district. West-MEC can be like Blockbuster and wait for others to catch up, or West-MEC could be like Netflix by adapting to its environment, continuously innovating and changing the game.

Many CTE programs have difficulty finding highly qualified industry professionals to teach its highly technical courses. This is where partnerships with industry professionals are beneficial. Collaborating and bringing in business leaders and employees to share and demonstrate their industry knowledge for a period could not only help students learn but also give local organizations an inside look at the next generation of jobready individuals.

The first step in growing our resume of industry partners is making West-MEC available to the community. West-MEC is part of the Arizona Commerce Authority for the first time in its history and is actively involved in petitioning companies to come to Arizona, specifically the West Valley.

West-MEC works on the front end with these businesses, rather than them coming in to pursue talent and workforce solutions months later. There are considerable opportunities to attract more companies to the West Valley and work with businesses to make West-MEC even better tomorrow than it is today.

The ideal industry partnership benefits both the business and the students. West-MEC’s partnership with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) organization, for example, is one that West-MEC would like all future collaborations to look like.

West-MEC students who successfully complete the electrical trade specialty program are awarded a year-one credit in the IEC apprenticeship. The apprenticeship is a fouryear model. After completing the first year, students are interviewed, hired by an IEC contactor and sponsored for the next three years of the apprentice program. Students are not obligated to complete the apprenticeship but repeatedly take the opportunity to receive paid, hands-on training while learning more as they complete each phase of the instruction.

Through this partnership, WestMEC students receive an outstanding opportunity and IEC receives an influx of job-ready employees eager to join the field.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to close, reduce their employees, or launch workfrom-home initiatives, making it much harder to gain new industry

partners. This has led to less opportunity for West-MEC students to get jobs, internships and work-based learning opportunities.

Now, as the quagmires of the pandemic recede, West-MEC’s goal is to double its efforts and think creatively about gaining new and effective industry partners. West-MEC wants to be at the forefront of changing the paradigm of how businesses and education collaborate.

West-MEC’s new partnership model ensures courses are aligned to industry standards and provides the best talent pipeline for companies that are trying to fill the employment gap.

We are calling on business leaders to join this new model of a talent pipeline partnership. West-MEC hopes to see this plan expounded on and put into action, but no matter what, always remember it is a great day to be at West-MEC.

Convergence of sporting events highlight Arizona betting

BY SAM STERN Cronkite News

Arizonais gearing up for a sports year like no other, and odds are the state will become the sports betting capital of the world, at least for a few weeks.

The Valley plays host to a national semifinal in the College Football Playoff at the Fiesta Bowl Dec. 31 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Then Super Bowl LVII comes to the same stadium Feb. 12, 2023. Finally, the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament unfolds at TPC Scottsdale Feb. 10-12 during Super Bowl week.

Through it all, hundreds of thousands of fans — and bettors — will descend on the Valley.

Add to the mix the ones that are already here, and the impact could be staggering. In the state’s first year of legalized gambling, Arizonans wagered nearly $4.8 billion, according to a report released by the Arizona Department of Gaming. The state was the second fastest in the nation to reach $1 billion in total wagers, behind New York.

Arizona now has 25 sportsbooks, which includes those at bars and restaurants. Options during the state’s two weeks of high-profile sporting events will be plentiful.

“I think it’s a really exciting sports year ahead,” said Chris Jones, the vice

president of communications at FanDuel. “I think, from a sporting perspective, there’s a lot that will be going on inside the state. We need to stay humble and stay focused on building the business, ensuring we are growing at a pace and speed that makes sense and is sustainable.”

While those events will take place in Glendale and Scottsdale, the Super Bowl’s signature fan festivities are planned for Margaret T. Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix, a short walk from the Footprint Center. And all three of the major events bring thousands of visitors to Downtown hotels and restaurants.

On Sept. 9 of last year, FanDuel, the web-based sports gambling and fantasy operation, announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art brick-and-mortar FanDuel Retail Sportsbook at Footprint Center, home to the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.

A little more than one year after opening, the company is poised for what could be a gigantic leap forward with several major sporting events coming to the area.

The 7,400-square foot sportsbook is located on the north side of the Footprint Center and features 40 televisions, 26 betting kiosks, a full-service bar and food options.

More than $14.4 million was wagered at the Footprint Center location’s betting kiosks between September and December of 2021, according to wagering reports from the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). In the latest June 2022 revenue report, FanDuel topped $2.3 million in gross receipts. For context, the Caesars retail sportsbook outside of Chase Field grossed $331,583.

Although the retail portion of FanDuel is a pivotal segment of the business, the mobile side utilizing FanDuel’s app makes up an even larger percentage of Arizona’s betting landscape. The company has successfully executed on both sides of its business.

Calli Varner, the editor and senior correspondent for ArizonaCasinos. com, said several factors came together to explain the company’s early success.

“I think it’s location, strategy and luck,” Varner said. “I think FanDuel was very smart when they marketed

and partnered with the Phoenix Suns and built it in the Footprint Center. I mean, they launched right away, and they were able to have that sportsbook be one of the first to open as well.”

The Arizona sports gambling scene continues to expand, including the grand opening in September of the BetMGM sportsbook outside of State Farm Stadium, which the NFL Cardinals call home. TPC Scottsdale is expected to open a DraftKings site in 2023.

FanDuel has employed an ever-growing media strategy that focuses on the entertainment value of sports wagering.

“FanDuel really wants this to be a form of entertainment,” Jones said.

“We understand that this is the area that enhances someone’s enjoyment of the game. It certainly enhances engagement and viewership of games.”

The last time Arizona hosted the Super Bowl back in 2015, it was the most profitable game in Super Bowl history. The game created a $700 million economic impact in the Valley, according to research conducted by Arizona State’s W.P. Carey School of business, and blew away numbers from the previous two times Arizona played host to the Super Bowl.

Keep in mind that, in 2015, the Waste Management Open was played during the same week. Add the Fiesta Bowl’s national semifinal on the last day of 2022 to the already jam-packed Open and Super Bowl, and Arizona is locked in for what could be the most significant economic few weeks in the state’s history.

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

Arizona has embraced the legalization of sports betting, and sites including FanDuel at Footprint Center have helped the state become second fastest in the nation to reach $1 billion in total wagers. (James Franks/Cronkite News)

PBR team takes bull riding to new heights

BY AAYUSH GUPTA Cronkite News

Theirpresence was impossible not to notice or smell. A sea of cowboy hats and boots surrounded Desert Diamond Arena, and the pungent scent of the four-legged main attraction was omnipresent. Flint Ramussen, a “rodeo clown,” trotted along the concourse entertaining spectators in anticipation of the Professional Bull Riders’ first team event in Arizona.

Eight teams and 40 bulls filled the stadium from Oct. 14 to Oct. 16 for the PBR’s final competition in its inaugural team-series season. The festivities began with a ring of fire, highlighting what would be a high-energy three days of bull riding.

The Arizona Ridge Riders, a new addition to the elite league featuring the world’s top bull riders, entered the homestead in third place. All eight teams qualify for the PBR Team Series Championship’s debut in Las Vegas Friday, Nov. 4, to Friday, Nov. 6, with the top two teams earning first-round byes.

The Ridge Riders went 1-2, losing their final matchup against the Austin Gamblers by 1.25 points on the third day of competition. The Rough Riders finished the season 14-13-1 to grab the No. 5 seed, clinching a playoff spot against the sixth-seeded Missouri Thunder.

“It’s an exciting time in bull riding. Obviously, this weekend did not go the way that we anticipated, but we’re super proud of the home crowd that came out,” said Casey Lane, the Ridge Riders’ general manager. “Excited to start planning for next year, really excited

for the team series finals in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.”

Through each matchup, loud groans echoed across the stadium. Fans were shocked by the sheer force of the bulls, and many were impressed by the riders’ courage.

“Riding a bull is an experience like none other. There are no real words to really put into it,” said Ezekiel Mitchell, a rider with the Austin Gamblers.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cowboy, so this is a sport I picked. I can get hurt doing anything in the world, so why not do something that I love?”

Riders were often flung off and then stepped on by the 1,000-pound bulls they just rode. Imagine getting hit with 1,000 pounds of shear force on a typical work day. This is the fear every rider overcomes when taking a seat on a bull.

“Every time you tie your hand to one

of these bulls, there’s an opportunity to get hurt. There are a lot of mental games,” Lane said. “Most of these guys will probably tell you that they’re not afraid, and I would say they’re lying to themselves. It’s less about being fearless and more about understanding how to control your fear.”

Although many riders were seen limping off the Desert Diamond dirt, Mitchell said he’s never been seriously injured, just a “few bumps and concussions.”

Mitchell, who rode his first bull when he was 15 years old, is self-taught and made his PBR debut in 2019. He was a star performer for the Austin Gamblers in Glendale, helping his team earn the No. 1 seed for the championship series and earning $19,000 for his efforts.

In a sport with little diversity, Mitchell, 25, is paving the way for others to

get involved. He hopes to become the first Black bull rider to win a world championship since Charles Sampson was crowned in 1982.

“We just have to put it in front of our kids and the different people in different cultures,” Mitchell said. “A lot of people aren’t aware that it’s out there, so we just have to let more people know about it and get it in front of more eyes.”

Although PBR has hosted bull-riding events in Glendale since 2016, it is the first time a Valley team can call the city home. Despite a rough showing on their own turf, the Arizona Ridge Riders are the only PBR team to have their own locker room and are leaders in a new era of bull riding.

In their inaugural season, they were the first organization to launch “Every Second Counts,” an extensive philanthropic campaign dedicated to making a positive impact in each state the team competes in. For every second the Ridge Riders stay on the bulls, the team donates $50 to a charity designated in each event.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the way that we’ve been treated by the folks here at the Desert Diamond Arena,” Lane said. “The city chamber of commerce, city of Glendale, has just been amazing, welcoming us to this community.”

PBR is on a tremendous upward trajectory. As riders like Mitchell continue to grow the sport, teams like the Ridge Riders are must-see entertainment. Just don’t get trampled by a 1,000-pound bull.

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

Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale was transformed for the Professional Bull Riders team competition recently featuring the Arizona Ridge Riders. (Michele Aerin/Cronkite News)

The Glendale

The Open Mic WEDNESDAYS

Paws to Read

WEDNESDAYS

Paws to Read is offering kids the opportunity to meet Harper, Maddie and Richie to help relieve stress and spend time with animals. These three dogs are always excited to interact with children and listen to whatever stories are being told.

Heroes Regional Park Library, Yucca Room, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 1 to 2 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Stir Crazy Comedy Club hosts its weekly open mic night. Those interested are likely to see new talent as well as seasoned comedians just looking to work on new material. Think you have what it takes to take the stage and make the audience laugh? Now is your chance. There are 10 sign-up spots that will become available online at noon on Monday.

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

tar

The Glendale Star publishes on Thursday. The weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit groups — runs every issue.

Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the Star’s coverage area, which is in the city of Glendale.

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

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

ergy mixture of oddball ideas, the pair emulate the famed comedy of Abbott and Costello with their onstage synergy.

Boo Bash!

OCT. 27

Take part in this excitingly frightening Halloween bash at the Foothills Library. Come dressed up in your spookiest Halloween best to take part in a number of fun games and crafts for the whole family. Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale, 4 to 5 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Moe Flavour

OCT. 27

Join the talented mixture of keyboard engineer and composer Lawrence Ross and the fine tones of saxophonist Bryne Donaldson as they play the night away. Enjoy refreshing groove jazz with a unique sound provided by this dashing duo.

Westside Blues and Jazz Club, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Suite 104, Glendale, 6:30 to 10 p.m., visit website for ticket prices and times, westsideblues.com

Phoenix Herpetological Study

- Around the World

OCT. 29

Explore the world’s reptiles in this hands-on demonstration featuring live lizards to study. Figure out the significance of these creatures based on observations as students take a look all around the world and study the various quirks and details of its reptile population.

Heroes Regional Park Library, Yucca Room, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 11 a.m. to noon, free, glendaleazlibrary.com

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

Big Band Grandstand

OCT. 31

Ocotillo Room Grand Opening

OCT. 28

Check out the grand opening of the Ocotillo room at the Saguaro Grill, and get ready for an award-winning dinner musical talent The Outliers ready to entertain. The Outliers play a mixture of classic rock, pop and alternative music from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

Saguaro Grill, 5817 W. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, 7 to 10 p.m., free, saguarogrill.com

Code with Daisy: Teen and Tween Coding Club

OCT. 29

As time passes, learning how computers work is becoming more important than ever to understanding how the modern world works. Youths from the age of 10 to 18 are encouraged to come by the library and learn the art of coding by working on the code club’s robots and seeing how they tick.

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

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

Clean Comedy Night

NOV. 6

Zombie LARP XI: Punk Pirate Zombies of the Caribbean! Teen Afterhours

OCT. 28

Teens of all ages are invited to come to the Glendale library and celebrate hexed-up punk rock and the inevitable zombie apocalypse. Costumes welcome.

Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, Glendale, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary. com

Heroes Regional Park Library, Yucca Room, 6075 N. 83rd Avenue, Glendale, 1 to 2 p.m., free, glendaleazlibrary.com

Manic Hispanic Sunday Funnies

OCT. 30

After a five-year nap, the Manic Hispanic, Ken and Brady, are ready to return to the stage once more for their mix of stand-up, sketch and improv comedy. With their high-en-

Come by for a comedy night that’s fun for the whole family. Ron Morey and David Studebreaker come to the Stir Crazy for a night of fun and excitement that’s intended to leave everyone young and old in stitches, regardless of age or lifestyle.

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

Blue October singer thrives on communication

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor

BlueOctober singer Justin Furstenfeld is big on communication.

Whether it’s sharing stories or songs with his fans, or romancing an actress in a music video, he needs to make his message clear.

Take, for example, Blue October’s latest video, “Spinning the Truth Around,” the title track to a collection the band released on Oct. 14.

“I learned it’s better to communicate with an actress if you’re going to kiss her,” Furstenfeld said slyly.

“I brought a plethora of different gum. When I first met her, I walked up to her and said, ‘Hi. I’m Justin. What gum would you like me to chew today?’ She said, ‘What?’

“I said, ‘I’m going to be kissing you all fricking day. What flavor of gum would you like me to chew?’”

They mutually agreed upon Big Red.

“The crazier you’re going to get with an actress physically, it’s best to start

right off with open communication,” Furstenfeld reiterated.

“It’s such a crazy conversation: ‘I’m literally going to kiss you now. I’m going to kiss the edge of your lips for a little bit and ease into it.’”

The “Spinning the Truth Around” video was inspired by the movies “True Romance” and “Wild at Heart.”

Directed by Zach Merck, it was filmed in the desert outside of Los Angeles.

“I love both of those films because love is taken to the absolute limits,” Furstenfeld said.

“Most people don’t even believe romance exists anymore.”

The song will be on the set list, along with all of Blue October’s radio hits, when the band plays The Van Buren on Saturday, Oct. 29.

“We’ll do three or four songs off the new album,” Furstenfeld said. “It’s so exciting to be back onstage. Everybody’s in such good shape, good spirits and good moods. We want to create and be one with our supporters. We’re looking forward to everyone leaving on the highest of highs.”

Recorded throughout 2020 and 2021 at Furstenfeld’s Up/Down Studios, Blue October’s 11th album, “Spinning the Truth Around,” will be a double: Part one is out, while its companion piece is set for early 2023.

“I wrote 80 songs during COVID,” he said. “I wasn’t going to sit around and do nothing. Every day, I’d go out there (in the studio) and unleash on songs. Everybody has their problems. I choose to write about them all. It’s nice to go out there and just express myself. Plus, I’m a music fanatic. I’m trying different things.”

That goes for his medium as well. Furstenfeld made his feature film debut on Sept. 23 as a villain in the action movie “Section 8” with Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney and Ryan Kwaten.

“Section 8” is the story of a former soldier who,

after avenging the murder of his family, is sprung from prison and recruited by a shadowy government agency. Furstenfeld has also wrapped the film “Lights Out,” co-starring Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Scott Adkins and Mulroney.

Now celebrating 10 years of sobriety, Furstenfeld is the subject of the biographical documentary “Get Back Up,” with the mission of offering hope. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime and iTunes.

Formed in 1995, Blue October has amassed over a billion streams and has charted 16 hits over 10 albums.

Blue October

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

WHERE: The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix

COST: Sold out; tickets may be released closer to the show

INFO: thevanburenphx.com

GlendaleStar.com

Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld, seated, appears in the film “Section 8.” (Rachel Ziegler/Submitted)

Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld, second from left, wrote 80 songs during the pandemic quarantine. Some of them are on the new album, “Spinning the Truth Around Part One.” (Rachel Ziegler/Submitted)

Abrazo Arrowhead offers Halloween safety tips

BY ABRAZO ARROWHEAD CAMPUS

Childrenand parents look forward to Halloween. Selecting cos tumes and treats are part of the preparations, but remember safety and healthy choices as part of your plan ning.

Despite trick-or-treating being an outdoor activity, it is not always pos sible to avoid a crowded sidewalk or walkway. Children should be reminded to sanitize their hands frequently during their outing, and especially before re moving masks or touching their face.

As our awareness of better nutrition continues to evolve, so do our choices for treats. Inexpensive items like stick ers, bubbles, crayons and playdough bring a fun twist to Halloween treats. Raisins and goldfish in factory-pack aged snack bags are another option.

“Check expiration dates and inspect all edibles before allowing children to eat them,” said Kevin Rodriguez, MD, an emergency physician at Abrazo Ar rowhead Campus and Abrazo Surprise Hospital. “Don’t let children eat any thing with questionable or unknown in gredients, especially if they have food allergies.”

Additionally, while edibles contain ing cannabis, commonly referred to as marijuana, have been around for years, we are now frequently finding it pack aged in ways that more closely resem bles a traditional candy or popular kids snack, such as gummy bears, potato chips or chocolate chip cookies.

“Although edibles that are sold at dispensaries are required to display im portant information regarding contents

Kevin Rodriguez, MD, is an emergency room physician at Abrazo Arrowhead Cam pus, Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital and Abrazo Surprise Hospital. He serves as ER medical director at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Emergency Department and Abra zo Peoria Emergency Center. (Abrazo Ar rowhead/Submitted)

making it clear they are not meant for children, labeling laws vary from state to state,” Rodriguez said. “Labeling in formation you might encounter include words such as THC content, medicat ed, medibles, or marijuana leaves dis played on the packaging.”

“Consequently, do not allow children to snack on the go while trick-or-treat ing, and remind them to carefully in spect their loot with an adult at the end of their activities,” he added. “Throw out any candy or treats that are not in sealed factory packaging. Thoroughly inspect packing and labels discarding anything that is torn or looks question

able. Homemade goodies should also be tossed.”

Your child’s health isn’t limited to the goodies they’re consuming. Hand ing out glow sticks can help with safe ty and visibility along neighborhood streets. Make sure that masks fit cor rectly and costumes aren’t too long. Both can be a tripping hazard, particu larly in the dark.

Kids with sensitive skin can break out in itchy rashes and hives from make up. By testing makeup on a small area of your child’s skin, you can quickly determine if the makeup will be safe for your child. Cosmetic contact lens es may seem cool, but they can cause corneal abrasions, infection and even vision loss.

“Obey traffic signals and stay in crosswalks when crossing streets. Wear costumes that are flame resistant and bright colored to improve visibility in the dark. Make sure footwear is slip re sistant to avoid falls,” Rodriguez said. “Use flashlights to improve visibility and remind children to keep them pointed towards the ground so as to not impede the vision of other trick-or-treaters or drivers.”

Rodriguez stressed setting ground rules: carry hand sanitizer, plan a famil iar route (create a map), set a curfew, never go inside a home or car, no snack ing on goodies while trick-or-treating.

Remind kids to stay in small groups, and younger children should be accom panied by an adult. Everyone should wear reflective tape on their costumes and carry flashlights so they are easily visible to drivers.

“Remind children and adults to put down the electronic devices, keep their heads up and walk, don’t run, across streets,” Rodriguez said. “Drivers need to watch for children walking on road ways, medians and curbs, and enter and exit driveways carefully.”

The ER at Abrazo Arrowhead Cam pus is located at 18701 N. 67th Avenue, Glendale. Abrazo Peoria Emergency Center is located at 26900 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria. Abrazo Sur prise Hospital ER is located at 16815 W. Bell Road, Surprise.

For more information on online ER check-ins, visit abrazohealth. com.

Little America Flagstaff is an iconic getaway destination

BY ALLISON BROWN

Glendale Star Staff Writer

Nestledunder the majestic pon derosa pines surrounded by Flagstaff’s natural beauty sits Little America Flagstaff — a welcome sight for weary Route 66 travelers, a home away from home for returning families or a romantic getaway for couples.

No matter the reason for the stay, the Little America Flagstaff hotel can provide the rest, relaxation, hospitality and luxury guests are looking for. Lit tle America Flagstaff general manager Fred Reese says their top priority is taking care of guests and making sure they get the most out of their stay.

“You’re going to be treated like fam ily here because we’re a private, fami ly-owned business,” he says. “We look at our customers as family members, and we look at our staff as family mem bers. So we have this really strong em phasis on customer service and kind of following the golden rule, treating oth ers as you want to be treated.”

And, after nearly 50 years in busi ness, Reese says based on reviews and interactions he’s had with guests, the hotel’s customer service and family at mosphere is a big part of what keeps people coming back.

“We’re probably on the third gener ation of customers. I have customers come up to me all the time and say their grandparents brought them here when they were little,” Reese continues.

“When you’re in business for 50 years in one location, you’re going to get generation after generation. And, because we do such a good job, the up coming generations like to come here because they have fond memories as children coming here and enjoying the forest.”

Of course, location is probably the biggest draw to Little America Flag staff.

Just two and a half hours from Phoe nix — the fifth largest city in the nation — and roughly an hour from Sedona, Flagstaff is within driving distance from most of Arizona’s hot spots. Near ly 75% of the hotel’s business is from within the state, according to Reese, adding that its most popular time is

May through October.

“The weather here is phenomenal. When it’s 110, 120 degrees down in Phoenix, it’s only 80 to 90 degrees up here,” Reese says. “So, it’s a great es cape. The majority of our business is in state and comes from the Valley, where a lot of people like to get out of the heat and escape to the cool climate.”

With an outdoor pool, hot tub and playground, guests can soak up as much of the cooler weather as possible.

The hotel also sits on 550 acres covered with ponderosa pines and other Indige nous trees and wildlife that guests can experience. Behind the main lodge is a nature trail that can be done in a 1- or 2-mile loop.

“(Guests) can really take in the nat ural scenery that we sit on,” Reese says. “Nobody else in Flagstaff can re ally claim that their resort sits on such beautiful land amongst the pines like we do.”

Little America Flagstaff is also just a short drive from Historic Downtown Flagstaff, which consists of several walkable city blocks filled with unique restaurants, breweries and shops — not to mention the murals, live music, and a mass of cute dogs out for a walk.

There’s also history, as most of these buildings are restored from the 1890s.

While the hotel’s most popular times are during the warmer months, those who brave Flagstaff from November to February can experience a real winter and are more than likely to see snow. In fact, Flagstaff saw its first dusting of

snow for the season the first week of October. Come mid-November, there will be skiing, snowman building and, at Little America, a magical winter wonderland with the chance to meet Santa himself.

Around the holiday season, Little America Flagstaff is transformed for the North Pole Experience and decorat ed with more than a million lights wo ven through the pines and hung around the lodge. The hotel has served as the trolley launch station for the North Pole Experience, which is provided by a separate company, for 10 years.

“You get on the North Pole Experi ence Trolley that transports you to the North Pole and you get to go to Santa’s workshop,” Reese says.

“It’s got a fully interactive workshop where you go into different rooms — there’s the toy hall of fame, a bakery, the toy-making room, toy-wrapping room, the elf university. It’s amazing for all ages to go through that expe rience, and then you end with seeing Santa at the end of the tour.”

The event brings in tens of thousands of people throughout the holiday sea son, Reese says, and has been a great partnership for the hotel and Flagstaff as a whole. People don’t have to stay at Little America to participate in the North Pole Experience — they just have to check in for the trolley there — but the hotel offers a special meal and lodging package and discounted room rate for those who do stay.

Also during the holiday season, the

hotel provides guests a unique opportu nity to experience its famous, up-close and personal North Pole Experience breakfast buffet with Santa and a mem orable photo opportunity at the Little America Flagstaff from 7 to 11 a.m. Sunday, November 13, through Satur day, December 24.

Reese says the hotel’s holiday events have become more and more popular over the years, and people are starting to see Flagstaff’s winter beauty — not just its cool summer.

Little America Flagstaff opened its doors in June 1973 as the third hotel in the Little America franchise. Accord ing to Reese, Little America actually originated in Rural America, a small town in Wyoming. He says it started as a small truck stop motel but grew mas sively and transformed into the luxury getaway it is now.

The Flagstaff location was actually built from the ground up, with pains taking detail put into everything from the color scheme to the tiles in the bathroom and the feel of the carpet (it’s wool). The hotel has 247 guest rooms; 10 meeting rooms ranging from 225 square feet to a 6,000-square-foot ballroom; the highly rated Silver Pine Restaurant and Bar, which caters to any culinary desire; a 24-hour travel center with a hot grill and deli; a gift shop; a business center and a fitness center.

According to Reese, the hotel under went a massive renovation from 2016 to 2018 that updated nearly all the fa cilities. He says he has received a lot of compliments from guests about the renovation, specifically the materials used.

“We get a lot of comments that it’s on par with some of the finest hotels that they’ve been to. We feel like we give the best value for what a customer is going to buy — they’re going to get a luxury guest room with outstanding service,” Reese says.

“The rooms have been appointed with live edge wood tables, desks and headboard from British Columbia, the carpeting is English wool, the stone and granite comes from Spain. Everything is so high end and nicely appointed, so you’re getting a luxury experience at a great value.”

Starting mid-November, Little America Flagstaff transforms into a winter wonderland with more than a million Christmas lights. (Little America/Submitted)

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The flight instructor and the control tower

Ilearned how to fly a private airplane when I was 27 years old. I loved flying, and flying worked well for the business I owned then, Central Bindery. I learned to fly in a small two-seat airplane — a Cessna 150.

At first, learning to fly was intimidating. Especially takeoffs and landings. I learned to fly at the old Glendale Airport between Olive and Grand avenues. It was like landing on an aircraft carrier. Flying over the power lines on Grand Avenue made it especially exciting. However, after several months, piloting the Cessna became easier. Why? Piloting the airplane became a habit. It became automatic. What was once unnatural to me became natural. That’s the power of habit.

In a few years, I became a one-third owner of a much more complex airplane to fly. It was a six-passenger Piper Comanche 260. It had retractable landing gear, a variable speed propeller, wing flaps, exhaust gas temperature controls, fuel injection mixture controls, and hefty horsepower for the Comanche’s 200 mph speed. This airplane had the same high-performance wing design as the P-51 Mustang from World War II. The Comanche could be a handful on a quick descent for landing.

I still remember taking off with my right foot on the floor, trying to keep the airplane straight. Why? The torque from the propeller wanted to turn the plane sideways. I never experienced that phenomenon flying in the Cessna. Then, I had to listen to the tower tell me when to taxi, where to taxi, when to take off, what runway to use, and what

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Glendale Star Columnist

the altimeter pressure was. After the takeoff, they even tell you the direction to fly.

The first time I flew a Comanche was with my flight instructor. I already knew how to fly from my Cessna flying days, but flying a Comanche was a new world. I went from kindergarten to university.

At first, I was intimidated piloting the Comanche. So many new controls and things had consequences if I didn’t pilot the plane correctly. Flaps up, throttle back, back off on propeller speed, gear up, lean out the mixture, keep your airspeed up, take my right foot off the pedal, keep the nose up but not too far, listen to the tower, and try not to ignore my instructor and the air-control tower freaking out.

However, after flying the Comanche for a few weeks, everything became easier. I didn’t have to think about all the adjustments anymore. Taking off and landing the airplane became second nature to me. Listening to the tower became second nature. After a month, I could carry on a conversation with the passenger in the front seat while I was taking off and landing. Why? Because the skills of what was necessary to fly the plane safely had become habits. What was on the outside of me moved to the inside of me.

If you make good habits for the right things, you can become efficient and effective at flying comfortably.

Passenger planes are designed to fly in two ways — through the pilot’s skill and the commands they receive from the control tower. So how does a pilot become skillful? Part of the answer is that expert pilots develop habits allowing them to do what is necessary to fly the plane automatically. Hence, they have sufficient attention for the unexpected events that might happen while flying. In addition, they can multitask better when and where necessary.

Let’s review. Part of a pilot’s skill comes from the pilot building up an arsenal of effective habits. The other factor in flying passenger planes is listening to instructions from the control tower and obeying the tower’s promptings. The control tower is there to make order out of the chaos of every pilot doing what is right in their own eyes. Need I say that without direction and crucial promptings from someone or something which sees the big picture, the pilots and the passengers with them are going to underachieve? It’s not going to be pretty.

Let me say it this way. We are like pilots, and God is the control tower. We need to listen to God, or else we will, sooner or later, get into danger. So, get in the habit of receiving your instructions from God, the Bible and God’s character to navigate life successfully. At first, it may seem hard. But after

a while, you will be a beneficiary of communicating with God for His highest and your personal best. God’s control tower directs us in essential things. Sometimes by a small voice, sometimes by creative thought, sometimes by the peace, faith and confidence that rises in us when the solution is God inspired.

God’s control tower has two-way communication. Pilot: “Tower, flight 777 with you.” “Which runway should I land on today?” What do you have for me to do today?” “What solution do You have for my problem today?” “How can I repair this broken relationship?” “Should I change careers?” God says to us, “Call on Me.” Listening to God’s control tower prepares and directs us, pilots, to fly the high-performance airplanes of life.

In conclusion, if you make a great habit, the great habit will make you — especially when your instructor is both the Flight Instructor and the Control Tower.

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

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NOTICE OF CREDITORS

N O T I C E T O C R E D I T O R S I n the Matter of the Estate of Rose marie Strickland Deceased

N O T I C E I S H E R E B Y G I V E N t h a t t h e u n d e r s i g n e d h a s b e e n appointed as the Personal Rep r e s e

SUMMONS

Woor Thoat v Nyakot Dong, FC2022 070909 Petition To Establish Legal Decision Making Parenting Time And Child Support and Sum mons, Warning: these are official documents from the Court that will af f ect y o u r r ig h

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N O T I C E T O C R E D I T O R S I n t h e M a t t e r o f t h e E s t a t e o f N a n c y M a r i e W u k i t s c h , D e c e a s e d N O T I C E I S H E R E B Y GIVEN that the undersigned has b e e n a p p o i n t e d a s t h e P e r s o n al Representative of this estate All p e r s o n s h a v i n g c l a i m s a g a i n s t the estate are required to present t h e i r c l a i m s w i t h i n f o u r ( 4 ) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or the c l a i m s w i l l b e f o r e v e r b a r r e d Claims must be presented by de l i v e r i n g o r m a i l i n g a w r i t t e n statement of the claim to under signed Personal Representativ e a t N a n c y A W u k i t s c h 2 9 0 1 E G r een w ay Rd # 3 0 3 3 6 P h o en ix , Arizona 85046 DATED this 12 day of October 2022 /s/ Nancy A Wukitsch Published: Glend a l e S t a r O c t 2 0 , 2 7 N o v 3 , 2 0 2 2 / 4 9 7 8 5

N O T I C E T O C R E D I T

O R S I n t h e M a t t e r o f t h e E s t a t e o f S t e p h e n A n d r e w H a t c h e r , D e c e a s e d N O

TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN t h a t t h e u n d e r s i g n e d h a s b e e n a p p o i n t e d a s t h e P e r sonal Representative of this e s t a t e A l l p e r s o n s h a v i n g claims against the estate are r e q u i r e d t o p r e s e n t t h e i r c l a i m s w i t h i n f o u r ( 4 ) months after the date of the first publication of this No t i c e o r t h e c l a i m s w i l l b e forever barred Claims must b e p r e s e n t e d b y d e l i v e r i n g o r m a i l i n g a w r i t t e n s t a t e ment of the claim to the un dersigned Personal Repres e n t a t i v e a t 1 0 5 8 W O l i v e Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85233

D A T E D t h i s 2 0 t h d a y o f O c t o b e r , 2 0 2 2 / s / R y a n R P e t e r s o n P u b l i s h e d : G l e n d a l e S t a r 1 0 / 2 7 / 2 2 , 1 1 / 0 3 / 2 2 , 1 1 / 1 0 / 2 2 / 4 9 9 2 1

: N y ak o t D o n g , ad dress unknown If you do not want a judgment or order entered against you without your input, you must file a written "Response" with the Court and pay the filing fee Otherwise the other party may be given the relief requested in his Petition To Establish Legal Decision Mak ing Parenting Time And Child Support To file your "Response"take o r s e n d t h e " R e s p o n s e " t o t h e O f f i c e o f t h e C l e r k o f t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t , 1 4 2 6 4 W T i e r r a B u e n a L n , S u r p r i s e , A r i z o n a , 8 5 3 7 4 Y ou must also mail a copy of your "Response" to Tejay Coon, The Dodds Law Firm located at 14780 W Mountain View Blvd Suite 111 Sur prise, AZ 85374 Please be aware that Service by Publication is com plete thirty (30) days after the date of the first publication Respondent can obtain copies of the court papers filed in this case from the Cler k of the Superior Court Customer Service Center located at 14264 W T i e r r a B u e n a L a n e , S u r p r i s e A r i z o n a , 8 5 3 7 4 P u b l i s h e d : G l e n d a l e S t a r O c t 6 1 3 2 0 2 7 2 0 2 2 / 4 9 4 5 8

3200 Park Center Drive, Suite 250 Costa Mesa California 92626 Telephone: 714 445 1000 Fac simile: 714 445 1002 If you fail to respond judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint Yo u also must file your answer or motion with the court Date: August 3 2022 CLERK OF THE COURT /s/ E Synagogue Published: Glend ale Star, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27 2022 / 49448