OBITUARIES

WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | DECEMBER 29, 2021 physical materials to take home in order to engage their creativity, so that it’s not just kind of passively talking about books, but it’s also giving them the opportunity to make things artistically.”

Aside from getting teens involved in their public library, Garza said programs like this are important because of the pandemic and the restrictions it’s had on kids’ ability to interact.

“The teens do need an opportunity to connect with the library and to connect with each other,” she said. “It’s been a hard year because of COVID and just having that space and having that opportunity for them to kind of hang out with each other and just be able to talk about something that they like I think is really important.”

Nieto added there’s already been positive feedback and excitement for the new club.

“Their excitement, their passion, it is contagious and so I’m very excited for their own excitement,” he said.

Prior to the pandemic, Garza said the library was always filled with high school students, but she admits the initial struggle her team has faced to try to accommodate the teens while staying safe and healthy.

“The teens would come right over to the library when the school day was done and they would hang out here, pick up books, type and print school assignments, meet up with each other to work on projects or just hang out on the computers or play board games,” Garza said. “We were definitely a hub but once COVID happened and we were not having people physically in the library, it was really, really difficult to reach the teens in a virtual space.” After several attempts to reach teens failed, Garza said their saving grace was the library on wheels. The large truck is equipped with a full collection of books, Wi-Fi and audio-visual capabilities. Garza said the truck offers most of what kids can find inside the library, but in mobile form. “Once we got the library on wheels, that’s when things really changed for us because it gave us the opportunity to serve them all of the usual kinds of library services, but to be able to do it outside and to do it in a way that was safe and to do it in a way that was very visible and accessible to them,” she said. Now with a new program that Garza and Nieto are confident about, it provides them an additional outlet to connect with teens, which Garza said is one of their primary goals. “One of Chip’s favorite things about Manga Club is the teens’ interest in it and how that helps him to build a relationship,” Garza said. “So much of the services that we offer have to do with meeting people where they are and being able to help them in being able to build those relationships with our community members over time. So we try to stay as embedded as possible within our community and to serve their needs and find any opportunity that we can to keep them engaged and connected, not just with us but to be a hub that helps them connect with each other as well as other resources.”

As 2021 comes to an end, Garza said the library sees 2022 as a “transition year,” as her team seeks ways to segue back into their normal operations.

“We’re hoping to maintain the relationships that we have within the community and to form new ones,” she said.

“When it comes to reaching the teens with programs and with the new library on wheels, there’s just limitless possibilities of what we can do. So being able to bring that out more and more into the community and being able to establish a route and just being a reliable presence in the community that people can depend on and look forward to is exciting.”

The Manga Club will begin after school on Wednesday, Jan. 12, with the graphic novel “Scott Pilgrim.”

Humberto “Chip” Nieto is the bookmobile clerk and the creator of the library’s Manga Club. (Photo courtesy of Tolleson Public Library)

John Ali

John A. Ali, 75, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2021 in Gilbert, Arizona. Born in Yuba City, CA, John spent an amazing 58 years of his life in Arizona since a Senior at Tolleson High School. After retirement as the head of Mail and Catering from Lockheed Martin in Avondale, AZ, John spent his time reading, cooking up a storm, and visiting his family. A source of laughter and compassion with those he met, John will be missed by all.

John is survived by his children, Adam and Erin; his granddaughter, Isabelle; and his three sisters, Alice, Dorothy, and Marian.

A private Celebration of Life is being planned in John's honor.

Christopher Keeton

Christopher "Scott" Keeton of Surprise, AZ, passed away unexpectedly on November 9, 2021 at the age of 55. He is preceded in death by his parents Dennis and Gloria Keeton and his uncle James L. Keeton (End of Watch, February 5, 1971). He is survived by his wife of 33 years Glennys "Glenn" and their son, Kristopher (fiancée Erica). Scott grew up in Holbrook and moved to Phoenix where he graduated from Bourgade Catholic High School. He received his Criminal Justice Law Certificate from Glendale Community College. Scott started his law enforcement career with the Avondale Police Department as a reserve in 1989. He then moved on to Tolleson Police Department for three years before rejoining Avondale, this time as a full time officer. Scott served in many capacities for Avondale including Detective, FTO, DARE, Teen Police Academy, and Avondale Police Explorers. He was also a School Resource Office for Westview High School, Littleton Elementary School and Underdown Jr. High School where he was also a basketball coach. Scott retired from Avondale in 2008. After retiring from Avondale, Scott worked for Maricopa County Judicial Branch Security Department as a Sergeant for South Court Tower. He also worked weekends at Guns Plus where he was able to enjoy his hobby, his love for guns. There is so much more to be said about Scott. To sum it up, he had a fierce love for his family and genuinely cared for all of his friends as well as everyone he met and aided throughout his time here. We love him dearly and he will truly be missed. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held for Scott on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 5:30 PM at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 West Northern Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301.