west valley
Volume 29 Issue 24 Goodyear, AZ
March 14, 2018
Business Briefcase ByConnorDziawura
IN THE BIZ
Hello, everyone. Thanks for returning for this week’s edition of Business Briefcase! This time, I have a lineup containing several great new eateries worth checking out. Wedding cakes? Got you covered! Sushi? You bet! A popular restaurant chain? That front is covered as well! But before ending this week’s roundup, I will leave you with a couple news items on different ends of the spectrum. Business presentations and a 200-plus resident community with a new executive director are the other kinds of things I can’t forget to cover. It’s a jam-packed week of discussions, so let’s get on with it, shall we? Here’s the news! First, Purple Elephant Cakes recently opened its doors. The Litchfield Park establishment, which specializes in custom cakes, celebrated its grand opening Tuesday, March 6. “Crafted with love” is Purple Elephant Cake’s motto, and the phrase is apt. Founder Jin Hee Sonu has well over a decade in experience crafting pastries. Though the establishment’s name boasts its “cakes,” the shop also creates French macaroons, cake pops, espresso and Italian gelato. This is just the latest incarnation of
a company previously based in several other spots on opposite ends of the nation. Sonu opened it in Upper East Side Manhattan in 2010. She moved to San Mateo, California, a few years later. The move to the West Valley came last year, though the new brickand-mortar location opened its doors earlier this month. Purple Elephant Cakes is located at 13331 W. Indian School Road, Suite 202, near the southwest corner of Indian School and Dysart roads. It is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit purpleelephantcakes.com. On a different end of the West Valley, Sushi & Poke House opened its doors earlier this year, celebrating its grand opening Monday, February 5. It is located at 14130 W. Indian School Suite A5, Goodyear. The restaurant offers nigri sushi, rolls and even boba drinks. So, swing by and try whatever your heart desires, whether it is yellowtail sushi, cucumber rolls, Arizona rolls or a variety of boba drinks. For a preview of the menu, you can see photos on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Goodyear’s Sushi & Poke house is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (USPS 004-616) is published weekly
Public Notices ........... page 3 © Copyright, 2018 West Valley View, Inc.
Mailing Address: 250 Litchfield Rd., #130 Goodyear, AZ 85338 (623) 535-VIEW • 535-8439
Steven Strickbine, publisher Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, editor Connor Dziawura, Assistant Editor
Continuing the subject of “poke,” Ahipoke Bowl opened in Avondale late last year and business is booming! The Avondale location is just one of many locations that have opened across the Valley in the past year. The most recent, No. 9, came in North Scottsdale recently. I previously reported on the West Valley Ahipoke Bowl in August, though no launch date was set at the time. Now that its doors have been opened for a couple months and the business has settled into the community, you can stop by and choose an array of bowl sizes, rice, meats, sauces and toppings. Ahipoke Bowl Avondale is located at 10321 W. McDowell Road, about halfway between North 107th and North 99th avenues, north of I-10. Also, La Loma Village recently named Kari Curry as its new executive director. The former executive director, Susan Davis, will retire this summer. “It’s such a pleasure to work in a community that is full of active, vibrant residents who live independently, as well as those who need more care,” Curry said. “La Loma Village has it all.” Curry’s experience is lengthy. La Loma Village’s director of Life
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Couple helps WV residents ‘escape’ through painting ByConnorDziawura When West Valley residents Tom and Kim Mraz met, the two bonded over a mutual love of art, despite their different backgrounds. Tom served 20 years in the Air Force. Kim, on the other hand, has been published over 1,000 times – in magazines and books – and operated her own online paper crafting company, Paper Smooches. The couple is what Tom refers to as “new love,” having met and realized their dreams late in life. Following that epiphany, the duo opened their Goodyear-based paint and wine studio, Our Creative Escape, in January. “Everybody can be creative, but we want them to come here and be with us and be creative together,” Kim said. “Escape reality,” Tom interjected. “It’s a social event, and we have a BYOB license so you can bring your own beer, wine or liquor to the evening classes and just relax.” Kim added, “You really do escape reality here. You sit down and it is relaxing and it is a social, fun thing.” At their new business, the couple offers step-by-step painting instruction for attendees of all skill levels and age ranges. Evening courses have a minimum age of 16, to abide by liquor laws, but kids’ courses are offered for ages 6 to 12. The studio also hosts parties. “There’s no experience necessary,” Tom said about painting. “So, if you’ve never painted, if the last time you did any art was second grade, you could still come in, start with the blank canvas and we tell you everything to do.” Just go to its website, ourcreativeescape.com, visit the calendar and choose which class piques your interest. Guests can join classes based on the painting that will be covered that day or there’s an option for open studio time from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Although the idea is not new, painting while drinking wine is a proven concept – and one to which Tom and Kim were drawn. “It’s different than going to the
movies,” Tom explained. “It’s different than just going to dinner. You are coming out here, creating a memory, an experience, with friends, family, loved ones, a date, and it’s memorable.” Kim added, “You take something home with you.” Despite being fresh to the paint and wine scene, the duo has already seen visitors’ reactions – and positive ones at that. Because many people don’t expect to succeed at crafting a beautiful painting, they are “tickled” and “light up with pride” at the sight of their completed work, Tom said. “I don’t think anybody’s Kim and Tom Mraz opened Our Creative Escape in Januever left unhappy because ary, though Kim had the name picked and domain name they just don’t believe they registered for four years. (West Valley View photo by Josh Susuras) can do it,” he added. “When Paper Smooches inspires the gift they’re taught step by step shop with Etsy items and knickknacks, and they see the final product, it’s an such as coasters and travel journals, as amazing feeling.” well as retail items for paper crafting Although many classes feature like ink and stamps. Aside from paintstep-by-step instruction on certain ing lessons, they also offer card-makpaintings, different guests still have ing classes and other paper crafts. different results. The couple are the only instructors, “Even though we’re teaching the although they will eventually look to same painting to everybody, everybring in more teachers to jazz up the body’s personality comes out in the painting styles. The two design and painting because they see it differently paint all the model ideas that decorate in their mind,” Tom said. the shop. Despite running Paper Smooches “We’re confident in our teaching online for seven years, Kim didn’t drop skills and thought we would give it a the concept in favor of Our Creative shot, kind of make our dream come Escape. In fact, Paper Smooches is a true,” Kim said. large component of their new venture. Franchising, however, is not an Kim sought a brick-and-mortar locaoption, as they are content with their tion, something the duo has achieved new location. It’s all about “living life through Our Creative Escape. now” and “taking risks,” Kim said. “I just wanted to kind of change “I don’t regret a single minute of direction,” she said. “I love that busiit,” she added. “We plan on building ness, I didn’t close it, but I wanted it as big as we can and seeing what to have an avenue to show people in happens.” person as well. “Of course we loved the paint and wine concept, so then to make us even Our Creative Escape more unique is to combine the two – 725 S. Estrella Parkway, Suite 105 the painting and the paper crafting – Goodyear and to offer all sorts of creative ways 623-251-5566 ourcreativeescape.com that people can be.”
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MARCH 14, 2018
Briefcase...continued from page 1 Enrichment since 2006 and manager of Assisted Living since 2014, she is rising up the ranks. She has a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, but is actively pursuing a master’s degree in public administration – with an emphasis on health care management – at Grand Canyon University. Curry also has an assisted living manager’s certificate and a long-term care administrator’s license, which came via the completion of an adminis-
TOLLESON City of Tolleson Public Notice CALL OF ELECTION PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON, ARIZONA Notice is hereby given that the City of Tolleson will hold elections as follows: *Primary Election: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 General Election: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Offices to be filled: Four-year terms to expire in 2022: 3 Council Member Seats Candidate Packet Distribution: Information and candidate packets are available at the Office of the City Clerk, 9555 West Van Buren Street, Tolleson, Arizona. Candidate Packet Filing Deadline: Candidate packets are to be filed no earlier than Monday, April 30, 2018 and no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Voter Registration Deadline: Monday, July 30, 2018 (Primary Election) Monday, October 8, 2018 (General Election) Last Day to Request an Early Ballot: Friday, August 17, 2018 (Primary Election) Friday, October 26, 2018 (General Election) For election resources and voter information, please contact the Elections Department of the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office at (602) 506-1511 or visit https://recorder.maricopa.gov/ elec-tions/. *Any candidate receiving a majority of all votes cast at the Primary Election will be declared elected without running at the
trator-in-training program. The 353-acre campus is a Sun Health Life Care community with more than 200 residents in Litchfield Park. It features independent and assisted living, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.
Next, Lunch N Learn is hitting the road. The event, which often partners with the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, will bring its discussions to various worksites. LifeTyme Financial Group’s Life Insurance and Living Benefits adviser George Henderson will
General Election. Published in the West Valley View and West Valley Business on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 and March 21, 2018 / 11661
That’s all the briefs for this week. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more developments in the coming weeks!
Have an item for Business Briefcase? Email Connor Dziawura at cdziawura@timespublications.com.
favor, póngase en contacto con el Departamento de Elecciones de la Oficina del Registrador del Condado de Maricopa en (602) 506-1511 o visite https://recorder. maricopa.gov/elections/. * Cualquier candidato que reciba una mayoría de todos los votos en la Elección Primaria será declarado electo, sin tener que participar en la elección general. Publicado en el West Valley View y West Valley View Business el miércoles 14 de marzo 2018 y miércoles 21 de marzo 2018 / 11662
City of Tolleson Public Notice LLAMADA DE ELECCIÓN AVISO PÚBLICO DE LA CIUDAD DE TOLLESON, ARIZONA Se hace saber que la Ciudad de Tolleson llevará a cabo elecciones de la siguiente manera: * Elección Primaria: martes 28º de agosto del 2018 Elección General: martes 6 de noviembre del 2018 Oficinas para ser ocupadas: períodos de cuatro años que expiran 2022: 3 Asientos de los Miembros del Consejo. Distribución de paquetes para candidatos: Los paquetes para candidatos estarán disponibles en la Oficina de la Secretar-ia de la Ciudad, 9555 West Van Buren Street, Tolleson, Arizona. Fecha límite de presentación de paquetes de los candidatos: Los paquetes de los candidatos deben ser entregados no antes del lunes 30a de abril del 2018, y no más tardar de las 5:00 p.m. el miércoles 30a de mayo del 2018. Fecha límite de registro de votantes: lunes 30a de julio del 2018 (Elección Primaria) lunes 8o de octubre del 2018 (Elección General) Último día para solicitar una boleta temprano: viernes 17e de agosto del 2018 (Elección Primaria) viernes 26 de octubre del 2018 (Elección General) Para recursos electorales e información para el votante, por
WEST VALLEY BUSINESS
host the events, but cofounder and charted financial consultant Charles Pettit will present. Boxed lunches will be provided. For more information, or to schedule a visit, call or text Henderson at 623-695-1078; however, email is also available at ghenderson@ltfgllc.com.
GENERAL Public Notice
Person Filing: Harold Anthony Staples III, 4505 E En-rose St., Mesa, AZ 85205, 480-809-4004 Representing Self (Without a Lawyer) SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA MARICOPA COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Matter of the Estate of Annie Loriaine Staples, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as the Personal Representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or the claims will be forever barred. Claims must be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to undersigned Personal Representative at Harold Anthony Staples III, 4505 E Enrose St., Mesa, AZ 85205. DATED this 20th day of FEBRUARY, 2018 /s/ H.A. Staples H.A. Staples
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PUBLISHED: West Valley View/Business February 25, March 7, 14, 2018 / 11222
Public Notice Person Filing: Erika Herrera, 31 W. Rhodes Ave., Avondale, AZ 85323, 516-430-0445, erikaherra0910@gmail.com Representing Self, without a lawyer. SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA IN MARICOPA COUNTY, Notice of Hearing Regarding Application for Change of Name. CV2017-15304. Court Hearing has been scheduled for March 22, 2018 10am 101 W. Jefferson Courtroom: E Court 812, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Date December 22, 2017 /s/ Erika Herrera Erika Herrera Published: West Valle y View/ Business February 25, March 7, 14, 21, 2018 / 1125
LEGAL ADS West Valley View and West Valley View Business publish legal ads every Wednesday in print and online. Deadline for legal ads is Thursday at 5pm for the following Wednesday. Be aware there may be early deadlines around the holidays. Questions regarding legal ads please call Elaine at 480-898-7926. To submit a legal ad please email to: legal@westvalleyview.com
MARCH 14, 2018
the tickler
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