west valley
Volume 32 Issue 43 Goodyear, AZ
September 8, 2021
Business Briefcase BY LAUREN SERRATO
West Valley View Staff Writer
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IN THE BIZ
ello and welcome back to Business Briefcase! This week we’re going to look at a local chain that will open its 14th location in Goodyear next year. As for Buckeye, it will be home to the next solar energy project from the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. As always, feel free to contact lserrato@timespublications with any Business Briefcase questions or tips. Someburros Location: Southwest corner of Estrella Parkway and Van Buren The local chain of family-run, fast-casual Mexican restaurants will open its first West Valley location, and 14th overall, in Goodyear. Projected to open its doors in spring 2022, the menu will feature 15 types of burritos, as well as tacos, tostadas, enchiladas and tamales. Beverage options include draft beer and frozen margaritas. Someburros debuted in Tempe in 1986. Every dish on the menu tells the story of the Vasquez family and their first restaurant, Poncho’s, which opened in South Phoenix in 1972. It showcases the family’s signature, time-tested recipes for authentic Sonoran-style Mexican food. For more information, visit someburros.com.
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Someburros will open its 14th location in Goodyear. (Photo courtesy of Someburros)
NextEra Energy building solar energy plant in Buckeye NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, will build its next solar energy project in Buckeye. The 3,000-acre facility, the Sonoran Solar Project, will be east of SR 85 near the Riggs Road alignment. The Sonoran Solar Project is an innovative solar and energy storage project with a capacity of up to 260 megawatts of clean, renewable, American-made solar energy, combined with 260 megawatts of battery energy storage. “The Sonoran Solar project is more than solar panels and batteries,” Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn said. “It represents another significant capital investment in the city of Buckeye, (USPS 004-616) is published weekly
Mailing Address: 250 Litchfield Rd., #130 Goodyear, AZ 85338 (623) 535-VIEW • 535-8439
Steven Strickbine, publisher Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Executive Editor
the West Valley and the state of Arizona. It’s another example of Buckeye’s commitment to sustainable and renewable energy production.” Project estimates include $600 million capital investment in the community, $500,000 annual tax impact, 260 megawatts of power generation and storage. It’s one of the largest solar facilities in Arizona, with 500 construction workers over an 18-month period and approximately 15 full-time employees when operational. This will be the third facility built in Arizona by NextEra Energy Resources. It operates solar projects in 27 states. Construction is expected to begin in October. For more info on the Sonoran Solar Project, visit nexteraenergyresources. com/sonoran-solar.html. Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
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Woman honors best friend with Cookies N’ Cocoa BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
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ierra Chamot lost her best friend, Heather Began, when an impaired driver crashed into her car in Phoenix in October 2019. “She was bubbly,” Chamot said. “She always had a bubbly personality. She lit up any room she walked into. Her smile and laughter were contagious. She was my adventure buddy. We would go on random camping trips around Arizona. She loved her family, friends and God. Those were her three priorities, along with her students.” Since Began’s death, Chamot has been honoring her. Both of them loved Christmas. In October 2019, Chamot introduced Cookies N’ Cocoa, which raises school supplies for Estrella Vista STEM Academy and Tempe’s Rover Elementary School. “I thought I would do an event in honor of her that benefited the school where she worked, Estrella Vista STEM Academy,” said Chamot, a 26-year-old Buckeye resident. At a small Christmas get-together, Chamot collected books for the Avondale school that’s in the Littleton Elementary School District. Last year, Chamot held a much larger public event that would benefit the two schools. She served free cookies and cocoa and collected school supplies in exchange. “It started as a small Christmas party at my house, honestly,” said Chamot, who is an event tour manager and the office manager for Extreme Faith Productions in Chandler. “I wanted to do something in honor of Heather — something that supported what she loved, which was her students.” She has also held a book drive, where she collected more than 1,000 books. Her goal was 260. “Obviously, we blew that goal out of
Cierra Chamot of Buckeye, above, wants to continue the legacy of her friend, Heather Began of Avondale. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
the water,” she said. “For the next year, I decided to do the event again, but on a bigger scale.” During the summer this year, Chamot has been building a Christmas attraction. The support has been overwhelming, as donors have given her tools, wood, lights and trees. She is hosting a GoFundMe to raise money for the event. Visit https://bit.ly/BeganBenefit. Chamot’s plan is to open the walk-thru event on Friday, Dec. 10, at Rover Elementary School, but with the pandemic, the plans could change. “It will be even bigger,” she said. “There will be more to the North Pole,
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more stops along the way. It’s going to be a walk-thru this year. “The whole set is built out of wood. For Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, we’re building baking display cases this year. With the GoFundMe, the money will go toward any event costs and anything over and above the event costs will go to school supplies.” Chamot said Began’s family in Illinois is touched that she has done so much to remember her friend. “A couple of her amily members are coming out this year for the event,” she said. “They’re really excited about it. They share it on Facebook all the time.”
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Sequoia Pathfinder breaks ground in Buckeye BY LAUREN SERRATO
West Valley View Staff Writer
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uckeye’s newest high school broke ground during a ceremony led by state and local dignitaries on Sept. 2. Sequoia Pathfinder Academy High School, located at 20370 W. Roosevelt Street, is set to open spring 2022. “I’m grateful for another opportunity for kids in Buckeye to have another place to attend school,” Rep. Joel John of District 4 said. “I’m grateful to see more schools popping up in the area, creating more options for kids, especially to charter schools.” Opening an additional high school in Buckeye is “perfect timing,” according to Phillip Wooley, principal and assistant superintendent of STEAM Schools. “If you would have told me 25 years ago that the population of Buckeye would be over 70,000 with approximately 28 elementary schools and 10 high schools, I wouldn’t believe you. That growth means competition for quality schools,” Wooley said.
Public Notice PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADAMAN MUTUAL WATER COMPANY’S FINANCING APPLICATION DOCKET NO. W-01997A-21-0297 On September 1, 2021, Adaman Mutual Water Company (“Company” or “Applic-ant”) filed an Application with the Arizona Corporation Commission (“Commission”) for an order authorizing Applicant to issue $2,120,733 of LONG-TERM DEBT and to authorize a DEBT SURCHARGE. The purpose of the financing is to i) authorize existing debt, ii) make vehicle and equipment purchases, and iii) construct plant improvements needed to enhance water system fire flows and reliability. The Com-mission may approve, disapprove, or approve the financing request with modifications. The Commission may act on the financing request with or without a hearing. How to View the Application and other Filings Copies of the application are available from Adaman Mutual Water Company by contacting customer service at (623) 935-2837 or by email at mail@adamanwater.com and at Adaman Mutual Water Company’s office located at 16251 W. Glendale Ave. Additionally, the application is
Sequoia Pathfinder Academy will feature 20 classrooms, including three state-ofthe-art computer, maker and science labs, a synthetic turf football/soccer/lacrosse field, wood floor basketball and volleyball gymnasium, performing arts stage, cafeteria and office space. While the school isn’t set to open until 2022, ninth and 10th graders have started their school year as Sequoia Pathfinder’s first students. “Sequoia Pathfinder ninth and 10th graders, who are already attending the high school this year, are making great academic strides and look forward to moving from their current location at Summit Church to the new campus this coming spring,” Wooley said. Summit Community Church, located across the street from the new high school, will provide the space to students until construction is completed. Pastor Nate Schaus referred to having the students in the church as a “full circle effect,” as Summit Community Church previously rented space from Verrado High School and now is able to do the same for local students.
available for inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s Docket Control Center at 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007. All filings in this matter are also avail-able via the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) using the e-Docket function and Docket No. W-01997A-21-0297. How Interested Persons May Participate An interested person may participate in this matter by (1) providing written public comment, or (2) filing for intervention and becoming a formal party to the proceeding. Written public comments must refer to Docket No. W-01997A-20-0297 and may be submitted at any time as follows: By Mail: Arizona Corporation Commission Consumer Services Section 1200 West Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 On the Website: www.azcc. gov using the link “Make a Public Comment in a Dock-et” located under the “Cases and Open Meetings” tab. Anyone requiring assistance may contact the Consumer Services Section at 1-800-2227000 or 602-542-4251. About Intervention Any person or entity entitled by law to intervene and having a direct and substantial interest in the matter will be permitted to intervene. Intervention entitles a
WEST VALLEY BUSINESS
“There is something beautiful and poetic about now being able to open our doors and for you to be able to launch your school and to be able to begin your high school out of that space,” he said. “And in many ways, for our church, and for me as a pastor, I believe that’s the way that the communities and local partners should be able to work together. “You are in for something special this year, because I know for many people in our church, to be able to see the construction happening, to be a part of that journey, to be able to say we were a part of that first step is just a cool experience.” Before the golden shovels were turned, eighth grader Michael DeRosie-Drye shared his perspective on being a student at Sequoia and what excites him most about his future high school. “To be a student at Sequoia is to be a good student,” DeRosie-Drye said. “What I like to think is that this school is great and is getting better every day, every minute. I think the new high school that’s being built is going to be the best school I’ll ever go to.”
person to participate as a party and if a hearing is held, to present sworn testimony and evidence and cross-examine witnesses. Persons who do not intervene will receive no further notice of the proceedings in this docket. The granting of motions to intervene shall be governed by A.A.C. R143-105, except that the person requesting intervention must file an original and 13 copies of a written motion to intervene with the Commission’s Docket Control Center on or before October 11, 2021 [40 DAYS FROM FILING APPLICATION], and must send a copy of the motion to Adaman Mutual Water Company or its counsel. Contact information for the Applicant and other parties is available using the eDocket function and Docket No. W-01997A-21-0297. Each motion to intervene must include the Docket Number and contain the following: 1. The name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting intervention and of any person upon whom service of documents is to be made, if not the same person; 2. A short statement of the proposed intervenor’s interest in the proceeding (e.g., a customer of the Applicant, a member or shareholder of the Applicant, etc.); 3. Whether the proposed intervenor desires a formal
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evidentiary hearing on the application and the reasons for such a hearing; 4. A statement certifying that a copy of the motion to intervene has been mailed to the Applicant or its counsel and to all parties of record in the case; and 5. Information and any appropriate documentation demonstrating compliance with Arizona Supreme Court Rules 31, 38, and 42, as applicable, unless the pro-posed intervenor is an individual representing himself or herself, or is represented by an attorney who is an active member of the Arizona State Bar. A sample intervention request form is available at https://www.azcc.gov/hearing/ how-to-intervene-in-a-case. ADA/Equal Access Information The Commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to its proceedings. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, and may request this document in an alternative format, by contacting ADA Coordinator Shaylin Bernal, at SBernal@ azcc.gov, voice phone number 602-542-3931. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Published: Peoria Times, Sept 9, 2021 / 41235
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
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