west valley
Volume 32 Issue 10 Goodyear, AZ
December 16, 2020
Business Briefcase BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
IN THE BIZ
Things are happening in Alamar, the biggest thing to happen to Avondale since … forever? In the Avondale Economic Development report released at the end of 2019, Mayor Kenn Weise said, “We were pleased to welcome a new master-planned community in Avondale. Alamar, located on the southwest corner of Broadway Road and Avondale Boulevard. Ground was cleared for the first phase of 461 lots of a larger 3,695 new home subdivision to open in 2020, a gateway to our city’s southern portion, where the future construction of State Route 30 will connect Loop 303 and Loop 202 south of Interstate 10. Alamar will also feature a new 30-acre regional community park.” Cut to a year later: “Alamar, the largest master-planned community to open in the Valley since Eastmark in 2013, welcomed its first residents just two months after the community opened on Oct. 10 in Avondale,” said a press release. • Welcome to Avondale, Diane DiCarlo and Mike Frickstad. The couple received their keys Dec. 11 from Shea Homes, the homebuilder of the couple’s new single-story house. The former Colorado residents will enjoy a winter of not shoveling snow, as well as being 20 minutes from their five grandchildren. “I was raised in a small town, and Public Notices ............... page 3 © Copyright, 2020 West Valley View, Inc.
this is a big change, but we’re excited about it,” Mike said. “Driving through the streets, it still feels like a small town, but there are so many more possibilities—it’s a new adventure for us.” The newest Avondalers are quite a creative couple: Mike is an award-winning author of several books, including “The Storyteller,” “Finding Phil” and “The Dream Rescuer.” And Diane has authored her own book, “And God Shows Up: Seeing the Celestial in the Everyday World,” a nonfiction work that reflects on her life experiences while providing inspiring life lessons. Alamar has sold 125 of the 461 homes available within the first phase of development. The next phase is expected to open in late 2021. Once all phases are complete, Alamar will feature a total 3,695 homes across 1,127 acres.
• Babbo alert!
According to the Goodyear Economic Department, “The long-awaited Babbo Italian Eatery finally broke ground in Goodyear. The restaurant’s opening is expected by summer 2021 at McDowell Road and Pebble Creek Parkway.” • More bulldozers at work in Goodyear: Construction started on Goodyear Airport 85. It’s a “spec” building, meaning the developer will build it and then either sell it or rent it out. The Opus Group is building a (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
275,000-square-foot industrial development on Litchfield Road near MC85, 2 miles south of Interstate 10—just outside the Phoenix Goodyear Airport. “After recently developing more than 1.5 million square feet of industrial space across Goodyear, Opus is leveraging its deep relationships with the city—and extensive knowledge of tenant and market trends—for this project,” according to the Opus website. Goodyear Airport 85 is planned to be at least 36 feet high with 48 dock doors, four drive-in doors, 180 vehicle stalls and 30 bicycle parking stalls. • Amazon delivers—and not just games, toys, electronics, etc. Amazon recently delivered a check it donated of $30,000 to New Life Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in Arizona. The money will be allocated to several of the organization’s programs that support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Funds will also be used for the development of NLC’s thrift store, Hope’s Closet. “Donations from our community and beyond are what keep our doors open to serve some of the most vulnerable families and adults in our state,” said Myriah Mhoon, New Life CEO. “I am beyond thankful for Amazon and their gracious donation to NLC. In the midst of dealing with the pandemic, this donation will be a tremendous help to us this year.” Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: West Valley View, 250 Litchfield Rd., #130 Goodyear, AZ 85338
Agua Fria grad honored with Governor’s Arts Award BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
When Chris Hamby was growing up here in the late 1980s and 1990s, Goodyear was not known as a theater town. “I remember when we got a bowling alley and twoscreen theater,” Hamby said with a laugh. Yet, somehow, “I fell in love with theater in high school.” His first theater experience was a field trip to the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. The production was “Through the Looking-Glass.” The story of Alice, the Mad Hatter and many curious characters has been told many times before and since—most recently by Hamby himself. Hamby credits teacher Linda Phillips with fueling his passion for theater. After graduating from Agua Fria High School in 1997, he went on to Northern Arizona University. In two decades since, his rise has been as speedy and off-beat as Alice’s fall down a rabbit hole. At 41, Hamby is not only the artistic director of TheaterWorks, one of the most respected theaters in the Valley, he just won an award that staggered him—in a good way. Last month, Hamby received the Governor’s Arts Award in the Central Arizona Artist category. “I was shocked” when his name was called at a virtual awards show, Hamby said. Part of the surprise, he said, is “it’s kind of a lifetime achievement award. And I feel like we have so much more work to do.” Indeed, Hamby was in the middle of transitioning from “Curiouser & Curiouser,” his take on the Alice tale that ended Nov. 1, to a holiday version called “A Curiouser Nutcracker,” which opened Nov. 27 and plays
through Dec. 30. Shortly after TheaterWorks “went dark” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamby started brainstorming an idea for “an immersive, multi-sensory, intimate theater production,” during which audience members walk into and through the world of Alice. After spending years racing from one production to the next, Hamby had the rare luxury of time to work with his staff to transform various theaters, rehearsal spaces and hallways of the spacious Peoria Center for the Performing Arts into Wonderland. Launched Sept. 10, “Curiouser & Curiouser” was a triumphant comeback for TheaterWorks, which was dark and quiet for months. Two days before the theater’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Hamby made the decision to shut down the theater and the fundraiser. “It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do,” he said. “We didn’t know how long it would last—two weeks? Two months?” It turned out to be an entire summer, normally one of the busiest times for the youth-oriented Peoria theater. Instead of juggling an assortment of shows this summer, “I was figuring out how to keep my theater alive,” Hamby said. Typically, instead of playing it safe with a minimalist show to reopen, Hamby went big. “Logistically, this is the craziest
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Goodyear native Chris Hamby, fresh off creating and launching “Curiouser & Curiouser,” which triumphantly relaunched TheaterWorks after months of darkness, was awarded a Governor’s Arts Award. (Photos courtesy TheaterWorks)
thing I’ve ever done,” Hamby said, with the kind of laugh reserved for the closing moments of a show. Audience reaction has been joyous, leading to the holiday sequel. The icing on the cake came last week, when Hamby learned of the Governor’s Arts Award. What did it mean to him? “Selfishly, it was a validation of my body of work—‘Hey, people are paying attention to me,’” Hamby said. His home theater beamed with pride. “Chris is a theater visionary with incredible talent, devotion and passion that creates magic on and off the stage,” said Tom Doyle, TheaterWorks’ board chair. Hamby recently celebrated his 10th year at TheaterWorks, which has received many AriZoni Awards in his decade in Peoria. “The impact that Chris has made on the lives of so many is indisputable. He is a magnetic leader and a remarkable artist,” said Cate Hinkle, TheaterWorks managing director. “And, his work is just beginning. I am proud to work alongside Chris and support his vision.”
DECEMBER 16, 2020
HOLIDAY LUNCH AT AVONDALE SENIOR CENTER
A little rain didn’t dampen the Avondale Senior Center’s holiday lunch. The Dec. 10 event was a “drive-thru” celebration, with the likes of a masked Santa a sign of the pandemic times. The Estrella Rotary helped Santa hand out presents, with live music entertaining more than 130 people. United Healthcare, Estrella Rotary, Eric Swenson, Realty One, Women of the Moose Lodge, Maureen Wilson Insurance, Home Instead, Delta Kappa Gamma, Wesley Norris Insurance, Define Mortgage, Councilwoman Veronica Malone, Patty Hannon, Chick-fil-A and the Avondale Police Department helped with the event. (Photos courtesy city of Avondale)
Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF TOLLESON ZONING ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Tolleson Zoning Administrator will conduct a PUBLIC HEARING on MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 beginning at 3:00 P.M., via Zoom Conference
https://us02web.zoom. us/j/5439720804 or via telephone at 1-253-215-8782 (Meeting ID: 543 972 0804), for the purpose of: Soliciting comments from interested parties in reference to Application #20110001 submitted by Shelby JM Duplessis, of the Empire Group LLC, to amend the Planned Area Development (PAD) located on the northeast corner
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of 99 th Avenue and Van Buren Street, previously approved for the Trillium 99 Project (Application #18100001/Ordinance No. 587 N.S.) The proposed minor amendment will allow the development of 269 residential units, both single-family detached and two-unit attached duplex homes, on approximately 22.41 gross acres (976,176 sq. ft.)
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located on APNs 102-53-344A & 102-53-327B. (Villages at Tolleson) Please visit the City’s website at www.tolleson.az.gov/ archive to view the agenda with detailed participation instructions. Published in the West Valley View and West Valley Business on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2020 / 35xxx
DECEMBER 16, 2020
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