LAVEEN, AZ – When Fall arrives with cooler weather, it’s time to find the perfect pumpkin for Jack O’ Lanterns or for autumn décor. The Amadio Farm Pumpkin Patch in Laveen invites families to come for two weekends of Pumpkin Patch festivities on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26.

“Our Pumpkin Patch events feature arts and crafts booths, fall colors, face painting, food, a hay maze, and other activities for the whole family,” says Eric Amadio, who owns the family-run organic farm with his wife, Christina. “And of course, we have a large pumpkin patch where the kids can hunt for just the right pumpkin and provide beautiful fall color photo opportunities.”

Guests can wander through the booths featuring home-made crafts from local artisans, perhaps finding a gift item or two, then stroll through the orchard to see farm animals and feed the goats.

Activities ranging from a giant slide ride to face-painting — designed to keep families of all ages entertained.

The events start at 8 a.m. each Saturday morning, and also include a variety of fresh produce from the organic farm on Dobbins Road to choose from, made-from-scratch pies from Amadio Ranch, and snacks to include cotton candy, kettle corn and Pie in a Jar parfaits.

“I’m from the Midwest where fall is much more pronounced,” Christina Amadio says. “We want to create that ‘fall is in the air’ nostalgia at our farm.”

Pumpkin Patch Details

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26

WHERE: Amadio Ranch, 4701 W. Dobbins Road, Laveen AZ 85339

WHAT: Pumpkin Patch, kid activities, food, crafts vendors and more

Admission is free

ABOUT AMADIO RANCH

Amadio Ranch is a heritage farming venture in Laveen, AZ, on the outskirts of Phoenix. Established in 2010, Amadio Ranch produces peaches, apricots, plums, apples, pears, figs, and grapes in their orchards and garden. They also grow vine-ripe tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, non-GMO sweet corn, carrots, and beets. The farm’s Peach Truck takes produce to farmers’ markets in Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Tempe, and Phoenix while their farm stand at the ranch is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Learn more at www.amadioranch.com

The post Pumpkin Patch Festival kicks off the season for two weekends at Amadio Ranch in Laveen appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

Registration open during summer for openings at Paseo Pointe and Desert Meadows programs; waitlist established for new preschool at Vista del Sur.

Guest column from Laveen Elementary School District

The Laveen District will be opening its third preschool in Fall 2019 at Vista del Sur. Vista will join Desert Meadows and Paseo Pointe schools in offering an academics based preschool program for children ages 3-5 years old.

Like Desert Meadows, Vista’s program will offer general education instruction. Paseo Pointe’s preschool will continue to offer dual language immersion programming. The district also operates a developmental preschool for children with special needs on the Laveen Elementary School campus.

In 2017, the Laveen District launched two new preschool programs at Paseo Pointe School with both general education and Spanish immersion offerings. The following year, the general education program expanded to Desert Meadows School allowing Paseo Pointe to focus on dual language immersion. Both preschool programs have surpassed expectations. They have been extremely popular, filling up quickly and remaining full throughout the year.

While Vista’s preschool already has a waitlist, Desert Meadows and Paseo Pointe both have a few spots still open. Preschool registrations will be accepted throughout the summer and must be completed in person at the Kids Klub office located at Desert Meadows School, 6855 W. Meadows Loop East. Visit the district’s preschool page, www.laveenschools.org/preschool,  for more details including fees, requirements, and program offerings.

The post Laveen school district adds preschool program at Vista del Sur for fall 2019 appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

School might be out, but Laveen schools are serving FREE breakfast and lunch to all kids all summer! In addition, both our local high schools, Cesar Chavez and Betty Fairfax are part of a similar program in the Phoenix Union High School District.

Children 18 years and younger may join us throughout the summer for nutritious breakfast and lunch. All kids’ meals are free at specific Laveen Elementary School district schools. There are no income requirements and you do not need to register. Children do not need to be enrolled in a Laveen school to participate. The summer meal program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Join us at any of the following locations.

All sites closed May 27 and July 4.

Meals are available to all children under the age of 18. Adult meals available for $2.50 breakfast and $3.50 lunch.

Visit www.laveeneld.org/summer-meals for more details.

In addition, this is the 38th summer that the Phoenix Union High School District, along with other agencies, will provide breakfast and lunch for needy children 18 years of age and younger at 13 high schools, Monday through Thursday, May 28th – June 27th.

Funded through the U.S. Department of Education food and nutrition programs, the Summer Food Program has, for over three decades, prepared and served more than 4 million meals at as many as 60 sites throughout Phoenix. Summer lunches are an extension of the National School Lunch Program.

Meals are prepared at PUHSD’s various high school campuses, listed below, serving thousands of meals per day. New foodstuffs are purchased at the beginning of the program to support the nutritional needs of children in impoverished areas.

Meals will be made available to all children 18 years of age and under without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Meals will be served at the following PUHSD-sponsored campuses:

Alhambra High School                    3839 W. Camelback Road

Bioscience High School                   512 E. Pierce Street

Betty Fairfax High School               8225 S. 59^th Avenue, Laveen  

Camelback High School                  4312 N 28th Street

Central High School                        4525 N. Central Avenue

Cesar Chavez High School               3921 W Baseline Road, Laveen    

Franklin Police and Fire HS             1645 W. McDowell Road

Carl Hayden High School                3333 W. Roosevelt Street

Metro Tech High School                  1900 W. Thomas Road

North High School                          1101 E. Thomas Road

Phoenix Coding Academy                 4445 N Central Avenue

Academies at South Mountain         5401 S. 7^th Street

Trevor G. Browne High School        7402 W. Catalina Drive

Each of these school campuses will be hosting Summer School. Food will be prepared, as it is during the regular school year, at each location in the school cafeteria or delivered to the sponsor site. Participating community members will be directed to the designated areas of each campus.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 A.M. until 8:30 A.M., with lunch being served from 11:45 A.M. until 12:15 P.M. Adults are welcome to accompany children and can purchase breakfast for $2 and lunch for $3.

The post Free breakfasts and lunches ALL SUMMER at Laveen schools appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

Teachers in this rural suburb of Phoenix are getting a special treat today (Aug. 4) from a restaurant that promises to bring each teacher a free smoothie as they prepare to welcome nearly 7,000 district students to Meet the Teacher night.

Smoothie Run Internet Café, owned and operated by Laveen resident Marcus Moody, is delivering treats and coupons to teachers this afternoon starting at 3 p.m. to hundreds of teachers at the Laveen Elementary School District’s eight schools, as well as three charter schools in the community.

“Education is the cornerstone to our children’s futures,” says Moody, a married father of six. “My brother is a school superintendent in California. Our family has always emphasized the importance of education, and that starts right here with our local teachers.”

Smoothie Run is a strong supporter of the Laveen community, sponsoring Live Pure Kids, a youth group at Laveen Elementary School that focuses on healthy living; Riders Ranch, a Laveen-based life skills riding program for challenged youth; as well as local youth sports. Moody, a Laveen resident, says he is committed to making his community better and stronger by giving back to support teachers and youth.

His company also was the host on Sunday, July 31, for the 2^nd Annual Laveen Backpack Drive and Family Fun Day.  About 15 local businesses collected backpacks and donated items to the event, providing about 35 backpacks for needy children in the Laveen area.

“That’s what it’s important, making it better wherever you are,” he said.

He opened Smoothie Run Internet café, which serves smoothies, pitas, salads and a variety of desserts, in December 2015 to offer a healthier restaurant choice in Laveen. Meet the Teacher Night takes place from 5-7 p.m. at the eight elementary schools in the Laveen district, including Paseo Pointe, the community’s newest school that features a Spanish immersion program.

ABOUT SMOOTHIE RUN INTERNET CAFÉ

Smoothie Run Internet Café, 6115 S. 51^st Ave., in Laveen is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving pitas, salads, smoothies and desserts. The café features free computers and WiFi for guests, a toys and coloring for young guest, and many local residents meet there for business and networking. Smoothie Run serves a healthy menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit www.smoothierun.com for more information.

The post Smoothie Run Café giving Laveen teachers free treats for Meet the Teacher Night appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

Free kids program on dog safety set for July 18

Teri Ann Tate, owner of Laveen-based Comfy Pets of AZ, and Amy Williams, a  dog and equine trainer with Mesa-based All 4 Paws Training, are teaming up to offer a free children’s program on dog safety at Cesar Chavez Library in Laveen.

The first Children’s Doggie Education and Care Program will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Monday July 18^th.

Tate says the fun and interactive clinic will teach children the proper way to approach a strange dog, how to do basic pet first aid, feeding and safety tips for caring for their dogs, how to read a dog’s body language and what to do when encountering a service dog.

“This has been a dream of mine for several years,” Tate said. “ I knew when I met Amy at the recent Pet Expo and her service dog, Nomi, that we would make a great team.”

The program is free to all children and their parents. Materials include a coloring book for the children to bring home.

For more information, visit  www.comfypetsofaz.com, www.all4pawstraining.com, or call Tate at 602-579-1437.

Cobblestone Auto Spa Express opens

The Phoenix-area car wash company opened on June 30, in between O’Reilly Auto Parts and Dollar Self Storage.

Cobblestone Auto Spa operates 11 convenient locations in the Phoenix Metro area, featuring full service car washes with detail shops, express drive-thru washes, oil & lube services, windshield repair and replacement, as well as 24-hr convenience stores and gasoline. Their mission is to pamper their customer’s car with a spa-like experience.

Cobblestone Auto Spa also supports local First Responders and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Memorial Fund and remind its customers to support fallen officers. In May, the company did a benefit to support the family of Office David Glasser, who died after being shot responding to a call in Laveen.

Visit www.cobblestoneautospa.com for more information.

Big prizes added to Rider’s Ranch raffle

A grand prize of $1,000 cash joins other prizes including Disneyland tickets, a custom cake from Kathy Does Kakes, Double Tree hotel stays, Phoenix Zoo tickets, Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium children’s tickets and gift cards from a variety of businesses including Whole Foods, Discount Tire and The Meat Shop.

The fund-raiser started May 1 and runs all summer ending on Labor Day weekend with the drawing for prizes on Sept. 5.

In addition, Rider’s Ranch is offering summer riding classes with some openings remaining in July.  Riding is on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

For more information about raffle tickets or riding classes, call Melissa Rider at 602-320-6016, email ridersranchprograms@gmail.com or visit www.ridersranch.org

Fun day and backpack drive set for July

Several Laveen businesses, in partnership with the Laveen Lions Club, are sponsoring a month-long backpack driving ending with a family fun day on July 31.

Residents can drop off new backpacks at three locations: Smoothie Run Internet Café, 6115 S. 51^st Ave., Laveen; Cesar Graphics, 2610 W. Baseline Road, Phoenix; and Dollar Self Storage, 5445 W. Baseline Road, Laveen.

The Family Fun Day will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 31, with a bounce house other kid-friendly activities in the parking lot near Smoothie Run (51^st and southern avenues).

A free Goody Bag with coupons for a free smoothie, discounts on AC services and carpet cleaning, treats and more will be given to each person who drops off a new backpack at the event.

The Laveen Lions Club will be working with the Laveen Elementary School District to distribute the backpacks the week before school starts to those in need to ensure all children are ready to learn when school resumes on Aug. 8.

Additional local businesses helping sponsor the event include: A Child’s Joy, AZ Media Maven, Beauty and Business Events, Comfy Pets of AZ, Ellaments Salon, Enlightened Horse, Guaranteed Clean Carpet Cleaning, Kathy Does Kake, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Total Refrigeration & Home Services and Turf Realty. For more information or to join the sponsors, contact info@finditinlaveen.com or call 602-373-8371.

Inked Auto Glass offers discounts

Travis Kolasinksi, owner of the glass repair company, said his business is offering the following summer specials:

• 10 percent off for cash-paying customners
• $10 off chip repairs ($25 instead of $35)

The local company provides mobile service as well in repairing windshields and other broken auto glass, as well as home and business glass needs, showers and tables.

Reach the business at inkedautoglass@gmail.com or call 602-460-3838.

Do you have some news you want to share about your business? Email your information to the South Mountain District News with subject line: BUSINESS BRIEF. This is a perfect time to let people know about a business anniversary, special sales or events, an expansion, the addition of new staff, a promotion, etc. Send news to smdnews@cox.net.

The post Free dog safety program, backpack drive and discounts top July business news appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

More than four decades after Congress enacted legislation to ensure children with special needs are granted the same opportunity for education as those without a disability, parents and school officials still struggle with how those services should look for individual students.

In Laveen and Roosevelt elementary school districts, the number of children who fall under the special education designation is rising with the population growth in Southwest Phoenix. Given Arizona’s poor record for spending money on education, parents and administrators find themselves at odds on how to find the financing necessary to help vulnerable students learn in the federally-mandated “least restrictive environment.”

Laveen resident Bonnie Carroll is the mother an adult daughter and a 7-year-old son with Down syndrome. Her son also is diagnosed with autism and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Carroll recently earned her law degree and has a strong legal understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how that applies to her son and other children with special needs.

Part B of IDEA is the portion of the four-part law that addresses public education.  The mission for IDEA is to ensure that children with disabilities get the same opportunity for education as those students without disabilities.

To advocate for her child and to help others in Laveen, Carroll started a Facebook group called Laveen’s Exceptional Parents that includes more than 20 families with at least one special needs child.

Carroll also went to a Laveen school board meeting in May to note her concerns about the education children in Laveen receive if they are in a self-contained classroom. In a paper she prepared, Carroll said children in those placements often do not get to participate in such school activities as talent shows, technology days, some field trips and morning recognition programs. She said that children in self-contained classrooms also are not taught all the subjects other children have access to through placement in regular classrooms.

As of the end of May, Carroll said no one has responded to her concerns. She said her son has had some outstanding teachers and therapists during his time in Laveen, but her view is that district officials must do more to include children of all abilities in all parts of the curriculum.

“There are more and more children with disabilities. The numbers are changing drastically,” Carroll said. “How is the education system ever going to deal with it?”

Carroll goes on to partly answer her own question:

“The school districts have to learn how to teach our children. That’s going to be the reality. It’s not possible to choose to no longer teach a group of kids. Previously they could move them into a self-contained classroom and that is what they did. That’s not going to be acceptable. You can’t not teach a huge population, which is what you have when you take into account all the disabilities.”

The National Center for Education Statistics shows that for the school year 2011-2012 that special education students made up 12.9 percent of the total population of school-age students nationwide. While neither Roosevelt nor Laveen break down the numbers by percentages, district officials acknowledge the growing number of children with disabilities attending their schools.

In Laveen Elementary School District, for example, the number of special education students has doubled over the past 10 years growing to 1,156 (including 118 children with 504 accommodation plans). Roosevelt School District has a slightly higher number with 1,248. Both totals also include the developmental preschool programs with 145 in Laveen and 174 in Roosevelt that serve children ages 3-5.

“We all know that Arizona does not adequately fund special education,” says Todd Liolios, director of student services for Laveen. Liolios has held this job for nine years.  “That’s why there was an election (in May on Proposition 123). The federal government doesn’t properly fund special education. The federal funding is only 16 percent of what it should be …. It is atrocious.”

Proposition 123 narrowly passed in late May. It will boost funding for K-12 schools in large part by using the state land trust to help add $3.5 billion over 10 years.

For Carroll, it’s about having input on her child’s education. She has been working closely with her son’s team at Roger’s Ranch Elementary School to craft a plan that allows him to attend mainstream classrooms. While IDEA does not specifically spell out that children with disabilities should go to class with their typical peers, it does say children should be taught in the least restrictive environment possible.

How LRE is decided, though, leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Where children are placed and how the school district provides their education is determined by a cross disciplinary team that includes a child’s parents, teacher, a school psychologist and often a variety of therapists, such as speech, occupational, and physical.

Parents may invite anyone they choose to the meeting to review the Individual Education Plan (IEP) including private specialists from outside the district, advocates or others who can help determine the best course for the child’s education. The IEP is a legal document that teachers, faculty and therapists must follow after the team has agreed on the plan.

“As part of our evaluation system each teacher being evaluated must provide an explanation of how they will be meeting the needs of all learners,” said Jeanne N. Koba, superintendent at Roosevelt. “This includes discussion of students on IEPs and how the teacher plans to meet the students’ needs during the lesson that will be (pre-conference) and or has been (post conference) met in the particular lesson.”

Koba said the MET/IEP team looks at each individual child’s needs to determine what the child needs both academically as well as socially in order to progress and grow. “We have several different types of self-contained classrooms, with the goal always being to help children move to a less restrictive/higher functioning class and or general education.”

Both Koba and Liolios said funding and staffing are the two biggest challenges districts face in providing all students with the services they need.

“I would say that funding and finding qualified teachers and other service providers are our biggest challenges,” Koba said. “It is very costly to provide a full spectrum of services and the service providers to go along with the programs. It can be difficult to find the staff, which is highly qualified both on paper and in their actual practice.”

Liolios agreed, saying that special education departments throughout the valley and state struggle with a shortage of qualified employees, which leads to the use of substitute teachers and expensive, contracted staff in some districts.

“Despite the chronic shortage of special education teachers and therapists, each year we have been fully staffed in special education,” Liolios said of his district. “We have been able to do this by providing strong support and structure to our staff. Each new hire is provided with explicit orientation and specialized training. Additionally, each new hire is assigned an expert mentor who works with them throughout the year.”

He estimates an 85 percent district retention rate for special education staff in Laveen.

Brooke Lange, a former teacher in the Laveen district, said funding plays a big part in how well districts can address the needs of individual students. Lange returned to teaching in her native Oregon last year, a state that spent $9,543 per pupil in fiscal 2013 compared with $7,208 for Arizona. The information is from the U.S. Census and was released in May 2015.

She said that her current district emphasizes inclusion of special needs children in a multitude of ways.

“Something my current school district does to support inclusion is having goal meetings where we set social and behavior goals with the students and have them a part of tracking their goals,” said Lange, who previously taught fourth grade at Desert Meadows. “This helps motivate them and strengthens their self-esteem.”

“We call it a “check-in/check-out” system. They check in every morning with the counselors and SPED (special education) team, go over their already set goals, have a positive interaction and then head to their gen-ed rooms.”

Lange said throughout the day the classroom teachers help the children keep score on their goals. “Help is always one walkie-talkie call away if we need push-in support to get a kiddo back on track,” she said. “Having a student leave the room and miss instruction is what we try to avoid. “

At the end of the day the special needs students take their charts back to the check in/ check out team and total up their points. “They get to earn things for reaching their goals and if they don’t reach their goal, they have someone to talk to about what went wrong. It is an amazing system,” Lange said.

While having more money to hire better staff will always be a goal, the local educators also are focusing on innovative ways to integrate students and train general education teachers on how to best support the special needs students in their classrooms.

Despite budget and staff challenges, Liolios said Laveen’s special education program has received the highest rating for seven consecutive years when evaluated annually by the state of Arizona.

“We have worked to creatively maximize our dollars to provide the greatest support,” he said. “First, our generous Laveen voters are very supportive of our mission to educate our students. They have supported elections to provide support for staff salaries and benefits. They have also supported capital elections to fund classroom technology, wheelchair buses and other expenses.”

Liolios said another solution to funding challenges is seeking grants. Laveen said he received word at the end of the 2015-16 school year to that Laveen would receive a little under $10,000 in grant money for use in technology to support special education student achievement. The exact amount hadn’t been determined at press time.

A third solution that Liolios mentioned was paring with outside resources in the community. He said Laveen partnered with Southwest Behavioral and Health Services allowing two behavioral therapists to support students while their salaries are paid by Southwest.

In the Roosevelt district, Koba has a long history working with special education children. She joined the district in 1985, taught special education for 15 year and was assistant superintendent of special Education for approximately nine years.

As superintendent, Koba ensures that Roosevelt offers extensive professional development opportunities to both special education and general education teachers on a wide variety of topics that relate to special education.

“Whenever we see a pattern or trend in questions, needs etc., we attempt to develop training to support the teachers. One of our professional development coaches was selected for the position specifically due to their background and experience teaching special needs students,” she said.

The district also has two consulting teachers who are available to mentor, guide, answer questions and generally support teachers who have special needs students in the general education.

Carroll said innovative partnerships with parents and the local community is one way that Laveen can achieve more inclusion for special needs students. She is working with her son’s school and IEP team to find more ways for him to be part of the mainstream at his school.

“I am working on a model for my son, but it could be a model for other children as well,” Carroll said. “It’s about educating them in an environment where you get them to be a part of society. They need to learn how to be part of society.”

“I think as parents we can help,” Carroll said. “We know all kinds of resources, we know about the research. We could create a plan — one that doesn’t require money, but requires time and dedication.”

By Rose Hutchinson Tring (This article first appeared in the print edition of the South Mountain District News on June 1, 2016)

The post Districts struggle to meet needs of special education students appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

Laveen-based Smoothie Run Internet Cafe is partnering with the Live Pure Kids program at Laveen Elementary School.

Live Pure Kids focuses on educating children on disease prevention, holistic living, the organic lifestyle, and things to be aware of in this world when it comes to the water they drink, the food they eat, and the air they breathe.

Gavin Tucker, an 8th grade ELA teacher  at Laveen Elementary School  started the after school program. “Our mission with LPK is to change the lifestyles of our next generation who have been stated to be the first in history to not live passed their parents,” Tucker said.

 When the group had its first event on Feb. 29, the kids “fell in love with Smoothie Run.  The students love how the smoothies have fruits and vegetables as well as their choice of almond milk.”

Smoothie Run owner Marcus Moody plans to sponsor the program with a Smoothie Run night every other Tuesday to raise money for Live Pure Kids.  Tentative plans call for all sales between 4 and 7  p.m. in  which a patron at Smoothie Run mentions Laveen Elementary, 20 percent of the proceeds will be given to the Live Pure Kids.  The next events are set for April 19, May 3 and May 17.

Below are photos from the most recent event on April 5 at Smoothie Run, 51st Avenue and Baseline Road.

 

The post Smoothie Run partners with Live Pure Kids appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

This article appears in the April 7 print issue of the South Mountain District News

Beauty and Business matches vendors and businesses

Two Laveen women have launched a business to help other businesses and small vendors make a splash in the community.

Jessica Cummings started Beauty and Business in 2014 with Crystal Marvin joining the team recently. The pair coordinates events at local companies by bringing in other small business owners as vendors.

“We help businesses match the vendors to their business demographics,” Marvin explained. “We do fundraisers for local nonprofits and youth sporting groups as well.”

For example, if a restaurant wants to host a “family night” there might be vendors selling jewelry, makeup and other items that would appeal to moms who rarely get the opportunity to shop. “They get to have dinner and shop at the same time,” she said.

Each vendor event is carefully curated to ensure only one of a particular service or product attends.

For more information, contact the women at (623) 980-6857 or (602) 622-4300, via email at beautyandbusinessaz@gmail.com  or visit their Facebook page.

 Ranch preparing for annual fund-raiser

Laveen-based Rider’s Ranch provides its Equine Assisted Life Skills Programs free to at-risk youth in the community. The programs are known nationally for their success in helping youth develop into better, more productive citizens. By developing relationships with horses, the youth can overcome mental, physical and social disadvantages.

The programs focus on teaching children about the value of team work, work ethics, communication skills, problem solving and empathy for others. Melissa Rider, program director for the 501c3 nonprofit organization, has been able to offer the program free to the community but only with the help of donations and community sponsors from groups such as Comfy Pets of AZ, The Enlightened Horse and many others.

For the third year, Rider’s Ranch will be holding a summer-long fund-raising campaign to keep the program free and helping children in the community. The effort will launch May 1 and end on Labor Day, Sept. 5, with drawings for many different prizes. Last year, gift baskets, sporting events tickets, and amusement park trips were some of the prizes offered.

During April, Rider is hoping community businesses will donate prizes that can be offered. Donations can be tickets, gift baskets, merchandise, etc. The items can be listed as charitable donations for tax purposes.

For more information, visit www.ridersranch.org, or contact Rider at ridersranchprograms@gmail.com or by calling 602-320-6016.

Cobblestone Auto Spa predicts May opening

Construction is underway for a Cobblestone Auto Spa Express on Baseline Road, just east of Dollar Storage. Company officials predict a late May opening of the drive-through car wash that also will offer self-serve vacuum cleaners for patrons.

Joey McMorris, director of marketing for the Phoenix-based chain, said the Laveen location will be the company’s 12^th. “We’re finally at the point where we can do it and do it right.”

McMorris said the Cobblestone executives are always look for the right location, demographics and drive-by traffic to determine expansion options. This is the company’s first in the Southwest Valley. A previous project planned in 2008 for Litchfield Park didn’t pan out due to the economic climate at the time. “Our target market is pretty much anyone who drives.”

Cobblestone opened its first car wash in 1997 and is making plans for its 20-year anniversary next year. More details will be available in May regarding the local location.. For more information, visit www.cobblestone.com.

Tenant list updated at 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road

Developer Michael Moreines with DPR Realty, has released an updated tenant list for the commercial space being built and leased along the south side of Baseline Road to the west of 51^st Avenue.

T-Mobile and StateFarm join the list of tenants slated to lease space in the southwest quadrant of the 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road intersection. Current anchors at the location are LA Fitness, Discount Tire, Walgreen’s and Fry’s Fuel Center. Other businesses in the location will include: KFC, Dunkin’ Donuts, Dairy Queen, Smashburger, Peter Piper Pizza, Firehouse Subs, Herbal Nails Salon, Zoyo Yogurt, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, a barber shop and a dental office.

Although originally scheduled to open last fall, construction on the site known as Estrella Mountain Village has taken longer than anticipated with opening dates for some businesses being postponed.  Dunkin’ Donuts, for example, had planned a grand opening in February.

Moreines said there currently is about 4,600 square feet still available for leasing. For more information visit www.dprcommercialrealty.com or contact Moreines at 602-909-2850.

Firehouse Subs plans April 18 opening

A spokesperson with Firehouse Subs said the Laveen location is tentatively set to open on April 18 as part of the Estrella Mountain Village Development at 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road.

Firehouse Subs was founded by brothers and former firefighters Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen and the brand is built on decades of fire and police service, and its commitment to saving lives through its nonprofit art, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

For more information visit,  www.fireshousesubs.com.

Laveen vet offers insight into keeping animals safe

April is Animal Cruelty Prevention Month. All animals deserve to be treated with the same respect and kindness as humans. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is dedicated to helping animals in all walks of life and it is helpful to know the signs of animal cruelty and also how you can help in your own community.

Officials at Laveen Veterinary Center say these are some of the signs of neglect:

• Excessive or prolonged howling, barking or meowing may indicate an animal is not getting the attention and care it needs.
• Too many animals in a small area causing unsanitary conditions.
• Clearly malnourished animals with bones visible through skin.

The clinic notes that one of the best ways to help is to report signs of animal abuse, neglect or cruelty.  Also, visit the ASPCA web site to find out more information on how to donate and volunteer. To schedule an appointment with Laveen Veterinary Center call (602) 559-9600 or visit Laveen Veterinary Center for more information.

Do you have some news you want to share about your business? Email your information to the South Mountain District News with subject line: BUSINESS BRIEF. This is a perfect time to let people know about a business anniversary, special sales or events, an expansion, the addition of new staff, a promotion, etc. Send news to smdnews@cox.net.

The post New tenants on Baseline; openings this month appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

Hunter Hazelton, a senior at Betty Fairfax High School was named 2016 Arizona Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the state finals competition held on March 11, 2016 at the downtown Phoenix studios of Arizona PBS. As State Champion, Hazelton will represent Arizona at the 11^th annual Poetry Out Loud National Finals competition in Washington, D.C., in May.

A program of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is delivered in all 50 states and three territories through partnerships with the State Arts Agencies. The Arizona Poetry Out Loud program is managed and supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona.

This year, 49 schools and over 10,000 students across the state participated in the competition at the school level. 52 students advanced to compete at one of three regional competitions held in February. Ten students advanced from the regional competitions to compete in the state finals.

Hunter is the son of Fairfax’ campus technician specialist Chris Hazelton.

As the Arizona Poetry Out Loud state champion, Hazelton receives a $200 cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip for him and a chaperone to the national finals, to be held in Washington, D.C., May 2-4. Additionally, his school will receive $500 to purchase poetry books for its library.

Information provided by the Phoenix Union High School District.

The post Fairfax student name state poetry champ appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

(Article from the South Mountain District News)

Dedicated to youth, their growth and development, Heritage Academy teaches the mastery of primary and secondary skills in the fields of history, math, writing, literature, reading, science, music, foreign language, visual art, performing arts and physical development. By offering a variety of programs such as history tours, a performing arts retreat, basketball, soccer and more, Heritage Academy strives to meet the needs of families in the Southwest Valley.

Heritage Academy also has a strong commitment to the teachers at our school. We have a positive working environment, a four-day workweek (M-TH), offer a competitive salary and participate in the Arizona State Retirement System. We are accepting resumes in all academic disciplines (English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and world languages) as well as Special Education and administrative positions.

What can you expect if you join our team? A dedicated principal and vice principal who work tirelessly to ensure the needs of the teachers as well as the scholars are met. Peers who care about seeing you succeed and truly enjoy working at Heritage.

Tara Miller (BA, MEd), English and Yearbook

“One of the things I truly love about working at Heritage Laveen is the sense of community felt by the students, teachers and parents.  The school brings together such a diverse group of people who work together to help our scholars find their success.   Students are collaborating, learning multiple perspectives and growing as individuals, while, at the same time challenging themselves academically.   It’s beautiful to watch scholars who might not have ever met, work together to produce a product or discover an idea.  They are being prepared for the real world.  So far this year, I have watched my students discover themselves with the support from their teachers, parents, our dedicated PTO group and most of all their peers.  I’m proud to work at Heritage. “3

Alicia Guenthner (BA, MA in Special Education), Special Education

“The vibe and environment is very positive here at Heritage Academy. It feels like a tight-knit community, where teachers want to help the students succeed and families are very involved in their children’s education. The expectations are high and challenges students to work hard towards their goals and aspirations for the future. For a quality education and caring teachers, Heritage Academy in Laveen is the way to go. “   

Sederis Ford (BA)

“This school year is my second year teaching at Heritage Academy Laveen. It has been one of my most fulfilling teaching experiences thus far. The community and parent participation has made teaching at Heritage Academy Laveen very special.”  

Beth Farris (BA), Registrar

“I consistently hear students say that they have never felt more cared for at a school.  Our small environment combined with quality teachers, a mission to make a difference in our community, and high standards of performance combine to create an educational experience that is unmatched.”

Jennifer Foerst (AA), ELL coordinator

“My husband and I were looking at different schools for our two daughters.  A friend of mine gave me some information about Heritage Academy Laveen.  After attending an open house, we were very impressed with the curriculum and the arts program.  My daughters loved Heritage so much, that I decided that I wanted to be a part of their educational team as well.”

Isaac Demke (BS), Science

“My time teaching in Laveen has been an incredible experience. The students that I have had the opportunity to teach have far exceeded my expectations. I have been overwhelmed by the desire to learn demonstrated by my students and the level of support they receive from their parents. As I have taught the juniors and seniors, I have seen the drive and ambition many of them exhibit as they pursue and prepare themselves for higher education. Their work ethic makes be proud to be part of this community.”

Esther T. Golding (BA, MA Secondary Education, MA Fine Art, Adjunct Professor MCCC & Ottawa University), English

“Heritage Academy Laveen is a great school.  I find the parents to be very supportive and they really go out of their way to support the learning process.  I like the energy and creativity the youth bring to assignments.  Because of the encouragement of friends, these young people at Heritage Academy Laveen take risks and try many diverse extracurricular activities.  I love watching them grow and develop in academic and social skills.”

We are accepting resumes for all grade levels. A Bachelor’s degree is required for 7th and 8th grade teachers. We are also looking for candidates who have taught college or university level courses or in a dual/concurrent enrollment capacity for 9-12 grades. Visit our websitehttp://www.heritageacademyaz.com/index.cfm/about-us/jobs/ for more information.

If you are interested in working at Heritage, please email a cover letter and resume tocwest@heritageacademyaz.com.

Heritage Academy invites interested families to call the office to schedule a tour of the campus and speak with teachers, staff and scholars about Heritage’s unique curriculum and educational opportunities. You may bring a completed application to the school located at 4275 W. Baseline Road Laveen, AZ 85339. Go to www.HeritageAcademyAZ.com and click “Apply” to download all the necessary forms. If you have questions, you can reach us at laveeninfo@heritageacademyaz.com or call 602-290-8546.

Heritage Academy is Hosting an Open House: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Written by Chris West

The post Heritage Academy Dedicated to Youth, Committed to Teachers appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.