Vandals accused of 'terrorizing' Goodyear neighborhood
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in family focus
Police arrested two men with ties to street gangs who are suspected of “terrorizing” a Goodyear neighborhood with graffiti, officials said.
David Capper, of Avondale, and Zack Sharon, of Mesa, were booked on 46 counts each of criminal damage – one count for each graffiti symbol.
The pair was arrested Jan. 29 after a three-week joint investigation [...]
Tax shortfall may stall Goodyear City Center project
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in Latest Dirt
A City Center for Goodyear may not be in the near future, as the city weighs the costs of construction against falling home values.
The City Center proposal calls for a four-story, 96,500-square-foot city hall, 27,000-square-foot library and 4-acre-park. That’s a reduction of 16,000 square feet from the original overall project that Goodyear had hoped to [...]
Greece is the Word
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in On the Town
In 2003 My Big Fat Greek Restaurant opened it’s first location in Tempe and after it’s rapid success eight more locations popped up in the valley including two here in the West Valley with its newest location in Glendale’s Westgate City Center.
From the moment you step through the door you are entering an authentic Greek [...]
Valuations drop, but property tax may not
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in Financial
Most homeowners won’t be surprised when they open their property notices from the Maricopa County assessor this weekend. Values on most Valley homes have dropped.
But homeowners hoping for an immediate property-tax reduction will be disappointed.
Property-tax statements lag valuations by 18 months in Arizona, so homeowners won’t see a drop in their taxes until late 2009. [...]
IMS Arizona Marathon to close or restrict Glendale streets
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in A New You
Glendale police will close or restrict several streets to accommodate runners participating in the IMS Marathon on Sunday Feb. 14 around the sports and entertainment district.
The closures will take place between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Roadway restrictions include:
• 99th Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Maryland and Glendale avenues.
• South of Maryland Avenue [...]
Maricopa County property values drop for 3rd straight year
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in Financial
Maricopa County homeowners will begin to receive their latest property valuations in the mail today. Most will see a third straight annual drop in home values.
Residential property values fell an average of 15.2 percent in 2009, according to the latest report from the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office.
Values fell 23 percent in 2008, following a 13 [...]
Avondale trims more personnel, drops traffic-enforcement tools
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in Latest Dirt
As Avondale’s finances continue to take a hit, the city is eliminating 22.5 additional full-time jobs, seven of them through layoffs, and dropping the photo-red-light cameras and photo-speeding-enforcement van.
Don’t say Avondale hasn’t cut police and fire
Since 2008, when revenues began falling sharply, Avondale has laid off 28 city employees, eliminating 70 positions in all. It [...]
Buckeye schools gets $30K grant from VH1 Save the Music Foundation
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in Features
In a quiet classroom, 10 Liberty Elementary School seventh-graders silently learned basic piano skills on new keyboards.
By plugging headphones into the keyboards, the students were able to practice without distracting each other. Music teacher Vicki Hoaglund supervised the class and listened to individual players through a computer system and headphones. She also had her own [...]
Some decry moving Litchfield principal over mocking letter
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by dbarnhart in family focus
Litchfield Elementary parents showed their support for the principal who wrote a letter mocking students while others defended the superintendent’s decision to reshuffle several leadership positions in the wake of the controversy.
Ron Sterr is on administrative leave until Feb. 24 and has been removed as Litchfield Elementary School principal. On Tuesday, the Litchfield Elementary School [...]
