South Mountain Villager News Blog: February 2008

What’s Happening In The South Mountain/Laveen Village’s?

by George A. Young

“Litter is not a right, it is a defect” (JB)

The South Mountain Village Clean & Beautiful (SMVC&B) would like to hear from you if you would like to have us assist you in cleaning up your neighborhood or would like to join us in a clean up. Our next clean up is March 1^st at 9^th. Street and East Jones. I think we will make a directory for the Village’s; I get inquiries all the time for electricians, plumbers, etc. I have a new plumber I will recommend; his name is John Salazar (602) 615-6081. The South Mountain Village Planning Committee will be discussing a text amendment for the MUA designation and possible recommendation will be made at our March 11th. 2008 meeting. Please plan to attend. For more info call our planner Dr. Ambika Adhikari (602-262-4074) or e-mail him at ambika.adhikari@phoenix.gov. To inquire about developments in the South Mountain/Laveen Village please call George at (602-243-3162). I have had several phone calls from folks living in our Villages that need help in painting over Graffiti, please call me for their contact information.

The Eagle Prep College Prep Elementary School will be located at 24^th Avenue and West South Mountain Avenue. Please look for future ads in the Villager. It will be opening in the fall of 2008. The South Mountain/Laveen Village’s Festival Committee is looking for folks that could help us put on all of the events and be an active part of our Committee. Wal-Mart Super center at 35^th. Avenue and West Southern is now officially a major sponsor of the Festival Committee. The Manager, Ms. Terri Minard has agreed to be one of our major sponsor’s for 2008 and possibly 2009. We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to her and Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart in the first year they were opened donated more than $50,000.00 to many organizations in the South Mountain and Laveen Village’s. Please contact me or attend our monthly Festival meeting.

Well folks I heard the other day that the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration got a few awards. The U.S. Corp of Engineers gave the project its “Planning Team of the Year Award” and Maricopa Association of Governments gave it its “Desert Peaks Award for Public Partnership”. The project also won the “Environmental Excellence President’s Award” and two Crescordia awards from Valley Forward, an “Environmental Stewardship Award” from the Salt River Project and the “President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness” from ASU. I am amazed that we keep getting awards for a project that the nobody seems to know exist. Congratulations on your honors.

Our Cesar Chavez Library also won the “Distinguished Organization Award” from the Arizona Humanities Council and the “Design Excellence and Best of Show Award from the International Interior Design Association.

· The South Mountain Village Planning Committee will meet on March 11^th. 2008 at 6:30 PM at the South Mountain Park Environmental Educational Center, 10409 South Central Ave.

· The Target Area B Citizens Action Committee will meet on March 26^th. 2008 at 6:30 PM at the Travis L. Williams Family Services Center, 4732 South Central Avenue.

· The South Mountain Village Planning Committee Economic Sub-Committee will meet on March 24^th.2008 at 6:30 PM at Travis L. Williams Family Services Center, 4732 South Central Avenue.

· The South Mountain/Laveen Village Festival Committee will meet on March 4th. 2008 at 4 PM at 3540 E. Baseline Rd.

· South Mountain Village Clean & Beautiful Committee will meet on February 27^th. 2008 at 4 PM at the Heritage Neighborhood Resource building on 2405 East Broadway Road.

“Remember Folks, Respect yourself & others and our Village, DO NOT LITTER.”

The Good Folks of the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s

By George Young

This is a series of articles profiling some of the residents who live and work in the South Mountain/Laveen Villages. In keeping with the original format of the Villager to only print the positive, we will attempt to acknowledge some of the great folks that have contributed so much to our lives and are hopefully role models for all of us.

Well folks we had another successful fundraiser at the fabulous Secret Garden for the South Mountain Village Clean & Beautiful and South Mountain/Laveen Village’s Inc Committee. I have so many people to thank for helping with this special Appreciation Dinner. First let’s start with Family. Sometime the word “Family” is overlooked or under appreciated in this busy life style that many of us have. As most of you folks know I have a large and extended family. Once again this year they stepped up to the plate and worked very hard to make our annual event special. So, many thanks to my brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews for everything they do for me. I am so blessed to have them in my life.

Then there are my friends and our sponsors that without them we would not be able to have such a great event. Special thanks go to Dave and Nancy Mata, (the owners of the Secret Garden, and their Event Coordinator Kirsten), for their vision, fortitude and financial investment in our Village, it would not have happened. A special thanks also goes out to Oreganos. Pizza Bistro and the owner Mr. Mark Russell and his excellent staff for catering our event. The community is looking forward to it being located across the street from the Secret Garden. Another special thanks to all of the folks who attended and their generous donations. Below is listed most of our other sponsors.