April 2008 What’s Happening

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

George A. Young

gayoung@cox.net

“The Trail of Trash Leads to an Unhappy end.” (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 April 5^th. Well folks the SMVC&B has been blessed again. My friend Sherry Lowary, the Manager at our IHOP on 24^th. Street and East Baseline has offered to furnish all the coffee and ice for our clean-ups. Thanks to Sherry and IHOP for their generous support. Our friend George Contreras, the owner of Raptor Guitars is having a one year anniversary celebration on Saturday June, 28^th. Stay tuned for details. The South Mountain Village Planning Committee will be discussing a text amendment for the MUA designation and possible recommendation will be made at our April 8^th. 2008 meeting. Please plan to attend. To inquire about developments in the South Mountain/Laveen Village please call George at (602-243-3162). I heard we are finally getting that New Car Wash on 16^th. Street and East Southern. They broke ground in March and plan to open in June of 2008. It is a full service conveyor carwash, a 4 million dollar project with green chemistry and variable frequency drive, green concrete, water reclaim and radio frequency I.D. There financial partner is Arizona Business Bank. The Eagle Prep College Prep Elementary School will be located at 24^th Avenue and West South Mountain Avenue. 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. The new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on 24^th Street and East Baseline just got its opening date push from March to June of 2008. I had a chance to sit down with the new Manager and his assistants. Really nice folks. They are excited about being here and want to be involved in the Village. We are getting another new restaurant at 7^th. Avenue and West Southern in the Food City Plaza called Pollo Campero. The 24 Hour Fitness on East Baseline is on hold for awhile. Oregano’s is still coming to the Village. Hopefully before the end of the year. The new Fire Station at 1660 West Dobbins is a great place to have public meetings. Fits about 35 people.

· The South Mountain Village Planning Committee will meet on April 8^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 onApril23rd. 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 April 28^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 April 1^st. 2008 at 4 PM at 3540 E. Baseline Rd.

· South Mountain Village Clean & Beautiful Committee will meet on April 2^nd. 2008 at 4 PM at the Heritage Neighborhood Resource building on 2405 East Broadway Road.

“Remember Folks, South Mountain Village is Beautiful, let’s keep it that way.”

The Good Folks April 2008

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

By George Young

(gayoung@cox.net)

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. Verna has introduced me to many people in our Village. What a great job I have. I recently meet a lady named Carol Ayruad. I am not going to write about her, but she has sent me some of her memories of the Neighborhood House and a poem about growing up in the South Mountain Village. We will share them with the fine folks of our Village:

Carol Ayraud. was born in 1948. She grew up at 707 East Fremont Road. These are some of the things that she remembers doing at the Neighborhood House.

Getting our first sugar cube to prevent polio. Went to preschool there

Going to square dance classes where the instructor threw us candy at the end of the classes

Going to school dances in 7^th and 8^th grade

Having my hearing and vision checked in grade school

Having various Roosevelt School related classes there including PE dance classes where we learned dances from European and South America and vocal singing classes

Going to events related to Neighborhood Congregational Church. Participating in talent shows

Seeing my parents go there to vote. Seeing my Mom working on the elections

Opening and closing the many curtains and imagining I was on a famous stage somewhere

Dying old sheets and making pioneer dresses for Neighborhood Church. The celebrations spilled over into the Neighborhood House. Going to and participating in concerts

Our Childhood

Mom you gave us all the best

A childhood that stood above the rest

Cotton fields and citrus groves was the setting

We had more fun than most I’m betting

You lead us in song as we did the dishes

Helped us make nets and catch all those fishes

Bedspreads and sheets, the biggest tent was the goal

From table to chairs held up by clothes pins and poles

You and Dad gave us country with all the fixins

A donkey, a horse and two hundred chickens

We kids added tadpoles, dogs, ducks and kittens

Animal lovers all, we were really quite smitten

I did not learn how to ride a bike

Rode a horse, a donkey or went on a hike

Along the canal banks or up South Mountain we rode

Then home to hunt those horney toads

Agree to differ we were told

We four were different, we broke the mold

If then we still could not agree

We got to go out and kick a tree

Summers were hot but we didn’t know it

At outside picnics we recited AAMilne the poet

When we were very young, Now we are six

Or Mrs. PiggleWiggles’ Thought you saiders cure we would pick

We built forts with bricks and tumble weeds

They had real sinks to wash dishes with ease

We were creative that I’ll admit

Thanks for encouraging us just a bit

God Bless Carol and her Family and God Bless America and God Bless the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s...

EAGLE: Expecting Academic Greatness with a Loving Emphasis

EAGLE College Prep Elementary School is a new educational choice for the parents of the South Mountain Village/Laveen communities beginning in the fall of 2008. The mission of EAGLE is to work together with students, teachers, parents, and the community toward the pursuit of Academic Greatness and Positive Character Development in a safe and supportive learning environment.

The vision of EAGLE College Prep is to prepare all students for college! This vision will become a reality by beginning “College Preparation at an Early Age.” At an early age, EAGLE will expose their students to college and university experiences. At an early age, EAGLE will expect their students to attend college in the future. At an early age, EAGLE will remediate and accelerate students’ fundamental learning skills such as reading, literature arts, and mathematics.

EAGLE College Prep will be located at 2400 W. South Mountain Avenue, which is south of Baseline Road and east of 27^th Avenue. We are currently accepting Pre-Enrollment forms for grades Kindergarten through Third Grades for the 2008-09 school year.

Enrollment is limited! Don’t delay! Find out more today!

To find out more information about EAGLE College Prep Elementary School, please visit our website: EAGLEPrep.org. You can also contact the Founding Executive Director Paul Kremer at 602.672.2007 or Paul.Kremer@EAGLEPrep.org.