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January 2009

See the 2008 Goodyear Highlights Insert Inside this Issue!

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Calendar of Events

Western Avenue Streetscape Improvement Public Meeting

Thursday, January 15, 2009, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Goodyear City Hall, room 117

Goodyear Rodeo Days

February 20 – 22, 2009 Estrella Mountain Regional Park Rodeo Grounds Saturday and Sunday events – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults: $10; Kids 5 to 12: $5; Friday is FREE For information, call 623-512-9725

Heart & Sole Run/Walk Saturday, February 21, 2009, 8 a.m. Goodyear Ballpark 1933 S. Ballpark Way East of Estrella Parkway, south of Yuma Road

Goodyear Ballpark Grand Opening & Fan Fest

Saturday, February 21, 2009, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Goodyear Ballpark 1933 S. Ballpark Way

Goodyear City Council Council meetings and work sessions are held at the new Justice Center at Venida Business Park, located at 185 N. 145th Ave. on the south side of Van Buren Street.

Visit goodyearaz.gov for current Goodyear City Council meeting schedules and to watch City Council meetings.

Brenda Holland, Frank Cavalier, Vice Mayor Rob Antoniak, Mayor Jim Cavanaugh, Dick Sousa, Georgia Lord and Joanne Osborne

Goodyear City Council Calendar Monday, January 12 Work Session – 5 p.m. Regular Meeting – 6 p.m. Monday, January 26 Work Session – 5 p.m. Regular Meeting – 6 p.m.

Monday, February 2 Work Session – 5 p.m.

Monday, March 9 Regular Meeting – 6 p.m.

Monday, February 9 Work Session – 5 p.m. Regular Meeting – 6 p.m.

Monday, March 16 Work Session – 5 p.m.

Monday, February 23 Regular Meeting – 6 p.m.

Monday, March 23 Regular Meeting – 6 p.m.

I recently learned some news that really weighs heavy on my heart. Data shows that from Jan. 1, 2006 through Sept. 30, 2008 there have been 1,136 foreclosures in Goodyear. This represents 2.7% of all foreclosures in the Valley for that time period. We have 1.5% of the population in the Valley, so it appears that foreclosures have hit us a little harder than the county as a whole. There are some homebuilder lots in those numbers and we don’t know how many, but we know that the majority were occupied homes.

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Contents

Council Calendar – page 2 Council Corner – page 3 Testing for Census Jobs – page 3 Historical Society Needs Photos – page 3 Home Preservation Forum – page 4 All-Mail Ballot for March 10 Election – page 4 Financial Seminars – page 5 Western Avenue Public Meeting – page 5 Crime Prevention Tips – page 6 AAPWA Neighborhood Clean-Up – page 6 Spring Training Seating Guide and Tickets – page 7 Art Exhibition – page 7 Fill-A-Need – page 8 Shop with a Cop – page 8 Residential Water Audits – page 9 Water Conservation Classes – page 9 Conserve Water to Lower Your Sewer Bill – page 9 From the City Manager – page 10 Public Service Meeting in Mobile – page 10 New Court and Council Chambers – page 11 Holiday Schedule – page 11 Shop Goodyear – page 11 Emergency Messaging System – page 11 Heart & Sole 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run – page 12 Fiesta Bowl Parade – page 12

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Census Worker Testing at City Hall in January Several thousand workers will be hired by the U.S. Census Bureau for field positions in Maricopa County. The positions range in scope from clerks to field operations supervisors. The pay structure ranges from $11.25 to $16.50 per hour, depending upon the position. You must take a test to qualify. To arrange to be tested, please call 602-427-0680. If the phone bank is busy, leave your name and phone number on the messaging system and you will receive a call back.

Your Mayor and Council are very concerned about our residents and have asked staff to put together FREE seminars on financial management, home buying, refinancing and home foreclosures. We know that people need a place to get their questions answered and we are going to provide that. The City is hosting a series of four financial seminars beginning January 28, and you can read all about them on page 5.

Testing will be at City Hall, 190 N. Litchfield Rd., room 117 at 9 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 14 and Tues., Jan. 20. Practice tests are available to be picked up between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays in the Goodyear City Hall lobby. The test is comprised of 28 multiple-choice questions and takes 30 minutes. However, the testing and related application completion will take about two hours.

And for people who are close to foreclosure, the City and Credit Union West are hosting a Housing Forum on Feb. 4th with a panel of experts to try to answer your questions and give you the opportunity to schedule a HUD counseling session. More details are on page 4. You can also visit the state’s official housing website for great resources about preventing foreclosures: www.housingaz.com.

When census jobs open, qualified people will be called from hiring lists which are printed in order by test score. For more information, call either 602-427-0680 or toll free 1-866-861-2010.

We hope you will take the opportunity to attend these FREE seminars. Our hearts go out to any Goodyear residents who have already vacated their homes, and hope no more Goodyear residents will have to face such a hardship.

Historical Society Needs Photos for Pictoral History Book

Best wishes to all of our residents for health and happiness in the new year. Happy New Year everyone.

The Three Rivers Historical Society is partnering with Arcadia Publishing to put together an “Images of America – Goodyear” pictorial history. Wouldn’t it be fun to have one or more of your pictures in the book?

Dick Sousa

The historical society is searching for old photos of life in Goodyear such as Goodyear Aircraft, the Litchfield Naval Air Facility, the old business district, and church groups. Sally Kiko a long time Goodyear resident and a member of the historical society, and Denise Bates of Goodyear are co-authoring the book which must contain a minimum of 180 historic pictures. They can scan the pictures, so they won’t be out of your possession long. Please look through your old photos and call Kiko at 623-386-1397 to schedule a time to look them over and see if they might be used. Also, if you have memories to share, the authors would love to hear and record them.

Worried about losing your home?

Attend Our FREE Home Preservation Forum Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 at 6 p.m. Goodyear’s NEW City Council Chambers 185 N. 145th Ave. (south side of Van Buren Street) Ask the experts: • What are the remedies available to homeowners? • What can my lender do to help? • What is a loan modification and how do I know if I quality? • What is a short sale and how could this help me? Panelists will include experts from HUD/FHA, Accel/Greenpath Debt Counseling Services, and a lending institution.

Immediately following the forum: • Homeowners will be able to schedule a FREE confidential telephone appointment with a certified HUD counselor. • A worksheet will be provided at the forum, to be completed prior to the telephone appointment.

Who should attend? Homeowners, HOA representatives, property managers and community leaders in Goodyear. If you are unable to attend, worksheets will be available at: • Goodyear City Hall lobby, 190 N. Litchfield Rd. • Credit Union West Branches: • 503 W. Van Buren St., Avondale • Luke Airforce Base (limited access to base location), 13708 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale No registration is required. You may submit questions ahead of time at www.goodyearaz.gov/seminars. Your questions will be answered at the forum. For questions about the forum, call Linda Dillard at 623-882-7800.

Goodyear Shifts to All-Mail Ballot for March 10th Primary Goodyear’s ballots are scheduled to go out February 9, 2009 for the March 10, 2009 Primary Election. If needed, a runoff election will be held May 19, 2009. With an all-mail ballot, Goodyear residents can mark their ballots at their leisure and mail them free of charge to Maricopa County, the City’s elections contractor. Registered voters can drop off their ballots or pick up provisional ballots at Goodyear City Hall, 190 N. Litchfield Rd., between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning February 9, 2009. On Election Day, hours are 6 a.m. to close of the polls at 7 p.m. Last date to register to vote for Goodyear Mayor and three Councilmembers is February 9, 2009.

FREE Seminars Offered to Help Goodyear Residents Weather this Economic Downturn The City of Goodyear is offering its residents a second series of FREE seminars to help residents better understand how to manage their finances. As a continuation of the Mayor’s Dollarwise Program, the City has contracted with the Society for Financial Awareness. Their four classes will advise residents on cash management and financial planning and give insight into today’s real estate and credit markets. New home buyers and those looking to refinance will find classes on both topics. All seminars will be held Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in room 117 at Goodyear City Hall, 190 N. Litchfield Rd. If you have any questions, please call 623-882-7800.

Wed., Jan. 28, 2009 Getting “Fiscally” Fit

Wed., Feb. 18, 2009 First-time Home Buyers

Christopher Hoe - Speaker

Samuel Melvin - Speaker

• Basic principles of cash management • Accumulating wealth • Locating and maximizing discretionary income • The importance of having a financial blueprint • Roadblocks to financial success

• First time buyers money-saving secrets • Eight tips every buyer must know • Six deadly sins to avoid when buying a home • Keys to financing your home • Finding the right loan for you

Wed., Feb. 11, 2009 Real Money – Real Estate

Wed., Feb. 25, 2009 Refinancing 2009

Samuel Melvin - Speaker

• How to sell a home in today’s market • How to avoid the 10 biggest selling mistakes • Market smart investments every seller should know • How to invest in today’s real estate market • Tips and basic strategies for buying rental properties

• Key questions • Finding the right loan for you • Debt consolidation loan • Mortgage myths

Mortgage Trouble? The official Arizona Foreclosure Help Line at 1-877-448-1211 (toll-free) will refer you to housing counselors who will provide you with information for FREE. These counselors can help you understand the law and your options, help you organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender if you need this assistance. For more information and resources, you can visit the Arizona Department of Housing website, www.housingaz.com. Additional information about foreclosure prevention options can be found on the internet at www.fha.gov.

Western Ave. Streetscape Design Public Meeting Thursday, Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m. Goodyear City Hall The City of Goodyear is holding a public meeting and open house on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 in City Hall, room 117, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. so people can give input on the design of one block of Western Avenue just east of Litchfield Road. Local artist James Hendricks will be at the meeting to present his concepts for street art benches.

Western Avenue, the closest thing early Goodyear ever had to a downtown, has been 90% redesigned with new street furniture, trees and other new streetscape. The improvement project is the culmination of years of work that began in 2003 when a group of citizens and business owners formed the Litchfield Road Improvement Project Committee and is funded by a $495,000 block grant.

Tips for Keeping Your House and Cars Safe from Burglars One out of ten homes will be burglarized this year. For a small amount of time and money you can make your home more secure and reduce your chances of being a victim. You know your neighborhood best – call and report any suspicious activity to the Police Department right away.

Check the Locks

• Lock your doors and windows. • Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well installed lock. • Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can purchase extra locks for these doors at most hardware stores. • Instead of hiding extra keys around the outside of the house, give an extra key to someone you can trust. • When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.

2009 Spring Training Tickets On Sale Now! Purchase tickets online at Indians.com, by phone at 480-784-4444, or at any Ticketmaster Outlet. You can also purchase tickets in person at the Temporary Box Office at the Indians Development Complex, 2601 S. Wood Blvd., one mile south of the Ballpark site. Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Indians Spring Training Games

• Thieves hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night. Motion lights work well, too. • Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn’t hide doors and windows. Thieves can hide behind these while breaking into a window or door. • Clearly display your house number so Police and other emergency vehicles can find your home quickly. • If you travel, create the illusion you’re at home by getting timers that will turn on and off lights in different areas of the house during the evening. • Don’t let mail or newspapers pile up. Stop mail service when away and pick up newspapers so your home doesn’t become a target. • Lock outside gates to backyards and courtyards.

Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday Monday Wednesday Friday Saturday Wednesday Friday Sunday Monday Friday Saturday Tuesday Thursday Monday Tuesday

Your Vehicle

*Goodyear Residents Day: Goodyear residents receive $2 off

Check the Doors

• All outside doors should be metal or solid wood. • Get a metal security door, also with a strong lock. • Make sure your door fits in the frame, a loose fit makes it easy to open. • Install a peephole in all entry doors to see who is outside. DO NOT open your door for strangers.

Check the Outside

• If you have a garage, use it. Your vehicle is safer inside. • Find a deterrent for your vehicle like a club or alarm. This is not a guarantee, but this may make a burglar move on to something else. • Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle. This is an invitation for your vehicle to get broken into.

Feb 25 Feb 26 Feb 27 Mar 1 Mar 2 Mar 4 Mar 6 Mar 7 Mar 11 Mar 13 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 24 Mar 26 Mar 30 Mar 31

San Francisco Arizona San Diego Colorado* Texas Chicago Cubs Milwaukee* Kansas City* Colorado* Oakland Milwaukee Seattle* Oakland Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago White Sox* Los Angeles Angels San Diego Seattle

any outfield reserved seat with proof of residency.

Art Exhibition Reception Goodyear’s “Art in Civic Spaces” program celebrated its inaugural exhibition in City Hall with a public reception on Nov. 21. Exhibiting artists Mary Neubauer, Shirley Wagner, Sue Hunter and Elayna Flodin were all present to discuss their art.

Graffiti Removal by Volunteers The Arizona American Public Works Association (AAPWA) sponsored a graffiti removal volunteer project in Goodyear recently. The City provided the paint and the equipment, while AAPWA offered the labor. About 35 people painted the alley walls a few blocks southwest of the Loma Linda Community Center. The volunteers spent over two hours on this project and certainly made an incredibly wonderful difference in this neighborhood!

1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 4:05 pm 1:05 pm

Indians Ticket Prices and Seating

Goodyear Ballpark Fan Fest Feb. 21 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Art in Civic Spaces program was established by the Community Services Department to provide opportunities for artists to exhibit work in a public venue and increase awareness of the visual arts in Goodyear. A new exhibit will begin in mid-January. Artists can have their work considered for future exhibitions by contacting Dianne Cripe at 623-882-7809.

Goodyear Fill-A-Need Volunteers Spread Goodwill and Cheer On Saturday, December 20, more than 60 volunteers comprised of City of Goodyear employees and community members delivered gifts for children, Christmas trees and boxes of food to 66 families in need this holiday season. The annual Goodyear Fill-A-Need program accepts donations from City employees, members of the public, local businesses and community groups. This year, more than 1,100 gifts were contributed by City employees, citizens, local businesses and volunteer groups. Special thanks go to the Goodyear Wal-Mart, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, West Valley Hospital, and The PebbleCreek Ladies 9 Golf Club. These groups and individuals also helped get the shopping done, organize and wrap gifts, and made this holiday season a time to remember.

City Offers Residential Water Audits

to Find Plumbing and Irrigation Leaks

Goodyear’s new Home Irrigation Checkup Program, beginning in mid-January, is intended to help residential water users save money, especially during the critical peak summer months. The most likely savings will occur in households averaging more than 13,000 gallons per month (for those living south of I-10) or for those with a combined average monthly water bill greater than $94.30 (for LPSCo customers who live north of I-10). Savings will depend upon your current usage habits and your willingness to adopt suggested changes.

The program is an analysis of your irrigation system to identify broken or missing parts or inappropriate settings. It also includes a check of your indoor plumbing fixtures to identify inefficient ones and obvious leaks. An appointment will take one hour to one hour and 45 minutes and you will need to be at home to provide access, turn on irrigation, and open timers.

Shop with a Cop Puts Smiles on Kids’ Faces First breakfast was served to 42 children who had been selected by Goodyear school officials to participate in the 2008 Shop with a Cop program on December 13. Next, a cavalcade of motorcycles and patrol cars with sirens screaming and lights flashing drove the children to the Goodyear Wal-Mart on Estrella Parkway where Santa arrived in the Goodyear Police Special Assignment Unit van to pass out gift certificates worth $100 to each child! Then the shopping spree began! Goodyear police officers helped the kids pick out toys. The children chose gifts for themselves as well as for their families. The generosity of Wal-Mart, donating $1,000, and other community groups, helped purchase the gift certificates.

The water audit is being offered free of charge to City of Goodyear water customers who are in good standing with their water bill and who have an active municipal account (south of I-10). An upfront fee of $150 will be charged to LPSCo customers (north of I-10) who have a Goodyear trash account in good standing with the City. The City is offering this program free to its own water customers because saving a large quantity of water could delay our need to build more water-related infrastructure and/or lessen the need to buy more water rights in the future. First sign-up is January 15. You can go online after that date to goodyearaz.gov/h2o365 to request an appointment. Appointments begin the week of January 26. Audits will be “by appointment only” on specified days from January through June 2009. A related “checkup” program is being offered to HOAs during the same time frame for irrigation systems only. Please call 623-932-3010 for more information on either program.

FREE H2O365 Water

Conservation Classes Register for these FREE classes by calling 623-932-3010 or by going to our website at www.goodyearaz.gov/ h2o365. Registration must be made seven days in advance of the class date. Set Your Timers! Jan. 21 – 7 to 8:30 p.m. or Feb. 21 – 9:30 to 11 a.m. Are you afraid to touch your timer box? Over-watering kills more plants than under-watering. Learn to adjust YOUR timer for seasonal variations. Hands-on practice and recommended settings will be included. Irrigation System Tune-Up Tips! Jan. 24 – 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. or Mar. 3 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Do you see fountains between your bushes or wet spots where there are no plants? The City’s own irrigation expert, Ron Huston, will get you started with hands-on identification of system parts and connections. Pruning for Health and Beauty Feb. 17 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. or Mar. 7 – 9 to 11 a.m. Before you take out your loppers and rip saw, come find out when to prune and how to do it to best advantage. The City’s certified arborist, J.R. Kane, will show you when pruning will create new problems. Bring clippers to practice in class. Basics of Beautiful Xeriscaping Jan. 27 – 7 to 8:30 p.m. or Feb. 28 – 9:30 to 11 a.m. Explore ways to use native plants, lawn, and trees to create a beautiful low-water-use yard. Master gardener Tyler Story will give you seven xeriscape principles to help you enjoy shade, color, and textures while minimizing cost and maintenance.

For those South of I-10

Conserving Water Lowers Sewer Bills

For all City of Goodyear water customers (homes south of I-10), the key to keeping your sewer bill low throughout the entire next year is to minimize the amount of water you use in the typically low-water-use months of January, February, and March. Averaging these three winter months determines your Winter Quarter Average (WQA).

In May, your sewer bill is adjusted to use your new WQA. You will not be charged for more sewer usage than your WQA during the following 12 months. If your water consumption is lower than your WQA, your sewer bill may be based upon the lower usage. If water usage is higher than the WQA, your sewer charge will be based upon the lower WQA. So, water wisely in the winter quarter to save throughout 2009 and into 2010. Conserving water is good for your community, the environment and your wallet.

City Manager Addresses Budget Cuts

City Manager John F. Fischbach

As you know, we are monitoring our revenues and expenditures very closely at this time. It is our fiscal mandate to have a balanced budget at the end of our Fiscal Year (June 30, 2009). Our department directors and executive management have been working diligently to identify budget reductions that can be implemented to reduce operational costs and to avoid layoffs if at all possible. Since we are in a service business and people provide those services, layoffs on top of the 22 vacant positions we have already frozen would likely begin to negatively affect our service levels. Many of the frozen positions were growth-related, so with growth rates down, we don’t think these unfilled positions will severely affect service levels at this time. I’d like to publicly thank the City’s directors and management team for their diligent work in identifying almost $5.7 million in annual budget savings that can be implemented without layoffs. A large portion of the savings are from the frozen positions plus internal programs such as reduced overtime, reduced consulting services, reduced conference travel and training, and reductions in equipment and maintenance. Since we are half way through FY 08-09, savings realized this fiscal year will not reflect the full amount identified in each category; however, there will be real dollars saved this year as a result of this measure. In addition, it provides a great basis for preparing the FY 09-10 budget.

Municipal Court/City Council Meetings Move to New Location City of Goodyear recently moved the location of its Municipal Court and its Council Chambers from the old Justice facility on Litchfield Road to 185 N. 145th Ave. in the Venida Business Park (south side of Van Buren Street between Litchfield Road and Bullard Avenue). All City Council meetings, Council work sessions and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are held in the Council Chambers, which doubles as a courtroom within this new headquarters of Goodyear’s Municipal Court.

City Court Council Chambers

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Garbage, Recycling and Bulk Trash Collection Schedule: There is no sanitation collection on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mon., Jan. 19. Following Martin Luther King Jr. Day, pickup that week for garbage, recycling and bulk trash will switch to the day after your normal scheduled pickup day. Goodyear Public Works Department: 623-932-1637

Public Service Discussed at Meeting in Mobile

Goodyear’s City Manager John Fischbach recently visited with residents of the Mobile area at the Mobile Elementary School to talk to them about upcoming changes in their public safety services. Originally, area developer Montage-Holdings was to pay for all public safety services for a seven-year period. However, because Montage is going through foreclosure, Goodyear has already absorbed the $1 million cost of service for Fiscal Year 07-08 which went unpaid.

The final Shop Goodyear Grand Prize Raffle winner was announced at Goodyear City Hall on Dec. 23. Cindy Oliver of Goodyear received a pair of beautiful diamond stud earrings from Osborne Jewelers.

Now, in 2008-09, the City could be looking at absorbing $2.5 million for these services. Goodyear has proposed changing the contract with the County Sheriff to an 8-hour shift, Monday through Friday. The Sheriff’s Office would send an officer out to answer calls for service the rest of the time on weekdays and weekends. The City now has three full shifts of 14 firefighters covering Mobile residents 24 hours a day. Because more than half of the Fire Department’s calls have been in the neighboring Town of Maricopa, the City is in discussions with Maricopa to partner with the City on fire services to help save both cities money. The City Manager explained at the meeting that all of these service alternatives would still provide Mobile residents with far more Police and Fire protection than they had before they were annexed.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 19 City Offices Closed

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An important point to remember is that even though we are in difficult economic times and are experiencing reductions in budgets, our staff is still striving to maintain the excellent level of customer service and work quality for which Goodyear is known. Now, more than ever, we are asking that all employees focus on and contribute to our culture of teamwork, initiative, and a positive, can-do attitude. This will allow us to collectively succeed during these challenging times, and continue to demonstrate to you, our citizens, how great a place Goodyear is!

Holiday Schedule

Shop Goodyear Final Drawing

The drawing was the grand finale of the Shop Goodyear campaign, which was launched in September. The three-month local retail promotional program included weekly drawings for prizes offered by area businesses. Retail sales tax dollars help pay for nearly 30 percent of the City’s operating budget, providing key services such as police, fire, streets, and parks. By shopping locally, residents’ dollars stay right here in our own hometown where they continue working for you and your family.

“Phone Tree” Lets Us Send Residents Emergency Messages

Goodyear is implementing a new digitally recorded messaging system, Phone Tree, which delivers important community information to every customer in our billing system. In the event of an emergency, we would use the system to send recorded messages to customers. However, in order for this system to work effectively, we need ALL of our customers to update their contact information. Please complete the confidential form on the City of Goodyear website at: www.goodyearaz.gov/phonetree. Thank you for your cooperation.

Saturday, Feb. 21, 8 a.m. Goodyear Ballpark 1933 S. Ballpark Way The fourth annual Heart & Sole 5K Run/Walk and 1-mile fun run/walk is being held for the first time at the new Goodyear Ballpark, east of Estrella Parkway, south of Yuma Road. This event is great fun for all ages, (strollers are welcome). Registration is required for all participants. Register online at www.goodyearaz.gov/rec. Early registration through February 6: $20 for 5K, $15 for 1-mile fun run/walk. After February 6, please register at the event: $25 for 5K, $20 for 1-mile fun run/walk. There will be live music, interactive vendor booths and food vendors. All participants receive a t-shirt, ribbon, goodies, post race raffle and refreshments. The event is presented by West Valley Hospital and sponsored by The CORE Institute. For more information, or to learn about the Put Your Best Foot Forward lecture series, call 623-882-7525 or visit www.goodyearaz.gov/rec.

Goodyear Employees on the March

Thirty City employees and members of their families manned a huge cactus balloon in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl Parade to publicize on Valleywide TV and to Ohio State fans along the parade route that Goodyear is now the Cactus League Spring Training home of the Cleveland Indians with the Cincinnati Reds coming next year.