Glendale’s Community Newspaper
Vol. 79 No. 34
August 24, 2023
www.glendalestar.com
Inside This Week
Weiers awards Luke Air Force Base firefighters BY JOE McHUGH
Glendale Star Staff Writer
NEWS ............... 6
PUSD board member resigns
BUSINESS ....... 12
Pete’s Fish and Chips to continue founder’s legacy
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lendale Mayor Jerry Weiers recently showed his appreciation for two service members at Luke Air Force
Base. Staff Sgt. Joseph Bove and Senior Airman Colby Cole were instrumental in helping put out a three-acre fire at the Glendale Landfill and were awarded with the Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation. “I don’t know how to really express the pride that I have in these folks,” Weiers said. “To them, they’re just doing their job, but to me, anybody that puts that uniform on is my hero. And I said (at the event), ‘I know none of you look at yourself as heroes, but I look at you as heroes.’” On July 19, a fire at the landfill sparked
and started making its way throughout the facility. The Glendale Fire Department responded and during their initial defense, called for the help of other agencies through their Automatic Aid program. The Luke Air Force Base Fire Department — being one of the closest agencies to the fire — quickly responded to the call, bringing in 6,000 gallons of water that aided the 11 firefighting apparatuses on site. SEE LUKE PAGE 4
Mayor Jerry Weiers made his way out to Luke Air Force Base on Aug. 9 to award the Certificate of Appreciation to two members of the agency’s fire department for their assistance in extinguishing a fire at the Glendale Landfill on July 19. (City of Glendale/Submitted)
Valley food banks reimagine pantries the food bank’s fastest-growing demographic, making up 53% of new clients in 2022. Its to help seniors hit by inflation Senior Market Monday helped 1,914 seniors BY KYLIE WERNER
Cronkite News
FEATURES ....... 16
One Step Beyond calling for nominations
OPINION ......................8 BUSINESS ...................12 SPORTS ..................... 13 CALENDAR................. 14 FEATURES.................. 16 RELIGION ................... 18 YOUTH ....................... 20 CLASSIFIEDS ............. 22
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wo Valley food banks are reimagining their pantries to help seniors hit hard by inflation, expanding beyond traditional food boxes to offer market days, healthy meals served in group settings, breakfast and takeout options. Their leaders know nutritious meals support overall health and wellness. The threat of hunger is acute in Arizona, which ranks 32nd in the nation for food insecurity among seniors. Last year, 12.8% of seniors in the state dealt with food insecu-
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rity, which is defined as someone who has had insufficient access to food to meet their basic needs in the past 12 months. The national average for seniors is 11.9%, according to America’s Health Rankings from United Health Foundation. Banner Olive Branch Senior Center in the West Valley and Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center in the North Valley offer a variety of food programs and other resources, but their biggest growth has been in assisting at-risk seniors. At Foothills Food Bank, 37% of those served are 55 years old and older. It’s also
last year and food bank volunteers delivered 147 boxes to seniors at their homes. The center serves a wide swath of area in the north Valley that includes 300,000 residents and 15 ZIP codes in Cave Creek, New River and Black Canyon City. Leigh Zydonik, Foothills executive director, attributed higher food costs to the influx of new seniors seeking help. “We think inflation is really hitting those on fixed incomes, and many weren’t prepared for this,” she said. “So it comes down to, ‘Do I pay rent or do I pay for my medicine SEE PANTRIES PAGE 5
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