Author: Tad T. Gann
Phoenix Union High School District students will have the support of school social workers when they head back to school this year (photo by Vanessa Herb, PXU marketing associate). By Kathryn M. Miller As a new school year gets underway, many students are excited to be back in classrooms and among their peers. For others, however, back-to-school can bring with it anxiety, and even dread. And while parents may do their best to help, in this topsy-turvy world where even the adults are grappling with each new wave of change, the question looms: Are the kids alright? In 2021, the…
A makeshift memorial has bloomed at the corner of 10th Drive and Hatcher Road after a June 4 shooting that left a 14-year-old dead and eight others wounded (photo by Kathryn M. Miller). By Kathryn M. Miller In the early morning hours of June 3 and 4, two violent incidents took place that left the Sunnyslope community shaken and looking for answers. Just before midnight on June 3, 15-year-old Damarkus Edison was shot and killed just steps outside of his home near 13th Avenue and Vogel. Barely an hour later, shots rang out at a strip mall near 10th Avenue…
Zola North Central 7th Street and E. Colter Street perspective By Kathryn M. Miller At a June 7 presentation to the Camelback East Village Planning Committee, the developers of Zola North Central made their case to rezone 2.55 acres located at the northeast corner of 7th Street and Colter Street. The request would rezone the lot from the existing C-2 zoning (Intermediate Commercial) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) to allow for a new, five-story multifamily residential development. The proposal, as presented, met with opposition from area neighborhood associations. In its narrative, the developer, ZOM Living (www.zomliving.com), states, “This project provides…
Sunnyslope resident Chrystal Wilder enjoys playing mahjong each week at the Sunnyslope Senior Center. An Arizona resident since 1948, she will celebrate her 100th birthday this month (photo by Kathryn M. Miller). By Kathryn M. Miller Sunnyslope resident Chrystal Wilder has seen a lot of changes in her lifetime, and as she approaches the century mark, she shared a little bit about her life, her adopted home of Arizona, and her advice for the younger generations. Born in the Mississippi Delta in 1922, Wilder made her way to Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1941, she was in college on a working…
By Kathryn M. Miller Across the country, there are an estimated 40,000 traffic deaths each year, and millions more injuries. On March 24, 2022, the City of Phoenix officially activated its 75th HAWK — High-Intensity Activated CrossWalK (photo courtesy of City of Phoenix). In Phoenix, the numbers are sobering. In 2019, crash data showed there were six fatalities involving cyclists; 72 involving pedestrians; and 99 involving motor vehicles. Despite “stay at home” orders and other pandemic related actions, the numbers jumped by 5 percent in 2020. Fast forward to 2021, and the unofficial numbers show there were 8, 97 and…
Nourish Phoenix, a nonprofit fighting poverty in Phoenix since 1984, is helping mothers all over the Valley feel pampered and appreciated on their day. During the month of April, the organization collected new and unused purses and goods — everything from hair ties and hair products to makeup, nail polish, scarves and other accessories were packed into purses by volunteers to distribute to moms who could use a boost this year. Volunteers are needed to help pack food boxes and more at Nourish Phoenix, a nonprofit food and clothing pantry. The organization, which provides a wealth of services for local…