Representatives from the City of Goodyear at GE in New York. 

The City of Goodyear was recently announced as one of only nine cities to win the GE HealthyCities Leadership Challenge!

The city was recognized for its plan of Goodyear Community Health Park, a community wellness area anchored by two West Valley hospitals and supported by a coalition of community partners in Goodyear. The 129-acre project is being developed through a collaboration between the City of Goodyear, Abrazo West Campus, Adelante Healthcare, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and Hickman Farms, among others.

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and Representatives from Goodyear recently traveled to New York for recognition of their efforts and to attend a workshop that kicks off a year-long learning collaborative with GE and other communities working on healthy communities projects.

Read more about the Goodyear Community Health Park at the City of Goodyear. 

Photos from Pam Weir, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Goodyear

Congratulations to the City of El Mirage’s eight new firefighters!

El Mirage Fire Department held a badge pinning ceremony for eight new firefighters. These firefighters have completed their first year on the job, or probationary period, and were sworn in by El Mirage Fire Chief Jim Wise as full firefighters.  Mayor Lana Mook stated, “We are extremely proud of our new firefighters and wish them the best of luck in their new roles.”

Mayor 
City of Somerton 

As the second youngest of 11 siblings, Martin Porchas grew up in the City of Somerton, where he now serves as mayor. He attended O.L. Carlisle Elementary School, Kofa High School and AWD Community College. His parents and older brothers and sisters were field laborers.

“I am very proud to say that I was not the first one in my family to attend college or finish high school,” Mayor Porchas said. “I have a brother who graduated from University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree. My second youngest sister became a nurse, and the youngest received her master’s degree in education.”

Throughout the first 20 years of Mayor Porchas’ life, his family would travel to California in the summers. Some years, he would not get to finish school or the season playing baseball because of the move to California.

“Many of my friends thought itw as awesome to travel to California,” Mayor Porchas declared. “Little did they know, I was not too thrilled about it, but I had to follow my parents. Don’t get me wrong, but when a boy at the age of 12 has to get up at 4:30 or 5 a.m. all summer long to go work in the fields, it makes for a long and not-too-pleasant summer.”

As he got older, Mayor Porchas came to understand why his family would travel to California. He said that Somerton still faces some of the same challenges it had 30 or 40 years ago, one of which is having the highest unemployment rate in the state. The majority of the jobs are seasonal, which is why his family would travel out of state to seek employment.

“I am proud and now honored to say that I got to hang out and learn from one of the hardest workers I have ever known in my life – my dad,” Mayor Porchas said.

Family is now just as important to Mayor Porchas, who is married to his lovely wife, Dalila, and is a proud father of two children, Martin Adrian Porchas and Andrea Porchas.

Mayor
City of Holbrook

Mayor Robert “Bobby” E. Tyler served for four years on the Holbrook City Council beginning May, 2011 when he was sworn in as the newest elected member of the city council. He was sworn into his current position as mayor on May 26, 2015.

He has been a part of, and served the community with the Holbrook Volunteer Fire Department, Holbrook Police Program, and has a long history of involvement with the youth of Holbrook; primarily through sports programs to include city and school leagues.

Mayor Tyler was the third of six children born to Don & Johnnie Tyler. He is a third generation Holbrook native who graduated from Holbrook High School in 1977. He drove trucks for the City Street Department and then had a long career with Arizona Public Service Co. at Cholla Power Plant and later worked for Tucson Electric Power in Springerville.

He is a proud father and grandfather, who encourages his children with the words his parents instilled in him; “With hard work and the right attitude, you can accomplish your goals.”

August means back to school for most students in the community, so families get busier than usual. But as Arizona residents’ schedules fill, it’s important that we all take a moment to remember proper safety around pools.

Arizona’s high child drowning rate is a tragedy only avoided by constant supervision and regular community awareness campaigns, said Surprise Mayor Sharon Wolcott at the August 8 City Council meeting.

For this reason, Surprise has joined Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s collaborative statewide effort—Drowning Impact Awareness Month.

Wolcott proclaimed August as Drowning Impact Awareness Month in Surprise. She added, “Through the hard work of advocates across the state to educate and raise awareness, more and more people are taking action to prevent tragedy.”

The goal of this important awareness month is to encourage safety around water and promote awareness.

It’s an important way to remember that “drownings are preventable,” said Mayor Wolcott.

The Surprise Police and Fire Departments offer Community Life Safety Education events such as Water Safety day featuring free CPR training, swim lesson assessments and water safety tips.

The month-long effort also promotes the use of purple ribbons to remember those touched by child drowning.

“I encourage everyone to request and distribute ribbons through the Surprise Fire Department’s website at www.surpriseaz.gov as we partner with Phoenix children’s Hospital,” Wolcott said.

Ribbons are also available at Surprise City Hall, the Community and Recreation Services offices and the Surprise Regional Library.

Enjoy the last weeks of summer and remember to stay safe!