InBuckeye Magazine March/April 2026

March/April 2026 issue of InBuckeye Magazine InBuckeye.com InMaricopa is Maricopa's premier local news source InMaricopa is your go-to source for hyper-local news and information about Maricopa, Arizona. Stay informed with the latest community updates, events, and stories that matter to our city. InMaricopa is the only dedicated news outlet focusing exclusively on the city of Maricopa, ensuring residents are always in the know.

March/April 2026

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This young shooter exemplifies all that is Buckeye: celebrating the past with an eye on the future FRESH EYES

HISTORY • COMMUNITY • BUSINESS • REAL ESTATE • MORE

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

Buckeye’s Newest Community, Westpark, is Now Open.

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DRH Properties, Inc., Broker. Home and community information, pricing, plans, included features, options, terms, availability, amenities and co-broke are subject to change at any time without notice or obligation. Square footage dimensions are approximate and vary by elevation. Drawings, pictures, photographs, video, square footages, colors, features, and sizes are for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. Please see a sales agent for complete details, including a list of available homes. Sales that are conditional may be rescinded by purchaser until receipt and acceptance of the Arizona Subdivision Disclosure (Public) Report. A copy of the public report is available on the State Real Estate Department’s website. D.R. Horton reserves the right to cancel or change all offers without prior notice. If buyer is working with a licensed real estate agent or broker, the agent or broker must accompany and register buyer on first visit to the D.R. Horton sales office. Prices vary by community. D.R. Horton is an Equal Housing Opportunity Builder. Construction of West Valley homes by DRH Construction, Inc., License ROC # 113105-B.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026

LEADING OFF Publisher’s letter 4 HISTORY

Buckey legend: A granddaughter tracks down Tommy Lara, the man who made Buckeye Bakery Sqaw Bread famous 6 GOVERNMENT Hall talk: Buckeye residents share what they'd like to see in a new City Hall 10 COMMUNITY Blowing stuff up: A local veteran who once lacked direction now provides it for others 14 Artistic eye on Buckeye: Public art appearing on local traffic corners 18 Q&A viewfinder: Here's an introduction of the young man behind the photos 22 Race to the runway: Hundreds of runners flock to Buckeye for annual Boston Marathon qualifier 24 High over Buckeye: Pilots from around the region brought their aircraft to Buckeye in February 26 Buckeye Days 2026: The annual cattle drive honors Buckeye's ag industry and cowboy roots 28

BUSINESS Mapping local business headlines 30 REAL ESTATE Extreme home sales 32 DIRECTORY Your guide to Buckeye businesses 34

PARTING SHOT Wings of blue 38 TRENDING What’s the latest in Buckeye? 47

ON THE COVER Ryan Williams, a young man with a talent for photography and a love of aircraft (page 26), has done some exceptional work with a camera. You can find more about this budding young Buckeye shooter on page 22 and on Instagram at @rrw.aviation and @rrw.photography.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

Publisher’s Letter DAVID KENNARD

People, places and things

A S A YOUNG CHILD GROWING UP IN PHOENIX, I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF exploring the wild lands around me. And, thanks to a father who seemingly owned stock in the Coleman Company, I still get anxious when I see outdoor stores begin stocking shelves with the familiar red Coleman label adorning stoves, lanterns and sleeping bags. Channeling my father, I still do my best to get outside for a night or two under the stars as often as possible.

Publisher DAVID KENNARD

Editorial Director ELIAS WEISS

Editorial Consultants SCOTT BARTLE HAL DEKEYSER

In that spirit over the last few months, I’ve been picking away at a longtime bucket list item: Hike the Grand Canyon from rim to river – and back. In my two most recent trips, I’ve made it a little less than half way down and half way back, taking a short list of family members with me. Closer to home, I’ve enjoyed some of Buckeye’s best outdoor events and visiting with some of our finest residents. During the last few months, I’ve seen cowboys drive real cattle down the center of old Buckeye. I’ve seen planes of all kinds entertain visitors over the skies of Buckeye. And I’ve visited with some really cool people doing some really cool things here. Be sure to see what Buckeye resident David Linhart is doing to help our veterans overcome serious challenges. And learn what a handful of local artists are up to in an effort to beautify our city. Of course, you’ll want to take a few minutes to rediscover the man behind Buckeye’s Squaw Bread legend. Tommy Lara closed his Buckeye Bakery not long before his death in 1970, and with his passing so passed his secret recipe, yet his memory lives on thanks to family members who came forward to help me tell his story. These are some of the people, places and things you’ll read about in this edition that make Buckeye such a wonderful place to work, live and play. Additionally, in my job of gathering local news, I’ve learned that our local population of rattlesnakes are waking up. You can find that story online, exclusively at inbuckeye.com. Full disclosure: I’ve had a few run-ins with rattlesnakes. So, I hope my journalistic integrity remains intact. Over my lifetime in some of our country’s wildest places, I’ve collected a few stories worth telling around a campfire. Perhaps we can share a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of cowboy beans sometime and I’ll tell you about what a few of my closest friends call “the rattlesnake debacle.”

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HISTORY

OZMENT’S WRITTEN HISTORY

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In a written family history she compiled, Kim Ozment explains that her grandfather Tommy Lara rarely discussed his childhood with her parents. He told them he had been placed in an orphanage after being abandoned by his father, Carlos. But Ozment says her own research, along with research her parents conducted years earlier, found no record of any orphanage in Phoenix at the time. She located a 1920 census report showing Tommy living with his father Carlos and Carlos’ second wife, Frances. After that, she believes he was left to fend for himself on the streets of Phoenix. According to Ozment’s account, Tommy found work and shelter with a man who owned a bakery. The baker allowed him to sleep on flour sacks and sent him to school. When he returned from classes, Tommy learned the trade. “He told my parents this,” Ozment said. She said while attending school, her grandfather befriended a boy who noticed he wore the same clothes each day. That boy asked his mother if Tommy could live with them. “The name of the family was the Ethridges,” Ozment said. “Their son Ernest was the one that became friends with my grandfather.” Ozment says the family treated him as one of their own. “We are very grateful to her for her kindness to Grandpa,” Ozment said. “I have the 1930 census where Tommy was living with the Ethridges.” Ozment said her grandfather and his brother Enrique, or Henry, did not remain together after they were abandoned. “I wish they had,” she said. There was a long-standing family story that Henry later hanged himself in a New Mexico jail cell. Ozment said she contacted court officials there, who conducted a records search. A news- paper article confirmed the account.

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FLOUR AND FORTITUDE Granddaughter of Buckeye Bakery’s Tommy Lara sets record straight on hard childhood, legacy

When a 5-year-old Buckeye boy with autism was left alone on a school bus for six hours, it didn’t happen “somewhere in the Valley.” It happened here. We investigated.We applied pressure.We held the responsible parties accountable.We secured an $800,000 settlement for the family. We handle car crashes, truck crashes, and cases the big firms won’t touch.When something goes wrong in Buckeye, on your streets, your highways, in your schools, we’re already here. Big-city firms run ads in Buckeye.We run cases in Buckeye. We know the roads.The schools.The families.When it happens here, it’s personal. If your child is harmed. If your family is ignored. If someone thinks they can get away with it in Buckeye: They’re wrong. Don’t call a billboard. Call your law firm.

BY DAVID KENNARD

K IM OZMENT DOESN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT HER grandfather, but she’s heard stories about the beloved Buckeye legend who was abandoned as a child, sleeping on flour sacks in the back of a Phoenix bakery before opening the Buckeye Bakery. Still, Ozment said she wants to set the record straight. “I’m here to honor my grandfather,” she said. Ozment was in town with other family members on Jan. 24 to celebrate Buckeye Days, to watch the annual cattle drive through the center of town, but mostly to find a connection to her grandfather, Tommy Lara. Lara died in 1970, not long after Buckeye Mayor Robert T. Bonnes declared Dec. 19, 1969, Thomas Lara Day.

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“That story was true,” she said. “But we’re glad my grandfather

survived growing up.”

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March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

HISTORY

“Tommy Lara came up the hard way... the real hard way,” reads a story in the Dec. 18, 1969, Buckeye Valley News. “He was born June 13, 1910, in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was left an orphan as a tiny tot. He attended grammar school in Phoenix and fended for himself much of the time while he was in school.” No orphanage Ozment said there is no truth to a popular story that her grandfather ran away from a Phoenix orphanage. “There was no orphanage,” Ozment said. “I’ve done the research. It doesn’t exist.” She says her grandfather left Texas when his father came to Phoenix with him and his brother, Henry. Ozment said the two boys were later abandoned by their father, forcing them to care for themselves any way they could. Seven-year-old Tommy sold newspapers on Phoenix street corners and worked as a handyman until age 11, taking shelter at night near the warm bread ovens of Log Cabin Bakery, then located at Taylor Street and Grand Avenue, according to a 1962 feature story in The Arizona Republic . Ozment said despite his dire circumstances, her grandfather attended school as a child, finally finding a home when a school friend, Wilfred Ethridge, invited him in. While never officially adopted, Tommy found a home in the Ethridge family. “At the age of 11 being homeless, he became an apprentice, at a bakery, sleeping by the ovens at night,” his obituary reads. “In the daytime he attended the Adams school,” the obituary continues. “One day a boy named Wilfred invited him home to lunch. From then on, Tommy had a loving family: Wilfred and his brother, Emest, and their parents, Aaron and Ethel Ethridge, accepted Tommy as brother and son. “Much of his personality and wonderful traits of sharing, being considerate, understanding and love for fellowmen were influenced in Tommy’s life by the living example they set for him. “On graduating from the eighth grade, baking became his profession.”

Maria Johnson at the Buckeye Museum found this rare, historical photo of Tommy Lara's Buckeye Bakery on Monroe Avenue Downtown Buckeye. Facing page: Kim Ozment stands next to her granfather's headstone at the Buckeye Cemetery. Tommy Lara died in 1970.

SQUAW BREAD

known as the Squaw Bread Capital of Arizona, gaining recognition from all parts of the state, and WHEREAS the closing of the bakery has saddened residents in Buckeye and the entire Buckeye Valley, NOW, THEREFORE , I, Robert T. Bonnes, mayor of Buckeye, do hereby proclaim Friday, Dec. 19, 1969, Tommy Lara Day, and ask all of his friends in the Buckeye area to express their best wishes to him on behalf of the community.” Lara is buried in the Buckeye Cemetery on West Broadway Road. It took some time for Ozment to find her grandfather’s headstone when she visited the cemetery in January; it had been 40 years since she was last there. But when she did, emotion overwhelmed her. She collapsed on the green, well-groomed grass, throwing her arms around the sunken stone, then gently brushing debris from the marker. “It’s right where I remember it,” she says. “A lot has changed though.”

Nobody knows what Tommy Lara’s secret recipe was for his famous squaw bread, or if they do, nobody’s talking. The closest anyone has come was published in a 1962 profile of Lara by The Arizona Republic . It called for a “blend of wheat and rye flours, sugar, lecithin and calcium propionate.” Add to the squaw bread mix of 12 pounds, 8 ounces, add water (3¾ quarts), yeast (12 ounces), salt (4½ ounces). Mix with a dough hook for 15 minutes. “Scale off 1-pound, 2-ounce pieces. Make up into round loaves.” After letting the loaves rise, they should be baked on “sheet pans on corn meal.” There’s a lot of detail missing there, and even for the newspaper story Tommy didn’t divulge more. “Squaw bread is a Lara specialty, and a window to his way,” the story states. “It is a heavy, moist, wheat-colored bread that would keep a lumberjack fat. Usually all of Lara's squaw bread is sold by 11 a.m. Sometimes there are

The Buckeye Bakery sign can be seen just above the parked car on Monroe Avenue.

long lines of squaw bread customers. “‘Tom,’ a friend once complained, ‘You've got something here that people crave. It sells out early every day. You ought to increase your production and get rich.’ “Lara studied on that, and said, ‘No, it just wouldn't work. When I begin at night, I’ve got a system. So much of this. So many of these. They've all got to start at a certain time, and they've all got to go through the oven on schedule. If I specialized on one thing, something else would suffer,’” the

story states.

Regardless, the recipe was famous and in high demand by Buckeye residents who flocked to his bakery by the hundreds, according to Bonnes’ 1969 proclamation. WHEREAS Tommy Lara has been forced to close his bakery business due to ill health, and WHEREAS , during the many years he was in business here, he served the community well in many ways, and WHEREAS , through his unique product, Squaw Bread, Buckeye became

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

GOVERNMENT

A FUTURE IN QUESTION Residents share ideas on what they’d like from a new City Hall BY DAVID KENNARD

A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HAVE TURNED OUT TO SCHEDULED ENVISIONING MEETINGS TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ABOUT the future of Buckeye's City Hall and learn what it might mean for downtown Buckeye. Exactly where it might go and what might happen to the city center building on Monroe is still unknown. The purpose of the Envisioning meetings was to allow residents to voice their ideas and concerns about the future of a new City Hall. Each of the meetings followed similar formats, relying heavily on public comment and collaboration with facilitators from SmithGroup, a national design firm that specializes in urban planning. “No decision has been made. We are in the first phase. … just to find out what a city hall should be,” said Madeline Dunsmore, one of the meeting facilitators. While no specific options for a new location were presented on Wednesday, three options were presented on what a new city hall might look like.

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March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

GOVERNMENT

Paying Too Much for Healthcare?

Central campus This could be a small cluster of buildings in one location that each have a designated function, including Council Chambers — where public meetings take place, City Services, Community Programs and Services, and Administration Offices. Hub and spoke This would lump Administration and Council Chambers into one location then located other city services throughout the city, such as Verrado, Old Buckeye, the burgeoning Teravalis community, or other locales.

Separate council chamber This would spread all city functions throughout the city, perhaps with an administration building serving as a hub with outlying buildings in other parts of the city. One of the concerns coming out of the meetings is that moving City Hall would remove a major downtown anchor. City officials have pointed to the rapid growth of the city as the impetus for the project, saying the current location is no longer suitable for a city center office building. The city already has 100 people working at The Landing, leased space off Verrado Way

south of Interstate 10. Current facilities “were designed for a much smaller city and are now reaching their limits,” according to statements on the city’s web page. “Many city services are spread across multiple locations, which can be inconvenient for residents and businesses trying to get business done.” Since its founding in 1888, Buckeye has seen at least five different City Hall sites, with the most recent location acquired in 2009 with the city adopting a stalled commercial development and then “repurposed it for public use as a temporary Town Hall.”

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KEY DATES

Mid-2000s

2008

2009

2013

2022

Building at 530 E. Monroe Avenue (current City Hall) was planned as a private development of mixed-use retail and office/residential.

Economic downturn halted many private projects across Arizona, including this one.

Buckeye government strategically acquired the stalled development and repurposed it for public use as a temporary Town Hall. Since then, it has been the home of the city council, chambers, and city employees. This address is the 5th location of city hall in Buckeye's history.

Buckeye votes to change designation from town to city.

City outgrew capacity at 530 E. Monroe Ave.

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COMMUNITY

Meet David Linhart, director of the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce. He entered the Army right out of high school, top right and facing page, and was eventually assigned to serve on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle team, bottom right.

to speak, because I'd always worked with business owners and I kind of wanted to be one, but I didn't know how to get there.” The chamber connections gave him a runway. In 2018, he stopped “petering around… So, I saved up, all I could, quit my [day] job, and then I went in full force.” Big game Linhart calls himself “a bit of a scrapper” growing up. “I was the younger brother. My brother was three years older than me, so [I was] always fighting him and his friends,” Linhart said. “So, it's just always who I was. “And like I told my drill sergeant or my recruiter, ‘I wanted to blow shit up.’ And I got to play with a lot of big guns. I got to throw grenades. I got to shoot missiles off my shoulder, and you know, I got to do all kinds of really cool stuff; at the time… [I] was just a big kid at heart wanting to play with the big toys. “It was a big game to play when you were talking about going and serving in the military. And maybe I didn't even realize it at the time, even though I wanted to go fight in Iraq,” he said. The discipline stuck. The direction did not. Now what? When he left the military in 1997, Linhart remained abroad. “I stayed in Germany for two years, just enjoying life over in Europe because — when you get the opportunity to live in Europe, right?,” he said. Eventually he came home and stalled. “The language barrier just became a little too much,” Linhart said. “So, I decided to come back here, and I spent an entire year not doing anything because I didn't know what to do.

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BLOWING STUFF UP A local veteran who once lacked direction now provides it for others BY DAVID KENNARD W HEN DAVID LINHART JOINED THE ARMY AT 18, HE DIDN’T HEDGE ABOUT HIS MOTIVATION. He told his recruiter he wanted to blow stuff up. America was at war, after all. “Everybody was watching CNN and the flashes in the sky over Baghdad and all that kind of stuff. That's what I was watching when I signed those papers,” the Buckeye resident said. By the time he shipped out, the fighting had slowed. He never made it overseas. Still, he credits the Army with giving him what he lacked. “I lost my window because I wasn’t old enough to go over there, I guess,” he said. “But you know, it was a great experience for me. I think infantry was better because of the discipline level in it.

“Whether I knew it or not, I needed that discipline, badly to figure out what to do with my life,” Linhart says. “And when I got out, and I had the discipline, I just didn't have direction. So, once I put those two together, there was no stopping me.” Today, he serves as president of the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce, focused on helping other veterans find that direction sooner than he did. Poo happens His first real step into business came through the chamber itself. A pet food home delivery franchise introduced him to ownership and operations. When the company moved out of the country, he decided to build something of his own. “That's when I thought about the poop scooping business and kind of started that thing,” Linhart says. “So, I thank the Chamber for giving me the entrepreneurial bug, so

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COMMUNITY

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David Linhart visits with fellow Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce board member Armand Smith during a recent board meeting. One of the key goals of the organation is to provide a resource to local veterans seeking to enter the business community.

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“And my dad, who's a Navy veteran, he just said, ‘You need to use your GI Bill,’” he recalled. “He's like, ‘What are you doing?’” That push mattered. “Getting out of the Army as an infantry soldier, you are like, ‘What do I have as far as a marketable skill?,’” Linhart said. “I was trained to kill people. Yeah, legitimately that was my job: to kill people. Right. So, my dad told me to use the GI Bill and I did.” His college counselor encouraged him, telling him his military service qualified him to be a better learner and saying, “You can take direction,” and “You've got credits already from your military time.” “And I said, ‘I do?’” Linhart recounted. “So, it was kind of an awakening for me.” He earned an associate’s degree, then completed a bachelor’s degree in global business and management at Arizona State University West Campus. “But it allowed me again to get something done with my life. So that whole year of sitting there and doing nothing, if my dad wouldn't have pointed me in the right direction, I might not have done it. “So that's the direction I want to help any veteran that needs it,” he concluded.

relationships with providers offering hyperbaric therapy, equine therapy, counseling and job

to 10th in the nation for veteran suicide. “It’s not a marked improvement,” Linhart said. “But that’s a 5% improvement. Whereas other states went in the other direction and took over our spot. So, we are making a difference.” Not every veteran wants help. Linhart says that during his first term as president, he approached homeless veterans with snacks and water and asked to talk. Some declined. Others insisted they were fine on their own, saying they liked having no one telling them what to do. “Those guys, what can we do?” Linhart said. “We're a chamber of commerce, right? So, it's business — but to help veterans.”

BEYOND THE BUSINESSES

assistance — resources many veterans may not realize are available to them.

The Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce’s mission extends beyond entrepreneurship. Its nonprofit foundation focuses on preventing veteran suicide and connecting former service members with support services across Arizona.

Linhart said a veteran in Graham County struggling with PTSD, for example, might benefit from being connected to the Deep Sea Valkyries, a group that organizes scuba diving experiences to help veterans calm their minds. Making those kinds of connections, he said, is what motivates him. He noted Arizona has moved from sixth

President David Linhart

said the chamber works with a wide network of nonprofits, and that its core nonprofit arm is centered on suicide prevention. He said that is the foundation’s primary driver right now. The chamber maintains

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ARTISTIC EYE ON BUCKEYE Public art appearing on local traffic corners BY DAVID KENNARD N Ilana Lydia Holden, Arts & Culture manager with the city’s Community Services Department, said she and others with Community Services were looking for public art that could be shared “at low expense but high visibility.” Each of the 14 artists participating in the project were given one of three assigned themes: “Mountains,” “Rivers” or “Heritage.” They also were given direction to get community feedback on what residents would like to see on the assigned traffic boxes. We’re introducing you to three of the artists, whose work will soon be on display around Buckeye. OW IN ITS SECOND YEAR, THE CITY’S TRAFFIC BOX ART PROJECT HAS A GOAL OF BEAUTIFYING otherwise plain looking utility box installations that go mostly unnoticed to drivers and pedestrians using Buckeye’s roadways.

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Liz Taylor Liz Taylor is used to working in large format artwork, mostly as murals or other durable art used in health care facilities. She said she was excited for the opportunity to “improve the access to art for people in the community.” She said public art has been studied and shown to decrease crime and reduce graffiti. Taylor’s research included talking to people in the community, providing a QR code that allowed residents to respond and help her better understand how the theme of “Mountains” were important to them. She said she tried to reflect those ideas in her piece, where many of the individual elements in her art are woven together to make up the whole. She said that idea was reflective of community.

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Jessie Kerr Kerr said the aesthetic for her most current project “blends two-dimensional graphic elements with a fully rendered, painterly approach.” “As a painter, I enjoy incorporating oil techniques into my digital work, using specialized brushes to create textures that feel richly traditional,” Kerr said. She said the public art project feels fulfilling, having her work on display for all to enjoy. “My friends often send me photos when they spot my pieces, though my children are still a bit too young to realize that having a parent’s artwork on street corners isn’t a universal experience,” she said. “Public art is vital because it enhances the city's relevance,” Kerr said. “Introducing color into an otherwise beige landscape adds essential interest and personality. I particularly appreciate the city’s commitment to hiring local artists to highlight Buckeye’s unique character.”

January/February 2026

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DOWNTOWN GIRL

Amazing people, rich history and new businesses breathe life into the old city center

Charith Denson Charith Denson, an accomplished Peoria-based artist, said she felt honored to be chosen for the project. She had done a similar project in Surprise, so she said she was familiar with what Buckeye expected. She and another participating artist, Jessie Kerr, partnered to contact residents in Buckeye, to better understand what they would like to see. They created an online Google Form with color pallet choices and other options to help them understand the best how they Her assigned theme was “Mountains,” which allowed her to incorporate some of her favorite concepts. Her traffic box piece includes silhouettes of human faces that make a collection of mountain ranges. “It's … really important to me that there is a human element in my pieces,” Denson said. “And that people feel like they can see themselves in that story. And, so I wanted to use profiles for the mountains, so that people in Buckeye could kind of see how they're part of shaping the landscape.” Denson said that regardless of whether her art is a public work or commissioned she wants people to have access to art. “That's kind of been the driving force,” she said. “But it's also important to me that people have access to the art. So it's not just in museums, and it's not just for those that can afford to pay for it. Really, public art fits into the ethos I have for how art should be consumed.”

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WELCOME TO IMAGINE BUCKEYE!

VIEWFINDER Q&A You’ve seen his work in this edition of InBuckeye Magazine. We thought you’d enjoy learning about young photographer Ryan Williams .

At Imagine Buckeye, we are proud to serve our students and families with a commitment to academic excellence and character development. Rooted in our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Open-Mindedness, and Honesty, everything we do—both in and out of the classroom—is designed to help our students grow into well-rounded, confident learners.

InBuckeye: What do you enjoy about photography? Ryan Williams: I enjoy being able to show people what I see in the world, giving people different perspectives, plus it makes me happy. When you're shooting, what are you looking for? I mainly look for action shots, or shots and angles that are unique. Where do you see your talent taking you in the future, or how do you plan to use your someone who photographs events for the news, become a football photographer or make my own photography business. Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers? Don't get frustrated. Don’t give up. Just keep practicing and always ask questions. Try new things and never get stuck in one category of photography. talent going forward? Hopefully I either work as

Middle School Athletics Program – NEW THIS YEAR!

Our vibrant 21st Century After School Program offers students exciting ways to explore beyond the standard curriculum, including: • STEM-based LEGO Clubs • Sports clubs like soccer and cheer • Reading and math skill building • Opportunities for creative expression • Student Council • Yearbook

We believe education thrives through connection, which is why we proudly partner with families and the community. Through engaging holiday events, meaningful family partnerships, and local collaborations, Imagine Buckeye remains a welcoming place for every Firebird to grow, learn, and soar.

Click here to enroll NOW!

Offering Pre-k - 8th

2400 247th Avenue (623) 250-4570

School Days/Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

COMMUNITY

RACE TO THE RUNWAY

Nearly 1,400 runners crossed the finish line in January's Race to the Runway Buckeye Marathon on the mostly downhill racecourse. Marathon participants began in Verrado and ended at the Buckeye Municipal Airport. Organizers said this year’s event had the largest turnout in the race’s 12-year history. Several events allowed runners to compete in a full marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K run, as well as a one mile fun run. The full marathon, 26.2 miles, was a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon, which means runners who finished the course in under about 3 hours, depending on age and gender, may qualify to run in the Boston Marathon in April.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

COMMUNITY

Third-generation aviator Jeff Shetterly of Overland Park, Kan., smiling in the skies at the 2026 Buckeye Air Fair.

HIGH OVER BUCKEYE The United States Air Force’s elite parachute team brought a few of its cadets to the Buckeye Air Fair.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

COMMUNITY

BUCKEYE DAYS 2026 The annual cattle drive leads the Buckeye Days Parade down Monroe Avenue in January in Downtown Buckeye. The cattle drive ended at the Buckeye Equestrian Center, home of the Helzapoppin' PRCA Rodeo.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

HIDDEN LAKE

subdivisions can move forward under state groundwater rules. During a hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court, attorneys for the Goldwater Institute argued that policies imposed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources unlawfully halted new home construction in Buckeye, such as North Star Ranch, by changing how a 100-year groundwater supply must be demonstrated. The lawsuit, filed against the

1 FORTESCUE Plans for a hydrogen production facility on approximately 157 acres in southwest Buckeye have been abandoned in favor of a potential data center campus. Buckeye City Planning & Zoning Commission approved a revised development plan allowing Australia- based Fortescue to shift direction on the site, which was rezoned in 2023 from Rural Residential to accommodate a hydrogen facility proposed by Nikola Corporation. In a letter to the City of Buckeye, Fortescue said it is assessing multiple development options, including a data center and other industrial uses. Company correspondence cited changes in federal policy, including stricter eligibility requirements and an accelerated phaseout of clean energy tax credits under the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as potential reductions in U.S. Department of Energy funding for hydrogen hubs. Under the revised concept, a data center would rely on onsite groundwater wells and onsite wastewater treatment systems rather than city-provided utilities. In early March, The Buckeye City Council modified the zoning agreement, needed to allow the data center to move forward. 2 GRAND VIEW ARIZONA A proposed 2,300-acre development in east Buckeye would bring heavy industry, commercial space and up to 750 homes under a Community Master Plan designation approved by the Buckeye City Planning & Zoning Commission. The site is planned as a rail-served employment hub with complementary commercial and residential uses. Planning documents list potential industries such as aerospace and defense manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, robotics, pharmaceutical and medical device production, aircraft sales and repair, and building materials sales. Portions of the property remain outside city limits and would require annexation by Buckeye City Council before development can move forward.

administration of Katie Hobbs, challenges a requirement that

3 HIDDEN LAKE A 120-acre waterfront property in Buckeye has sold for $10.5 million and could reopen as a surf destination. The property formerly known as Hidden Lake was once a popular spot for fishing, boating, weddings and outdoor concerts. Public records show the site was sold Jan. 13 to Ocean Front Property in Arizona LLC by Mladick II

LLC. The company is owned by former El Segundo, Calif., mayor Drew Boyles. No development timeline has been announced. 4 HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL ARIZONA Homebuilders planning projects in Buckeye are awaiting a court ruling that could determine whether new

developers prove a 100-year supply across the entire active management area rather than at an individual project site, a shift attorneys say is based on the concept of “unmet demand,” which they contend is not defined in Arizona law. The court previously denied the state’s motion to dismiss, and a summary judgment is expected this spring.

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Verrado branch 830 N. Verrado Way Buckeye, AZ 85326 Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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Well-balanced money for a well-balanced life.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

REAL ESTATE

BY ELIAS WEISS

At Foothills Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy in Buckeye, our expert therapists are here to help you recover from injury, prevent future pain, and get back to doing what you love, faster. From sports injuries to everyday aches, we create a personalized plan focused on your goals, your lifestyle, and your long-term wellness. GET BACK TO THE LIFE YOU LOVE. MOVE BETTER. FEEL STRONGER. LIVE PAIN-FREE.

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a single-level layout with an open living and dining area and split-bedroom floor plan. Interior finishes include carpet and vinyl flooring, central air and electric heat. The property includes covered parking, storage and gravel landscaping, with access to a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, spa and walking paths.

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This brand-new custom home features a detached casita and panoramic desert and mountain views. Designed for multigenerational living, the residence includes high-end finishes such as custom knotty alder built-ins, designer tile and stonework, and a Fisher and Paykel appliance package. The property also offers multiple fireplaces, a private heated pool and spa, expansive outdoor living areas and integrated smart-home technology. 1

DID YOUR RATES GO UP THIS YEAR? DON’T PAY WITHOUT A SECOND LOOK! Auto Insurance • Home Insurance • Business Insurance • Life Insurance Greg Ganyo, Verrado Resident

Community: Buena Vista Mobile Home Park Square feet: 1,344 Price per square foot: $78.05 Lot size: N/A Days on market: 120 Builder: Fleetwood Year built: 2005

21071 W. Canyon Drive

Jan. 20

$3,300,000

Days on market: 1 Builder: JG Custom Homes Year built: 2025

Community: Verrado Square feet: 6,200

Price per square foot: $532.25 Guest house square feet: 792 Lot size: 1 acre

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2

Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 6

2000 S. Apache Road 156, Buena Vista $160,000

20797 W. Rattler Road, Victory at Verrado $1,669,900

0 W. Camino Real, Metes & Bounds $165,000

20720 W. Pasadena Ave., Victory at Verrado $1,625,000

See how much you can save! 1. Scan the QR code 2. Sign into your current insurance agency portal. This takes about 30 seconds. We do the rest!

Ganyo Insurance Agency (623) 439-2525 4252 N. Verrado Way, Ste B201 GregG@GanyoAgency.com GanyoInsurance.com

215 N. Pima Road, Valencia $208,350

5890 N. 207th Drive, Victory at Verrado $1,351,000

409 E. Narramore Ave., Downtown $220,000

20791 W. Main St., Verrado $1,325,000

Scan the QR code to see a short how-to video

Source: MLS, Dec. 23 – March 3

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

Business Directory

Accounting

Automotive Sales/ Repair/Services BUCKEYE STEREO & TINT 824 N 1st Street Buckeye, AZ 85326 602-390-1050 BuckeyeStereoAndTintReviews.com

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Greg Ganyo • (623) 439-2525 4252 N. Verrado Way, Ste B201 GregG@GanyoAgency.com • GanyoInsurance.com

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Dentistry MARKET STREET DENTAL STUDIO 20800 W. Market Street, Suite 107 marketstreetdentalstudio.com 623-401-2959 FREE CONSULATIONS BDIOS 865 S. Watson Road, Suite 218 623-304-7701 BDIOS.com Dermatology ARIZONA SKIN (FORMERLY BUCKEYE DERMATOLOGY) 825 S. Watson Road, Suite 107 602-754-6075 azskin.com Entertainment DESERT DIAMOND CASINO - WEST VALLEY DDCAZ.com/west-valley 9431 W. Northern Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305 DESERT DIAMOND CASINO WHITE TANKS AT SAN LUCY DDCAZ.com/west-valley/new- desert-diamond-casino 8200 N. Sarival Ave. Waddell, AZ 85340 Health & Wellness

Fixing cars, driving joy! 23385 W. Yuma Rd 623-887-9826 cbac.com/buckeye

Looking for affordable individual or group healthcare? 602-228-6992 LockridgeInsurance.com

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Barbershops

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Laundromats BUCK’S LAUNDROMAT 705 E. Monroe Ave. 623-327-3434 Nonprofits

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*Offer valued at $55. Valid for new patients only. Initial visit includes consultation, exam and adjustment. Offer and offer value may vary for Medicare eligible patients. NC: IF YOU DECIDE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, YOU HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND WITHIN THREE DAYS AND RECEIVE A REFUND. (N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-154.1). FL & KY: THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL (RESCIND) PAYMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE SERVICES, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. (FLA. STAT. 456.02) (201 KAR 21:065). Subject to additional state statutes and regulations. See clinic for chiropractor(s)’ name and license info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary. † Visit thejoint.com for official privacy policy, terms and conditions. Message and data rates may apply. © 2025 The Joint Corp. All Rights Reserved.

21765 W. Yuma Road 623-474-6505 KandKBarbershop.com

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Buckeye’s trusted HVAC experts.

Banks DESERT FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION 1060 S. Watson Road

Family owned restaurant with American breakfast and Italian inspired lunch and dinner.

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Chiropractors THE JOINT CHIROPRACTIC Verrado 20650 W. Roosevelt Street 623-624-8183

FOOTHILLS SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICAL THERAPY 1300 S. Watson Road, Suite A104 623-432-8154 foothillsrehab.com

Advertise here for less than 2¢ per household. (602) 883-0860 Advertising@InBuckeye.com

BRENDAN FRANKS

The Joint Chiropractic Buckeye 825 S. Watson Road 602-975-4783

20940 W. Sentinel Drive, Suite 105 VictoryMedicalAZ.com 602-641-6166

416 Monroe Ave.

(602) 654-0202 AZLawNow.com BUCKEYE’S TRUSTED INJURY LAW EXPERTS

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VICTORY MEDICAL – WHERE YOUR HEALTH WINS.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

Business Directory

Plumbing

Real Estate

K. HOVNANIAN HOMES ® Four Seasons at Victory at Verrado Four Seasons at Verrado Cottages Monroe Ranch khov.com/buckeye

JOHN S MCCAIN III ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 3170 S. 247th Ave 623-866-6200 McCain.BESD33.org James Swetter MARIONNEAUX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 24155 W. Roeser Rd 623-866-6100 Marionneaux.BESD33.org Nick Forgette STEVEN R JASINSKI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 4280 S. 246th Ave 623-925-3100 Jasinski.BESD33.org Tonya Kemmer SUNDANCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 23800 W. Hadley St 623-847-8531 Sundance.BESD33.org Robiah Nelson WESTPARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 2700 S. 257th Dr 623-435-3282 Westpark.BESD33.org Dr. Anna Carino

Trusted Since 1995 — Your Key to Buckeye & Beyond

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Servicing the East and West Valley for over 20 years! Military & Senior Discounts (623) 329-5170 • (480) 452-2828 AlsPlumbingLLC.com ROC#246437 • Licensed, Bonded and Insured Advertise here for less than 2¢ per household. (602) 883-0860 Advertising@InBuckeye.com

MATTAMY HOMES Tyler Ranch 3866 S. 242nd Lane 602-75-2128 MattamyHomes.com Restaurants

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Brenda Ann Bruehl REALTOR®, GRI, SRS, ABR, CDRS, CRPM, NARPM 623-694-6483

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free, local news and community information.

Check out our Buckeye locations on our website. Looking for a brand new, move-in ready home?

MONROE'S KITCHEN 416 E. Monroe Ave.

623-306-7203 Schools

BALES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 25400 W. Maricopa Road 623-847-8503

DRH Properties Inc., Broker. Construction by DRH Construction, Inc., ROC # 113105-B.

Bales.BESD33.org Kathleen Hannan

WANT ?

BUCKEYE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 211 S. 7th Street 623-386-4487 Buckeye.BESD33.org Joshua King

BUCKEYE PRESCHOOL 3-5 year olds 640 E. Centre Ave. 623-925-3333 Preschool.BESD33.org Erica Boettcher

YOUNGKER HIGH SCHOOL 3000 S. Apache Road

623-269-1300 YHS.Buhsd.org Tattoo

BUHSD LEARNING CENTER 751 N. 215th Ave.

TATTOOS & PIERCINGS

623-269-2000 BLC.Buhsd.org

IN THE HEART OF BUCKEYE

• LOCAL NEWS • TRAFFIC • CALENDAR • ADVERTISING • BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ESTRELLA FOOTHILLS HIGH SCHOOL 13033 Estrella Parkway Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-269-1200 EFHS.Buhsd.org IMAGINE SCHOOLS AT BUCKEYE 2400 S. 247th Ave., Buckeye, AZ 623-250-4570 imaginebuckeye.org

To have your business listed, contact Advertising@InBuckeye.com or (866) 941-8386

(623) 386-7055 325 N. Miller Road

Open 12pm Tues.-Sun.

SilverStagTattoo.com

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INCA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL K - 8th grade 23601 W. Durango Street 623-925-3500 Inca.BESD33.org Danielle Gill

BUCKEYE. DELIVERED.

InBuckeye.com | March/April 2026

March/April 2026 | InBuckeye.com

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