The Good Folks of The South Mountain/Laveen Village’s

By George Young

This is a series of articles profiling some of the residents who live and work in the South Mountain/Laveen Villages.  In keeping with the original format of the Villager to only print the positive, we will attempt to acknowledge some of the great folks that have contributed so much to our lives and are hopefully role models for all of us.

The winners of the 2009 Festival of Thanksgiving Parade are:

The Tommy Amarillas Spirit Award

Best Overall Parade Entry

Cesar Chavez High School JROTC/Color Guard

The ESPIRITU/NFL YET Academy Award

Best Overall Community Spirit of Youth Award

El Ballet Folklorico Del Camino Real

The South Mountain/Laveen Villages Chamber of Commerce Award

Best Overall Community of Business Award

Espiritu Charter Schools

Well folks as some of you know the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s Festival Committee have been busy all year planning there fall events.  So far we have had a great year.  Our Haunted Hayride was a success, many thanks to all those folks that showed up.  The Pancake Breakfast, Parade and Fair on November 7^th were also well attended and we had great participation.  Without a doubt we had our best Pioneer Luncheon.  We just keep getting better and better at doing these events.  We need to thank so many people, I will attempt to name a few, unfortunately with all the volunteers we had this year I do not have everybody’s name.  Some of the folks that have been there for over 30 years and recently and continue to add so much to our events and community are: Verna McClain and her Great-granddaughter Stephanie, Karen Michael Norton, Pauline Wood, Felicitas Ordaz, Carlie Back, Maurene Helmkay, Ingried & Bill & Bill Jr. Lowman and Family, Kay Shepard, Cindy Wilson, Amanda Klob, Rob Price, Judy Bradley and daughter, Karen Mischlispy & Sue, Pastor Andrew Cunningham and all the fine folks at Southgate Church, Discount Tire, Travis Fields, Steve and Dorothy Glueck, Mickey Shaffer, Office Mario Ancich, Kathleen Holguin and her family and neighbors, Robbie Thomas, Christopher Mueller, Mary Amarillas, Mel Martin, Joe Banks, Southwest Behavioral Health, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, City of Phoenix Police Department, Laveen Community Council, Compass Bank, IHOP, Wal Mart Super Store and  Wal Mart Marketplace.  Please contact myself or Verna if you would like to participate in or volunteer to be on the committee.  We welcome everybody who would like to give back to your Village.

I apologize if I forgot some folks, please do not call me.  Just know that everybody’s efforts and time and energy is appreciated.

God Bless the Folks of the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s Festival Inc. Committee and God Bless America and God Bless the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s.