Laveen Residents Re-Launching Neighborhood Patrol

(This article first appeared in the print edition of the South Mountain District News on March 7, 2016) After a six-year hiatus, Laveen residents are relaunching this month a Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol to drive through multiple neighborhoods at least once a month in an effort to deter crime and report suspicious activity. PNPs are partnerships […]

Laveen home prices up 4 percent in February

Home Prices Rise 4% in Laveen Through the month of January 2016, Laveen AZ posted a total of 38 residential home sales year to date. The average price of $206,729 recorded a net advance of 4.0% from this time period a year ago. The total volume of sold residential listings in Laveen had a 24% […]

Home prices rise throughout South Mountain and Laveen

Sunset in Laveen, Arizona

(This article appears in the February 2016 print  issue of the South Mountain District News) Home prices for existing homes rose throughout the South Mountain and Laveen village areas during 2015, a steady trend that local realtors predict will continue throughout 2016. “I like this kind of steady increase. It’s not only good for the […]

Business Briefs: Liberty Mutual app eases claim process

Liberty Mutual Insurance serves the Laveen, Arizona community.

Liberty Mutual app makes claims easier to process Gabriel Felix, a Laveen resident since 2007 and an insurance agent for Liberty Mutual, recommends reviewing homeowners and renters insurance policies before a burglary to make sure they are covered in the case of theft.  “Knowing your coverage limits and deductible is very important information to have when any […]

Laveen Village Voice: Countdown to parade and barbecue

In less than a month we celebrate our agrarian heritage with the Laveen Community Parade on Feb. 6 and the Annual Laveen Pit Barbecue on Feb. 21. Hundreds of community volunteers, local business and local leaders pitch in thousands of hours to make these events enjoyable successful. “Laveen is a unique, close-knit community,” says Jeff […]

SMCC, Ahwatukee Chamber Launching Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Rose Tring for the South Mountain District News Eight aspiring business leaders of the future are getting their starts this month as members of the inaugural class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, sponsored by the Ahwatukee Chamber Community Foundation and South Mountain Community College. “We’re launching it this month,” said Anne Gill, president and CEO […]

News from Betty Fairfax and Cesar Chavez high schools

Distributed by the Phoenix Union High School District   News from BETTY FAIRFAX Students earn spots in prestigious choirs Hundreds of choir students from throughout Arizona competed Sept. 26 for a spot in the Arizona All-State Show and Jazz Choirs. When the auditions ended, two Betty Fairfax students  were among the 48 students  accepted into […]

Residents say lousy drivers are worst traffic issue in Laveen

Traffic photo in Laveen Village

Whether it is rude drivers or four-lane thoroughfares that abruptly drop to two lanes, residents in Laveen find plenty to say about driving in the rapidly developing urban village. The South Mountain District News asked residents to sound off on the topic and more than 80 people responded with what they considered the biggest traffic […]

Laveen Village Voice: Scouts and 4-H Geared Toward Helping Community

Laveen Pathfinders 4-H Club offers members experience like sheep shearing.

In growing children into responsible adults who care about their communities, parents look to many different resources. Here in Laveen, there are several youth organizations geared toward helping our community’s young people achieve that goal.   Two prominent ones are: 4-H (for children ages 5-18) and the scouting programs for boys (ages 6 to their […]

Phoenix Union board names interim superintendent from South Phoenix

  PHOENIX — The Phoenix Union Governing Board unanimously named Dr. Chad Gestson Interim Superintendent to replace Dr. Kent P. Scribner, who is the sole finalist for the Fort Worth, TX Independent School District superintendent.  The announcement was made at a special board meeting, Tuesday evening.   Gestson’s appointment is contingent upon Scribner’s contract approval in Fort […]