Avondale Inc.

Page Masters

Brian Bizzell, Ex-Teacher Caught Arranging "Quickie" With Student, Gets Jail Time

​Brian Bizzell -- a former band teacher at Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear -- has earned himself the title of "sex offender" for life, and was sentenced to a year in jail for his sexual relationship with one of his students.Because the 17-year-old student lost her cell phone, another st ... More >>

Anthony Velasquez's "An Odd Kind of Sympathy"

New Times' Summer Guide 2012

Rapper Faces Explains "BMO," Set to Play Newly Minted Wall Street Venue

It wasn't so long ago that the ill-fated Yellow Canary Dance Hall closed its doors, but come April 28 the warehouse will be bumping live music once again. Avondale rapper Faces will be on hand to lend his lyrical mastery, along with percussionist/beat dropper Yawning Boy, at the site being renamed ... More >>

Weed, Cash, Human Smugglers, and Illegal Immigrants Found During DPS Raid of Avondale Drop House

​Four alleged human smugglers were arrested last night when the Department of Public Safety busted up a drop house in Avondale.Also found inside the home was weed, cash, and 19 illegal immigrants -- many of whom have been arrested before for crimes like drug possession, weapons misconduct, child a ... More >>

Avondale Infant -- Missing Since 2001 -- is Still Missing. Cops Need Help

Jacqueline Vasquez in 2001 (left) and an artist's depiction of what she might look like today.​The Avondale Police Department wants to remind Valley residents that an infant taken from a swap meet in 2001 is still missing, with the hopes that some new ink about the girl's abduction could create so ... More >>

Avondale Man Who Traded Tattoo For Sex With Teen Gets More Than Seven Years in Joint

Juan Lara's tattoo parlor will be moving from his Avondale trailer to an Arizona state prison.​An amateur Avondale tattoo artist who traded a tattoo for sex with a teenage girl was sentenced to prison today after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted child prostitution and two counts of unlaw ... More >>

Homeless Village (Jan Brewer-Burgh)/Stolen Property Storage Facility Found Under Avondale Bridge

Avondale Police DepartmentThis feces-filled "Brewer-burgh" was discovered under the Agua Fria Bridge. ​While the Great Depression had "Hoovervilles," modern day Arizona has its own homeless shanty towns (we'll call them Jan Brewer-burghs), one of which was uncovered under an Avondale bridge.Starti ... More >>

"Path of Destruction" Leads Avondale Police to Hit and Run Suspect -- Dude Hit Five Cars and a Fire Hydrant Before Parking in His Own Garage

www.funny-tee-shirt.com​Five cars, a fire hydrant, and three landscaped yards. That's what an Avondale motorist hit on what police describe as a "path of destruction" Friday afternoon.When he was done wreaking havoc on Avondale roadways, 34-year-old Justin Fernandez parked his mangled car in his o ... More >>

Phoenix's Pathetic Attempt at Christmas Decorations Makes Us Say, "Bah Humbug"

The Pits

Wanna Complain About Graffiti and Pot Holes? If You Live in Avondale, There's an App for That

www.fairfax.cc​Complaining to the city about mundane crap like potholes and graffiti isn't just for geriatrics with rotary phones anymore. The city of Avondale has unveiled a new smart phone application that allows residents to alert city officials to municipal eye sores like graffiti, weeds, and ... More >>

Heavenly Helpin's at Starlight Cuisine

​Classic Caribbean fare with a little help from above? It's got to be Starlight Cuisine. "People will just order the gravy," owner Janet Brown tells me of the spice-filled sauce she uses in her oxtail soup. "They take cupfuls of it home and just pour it over their regular food." One taste ... More >>

Starlight Cuisine Serves Up Caribbean Flavors

​Jamaican food isn't easy to come by anywhere in the Valley, but if you're willing to head to the west side of town, there's a new-ish place called Starlight Cuisine in Avondale. Owner Trevor Brown says he opened his eatery back in December. Menu selections rotate from day to day; two or thre ... More >>

Chick-fil-A's Spicy Chicken Sandwich Giveaway

​Like Chick-fil-A? Like free? Then this one's for you. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A's first new sandwich since 1989 (hello product development - are you there?) will be offered free to customers via an online reservation before it officially launches on June 7. That's right. Click ... More >>

Wig Bandit Leader Sentenced to More Than a Century in Prison

​The leader of a group of Valley bank robbers, who wore wigs during the majority of their heists, was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced today.Julio Cesar Feliciano, Jr., 46, was sentenced to 106 years in federal prison this morning for his role in ... More >>

Hot Links: Iguana Mack's, Bank Robberies, and ASU Smoking

​Chandler restaurant Iguana Mack's is battling the county to continue allowing dogs on their patio. Iguana Mack's Arizona Roadhouse is well known for its dog-friendly patio, but a Maricopa County Environmental Health inspector told them dogs were not allowed on the patio. The owners of the restaur ... More >>

Hot Links: Abortion Bill, Oil Refineries, and Car Surfing

​The Arizona Legislature advanced an abortion bill yesterday, while delaying a concealed weapons bill. The abortion measure, which requires final passage before moving to the Senate, would require health care personnel who treat women with complications from abortions to submit a report to the sta ... More >>

Smashburger on Camelback Opens Today

Jonathan McNamara​Those Smashburger folks are pretty ambitious. Their Arizona presence only dates back to August 2009, with the Tempe shop, and they've since added an Avondale location. Today, number three -- in the Colonnade at 1949 E. Camelback Rd. -- is open to the public. In case you ... More >>

Avondale Police Looking for Bank Robbery Suspect Still on Loose

www.southdacola.com​Avondale police are looking for a bank-robbery suspect who held up a Chase bank earlier this afternoon.Police say the suspect hit the Chase Bank at 1545 North Dysart Road about noon and is still on the loose.The suspect walked into the bank, presented a demand n ... More >>

Smashburger Continues Expansion

​As part of local franchisee Sunwest Burgers LLC's plans to open 30 Smashburger locations in Maricopa County over the next few years, another one of the fast-food burger joints is set to open at Gateway Crossing in Avondale (9915 W. McDowell, Ste. 101) on February 3. (The Tempe stor ... More >>

Smashburger Coming to Camelback Corridor

Jonathan McNamara​Calling all carnivores in the Camelback Corridor: Hot meat is on the way. Burger chain Smashburger, which recently made Arizona inroads with a Tempe location that debuted this fall, plans to open another restaurant at 1949 E. Camelback Rd., #164, in February 2010, accordi ... More >>

A Thousand Points of Blight

Doc examines the oily death of the American dream

Joe Arpaio vs. ACLU: New Lawsuit Tomorrow Over Worksite Raid

Is the ACLU's new lawsuit on behalf of Avondale resident Julio Mora? We'll find out tomorrow.​ The Arizona ACLU isn't giving out any details, but they've just issued a press advisory that at noon tomorrow they will announce a lawsuit, "on behalf of two Avondale residents who were illegally a ... More >>

You Asked For It: Serious Side Effects

Serious Side EffectsMay Include:(self-released)Grade: DDemonstrating even a small affinity for a band as roundly despised as Limp Bizkit takes some balls. Sure, Fred and the boys sold a gazillion records, but even the unhippest guy in the Valley -- I picture him as baggy-jeaned dude inking Chinese l ... More >>

Salvatore Pistoia Jr.

Arpaio’s Avondale Sweep a Bust, Pima County Sheriff Wants to Check School Kids’ Immigration Papers, and Chris Simcox Takes on McCain

Hot Links: Woman Crawling on Freeway Causes Crash; Illegal Immigrant College Grads Can't Find Jobs; State Losing Jobs at Faster Pace

A woman crawling on the U.S. 60 freeway was hit by three cars and caused a collision -- police don't know what she was doing there; she probably didn't know, either. Tempe's photo enforcement program is raking in dough. Navajo down: Phoenix Symphony releases CD of oratorio inspired by a Native Amer ... More >>

From the Society for Creative Anachronism to Self-Propelled Electronic Armored Racks, Simon Rohrich is a True Renaissance Man

Joe Arpaio's Circus Comes to Buckeye: Assault Rifles, Body Armor, Ski Masks and Traffic Stops

"Every life is precious," Joe kept saying of murder victims. Who is he tryin' to kid?The citizens of Buckeye and Avondale can rest easy tonight knowing that sheriff's deputies with assault rifles, body armor, and ski masks are busy pulling over old ladies and Hispanics with expired tags. This was al ... More >>

New Cajun Restaurant Opens in Avondale

A new Cajun restaurant in town? Now that's something you don't hear about very often. Cajun food is far too elusive in the Valley. Jennifer Landry Goff and Calvin Goff thought so, too. The couple moved to Arizona with their family in 1990, and after many years of dreaming about it, they finally open ... More >>

Hot Links: Domestic Partner Registry Coming to Phoenix; Suspects in Westgate Shooting IDd; Iraqis Demand Freedom for Shoe Thrower

Correcting injustice: The city of Phoenix becomes the second Arizona city to create a domestic partner registry, making it easier for gay partners to visit each other in the hospital. Cops identify the suspects in a bar shooting near the University of Phoenix stadium. Is it possible to watch ... More >>

Hot Links: Video Interview of 8-year-old Slaying Suspect Released by Cops; Four Million May Attend Obama's Inauguration; Credit Market Still

By Ray Stern In a police interview tape, the 8-year-old boy suspected of killing two in St. Johns sticks to his story that he came home and found the bodies. But police have already said the boy confessed to the crime, meaning his words in this video are just another example of his methodical plann ... More >>

Hot Links: 8-year-old Who Killed Two in St. Johns to Appear in Court; AIG Posts Losses, Gets Bigger Bailout; Local Election Results Delayed

Budget Beat: Ararat

Rev, White & Boom at Phoenix International Raceway

Sheriff Joe's racist clown cars? You be the judge...

Lap Dawgs

Speed thrills at PIR

You Can Drive 155

Get your butts in gear

Speed Trap

PIR's Jam mixes speeding bullets with Velvet Revolver

Star-Spangled Planner

The fireworks fly in the Valley this July 4th

West Side Glory

Charity's the name of the game

Best Central And South American Grocery Store

Pan Americano

In Cinco

Getting in synch with Cinco de Mayo

The Quad Squad

Mother of infants arrested on abuse charges; Avondale police conspicuously absent from news conference

Flashes

Nursery Crimes

The case of the battered Avondale quadruplets includes horrific injuries, a misdiagnosis, a mystery witness, a mentally ill mother, a crude police report, missions of mercy rebuffed. Expect it all to get sorted out in a criminal court.

Night & Day

August 13 - 19, 1998

Master Blaster

Director Bret Michaels blows up on No Code of Conduct set