Members of the South Mountain Citizen’s Advisory Team (SMCAT) have until July 24 to submit the official recommendation from its group on the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

Active members of Protecting Arizona’s Resources and Children (PARC) in our Village of Ahwatukee and outlying residential areas aim to stop the South Mountain Freeway from being built on Pecos Road. Preventing the destruction of our community and South Mountain is the main goal of PARC, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

Editor’s note: This is part one of a continuing summer series on the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway.

At three public meetings this week anti-freeway demonstrators spoke out about the possible Loop 202 extension through South Mountain, citing environmental and cultural impacts the freeway would have on the surrounding area.

The proposed Loop 202 extension through Ahwatukee Foothills or the Gila River Indian Community would have destructive impacts on the land and the people, according to speakers at “The Price of Progress,” a panel discussion at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

The Girl Scouts of Ahwatukee Foothills recently hosted a Recruitment Rally at the Pecos Park Community Room. Girls from kindergarten through 12th grade were invited to the event to speak with school organizers, leaders and girls in troops. Many of the troops that were on hand shared hands-on activities showcasing what they like best about Girl Scouts. Leaders also shared what they like most about volunteering and how fun and rewarding it is to work with girls.

On the same day community members gathered to celebrate the first anniversary of its grand opening, South Mountain Community Library was honored by Valley Forward and Salt River Project with three, first-place Crescordia awards for environmental excellence.

Local environmentalists are teaming up to fight against the Loop 202 extension and a study released earlier in the year is feeding their cause.

Local environmentalists are teaming up to fight against the Loop 202 extension and a study released earlier in the year is feeding their cause.

Kyrene de la Altadeña Middle School seventh-graders Alexandra Gutierrez, Abigail Kany, Rebecca Kim, Ashley Ong, Nora Wagner, and Sonoran Science Academy seventh-grader Ryann Yount dedicated more than 52 hours each in planning, organizing, making, and teaching others how to make Positioning Pillows. In all, the girls from Girl Scouts Cadet Troop 2292 made 131 pillows that they donated to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cardon Children’s Medical Center at Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa.

Kyrene de la Altadeña Middle School seventh-graders Alexandra Gutierrez, Abigail Kany, Rebecca Kim, Ashley Ong, Nora Wagner, and Sonoran Science Academy seventh-grader Ryann Yount dedicated more than 52 hours each in planning, organizing, making, and teaching others how to make Positioning Pillows. In all, the girls from Girl Scouts Cadet Troop 2292 made 131 pillows that they donated to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cardon Children’s Medical Center at Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa.

William Ramsey’s letter, “No Build South Mountain” (AFN, March 2), was one of the more logical reviews of the issue I have read. Attending the so-called public meetings of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) or Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), I have seen how little public comment means relating to an issue. I noticed reports are a formality and often show no interest in real-life problems.

Bob Hazlett, senior engineer for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), continues the misinformation game that MAG and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) have played over the course of the past decade with this iteration of the proposed South Mountain Freeway project in his assertion that the “no build” option isn’t viable (“The fight goes on: GRIC vote takes freeway off tribal land, battle continues to save South Mountain,” AFN, Feb. 10).

Landowners of the Gila River Indian Community have filed an initiative with the Tribal Council to rescind the Feb. 7 vote and create a yes or no vote on a new path through the reservation.

The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) has spoken once again to not allow any freeway on tribal land. Now, the question is whether or not the Loop 202 extension will continue on the Pecos Road alignment.

Improvements to Grand Avenue that would alleviate traffic in and out of Surprise, while also providing enhanced economic development by attracting jobs to the city, is among the goals of the two mayoral candidates.

South Mountain Community Library, a first-ever shared operation by Phoenix Public Library and South Mountain Community College, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The Girl Scouts of Ahwatukee Foothills are hosting a recruitment rally from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 27 in the Pecos Park Community Room, 17010 S. 48th St.

Ahwatukee Girl Scouts are hosting a recruitment rally from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 in the Pecos Park Community Room, 17010 S. 48th St. All girls in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited, along with their parents.

Ahwatukee Girl Scouts are hosting a recruitment rally from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 in the Pecos Park Community Room, 17010 S. 48th St. All girls in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited, along with their parents.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman has been elected chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Valley's regional planning agency. As chairman, Hallman's duties include heading a finance committee, working on its budget and contract selections. Hallman has served on MAG's regional council since 2004 and also is a member of its economic development committee.