Verrado & Buckeye community updates — October 16, 2026

Unofficial roundup for residents and newcomers. Not affiliated with DMB Associates, the Verrado Community Association, the City of Buckeye, or any school district. Confirm times and details with the linked sources.

A busy week ahead: a free morning for local businesswomen, two new places to eat and a new car wash by the Marketplace, a downtown Halloween carnival, and the dates you need for this fall's high school district ballot measure. For the Halloween and Fall Fest lineup, see the Oct 15 roundup.

Women in Business: Beyond the Hustle — Thu, Oct. 22, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., City Hall East at The Landing

The City of Buckeye, SCORE and the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce are hosting a free breakfast for National Women's Small Business Month at Buckeye City Hall East at The Landing, 945 N. 215th Ave., Suite 137. Doors and a continental breakfast open at 7:30 a.m., and the program starts at 8:30 a.m., with networking and talks on leadership, branding and time management. It's free, but registration is required and seating is limited, so register early.

Source: City of Buckeye registration form.

Super Star Car Wash now open at 1100 N. Verrado Way

Super Star Car Wash has opened at 1100 N. Verrado Way, across from Verrado Marketplace near the I-10. The company says it is its third Buckeye location. The Buckeye Valley Chamber held a ribbon cutting on Tue, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the company advertised free washes at its opening (as of Oct. 13). Check the company's page for current offers.

Source: Super Star Car Wash — Verrado grand opening.

Now open: SALT Tacos y Tequila at Verrado Marketplace

A casual Mexican spot for tacos, tequila and traditional dishes, now open at Verrado Marketplace. It's listed until 1 a.m. most nights (11 p.m. Sundays), with 10 a.m. openings on weekends, so it works for a late dinner after a game. Source: Verrado Marketplace tenant page (hours may vary).

Now open: Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, 1505 N. Verrado Way

The homemade ice cream shop is now scooping at 1505 N. Verrado Way, Suite 105, listed 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, an easy after-school or post-dinner stop. Source: Handel's Verrado store page (hours subject to change).

Buckeye's 86th Halloween carnival — Sat, Oct. 24, 5 to 9 p.m., downtown

The city's long-running carnival returns to Sixth Street Plaza and Monroe Avenue with free admission, live entertainment, carnival games, food vendors and costume contests for kids and pets (register at the carnival). It overlaps with Verrado's Fall Fest that evening, so pick one or plan a quick hop. Source: InBuckeye — Abrazo backs Buckeye's 86th Halloween carnival (Oct. 15, 2026).

Police ask for help identifying two people in an August fire

Buckeye police released doorbell video on Oct. 15 of two people they want to identify in an Aug. 19 fire that damaged two vehicles and a garage door near Apache and Broadway roads. No one was hurt. Anyone who recognizes them can contact Buckeye police. Source: InBuckeye — Arson update: police seek two persons of interest (Oct. 15, 2026).

Prop 438: Agua Fria High School District override election — Election Day Tue, Nov. 3

Verrado High School is in the Agua Fria Union High School District, which has Proposition 438 on the Nov. 3 ballot. Key dates, per the district:

Early voting: began Oct. 7
Last day to request a ballot by mail: Fri, Oct. 23
Last day to mail your ballot back: Tue, Oct. 27
Election Day: Tue, Nov. 3, 2026

The district says:

"Proposition 438 continues Agua Fria High School District's existing Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Budget Override. This is not a new or additional budget increase." — Agua Fria High School District, 2026 Override Information

"Prop 438 is a continuation of an existing tax and maintains the current tax rate. The existing override has been in place for more than 20 years." — Agua Fria High School District, election fact sheet (PDF)

The district's legal election notice estimates the first-year override at $12,244,842, funded by an estimated $0.42 per $100 of net assessed valuation, which it describes as "approximately equal to the current secondary tax rate for the existing budget override." (Election notice, PDF)

To read the official arguments for and against, see the Maricopa County School Superintendent's informational pamphlet for the Agua Fria election. For your ballot, voting locations and registration status, visit Maricopa County Elections. verrado.us takes no position on this measure.