Debbie Devlin Begins The Next Chapter

 

After 46 years and 10 months with Independent, Debbie Devlin retired Friday, Sept 26^th.  Debbie mentioned it is bittersweet to say so long, but it was time to move on to the next chapter. 

Thank You To Michelle

 

I’m reaching out to let you know about the wonderful experience I had with your periodicals, especially the person that I dealt with directly. Michelle assisted me in making a plan for my ads, helped get a wonderful ad designed and gave me step by step instructions on how payment and circulation would go. Although I asked a TON of questions, Michelle was quick to respond and tirelessly followed up as I got my ducks in a row and decided what the best fit for my business would be. If I had an employee as exceptional as Michelle, I would hope to hear about it - which is why I’m reaching out. My gratitude for her assistance is tremendous and I’m very thankful that she was the person that helped me figure out this process.

 Kindest Regards,

 Vic Newman

Victory Painting

Thank You Note

 

Thank you, Zev, for your well-written article, "Sun City temple to offer three-course antisemitism course," in the Sun City Independent and Sun City West Independent. We appreciate you reaching out to us to do interviews with Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Fay Henning-Bryant, and using a photo of them from our Holocaust Remembrance Day event.

 We look forward to working with you again in the future!

 Lori Baker

Welcome Zev Black

 

Welcome to Zev Black.  Zev has joined our Arizona team as a reporter.

His Immediate Family are Michael, Aviva, and Elza Black.

Zev grew up in Oakland, California, and moved to Arizona for college He has been here ever since, and I’m excited to now call the Phoenix area home.

Before joining Independent Newsmedia, I spent four seasons working with the San Francisco Giants as a Hawk-Eye Operator. I helped manage live replay and player tracking during games. It gave me a front-row seat to the sport I love most.

I’m a big sports fan, especially baseball, but I also love spending time outside. Whether it's hiking, swimming, skiing, or just exploring new places, I’m always up for something active.

Inspirational Quote

 

Benefits Corner

 

Independent will provide all full-time regular employees with time off for the following holidays in 2026:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas

Holiday pay is paid at the employee’s normal rate of pay and based on their normally scheduled work hours. For hourly employees, time off for holiday does not count when determining overtime for that specific week, nor is it to exceed 40 regular hours a week.

• Non-regular employees are not entitled to holiday pay

• Regular full-time employees on vacation or excused absence will receive the holiday pay.

• Employees on unpaid leave are not entitled to holiday pay

• Salaried exempt employees are entitled to their normal compensation without any deductions for holidays observed by the company

• There is no accrual for the holiday when used.

• Time off is to occur on the actual holiday. With prior management approval, an employee may take the paid holiday on another day within the pay period in which the holiday occurs.

• If there is a circumstance such as an ‘act of God’ (i.e., hurricane) impacting the office personnel’s absence within the month in which a holiday occurs, the holiday may be used within another pay period of the month if approved by the CEO.

Printing Operations - For the printing operations only, if/when a regular full-time, non-exempt (hourly) employee is scheduled by their manager to work on the holiday, the employee will be paid time and a half for the hours worked.

• The maintenance-electrical technicians for the printing companies are scheduled off for the holiday. However, due to emergency reasons, these employees may be called in to repair equipment on a holiday. If they work less than eight (8) hours, the technician may use the remaining balance as holiday in the pay period in which the holiday occurs. The hours worked on the holiday will be paid time and half. This applies only to this position.

• The manager will make payroll@iniusa.org aware in advance of the scheduled full-time employees who are scheduled to work on the holidays.

• When an employee from the printing operations works on a holiday, the time worked is counted when determining overtime for the week.

• The employee who works on a holiday cannot use another day within that pay period to use time off for the holiday. However, an employee may use available vacation to take another day off within that pay period, provided they request the time off in advance and receive approval.

When an employee leaves the employment of Independent, they will not receive payout for the remaining holidays for the year.

 

October Anniversaries

 

10/4	13	YRS	Sullivan, Richard Clark	De Printing Shipping & Binding
10/9	8	YRS	Barrera, Juan Armando	Valley Printing Press
10/10	3	YRS	Lewis, Richard A.	Okeechobee Circulation
10/11	27	YRS	Lewis, Kimberly A	De Printing Shipping & Binding
10/12	26	YRS	Williams, Christopher S	AZ Publications Advertising
10/12	11	YRS	Conde, Daniel Roy	Valley Printing Shipping
10/16	2	YRS	Meloni, Lynn	Corp. Acctng/payables/payroll
10/23	24	YRS	Ramirez, Armando	Valley Printing Shipping
10/26	5	YRS	Perez, Janet M	AZ Publications Editorial
10/31	9	YRS	Satterfield, Clay Aldrich	De Printing Press
10/31	23	YRS	Eldred, Cynthia Ann	De State News Advertising

USI Health Bulletin

Look Ahead: Protect Your Eyesight

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GdL__Tv5xzPWvN4R8dmCK5S9QVM1_cGf/view?usp=sharing