36 AUGUST 2020 By Cliff Summerhill After a storied career as downtown Phoenix’s spotlight member of the Clean and Green Team, Don Olund has retired, leaving a profound emptiness in the Downtown Ambassador Program. “When I informed members of our hospitality and convention task force of Don’s retirement, the reaction was shock and gratitude,” Chief Marketing Officer R.J. Price said. Olund was a downtown Phoenix staple before his retirement in June. Since 1993, Olund has cleaned over 50,000 graffiti marks in the area. He was always the first to be called when a graffiti tag needed to be removed. “I loved what I did. I took great pride in my work. It was my calling,” Olund said. “For years, our partners at Visit Phoenix, Phoenix Convention Center and the large hotels have been able to sell downtown Phoenix as one of the country’s cleanest downtowns due in large part to Don Olund,” Price shared. The “Clean and Green Team” strives to make Phoenix neighborhoods clean, friendly and welcoming central hubs. Olund exhibited this mission and, in his 28 years, embraced this attitude every day. “Don had an ability to adapt and overcome,” Downtown Phoenix Ambassador Chuck Padilla shared. “His dependability, work ethic, friendliness and kind thoughtfulness showed through every day at work.” Olund moved to Arizona from Alaska in 1993. He also lived in the Midwest. Back then he was described as a talented youth hockey player. Upon moving to Phoenix, he responded to an ad in the newspaper for a job with downtown Phoenix’s Clean & Safe Team (they would change the name a few years later). According to Dan Klocke, Executive Director of the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Olund was late to his interview, but when he eventually made it there, he was hired to become a member of the team. “On one of his first days on the job, he was dispatched to the First Ave. bridge in the warehouse district to remove some graffiti tags,” Price said. “And that’s what he did for the nearly three decades that followed.” Olund will be remembered for his “can-do” attitude and mentorship to other ambassadors, but he also sported a signature hairstyle until shortly before his June retirement. “My favorite tidbit about him is that he has maintained his signature mullet all of these years,” Klocke shared. “In January, he cut off the ‘party in the back.’ So, it’s been a year of significant changes for Don. A true end of an era in a way.” Klocke explained that Olund would share his graffiti removals as if he was “a soldier in a war.” Olund had many confrontations throughout the years, but it never stopped him from doing his job. Furthermore, Olund created friendships with downtown Phoenix’s homeless population and would try to help them as much as he could. “I was right out in the streets and saw people at their worst. They would see me and say ‘Don, we found a couple tags for you,’” he said. Known as the Graffiti Man, Don would help out the population by buying them shoes and bringing them meals from Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway and even home cooked meals. “I wanted to try to make their lives a little better. Do what I can to brighten their day a bit and show them a little love. Especially now, we have to help each other,” Olund said. 28 years of keeping Phoenix clean, one graffiti mark at a time Don Olund has cleaned over 50,000 graffiti marks. PHOTO COURTESY OF DOWNTOWN PHOENIX Don Olund Arizona recently passed a new law to help victims of child sexual abuse. Are you a victim of sexual abuse? Contact our offi ce to learn more. Robert E. Pastor Tiffani E. Lucero 3200 N. Central Ave., Ste. 2550 Phoenix, Arizona 85012 602-279-8969 www.arizonasexualabuselawyer.com • www.mjpattorneys.com Victims have until December 30, 2020 to file a lawsuit, seek justice and expose the truth. WANTED: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS Every September we feature vacation photos submitted from our readers. Your photo may even be featured on the cover! Deadline: Friday, August 7 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: 2016: The Cadwell family on the beach in Coronado. 2017: Carter Lampe washes ashore during his vacation in Del Mar. 2018: Elle, Andrew and Jacob during their hiking trip in Switzerland. 2019: Antonella, Owen and Avianna Klein fishing in Darling Lake, Minnesota. Send your photos to editor@arcadianews.com Be sure to let us know the names of the family or people in the photo, where you went and what you did! SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Arcadia residents traveled all over the world during their summer vacations. world during their summer vacations. PAGE 38 PAGE 38 A family’s medical need spurred a neighborhood SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: A family’s medical need spurred a neighborhood SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: A family’s medical need spurred a neighborhood rally that raised over $5,000 in two days. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: rally that raised over $5,000 in two days. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: PAGE 10 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Medieval Times provides revelry and rivalry at their new location in Scottsdale. PAGE 34 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER PHOTOS THIS IS ARCADIA THIS IS ARCADIA DINNER AND A SHOW ARCADIA • BILTMORE • CAMELBACK SEPTEMBER 2019 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: THIS IS ARCADIA ARCADIA • BILTMORE • CAMELBACK NO. 6 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: VOL. 27 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: XXXXX VOL. 27 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2018 2018 2018 ARCADIA • BILTMORE • CAMELBACK SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Arcadia residents traveled all over the Arcadia residents traveled all over the world during their summer vacations. world during their summer vacations. world during their summer vacations. PAGE PAGE 26 26 A local couple is using their skills to make SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: A local couple is using their skills to make SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: A local couple is using their skills to make SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: a huge difference in the lives of kids. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: PAGE SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: 28 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: New head coach Kerry Taylor is bringing the New head coach Kerry Taylor is bringing the New head coach Kerry Taylor is bringing the New head coach Kerry Taylor is bringing the buzz back to Arcadia High School football. buzz back to Arcadia High School football. buzz back to Arcadia High School football. buzz back to Arcadia High School football. PAGE 48 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: GIVING BACK GIVING BACK TITANS FOOTBALL TITANS FOOTBALL TITANS FOOTBALL TITANS FOOTBALL SUMMER ADVENTURES SUMMER ADVENTURES SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: VOL. 27 NO. 6 NO. 6 ARCADIA • BILTMORE • CAMELBACK GIVING BACK SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: VOL. 26 VOL. 26 arcadianews.com SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2017 2017 2017 2017 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Arcadia football is going to look a little Arcadia football is going to look a little Arcadia football is going to look a little different under a new coach this fall. different under a new coach this fall. different under a new coach this fall. Phoenix Fire Station #13 is still keeping the SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Phoenix Fire Station #13 is still keeping the SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Phoenix Fire Station #13 is still keeping the neighborhood safe after nearly six decades. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: neighborhood safe after nearly six decades. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: PAGE 40 Where did the neighbors go this summer? Where did the neighbors go this summer? See our annual vacation photo spread! See our annual vacation photo spread! See our annual vacation photo spread! SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: PAGE 24 PAGE 46 PAGE 46 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: VOL. 26 NO. 6 NO. 6 PAGE 24 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: VOL. 25 Mermaid sighting in Coronado! See the other entries submitted to our annual summer vacations photo call-out on page 22. Mermaid sighting in Coronado! See the other entries submitted to our annual summer vacations photo call-out on page 22. Mermaid sighting in Coronado! See the other entries submitted to our annual summer vacations photo call-out on page 22. Mermaid sighting in Coronado! See the other entries submitted to our annual summer vacations photo call-out on page 22. Mermaid sighting in Coronado! See the other entries submitted to our annual summer vacations photo call-out on page 22. ARCADIANEWS.COM / ARCADIAHO.ME September 2016 September 2016 September 2016 September 2016 September 2016 Vol. 24 No. 6 AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 Get a preview of 2016 football as Veritas, Get a preview of 2016 football as Veritas, Get a preview of 2016 football as Veritas, Get a preview of 2016 football as Veritas, Brophy and Arcadia share the scoop on their Brophy and Arcadia share the scoop on their Brophy and Arcadia share the scoop on their Brophy and Arcadia share the scoop on their expectations of their players and the season. expectations of their players and the season. expectations of their players and the season. expectations of their players and the season. PAGE 25 Arcadia woman completes a 50-state Arcadia woman completes a 50-state journey, which she started as a little girl and journey, which she started as a little girl and finished with her own family this summer. finished with her own family this summer. finished with her own family this summer. Inquiring minds want to know!... and we have all SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Inquiring minds want to know!... and we have all SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: Inquiring minds want to know!... and we have all the details about the various development and SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: the details about the various development and SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: the details about the various development and construction projects in the neighborhood. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: construction projects in the neighborhood. SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: PAGE 16 PAGE 48 PAGE 48 VOL. 25 SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS THAT MADE OUR COVER: VOL. 25 NO. 6

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