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TODAY PUBLICATIONS

VOLUME 42

INSIDE TODAY

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EDUCATION PAGE 17

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SPORTS & ARTS PAGE 6

Clark Smithson named Interim Supervisor By Zach Richter Today Publications

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors met for a special ses-sion on May 11, 2012 and chose Apache Junction City Council-member Clark Smithson to fill the District 2 Supervisor position left empty by Bryan Martyn’s appointment as the Executive Di-rector of the Arizona State Parks Board.

Smithson was approved unanimously by Supervisor Pete Rios, Supervisor David Snider and Clerk of the Board Sheri Cluff from among 13 candidates from throughout District 2, which includes Apache Junction, San Tan Valley, Queen Valley and parts of Florence and Queen Creek.

Smithson was recommended for the position by Bryan Mar-tyn during the Call to the Public portion of an April 27 meeting detailing the process by which a new supervisor would be chosen.

During the May 11 meeting, the Supervisors and the Clerk each presented a list of their top three candidates for the position, Clarkson was the only candi-date on all three lists. He will be sworn in as District 2 Supervisor at a date that is yet to be deter-mined.

Speaking first, Clerk Cluff commended Smithson’s previous experience in government posi-tions and leadership roles. “He knows what issues the County faces,” she said. “He knows what

it’s like to be in the government arena.”

Supervisor Snider took a moment to congratulate all the candidates who applied for what is admittedly a difficult job. “It is democracy in action when elected officials make a decision like this in a public forum,” he enthused.

Snider also praised Smithson for his experience and his interac-tions with multiple levels of gov-ernment. “I also feel some empathy for him coming from the city side of things,” Snider admitted.

Supervisor Rios was also im-pressed with Smithson’s experience in the government and management arenas. “I’ve always liked bridge builders,” Rios said.

After the vote was taken, Su-pervisor Snider advised Smithson to “put on his running shoes,” and in an interview with Today Publica-

tions, Smithson indicated he was anxious to do just that.

“I’m looking forward to a lot of hard work in a short time period,” Smithson enthused. “I’m planning on keeping very busy.”

Smithson went on to note that while he is a little nervous, he’s ex-cited to do what he can to help the community. “I’m planning to meet with representatives of the area and find out their concerns,” he said. “Then I’ll do my best to address them.”

Smithson, who has resided in Apache Junction since 2001, is currently a City Councilmember for the City of Apache Junction. In an interview with Today Publications prior to the May 11 meeting, he in-dicated he has no interest in a four-year term and that he would happily run for city council in the spring

Supervisor David Snider, Clerk of the Board Sheri Cluff, Clark Smithson, Chairman Pete Rios. Photo courtesy of Pinal County.

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2 TODAY PUBLICATIONS MAY 2012


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Babeu drops Congressional bid, joins Sheriff raceBy Chase KampToday Publications

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu will run for a second term.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announced on May 11, 2012 that he would be suspending his campaign for the U.S. House in Congressional Dis-trict 4 and instead run for another term as Sheriff.

Babeu said his decision was informed by an Office of Special Counsel recommendation regard-ing the exploratory Sheriff candidacy of PCSO Chief Steve Henry.

“The federal Office of Special Counsel has ad-vised Chief Henry that because our office receives federal funds and Steve supervises those who are in control of federal funds, he is not able to run for Sheriff while serving as our Chief Deputy,” Babeu said in a statement.

“When I announced my candidacy for Con-gress, I promised the citizens of Pinal County that I would ensure continuity of leadership in the Sher-iff's Office,” he continued. “Chief Deputy Steve Henry's candidacy not only ensured continuity of leadership, it also safeguarded the improved service we've delivered to Pinal families with the same passion and commitment since taking of-fice.”

Babeu said Henry was allowed to resign his position as Chief Deputy and run for Sheriff, withdraw his candidacy for Sheriff or transfer to a non-leadership position within PCSO where he would not supervise any-body who handles any federal funding.

Henry released a statement on his campaign Facebook page the same day. “With Sheriff Babeu staying in office, I will be able to bear my full weight in this effort without the distractions from the media and other outside interferences”.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel launched an investigation into possible Hatch Act violations in March. The law makes it illegal for cer-

tain government workers to participate in certain kinds of political activity, such as using County resources or paid time for campaigning or manag-ing campaigns for paid partisan positions.

The OSC’s advice regarding the Henry cam-paign does not indicate the investigation is fin-ished. Babeu is included in the investigation as well as Henry, spokesperson Tim Gaffney, public information officer Elias Johnson and community relations director Cheryl Chase.

According to documents obtained from the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, an OSC attorney requested all electronic files of theirs from County servers, computers and personal storage devices with relevant terms such as “Congress,” “cam-paign,” and “fundraise” as well as the websites of their respective campaigns.

Babeu’s campaign was wrought with contro-versy on Feb. 17, 2012, when the Phoenix New Times published a story alleging that Babeu had been in a relationship with a man named Jose, and

after the relationship ended that Babeu and his attorney had threatened Jose with deportation. The story also showed off several personal pictures of the Sheriff.

On Sat. Feb. 18, Sheriff Babeu hosted a press conference at PCSO headquarters in Florence to discuss the issue. Babeu began the conference by staunchly denying the New Times allegations except for one. “These allegations are completely false, except I am gay,” Babeu admitted.

“The criminal allegations [in the story] were all false, the personal info in there, I’m not denying it,” Babeu said.

Another investigation is looking into whether Babeu's office illegally deleted over 5,000 electronic records in the midst of a public records re-quest by the Arizona Republic, conducted by the Pima County Attorney’s Office.

Banner Health Center approved by Queen Creek CouncilBy Chase KampToday Publications

At the regular meeting on May 2, 2012, the Queen Creek Town Council approved plans by Ban-ner Medical for a diagnostic health center to be located on Ellsworth Road between Victoria Boulevard and Ocotillo Road to be known as the Queen Creek Health Center.

Banner spokesperson Jennifer Ruble said the two-phase project would open with about 25,000 square feet of a primary care center.

The groundbreaking of the project will be in late summer 2012 with the first-phase open date set for Mar. 2013.

The only major point of dis-cussion during the proposal was regarding a public art requirement

for the project.Steve Sossaman, Chair of the

Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission, told Today Publica-tions that the Banner Health Center project was granted a number of exceptions to Town building codes, such as building height and parking space regulations, in exchange for a piece of public art.

Banner objected to the art requirement, instead offering to provide a planter and bench area at the entrance of the facility.

The Council decided to re-move the art condition and instead required Banner to provide electric-ity and plumbing not only for the entrance additions but also for a possible future public art donation.

Ruble said the company is still

looking to finalize the services but the center would likely offer inter-nal medicine, family practice, OB/GYN and pediatrics, plus general imaging and lab services. An on-site pharmacy is also being dis-cussed, according to Planning and Zoning officials.

Ruble said the goal of the health center is to allow Queen Creek residents to get the most convenient, high-quality close-to-home care available. “We want to make sure everyone in the family can receive care in one location, including internal medicine, family practice, OB/GYN and pediatrics,” she said.

The project could expand to nearly 90000 square feet, Ruble explained, assuming that’s what

the community needs. “The center could grow with the community, and that is our expectation,” she explained. “There is the planning and property in place to see that growth.”

The Queen Creek Health Center is very similar to a nearby project, Banner Health Center Maricopa, which is opening on May 16 and offers many of the same services.

The 40,000 square-foot Mari-copa center is the first such project Banner has undertaken in the state and is expected to feature an outpa-tient surgery center.

Sossaman said the project would initially employ from 24 to 26 doctors and around 100 staff, ac-cording to a Banner presentation.

5TODAY PUBLICATIONSMAY 2012


Julie Nunley named new Banner Ironwood CEOBy Chase KampToday Publications

New Banner Ironwood CEO Julie Nunley.

Julie Nunley has been named Chief Ex-ecutive Officer of Banner Ironwood Medical Center at 37000 North Gantzel Road in San Tan Valley. She will assume her new duties on June 4, 2012.

Nunley replaces Deb Krmpotic, who is now CEO at Banner Estrella Medical Center in west Phoenix.

“I am extremely excited to be there and to be learning about the community,” Nunley said in a telephone interview with Today Publica-tions. “You can expect me to be very visible and involved in the activities of the commu-nity.”

Nunley currently serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Banner Boswell in Sun City, a position she’s held since 2008. During her tenure at Banner Boswell, she has enjoyed significant suc-cess in helping to guide the hospital through Joint Commission, State and CMS surveys, achieve Joint Commission accreditation as a Stroke Center, NICHE designation as a center for geriatric excellence, and the designa-tion of Banner Boswell in 2012 as a Thomson Reuters Top 100 hospital.

“I think it will be a very exciting change,” Nunley said. “I’ve always wanted the opportunity to lead an organization, and I think the experience in a large facility like Banner Boswell has given me a lot of experience that will help me in the CEO role.”

Nunley said Banner Ironwood is uniquely positioned in its portion of

the county to serve the community well. “I’ll be evaluating in my first 90 days here what the healthcare needs of the community will be and positioning a plan to meet those needs,” she said. “We want to position ourselves to be the medical center of choice down there.”

Nunley said she does not expect signifi-cant changes when she takes the helm. “That is the advantage of belonging to just a large healthcare system such as Banner,” she said.

“The former CEO and I have already vis-ited with each other and it should be a seamless transition,” she added. “I have direct access to the history, the building of the culture and the great work they’ve done to start the hospital.”

Nunley said the tone that has been set at Banner Ironwood is one of excellence. “I think

it’s a culture that is dedicated to patient safety and has the highest stan-dards and expectations of delivering the best patient care.”

“Julie’s professional accomplishments, more than 30 years of nurs-ing experience, leadership, attitude and skill set make her uniquely quali-fied to lead the Banner Ironwood team to continued success,” said Becky Kuhn, Arizona East Region president.

Nunley has an associate degree in nursing from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a mas-ter’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in Albuquerque, NM.

Queen Creek boy saved from drowning by fellow ScoutsBy Chase KampToday Publications

Boy Scouts from Troop 203 were honored at the May 2 Queen Creek Town Council meeting for their lifesaving actions.

A number of Queen Creek Boy Scouts from Troop 203 saved one of their fellow scouts from drown-ing on Apr. 21, 2012 and the boys were honored by the Mayor Gail Barney at a Town Council meeting on May 2.

Twelve-year-old Warren McGregor was given the highest recognition for his role in saving his friend, 13-year-old David Lee, when Lee appeared to have lost consciousness in the water during a seemingly normal afternoon of poolside fun.

McGregor, who has been in Boy Scouts for two years, said he and a number of Scout friends were swimming in his backyard pool. At one point, he noticed that Lee was unresponsive.

“I saw him lying face down at the bottom of the pool, not mov-ing,” McGregor said. It was later

discovered that Lee was having a seizure.

“I lifted him up and saw that his lips were blue, staring right through me and his mouth was wide open,” McGregor continued. “I started screaming for people to help.”

McGregor said the situation was dire, but that he acted fast. “It was scary, but the adrenaline kept me going,” Warren said. “If I didn’t have all that adrenaline in my body I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

“All I was focused on doing was getting him to the side of the pool,” McGregor explained. “Then when I got him there, I had my friends at my side helping me, get-ting him a towel for his head.”

McGregor’s brother, Cameron, went inside to alert their parents, who called 911.

Wade McGregor, Warren’s father and Scout Master of Troop

203, said there were 10 boys in the pool, all experienced swimmers. Wade was in the garage when he was alerted of the incident and quickly ran outside.

“I sat down and turned [Lee’s] head, and he started coughing up all this water and started breathing,”

Wade said. “It happened really quickly. It was totally the boys’ efforts that brought David back around.”

The boys maintained an im-pressive demeanor in the face of a chaotic situation, Wade said. “To




SPORTS & ARTSAdult team softball season starting soon

Gilbert, Ariz. - The Southeast Valley Church League (SVCL) summer softball season is starting soon. SVCL offers both competi-tive and recreational leagues for those looking to have fun or take the game seriously.

The Freestone League, based in the Gilbert/Chandler area, offers a men’s league at a recreational as well as a competitive level.

The Freestone League’s men’s division includes a seven-week double-header game schedule and a single-elimination postseason tour-nament. Registration for the men’s division is $500 per team.

A photo plaque trophy will be given to the team with the best regular season record in each divi-sion and t-shirts will be given to the team that wins their postseason tournament. All teams will qualify for postseason.

The regular season is sched-uled to start June 2, 2012, with tournament to be held starting July 21. A mandatory coaches meeting

for all teams will be held prior to the season at a date and location to be provided to managers after registration closes.

All registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Only eight teams are accepted into each division. All teams after the initial eight are put on a waiting list.

The SVCL will compression test and certify all bats before the season starts. Non-certified bats will not be allowed in league or tournament play.

The Southeast Valley Church League began in 2003 when two local churches decided to start a softball league with the focus being to unite the Christian churches of Queen Creek and the nearby sur-rounding areas.

In its first season, the league had four men’s softball teams and four co-rec softball teams, with only one umpire. It didn’t take long to get the word out about the soft-ball league, as it doubled in size in

The Southeast Valley Church League will be taking to the field on June 2, 2012.

only the second season.Now in its eighth year, the

SVCL ministers to numerous adult softball, flag football, basketball, and volleyball teams represent-ing more than 20 southeast valley churches and over 400 players, coaches, and umpires, each year.

The Southeast Valley Church League is affiliated with Paladin Sports Outreach a 501(c) 3, Arizona

nonprofit corporation, established to bring needed sports and rec-reation programs to underserved communities in the San Tan Valley area and beyond.

For more information on the Southeast Valley Church League visit SoutheastValley-ChurchLeague.org or email ques-tions about the upcoming season to [email protected].

Queen Creek, Combs High baseball makes playoffsBy Chase KampToday Publications

The Queen Creek High Bulldogs and Combs High Coyotes baseball teams each earned a playoff spot after the season concluded on Apr. 25, 2012. Both teams were eliminated in the first round, Queen Creek by Apollo and Combs by Willcox, but the coaches were enthusiastic about their team’s accomplishments and the promise of next season.

Queen Creek High baseball coach Mike Campbell said this is the third year in a row the team was eliminated in the first round of the play-offs, and that the team lost eight seniors going into this season. “We knew it was going to be a season that was trying as far as youth is concerned,” he said.

Still, Campbell said the Bulldogs got some great performances from the younger players. Junior outfielder Derek Arrington hit .415 and stole a school record of 29 bases. Sophomore pitcher Marcus Still hit .430, stole 17 bases and had a 3.90 ERA.

Junior pitcher Jaren Holmes hit .375, stole 10 bases and maintained a 3-1 record. “He’s got that Bulldog mentality that we preach to our guys,” Campbell said.

While Campbell anticipates next year’s squad will have some great depth, he also lauded phenomenal efforts from this year’s seniors. He said

senior pitcher Chad Leonard was a key leader, hitting over .450 with 33 runs batted in.

Leonard is set to play both football and baseball on scholarship at Mesa Community College.

More than anything, Campbell said, he was proud of his Coyote players for surpassing 800 community service hours this year by volun-teering at soup kitchens, veterans hospitals and Little League clinics.

“My guys are quality guys, the type of kids you hope your daughter grows up to marry someday,” Campbell said. “That overrides any type of winning or individual accolades.”

Combs High varsity baseball coach John Scrogham said their playoff berth was a big event for the young school as they were the first Combs team to make it to the post-season. “We’ve had individuals in wrestling and track, but this was the first official team to make it to the post,” he said.

It was a major turnaround from last year’s disappointing 6-23 sea-son, Scrogham said, noting the boys kept good perspective. “We’ve very proud of that, it took a lot of hard work to get to that point,” he said.

Examining the state ranking system, Combs had to win 11 of their last 12 games to get into the playoffs. “We were under the gun ev-




QPAC offers plenty of entertainment this summerQueen Creek, Ariz. – This summer, the Queen Creek Performing

Arts Center (QPAC) is hosting a number of events sure to please any fan of the performing arts. QPAC hosts concerts, community theater shows and professional theatrical productions. The center also offers educational outreach and programs for children.

Upcoming events include “How Sweet It Is” performed by the na-tionally awarded Club Dance. Treat yourself to a show that’s full of Sugar and Spice as Club Dance presents a dazzling selection of dancers that are sure to entertain audiences during a 90-minute journey through Candy-land.

Club Dance will be performing four shows on Sat. May 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for this show are $8.

Students looking to get out of the house this summer are in luck, QCPAC will be showing a movie every Mon. at 9:30 a.m. from May 28 to July 24. The cost is $5 per week, discounted snacks will also be avail-able. Movie list to be determined.

Fri. June 8 and Sat. June 9 QCPAC is inviting the community to wit-ness local dance studio Dance Connection 2's talented performers as they present "Cirque du Soleil" recital 2012.

Dance Connection 2 will be performing Fri. June 8 at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sat. June 9 at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

For more than two decades, Dance Connection 2 has provided stu-

dents with an exciting performance experience through its Summer Re-cital. The annual staple of the dance school, the recital conjures images of childhood for many. It’s a rite of passage for thousands of children who will have a chance to shine in front of family and friends.

Local dance Studio the Dance Loft will be hosting three performanc-es of their recital, Fame, on Fri. June 15 at 5:30 p.m. and Sat. June 16 at 12:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

The QCPAC Community Theatre will present the musical classic “Oliver” Fri. June 22 at 7:00 p.m., Sat. June 23 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Mon. June 25 at 7:00 p.m., Tickets for the show are $12.75.

The Queen Creek Performing Arts Center is located at 22149 E Oco-tillo Rd in Queen Creek. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office Tues. through Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or online at QCPAC.com.

QPAC needs your help. The Queen Creek Cultural Foundation was created to support the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center in their effort to enrich the quality of life within our community by presenting Profes-sional theatre, coupled with educational outreach and Family theatre programs, while nurturing and developing emerging talent.

The Performing Arts Center depends on volunteers to staff perfor-mances and assist with administrative functions. Ushers in their familiar black and white outfits are smiling, helpful individuals who welcome patrons to the theater, take their tickets and help them to find their seat.

To register and for additional information, call 480-987-5964.

Registration now open for summer strings programBy Zach RichterToday Publications

The Golden Corridor Center for the Arts, Inc. is currently ac-cepting registration for the 2012 Summer String Program, which offers something for musicians of all ages and skill levels.

Maureen Berger started the Golden Corridor Center for the Arts in 2006 with the goal of promot-ing strings in Pinal County. “I started with about six adults and six youth,” she recalled. Since then the youth orchestra has expanded to approximately 25 musicians and the adult orchestra added a 32-member wind section during the 2011 winter season for a total of 85 musicians.

“We’re not just building an orchestra, we’re building a cultural environment,” Berger continued. “We want people to know that events like these are available and get them to come out and experi-ence it.”

Currently strings programs are only offered through the schools in the Florence and Maricopa Unified School Districts, something Berger would like to change. “We’re the only option in Casa Grande,” she

lamented. “We’re hoping to expand and we’re doing it from the top down instead of pulling in interest from the schools, we’re a real grass roots movement.”

Classes available this summer include violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano and bass for various skill lev-els. Also offered is the Intermediate Strings course designed to prepare students for Youth Orchestra.

Berger explained that the Youth Orchestra offers musicians an opportunity to get the full en-semble experience even if they are just starting out. “As soon as they [new students] can play the basic pieces we like to incorporate them into the orchestra,” she said. “We do whatever we can to make sure they have a good time while learn-ing and being successful.”

The Youth Orchestra Summer Session will explore the audition process and preparation for solo and ensemble playing and the High School String Students program will help musicians prepare for Re-gionals through the use of practice techniques that will help them turn scales into music.

Pinal County is part of the

Southeast Region and Regionals al-lows students to compete for a spot in the regional orchestra, which ac-cording to Berger is made up of the best 100 musicians in the area.

“The June regional program introduces students to the Regionals process,” Berger said. “It teaches them to concentrate on the music and prepares them for what is going to happen; it takes the unknown out of the process so to speak.”

Classes will meet Mon. through Thurs. at a time determined

by the instructor. Both morning and afternoon sessions are available; the cost for each session is $50 per week.

There is also an adult orchestra that will meet Mon. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. free of charge, location to be determined. Private lessons are also available.

For more information, or to register, email Maureen Berger at [email protected] or visit AZPerformingArts.org.

The Golden Corridor Center for the Arts, Inc. offers performance opportunities for musicians of all ages. Photo courtesy of AZPer-

formingarts.org.



GOVERNMENT Truth squad claims, practices under investigationBy Zach RichterToday Publications

On Feb. 22, 2012, legal coun-sel for local business magnate George Johnson filed a complaint with the Florence Town Clerk and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office requesting an investigation into the organization known as the Pinal Truth Squad (PTS) alleging the organization had violated campaign finance law.

The allegations point to emails, the PTS website and physical mail-ers sent to the Town of Florence and the surrounding community, which refer to Florence Mayor-elect Tom Rankin by name and which the complaint alleges cost more than $1,000 to produce. If true, the organization would be forced to file as an independent expenditure com-mittee and file notifications of its political expenditures.

On April 20, 2012, State Elec-tion Director Amy Chan sent notice to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office that her office had found rea-

sonable cause to believe that PTS did in fact violate campaign finance law.

“Taking all the evidence into consideration this office has no choice but to find reasonable cause to believe that PTS is organized for the purpose of influencing elec-tions, meaning it must register with the appropriate filing agency and provide required notifications,” Chan wrote.

According to the Attorney General’s Office when the Secre-tary of State finds reasonable cause to believe that an entity has violated the campaign finance statutes, he may refer the matter to the Attorney General pursuant for appropriate further action.

“With respect to the Pinal Truth Squad, the Solicitor General’s Office is investigating this matter and will not comment further until the investigation has been con-cluded,” wrote Attorney General's Office Press Secretary Amy Rezzo-nico in an email to Today Publica-

tions.According to PTS spokes-

person David Leibowitz, who has taken over for former County Supervisor Bryan Martyn, who cut ties with the organziation after be-ing appointed Executive Director of the Arizona State Parks Board, PTS has yet to be contacted by the Attorney General’s Office.

“The first we heard about it [the investigation] was through the media,” Leibowitz said. “We abso-lutely reject the idea that the Pinal Truth Squad did anything wrong.”

Not content to take the allega-tions lying down, PTS has filed their own complaint with the Ari-zona Attorney General’s Office al-leging that Johnson Utilities owner George Johnson advocated for certain candidates in the Town of Florence primary, specifically Tom Rankin, using his utility’s mailer which goes out monthly to 20,000+ people. The column in question was titled “The Best Florence Council Candidates.”

“When we looked at the com-plaint Johnson filed we realized he did the same thing,” Leibowitz said of the complaint filed on behalf of PTS. “Nothing we’ve done has ever said who to vote for or against.”

As a limited liability company, if the content is deemed campaign expenditure, Johnson Utilities would have to register as an inde-pendent expenditure committee, file notifications of its independent expenditures and disclose the name of the company making the expen-ditures.

When contacted, Johnson Utilities indicated that they were not aware of PTS’s complaint and had no comment at this time.

To see what all the fuss is about, visit PinalTruthSquad.com and let us know what you think at Facebook.com/SanTanValleyNews, or email us at [email protected]

Henry Wade aims for District 4 Supervisor positionBy Chase KampToday Publications

In the newly-minted Supervisorial District 4, Maricopa resident Henry Wade hopes to start it off strong.

Wade said he was inspired to run for County Supervisor after learn-ing of the new district alignment. “My desire, as a member of the com-munity and someone engaged with it, is to get it started on the right foot with strong positive leadership,” he said.

Wade is a 20-year Air Force veteran. After retiring in 1993, he start-ed a real estate appraisal company and later founded Arizona Association of Real Estate Brokers in 1999. Part of the national association, its goal is to provide access for minority real estate professionals.

Henry is currently the vice-chair of the Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission, which he said has been a rewarding and humbling experience.

Wade said he prides himself on being his own person. “I feel that if there’s something I don’t agree with or will be detrimental to the commu-nity, I owe it to them to speak up,” he said.

That impulse was illustrated during one recent Planning and Zoning proposal. “We were paying a consultant $30,000 a month to assist us in Henry Wade is seeking the District 4 Supervisor seat.

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9 TODAY PUBLICATIONSMAY 2012


Union Pacific Project brings jobs and growthBy Zach RichterToday Publications

The proposed Union Pacific Red Rock Classification Yard is anoth-er step closer to reality after a recent concurrent resolution passed

in the AZ State Legislature. Photo courtesy of PinalCountyAZ.gov.

Recently, Arizona’s Legislature approved a resolution in support of the Union Pacific Red Rock Classification Yard. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1044, sponsored by Senator Al Melvin, passed the House with a 46-4 vote and passed the Senate 19-9.

According to Union Pacific, the route between Los Angeles and El Paso carries 20 percent of the railroad’s traffic, putting the proposed facil-ity at Red Rock in the heart of the transportation of the necessary con-struction materials.

“This project would be a tremendous economic engine for Arizona, said Chairman Pete Rios in a written statement. “It would bring immedi-ate employment as well as sustainable, living-wage jobs.”

Supervisor David Snider agreed in the same statement noting, “If we are serious about economic development and serious about growing jobs in this country, we have to have get serious about delivering products to consumption markets effectively and efficiently. The critical next step is for the State Land Department to establish a process by which the state land can be auctioned or sold.”

Today Publications spoke with longtime Red Rock supporter and Pinal County Economic Development Manager Tim Kanavel who ex-plained what a coup the concurrent resolution was for the proposed project.

“It doesn’t happen very often in the state; tremendous things are hap-pening in Pinal County,” Kanavel enthused. “Everyone knows that rail brought the state to prominence and it will help keep it there.”

As the land will be put up for auction, Kanavel admitted there is a chance that Union Pacific could be outbid, but went on to note he felt such an outcome was unlikely.

“The mantra for the State Land Trust is to get the highest value and best use out of every acre they own,” Kanavel said. “This means if for whatever reason Union Pacific isn’t the highest bid the Trust would look at the taxes the land would provide, what it’s being used for that sort of thing.”

While the next step is an auction of the land, Kanavel explained that there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes to ensure that when Union Pacific is ready to start work on the project, there is nothing stand-ing in their way.

“The land auction is just one part of the process,” Kanavel explained, “You don’t just assemble a 300 million dollar project on a napkin at Dairy Queen. We’re looking at it as a cornerstone of the entire County’s eco-nomic development strategy.”

Kanavel went on to say that planning for the project has been ongo-ing since he’s been with the County, “We’ve been focused on it since I’ve been here,” he enthused. “It’s been about what’s needed to put in place at the county level to make it happen.”

“County Public Works is already involved up to their eyeballs and Planning and Zoning is working on putting all the pieces of the puzzle in place so when Union Pacific pulls the trigger they won’t have to wait on us,” Kanavel continued. “Union Pacific has been pleasantly surprised by how aggressively the County has been trying to get the project going.”

For more information on the Union Pacific Red Rock Classification Yard project visit PinalCountyAZ.gov.

the process of building an airport,” he explained, “and I didn’t think that was a good idea.”

“When it was brought to our attention that is wasn’t going to turn a profit, I thought ‘Why would we build something that’s not going to be productive,’” he added.

Wade was the lone vote against the airport on the commission. “Consequently, the City Council got some push-back from the com-munity and didn’t pass it,” he said.

However, Wade said he also believes in his abilities as a consen-sus builder. “I’m respectful of the ideas and experience that people bring to the occasion. I know for a fact that I would be able to work with anyone elected to the Board.”

“Because there has not been a consensus building process within our government, our country is suffering,” he said. “I’m not a ‘yes’ man, but I’m not going to stand in the way of progress when it’s obvi-ous that is going to happen.”

Wade said the best way the

county can obtain much-needed jobs is expanding its educational base, making the County attractive to employers. “One of the most im-portant things we need is a strong education system, which will in turn create a positive environment for job creation,” he said.

“It’s a given that we live in the Sun Corridor and that we’re going to grow,” he added. “It would be nice to grow in all facets like edu-cation, jobs and transportation.”

Wade said managing the County budget has become difficult in the face of economic uncertainty and that he has the conviction to make hard choices.

“When the resources wane and dwindle, you still have to find a way to provide services and stay within the budget,” Wade said, “which requires reevaluating what is important.”

For more information on the Wade campaign, visit Wade4Pinal.com.

(continued from previous pg)

Henry Wade seeks position

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PCSO honors fallen County officers at memorialBy Chase KampToday Publications

The memorial display in front of PCSO offices.

On May 10, 2012, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office hosted a mammoth public memorial ser-vice for officers killed in the line of duty. The service honored law enforcement officials from federal, city and county entities, as well as Indian Reservation officers and corrections officials that lost their lives protecting the citizens Pinal County.

Officers from every law en-forcement agency in the County were present to show their respects, as well as the family members of some of the officers and officials slain while serving their duty.

“Tonight, we want to thank all those who serve and the memo-ries of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who led the memorial.

Babeu said 140 to 160 law enforcement officers each year pay the ultimate sacrifice and give their lives in service. “Very few profes-sions do so, and we’re here to cel-ebrate and recognize them tonight,” he said.

Babeu emphasized that these officers’ heroism was not a result of how the officers died, but how they

lived their lives. “Members of the public may know people who work in law enforcement risk their lives, but it doesn’t become real until tragedy strikes,” he said.

Brian Terry, a US Border Patrol Agent, was killed in the line of duty after he and fellow Border Patrol agents with the elite tactical BORTAC team were engaged while patrolling Peck Canyon, in Pima County, Arizona; eleven miles from the Mexican border. The agents came across five suspected illegal immigrants who opened fire on them.

During a firefight, agent Terry was shot and, due to his injuries, lost his life a day later on Dec. 15, 2010. Four of the suspects were arrested and two AK-pattern rifles found nearby were identified as weapons connected to the Fast & Furious scandal by the ATF and De-partment of Justice.

A number of Terry’s family members were in attendance and his brother, Kent, addressed the gathering to speak on what his brother’s sacrifice meant to him.

“I’m here today to tell a story of an American hero,” Kent said. He told of his brother’s progression through various law enforcement

entities until eventually joining the Border Patrol.

“This man was an example to all he worked with,” Kent said. “He always wanted to do more.”

Kent said his brother’s story did not end when he died. “Many things are done in my brother’s name, like scholarship funds, and I’m proud of these things even after he has gone.”

The memorial included the playing of “Taps” by two trumpet-ers, a 21-gun salute and representa-tives from various law enforcement

agencies placing a flag next to a ceremonial flame.

Several aviation units from various agencies performed a fly-by “missing man formation” which included flying in a V-form with one unit of the link missing.

In the County’s history, 33 officers and corrections officials have lost their lives during service, including 15 PCSO officials. Each of their names were read aloud and honored with a single ceremonial bell ring.

Nancy Discher aims for District 4 Supervisor raceBy Chase KampToday Publications

SaddleBrooke resident Nancy Discher believes her business acumen and leadership skills will best serve Supervisorial District 4.

“I’ve always had a passion to serve,” Discher said. While she was orphaned at a very young age, she said she was fortunate to be adopted by a compassionate family. “I knew by the way they lived, helping through church and other things, that serving was a passion that would stay my whole life,” she said.

Discher has previously served as vice-president at four different hospitals and had a significant leadership position at IBM.

She was selected to go through the IBM Business Institute to go out and work with community leaders all across the Sun Belt. “They needed executive leadership to meet with County leaders in various departments

Nancy Discher at a Republican Supervisor candi-date forum in April.

to help improve the economic viability,” she said.

Discher said the program began in Texas, “It was a one-horse show with oil and gas,” she said, “We helped them to create a vision for diversity.”

The program also guided leaders in Florida’s Dade County, where Discher said she succeeded in creating thousands of jobs.

Government, healthcare, private sec-tor and education make up the four pillars of necessary development for good jobs and companies, Discher said. “If there isn’t a balance between those pillars, it’s difficult to attract the kind of companies that everybody wants in their backyard,” she explained.

Discher said governments do not create jobs, but they can create a climate for growth. “I think my IBM background and running counties from the inside makes for a good




BUSINESS & REAL ESTATENew coffee house offers free coffee and entertainmentBy Zach Richter Today Publications

The Vineyard Community Center of Arizona officially opened for business on Nov. 1, 2011and began offering a wide variety of services to the San Tan Valley and Queen Creek communities.

Those services expanded to include free coffee and live music with the opening of the Third Place Cup: A Northern Ireland Coffee & Tea Shop on May 4, 2012.

Affiliated with Amadeo Church, the Center offers a variety of no/low cost classes, community meeting spaces. Run by volunteers, the profits from the venture help with a variety of global and local initiatives in the South East Valley, Northern Ireland, Africa and Asia.

As explained by Dan Elsom, business plan administrator for the Third Place Cup, the coffee shop will be community space where families can come for a cup of coffee after dinner and local singles can gather for live shows Fri. and Sat. evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“If you want an espresso this is the wrong shop for you,” Elsom noted. “If you want a free cup of coffee with freshly roasted beans, or a tea, or an unpretentious place to gather with friends – the Third Place is where you will want to be.”

Of the name, Elsom quoted sociologist Ray Oldenburg who wrote, “First places are your home, second places are your work, and third places are the places in a community where people can gather together.

“The Third Place Cup seeks to be a ‘space’ where people can ‘rest’ and be in ‘community,’ and do it in a way that is low cost: even free,” Elsom continued.

The shop will offer free coffee, tea and biscuits with donations going towards the cost of electricity and paying local artists to perform. A por-tion of all donations will also go to RE:STORE Non Profit food pantry and global and local social justice projects in Arizona, Northern Ireland and Africa.

“In May we hope to host music students from the Irish Cultural Center along with bands such as The Strand, That Irish Guy, Kilted Spirit and The Big Fellahs,” Elsom explained. “Also, there will be regular open mic nights as well as comedians. It will not be exclusively Irish but there will be regular Irish Faire.”

Today Publications spoke with Vineyard’s Community Engagement Administrator Rose Strehle about the community center and the services they provide. “Our main focus for the community center is we want to partner with the community,” she said. “We want to work with small business leaders and provide support for families in need.”

“Lots of people will hear ‘oh you’re a church’, and that is our foun-dation, but our main focus is serving the community,” Strehle empha-sized. “We don’t want people to feel they can’t go in because it’s too churchy, it is a community center first.”

The Vineyard Community Center of Arizona is located at 21803 S Ellsworth Rd. For more information, contact Rose Strehle at 480-823-6850, Dan Elsom at 520-414-5828 or visit ThirdPlaceCup.com.

The Vineyard Community Center of Arizona opened its doors Nov. 1. Photo courtesy of Rose Strehle.



Florence Copper is investing in the next generation with $200,000 in college scholarships awarded to

local students over the next 20 years. For us, it’s not just a way to cultivate a local, highly skilled workforce;

it’s a way to build community for years to come.

The Element of Education.

Copper. Creating opportunities from the ground up.



Ironwood Animal Hospital offers 24-hour emergency pet careBy Chase KampToday Publications

Since Mar. 2009, Ironwood Animal Hospital located at 85 West Combs Road #116 in San Tan Valley has been helping the area’s ailing pets get better.

Andrea Perez, Practice Man-ager at Ironwood Animal Hospital, has been with the company for six years and said Ironwood Animal Hospital offers a bevy of general practice services in addition to round-the-clock emergency care.

The location, as well as the Power Ranch Animal Hospital in Queen Creek provides general prac-tice services like routine vaccines and spay and neuters as well as 24-hour emergency and critical care.

Ironwood Animal Hospital has general practice hours usually beginning at 8:00 a.m. and conclud-ing at 6:00 p.m. during the week. Among the emergency surgeries

available 24 hours are dental and eye surgeries as well as orthope-dics, which Perez said are not of-fered at many clinics.

Perez said the hospital primar-ily serves dogs and cats, but can sometimes accommodate other crit-ters. “We have a turtle that comes in to be weighed from time to time,” Perez said. “We actually had a ferret come in a couple months ago that someone found in a box.”

Perez said the doctors are more than willing to treat animals they are familiar with, but there are limi-tations. “Many of our doctors have done livestock, but our facility is not prepared for that,” Perez said.

The clinic accepts all types of credit cards, cash and a third-party medical credit card called Care Credit that offers long-term pay-ment plans.

There are six total doctors and 20 staff between the two locations,

but Perez said they are mostly exclusive to each location. “That way, we get to know our patients and grow with them instead of our patients having to introduce them-selves all over again,” she said.

The Ironwood Animal Hospital tries to make the family and the pet as comfortable as possible through the whole process, answering any questions they have and make sure

Ruby the Boston Terrier with Ironwood staff.

they know all of their options.Though difficult, every pet

owner has had the dreadful expe-rience of losing a pet, something Perez said is hard even for veteri-nary staff.

“Unfortunately, it’s something some of us see on a daily basis,” she said. “No matter how long you’ve been in the field, it still gets


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West of Power RoadGilbert, AZ 85297

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENTEncanterra’s La Casa Club lives up to its reputationBy Kaye Loraine Special to Today Publications

I had heard so many good re-ports about the food at Encanterra’s La Casa Club that I was anxious to try it.

When I called ahead to get a reservation, I mentioned that I had an ambulation problem and the staff member told me where I could park close to the building. Encanterra is an oasis in the middle of the desert with rich landscaping and beauty beyond belief.

I got to choose my seat and I chose one within sight and hearing of the chef, who was a graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Scottsdale. He was a Midas in the kitchen. Everything he touched turned to gold.

The menu was devastatingly inviting but definitely not the ideal place for the penny savers. It would

be a great place to celebrate special occasions.

It was difficult to choose from the enticing selections. There was Asian salmon with a sweet soy glaze with sesame seared Baby Bok Choy.

I chose the short rib “Osso Bucco,” slow braised beef short rib with wild mushroom polenta, pan jus. There were 17 entrees to choose from and a long list of sal-ads, just as enticing.

When I received my dinner, the presentation was precise. The meat was savory and succulent. For the food elitists, the beef was corn fed.

Chefs are noted for their exper-tise in sauces, the pan jus was per-fect, not salty nor lacking in flavor showing the talent of the chef.

I couldn’t finish my meal, and took the rest home, knowing that it

Encanterra’s La Casa Club offers up a delicious meal.would be hard to wait until the next meal and enjoy the food again. I’m definitely hooked.

Although I didn’t experience the wine list, I was delighted to see

several offerings from the Colum-bia Valley in Washington.

The dessert list was just as en-ticing and I sampled the warm but-

Buy 2 adult dinners and get a FREE appetizer

Not valid with other offersvalid until 6/15/12

Free single scoop of ice cream with any

kids meal!Not valid with other offers

valid until 6/15/12




Summer programs for kidsWith the end of the school year in sight, students will soon have a lot

more time on their hands. The following are a few programs to help them stay active this summer.

The Town of Queen Creek’s Youth and Teen Program will be providing a free, safe, summer program for youth ages 6-17 from May 29 through July 24. The program, offered at the Community Center, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road, emphasizes recreation, wellness/health fitness, educa-tion, arts and life skills.

This year’s summer program includes: outdoor games, Basketball Club, arts and crafts, indoor sports, water color painting, Coloring Club and Field Trip Fridays. Programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are nominal fees associated with each of the field trips.

General program hours are Mon. through Fri. from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Community Center will be closed on July 4 in honor of Independence Day.

The Community Center operates on a “drop-in” policy, but parents are asked to complete an enrollment for each child, and individual per-mission slips are required for every field trip.

As part of the drop-in policy, children are not required to check out at the front desk, and it is the parent’s responsibility to instruct children when to leave during operating hours.

For more information about the program, visit QueenCreek.org or call 480-358-3700.

The Town of Florence’s Parks and Recreation Department after School Program is continuing through the summer. Available to K-6 students, the program starts June 4 and runs through July 20 excluding July 4. The cost of the program is $60 per week for residents and $75 for non-residents with a 10 percent discount for each additional child after the first.

Each week will include a different theme and be overflowing with arts, crafts, games, movies, presentations, and other activities involving that week’s theme. Participants will also be able to go to the Florence Community Library and the Community Pool on designated days.

The Parks and Recreation Department is located at 133 North Main

Street and office hours are Mon. through Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 520-868-7589.

The Copper Basin YMCA is offering a number of activities for kids and families beginning the end of May and going until the end of August. A few featured programs are:Club Y: for kids 7 and older to spend time in a supervised area that caters to the “cool kid” wanting to play, meet friends, work on the computer, play WiII, and many more age appropriate activities while parents work-out. Free to YMCA Family Members

Junior Ambassador Program: New!! Leadership development program for youth ages 12-16 to gain skills that teach responsibility, work habits, community involvement and leadership as Jr. Ambassadors will volunteer along with our front line staff in all core program areas of the YMCA. Program begins June 4th and will end with a party on July 20th. Jr. Ambassadors must complete a volunteer application and will be sched-uled for an interview the week of May 21st. Free to YMCA Family MembersAquatics:At least one lap lane is always available during operation hours. Swim tests are required for children 12 and under. Children 7 and under must have a parent in the water with them at all times. Youth 7-12 years of age, passing the swim test, must have a parent in pool area at arms length. Progressive Swim Lessons: Children learning to swim has been a tra-dition with the YMCA for over 125 years! Our mission is to make sure every child in our community is water safe! Swim lessons are taught for youth starting at 6 months of age through adult!



EDUCATIONFestival highlights adult students’ skills/stories

Queen Creek, Ariz. - Seventeen adult learners demonstrated their command of English and technology at the Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) Adult Education Program’s recent 2012 Digital Story-telling Festival, “Stories from the Heart.”

The stories frequently underscored the tenacity of adult students and the value of adult education programs to the students, their families and the community. The Festival audience included Arizona Department of Education, Division of Adult Education Services representative, Ginny Seltenwright, and Tom Lindsey, QCUSD Superintendent.

The marriage of storytelling and computer technology allows stu-dents to improve oral and written expression in addition to expanding their skill with a number of computer programs.

Speaking for the 2012 Festival participants, adult learner Olga Lopez states that the best part about creating her digital story was “the chance to improve my English with the help of the adult education instructors.”

The Digital Storytelling Project involved over 1500 hours of instruc-tion. Miguel Garcia is QCUSD’s Adult Education Program’s Director of Instruction and directs this project. He notes, “Adult learners come to class with unique life experiences, interesting life stories, and the deter-mination to set and meet educational goals.” The project is in its third year.

Superintendent Tom Lindsey thanked the students for sharing their stories and encouraged them to continue on the path of lifelong learning.

QCUSD Adult Education Program provides free GED and English language instruction. Enrollment stands at 250 students in day and eve-ning classes. Students come from Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Apache Junction, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Florence and Coolidge.

According to Family Resource Center Director Maria Silva, child-care is an enormous issue for adult learners. The lack of affordable child-care can, in fact, prevent an adult learner from earning a GED or learning to speak English.

Miguel Garcia, the Adult Education Director of Instruction, states, "Studies show that free, quality childcare for parents who want to study impacts the future of entire families with increased economic potential

Queen Creek Unified School District Superintendent Tom Lindsey with the Adult Education Program’s Digital Storytelling Festival

participants.

ter cake, but shouldn’t have, as one spoonful was simply not enough.

For weight watchers, some food was designated as Good Life Cuisine, which was low calorie. For the diabetics and heart healthy, the staff can help select the most appro-priate. The staff was accommodat-

for the adults and increased school readiness for the children." Queen Creek's "dual learning program" is unique in the area. The

program regularly brings the parents and children together for different types of learning activities and events.

For more information on Queen Creek's Adult Education Program, visit the Family Resource Center located at 20435 S. Ellsworth Rd. Mon. through Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ing and very helpful. Encanterra is located at 1035

E. Combs Rd. in San Tan Valley, call 480 677 8055 for reservations or visit Encanterra.com for more information.

(continued from pg 14)Encanterra lives up to reputation



PBHS awarded Greater Valley Area Health Education Center grantBy Zach RichterToday Publications

Poston Butte High School (PBHS) was recently awarded a nearly $5,000 grant to cover the cost of six Vernier LabQuest Mini Human Physiology Packages to be used for sophomore student biology classes.

The grant was provided by the Greater Valley Area Health Educa-tion Center (GVAHEC), which is one of five health education centers across Arizona funded primarily through Arizona State lottery funds. AHEC's connect students to health careers, health professionals to communities, and communities to health promotion and prevention activities.

The grant was applied for by Dr. Mary Ploense Science Depart-ment Chair for PBHS who spoke with Today Publications about the grant and what exactly a Human Physiology Package entails.

“We use Vernier Chemistry Packages and wanted to expand into biology,” Ploense said. “They provide relevant software and technology, the kind of equipment kids will use when they go into the workforce.”

Ploense explained that she heard about the GVAHEC grant through the district and thought her goal of purchasing Physiology Packages after the success of previ-ously purchased Chemistry pack-ages met the qualifications.

The Vernier LabQuest Mini Human Physiology Package in-cludes an EKG sensor, heart rate monitor, sensors for testing surface temperature, blood pressure and oxygen, an accelerometer a hand dynamometer, spirometer and an oxygen sensor to spirometer adapt-er as well as software which will allow students to find the results of their experiments in real-time using software provided for their school issued netbooks.

According to Ploense, the real-time results resonate with students. “Showing a graph or a table is not the same as gathering real-time results,” she explained. “The stu-dents get much more excited when they’re active participants rather than just memorizing facts.”

She went on to note that part of that guidance will come as the sciences cease to be seen as indi-vidual fields and start being seen as overlapping ones. “The trend has been to teach sciences as separate

units, but that’s not the case any-more,” Ploense said. “Now students who come to me in chemistry will see some of what they learned in bio; it’s vertical integration.”

In addition to the grant itself, Ploense is excited about another benefit of her interactions with GVAHEC, a new club coming to PBHS this fall. “I didn’t know they had charter clubs in schools for this sort of thing,” she said. “We’re looking at building a medical pro-fessional club at Poston Butte.”

Ploense is excited to see the Packages in action next year where they will start inspiring students in new and exciting ways. “The whole idea of the program is to find as many different ways to inspire them and promote interest as possible,” she enthused. “These students are at an age when they’re going to make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives; we need to let them know what’s out there.

Six of these Vernier LabQuest Human Physiology Packages will soon be purchased for use by Poston Butte High School students.

Photo courtesy of Vernier.com.

Ironwood Animal Hospital(continued from pg 13)you emotionally every time.”

However, seeing patients recover and return to their bushy-tailed self happens even more often. “That’s the reason we’re all here, why we get into this field,” Perez said.

She spoke of a recent canine patient that needed an emergency blood transfusion and made a fantastic recovery. “The family brought the patient back a week after they took her home and you never would have guessed anything would have been wrong with that dog,” she said.

“When we get to see our patients back and bouncing off the walls and looking happy as can be, that’s what makes it for all of us,” she added.

Contact Ironwood Animal Hospital at 480-888-2299 or at Ironwoo-AnimalHospital.com.



CUSD offers students alternative to traditional classesBy Zach RichterToday Publications

Coolidge Unified School District’s non-traditional high school pro-gram allows students to work online in the classroom.

Despite the best efforts of staff and administrators, a standard high school experience isn’t for everyone. In an effort to accommodate a wider range of students, the Coolidge Unified School District (CUSD) is now offering a non-traditional high school option that adds more flexibility to the school day.

Started in Jan. 2011, the mission of the program is to provide a nontraditional avenue for students to earn a high school diploma within four years. Students can take courses in hybrid online or modular format and earn credits every nine weeks. They are also eligible to participate in extracurricular activities at both San Tan Foothills and Coolidge High School.

Today Publications spoke with CUSD’s Director of Curriculum Ali-son Bruening-Hamat about the program’s success so far and what sets it apart from other high school alternatives. “We had 46 students last year,” she said, “Of those, 11 graduated and many returned.”

Bruening-Hamat explained that unlike many high school alternatives that trade convenience for options, CUSD’s non-traditional takes place on each high school campus, which allows students more opportunities. “One thing that is different about our program is that students are still en-rolled in the regular high school,” she said. “They are still able to partici-pate in things like drama, band or sports.”

The non-traditional program was created to serve a need perceived by CUSD’s guidance counselors for what Bruening-Hamat described as “more fluid classes.” “Sometimes it’s really a matter of being behind on credits, for any number of reasons,” she said, “About half of our students decided to go back [to the traditional program] and finish with their co-hort group.”

Currently the program begins at 9:00 a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m. at both CUSD high schools and according to Bruening-Hamat the sessions overlap to give counselors an opportunity to meet with students of give outside presenters a chance to meet with the group as a whole.

Students interested in the program must apply and interview for a place, a process Bruening-Hamat says helps ensure that students will be successful in the non-traditional environment. “

We discuss why they want to be selected, why they hope to be suc-cessful and their post non-traditional program plans,” she said. “A ma-

jority of our students are seniors, they’re given priority for the program, they’re there to finish on time and get their diploma with their class.”

For more information on the Coolidge Unified School District non-traditional high school program, visit CoolidgeSchools.org.

ery game and faced some good competition, especially near the end,” Scrogham said..

The coach said his kids showed maturity and didn’t put a lot of pres-sure on themselves. “We went in to the last couple of weeks realizing that all we can do is see what happens when the dust settled,” he said. “All we can do is go in a try to play every ball game.”

With their playoff berth comes a newfound level of excitement for Combs baseball. “The confidence that we can win ballgames is there now,” he said.

The Coyotes will be losing seven seniors next year, four of which were regular starters, but Scrohgam said he looks forward to perfor-mances from returning players like Nelson Peredez and Dustin Burke. “We’ve got a good group of young kids that are only going to get better,” Scrogham said.

“Some teams say they need to rebuild, we’re just going to reload,” he added.

Baseball teams make playoffs(continued from pg 6)

to bring his newfound experience back to Apache Junction.

His experience includes time spent as Chandler Education Foun-dation Director, a member of the Superstition Mountain Community Facilities District and the Pinal County’s Planning and Zoning

Commission and leadership roles in several other groups.

Smithson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UCLA and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

(continued from pg 1)

Smithson Interim Supervisor


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MEETINGS & EVENTSWEEKLY EVENTSMondaysClip 'n' Swap - The Villages: Bring your coupons, sales circulars, a pair of scissors, your binder and anything else you need to join us for coffee, snacks and conversation location varies visit http://goo.gl/IILzu for more infoTuesdaysSan Tan Toastmasters: 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the SRP Service Center at 3735 E. Combs Rd. santantm.comQueen Creek Women in Business: 8:00 a.m. M&I Bank (Ellsworth and Ocotillo) 480-882-3017Hand and Foot: 8:00 a.m. Denny's on Hunt Hwy. breakfast with cards to follow call Margaret 480-310-8706Kiwanis Club of Queen Creek: 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM 1st & 3rd Tuesday at Canyon State Academy cafeteria Rittenhouse and Hawes road. call Jerry at 480-209-7699WednesdaysBingo at Caliente Casa de Sol: card sales begin at 6:00 p.m. 3502 N. Pinal ParkwayCelebrate Recovery: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. step study group call Ron and Lisa Davis 602-391-3292Rummy Cub: 8:00 a.m. breakfast with games to follow call Margaret 480-310-8706ThursdaysSuper Market: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. indoor farmers market hayrides and petting zoo Superstition Farm west of San Tan Freeway north on El-liot www.SuperstitionFarm.comCookin N' Corks at The Windmill Winery: Dinner menu changes every week visit www.thewindmillwinery.com for info reservations are neces-sary. Call by Wednesday 12:00 p.m. 520-858-6050FridaysFlorence Gardens Mobile Home Association Bingo: 7:00 p.m. 3815 Florence Blvd 520-868-5136.Happy Hour at The Windmill Winery: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. $2 Beer and Wine Appetizer Plates $7 reservations are not required www.thewind-millwinery.comCelebrate Recovery: 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. San Tan Christian Center 7377 W. Hunt Hwy. SaturdaysCrafts, Food, Vendors: corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo next to M&I bankOpen Merchants Market at Ocotillo Trails: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 40975 N. Ironwood Dr.Freedom Fest: Artisan, Crafters & Farmers Market: 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 39731 N Kennedy Dr.Gilbert Farmers Market: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.San Tan Valley Co-Ed Golf League: 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Golf Club at Johnson RanchQueen Creek Olive Mill Farmer's Market: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lo-cal seasonal produce from Green Bee Produce, olive oil popped popcorn, fresh bread, fresh fish from Davey Jones Seafood, local beef, chicken and pork from Red Mountain Cattle, fresh eggs. Held under the large white canopy west of the Olive Mill Building. Cash onlySundays

Open Merchants Market at Ocotillo Trails: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 40975 N. Ironwood Dr.EVENTS5/17/12 Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce Evening Mixer: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Kietek - 22380 S. Scotland Court5/18/12 Harmony for Lunch Brunch: 12:00 p.m. Dema's Italian Bistro 18256 E. Williams Field Rd. 480-921-22375/18/12 Poston Butte Powder Puff football: 6:00 p.m. During this event, the football players will be switching roles with the cheerleaders Poston Butte High School 32375 North Gantzel Road5/19/12 Epic Food Mission: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Distributions from Walker Butte Elementary Bring proof of residency and photo ID 480-882-95305/19/12 Pinal County Republican Committee: 9:00 a.m. at Sun City Anthem Union Center, Florence, AZ. 520-494-72655/19/12 1st Annual Sabercat Football Golf Tournament: 6:15 am. Check in 7:00 a.m. tee off 1:00 p.m. awards/meal/silent auction $75 per player $300 per team Your golf package includes a round of golf, range balls, player gift bag, and meal Hole Sponsorship. Please contact Rodger Schenks (480) 474-6821 Deadline for Registration May 1, 20125/21/12 San Tan Regional Chamber Luncheon: Noon - 1:30 at The Windmill Winery in Florence.Call 480-331-GROW or [email protected]/22/12 San Tan Lions Club: 7:00 p.m. Copper Basin Fire Station 480-882-27105/22/12 GCBA Mixer/Meetings: 5:30 p.m. www.gcba.biz6/1/12 Harmony for Lunch Brunch: 12:00 p.m. Dema's Italian Bistro 18256 E. Williams Field Rd. 480-921-22376/2/12 Epic Food Mission: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Distributions from Walker Butte Elementary Bring proof of residency and photo ID 480-882-95306/9/12 Pinal County Democratic Meeting: 7:00 p.m. 350 N. Main, Florence [email protected]/11/12 American Legion Post 97/Women's Auxiliary: 6:00 p.m. pot-luck followed by guest speaker Christ the Victor Lutheran Community Church http://www.santanvalleylegion.org/6/11/12 Sizzling Senior Breakfast Club: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. John-son Ranch Terrace $6.00 Buffet, Speakers 480-888-8017 RSVP6/12/12 San Tan Triad: 2:00 p.m. Copper Basin YMCA6/12/12 San Tan Lions Club: 7:00 p.m. Copper Basin Fire Station 480-882-27106/13/12 S.A.N.D. Meeting: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. www.SandToday.com 6/13/12 San Tan Archeology Society: 7:00 p.m. until9:00 p.m. Historic Rittenhouse at the corner of Queen Creek Road and Rittenhouse Road" [email protected]/13/12 WOAMTEC Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. $15 May attend twice before membership is required Cantina Laredo 2150 E Williams Field Rd. Gilbert6/13/12 Queen Creek Chamber: 12:00 p.m. monthly luncheon www.queencreekchamber.org 6/19/12 Coolidge Youth Coalition: 4:00 p.m. City Council Chambers6/19/12 Florence Chamber: 12:00 p.m. monthly luncheon www.flor-enceazchamber.com 6/20/12 Coolidge Chamber: 12:00 p.m. monthly luncheon www.coolidgechamber.org



HEALTHY LIVINGFamily caregiver in the workplaceBy Theresa Weeding, At Home SolutionsSpecial to Today Publications

If employees spent less time worrying about home, would they be more productive at work? Sourc-es: MetLife, Workplace Programs for Family Caregivers, Eldercare Grows Up, University of Pitts-burgh, Eldercare in the Workplace: Solutions that WorkNational studies report:

• 44.4 million Americans—21 percent of the adult population—are caregivers to older relatives or friends. 60 percent of these caregiv-ers are employed

• Family caregivers provide more than 80 percent of all home care services

• Of today’s family caregivers, 40 percent provide some level of nursing support

• These trends result in the demand for workplace eldercare programs. According to a recent SHRM survey, elder care referrals are offered by 39 percent of compa-nies with 2,501 to 5,000 employees,

and by 31 percent of companies with more than 5,000 employees.What are the employee prob-lems?

• Coming to work late/leaving work early

• Increased absenteeism and workday interruptions, with an average of 166 lost hours of pro-ductivity per employee

• Taking unpaid leaves of ab-sence or using personal or sick days to provide care

• Refusing relocation or work-related travel

• Refusing overtime work or new assignments

•Increased healthcare benefit utilization because often they end up more sick than the person for whom they are providing care (in fact, according to a University of Pittsburgh study, caregiver mortal-ity rates are 63 percent above that of non-caregivers)

• 20 percent will quit their jobs to provide care full time What are the greatest needs for working caregivers?

• Flexibility in work schedules• Information about services

and aging in general• Support from coworkers and

supervisors• Help in making decisions

about care options and related is-sues

• How much is unmanaged eldercare in the workplace really costing my company?

• Lost productivity due to employees’ needs to address elder-care issues is estimated to cost U.S. businesses between $11.4 and $34 billion per year. Another national study reported that companies without elder care benefits stand to lose $2,500 a year per caregiving employee. What is the return on investment (ROI)?

The most valuable return on investment for an eldercare pro-gram is employee retention. The time, money and valuable expertise that is lost when employees leave is far more costly. Since 1996, it has been reported that every $1 spent

on eldercare programs gets a return of $3–$5 in productivity, retention and reduced absenteeism.What sorts of benefits do elder-care programs typically offer?

• Work time flexibility• Financial assistance• Phone or Internet-based re-

sources and referrals• Face-to-face consulting• Educational activities like on-

site seminars and health fair boothsFor those employees who serve

as caregivers, peace of mind while they are working is critical. At Home Solutions works with families to provide respite care solutions they can depend on. In addition to traditional care management services, we offer corporate in-home care back up and educational programs for employees facing eldercare issues.

At Home Solutions provides care-giving services in Gold Can-yon, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley and Florence. For a free care as-sessment, call 1-888-496-3983.

Queen Creek Fire Department encourages safety while grillingQueen Creek, Ariz. -May is National Barbecue Month, and the

Queen Creek Fire Department wants you and your family to stay safe while cooking outdoors.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, gas grills consti-tute a higher risk, having been involved in an annual average of 6,900 home fires in 2005-09, while charcoal or other solid-fueled grills were involved in an annual average of 1,100 home fires.

More than one-quarter of the home structure fires involving grills started on a courtyard, terrace or patio, 28 percent started on an exterior balcony or open porch, and six percent started in the kitchen. Please follow the tips below to stay safe while barbecuing:

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings,

out from under eaves, and overhanging branches.• Keep children and pets away from the grill area.• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the

grills and in trays below the grill.• Never leave your grill unattended.

Charcoal grillsThere are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal

chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a

fuel. If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.

• Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.

• There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use.

• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.Propane grills

• Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year.

• Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose.• A propane leak will release bubbles.If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and

there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.

If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.

To keep updated with the Queen Creek Fire Department visit QueenCreek.org.

MAY 2012

What to do when calling 911By Rich Damante, Rural/MetroSpecial to Today Publications

Have you ever had to call 9-1 1? Did it stress you out? Were you prepared on what to say and do when your call was connected?

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of Rural Metro Fire Department’s lead Fire/EMS dispatchers. Being on the responding side of the fence, it really opened my eyes as to the job these dispatchers do on a daily basis.

Tracy Parr has been a dispatcher for five years. She has had the unique opportunity to work both the fire and police sides of 9-1-1. In or-der to be a dispatcher, you must be able to type at a high rate of speed, be a good listener and be able to multi task in a highly stressful environment.

Here in San Tan Valley, all emergency 9-1-1 telephone calls go through the PCSO dispatch center. They answer the initial call, and deter-mine whether it is a police matter, or if it requires a fire/EMS response.

If Fire and EMS is needed, the call is put through to the Rural Metro Dispatch Center.

I asked Tracy what some of the problems are that she encounters when a person calls 911. I was shocked when she told me that many people do not know their exact address.

This is a problem when trying to send the closest units to respond. If a person calls 911 from a wired/land phone, the reverse 9-1-1 system will display where the call is originating from. Unfortunately, many homes today have converted over to cell service, and have disconnected their landlines.

When calls are generated from a cell phone, the dispatcher cannot locate an exact location to send help. Cell phones hit on the closest cell tower, so a general area can be determined, but there is no way to know exactly where the caller is located.

I myself have kept my landline just for this reason. For the few dol-lars it costs to keep the phone, I think it is well worth it for my family’s safety.

So now, the call is answered, but Tracy’s job does not end there. She needs to know not only the address, but also the nature of the call, (chest pain, difficulty breathing, house fire).

After determining which units to dispatch, Tracy will tell the caller to hold the line, and then dispatch the units. All 9-1-1 dispatchers are trained in first aid and CPR. If needed, they are able to walk a caller through vari-ous life saving techniques.

They will also tell the caller to put on an outdoor light, or even have a flag person stand outside for the responding units. The dispatchers will do all this while speaking to the responding units, logging in times and entering information into the computer system.

It takes a unique person to be a 9-1-1 dispatcher. They hear the heart ache and feel the pain, but remain calm and do what they are supposed to do. Here are some steps you can take to prepare, just in case you ever need to call for help.

• Always know your address or whereabouts• Try to remain calm• Stay on the line until the dispatcher is done with you• Wait and listen for directions, first aid or CPR instruction. • Gather all medications, or list of medications for the paramedics. • If calling to report a house fire, be ready to tell the firefighters

where the fire is



The benefits of the Affordable Care Act for ArizonaBy David Sayen Medicare Regional AdminSpecial to Today Publications

For too long, too many hard-working Americans paid the price for policies that handed free rein to insurance companies and put barri-ers between patients and their doc-tors. The Affordable Care Act gives hardworking families in Arizona the security they deserve.

The health care law forces insurance companies to play by the rules, prohibiting them from drop-ping your coverage if you get sick, billing you into bankruptcy because of an annual or lifetime limit, or, soon, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition.

All Americans will have the security of knowing that they don’t have to worry about losing cover-age if they’re laid off or change jobs.

The new law also makes a significant investment in State and community-based efforts that promote public health prevent

disease and protect against public health emergencies. Thanks to the new health care law, 70,045 people with Medicare in Arizona received a $250 rebate to help cover the cost of their prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole in 2010.

In 2011, 65,729 people with Medicare received a 50 percent dis-count on their covered brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole. This discount resulted in an average savings of $563 per person, and a total savings of $36,977,657 in Arizona. By 2020, the law will close the donut hole.

Under the new health care law, insurance companies must provide consumers greater value by spend-ing generally at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care and quality improvements instead of overhead, executive salaries or marketing. If they don’t, they must provide consumers a rebate or reduce premiums. This means that 1,457,000 Arizona residents with private insurance coverage

will receive greater value for their premium dollars.

The law bans insurance com-panies from imposing lifetime dol-lar limits on health benefits – free-ing cancer patients and individuals suffering from other chronic dis-eases from having to worry about going without treatment because of their lifetime limits. Already, 2,091,000 residents, including 769,000 women and 570,000 chil-dren, are free from worrying about lifetime limits on coverage. The law also restricts the use of annual limits and bans them completely in 2014.

As of the end of 2011, 1,783 previously uninsured residents of Arizona who were locked out of the coverage system because of a pre-existing condition are now insured through a new Pre-Existing Condi-tion Insurance Plan that was created under the new health reform law. To learn more about the plan avail-able in Arizona, check here.

The Affordable Care Act

increases the funding available to community health centers in all 50 states, including the 138 existing community health centers in Arizo-na. Health centers in Arizona have received $41.9 million to create new health center sites in medically underserved areas, enable health centers to increase the number of patients served, expand preventive and primary health care services and support major construction and renovation projects.

The law gives states support for their work to build the health care workforce, crack down on fraud, and support public health. So far, Arizona has received more than $110.9 million from the Affordable Care Act.

David Sayen is Medicare’s re-gional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Trust Territories. You can get answers to your Medicare ques-tions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

marriage for my background to be Supervisor,” she said.Having worked in the Sun Belt for most of her career, Discher said

she had faced border issues in every single county, from California to Florida.

She said county government has to think in terms of policy and be sensitive to the immigration issue. “You had to think in multi-cultural solutions, which I think would be helpful when working in Pinal County,” she said.

Improving the county’s education is also key to her platform. “I would try to go out and get private money, different grants for students, everything I can to develop leadership for tomorrow,” she said.

Discher said she has the skills to balance the needs of all four growth pillars. “All of these relationships are symbiotic,” she said. “You have to have somebody who is a proponent of all of that, to be the problem-solv-er. That’s why I’ve been hired everywhere I’ve been.”

Discher said in order for the County to emerge beyond recent eco-nomic trials and grow responsibly, it will require leadership to find sav-ings and efficiencies.

“One of the reasons I’m running now is because when you have financial implications at all levels, you have to have people who will think in smart ways to provide services in a cost-effective manner without sacrificing quality,” she said.

For more information on the Discher campaign, visit NancyDischer-4Supervisor.com.

Nancy Discher runs for Supervisor(continued from pg 10)



LIFESTYLEFive reasons I’ll miss my snowbird friendsBy Kally Reynolds, CPCC, PCC Today Publications

These days it is quiet in Solera Johnson Ranch – the active adult community where I live – so quiet you can hear a roadrunner race across the gravel in the back yard and scamper across the empty street. It’s also easier to book a last-minute massage or get an early tee time at the neigh-borhood golf course. Thursday night poker games and weekly choir prac-tices have been suspended for the season as well. Fewer walkers bump into one another other for friendly chats first thing in the morning and later, in the real heat of the day, it almost looks like a ghost town here.

Traffic has thinned noticeably as well and church attendance has plummeted. Many homes are closed tight for the season with hundreds of golf carts nestled snug in locked garages, waiting for their owners to return in the fall.

It is oddly nostalgic, watching snowbirds leaving for their summer destinations, maybe because, for the last six years, my husband, Jim and I belonged to the flock. I recall the excitement of packing up and leaving San Tan Valley for our home in Illinois, knowing that we would be back again in Sept.

In one way, it was great – we got to pretend that we were vacationing in two different places. Yet, it was also distracting and expensive to move back and forth between the two households. Finally, last month, we sold our home in Illinois and became permanent residents here in the East Val-ley. Now I find myself missing our friends who go away for the summer, even more than I did when I was one of them.

Here are five things I appreciate about our snowbird friends:

They are grateful for the climate. Snowbirds come here to get away from the weather elsewhere, knowing their time here is short. They are quick to share their delight with the East Valley’s daily dose of sunshine.

They wave and welcome. I’ve gotten more drive-by “hi’s” and hand waves from snowbirds (and others in our Solera community) in one week than I did in six months from my neighbors in Illinois.

They like to play. From Aerobic water classes to Zumba dancing (and with everything in-between), these folks enjoy themselves. Come to think of it, I’ve never met a workaholic snowbird. Have you?

They have a contagious spirit of adventure. Whether it’s riding mo-torcycles, golf carts, four-wheelers or mountain bikes, or just plain hik-ing, snowbirds enjoy being on the move. Not many couch potatoes here.

They appreciate the beauty and diversity of Arizona. My snowbird friends see the grandeur of the mountains and desert terrain with fresh eyes. I challenge you to go to Boyce Thompson Arboretum with a snow-bird friend and not fall in love with it all over again.

An estimated three to four hundred thousand snowbirds visit Arizona every year, and to me, their presence is the gift that keeps on giving. How have Snowbirds affected your life? Shoot me your thoughts at [email protected].

Certified professional coach Kally Reynolds, CPCC, PCC, part-ners with caring, motivated people who want better relationships, more joy and less pain. She is the author of the book "Of Frogs and Princes: Reflections on Relating, Dating and Mating for Women Who Have Been There Before" (www.frogsprinces.com).

Try a Caprese Salad minus the tomatoesBy Heather SneedSpecial to Today Publications

Caprese Salad Bubbly Hostess style.

Let me start by saying I am very excited about a recent recipe I posted on my blog and would like to share it with you.

I prepared a Caprese Salad, which is typically made with sliced tomatoes, olive oil, salt, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. I tried a twist on it by replacing the tomatoes with roasted bell peppers and loved it!

I am not a fan of sliced tomato slime all over my plate and food – but love the other flavors of a Caprese Salad. I also added pepper, white balsamic vinegar and used chiffonade of basil instead of whole basil leaves.

What I wound up with was a great one-person salad that could easily serve two as a starter. Lastly, I placed the peppers and mozzarella on a bed of torn Romaine lettuce leaves to give the salad an-other layer of flavor and texture.

I hope you will check out that post, try the salad and comment with your feedback. I think you’ll like it – whether you are a sliced tomato fan

or not! In my last column, I shared that I was in the

process of planning two events – both in June. The first one is a chartered dinner/sunset cruise that is a corporate party for 80 guests. The second one is birthday party for my little one.

I mentioned the menus in my last column; this is really starting to shape up for the corporate cruise. Because of the culture of the company, we are planning to offer a very traditional Indian dish called Paneer Makhani. I have learned (from Wikipedia of course!) that Paneeer is a fresh cheese found in South Asian cuisine.

To make Paneer Makhani, the cheese is cubed and cooked in rich cream-based, tomato gravy. This is typically served with Vegetable Biryani, Indian rice to which vegetables are added.

For our event, we will be offering Lemon Zest and Herb Mediterranean Quinoa – which I think sounds like a great pairing. I’m very excited to try all of this! This will be something I have never tasted before.




Third annual Mother’s Day Tea a successBy Shirley LindSpecial to Today Publications

The third annual Mother’s Day Tea at Poston Butte High School’s ‘BroPher Bistro’ was a huge success this year. It’s easy to see why the party sells out every year as from the moment the guests arrived; they were treated to an af-ternoon that was as fancy as it was delicious.

Culinary Arts students dressed to the nines in black pants, crisp white shirts and black bow ties greeted guests and led them to tables decked out in the theme for the 2012 Mother’s Day Tea, Vic-torian style. Guests for the event numbered 120 this year and each table was a little different from its neighbors.

All of the mothers, daughters, aunts, grandmothers and even great grandmothers were pampered at ev-ery turn throughout the event. The

Tea started out with just that, iced tea or hot tea, coffee, or a “mock-tail” cocktail without alcohol at the open bar.

There were chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate dipped pretzels; there were scones and lit-tle pink cookie wafers at our tables and we are just getting started.

After the appetizers guests were treated to a beautiful green salad with a lemon vinaigrette dressing, all prepared by the stu-dents. Then, it was on to a crois-sant filled sandwich and cheese and crackers, followed by a tasty baby pork kabob on a stick, stuffed mushrooms with hummus, more rolls and scones, and blueberry muffins.

Ending the meal were a trio of fabulous deserts. There were choco-late dipped banana splits, and Red Velvet cheesecake brownies, and a huge cookie platter of chocolate

Amanda Ortiz, Culinary Arts, Hospitality teacher and hostess, poses with a guest. Photo courtesy of Haylee Jones.

chip cookies, macaroons, wafers and more.

Returning for another year was the best hat contest, which had six winners one of whom admitted she had plucked the ostrich feather from her own ostrich in her back-yard. “But I did clean it first,” she assured the crowd.

The event also featured a cake judging contest. The contestants produced a “Blue’s Clue’s” fondant cakes that were layered and very detailed. After a fierce round of judging, the contest was declared a tie.

As a result, both winners will be spending a week this summer at the Johnson and Wales Culinary School in Rhode Island courtesy of Culinary Arts teacher Amanda Ortiz.

Ortiz spoke with Today Publi-cations about the summer program and explained that it took some do-ing but that she was thrilled to have gotten her students into one of the best culinary schools in the country. ““These girls will get an opportu-nity to do career exploration classes with industry professionals,” she enthused.

change gears that quickly from having fun to going into rescue mode, for 11 and 12-year-old boys, that was pretty amazing to me,” he said.

McGregor had recently brushed up on his CPR skills, having taught the techniques to younger Scouts in order to earn a merit badge.

McGregor said he had no idea he would have to put his skills to the test so soon. “I figured I would eventually, but I didn’t know it would be just four days after I actually had to teach the other boy scouts CPR,” Mc-Gregor said. “I was impressed that it was so soon.”

He suggested that others not only familiarize themselves with CPR, but also master it. “When I had to do it, I didn’t have time to think or go get my Scout book,” he said. “It had to be instinct.”

McGregor went on to say that since the incident, everything has gone back to normal, “except [Lee’s] parents are still thanking me for what I did,” he said.


QC boy saved by fellow Scouts



Local basketball league readies fundraiser for one of their ownBy Zach RichterToday Publications

On March 27, 2012, nine-year-old San Tan Valley resident Andrew Ackert was in a car accident on Ironwood Rd. with his mother and broth-er. Andrew was paralyzed during the accident and remains in the hospital.

Andrew is known for his love of sports and for being a star athlete on both the football field and the basketball court and on May 26, 2012 his basketball league, sponsored by Rise Athletics, is hosting a fundraiser to help cover his medical costs. Dubbed Shoot for Andrew, the free throw shoot-a-thon will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Combs High School located at 2505 East Germann Rd. in San Tan Valley.

Today Publications who spoke with Rise Athletics Founder Kristin Sewell about the event and Andrew’s time with the organization.

“It [Andrew’s accident] was tragic for the whole league,” Sewell re-called, “Everyone really gets to know everyone and at the next game we had a big get well cards for all the kids and parents to sign.”

“We were just trying to some things to show we were thinking of him,” Sewell continued before noting that the league also dedicated the first shot of a game to Andrew and also started the Andrew Ackert Cour-age Award which was presented to Andrew’s father at a standing room only ceremony on April 28, and will be given to other players in the future.

Sewell went on to note that she and Rise Athletics Director of Bas-ketball Mauli Hodge then came up with the idea to host a shoot-a-thon fundraiser as the organization was already in basketball mode.

“He’s still in the critical care unit; we all know the bills have got to be horrific,” Sewell said. “We just want to help in any way we can.”

Sewell explained that shoot-a-thon is open to all ages and partici-pants will collect pledges per successful free throw made during the event with the target goal of $100 per player. “Our goal is 100 participants,” she enthused, “We’d love to pack the gym with people.”

Registration for the shoot-a-thon is available free of charge at Ri-seAthletics.com and Sewell was quick to point out that those interested in participating can simply gather pledges without shooting free throws. Registration allows participants to choose a time to shoot prior to the day

The community has come together after the tragic car accident that left nine-year-old San Tan Valley resident Andrew Ackert

paralyzed.of the event but day of registration is also accepted.

“If you’d like to shoot great, if you want to come donate or gather pledges that’s great too,” Sewell said. “We’d love volunteers to help count shots, sponsors or vendors looking for space.”

In addition to the shoot-a-thon, Shoot for Andrew will also feature a vendor fair where vendors can donate $75 or a portion of their proceeds to the cause. Vendor registration is available through May 21. For more vendor or sponsorship information visit RiseAthletics.com or contact Sewell at 602-391-8876.

For the little one, he is very excited about his upcoming choo-choo train party. We are planning to go with more of a vintage vs. com-mercial take on this. I have primar-ily been focused on the invitations and the “entertainment.”

The invitation will be a very cool train ticket – I am still work-ing on the details around it – and I think I may be slightly more ex-cited about it than he is! No super unique menu items for this party, not yet at least.

I will certainly plan on sharing more about these upcoming events when we meet again. In the mean-time, you can find me at TheBub-

blyHostess.blogspot.com. You can also “like” my page on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheBubblyHostess to see the latest entries as they are posted. I hope that you enjoy my column, visit my site, give my ideas a whirl and leave feedback!

Lastly - always remember to make the most out of your plan-ning, so you have time to enjoy your champagne…

TheBubblyHostess.blogspot.com. You can also “like” my page on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheBubblyHostess to see the latest entries as they are posted.


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