EL
INDEPENDIENTE
Free/gratis
Day Laborers Face Chilly Economy
By Nohemi Ramirez
It is 6:30 a.m. and 10 men stand
shivering outside the Southside
Presbyterian Church in the dark
on a cold Tucson morning.
For many of them, this is a
daily routine. Their only way to
earn a little money is to join the
Day Laborers Program at the
church in hopes that someone
will need to hire a few men for
landscaping, construction or
moving for the day.
But Rigoberto Polanco, a day
laborer for five years, says that it
has recently become a more diffi-
cult way for him and the others to
earn a few dollars.
Polanco, originally from
Sinaloa, Mexico, said that he has
been a day laborer for so long
because it’s hard to find a full-
time job.
“The economy is really hard,”
says Rigoberto Polanco in
Spanish. “That is why we have to
come here.”
But as the economy tanked,
new housing started to dry up and
fewer homeowners started remod-
eling jobs, there became less
demand for day laborers.
This was the case for Ramon
Manuel, who lives in Tucson dur-
ing the winter and in California
the rest of the year. He said that
every winter he comes back to
Tucson with his family and tries
to find a temporary job in the
construction industry, but this
year he has had no luck and has
had to go to the church.
The Southside Church has been
helping day laborers since the
mid 1980s, but in September
2006, the church, at 317 W. 23rd
St., formally began offering a day
laborers program that allows the
workers to stand on church prop-
erty instead of in the streets.
Also, on Mondays and Fridays
the church offers free breakfast,
Programa para la involucración hispana en el censo
Por Zach Simon
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Los programas para la involu-
cración en el censo alrededor del
país, incluyendo los de Tucsón,
están tratando de encontrar la
mejor manera de persuadir a la
gente que se quiere alejar del radar
del gobierno a participar en el
venidero Censo de los EE.UU. del
2010.
La población hispana en los
EE.UU. ha sido históricamente
difícil de contar a causa de los
conceptos comunes falsos acerca
de cómo el gobierno usa los datos
coleccionados, dijo Magdalena
Barajas, una asociada especialista
para la Oficina del Censo de los
EE.UU. que trabaja en Tucsón. Los
programas asociados trabajan a
nivel local para informar a la
gente que el censo es rápido y
seguro.
Barajas dijo que hay lugares
con poblaciones minoritarias
muy grandes, incluyendo a las
1976 ~ 34 Years of Service ~ 2010
hot showers and clothes for those
who need it.
Coordinator Aaron Banas says
that the program has evolved
over the years. The workers enter
a raffle each morning to deter-
mine the order in which they will
be hired for the day – assuming
anyone is looking for workers.
It’s 7 a.m. and there are now 30
men waiting for the church doors
to open so they can line up single
file and place their numbers in a
bowl. Then all they can do is wait
for their number to be called.
But these days, most of the
workers go home empty-handed.
Employers have not been
showing up like before, Banas
says. It used to be that every day
about 10 laborers would be hired.
Recently, the average number has
gone down to two.
“The economy has definitely
played a huge role in the day
laborer field,” he says. “It has
been pretty difficult for a lot of
the day laborers.”
It is 8:30 a.m. and there is no
sign of an employer.
The men, mostly from Mexico
and Central America, can hang out
on church property until 11 a.m.,
Monday through Friday, looking
for work. Many are skilled and are
ready to do just about anything.
Carlos Macias, 53, said that he
has worked in landscaping,
plumbing and carpet installation.
Originally from Aguas-
calientes, in central Mexico, he
lives alone “with his mother, La
Virgen de Guadalupe.” The rest of
his family is in Mexico.
There is a large number of men
like Macias, just trying to get by
far from home.
“We come to see if we get some
work, but we don’t find it,” says
Oscar Vega, 34, who has been
going to the church since 2000.
Vega, originally from Sinaloa,
said that if things do not get bet-
Darlene Burkett, especialista de la sociedad de Arizona para el Centro Regional
del Censo Denver, trabaja en una casilla del Censo 2010 con miembros de la
comunidad que asistieron al evento Tucson Urban League MLK.
comunidades hispanas que son
muy difíciles de contar.
A vísperas del censo 2010, la
Oficina del Censo está tomando
varias iniciativas para promover
www.elindenews.com
A day laborer volunteer directs people interested in hiring day laborers at the
Southside Presbyterian Church.
ter he will have to go back to
Mexico, where he worked in agri-
culture.
“I’ll go back to my land as
soon as I save up for the ticket,”
he says. “There is more work
there than here.”
It is 11 a.m. and only two
employers came by.
The situation for the day labor-
Photo by Kaite Flynn
la educación acerca del censo en la
comunidad hispana, como los
anuncios en la radio bilingüe, en
la televisión, y en el internet. La
meta es fomentar la participación
February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010
Photo by otto Ross
ers is not good, but Banas hopes
that now that the weather is nicer
there will be more work.
“A lot of these guys are just
family guys as well and are hav-
ing a hard time in the economy
too,” Banas said. “It is good to
support them while they support
the community.”
completa en Tucsón y alrededor
del país.
“La cuenta exacta de la
población hispana del país y de
cualquier otro grupo ayudará a ase-
gurar el reparto justo y equitativo
de la representación política y
también ayudará que las comu-
nidades reciban una distribución
justa de fondos”, dijo Melanie
Deal de la Oficina de Información
Pública de la Oficina del Censo.
La información es usada para
asignar a los estados escaños en
el congreso, distribuir fondos fed-
erales anuales a los gobiernos
estatales, locales y tribales, y
para decidir qué servicios comuni-
tarios se van a proveer en las
áreas que el censo indica que son
las más necesitadas. Eso signifi-
ca, que mientras menos residentes
del Sur de Tucsón participen en el
censo, el gobierno local recibe
menos fondos para construir car-
reteras, parques y escuelas.
‘El censo’/vea página 6
INSIDE
Spring Training
The Diamondbacks
and the Rockies start
their last spring training
season in Tucson.
...see page 3
Tucson Gem Show
The gem show visits
Tucson for the 56th
year until Feb. 14.
...see page 4
South Side
Librarian
Wins Award
By Victoria Blute
“The city of South Tucson could
probably throw a rock and hit
someone that Sol knows,” says
Aaron Valdivia, branch manager
of the El Pueblo Library. “He’s a
man of the people. It sounds
cliché and corny, but that’s Sol.”
Sol Gómez, 32, is the branch
manager of the Sam Lena Library
and the winner of the 2009 “I
Love My Librarian” award. The
award recognizes the accomplish-
ments of outstanding librarians
nationwide.
Though Gómez was surprised
to win, Valdivia explains that
there are several factors that led to
Gómez being honored by the
American Library Association.
“He’s easily approachable.
You can talk to him about any-
thing,” he says. “If you know
anything about the way the
library field works, it’s that it’s
really important to connect with
the youth.” Valdivia notes that
while Gómez is laid back, he also
takes his job very seriously.
“When the time comes and
[kids] are having trouble in
school, he’s all about helping
them. He uses his own personali-
‘Librarian’/see page 6
Page / Página 2 El INDEPENDIENTE February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010

I-19 Checkpoint Construction Begins

By Jessica Befort
Construction began Jan. 4 on an
interim U.S. Border Patrol check-
point on Interstate 19 and should
be completed in early April,
according to the U. S. Border
Patrol. But as of yet, there is no
timeline for the construction of a
permanent facility.
The $1. 5 million interim
facility will include a third lane
for semitrailers, a secondary
area for vehicles requiring fur-
ther inspection and a canopy to
cover the entire facility, said
Omar Candelaria, a Border
Patrol spokesman.
The interim checkpoint –
located between the Agua Linda
and Chavez Siding exits – will
be less than one mile south of
the current temporary check-
point, north of Tubac, he said.
Currently two lanes run north
and south along I-19. One lane
in the northbound direction was
closed for a week when con-
struction first began. Aside
from this early closure, there are
no plans to close parts of the
interstate, except perhaps when
the canopy is constructed,
Candelaria said.
The contractors are trying to
figure out the best way to build
the canopy while minimizing
the impact on traffic, Candelaria
said. If the highway is closed, it
will be for an hour or less and
will be at times when the high-
way is least busy.
A U.S. Border Patrol officer inspects underneath a vehicle at the current I-19
checkpoint near Tubac.
But this is the worst-case
scenario, he said. The contrac-
tors have not yet come up with a
complete plan for the canopy’s
construction, and traffic might
be deferred to a detour.
Those heading south of
Tucson for the Tubac Festival of
Photo by Kaite Flynn
the Arts from Feb. 10-14 will not
encounter construction as it will
halt from Feb. 7-17 to accommo-
date the influx of traffic.
But has construction affected
traffic for those who frequently
pass through the checkpoint?
Chelsea Robling, a Tucson
resident who grew up in Tubac permanent checkpoints. The I-
and returns to visit her family, 19 checkpoint is the first being
said that since construction has upgraded to a permanent facili-
started she hasn’t experienced ty, with this interim checkpoint
any extra delays. being a step toward that goal.
The current temporary A permanent facility is need-
checkpoint gets backed up ed to accommodate the antici-
depending on what time of the pated increased traffic as the
day it is, Robling said, an issue Mariposa port of entry in
that could be alleviated by the Nogales, Ariz., upgrades, Cand-
interim and then permanent elaria said.
checkpoint. “If we have more commercial
While Rob - traffic coming
ling said she is in north from Mex-
favor of the per- For more information: ico and we don’t
manent check- have the app ro -
point, some U.S. Customs and priate facilities
Tubac residents Border Protection to accommodate
don’t support the www.cbp.gov the traffic, there
idea. Tucson Sector: 748-3000 will be back up.”
“I think it’s a The primary
waste of reason for
money, ” said Jane Lowder, upgrading the temporary I-19
owner of Jane’s Attic in Tubac. checkpoint is to increase safety
Lowder said that she thinks for Border Patrol agents and the
the interstate is not an appro- public, he said.
priate place for the checkpoint. “We believe that it’s very
“They should be securing the likely that if you’re a smuggler
border at the border,” she said. and you’re looking for a place to
The I-19 checkpoint is part bring in your stuff and all the
of the U. S. Border Patrol’s other places have permanent
Tucson Sector, which runs from checkpoints and the Tucson
the New Mexico state line to the Sector does not, that’s where
Yuma County line. It’s the you’re going to enter, ”
busiest sector in the nation, Candelaria said. “It’s an obvi-
according to Candelaria. ous choice.”
Between 46 to 48 percent of
marijuana seizures occur in the
Tucson sector. Para leer este artículo en
Though this sector is the español visita:
busiest, it is the only one along www.elindenews.com
the Southwest border without

EL Sunnyside Looking to Double

INDEPENDIENTE Enrollment at Alt. High School
By Brett Booen
South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper Between an ongoing concern to tighten the budget
El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves the and a $12,000 spending fiasco involving Sunnyside
right to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length.
High School’s superintendent, an unsuspected
source of hope emerged at Sunnyside Unified School
www.elindenews.com District’s Governing Board meeting Jan. 26.
UA Journalism While the primary concern for many in atten-
P.O. Box 210158B dance was answers from the board regarding
Tucson, AZ 85721 Superintendent Manuel L. Isquierdo’s personal
Phone: 621-3618 use of a district credit card, a band of students and
elindy.ua@gmail.com faculty from STAR Academic Center gathered for a
different cause.
Adviser The STAR supporters, which included about 40
Maggy Zanger Photo by tammaRa CRawFoRd
of the high school’s students and faculty, took
over the board room during the first hour of the Michael Olguin, a STAR Academic Center teacher, said
Graphics and Layout Advisers meeting to voice concerns surrounding a pro- “This is a place where (the students) feel comfortable.”
John deDios
Gawain Douglas posed redesign plan for the alternative high That collaborative process, Olguin said, was to
school. The plan was set to increase STAR’s ensure that the district wasn’t going to force
enrollment and force current faculty members to STAR to become a large high school like
Copy Editors reapply for their jobs before the next school year. Sunnyside or Desert View, which have student
Managing Editor Anthony Hasan With fellow district high schools Sunnyside enrollments of 2,264 and 2,002, respectively.
Victoria (Tory) Blute Brett Booen and Desert View bursting at the seams, the board However, SUSD is under the constant stress to
Heather Riss went forward with its recommendation to increase become more cost-effective. The board says adding
News Editor Zach Simon STAR’s enrollment to 500. But because of the out- students at STAR is a necessity at this point.
Shelby Hill Jeff Feld cry from students, the board will not require the “If I could have and we could afford 10 STAR
faculty to reapply for their jobs next fall. (high schools), then it would be on the table right
Spanish Editor Photographers STAR is a smaller, second-chance school for now,” said SUSD Board President Louie Gonzales.
Nohemi Ramariz Otto Ross students to learn in non-traditional ways and “Small schools are great, but it’s all about cost.”
Tammara Crawford spend more time with teachers compared to a reg- Gonzales said before the economic downturn,
Design Chief ular high school. It is also for students who may the district was in line to build a third high school
Amy Kissinger Designers not be able to attend regularly. to relieve some of the pressure on the district’s
Marissa Hopkins With an enrollment of 260 students, the pro- other two high schools.
Photo Editor Natalie Boras posed redesign represents a 92 percent enroll- With no funding for construction, the district
Kaite Flynn ment increase. wants to relieve the number of students at
Reporters But for the students, it wasn’t so much about Sunnyside and Desert View by increasing the
Community Events Editor Nathan Mitchell the population expansion as it was about keeping enrollment at STAR. The hope is that the second-
Erica Nannini their teachers on board. chance school can be a success for at-risk students
“We wanted to keep the teachers (and) the staff,” on a larger scale.
News Room Manager Translators said Tony Fierro, a senior at STAR. “We’ve built such “We need to expand for those at-risk students
Ashley Ralston-Alverez Angélica Pozo-DesPortes good relationships with them over our time there.” in this district (who) also need help,” said SUSD
Dina Tyrrell Fierro said the students’ goal at the board meet- Board Member Eva Dong. “We want them to expe-
Copy Chief Lizette M. Pérez ing was to make sure their teachers remained. rience what all of the STAR students have been
Jessica Befort The teachers echoed their sentiments as well. able to experience.”
Translation and Interpretation “This is a place where (the students) feel com- STAR teachers have an optimistic view of the
Web Manager Department fortable,” said Michael Olguin, a government board’s decision.
Josh Saunders of Spanish and Portuguese and history teacher at STAR. “We understand the “You know, great things are happening here,”
and Mexican American Studies problems that the district is facing. We just Olguin said. “As long as it’s collaborative
wanted to come here and make sure this was a col- between us and the district, and not just them
laborative effort between the students, the teach- imposing rules and regulations on us, even
ers and the district.” greater things can happen.”
 February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010
Rodeo Parade Route Cut by Half Mile
By heather Rissi
The 85th annual Tucson Rodeo Parade will
begin at its usual time, 9 a. m. , on
Thursday, Feb. 25, but there is a new
change that visitors should be aware of
before they put on their boots and head
down to watch the country’s longest non-
motorized parade.
This year the parade will be a half mile
shorter than usual. Instead of starting at
Ajo Way and Park Avenue, the parade will
begin at Park Avenue and Fair Street, eight
blocks south of Ajo Way. From there, the
parade will travel south on Park Avenue,
turn west on Irvington Road and then turn
north to Sixth Avenue, ending at the rodeo
grounds, 4823 S. Sixth Ave.
The parade route was shortened this
year because of Tucson Police budget cuts,
said Herb Wagner, Tucson Rodeo Parade
Committee spokesman.
Wagner said city police are in charge
of traffic and crowd control and reassigned
to help with the parade during the event.
But this year the city police could only
afford to spare 120 officers to aid the Parade
Committee, about 80 fewer than last year.
Wagner said the decision to begin at
Fair Street instead of Ajo Way was made to
hI CORBETT FIELD
Diamondbacks, Rockies
ARChIVAL PhOTO OF
Begin Last Season in Tucson
EL INDEPENDIENTE
with american teams leaving tucson,
Japanese baseball teams could take their place
By Anthony hasan
This spring, Tucson Electric Park and the
Kino Sports Complex will be the host to a
Major League Baseball team’s training
headquarters for the last time.
March 4 will be the first game of the
last year of the Arizona Diamondbacks’
spring training in Tucson when they host
the Colorado Rockies at Tucson Electric
Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way.
The Diamondbacks will play 16 games
at the park during March. All games start at
1:05 p.m.
Next season, the Diamondbacks and
Rockies will move to a new spring train-
ing complex east of Scottsdale. The move
comes two years after the Chicago White
Sox ended their 11-year stint sharing the
Kino Sports complex with the
Diamondbacks. The White Sox moved to a
new complex with the Los Angeles
Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.
Jack Camper, president of the Tucson
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, said
he can see why some Tucsonans are dis-
heartened by the prospect of no more
spring training. For more than 60 years,
baseball teams and their fans enjoyed
El INDEPENDIENTE
maximize the availability of the officers
to cover the parade.
“It takes a lot of officers to close Ajo
Way,” he said. “By keeping Ajo open, it
frees up a lot of officers.”
They also chose that area because in
past years, it has been the least populated
by parade-goers since it is harder to reach,
Wagner said.
Wagner doesn’t believe the change will
affect the outcome of the parade, which
showcases America’s western history by
using old-fashioned wagons and buggies.
“The parade reflects different heritages,”
Wagner said. “It is a mixture of Native
American, Mexican American and Anglo
cultures all coming together. So I believe it
will be as colorful and exciting as ever.”
The last time the parade route experi-
enced any changes was in 1991, when it
was moved from downtown to its current
location.
About 200,000 people are estimated to
attend the parade every year, the single
largest spectator event in Arizona,
Wagner said.
Golf tournaments and other events
draw large crowds over days, he said, but
the parade draws the largest during a single
two-and-a-half hour event.
For more information
For a complete schedule and ticket
information visit the Arizona
Diamondback website at
arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com
Tucson’s weather. The departure of the
Diamondbacks and Rockies will have an
economic effect on Tucson as well.
Each team brings about $10 million a
year to Tucson’s economy, Camper said.
When Tucson was hosting all three teams,
the city could rely on about $30 million in
tourism and other sources of revenue.
The revenue loss from the departure of
spring training hurts local businesses, said
Francisco Valdez, manager of Las
Cazuelitas de Tucson, 2615 S. Sixth Ave.
Valdez said events like spring training
are great for restaurants.
“Anything that brings people to Tucson
and creates an atmosphere that brings peo-
ple out with their families, their kids, real-
ly helps business,” he said.
Camper said there is still hope for pro-
fessional baseball in Tucson, as negotia-
MAP COURTESY OF TUCSON RODEO PARADE COMMITTEE
If you go
Transportation: Sun Tran pick up at Tucson Mall and
Park Place Mall; drop off walking distance to parade.
Grandstand seating: Irvington Road. Tickets bought
before event are $6 for adults and $4 for children
under 12. $1 increase on parade day.
tions are taking place between Major
League Baseball and professional teams in
Japan to bring their stars to train in
Tucson.
“It works out because their spring train-
ing starts right around the same time as
ours,” Camper said.
Ideally, he said, there will be two or
three professional Japanese teams moving
their spring training operations to Tucson
as early as next season, and Tucson would
see benefits almost immediately.
Seeing the top players from Japan take
on American baseball stars would be excit-
ing for many fans, Camper said, especially
those from Japan, making spring training
in Tucson a must-see for Japanese tourists
and baseball fans alike.
While those negotiations are far from
complete, Camper said he is still opti-
mistic about the future of professional
baseball in Tucson.
“The Japanese are rabid baseball fans,”
he said.
“I can see Japanese (tourists) landing in
Vegas, driving to the Grand Canyon on
their way to Tucson to watch their own
teams play, then heading off to Los
Angeles.”
Page / Página 3
Se acorta
el Desfile
del Rodeo
Por heather Rissi
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
El 85º Desfile Anual del Rodeo de
Tucsón empezará a la hora usual de
las 9 a.m. el jueves, 25 de feb.
pero hay un nuevo cambio que los
visitantes tienen que saber antes
de ponerse las botas e ir a ver el
desfile no-motorizado más largo
del país.
Este año el desfile será una
milla más corta que de costumbre.
En lugar de comenzar en Ajo Way
y Park Avenue, comenzará en Park
Avenue y Fair Street, ocho cuadras
al sur de Ajo Way. De allí, el des-
file se dirigirá hacia el sur por
Park Avenue, virará al oeste en
Irvington Road y luego al norte
en Sixth Street, para terminar en
la arena del rodeo, 4823 S. Sixth
Ave.
La ruta del desfile fue acortada
este año a causa de los recortes en
el presupuesto de la Policía de
Tucsón, dijo Herb Wagner, vocero
del Comité del Desfile del Rodeo
de Tucsón.
Wagner dijo que la policía está
a cargo de controlar el tráfico y la
muchedumbre y son reasignados
para ayudar con el desfile durante
el evento.
Pero este año la policía de la
ciudad solo podía aportar 120 ofi-
ciales para apoyar al Comité del
Desfile, unos 80 menos que el año
pasado.
Wagner dijo que la decisión de
comenzar en Fair Street en lugar
de Ajo Way fue tomada para maxi-
mizar la disponibilidad de agentes
para cubrir el desfile.
“Se requiere muchos agentes
para cerrar Ajo Way”, dijo él. “Si
no se cierra Ajo, se desocupan
muchos agentes”.
También se escogió esa área
porque en años pasados ha sido la
menos poblada con visitantes ya
que es más difícil llegar allí, dijo
Wagner.
Wagner no considera que el
cambio afectará el resultado del
desfile, el cual muestra la historia
del oeste de América usando car-
retas y calesas antiguas.
“El desfile refleja varias heren-
cias”, dijo Wagner. “Es una mez-
cla de culturas nativo-americanas,
mexicano-americanas y anglo -
sajonas que se unen entre sí. Así
que yo pienso que será tan colori-
do y tan emocionante como siem-
pre”.
La última vez que la ruta del
desfile experimentó cambios fue
en 1991, cuando se movió del
centro de la ciudad a donde está
ahora.
Se estima que cerca de 200,000
personas asistirán al desfile este
año, el único evento con más
espectadores en Arizona, dijo
Wagner.
El desfile atrae a la mayoría
multitudes durante un evento de
sólo dos horas y media.
Si va
Transporte: Sun Tran recoge en
Tucson Mall y Park Place Mall;
bajada a corta distacia del des-
file.
Asiento en gradas: aI lado de
Irvington Road. Boletos el día
antes del desfile cuestan $6 para
adultos y $4 para niños menores
de 12. $1 más el día del evento.
Para más información: llame al
294-1280 o visite la Oficina del
Desfile del Rodeo en Tucsón,
4823 S. Sixth Ave.
Page / Página 4
Journey to the Center of the World
By Nathan Mitchell
Oregon-based Sue Liebetrau has
been coming to the Tucson Gem
and Mineral Show since 1982.
She is a “well-aged” collector of
gems and minerals with a particu-
lar interest in petrified woods,
though her fascination began at
an early age. Her collection has
grown into a full-time hobby.
“You know that little kid going
around picking up rocks and
sticks? That was me,” she says.
The 56th annual show has
brought together vendors, collec-
tors and buyers from India to
Argentina to create another year
of the reputed world’s largest gem
show.
Shoppers and spectators are
welcomed into hotels and tent
cities to see the natural wonders
of the world. Objects for sale can
be extravagant: a crystal chunk of
purple and clear Kunzite for
$34,000; a nest of 25 red and gray
fossilized eggs set in a lit case
with a note that reads “DO NOT
TOUCH DINOSAUR NEST,
$37,500.” But for the more frugal
shoppers, there are beads,
singing bowls, moon rocks and
even a $25 stone tissue box.
Walking the halls of the
hotels-turned-strip-malls is some-
thing like spinning a globe. At
Hotel Tucson signs posted on the
doors read: Austria, Russia,
Tucson, Morocco, Peru, Tunisia,
France, China and Czech
Republic. The doors are open, and
the beds are removed. Vendors
invite shoppers in using sparse
English to take a look at the prod-
ucts set up in cases and on folding
tables they cart around the world.
Visitors in the ballroom can walk
among the towering skeletons of
an Albertosaurus and Giant Ground
Sloth casted from the bones of the
ancient creatures. Raw materials
used to make beads and jewelry sit
beside stone jewelry set in gold,
silver and wire. Price tags mark
the material, $25 for a kilo of
quartz and $2 for stromatolite.
“For you I make a special price.
Only $5,” says Manik B.S. to a
customer holding up a bead from a
bulk bin at the Riverpark Inn.
Shayna Dimond, a vendor and
Costco Could Boost South Side Economy
By Erica Nannini
A south side Costco store could
go up as early as March 2011 if
the city approves plans that have
been submitted by developers
Eastbourne Investments Ltd. and
Retail West.
The store is part of the long-
term, 350-acre Bridges Project,
which will include retail and resi-
dential developments, as well as a
University of Arizona bio-
sciences park. The project is
located on the southwest corner
of Kino Boulevard and 36th
Street.
Eric Davis, president of Retail
West Properties, said that the
company owns the property and
Costco is interested in it.
Mark Kerr, aide to Tucson
Councilman Richard Fimbres of
Ward 5, said that the new store
would mean an “economic boom”
for the south side and all of
Tucson.
“Costco, even during these
economic times, has a sound
business model, ” Kerr said.
“They offer jobs with great pay
and great benefits — 401Ks.”
The Tucson City Council
expects that the convenience of
the superstore will attract people
to the south side who would not
helga and Gunter Pottinger examine quartz formations at the hotel Tucson.
jeweler from the east coast, has
been working at the show for the
last six years selling rough
quartz, topaz and dolomite from
Brazil. She sits beside the stones
in a room at the La Quinta Inn,
reference books on crystal energy
at an arm’s reach. Every crystal
has energy. Energy work is using
those vibrations through medita-
tion, she says.
Vendors and customers who
have been to similar shows in
Munich or Bangkok agree: This
is the biggest show in the world.
“It’s like going to Mecca,
where everyone has to go at least
once in their lives,” Liebetrau
says, Oregon-based collector.
“The variety and quality of miner-
als here is better than you can find
in a museum.”
The show attracted about
50,000 people and $100 million
in 2007, according to the most
recent survey conducted by the
Tucson Convention and Visitor
Bureau, says Kimberly Schmitz,
their director of public relations.
The event, which is 40 percent
Tucson-based businesses, con-
sists of 44 shows in 42 different
“
We’ve got a lot of
work to do in a short
amount of time, but
our engineers are in
the middle of it and
we feel good about it.
–Eric Davis
President of Retail West
”
Properties
otherwise think of going there,
Kerr said.
Kerr said that he has not heard
of any opposition to the project.
However, in March 2007,
Councilwoman Karin Uhlich
voted against the development,
voicing her opposition to a “big-
box” store, which was once pre-
dicted to be a Wal-Mart. The coun-
cil ultimately voted 6-1 to allow
the developers to move forward.
Small retailers, such as Jose
Gonzalez who runs a fruit and nut
stand on the corner of Campbell
Avenue and Irvington Road,
worry the proposed store will
draw customers away. Gonzalez
said he thinks the new store will
benefit the community but might
El INDEPENDIENTE
Ashley Bruno plays a signing bowl as
Bill Duran watches at Riverpark Inn
during the gem show.
locations.
“Those are inaccurate repre-
sentations of the gem show,” she
says. “It’s the Tucson Gem
show!”
While the gem show attracts
new vendors and new shoppers
every year, it also has its loyal-
ists. This is the second year for
Chen Hou-Xi and his wife from
take away from his business as a
private seller.
News of the development has
managers of neighborhood gro-
ceries fretting as well.
“Of course, no one’s happy
with bringing in any competitor
of any kind,” said Ramon Lopez,
the store director at Food City,
2950 S. Sixth Ave. “I would
rather they all stay away.”
However, Lopez said that he is
unfamiliar with a big package
competitor like Costco. He said
that Food City’s business might
not suffer because the chain deals
with smaller, lower-volume items
whereas Costco tends to sell
items in bulk.
Davis said that the Bridges
Project as a whole will increase
tax revenues and generate traffic
in the area.
The proposed Costco would be
the third location in Tucson.
Davis said that depending on
how long it takes to get approval
to start construction, on top of
the basic infrastructure, March
2011 is the earliest date that the
store could open.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do
in a short amount of time, but our
engineers are in the middle of it
and we feel good about it,” he
said.
February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010
Photos by nathan mitChell
Hunan, China. Pedro Jimenez and
Ana de Los Santos are South-
American vendors who have been
trekking to Tucson, stones in
tow, for many years. Though they
both now work from the United
States, their products carry an
inherent sense of their cultures.
Jimenez is a Peruvian-born
stone worker who specializes in
handcrafted Kachinas, figures that
represent supernatural beings. The
Kachinas take on the shapes of
animals and deities, like sun
dancers and corn maidens. The
eagle dancer Kachinas have the
bodies of men with pitch-black
wings attached to the arms and a
feather in each hand. The turquoise
heads are topped with feathered
headdresses. He also crafts differ-
ent figurines like “Ancient
Peruvian Natives,” warriors
dressed in golden robes and hel-
mets with daggers in their hands.
Jimenez relocated from Peru to
Santa Fe, N.M., 20 years ago. He
was taken in by local Apache
Indians who gave him the name
Blue Elk, now the moniker of his
business.
“It’s such an honor,” he says
Mobile Meals ayuda a la comunidad
Por Marissa hopkins
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Mobile Meals of Tucson celebra
su 40 aniversario este año. Desde
1970, la organización basada en
voluntarios ha estado entregando
dos comidas al día, cinco días a la
semana a las personas de Tucsón
que están confinadas al hogar y
que necesitan dietas especiales.
Jean Miller, voluntaria y coor-
dinadora de relaciones públicas,
dijo que Mobile Meals entrega
comida de lunes a viernes a más
de 200 personas entre las edades
de 21 hasta 101 años.
Miller dijo que las comidas son
preparadas en hospitales locales
de acuerdo a las instrucciones de
dieta del doctor específicas para
cada necesidad individual.
Algunas de estas dietas especiales
son bajas en sal, saludables para
el corazón, o incluyen comidas
blandas para aquellos que tienen
dificultad para masticar.
Choferes voluntarios entregan
las comidas a los mismos ocho
clientes cada día, para que así se
forme una relación con las per-
sonas, dijo Miller. Ella dijo que
es importante para ambos, el
cliente y sus familias que ellos
hagan “chequeos de bienestar”.
Los voluntarios están entrena-
Fast Facts:
• Sept. 30 through Feb. 14
• The show began 56 years ago
at the Helen Keeling
Elementary School and was
started by the Tucson Gem
and Mineral Society.
• The TGMS show remains the
main event and is held at the
TCC Feb. 11 to Feb. 14
• Ticket prices are $9.25 with
discounts available
• The American Gem Trade
Associations GemFair, whole-
sale only, is Feb. 2 through
Feb. 7.
• For a complete listing of the
shows visit
www.visittucson.org/gemshow
about the name that once
belonged to their medicine man.
Jimenez has been showing his
work at the Tucson Convention
Center for the past 10 years. He
enjoys seeing the other exhibits
as much as showing his own. It is
all the natural beauty the world
has to offer put into one place, he
says.
“People love what I do,” he
says. “That’s the best part.
People enjoy seeing your dream
come true.”
De Los Santos, or “The Condor
Lady” as she is known, is a mine
owner from Buenos Aires,
Argentina, who exports agate
minerals, mostly condor agates.
Condors are minerals with a
glass-like surface with red, gray
and sky-blue rings that resemble
the rings in a tree trunk when cut
and polished. Like many of the
vendors, her life consists of con-
stant traveling.
“I don’t live there,” she says
of her house in California. “ I live
on the road.”
De Los Santos travels to
Argentina twice a year to collect
the materials. From there she
travels to different shows around
the world. Compared to shows
she has been to in Germany and
France, Tucson outranks them all,
she says.
“I love to come here,” she
says. “For the gem world, this is
the center of the world.”
dos para reconocer señales de
peligro vitales para el bienestar
de los clientes. Miller dijo que los
voluntarios ya han salvado las
vidas de los clientes, cuando se
dan cuenta que se han caído, o
reconociendo las señales de
depresión, o cuando se dan cuenta
que los clientes no están comien-
do sus comidas.
Muchos de los clientes viven
solos, dijo Miller, y el servicio de
Mobile Meals les ayuda a manten-
erse independientes.
“Estamos tratando de darles esa
dignidad y ayudarles para que se
queden en sus casas,” dijo Miller.
La organización también les
da a sus clientes una lista de
comidas saludables para manten-
erlos en sus casas los fines de
semana y para el desayuno, dijo
Miller.
Para más información
Para saber si sus seres queri-
dos califican para el programa
de Mobile Meals of Tucson,
visite el sitio de internet en
mobilemealsoftucson.org o
contacte a la organización al
622-1600.
February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010
Census Offering Jobs
By Kaite Flynn
Keeping tabs on all U.S. resi-
dents is a tricky job that census
workers undertake every 10 years,
and it’s time to start counting.
The U. S. Census Bureau is
gearing up for Census 2010 and
one of the first orders of business
is hiring census workers.
There are hundreds of posi-
tions available in Tucson, said
Gilbert Mejias, a local census
office manager in Tucson.
Partnership specialists are
working with businesses and city
government to get the word out
about these jobs. The biggest
contributor for Tucson is the Pima
Association of Governments,
Mejias said. Recruiting assistants
are also signing people up for job
testing throughout the city.
“The primary source is to have
assistants out there doing the
recruiting,” Mejias said.
The jobs being offered are
part-time, temporary positions.
The most common are census tak-
ers and office clerks. The average
worker will hold their position
through the end of June 2010,
Mejias said.
The wages for these jobs are
competitive, Mejias said. The
pay is above minimum wage,
which is $7.25 an hour, according
to the Industrial Commission of
Arizona. A census taker makes
$13.75 an hour and office and
questionnaire assistance clerks
typically make $10.50 an hour,
Mejias said. Those hired can
expect to work anywhere from 15
to 20 hours a week, depending on
the workload, he said.
Applicants must be at least 18
years old, have a valid Social
Security number or work permit
and pass a background check.
Statue Unveiling at Quincie Douglas
Kaite Flynn
by
Photo
South Park Neighborhood Culture Boosted by Grant Money
By Steve Ivanovics
The cultural vibe of the neighbor-
hoods surrounding South Park
Avenue recently received an eco-
nomic boost.
Two grants were awarded to the
South Park community by People,
Resources and Organizations in
Support of Neighborhoods. A
$5,000 grant was given to the
South Park Arts and Culture Center
and a $4,850 grant to the South
Park Neighbors.
The South Park Arts and
Culture Center will use its grant as
seed money for three educational
“carnivals” called “Where We
Come From – Visual Literacy in
Dance, Art and Games.”
Fast Facts:
•The phone number to contact
the Jobs Line is 1-866-861-
2010
•To find out more about jobs,
www.2010censusjobs.gov.
•To download an application,
visit
www.2010.census.gov/2010cen
susjobs/application-
material/index.php.
•To contact the local recruiting
line call (520) 918-1800
Though citizenship is pre-
ferred, it is not always necessary
for these positions. There are
instances where hiring a non-citi-
zen could help with possible lan-
guage barriers when working with
hard-to-count areas of town,
Mejias said.
Those interested must first call
a local recruitment center, the
2010 Census Jobs Line or go
online to download an applica-
tion. Applicants must then sched-
ule an aptitude test at a testing
site. Recruiters will determine
which site is closest to the appli-
cants’ neighborhoods and reserve
them a spot.
There are currently three test-
ing sites in South Tucson, plus
nearby facilities in adjacent
areas, said Caryn Walker, assis-
tant manager of recruiting.
Upon reaching the site, an
application must be filled out,
and then the test will be given.
The test measures skills and
knowledge to determine which
job will be offered.
The entire process can take up
The carnivals will focus on
Mexican, Aztec and African cul-
tures, especially the African pres-
ence in Mexico, said Barbea
Williams, South Park Arts and
Culture Center President.
Williams said they aim to edu-
cate everyone in the Tucson com-
munity, which will hopefully
unite different generations.
“I see so many missed opportu-
nities for parents to educate and be
involved with their children in a
fun, positive way,” Williams said.
Dance lessons will be avail-
able for all ages, but the main
goal is to teach through a variety
of games.
“Instead of tug-of-war, we’ll
have tug-of-knowledge, as well as
El INDEPENDIENTE
to two hours, Walker said.
The application deadline is the
end of April, when the recruitment
process ends. At that point, the
bureau should not have a need for
any additional resources, Mejias
said.
“Just because the recruitment
process terminates at that point
and you have not gotten a call
doesn’t mean that you’re not
going to get a call,” Mejias said.
“It’s still a possibility since the
actual operation goes on through
June.”
There are numerous testing
sites for jobs throughout Tucson
and the number will increase
weekly, Walker said.
Census employees are empha-
sizing the importance of taking
advantage of these opportunities.
“There’s just so much that has
hurt this economy, the census is
stepping in. They’re offering a
very competitive wage for a tem-
porary position so you can earn a
little extra cash,” Mejias said.
Application Requirements
R Call ahead to schedule a
test location and time.
R Must be 18 years or older.
R Must have a valid Social
Security number or work
permit.
R All applicants must pass a
background check.
R All applicants must pass
the 30-minute aptitude test.
Quin Davis, artist of a new bronze
statue in Quincie Douglas Library
titled "Two Women Who Did," dis-
cusses his piece with Styne Davis,
a woman who attended the unveil-
ing ceremony.
a rainforest basketball hoop, ”
Williams said. “I know kids want
to be the next LeBron James…
We’ll teach them about the differ-
ent (tree) levels of the rainforest,
and how life is sustained.”
Williams plans on hosting
another carnival later in the year
at the Dunbar African American
Museum and Cultural Center, 325
W. Second St., a once segregated
school that is now a museum ded-
icated to the impact African-
Americans had on the Southwest.
The first event is scheduled for
Feb. 28 at the Quincie Douglas
Branch Library.
The other grant will go to the
Pima County Indian Culture proj-
ect, which focuses on the Tohono
El Censo de 2010
ofrece trabajos
Por Kaite Flynn
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Contar a todos los residentes de
los EE.UU. es un trabajo muy del-
icado que toman los trabajadores
del censo cada 10 años, y es hora
de empezar a contar.
El Buró del Censo de los
EE.UU. se está preparando para el
Censo 2010 y uno de los primeros
puntos de la agenda es reclutar a
trabajadores para el censo.
Hay cientos de posiciones
disponibles en Tucsón, dijo
Gilbert Mejias, el gerente local de
la oficina del censo en Tucsón.
Los especialistas asociados
están trabajando con negocios y
el gobierno de la ciudad para cor-
rer la voz acerca de estos trabajos.
El contribuidor más grande para
Tucsón es la Asociación de
Gobiernos de Pima, dijo Mejias.
Los asistentes reclutas también
están apuntando a gente para que
tomen el examen a lo largo de la
ciudad.
“La fuente primordial es tener
asistentes allá afuera para que
recluten”, dijo Mejias.
Los trabajos que se están ofre-
ciendo son de medio tiempo y
posiciones temporales. Los más
comunes son los trabajadores del
censo y recepcionistas en las
oficinas. El trabajador promedio
tendrá la posición hasta el final
del mes de junio de 2010, dijo
Mejia.
La paga de estos trabajos es
competitiva, dijo Mejias. La paga
es más alta que el salario mínimo,
el cual es $7.25 la hora, de acuer-
do a la Comisión Industrial de
Arizona. Un trabajador del censo
gana $13.75 la hora y los recep-
cionistas de oficina y de cues-
tionarios típicamente ganan
$10. 50 la hora, dijo Mejias.
Aquellos que sean contratados
pueden esperar trabajar de 15 a 20
horas por semana, dependiendo
del volumen de trabajo, dijo.
Los solicitantes deben tener
por lo menos 18 años, un seguro
social válido y permiso para tra-
bajar y pasar una investigación de
antecedentes penales.
Aunque se prefiere la ciu-
dadanía, no es siempre necesaria
para estas posiciones. Hay situa-
ciones donde contratar a un no-
ciudadano podría ayudar con las
barreras del lenguaje cuando se
trabaje en áreas de la ciudad de
difícil conteo, dijo Mejias.
Los interesados deben llamar
primero a una agencia de contrat-
ación, a la Línea de Trabajos del
Censo 2010 o ir a la página de
internet y descargar la solicitud.
Los solicitantes deberán entonces
O’odham and Yaqui cultures, said
Denise Antone, group leader of
the South Park Neighbors.
Antone, who meets with a
Native American beading group at
the Quincie Douglas Library, said
that Tucsonans do not know much
about contemporary Native
American culture.
“I grew up in Tucson and knew
all about my peers and their cul-
tures,” Antone said. “But I always
got questions about who I was. A
lot of people can’t identify with
Native Americans in modern soci-
ety.”
Antone said the grant from
PRO Neighborhoods will mostly
go toward supplies, demonstra-
tors, snacks and beverages.
Page / Página 5
Notas De Al lado:
•El teléfono para comunicarse
con Jobs Line es 1-866-861-
2010
•Para obtener más informa-
ción acerca de estos trabajos,
vaya al www.2010cen-
susjobs.gov
•Para descargar una solicitud,
visite
http://2010.census.gov/2010c
ensusjobs/application-materi-
al/index.php
•Para contactar a la oficina
local de contratación marque
al 918-1800
poner una cita para tomar el exam-
en de aptitud en un centro de eval-
uaciones. Los reclutas determi-
narán cual sitio es el más cercano
al hogar del solicitante para reser-
varles un lugar.
Por ahora hay tres sitios de
evaluación en el Sur de Tucsón,
además de instalaciones cercanas
a las áreas adyacentes, dijo Caryn
Walker, asistente a la gerencia de
contratación.
Se tiene que llenar una solici-
tud cuando se llegue al sitio y
después se tomará el examen. La
prueba mide las habilidades y el
conocimiento para determinar
cual trabajo se va a ofrecer. El
proceso total puede tomar hasta
dos horas, dijo Walker.
La fecha última para solicitar
es a los finales de abril, cuando el
proceso de contratación termine.
Para ese entonces, el buró ya no
necesitara más recursos adi-
cionales, dijo Mejias.
“Sólo porque el proceso de
contratación termina en esa
fecha, y usted todavía no recibe
una llamada, no quiere decir que no
le van a llamar”, dijo Mejias.
“Todavía queda una posibilidad,
siendo que las operaciones reales
siguen hasta junio”.
Hay varios sitios de evalu-
ación para estos trabajos alrede-
dor de Tucsón y el número se va a
incrementar semanalmente, dijo
Walker.
Los trabajadores del censo
están enfatizando la importancia
de tomar ventaja de estas oportu-
nidades.
“Ya ha sido mucho lo que ha
lastimado esta economía, el
censo se está acercando. Están
ofreciendo una paga muy compet-
itiva por un puesto temporal para
que pueda ganar dinero extra”,
dijo Mejias.
However, she said that the
project is in its inception and per-
manent details haven’t been
decided.
According to Linda Duran, sen-
ior community organizer for PRO
Neighborhoods, both groups ful-
filled the “grass roots” criteria in
order to be awarded the grants.
PRO Neighborhoods was cre-
ated in 1994 by a collaboration of
City of Tucson, Pima County,
Community Foundation for
Southern Arizona, and United
Way of Tucson and Southern
Arizona.
PRO Neighborhoods advo-
cates local problem solving and
revitalization through small
grants and technical support.
Page / Página 6 El INDEPENDIENTE February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010

Unlikely Path Leads Librarian to Award

‘Librarian’ Continued from page 1
ty to keep kids coming into the
library.”
Valdivia, who first worked for
Gómez after moving from
Phoenix to Tucson, says Gómez
is responsible for showing him
the ropes in the South Tucson
community.
“South Tucson can sometimes
get a bad rap,” he says. “But I like
working here. Sol was the first
librarian that I worked for, and he
showed me what South Tucson
needs and wants. He lives in this
area. It’s not like this is just his
job and he commutes. He lives
down here and works down here.”
Gómez is responsible for a
variety of programs at his library
and assists with information on
citizenship, taxes and school.
With his focus on youth, Gómez
is also working on a health-relat-
ed cooking program for teens that
will model the show “Iron Chef.”
However, Gómez’s road to
becoming a librarian was unex-
pected.
Gómez was born in Tucson but
raised in Sierra Vista.
“We lived out in the boonies,
so we did a lot of outdoor activi-
ties,” he says. He and his sister,
Azul, didn’t have many toys and
subsequently spent a lot of time
developing their imaginations.
Gómez says that his family
owned a television but didn’t
have cable, so he spent a lot of
time reading.
Despite his early reading
habits, Gómez says it never once
crossed his mind to be a librarian.
In fact, “I was actually kicked out
of the U of A,” he says.
“I didn’t do so well, and they
told me, ‘You need to pick a major
and stick to it’.” Gómez thought
Spanish literature was a good
choice and would be esay as a
native speaker.
“It wasn’t,” he says. “But I
really, really enjoyed it. I got
lucky.”
After graduating from the
University of Arizona with a
bachelor’s degree in Spanish lit-
erature, Gómez worked for Pima
County supervisor Richard Elías.
While working on the campaign,
he met his wife, whose mother is
a librarian.
“She said to me, ‘It’s not just
about reading, Sol’,” he says.
Through his librarianship,
Gómez learned that librarians
stay current by providing the best
technology that the public
library can afford, particularly for
communities that struggle to
bridge the “digital gap.”
“We offer computers, Internet,
and help people develop skills
necessary to survive in today’s
fast-paced world,” he says.
He explained that he earned his
degree through a program called
Knowledge River, a Tucson-based
program run by the UA School of
Information Resources and Library
Science. The program recruits
Latinos and Native Americans, and
also focuses on serving low-
income communities.
Winning the nationwide award
has opened other doors for
Gómez. He has been asked to
serve as the legislative chair of
REFORMA, an organization that
serves to promote library servic-
es to Spanish-language communi-
ties across the country.
Additionally, he is working on a
project with the New York Public
Library to update their Web site
for the upcoming year.
Gómez explains that he likes
what he does because he is a people
Photo by otto Ross
Sol Gómez, branch manager of the Sam Lena Library, takes a break to catch
up on his weight lifting.
person. As the branch manager, he “Everything has to do with
has a large part in deciding what learning, ” he says. “I mean,
programs are available to the com- they’re fun programs, but you
munity, such as Nuestras Raíces, a also learn.”
festival that celebrates Mexican- His path to success may have
American literature and culture. been challenging, but choosing a
Gómez has also helped decide on location to put his skills to use
events that promote the impor- wasn’t difficult.
tance of the upcoming census. “I said, ‘I’ll work anywhere on
the south side.’ I knew I wanted to
work with the Spanish-speaking
community. I could have worked
anywhere, but I wanted to work
here,” he says.
One thing Gómez hopes to
change as a librarian is the stereo-
type associated with his career.
Gómez says that a majority of
librarians are female and of a par-
ticular age bracket.
Gómez says that Knowledge
River is currently accepting
applications and is a good choice
for those who meet the criteria of
the program.
“The thing is, you have your
school pretty much paid for
through that program. I even con-
vinced my sister, Azul, to go to
library school,” he says.
Gómez also likes to spend time
with his wife and two children. He
also enjoys lifting weights, and—
of course—reading.
“We have two kids now. We
don’t read as much as we used to.
My favorite book used to be ‘The
Count of Monte Cristo,’ but I’ve
read a lot more since then,” he
says. “It’s hard to pick one. As
long as I can get a couple pages in
a day, I’m good.”
Valdivia says that despite win-
ning the “I Love My Librarian”
award, Gómez will remain humble.
“He doesn’t flaunt that kind of
stuff. It’s not going to change the
way he does his job,” he says,
noting that Gómez will still
know his community members by
first name and continue to work
hard on programs that serve
South Tucson. “He likes his job,
he likes his community and
they’re both interconnected. He’s
giving people the resources that
they need, he says.
“That’s what a public librari-
anship’s all about.”

El censo 2010 para el bien de todos Controversial Bill Pushes for

‘El censo’ Continúa de página 1
También hay menos representación en el gobierno.
De cualquier modo, mucha gente que vive ilegal-
mente en el país no participa porque tiene miedo de
ser reportados al gobierno.
Sin embargo, esto no es posible que ocurra, de
acuerdo a Deal, el Título 13 del Código de los EE.UU.
estrictamente protege la confidencialidad de
cualquiera que llene la forma. Todos los empleados de
la Oficina del Censo toman un juramento de por vida
de proteger esta privacidad.
Además, es ilegal para la Oficina del Censo el
compartir esta información con cualquier otra agen-
cia del gobierno, como el Servicio de Recaudación
de Impuestos o el Buró de Servicios de Ciudadanía e
Inmigración, dijo Deal.
¿Pero cuántos en Tucsón realmente saben esto?
“Si me mandan uno (un formulario de censo),
probablemente lo llenaría, pero realmente no sé
mucho de eso”, dijo Chris Hurtado, de 31 años, del
Sur de Tucsón.
Ron Strickle, asistente del gerente ejecutivo de la
Walgreens en South Tucson, 1900 S. Sixth Ave.,
expresó un sentimiento parecido acerca de sus
clientes.
“Sé que (la Oficina del Censo está bajo juramento
de mantener la confidencialidad), pero no estoy muy
seguro que la mayoría de los inmigrantes ilegales
aquí en Tucsón lo sepan”, dijo Strickle. “Si ellos no
tienen documentos, les da miedo informar al gobier-
no, aunque sea así, como ellos (el Censo de los
EE.UU.) determinan la distribución de ayuda guber-
namental”.
Aun si a los inmigrantes ilegales se les infor-
mara, podrían no creerlo o no arriesgarse, él dijo.
La Oficina del Censo está trabajando para pro-
mover conciencia, educación y participación entre
gente como Hurtado en Tucsón, dijo Laura
Cummings, una asociada especialista para dicha
oficina de los EE.UU. que trabaja con el equipo para
la involucración del Tucsón hispano.
“La gran pregunta para mucha gente es, ¿a dónde va
esa información y qué se hace con ella?” ella dijo.
“Tratamos de ayudar a contestar esas preguntas”.
Las estaciones de radio 102.1FM “La Caliente” y
1030 AM “La Raza” también tuvieron algunos pro-
gramas de media hora acerca del censo con entrevis-
Información estadística
• Cerca de 34 millones de gente habla español en
sus casas en los EE.UU.
• Los trabajadores de la Oficina del Censo
pueden recibir seis años en prisión y multas de
hasta $200,000 por romper el voto de confi-
dencialidad.
• Más de $400 billones en fondos federales se
han distribuido cada año a áreas basándose en
el censo de la población.
• La Oficina del Censo empezará a mandar más
de 120 millones de formularios por correo en
Marzo—por primera vez, 13 millones de esos
formularios serán bilingües, español/inglés.
• La campaña de publicidad será ofrecida en 28
idiomas—17 en el 2000.
• El cuestionario 2010 es ofrecido en 6 idiomas
— 5 en el 2000.
• El censo del 2000: Tucsón: 486,699 personas—
35.7% de origen hispano o latino.
tas de representantes que explicaron los programas
de confidencialidad y los caminos y carreteras que se
pueden construir porque el gobierno distribuye fon-
dos a ciertas áreas dependiendo de la población.
“El censo es fácil, importante y seguro”, dijo
Barajas. “Ése es un mensaje importante de difundir a
muchas personas, las cuales no quieren dar informa-
ción a las agencias gubernamentales”.
Barajas dijo que ella utiliza “voces de confianza”
en el Sur de Tucsón para diseminar una conciencia
hacia el censo a través de asociaciones con varias
organizaciones, como las estaciones de radio his-
panas, autoridades de vivienda y agentes locales.
A nivel nacional, la estación de TV “Telemundo”
emprendió una campaña de conciencia nacional el
pasado abril del 2009 llamada “Make Yourself
Count” o “Hazte Contar”. Parte de la campaña
incluyó el ondeo de un anuncio del censo en su telen-
ovela más popular, “Más sabe el diablo”.
La estación de televisión “Univisión” también
estará ofreciendo casillas telefónicas una vez al mes
en marzo y abril, por algunas horas la estación se
concentrará solamente en tomar llamadas acerca del
censo y contestarlas al aire, dijo Cummings.
Stricter Immigration Laws
By Jeff Feld
A controversial state Senate bill
moved forward in January that
would allow police to stop and
arrest anyone “reasonably” sus-
pected of being in the country
illegally.
Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa,
introduced the bill, which passed
4-3, with Republicans in the
majority. The vote sends the bill
to the full Senate.
Some of the provisions within
the bill allow law enforcement to
target individuals and businesses
responsible for knowingly
employing, housing or transport-
ing illegal immigrants.
The bill would also make it a
crime to pick up people and hire
them for a “day labor” job.
Anyone found to be here ille-
gally or responsible for employ-
ing, housing or transporting ille-
gal immigrants faces fines of
$500 to $5,000 and jail time.
As of 2009, the Center for
Immigration Studies reports that
10.8 million people are living in
the country illegally.
Within Arizona, 15 percent of
convicted felons are illegal immi-
grants, according to December
statistics from The Arizona
Department of Corrections.
Further, the Pew Hispanic
Center reports that as of 2008,
one in seven Arizona students is
here illegally.
Those opposed to the bill say
that it would increase racial pro-
filing because law enforcement
officers will be able to arrest
someone based solely on “suspi-
cion” of being in the country ille-
gally. The bill would not require
special training for officers to
identify such people.
The American Civil Liberties
Union of Arizona released a state-
ment on its Web site opposing
the bill.
“This bill goes beyond just
enlisting the help of local police
agencies to enforce immigration
laws, ” said Alessandra Soler
Meetze of ACLU of Arizona the
day after the bill advanced.
“The legislation would also
lead to the unjustified detention
of many citizens and legal resi-
dents and encourage law enforce-
ment to place a discriminatory
focus of their investigations on
Latino residents,” Meetze said.
“This would expose municipali-
ties to additional civil litiga-
tion.”
SB 1070 at a Glance:
• Bill advanced 4-3 along
party lines with Republicans
in the majority.
• Under new law, it would be
illegal to pick up and hire
“day laborers” off the street.
• Intended to put more pres-
sure on local communities to
do more about illegal immi-
gration.
• Police would be required to
make a “reasonable attempt”
to determine the immigration
status of a suspect; howev-
er, no additional training
would be required for police
to make those decisions.
February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010
Census Reaches out to Hispanic Community
By Zach Simon
Census outreach programs around
the country, including those in
Tucson, are trying to figure out
the best way to persuade people
trying to stay off the govern-
ment’s radar to participate in the
upcoming 2010 U.S. Census.
The Hispanic population in the
United States has historically been
difficult to tally because of com-
mon misconceptions about how
the government uses the collected
data, said Magdalena Barajas, a
partnership specialist for the U.S.
Census Bureau working in Tucson.
Partnership programs work on a
local level to inform people the
census is fast and safe.
Barajas said that places with
large minority populations,
including Hispanic communities,
are hard to count.
With the 2010 census about to
start, the Census Bureau is taking
several initiatives to promote
census education in the Hispanic
community, such as using bilin-
gual radio, television and Internet
advertisements. The goal is to
encourage full participation in
Tucson and around the country.
“The accurate count of the
Hispanic population or any other
group will help ensure the fair and
equitable apportionment of polit-
ical representation and will help
ensure that communities will
receive a fair distribution of
funds,” said Melanie Deal of the
U. S. Census Bureau Public
Information Office.
The data is used to assign con-
gressional seats to states, distrib-
ute annual federal funds to state,
local and tribal governments, and
decide what community services to
Immigration Reform Could Stimulate Economy
By Josh T. Saunders
A recent study found that immi-
gration reform is capable of
reviving the nation’s struggling
economy.
With a comprehensive reform
model, the report shows that
alternative immigration policies
could “yield at least $1.5 trillion
in added U. S. gross domestic
product over 10 years.”
By legalizing unauthorized
workers and basing immigration
limits on the U.S. labor demand,
comprehensive reform would
“raise the ‘wage floor’ for the
entire U.S. economy - to the ben-
efit of both immigrant and native-
born workers,” according to
“Raising the Floor for American
Workers: The Economic Benefits
of Comprehensive Immigration
Reform,” conducted by UCLA pro-
fessor Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda and
released through the Center for
American Progress and the
Immigration Policy Center.
For more than 20 years, the
U. S. has utilized an “enforce-
ment-only” policy, which
Hinojosa-Ojeda said isn’t cost
effective and does little to deter
immigrants from crossing the
border and finding work. Instead,
the study said these policies have
caused more deaths along the bor-
der, increased the market for
immigrant smuggling, encour-
aged permanent settlement
among unauthorized immigrants
and lowered wages.
In the last two decades, the
number of undocumented immi-
grants in the U.S. has increased
dramatically despite greatly
increased federal funding for bor-
der enforcement. The study points
out that since 1992, the U.S.
Border Patrol’s annual budget has
Darlene Burkett (left), an Arizona partnership specialist for the Denver Regional Census Center, and Daniel Polo (far right), a recruit-
ing assistant, discuss Census 2010 with community members who attended the Tucson Urban League MLK event.
provide the areas that the census
indicates are in most need. That
means that if fewer South Tucson
residents participate in the census,
the local government receives less
money to build roads, parks and
schools. There is also less repre-
sentation in the government.
However, many people resid-
ing illegally in the country don’t
participate out of fear of being
reported to the government.
This isn’t a possibility
though, according to Deal, and
Title 13 of the U.S. Code strictly
protects the confidentiality of
anyone who fills out a form. All
Census Bureau employees take an
oath and are sworn for life to pro-
tect that privacy.
Further, it is illegal for the
Census Bureau to share the infor-
increased by 714 percent. Further,
the number of Border Patrol agents
located along the U.S.-Mexico
border has grown by 390 percent
to more than 17,000 agents.
Despite these efforts,
Hinojosa-Ojeda said the unautho-
rized immigrant population has
nearly tripled over the last decade,
from an estimated 3.5 million in
1990 to 11.9 million in 2008.
His research examined three
different immigration-policy sce-
narios, which he said are the three
basic choices for the federal gov-
ernment.
Comprehensive immigration
reform would simplify the
process of obtaining legal status
in the U. S. for unauthorized
immigrants and establish fluid
immigration limits that react to
the labor needs.
The second scenario involves
a temporary-worker program for
illegal immigrants, without per-
manent status or permanent
immigration legislation.
Third is a mass-deportation
policy, in which the U.S. banish-
es all unauthorized immigrants
and permanently seals the border.
Hinojosa-Ojeda admits this sce-
nario is unrealistic but used it for
comparison purposes.
The mass-deportation policy
“amounts to a cumulative $2.6 tril-
lion in lost gross domestic product
over 10 years,” which doesn’t take
into account the associated costs
of the actual deportation process,
according to the report.
The widespread job losses and
wage fluctuations resulting from
this deportation would create yet
another expense for the national
economy.
On the contrary, the economic
benefits of the comprehensive
reform model would come from the
“virtuous cycle” of worker empow-
El INDEPENDIENTE
mation with any other govern-
ment agency, such as the Internal
Revenue Service or the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Deal said.
But how many in South Tucson
actually know this?
“If they send me one [a census
form], I’ll probably fill it out, but
I really don’t know much about
it,” said Chris Hurtado, 31, of
South Tucson.
Ron Strickle, executive assis-
tant manager at the South Tucson
Walgreens, 1900 S. Sixth Ave.,
expressed similar sentiments
about his customers.
“I know that [the Census Bureau
is sworn to confidentiality], but
I’m not so sure the majority of ille-
gal immigrants here in Tucson
do,” Strickle said. “If they don’t
14
Millions
7 organization has delivered two
1990 2000
VALUES COURTESY OF “RAISING ThE FLOOR FOR AMERICAN WORKERS: ThE ECONOMIC BENEFITS
COMPREhENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM,” & CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS
erment, said Hinojosa-Ojeda, “in
which legal status and labor rights
exert upward pressure on wages,
for both native-born and newly
legalized immigrant workers.”
The comprehensive reform
model would generate billions in
tax revenue and consumer spend-
ing, as well as support hundreds
of thousands of jobs, according
to the report.
This reform is meant to count-
er the current policy, the “vicious
cycle where enforcement-only
policies perpetuate unauthorized
migration and exert downward
pressure on already-low wages,”
the report says.
With the revitalization of the
U.S. economy at the forefront of
the federal government’s con-
cerns, this study is a timely
example of how an immigration
strategy can turn profitable for
the nation.
Vanessa Cárdenas, immigration
expert from the Center for
American Progress, said “immigra-
tion reform is essential, not only
for the immigrant community but
for the U.S. economy as well.”
Cárdenas said the Obama
administration has promised
immigration reform to the Latino
community and that polls show it
PhOTO BY
have documentation, they’re afraid
of reporting to the government,
even though that’s how they [the
U.S. Census] determine appropria-
tion of government aid.”
Even if illegal immigrants were
informed, they might not believe
it or want to risk getting caught,
he said.
The Census Bureau is working
to promote awareness, education
and participation among people
like Hurtado in Tucson, said Laura
Cummings, a partnership special-
ist for the U.S. Census Bureau
involved with a Tucson Hispanic
outreach team.
La Estrella de Tucson ran a two-
page spread giving information
about confidentiality and safety,
Cummings said.
“The big question for so many
2008
to be a priority of the American
people as well.
“This administration needs to
deliver on promises they’ve
made,” Cárdenas said. “We need a
comprehensive approach that
includes legalization and a realis-
tic program to support labor
needs.”
Cárdenas recognizes the issue
and said a comprehensive change
is necessary to address the 12
million people without papers in
the country.
“Immigrants are settled in our
communities, ” Cárdenas said.
“They are part of our economy.
We’re not going to be able to
deport 12 million people, and
they’re not going to leave.”
Ultimately, the study says, if
the reform provides the opportu-
nity for unauthorized immigrants
to invest in the U.S., the nation’s
economy and work force will see
the profits of change.
Para leer este artículo
en español visite:
www.elindenews.com
Page / Página 7
people is, where does the infor-
mation go and what is done with
it?” she said. “We are trying to
help answer those questions.”
Radio stations 102.1 FM “La
Caliente” and 1030 AM “La Raza”
also had a few half-hour programs
on the census with interviews from
representatives who explained the
confidentiality programs and that
roads, highways and schools get
built because of the government
funds allocated to certain areas
depending on population.
“The census is easy, important
and safe,” Barajas said. “That’s an
important message to get across
to a lot of folks who don’t want to
share information with a govern-
ment agency.”
Barajas said she uses “trusted
voices” in South Tucson to spread
KAITE FLYNN census awareness through part-
nerships with various organiza-
tions, such as Hispanic media
radio stations, housing authori-
ties and local officials.
On a national level, the TV
channel “Telemundo” launched a
national awareness campaign in
April 2009 called “Hazte
Contar, ” or “Make Yourself
Count. ” Part of the campaign
included weaving a census plot-
line into its most popular telen-
ovela, “Más Sabe el Diablo,” or
“The Devil Knows Best.”
The TV channel “Univision”
will also be featuring call-in
phone banks once a month in
March and April, where for a few
hours the station is completely
devoted to taking census ques-
tions and answering them on air,
Cummings said.
The 2010 Census website is
now available in Spanish at
www.2010census.gov/espanol.
Mobile Meals
Celebrates 40
Years of Aid
By Marissa hopkins
Mobile Meals of Tucson cele-
brates its 40th birthday this year.
Since 1970, the volunteer-based
meals a day, five days a week to
Tucson’s homebound in need of
special diets.
OF Jeanne Miller, volunteer and
public relations coordinator, said
Mobile Meals delivers food
Monday through Friday to more
than 200 people between the
ages of 21 and 101.
Miller said all meals are pre-
pared at local hospitals in accor-
dance with a doctor-prescribed
diet specific to each individual’s
needs. Some of the special diets
may be low in salt, heart healthy
or include soft foods for those
who have difficulty chewing.
Volunteer drivers deliver
meals to the same eight clients a
day to form a relationship with
the people, Miller said. She said
it is important for both the
clients and their families that
they do “well checks.”
The volunteers are trained to
recognize warning signs vital to
clients’ well-being. Miller said
volunteers have saved clients’
lives before by finding that a
client has fallen, recognizing
signs of depression or noticing
that clients are not eating their
meals.
Many of their clients live
alone, Miller said, and the
Mobile Meals service allows
them to maintain independence.
“We’re trying to give them
that dignity and enable them to
stay in their homes,” she said.
Page / Página 8
? El INDEPENDIENTE
By Erica Nannini
Traducido Por Lizette M.
Pérez
Feb. 1 – 12
Artes Picadiente
Jose Robles is a Tucson attorney
and artist who paints using a
toothpick (and the occasional
cactus thorn) as his only tool. He
refers to his wood and ceramic
works as “Artes Picadiente,” or
“Toothpick Art.” A collection of
about 15 pieces of his work will
be on display at La Pilita
Museum, 420 S. Main Ave.,
which is open Tuesday through
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission to the exhibit is free.
Contact 882-7454 or visit
www.lapilita.com for details.
Feb. 9 - 12, Feb. 14
Valentine Workshop
Bring the little tykes to the
Tucson Children’s Museum for a
day of Valentine crafts. Parents
and kids can use tissue paper to
decorate holiday hearts. The
activity is included in the price
of admission to the museum, 200
S. Sixth Ave., and begins at 3
p.m. Admission is $6 for chil-
dren up to 18, $8 for adults and
$6 for seniors. Children must be
accompanied by an adult. For
more information, visit www.tuc-
sonchildrensmuseum.org or call
792-9985.
Feb. 10
Urban Murals
Murals are often seen as vandal-
ism. The Sam Lena-South Tucson
Branch Library, 1607 S. Sixth
Ave., is offering a free seminar to
dispel this notion and show
murals as urban art with a valu-
able history. The program is part
of the library’s Nuestras Raices:
Celebrating Mexican-American
Authors, Arts and Culture, and
will be presented by the Social
Justice Education Project. The
educational program will run from
4 to 5 p.m. For more informa-
tion, visit www.library.pima.gov
or call 592-5265.
Feb. 17
Laptop Award
Celebration
Come support the nearly 500
freshmen students from Desert
View and Sunnyside high schools
who will receive laptops in an
open award ceremony at
University of Arizona Centennial
Hall, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. The
students have earned the laptops
by meeting the GPA and atten-
dance requirements of the dis-
trict’s Project Graduation: The
Digital Advantage. The ceremony
is free and will run from 5:30 to
8:30 p.m. Visit www.sun-
nysideud.k12.az.us or call 545-
2000 for more information.
Feb. 20 – 28
Tucson Rodeo
See current and former
Professional Rodeo Cowboys
Association world champions
rope and ride at the 85th annual
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, which
takes place over the course of
nine days at the Tucson Rodeo
Grounds, 4823 S. Sixth Ave.
Tickets range from $5 to $26,
and proceeds benefit causes
qué PASA?
Community Marches for MLK
Kaite Flynn
by
Photos
including University of Arizona
scholarship funds. Tickets can
be purchased at the gate or in
advance at www.tucsonrodeo.com
or call 741-2233.
Feb. 21
Fords on Fourth
Three blocks of North Fourth
Avenue near the Six Street inter-
section will be blocked off to
normal traffic and dedicated to
rows of Ford cars for the 46th
Anniversary of the Ford
Mustang. The free, family-
friendly show is put on by the
Southern Arizona Mustang Club
and will run from 8 a.m. to 3
p.m. In order to register your
own car, visit www.southernari-
zonamustangclub.com or call
622-6118.
Feb. 23 – 28
Fiddler on The Roof
The Broadway musical, starring
Harvey Fierstein as the iconic
milkman struggling to maintain
his family’s morals in czarist
Russia, is coming to the Tucson
Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
General Admission seats start at
$27, and there is a limit of eight
tickets per household. Tickets
can be purchased at the Tucson
Convention Center Ticket Office,
online at www.ticketmaster.com,
or at 800-745-3000.
March 11
Contemporary Mexican
Fiction
The Best of Contemporary
Mexican Fiction is a collection
of stories that appear in English
for the first time, featuring 16
prominent Mexican writers born
after 1945. University of Arizona
Prose series presents a reading
co-sponsored by the Consulate
of Mexico in Tucson and UA
BookStores. Editor Alvaro Uribe
and three of the authors will
attend. Admission is free and the
reading begins at 8 p.m. at the
UA Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen
St. Visit www.poetrycenter.ari-
zona.edu or call 626-3765 for
more information.
1-12 de febrero
Artes Picadiente
José Robles es un abogado de
Tucsón y un pintor que utiliza un
picadiente como su única her-
ramienta para pintar (y de vez en
cuando la espina del cactus). Al
hablar de su arte llama a su
madera y obras de cerámica
“Artes picadiente”, o “Toothpick
Art.” Una colección que incluye
15 piezas de su trabajo se exhibe
en La Pilita Museum, 420 S.
Main Ave., el cual está abierto de
martes a sábado de 11 a.m. hasta
2 p.m. La entrada a la exhibición
es gratuita. Para más detalles
llame al 882-7454 o visite
www.lapilita.com.
9-12 de febrero, 14 de
febrero
Taller de San Valentín
Lleve a los pequeños pícaros al
Tucson Children’s Museum para
un día de artesanías de San
Valentín.  Los padres y los niños
February 11 / 11 de febrero 2010
Tucsonans met at the University
of Arizona Jan. 18 for the 25th
annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day
March.
above: Martin Luther King Jr.
Day marchers gather at the
University of Arizona Mall.
left: Community members join
together in prayer and celebra-
tion before the march got under-
way.
For more photos from the Martin
Luther King Jr. Day March visit
www.elindenews.com
pueden usar un klínex para deco-
rar los corazones festivos. La
actividad está incluida en el pre-
cio de entrada al museo, 200 S.
Sixth Ave., y comienza a las 3
p.m. El precio de admisión es $6
para niños hasta 18, $8 para
adultos y $6 para personas may-
ores. Los niños deben estar
acompañados por un adulto. Para
más información, visite
www.tucsonchildrensmuseum.org
o llame 792-9985.
10 de febrero
Murales Urbanos
Los murales son a menudo vistos
como vandalismo. La Sam Lena-
South Tucson Branch Library,
1607 S. Sixth Ave., está ofre-
ciendo un seminario gratuito para
disipar esta noción y mostrar los
murales como arte urbano con
una valiosa historia. El programa
es parte de la biblioteca Nuestras
Raíces: celebrando a los autores,
el arte, y la cultura mexicana-
americana, y será presentado por
el proyecto de Educación de
Justicia Social. El programa
educativo se desarrollará de 4 a 5
p.m. Para más información, vis-
ite a www.library.pima.gov o
llame 592-5265.
17 de febrero
Otorgación de com-
putadoras portátiles
Venga a apoyar a los casi 500
estudiantes de primer año de las
escuelas secundarias Desert View
y Sunnyside que recibirán com-
putadoras portátiles en una cere-
monia abierta en la Universidad
de Arizona Centennial Hall, 1501
N. Campbell Ave. Los estudi-
antes han ganado las computado-
ras portátiles al reunir los requi-
sitos de promedio del Proyecto
del distrito de graduación: la ven-
taja digital. La ceremonia es
gratis y se llevará a cabo de
5:30-8:30 p.m. Para más infor-
mación visite www.sun-
nysideud.k12.az.us o llame al
545-2000.
20 - 28 de febrero
Rodeo de Tucsón
Vea a los actuales y ex campe-
ones vaqueros de la Asociación
de Rodeo Profesional mundial de
cuerda y monte en la 85º anual de
la Fiesta de los vaqueros, que se
lleva a cabo durante nueve días en
los terrenos del rodeo de Tucsón,
4823 S. Sixth Ave. Los boletos
cuestan de $5 a $26, y los ingre-
sos benefician a diferentes
causas, incluyendo el fondo para
becas de la Universidad de
Arizona. Los boletos se pueden
comprar en la puerta o por ade-
lantado en www.tucsonrodeo.com
o llame al 741-2233.
21 de febrero
Ford en la Cuatro
Tres cuadras de la avenida North
Fourth Avenue, cerca de la inter-
sección de la calle Sixth Street
estarán cerradas para el paso del
tráfico y serán dedicadas a filas de
autos Ford para celebrar el 46º
aniversario del Ford mustang. El
show es gratuito y para toda la
familia. Es llevado a cabo por
Southern Arizona Mustang Club,
y durará de 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Para
registrar su auto, visite
www.southernarizonamustang-
club.com o llame al 622-6118.
23 a 28 de febrero
Fiddler on the Roof
El musical de Broadway, protag-
onizado por Harvey Fierstein
como el icónico lechero que
lucha por mantener la moral de su
familia durante la Rusia zarista,
viene al Tucson Musical Hall,
260 S. Church Ave.
Los asientos de admisión gen-
eral empiezan a vender por $27,
y hay un límite de ocho entradas
por hogar. Los boletos se pueden
comprar en las taquillas del
Tucson Convention Center, por
internet en
www.ticketmaster.com, o llaman-
do al 800-745-3000.
11 de marzo
Ficción contem-
poránea mexicana
Lo mejor de la Ficción contem-
poránea mexicana es una colec-
ción de historias que aparecen
por primera vez en inglés, con
16 destacados escritores mexi-
canos nacidos después de 1945.
La serie por University of
Arizona Prose presenta una lec-
tura co-patrocinada por el
Consulado de México en Tucsón
y las librerías de la misma uni-
versidad. El editor Álvaro Uribe,
y tres de los autores asistirán.
La entrada es gratuita y el even-
to empieza a las 8 p.m. en el
Poetry Center de la universidad,
1508 E. Santa Elena. Para más
información visite www.poet-
rycenter.arizona.edu o llame al
626-3765.
EL
INDEPENDIENTE
Free/gratis
South Tucson Opposes New Walgreens Liquor License
By Nathan Mitchell
South Tucson’s packed city hall
broke into cheers when the city
council voted unanimously to
oppose Walgreens’ liquor license.
The license will go before the
state liquor board in either April or
May, said Peter Schelstraete, Wal-
greens’ lawyer. In the past, licenses
have been approved despite the
council voting against them, South
Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom
said.
“The best we can do is forward
our recommendation,” she said.
The Class 10 license would
allow the store—located at 1900 S.
Sixth Ave.—to sell beer and wine
to go. It must receive final
approval from the Arizona
Department of Liquor Licenses
and Control.
Twenty-six John Valenzuela
Youth 2 Youth (Y2Y) members—
between the ages of 12 and 18—
interrupted a presentation on a city
workers’ health plan at the Tucson
City Hall meeting on Feb. 22, shift-
ing the council’s attention and
making their objective clear: pre-
vent an area Walgreens from get-
ting a liquor license.
The kids in sneakers, back-
packs and hooded sweatshirts
filled the remaining seats and
lined the walls. When the
Students at Sierra Middle School twirl during an after-school folklorico dance program.
Obesity Rates Rise, SUSD
Middle Schools Fight Back
By Shelby Hill
Seven middle school girls step,
kick and spin to pop songs like
“Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry. Their
teacher wears a black shirt that
says “Step Up” on the front and
“Rock That Body” on the back.
She calls out, “1, 2, 3 and 1, 2, 3,
keep breathing.”
Aside from the fact that the girls
are wearing their school uniforms
and that the class is taking place in
the school’s hallway, it could very
well be a step aerobics class at an
expensive gym.
This after-school program at
Sierra Middle School is part of a
combined effort by Sunnyside
Unified School District, the
University of Arizona and the
Triangle Y Ranch Camp to
increase physical activity in mid-
dle schools to fight rising child-
From left, Elisa Schwartz, Ricardo Tovar and Inez Garcia protest Walgreens' application for a liquor license with signs.
Walgreens discussion began, they
raised their protest signs with
phrases like “Progress Not Profit,”
and “Alcohol Will Ruin Our
Community.”
Photo by
hood obesity rates.
“We just wanted the kids to be
active,” says Jesse Espinosa, who
runs a before-school program at
Sierra, 5801 S. Del Moral Blvd.,
where kids can skateboard, moun-
tain bike and play indoor hockey,
among other activities.
Skateboards, pads, helmets,
indoor hockey gear and other
sporting equipment are provided
by a $1.9 million U.S. Department
of Education grant, which was
awarded to the district in June
2008. The grant runs for three
years and is now at the halfway
mark.
The equipment circulates
through the SUSD middle schools
and returns to the Triangle Y for
summer camp, says Jennifer
Reeves, an associate research
‘Obesity’/see page 6
1976 ~ 34 Years of Service ~ 2010
www.elindenews.com
Residents who opposed the
license filed to the lectern to voice
their concerns in English and
Spanish. One Y2Y member shared
a story about his mother locking his
Sunnyside Remains King of Wrestling
By Brett Booen
Sometimes high school athletic
programs can string together four
or five championships in a row and
people start calling them dynasties.
But sometimes programs be-
come so dominant that the associa-
tion shifts from a momentary snap-
shot of success to possibly being
one of the greatest to ever compete
otto Ross in Arizona.
The Sunnyside High School
wrestling program reaffirmed its
place among the best in history on
Feb. 20 with a 35-24 win over
Ironwood Ridge in the 5A-II state
wrestling championship at Tempe
High School. It was the 13th con-
secutive state championship and
the 28th overall for the storied
wrestling program.
The Blue Devils have seized
just about every Arizona high
school wrestling record imaginable
in nearly four decades of domi-
nance.
The last time Sunnyside did not
win a state title was in 1997 when
it lost to Tempe’s Marcos de Niza
High School by 6.5 points. Since
that loss, however, the Blue Devils
have rattled off a record 13 titles in
E
ID
INS
March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010
Photo couRtesy oF oscaR cesena
intoxicated “Tío” out of the house.
Others accused Walgreens of prey-
ing on the weaknesses of residents
who struggle with alcohol and drug
abuse.
a row.
There is no saying what that
number could rise to in the coming
years with the elite talent that pours
into the school year after year.
“If people wanted to pick on us,
this was going to be the year to do
it,” said Sunnyside wrestling coach
Bobby DeBerry. “Because down
the road in the future, things look
pretty darn good.”
After trailing top-seeded
Ironwood Ridge 15-4 early in the
title match this year, No. 2
Sunnyside needed wins in six of
the final seven matches to keep the
championship streak alive.
Sunnyside got the crucial wins
it needed down the stretch and
eventually won by 11 points, the
closest margin of victory in the title
match in over 10 years.
Sunnyside showed some serious
mettle when it mattered most. This
was supposed to be the year that
the championship streak ended for
the Blue Devils. Wrestling critics
across Southern Arizona cited
youth and inexperience as reasons
the chain of titles would break.
So how was it that youthful
Sunnyside prevailed in such a
high-pressure situation?
Tucson home-
less count
rises by 16
percent.
...see page 2
“I don’t want to be like all the
other teenagers…most of them
party,” said Brianna Fransisco,
15. “I want to make something out
of myself.”
Each speech opposing the
license ended with applause.
“We can overcome the greedy
corporate people [from Walg-
reens] that want to poison the peo-
ple with alcohol,” said Brian Flagg
of Casa Maria, throwing his hands
up to the crowd.
The decision to oppose the
license comes after weeks of public
debate. In the first of the meetings,
a petition with 20 names was sub-
mitted to the council. Two weeks
later the number of signatures had
grown to 781, nearly 14 percent of
the City of South Tucson. There
were also three letters in opposition
and two local supporters of the
license.
Those opposed said they were
concerned about increased crimi-
nal activity. City Manager
Enrique G. Serna submitted a
packet to the council that includ-
ed a police report citing 405 calls
made to the location from Feb. 1,
2009 to Feb 1, 2010.
More than 140 arrests were
made. His opposition reflects the
city’s efforts to clean up the com-
‘Walgreens’/see page 6
Photo by Kaite Flynn
Kory DeBerry charges at a team mate
during Sunnyside High School wrestling
practice.
“It’s perseverance,” DeBerry
said. “We’re in a community
where, at times, things can be very
difficult. Some of the kids come
from families where every day can
be a struggle.
“But the kids are able to take the
tough way that they have to live on
a day-to-day basis and transfer it
into a positive and use that to moti-
vate themselves to do well,” he
said.
‘Wrestling’/see page 6
TRD Saddle-
tramps trounce
Canada.
...see page 4
Page / Página 2 El INDEPENDIENTE March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010

Tucson’s Homeless Increase by 16 Percent

By Jessica Befort
A few months ago Hubert Russell
was gainfully employed at a local
plastics company. Today, he sits in
the February sun outside the Prima-
vera Foundation, a place where
homeless people can collect phone
messages, their mail and medicine –
things they don’t have access to on
the street. He now spends his nights
at a Salvation Army shelter.
“It’s better than being outside,”
he says quietly.
Hubert was one of 1,561 home-
less people counted in late January
during the 2010 Homeless Street
Count, a 16 percent increase from
last year, according to Sylvia
Cuestas and Laurie Mazerbo, co-
chairs of the count.
“We’re seeing a lot more newly-
homeless folks on the street,”
Mazerbo said. “Those are the folks
that were on the fringes and…when
the economy really plunged, they
were the folks that lost their jobs
and lost their housing.”
The street count, sponsored by
the Tucson Planning Council for
the Homeless, occurs once a year.
This year’s event was held at
6:30 p.m. instead of 5 a.m. in order
to recruit more volunteers and
count more homeless people who
hide when they sleep, Mazerbo
said.
With so many people living on
Tucson’s streets, and the numbers
increasing all the time, the ability
of local agencies to accommodate
their needs is challenged.
Men mingle outside Casa Maria, a place where people in need can receive free meals and other services.
Demand for the services of the
Community Food Bank has inc-
reased 54 percent from last fiscal
year, said Jean Fox, their agency
relations manager.
The majority of the food bank’s
clients are new, Fox said, an obser-
vation that mirrors Mazerbo’s. These
first-timers include middle-aged sin-
gle people, seniors and families.
Last fiscal year, the Community
Food Bank handed out six million
pounds of food, Fox said. If
demand continues at its current
rate, she said, the food bank will
provide almost 30 million pounds
this year.
Youth On Their Own, a local
organization that helps homeless,
unaccompanied youth complete
their high school diploma, is expe-
riencing similar issues, said Heidi
Photo by Kaite Flynn
Reynolds-Stenson, volunteer and
development coordinator.
Seven months into the school
year, the organization has had 521
homeless youth apply to its pro-
grams, up from 456 at the same
time one year earlier.
But as the number has
increased, funding has dropped.
In past years, the organization
received a $50,000 grant from
Pima County, Reynolds-Stenson
said, to give homeless youth up to
$125 per month depending on their
school grades and attendance.
This year, the $50,000 didn’t
come through.
The Primavera Foundation,
which also provides rental assis-
tance, emergency shelters and
employment assistance, also faces
similar funding cuts and increases
in demand.
Three years ago, their men’s
shelter would be empty in the
summer, said Renee Bibby, mar-
keting coordinator. But not any-
more. The men’s and family emer-
gency shelters have had 15 to 30
people on a wait list for the past 18
months.
Despite the increased demand
for their services, Primavera faces a
possible $200,000 cut in funding
from the city, Bibby said.
“It’s like they’re saying, ‘Here’s
less money, but serve more peo-
ple,’” she said.
Meanwhile, people like Russell
sit quietly outside Primavera, his
answers two or three words.
Periodically he glances toward the
street as a car goes by.
“There’s good days and bad
days,” he says of being homeless.
He’ll stay in Tucson for a little
longer, to wait and see if things
improve. He has a job interview
this afternoon.
If things don’t get better, he’s
leaving, headed back to Texas
where he’s originally from. Things
just might be better there.

EL Aquí no hay problemas fiscales

INDEPENDIENTE Escrito por Steve Ivanovics
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez

Los impuestos pueden ser frus-

trantes, sin embargo, ahora que se
posible cuyos ingresos sean
menores de $50,000 dólares”.
Arreola dijo que durante la tem-
porada de impuestos pasada, VITA
ayudó cerca de 6.000 personas en el
Información
complementaria
• El Pueblo Activity Center:
acerca la fecha límite de abril, un condado de Pima, y que desde prin- miércoles 3:30-6:30 p.m.
South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper programa local está ofreciendo a cipios de este febrero ha ayudado viernes y sábado 9:30
El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves the las familias trabajadoras preparar alrededor de unas 1,600 personas. a.m.-12:30 p.m.
right to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length.
sus impuestos de manera gratuita. De acuerdo con Arreola, • Quincie Douglas Library
El United Way of Tucson’s muchas de las personas a las que martes, jueves, y sábado 
www.elindenews.com Volunteer Income Tax Assistance VITA ayuda no tienen conocimien- 12:30-3:30 p.m.
UA Journalism  (VITA por sus siglas en inglés) tos de computación o acceso regu- • Para ver el horario com-
P.O. Box 210158B ayuda a los residentes del condado lar a una computadora. pleto de VITA o infor-
Tucson, AZ 85721 de Pima cuyos ingresos sean de Uno de los mayores retos de marse acerca de cómo
Phone: 621-3618 bajos a moderados a recibir el VITA es el conseguir suficientes
elindy.ua@gmail.com
ser un voluntario, visite
máximo reembolso de impuestos voluntarios para ayudar a todos en www.unitedwaytucson.or
federales. la comunidad. g/Income/finacialstabilty
Adviser El Internal Revenue Service “Es un servicio de todos para
Maggy Zang er /VITA
(IRS por sus siglas en inglés) todos”, dijo Arreola. “La mayor
comenzó el programa en la década frustración que encuentro es no
Graphics and Layout Adviser de 1970, pero el United Way se hizo poder ayudar a toda la gente ya que de Tucsón a estar en una situación
John deDios
cargo en el 2003. El United Way y el no contamos con suficientes volun- financiera más estable, reflejando
IRS siguen trabajando en conjunto tarios”. así el objetivo de United Way de
para entrenar y certificar a voluntar- Arreola dijo también que es construir una comunidad más
Managing Editor ios. todo un desafío conseguir socios fuerte.
Victoria Blute Copy Editors “Nuestros voluntarios ayudan a comunitarios que estén dispuestos Las ubicaciones actuales de
Anthony Hasan las personas y a familias que nece- a ayudar y ofrecer un sitio/un VITA en el sur de Tucsón incluyen:
News Editor Brett Booen sitan cada centavo”, dijo Cheyenne lugar. Pueblo Activity Center, ubicado en
Shelby Hill Heather Rissi Arreola, gerente del proyecto de Aunque el programa tiene 101 W. Irvington Rd., y el Qunicie
Zach Simon VITA. “Queremos llegar a tantas algunos obstáculos que superar, Douglas Branch Library, en 1585
Spanish Editor Jeff Feld personas y familias como nos sea éste ha ayudado a miles de personas E. 36th St.
Nohemi Ramirez
Photographers
Design Chief
Amy Kissinger
Otto Ross
Tammara Crawford Peña Blanca Lake Reopens for Public Use
Photo Editor Designers By Josh T. Saunders soil and the winter storms have
Kaite Flynn Marissa Hopkins
Fast Facts since refilled it to the brim.
Natalie Boras Peña Blanca Lake has come back Outdoorsmen and families can
Community Events Editor to life, and all it took were some • Located 68 miles south of find themselves on the shores of
Erica Nannini Reporters winter desert storms. Tucson this revived Southern Arizona
Nathan Mitchell Thanks to more than four inches • 15-unit campground, treasure an hour’s drive from
News Room Manager of rain in Southern Arizona this group-use area, picnic Tucson.
Ashley Ralston-Alvarez Translators year, Peña Blanca Lake is full again sites The 50-acre lake was recently
Angélica Pozo-DesPortes and reopened to the public. • Open year round stocked with rainbow trout, and the
Copy Chief Dina Tyrrell Created in 1957, Peña Blanca • Arizona fishing license Arizona Game and Fish Department
Jessica Befort Lizette M. Pérez Lake was a hotspot for fishing, required for anglers has plans to add other species as
boating and camping. Northwest well. Fishing is open to any angler
Web Manager Translation and Interpretation  of Nogales at an altitude of 4,000 Visit Elindenews.com for a with an Arizona fishing license.
Josh Saunders Department feet, the lake was a cooler oasis for map and more information. Currently, boats that can be car-
of Spanish and Portuguese Tucsonans seeking refuge from the ried by hand to the water can use
Distribution Manager and Mexican American Studies valley heat. mercury which had leached in from the lake. There are plans to build a
Steve Ivanovics But the lake was drained in surrounding mines. Once empty, new dock and boat ramp in April to
September 2008 to filter out deadly the lakebed was lined with clean allow the use of motorized boats.
March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010 El INDEPENDIENTE Page / Página 3

Nuestras Raíces trae la cultura

méxico-americana al Festival
Escrito por Heather Rissi
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Nuestras Raíces, el programa de la
Biblioteca Pública de Tucson que
celebra la cultura méxico-ameri-
cana, se une al Festival de Libros
de Tucson.
Antes, la biblioteca sólo tenía
un festival para Nuestras Raíces
(Our Roots) en marzo de cada
año, dice Adriana Rendon, la bib-
liotecaria y la co-presidenta de
Nuestras Raíces. Este año, la bib-
lioteca unió esfuerzos con otros
Photo couRtesy oF oscaR cesena grupos para mostrar diferentes
Angel Gonzalez, izquierda, con Youth 2 Youth, protesta la aplicación para la licencia de liquor en Walgreens del Sur de Tucsón. aspectos de la cultura méxico-
monólogos escritos y actuados por
estudiantes, dijo Curtis Acosta, un
maestro de Tucson High y líder del
grupo.
Los estudiantes desarrollaron la
actuación buscando y entrevistan-
do a gente de la comunidad, él
dijo.
Ellos actuarán monólogos acer-
ca de un educador sordo, un
migrante mexicano, y una mujer
musulmana, entre otros. Unos
cuantos monólogos serán en
español, pero la mayoría son en
inglés.
El programa es muy importante
porque fue hecho “auténtica-

Residentes del Sur de Tucsón

americana, como la música, el mente”, dijo Acosta, y porque los
lenguaje y las artes durante el estudiantes y la comunidad traba-
Festival del Libros de la jaron duro para dar vida a los per-

se oponen a licencia de licor Universidad de Arizona, el 13 y

Por Nathan Mitchell
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Niños en tennis, mochilas y suda-
deras con gorros caminan por los
pasillos de la entrada al City Hall,
llenando los asientos que quedan y
alineándose en las paredes del
cuarto.
El 22 de febrero, 26 miembros
de John Valenzuela Youth 2 Youth
(Y2Y) interrumpieron una junta
de la presentación del plan del
cuidado de la salud de los traba-
jadores de la ciudad en el Tucson
City Hall, llamando la atención
del consejo, poniendo en claro el
objetivo de esa tarde.
Cuando la discusión acerca de
Walgreens comenzó, los jóvenes
miembros alzaron sus pancartas de
protesta, las cuales tenían frases
como, “Progreso no utilidades”, y
“El alcohol arruinará nuestra
comunidad”.
Los miembros de Y2Y se pre-
sentaron para oponerse a la
aprobación de la nueva licencia de
licor para Walgreens de la 1900 S.
Sixth Ave.
Los residentes del Sur de
Tucsón también estuvieron pre-
sentes para oponerse a la licencia.
Subieron al atril para expresar sus
preocupaciones en inglés y en
español.
Un miembro de Y2Y compartió
la historia de su madre que tuvo
que encerrarse en su propia casa
dejando a su tío afuera por borra-
cho. Otros acusaron a Walgreens
por explotar las debilidades de los
residentes que luchan contra el
alcohol y el abuso de drogas.
“No quiero ser como los demás
adolescentes. . . la mayoría de
ellos fiestean”, dijo la quinceañera
Brianna Fransisco. “Quiero ser
alguien en la vida”.
Cada discurso que se oponía a
la licencia terminaba con aplau-
sos.
“Podemos vencer al corporati-
vo codicioso (de Walgreens) que
qui-ere envenenar a la gente con
alcohol”, dijo Brian Flagg de Casa
Ma-ria, lanzando sus brazos hacia
la muchedumbre.
Los que estaban presentes irru-
mpieron en ovaciones más tarde
cuando el consejo de la ciudad
voto unánimemente oponiéndose a
la licencia de licor de Walgreens.
La decisión de oponerse a la
licencia emana de varias semanas
de debate público. En las primeras
reuniones, una petición con 20
nombres fue entregada al consejo.
Dos semanas más tarde el número
de firmas había crecido a 781, más
de 14 por ciento de la ciudad.
Los oponentes dijeron que el
incremento en actividades crimi-
nales era la preocupación mayor.
El administrador de la ciudad del
Sur de Tucsón Enrique G. Serna
presentó un paquete al consejo que
incluía un informe policial, el cual
citaba 405 llamadas hechas a esa
localidad desde el 1 de feb. 2009
hasta el 1 de feb. 2010.
Más de 140 arrestos fueron
hechos. Su oposición reflejaba los
esfuerzos de la ciudad de limpiar
la comunidad, la cual lucha contra
el abuso de alcohol y drogas.
“Es una bofetada en la cara”,
dijo Serna de la decisión de
Walgreens de ignorar la situación
de la comunidad y solicitar la licen-
cia.
En su paquete, Serna señaló
que los arrestos hechos en
Walgreens le costó $20.000 a la
ciudad al año, por cárcel y pagos
de procesamientos, a la ciudad. El
número de llamadas, y por ende,
los gastos de la ciudad, incremen-
tarían si la licencia fuese aproba-
da, él escribió.
La licencia de licor, es una de
unas 160 que Walgreens ha recien-
temente solicitado en Arizona. Es
un esfuerzo que la compañía está
haciendo para mantenerse compet-
itiva en una economía débil, dijo
Schelstraete.
Si se aprueba, la tienda planea
evitar lo que el abogado de
Walgreens Peter Schelstraete llama
“bebidas altas en octanaje” lo que
significa bebidas que son bajas en
precio y altas en contenido alco-
hólico.
“Lo que es bueno para la comu-
nidad es bueno para Walgreens”,
dijo Schelstraete.
Sin embargo, la alcalde del Sur
de Tucsón Jennifer Eckstrom no
está convencida.
La decisión de la cabeza del
corporativo Walgreens de añadir
otro local de alcohol en el Sur de
Tucsón no concuerda con la comu-
nidad, ella dijo.
“¿Cómo alguien que se encuen-
tra en Illinois puede saber cuáles
son los mejores intereses para la
comunidad?”, pregunta ella, refir-
iéndose a la sede del corporativo
Walgreens.
Además, Eckstrom dijo que las
licencias han sido aprobadas en el
pasado a pesar de que el consejo
votara en su contra.
La licencia Clase 10, la cual le
permitirá a la tienda vender
cerveza y alcohol para llevar,
deberá recibir aprobación final del
Departamento de Control y
Licencias de Licor de Arizona.
La licencia se presentará ante la
junta del estado en abril o en
mayo, dijo Schelstraete.
14 de marzo.
La meta al combinar los dos
programas con el Festival del
Libros es alcanzar una audiencia
mayor, dijo Rendon, así como tam-
bién hacer el festival del libro más
accesible a la comunidad méxico-
americana.
“El festival fue un gran éxito el
año pasado”, dijo Rendon. “Más de
50,000 personas asistieron. Por eso
es bueno compartir en lo que esta-
mos trabajando y formar una
sociedad”.
Nuestras Raíces era común-
mente un sólo evento en la primav-
era, pero este año habrá varios
eventos a lo largo del año. De
cualquier modo, el Festival del
Libros proveerá las bases para el
programa, dijo Rendon.
La biblioteca participó en el fes-
tival el año pasado, dijo ella, y pre-
sentó una conversación con el autor
Luis Alberto Urrea, el cual es cono-
cido por escribir “The Devil’s
Highway”, y otros libros. Más de
400 personas asistieron.
“La gente tenía un gran interés
de verle y conocerle”, ella dijo.
“Algunos esperaron por horas por
una oportunidad de hablar con él
después del evento”.
Este año, los asistentes al festi-
val podrán escuchar a Urrea de
nuevo y preguntarle todas esas
“preguntas ansiosas” acerca de su
vida en una sesión de preguntas y
respuestas, ella dijo.
La gente también podrá disfru-
tar de una actuación teatral presen-
tada por estudiantes y graduados
del programa de los Estudios
México-Americanos de Tucson
High School.
El teatro de Tierra Birthmarks
presentará como una docena de
sonajes en los monólogos.
Otro evento del festival es la
competencia de mariachi juvenil.
“El año pasado fue estructurado
como American Idol”, dijo
Rendon. “Fue muy emocionante
para las familias y la comunidad
ver el talento de los jóvenes en sus
entornos”.
También habrá un panel de
autores para discutir la identidad
méxico-americana con Gustavo
Arellano, el cual escribe la contro-
vertida columna sindicada “Ask a
Mexican” (Pregúntele a un mexi-
cano), y con Rosa Castillo
Guilbault, escritora de la autobi-
ografía “Farmworker’s Daughter:
Growing Up Mexican in
America”.
Rendon dijo que la meta princi-
pal de los eventos de Nuestras
Raíces en el Festival del Libros no
es sólo el alcanzar a la comunidad
méxico-americana, pero también
construir comunión al celebrar la
rica historia artística de la cultura
con todos los tucsonenses.
Guilbault dice que espera ver
gente joven en el festival, los
cuales quieran aprender más acerca
de su cultura, y también escritores
que quieran aprender más acerca de
su arte.
También señaló que la gente a
veces tiene los mismos “fundamen-
tos básicos”, sin importar la
nacionalidad o etnicidad, lo que
hace fácil relacionarse con otros.
“Hay una universalidad en
todas nuestras historias”, dijo
Guibault.
“La universalidad ayuda a la
sociedad”, dijo ella. “Ayuda al
mundo, porque podemos ver a
todos y ver sus similitudes y decir,
‘Hey, no somos tan diferentes’”.

Bull Riding at the Rodeo

Peña Blanca abre de nuevo para todos
Escrito por Josh Saunders T.
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez
El lago Peña Blanca ha vuelto a la vida y solo requirió
que el desierto tuviera sus lluvias invernales.
El lago una vez más está lleno de agua y abierto al
público, gracias a las cuatro pulgadas de lluvia reg-
istradas este año en el sur de Arizona.
Dicho lago creado en 1957 era el lugar favorito
para ir de pesca, dar un paseo en barca y acampar.
Ubicado justo al noroeste de Nogales y a una alti-
tud de 4.000 pies, el lago era un refrescante oasis para
los ciudadanos de Tucsón que buscaban salir del
calor.
Sin embargo, el lago fue drenado en septiembre del
2008 a causa del tóxico mercurio, proveniente de las
minas cercanas, que se había filtrado.
Una vez vacío, el lecho del lago se recubrió con
tierra limpia y ahora las tormentas invernales lo han
vuelto a llenar hasta el borde.
Una vez más, las familias y personas que gustan del
aire libre, pueden volver a disfrutar en las costas de
este tesoro del sur de Ariz-ona, que ha vuelto a nacer y
que en auto está a solo una hora de Tucsón.
TheArizona Game and Fish Department ha abaste-
Peña Blanca
• Ubicado a 68 kilómetros al sur de
Tucsón
• Áreas para: acampar para 15 unidades,
grupos,  y días de campo
• Abierto todo el año
• Licencia de pesca de AZ necesaria para
pescadores
Para un mapa y mayor información visite
Elindenews.com
cido el lago de 50 acres con trucha arco iris y tiene
planes de añadir otras especies. Cualquier pescador Photo by Kaite Flynn
con una licencia de pesca del estado de Arizona puede Steve Woolsey falls to the ground after being thrown from a
ir a pescar.
bull at the Tucson Rodeo. The rodeo was held from Feb. 20
Por el momento, los barcos que se pueden llevar al
through Feb. 28.
lago manualmente tienen permitida la entrada.
Sin embargo, los barcos motorizados no podrán To see more photos from the Tucson Rodeo and the Rodeo
entrar hasta que se construya un nuevo muelle y una Parade visit elindenews.com.
rampa, lo cual está planeado para el mes de abril.
Page / Página 4
Saddletramps Skate to Local Stardom
By Erica Nannini
Eye-gouging and hair-pulling are
no-nos.
Light jabbing, pushing and
diving into opponents, however,
are completely legal in the Tucson
Roller Derby women’s league.
In the first international show-
down at the Tucson Indoor Sports
Center, Montreal’s New Skids on
the Block came skating in with
toy noses, lime green T-shirts and
the hunger for a win over the
Tucson Roller Derby
Saddletramps.
But the hell-raisin’ home team,
donned in black uniforms, was
not prepared to be overthrown by
their Canadian counterparts.
A referee starts the bout, or
match-up, with the blow of a
whistle.
Roller derby hit the main-
stream about 10 years ago. The
Women’s Flat Track Derby
Association governs the rules of
the sport, ensuring that the play
doesn’t get too scrappy. Women
with names like Helen Wheels
and Nokka Ho Down wear hel-
mets, knee pads and elbow pads,
as they glide on old-school four-
wheelers to try to out-skate and
out-muscle one another around
the makeshift track.
Each player on the track helps
the team score points. The jam-
mer, singled out by the star on her
helmet, tries to break away from
the circling pack of girls to lap
them and score points. Three
blockers pave the way for the
jammer, and at the same time do
whatever it takes to prevent the
other team’s jammer from scor-
ing. Girl number five is the pivot,
who skates near the front of the
pack to keep pace and provide the
last line of defense against the
opposing jammer. Each bout is
60 minutes and consists of an
unlimited number of two-minute
jams.
“You have to want to block and
get hit and get hurt,” says stay-at-
home mom Elia Chap, who was
drafted by the Copper Queens in
January. Her derby name has not
yet been approved by the league,
but she is crossing her fingers for
Mad Dawg 22.
Chap says she has only suf-
fered bruises and minor injuries,
but she has seen everything from
torn ligaments to ribs popped out
of place. Broken skates are a rou-
tine part of the game, she says.
Even girls who are reluctant to
unleash their inner Mike Tyson
can be transformed by the spirit of
the game.
Bri Date, or Bea N. Hayve as
she is known to her teammates
since she began competing with
the TRD last October, says roller
derby brings out her fierce side.
As the head of production for this
bout, she stands out in a neon
Halted Project Finds Friends in Non Profit
By Amy Kissinger
A non-profit organization is rising
to the challenge of completing the
San Agustín Mission Gardens, a
project that was halted due to a
lack of funds.
The gardens, located along the
west bank of the Santa Cruz
River, were started in early 2000
as part of Tucson’s Rio Nuevo
project.
However, the city manager put
a hold on the project last May,
said Peg Weber of Tucson Parks
and Recreation.
Now the Friends of Tucson’s
Birthplace, a non-profit organiza-
tion, is working with the city to
Top: Kamanda and Poly Graf flank Georgia W. Tush during the match. Bottom: Polly Graf comes up behind another player.
Catch the Saddletramps in
their next throwdown!
Who: TRD Saddletramps vs.
Gotham Girls’ Wall Street Traitors
When: Starts 7 p.m. Saturday,
March 20  who don’t have computer skills or
Where: TISC (formerly
Bladeworld), 1065 W. Grant
Road  teers to help everyone in the com-
Tickets: $10 at the door or $7 in
advance at Bookmans or
www.tucsonrollerderby.com.  “The biggest heartbreak I
spandex tummy-baring suit and
cowboy hat.
“The part that’s least like me is
the whole hitting thing,” says
Date. “It requires you to step up
and let loose.”
Part of the trick is getting into
character on the track. Date rec-
ommends letting your alter ego
take over, just as she allows Bea
N. Hayve to forget the rules of eti-
quette.
The audience of nearly 1,200
folks (which puts the center at
capacity) is transformed as well.
From the back of the crowd, an
older woman with a Bud Light in
hand shouts,
“I came here to see some girls
get their asses kicked!”
In a different corner, a group of
college-age boys chant “U.S.A.”
at the top of their lungs as a man
in a leather vest starts up the
wave. A huddle of girl scouts
ranging from ages 5 to 9 take a
break from their cookie-selling
duties to watch the action behind
a line of “caution” tape.
raise funding and donations to
jump-start the construction, said
Bill DuPont, a member of the
organization.
The first step the group took
was to apply for non-profit status,
which they received, DuPont said.
Since then, the organization
has solicited donations from about
47 people and organizations,
including donated security fenc-
ing — valued at $12,000 — from
Lloyd Construction, the company
contracted to build the gardens,
DuPont said.
The group is “trying to make
sure this doesn’t die,” he said.
“There’s a lot of history there
that we’re trying to resurrect,” he
El INDEPENDIENTE
One of the girls from troop
1616, Kailee Emmett, 9, says that
she loves seeing the girls skate
and get beat up.
“I wanna do that when I get
older!” she says as her fellow
scouts nod in agreement.
Indeed, Date considers the
sport to be a healthy bonding
activity for girls of any age (the
typical range is 18 to mid-40s).
“It’s probably the strongest
group of women that I’ve found in
Tucson,” she says.
“It really takes over your life
in a great way.”
Chap says that the fun and
stress-relief is worth the commute
that she makes from her home in
Sonoita to practices at Catalina
High School, which are held three
times a week or more.
She brings her 6-year-old
daughter to bouts and gets her
excited about putting on mom’s
skates one day.
On a recent Friday night, the
place is filled with many young
girls chomping at the bit for their
said.
The site has been host to “cul-
ture upon culture upon culture”
and is something unique to
Tucson, DuPont said.
When completed, the garden
will have representations of agri-
culture from throughout Tucson’s
history, including a Spanish colo-
nial-era garden.
Visit El Independiente
online at:
www.elindenews.com
Photo by otto Ross
chance at roller derby stardom—it
is as if a new breed of Hellbent
Bettys and Bianka Trohls have
materialized before the final
whistle is blown. At the end of
the match, the Saddletramps are
stretching together and basking in
their 117 to 108 victory over
Montreal. Several young girls
gather around #29 blocker Venus
Dynamite, asking for autographs.
The tight-knit team, which is now
comfortably seated at 2-0 in the
league, is a group of celebrities in
the eyes of the diverse and rowdy
crowd at TISC.
To those who would encourage
the next generation of girls to take
up a more traditionally “civilized”
hobby,
Date points to football, which
is a socially-accepted, predomi-
nantly male sport. She says that
roller derby requires the same
amount of tackling and intensity.
“Except we wear less
padding,” she says.
“Oh yeah, and we’re on
skates!”
March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010
United Way
Offers Free
Tax Service
By Steve Ivanovics
Taxes can be daunting, but a local
program is offering free tax prepa-
ration to working families as the
April deadline approaches.
The United Way of Tucson’s
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) helps Pima County resi-
dents of low to moderate income
receive the maximum in federal tax
refunds.
The program was started by the
Internal Revenue Service in the
1970s, but United Way took over
the program in 2003. United Way
still partners with the IRS to train
and certify volunteers.
“Our volunteers help people
and families that need every
dime,” said Cheyenne Arreola,
project manager of VITA. “We
want to reach as many people and
families as possible earning under
$50,000.”
Arreola said VITA helped
close to 6,000 people in Pima
County during last year’s tax sea-
son and has helped around 1,600
people since the beginning of
February.
According to Arreola, many of
the people VITA helps are those
regular access to a computer.
One of VITA’s biggest chal-
lenges is getting enough volun-
munity.
“It’s a service for everybody
from everybody,” Arreola said.
encounter is turning away people
because we don’t have enough
volunteers.”
Arreola said it’s also a chal-
lenge to get community partners
to step up and host a site.
Though the program has a few
obstacles to overcome, it has
helped thousands of Tucsonans
become more financially stable,
which echoes the United Way’s
goal of building a stronger com-
munity.
2010 VITA locations
El Pueblo Activity Center:
Wednesday 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Quincie Douglas branch library:
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
12:30-3:30 p.m.
For more information and
locations visit: 
www.unitedwaytucson.org/
income/financial-stability/VITA
Photo couRtesy oF city oF tucson
March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010
Native American Band Rocks Antonio’s
Alfonso Thomas plays the violin for the band Gertie And The T.O. Boys at Antonio's.
Hidden Treasure: the
Rocky Trail Through
Tucson Mountain Park
By Tammy Crawford
With spring rapidly approaching,
many Tucsonans may want to get
out into the fresh, warm air. The
Lorraine Lee Hidden Canyon Trail
is the perfect place to get some
exercise and connect with nature
on a path recently renamed for a
Tucson activist.
Tucked away in the Tucson
Mountain Park, the trail is located
behind the JW Marriott Starr Pass
Resort and Spa at 3800 W. Starr
Pass Blvd. Visitors simply pull up
behind the resort and park their
cars on the side of the road to
access the beginning of the trail.
The trail, originally named
Hidden Canyon Trail, was renamed
in 2009 for Lorraine Lee, a woman
who devoted much of her time and
her life to helping the Latino com-
munity in Tucson and Southern
Arizona. She died in 2007, and two
years later the Pima County Board
of Supervisors renamed the trail for
her.
Mark Flint of Southwest Trail
Solutions is the trail’s designer and
construction supervisor. He did
not know Lee personally; he only
knows what he’s read about her.
A passionate activist, Lee was
once the vice president of
Chicanos por la Causa, a nonprofit
and minority-run community
development corporation. She was
also a past affiliate chair for the
National Council of La Raza.
“The trail is really good for
people emotionally, spiritually and
physically,” said Flint.
The first few steps of the trail
pass by saguaros, ocotillos and
other prickly desert plants. Soon,
the resort fades away from view.
The roar of cars and the chatter
of people transforms into the chirp-
ing of birds and the rustling of
trees. The city disappears and the
desert’s beauty is all that remains.
Photo by tammy cRawFoRd
Photo by tammy cRawFoRd
The Hidden Canyon Trail was renamed in
2009 for Lorraine Lee, a local activist for
the Latino community.
The trail is approximately 1.5
miles long, according to Flint, but
he says that the loop back to the
main road is about another half
mile along Bowen Trail.
Along the trail, small plaques
inform hikers about the native
plants and wildlife.
Tucson Mountain Park is a
20,000-acre preserve home to bob-
cats, roadrunners, lizards and hun-
dred-year-old saguaro cacti.
After about 10 minutes of hik-
ing, the rocky, narrow trail starts to
incline.
“The trail requires a little bit of
fitness and agility,” said Flint. He
recommends a walking stick for
the nearly 400 foot ascent.
The trail can be strenuous for
inexperienced hikers but “rewards
you with really good views,” said
Flint, in reference to the Tortolita
Mountains that can be seen tower-
ing in the distance.
The trail also offers sights of
the city that cannot be seen from
busy streets.
“To be named for a trail like
that is quite an honor,” he said. “It
is a very special trail.”
El INDEPENDIENTE
By Tony Hasan
Just before midnight on Saturday,
South Fourth Avenue is quiet. The
snowbirds and locals who pack
the city’s most legendary Mex-
ican restaurants have long since
left the heart of South Tucson.
The piercing shriek of an
accordion breaks the silence. From
nearly a block away the bass holds
the beat. 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4; the drums
are right on cue. A smooth guitar
and rapid violin top off the sound.
Antonio’s, 2231 S. Fourth Ave.,
is very much alive, and should
have a sign that reads “locals
only.” The last standing bar in the
city of South Tucson is also the
nation’s home to Waila music.
The music and the people pour
out of the small bar on the corner
of Fourth Avenue and 33rd Street
where Gertie and the Tohono
O’odham (T.O.) Boys are playing
at full blast. The only noises over
the music are the yelps and whis-
tles of those standing around the
circle of dancers. It started with
two or three, but now about 15
people dance the “chicken
scratch” packed tightly together in
the tiny bar.
Gertie Lopez heads the five-
member band of Tohono O’od-
ham. Lopez - standing just over 5
feet tall - and the T.O. Boys play
on cracked and fading tile facing
the bar. Their stage is an area
Nuestras Raíces to Explore
Mexican Culture at Festival
By Heather Rissi
Nuestras Raíces, the Pima County
Public Library program that cele-
brates Mexican-American culture,
is joining the Tucson Festival of
Books this year.
Historically, the library has held
a single festival for Nuestras Raíces
(Our Roots) every year in March,
says Adriana Rendon, a librarian
and the co-chair for Nuestras
Raíces.
This year, the library joined
forces with other groups to show-
case different aspects of Mexican-
American culture, such as music,
language and arts during the UA-
based Tucson Festival of Books,
March 13 and 14.
The goal for combining the
program with the Festival of
Books was to reach a larger audi-
ence, Rendon says, as well as to
make the book festival more
accessible to the Mexican-
American community.
“The festival had great success
last year,” Rendon says. “Over
50,000 people attended. So it’s
good to share what we are working
on and make a partnership.”
Nuestras Raíces is usually a
single, spring event, but this year
there will be several events
throughout the year. The Festival
of Books, however, will provide
the cornerstone for the program,
Rendon says.
The library participated in the
festival last year, she says, and
featured a conversation with
author Luis Alberto Urrea, who’s
known for writing “The Devil’s
Highway,” and other books. More
than 400 people attended.
“There was a strong interest
for people to see and meet him,”
she says. “Some waited hours for
their chance to speak to him after-
ward.”
This year, festival-goers can
hear from Urrea again and ask all
their “burning questions” about
vacated by a pool table shoved to
the side and covered with a tarp.
“I’ve been playing here for 18
years now,” Lopez says of
Antonio’s. A shiny silver necklace
with a small silver accordion
hangs from her neck. “I’ve been
playing accordion and Waila
music for over 30 years.”
Lopez is related to every mem-
ber of her band by blood or
through marriage. Her cousin,
Solamus “Chando” Thomas plays
a 10-string guitar for the band.
“I taught myself how to play
when I was six years old,” Thomas
says, his large, somewhat intimi-
dating frame softened by wire
glasses and an infectious laugh.
“When I started, I played heavy
metal music but was drawn to
Waila when I got older.”
At the end of each song,
dancers depart to their respective
tables around the bar, fanning
faces with their hands, in search of
a cold drink. A bottle of Budweiser
at $2.50 a pop will do just fine.
The other band members also
take long sips of beer and the
band strikes up again. The accor-
dion is first, playing loud and fast.
Then the bass comes in heavily,
accompanied by the crashing
drums. To the untrained ear, it
sounds like a mix of polka and
mariachi.
One person starts gliding back
and forth. But Waila is social
Tucson Festival of Books
When: Saturday and
Sunday, March 13 - 14
Where: University of
Arizona campus
Cost: Free
Nuestras Raíces Events
Saturday:
• 10 a.m. - Gil Sperry pres-
ents Mariachi 101
• 1 p.m. - Stella Pope Duarte
presents Mexican Folktales
• 2:30 p.m. - Tierra
Birthmarks Teatro by Curtis
Acosta’s Mexican-American
Studies Students
Sunday:
• 10 a.m. - Bilingial Children’s
Program
• 11:30 a.m. - Q & A with Luis
Alberto Urrea
• 1 p.m. - Bilingual Poetry
Slam
• 2 p.m. -  HabIARTE “Talking
Through Art” Workshop
• 2:30 p.m. - Panel discussion
on Mexican-American
Culture Identity
his life in a question-and-answer
session, she says.
People can also enjoy a theatri-
cal performance by students and
alumni from Tucson High
School’s Mexican-American Stud-
ies program.
Tierra Birthmarks Teatro will
feature a dozen or so monologues
written and performed by stu-
dents, says Curtis Acosta, the
Tucson High teacher who heads
the group.
Students developed the per-
formance from researching and
interviewing people in the com-
Page / Página 5
music, and its dance, known as
“chicken scratch,” is a social
dance. Soon, most seats are empty
and the dance floor is full, every-
one moving counterclockwise
between the bar and band.
“This music dates back to the
1700s” says Lopez. “European
missionaries taught Native
Americans to play instruments
like violins for church.
“Native Americans in the
Southwest combining their new
talents with traditional tribal
music and Mexican influences
make Waila,” she says. “As tech-
nologies got better, violins were
replaced by guitars and accor-
dions.” Waila gets its name from
the Mexican word “baila,” mean-
ing dance.
Jeff Fouts, owner of Antonio’s,
says his place becomes a “native
bar” on the weekends, but encour-
ages people from all over Tucson
to come and experience the unique
music.
“The music is great,” he says.
“We’re the only bar in Tucson,
maybe in the world, that regularly
features live Waila music.”
Gertie and the T.O Boys play
live at Antonio’s every Friday
through Sunday night.
There is no cover and the
drinks are cheap. Fouts welcomes
anyone, local or not, to put on
dancing shoes and dance the
chicken scratch.
munity, he says. They will perform
monologues about a deaf educator,
a Mexican immigrant and a
Muslim woman, among others. A
few monologues will be in
Spanish but most are in English.
The program matters because
it’s done “authentically,” Acosta
says, and because the students and
the community worked hard to
bring the characters to life in the
monologues.
Another festival event is a
youth Mariachi contest. “Last
year it was structured like
American Idol,” Rendon says. “It
was very exciting for families and
the community to watch the
young talent.”
There will also be an authors’
panel to discuss Mexican-
American cultural identity with
Gustavo Arellano, who writes the
controversial and syndicated col-
umn “Ask a Mexican,” and Rose
Castillo Guilbault, who wrote the
autobiographical “Farmworker’s
Daughter: Growing Up Mexican in
America.”
Rendon says the main goal of
Nuestras Raíces events at the book
festival is not only to reach the
Mexican-American community,
but to also build community by
celebrating the culture’s rich artis-
tic history with all Tucsonans.
Guilbault says she hopes to see
young people at the festival who
want to learn more about their cul-
ture, as well as writers who want
to learn more about their craft.
She also pointed out that peo-
ple often have the same “basic
fundamentality” regardless of
nationality or ethnicity, making it
easier to relate to others.
“There’s universality in all our
stories,” Guilbault says.
“Universality helps society,”
she says.
“It helps the world, because we
can see everyone and their similar-
ities and say, ‘Hey, we’re not so
different.”
Page / Página 6 El INDEPENDIENTE March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010

Muralist David Tineo’s Work

Now on Display in Tucson
By Marissa Hopkins
Tucson artist and muralist David
Tineo’s retrospective collection of
work is now on display at the
Tucson Museum of Art.
The collection, entitled “¡Viva
David Tineo! A Retrospective of
Tucson’s Muralist and Art Edu-
cator” has been in the works for
two and a half years according to
Fatima Bercht, the museum’s cura-
Photo by Kaite Flynn
tor of Latin American art.
Kory DeBerry pins Joe Soqui on the mat during wrestling practice at Sunnyside.
“I was drawn to his work as a
If you go
Where: Tucson Museum of
Art, 140 N. Main Ave.
When: Tuesday - Saturday:
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday:
noon - 5 p.m.
Cost: $8 or free for 12 and
under and members. Free
for everyone first Sunday of
each month.
records of his early work, which
was the hardest to locate.
Tineo is known for the mural,

Sunnyside Wins 28th muralist, painter and educator,”

Bercht said. “I was particularly
drawn to the fact that he was instru-
“Raíces,” on the north-facing wall of
the museum that was done in 1992.
It was meant to be a part of a three-
Photo couRtesy oF tucson mueseum
Woman with crown of flowers by David Tineo.
oF aRt

State Wrestling Title

mental in teaching youths.” month exhibition, but has been up work,” Bercht said.
Museum Spokeswoman Mere- ever since, Hayes said. She said the Hayes says the retrospective
dith Hayes said it was challenging mural will need restoration soon, as includes about 50 pieces including
to gather his work, as he often it was not meant to be up for so long. paintings, sketches and even a pair
‘Wrestling’ Continued from page 1 On Jan. 27, Sunnyside was set gives pieces to family and friends. “People know about his murals, of painted chairs spanning the
to face Canyon del Oro High Bercht said Tineo did not keep but they don’t know about his other 1970s to present.
That source of motivation has School in a one-on-one dual, but
yielded record-setting results for with Sanchez’s approval, DeBerry
the Blue Devils. set the table for an epic regular sea-
And if there’s one number that son showdown between multiple
truly speaks volumes about wrestling-dominant schools.
SUSD Middle Schools Fight Obesity
Sunny-side supremacy, it’s 28, “The critics thought it was crazy ‘Obesity’ Continued from page 1 gives schools the opportunity to
which is the total number of state for Sunnyside, with such a young scientist in the nutritional sciences have physical education and nutri-
titles won by the program. It’s an team, to go head-to-head against department at UA’s College of tion educators present healthy
Arizona record by a landslide; some of those teams,” Sanchez Agriculture and Life Sciences who lifestyle choices to the students,
Winslow High School is second said. wrote the grant. says Lindsay Aguilar with TUSD
with 11. Since both squads went on to Students use the equipment food services department.
To put that number even further win state titles in their respective during lunchtime and before and At Wakefield Middle School,
into perspective, consider this: the classes, Sunnyside verse Safford after school, Espinosa says. junk food, sodas and even sport
New York Yankees, the most suc- was the unquestioned main event. “I like being in the step aero- drinks such as Gatorade have been
cessful professional sports fran- The Blue Devils won handily bics club because I get to be with removed from the vending
chise in America history, have 27 40-24, but the match mimicked that my friends and work out and have machines, says Wade McRae,
titles. of a state competition, which fun at the same time,” says principal of Wakefield, 101 W.
Sunnyside also holds the second DeBerry knew would come in Jackelyn Torres, a Sierra student. 44th St.
and the fourth longest streaks for handy further down the road. In addition to enjoying new Wakefield students exercise
consecutive titles. The Blue Devils The dual against Safford “was a activities, the students increase Photo by otto Ross during after-school programs like
ripped off eight in a row in the dress rehearsal for state,” he said. their physical activity, according Danyra Yepiz dances to folklorico music in basketball, flag football and
1980s behind coach Don One wrestler who helped lead to the UA’s study of the program. an after-school program.
dance, made possible by a federal
Klostreich and Richard Sanchez Sunnyside through a roller-coaster Students in SUSD middle grant that expires in 2010, says
helped the team to five straight season of doubt and back to the schools increased their moderate to McRae.
from 1990 to 1994. winner’s circle was DeBerry’s son, vigorous physical activity rate by teacher at Sierra. Espinosa says he thinks nutri-
DeBerry took over in 1996 and Kory. as much as 75 percent in the first Sierra offers gardening and tion and physical activity pro-
has taken the program into a new DeBerry, a junior, has become a year of the program, Reeves says. cooking clubs for students along grams like the one at Sierra are
stratosphere of success. nationally renowned wrestler in “In healthcare terms, even a 10 with the fitness programs, important for kids.
DeBerry holds Arizona and has percent increase is significant,” Milligan says. Additionally, they He points out that before and

“
an Arizona coach- won individual she says. “So we definitely encourage students to teach their after school, students are often left
ing record of 14 state titles in all reached our goals, well above our peers about healthy eating and at home. “Parents go to work and
titles—including We just have to keep three years of goals.” physical activity, Reeves says. they’re sitting there doing nothing,
a title in every fighting.  The end varsity competi- The aim of the program is to Rubbi Baez, a Sierra student, probably sitting and watching
year of the last tion. increase physical activity and there- says the habits she’s learning will video games,” Espinosa says.
decade—and his result is the only thing But this year’s by possibly decrease the levels of help her for the rest of her life. Whereas in the morning and after
program contin- that matters. team title was one childhood obesity, Reeves says. “I don’t want to be fat when I school, students “can come get
ues to be the that Kory From 2003 to 2006, U.S. chil- grow up,” says Baez, a member of some kind of physical activity, get
–Kory DeBerry
model for suc- DeBerry will re- dren aged 12 to 19 had a 17.6 per- the step aerobics group. their heart rates running.”

”
Sunnyside Wrestler
cess. member forever. cent obesity rate, according the Although the Tucson Unified Back at Sierra Middle School,
Challengers “It’s one of the National Health and Nutrition School District doesn’t have a pro- students in the folklorico dance
from across the greatest feelings Examination Survey from the gram like SUSD’s, it tries to edu- program are getting their hearts
state line up for their shot to go toe- in the world,” he said. “A lot of Centers for Disease Control and cate students about healthy eating pumping. Three boys and eight
to-toe with the Blue Devils. people said that we were done; that Prevention. The rates were higher habits and nutrition. girls spin and quickstep to tradi-
But those challenges are wel- we didn’t have the horses to win in Hispanic and black children. Each school is expected to tional Hispanic music.
comed with open arms. state like we did in past years. It Sierra Middle School is 91 per- teach health and physical educa- The young girls whirl their
“If there’s one thing about our just feels good to show everyone, cent Hispanic, similar to other tion, says Margaret Shafer, assis- long, brightly-colored skirts
kids and our program, we’re not even though we were a young SUSD middle schools. tant superintendent of elementary around with delight. The students,
going to duck competition,” team, that we’re going to do what- The program also stresses good schools. some with faces flushed from
Sanchez said. “If there’s some- ever it takes to come home with nutritional habits, says Kristel TUSD offers healthy, calorie- exercise, smile as they dance to
body out there and we can dual [a that trophy.” Milligan, the physical education conscious meals in schools and the fast-paced music.
term denoting a match between DeBerry is the No. 6 ranked jun-
two teams] them and they can ior wrestler in the 145-pound
improve our program—even a loss weight class (No. 23 overall),
can help us improve—we’re going according to Wrestling USA
to take it.” Magazine.
South Tucson Residents Say Walgreens
Sanchez, who led Sunnyside to Next year will be DeBerry’s
five wrestling titles in the early final year of high school wrestling Liquor License Will Ruin Community
1990s, is now the athletic director and there is little doubt that he will
and head football coach. He main- be the top pound-for-pound ‘Walgreens’ Continued from page 1 If approved, the store plans to avoid what
tains a close relationship with the wrestler in the state. Schelstraete calls “high octane drinks”— meaning
program and DeBerry. “We just have to keep fight- munity, which struggles with drug and alcohol drinks that are low in price and high in alcohol con-
This year’s challenger was Saff- ing,” he said. “The end result is abuse. tent.
ord High School, a rising star at the the only thing that matters. It “It’s a slap in the face,” Serna said of the Their priority is to provide a service the current cus-
Class 3A level, having won six doesn’t matter what happens in the Walgreens’ decision to ignore the climate of the com- tomers want and not to attract new business. The rela-
consecutive state titles from 2005 beginning of the season, or the munity by applying for the license. tively small amount of alcohol they want to sell would-
to 2010. middle. As long as we’re wrestling In his packet, Serna noted the arrests made at n’t impact the community, he said.
Sanchez said DeBerry contacted our best when it matters most, Walgreens cost the city $20,000 yearly for jail and pro- “What is good for the community is good for
him early in the season to talk we’re confident that we will bring cessing fees. Walgreens,” Schelstraete said.
about how Safford kept saying they it home.” The number of calls, and therefore the city’s Eckstrom is not convinced. The decision by
could knock off the champs That mentality is what has made costs, would increase if the license were approved, Walgreens’ corporate head to add yet another alcohol
because it was an off year for the the Sunnyside wrestling program he said. outlet in South Tucson is out of touch with the commu-
Blue Devils. into the powerhouse that it is today. The license is one of about 160 Walgreens has nity, she said.
Sunnyside’s response to critics If it continues, the state trophy recently applied for in Arizona. It is an effort to “How would somebody in Illinois know what the
like that is always the same: bring may have found a permanent home remain competitive in a weak economy, Schelstraete best interests of the community are?” she asked speak-
it on. on Tucson’s south side. said. ing of Walgreens’ corporate headquarters.
March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010
Mi Casa es Tu Casa at Guillermo’s
By Ashley Ralston-Alvarez
In today’s economy, businesses
and restaurants are struggling to
stay open.
But that doesn’t mean service
and atmosphere have to suffer.
Guillermo’s Double L Rest-
aurant believes this and stays in
business through hard times
because of loyal customers and
the family atmosphere.
The greeting above the door at
Guillermo’s reads: “Bienvenidos
Amigos: Mi casa es tu casa.”
Linda Baker, manager of
Guillermo’s, says she loves her
job and the atmosphere the restau-
rant brings to the community. It is
just like a family, she says.
“So many people grew up in
this neighborhood. This is our
community,” Baker says. She
believes that’s what keeps people
coming back.
Baker says that Guillermo’s
has been around for so long that
people start to come to the restau-
rant at a very young age with their
family.
Children grow up in this neigh-
borhood and bring their own fam-
ilies back to the restaurant and the
memories of their childhood, she
says.
A 60-year legacy is what
Guillermo’s offers to the commu-
nity. It’s something to be passed
down from one generation to the
next. That is what makes
Guillermo’s unique.
“You see generations of people
that now bring their grandchildren
in. It’s kind of a neat thing,”
Baker says.
As a young Tucsonan growing
up in South Tucson I remember
going to Guillermo’s every week.
I ordered the same side of beans
and tortillas to make my own bur-
ritos.
The food was always delicious
and the servers were friendly.
Tucson Teacher Takes Math to New Level
By Shelby Hill
Shaking President Obama’s hand
isn’t the only exciting thing that has
happened to Dana Islas in the past
few months. She received the 2008
Presidential Award for Excellence in
Math and Science Teaching, had a
baby girl and moved to a new house.
“It’s been like a whirlwind,”
Islas says. “I mean, [they’re] all
wonderful things. I feel very fortu-
nate.”
Islas, who has been a kinder-
garten teacher at Pueblo Gardens
Elementary School for seven
years, received the award, which is
administered by the National
Science Foundation on behalf of
the White House Office of Science
and Technology Policy, in early
January in Washington, D.C., for
math teaching.
She remembers the day she
opened her e-mail and found out
she won.
“I had to keep reading it over
and over,” Islas says. “It was very
exciting. I cried.”
While receiving the award at
the White House along with 84
other awardees, Islas met President
Barack Obama, who she says is
“very personable. He seems like a
genuinely nice, kind man, truly
interested in improving educa-
tion.”
She emphasizes math because,
“there are connections to math in
every aspect of our lives and I try
to help the kids see that,” Islas
says. “Math is really the gatekeep-
er for their future success.”
Marco Ramirez, principal at
Pueblo Gardens, says what he
If You Go:
•  Address: 1830 S. Fourth
Ave.
• Phone number: 792-1585
• Hours: Monday - Saturday
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Atmosphere: Casual dining
with an inexpensive menu
• Food: South-of-the-border
specialties, American
favorites, seafood, and
hand-mixed margaritas
I remember one server taught
me the “caterpillar trick” with my
straw wrapper. She showed me
that if water is sprinkled on a
tightly scrunched up wrapper, it
does a little dance, just like a real
caterpillar.
That small act of kindness has
stayed with me for more than 10
years and makes me think fondly
of the people and atmosphere at
Guillermo’s.
“I probably waited on you
when you were younger,” says
Baker, who has worked there for
more than 40 years.
Guillermo’s has been a family-
owned business for three genera-
tions since it opened in 1948.
The restaurant started as a sim-
ple drive-in barbecue. But, with
the Mexican influences in South
Tucson, it quickly changed its
specialty to Mexican food after
only four years.
The small building soon devel-
oped into a restaurant seating 40
people.
The territorial-style building
has grown from one room to three
large dining rooms. It now accom-
modates 180 people.
The exterior, painted in bright
yellows and greens, welcomes
anyone who passes. It alludes to
the casual Mexican interior deco-
rated with southwest scenes paint-
Dana Islas helps students Isabella Ortiz and Paul Chacon fill out a worksheet on bullying.
thinks makes Islas stand out is that
she creates an atmosphere in her
classroom that is exceptional
throughout the school year.
“From my perspective, excel-
lence is not a single moment in
time, but it’s a daily experience,”
Ramirez says. “We get excited
about a single event, when what
Dana does is provide an event that
lasts 180 days.”
Islas says she gets the students
involved as much as possible. She
plays a game called “One More,
One Fewer” with her students. The
kindergarteners add and subtract
themselves from 10 taped squares
on the floor based on a number on
a card that Islas shows them.
“It’s a chance for all of us to
have a conversation. If there’s a
mistake, that’s a learning opportu-
El INDEPENDIENTE
Roberto Villasenor prepares food in the kitchen at Guillermo's Double L Restaurant.
ed by Diana Madaras.
Guillermo’s was sold to anoth-
er family in 2008 and is now
owned by Tony Gonzalez.
He has made some changes
over the past few years. Some of
the interior has been refreshed and
more plants have been added, but
one of the newest additions was a
menu change in 2009. Gonzalez
decided to add seafood to
Guillermo’s already extensive
menu.
“Tucson loves seafood,” Baker
says.
Guillermo’s wanted more to
offer and seafood was the way to
go. It has helped bring in more
business and was a hit for most
customers.
It adds variety to the Mexican
specialties and American favorites
Photo by Kaite Flynn
nity,” she says.
Islas says parents expect their
children to learn to read, but they
don’t always expect their children to
understand math, which is just as
important for their futures.
“When you’re trying to decide
what you want to be when you
grow up, if math is a scary or diffi-
cult subject area for you, it’s going
to really limit what you can pur-
sue,” she says. “So I don’t want
my kids to be limited.”
Islas knew she wanted to be a
teacher since high school, and even
as a child she played school with
her younger sister. Around the age
of eight, she made her one-year-
old brother flashcards so he could
learn new words.
She has been teaching for 14
years, 12 of which were in kinder-
Photo by ashley Ralston-alvaRez
that the customers have come to
expect.
Many long-time employees
weren’t quite sure if they would
keep their jobs or if the restaurant
environment would change when
Gonzalez took over. The servers,
however, said it was a smooth
transition.
“He is a great guy,” says Toni
Coronel, a server at Guillermo’s
for 13 years.
“Nothing’s changed much. It’s
like the same.”
Guillermo’s continues to be a
family tradition that influences
generations of Tucsonans.
It’s one of those experiences
that doesn’t cost a lot but leaves
you with a lifetime of memories
and reminds us a family of friends
can be found anywhere.
“
Excellence is not a
single moment in
time, but it’s a daily
experience.
–Marco Ramirez
”
Principal
garten, where she plans to continue
teaching.
“I’ve been asked to go up to high-
er grade levels, but I’m really happy
with the early childhood,” Islas says.
“There’s so much discovery and
curiosity and they love school. ... It’s
just a really exciting time.”
Islas not only excels at having
great content knowledge and
instructional ability, which are
important at Pueblo Gardens, but in
other ways as well, Ramirez says.
“You can’t do content and
instruction without having kind-
ness and heart for children,” he
says. “She’s a complete package.”
Islas is writing a book of math
lessons, games, ideas and tips for
teachers. She was e-mailing her
editor pages to the book when she
began having contractions and
went into labor with her now six-
week-old daughter, Julianna.
The book writing was on hold
as Islas cherishes her time with her
three daughters, including 19-year-
old Kirsten and 17-month-old,
Isabella and unpacking the moving
boxes currently in her new home.
In one of the boxes is her award
certificate signed by President
Obama.
Page / Página 7
Notre Dame
and Tucson
Disocese to
Help Schools
By Nohemi Ramirez
The University of Notre Dame and
the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Tucson have created a partnership
in an effort to increase the quality
of education and enroll more
Hispanic students in Catholic
schools.
Santa Cruz Catholic School
Principal Sister Leonette Kochan,
explained that Notre Dame did a
study that focused on the enroll-
ment of Hispanics in Catholic
schools and on schools that serve
Hispanics in economically chal-
lenged communities.
“They found out they are under
served,” Sister Kochan said.
“Meaning that only three percent
of the Hispanic population is
attending Catholic schools.”
The three Catholic parish
schools that are part of the pro-
gram are St. Ambrose, St. John
the Evangelist and Santa Cruz.
Before the partnership, they were
already members of the Alliance
for Catholic Education (ACE)
program that provides certified
teachers to the schools.
The schools will be receiving
support from the university in
three areas of focus.
The first involves enhancing
professional development, mean-
ing the university will provide
teacher mentoring and coaching to
help them expand their knowledge
in teaching.
The second is to strengthen the
focus of the schools’ teachings of
culture and Catholic identity.
The third is in marketing and
development.
The university will provide a
marketing specialist to help
improve the schools’ budgets by
trying to increase donations,
including tax-deductable ones.
Sister Kochan said many par-
ents do not enroll their children in
Catholic schools because of the
cost.
People are often unaware that
they can apply for financial aid,
use tax credit and even donations.
Tuition is at about $4,000 per
school year at Santa Cruz.
Sonia de la Ossa, who has one
child enrolled at the school, said
she pays $150 per month but has
applied for financial aid.
De la Ossa is also paying the
school by volunteering her time
there.
De la Ossa, who said she has
always worked with ACE teach-
ers, said that she was very excited
about the new partnership.
“It’s just going to better our
school and our kids,” she said.
“[The teachers] are very dedicat-
ed.”
Notre Dame chose Tucson
because Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
spoke with the university and
asked if they could be considered
for the partnership.
Tucson schools are the first to
join in this program and Notre
Dame hopes to partner with many
more in the future.
Although the schools do not
receive direct money from the uni-
versity, all teacher training and
other university-provided services
are funded by Notre Dame through
a grant from the Walton Family
Foundation.
“We are very grateful to Notre
Dame for choosing our schools,”
Sister Kochan said.
“It’s sending a message that
we are all in this together, educat-
ing.”
Page / Página 8
?
By Erica Nannini
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez
February 27 – July 3
Andy Warhol Art
Portraits of Muhammad Ali,
Marilyn Monroe and other silk-
screen prints that arguably sparked
the birth of pop culture will be on
display at the Tucson Museum of
Art, 140 N. Main Ave., as part of
the touring exhibition Andy
Warhol Portfolios: Life and
Legends. The museum is open
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4
p.m. Admission is $8. Visit
www.tucsonmuseumofart.org or
call 624-2333 for more informa-
tion.
March 13 - Sept. 18
Salvador Corona
Exhibit
The Arizona State Museum invites
Tucsonans to view the artwork of
Mexican-born Salvador Corona,
the beloved bullfighter-turned-
muralist. The exhibit will feature
nearly 50 of the Tucson celebrity’s
paintings, chests and bowls, plac-
ing them in the greater context of
mid-20th century Tucson life. The
museum, 1013 E. University
Blvd., is open Monday through
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults; chil-
dren get in free. Visit www.state-
museum.arizona.edu or call 621-
6302 with questions.
March 14
St. Patty’s Day Parade
Although St. Patrick’s Day is on
March 17, John Flanagan of
Flanagan’s Celtic Corner will hold
his annual parade and festival the
weekend prior. Pile on the green
attire and face paint three days
early and enjoy the festivities at
Armory Park, 220 S. Fifth Ave.
The festival is from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and the parade will begin at
11 a.m. Admission is free. Call
623-9922 for more information.
March 14
Ladysmith Black
Mambazo
This Grammy Award-winning
group merges traditional South
African song and dance with
gospel sounds, and became one of
South Africa’s most prominent
recording artists after collaborat-
ing with Paul Simon on the album
Graceland. The group will per-
form at 7 p.m. at the University of
Arizona’s Centennial Hall, 1020
E. University Blvd. Tickets range
from $15 to $52 and can be pur-
chased in advance at www.uapre-
sents.org or by calling 621-3341.
March 19 – 21
Spring Street Fair
Twice a year, Fourth Avenue
erupts in a weekend fit of face
painting, street juggling and arts
and crafts from over 400 vendors.
The street is blocked off between
Ninth Street and University
Boulevard for all-ages fun. The
fair is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on
all three days and admission is
free. Visit www.fourthavenue.org
qué PASA?
Kaite Flynn
by
Photos
or contact the Fourth Avenue
Merchants Association at 634-
5004 with questions.
March 27
Ceramics Studio
For those in search of a new
hands-on hobby, the Tucson
Museum of Art presents a
Ceramics Studio Open House
where attendees will learn how to
use a potter’s wheel and make a
coil pot. The class, held from 4 to
6 p.m., is open to anyone 10 years
and up for a $10 fee. It will be
held in the Romero House at the
northeast corner of the museum’s
Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave.
Call 624-2333 for more informa-
tion.
March 27, 28
Indian Art Fair
Meet native artists and shop for
jewelry, pottery, Hopi kachina
dolls and more at the Arizona State
Museum’s Southwest Indian Art
Fair Benefit. The event will be
hosted by Desert Diamond Casino
at I-19 and Pima Mine Road.
General admission is $6 at the door
and the fair will run 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Saturday, March 27 and 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March
28. Visit www.statemuseum.ari-
zona.edu/events/swiaf/ or call 621-
6302 for more information.
April 9
The Horse Boy
A free screening of Michel Orion
Scott’s film, The Horse Boy, is
part of a monthly screening series
of films at Tucson libraries, fund-
ed through a partnership with
Arizona Public Media and
El INDEPENDIENTE
Tucsonans
Observe Lent
Left: Melissa Garcia and her children
sit outside of Santa Cruz Church after
Ash Wednesday mass.
Below (left): Joe Ballesteros sits down
after mass.
Below (right): Vince Sierra talks about
what Lent means to him and what he
will be giving up.
Go online to read more about how
Tucsonans are observing Lent.
Community Cinema. The inde-
pendent PBS film follows a Texas
couple on a spiritual journey
across the world to better under-
stand their son’s autism diagnosis.
It will show at 9 a.m. at Quincie
Douglas branch library, 1585 E.
36th Street, and will be followed
by a moderated discussion. Call
594-5335 for more information.
Del 27 de febrero al 3 de
julio
El arte de Andy Warhol
Como parte de la gira de la exhibi-
ción: Andy Warhol Portfolios:
Life, el Museo de arte de Tucson,
ubicado en 140 N. Main Ave., ten-
drá en exhibición algunos de los
retratos de serigrafía sobre lienzo
que supuestamente causó el
nacimiento de la cultura pop. Los
retratos incluyen el de Muhammad
Ali, Marilyn Monroe entre otros.
El museo está abierto de martes a
sábado de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. y
domingo, de mediodía a 4 p.m. El
costo de entrada es de $8. Para
más información visite la página
www.tucsonmuseumofart.org o
llame al 624-2333.
Del 13 de marzo al 18 de
septiembre
La exhibición de
Salvador Corona
El Museo estatal de Arizona, invi-
ta a todos los ciudadanos a ver la
exhibición de arte del famoso
matador que se convirtió en
muralista, el mexicano Salvador
Corona. La exposición contará
con cerca de 50 piezas de arte del
artista local, incluyendo pinturas,
baúles y alfarería. Estas piezas se
encuentran dentro del contexto de
la vida en Tucsón a mediados de
siglo XX. El museo está ubicado
en 1013 E. University Blvd., y
está abierto de lunes a sábado, de
10 a.m. a 5 p.m. El costo de entra-
da es $5. para adultos y los niños
entran gratis. Si tiene preguntas
visite el www.statemuseum.ari-
zona.edu o llame al 621-6302.
14 de marzo
Desfile del día de San
Patricio
Aunque habitualmente el desfile
del día de San Patricio es el 17 de
marzo, John Flanagan de
Flanagan’s Celtic Corner, llevará a
cabo el desfile y el festival anual
el fin de semana previo. Vístase y
píntese la cara de verde para cele-
brar tres días antes en el parque
Armory, ubicado en el 220 S. Fifth
Ave. El festival será de 10 a.m. a 5
p.m. y el desfile empezará a las 11
a.m. La entrada es gratuita. Para
más información llame al 623-
9922.
14 de marzo
“Ladysmith Black
Mambazo”
Este grupo, ganador del premio
Grammy que mezcla la música y
baile tradicional del sur de África
con los sonidos del evangelio, se
convirtió en uno de los grupos
más importantes de Sudáfrica
después de colaborar con Paul
Simon en el álbum Graceland.
Dicho grupo dará un concierto a
las 7 p.m. en el Centennial Hall de
la Universidad de Arizona ubicado
en, 1020 E. University Blvd. Los
boletos van de los $15 a los $52 y
pueden comprarse por adelantado
en www.uapresents.org o llamando
al 621-3341.
March 11 / 11 de marzo 2010
Del 19 al 21 de marzo
Feria de primavera
Dos veces por año, la Fourth
Avenue está llena de diversión
durante todo un fin de semana con
una feria para personas de todas
las edades que incluye maquillaje
facial, malabares en las calles, y
más de 400 puestos con manuali-
dades y artesanías. La calle estará
bloqueada desde Ninth Street
hasta University Boulevard. La
feria se llevará a cabo los 3 días
arriba mencionados de 10 a.m. a 6
p.m. y la entrada es gratuita. Para
cualquier pregunta visite el sitio
www.fourthavenue.org o llame a
Fourth Avenue Merchants
Association al 634-5004.
27 de marzo
Taller de cerámica
Para aquellos que buscan un
nuevo hobby, Tucson Museum of
Art, ofrecerá una recepción en un
taller de cerámica. Los asistentes
podrán aprender a utilizar un torno
de alfarero y a hacer alfarería en
forma de espiral. La clase es para
personas mayores de 10 años y
tendrá un costo de $10 dólares. El
horario es de 4 a 6 de la tarde, en
la casa Romero (Romero House)
ubicada en 140 N. Maine Ave., en
la esquina noreste de la cuadra
histórica del museo. Para más
información llame al 624-2333.
27, 28 de marzo 
Feria de arte indígena
Venga a conocer a artistas indíge-
nas y a comprar joyería, alfarería,
muñecas Hopi kachina y mucho
más en la feria a beneficio del arte
indígena del suroeste, presentado
por el Museo estatal de Arizona. El
evento se llevará a cabo en el
Desert Diamond Casino, ubicado
en la carretera I-19 y Pima Mine
Road. El precio de entrada en
taquilla es de $6 y el horario es de
10 a.m. a 5 p.m. el sábado, 27 de
Marzo y de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. el
domingo, 28 de marzo. Para más
información visite el sitio
www.statemuseum.arizona.
edu/events/swiaf/ o llame al 621-
6302.
9 de abril
The Horse Boy
Las librerías de Tucsón, con el
financiamiento de la alianza de
Arizona Public Media y
Community Cinema, presentarán
como parte de su serie de proyec-
ciones de filmes del mes una
proyección gratuita de la película
de Michel Orion Scott, The Horse
Boy (El niño de los caballos). El
filme independiente de la PBS
(por sus siglas en inglés) sigue a
una pareja de Texas en un viaje
espiritual a través del mundo, en el
cual buscan comprender de una
mejor manera el diagnóstico de
autismo de su hijo. La proyección
es a las 9 a.m. en la sucursal de la
biblioteca Quincie Douglas, ubica-
da en 1585 E. 36th Street, y al
final habrá un debate moderado.
Para más información llame al
594-5335.
EL 1976 ~ 34 Years of Service ~ 2010

INDEPENDIENTE
Free/gratis www.elindenews.com April 8 / 8 de abril 2010

INSIDE Translators Ease Medical Woes
By Zach Simon
Tucson medical facilities have
Annual Mariachi taken a number of steps to provide
Conference translation services to Spanish-
speaking patients.
Although there is no require-
ment in Pima County for medical
facilities to provide human inter-
preters, devices such as CyraCom
and volunteer medical students
from the University of Arizona and
Pima Community College help
with non-English-speaking patients.
Some speculate that because of
The International the county’s proximity to the
Mexican border, there is a higher
Mariachi Conference likelihood that nurses or doctors
returns to Tucson for will be Spanish speakers, therefore
eliminating the need for paid trans-
the 28th year. lators.
...see page 2 However, administrators at
Tucson Medical Center decided in
2003 to no longer take Spanish-
Towns Fight for speaking nurses or doctors away
State Parks from their duties but instead have
trained personnel deal with trans-
lation responsibilities, according to
Shawn Page, TMC administrator
of international services and rela-
tions.
“It’s very important that
patients understand what the
physicians are saying,” said Julia
Strange, vice president of commu-
nity benefit at TMC. “These deci-
Arizona communities sions are going to affect the rest of
their lives.”
step forward to stop TMC is the only major hospital
State Park closures. in Tucson that employs Spanish
translators on a consistent basis.
...see page 6 TMC’s international services
department also has a relationship
with the UA and allows students
who study foreign languages and
Marco Duran, 22, a University of Arizona medical student, takes a stethoscope and blood
pressure equipment from the stock room to check patients’ vitals at Clinica Amistad on
South 10th Avenue.
are interested in careers as inter-
preters to shadow and observe pro-
fessionals at TMC.
“TMC sees the Spanish-speak-
ing community expanding, and we
are trying to meet those needs,”
Page said.
Photo by Zach Simon
While there is a nationwide
program to train certified legal
translators, there are no programs
backed by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services to
train certified medical translators,
Strange said.
That meant TMC had to create
its own program.
Spanish is the most common
language translated, Page said, but
Farsi, Arabic and Russian are other
popular languages that need trans-
lating.
That’s why TMC also uses
CyraCom, which translates more
than 100 languages.
CyraCom is a device where two
phones are connected to a base.
The health care provider picks up
one and the patient the other. The
patient speaks into the phone in
any language. The call is then
directed to a translator in
CyraCom’s call center. The trans-
lator from the call center speaks
the English version of what the
patient said into the phone for
health care workers.
The average CyraCom transla-
tion takes seven minutes, Page said.
Although CyraCom is an effi-
cient way of translating quick
questions or comments between
patients and doctors, it’s used more
as a backup device at TMC. Their
international service department
prefers to schedule face-to-face
sessions with patients when deal-
ing with more serious medical sit-
uations, Page says.
“Even English-speaking pati-
ents sometimes don’t understand
the discharge instructions,”
Strange said. “We do anything we
can to make sure they understand,
because if you don’t understand,
there’s a high likelihood you’ll be
readmitted, and that spikes health
care costs, or even worse.”
‘Hospitals’/see page 6

TUSD Arts Program Promotes Learning
First-grade students sing a song with their teachers who are opera singers. The students
decide how to sing the song and combine it with body movements.
By Josh T. Saunders
Some Tucson schools are alive
with the sound of music.
Elementary and middle school
students in Tucson Unified School
District are benefiting from a pro-
gram called Opening Minds
Through the Arts (OMA), which
Photo by Kaite Flynn
uses the arts to teach math, science,
reading and writing basics.
OMA has grown from a pilot-
project in three TUSD schools to a
nationally recognized program
over the last decade.
“OMA is a school reform pro-
gram that utilizes the arts to boost
student academic achievement as
‘Parents as
well as their social growth,” said schools reserved for gifted stu-
Teachers’
Dr. Joan Ashcraft, the director of dents.
fine and performing arts for
TUSD.
The program caters to schools
with low-income families and stu-
Expanding
Ashcraft said the program’s dents who speak English as a sec- By Marissa Hopkins
goal is to build resiliency, global ond language.
perspective, collaboration, critical The interactive lesson plans and Sunnyside Unified School District’s
thinking, problem solving and creative outlets help bridge these Parents as Teachers, an early child-
innovation skills. language and social gaps, Ashcraft development and parenting pro-
The program said. gram, received two grants in the last
was created bas- The proof lies year totaling $235,000.
ed on research on Visit El Independiente in improved test Parents as Teachers is a nation-
the neurological scores and al voluntary program designed to
development of online to view OMA in teacher effective- teach and support parents with
children, which action at Van Buskirk ness throughout children from prenatal care to
found significant Elementary School: OMA schools, when they begin kindergarten. It’s
connections be- according to offered to any family living within
tween brain dev- www.elindenews.com research. the district.
elopment and Thirteen TU- First Things First, which funds
music, Ashcraft SD schools have early childhood programs through
said. implemented the a state tobacco tax, awarded the
The curriculum is a full-scale program and reached “OMA Gold” program $160,000 over three
collaboration between the class- status. Four more have shown years. Parents as Teachers used
room teacher, the school’s Art interest as well as countless school the grant to hire three new staff
Integration Specialist, the teaching throughout the state. members.
artist and the student. Local artists “We are at a tipping point,” The second grant, $75,000 over
and teachers use instrumental Ashcraft said, in terms of growth. three years, came from Social
music, opera, dance, theater and She said OMA is extremely Venture Partners Greater Tucson, a
visual arts to engage students in a concerned about state education fund of the Community Founda-
full-on creative learning experi- funding. tion for Southern Arizona.
ence. OMA is funded federally and The program also receives
“OMA is for every single privately, with support from Title I $295,000 in federal Title I funding
child,” Ashcraft said, which sepa- grants and fundraising from the
rates it from programs in other non-profit OMA Foundation. ‘Parenting’/see page 6
Page / Página 2 El INDEPENDIENTE April 8 / 8 de abril 2010

International Mariachi Mariachi y música
Conference in Tucson celebrada en Tucsón
By Ashley Ralston-Alvarez made in advance, call 838-3908.TCC, 5 p.m. Por Ashley Ralston-Alvarez 3908.
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez Centro de convenciones de Tucsón, 5
The annual Tucson International Mariachi Espectacular Concert, April 23 p.m.
Conference will be in town for its 28th appear- Los Camperos de Nati Cano, the conference’s La conferencia anual del mariachi interna-
ance April 20 through 24. lead Mariachi group, will perform. Lila cional celebrada en Tucsón tendrá su pre- Espectacular concierto, 23 de
Each year La Downs, Mariachi Cobre and Los Arrieros will sentación número 28 en la ciudad del 20 abril
Frontera looks to also perform. al 24 de abril. Los Camperos de Nati Cano, el conjunto
inspire youth to con- Tickets are on sale Cada año y con cada uno de sus even- de mariachi que encabeza la conferencia,
tinue Mariachi and and start at $48. tos, La Frontera busca inspirar a jóvenes a dará su presentación.
baile folklórico tradi- Tickets can be pur- continuar las tradiciones del mariachi y el Lila Downs, Mariachi Cobre y Los
tions with each day’s chased at www.ticket baile folklórico. Arrieros se unirán al conjunto de mari-
events. master.com, by call- achi.
ing 838-3908 or at the Talleres estudiantiles, del 21 al Las entradas están a la venta y
Student convention center’s empiezan en $48.
ticket office. 23 de abril Las entradas pueden comprarse en
Workshops, April TCC, 7:30 p.m Clases de mariachi y baile folklórico para www.ticketmaster.com, llamando al 838-
21-23 estudiantes desde nivel principiante hasta 3908 o en la taquilla del centro de conven-
Mariachi and baile Mariachi Mass, avanzado. ciones.
folklórico classes for Los participantes se presentarán en el
April 24 espectáculo del jueves.
Centro de convenciones de Tucsón,
beginning to advan- Los Camperos de Nati 7:30 p.m.
ced students. Cano will perform at
Participants will Espectáculo con los partici- Misa con mariachi, 24 de abril
Photo courteSy oF Kevin van renSSelaer the Saturday mass at
perform at the Thurs- Los Camperos de Nati Cano. St. Augustine’s Cath- pantes, 22 de abril Los Camperos de Nati Cano tocarán el
day showcase. edral, 192 S. Stone Los estudiantes se presentarán después de sábado en misa de 9 a.m. de la catedral de
Ave., 9 a.m. sus talleres. San Agustín, en 192 S. Stone Ave.
Particpant Showcase, April 22 Las entradas cuestan $10. Niños de 12 Fiesta de Garibaldi, 24 de abril
Students will perform following their work- años o menos entran gratis. Este evento que se llevará a cabo todo
shops.
Fiesta de Garibaldi, April 24 Centro de convenciones de Tucsón, 7 el día contara con presentaciones de mari-
This day-long event will feature Mariachi and p.m. achi, baile folklórico, comida, manuali-
Tickets are $10. Children 12 and under are
baile folklórico performances, dancing, food dades y artesanías.
free. Tucson Convention Center, 7 p.m.
and arts and crafts. There is an entrance fee of Serenata y cena, 23 de abril El costo de entrada es de $5 por per-
$5 per person and children 12 and under are Los invitados disfrutarán de una comida
Serenata y Cena, April 23 free.
sona, y los niños de 12 años o menos
Guests will be treated to a Mexican meal and mexicana y la música mariachi antes de entran gratis.
Mariachi music prior to the Espectacular DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, pasar al espectacular concierto. DeMeester Outdoor Performance
Concert. Reid Park, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Las entradas cuestan $40. Se necesita Center, Reid Park, 10 a.m. a 10 p.m.
Tickets are $40 and reservations must be reservar por adelantado llamando al 838-

EL F-35 Too Loud for Arizonans?
INDEPENDIENTE By Tammy Crawford

Supporters of the F-35 fighter jet

that may find a home in Tucson are
working to inform Tucsonans
South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper about the advantages of adding the
jet to the city’s collection.
El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves the The Air National Guard’s
right to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length. 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson
International Airport is one of five
www.elindenews.com locations being considered to
UA Journalism house the plane.
P.O. Box 210158B
Air Force bases in Florida, New
Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: 621-3618
Mexico, Idaho and the Luke Air
elindy.ua@gmail.com Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., are
also being considered.
However, because some in
Adviser
Maggy Zanger Tucson are against the jet coming
to Tucson, supporters are provid-
Graphics and Layout Adviser ing information to help dispel their
John deDios concerns.
“The biggest opposition would
be the noise,” said Tim Amalong, Photo by tammy crawFord
president of the 162nd Fighter "The Boneyard" on Valencia Road houses planes no longer in service. The planes are
Managing Editor Wing Minutemen Committee. either called back into service or are used for parts. The F-35 could retire several others.
Victoria Blute Copy Editors But John Lamb, a retired Air
F-35 issue. But he thinks the plus- ty values always go down around
Anthony Hasan Force pilot who flew for 27 years
es will outweigh the minuses. airports, but that the increase in
News Editor Brett Booen said, “I’m not convinced that it’s
One advantage is the boost it personnel who spend money and
Shelby Hill Heather Rissi going to be any louder than planes
would bring to Tucson’s economy. buy houses will ultimately benefit
Zach Simon we’ve had here before.”
“The National Guard unit is a the community.
Spanish Editor Jeff Feld Amalong compares the noise
vital part to our economy and cul- According to Johnson, in 2008
Nohemi Ramirez emitted by the F-35 to that of the
ture,” Lamb said. “If Tucson were the Air National Guard unit at TIA
Photographers noise from the F-22 Raptor, which
to lose its flying unit, it would lose had a $106 million payroll rate.
Design Chief Otto Ross flew in Tucson during the heritage
a lot of jobs.” Amalong and the Minutemen
Amy Kissinger Tammara Crawford days in March. He said that the
The Air National Guard unit in Committee are trying to rally sup-
F-35 is within two decibels of the
Tucson employs approximately port for the F-35 with a campaign
Photo Editor Designers F-22.
1,000 full-time employees as well called “Tucson Lightning.”
Kaite Flynn Marissa Hopkins Steve Sollenberg, a United
as 400 to 500 people who work one According to Amalong, 4,500
Natalie Boras States Air Force retiree, said that
weekend per month, according to names are listed on their website in
Community Events Editor “the noise issue has been greatly
Maj. Gabriel Johnson, public support of the plane, including
Erica Nannini Reporters overblown.”
affairs officer of the 162nd Fighter Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup,
Nathan Mitchell But Donna rae Watson of
Wing. Gov. Jan Brewer and Rep.
News Room Manager Tucson Forward, a group against
“If the F-35 comes, employ- Gabrielle Giffords.
Ashley Ralston-Alvarez Translators the F-35s, disagrees. She says the
ment will be sustained for the Several meeting forums were
Angélica Pozo-DesPortes F-35 puts out 131 decibels com-
long-term,” he said. held in March to allow citizens of
Copy Chief Dina Tyrrell pared to the 115 decibels usually
A study conducted by the Southern Arizona to voice their
Jessica Befort Lizette M. Pérez emitted at a rock concert.
Maguire Company showed that the concerns or support.
Sathya Honey Victoria “The sound of an F-35 is not a
162nd Fighter Wing brought Watson said that the meetings
Web Manager pleasant, gentle roar like the F-16
Southern Arizona $280 million per were a “one-sided affair” in sup-
Josh T. Saunders Translation and Interpretation either,” she said. “The F-35 emits a
year. port of the plane, but that about
Department wall-piercing shriek that cannot be
But some Tucsonans are con- 200 citizens showed up to each
Distribution Manager of Spanish and Portuguese escaped.”
cerned about property values and meeting to express their opposi-
Steve Ivanovics and Mexican American Studies Sollenberger pointed out that
quality of life. tion.
there are pluses and minuses to
Sollenberger, who supports the The decision should be made on
something controversial like the
F-35 basing here, said that proper- basing the F-35 in early 2011.
April 8 / 8 de abril 2010
Tucsonans Petition: 
Save Music in TUSD
By Erica Nannini
Tucsonans are trying to save ele-
mentary school arts programs in
response to Tucson Unified School
District budget cuts.
Dennis Bourret, chairman of
the ad hoc organization Citizens
for Arts Education, is circulating a
petition urging the TUSD School
Board and administration to allo-
cate money for the arts.
At press time, Bourret estimat-
ed that he had more than 2,000 sig-
natures.
Bourret worries that the number
of schools losing their music pro-
grams may signify the beginning
of a ripple effect. So far, 30of
TUSD’s 73 elementary schools
have lost music programs.
“It’s real scary, what’s going on
here,” he said. “A whole bunch of
districts could [eventually] skin it
down to bare bones with sports,
County Cuts Funding  Journey Across the Border
for Parenting Program
By Nathan Mitchell
Funding has been cut for Father to
Father, a South Tucson program
aimed at training men to be better
fathers, said Margarito Casillas, the
family support specialist who ran it.
Father to Father was funded by
Pima County and put on by Child
and Family Resources. It was one of
few programs in the state that target-
ed fathers. Most are motherhood-
training courses, Casillas said.
“I saw the need of the fathers
who were trying to take classes,”
he said. “(The class) really made a
lot of sense.”
The six-week program was a
responsible-parenting educational
workshop. Men with widely
diverse backgrounds would come
together to share stories. The work-
Arizona State Legislature Briefs
By Victoria Blute
Arizonans have several state bills
to keep an eye on in the coming
months.
Illegal Immigration Issues:
SB 1070
A House panel approved SB 1070,
a bill designed to implement
tougher federal immigration laws
and give police more power to
arrest suspected illegal immigrants
and charge them with crimes.
The bill would make an illegal
immigrant’s presence in the U.S. a
crime and create the charge of
“willful failure to complete or
carry an alien registration docu-
ment.” The bill also makes it a
crime for illegal immigrants to
work or solicit work in Arizona.
SB 1070 would require officers
to ask the immigration status of any-
one they come across during regular
police activity. Those who know-
ingly hide, assist or ignore individ-
uals who are known illegal immi-
grants would also face criminal
charges.
State Parks Bill: HB 2599
Despite recent turmoil surrounding
the closure of state parks, lawmak-
ers shot down a proposed measure
that would allow the Arizona State
Parks Board to charge a car regis-
tration fee in order to gain money
to re-open closed parks and main-
For More Information:
Contact Dennis Bourret at
465-1334
arts, theater, music—all on the
chopping block.”
Bourret said he has seen similar
budget cuts in school districts near
San Diego, and the result was a
“cultural wasteland.”
Bourret, who is also the director
of the Tucson Junior Strings, is also
pushing for Tucson voters to pass
Prop 100 in the statewide ballot on
May 18. Prop 100 is the proposed
temporary 1 cent sales tax increase
that would help stabilize the budget,
with a portion of the money ear-
marked for education. Bourret said
Tucsonans should look past partisan
politics in favor of young people.
“Nobody likes paying taxes, but
the alternative is worse,” he said.
shop, designed to encourage
fathers to become more involved in
their children’s lives, helped pass
knowledge to young fathers.
There was a wide variety of
fathers who participated in the
course. Some lived in half-way
houses and others’ children had
been taken away by Child
Protective Services. Many took
advantage of the program because
it was open to the public, he said.
“It was a nice mixture,” he said.
“It helped a lot of young, as well as
old fathers.”
Casillas said these cuts will
mostly affect the fathers who
attended the program.
“I think it was a bad decision,”
he said. “At the end it’s going to be
those that need the help that will
suffer the most.”
tain those that still exist.
Lawmakers instead adopted a vol-
untary donation. Visitors will have
the option to donate $10 upon reg-
istering their vehicles.
Student Insurance: HB
2295
Initial approval by the House of
Representatives has pushed a bill
forward that will help full-time
students apply for unemployment
insurance. HB 2295 would stop the
Department of Economic Security
from rejecting full-time students’
claims based on the belief that they
cannot hold a full-time job and
also be a full-time student.
As it exists now, benefits are
offered to those who can show they
are available to work full time,
they worked a specific number of
hours in a year, and they were “let
go” from a job and not fired.
Sales Tax Hike: Proposition
100
Arizonans will vote whether to
provisionally increase the state
sales tax on the May 18 special
election ballot. Proposition 100
would raise the state sales tax from
5.6 percent to 6.6 percent, an
increase of one penny on every
dollar spent. Legislators proposed
the initiative as a possible solution
to Arizona’s growing deficit, now
at more than $3 billion. The propo-
sition could yield $1 billion a year.
El INDEPENDIENTE Page / Página 3
Photo by roxana vaSqueZ
Right, Sofia Torres and her niece Sandra Torres gather at San Juan Bosco migrant shelter. Migrants are provided with shelter for 3 days.
Economy Pushes Women to
By Nohemi Ramirez
They struggled through the spiny desert, felt the
members who would help them find jobs. Angeles
was headed to Oregon, where her son lives.
They say they have seen that the people in their
harshness of the winter cold and saw the darkness of hometowns who had lived, or do live, in the United
the night, accompanied only by the sound of their States, have prospered significantly.
hushed steps and the howling of coyotes. “I see that a lot of our friends have crossed,” Sofia
Sofia Torres, 36, her niece Sandra Torres, 20, and says. “They have their houses. They have built houses
Aurora Angeles, 45, experienced all this and more for their parents. They have progressed.”
when they attempted to cross the U.S./Mexico border Although they had seen successes, they had also
illegally. heard stories about the dangers of crossing the desert.
They now sit disappointed in a shelter in Nogales, “The ones who love us really say how things are,
Sonora, after getting caught by U.S. Border Patrol and but the ones who don’t, say amazing things,” Angeles
sent back. says, referring to the stories they would hear about
They are not the only women who try to cross to the how easy it is to cross the desert illegally.
U.S. through the Sonoran desert. The number of wo- Hilda Loureiro, founder of the San Juan Bosco
men border crossers jumped 37 percent from 1994 to migrant shelter in Nogales, Sonora, says that the num-
1998, according to a continuing ber of women in the shelter has
study by University of Arizona increased in recent years.
anthropologist Anna Ochoa “A lot more women,” she
O’Leary. says. “I think since three years
She also points to a 2006 ago.”
study which shows that 48 per- Her shelter has helped deport-
cent of the people who move to ed migrants for 28 years. They
or who try to cross the border offer dinner and breakfast, beds
illegally through Nogales, to sleep in, and showers for men,
Sonora, are women. She cites women and children who find the
the decline in the Mexican shelter, Loureiro says.
economy and says that it all
seemed to begin with the North
They serve about 40 women
and 100 men a day.
American Free Trade For women who cross the
Agreement. desert, the risks are enormous.
“With NAFTA they disrupt- “They can get hurt. They can
ed a lot of the economies in die. They can get attacked. They
rural and impoverished parts of can be sexually assaulted,”
Mexico,” she says. O’Leary says. “Even if they don’t
So women increasingly die of thirst, they can cause dam-
cross into the United States to age to the organs.”
try to earn money to survive. Women are 2.7 times more
Standing next to a bunk bed likely to die in the desert than
inside the girl’s room of San men, she says.
Juan Bosco migrant shelter in Apart from the risks associat-
Nogales, Sonora, the women— Photo by roxana vaSqueZ ed with hiking across miles of
all from the Mexican state of Hilda Loureiro is the founder of the San Juan Bosco unforgiving desert, the women
Hidalgo — say they were aware migrant shelter. may be mistreated by Border
of the difficulties they might en- Patrol agents.
counter crossing into the United States, but the prospect Angeles says she was kicked in the stomach by one
of jobs was too enticing. of the agents.
“It’s because in Mexico (it’s) the minimum (wage), “He kicked me, but with those thick shoes,” she
and with the minimum people can’t live,” Sofia Torres says. “They took out the air from me.”
explains. “I wanted to earn more to give the best to my The three women also accuse agents of not control-
children.” ling their horses appropriately and causing them to
Sofia Torres, made the 35-hour bus trip with her kick and hurt a couple of the people in their group.
niece Sandra to Sonoita, Sonora, where they were to Jose de Jesus Gomez, an immigrant at the shelter,
meet the coyote who would smuggle them into says he believes it is more dangerous for women to
Arizona. This was their first attempt. cross the desert because they are exposed to abuse that
While traveling, they met Angeles who had the same men don’t have to worry about.
plan. They say they were three of the five women that “It’s very dangerous because they can get raped,”
tried to cross with a group of about 35 men. Gomez said. “The majority of the smugglers use drugs
They do not know what happened to the other two and when someone is on drugs and they see a woman,
women. the first thing they think about is you know what.”
“We were in the wilderness; there were a lot of Despite the risks, women still attempt to cross into
branches,” Angeles says when describing her trip the United States in search of a better life. Many of
through the desert. “I had gloves and a hat because my them try again and again.
son told me the desert is dangerous because the As for the Torres women and Angeles, they are
branches hit you in the face.” waiting for their families to send them money so they
After walking a couple of hours in the desert, they can return home. The $400 each of them saved to
stopped to wait for the smuggler to provide directions make their trip, is gone.
and that’s when the Border Patrol found them. “Thank God we are here to talk about it; not like
The Torres women were planning to go to others” Sofia said. “We are now returning to our
Oakland, Calif., where they were to meet with family towns.”
Page / Página 4 El INDEPENDIENTE April 8 / 8 de abril 2010

School Offers Prep Education Without Price
By Victoria Blute
Tough economic times have not
stopped Imago Dei Middle School
from continuing to provide a solid,
tuition-free prep-school education to
more than 50 low-income students.
The school has survived when
other schools have failed.
Imago Dei Middle School, 639
N. Sixth Ave., was founded in
2006 by the Revs. Anne Sawyer
and Susan Anderson-Smith, both
graduates of the Harvard Divinity
School.
“Truthfully, it had been a jour-
ney of faith from the get-go,” she
says. “While many nonprofits were
having to freeze budgets and cut
budgets in order to operate, over
the past four years we’ve had to
grow a budget.”
The school has added one grade
each year, which requires a larger
budget over time, Sawyer says.
Further, it costs roughly $15,000
per child per year to attend the
school, she says—money that par-
ents of students never pay as part
of a tuition-free institution for low-
income families.
Last year’s national average
cost per year per student was
$18,300, according to the National
Association for Independent
Schools. Imago Dei tries to keep
their costs low.
“It takes resources to staff a
program and offer a small class
size and a low student-teacher
ratio,” Sawyer says. She empha-
sizes that their model isn’t compli-
Students in an Imago Dei language arts class listen intently to their teacher.
cated—but sticking to it is vital.
“When we were identifying
ways to cut costs, our options were
to shorten the day, increase the
class size and thus decrease the
student-teacher ratio. In doing so,
we [would be] taking away the
strength from the program and our
ability to affect change.”
The school depends on individ-
ual and corporate donations and
foundation funding to continue
affecting change.
“Most of our donors, in addi-
tion to paying Arizona state tax,
give to support education,” she
says. “They believe in education.
They know that education is a
powerful tool.”
Parents Luis and Linda Cruz are
pleased with the education that
Imago Dei has provided for their
eighth-grade son.
“There’s so much extra time
that they’re here during the day—
three hours on a Saturday—you
don’t get that kind of education
somewhere else,” Luis Cruz says.
“I wish I’d had a school like this
when I was going to school.”
With a ten-hour school day, five
days a week and three hours on
Photo courteSy oF Karima white
Saturdays, for 11 months a year,
Imago Dei Middle School students
get a lot of time with their teachers.
Seventh grader Dandre Yancey
says he didn’t fully appreciate going
to school at Imago Dei until recently.
“I’m starting to like it,” he says.
“I didn’t really like it at first…I go
to school longer than my mom
goes to work.”
Yancey enjoys math and some
of the activities the school offers.
“Right now we’re working on a
lot,” he says. “We’re making a gar-
den to put up so that we can help
the environment. It’s a lot of native
plants. Last week we built water
harvesting tanks.”
Luis Cruz is hopeful that the
school will continue to provide edu-
cation to underserved students in
Tucson.
“This school is unique,” Cruz
says. “They’ve sought help when
they needed it. They’ve said, ‘Let’s
grab these reigns and get the fund-
ing we need to make this happen.’”
Sawyer hopes that awareness
about Imago Dei will encourage
people to donate.
“The issue of sustainability is
critical and a topic of ongoing dis-
cussion,” she says. “More and
more folks will begin to know
about us and hopefully respond.”
For the time being, the school’s
future looks bright. Biosphere cre-
ator John Wesley Miller has
offered to put together a committee
to actually build a “sustainable
school of the future” designed by
Imago Dei students that won in a
national competition.
Sawyer says the accomplish-
ment is proof that if students are
given love, support and a solid
education, they can achieve any-
thing. However, the benefits don’t
stop there.
“If they were able to build the
school, they would be giving back
to the community,” she says. “The
school itself would serve as an
inspiration and reminder of the
power of education, and what
young people can accomplish and
how they can impact the communi-
ty for a good.”

Libraries Lend a Hand With Free GED Assistance
Photo by otto roSS
Jose Colchado, left, teaches math to a student.
By Steve Ivanovics
With the job market growing increasingly
tight, local libraries are offering free classes
for the General Equivalency Diploma Test.
The Pima County Public Library has
offered a preparation and tutoring program
for the GED Test since fall 2007. The pro-
gram started at a couple locations but has
expanded recently.
Its continuation has allowed more peo-
ple to use the program, some with the hope
of being better able to compete in the job
market.
Fred Walker, 41, attends a GED Test class
at the Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch
Library. He says that similar classes at Pima
Community College have long waiting lists
and the library’s classes were his only option.
Though Walker has been able to find
work without a high school diploma, he says
it has become increasingly difficult over the
last decade. Most employers want to see a
GED at the minimum.
For More Information
go to “Library Services News” at
www.library.pima.
gov/services/
People like Walker are the key to improv-
ing the nation’s current economic situation,
said Jose Colchado, GED Test instructor at
the Valencia Branch Library.
“With all the budgetary problems this
state has, we need to create taxpayers, not tax
users, to pull ourselves out,” Colchado said.
Maria Acevedo, an instructor at Sam
Lena, has been teaching GED Test prepara-
tion since 1974. She said she believes that
South Tucson can greatly benefit from adult
education.
“I was excited when I was assigned here
a couple years ago, because this area, more
than others, has a clearer need for improving
education,” Acevedo said.
According to an article written by Roy
Flores, PCC chancellor, 18 percent of
Arizona diplomas awarded between 2008
and 2009 were GEDs. He also said that the
Alliance for Excellent Education reported an
estimated 3,300 students dropped out of
high school in the Tucson metropolitan area
in 2008 alone.
Some of these former students now look
to the library’s program to catch up on the
education they missed.
Chris Celix, 20, dropped out of school in
eighth grade. He now attends Acevedo’s class.
“I just want to do it for myself, because I
knew I could have done it the first time,”
Celix said.
The success of the program has left the
program’s coordinator, Dawn Gardner, feel-
ing encouraged.
Gardner, a librarian with the Pima County
Public Library, said that a survey given to the
exiting students in fall 2009 showed that 98
percent felt more prepared for the GED
examination.

Proyectos de ley para arizonenses
Por Victoria Blute
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Los arizonenses tienen varios proyectos de ley en la mira
en los meses venideros.
Asuntos de inmigración ilegal: SB 1070
El panel de la Cámara de Representantes aprobó SB 1070,
un proyecto de ley designado para implementar leyes fed-
erales de inmigración más rígidas y darle a la policía más
autoridad para arrestar a personas sospechosas de ser
inmigrantes ilegales y acusarles de un delito.
El proyecto de ley hará que la presencia de un inmi-
grante ilegal en los EE.UU. sea ilegal y se creará la
acusación de “incumplimiento voluntario de completar o
portar un documento de registro de extranjero”. El proyec-
to también hace que sea un delito para los inmigrantes ile-
gales el trabajar o solicitar empleo en Arizona.
SB 1070 exigirá que los agentes pregunten acerca del
estado migratorio de cualquier persona que se les cruce en
su camino durante sus actividades policiacas regulares.
Además, aquellos que a sabiendas se escondan, ayuden
o sin importarles ignoren a individuos que se sabe que son
inmigrantes ilegales también se enfrentarán a acusaciones
penales.
Proyecto de ley de los parques estatales: HB
2599
A pesar de la reciente confusión acerca del cierre de par-
ques estatales, los legisladores rechazaron una propuesta
que permitiría al Consejo de Parques cobrar una cuota por
registro de automóviles y así recaudar fondos para volver
a abrir los parques cerrados y mantener los que todavía
existen. En lugar de eso, los legisladores adoptaron una
medida de donaciones voluntarias para los parques. Los
visitantes tendrán la opción de donar $10 al momento de
registrar sus vehículos. La aprobación inicial por la
Cámara de Representantes ha empujado hacia adelante un
proyecto de ley que ayudará a los estudiantes de tiempo
completo solicitar aseguranza de desempleo.
La aseguranza de estudiantes: HB 2295
HB 2295 impedirá que el Departamento de Seguridad
Económica, la institución responsable de repartir benefi-
cios como la aseguranza de desempleo, rechace a los estu-
diantes de tiempo completo basados en la creencia que no
pueden mantener un empleo de tiempo completo y ser
estudiantes de tiempo completo también.
Actualmente, se ofrecen beneficios a aquellos que
demuestran estar disponibles para trabajar tiempo comple-
to, que trabajan un número específico de horas al año, y
que fueron “recortados” de un trabajo pero no despedidos.
Alza en los impuestos a la venta:
Proposición 100
El 18 de mayo en la boleta de elecciones especiales, los
arizonenses votarán si hay que aumentar provisionalmente
o no los impuestos a la venta.
La Proposición 100 incrementará el impuesto a la venta
de 5.6 por ciento a 6.6 por ciento, un aumento de un cen-
tavo por cada dólar gastado.
Los legisladores propusieron la iniciativa como una
posible solución para el cada vez mayor déficit de
Arizona, ahora a más de $3 billones. La proposición arro-
jará ganancias de $1 billón al año.
April 8 / 8 de abril 2010 El INDEPENDIENTE Page / Página 5

Future Still Uncertain for Mexican Gray Wolf
By Kaite Flynn
Mexican wolf F521 was born in
captivity at the Cheyenne Mountain
Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colo., in
1997 as part of the Mexican Wolf
Recovery Program managed by
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Later, F521 was brought to a
wildlife refuge pre-release facility
in New Mexico. She was paired
with a male, M507. The wolves
bred in captivity and were released
into the wild with a litter in 2002.
The Bluestem Pack was born
and became one of the most prolif-
ic packs in Mexican wolf recovery.
Reintroduction has had its suc-
cess stories like F521 and her
Bluestem Pack, but the recovery
program is still struggling.
Currently, the Blue Range Wolf
Recovery Area, which stretches
from New Mexico into Arizona, is
the only area authorized to carry out
recovery, said Michael Robinson, a
conservation advocate with the
Center for Biological Diversity.
Until reintroduction began,
there were no Mexican wolves
anywhere in the wild and they
were considered extinct, he said.
The larger grouping – the gray
wolf – has been protected under
the Endangered Species Act since
1973. But in 2009 the Center for
Biological Diversity started a peti-
tion to separately list the Mexican
wolf, a subspecies of the gray
wolf, as endangered.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
will review the petition and see if
the listing of the species is war-
ranted, said Maggie Dwire, assis-
tant recovery coordinator.
Robinson said that despite fed-
eral protection of the gray wolf, the
Mexican wolf is possibly the most
A Mexican gray wolf paces in its enclosure at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
endangered animal in North
America.
There are 42 Mexican wolves in
the wild, 15 in New Mexico and 27
in Arizona, with only two breeding
pairs, Robinson said. There are,
however, breeding facilities with
about 330 wolves waiting to be
reintroduced, Robinson said.
The decline in Mexican wolf
population has numerous causes,
including targeted killing, disease
and genetic problems.
In 1915 the Bureau of
Biological Survey, later renamed
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
started to systematically poison,
trap and shoot Mexican wolves on
domestic lands, Robinson said.
With decades of trapping and
killing, the population has
declined, he said. Because of the
decline, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and other agencies have
switched gears and are now work-
ing to recover the species.
Reintroduction began in 1998,
but research by the Center for
Biological Diversity shows the wolf
population continues to decline. In
1999, there were 21 new releases.
The number plunged to zero in 2007.
In 2009, release of captive
wolves became impossible when a
nasal tumor resulted in the death of
the pack’s alpha male, said Susan
Dicks, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service biologist. The puppies in
the pack also died, and the female
was moved to New York where she
Photo by Kaite Flynn
will remain in captivity for the rest
of her life, Dicks said.
Another obstacle could be
genetic issues, Dicks said.
Biologists are closely monitoring
genetics to determine which
wolves to release, she said.
Ranchers on public lands are
another problem, said Dave
Parsons, a conservation advocate
and former U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service employee.
“Up until just recently, they’ve
put way too much focus and priori-
ty on resolving conflicts in a way
that wolves always pay the price,”
Parsons said. When a conflict arose
in the past, the solution was to take
wolves out of the picture, he said.
In 2005, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service policy was to remove any
wolf that attacked three cattle per
year. This continued until 2008.
Another problem is illegal
shootings. Since 1998, there have
been 33 reported illegal killings in
the Southwest, Parsons said. There
are limited circumstances when
someone can shoot a wolf. But, the
law currently states that if a wolf is
on private land and in the act of
killing livestock, the landowner
can shoot and kill it, Dwire said.
Ranchers and farmers with live-
stock still have concerns.
“Those who depend on live-
stock for income, you know, aren’t
going to be too concerned if they
perform an illegal act against an
endangered species,” said Nick
Robbs, a University of Arizona
student whose family owns and
operates Robbs Farm in Wilcox.
“If it’s eating your income,
you’ll kill it and bury it,” he said.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
said it will be working to facilitate
more releases and build public tol-
erance for wolves in the wild,
Dicks said.
A primary focus for U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is to develop
a revised recovery plan that
includes wolves.
The original goal was to have
100 Mexican wolves in the wild by
2006. The program is still working
on hitting the mark, Dicks said.
But without a new recovery
plan there is no deadline. However,
Dwire said she’s optimistic. She
said she hopes to reconvene a
recovery team within the next year.
For now, plans for the number of
wolves U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service wants in the wild are still on
hold. But the success of F521 shows
that recovery is possible, she said.

Towns and Local Organizations Step Up to Keep Parks Open
By Marissa Hopkins
Following the closure of state parks that
started Feb. 22, some Arizona communities
are stepping in to keep their parks open.
The Arizona State Parks Board voted
March 18 to allow four state parks to enter
into management agreements with outside
groups, said Ellen Bilbrey, public informa-
tion officer.
Management agreements are pending for
the town of Camp Verde to keep Fort Verde
State Historic Park open for one year, and
the city of Yuma has proposed to manage
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
for three years.
Also, the city of Tombstone would keep
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
running for three years.
The fourth, Riordan Mansion State
Historic Park in Flagstaff, would be kept
open for three years by the Arizona
Historical Society, Bilbrey said.
It has already been approved that the
town of Payson will lend financial assistance
to keep Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
open until September 27. Also, pending
approval, the Arizona Game and Fish
Department will financially assist to keep
Roper Lake State Park near Safford open
until June 3, Bilbrey said.
Three parks already closed due to previous
budget cuts will remain closed – McFarland
State Historic Park, Jerome State Historic
Park and San Rafael Ranch State Park.
The closures were approved by the
Arizona State Parks Board in January fol-
lowing budget cuts of $8.6 million, Bilbrey
said.
It is important for communities near the
parks to keep them open because of the rev-
enue it brings to their local economies,
Bilbrey said.
Further, the state parks hold cultural
importance, such as the Tombstone
Courthouse, said Tombstone Mayor Dusty
Escapule.
“It is one of the oldest courthouses in the
state of Arizona and it’s got thousands of
artifacts that residents should be able to
visit,” Escapule said.
If you go
Already Closed:
•Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow
•Lyman Lake State Park in St. Johns
•Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Closing June 3:
•Alamo Lake State Park in Wenden
•Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache
Junction
•Picacho Peak State Park
•Red Rock State Park in Sedona
•Roper Lake State Park in Safford
Closing September 27:
•Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Community Leader Dies at 63 
Smiles Abound at So. Tucson Barber Shop
By Nathan Mitchell

Community leader Mary Alice

Eckstrom died March 29 of lym-
phoma. She was 63 years old.
Alice Eckstrom, as she was
known, served her community
through the League of Mexican-
American Women, Catholic
Community Services and St.
Ambrose Catholic School, among
other organizations. She was the
mother of Jennifer Eckstrom, South
Tucson’s Mayor, and the wife of
Photo carrillo'S tucSon mortuary
Dan Eckstrom, former mayor. courteSy oF

Alice Eckstrom was known for
working behind the scenes. She
was an “unheralded” person who
supported a family committed to
public services. At the funeral the
community came together to share
stories about her, said Enrique
Serna, South Tucson city manager.
“She generated a lot of goodwill
among a lot of people,” Serna said.
“It was a real blessing to attend the
funeral. We get to pay that forward.”
Serna had the good fortune of
forming a personal relationship
with Eckstrom that was based in
spirituality. Many people formed
relationships with her, he said.
“I know her family will contin-
ue to nurture these relationships.”
In addition to her husband and
Photo by otto roSS
daughter, Eckstrom is survived by
her son Daniel Eckstrom. Barber Hector Cruz cuts a South Tucson man's hair while his nephew Steven Cruz looks on at
Her family could not be reached Grand Central Barber Shop.
for comment.
Page / Página 6 El INDEPENDIENTE April 8 / 8 de abril 2010

CyraCom Offers Easy Translation
‘Hospitals’ Continued from page 1
Although the majority of large
hospitals, including TMC, Uni-
versity Medical Center and St.
Mary’s Hospital, use CyraCom,
not all of Tucson’s smaller clinics
can afford such equipment.
That’s why doctors Tracy
Carroll, Alejandra Zapein and
Oscar Beita of the UA College of
Medicine started an English-
Spanish medical translation class
for pre-medical students two years
ago through the Office of Outreach
Photo by otto roSS
and Multicultural Affairs.
Richard Sanchez, Sunnyside High School Athletic Director and head football coach. In addition to class time, stu-
Earlier this year Carroll started
working at the University Phy-
sicians Healthcare Hospital at
Kino Campus. She said the pain
intensity scale and body chart
sheets at triage were not available
in Spanish, so she took copies of
the English versions and gave
them to her students to translate.
She then brought them back to
Kino.
“Wherever I work, the first
thing I see is that there are no
Spanish documents,” Carroll said.
“It’s so frustrating.”
Carroll said she has never met a
post-heart attack patient who did-
dents volunteer is Clinica Amistad,
1631 S. 10th Ave. The clinic is
open Monday nights and doctor
visits are free. If medication need-
ed is in stock, it is provided at no
cost. Otherwise, a prescription is
given that the patients can fill at a
pharmacy.
The clinic is funded by private
donations. Everyone who works
there is a volunteer, including doc-
tors. But the clinic has been hurt-
ing financially, said Carole
Spackman, a volunteer coordina-
tor.
A $10,000 grant they normally
receive from the Southern Arizona

Athletics Improve
dents are required to volunteer 30
hours per semester at clinics, usu-
ally smaller ones that do not use
CyraCom.
n’t have fear or depression. Community Foundation did not
As such, the class also trains come through this year.
students about what to expect in “We thought we were going to
terms of emotions patients experi- have to close,” Spackman said.

Student Success
“It’s all about communication,” ence and how to reassure them by “Doctors used to come every
Beita said. “Describing the symp- being well-versed in background week. Now they come once a
toms, when they began – it’s all information about recovery. month because they’re too busy
vital.” One of the clinics where stu- with their own practices.”
By Jeff Feld money. Concession sales have also
helped.
Sunnyside High School’s tradi- Though the community has
tion-rich athletics program won its consistently supported the school,
13th consecutive state wrestling no contribution has been as large
Education Program Receives Grants
title in February and has ranked in as the Sunnyside Foundation’s ‘Parenting’ Continued from page 1 ents. All parent educators are spe- cation of developmental delays or
the top two in Arizona wrestling Blue Devils Football Golf cially trained and certified. health issues, Katz said.
for 31 straight years. Sunnyside Tournament, an annual community a year, said program coordinator The home visitations include Anna Riesgu has brought her son
has found a way to use athletics to event that Sanchez started. Joan Katz. lessons to improve learning skills and daughter to the program since
promote academic and personal Two years ago, retired police The program is based on the that prepare children for school, the school year began. Her son is
success with students despite ris- sergeant Gene Gonzales and his belief that parents are their child’s safety and health, Katz said, which very shy but opens up more by the
ing expenses and fees. brother, Rick Gonzales, volun- first teachers, Katz said. The goal are key components of the program. end of each day’s activities.
“This is an institution for aca- teered to handle the cost and is to help parents give their chil- “Our goal is to teach the par- Another program that the SUSD
demics,” said Richard Sanchez, organization to help Sanchez. dren a solid foundation for school ents,” said Alma Alvorado, a par- chapter of Parents as Teachers start-
Sunnyside athletic director and “Both of us being alum of the success, she said. The Sunnyside ent educator. “You learn a lot, too. ed is Fathers Matter. This program
assistant principal. “Our athletics high school and knowing how program currently has 306 families Everyday is different.” was created specifically to encour-
give our kids a sense of pride and much Richard (Sanchez) does for with 393 children enrolled. Of the Alvorado said she educates 30 to age fathers to be more involved in
ownership of their teams, but our the program really made it some- families, 39 are teen parents and 32 families at a time and visits their children’s early education,
job as educators is to put our kids in thing that we wanted to help out 20 are enrolled in Sunnyside high homes to work with parents and Katz said. At least once a month,
the best position to be successful.” with as much as we could,” Gene schools, Katz said. children. fathers can bring their kids to an
However, funding 13 boys and Gonzales said. Parents as Teachers offers Group meetings are also evening learning and play time.
girls sports and more than 20 The golf tournament, held at weekly, biweekly or monthly per- offered, such as library days, SUSD began its Parents as
extracurricular school-sponsored Starr Pass this August for the sev- sonal visits to each family where where parents and children can Teachers program in 1995 and
clubs and activities is no easy task. enth consecutive year, is a non- parent educators share age-appro- play, interact and learn and chil- more than 4,000 families and
At the beginning of each school profit fundraiser held specifically priate learning activities with par- dren can be screened for identifi- 4,500 children have participated.
year, Sunnyside Unified School for the football program.
District allots each school an equal Each player pays $150 for a
amount of mon- round of golf,
Programa para padres recibe subsidios
“
ey for extracur- food and a gift.
ricular activities, But local corpo-
including sports. Our athletics give our rate sponsors offer Por Marissa Hopkins
The principal of kids a sense of pride the biggest contri- Traducido por Sathya Honey Victoria
each school then bution.
divvies up the and ownership of After expens- Parents as Teachers (Los padres son maestros), un pro-
funds.The allot- their teams. es, the tournament grama de desarrollo infantil y educación para padres del
ted funds are not brings in as much Sunnside Unified School District, recibió dos subsidios
–Richard Sanchez
always enough as $20,000. el año pasado de un total de $235 mil.

”
Sunnyside Athletic Director
to support stu- “Our goal is to Parents as Teachers es un programa nacional de vol-
dent athletics, help give the stu- untariado diseñado para proveer educación y apoyo a
Sanchez said. dents everything padres con hijos, desde cuidado prenatal hasta que los
At Sunnyside, students pay a they need in order to be successful niños entran al jardín de niños. Está disponible para
$25 fee per sport, which is capped and be able to compete with other cualquier familia que viva dentro del distrito.
at $50 per student regardless of schools in the state,” Sanchez said. First Things First (Primero lo primero), que se
how many sports they play. The Throughout his efforts to keep ocupa de financiar programas para la niñez temprana
fees go toward equipment, travel, the athletic department afloat, con el dinero recaudado de un impuesto estatal sobre
staff and officials. However, the Sanchez has not lost sight of the el tabaco, le otorgó $160 mil a lo largo de tres años.
actual costs can be hundreds more importance of students being suc- Parents as Teachers usó ese subsidio para contratar a
than the student fees collected. cessful in the classroom. tres nuevos miembros.
From August to December He is responsible for creating El segundo subsidio, de $75 mil a lo largo de tres
2009, the cost of paying officials the Academic Compliance Office años, provino de Social Venture Partners Greater
and referees was close to $11,000 at Sunnyside, which requires stu- Tucson (Socios para la inversión social del área metro-
at Sunnyside, Sanchez said. For dents to maintain a certain grade politana de Tucsón), un fondo de la Community
football alone, required equipment point average in order to partici- Foundation for Southern Arizona (Fundación comuni-
such as helmets and shoulder pads pate in athletics. taria para el sur de Arizona). El programa también Foto Por mariSSa hoPKinS
cost more than $200 per player. “We really do everything we recibe $295 mil al año a través de subsidios de acuerdo Marna Jan, una madre educadora, baila con una estudiante con
“You can’t cut corners with that can to make sure our students are al Título I, dijo la coordinadora del programa Joan Katz. serpentinas.
stuff because it is a safety issue,” not only able to succeed in athlet- El programa se basa en la idea de que los padres
Sanchez said. “It’s not a wish list, ics but also become exceptional son los primeros maestros de sus hijos, dijo Katz. que educa de 30 a 32 familias a la vez y visita casas para
but what’s needed to participate.” students and people who can go on Dijo también que la meta es ayudar a los padres a que trabajar con padres y con niños.
Sunnyside does not make to get a college degree after gradu- den a sus hijos una base sólida sobre la cual construir También se ofrecen sesiones grupales como “días
money from athletic competition ating,” Sanchez said. su éxito académico. de biblioteca”, donde padres e hijos pueden jugar,
aside from football ticket and con- Sunnyside has a 75.4 percent Actualmente el programa tiene 306 familias con interactuar y aprender y donde se hacen pruebas a los
cession sales. The lack of addition- graduation rate as of 2008, accord- 393 niños inscritos. De las familias, 39 son padres niños para verificar que no hay atraso en su desarrol-
al funds leaves Sanchez and his ing to SUSD’s official statistics, adolescentes y 20 de ellos están inscritos en prepara- lo o problemas de salud, dijo Katz.
coaches in a difficult position. and higher than the district’s 69.3 torias de Sunnyside, dijo Katz. Anna Riesgu ha traído a su hijo e hija al programa
Sanchez said one football trip percent average. Sanchez said he Parents as Teachers ofrece visitas personales a cada desde el principio del año escolar. Su hijo es muy
to San Diego cost $16,000. knows the success of the athletics familia donde los educadores enseñan a los padres tímido pero que está más desenvuelto después de las
“That meant that we weren’t program directly impacts the stu- actividades educativas adecuadas para las edades de actividades de cada día.
able to give our athletes as much dents on a higher level, making it a sus hijos; las visitas pueden ser semanales, bisem- Otro programa del Parents as Teachers de SUSD es
gear and equipment as they had critical component of the students’ anales o mensuales. Todos los educadores han Fathers Matter (Los papás importan). Este programa
gotten in years past,” he said. success. recibido entrenamiento y certificación. fue creado específicamente para alentar la partici-
Heavy fundraising is needed to “It’s about becoming an excep- Las visitas a casa incluyen lecciones para mejorar pación activa de los padres en la educación temprana
make up for the gap between tional person here and going on to las técnicas de aprendizaje de los niños en preparación de sus hijos, dijo Katz. Por lo menos una vez al mes,
money budgeted and the money be successful. We just have to give para la escuela, además de salud y seguridad, que son los papás pueden llevar a sus hijos a una tarde de jue-
needed for all athletic programs. the kids the right opportunity, and partes importantes del programa, dijo Katz. gos y aprendizaje.
Students are mainly responsible in this case it’s athletics that allows “Nuestra meta es enseñar a los padres,” dijo Alma SUSD empezó su programa de Parents as Teachers
for fundraising. They hold bake us to do that.” Alvorado, una educadora para padres. “Una aprende en 1995 y desde entonces más de 4 mil familias y
sales and car washes to raise mucho también. Cada día es diferente.”Alvorado dijo 4.500 niños han participado en él.
April 8 / 8 de abril 2010 El INDEPENDIENTE Page / Página 7

Schools Go International
By Erica Nannini
Traditionalists may scoff upon
learning that students at Safford
Magnet Middle School build with
Legos in the classroom, but Sarah
Costello says this simple act puts
children ahead of the curve.
The toy-tinkering is part of the
beginning stages of the
International Baccalaureate pro-
gram at the middle school. The
program is a learning track that
adds to international core subjects
by giving students experience in
humanities, technology, engineer-
ing and more.
Costello, the IB coordinator at
Safford, says that the goal of the
new program is to educate students
for a global society and see con-
nections between different areas of
learning.
What’s more, the students seem
Photo courteSy oF deSert view high School to enjoy it.
Kyla Kemp, a student at Desert View High School, received a full scholarship to Stanford “The sixth grade has been very
University in California. positive about it,” Costello says
Fast Facts
Criteria for admission to the
IB Diploma Program (spring
of 10th grade year):
•GPA of 2.5 or better in
honors courses
•Enrollment in
Advancement Via
Individual Determination
(AVID) class
•Admissions essay
•Three core content area
teacher recommendations
•Proof of passing AIMS in
reading, writing and math
•Completion of the IB
Diploma Program applica-
tion
passing nature of the IB program
has given Cholla students a thirst
for knowledge not often found in
But the road to a successfully
certified IB program is a lengthy
one—for Cholla, it was a three-
year ordeal. Safford submitted its
application for feasibility last year,
which was approved by the IB
Organization.
This completes the first part of
the application, and Costello says
the second part, which includes a
formal examination of the pro-
gram, should conclude within the
next year.
Costello says the current strand
of sixth graders going through the
program is like a test round, and
within the next three years she
hopes to have IB-certified strands
in all middle school grade levels.
One of the main challenges is
teacher education. Strict standards
require that teachers undergo rig-
orous training to ensure American
students are on par with interna-
tional students.
Meyer says teacher expenses
take up the largest chunk of

Student Conquers
“They love learning French, and the average high schooler. Cholla’s $80,000 to $100,000
they love the technology classes “Five years ago, students yearly budget for IB operations.
because they are hands-on.” laughed if you wanted to go to Students often have trouble

Academics, Sports
By Brett Booen
How’s this for a resume?
Desert View High School senior
Kyla Kemp is valedictorian, a cap-
tain of the tennis team and a stand-
out member in the community.
She plays five instruments in
the orchestra and her favorite sub-
ject is math.
Earlier this year she earned a
full-ride scholarship to one of the
nation’s leading universities and
her career dream is to work with
jet engines.
“It’s not hard to stay motivated
when you’re doing something you
love,” Kemp says. “It’s fun explor-
ing every ‘atmosphere’ and every
region of knowledge.”
Kemp’s future is bright, but she
still has a little over a month of
school left at Desert View. Here
are the three “atmospheres” where
Kemp excels.
major in aeronautics and mechani-
cal engineering and eventually
return to Tucson to work at
Raytheon Missile Systems.
“I want to develop better and
more efficient jet engines,” she
says confidently.
2. Athletics
Kemp captains the Desert View
tennis team alongside Cynthia
Ramirez. The duo has helped lead
the Jaguars to a 6-3 record. The
Jaguars are in the hunt for a 4A-I
playoff berth, which would be the
school’s first in three years.
Desert View tennis coach Stacy
Haines says Kemp’s on-court
smarts carry her during matches.
“You know, she’s not the great-
est natural athlete,” Haines says.
“But she makes up for it with her
smarts. It amazes me how intelli-
gent she is.”
Safford is the second school in
Pima County to begin implementa-
tion of an IB program, coming on
the heels of the Cholla Magnet
High School, which implemented
the first IB Diploma Program in
Pima County in 2009.
The hands-on, Lego learning in
middle school translates into
beyond-the-classroom experience
in high school.
Throughout the two-year pro-
gram at Cholla, spanning grades 11
and 12, students are required to
complete 150 hours of extracurricu-
lar community service-type experi-
ence, be it ballet folklórico perform-
ances or out-of-state exchanges.
When it comes to a second lan-
guage, students have their choice
of Spanish, German, Arabic and
Chinese. French will soon be
added to the list.
Joyce Meyer, IB coordinator at
Cholla, says that the all-encom-
school,” she says. “There’s an atti-
tude change in the culture here. I
see kids sitting down and having
intellectual conversations and talk-
ing about in-depth subjects.”
That new attitude has translated
into college readiness, which is the
ultimate goal of the program. In
addition to noticeable spikes in
SAT and ACT scores, Meyer has
watched her students in the pro-
gram receive acceptance letters
from many choice colleges, some-
times with scholarship money
attached.
“Our kids are predominantly
[members of the] Hispanic popula-
tion,” Meyer says. “They have
now seen that they have a chance
to go to college, and about half of
them are going out of state.”
The success of the IB program
inspired its introduction at Safford
Middle School. Meyer says Rob-
bins Elementary School is next.
paying for the yearly exams that
are administered to measure
progress.
Cholla has tackled this problem
by using the TUSD post-unitary
plan to cover the cost of the exams
for those students on free or
reduced lunch, according to
Meyer. Two-thirds of Cholla’s
senior students are on free or
reduced lunch.
Safford’s decision to forge
ahead with the implementation
process suggests the program ben-
efits outweigh the expenses.
To those students who are
reluctant to take part in a program
with so many demands, Costello
makes it clear that the program is
not “exclusive.”
“When you say ‘rigor’ it scares
people, but if you give them the
scaffolding to go along with it,
then they can succeed,” Costello
says.

1. Academics
Kemp has a 4.289 grade-point
average, which ranks first out of a
class of 358. She is currently
enrolled in five advanced place-
ment courses.
When asked which class was
her favorite, Kemp’s answer was
as impressive as it was immediate.
“Calculus,” she says. “It has the
foundation for just about every-
thing I want to do in the future.”
Her academic prowess caught
the eye of Stanford, and last fall
she was awarded a full scholarship.
She says she wants to double
3. Extracurricular
As if her workload wasn’t heavy
enough, Kemp is also a four-year
member of the Desert View
orchestra. She plays violin, but
also enjoys the piano, cello, bass
guitar and drums.
“Music is just as important to
me as those other things in my
life,” Kemp says.
But what impresses orchestra
teacher Neil McCallion most about
Kemp is not so much her playing
ability, but her leadership in class.
“She’s a real good kid,”
McCallion says “and a first-class
leader.”
At-Risk Families Subject of UA Grant
By Shelby Hill
A $2 million grant given to the
University of Arizona Department
of Agriculture will help teach fam-
ilies in Eloy and Nogales, Ariz.,
family and child-related skills with
the hope of creating a similar
statewide program.
Families with children age
three to five who are “high-risk” in
terms of poverty will receive train-
ing as part of the research done by
UA Associate Professor Angela
Taylor and her colleagues.
The training includes education
in effective discipline, communi-
cation, reducing conflicts, healthy
eating habits, physical education
and improving children’s readiness
for school, Taylor said.
The program will train families
while allowing researchers to
gauge the success of the training,
she said.
“Clearly we’re looking for sig-
nificant gains following the pro-
gram in each of those targeted
areas,” Taylor said.
Teaching family skills will be
the main focus, but researchers
also want to help support existing
family strengths, she said.
One possible benefit of the pro-
gram may be the children’s ability
to climb out of poverty through the
education their families receive,
Taylor said.
“I think a very long-term goal
might be to see a lessened involve-
ment in poverty situations,” Taylor
said.
The program will most likely
start working with selected fami-
lies in January 2011.
The grant will cover two cycles
of training per year over a five-
year period.

Local Author Miller Releases Latest in Literary Collection
By Jeff Feld The chapter “draws on the frightening
story of a double homicide in which a majes-
Local author Tom Miller’s “Revenge of the tic 125-year-old saguaro kills its assassin,”
Saguaro” hit shelves last month in what crit- Miller’s website says.
Jay rochlin
to come to the desert.
“I jumped through the window of oppor-
tunity and landed here,” says Miller on his
move to Tucson. “Before I moved, the only

ics have called a “delightful and quirky” This is just one of many stories featured thing I knew about Arizona was that Barry
account of the American Southwest. in the book that takes an untraditional Goldwater and marijuana were from here.”
Miller, a native of Washington, D.C., approach to the people and lifestyle of the Miller says people who currently live in
oF

moved to Tucson at 21 and immediately Southwest. the Southwest or are interested in moving or
PhotoS courteSy

became fascinated with the culture, history
and lifestyle of the Southwest. Since then, he
has produced a number of works that chron-
icle life along the U.S.-Mexico border
region, Central America, and even South
America and Cuba.
“Revenge of the Saguaro” is an updated
and expanded version of “Jack Ruby’s
Kitchen Sink,” his previous work published
in 2000 by Adventure Press after being fea-
tured in National Geographic.
After nine years of publication, Cinco
Puntos Press decided to work with Miller
Left: Miller’s new book, “Revenge of the Saguaro.”
Right: Tom Miller.
and update the book.
Cinco Puntos wanted to specifically fea-
ture the book’s most popular story as its own
chapter. Eventually, it became the name of
the refreshed work in “Revenge of the
Saguaro.”
Unlike other travel books, Miller’s offers a
first-person account of his experience that
gives the reader an unfiltered perspective of
the people and culture he encounters.
“It’s a personal narrative, an accumula-
tion of a lot of things I’ve experienced based
purely on observation over the years,”
Miller says.
“It’s about who’s in the kitchen, the cam-
era shop, the cantina,” he says.
Miller aims to explain what sparked his
interests in the Southwest, which he says he
came upon coincidentally when he decided
traveling here should read his new book.
“I think people who already live here will
enjoy the stories that they can relate to or
never knew about. And people who are inter-
ested in visiting or moving here will read it
and either move here right away or stay
away forever,” he says.
Miller will be the opening act for The
Sisters Morales, a local music group, May
15, at Old Town Artisans in downtown
Tucson. He will speak and read passages
from his works, including “Revenge of the
Saguaro.”
Page / Página 8
?
By Erica Nannini
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez
April 3 – April 24
Oasis Art  Intercambio ciclista
Spring has sprung and so has the
springtime exhibition at the
Conrad Wilde Gallery, 439 N.
Sixth Ave., #171. Featured is a
collection of tranquil, contempla-
tive paintings by local and nation-
al artists. Visit the gallery for
some rest and relaxation on
Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Call
622-8997 or visit www.conrad-
wildegallery.com for more infor-
mation.
April 10
Stories on Stage
Poet Francisco X. Alarcón’s
works come to life when actors
and puppeteers with the
University of Arizona’s Stories on
Stage present “Words and Other
Voices – Palabras y Otras Voces.”
The kid-friendly series of plays
will take place from 10:30 to
11:30 a.m. at Himmel Park
Branch Library, 1035 N. Treat
Ave. The event is free. Visit
www.library.pima.gov for a listing
of showtimes at other branch
libraries throughout April.
April 13 – April 18
“Chicago”
Broadway’s classic razzle-dazzle
musical featuring murder, fame
and jazz is coming to the Tucson
Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
John O’Hurley stars as Billy
Flynn. Tickets range from about
$35 to more than $100, with dis-
counts available for students and
seniors. Visit ticketmaster.com to
reserve seats and for showtimes.
April 16, 17
Battle of the Bands
Bands compete for the chance to
win $1,000 worth of recording
time from OG7 Studios, gift cer-
tificates and cold, hard cash.
Doors open at The Rock, 136 N.
Park Ave., at 6:30 p.m. on April 16
and 6 p.m., April 17 for the
Wildcard to the Finals follow-up.
Tickets are $7 in advance and $9
at the door. Both shows are all-
ages, with an I.D.-required bar.
Call 629-9211 or visit www.rock-
tucson.com for more information.
April 17
Club Crawl
Live music fills the streets of
downtown Tucson and Fourth
Avenue as bands perform on about
25 different stages during Spring
Club Crawl. The event is for ages
21 and up. Wristbands are $8 if
purchased in advance at Zia
Records and $10 at the door. A
tentative band lineup is available
through the Tucson Weekly at club
crawl.ning.com. For more infor-
mation, call 795-1420.
April 18
Bike Swap
Tucson riders unite at the Greater
Arizona Bicycle Association
Swap Meet. Buy, sell and trade
qué PaSa?
Cesar Chavez March
JoShua morgan
by
Photo
Tucsonans Gather to Honor Cesar Chavez
Ana Valenzuela, left, director of the Arizona League of Latin American Citizens, starts to march
at Pueblo Magnet High School during the 10th annual Cesar Chavez March. The march took
place on March 27 and went from Pueblo Magnet High School to Rudy Garcia Park.
new and used riding gear at this
biannual event held on Fourth
Avenue between Sixth and Ninth
streets. The event is free and
runs 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parking
meters and University of Arizona
parking garages are free on
Sundays. For more information,
call 624-5004 or visit
www.fourthavenue.org.
May 2
Cinco de Mayo Run
Tucson Heart Group invites you to
the 30th annual 10K walk/run on a
scenic mountain back road.
Participants meet at 7 a.m. at
Cholla High School, 2001 W. Starr
Pass Blvd., to begin the USATF-
certified race winding through
Starr Pass, then finish with
refreshments, breakfast burritos,
mariachi music, games and more.
Registration costs between $25
and $35 and must be completed by
April 23. For registration details,
visit www.azroadrunners.org.
May 1
A Wealth of Health
Bring the little ones to learn about
exercise, healthy eating and over-
all body care at the second annual
Health and Wellness Fair at the
Tucson Children’s Museum,
200 S. Sixth Ave. Participating
organizations will provide interac-
tive fun, including a fire truck and
a computer-fingerprinting pro-
gram. The event is from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. and admission is free.
Call 792-9985 for more informa-
tion.
May 5
Teen Iron Chef
As part of a month-long celebra-
tion of YMCA Healthy Kids Day,
El INDEPENDIENTE
the Sam Lena-South Tucson
Branch Library is hosting a cook-
off in which teams of six battle to
create healthy Mexican entrees,
salsa and agua fresca. A panel of
local celebrities will judge the
competition, held 4:30 to 6:30
p.m. at John A. Valenzuela Youth
Center, 1550 S. Sixth Ave.
Contact the library at 594-5265 to
register for the contest.
Del 3 al 24 de abril
Arte Oasis
La primavera ha llegado y también
su exposición en la Galería
Conrad Wilde en el 439 N. Sixth
Ave., #171. Dicha colección esta
compuesta por pinturas de detalles
serenos y contemplativos pintadas
por artistas locales y nacionales.
Visite la galeria para así descansar
y relajarse de martes a sábado de
11 a.m. a 5 p.m. La entrada es gra-
tuita. Para más información llame
al 622-8997 o visite www.conrad-
wildegallery.com.
10 de abril
Historias en el esce-
nario
Las obras del poeta Francisco X.
Alarcón toman vida cuando los
actores y titiriteros, junto al pro-
grama Historias en el escenario de
la Universidad de Arizona, presen-
tan Words and Other Voices
(Palabras y otras voces). La serie
de obras para toda la familia se
llevará a cabo de 10:30 a 11:30
a.m. en la biblioteca Himmel Park,
en 1035 N. Treat Ave. El evento es
gratuito. Para obtener una lista de
los horarios de las presentaciones
en diferentes bibliotecas durante el
mes de abril, visite
www.library.pima.gov.
Del 13 al 18 de abril
“Chicago”
El clásico musical callejero con
temas de muerte, fama y jazz llega
al Music Hall de Tucsón en 260 S.
Church Ave. John O’ Hurley per-
sonifica a Billy Flynn. Las
entradas van desde $35 a más de
$100, con descuentos para estudi-
antes y personas de la tercera
edad. Para reservar asientos y ver
los horarios visite www.ticketmas-
ter.com.
16 y 17 de abril
Competición de ban-
das
Diferentes bandas compiten por la
oportunidad de ganar tiempo de
grabación en OG7 Studios equiva-
lente a mil dólares, certificados de
regalo y dinero constante y
sonante. El evento será en The
Rock en 136 N. Park Ave. a las
6:30 p.m. el 16 de abril, y el 17 de
abril empezará a las 6 p.m. con
eliminaciones y después la final.
Las entradas cuestan $7 por ade-
lantado y $9 en la puerta. Ambos
espectáculos son para todas las
edades mas se requerirá identifi-
cación en el bar. Para más infor-
mación llame al 629-9211 o visite
www.rocktucson.com.
17 de abril
Club Crawl
La música en vivo de diferentes
grupos tocando en 25 escenarios
distintos llenará las calles del cen-
tro de Tucsón, así como la Fourth
Avenue durante el Spring Club
Crawl. El evento es para personas
de 21 años en adelante. Las
pulseras tendrán un costo de $8
por adelantado en Zia Records y
$10 en la entrada. Se puede obten-
er el plan provisional de los gru-
pos participantes a través de
April 8 / 8 de abril 2010
Tucson Weekly en
clubcrawl.ning.com.
18 de abril
Los ciclistas de Tucsón se reúnen
en Greater Arizona Bicycle
Association Swap Meet. Compre,
venda e intercambie uniformes de
ciclismo nuevos y usados en este
evento bianual celebrado en
Fourth Avenue entre las calles
Sixth y Ninth. El evento es gratu-
ito y se llevará a cabo de 6 a.m. a
1 p.m. Los parquímetros y los
aparcamientos de la Universidad
de Arizona son gratuitos durante
los domingos. Para más informa-
ción, llame al 624-5004 o visite
www.fourthavenue.org.
2 de mayo
Carrera del cinco de
mayo
El Tucson Heart Group le invita a
su carrera/caminata anual número
30 de 10K en una ruta escénica
por las montañas. Los partici-
pantes se reunirán a las 7 a.m. en
Cholla High School en 2001 W.
Starr Pass Blvd. para así comenzar
la carrera certificada por USATF
serpenteando por Starr Pass, y
luego terminar con refrescos, bur-
ritos, mariachi, juegos y mucho
más. La inscripción cuesta entre
$25 y $35 y deberá completarse
antes del 23 de abril. Para detalles
de inscripción visite www.azroad-
runners.org.
1 de mayo
La salud, una riqueza
Lleve a los niños a aprender sobre
el ejercicio, comer saludable y
cómo cuidar de su cuerpo en la
segunda feria anual de Health and
Wellness en el Children’s Museum
de Tucsón en 200 S. Sixth Ave.
Las organizaciones que participan
proveerán entretenimiento interac-
tivo, incluyendo un camión de
bomberos y un programa com-
putacional de huellas dactilares.
El evento es de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. y
la entrada es gratuita. Para más
información llame al 792-9985.
5 de mayo
Iron Chef para adoles-
centes
Como parte de la celebración del
YMCA, Healthy Kids Day que dura
todo un mes, la biblioteca Sam
Lena-South de Tucsón está organi-
zando un concurso de cocina, en el
que equipos de seis integrantes
lucharán para crear saludables
platos de comida, salsa y agua fres-
ca. Un panel de celebridades
locales juzgará el concurso que será
de 4:30 a 6:30 p.m. en John A.
Valenzuela Youth Center, en 1550
S. Sixth Ave. Para inscribirse llame
a la biblioteca al 594-5265.
Upcoming community
events can be submitted to
El Independiente at
elindy.ua@gmail.com.
Events must be received at
least two weeks in
advance.
EL
inDePenDiente
Free/gratis
Tucsón reacciona a la nueva legislación
Por Nathan Mitchell
Traducido por Dina Tyrrell
Siendo que la nueva ley de inmi-
gración de Arizona es el centro de
atención publica, el Sur de Tucsón
ha empezado preparaciones para
hacer cumplir la agresiva y
polémica “Ley de Apoyo a
Nuestras Agencias del Orden
Público y Vecindarios Seguros”,
mejor conocida como SB 1070.
La nueva legislación, la cual
fue firmada por la gobernadora Jan
Brewer el 23 de abril, convierte en
delito estar en Arizona sin docu-
mentación inmigratoria apropiada
y pide que la policía revise el esta-
do legal. Una persona sin docu-
mentación legal puede ser multada
hasta por $2,500, encarcelada y
deportada. La ley también declara
ilegal el transporte intencional de
migrantes ilegales o el contrato de
jornaleros en la calle.
La policía del Sur de Tucsón ha
empezado a hablar acerca del
entrenamiento necesario para
hacer cumplir la ley de una manera
correcta.
El Comité de Estándares y
Capacitación para los Oficiales de
la Paz de Arizona determinará, en
mayo, las guías exactas para la
aplicación.
El Jefe de la Policía del Sur de
Tucsón Richard Muñoz, el cual
dijo que se oponía a la ley antes
que ésta pasara, se entrevistará con
online
articles
Visit elindenews.com
to read this issue’s
online-only articles.
Mariachi World Record
Tucson sets the Guinness
World Record for most mari-
achis playing in one room.
Barrio Sustainability Project
Grassroots organization helps
community by growing a
garden.
Tohono O’odham
Community Action
Traditional foods promote cul-
ture and health of Tohono
O’odham community.
1976 ~ 34 Years of Service ~ 2010
Protestadores expresaron sus opiniones mientras se eschuchaban discursos en la oficina central de Raúl Grijalva, el 24 de abril, el día
después de que se firmó la ley 1070.
el consejero legal del departamen-
to para definir la mejor manera de
aplicar esta ley.
“Queremos estar seguros que
todos los agentes estén de acuerdo
en cuanto a la duda razonable”,
Water Stations Proposed for Buenos Aires
By Heather Rissi
Humanitarian groups are working
alongside officials from Buenos
Aires National Wildlife Refuge to
prevent deaths of migrants cross-
ing the border while keeping the
environmental integrity of the
refuge intact.
Volunteers from No More
Deaths and Samaritans and
Humane Borders have been ticket-
ed for littering after leaving water
jugs in the refuge for migrants
traveling trails near the U.S.-
Controversy Continues Over Ethnic Studies Program
By Heather Rissi
The warning bell rings at Tucson
High, and students hurry to class.
Juniors Brian Hill, Jacob Gomez
and Roman Figueroa rush up the
stairs and across the hall to Curtis
Acosta’s Chicano perspective liter-
ature class. They are studying
“Zoot Suit” by Luis Valdez.
Acosta’s classes are among 27
others in five local high schools that
teach literature, history or govern-
ment from an ethnic-based perspec-
tive. The classes are part of Tucson
Unified School District’s ethnic
studies program, which has stirred
up conversation and controversy.
Most recently, the program
spurred a bill to prohibit such
classes, because opponents say it
divides students by race and pro-
www.elindenews.com
dijo él. “Tiene que haber un deten-
imiento legal”.
A pesar de que el gobierno de la
ciudad del Sur de Tucsón no está de
acuerdo con la naturaleza ofensiva
de la ley, planean ratificarla, dijo el
Mexico border.
In July 2009, Interior Secretary
Ken Salazar asked the two oppos-
ing sides to work together to
resolve the issue, said Sarah
Launius, a No More Deaths
spokesperson.
Launius said No More Deaths
recognizes the importance of the
two sides working cooperatively.
“We are accountable as stew-
ards of the land, and we are willing
and desire to work alongside them
(refuge managers) to maintain our
Sonoran Desert,” she said.
motes “anti-American” senti-
ments.
But many students, teachers
and administrators who know the
program refute these claims.
“We’re not planning any revo-
lutions,” Figueroa says. “We’re not
being anti-American. So far, all
I’ve seen is patriotism in the class;
our love for the U.S.”
Figueroa believes students have
a right to learn about their culture
and history. To be blocked from it
is bias, he says.
Figueroa, Gomez and Hill say
they are upset by the misconcep-
tions about the program. The class-
es aren’t designed for just one race,
Gomez says, adding that the class-
es consist of students of all ethnic-
ities and races.
“We need to learn all American
Foto por NathaN Mitchell
Gerente Municipal de la Ciudad del
Sur de Tucsón, Enrique Serna.
La legislación ha provocado
protestas a nivel nacional y oca-
sionó que varios activistas y orga-
nizaciones locales y nacionales
What resulted was a proposal
for up to eight new water stations
throughout the refuge, in addition
to the three pre-existing stations
maintained by Humane Borders.
In April, officials began asking
for public input about the proposal.
Refuge manager Michael Hawkes
said there have been a lot of public
comments, not only from both
ends of the political spectrum, but
also over a wide geographic area.
He said people have called all the
way from Wisconsin, Florida and
Oregon.
culture if we want to call ourselves
American,” Hill says.
The students agree that they
learn important skills and achieve
greater knowledge of the world
through the program.
“The class teaches us about
some of the injustices in society,”
Figueroa says. “This class gives
us a taste of life. It gives us a taste
of reality.”
A Character Analysis
Acosta’s class begins with a “unity
clap,” where students clap in uni-
son while gradually increasing the
speed and tempo to represent class
solidarity. Students then dive into
In Lak’ech’, reciting the tradition-
‘Ethnic Studies’/see page 6
May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010
demandaran desafíos legales y una
reforma de inmigración. Los opo-
nentes de la ley dicen que pro-
moverá la segregación racial y
viola los derechos civiles.
“Los derechos de aquellos de
nuestra población, van a ser los
que van a ser violados”, dijo Serna.
“El mal necesario de esta legis-
lación es la segregación racial”.
Bernardo Lopez, un conductor
de transporte del Sur de Tucsón,
dijo que él se opone firmemente a
la ley. “Por el simple hecho de ser
de piel oscura, vamos a tener prob-
lemas”, dijo él. “Sólo Dios sabe
qué tipo de cosas van a suceder”.
Nathalie Perez, una inmigrante
indocumentada que trabaja en el área
del sur de Tucsón, dijo que no todo
inmigrante ilegal es un criminal.
“Muchos de nosotros estamos
trabajando”, dijo ella. “Somos
invisibles, pero aun así pagamos
impuestos”.
La ley fue patrocinada por el
senador Russell Pearce, R-Mesa,
quien dijo en una carta pública en
el portal de internet del Comité
Republicano del Condado
Maricopa: “Garantizo que esto sal-
vará los trabajos americanos,
reducirá el gasto del gobierno,
mejorará la seguridad en los vecin-
darios, mejorará la congestión,
hará las aulas más pequeñas, las
líneas más cortas en las salas de
‘SB 1070’/vea página 6
Officials will review the public
input and hope to make a decision
by the middle of May, Hawkes said.
While there is little research
about the effectiveness of water
stations, Launius said that there is
anecdotal evidence that the water
available in highly migrated areas
is saving lives.
“We provide food, water and
medical care to very desperate
men, women and children who are
moving through the border
region,” she said. “The gift of
water is a life-saving gift.”
photo by heather rissi
“If you have too much time to be pointing
fingers, you’re not helping society,” says
Curtis Acosta, a Chicano literature teacher
at Tucson High.
Page / Página 2 el inDePenDiente May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010

Posible aumento del

impuesto de ventas
Por Victoria Blute
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez
Los residentes de Arizona votarán
si quieren aumentar provisional-
mente el impuesto estatal a las ven-
tas un 1 porciento en una elección
del 18 de mayo.
La proposición 100 enmendaría
al artículo 9 de la constitución, que
cubre la deuda pública, los ingresos
y transacciones, por medio de un
impuesto que duraría un periodo de
tres años comenzado el 1 de junio.
Si es aprobada, la propuesta
aumentara el impuesto estatal a las
ventas del 5.6 al 6.6 porciento lo
cual es una medida que busca aliviar
el problema de presupuesto cada
vez mayor que enfrenta Arizona.
Los legisladores presentaron la
Proposición 100 como una resolu-
ción al déficit presupuestario de
Arizona, que actualmente es más
de $3 mil millones. La medida de
impuesto sobre las ventas es parte
Para encontrar información sobre
su lugar de votación, visite:
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/polls/p
oll_form.php
Para solicitar una boleta de
votación previa a las votaciones
vaya a Pima County Recorder’s
office en
115 N. Church Ave.
740-4330
o en el sitio de Internet de Pima
County Recorder:
http://www.recorder.pima.gov/
earlyreq.aspx
Los votantes registrados pueden
solicitar una boleta previa para
votar en la oficina del Pima County
photo by Kaite FlyNN
Recorder hasta el 7 de mayo, y
deberá ser enviada a más tardar el From left, Jennifer Flores, a teacher librarian at Los Amigos Elementary School, Angie Cathemer, Elizabeth Leivas and Stacy Lynes sup-
13 de mayo. Aquellos que opten port Proposition 100 at an event to encourage voters to back the proposition.
por votar en las urnas pueden hac-

Arizona Voters to Decide

del plan que busca ayudar al estado erlo el 18 de mayo en los lugares
llamado “Mejora de Ingresos” de designados. Las urnas abren a las 6
la gobernadora Jan Brewer, dicho a.m. y cierran a las 7 p.m.
plan se estima generará $1 mil mil- Es necesario llevar consigo una

Sales Tax Increase in May

lones al año. De ser aprobado, dos
terceras partes de los fondos gener-
ados de dicha proposición se desti-
narán a la educación primaria y
secundaria, y una tercera parte se
utilizará para los servicios de salud
y seguridad pública.
identificación a su sitio de votación,
que puede ser licencia de conducir
válida de Arizona, tarjeta de
inscripción tribal, identificación del
gobierno o una factura de servicios
públicos fechada dentro de 90 días By Victoria Blute to find information on your year. If passed, two-thirds of the
de la jornada electoral. money generated from the proposi-
Arizonans will vote whether to polling place, go to: tion will go toward primary and
provisionally increase the state http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/polls/ secondary education, and one-third
sales tax by 1 percent in a special poll_form.php will be used for health services and

EL
election on May 18. public safety.
Proposition 100 would amend to request an early ballot Registered voters can request

inDePenDiente
Article 9 of the constitution, which
covers public debt, revenue and
transactions, by adding a provision
for temporary taxes for a three-
year period beginning June 1.
If passed, the proposition will
increase the state sales tax from 5.6
South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper to 6.6 percent, a move aimed at
alleviating Arizona’s growing
El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves the budget problem.
right to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length. Lawmakers introduced Prop-
osition 100 as a resolution to
www.elindenews.com Arizona’s budget deficit, now at
UA Journalism more than $3 billion. The sales tax
P.O. Box 210158B
measure is part of Gov. Jan
Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: 621-3618
visit the Pima County Recorder’s
Office at:
115 N. Church Ave.
740-4330
Or at the Pima County
Recorder’s Web site:
http://www.recorder.pima.gov/
earlyreq.aspx
Brewer’s “Revenue Enhancement”
plan to assist the state, which is
estimated to generate $1 billion a
an early ballot through the Pima
County Recorder’s Office until
May 7, and it must be mailed by
May 13.
Those choosing to vote in pub-
lic can do so on May 18 at desig-
nated polling locations. Polls open
at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Voters need to bring identifica-
tion to their polling place, which
can be a valid Arizona driver’s
license, tribal enrollment card,
government issued identification
or a utility bill dated within 90
days of election day.

House of Neighborly Service Thrives

elindy.ua@gmail.com

Adviser
Maggy Zanger
By Ashley Ralston-Alvarez Here’s a look at some of the Wednesdays
Graphics and Layout Adviser programs that HNS offers: • Guitars can be provided in
John deDios A lack of funding nearly caused the class
House of Neighborly Service to shut Basketball Program ESL (English as a Second
down in 2008, but now the social- • Begins first week of May Language) Classes
service program is under new direc- • Offered three days a week • Offered for adults
Managing Editor tion and a number of new programs • Includes tutoring and home- • Low attendance may cause
Victoria Blute Copy Editors are being offered to the community. work help for students this program to be discontin-
Anthony Hasan Non-profit organizations like • The basketball court was re- ued
News Editor Brett Booen Our Family Services and Humane surfaced in April and new
Shelby Hill Heather Rissi Borders also helped resurrect the
CPR Classes
hoops were donated • Offered one Saturday every
Zach Simon community center.
Spanish Editor Jeff Feld “House of Neighborly Service Escuelita month
• Tuesday through Thursday • Conducted by members of
Nohemi Ramirez (HNS) is alive and well,” says
from 3 to 4:30 p.m. the Tucson Fire Department
Photographers Frank Bouchard, president of the
• Provides tutoring and home- • Open to residents and any-
Design Chief Otto Ross HNS board. “We get to re-invent
work help for students one interested in emergency
Amy Kissinger Tammara Crawford ourselves. The sky is the limit.”
• Run by Our Family Services preparedness
The hiring of Aaron Phillips,
Photo Editor Designers facilities manager and bookkeeper, • Computer lab provides
Kaite Flynn Marissa Hopkins was a key addition. Phillips, who access to nine computers For more information on
Natalie Boras started working in February, has • Offers the chance for children activities or how to get
Community Events Editor already made a strong impact on to participate in mural-paint- involved contact Aaron
Erica Nannini Reporters HNS and the community it serves. ing opportunities Phillips at 623-0100 or by
Nathan Mitchell Founded in 1948 at 243 W. 33rd Guitar Lessons email at
News Room Manager St., HNS ran successfully for 60 • Offered to older children and aphillips@southtucsonhns.org
Ashley Ralston-Alvarez Translators years before a $50,000 budget adults on Mondays and
Angélica Pozo-DesPortes shortfall forced it to close for one
Copy Chief Dina Tyrrell month in September 2008. But
Jessica Befort Lizette M. Pérez now the board has taken measures He said the problems that Volunteers make the programs that
Sathya Honey Victoria to manage the budget and prevent forced the organization’s closure in HNS offers free to the community.
Web Manager this from happening again. 2008 were logistic ones that were Bouchard and Phillips envision
Josh T. Saunders Translation and Interpretation “We have a good, sound footing resolved fairly easily. many other possibilities for the
Department on the budget,” Bouchard says. HNS gets most of its funding community, which include a com-
Distribution Manager of Spanish and Portuguese “We want to become more proac- from Pima County, private dona- munity garden, bible study, renew-
Steve Ivanovics and Mexican American Studies tive.” tions and Presbytery de Cristo – ing the food distribution program,
Phillips agrees that HNS’s plan the southwestern division of the construction classes and healthy-
will yield success. Presbyterian Church USA. cooking classes.
May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010 el inDePenDiente Page / Página 3

Teen Health Center May Close After 13 Years

By Anthony Hasan
Mitza Molina strolled into the Kino
Community Teen Center at East Ajo Way on
a warm April afternoon for a routine check-
up. The Desert View High School grad and
current University of Arizona student has
received primary care at the south side clin-
ic since she was 16, even though she has no
health insurance.
“I feel comfortable coming here without
my parents,” says Molina, 19, who like
many teenage girls, was uncomfortable ask-
ing her parents for birth control. “Some par-
ents would just kill their kids if they found
out they were having sex.”
Molina considers herself lucky to have
the resources of the Teen Center available to
her in a state where, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2006
National Vital Statistics Report, teenage
pregnancy rates rank 48th out of 50 states
and every 89 of 1,000 girls between 15 and
19 become pregnant.
“It’s a place where teens can come and feel
safe,” she says. “It’s a place where they can
take precautionary steps like birth control.”
The Teen Center opened in 1997 and
offers people 21 and under primary health
care for everything from sore throats and
stomach aches to school sports physicals and
immunizations.
The clinic also offers confidential STD
and pregnancy testing and birth control, all
on a sliding fee scale.
But Diane Kerriheard, the center’s pro-
gram coordinator, says that come June 30,
the center may no longer exist.
Pima County is looking into closing the
photo by aNdrea papagiaNis
Mitza Molina, 19, makes an appointment at the front desk of the Kino Community Teen Center.
site as a clinic and housing other services at “The center is a lot more than this clinic,”
the county-owned building. Wahl says. “It is a full-service primary care
Hank Atha, deputy county administrator adolescent site.”
for community and economic development, The center offers pre- and post-natal
says it doesn’t really matter where the center classes, and everything from breastfeeding
is held because a lot of the services are edu- classes to how to properly install a car seat is
cation based and go out into high schools free.
and communities. Delia Franceware, the centers mobile
But for those who work at or use the Teen outreach coordinator, says nobody is turned
Center, it really does matter where the center away from the clinic regardless of their abil-
is held. ity to pay.
Dr. Richard Wahl, a UA clinical pedi- “If you can make a payment, fine. If not,
atrics professor, provides primary care at the we are donation based,” she says.
Teen Center three half-days a week. Kerriheard says not all services will be
Fast Facts:
• The Kino Community Teen Center is
located at 2801 E. Ajo Way.
• To sign the petition online visit
www.gopetition.come/save-the-kino-
teen-center.
• There is also a Teen Walk-in Clinic at
the Pima County Health Department’s
North Family Planning Office at 3550 N.
First Ave.
lost if the center closes. She and her staff
will move to other Pima County Health
facilities.
Family planning for teens will also be
available at Pima County Health Department
sites throughout the city.
Wahl says he believes it will be shut and
plans to leave after June 30 anyway. He says
the Teen Center is “crucial” for the commu-
nity since it is a major clinical site for South
Tucson and parts of Vail.
“Many low-income kids do not have
other alternatives, do not have resources,” he
says. “It needs to be community-based care,
and if you remove care from the community
that is most at risk, you will have serious
consequences.”
A petition is currently making its way
through south side high schools pleading
with the county manager and the health
department to keep the center open.
Kerriheard and the rest of the staff, however,
are preparing for the worst. Until then, the
center will remain open.

Cheap Housing Opens Tucson Fixes Up “A” Mountain

in Sunnyside Pointe By Nohemi Ramirez

The city of Tucson has begun a

By Natalie Boras
For first-time homebuyers or those
who have not owned a home in the
past three years, Sunnyside Pointe
may be an option.
Lot reservations are now avail-
able at Sunnyside Pointe, a hous-
ing project on South Park Avenue
south of East Irvington Road
where qualified buyers can get up
to $42,000 in down payment
assistance.
La Frontera Arizona and Old
Pueblo Community Services
launched the project for families
who need to make the lowest
possible monthly payment and
utility bills, said Roni Benge,
sales and marketing manager and
associate broker of Pepper Viner
Management Co.
Buyers can choose from 267
one or two-story homes with up to
four bedrooms each.
For qualified buyers, these
homes will be comparable to, if not
lower than, the cost of renting.
Pepper Viner Homes built the
homes at Sunnyside Pointe to be
energy-efficient, providing home-
buyers with energy savings and an
extended warranty.
The neighborhood is Tucson
Electric Power guaranteed, and
each home meets Energy Star stan-
dards.
Also, each home purchased as a
preferred lender includes an oven,
dishwasher, built-in microwave,
refrigerator and a washer and
dryer, each with its own extended
warranty.
Sunnyside Pointe was launched
to provide homebuyers with an
enjoyable homebuyer experience
that is affordable to their needs,
Benge said.
The sales office is open 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. daily. For more informa-
tion on Sunnyside Pointe call 906-
3580.
project to add new features to “A”
Mountain in an effort to make it
more people friendly.
The mountain is now mostly
adapted for drivers but not pedes-
trians or bikers, said Mac Hudson,
aide to Tucson City Council mem-
ber Regina Romero.
The two-phased project is esti-
mated to cost more than $200,000,
Hudson said.
The first phase is building hiking
trails. The second is an expansion to
the roads by adding bike trails,
benches, shade and historical inter-
pretation signs, Hudson said.
The Southwest Conservation
Corps (SCC), a group that does
various conservation projects, is
helping create the trails. The city
also hired a group of high school
students to work part time with
SCC to build the trails.
Tabatha Lowman, crew leader
of the project, said they’re trying
to build one trail for everyone and
photo by Kaite FlyNN
Council aide Mac Hudson works on “A”
Mountain with a crew.
erase the other trails over the
mountain.
“We’re trying to re-vegetate the
mountain,” Lowman said. She said
they will close social trails, or
those created by people who make
their own, because a standard,
established hiking trail is lacking.
“People will just come and go
straight up the mountain, and then
you get this network of zigzag,
webbed social trails that are just
killing off the plants,” she said.
The trail makers are a group of
eight high school students from
Project MORE High School and
Teenage Parent Alternative
Middle/High School, plus three
crew leaders from SCC.
The workers are establishing
trails by removing soccer-ball-
sized rocks and putting them in the
social trails so there is only one
trail choice for everyone.
Creating one trail makes visitors
safer because there are smaller
inclines, said Jess De La Torre, a
student from Project MORE, about
their job at the mountain.
In their fourth week working on
the mountain, Lowman said they
clear between 60 and 200 feet of
trail each day.
A couple weeks remain in the
trail-making project, while the rest
of the project should be done by
this fall, Hudson said.

Arizona Legislature Votes to Reverse KidsCare Elimination

photo by Kaite FlyNN
Brenda Garcia, left, volunteers at the Your
Health Hotline phone-a-thon. Penelope
Jacks, right, helps her answer questions
over the phone.
By Marissa Hopkins
State lawmakers voted April 29 to
reverse the elimination of KidsCare,
Arizona’s Children’s Health
Insurance Program, which provides
low or no-cost healthcare to children
from families with a yearly income
below $22,050 for a family of four.
Both the house and senate voted
to direct $9 million to KidsCare,
but Governor Jan Brewer still has
to agree, said Matt Jewett, director
of health policy for Children’s
Action Alliance.
The threat of losing an estimat-
ed $7 billion from federal Medicaid
funding pushed the Arizona State
Legislature to reinstate KidsCare in
a special legislative session, said
Monica Coury, assistant director of
governmental relations.
The state funds 24 percent of
the program. The other 76 percent
is federally funded, Jewett said.
However, the state did not have the
funds to pay its portion of the pro-
gram, Coury said.
When the Legislature originally
voted to eliminate KidsCare, the
federal healthcare bill had not yet
been passed, according to Coury.
After the federal bill passed,
however, the elimination of Kids-
Care and another planned $385 mil-
lion cut to the state’s Medicaid pro-
gram violated requirements of the
federal healthcare reform legislation.
The reform requires states to
continue providing health care
with the same levels of funding
that were present when the legisla-
tion was signed.
The cuts would have prevented
the state from receiving Medicaid
money, Coury said.
KidsCare will still retain the
enrollment freeze that was placed
on the program at the beginning of
the year, Jewett said.
Although waiting lists exist for
those who apply, no new children
are being accepted into the pro-
gram. The freeze is expected to be
indefinite, Coury said.
When the freeze first began,
there were 47,000 children in
KidsCare, Jewett said. Currently,
the program supports 36,000 chil-
dren.
It is estimated that by July that
number will be down to 28,000
children, Jewett said.
By June of 2011, if the freeze is
not removed, enrollment could be
down to between 10,000 and
14,000 kids.
The Bring Back KidsCare Cam-
paign encourages people to write
letters to their legislators and the
governor in support of the program
to get the enrollment freeze
removed.
“It’s uncharted area,” said Pen-
elope Jacks, director of the Child-
ren’s Action Alliance of Southern
Arizona. Arizona was the first and
only state to attempt to eliminate
the program.
Arizona is also the only state
with a current enrollment freeze,
Jewett said. Other states have done
it in the past, but they have all been
temporary.
“This is a good first step, but
we believe that it needs to be
reopened completely,” Jewett said.
“We’re keeping up pressure.”
To help those who need health
insurance, Children’s Action
Alliance held a phone-a-thon April
29 for people to call for informa-
tion about other low-cost health
insurance options for adults and
children, Jacks said. The event
reached 3,000 people, Jewett said.
Page / Página 4
Ed Mell Paintings on Display
photos courtesy
Ed Mell’s “Diamond Bloom” (above) and “High Clouds” (below) were paint-
ed with oil on linen.
El Saguarito Offers Healthy Alternative
By Zach Simon
El Saguarito offers a unique ver-
sion of Mexican food that might
sound oxymoronic to some
Tucsonans: healthy.
Albert and Blanca Vasquez
opened the first El Saguarito in
1989 at West Orange Grove and
North Oracle roads. Because
Blanca was a vegetarian, they
cooked all their food in canola oil
instead of animal lard—something
few Mexican restaurants were
doing at the time.
“Canola oil was the healthiest
oil I could find to cook with,”
Albert Vasquez said. “It’s 60 per-
cent more expensive than lard, but
that’s only one expense.”
He said canola oil lasts a long
time, which is why the restaurant’s
prices are similar to or less than other
Mexican restaurants in the area.
El Saguarito also offers a vari-
ety of vegetarian dishes, but
Vasquez said it is not just their
vegetarian items that are prepared
with a special attention to health.
They only use white chicken
meat, which has less fat content than
dark meat, and the fat is removed
from red meat as much as possible.
They are also careful not to
overcook their meats, so they don’t
sacrifice the flavor, Vasquez said.
Although canola oil is used
Memorial in Honor of South Tucson
Police Officer
A memorial for Tucson Police Officer John A.
Valenzuela will take place May 15, 10 a.m., in
the John A. Valenzuela Youth Center, 1550 S.
Sixth Ave. Every year, South Tucsonans gather
el inDePenDiente
By Marissa Hopkins
The Tucson Museum of Art is featuring the
exhibit, “Ed Mell: Paintings of the New
West,” which will last through May 23.
Mell’s paintings are Western landscapes
but with a modernist touch and a new
approach, said Meredith Hayes, museum
spokeswoman. He has a more contemporary
aesthetic on Western painting, featuring the
landscape, flora and fauna of the desert.
Mell, a Phoenix native born in 1942, orig-
inally pursued automobile design at the Art
Center College of Design in Los Angeles.
However, he found his connection with
Southwest landscapes in 1971 after a summer
teaching art on the Hopi reservation.
Mell is influential among Southwestern art
circles because of his unique point-of-view
and is important to the area and culture of the
Southwest, Hayes said.
The nearly 30 pieces in the featured exhibit
include his most recent paintings and sculptures
and are on display through a curatorial partner-
oF tucsoN MuseuM oF art
ship with the Museum of Northern Arizona in
Flagstaff where the artworks will go next, she
said.
if you go
Where: Tucson Museum of Art
140 N. Main Ave.
When: Open through May 23, 10
a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays through
Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on
Sundays
Cost: $8 general, $6 seniors, $3
students, children 12 and under
free. First Sunday of each month is
free for everyone.
instead of lard, it is used minimal- McClelland Hall, just up the street
ly, he said. from El Saguarito. “It gets a little
“We try to minimize the use of crazy at the lunch rush,” he said.
oils in general, because it’s just not The UA bought the building,
that healthy, and you want to also 1035 E. Mabel St., in 2007,
try to maintain good flavors,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez said. Vasquez said business has been
That is why rice, beans and tor- difficult since moving to Mabel
tillas are cooked in canola oil, but Street because of the poor economy,
all meats and vegetables are which in turn affected the universi-
steamed, he said. ty’s budget.
However, El When the
Saguarito offers restaurant first
more than hea- opened, Vas-
lthy Mexican quez held ev-
food alterna- ents for the law
tives to Uni- school and fu-
versity of Ari- ndraisers for the
zona students art department,
and regular Tu-
csonans.
events that en-
ded when the
Connected to university hit
the restaurant is budget cuts.
a lounge with He also said
multiple couch- photo by taMMara crawFord the university is
es, a TV and a Albert Vasquez an owner of El Saguarito, a unwilling to
foosball table for healthy Mexican food restaurant. spend money or
law students to make conces-
enjoy while mak- sions to allow El
ing use of WiFi access to the law Saguarito to generate money that
school’s on-line library. The UA’s isn’t directly tied to the university.
Corleone Student Center: Law “Ever since the budget cuts,
BookStore is connected to the they haven’t been doing any more,
lounge. which would be fine, but they don’t
“This place is a bit more relax- allow me to bring in any outside
ing,” said Aaron Elkins, 28, a busi- events. It has to be tied to the uni-
ness student who takes classes at versity, but they have no funding.”
By Erica Nannini
to honor the fallen officer who was shot and
killed May 17, 1993, while serving a search
warrant. Music and a luncheon will be avail-
able.
El asistente de la consejal, Mac Hudson y DJ Bird, un jefe de equipo que trabajó en el
proyecto, hablan sobre planes para el futuro de “A” Mountain.
La ciudad hace más
accesible ‘A’ Mountain
Por Nohemi Ramirez
Traducido por Lizette M. Pérez
La ciudad de Tucsón ha iniciado
un proyecto para mejorar la “A”
Mountain y así hacerla más accesi-
ble para todas las personas.
De acuerdo a Mac Hudson,
asistente concejal de Regina
Romero en el ayuntamiento de la
ciudad de Tucsón, la montaña está
adaptada principalmente para los
conductores, mas no para los
peatones o ciclistas.
El proyecto de dos fases se esti-
ma cueste más de $200,000, dijo
Hudson. De igual manera, agrega
que la primera fase consistirá en
construir rutas de senderismo.
La segunda, en una ampliación
de las carreteras mediante la adi-
ción de sendas para bicicletas, ban-
cas, lugares con sombra e informa-
ción histórica.
El Southwest Conservation
Corps (SCC, por sus siglas en
inglés), un grupo que hace varios
proyectos de conservación, está
ayudando a crear los senderos.
La ciudad también contrató a un
grupo de estudiantes de nivel
preparatoria para trabajar medio
tiempo con SCC en la construcción
de los senderos.
Tabatha Lowman, jefa del
equipo del proyecto, dijo que están
tratando de construir un solo
sendero accesible para todos y bor-
rar los otros senderos en la mon-
taña.
“Estamos tratando de volver a
Abre oficina de ventas
de casas eficientes
Por Natalie Boras
Traducido por Sathya Honey
Sunnyside Pointe puede ser una
opción para quienes planean com-
prar su primera casa o no han sido
dueños de una casa en los últimos
tres años.
Ya se pueden reservar lotes en
Sunnyside Pointe, un desarrollo
residencial en Park Avenue al sur
de Irvington Road, donde los com-
pradores que cumplen los requisi-
tos pueden recibir hasta $42,000 de
asistencia en el pago del anticipo.
La Frontera Arizona y Old
Pueblo Community Services lan-
zaron este proyecto para familias
que necesitan hacer los pagos men-
suales y de servicios lo más bajos
posibles, dijo Roni Benge, gerente
de ventas y marketing y corredor
asociado de Pepper Viner Man-
agement Co.
Los compradores pueden elegir
entre 267 casas de uno o dos pisos
y hasta cuatro cuartos. Para los
compradores que cumplan los req-
May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010
Foto por Kaite FlyNN
vegetar la montaña”, dijo Lowman.
Dijo que van a cerrar senderos
sociales, osease los creados por
personas, ya que no se cuenta con
un sendero principal.
“La gente viene y empieza a
subir la montaña, y entonces se
crean distintas sendas en zigzag
que están matando a las plantas”,
dijo.
Los constructores de los
senderos son un grupo de ocho
estudiantes de preparatoria que
forman parte de Project MORE
High School y Teenage Parent
Alternative Middle/High School,
así como tres líderes del proyecto
de SCC.
Los trabajadores están estable-
ciendo rutas removiendo rocas del
tamaño de una pelota de fútbol y
poniéndolas en los senderos cread-
os por las personas, creando así un
solo sendero a escoger.
La creación de un solo sendero
crea más seguridad para los visi-
tantes, ya que las pendientes son
pequeñas, dijo Jess De La Torre,
estudiante de Project MORE al
referirse sobre su trabajo en la
montaña.
En su cuarta semana de trabajo
en la montaña, Lowman dijo que
cada día han despejado entre 60 y
200 pies de camino para el nuevo
sendero.
Sólo quedan un par de semanas
en la fase de construcción del
sendero, mientras la siguiente fase
deberá estar terminada este otoño,
dijo Hudson.
uisitos, el precio de estas casas
será similar, si no es que más bajo
que el costo de rentar.
Pepper Viner Homes construyó
las casas de Sunnyside Pointe para
que sean eficientes en su uso de
energía, con ahorros de energía y
una garantía extendida para los
compradores. Ese barrio está
garantizado por Tucson Electric
Power y todas las casas cumplen
los estándares de Energy Star.
Además, las casas compradas
como prestamista preferencial
incluyen horno, lavaplatos, horno
microondas integrado, refrigerador,
lavadora y secadora, cada uno con
su propia garantía extendida.
Sunnyside Pointe fue lanzado
para dar a los compradores una
agradable experiencia de compra
asequible y adecuada a sus necesi-
dades, dijo Benge.
La oficina de ventas está abier-
ta todos los días de 11 a.m. a 6 p.m.
Para solicitar más información
sobre Sunnyside Pointe llame al
906-3580.
May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010 el inDePenDiente Page / Página 5

Syringe Exchange Focuses

on ‘Harm Reduction’ Service
By Amy Kissinger

Susie Huerta sits in the driver’s seat of a Pima County

Health Department bus while a man counts out more
than 100 used needles he is finished with.
“Hold them up so I can count them,” Huerta says,
but this man knows the drill. His syringes are bundled
in tens, and he holds up each bundle so she can count
them before he drops them in the medical waste con-
tainer in front of him.
Two plastic bins full of syringes rest on seats in the
back of the bus. Miguel Soto counts the correct num-
ber of clean needles from these bins, drops them in a
brown paper bag and hands them to the man.
“You need anything else?” Soto asks.
This is a common scene for Huerta and Soto, who photo by aMy KissiNger
operate the LifePoint syringe exchange program from Used syringes are stored in a medical waste container at the
the Theresa Lee STD/HIV Clinic. LifePoint syringe exchange.
They usually have 30 to 65 people exchange
syringes every Tuesday and Friday, said Soto, the pro-
gram coordinator.
additonal information:
Theresa Lee STD/HIV Clinic
Even on slow days they see at least 30 people, he
Where: 332 S. Freeway Road
said.
Clinic Times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The LifePoint syringe exchange has been operating
12 – 4 p.m.
for about 12 years and is funded through the Pima
Tuesday 8 – 11:30 a.m.
County Health Department. The needle exchange is
Thursday 2 – 6:30 p.m.
operated out of a Pima County Health Department bus
photo aMy KissiNger Phone number: 791-7676
by
which stops at two locations every Tuesday and Friday.
Steven Holtzman jumps over a cone on his skateboard at Randolph Skate Park. The program is the only state-funded needle
Times and locations of the LifePoint syringe exchange

Skate Company
exchange in Arizona.
are available through the clinic.
Two different syringe sizes are offered at the nee-
dle exchange: 1/2 cc and 1 cc. Both sizes come with
a 28-gauge needle. What size syringe people prefer

Sponsors Youth
By Jeff Feld
Frank Aquilina is not your typical
plumber. When he’s not breeding
pythons and mice in the back of his
Rite Job Professional Plumbing
workshop, rescuing cats from
euthanasia at local animal shelters
or rocking out with his band, he’s
pursuing his one true life-long pas-
sion: skateboarding.
Aquilina is straight out of a
Harley Davidson advertisement.
His groomed goatee and dusty ban-
dana compliment a mischievous
rock star smile. His torn, chalked
blue jeans express his love for an
active life. His shirt, covered in cat
hair and drool, shows his love for
his favorite furry friend, a cat
named Lockjaw.
For Aquilina, skateboarding has
companies trying to sell their prod-
uct and push it on us so much, and
Frank just does it because he knows
how important it is to all of us.”
Although Sanchez is not spon-
sored by Thick, he appreciates
what Aquilina offers.
“When Frank comes out here
and wants to sponsor you, it makes
you work harder, feel like you
accomplished something, knowing
an adult notices what you do,”
Sanchez says.
Aquilina’s team of seven riders
has more than just skating to focus
on. He requires that his team stays
off drugs and alcohol and keeps up
school grades. Riders lose
Aquilina’s sponsorship if they
don’t maintain these requirements.
As for competitions, Aquilina
voluntarily pays for and chaper-
usually depends on what drug they use, Soto said.
In addition to syringes, the program provides band-
ages, cotton, alcohol swabs, tourniquets and drug
cookers.
The exchange is one-for-one, which means the
number of used syringes someone brings for disposal
is equal to the number of new syringes they take away.
They exchange almost 200,000 needles annually.
In addition to the syringe exchange, employees
from COPE Community Services offer outreach serv-
ices at each site.
This includes “risk reduction services,” such as
condoms and kits with bleach, alcohol swabs, cotton,
gauze and bandages, among other supplies, said Brian
Arbizo, a COPE employee.
COPE outreach also focuses on harm reduction,
offering references to community services for
STD/HIV testing.
One of the primary focuses is HIV testing, said
Celeste Canchola, another COPE employee.
COPE is not there to force treatment on clients, but
rather to provide a combination of behavioral health
services and treatment references.
“We never want to force them to get into treat-
ment,” Arbizo said.
This is also the goal of the needle exchange pro-
gram. They try to reduce possible harm a drug addict
can inflict on themselves and others, Soto said. The
employees of the program aren’t there to judge the
people who come to them for syringes.
“You can only do so much,” Soto said. “It’s up to
them what they want to do.”
Huerta and Soto, who have been working the needle
exchange for three and eight years respectively, said
they see many regular clients at the needle exchange.
Clients range in age from 18 to the late 70s. These peo-
ple are mainly meth, heroin or speed addicts, Soto said.
Addiction can be multi-generational and some-
times they’ll see parents coming for their children or
spouses coming in place of one another, he said.
“It’s sad to see when young kids come,” Huerta
said. “A month or two later you can see how the drug
has affected them.”
For the most part, clients are friendly, sometimes
staying to chat or ask for advice and many of them are
familiar with Soto and Huerta.
“I’m on this bus so much it’s kind of like a second
home,” Soto said.

Fiesta de los Guerreros

been a passion since he picked it up
as a teen in southern California in the
1970s. He became hooked on a sport
that changed the culture and identity
of teenagers countrywide, right
before it exploded in the 1980s. But
eight months ago, he decided to
take his passion to another level.
With only a $4,000 investment,
Aquilina opened his own skate-
board production company. Thick
Skating Co. produces old-school
and new-style decks made from
Canadian hard rock maple.
Aquilina says his wife was
skeptical at first, but after she saw
his motivation for success, she sup-
ported it.
But Aquilina isn’t a typical
skateboard manufacturer. To get his
name and product known, he
became a familiar face at Santa Rita
Skate Park and gave out free Thick
decks and gear to local skaters.
This eventually led to the devel-
opment of sponsorships for local
skaters as young as 10.
“As much as I like to do this out
of the kindness of my heart, I had
to get something nice in return,”
Aquilina says.
Aquilina offers sponsorships to
kids with exceptional talent and
work ethic to ride his decks both
for fun and in competition.
“Frank is a really cool guy,” says
Frankie Sanchez, a 15-year-old reg-
ular at Santa Rita. “The Tucson
skating scene is overwhelmed with
ones his team at tournaments in
Phoenix so the kids can compete.
Accompanied by a parent, he
drives the kids to competions, pays
for gas, and buys the food, so that
all the riders pay is the entry fee,
usually no more than $25 per kid,
Aquilina says.
So far, the team has competed in
two tournaments where all of his
skaters placed in competition.
Aquilina says he likes the direc-
tion the company is headed.
He plans to keep marketing his
gear to local skate shops and
skaters around Tucson. Eventually,
he wants to build his own indoor
park and a Thick Skating outlet in
the back of his plumbing shop.
“I…want to create a safe place
where parents know their kids won’t
be doing stupid stuff–maybe except
for breaking a leg–where they can
hang with their friends and get better
at their sport,” Aquilina says.
Robin, a skater familiar with
Aquilina’s company, says, “This
city has so much potential, with the
weather, the market, the popularity
of the sport.”
Robin is sponsored by two
mainstream skating companies.
“I know what it feels like as a
kid to be noticed by someone and
have my hobby supported by them. photo by taMMara crawFord
I think it is awesome what Frank is Members of Los Mextucaz, a Ballet Folklórico group, perform at the 2010 Fiesta de los
doing. It really gives the kids here Guerreros at Pueblo Magnet High School.
an opportunity to pursue what they
love,” he says.
Page / Página 6 el inDePenDiente May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010

Ciudadanos se
oponen a la ley
de inmigración
‘SB 1070’ Continúa de página 1 que obtuvieron la perla más precia-
da. Yo le llamo a este proyecto de
emergencia, reducirá violaciones ley, la perla más preciada del
y acosos sexuales, y reducirá el movimiento anti-inmigratorio”.
número de muertes y mutilaciones Dirigido por la administración
de nuestros ciudadanos y demás”. del presidente Bill Clinton, el
El presidente Barack Obama Servicio de Inmigración y
criticó el proyecto de ley sólo unas Naturalización promulgó dos
horas después de que fue firmado. proyectos que resultaron en un
“Si seguimos fallando a nivel fed- gran incremento inmigratorio a lo
eral, vamos a continuar viendo el largo de Arizona. La Operación
surgimiento de esfuerzos equivo- Gatekeeper aseguró la frontera de
cados alrededor del país”, dijo. San Diego Calif., y la Operación
Pero Brewer firmó el proyecto Hold the Line hizo lo mismo en El
de ley diciendo que “protege a cada Paso, Texas. Las medidas enérgicas
ciudadano de Arizona”, una con- de estos estados empujó el tráfico
clusión con la que muchos no con- de inmigración lejos de las ciu-
cuerdan. dades hacia áreas más remotas a lo
“No es justo para las personas largo de la frontera de Arizona.
que quieren salir adelante y traba- En el 2001 la Operación
jar aquí”, dijo Joel, el cual no dio Safeguard aumentó la presencia de
photo by heather rissi su nombre completo por causa de la Patrulla Fronteriza en el área de
Students and alumni from Tucson High’s Mexican-American Studies program host the 2010 Unity Festival at Tucson High. su estado legal. “La opción es Tucsón y construyó una barda en
mudarse a otros estados. Eso, más la frontera de Nogales, lo cual

Students, Administrators Stand Up que nada, afectará Arizona”. desplazó a los que cruzan a zonas
El gobierno de México emitió un aún más remotas.
aviso a sus ciudadanos el 27 de abril “La suposición fue que había

for TUSD’s Ethnic Studies Program en contra de viajar en Arizona, áreas de la frontera que eran
diciendo, “Se debe de asumir que demasiado inhóspitas que esencial-
cada ciudadano mexicano podría ser mente serían auto-patrulladas”, dijo
‘Ethnic Studies’ Continued from page 1 HB 2281 Causes Confusion, Unease hostigado e interrogado sin ningún Doris Meissner, antigua comisiona-
motivo a cualquier momento”. da del Servicio de Inmigración y
al Mayan phrase that mirrors the Golden Rule. Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfied Park, is a pri- El presidente mexicano Felipe Naturalización para este plan, en el
“You are my other me,” it says. “If I do harm to mary sponsor of HB 2281, which prohibits classes Calderón condenó la ley en un dis- 2002.
you, I do harm to myself. If I love and respect you, I that “promote the overthrow of the U.S. government curso al decir que la ley “abre las Unas 1,299 muertes a lo largo
love and respect myself.” or encourage resentment toward a race or class of peo- puertas a la intolerancia, al odio, a de la frontera Arizona-México han
Then it’s on to the lesson of the day. ple” at any Arizona school district or charter school. la discriminación y al abuso en el sido documentadas entre el 2004 y
The class begins with vocabulary. Students review During a Senate reading of the bill on April 7, cumplimiento de la ley”. el 2009, de acuerdo con la base de
English and Spanish words taken from “Zoot Suit.” Montenegro said TUSD’s ethnic studies courses teach Y el 29 de abril, El Fondo datos del periódico Arizona Daily
Later, Acosta asks students to discuss why the main students that they are victims, creating an “us versus Educacional y la Defensa Legal Star.
character in the book uses two different mannerisms them” mentality. México-Amer - El caos oca-
to speak to his audience. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom icano y la Unión sionado por esta
“To get rid of stereotypes,” one student answers. Horne has been a strong opponent of the ethnic stud- de Libertades acumulación es el
“Yes,” Acosta says, “and he’s showing that you ies program at TUSD for years. During the Senate Civiles Amer- responsable del
don’t have to assimilate to be part of one or the reading Horne said he has first-hand testimony from icanas, en con- clima político act-
other—that you can be educated but still relate to your students who say they are being taught that they are junto con el ual que rodea la
culture.” oppressed, and he said he has seen students becomes Centro Nacional política de inmi-
resentful of society due to the program. de Inmigración gración de Ar-
Greatly Improved Statistics Neither Horne nor Montenegro however, has visit- anunciaron en izona, dijo Garcia.
ed the classes. Phoenix que es- “Caímos en un
Research conducted by TUSD’s Mexican-American Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, said omitting critical tán preparando hoyo negro”, dijo
Studies program shows that 97.5 percent of the pro- knowledge of history and culture would limit stu- un desafío legal ella después de
gram’s students have graduated, compared to the dents’ abilities to think critically. enfocado en la hablar ante una
national average of 44 percent for Mexican-American “I think this is a solution without a problem,” she interferencia de plaza llena de
students. said of the bill. la 1070 con la gente el día des-
Also, 67 percent of the pro- While some in the legislature obligación del pués que se firmó

“
gram’s students enroll in post-sec-
ondary education, compared to the
national average of 24 percent.
The research, conducted
between 2004 and 2008, also
shows that those students were
three times more likely to pass the
AIMS reading section, four times
more likely to pass the writing sec-
We need to learn all
American culture if we
want to call ourselves
American.
–Brian Hill
believe there isn’t enough evi- gobierno federal el proyecto de ley.
dence of a problem, others feel the de lidiar con los “Resistencia,
legislation is vague and faulty. asuntos de inmi- resistencia y más
Foto por NathaN Mitchell
During a March 23 House read- gración. Se esp- resistencia” debe
ing of HB 2281, Rep. David era que otra gran Isabel Garcia, líder de Derechos Humanos, ser el siguiente
Schapira, D-Tempe, said he wor- variedad de indi- un grupo basado en Tucsón, habla con los paso, dijo ella.
ries the ambiguous language will viduos y org- protestadores sobre la ley 1070 en la ofici- El congresista
result in a legal challenge. He also anizaciones pre- na central de Raúl Grijalva. Raúl Grijalva, D-
said withholding money from any paren desafíos Tucson, Distrito

”
Student
tion, and two and a half times more district, as the bill would allow, not legales. 7, pidió un boico-
likely to pass the math section than only affects those in the program, En otros estados como Cal- teo nacional contra Arizona. El
students not in the program. but everyone in that district. ifornia y Texas, leyes similares a la boicoteo pedirá que las organiza-
Sean Arce, director of the Augustine Romero, 1070 han sido rechazadas debido a ciones se abstengan de celebrar con-
Mexican-American Studies program, says shutting the TUSD’s director of student equity says opponents la inconstitucionalidad de los esta- venciones en el estado. Él dice que
program down could have far-reaching implications: don’t understand that the program is intended to serve dos al querer apoderarse de las es un esfuerzo para que la ley se
dropouts are a threat to the economy and ultimately a all students. He worries that the bill, which has passed responsabilidades de inmigración convierta aún más en un punto de
threat to democracy. the state legislature and now awaits Governor Bewer’s que se suponen ser el ámbito del atención nacional, con el propósito
Pricila Rodriguez, a University of Arizona fresh- decision, will be misinterpreted, and could lead to a gobierno federal. final de una reforma nacional de las
man and an alumna of the program, says she believes type of witch-hunt. En Arizona, estos oponentes de leyes de inmigración.
there are a lot of misconceptions about the program “These people aren’t concerned about the truth,” la 1070 han protestado en Tucsón, Entre las voces en contra de la
because those who oppose it do not come and see it he said. “It’s extremely scary.” Phoenix, y en otras ciudades por ley se encuentra la del antiguo
for themselves. días, antes y después de que se fir- miembro del consejo de Tucsón,
She says the classes are founded on love and diver- Teaching On mara la propuesta de ley. Steve Leal. Él siente que la ley es
sity, but also allow for discussion about racism and Isabel Garcia, líder de Der- una denigración de los derechos
sexism. Acosta says public schools are slow to change, but he is echos Humanos, un grupo de dere- civiles y apoya el boicoteo.
“It’s what’s on the backburner of our minds, but it’s impressed with the choices of classes at Tucson High. chos civiles en Tucsón, nombró la “Preferiría si la gente hiciera lo
not really discussed in normal classes,” Rodriguez says. He believes the classes cater to younger genera- ley la más racista desde las leyes correcto por la razón correcta – cómo
Eren McGinnis and Ari Palos, of Dos Vatos tions who see the world as more than black and white. Jim Crow. por ejemplo, si a todos les importara
Productions, are independent filmmakers in Tucson “The content reflects the complexity of life,” he Ella indica que números tan los derechos civiles de todos”, dijo
who agree with the program’s importance. They spent says. “Beautiful, loving, comfortable—that’s not what elevados de inmigrantes cruzan la del boicoteo. “Todos ellos (los
a year at Tucson High producing a documentary about you hear. But that’s what you find.” frontera como resultado de años de republicanos) realmente están moti-
the Mexican-American Studies program. Their film, In a follow-up lesson with his students, Acosta dis- acción legal con la intención de vados, aparte del odio, por el dinero.
“Precious Knowledge,” should be due out sometime cusses a scene between two characters in “Zoot Suit.” dirigir el tráfico hacia allá. Así que si les quitas el dinero puede
after August, McGinnis said. One character says: “Either I kill him, or he kills me.” “Es muy fácil echarle la culpa a que se vayan, ‘Bueno, estamos dis-
McGinnis says she was amazed how the classes The other character says: “That’s exactly what they Brewer o a Pearce, quienes por sup- puestos a cambiar de opinión’”.
transformed students and made them more engaged in want to see.” uesto, son horribles, pero tenemos
their education and the community. Acosta looks at his students. “So it’s him or me. que entender que ellos son producto Nohemi Ramirez y Jeff Feld
“These are kids every parent dreams of having,” Just those two choices?” He asks the class. “You are de lo que permitimos que se creara”, contribuyeron al reportaje de
she says. thinking too small if you believe that.” dijo ella. “No nos opusimos hasta esta historia.
May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010
Homeless Youth Struggle for Education
By Jessica Befort
Crystal Goldsberry got pregnant at
17. At the time, she was living
with her aunt, who promptly
kicked her out.
She spent the next several years
couch hopping, bouncing between
her sister, aunt and daughter’s
father’s place. All the while,
Goldsberry was determined to finish
high school, though her pregnancy
and living situation made it difficult.
On graduation day, she says,
she “waddled” down the aisle to
get her diploma, her gown draped
over her nine-month belly.
After graduating, Goldsberry
turned down a full scholarship to
Northern Arizona University
knowing there was no way she
could be both a full-time student
and a mother. A few years later, she
joined Our Family Services’
CommonUnity program, which
provides apartment housing for
homeless young mothers and their
children. Goldsberry, now 21, has
lived there since, raising her
daughter Scarlette and taking gen-
eral education classes at Pima
Community College.
Goldsberry’s story is not unlike
that of other homeless youth in
Tucson: the struggle to survive and
make a life with the added pressure
of staying in school. And the num-
ber of youth with similar stories is
on the rise.
During a recent street count, vol-
unteers counted 143 youth living on
the street, up from 119 last year,
according to Laurie Mazerbo, pro-
gram manager for homeless youth
services at Our Family Services.
Districts themselves deal with
even larger numbers. Sunnyside
Unified School District currently
has about 900 homeless students, a
number that is expected to rise to
about 1,100 by the end of the
school year, says Andrea Foster,
SUSD’s homeless liaison.
Tucson Unified School District
has about 1,800 homeless students,
according to Barbara Green, the dis-
trict’s McKinney-Vento assistant.
For young people living on
their own, Mazerbo says, home-
lessness often stems from domestic
violence, sexual and substance
abuse, pregnancy and coming out
to parents.
But the face of homelessness
differs for each, she says.
Mazerbo says that most couch
hop like Goldsberry, living with
JTED Teaches Valuable Skills for Future Careers
By Tammara Crawford
Students across southern Arizona
and Pima County are being offered
a chance to learn technical skills to
help them build a career while still
in high school.
Pima County Joint Technical
Education District (JTED) is suc-
cessfully training hundreds of stu-
dents in a multitude of career
fields.
JTED offers more than 20 pro-
grams ranging from culinary arts
to aviation technologies. The pro-
gram is about to enter its third year
of operation.
Aaron Ball, executive director
of program development, said the
most popular programs are cosme-
tology and the certified nursing
assistant program.
The programs are free for stu-
dents with the exception of the
cosmetology program for which
students purchase tool kits that
they keep after completing the pro-
gram.
“The idea is that this program
Crystal Goldsberry, who finished high school while homeless and pregnant, found an apartment through Our Family Services’ CommonUnity program.
family, friends or whoever can
offer them a few days on the living
room couch.
Others are the stereotypical
street kids or “gutter punks,” she
says, heavily tattooed and pierced,
their lives strapped to their backs.
Some are homeless but still liv-
ing with parents, forced into fami-
ly shelters by job loss and home
foreclosure, says Kathy
Wooldridge of Skrappy’s, a place
where homeless children can con-
nect with local services.
However, most don’t sport what
some consider the tell-tale signs of
homelessness: ratty clothes, dirty
hair, plastic shopping bags
weighed down with what few pos-
sessions they have.
“You would never see them and
think that they are homeless….They
look like just normal teenagers,”
says Heidi Reynolds-Stenson, with
Youth On Their Own, a Tucson
organization that helps homeless
teens finish high school. “They’re
doing a pretty good job of hiding it.”
But what each has in common is
the seemingly insurmountable task
of completing school without the
luxury of a stable, constant home.
Jessica Gonzales applies makeup to a client as part of the JTED cosmetology department.
will put them into the career path-
way,” Ball said.
Ashley Purcell, 19, is one stu-
dent who found her calling in the
cosmetology program.
“This will help me get to where
el inDePenDiente
It’s a challenge that not every
child is able to overcome,
Reynolds-Stenson says.
“A lot of them aren’t going to
be able to do it, even though that’s
what they want,” she says.
“They’re going to have to compro-
mise their dreams because of day-
to-day survival.”
These children face the difficul-
ties of using public buses, common
transportation for homeless people,
Mazerbo says. What’s more, home-
less children are often embarrassed
about “being found out,” she says.
“If they don’t have clean clothes
they don’t want to go to school,
because they don’t want anybody
to know they’re homeless,”
Mazerbo says. “They want to be
like every other kid in school.”
The problems continue after
school closes for the day.
Homeless youth don’t have a safe,
constant place to do homework,
which makes it difficult to keep up
in classes, Reynolds-Stenson says.
“You’re staying on someone’s
couch and that’s also the couch
where everyone hangs out and
watches movies or watches TV in
the evening,” she says. “Where are
photo courtesy oF piMa couNty Jted
I want to be in life,” said Purcell, a
2009 graduate of Mountain View
High School who graduated early
from the program. “It was definite-
ly worth it.”
Marilyn Kressin, program man-
you supposed to do your home-
work? You don’t have your own
space.”
As part of the federal
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assi-
stance Act, school districts must
support homeless students with
some of these problems.
The law guarantees homeless
students the right to attend their
original school, regardless of
where they currently reside.
Districts are also required to pro-
vide transportation to students
attending a district school but liv-
ing outside the district.
In addition, all TUSD
schools provide free breakfast
and lunch to McKinney-Vento
students, Green says. Tutoring
is also available for those per-
forming below grade average.
However, individual schools
often provide more than this, such
as Mission View Elementary
School, 2600 S. Eighth Ave.
Of the 336 students at Mission
View, 26 are homeless. The
school offers clothing, free
breakfast and lunch, backpacks
and school supplies to these
students, says Claudia Leon,
ager for JTED’s cosmetology
department, was hired to get the
program up and running.
The intensive program has sen-
ior-level students who take both
their regular high school classes,
plus cosmetology classes six days
a week.
“Students really do have to be
dedicated,” Kressin said.
Cosmetology’s first graduating
class finishes this summer.
“It’s a very lucrative industry,”
Kressin said of cosmetology.
“Time will tell how many students
stay with the program, and this will
give us more feedback.”
Students have two methods
available to them for taking class-
es. Some programs are offered by
their high schools while others
require students to travel to the
central JTED campus.
“There is a lot of growth in cen-
tral campuses,” Ball said. “We
work with every high school in the
county along with charter schools
and home school students.”
JTED also partners with Pima
Page / Página 7
photo by Kaite FlyNN
the school’s community represen-
tative.
Despite the challenges,
Reynolds-Stenson says many
young people she works with are
determined to be successful, both
in school and life.
“Seeing their resiliency and
motivation is really amazing; to
see that despite everything that
they really want to finish school,”
she says.
With intervention and support,
homeless youth can be productive
people in society, she says, a con-
clusion Goldsberry seems to exem-
plify.
Her daughter turns 3 in June,
and December marks two years
for her at CommonUnity.
Beyond that, Goldsberry says
she eventually wants to own
her own home, attend a four-
year college and make a career in
either microbiology or pharmacy.
She says it’s all about providing
a safe and stable home for her “lit-
tle seed,” the type of home she her-
self wasn’t lucky enough to have
growing up.
“It’s not about me,” she says.
“It’s about the little baby I have.”
Community College and offers
students dual enrollment credits
for some of the classes.
Ball said if students take class-
es that lead to certification, such as
cosmetology, they may be able to
receive their certifications follow-
ing completion of the classes.
Cosmetology students must
have 1,600 hours of experience in
order to get certified.
They can also get their licenses
before their high school diploma.
This allows many students to get a
job in their desired career field
upon completing high school.
Last November, JTED received
more than 1,400 pre-applications.
However, not all applicants make
it into the programs. But with the
number growing, the need for
more space is apparent.
A new location is coming this
August at East 22nd Street and
South Camino Seco.
Ball said they are excited about
the addition, because the new loca-
tion will put JTED within eight
miles of several high schools.
Page / Página 8
?
By Erica Nannini
Traducido por Julian Garcia
May 19
Fiesta Quincie
Douglas!
Celebrate with your neighborhood
at the Fiesta Quincie Douglas, a
party that will feature Mariachi
Nueva Melodia performing as part
of the library’s Nuestras Raices:
Celebrating Mexican-American
Authors, Arts and Culture. There
will be dancing, puppet shows,
piñatas and snacks at the Quincie
Douglas Branch Library, 1585 E.
36th St. Admission is free, and the
celebration will last from 6 to 8
p.m. Call 791-2507 for more
details.
May 19 – September 6
Tucson Toros
Cheer on the Toros opening night,
May 19, at Hi Corbett Field, 3400
E. Camino Campestre, and
throughout the season. July 14
marks the 2010 All-Star Game
between the Golden Baseball
League and the Northern League
of Professional Baseball. All
home games begin at 7 p.m. and
tickets are $5, with specials on
Monday and Tuesday nights. You
can reach the field at 325-1010.
Visit www.tucsontoros.com for a
complete schedule of games.
June 1 – August 13
YMCA Day Camp
Whether your children want to be
a junior lifeguard, a volleyball star
or a teen leader-in-training,
chances are they will find a desir-
able summer day camp at the
Lohse Family YMCA, 60 W.
Alameda St. The typical cost of a
week-long session is $115, with
breakfast, lunch and a snack
included. The days last from 7
a.m. to 6 p.m. YMCA does offer
financial aid in the form of
“camperships” to those who may
need it. Call 623-5200 or visit
https://enroll.tucsonymca.org/ to
register.
June 7 – June 11
Paws and Claws
The Tucson Children’s Museum,
200 S. Sixth Ave., invites animal
lovers ages 4 to 6 to beat the sum-
mer heat at this indoor Kinder
Camp. Kids will make animal
crafts and play games like “doggie
bingo” throughout the day, which
lasts from 9 a.m. to noon. The
cost is $95 for members and $125
for non-members. Register in per-
son or by calling 792-9985 ext.
114. Visit http://tucsonchildrens-
museum.org/ for a complete list of
Kinder Camps.
July 10 – October 3
Contemporary Art
Douglas Nielsen, a resident chore-
ographer and dance professor at
the University of Arizona, has put
together a contemporary art col-
lection spanning the last 40 years
to be shown at the Tucson
Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave.
“Thanks for Being With Us” wel-
comes the public to experience
works by Annie Leibovitz and
other popular photographers and
artists. The museum is open
Tuesday through Saturday from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from
qué Pasa?
Kaite FlyNN
by
photos
noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $8.
Call 624-2333 or visit www.tuc-
sonmuseumofart.org for more
details.
July 24
Make Sound Waves
Aspiring teen bands have a chance
to rock out at “Make Sound Waves
at Your Library,” an end-of-sum-
mer rock concert. The free, all-
ages show lasts from 8 to 10 p.m.
at the Joel D. Valdez Main
Library, 101 N. Stone Ave.
Interested bands should rehearse
and contact Kendra Davey at 594-
5345 or Kendra.davey@pima.gov.
Those interested in viewing the
show can call the library at 594-
5500 for more information.
September 24
Mariachi Sol
Mariachi Sol de Mexico and Vikki
Carr celebrate the bicentennial of
the Mexican Dia de Independencia
with a performance at the
University of Arizona’s Centennial
Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd.
Carr has become an international
talent over her career, with more
than 60 records and three Grammy
awards for her Spanish-language
albums. The concert begins at 8
p.m. Contact the box office at 621-
3341 for ticket prices and informa-
tion, or visit http://www.ua
el inDePenDiente
8th Annual
Fiesta Grande
Street Fair
The Fiesta Grande Street Fair celebrat-
ed its eighth year on April 10 on Grande
Avenue.
Left: Albert Tester, a balloon artist from
Tucson, creates a rabbit for a young
girl.
Above: Tester waves to spectators
encouraging them to buy balloons.
This is Tester’s second year at the
event.
To view more photos from the street fair
visit elindenews.com/multimedia
presents.org/ for details. entradas son de $5, con precios
especiales los lunes y martes. Se
19 de mayo puede comunicar con Hi Corbett
Field en el 325-1010. Para ver el
¡Fiesta Quincie calendario completo visite
Douglas! www.tucsontoros.com.
Festeje con su barrio en la Fiesta 1 de junio – 13 de agosto
Quincie Douglas, una fiesta que
destacará a Mariachi Nueva Campamento diurno
Melodía, quienes se presentarán del YMCA
como parte de Nuestras Raíces:
Celebrando a los autores, el arte y Si su hijo o hija le interesa ser sal-
la cultura méxico-americana. vavidas, una estrella del voleibol o
Habrá bailes, espectáculos de un líder juvenil en el futuro, es
títeres, piñatas y comida en la bib- probable que encuentre un campa-
lioteca de Quincie Douglas, ubica- mento diurno de verano deseable
da en el 1585 E. 36th St. La entra- en el Lohse Family YMCA
da es gratuita y la celebración se (YMCA de la familia Lohse), ubi-
llevará a cabo de las 6-8 p.m. Para cado en 60 W. Alameda St. El pre-
más detalles llame al 791-2507. cio de una sesión, que dura una
semana y tiene todas las comidas
19 de mayo – 6 de sep- incluidas, es $115. El horario
tiembre diario es de 7 a.m. a 6 p.m.
YMCA ofrece ayuda financiera en
Los Tucson Toros forma de “camperships” (becas
Apoye a los Toros en la noche de para miembros del campamento) a
apertura (19 de mayo) y a lo largo aquellos que la necesiten. Para
de la temporada en Hi Corbett inscribirse llame al 623-5200 o
Field, ubicado en 3400 E. Camino visite el sitio https://enroll.tuc-
Campestre. El 14 de julio señala la sonymca.org.
fecha para el juego de estrellas
2010 entre la Golden Baseball 7 de junio – 11 de junio
League (Liga de oro del beisbol) y
la Northern League of Zarpas y garras
Professional Baseball (Liga del El Tucson Children’s Museum
norte de beisbol profesional). (Museo para niños en Tucsón),
Todos los partidos en casa ubicado en 200 S. Sixth Ave., invi-
empiezan a las 7 p.m. y las ta a admiradores de animales,
May 6 / 6 de mayo 2010
niños entre 4 a 6 años, a vencer el
calor del verano en este Kinder
Camp (campamento de niños) bajo
cubierta. Los niños harán animales
artesanales y participarán en jue-
gos como “doggie bingo” (bingo
con perritos) a lo largo del día,
que será de las 9 a.m. hasta el
mediodía. El precio para miem-
bros es de $95 y de $125 para
aquellos que no son miembros.
Inscríbase en persona o por telé-
fono: 792-9985 ext. 114. Para una
lista completa de los campamentos
de niños visite el sitio http://tuc-
sonchildrensmuseum.org/.
10 de Julio – 3 de octubre
Arte contemporáneo
El coreógrafo local y profesor de
baile en la Universidad de
Arizona, Douglas Nielsen, ha for-
mado una colección de arte con-
temporánea que abarca los últimos
40 años que será presentada en el
Tucson Museum of Art (Museo de
arte de Tucsón), en el 140 N. Main
Ave. “Thanks for Being With Us”
(“Gracias por estar con nosotros”)
invita al público a que disfrute las
obras de Annie Leibovitz y otros
fotógrafos y artistas populares. El
museo está abierto de jueves a
sábado de 10 a.m. a 5 p.m. y los
domingos de mediodía a 5 p.m. La
entrada cuesta $8. Para más
detalles llame al 624-2333 o visite
el sitio web, www.tucsonmuseu-
mofart.org.
24 de julio
Hagan ondas de
sonido
Grupos de música de adolescentes
con aspiraciones tienen la oportu-
nidad de excitarse en el concierto
de fin de verano “Make Sound
Waves at Your Library” (“Hagan
ondas de sonido en su biblioteca”).
El espectáculo gratuito, para per-
sonas de todas edades, se llevará a
cabo en el Joel D. Valdez Main
Library, en el 101 N. Stone Ave. Y
será de 8 a 10 p.m. Grupos intere-
sados deben ensayar y ponerse en
contacto con Kendra Davey en el
594-5345 o
Kendra.davey@pima.gov.
Aquellos interesados en ver el
espectáculo pueden hablar a la
biblioteca al 594-5500 para más
información.
24 de septiembre
Mariachi Sol
Mariachi Sol de México y Vikki
Carr celebran el bicentenario del
día de independencia de México
con una presentación en el
Centennial Hall de la Universidad
de Arizona en el 1020 E.
University Blvd. A lo largo de su
carrera, Carr se ha convertido en
un talento internacional, con más
de 60 discos y tres Grammy’s por
sus álbumes en español. El
concierto empieza a las 8 p.m.
Para informes y costos de entrada
contacten la taquilla en el 621-
3341 o visiten el sitio web para
más detalles:
http://www.uapresents.org/.
Upcoming community
events can be submitted to
El Independiente at
elindy.ua@gmail.com.
The next issue of El
Independiente will be in
September.