March 2006 - School of Journalism

INDEPENDIENTE
L
E
1976~30 Years of Service~2006
South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper
Free/gratis
March/Marzo 2006
Air pollution causes
health problems
near border
BY
PHOTO
Driving south on Interstate 19 toward Mexico, one
feature of the landscape is impossible to miss—the
cloud of haze surrounding Nogales on both sides of
the border.
Air pollution near the border has been a source of
concern for both Arizona and Mexican government
officials for the past 20 years. Government agencies
on both sides of the border are now working together
to decrease air pollution and the negative health
effects it brings.
Stephen Owens, director of the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), said
he is working with the Environmental Protection
Agency and its Mexican equivalent to develop a strategy to fight the main sources of air pollution in the
border area, which are unpaved roads, parking lots
and vehicle emissions.
“Our work with Mexico on these issues is a real
example of international cooperation,” Owens said.
Owens said decreasing pollution is not just an
environmental issue, but a public health issue.
“Asthma is the biggest health problem we see
along the border,” he said.
Dr. Mark Brown, a pediatric pulmonologist with
the Arizona Respiratory Center, said air pollution can
significantly worsen asthma symptoms, especially in
children.
“It can cause coughing, wheezing and more severe
illness if a child with asthma catches a virus,” Brown
said.
A study done by the Arizona Department of Health
Services determined that the prevalence of asthma
among fifth grade students in Nogales was 7.6 percent on the Arizona side and 6.9 percent on the
Sonora side, both of which are higher than the 4 percent to 6 percent U.S. national average.
Even in children without asthma, Brown said air
pollution can cause sinus disease, increased ear infections and coughing.
Air pollution has also been linked to cardiovascular disease and lung damage after long periods of
exposure, according to studies done by the Arizona
Department of Health Services.
For ADEQ, these health problems mean they must
work hard to develop an effective plan to reduce air
pollution.
“We take this very seriously, and we’re putting a
ADAM GAUB
By Sarah Stanton
TUSD food service employees serve hot lunches to waiting students at Wakefield Middle School. The district tries to serve
balanced lunches, incorporating fruit and milk as well as salads into a typical meal with an entree and side dish.
New nutrition guidelines key to
making Arizona schools healthy
The Arizona Department
of Education revised
food regulations to take
effect in July
By Laura Paull
The Arizona Department of Education
has altered nutrition standards for food
served in elementary and middle schools
to ensure children get healthier foods during the school day.
The Department released new nutri-
tion guidelines in January specifying new
food requirements. They will go into
effect in July. The guidelines include the
percentage of fat contained in food served
in schools, and limit the size of portions
of desserts and pastries.
“We’ll be evaluating what else needs
to be changed and offering suggestions
for alternatives,” said Pam Palmo, director of food services for TUSD
Cafeterias are trying to serve fruit with
every meal and are planning to serve more
rice and pretzels, in lieu of candy bars and
chips, which were previously allowed,
said Caroline Navarrette, Wakefield
‘Border’ see page 6
Middle School food service manager.
The Arizona Department of Education
is implementing these new standards
because of increased child obesity,
increased diabetes among children and
because children were not receiving the
proper nutrition necessary for their age
group, according to the Arizona
Department of Education Web site.
The food served must meet the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, which means
they must have 30 percent or less calories
from fat, 10 percent or less calories from
saturated fat, and a decrease in sodium
and cholesterol. An increase in fiber and
‘Nutrition’ see page 6
First rent-to-own complex to offer
low-income families housing options
Photo By Angel Lopez
By Kristen Connors
The Valle Del Sur Condiminimums is the first rent-to-own complex in Arizona, and one of
only a few in the entire nation. Two, three and four bedroom units are available.
South Tucson is home to Arizona’s first rentto-own complex, one of just a handful in the
country.
Valle Del Sur Condominiums are unique
because they offer families with incomes
ranging from $21,180 to the mid $30,000’s,
depending on family’s size they then have
the option to purchase their condo at today’s
market price after renting them for 15 years,
said Candy Mejia, property manager.
The complex, which broke ground in
October 2004, was just completed and is currently accepting applications for potential
residents, said Scott Davey from the non-
profit Design Development Group. He said
there are only two families currently residing
there.
Valle Del Sur, 251 W. 38th Street, offers
two, three, and four bedroom units with two
bathrooms and comes equipped with washers, dryers, microwaves, and refrigerators.
Residents will also have access to two
community rooms and a pool.
There has been some talk about turning
one of the community rooms into a childcare facility, Davey said, and would require
subcontracting a service provider.
Residency and rent depends on household
income, said Davey, and is a great opportunity for South Tucson residents. The leasing
office number is 792-1448.
EL INDEPENDIENTE
Page / Página 2
March/Marzo 2006
BY
South Tucson programs and help centers,
like Primavera Works, are located throughout
the city and aimed at getting people off the
street and into the work force.
According to the Labor Department, the
national unemployment rate for the Hispanic
community has decreased to a five-month
low of 5.8 percent, but South Tucson is still
dealing with labor issues.
South Tucson had an unemployment rate
of 9.5 percent in 2004, about four percent
higher than the national rate, according to the
2004 Special Unemployment Report by the
Arizona Department of Economic Security.
Since 1996, Primavera Works has given
day laborers in South Tucson more options
and opportunities, and through its initiatives
has seen an increase in employment throughout the area.
South Tucson has a high rate of foreign
workers, approximately 34 percent of the population, a group that statistically displays higher
unemployment rates, according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics and the 2000 Census.
Karen Caldwell, director of employment
and support services for Primavera Works,
said in 2005 alone, the program found temporary work for 653 people.
The program is different from other day labor
programs, like Labor Ready, Caldwell said.
The Arizona Attorney General’s office
prosecuted Labor Ready in 2004 for cheating
day laborers out of some of their wages, a
violation of the Consumer Fraud Act and the
Check Cashing Act.
Labor Ready was charging laborers a dollar plus the change in order to cash their paychecks from a cash-dispensing machine.
According to the Southwest Center for
Economic Integrity’s Web site, a case from the
lawsuit said a worker had to pay $1.31 in order
to cash her paycheck of $34.31, which resulted
in a reduction of her pay by almost 4 percent.
It was decided in February 2004 that Labor
Ready had to pay restitution damages of
$150,000 to return the money that was illegally deducted from employees’ paychecks, and
donate the remainder of the money to either
Habitat for Humanity or the Primavera
Foundation, according to the court decision.
Primavera Works offers an alternative to
this type of day labor hall, said Caldwell.
Last year, over 50 landscaping and construction businesses collaborated with the
program to provide temporary jobs to clients,
said Adam Ragsdale, operations manager for
Primavera Works.
Since the labor requires a lot of physical
activity, only 3 percent of users last year
were women, Caldwell said.
Primavera Works, whose primary focus is
helping the homeless, finds most of its
clients from the Primavera Shelter and other
local shelters, Ragsdale said.
A recent change is an increase in clients
who have their own housing, Caldwell said.
According to Ragsdale, this may be due in
part to an increase in marketing efforts, like
ads placed on the Sun Tran buses for people
looking for work.
Another changing trend is the age distribution of clients.
“When I first started nearly five years
ago, our population seemed older. We are
seeing more and more younger people coming in looking for work,” Ragsdale said.
The major difference between Primavera
Works and other labor halls is the resources
provided, Caldwell said.
“With our full support, case management, sack lunches, and extensions at the
men’s shelters, we have helped people suc-
PHOTO
By Kristen Connors
ANGEL LOPEZ
Alternative to day labor offers promise
Since 1996, Primavera Works has provided day laborers with construction and landscaping work.
Forty-eight percent of workers who went to Primavera found permanent jobs in 2005.
ceed,” Caldwell said.
Clients are paid a minimum of $6 per
hour and are provided free lunches, transportation to jobs, free use of safety equipment, and free access to employment specialists to help with the job finding process, said
Caldwell.
Another difference, said Ragsdale, is that
clients are paid weekly and not daily. This
has its advantages because it helps workers
get in the habit of managing their money, he
said. They also set aside $25 from each paycheck as part of a savings program, and when
they are ready to leave the program, they will
hopefully have enough money set aside to
put toward housing or other needs.
The employment specialists provide
assistance in resume writing, housing,
employment, food, clothing, and substance
abuse referrals, Ragsdale said.
“Basically, if a client comes to our office
and needs help with anything, we will either
help them ourselves or find someone who
can,” Ragsdale said.
The efforts have paid off, about 48 percent of the people who used the program last
year found permanent jobs with the help of
the employment services, Caldwell said.
Ragsdale said there have been a lot of
success stories through the program, but one
that comes to mind is about a young man
who moved to Tucson from the East Coast
with an engineering background. He started
using the resources offered by Primavera
after he had trouble finding a job, and with
assistance from the program was eventually
hired full-time by a construction company.
“The last I heard from him was that he
obtained a job in engineering again and was
making nearly $70,000 a year.”
Voluntarios ayudan a miembros de la comunidad
a declarar gratuitamente sus impuestos
INDEPENDIENTE
Por Angel Lopez
Traducido por Teresa Lorenz
Managing Editor
UA Journalism
P.O. Box 210080
Phone: 621-3618
Fax: 621-7557
Adam Gaub
News Editor
Jesse Lewis
Spanish/Border
Editor
Monica Warren
ANGEL LOPEZ
Design Editor
Erin Haskell
Photo Editor
Seth Stuart
BY
Coach, patrocinado por Arizona Saves,
habla con el individuo acerca de las
opciones que tienen para invertir sus
impuestos.
Frances Salcido, oficial de préstamos de
bienes raíces y voluntario de Wealth Coach,
educa a la gente en cómo abrir una cuenta de
ahorros en uno de los varios bancos, depositando lo menos posible.
Salcido dijo que otra opción es un
Individual Development Account.
Chicanos por la Causa, o CPLC, ofrece
un programa de IDA para ayudarles a
las familias comprar una casa. Para
cada cuatro dólares invertidos, el
CPLC contribuirá un dólar a la cuenta
al no pasar $1,000.
“Muchas personas no saben que
pueden comprar una casa con $1,000 de
enganche,” dijo Salcido.
Corina Lespron dijo que durante los últimos tres años ha entablado sus impuestos
con la ayuda del programa VITA.
“La gente de aquí es estupenda,
respetuosa y generosa,” dijo Lespron.
Lespron, una antigua gerente de
apartamentos ha estado incapacitada
durante los últimos tres meses debido a
una herida sufrida en un accidente automovilístico que ocurrió hace cuatro
años. Ella dijo que le recomendó el servicio gratuito a su amigo Hank Armenta.
Armenta, un conserje de Velancia
Middle School, estaba pagando de $150
a $200 al año para que una empresa privada prepare sus impuestos. Este año
por primera vez visitó un sitio de VITA.
Armenta dijo que tenía los requisitos
para el EITC y descubrió que se le
deben $1,800 en una declaración de
Community
Events Editor
PHOTO
Voluntarios les ayudan a los miembros
de la comunidad entablar gratuitamente
sus impuestos
Preparación gratuita de los
impuestos para los ciudadanos de
Tucson
“Entable y sonría” con la
preparación gratuita de los impuestos
Los ciudadanos de Tucson tienen
hasta el 15 de abril para entablar sus
impuestos federales y estatales y reclamar algunos posibles reembolsos.
La organización United Way of
Tucson and Southern Arizona está
facilitando sitios de Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance donde los
que necesitan ayuda con la
entablación de impuestos pueden
recibir asistencia gratuita con la
ayuda de especialistas. El programa
VITA se estableció hace más de 30
años para proveerles la asistencia
gratuita a los trabajadores de bajos y
moderados ingresos y asegurarse
que ellos reclamen todos los créditos de impuestos que les pertenezcan inclusive el Earned Income Tax
Credit y el Child Tax Credit, dijo
Patti Dougherty, la gerente del programa iniciativo EITC.
“El programa EITC les da crédito a
las familias trabajadoras,” dijo
Dougherty.
Todos los voluntarios de VITA han
estudiado por tres semanas las leyes de
impuestos y del software TaxWise,
todo patrocinado por el IRS, para ayu-
darle a la gente entablar electrónicamente los impuestos.
Jon Blumenfield, el líder de
Americorps
Nacional
Civilian
Community Corps, dijo que la
entablación electrónica es más rápida por
no tener que implicar el correo y es más
fácil de corregir sin tener que empezar de
nuevo el proceso. La entablación electrónica también provee a la persona la
opción del depósito directo de su
declaración de impuestos en su cuenta de
ahorros o su cuenta corriente.
El año pasado el programa VITA abrió
ocho sitios y entabló 2,400 declaraciones
de impuestos. Este año el programa ha
contratado a 120 voluntarios y ha aumentado el número de hablantes bilingües,
dijo Dougherty.
Dougherty predice que los voluntarios
ayudarán a más de 5,000 familias durante
esta temporada de la entablación de
impuestos.
A los que visitan a un sitio VITA,
primero se les investigará para determinar
si cumplen con los requisitos antes de que
puedan inscribirse para poder hablar con
un especialista. El proceso de entablación
se hace mediante una entrevista que dura
aproximadamente entre una media hora a
una hora para llevarse a cabo, según la
complejidad del proceso.
Los candidatos deben tener identificación de foto, todos los formularios de
tipo W2 y tarjetas de Seguridad Social
para cada miembro de la familia. La pareja debe de estar presente para la
entablación conjunta.
Al terminar el proceso de
entablación, un voluntario de Wealth
EL
Stephanie Plapp
El voluntario Charles Rood ayuda a un visitante a llenar su declaración de impuestos.
Copy Chief
Angie Lines
impuestos federales, algo que no ha
visto en cuatro años.
“Se siente fantástico,” dijo Armenta
sobre su próxima declaración de
impuestos.
Armenta dijo que la interacción con
el voluntario de la comunidad le hizo
sentirse más involucrado en el proceso.
Mientras que Charles Rood, un voluntario, apuntaba su información en la
computadora, Armenta dijo que miraba
desde la silla los misterios de la
entablación de impuestos.
Blumenfield dijo que uno de los
propósitos del programa VITA es de
ayudarles a los trabajadores como
Armenta entablar sus impuestos sin
tener que sacar préstamos o pagar por
los servicios.
“Estos reembolsos son el dinero de
ellos,” dijo Blumenfield. “¿Por qué
deberían pagar para que se les devuelva
su propio dinero?”
Copy Editors
Kevin Stamler
Lexi Bush
Reporters
Laura Paull
Zach Colick
Kate Kemerer
Kristen Connors
Elise Jackman
Sarah Stanton
Designers
Andrew Fredricks
Alexis Ewers
Photographers
Jessica Mandel
Joshua Dryer
Angel Lopez
Translators
Teresa Lorenz
Melissa Jeffries
Angelica Rodenbeck
Advisor
Maggy Zanger
EL INDEPENDIENTE
March/Marzo 2006
Page / Página 3
Volunteers help community members file taxes for free
BY
PHOTO
Tucsonans have until April 15 to file their federal and
state taxes. For residents whose eyes are already glazing
over, help is on the way.
A special program offers assistance by trained tax
preparers to low- and moderate-income families to
make sure they claim all the benefits they are entitled
to. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program was developed over 30 years ago to make sure
everyone gets all the tax credits they’re entitled to,
including the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax
Credit, said Patti Dougherty, site program manager.
“The EITC [Earned Income Tax Credit] is a credit
for working families,” said Dougherty.
All VITA volunteers have undergone three weeks of
Internal Revenue Service-sponsored training in tax law
and in TaxWise software to help people file electronically.
Electronic filing is faster because no mailing is
involved and it is easier to correct without having to start
the process all over again, said Jon Blumenfield,
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team
leader. Electronic filing also gives the person the option
to have their return directly deposited into their savings
or checking account.
Last year the VITA program opened eight sites in the
Tucson area and filed 2,400 returns. This year the program has recruited 120 volunteers and increased the
number of bilingual speakers, said Dougherty.
She predicts volunteers will help more than 5,000
families this tax season.
People visiting a VITA site are first screened for
eligibility before they can sign in to be called by a tax
preparer. The filing process is conducted in an interview style and takes about half an hour to an hour to
complete, depending on the complexity of the process.
Applicants should have photo identification, all W2
forms and Social Security cards for each member of the
family. Both parties must be present for joint filing.
Once the filing process is complete, a volunteer
sponsored by ArizonaSaves sits down with the individual to talk about options for investing their tax return.
Frances Salcido, real estate loan officer and “wealth
coach” volunteer, educates people on how they can open
a savings account with a small deposit at one of numerous participating banks.
Another option, Salcido said, is an Individual
Development Account. Chicanos Por La Causa, offers a
program to help families purchase a home. For every $4
invested, the organization will contribute $1 to the
account, matching up to $1,000.
“A lot of people don’t know they can get into a house
for $1,000,” said Salcido.
Corina Lespron said she has been filing her taxes with
help from the VITA program for the past three years.
ANGEL LOPEZ
By Angel Lopez
Hank Armenta and Corina Lespron sit alongside tax assistant voulenteer Charles Rood as he explains the often confusing
process of federal and state filing taxes.
“The people here are really great; respectful and generous,” she said.
Lespron is a former apartment manager and has been
on disability for the last three months due to an injury.
She said she recommended the free service to her friend
Hank Armenta.
Armenta, a maintenance worker at Valencia Middle
School, was paying $150 to $200 each year to have his
taxes prepared by a private business. This year was his
first visit to a VITA site. Armenta said he qualified for an
earned income tax credit and discovered he is due $1,800
in a federal return, something he hasn’t seen in four
years.
“It feels great,” Armenta said.
The side-by-side interaction with the community
volunteer made him feel more involved in the process, he
said. As Charles Rood, a volunteer, entered his information into the computer, Armenta said he looked on from
the seat next to him and watched the mysteries of tax filing unfold.
Blumenfield said that one of the purposes of the
VITA program, which is facilitated by United Way of
Tucson and Southern Arizona, is to help workers like
Armenta file without having to take out loans or pay for
services.
“These tax refunds are their money,” Blumenfield
said. “Why should people have to pay money to get their
own money back?”
VITA sites
near South Tucson
Chicanos Por La Causa
200 N. Stone Ave.
Tues. & Thurs. 9 a.m. – noon
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
882-0018
El Rio Neighborhood Center
1390 W. Speedway Blvd.
Tuesdays 3:30–7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Toltecalli Academy
251 W. Irvington Road
Saturday, April 8, 9 a.m–1 p.m.
Pima College Community
Campus
401 N. Bonita Ave.
Saturdays 9 a.m. – noon
Pio Decimo Center
848 S. 7th Ave.
Mondays 3–5 p.m.
Wednesdays 3–5 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m.–noon.
Pima College West Campus
C-213
2202 W. Anklam Road
Tuesdays & Thursdays 3–5 p.m.
El Pueblo Neighborhood
Center
101 W. Irvington Road
Fridays & Saturdays
9 a.m. – noon
For more information
Call 881-1794
Nogales Native takes a shot at American Idol fame
Local legal secretary braves
Cowell and company for a shot
at stardom
By Kate Kemerer
One must be brave to sing in front of the
notoriously cruel
Simon Cowell, the
feared judge of the
hit
television
show,
“American Idol.”
“If you would
be singing like this
two
thousand
years ago, people
would have stoned
you,” said Cowell Yvette Gonzalez
to a daring but
unlucky contestant. Fortunately, he was less
harsh on Yvette Gonzalez, 28, of Nogales,
Ariz. when it was her moment to shine on the
primetime show.
Although she only made it through the
first round, Gonzalez, a legal secretary, said
her time in Los Angeles was worth it because
she followed her dream.
“It was a really good experience,”
Gonzalez said. “I did it and I didn’t sit at
home wondering.”
Gonzalez started singing at the age of
three, but her American Idol adventure
began when she won the ‘Radio Star’ competition hosted by KRQ 93.7’s John Jay and
Rich Show last year. John Jay told
Gonzalez’s mother, Connie Serino
Gonzalez, that her daughter should try out
for American Idol.
So when Yvette Gonzalez’s Mariachi
director asked her to go with him and his two
daughters to tryout for the show in Las Vegas,
she thought, “maybe God wants me to go.”
Yvette Gonzalez’s mother has always
had an influence on her life, which helped
push her to tryout for the TV competition. A
singer herself, Connie Serino Gonzalez
encouraged her daughter to not only sing,
but play the violin and piano by age seven,
and try her hand at ballet, tap dancing,
school plays, and modeling.
With the help of her mother, who said she is
more than proud of her daughter, Yvette Gonzalez
decided she had nothing to lose by shooting for the
American Idol dream.
When she arrived in Las Vegas she estimated that she was one of about 5,000 people, all with the same dream.
After a process of elimination, she was one of
the 10 chosen to go to Los Angeles to film the first
episode of this season’s show.
Gonzalez enjoyed being in the spotlight
and on national television, it felt normal and
fun, she said. But she worried about what the
judges might say in front of a nationwide
audience, she said.
However, “they were very nice,” Gonzalez
said. “Even Simon is nicer in person.”
After being reassured that the judges
were nothing to worry about, Gonzalez said
she could concentrate more on the American
Idol dream, a goal that was supported by her
family, friends, boss and co-workers.
“(Everyone has) given me a lot of support, even my boss at work,” she said.
As the winners of the first round were
announced, Gonzalez said she was praying
to God, saying “if it’s meant to happen, let it
happen; and if it’s not, let it go now.”
Although being cut was a disappointment,
Gonzalez said she is proud of how far she did
make it and is hopeful this is just the begin-
ning of a successful future music career.
“I will continue doing what I am doing
and hopefully land a record deal,” she said.
Until then, she said she will continue to
perform for special events, such as singing
the national anthem at sporting events, and
will get back to working with her Mariachi
group. And she will always have her
moment on national television to treasure.
“I will always be a part of American Idol.”
Mailbox
El Independiente encourages letters
from all its readers, but reserves the
right to edit correspondence for
grammar, style, clarity, and length.
Submissions can be sent to the
managing editor, Adam Gaub.
[email protected]
or write to:
UA Journalism
P.O. Box 210080
Tucson, AZ 85721
Fax: 621-7557
Phone 621-3618
EL INDEPENDIENTE
Page / Página 4
March/Marzo 2006
Gilbert Barrios’ hand is steady as he slowly
pulls his comb toward him. He glides wisps
of salt and pepper hair to the comb’s tip.
Delicately, he raises his other hand and the
fingers that are clenched around his scissors
open gradually.
Snip.
In one swift motion the scissors sprinkle
the floor with of the speckled hair.
Barrios has worked as a barber at
George’s Barbershop, 1941 S. Sixth Ave., for
almost 36 years, and at one point, even
owned store. George’s has a long standing
history in South Tucson.
“I just feel comfortable here,” Barrios
said. “I enjoy working here. People are
friendly.”
Barrios said he is the third owner of
George’s after being originally opened in
1968 by George Celay, at 2811 S. Sixth Ave.,
where Food City is now located. Barrios
bought the shop in 1992. In 1994, Barrios
and those leasing stations from him were
given an eviction notice of 30 days because a
grocery store was being built, forcing them
to move from a location that had been their
second home.
Jerry Marbury, a father of three, was leasing a station in the shop from Barrios at the
time. He was working two jobs and trying to
support his family while making only $200 a
day. Marbury said he refused to see George’s
close. In 1994 he took out a loan and bought
the shop from Barrios.
“We’ve had people like the (South
Tucson) city director, (South Tucson) fire
chief, (South Tucson) police chief, get their
hair cut here,” said Marbury. “When I ask
them why they say, ‘We don’t want to get our
hair cut where there’s drugs and gangbangers.’ It means a lot to have that reputation,” Marbury said.
Marbury found the new location and purchased the entire bottom portion of the building. Slowly he began to sublease portions of
the center to other businesses. Finding that
real estate interested him, Marbury enrolled
himself into real estate night classes in an
attempt to learn all he could about real estate
law.
He eventually obtained his real estate
license, and set up a fax machine in the corner of his station at George’s in order to further his real estate career while still fulfilling
his passion for cutting hair.
In one year he sold 30 homes and was
offered a position as a real estate broker at
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
However, his sudden success in real estate
did not sway his attention away from
George’s.
Marbury said he aims to use the shop as
a means to help others gain financial success.
He believes too many people look to the government for answers regarding jobs and
finances, when they should look within their
own community.
“My vision is to have everyone I’ve
worked with, including customers, move to a
level of (financial) independence,” said
Marbury. “I want to help people achieve the
‘American Dream.’”
Marbury said he is proud of the shop and
its reputation.
“We bring a lot of history and a lot of
culture that’s not limited to hip-hop,”
Marbury said. “We’re not the ‘cut and fads.’
We’re just an old fashion barbershop.”
PHOTO
By Alexis Ewers
BY ANDREW FREDRICKS
A “snip” of South Tucson; a cut above the rest
A South Tucson man gets a trim from Gilbert Barrios at George’s Barbershop. Customers
have trusted Barrios with their haircuts and fades for almost 36 years.
Both J.W. Marsh Walls and Kathleen
Wimberly are proud to say they work at
George’s.
“It’s steady work,” said Walls, who has
worked at George’s for nine years. “They
come back and I try to keep it fresh for them
(customers). I give them a decent haircut so
they can walk away satisfied.”
Wimberly said she quit her job 10 years
ago at an east-side salon to work at George’s.
She said she was reluctant to work in South
Tucson in the beginning because of the
stereotypes that affiliated the city with gangs
and drugs. After working at George’s shesaid she found those stereotypes to be false.
Padres de familia pueden
mejorar calidad de empleo
Computer classes
offered in Spanish
By Angie Lines
Wakefield ofrece
entrenamiento
laboral para
padres de familia
PHOTO
BY
ERIN HASKELL
Por Erin Haskell
Traducido Por Angelica Rodenbeck
Carmen Kemery, directora de la escuela
primaria “Wakefield”, quiere mejorar la
calidad de vida de sus estudiantes educando a sus padres.
Kemery, en conjunto con maestros voluntarios y del resto de la comunidad, está
en el proceso de crean un programa el cual
eduque a los padres de los niños, enseñándoles un oficio para que puedan mejorar o
conseguir un mejor empleo.
El programa tendrá los mismos lineamientos que el actual programa
“Empleos de vida”, que dirige la esposa
del Alcalde de Tucson, Beth Walkup, y que
ha tenido mucho éxito en los últimos cuatro años, Kemery indicó.
El programa será impartido mediante
ejercicios prácticos; estos con el propósito
de enseñar a los padres a tener confianza en
ellos mismos y ayudarlos a tener más
facilidad de palabra, señaló John Henning,
voluntario de Wakefield.
Henning y James Oviedo, otro voluntario, se han comprometido con Kemery,
en organizar las fases del programa y
empezarlo lo mas pronto posible. Durante
la última junta de padres y maestros a
finales del año pasado, más de 80 padres de
familia se interesaron en el programa. Las
ganas de participar por parte de los padres
de familia era muy positiva, dijo Kemery.
La Escuela Wakefield, localizada en el 101. W. de la calle 44 y la Avenida Stone,
planea empezar el Programma Empleos de Vida esta primavera.
Aunque no es un requisito, Kemery sugiere que los padres de familia se inscriban en
la preparatoria (GED) y en el programa de
Ingles (ESL), antes de iniciar el programa.
Wakefield imparte estas clases pero el cupo es
limitado. Estas clases también se imparten en
el centro de atención para la familia de la primaria “C.E. Rose,” ubicada en el 710 W.
Michigan Drive.
Henning señaló que los padres de
familia tienen que tener las bases fundamentales del idioma ingles antes de que se
inscriban al programa que Wakefield
ofrece.
El programa ha tardado en arrancar ya
que todavía no tenemos el salón apropiado
para impartir las clases y no tenemos materiales en español, Kemery indicó. A pesar
de todo, “Tengo la esperanza de arrancar
este programa dentro de los primeros seis
meses de este año, estoy segura de que este
programa dará mas oportunidades a toda la
comunidad,” dijo,”pero aún tenemos
mucho que planear.”
Los padres de familia que tengan hijos
en la escuela Wakefield y que estén interesados pueden pedir mas información en la
escuela. Kemery dará mas información
acerca del programa cuando éste se ponga
en marcha.
“The people around here are wonderful,”
Wimberly said.
Although she is the only female hairdresser, Wimberly said she likes being the
only girl because the guys spoil her.
“We’re like a family because we’re here
more than (we’re) at home. That’s what kept
me here. We’re so close,” Wimberly said.
Marbury has no intentions of moving
George’s to the city of Tucson because it is a
South Tucson shop.
“It’s easier to work with South Tucson
than the city,” Marbury said. “South Tucson
is a city that gives opportunity.”
The Santa Rosa Learning Center Library offers computers for public use and will begin teaching computer
classes in Spanish this month.
The library opened in April 2002, and currently has
23 computers that offer Internet access, word processing
programs like Microsoft Word, and the Mavis-Beacon
keyboarding program, which teaches typing skills, as
well as many other programs.
Librarians are on-hand to help patrons with any questions or problems they may encounter while using the
computers at the library, said Sol Gomez, a librarian at
Santa Rosa.
The library also has resources on computers, including
picture books. Santa Rosa librarians are writing a proposal
to fund the purchase of general interest books and DVDs,
which will be a welcomed addition to the library, Gomez
said.
Computer classes in Spanish are also taught at the
library. The next program will be offered through
Tecnologico de Monterrey, a Mexican university, which
Gomez likens to Harvard University.
The free 21-week Tecnologico de Monterrey course
will be taught online so students can participate from the
library computers or from home. Participants will learn
how to use e-mail and programs such as Microsoft Word,
PowerPoint, and Excel. A certificate of completion will be
awarded to participants when they successfully complete
the course, Gomez said.
To prepare participants for the on-line course, Santa
Rosa will offer a free orientation class.
The class will teach basic skills such as using a computer mouse, e-mailing, computer terminology, and an
introduction to Microsoft Word. The skills that participants learn through these classes will not only prepare
them for the more in-depth course, but will give them
valuable skills for the work place, Gomez said.
The date for the orientation class has not been decided yet. For more information or to register for the orientation course and the Tecnologico de Monterrey course,
call (520) 879-8019.
The Santa Rosa Learning Center Library is located
at 1075 S. 10th Ave. and is open Tuesday and Wednesday
10-8, Thursday 9-6, Friday 10-5, and Saturday 9-5.
EL INDEPENDIENTE
March/Marzo 2006
Page / Página 5
South Tucson charter school
partners with UA to focus
on mathematics, science
school student from the state,
Leopold said.
Students will attend the Wildcat
With the help of the University of School an hour longer than a typical
Arizona, a new preparatory school public school day, from 8 a.m. to 4
will open in the fall focusing its cur- p.m., and the school year will run
riculum on mathematics and science, 200 days, 20 days longer than a typwhich organizers believe is central ical Arizona school year, Doyle said.
to all students’ future collegiate and
The extra days will include five
employment opportunities.
Saturdays devoted to exhibiting
Organizers like Jaimie Leopold, classroom projects and three weeks
the Wildcat School project manag- in the summer attending UA worker, said students lack the necessary shops or serving in internships at the
skills in math and science, and hope UA or in the community, Doyle said.
faculty at the school will change
“We’re hoping to have a group
that downward spiral.
of dedicated students attend our
“Our state and nation as a school,” Doyle said. “Students are
whole is lacking in education com- less likely to leave school if they’re
pared to other developed nations,” dedicated and are offered enriched
Leopold said. “We’re not perform- learning that they like and enjoy.”
ing at top capacity.”
While the Wildcat School knows
Though a location has not been how many faculty members will be
decided upon, the Wildcat School is serving the school come fall, the
planned to open in August with number and type of students who
grades 6 and 7. After that, the school would be interested in attending the
plans to add a grade
school has yet to be
each subsequent year
determined.
until reaching the
This
month,
high school level, he
focus groups will
said.
send out information
The
faculty’s
to homes in South
ultimate goal is to
Tucson to get a sense
provide an opportuof how many stunity to its students to
dents would be interattend college by
ested in the venture.
centering on the
The school is
“nitty gritty” math
hoping to recruit 80
Walter Doyle, students per grade
and science courses,
UA
education
professor level with smaller
which are cornerstones of the UA’s
class sizes ranging
plan of “focused
from 20 to 25 stuexcellence,” Leopold said.
dents, Leopold said.
“Currently, employers are not
Doyle said his hope is to recruit
able to recruit and employ students motivated undergraduate and gradafter they graduate from high school uate students from the UA to visit
or college,” Leopold said.
the school once or twice a week to
Other organizers disagreed say- tutor and mentor the students with
ing it isn’t that students in South the expertise they have obtained
Tucson lack fundamentals in learn- from their education. These stuing, but rather the UA’s partnership dent volunteers may be able to
with the Wildcat School will allow received credit or internship credit
the eight full-time faculty member for their help.
staff and UA volunteer students to
“We hope this is a resource for
showcase their talents in these fields. the entire community,” he said.
“The schools aren’t falling
Leopold said the idea for the
behind in these areas, it’s just that the school was thought of a few years
UA may be better able to provide ago and studies deciding if the idea
these resources,” said Walter Doyle, would work and how it could be
UA education professor, who serves funded were conducted.
on the project’s three-member volWith enthusiasm peaking and a
untary corporate board.
substantial number of people interJoaquin Ruiz, dean of the ested, the project got off the
College of Science who is on the ground last spring, and a charter
five-member Wildcat School board, was established by the end of July,
agreed, saying he got involved in the he said.
project because it’s a great way of
The project was made possible
helping underrepresented groups through Arizona’s Initiative for
excel in science.
Developing Educational Successes
Ruiz said the science and mathe- which is a research and service
matics expertise taught at the project that applies both university
Wildcat School will prepare students and community resources from
to attend the UA upon graduation.
preschool to grade 12 education,
“It’s not that these areas of and is part of the UA’s effort as a
study are missing in the general cur- “land grant institution,” Leopold
riculum,” Ruiz said in an e-mail. said.
“But we think that we can bring
The faculty hopes students
novel ways of engaging students in graduate from the Wildcat School
the sciences and math so that they and a four-year university. They
see just how much fun it is to be a would like to see students stay in
scientist.”
the community to make it prosper
Like other charter schools, the and and impress the value of eduWildcat School will receive state cation upon their children.
funding, but won’t receive any out“There are many, many treasside funding from the UA. The ures in our colleges and we want to
school will receive an average of ensure that excellence is developed
$5,355 for every high school student through outreach programs like the
and $4,805 for each elementary Wildcat School,” Leopold said.
BY
PHOTO
Feature Photo: Local muralist David Tineo colllaborated with Antonio Passos on “Raices,” an expansive
mural on the north wall of Tucson Museum of Art. The mural remains 13 years after its creation.
Santa Rosa ofrecer clases de computadoras
Por Angie Lines
Traducido por Teresa Lorenz
La biblioteca Santa Rosa Learning
Center Library es una biblioteca de
computadoras que ofrece el uso de
computadoras al público y ofrece
clases de computación en español.
La biblioteca se abrió en abril
de 2002 y actualmente tiene 23
computadoras que ofrecen acceso a
Internet, programas de procesamiento de texto como Microsoft
Word y el programa de teclado
Mavis-Beacon que enseña la técnica de mecanografía y muchos otros
programas.
Los bibliotecarios están dispuestos a ayudarles a los usuarios
con cualquier pregunta o problema que encuentren al usar las
computadoras en la biblioteca,
dijo Sol Gómez, bibliotecario de
Santa Rosa.
Además de las computadoras, la
biblioteca también ofrece libros
sobre temas de computacion. Los
bibliotecarios de Santa Rosa están
redactando una propuesta para financiar la compra de libros y DVDs, los
cuales serán bien recibidos en la biblioteca, dijo Gómez.
También se enseñan clases de
computacion en español en la biblioteca. El próximo programa se ofrecerá a través del Tecnológico de
Monterrey.
Las clases de computacion a
través del Tecnológico de Monterrey
están en línea y los participantes
recibirán un certificado cuando terminen con éxito el curso, dijo Gómez.
El curso es gratuito y se puede hacer
desde la biblioteca o en casa.
Santa Rosa Learning Center
Library ofrecerá una clase de orientación para preparar a los participantes para el curso de Internet.
Este curso también será gratuito.
La clase de orientación les
enseñará a los participantes tales
habilidades como la utilización del
ratón, del correo electrónico, de
Microsoft Word e incluirá también
la enseñanza de la terminología en
computación. Los conocimientos
que los participantes aprenderán a
través de estas clases les ayudarán
a ser más valiosos en el trabajo,
dijo Gómez.
Todavía no se ha decidido la fecha
para la clase de orientación. Para
mayor información o para inscribirse
al curso de orientación y para saber
más del Tecnológico de Monterrey,
favor de llamar al 879-8019.
La biblioteca Santa Rosa
Learning Center Library se localiza
en el 1075 S. 10th Ave. y está abierto los martes y miércoles de 10 a 8,
los jueves de 9 a 6, los viernes de
10 a 5 y los sábados de 9 a 5.
Wakefield to offer job training
for their student’s parents
BY
Wakefield Middle School Principal
Carmen Kemery wants to better the
lives of her students by teaching
their parents.
Kemery, along with community
volunteers and teachers, is in the
process of creating a job-skills
training program to assist
Wakefield parents in securing and
keeping jobs.
The program is designed to
mirror the “Jobs for Life” program,
which is headed by the Tucson
mayor’s wife, Beth Walkup, and
has been successful for the last four
years, Kemery said.
Building confidence and public
speaking will be taught through roleplay, mock interviews, self-evaluation and other exercises, said John
Henning, a Wakefield volunteer.
Henning and fellow volunteer,
James Oviedo, have committed to
work with Kemery to organize
the program and work with the
community to launch it as soon as
possible. During a parent/teacher
conference held last fall, more
than 80 parents expressed interest
in the program. The mood after
that night from the parents that
attended was very positive,
Kemery said.
Although not a requirement,
Kemery suggests that parents
should first enroll in General
ERIN HASKELL
By Erin Haskell
PHOTO
“We hope
this is a
resource for
the entire
community”
SETH STUART
By Zach Colick
Principal Carmen Kemery, right, discusses with co-principal Dan
Gastellum on setting up programs for volunteers.
Education Development (GED)
and English as a Second
Language (ESL) classes before
starting the program.
Wakefield provides these
classes for parents at the school
but enrollment is limited, she
said. Additional classes are available at the C.E. Rose Elementary
School Family Resource Center,
710 W. Michigan Drive.
Henning said that parents
should have a good grasp of the
English language before enrolling
in the job-training program.
The training program has been
delayed to locate an appropriate
classroom and to produce Spanish
language materials, Kemery said.
“I am hoping to get going on
this project this spring and I feel
confident this program will open a
lot more possibilities for the entire
community,” she said.
“We still have a lot of planning
left for the program.”
Wakefield parents who are
interested in the program
should inquire at the school.
Kemery will update the community once the program is in full
swing, she said.
EL INDEPENDIENTE
Page / Página 6
March/Marzo 2006
Arizona schools to offer healthier food options
‘Nutrition’ continue from page 1
carbohydrates are also required, according to
the guidance manual for the national school
lunch program.
Even though the guidelines promote
healthier eating in schools, school administrators school administrators say it is difficult
to make children enjoy the healthier food.
“If there’s veggies with pizza, they’ll eat
the pizza but not the veggies,” said Lydia
Sellers, a cafeteria worker at Sam Hughes
Elementary.
Some of the kids’ favorite meals at school
are pizza, chicken nuggets and spaghetti,
Sellers said. The new guidelines are stricter
on elementary schools than on middle
schools and junior high schools. The new
guidelines prohibit soda from being served at
elementary and middle schools. However
middle schools and junior high schools are
permitted to serve sports drinks as long as
they are not larger than 12 ounces. Sports
“If there’s veggies
with pizza,
they’ll eat the pizza
but not the veggies.”
-Lydia Sellers, a cafeteria worker
at Sam Hughes Elementary
drinks are completely prohibited in elementary schools.
Some middle schools in TUSD have
beverage vending machines, and each
school will decide what beverages they
sell, but they all must meet the minimum
standards, Palmo said
“The biggest change that I think the nutrition standards placed for schools, is that they
occur bell to bell,” Palmo said. “So it’s not
just what is occurring during the meal time or
what the districts’ meals program is offering,
it’s what is offered during the school day.”
The nutrition standards also apply to student groups who sell candy or other treats for
fundraisers. The types of food students sell
must follow the nutrition standards outlined
by the Department of Education.
Although many kids stay on campus for
after-school programs, the new food standards do not apply to snacks that kids eat
after school. The Arizona Department of
Agriculture sets the standards for food served
at after-school programs, said Lisa Rice,
director of Happy Hours, an after-school program at 10 TUSD elementary schools.
“We’re limited in storage, time and the
ability to prepare the food, so TUSD decides
(on) the food that is served,” Rice said.
Rice said most of the food served after
school is not healthy.
Sellers said that the menus at TUSD
schools are planned by a group of food managers from different sites and different
kitchens in TUSD. The managers try new
foods out by doing taste tests and rating the
food to figure out which foods they think the
kids will like best.
The school lunches not only have to taste
good to the students, but they must also meet
a third of the Recommended Dietary
Allowance for protein, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron, according to the guidance
manual.
Top, Arizona schools are limiting junk food come next fall.
Middle, food service workers are adding fruit with every
lunch combo meals. Bottom, TUSD Food service manager
Caroline Navarette assists a student purchasing Wakefield
Middle School’s new healithier lunches.
Photos by Adam Gaub.
Officials try to reduce border pollution
PHOTO
BY
ADAM GAUB
‘Border’ continued from page 1
High winds at Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge illustrates the weather conditions that degrade air quality along the Arizona border.
lot of energy and resources into the border area,” Owens said.
The multi-pronged approach they have
developed addresses each of the major
sources of air pollution.
Although there are unpaved roads on
both sides of the border, the majority of
them are on the Mexico side of Nogales,
and the Mexican government is planning
to allocate funds to pave some of these
thoroughfares, according to an ADEQ
report.
Another major source of dust, said
Owens, is agricultural activity. He said
ADEQ works with farmers in the area to
promote dust-reducing tilling techniques
and raise awareness about the severity of
air pollution in the area.
“The farmers are willing to help
because they are aware that everyone
needs to play their part,” Owens said.
Besides dust, air pollution from vehicle emissions is a major issue along the
border. Owens said diesel fuel from commercial trucks, as well as exhaust from
cars waiting to cross the border, contribute to the problem.
An ADEQ report stated that diesel fuel
has been linked to multiple health problems, including heart disease, impaired
lung and immune function, decreased
resistance to infection, lung cancer and
possibly bladder cancer.
Furthermore, Owens said the diesel
fuel in Mexican commercial trucks has
higher levels of sulfur than American
fuel.
ADEQ has been trying to convince
Pemex, the largest oil company in
Mexico, to lower sulfur concentrations in
its fuel, but has so far been unsuccessful.
“We’re still hopeful that Mexico will
require all diesel along the border to be
closer to U.S. standards,” Owens said.
ADEQ’s plan recommends creating a
commuter lane at the Nogales port of
entry, open only to frequent commuters
who have passed a background check.
Similar lanes, in which vehicles are not
subject to individual inspection, already
exist at the San Diego and El Paso ports
of entry.
Other suggested border changes
include additional truck inspection lanes,
a possible new port of entry on the west
side of Nogales and a park-and-ride program in which border crossers could park
their cars farther from the border and take
a bus to the pedestrian port of entry.
Owens said he is worried that a decision by the Bush administration to allow
Mexican trucks to travel throughout the
United States will make the problem
worse. Currently, Mexican commercial
trucks are only allowed to travel 20 miles
inside the United States before transferring their goods to a U.S. truck.
Overall, Owens said pollution is
increasing despite the efforts of ADEQ
and other agencies.
“Sometimes it takes all you have just
to maintain and keep the situation from
getting worse,” he said.
EL INDEPENDIENTE
March/Marzo 2006
Page / Página 7
Lucha Libre exhibition slams into the Old Pueblo
By Stephanie Plapp
selves. The masks evoke images of animals,
gods and heroes, of which the Luchador
The crowd roars as two husky 220-lb. men, takes on the identity of while competing.
stuffed in spandex and stretchy masks engage
“The fascination and allure we all feel for
in a series of rapid wrestling moves reminisc- the mask and the mystery that it evokes is
ing that of a gymnast or acrobat.
bigger than life,” said Garza.
A unique original Mexican form of
If a Luchador loses a match or retires, an
wrestling meaning “free-style fighting” or unmasking ceremony takes place signifying
“poorman’s theatre,” has become one of the their “loss of identity.” El Santo, the favorite
most watched sports in Mexico only second of many fans including Garza, wore his mask
to soccer.
until retirement keeping his identity a secret
It hasn’t stopped there.
until just before his death.
The sport, dating back to
“People don’t know
the 1930s, has attracted
just how much these guys
Americans too. Lucha Libre
have to sacrifice to be part
has sold out crowds in
of the spectacular thing
Miami, Chicago and Los
that is Lucha Libre,” Garza
Angeles.
said.
Xavier Garza has been a
Ruled by their own
fan of the alluring sport
form of World Wrestling
since childhood and has
Entertainment’s brand of
since written the book Las
sports entertainment called
Super Luchas that he says
- Xavier Garza the Asistenaa Asesoria y
captures the wonderment
“ Las Super Luchas” Author Administracion (AAA),
and excitement he felt when
Lucha Libre even has its
first encountering Lucha
own series of cheerleaders
Libre as a child.
called Luchadoras.
Garza describes the sport as “Poormans
The sport has become a staple of
Theater” that comes with real people, flesh Mexican pop culture and increasingly popuand blood. According to the author, the sport lar among children. For example, it has
portrays real protagonists and antagonists become a symbol of Mucha Lucha, a popular
that are cast in leading roles.
cartoon among Mexican youngsters who
“It is the play of good vs. evil, with evil have their own versions of silver spandex
holding the upper hand until somehow good masks with eyeholes.
Garza will be at the University of
manages to pull victory from certain defeat
Arizona to display his works on April 7 at
and emerges triumphant,” he said.
Comparable to theater, the Lucha Libra 7 pm at The Center for English as a Second
wear colorful costumes, capes, tights, boots Language (CESL), Auditorium. Call the
and masks that add to the overall allure of the Arizona State Museum for more information at 621-6302.
sport.
In fact, taking on the disguise of a living
embodiment of a belief or cultural stereo- From top left, photos of Garza and one of
his illustrations. Courtesy of the Arizona
type, the Luchadora’s mask and costume are
State Museum.
as important as the wrestling moves them-
“It is the play
of good and
evil with evil
holding the
upper hand.”
Calendario del comunidad:
31 de marzo - 30 de abril
Mensajes Mezclados
Mensajes Mezclados en el Teatro Beawulf
Alley, en 11 S. de la Sexta Avenida. Obra
de Teatro que trata sobre personas de
raíces mezcladas quienes están pasando
una crisis de identidad.
El precio de los boletos varia de 10.75
hasta 18.75 con varios descuentos. Las
presentaciones serán durante Abril de
Jueves a Sábado, a las 7:30 p.m. y los
Domingos a las 2 p.m. Para mayor información llamar al 792 3715.
El Nacimiento
El Nacimiento, en la casa Córdova, 175
N. de la Avenida Meyer. Los objetos en
exhibición muestran figuras pintadas en
terracota, cascadas y luces. La exhibición
durará hasta el 31 de Marzo; para mayor
información llamar al 624 2333.
Río Viejo/Río Nuevo
Descubriendo el pasado de Tucson en “The
Arizona Historical Society,” en el 949 E. de
Second St. La exhibición contempla la historia de Tucson, enfocándose en el periodo hispano-mexicano de 1691 a 1854, el presidio
de Tucson y la arqueología.
La exhibición durara hasta Mayo 26 y el
costo de entrada es de $5. Para mayor información llamar al 628-5774
El Festival del renacimiento
El Festival del renacimiento en el cruce
Apache, Arizona. Este festival anual y
mercado de arte durará hasta Abril 2,
abierto Sábados y Domingos de 10 a.m. a
6 p.m. Para mayor información favor de
llamar al 463-2700
Maravillas Enmascaradas
La Súper Luchas en el Museo Estatal de
Arizona, en el 1031 E. University Blvd. El
autor y artista Xavier Garza dará una conferencia sobre las luchas libres el 7 de Abril a
las 7 p.m. en el auditorio del Centro de
Ingles como Segunda Lengua (CESL).
Garza leerá acerca de su libro:” Lucha
Libre: El Hombre Enmascarado de Plata” .
Después de la conferencia habrá una recepción para firma de autógrafos y compartir la
opinión personal de Garza sobre la Lucha
Libre.
Festival Internacional de
Mariachi
Los boletos están a la venta para este festival anual que se llevara acabo del 24 de
Abril al 29. Los eventos se llevaran acabo
principalmente
en
el
Centro
de
Convenciones de Tucson. Mariachis incluidos: Los Camperos de Nati Cano y el
Mariachi Los Arreros. Para mayor información
visite
la
pagina
www.tucsonmariachi.org
Festival de Poesía en Tucson
La apertura nocturna de éste festival único
es el día primero de abril a las 7 p.m. en el
hotel Clarion. Disfrázate de tu poeta
favorito, gana premios y escucha lecturas de
poesía bilingüe.
Carrera por la Cura del Cáncer Volleyball
Se localiza en Reid Park,1100 S. Randolph
Way el día 2 de Abril. Las ceremonias de
apertura comenzaran a las 6:45 AM . Esta
carrera anual recauda ingresos para la
investigación del cáncer de seno y crea
conciencia en la comunidad.
Derribando los muros
Derribando los muros una serie de eventos
que comenzarán el dia 2 de Abril para
protestar acerca de las estrictas leyes de
inmigración y brindar apoyo por toda la
frontera entre México y Estados Unidos.
Para mayor información visite la pagina www.derechoshumanosaz.net/aprilunity2005.htm
Las actividades incluyen:
• Mujeres en velos negros
Camino “Naco”, al norte de las vías
del tren a la 1 p.m. el 2 de Abril.
• Poesía Fronteriza
Al Oeste del muro fronterizo
“Naco/Naco” a la 4 p.m. el día 9 de
Abril.
• Servicios de Vigilia
Al Oeste del muro fronterizo
“Naco/Naco” a las 4:30 p.m. el día 17
de abril.
En la Frontera al Oeste del muro fronterizo “Naco/Naco” a la 4 p.m. el día 24 de
Abril.
Celebremos Juntos
Celebremos Juntos en el lado norteamericano del la frontera, caminata que cruzará
la frontera a las 2:30 p.m. el día 30 de
Abril.
Entrenamiento de Primavera
“Tucson Electric Park”, localizado en el
2500 E. de la Avenida Ajo. Siga el entrenamiento de los Arizona Diamonds Backs,
White Sox y Colorado Rockies de Marzo a
Abril.
Una cana al aire
Rillito Park, localizado en el N. First Ave
y River Road. El carnaval anual estudiantil se lleva acabo del 6 al 9 de Abril. La
entrada es de $5. Favor de llamar al 6215610 para mayor información.
El Festival Internacional de
Cine
El Festival Internacional de Cine de
Arizona se llevara acabo en varios lugares
del 3 al 13 de Abril. El festival dura 10
días en los cuales se muestran películas y
documentales. Para mayor información
sobre los lugares dónde se exhibirá la
muestra visítenos al:
www.azmac.org/festival/index2.html
EL INDEPENDIENTE
Page / Página 8
March/Marzo 2006
South Side garden encouages kids
to respect themselves and nature
Story and Photos by Monica Warren
In a dusty corner of the Southside’s Manuel Herrera Jr.
Park, a dedicated group of volunteers teach neighborhood children to care for themselves while caring for the
natural world around them.
Colorful signs adorn the gate surrounding the Peace
Garden, 5901 S. Fiesta Ave., and handmade wind chimes
dangle from the largest shade tree. Though the land is
still mostly dirt, patches of green are everywhere. The
garden is meant to bring peace and relaxation to those
who visit it, said Beki Quintero, secretary of the
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, which operates
the garden.
The garden intends to provide a safe haven for children to learn about plants and animals, as well as respect
for others and responsibility for their actions.
Every other Saturday morning, as many as 20 children
and teenagers gather there to plant, weed, water and pick
up trash. They tend to peas, beans and tomatoes, as well
as blooming wildflowers. After their assigned duties are
performed, volunteers lead the students in the lesson for
the day, Quintero said.
Lessons teach the children about the role of worms in
gardening, how hummingbirds fly, and other nature-related topics. Other lessons focus on personal health and
using all five senses, Quintero said.
“We try to do what we can to give these children
opportunities they would never experience,” said
Yolanda Herrera, president of the Sunnyside
Neighborhood Association.
Scientists from the Flandrau Science Center have visited the garden twice to give children nighttime lessons
about space and the constellations, Herrera said.
The park, which is named after Herrera and
Quintero’s late father, also hosts special events. An
Easter egg hunt is scheduled for April 8, Quintero said,
and a Mother’s Day tea is also planned for May.
Work began on the garden in February 2004, Quintero
said. Since that time, adults involved with the neighborhood association and children looking for a way to connect with each other and their community have come
together to care for the plants.
“It’s a beautiful place,” Herrera said.
Zuleima Villegas, a 16-year-old sophomore at
Sunnyside High School, has visited the garden for about
two months. She said she enjoys visiting and helping out
because it’s fun and relaxing.
“Everyone here is so nice,” Villegas said, painting a
wooden sign for the garden. “You meet new people
everyday...and you learn a lot of stuff.”
Herrera said she has taken various groups to visit the
garden to show them “that there are wonderful things that
go on on the Southside. The media wants to point fingers
and give us a black eye,” Herrera said. “They don’t realize they’re hurting the kids’ self-esteem. Kids are embarrassed to say where they’re growing up.”
The garden is expected to be complete in November,
Quintero said. But even when work on it is done, neighborhood kids will still have a place to reflect, to learn and
to care for the plants, she said.
“The garden will never be over, even when it’s completed, Quintero said.
For more information about the Peace Garden at
Herrera Park, visit www.onegarden.info.
Clockwise from top left: Claudia Flores, 16, and
Arturo Acosta, 14, paint decorations for the Peace
Garden, which continues to grow with love and care
thanks to volunteers. Beki Quintero encourages
young volunteers as they work to beautify the garden. Acosta helps garden volunteer Dolores Carrillo
tend to the garden.
Community Calendar - Events to watch for
“Mixed Messages”
Beowulf Alley Theatre, 11 S. Sixth Ave. Play
about people of mixed heritage who are confronting identity crisis. Tickets are $10.75 to
$18.75 with various discounts. Performances
through April are on Thursdays through
Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m.
Call 792-3715 for more information.
El Nacimiento
El Nacimiento at La Casa Cordova, 175 N.
Meyer Ave. The display showcases painted
terra-cotta figures, waterfalls, and lights. On display through March 31. Call 624-2333 for more
information.
Rio Viejo/Rio Nuevo
Uncovering Tucson’s Past at the Arizona
Historical Society, 949 E. Second St. The exhibit looks at Tucson history, focusing on the
Mexican and Spanish period from 1691-1854,
the Tucson Presidio, and archeology. The exhibit runs through May 26 and admission is $5.
Call 628-5774 for more information.
The Renaissance Festival
Apache Junction, Arizona. This annual festival
and artisan marketplace will take place through
April 2. Open Saturdays and Sundays from
10am-6pm. For more information call 4632700.
Masked Marvels: La Super Lucha
At the Arizona State Museum, 1013 E.
University Blvd. Author and artist Xavier Garza
will lecture on Mexico’s masked wrestling on
April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Center for English
Second English (CESL) auditorium. Garza will
read from his book: “Lucha Libre: The Man in
the Silver Mask.” There will be a post-lecture
book signing and viewing of Garza’s own paintings of luchadores.
Tucson International Mariachi Festival
Tickets are now on sale for this annual festival that will take place April 24 to 29, with
events taking place primarily at the Tucson
Convention Center. Starring acts include: Los
Camperos de Nati Cano and Mariachi Los
Arrieros. For more information visit
www.tucsonmariachi.org.
Tucson Poetry Festival
Opening night of this unique festival is April 1
at 7 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel. Dress as your
favorite poet, win prizes and listen to bilingual
poetry readings.
• Borderlands Poetry at the west end of the
Naco, Ariz., Naco, Mex. border wall at 4
p.m. on April 9.
• Interfaith Vigil Service at the West end of
the Naco/Naco border wall at 4:30 p.m. on
April 17.
Race for The Cure
Located at Reid Park, 1100 S. Randolph Way on
April 2. Opening ceremonies begin at 6:45 a.m.
This annual race raises funds for breast cancer
research and raises awareness.
Spring Training
At Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way.
Catch the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago
White Sox and Colorado Rockies throughout
March and April.
Bringing Down the Walls
Series of events beginning April 2 to protest
strict immigration laws and bring unity across
the US-Mexico border. For more information
visit www.derechoshumanosaz.net/aprilunity2005.htm. Activities include:
Spring Fling
At Rillito Park, N. First Ave. and River Road.
Annual UA student-run carnival from April 6 to
9. Admission is $5. Call 621-5610 for more
information.
• Women in Black Vigil at Naco Highway,
just north of the railroad tracks at 1 p.m.
on April 2.
Arizona International Film Festival
At various locations from April 3 to 13. The festival provides 10 days of original films and documentaries. For more information and locations
visit www.azmac.org/festival/index2.html.