Salsa de compañía de Tucsón popular con turistas y gente local

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1 EL 1976 ~ 33 Years of Service ~ 2009 INDEPENDIENTE Free/gratis Program Awards Mexican Migrants Money to Invest By David Diaz Jr. Salsa de compañía de Tucsón popular con turistas y gente local INSIDE Davis Bilingual The Mexican government has started a program to award money to Mexican migrants who open a business in Mexico. The Productive Assets Project, launched in early 2009 by the secretaría de desarollo social (Ministry of Social Development in Mexico, SEDESOL), focuses on helping citizens living in the U.S. start a business with the hope that they return to Mexico with the business they have already started. The project provides up to $23,000 and puts no restrictions on the type of business for which an individual can receive money. Norma Carbajal works for the Institute for the Mexican Abroad in Tucson, collecting applications from migrants and passing them on to SEDESOL. Applicants must be Mexican citizens, and they must also belong to a hometown organization. It s sometimes hard to maintain or even find a job in Mexico, Carbajal said. Hopefully, with the money they receive, and a successful business, they will return. A hometown organization is a group of individuals from the same location migrating together, allowing them to live abroad in the U.S. and be eligible to receive money. One of those countrymen is Joel Barceló, president of the hometown association of Granados, Mexico. Barceló was awarded money to invest in a ranching project that he will establish in Granados. My whole purpose for the money and the ranch is to raise cattle with the help of my dad, Barceló said. He said that ranching is very popular in his family and hopes that with the money he can continue the tradition. Carbajal said the application process can take a few months. The money awarded to migrants is not a loan and does not have to be repaid to the government. However, Carbajal said the money people make from their business must be reinvested into their communities in Mexico. Investments /see page 6 PHOTO BY TARYN LAWSON Oscar Segura Jr. llena botellas con la salsa de la receta secreta de la familia Segura en la fábrica Poblano Hot Sauce Inc. Por Taryn Lawson Traducido por Amanda Campos Aravena Todo está en la muñeca, dice Oscar Segura, señalando a su hijo Oscar Segura Jr., quien usa un embudo y, efectivamente, un movimiento rápido de la muñeca para llenar un gran número de botellas de vidrio con una espesa salsa picante naranja. Claro, el tiene su manera de hacerlo y yo tengo la mía, dice Segura guiñando un ojo. La familia Segura es dueña de la compañía local Poblano Hot Sauce Inc. Producen 960 botellas de salsa diariamente de la manera tradicional, a mano, en su fábrica de un cuarto que está limpia, pero desordenada. Está ubicada en un parque industrial cerca de South Palo Verde Road y 44th Street. Sólo tenemos una máquina en todo el lugar, un molinillo, dice PHOTO BY JOEL PATTERSON There are a few places left in Tucson where the homeless are allowed to congregate; one of those places is the courtyard downtown in front of the Joel Valdez Public Library. Segura. Puede moler 100 libras de chiles en 15 a 20 minutos. Le llamo The Big Monster [el Monstruo Grande ]. En las noches, Segura, 74, se sienta delante de The Big Monster para moler cantidad tras cantidad de los mejores chiles que pueda encontrar, unos de la Florida, otros de Sudamérica y hasta de Japón. Su esposa, Gloria, 73, se sienta afuera en una silla de plástico para evitar el humo abrasador. Durante el día, Segura y sus hijos Oscar Jr. y Vicente, 33, embotellan, empaquetan y envían la salsa a lo largo y ancho del país, manteniendo una tradición de 85 años que el padre de Oscar, Nicolás Segura, comenzó. Nicolás y su esposa Angelita salieron de México a principios de la década de 1920 en busca de una mejor vida para su familia. Llegaron a Tucsón, donde, según Oscar, se involucraron en el negocio de los restaurantes e introdujeron el taco doblado a la ciudad By Melissa Lim para tratar de hacerse un nombre. Nadie aquí había visto un taco, dice Segura. Ni siquiera sabían si querían probar esta cosa rara, entonces dieron pruebas a todos y regalaban una cerveza de raíz con cada taco para tratar de convencer a la gente que lo probara. Los tacos fueron un éxito, pero fue la receta secreta de la familia para hacer salsa picante que atrajo la atención de amigos y socios. Le sugirieron a Nicolás que comercializara el producto, pero, según Oscar, su conocimiento limitado de la lengua inglesa y su falta de experiencia en la mercadotecnia le impidieron hacerlo. Nicolás se concentró más bien en su restaurante que quedaba en el centro, La Casita Café, hasta que en 1945 un accidente de cocina lo quemó severamente. Tuvo que dejar el negocio de los restaurantes, dijo Oscar. Después del accidente, Nicolás dirigió su atención a la salsa. Con With homelessness increasing across the country and shelter space not keeping pace many cities now target the homeless population with increasingly stringent laws about where they can sleep or congregate. But South Tucson Presiding Judge Ronald Wilson believes that the courts should not contribute to the problem. In this economy, where you have so much unemployment, when you have so much homelessness, you have people that are really down and out, it s important for all of the institutions to really look at how we can be part of the solution, and not part of the problem, he said. More than 3 million people in the U.S. each year experience homelessness, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP). Millions more are at risk for homelessness. From 2007 to 2008 there was a 12 percent increase in homelessness and experts predict that, with Magnet School offers Spanish immersion for its students....see page 4 Christmas Cheer Local non-proft organizations sponsor Christmas gifts....see page 3 la ayuda de sus cinco hijos, que incluía a Oscar que en ese entonces tenía 10 años, Nicolás empezó a empaquetar la salsa para venderla en botellas vacías de cerveza Miller en una fábrica provisional en su casa en el Sur de Tucsón que quedaba en la esquina de Grande Avenue y Sonora Street. Tiendas locales de abarrotes de amigos de la familia empezaron a vender las salsas, dijo Oscar, pero no fue hasta unos años después, cuando un par de amigos expertos en los negocios le ayudaron a Nicolás a comercializar su producto a un número de tiendas de cadena más grandes, que su negocio empezó a prosperar. Cuando Nicolás falleció en 1985, dejó sus recetas de alto secreto, y la titularidad de la compañía, a Oscar, quien se jubiló en el 2005 después de 35 años con la tienda de abarrotes Fry s para concentrarse en el negocio de la familia. Mi Salsa /vea página 6 South Tucson Helps Homeless Avoid Jail Time, High Fines the lingering economic crisis, the numbers will skyrocket. Though almost half of the homeless population are employed, according to the NLCHP, they don t earn enough to pay for housing, leaving them on the streets. In Tucson, there are laws prohibiting begging, camping, sleeping and sitting or lying in particular public places, as well as laws closing off certain public areas to the homeless. Penalties for violating these types of laws range nationwide Court /see page 6

2 Page / Página 2 EL INDEPENDIENTE Los Niños Recognized as Performing Plus PHOTO BY MATT LEWIS Jean Olson (left), principal Herb Springs (middle) and Brenda Quihuis-Ortega pose with the certificate Superintendent Tom Horne gave them for their achievements. By Matt Lewis Los Niños Elementary School celebrated their fourth straight year as a performing-plus school. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne visited the school in early November to give them a plaque. In 2001, former Arizona Governor Jane Hull signed into law Arizona LEARNS, a bill that defined standards for schools and has held them accountable for not meeting those standards and for making progress. EL The legislature and state board of education made labels for schools, which include excelling, high performing, performing plus, performing, underperforming and failing to meet academic standards, depending a school's baseline level of achievement. They are re-determined every year. It also includes the amount of improvement over time on the AIMS test and the progress on Stanford 9 test over the course of one year. Not only was Los Niños labeled noteworthy, but special education INDEPENDIENTE students saw increases in reading across the board for third-throughfifth-grade. Third and fourth graders saw increases in math scores. English-language learners saw increases in reading for third-andfifth-graders, and an increase in math scores for fifth graders. Principal Herb Springs says these scores come as a direct result of assimilating special education and English-language learners with the general student body, rather than having their own separate classes. Brenda Quihuis-Ortega, a reading coach at Los Niños, said the Success for All program has done wonders for English-language learners. The Success for All program encourages students to go beyond the level of reading comprehension they tested at and take on more challenging books. Students are pushed. They are not reading at their comfort level, Quihuis-Ortega said. Students read for an hour and a half uninterrupted. They get an additional 30 minutes to spend more time perfecting their skills if they haven t mastered a certain concept. We also exposed them (special education students and English-language learners) to grade-level material, so when they took the test they could be successful, said Elaine Upham, a special education resource teacher at Los Niños. In the past, these students were doing work below their grade-level. Jean Olson, a math coach at Los Niños, said their expectations are high for all students. If a kid is meeting standards it s not good enough, Olson said. We want them to exceed. Olson explained that the school has what they call Test Talks, which means teachers go over district benchmarks with students so they know what they need to get to advance to the next level. She said fourth-and-fifth-graders even calculate their points and figure out how many they are away from the next level. Third, fourth and fifth-grade special education and English-language learners in the past were treated differently. Springs said some teachers would go slower with them. When they were put into normal classrooms however, they were pushed at the same level as other students of their grade. They stepped up, Springs said. We had the same expectations for them as everybody else. The faculty thought some might give up because it was too hard, but just the opposite happened and the students surprised everyone. Springs said in the past, fourth-grade special education students and English-language learners, for example, would only be required to learn second-grade material and were tested accordingly to the level they were being taught. The state board of education now mandates that the AIMS test and Stanford 9 must be administered to all students at their particular grade-level. We spend a lot of time talking about our students to help each other and get ideas, Upham said. Quihuis-Ortega said she was honored to be recognized by Superintendent Horne. All hard work paid off, Quihuis-Ortega said of the teachers. It s all for the kids. For more information about Los Niños visit Making Silent Voices Heard By Halley McIntyre South Tucson s Bilingual Newspaper El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves the right to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length. Managing Editor Matt Lewis News Editor Jenna Davis Spanish Editor David Diaz, Jr. Design Chief Melisa V. Teran Photo Editor Lizzy MacDonnell Community Events Editor Larissa Capizzano News Room Manager Tory Beardsley Copy Chief Claire Engelken Copy Editors Taryn Lawson Melissa Lim Halley McIntyre UA Journalism P.O. Box B Tucson, AZ Phone: elindy.ua@gmail.com Adviser Maggy Zanger Student Adviser Colleen Keefe Graphics and Layout Adviser John dedios Photographers Ariel Campbell Designers Trista Davis Madeline Donegan Web Editor Max DuBois Reporters Evan Pellegrino Alex Negronida Translators Nekame Aguilar Amanda Campos Aravena Dina Tyrrell Translation and Interpretation Department of Spanish and Portuguese and Mexican American Studies For survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence, it can often feel like there is nowhere to turn and no resources to access. It s even worse for an undocumented immigrant who speaks only Spanish. Those in this position are often deprived of the therapy, support and legal services needed to heal. Providing these essential services is the central mission of Su Voz Vale, an organization in South Tucson that is a subsidiary of the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault. Su Voz Vale opened its doors in 1998 and offers services including support groups, long-term therapy, court accompaniment, transitional housing and countless others that comprise what Program Director Montserrat Caballero calls personnel advocacy. We re with people for a long time, Caballero said, and not just in a clinical way. Su Voz s advocates can often be found aiding their clients with citizenship applications, helping them navigate Tucson s court systems or finding them transitional housing, which operates through Casa Mariposa. Casa Mariposa is available to non-parent women, age 18 and older, who have been the victims of sexual or domestic violence, Caballero said. It provides these women with housing for six to 24 months. There is also a weekly support group, The Cafecito, a confidential group for women held exclusively in Spanish every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The need for these services has never been higher, according to Caballero. The impact of the economic recession is especially hard on many of her clients, since quite a few other agencies have been cutting down or completely eliminating the services that many women and families depend on. We just have to be creative and work with what we have, Caballero said. One of the biggest challenges facing Su Voz Vale and its clients recently has been the impact of House Bill 2008, a Jan. law signed into effect by Governor Brewer that mandates any employee of the state of Arizona to report undocumented immigrants to the authorities. This essentially prevents, or at least strongly discourages, undocumented parents from taking their U.S. citizen children to receive medical care, or other social and economic services they had previously been legally accessing. If the parents take their children to these state facilities, they PHOTO BY HALLEY MCINTYRE Montserrat Caballero, second from right, program director of Su Voz Vale, stands with her coworkers in the Su Voz Vale office. risk deportation and separation from their children. U.S. citizen children are going hungry, Caballero said. Families are being torn apart. But hope and hard work still endure and despite the difficulties facing the organization, the victories are always worth the effort. These victories shine through with every recently naturalized citizen who stops by the office to say hello and thank you, every slumlord s lease that is legally broken and every life that is given a new start. The success stories outweigh the hardships in the hearts of Su Voz s advocates, and as long as their doors stay open, the fight will continue. Su Voz Vale is located in the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, 101 W. Irvington Road. Services are free and confidential and both English and Spanish.

3 December 15/ 15 de diciembre 2009 By Melisa Teran For Sherri Romanoski, self-breast exams and annual mammograms were never optional. Two years after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Romansoki found a lump in her own breast. And after four months of doctor visits and wondering whether she had the same disease, she was diagnosed at age 48. The first thing that crossed my mind is that I wouldn t live to see grandbabies. I m really glad I got that mammogram before I was 50, said Romanoski. A recent recommendation by the United States Preventative Services Task Force, suggests that women should begin annual breast cancer screening by means of mammograms starting at age 50, as opposed to the former guidelines that suggested women begin at age 40. It also proposed that women get mammograms every two years instead of annually, unless women are at high risk for breast cancer. The new guidelines have garnered much opposition, especially from women who have survived or are living with breast cancer. Some believe the extra 10 years could mean the difference between life and death. That panel [US Preventative Services Task Force] is a group of epidemiologists that looks at populations and large numbers, said Romanoski. But people aren t large numbers. We are individuals and we are not a statistic. The need for women to get annual screening before age 50 all depends on the patient, according to Dr. Maria Elena Martinez, professor of epidemiology at the University of Arizona s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Martinez, who is also the coleader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the Arizona Cancer Center, says there is some need in women younger than age 50 to receive annual mammograms, but women should talk to their doctors concerning their personal risk of breast cancer. This is where confusion begins as to who exactly should screen for cancer. When we talk about screening, we are talking about the general public, said Martinez. People with a family history should have separate guidelines because they are at higher risks. The task force cited the potential danger in annual mammograms linked to exposure to radiation during the procedure, which involves taking an X-ray of the soft tissue of the breast. It is so important that people get screening prior to age 50. There is a potential that a woman in their 40s can get some radiation, but it s a low risk and it is up to the woman to decide if that risk is worth it, Martinez said. Another possible negative consequence of mammography is the risk of over diagnosis. There is an over promise in what mammography can catch in time, Martinez said. In an opinion column published in the Arizona Daily Star, Dr. Victoria Maizes, a doctor who fully supports the Task Force s suggestion, said, Screening tests are meant to reveal diseases at a stage when they can be entirely prevented. As the lead researcher for the ELLA Binational Breast Cancer Study, Martinez has found that the type of breast cancer in Hispanic women tends to be more aggressive. When [Hispanic women] do discover abnormalities in their breasts they tend to wait longer to seek care, partially because of no insurance. But the message is, whether something is picked up by mammograms or self-breast exams, women should not wait to seek advice because the longer you wait, the worst the diagnosis could be, Martinez said. EL INDEPENDIENTE By Claire Engelken Toys for Tots: To request toys, go to and click on request toys. The Salvation Army s Santa s Toy Shop Dec There will be a limited on-site toy application at 10 a.m., Dec. 23. Call for more information on how to apply for toy assistance. Toys and meal vouchers will be given to pre-approved families. NOVA Home Loan s 7th Annual Miracle in el Barrio 9 a.m. 2 p.m., Dec. 21 Peter Piper Pizza, 3717 S. 12th Ave. Santa will give toys to all children. Partnering businesses will give out food, candy, drinks and school supplies. The Miracle toy party also includes live music and other festivities. The study, which includes data taken from more than 317 Hispanic participants from Arizona and Texas, shows that 68 percent of breast cancer was found through self-detection and 22 percent was found by a mammography. This finding emphasizes the importance of performing selfbreast exams, something that has not been subject to change by the new guidelines. There is no data that says that self-breast exams are detrimental. It is still a good idea because women should know their bodies and breasts. If they feel a lump they need to get it checked out, Martinez said. Still, the idea of pushing screening methods back 10 years is an opinion that some believe could affect the perceived importance of cancer screening. Because my mom had breast cancer, I was more in tune with getting screened, but I probably wouldn t have been as vigilant if we had no cancer in our family, Romanoski said. It is too early to tell if the newly suggested guidelines will have any effect on the number of women who opt for preventative screening. The issue is still whether insurance companies will continue to cover the cost of screening for women who do not meet the prescribed age requirements. For Romanoski, resolving issues regarding health insurance is simple. People have to be active participants in their healthcare. They have to ask questions. It s being a good consumer of health insurance. Regardless of what guidelines are implemented, Romanoski continues in her effort to maintain her remission by choosing to see an oncologist for mammograms every six months, even when it is recommended to go once a year. It is so important that people get screening prior to age 50, Romanoski said. People are individuals. We are moms, wives, mothers and grandmothers. That s what we can t lose sight of. Gospel Rescue Mission s Banquete de Navidad 11 a.m. 2 p.m., Dec W. 28th St. There will be a kid s party followed by a turkey dinner. Children will receive a gift, but must be present and with an adult. Miracle on 31st Street 10 a.m., Dec. 24 Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. Sixth Ave. Toys and food are provided for children and families during this daylong party. Casa Maria Please note the shelter will be closed Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Page / Página 3 Local Efforts Make Sure There s Christmas Cheer for One and All New Mammography Guidelines Stir Up Controversy and Concern -Sherri Romanoski Breast Cancer Survivor Tough economic times don t have to take a toll on your family s Christmas cheer. The following events and organizations can provide food and gift-giving assistance this holiday season. By Lizzy MacDonnell Graffiti covers many walls and buildings of South Tucson, but it can be easily removed thanks to the South Tucson Public Works Office and the South Tucson Police Department. After recent budget cuts, South Tucson discontinued their Graffiti Abatement Hotline and stopped passing out graffiti removal kits. However, South Tucson residents can still report graffiti and get it removed, said Angel Lopez, Sr., director of Public Works. South Tucson police officer Mark Brown said residents should report people in the act of doing graffiti or tagging by calling 911 immediately. To report graffiti that needs to be removed, call The police department responds to graffiti removal requests within 24 hours. The Community Food Bank: The food bank operates the following branch locations throughout Pima County: Ajo Community Food Bank Amado Community Food Bank S. Nogales Highway Amado, AZ Green Valley Community Food Bank E. Continental Road Green Valley, AZ Marana Community Food Bank Marana, AZ Nogales Community Food Bank E. Baffert Drive Nogales, AZ What to do with Graffiti PHOTO BY LIZZY MACDONNELL To report people in the act of doing graffiti or tagging, call 911 immediately, but to report graffiti that needs to be removed, call Residents are also welcome to go to city council meetings on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month to report problems. There are three methods to remove graffiti: paint, pressure washing or chemical washing. Graffiti is painted over when possible. If they can provide their own paint for a better paint match, we will do the labor for free, Lopez said. Some surfaces may need a pressure wash and then perhaps also a chemical wash if the pressure wash does not remove it completely. Lopez said it would be very helpful if residents could provide their own paint because it could help save the city money, while ensuring the owner is satisfied with the paint color. If residents are unable to provide the paint, the city will pay for paint to cover the graffiti.

4 Page / Página 4 EL INDEPENDIENTE Cancer Support Center To Close At Year s End By Halley McIntyre There was just so much. Everything was like this big banquet, cancer survivor Margaret Hoeft recalls about Sunstone Cancer Support Centers. A big banquet of love and hope. But this banquet, an organization dedicated to giving support, therapy and resources to those diagnosed with cancer, is closing its doors on Dec. 31. Sunstone has had resource centers at four hospitals in Tucson and a location in Yuma, Ariz. and offered a variety of services to cancer survivors at little or no cost, with sliding-scale fees and a nosurvivor-turned-away policy. These services, to name a few, have included touch therapy, gentle yoga classes, acupuncture, a wig wash and exchange program, breast prostheses, and libraries brimming with books, pamphlets and resources. The decision to close Sunstone was made by the board of directors on Nov. 19. Sunstone s volunteers and employees were told the news on Nov. 20, said Dawn Rataczak, resource center program assistant for Sunstone. There are wonderful programs and services that won t be happening to the full capacity [anymore], Rataczak said. No one else quite does what we do. The decision, like so many others in the current economic climate, was due to lack of funding. Sunstone is a non-profit organization operating largely on donations, and these resources have all but been exhausted. I wish the board would have talked about it a few months earlier, said Hoeft, who began to volunteer with the center after she finished her chemotherapy treatments. Maybe there could have been a groundswell of support. Unfortunately, that support didn t come in time, and the organization that has been an oasis for so many will soon be gone. The redistribution of Sunstone s many assets is currently being worked out. How this redistribution will work, and what the overall future holds, is unclear. According to Rataczak, there remains a group of dedicated and Arizona Quest for Kids Falls Short, Big Brothers Big Sisters Step In By Alex Negronida In 2005, when Ileanna Arispuro was in fifth grade, a friend told her about a program sponsored by Arizona Quest for Kids. The deal was, Arizona Quest for Kids would pay Arispuro s college tuition if she kept her grades and attendance up. Arispuro joined and they set her up with a big sister who helped Arispuro with her schoolwork to keep her GPA high. Four years later, in November, Arispuro was told Arizona Quest for Kids would not be able to pay for her tuition. In a two-hour meeting, Quest for Kids explained to Arispuro and other students in attendance that they did not have the money they had promised to pay their tuition. They did however pledge to work with students who still wanted to remain in the program and would assist them in filling out college and financial applications. Arizona Quest for Kids is a nonprofit organization that prepares students for higher education, according to Dana Carroll, the executive director. They pair students with mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson like the one they provided Arispuro and strive to provide a support system that isn t a family member, Carroll said. In addition, Carroll said they teach students how to interview for jobs and time-management skills. They also teach parents about the college process and work with high school seniors on college applications. In previous years, Carroll said a high percentage of high school seniors in the program have gone to college. Arizona Quest for Kids PHOTO BY HALLEY MCINTYRE Jean Dalton works as a volunteer for the Sunstone Resource Center at TMC. The wigs pictured above are part of the wig wash and exchange program for participating cancer survivors. secured over $200,000 in funding. But this year, the economy has been very hard for us. Carroll said decreased donations coupled with new restrictions on how the organization secures funds led to their decision to not guarantee tuition to students. Carroll said the donations the company receives annually are down 40 percent from last year. Also, as of July 2008, the organization could no longer apply for certain grants if the money was going to a scholarship endowment fund, which is exactly the type of fund Arizona Quest for Kids works with. Based on these circumstances, Quest for Kids decided in September they would no longer guarantee tuition to students now or in the future. The decision affected roughly 400 students in the program, most of them in grades 6 to 12. The best way we can fix this is to continue to work with them and try to find them the money [in other ways], Carroll said. She wanted to stress that her organization, along with Big Brothers Big Sisters, are doing everything they can to make sure their students still go to school. Recently, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson set up a fund at the Southern Arizona Community Bank to help raise money for the students who are currently in the program. Arispuro, now a junior at Pueblo High School, isn t so sure she wants to continue. Arispuro said she has until Dec. 15 to fill out and sign a new contract to remain in the program. I want to work with them, but I want them to keep the promise they made, she said. well-qualified volunteers who would love to stay on and help in any way possible, but many of the decisions are in the hands of the hospitals that have been housing Sunstone. There is no longer enough money to fund the touch therapies and massage services, but the wigs, the information resources and the dedication of those involved remain. So perhaps, despite the loss felt by so many involved with Sunstone, there might still be a future for the mission of an organization that has made hope its motto. Check out our updated Community Resources section! elindenews.com/resources By Trista Davis Tucson Whips Businesses Into Shape with New Law By Alex Negronida The Tucson City Council passed an ordinance in November to restrict the sale of nitrous oxide canisters, also known as whip-its, which teens can use to get high. Neighborhood advocates, parents and police might be concerned about this problem in metro Tucson, but in South Tucson, some say it is a different story. We re not aware of a problem here in South Tucson, said Police Chief Richard Muñoz. South Tucson s Public Works Director Angel M. Lopez also said that while he knows what the canisters are and their use, he does not think there are any problems with abuse in South Tucson. Muñoz said his department is aware of the ordinance passed in Tucson, but at this time, we don t have anything on the books. If they start getting popular we may have to look at it, Muñoz Davis Bilingual Magnet School is one of only two schools in Tucson Unified School District to use a Spanish immersion program. At Davis, where the program has been in effect since 1979, kindergartners and first-graders are taught only in Spanish. In second grade, teachers begin speaking in English 15 percent of the time. From third through fifth grade, students are taught in English 30 percent of the time. Davis, 500 W. St. Mary s Road has been a performing or performing plus school since All teachers are bilingual certified. Principal Carmen Campuzano said the school attracts parents who want their children to be bilingual. She said many teachers, architects, engineers and professors send their children to Davis. Campuzano said the school s goal is dual-language proficiency for every student. From the first day of kindergarten students are spoken to only in Spanish. Campuzano said within two weeks English-only students are responding to their teachers in Spanish. Campuzano said the school is successful because all students are given a strong foundation in the Spanish language. The skills students learn transfer from one language to another. Children are taught to listen, speak, read and write in Spanish. Campuzano said it is usually hard for a school where students are bilingual because of state testing mandates. Because Davis is a magnet bilingual school, it is easier for them because they are allowed to test children in Spanish. Davis is working with Roskruge, TUSD s other bilingual magnet school, which teaches kindergarten through eighth grade, to help them develop a stronger bilingual program. Students from Davis are encouraged to go to Roskruge, 501 E. Sixth St., for middle school. Roskruge uses a different bilingual program, where students are taught in Spanish half of the day and in English the other half. Middle school students are taught in said. We do keep track of these issues. The ordinance passed in Tucson orders stores that carry the small silver cartridges to keep them behind store counters, out of the reach of children. The ordinance also restricts sales of the canisters to people 18 years or older; adding nitrous to the already long list of items such as cigarettes, certain medication and pornography. Perhaps there is no problem with nitrous oxide abuse in South Tucson because whip-its aren t readily available. A number of convenience and liquor stores and smoke shops in South Tucson surveyed for this story said they do not carry the canisters. One employee at T&T Market, at 2048 S. Sixth Ave. said that the owners specifically choose not to sell whip-its because kids use them to get high. SUSD Adds Extra Security PHOTO BY MATT LEWIS Scott Morken, an off-duty Tucson police officer, works at Sunnyside High School. By Matt Lewis Due to the $90,000 worth of damage and stolen property since August, Sunnyside Unified School District is installing more security cameras, alarms and is installing tracking devices for all district laptops. They are also hiring more security guards. The district will be using $300,000 from insurance for the upgrades. Upgrades include consolidating security companies and installing new cameras. The district uses several companies to operate their alarm systems, but will now use one starting in January. The district will test security cameras and make a recommendation to the board about whether or not to use the equipment. School Successfully Using Spanish Immersion English, but take a Spanish class. Roskruge Principal José Olivas was a teacher and assistant principal at Davis and is now trying to overhaul the program at Roskruge so that in the future, it can be as successful as Davis. He said it is difficult and will take time because at the middle school level, children come from over 30 different schools in Tucson, and they all have different Spanish-speaking backgrounds. For more information on Davis Bilingual Magnet School, visit or call PHOTO BY TRISTA DAVIS Students are read stories in Spanish in the library at Davis Bilingual Magnet School. Throughout the story the teacher asks questions to see if the students understand what she is saying.

5 By Trista Davis The Wildcat School is in its fourth year and is continuing to benefit from its affiliation with the University of Arizona. The school offers sixth through eighth grade, and is focused on math and science. The school currently has 97 students. This year the school relocated to 25 E. Drachman St. to be closer to the UA. School director Lina Susee said the move was important if the school wanted to take advantage of its partnership with the UA, which includes mentoring by UA students. The school has a bus to pick up students from Tucson s south side, where the school was started. Another benefit from working with the UA is that the UA s Cats in the Community group is painting the entire interior of the school. Supplies and paint were been donated by Home Depot Inc. The Wildcat School offers a second-dose program to its students. This means for an area where a student is struggling, the student gets a second-dose of the subject by having the class twice per day. The school has sports teams, including basketball, soccer, volleyball and football. Students also have a chance to work on the school s online magazine, and are responsible for doing the announcements every morning. Susee said this is important because students get to work with technology. Wednesdays are called Wildcat Wednesdays and are early release days. For the four-hour school day, students go on field trips and do projects. Because of its affiliation with the UA, the school has received many computer donations and the UA lends them technology. Students have visited the UA EL INDEPENDIENTE School Benefits from UA Partnership PHOTO BY TRISTA DAVIS Cindy Boteo, an eighth-grader and Yttzel Gamboa Valenzuela a seventh-grader work on a project during their journalism class at the Wildcat School. campus three times this school year. Susee described the atmosphere at her school as an engaging, yet a calm and peaceful environment. The students feel safe and comfortable here, she added. Visit or call for more information. The Wildcat School is still open for enrollment. By Matt Lewis The Tucson Unified School District held its first festival of schools at the Reid Park Zoo in November to let the public know what each of their 105 schools has to offer. The event was attended by more than 9,000 parents and students, who received free admission to the zoo according to David Scott, the director of accountability and research for TUSD. I think it was an excellent venue for this event, said Jon Ben-Asher, principal at Wrightstown and Henry Elementary schools. There s a natural draw for the kids to want to come to the zoo. The event was designed to be fun and informative. Parents were given a Catalog of Schools, which has information about every school in the district. The catalog can also be found at the district s Web site. The event was very successful. It was a way for schools to take a proactive approach to marketing their programs, said Jesus Celaya, principal of Drachman Montessori Magnet Elementary School. Scott said that because of open enrollment, the event was designed to help parents and students find the best school for them. In 1978, the district faced a federal desegregation order that required a certain number of minority students to attend several Page / Página 5 Festival Highlights TUSD s Offerings schools in the district. The desegregation order trumped the state s open enrollment law. Scott said two years ago a case in Seattle determined that it was illegal to determine where students were placed based on their race. The judge who oversaw TUSD s case applied this sentiment to their case as well. Now that students are not limited to the schools they can attend, Scott says he wants to make sure people are going to the school that s best for them. Enrollment over the past three years has dropped by about 1,500 students each year; which equates to a total of $10 million in cuts for the district. As a large district, we are criticized a lot in the media, Ben- Asher said. A lot of things we have to offer don t get attention. (But the event) was a nice opportunity for Tucson to get to know its schools in an intimate setting. Scott says the event was designed to better educate parents of the choices they have, adding that the district often lost students to charter schools. The district most often loses students to charter schools during the middle school years, because parents don t know what the district has to offer, Scott said. Scott said the success of last year s middle school festival was the reason the district decided to have one for all grade levels. Teen Art Program Feels Pinch of Budget Cuts By Max Dubois The lights are off. Tall aluminum cabinets sit cracked open, teeming with brushes, markers and paper. Tubes of paint stand on tabletops, their caps screwed on tight. Folding chairs, stacked up like bricks, leave the two collapsible tables to stand alone in the middle of the floor. The Art In Reality classroom, just weeks ago a mecca for artistic teens, is now vacant. AIR is a free program within the City s Parks and Recreation Department that offers a variety of visual and performing arts classes to teens ages 13 to 21. Opportunities range from aerosol PHOTO BY MAX DUBOIS Alejandro Buelna, 18, a student in Art In Reality, a visual and performing arts program, works on his portion of their newest mural outside the Steven Murray Art Gallery. art, to DJ School, to fashion. With more than 50 partners throughout the city, AIR teams up with charter, vocational, public and alternative high schools, and local businesses to make sure that no student in Pima County is denied a chance to express their artistic side. Citywide budget cuts have ravaged countless recreation programs across Tucson, but perhaps none has been hit harder than Art In Reality. They have been forced to cut their budget nearly in half. The program is not given its own line of budget from Tucson, but rather pulls from other programs within the recreation department. In the past, the recreation department was allocated a discretionary fund, which was used to finance various youth organizations, including AIR. That fund no longer exists within the department, forcing programs like AIR to find alternative sources of funding. For the past five years, Art In Reality was given an annual budget of $20,000 to include teacher salaries, supply costs and field trips for every class. This year that number was slashed to $12,000. Adding to the financial pinch, the demand for their classes has grown. This year 117 students enrolled in classes, up from less than 100 students the previous year. As a result, classes originally scheduled to meet twice a week now only meet once. Teacher salaries have been cut completely and now the classes are taught strictly on a volunteer basis. Aerosol art, one of AIR s most popular classes, has maintained its normal hours, but the program can no longer afford to pay for supplies, now relying on private donations and money directly out of the pocket of Ruth Marblestone, program director for Art In Reality. The aerosol class meets in the Armory Center. The room is nestled in a remote corner of the building, which primarily functions as a community center for the elderly. Noah Hartman, 16, a junior at Tucson School for the Visual Arts, sits at the table and focuses intently on his sketch for his portion of a Dia De Los Muertos mural commissioned by the Steven Murray Art Gallery. We re working on something constructive, said Hartman, not just tagging train cars and billboards. Rocky Martinez, the aerosol art instructor, starts by taking attendance and making sure that all of the students have completed their homework. For today s class, students were supposed to bring a rough sketch of their piece for the mural. As the classroom fills up, Rocky begins to go over human anatomy, specifically the bone structure, because of the abundance of skeletons the kids are drawing for the mural. Commissioning murals is one of the primary ways the program is able to showcase the hard work of the students over the course of the semester. Marblestone has made arrangements with Steven Murray, owner of Steven Murray Art Gallery, to use the side of his building as the site for their mural. The gallery is located at 1122 N. Stone Ave., on the corner of Stone Avenue and Speedway Boulevard. So many of these kids don t get an opportunity and they don t have an outlet for art, said Marblestone. I want to show them that they can put it together, and they are smart. It is just a few days before the Dia De Los Muertos procession when a white pick-up truck pulls into the dirt lot, kicking up dust in front of Murray s gallery. It s Martinez. He parks in the middle of the lot and immediately the seven or eight students who have been waiting swarm. The bed of PHOTO BY MAX DUBOIS Rocky Martínez,middle, instructor for Art In Reality, a visual and performing arts program, directs his students to their next assignments on their newest mural outside the Steven Murray Art Gallery. the truck, loaded with hundreds of cans of spray paint, serves as the hub of the field trip, as students debate over which colors are needed for the mural. The wall stands about 15 feet high and 60 feet long. A few days earlier, the students painted a blood-red sunset over lush green hills. Noah started work on a skeleton-dog a few days earlier, and today he puts the finishing touches on its skull. A lavender diamond creates its nose, and canary yellow flowers speckled with blue make up the dog s eyes. Murray, who has owned the property for more than two years, spends the afternoon with the students as they paint his wall. It s not love. It s an absolute need. It s like breathing, said Murray. For these kids making art is like breathing. Murray and Marblestone share the same commitment to giving teens an opportunity to create art constructively. Murray encourages the students to get their work into his gallery so they can potentially make a profit. Courtney Wilson sits and watches her 13-year-old son as he tries his hand at the spray paint for the first time. This is art. The other stuff is just tagging for gangs, said Wilson. The last few rays of light peek over the mural as the sun begins to set. Martinez knows they have their work cut out if they plan to finish before the procession but the day s work is done. Paint cans are tossed back into Martinez s truck as parents arrive from all over the city to pick up their kids. With the future of the program uncertain, Marblestone continues to search out new sponsors who can help Art In Reality right the financial ship. We really need the city to roll up their sleeves, said Marblestone. They need to make a commitment to the youth.

6 Page / Página 6 EL INDEPENDIENTE Tucson Museum of Art Hosts Annual Nativity Scene South Tucson Court Minimizes Wastful Spending on Jail Time Court Continued from page 1 By Evan Pellgrino A plan has been presented to the city of South Tucson with strategies to put money in the pockets of South Tucsonans, change the perception of the city and bring in business from the greater area. A team of graduate students at the University of Arizona s School of Landscape Architecture and Planning spent the fall semester evaluating the city and getting input from business owners, community leaders and residents to develop a new economic development plan. There s a lot of pride, culture and history in South Tucson. We see these as the city s core values and we worked to honor these values while going forward, said James McGinnis, a UA graduate student who helped develop the plan. A main aspect of the plan addresses how the city can work to change public perception and become more welcoming to visitors. One idea is to reintroduce heritage events, such as the Norteño Music Festival and street fair, which the team feels would entice visitors to eat and shop in the city. Public events such as the Norteño festival would help expose people to South Tucson restaurants and get people comfortable with exploring what the city has to offer, said Alison Meadow, a UA student who helped develop the plan. We need to get people here and let them see for themselves that South Tucson isn t such a bad place, she said. We want to see South Tucson become a destination. To host events such as the Norteño festival, the plan encourages business owners in South Tucson to become partners and work together to host events and set a welcoming atmosphere and environment. Through partnerships, the team feels South Tucson businesses can develop marketing strategies, such as Web sites, to attract outside visitors to the area. The city could do a better job of telling its story, McGinnis said. With South Tucson resting near the intersection of two interstates, the city has great potential to attract visitors, especially with downtown development planned for the city of Tucson, McGinnis said. Inevitably, South Tucson s proximity to downtown Tucson will increase property value and bring in business, he said. Other aspects of the plan, developed in part from the city s last economic development strategies in 2005, are aimed at building individual wealth and retention for South Tucsonans through community gardens, where neighbors could work together to grow their own food, and more educational training programs, leading to better jobs and higher income. The plan also encourages weatherproofing houses by caulking and weatherstripping, insulating, painting roofs and planting tress around homes, which would increase property value and reduce the cost of cooling, saving residents money on PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART The Tucson Museum of Art nacimiento is now complete and on display after 32 years in the making. Artist Maria Luisa Leon Teña began the project as a homage to her mother, Maria Arrendondo de Leon, who passed on the tradition of nacimiento to Teña before she died in The 800-piece nacimiento can be seen at Casa Cordova at the Tucson Museum of Art compound, 140 N. Main Ave., where it will be on view until March 28. For more information including viewing hours, call or go to New Plans Outline Future Development Options for the City of South Tucson their bills. If people spend less money on grocery and utilities it means they have more money in their pockets and more money to spend in the community, McGinnis said. The plan also suggests crime deterrent programs such as reengaging a citywide South Tucson neighborhood watch program. To help the city initiate aspects of the development plan, the team included a list of resources, such as grants providers and organizations that can provide the city with some of the resources needed to put elements of the plan into action. We tried to come up with little things that can help the whole, Meadow said. It s a snowball effect. Small-scale programs can grow and take off. The economic development plan is now in the hands of South Tucson City Manager Enrique Serna, who will soon present it to the city council and mayor. Serna said he appreciates the new ideas and perspectives on how the community can make improvements. This underlines the kind of issues that affect the quality of life, keeping in mind that every community, including South Tucson, is unique, Serna said. The team of students said they hope South Tucson will benefit from the plan. The location is strong, McGinnis said. We re encouraging residents and business owners and the city to get out and make things happen. from citations to misdemeanors to more serious criminal penalties. If defendants fail to appear in court or pay their fines, warrants are often issued for their arrest. South Tucson is also attempting to minimize the wasteful cost of criminalizing the homeless. According to a 2004 Levin Group survey of nine cities that compared jail costs to emergency shelter or permanent housing costs, jail time can cost two to three times more. In South Tucson, the costs of jailing someone for nonpayment of fines ranges from $700 to $800 a day, according to Wilson. If you re homeless and you don t have a job or a place to live or other co-occurring issues and you don t have any money, what good do you think it d be if the prosecution or court decides to fine the person? Wilson asks. He goes on to explain that courts often have difficulty finding the defendants, and even if those defendants are found, they often cannot pay. If the defendant cannot pay a fine, there are late fees added and warrants are often put out, resulting in jail time for the defendants once they are found. Wilson said he believes that the harsh laws add to a negative image of the legal system. For too long, poor people, minorities and those that are down and out have viewed judges and prosecutors negatively, Wilson said. Because of this, they don t come to court or they don t expect to be treated with dignity, with integrity and fairly and impartially. But for Judge Wilson, that s not the way defendants should see the justice system as a whole. We ll do what we need to do to be part of the solution, Wilson said about his court. We don t Instead of paying all that money back, the individual must reinvest it to improve parks, buildings or schools, for example, Carbajal said. Barceló said he plans to reinvest the money from his ranch to rebuild a church in Granados, Sonora, that is in poor condition. What better way to repay the money I was awarded than to work on something that is important to all and that many of us use? asked Barceló. SEDESOL oversees the business projects. want them to be part of the shadows. There s nothing to fear: we re going to be merciful and compassionate. For South Tucson, that includes working with agencies such as the Gospel Rescue Mission to bring defendants in to deal with their pending court dates. This works hand in hand with the Gospel Rescue Mission s program to help the homeless, which includes a step that requires clients deal with prior legal issues. The Mission also provides homeless defendants with an advocate to assist them in dealing with legal issues. In addition, South Tucson courts are expanding punishment beyond fines and jail time. Wilson said he often uses community service and counseling as methods to not only redress the wrong done to society, but to help the defendant. When we don t allow people the opportunity to move forward with their lives and become productive members of society, we re putting them in a situation when they see no hope, Wilson said. And when you become hopeless, you become desperate. Then desperate becomes dangerous. With the new system that the South Tucson court is trying, things are turning around, said Roy Tullgren, executive director of the Gospel Rescue Mission. He said many of the homeless defendants they take to court receive reduced fines or community service instead of a fine, which helps to reduce the financial burden they have to carry when searching for a job. We found it to be very successful for those who ve gone to court, he said. Judge Wilson has a real heart and understanding for people who ve made bad choices and mistakes, but they re serious about trying to get back in line and on track. Mexican Migrants Invest Money Into Personal Businesses Investments Continued from page 1 When they approve the project, they keep an eye on them just making sure that they are actually using the money for what they got it for, Carbajal said. Barceló says he is thankful that he has the opportunity to become a businessman and work at something he loves. A business is something that everybody has in mind, Barceló said. I have always had plans to establish a business of some sort little by little. And now I have that chance. Familia Segura continua tradición de 85 años de hacer salsa Salsa Continúa de página 1 objetivo es continuar con el patrimonio de mi padre haciendo la mejor salsa picante en Arizona, dijo Segura. Los cuatro sabores picantes de Poblano, Salsa Picante Mexicana Poblano, Jalapeño Verde Poblano, Jalapeño Rojo Poblano y Salsa Ranchera Poblano, están a la venta en las tiendas Bashas, Fry s, Safeway y Food City, al igual que en una cantidad de tiendas y mercados más pequeños. También se pueden comprar las salsas directamente de la fábrica de los Segura en 3250 S. Dodge Blvd. A finales de diciembre, Segura tiene planeado introducir dos sabores nuevos, una de jalapeño amarillo y su salsa más picante, Habanero Poblano. A pesar de la caída financiera, Segura dice que las ventas están estupendas, porque la compañía sigue atrayendo a la gente local y a turistas que estén buscando llevar con ellos un pedazo de la ciudad a casa. Además de los turistas, Segura considera a soldados de los EE.UU. entre los más grandes admiradores de sus salsas. xsegura mantiene a la mano pequeños contenedores especiales de plástico de salsa picante que se pueden llevar con ellos al extranjero. Cuando mi hijo estaba en Irak, me envió una foto, era él con sus rifles y su salsa picante, posando, con una nota que decía Estoy listo para la batalla, dijo Segura riéndose. Entonces, qué le gusta más a Segura de dirigir el negocio de la familia? Los clientes, dijo él. Tengo una carpeta vieja de cartas que gente me ha escrito, gente de Maryland, de Nueva York, y las leo todo el tiempo. Me encanta escuchar de ellos y me enorgullece tanto.

7 By Jenna Davis Ask Gene and Erlina Edwards about the location of Galeria Mistica, their South Tucson art gallery, and they ll tell you the same thing: We didn t choose the location, the location chose us. Some might see this as problematic and slightly ironic since the gallery s location at 2318 S. Fourth Ave. brings in literally zero foot traffic, according to Gene. But the couple says they wouldn t have their gallery anywhere else. This feels more real to me because it s not forced to be pretentious, said Gene. I know what the foothills have to offer, and I never envisioned the gallery being that high-end. The gallery currently features the artwork of David Tineo, perhaps Tucson s most well-known artist, famous for his Mexicaninspired murals and paintings. Tineo s public art is featured around town, including at the Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson International Airport and the University of Arizona. He also has an upcoming exhibit at the Tucson Museum of Art in February. Gene says they wanted the gallery to be high-end in terms of what it represented, which for them meant, establishing a facility that will recognize the minority artists in the area. For Erlina, who teaches classes at the gallery dealing with spirituality and personal development, the gallery also embodies more abstract traits like mysticism, spirituality and the emergence of consciousness. EL INDEPENDIENTE The gallery is representative of something greater that we don t even understand, Erlina said. The couple moved to Tucson from California in 2002 and looked for the perfect place for their business for two years before they found the 1944 adobe house, once a Chinese market, then a carpentry shop. Erlina recalls the strange premonition she felt when she first saw the building. We knew we were going to buy (it) before we even walked in. The couple says they had no idea the building was located in the city of South Tucson when they bought the property, and didn t even realize South Tucson existed as its own separate city. The reputation is (South Tucson) is crime-ridden, but it s hard-working people who live here, Gene said. I believe that the community welcomes the gallery here quietly. Although Gene described the building as a big, gray room, when they first purchased the place, the couple had a vision. After about a year of remodeling, the adobe house was transformed into a mission-style gallery with brightly painted adobe walls, dark exposed ceiling beams and a red front door. In addition to functioning as an art gallery and spiritual learning center, Mistica is also a framing shop run by Gene, who has a degree in art education and 30 years of experience in framing. Mistica held its first exhibit in 2005, and has since had about three to four shows each year. Gene and Erlina try to keep things fresh by organizing different events, like the exhibit they held for retired professional women who took up art, and the silent auction for breast cancer. Before her work took her to Canada, Erlina, an interfaith minister, taught weekend classes relating to art and spirituality she often brought in other teachers to talk on topics like astrology and numerology. When she returns to Tucson within the next several months, Erlina plans to continue teaching in the place she calls a spiritual haven. It only makes sense for such a spiritually-minded gallery to exhibit artwork that follows suit. Gene thinks that Tineo s paintings Page / Página 7 Galeria Mistica Brings Quality Art to South Tucson PHOTO BY JENNA DAVIS Gene Edwards, owner of Galeria Mistica, shows off an invitation to their November 14 art show, featuring paintings by local artist David Tineo. compliment the atmosphere of Mistica perfectly. Tineo, a professional painter for more than 30 years, describes his work as very rural Mexican, and said his paintings feel at home in the gallery. Tineo got his start painting murals in South Tucson, then began painting all over Tucson, moving from walls to museums. Because he suffers from macular degeneration, the deterioration of eyesight, he mostly paints from memory these days and incorporates subtle, 3-D features to his canvases, like caulking. Tineo says he often uses groupings of three to represent the Holy Trinity in his artwork, and is partial to painting strong, dominant women as his subjects. Dio de los Muertos and border issues are other subjects Tineo frequently incorporates into his work. I want my work to represent my community, Tineo said. Gene admitted that Tineo caused quite a stir, in the gallery because of his well-known presence in the Tucson art community, and helped shaped Mistica as a gallery that denotes spirituality. (The Gallery) didn t necessarily start that way, Gene said. But both parties seem to agree they have forged an alliance with the same goal of reaching out to the community of South Tucson. Here we are in the city of South Tucson, considered an impoverished area, but what we bring has nothing to do with poverty, Erlina said. It has to do with bringing healing. Shelters Prepared for Winter Freeze By Jenna Davis A city program that provides shelter for the homeless when temperatures drop has seen an increase in the number of women and families using the shelters this year, a Salvation Army spokesperson said. Operation Deep Freeze, now in its 23rd year, is one of three city programs whose goal is to provide shelter to the homeless if temperatures dip below freezing. While the number of people using the shelters has decreased by about 50 people compared to last year s numbers, the demographics have changed, said Tamara McElwee, a Salvation Army spokesperson. We ve seen more women and families coming in opposed to single men, McElwee said, attributing the shift to tough economic times. About 200 guests take advantage of the shelters on an average night, McElwee said. The Salvation Army provides the homeless with a shower, a hot meal and a warm place to sleep at The Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1021 N. 11th Ave., then buses any additional folks to their overflow shelter on 1001 N. Richey Blvd. To Donate Donations of new and used blankets, coats and mittens are accepted at The Salvation Army 1001 N. Richey Blvd. or at any Naughton s store in Tucson. For more information, call Café en Sells marca el regresso a lo tradicional Por Taryn Lawson Traducido por Dina Tyrrell Las comidas tradicionales del desierto y el esfuerzo necesario para el crecimiento, la cosecha y la preparación mantuvieron a la gente de Tohono O odham saludable por cientos de años. En la actualidad, Desert Rain Café en Sells, Ariz. procura hacer lo mismo. El café, que está localizado en la Plaza Tohono en la calle Main, está dedicado a servir comida sana y tradicional a la comunidad de Tohono O odham. Cada platillo en el menú del Desert Rain Café presenta al menos un tipo de comida tradicional de Tohono O odham, como la calabaza, los frijoles tepary, los brotes de cholla o la fruta del saguaro, y todos los platillos se preparan de manera saludable. Algunos platillos presentan las tradiciones de Tohono O odham, como el estofado de frijoles tepary y de costillas cortas, que se sirve con frecuencia en funerales y ceremonias. Esto marca el regreso al sistema tradicional de comida, y nos da la oportunidad de realmente mostrar lo delicioso de las comidas nativas, dijo Mary Paganelli, la chef de Desert Rain. El café es un proyecto de Tohono O odham Community Action, una organización sin fines de lucro fundada hace 13 años para encargarse de varios problemas a los que se enfrenta la comunidad Tohono O odham, de los cuales la dieta pobre siempre ha sido la preocupación principal. La introducción de los alimentos procesados desde hace 40 años ha llevado al surgimiento sin precedentes de la obesidad y de la diabetes Tipo 2. Según TOCA, cerca del 50% de la población tiene esta enfermedad. Aun cuando la diabetes Tipo 2 se conoce comúnmente como la diabetes que se presenta sólo en adultos, niños, hasta de seis años, de la comunidad han desarrollado esta enfermedad. Aunque se conoce que los alimentos tradicionales de Tohono O odham, como las bellotas y los frijoles de mezquite, reducen la incidencia y la gravedad de la diabetes Tipo 2, porque regulan la azúcar en la sangre, las últimas décadas han estado marcadas por una desviación de estos alimentos, dijo Paganelli. Uno de los factores envueltos en esta desviación es la falta de acceso a comidas saludables en la remota reservación. La nación Tohono O odham es del tamaño de Connecticut, y aún así, sólo tenemos un Bashas y una cafetería, dijo Paganelli. Para resolver el problema de acceso local, el café opera en conjunto con una granja dirigida por TOCA, la cual tiene 100 acres de tierra arrendados específicamente para cultivar alimentos tradicionales usando un método tradicional de riego. Este método agrícola conocido como Ak-Chin utiliza las lluvias del monzón. Aunque la granja no está certificada como orgánica, no se utilizan pesticidas ni herbicidas en el cultivo. Las calabazas de Desert Rain, así como la mayoría de los alimentos básicos que se usan en los platillos del café, se producen en la granja. Desert Rain recibe otros artículos de comida de miembros de la comunidad. Nuestra meta primordial es servir a la comunidad, dijo Paganelli. El mejoramiento de la dieta y el estilo de vida combatirán estos problemas de salud, y el café era una manera de ampliar nuestra misión. Además del café y la granja, TOCA también ofrece seminarios a FOTO POR TARYN LAWSON La mesera Ashley Ambrose de Desert Rain presenta platos tradicionales de los Tohono O odham que se sirven en la café. los miembros de la comunidad en cómo plantar y crecer jardines, y desea, con el tiempo, extender su trabajo hacia los programas de almuerzo de las escuelas locales, para proveer opciones saludables en las cafeterías de las escuelas. También desean introducir clases de cocina en los fines de semana en un futuro no muy lejano, dijo Paganelli. De hecho, todo lo recaudado por Desert Rain Café va para el sostenimiento de los programas educacionales de TOCA. La chef Ivalee Pablo, quien se unió al equipo unas semanas atrás después de cocinar por un tiempo en el Arizona Inn, planea rediseñar el menú para la próxima primavera. Su especialidad? Los postres saludables de tuna. Mi abuelo me enseñó a cocinar, de la manera tradicional, y usamos métodos de preparación muy tradicionales aquí, dijo Pablo. Estos métodos incluyen el reemplazo de la harina de trigo y la azúcar por la miel de agave y la harina de mezquite. Realmente toma un esfuerzo volver a los viejos métodos, dijo Paganelli. Hay una razón por la que estos alimentos formaban parte de la cultura, y una razón por la que esta gente era saludable anteriormente. El café, que abrió en marzo, recientemente extendió sus horas para acomodar a la demanda, y actualmente está abierto de lunes a viernes, de 7 a.m. a 6 p.m. para desayuno y almuerzo, y también provee comidas para eventos.

8 Page / Página 8 EL INDEPENDIENTE QUÉ PASA?? Por Larissa Capizzano Traducido por Nekame Aguilar Dec. 12- Dec. 26 Winterhaven Festival Winterhaven Public Events presents the Winterhaven Festival of Lights. The event allows Tucson families to walk or drive through the Winterhaven neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights display. The festival is Dec. 12 to Dec. 26 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Walking is available every night but drivethroughs are only on Dec. 15, Dec. 16 and Dec. 26. Winterhaven is located between Fort Lowell and Prince Roads and Country Club Road and Tucson Boulevard. Admission is free with a canned donation to the Tucson Food Bank. For more information call Dec. 16- February Set in Stone: Gem and Mineral Trade Gem, minerals and copper have been carried across the Southwest for more than 2,000 years. Set in Stone highlights this history with an 800-object display at the Arizona State Museum, 1013 E. University Blvd. The exhibit runs through February Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for children 17 and younger. For more information call Dec. 17 La Posadas Procession Join the Carrillo School in downtown Tucson for a posada, a tradition since 1936, in which schoolchildren walk through Barrio Historico reenacting the Christmas story. Food sales will benefit school programs. Food and music will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Carrillo Magnet School, 440 S. Main Ave. The procession starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free, with food and music available for purchase. For more information call Dec. 20 Arizona Boys Chorus Enjoy holiday carols, sacred music and Hanukkah songs performed by the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus at their 70th Anniversary Holiday Concert. The concert is at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., on the University of Arizona campus. There will be two shows, one at 3p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $18. For more information call Dec. 31 First Night Tucson Ring in 2010 at First Night, Tucson s all-age, alcohol-free celebration in the downtown area. The family-friendly atmosphere will feature Tucson s top musical acts, multicultural music, art, dance, comedy, magic, children s activities and more. The event begins at 4 p.m. and lasts until 12:30 a.m. First Night takes place at eleven locations in downtown Tucson. For venues that Holiday Fun at Children s Museum require admission, First Night buttons can be purchased for $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Admission is free for children 5 and younger. Buttons can be purchased at Bookmans, TCC box office, Fox Tucson Theatre box office or online. For more information call Jan. 12 Tours of Fox Theatre On the second Tuesday of every month, the Fox Tucson Theatre gives a guided, one-hour tour of the 1930s-era, historical building. The next tour will be Jan. 12 and begins at noon. Fox Tucson Theatre is located at 17 W. Congress St. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $2 per person. For more information call de diciembre Festival de Luces en Winterhaven El comité de eventos públicos de Winterhaven presenta el Festival de Luces en Winterhaven. El evento permite que familias de Tucsón caminen o manejen por el vecindario Winterhaven para ver las luces de Navidad. El festival será del 12 hasta el 26 de diciembre desde las 5:30 hasta las 10 p.m. Se puede caminar en cualquier noche pero sólo se puede manejar los días 15, 16 y 26 de diciembre. Winterhaven está localizado entre las calles Fort Lowell, Prince, Country Club, y Tucson Boulevard. La entrada es gratis con un donativo de comida enlatada para el banco alimentario de Tucsón, el Tucson Food Bank. Para obtener The Tucson Children s Museum held the Festival of Friendship: Christmas Around the World, on Dec. 5. There were performances throughout the day by the Arizona Youth Chamber Ensemble where they sang carols from different countries. Santa visited the museum and kids lined up for their chance to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. The museum staff helped the kids create handmade frames to hold their new photos with Santa. PHOTOS BY LIZZY MACDONNELL más información llame al de diciembre- febrero Set in Stone: años de gemas y minerales en el suroeste Por más de años, se han llevado gemas, minerales y cobre através del suroeste. Esta historia se presenta en la exhibición Set in Stone compuesta de 800 objetos, que se encuentra en el Arizona State Museum, 1013 E University Blvd. La exhibición durará hasta febrero de de diciembre El desfile La Posadas Únase a la escuela Carrillo en el centro de Tucsón para una posada, una tradición que comenzó en 1936, durante la cual los estudiantes caminan por el Barrio Histórico y recrean la historia de la Navidad. Se venderá comida en beneficio de sus programas escolares. La comida y la música comenzarán a las 7 p.m. La entrada es libre y habrá comida y música a la venta. Para obtener más información llame al de diciembre Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Disfrute de villancicos de Navidad, música sagrada y canciones de Hannukkah cantados por el coro de niños de Tucsón Arizona, el Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, en su concierto festivo para celebrar su 70 aniversario. El concierto tomará lugar en Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., en el campus de la Universidad de Arizona. Habrá dos presentaciones, una a las 3 de la tarde y la otra a las 7:30 p.m. Las entradas valen $15 y $18. Para obtener más información llame al de diciembre La Primera Noche Festeje el año nuevo durante La Primera Noche en Tucsón, una celebración para todas las edades, sin alcohol, en el área central de la ciudad. Este ambiente es perfecto para toda la familia, donde los mejores grupos artísticos de Tucsón presentarán música multicultural, arte, baile, comedia, magia, actividades para niños y más. El evento comenzará a las 4 p.m. y durará hasta las 12:30 a.m. La Primera Noche se celebrará en once localizaciones en el centro de Tucsón. Se pueden comprar botones de entrada para los sitios que los requieren, que cuestan $12 para adultos y $6 para niños de 6 a 12 años; los niños menores de 5 años entran gratis. Se venden los botones en Bookmans, la taquilla del TCC, la taquilla del Fox Tucson Theatre, o en línea. Para obtener más información llame al de enero Tours del Fox Theatre El segundo martes de cada mes, el teatro Fox Tucson Theatre da tours guiados que duran una hora del edificio histórico de la década de El próximo tour será el 12 de enero y empezará a las 12 del mediodía. El Fox Tucson Theatre se localiza en 17 W. Congress St. La entrada es gratis con una donación sugerida de $2 por cada persona. Para obtener más información llame al Send your event listings to El Independiente at: elindy.ua@gmail.com