South Tucson s Bilingual Newspaper. Celebrating César Chávez

Transcripción

1 EL 1976 ~ 32 Years of Service ~ 2008 INDEPENDIENTE Free/gratis INSIDE Youth Rugby Messy sport, messy fun. Another football makes its mark in Tucson....see page 4 Festival de Mariachi Estudiantes aprecian la música de mariachi como parte del patrimonio de Tucsón....vea página 3 Spark the Floor Dance celebration marks 35 years of hip-hop...see page 7 By Laura Hassett For women struggling to get back on their feet after a bout with homelessness or substance or domestic abuse, a home should be welcoming and cozy. The Gospel Rescue Mission provides just that: a new transitional home for women and their children who take part in their counseling program. We want [each woman] to come to a place where they are valued as an individual and are respected, says the Mission s South Tucson s Bilingual Newspaper Celebrating César Chávez About 500 people gathered to remember the life and accomplishments of César Chávez with a march near South 6th Avenue and Irvington Road on April 5. Chávez co-founded the United Farm Workers union in Chávez championed laborer rights and civil rights. See page 5 for more photos. Gospel Rescue Mission Open s Women s Shelter director of development and expansion, Scott Munro. Munro says the Christian program provides help to women who need education, counseling or job skills. He says many of the women have struggled with substance abuse, and the program aims to help each individual work independently. Munro says the idea for the transitional home came about in 2007, when Gospel Rescue Mission was turning away women. At the time, Gospel Rescue Mission, which began in Tucson in 1953, was solely focused on homeless or transitional men, and the organization only had a shelter for men. Our board of directors said enough is enough, Munro We want the women who succeed in the program to have a home. The women s home is also different because it is one of few transitional homes in Tucson that allow children to accompany the women. The program houses up to 10 women and each of the six rooms is Shelter /see page 6 AZ Legislation May Prevent Undocumented From Renting By Ian Cross Landlords may become liable for verifying that their tenants are U.S. citizens if a new bill is passed through the state senate. HB-2625, introduced by Republican Rep. Russell Pearce, states that, A landlord shall not knowingly or recklessly rent or lease any dwelling in this state to a person who is an illegal alien. The bill was passed through the House Rules Committee on February 21 by a vote of 6-4. The bill was then passed by the Appropriations Committee on March 12 by a vote of Landlords would be required to obtain and verify one of the following documents from their tenants: An Arizona driver s license or identification card, a U.S.-issued birth certificate, a U.S. Passport, a visa, an I-94 form with a photograph, a U.S. Immigration Services employment authorization document, a refugee travel document, a U.S. certificate of naturalization or citizenship, a certificate of Indian blood, or an affidavit of birth from a Bureau of Indian Affairs. The bill says that any landlord who violates this policy would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $250 per day for each violation. The attorney general, a county attorney or a city attorney would enforce penalties. Public and assisted housing, which coordinates affordable housing for residents, may have to change their policy to accommodate the bill. Public housing and assisted housing has always checked citizenship, said Marilyn Chico, executive director for the South Tucson Housing Authority. But it is OK if they have non-citizens living with them. In this case, they pro-rate the rent and charge more for non-citizen tenants, she said. If passed into a law, this bill may affect individual landlords, but will likely have little effect on real Landlord /see page 6 Sunnyside Propone Alternativa para Estudiantes Aprendiendo Inglés Por Amelia Quiroga Traducido por Alexandra Hodges El Distrito Unificado Escolar de Sunnyside sometió al estado una propuesta alternativa al currículo del programa para los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés (ELL). El distrito tiene la intención de presentar su propuesta al grupo de trabajo estatal del programa. El nuevo modelo de estudios reduce los bloques separados para ELL a dos horas, y provee dos horas de instrucción integrada. El modelo integra al estudiante en aulas de anglohablantes y aplica el desarrollo del lenguaje al contenido de la lección, dando al estudiante la oportunidad de practicar con compañeros que hablan inglés mejor. Lo que el modelo [estatal] dice es: Hay que aprender inglés antes de que se pueda aprender el contenido, y nosotros proponemos que ambos aspectos son necesarios, dice Jeannie Favela, asistente del superintendente de servicios escolares. Hay que aprender un idioma en contexto, en relación con algo significativo. El modelo del distrito pretende reducir la duración de la segregación de los estudiantes de inglés y darles más tiempo para practicar el idioma sin que se retrasen en la materia. El modelo que el estado ha adoptado recientemente, Inmersión Estructurada en Inglés (SEI, por sus siglas en inglés), requiere que desde el próximo año escolar los estudiantes de inglés asistan a un aula segregada cuatro horas cada día. Respetamos las cuatro horas, pero nuestro programa lo hace de una manera un poco diferente, dijo Julia Lindberg, la directora de los programas de adquisición y desarrollo de lenguaje. El distrito presentó la propuesta al Departamento de Educación estatal a finales de febrero y todavía está esperando para presentarla al grupo de trabajo del programa. El distrito ocupa el décimo puesto de la fila de distritos que esperan presentar sus propuestas alternativas al modelo estatal SEI. Queremos asegurarnos de que estamos haciendo lo mejor para los niños, dice Favela. Julia Lindberg trabaja para cambiar la manera en cual los estudiantes aprenden inglés en el Distrito Unificado Escolar de Sunnyside. PHOTO POR ALAN FULLMER

2 Page / Página 2 EL INDEPENDIENTE South Tucson Wrongful-Death Suit Goes to Trial By Ian Cross June 2, 2009 has been set as the date for the civil trial of a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of South Tucson, alleging that the city s lack of maintenance caused a fatal traffic accident. The relatives of David Gomez are suing the city of South Tucson for more than $2 million, alleging that the lack of proper maintenance of a traffic signal by the city created a dangerous driving situation which caused the accident resulting in Gomez s death, according to court documents. Gomez was traveling north through the intersection of South 10th Avenue and East 29th Street on May 17, 2006, when he collided with a Finley Distributing Company van traveling westbound through a red light, according to court documents. Gomez had multiple injuries in the collision and died several days later at University Medical Center. The lawsuit, filed in November 2006, alleges that the negligence of both the city of South Tucson and Finley Distributing Company resulted in Gomez s death, and that the Gomez family will accept a settlement of $2.75 million for their claims against the city. Marcus Cordova, the driver of the Finley Distributing Company van, is also named as a defendant. The suit alleges negligence by the City of South Tucson, and former City Manager Ruben Villa, for failing to properly maintain the traffic signal sequence. The second count of negligence against Finley Distributing and Marcus Cordova alleges that the company is legally responsible for the negligent acts of their employees. The suit then states that Cordova is negligent for running a red light which caused the accident resulting in David Gomez s death. Goldberg and Osborne is representing six plaintiffs: four of Gomez s children, Veronica Maldonado, mother of one of his daughters, and Heather McCanless, mother of one of his sons. The memorial for the late David Gomez, above, is on the northeast corner of 10th Avenue and 29th Street, left. Gomez s family has filed a $2 million lawsuit against the city of South Tucson. PHOTO BY ALAN FULLMER EL INDEPENDIENTE 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. News Editor Claire Landowski Spanish Editor Lorena Barraza Gaby Renteria-Poepsel Design Chief Jason Redmond Photo Editor Tyler Smith News Room Manager Kate Mater Copy Chief Eric Schwartz Copy Editors Laura Hassett Claire Rodin Photographers Garrick Akridge Alan Fullmer Tyler Smith UA Journalism P.O. Box B Tucson, AZ Phone: elindy.ua@gmail.com Adviser Maggy Zanger Graphics and Layout Adviser John DeDios Design Garrick Akridge Ruth Blake Reporters Ruth Blake Ian Cross Luke Davis Laura Hassett Kate Mater Gaby Renteria-Poepsel Claire Rodin Mark Rodriguez Amelia Quiroga Translators Isabel Corres Gemma Figueroa Alexandra Hodges Alejandra Torres Translation and Interpretation Department of Spanish and Portugeuese Upcoming community events can be submitted to El Independiente at elindy.ua@gmail.com. Events must be received at least two weeks in advance. Sunnyside s Proposed ELL Alternative Cuts Segregated Class Time in Half By Amelia Quiroga Sunnyside Unified School District submitted a proposal to the state for an alternative English Language Learners curriculum model and plans to present their proposal to the state s ELL task force. The state s newly adopted Structured English Immersion model requires that ELL students attend a four-hour-a-day block of English instruction beginning next school year. The district s alternative model reduces the separate ELL blocks to two hours and provides two hours of integrated ELL instruction. It Por Ian Cross Traducido por Alejandra Torres A los arrendadores se les puede responsabilizar de verificar que sus arrendatarios sean ciudadanos de los EE. UU si un nuevo proyecto de ley se aprueba en el senado del estado. HB-2625, introducido por el Representante Republicano Russell Pearce, dice que, Un arrendador no deberá alquilar, ninguna vivienda en este estado a una persona que sea un extranjero ilegal. El proyecto de ley fue aprobado por el Comité de Reglas de la Casa de Representantes (House Rules Committee) el 21 de febrero con una votación de 6-4. El proyecto de ley fue después aprobado por el Comité de Apropiaciones (Appropriations Comité) el 12 de marzo con una votación de A los arrendadores se les requerirá obtener y verificar uno de los siguientes documentos presentados por sus arrendatarios: una licencia de conducir de Arizona o una forma de identificación, un acta de nacimiento expedida por los EE. UU., un pasaporte de los EE. UU., una visa, un documento I-94 con fotografía, un documento de autorización para trabajar de los Servicios de Inmigración de los EE. UU., un documento de viaje para el refugiado, un certificado de naturalización o de ciudadanía de los EE. UU., un certificado de sangre indígena, o una declaración jurada de una Oficina de Asuntos Indígenas (Bureau of Indian Affairs). Cualquier arrendador que viole esta norma será sujeto a multas civiles de hasta $250 por cada día de quebrantamiento. Ésto se impondrá por el fiscal general del estado, un abogado del condado o un abogado de la ciudad, según el contenido del proyecto de ley. La vivienda pública y de ayuda, la cual coordina una vivienda accesible para los residentes, tendrán que cambiar sus normas para adaptar el proyecto de ley. La vivienda pública y de ayuda siempre a verificado la ciudadanía, dijo Marilyn Chico, directora ejecutiva de la Autoridad de Vivienda del Sur de Tucsón (South Tucson Housing Authority). Pero está BIEN si tienen a personas que no son ciudadanos alojados con ellos. En este caso, ellos prorratean el alquiler y le cobran más a los arrendatarios que no son ciudadanos, ella dijo. Si se aprueba como ley, esta propuesta legislativa puede afectar mixes the students into Englishspeaking classes and applies language development around lesson content, giving students an opportunity to practice with more proficient peers. The [state s] model says you have to learn English before you can really learn content. And we re saying, you need a little of both, says Jeannie Favela, Sunnyside s assistant superintendent for Student Services. You need to learn language around something that s meaningful. The district s model is meant to reduce the time that ELL students are segregated and allow time for them to practice the language without falling behind in class content. We re still doing four hours but the way our model works is just a little different, said Julia Lindberg, Sunnyside s director of Language Acquisition and Development programs. The district submitted the proposal to the state s department of education in late February and is waiting to present its proposal to the state s ELL Task Force. The district is 10th in line for districts waiting to present proposed alternatives to the state s SEI model. We want to make sure that we are doing what we can that is best for kids, says Favela. Nueva ley podrá impedir que ilegales alquilen a los arrendadores individuales, pero es posiblemente tendrá un efecto muy pequeño en las compañías de bienes raíces que ya cuentan con normas similares. Honestamente, requerimos que [los arrendatarios] tengan un número de Seguro Social, dijo Angie Gierhart, una gerente del Grupo de Administración de Inmueble (Property Management Group), una compañía que administra varios departamentos y casas unifamiliares en Tucsón y en el Sur de Tucsón. Se requiere un número de seguro social para realizar la verificación del crédito, la cual realiza la compañía para cada arrendatario, ella dijo. No le rentamos a ilegales, ella dijo. No los puedes llevar al tribunal y pedir que los juzguen sin un número de Seguro Social. Dependiendo de cómo esté redactado, el proyecto de ley puede afectar el proceso por el cual los arrendadores aceptan a nuevos arrendatarios, Gierhart dijo. Los arrendadores seran responsables de verificar la información adicional acerca de sus arrendatarios. Es nuestro trabajo verificar cierta información y asegurar que estamos siguiendo la ley, ella dijo. No sera un gran problema para mí.

3 April 11 / 111 de abril 2008 EL INDEPENDIENTE Page / Página 3 Spark the Floor iluminará Tucsón Por Mark Rodriguez Traducido por Isabel Corres La cultura y la danza de hip-hop de Tucsón estará en el punto de mira la próxima semana, celebrando 35 años de música y energía. Varios equipos de danza de hiphop de Tucsón y Phoenix, bailarines B-boy y cantantes de rhythm and blues se presentarán en el cuarto evento anual de Spark the Floor, Hip-Hop Xplosion, el 19 de abril, a las 7pm en el teatro de música del Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. Spark the Floor es un evento patrocinado por el Centro de Artes Escénicas Viva (Viva Performing Arts Center) en la 4563 S. Park Ave, y está dirigido por Julie Gallego, fundadora del evento. Este centro da clases de ballet, flamenco, folclórico, hip-hop y también ofrece clases de danza como ejercicio a adultos. Este año, Gallego requirió que todos los grupos y participantes audicionaran para Spark the Floor. Se seleccionaron más de 25 números, según valor artístico, técnica, música, coreografía, energía y creatividad. Es fascinante ver lo creativo que pueden ser estos bailarines, dice Gallego. Todos quieren demostrar su talento y este espectáculo les dará esa oportunidad. El preespectáculo comenzará a las 6pm con varios intérpretes musicales, incluyendo estudiantes de las escuelas secundarias Apistor y Apollo, y otros participantes, algunos muy jóvenes, de cuatro años de edad. Habrá un escenario al aire libre con DJs para todos los preespectáculos y otros eventos. Este año, Rob Matthew, encargado de la división de Rock and Style de la costa oeste, una organización que ayuda a las personas interesadas en B-boying, danza hip-hop y batallas entre DJs, ayudó a Gallego a organizar el evento. Matthew da preferencia a la educación del público, sobre la historia del hip-hop y a la presentación de artistas de B-boying, DJs y cantantes de R&B de fuera de Tucsón. El espectáculo comenzará con un video sobre la evolución del hip-hop. Estamos celebrando 35 años de hip-hop y éste en un buen momento para celebrar, dice Matthew. Con este festejo, uno o dos bailarines serán elegidos para asistir a la Convención de Baile de Hip-Hop de Nueva York. A los bailarines elegidos se les dará la oportunidad de asistir a talleres sobre la danza como carrera profesional, y podrán seleccionar a un agente que los guíe en la danza profesional. Esta oportunidad no se les suele presentar a los bailarines de Tucsón y, por lo tanto, es una oportunidad única, dice Matthew. También, se invita a 30 ó 40 niños del Centro La Frontera a asistir al evento para que lo disfruten y para que vean las cosas buenas que ofrece el baile. Les ayuda a ver un nuevo modo de autoexpresarse, dice Matthew. No sólo es música y baile, es cultura agrega Gallego. También hay un estilo en la manera de vestir que va con esta cultura, y arte como el grafiti. Los fans verán a grupos como Femme de la Crème, Blackout, Frankie Grijalva demusestra pasos de baile a sus bailarines. Ellos están practicando para el espectáculo Spark the Floor. El evento es el 19 de abril en el TCC music hall. Human Project, de Tucsón, y a Emotion Theory de Phoenix, y a los equipos de danza de la escuelas preparatorias Pueblo, Sunnyside, Desert View y Rincon. Los bailarines de Viva también actuarán. La nueva agrupación, Femme de la Crème, nunca ha participado en Spark the Floor, pero este grupo femenino está ansioso por formar parte de esta celebración e historia, y están entusiasmadas, dice Bianca Martinez, directora del grupo. También se llevará acabo un tributo a Michael Montijo, antiguo director del grupo de danza Protégé que participó en Spark the Floor,. Montijo murió en un accidente automovilístico en Las Vegas en diciembre. Era bien conocido en Tucsón por su talento en la danza hip-hop y el canto folklórico y mariachi, dice Brittany Herrera, amiga de Montijo y miembra de Protégé. Protégé se reunirá junto con 16 miembros y bailará danzas con coreógrafos de Montijo. Bailaremos nuestros bailes favoritos, Salsa Caliente y Headsprung, dice Herrera. Les pondremos un video de nuestra actuación de 2005 cuando Michael estaba con nosotros, y haremos lo mismo del video pero en el escenario. Al final del espectáculo los bailarines competirán y participarán en un cypher en el que bailarán en estilo libre durante 15 segundos. Todos los bailarines deben estar en el escenario en ese momento y pueden participar en el estilo libre para formar parte de la celebración. Los boletos cuestan de $10 a $12 para los adultos, $4 a $12 para los niños. Los niños menores de 3 años entran gratis. Los boletos se venderán en la taquilla del Tucson Convention Center y en cualquier emplazamiento de Ticketmaster. Los boletos para adultos se venderán a $15 el día del evento. Dos dólares del precio del boleto se donarán al Banco de Comida de la Comunidad de Tucsón. FOTO POR TYLER SMITH Talleres estudiantiles ayudan a los jóvenes a preparse para el Festival de Mariachi de Tucsón Por Claire Rodin Traducido por Gemma Figueroa John Salazar, Gabriel Salazar, Ivan De La Torre, izq. a der., son los tres guitarristas. El Student Participation Showcase es el jueves 24 de abril a las 7 en el Tucson Convention Center. Los talleres estudiantiles para el Festival de Mariachi de Tucsón ayudan a apreciar la música de mariachi que ha formado parte del patrimonio de Tucsón por años. El Mariachi me ha traído hasta donde estoy ahora, dice John Contreras, el director del programa de mariachi de la preparatoria Pueblo Magnet. Él es también instructor de los talleres estudiantiles de mariachi. Los talleres estudiantiles del Festival de Mariachi de Tucsón cumplen 26 años y se llevarán a cabo del 22 al 24 de abril con una presentación en el Tucson Convention Center el 26 de abril a las 7:00 p.m. Los talleres proporcionan a los estudiantes de todo Tucsón una forma para reforzar y mostrar sus habilidades para la música de mariachi. Sin embargo, en los últimos años la conferencia de Mariachi ha estado teniendo dificultades. Hace cinco años el patrocinador oficial Bank One se dio de baja y no se han presentado otros patrocinadores. Lolie Gomez, la coordinadora de la conferencia de Mariachi, dice que, Es una decisión que se toma cada año con respecto a que si el espectáculo continuará o no. Según Gomez, están buscando patrocinadores nuevos y están buscando maneras nuevas para que el festival sea apoyado económicamente. Muchos estudiantes de la clase de mariachi de Contreras en la preparatoria Pueblo están participando en los talleres. Cada uno de los estudiantes tienen sus propios estilos únicos que aportan en los talleres, el dijo. Los estudiantes tienen cierta participación en el arreglo de la música al hacer sugerencias en cuanto a cómo hacerle cambios a una canción. Sus sugerencias son como oro, dice Contreras. La preparación de los talleres y la temporada de los conciertos de mariachi es un proceso que dura todo el año. La selección de la música se completa con alrededor de 10 a 15 canciones. Su clase desempeña un elenco que es un popurrí al son jaliscience, que es parte de un repertorio establecido en el mariachi, dice Contreras. Cuando los estudiantes hacen sus interpretaciones tienen altos criterios en cuanto a su manera de vestir y de cómo se presentan. La vestimenta tradicional incluye los trajes, el cual consiste de un chaleco, una chaqueta y unos pantalones para los hombres. Las mujeres también usan un chaleco y una falda o pantalón y tienen que peinarse con el cabello recogido. FOTO POR TYLER SMITH El vestir los trajes representa una cultura que ha estado aquí por muchos años, dice Contreras. Los músicos de la preparatoria Pueblo se han identificado a través del amor hacia la música a pesar de sus distintas edades. La clase consiste de tres estudiantes del noveno grado y de seis estudiantes del doceavo grado. Un ejército que canta unido, que lucha unido, dice Contreras. Los músicos de la preparatoria Pueblo continuarán con el desarrollo de su espectáculo aún después del festival. El grupo planea ir a Washington D.C. para representar a Arizona en el Desfile Nacional del Día de Independencia el 4 de Julio. Si ested va Qué: Exhibición de Talleres Estudiantiles en el Festival de Mariachi de Tucsón. Cuándo: Jueves, 24 de abril a las 7 p.m. Dónde: Tucson Convention Center 260 S. Church Ave. Costo: Adultos pagan $10,y los niños menores de 16 años entran gratis. Boletos disponibles en la taquilla del TCC o en Ticketmaster al o

4 Page / Página 4 EL INDEPENDIENTE New Youth Rugby League has Taken Hold in Tucson By Luke Davis Things sure are different across the pond in merry old England. A sausage made of congealed blood is considered a regional delicacy. And although the money is called a pound, weight is actually measure in kilos. And, of course, in 1823 they invented a little game called rugby. That little game is now, in 2008, a phenomenon. Total viewership of the 2007 Rugby World Cup reached about 3 billion people worldwide throughout 20 high-impact, unpadded and at times bloody contests, culminating with the South African national team s crowning as world champ. In 2007, the worldwide population count was in the neighborhood of 6.5 billion, so nearly half the world tuned into a rugby game sometime during the World Cup tournament. And here in Tucson, Arizona, stomping grounds of the Tucson Barbarians Under-19 Rugby Football Club, no one seemed to know but them. Forgive them, for they know not what the game is all about, says John Lockett, head coach of another Arizona youth rugby club, the Scottsdale-based Wolves. For Tucson players and coaches who compete in and love the largely unknown game, this try it and you ll like it attitude is breeding enthusiasm for the present, and hope for the sport s future here in the desert. The Barbarians, who began as a Tucson High School club team in 2003, and then disassociated themselves from the school at season s end in order to enable players from other schools access to the squad, are having their best season in the team s short history. We ve never had a winning season, says Barbarians coach Micole Matyas. And although they also sit atop the Arizona Rugby Union s youth standings, with a tournament this weekend looming close at hand, Matyas is less interested in discussing records than in what rugby can bring to the lives of the youths who find it. Don t get me wrong, I want to win, says Matyas, but rugby is so much more than just that. Rugby is like life, he adds, to win a match, you have to make a series of correct decisions, because one wrong one can lead to a loss. The correct decisions incorporate both what happens on the field, and the more important ones that occur off the field, according to the coach. We encourage every one of our players to go to college and get educated, as well as play rugby on a collegiate level, says Matyas, citing the eight Barbarian alumni currently taking the pitch (field) on a university level. And the relatively underground status of the sport in the states has also bred an atmosphere of brotherhood among those players who have discovered it. Matyas, who has been playing rugby since 1980, counts his rugbyplaying friends in countries as far away as Wales, where he went with his sons to watch the World Cup, and he is excited to see those sons getting the same experience with players stateside. My sons, through rugby, know people all over the United States, and it is one of my hopes that Barbarians players will get to do so as well, he adds. With the amount of traveling the team does, this may well be a dream realized for the coach. Recently the team has played a number of games in Phoenix, and in times past has traveled to California, Colorado and Texas, among other states. The makeup of the Barbarians squad is almost as varied as the places they have played. We have guys from the foothills but we also have guys from the south side, from the east side, everywhere, says Matyas. We have some guys that come from homes with very meager means, but none of them has ever had to miss a trip because of money, he continues. That is one of the greatest Alex Matthews, center, tries to dodge a tackle from Mark Lobe, left, and Austin Chico, right. The three all play for the Tucson Barbarians, an Under-19 Club team that plays in the Arizona Rugby Union. things, so many different types of people, all playing together, meeting so many more types of people, he What draws such a variety of young men to a sport that they have virtually no access to through mainstream media? It has running, jumping, contact, passing, kicking, teamwork, discipline and so on. It takes a certain inner toughness to play, says Lockett. Younger kids love it, they play similar games in the schoolyard all the time, he adds. If Matyas has his way, the schoolyards of Tucson will be seeing a lot more of rugby in the very near future. We recently were asked to present touch [non-contact] rugby to a PE class at Naylor Middle School, and they loved it, says Matyas. It would be my hope to draw Pima Community College, the University of Arizona and the local men s clubs like the Old Pueblo Lions into a joint program that will present rugby to middle-schoolers all over the city through Pima s PE department, says Matyas. PHOTO BY ALAN FULMER Rugby could eventually be exposed to thousands of kids in Tucson, he And the plans don t stop there. Matyas also eventually hopes to contact area charter high schools in an effort to allow their students to play rugby for PE credit, a plan which he has implemented successfully in isolated cases. And as for those who know rugby as a sport of brutality, violence, and the booze-soaked offfield antics of both players and supporters? We heavily discourage drinking at matches, parents are not allowed to scream at opposing teams. And our players are taught respect for the opponent first and foremost, says Matyas. Yes the game is physical, but it is not brutal, and the sport has changed so much since it went professional in the 1990s, he adds heatedly. Tim Pappas, the Barbarians assistant coach, has a more succinct reply for those who say the game is too violent. They obviously haven't watched a football game lately! The Barbarians will be taking on a field of 5 to 6 teams this weekend in Phoenix, and although they are, by way of record, favorites to win most of the games, Micole Matyas is almost blasé about his team s chances. Of course, we re always competitive, he But that is not the main thing that I m excited about, says Matyas with a grin. Recently we had a single mom come up to the coaches and say, I don't really understand or know what is going on that field, but my son has never been happier, he s never tried harder, he has never been part of anything, Matyas How amazing is that? he The Barbarians practice Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Estevan Park, 1000 Main Ave. and welcome all interested people to check out a practice. For a primer on the rules and components of rugby check out: gby/rookie_primer.html For Students, Mariachi Festival is a Time to Shine By Claire Rodin The student workshops for the Tucson Mariachi Festival help spark a love of mariachi music that has been a part of Tucson s heritage for years. Mariachi has gotten me to where I am today, says the Putting on the trajes director of the mariachi program at Pueblo ture that s been is representing a cul- Magnet High School John around for hundreds Contreras. He is of years. also an instructor for the mariachi student - John Contreras workshops. The Tucson Mariachi Festival student workshops are in the 26th year and are being held April 22 to 24 with a performance at Tucson Convention Center at 7 p.m. on April 26. The workshops provide students from all over Tucson with an outlet to strengthen and show off their mariachi music skills. However, for the last few years the mariachi conference has been struggling. Five years ago title sponsor Bank One dropped out, and no new sponsors have come forward. Lolie Gomez, the mariachi conference coordinator, says that, It s now a year-to-year decision as to whether or not the show will go on, she According to Gomez they are seeking new sponsors and are looking at new ways to make the festival more financially successful. Many students in Contreras s mariachi class at Pueblo are involved in the workshops. Each of the students has their own unique styles that they bring to the table, he The students have a certain amount of input in the music arrangement by making suggestions as how to change up a song. Their suggestions are like gold, says Contreras. Preparation for the student workshops and mariachi concert season is a year-long process. The selection of music is a filled with about 10 to 15 song standards. His class plays a lineup that is a Hector Zambrano, left, and David Puevedo, center, practice under the eye and ear of John Contreras, the mariachi program director at Pueblo Magnet High. medley of son jalisciense, which is part of an established repertory in mariachi music, says Contreras. When the students do their performances they have high standards as to how they dress and present themselves. Traditional costume includes the trajes, which is a suit that is made up of a vest, jacket and pants for the men. Women also wear a vest as well as a skirt or pant and have to have their hair pulled off their faces. Putting on the trajes is representing a culture that s been around for hundreds of years, Contreras The Pueblo High musicians have bonded through a love for music despite their varying ages. The class consists of three freshman and six seniors. An army that sings together, fights together, says Contreras. The Pueblo High musicians will continue to develop their performance even after the festival. The group plans to go to Washington D.C. to represent Arizona in the National Independence Day Parade on July 4. South Side Wrestling Still Dominating By Luke Davis When the Arizona Interscholastic Association released its list of wrestling all-stars this year, Tucson s South side had the distinction of receiving the top three honors. Sunnyside High School wrestling coach Bobby DeBerry and Pueblo High s Steven Lopez shared Co-Coach of the Year honors, and Sunnyside wrestler Paul Garza was named Wrestler of the Year. Both Sunnyside and Pueblo won state titles in team competition this year, in 5A Division II, and 4A Division I, respectively. Garza won all but two of his matches this year, and took home the state title in his 119 pound weight class. This is the second year in a row that all top wrestling honors have landed in Tucson. Visit El Independiente online at:

5 EL INDEPENDIENTE Page / Página 5 Programa de alfabetismo abrirá muchas puertas Por Kate Mater Traducido por Isabel Corres Linda Payne se sentía como una extranjera en su propio país a pesar de haber nacido y crecido ahí. Podía entender y hablar inglés, pero entre los 20 y 30 años de edad, tenía el nivel de lectura de un niño de tercero de primaria. Ahora, a los 48 años, Payne dice que muchas puertas se le están abriendo gracias a los Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón (Literacy Volunteers of Tucson). El programa de Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucson ofrece tutoría gratis para personas mayores de 16 años que quieren mejorar la comunicación en inglés, según Lisa Kemper, cordinadora de la organización de recursos de voluntarios de la comunidad. Payne ha estado por lo menos 20 años en este programa de tutoría, mientras trata de obtener su GED (diploma de equivalencia). Ella abandonó la preparatoria en el décimo grado porque tenía miedo y no se sentía cómoda. Pensar en tener que pararse enfrente de la clase y escribir en el pizarrón la aterrorizaba. Payne tenía una discapacidad de aprendizaje y fue colocada en una clase de educación especial en el quinto grado, pero aún así no aprendió los elementos básicos de la lectura y escritura, como las vocales. Si no sabes lo básico, nunca aprenderás a leer, dice Payne. A los 15, quedó embarazada y se fue de su casa. En los siguientes años tuvo tres hijos más que la forzaron a dejar el estudio. No me arrepiento de haber tenido a mis hijos. Ellos fueron mi fuerza, los que me empujaban hacia adelante, dice Payne. Ahora que sus hijos han crecido y tienen a sus propios hijos, ella tiene el tiempo para concentrarse en su diploma escolar, GED. Dice que su meta siempre ha sido obtener el GED antes de cumplir los 50 años de edad, y gracias al programa de Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón, va a poder cumplir esa meta. Aparte de obtener su GED, esta organización le ha ayudado a tener más confinza en la vida. Payne tiene ahora la seguridad suficiente como para teminar tareas simples, que otras personas dan por sentado, como poder leer el nombre y el domicilio en una carta o la comida que ofrece un restaurante en el menú. Ahora, es maestra en una iglesia los domingos, que es algo que siempre quiso hacer. Dice que el programa de Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón le dió esa confianza. Payne dice que ella empezó en el programa de lectura para ayudar Linda Payne, 48, lee la Biblia en la libería Borders Books en Oracle Road, algo que no podía hacer antes de ir a los Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón. a sus hijos con la tarea. Cuando sus hijos estaban creciendo, les podía ayudar, pero cuando entraron a cuatro y quinto de primaria, ellos estaban más adelantados que ella, dice Payne. Tener cuatro hijos y tener dos trabajos para poder sobrevivir fue muy dificil, especialmente cuando se trataba de disponer de tiempo para su propia educación, nos cuenta. Una de las cosas que la ayudó a sobresalir en el programa de Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón es que el programa es gratis. Tener tutores privados es muy caro. Le hubiera sido imposible pagarse uno, aún ahora que tiene un salario estable. Es un programa único, nos dice Payne. No hay muchos programas en la comunidad que sean gratis y mucho menos que ayuden a la gente mayor, dice. Aunque ha estado en el programa por muchos años, todavía le falta mucho más para llegar al nivel que desea, dice Payne. Cuando obtenga el GED su meta será ayudar a los demás. Actualmente, ella es una representante estudiantil de la mesa directiva de la organización, pero algún día desea poder trabajar en el programa de Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón. Quiero poder ser una bendición para alguien más, dice Payne Para hablar con alguien sobre la tutoría en Voluntarios de Alfabetismo de Tucsón, llame al Long Time South Tucson Resident Recalls Big Changes Angelina Sainz (left), 83, and Emilo Verdugo, 94, celebrating their birthdays early at the House of Neighborly Service. By Claire Landowski When Emilio Verdugo turns 95 on April 12, he will celebrate a life as a union organizer, curandero, medical practitioner, poet and songwriter. Verdugo, who is originally from Cananea, Sonora, emigrated to the United States in 1955 and has lived in South Tucson ever since. I have a very good memory, says Verdugo, who celebrated his birthday with friends at the House of Neighborly Service, 240 W. 33rd Street, on April 3. Verdugo says that he crossed the border on August 1 at 10:40 a.m. and that he has watched Tucson César Chávez March About 500 people gathered on April 5 in honor of César Chávez, whose birthday was March 31. The group marched from Pueblo Magnet High School to Rudy Garcia Park. Eight states celebrate the birthday of the Arizona born labor and civil rights activist. change between then and now. I see now that many people don t appreciate each other, Verdugo We are all equal...we all need each other. Just talking to people is among Verdugo s favorite things to do, and says it is the best thing in Tucson. Too bad I don t speak English, he I could talk to more people. Verdugo isn t the only senior celebrating a birthday at the House of Neighborly Service this month. Angelina Sainz turns 84 on April 30. The House of Neighborly Service is a Presbyterian mission that offers both youth and senior programs as well as adult social services. $6.9 Million Surgery Expansion Planned for VA Hospital By Ruth Blake The Southern Arizona Veterans Administration hospital will begin construction of four new operating rooms early next year. The additional space will allow the hospital to accommodate more patients and reduce waiting times. It will have an impact on patient satisfaction as well as quality of care, says Martin Sjursen, facilities management chief. Since 1999, surgical procedures at the hospital increased 45 percent. By 2011, it is expected that the hospital will serve 25 percent more patients that it currently does, Sjursen The four operating rooms being built will increase functional operating space by 33 percent. It will affect the entire state of Arizona as well as a little ways into New Mexico because we are a cardiac referral site, says Sjursen. The additional operating rooms will be equipped with the latest technology to improve quality of care and help increase the number of patients the hospital is able to treat each year. The $6.9 million project is federally funded as part of a nationwide expansion trend. According to Sjursen, the design will be finalized within the next month and construction, predicted to last two years, will begin April Visit El Independiente online at:

6 Page / Página 6 EL INDEPENDIENTE Basic Literacy Program Tutors Adults, Opens Doors By Kate Mater Linda Payne felt like a foreigner in her own country, even though she was born and raised there. She could speak and understand English, but as a grown woman in her 20s and 30s, she had the reading level of a third grader. Now, at 48, Payne says doors are opening for her thanks to the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson. The Literacy Volunteers of Tucson offers free tutoring for adults 16 and older who want to improve their basic English literacy skills, according to Lisa Kemper, volunteer community resource coordinator for the organization. Payne has been in the tutoring program for at least 20 years while trying to get her GED. She dropped out of high school in the 10th grade because she was scared and uncomfortable in the classroom. The thought of getting up in front of the class to write on the board was her worst fear. Because Payne had a learning disability, she was placed in a special education class in fifth grade, but she still did not learn basic elements of reading and writing, such as the use of vowels. If you don t know basics, you ll never know how to read, Payne At 15, she was pregnant and left home. Within the next couple of years, she had three more children, which forced her to put education on the back-burner. I don t regret my babies. My kids were my strength; they gave me that push, Payne Landlords Liable Landlord Continued from page 1 estate companies that already have similar policies in place. Quite honestly, we require that [tenants] have a Social Security number, said Angie Gierhart, a manager with Property Management Group, a company which manages several apartments and single family homes in Tucson and South Tucson. A social security number is required to run a credit check, which the company runs on every tenant, she said. We don t rent to illegals, she said. You can t take them to court and get judgment on them without a Social Security number. Depending on how it is worded, the bill could affect the process by which some landlords accept new tenants, Gierhart said. Landlords would be to be held liable for verifying additional information about their tenants. It s our job to verify certain information and make sure that we are following the law, she said. I don t feel like it s going to be a big deal for me. Women s Shelter Shelter Continued from page 1 decorated differently. Munro says local interior designers and contractors volunteered or discounted their time to help make the twostory house, 2909 N. 15th Ave., feel like a home. It is much more than people are expecting, Munro We didn t want an extension of an institution. It is a home. The Gospel Rescue Mission held an open house for the transitional women and children s home on April 5. For more information about Gospel Rescue Mission, visit or call Diane Musser (right), 64, a tutor with the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, teaches Linda Payne, 48, how to read so that she can take and pass the GED. Now that her kids are grown and have kids of their own, she has time to focus on getting her GED. Payne says her goal has always been to get her GED before she was 50 years old, and thanks to the Literacy Volunteers By Gaby Renteria-Poepsel Tucson parents will have the opportunity to sign up their children for affordable health insurance during a telethon at the end of the month. The goal is to enroll lowincome, uninsured children in KidsCare, a health care program provided by the state for uninsured children who do not qualify for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) health insurance. The program provides medical, dental and vision services at affordable rates. The telethon is the second organized by the Children s Action Alliance, a non-profit research, education and advocacy organization in Arizona, as part of a national campaign, Cover the Uninsured Week, from April 27 to May 3. In the U.S., about 9 million of the 47 million Americans without health insurance are children, according to the Robin Wood Johnson Foundation, a health care charity that supports the Arizona project. Penelope Jacks, director of Children s Action Alliance in Southern Arizona says that last year, the telethon received 280 phone calls and more than 1,800 kids were enrolled for health care. About 65,000 children are enrolled in the program statewide. In Pima County, about 80,000 to 90,000 children are uninsured, and at least half of them are eligible for the program, Jacks But their parents may not be aware of it. About 250,000 Arizona children do not have health insurance, according to the Children s Action Alliance. Hispanic children in Arizona are disproportionately uninsured, she of Tucson, she will be able to accomplish that goal. Along with her GED, the organization has helped her gain confidence in life. Payne now has the self-assurance to complete simple tasks such Their parents work in small businesses where the [employer] does not provide health insurance, Jacks says, or it may only provide it to the worker, not the worker s children. Other parents may know about the program but because of pride they do not find out more, she said. They think it s welfare, but honestly it is not. It s for working people. They pay taxes, and they re supported by the taxes, so they re entitled to reap the benefits, she The application may be confusing for parents, but the organization will help people through the process, and there will be bilingual operators at the telethon who can answer questions. We re recruiting as many bilingual answerers as we can, Jacks The telethon will take place on April 22, on KOLD, Channel 13, as being able to read the name or address on a mailing envelope or the food listed on a restaurant menu. She now teaches Sunday school, something she has always wanted to do, and says that the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson gave her that from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and there will be 14 phone lines open for people can call and sign up their children for the program. People calling will be asked three preliminary questions to determine eligibility, and if the requirements are met, callers will receive a call back in the next three to four weeks from a KidsCare outreach coordinator to help with the application process, Jacks Although the telethon s goal is to sign up as many people as possible for the KidsCare program, parents can sign up their children throughout the year. People who wish to register their children before or after the telethon can call the Carondelet Health Network at to make an appointment. About 65 people will be volunteering at the telethon, but more volunteers are needed. Learn more about the KidsCare program on their website at ability. Payne says she started in the program because she wanted to read so she could help her kids with their homework. When her kids were growing up, she could help them in the beginning, but once they were in fourth or fifth grade it was too advanced, she Having four kids and working two jobs to survive was a challenge, especially when it came to making time for education, Payne One aspect that contributes to her success in the literacy program is that it is free. Because tutors are expensive, it would have been impossible for her to afford one, especially now that she is on a fixed income. It is a very unique program, Payne There are not many programs out there that are free and geared toward helping people at an older age, she Although she has been in the program for many years, she still has a long way to go in order to be at the level she wants to be. Once she receives her GED, Payne s main goal is to help others. Currently, she is a student speaker and on the organization s board of directors as a student representative, but one day she would like to work at the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson. I want to be a blessing to somebody else, Payne To talk to someone about tutoring at the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, call KidsCare to Enroll Uninsured Children at Telethon Volunteers answer phones in a conference room at the KOLD news 13 station at last year s telethon. The telethon was first organized by Children s Action Alliance. To qualify for KidsCare a child must: Be a resident of Arizona Be 18 years old or younger Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified eligible immigrant regardless of the status of the parents Not currently be covered by other health insurance Not qualify for coverage through a state agency employee Be a member of a household that meets the KidsCare income guidelines Be a member of a household that is willing to pay a premium Information courtesy of the State of Arizona PHOTO COURTEST OF CHILDREN S ACTION ALLIANCE

7 Bianca Martinez demonstrates a hip-hop dance routine for students at the Viva Performing Arts Center. The group is practicing for Spark the Floor on April 19 at the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. Spark the Floor will feature over 25 acts that include dancers from Tucson and Phoenix. EL INDEPENDIENTE By Mark Rodriguez Tucson hip-hop dance culture will be under the spotlight next week, celebrating 35 years of music and energy. Hip-hop dance teams from Tucson and Phoenix, B-boy dancers, and rhythm and blues singers will be showcased at the fourth annual Spark the Floor, Hip-Hop Xplosion at 7 p.m. on April 19, at the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. Spark the Floor is sponsored by the Viva Performing Arts Center, at 4563 S. Park Ave, and is directed by Julie Gallego who also founded the event. The center teaches ballet, flamenco, folklorico, hip-hop, and offers dance exercise classes for adults. This year for Spark the Floor, Gallego required all groups and performers to audition. More than 25 acts made the cut based on their showmanship, technique, music, choreography, energy and creativity. It s amazing how creative these dancers can be, Gallego They all want to express their talent and this show will give them the opportunity to do this. The pre-show will begin at 6 p.m. with several music performers including students from Pistor and Apollo Middle Schools and other performers as young as four years old. There will be a stage set up outdoors along with DJ booths for all pre-show and outside entertainment. This year, Gallego is assisted in putting the show together by Rob Matthew, the head of the west coast division of Rock with Style, an organization that helps those interested in B-boying, hip-hop dancing, and DJ battling. Matthew focuses on educating the audience on the history of hiphop and bringing B-boying, turn tableism, and R&B singers from outside the Tucson area. The beginning of the show will feature a video about the evolution of hip hop. We are celebrating 35 years of hip-hop and this is a good time to celebrate, Matthew With this celebration, one or two dancers will be chosen to attend the New York Hip-Hop Dance Convention. The chosen dancers will be given the opportunity to attend dance workshops and will help them select an agent who will guide them in professional dance. The opportunity is not usually given to Tucson dancers, so this is a unique chance, Matthew Also, 30 to 40 children from La Frontera Center are invited to attend the show and enjoy themselves so they can see what good can come from dancing. It helps them see a good form of self-expression he It s not just music and dancing, it s a culture, Gallego adds. There is also a style of clothing that goes with this culture and art such as graffiti. Fans can expect to see groups such as Femme de la Crème, Blackout, Human Project, from Tucson and Emotion Theory who is from Phoenix and school dance crews from Pueblo, Sunnyside, Desert View, and Rincon High Schools, Viva dancers will also perform. Femme de la Crème, a new group, has never performed in Spark the Floor, but the all-female group is anxious and excited to be Page / Página 7 Spark the Floor Lights Up Tucson part of the celebration and creation of history, says Bianca Martinez, the group s director. A tribute will also be held for Michael Montijo, who once led Protégé, a dance group that has previously performed at Spark the Floor. Montijo was killed in a Las Vegas car accident in December. He was known in Tucson for his talent in hip-hop dance, folklorico and mariachi singing, says Brittany Herrera, a friend of Montijo and member of Protégé. Protégé will reunite with about 16 members and perform dances once taught and choreographed by Montijo, which were performed in previous Spark the Floor shows. We are going to be doing our favorite Salsa Caliente and Headsprung dance, Herrera We will be playing footage from 2005 s performance with Michael with us on stage, and we will be going along exactly with that footage on the stage, in person. At the end of the show, dancers will have a dance battle and be involved in a cypher, where dancers freestyle for about 15 seconds before the next dancer takes over. Most dancers are expected to be on stage at this time and any may join in and freestyle to engage in the celebration. Tickets are $10 to $12 for adults, $4 to $12 for children, and children three and under are free. They can be bought at the Tucson Convention Center Box Office or any Ticketmaster location. On the day of the show, ticket sales are $15 for adults. A donation to the Tucson Community Food Bank will earn $2 off the price of one ticket. El teletón para inscribir a los niños en un seguro médico Por Gaby Rentería-Peopsel Traducido por Alejandra Torres Los padres de Tucsón tendrán la oportunidad de inscribir a sus hijos en un seguro médico durante un teletón realizado por una organización no lucrativa al final de este mes. El objetivo es inscribir a niños de bajos ingresos y sin seguro médico en KidsCare, un programa de cuidado de salud que se provee por el estado para niños sin seguro médico y quienes no califican para el seguro médico del Sistema de Contención de Costos del Cuidado de la Salud de Arizona (AHCCCS, por sus siglas en inglés). El programa provee servicios médicos, dentales y de la vista a costos accesibles. Este es el segundo teletón organizado por la Alianza de Acción de los Niños (Children s Action Alliance), una organización no partidista de investigación, educación y apoyo en Arizona, como parte de la campaña nacional, Cover the Uninsured Week, del 27 de abril al 3 de mayo. La campaña es un proyecto de la Fundación Robin Wood Johnson, una filantropía dedicada a asuntos de la salud y del cuidado de la salud. En los EEUU, cerca de nueve millones de los 47 millones de estadounidenses sin seguro médico son niños, según los datos de la fundación. Penelope Jacks, la directora de la Alianza de Acción de los Niños en el sur de Arizona dice que el año pasado, el teletón recibió 280 llamadas telefónicas y más de 1,800 niños fueron inscritos para el cuidado de salud. Jacks dice que aproximadamente 65,000 niños están inscritos en el programa en todo el estado. Cerca de 250,000 niños en Arizona no tiene seguro médico, según la Alianza Activa de los Niños. Jacks dice que mucha gente no sabe acerca del programa. En gran parte es un problema que simplemente no haya habido mucha información disponible aparte de los esfuerzos privados, dice Jacks. Hay cerca de a niños sin seguro médico en el Condado de Pima, y por lo menos la mitad de ellos califican; pero sus padres no lo saben, dice Jacks. El número de niños hispanos en Arizona sin seguro médico es desproporcionado, ella dice. Sus padres trabajan en pequeños negocios donde el [empleador] no provee seguro médico, ella dice, o éste puede que sólo lo provea al empleado, no a los hijos del empleado. Otros padres puede que sepan acerca del programa pero por orgullo no buscan más información, ella dijo. Ellos piensan que es asistencia social, pero honestamente no lo es. Es para personas que trabajan. Ellos pagan impuestos, y los impuestos los respaldan, por lo que tienen derecho a obtener los beneficios, ella dice. Jacks dice que a veces la solicitud puede ser confusa para los padres que tienen dificultad para leer, pero la organización ayuda a las personas a través del proceso. La organización tendrá operadores bilingües en el teletón, quienes estarán disponibles para responder preguntas. Estamos reclutando el mayor número de personas bilingües para que colaboren, dice Jacks. El teletón tendrá lugar el 22 de abril, en KOLD, Canal 13, de las 5 a.m. a las 9 p.m. y habrá 14 líneas telefónicas abiertas para que las personas puedan llamar para inscribir a sus hijos al programa. A las personas que llamen se les harán tres preguntas preliminares para determinar si califican, y si se cumplen los requisitos, se les devolverá la llamada dentro de las próximas tres o cuatro semanas por parte de un coordinador comunitario de KidsCare para ayudar con el proceso de solicitud, dice Jacks. Aunque el objetivo del teletón es inscribir en el programa de KidsCare al mayor número de personas que sea posible, los padres pueden inscribir a sus hijos durante todo el año. Las personas que deseen inscribir a sus niños antes o después del teletón pueden llamar a la Red de Salud de Carondelet (Carondelet Health Network) al para hacer una cita. Alrededor de 65 personas estarán trabajando como voluntarios en el teletón, pero se necesitan más voluntarios. Aprenda más sobre el programa de KidsCare en su página de internet Para calificar para KidsCare usted debe: Ser residente de Arizona No ser mayor de 18 años Ser un ciudadano estadounidense o un inmigrante calificado a pesar del estatus de los padres No estar cubierto por otro seguro médico en la actualidad No calificar para la cobertura a través de un empleado de una agencia estatal Ser miembro de una familia que cumple con las pautas de ingreso de KidsCare Ser miembro de una familia que está dispuesta a pagar una prima de seguro. Información como cortesía del Estado de Arizona The new delivery rooms at Carondelet St. Joseph s Medical Center offer stateof-the-art equipment and are twice as big as the old rooms. St. Joseph s Medical Center Opens Pavilion By Mark Rodriguez Carondelet St. Joseph s Medical Center will now be able to provide better care to expectant mothers and infants, thanks to a $48 million expansion to the hospital campus, 350 N. Wilmot Road. An open house was held on April 5 for the public to tour and to learn what, the new building has to offer on its first and third floors, which are dedicated to women s and infant care. All 167 private beds in the new Medical Pavilion include medical, surgical, neo-natal intensive care units (NICU), mother-baby couplet care, and neurological intensive care rooms. The hospital will be hiring about 200 new employees to bring total employment for the Pavilion to about 400. A lot of the care happens behind the scenes to offer privacy to our patients, says Robin Shepherd, Clinical Director of women s care at St. Joseph s. On April 28 patients will begin filling the women s and infant care areas. The opening of urology, gynecology and neurological care areas will be May 5. The first floor has services such as childbirth education classes, operating rooms, and a breastfeeding support center where mothers can ask questions or raise concerns. Other services offered to mothers and infants in the medical pavilion are 30 private NICU rooms, 34 mother-baby couplet care rooms, 21 labor and delivery suites, 42 urology and gynecology rooms and two whirlpool bath suites that will be available for relaxation of a mother in early labor, Shepherd Each hospital room is large enough to be divided into a family side of the patient s bed and a nurse s side she The family side of the bed has a couch which can later turn into a bed for fathers to stay overnight, giving the family an opportunity to be close to each other. The nursing side of the bed is where nurses take vitals and offer patient care. Job openings can be found on Carondelet s website, or by calling

8 Page / Página 8 EL INDEPENDIENTE QUÉ PASA?? By Claire Landowski Traducido por Alexandra Hodges Through May 9 Centeotzintli: Sacred Maíz Exhibit The University of Arizona s Mexican-American Studies and Research Center presents this exhibit about the importance of maíz to the native peoples of the continent as well as modern relationships to the maíz cultures and traditions of the past. The exhibit is located on the University of Arizona Campus at the Main Library, 1510 E. University Blvd. For more information, call April 12 Bilingual Baby Time Sam Lena Branch Library is offering a group reading for babies in Spanish and English. There will also be music and movement for all participants. Reading begins at 10 a.m. The library is located at 1607 S. Sixth Ave. For more information, call April 12 Women s Health Expo This free annual event, put on by the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, offers free screenings for hypertension, lung function, diabetes and other health concerns. The college is located at 1295 N. Martin Ave. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call April 16 Health Mobile The Health Mobile will be visiting Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Center from noon to 3 p.m. to offer checkups including body mass index, blood pressure and diabetes checks. All services are free. Visit Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Center at 1575 E. 36th Street or call for more information. April Pima County Fair The Pima County Fair returns to Tucson with food, music, livestock shows and sales, carnival games and rides and live performances. See the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, meet an elephant, pay tribute to American veterans, ride a rollercoaster and eat a funnel cake. Gates open Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. Hours vary by day: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday gates open at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday gates open at 10 a.m. Admission is $7 for ages 11 and up, $2 for children age 6-10, and free for children under 6. Parking is $5. The Pima County Fairgrounds are located at S. Houghton Road. Call the fair information line for more information: 762-FAIR(3247). April 18 and 19 Noche de las Estrellas Sunnyside High School presents this two-day event, now in its 17th year. There will be food, music, dance, carnival games, and fun for all ages as students from Sunnyside School District, the Southwest and Mexico showcase their talents. The festival opens Friday at 6 p.m. for a pageant and talent show in the Sunnyside High School Auditorium and closes Saturday night with a concert, La Epoca del Oro. Saturday s festivities are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the concert is from 6 to 10:30 p.m. All activities are free except the concert, which is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Sunnyside High is located at 1725 E. Bilby Road. For more information, call Adriana Molina at April 19 through June 1 Arizona 9/11 U.S. Immigration Exhibit The El Ojito Center for Creativity features internationally acclaimed artist Neil Bernstein s new pieces about the Arizona-Mexico border. Similar to his previous works, these utilize the ashes and blood of Mexican immigrants. Admission is free. El Ojito is located at 340 N. Fourth Ave. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call for more information. Hasta el 9 de mayo Exposición de Centeotzintli: Sacred Maiz El Centro Mexicanoamericano de Estudios e Investigación de la Universidad de Arizona presenta esta exhibición sobre la importancia del maíz para los pueblos indígenas del continente, así como de relaciones recientes con las culturas y tradiciones antiguas del maíz. La exhibición está en la biblioteca del campus de la Universidad de Arizona, 1015 E. University Blvd. Si desea más información, llame al South Side Delicacies Photos by Tyler Smith Above: Doraluz Fierro cooks enchiladas and burros at Michas Resturant, 2908 S. 4th Ave. Left: Israel Ruíz serves sonoran-style hot dogs at El Guero Canelo, 5201 S. 12th Ave. Below: Los Betos, at 3640 S. 6th Ave., offers cheap food and a drive through for filling up while on the run. 12 de abril La hora de los bebés bilingües La biblioteca Sam Lena ofrece lecturas infantiles en grupo en inglés y español. También habrá música y actividades para todos los participantes. La lectura comienza a las 10 a.m. La biblioteca está ubicada en 1607 S. Sixth Ave. Si desea más información, llame al de abril Expo sobre la salud de la mujer En este evento, anual y gratuito, organizado por la Facultad de Farmaceútica de la Universidad de Arizona, se ofrecen exámenes gratis para la hipertensión, el funcionamiento de los pulmones, la diabetes y otras áreas relacionadas con la salud. La Facultad esta ubicada en 1295 N. Martin Ave. El evento dura desde las 10 de la mañana hasta las 2 de la tarde. Si desea más información, llame al de abril El Health Mobile, vehículo de salud El Health Mobile, o vehículo de salud, visitará el Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Center desde el mediodía hasta las 3 de la tarde. Se ofrecerán revisiones médicas, medida del índice de masa corporal, presión arterial y chequeos para la diabetes. Todos los servicios son gratis. Visite el Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Center en 1575 E. 36th St. o llame al si desea más información. 17 al 27 de abril Feria del Condado de Pima La Feria del Condado de Pima regresa a Tucsón con comida, música, exposiciones y ventas de animales, juegos de carnaval y representaciones en vivo. Venga a ver los caballos Budweiser Clydesdale, a conocer a un elefante, rendir tributo a veteranos estadounidenses, a disfrutar de una montaña rusa y a comer bolos. La feria comienza el jueves, 17 de abril, a las 6 de la tarde. El horario varía cada día: el lunes, miércoles, jueves y viernes la feria está abierta desde las 11 de la mañana. El martes, sábado y domingo está abierta desde las 10 de la mañana. La entrada para los mayores de 11 años cuesta $7, $2 para las personas entre 6 y 10 años de edad, y gratis para los menores de 6 años. El estacionamiento cuesta $5. El recinto de la Feria del Condado de Pima está localizado en S. Houghton Road. Si desea más información, llame el número de información de la feria, 762-FAIR(3247). 18 y 19 de abril La Noche de las Estrellas La Escuela Secundaria Sunnyside presenta este evento de dos días, ahora en su decimoséptimo año. Mientras los estudiantes del Distrito escolar de Sunnyside, el Suroeste y México exhiben sus talentos, habrá comida, danza, juegos de carnaval y actividades para todas las edades. El festival comienza este sábado por la noche con un concierto, La Época del Oro. Las actividades del sábado van de las 11 a.m. hasta las 4 p.m. de la tarde, y el concierto es de 6 p.m. a 10:30 de la noche. Todas las actividades son gratis, menos el concierto que cuesta $8 antes del concierto o $10 a la entrada. La escuela Sunnyside está localizada en 1725 E. Bilby Road. Si desea más información, llame a Adriana Molina al Del 19 de abril hasta el 1 de junio Exhibición de Arizona 9/11 U.S. Immigration El Ojito Centro para la Creatividad exhibe las nuevas obras del artista reconocido internacionalmente, Neil Bernstein. Las obras muestran la frontera entre México y Arizona. De manera similar a obras previas, estas utilizan las cenizas y la sangre de inmigrantes mexicanos. La admisión es gratis. El Ojito está localizado en 340 N. Fourth Ave. y está abierto diariamente desde las 10 de la mañana hasta las 10 de la noche. Llame al si desea más información.