Nominations are in & WEBB ENTER MADE THE TOP 10!  
Now cast your ballot for
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

Webb Center has  been successfully nominated See Link  as one of the Top 10 Live Music Venues in the Phoenix area! Story Continues

Arizona State Parks offer events statewide March through May 

Gas prices may hurt those that think they have to travel long distances to find a place to hike in gorgeous flower-covered mountains. Or to gaze into a star-studded sky, catch trophy bass, or glide across a glistening lake teaming with wildlife, but in Arizona, families can save those dollars by just going to our State Parks for these memorable experiences .

March 4 - Red Rock State Park "Arts and Cultures of the Ancient Southern Arizona Hohokam Indians" Allen Dart, Archaeologist and Executive Director of the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center in Tucson, will present this program featuring slides of the Hohokam culture that flourished in the valleys of the Salt, Verde, Gila and Santa Cruz rivers. Sponsored by the AZ Humanities Council and Benefactors of RRSP. Reservations recommended. 2pm in the theatre. 928-282-6907

March 5 - Buckskin Mountain State Park Venomous Creatures Join Ranger Brian Crouse for his presentation at Buckskin Mountain. 4pm. 928-667-3231

March 8 - Jerome State Historic Park Shafted! The Anita Mining Company Copper Bust of 1905 By the late 1800s, our Nation's growing reliance on electricity made copper a highly prized mineral. Towns such as Tucson, Superior, Globe, and Jerome reaped the riches of copper mining.  As a result the 1890's discovery of copper at the Grand Canyon, prospectors filed claims throughout the area. In May of 2004, volunteers worked alongside Kaibab National Forest archaeologists to study the mining district that became known as Anita. Neil Weintraub's presentation will chronicle the short-lived, but rich history of Anita between 1897 and 1905. 3pm. 928-634-5381

March 10 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau Neil Weintraub, Kaibab National Forest Archaeologist, will discuss the variety of rock art styles found specifically on the Coconino Plateau south of the Grand Canyon. Weintraub will discuss how the distribution of rock art styles may support recent archaeological evidence that shows how the Cohonina migrated from the Coconino Plateau during the late 11th and early 12th century. Evening Slide Presentation, 7pm. 928-779-4395

March 10&11 - Picacho Peak State Park Civil War in the Southwest Event will be a re-enactment of three different Civil War battles, which were in Arizona and New Mexico. Since many people only know of the battles that were fought in the eastern states, this desert battle becomes another exciting history lesson. $8 per vehicle Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. Civil War memorabilia & food booths -Vendors must apply. 520-466-3183

March 10&11 - Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park Ed Schieffelin Days In conjunction with the City's celebration, the park will offer three van tours of the monument on each day. Don Taylor will present a paper each day about Mr. Schieffelin at 1pm. 520.457.3311

March 10&11 - Lake Havasu State Park Lighthouse Festival Food, exhibits, and items for sale at Windsor 4. More details soon at www.LH-lighthouseClub.org  or 928-855-2784.

March 10&17 - Fort Verde State Historic Park Archaeology Awareness Month Living history presentations. 928-567-3275

March 11 - Buckskin Mountain State Park Swansea Field Trip Mike Riddle will be guiding this trip, bring a sack lunch and meet at the Buckskin Mountain Ranger Station. 10:30am. 928-667-3231

March 11 - Red Rock State Park Fire by Friction Al Cornell, a retired U.S. Army Officer with 30 years active service, will present. Mr. Cornell has an avid interest in pre-historic technologies, specializing in fire starting, cordage making, stone tool production, and the processing and use of primitive pigments. He will be demonstrating the four pre-historic fire-starting methods known to have been used in the New World prior to the arrival of the first Europeans. 11am at the La Fon Center. 928-282-6907

March 11 - Red Rock State Park Atlatl & Dart Before the Bow and Arrow there was the Atlatl and Dart. Robert Sizemore will demonstrate these instruments and participants may try their skill in this event. Mr. Sizemore will also discuss the origin and history as well as the continuing sport competition of the device. 12:30pm at the LaFon Center. 928-282-6907

March 13 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park "En Vogue: 90 Years of Riordan Women's Fashion" Adrienne Rose, Volunteer & Textile Historian, Riordan Mansion, will discuss styles of women's clothing popular from the late 1880's - 1960's, featuring garments worn by three generations of Riordan women. Adrienne Rose holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in clothing and textiles. For the last 13 years she has owned and operated The House of Rose Fashion Services, a design and custom sewing business in Flagstaff. Brown Bag Lunch Lecture, 12:15pm. 928-779-4395

March 16&17 - Yuma Crossing State Historic Park 2007 Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Expo The Expo provides a special opportunity for visitors to learn more about why it is important to preserve archaeological sites and historic places, what archaeologists, historians, and tribal members do in their jobs, and about the prehistory and history of Arizona. Both days will feature workshops, archaeology hands-on activities, craft demonstrations, and other fun and educational events. Special displays and booths by archaeological and historical organizations, museums, Native American tribes, Hispanic groups, state and federal agencies, and others will allow you to participate as an archaeologist might in their research today, or make crafts that teach how prehistoric Native Americans and other early inhabitants survived in the Southwest, or play historic period games. Living history re-enactors, storytellers, Native American demonstrators and entertainers, and hands-on activities will help make the past come alive! In addition, tours of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites in the Colorado River Valley area will be featured; some of these sites are not normally open to the public. Free raffles featuring prizes of archaeology education-related items will occur throughout both days and local ethnic foods will be available for purchase. The Expo will give visitors new insights into Arizona's many prehistoric, historic, and contemporary cultures, and will help instill a sense of stewardship for our state's nonrenewable heritage resources. FREE. 602-542-7138

March 17 - Patagonia Lake State Park Annual Mariachi Festival A number of Mariachi bands perform, and there are a variety of food vendors on hand to feed your family. Ballet Folklorico dancers will kick things off at 11am, followed by local high school Mariachi bands at 12 noon, with a new band starting every hour until 5pm. 520-287-6965

March 17 - Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park Arizona Territorial Justice Forum: The Pleasant Valley War A feud between cattlemen and sheep ranchers resulted in the murder of Tom Graham by Edwin Tewksbury and the subsequent trials to convict Graham. Scholars will present papers, historical overview, prosecutorial, and defense issues of this case before a panel of Judges (adult students) and the public. The program will be heard in the Yavapai County Courthouse from 1-4pm. 520-457-3311

March 17&31 - Fort Verde State Historic Park Archaeology Awareness Month Adobe brick-making workshops. 928-567-3275

March 18 - Red Rock State Park Plant a Native Garden Join us as one of our rangers plants a Native American garden using authentic native digging sticks and seeds provided by Native Seed/Search. Parents and children can participate in this project. Meet at the Visitor Center. 2 pm. 928-282-6907

March 24 - Jerome State Historic Park "From the Trickster to the Braggart: Folktales of Arizona" Arizona is blessed with several strong folktale traditions. Enjoy the wonderful and beautiful stories as you are introduced to the people who told them. Peter McMillian Booth brings the tales of Arizona to Jerome State Park. 2pm. 928-634-5381

March 24&25 - Tubac Presidio State Historic Park World War I & World War II Event Uncle Sam wants you to come join us, in remembering our soldiers of World War I & World War II. There will be an encampment on the park grounds, as well as uniform and firearms displays and motorized vehicles. Share a cup of coffee and a memory with our staff & volunteers. 10am-4pm. 520-398-2252

March 25 - Red Rock State Park Archaeology Hike Join volunteers Bob Dick and Brenda Robinson for a hike to celebrate Archaeology Month. Learn about the pre-historic Sinagua Indians who inhabited the Sedona/Verde Valley area over 1000 years ago. Learn how they utilized plants found in the area for survival, and about traces of what they left behind. Meet at the Visitor Center. 2 pm. 928-282-6907

April 1 - Red Rock State Park "Balanced Living in the Desert" Wendy Harford and John Neville, members of the Sustainable Arizona Resource and Educational Council, will present this program including a verbal and slide/video presentation, samples from the Sustainable Resource Library collection and several exercises/activities. Reservations recommended, seating limited. 2pm in the theatre. 928-282-6907

April 7 - Lake Havasu State Park Chili Cook-off Fun, food, and drink from 11am-5pm. 928-855-2784

April 7 - Jerome State Historic Park Antique Stereographs Jeremy Rowe, a collector of antique stereographs, will be talking about photography and photographers. Please call for time. 928-634-5381

April 10 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park "Old Time Skiers" Jane Jackson, NPS, will present this Brown Bag Lunch Lecture at 12:15pm. 928-779-4395

April 14 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park Ghost Towns of the Second World War Erik Berg will talk about the major military bases in AZ. The Navajo Army Depot, Kingman Army Air Field, and the Winslow Airfield were all important northern AZ bases that still have interesting things to see. Erik will also cover the ruins of Patton's Desert Training Camp, and extensive remains at Douglas and Coolidge airfields. Evening Slide Presentation, 7pm. 928-779-4395

April 14-15 - Fort Verde State Historic Park History of the Soldier Military encampments, living history presentations and re-enactments. 928-567-3275

Community Education Program
On February 24th, AZDance Group implemented their new Community Education Outreach Program (CEOP) with the Boulder Creek High School Dance Department, directed by Ms. Stacy Shane. Dancers were evaluated by the board of AZDance Group at the high school dance department's fall 2006 concert and at the Art Council of the North Valley's Festival of Fine Art community-based performances. The three dancers selected to work with AZDance Group's Celebration Dance Concert May 4th and 5th, 2007 include Marisa Drake (Sophomore), Sarah Brugeras (Sophomore) and Brianna Bedard (Senior).  

AZDance Group is a professional contemporary ballet, jazz and modern dance company, under the direction of Kenda Newbury. There are four primary divisions of the company: professional, junior/trainee, children's company and Movement E-Motion. There is also a community performing group which gives an opportunity to those without any dance training the exposure of working alongside dancers in a performance setting. The CEOP (Community Education Outreach Program) is now the company's second effort in involving the community to partake onstage while promoting high-quality art education to those with prior dance training. 

 BHCS dancers through an audition process, have the opportunity to be cast in several of the company's pieces, including the newest work, Passages, a work-in-progress, co-choreographed by Stacy Shane and Artistic Director, Kenda Newbury. "These CEOP dancers will gain a real sense of working in a collaborative and professional dance environment, states Kenda Newbury."   

 Coincidentally Celebration Dance Concert will be held at Boulder Creek High School Performing Art Center (40404 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem) Friday at 7:00 p.m., Saturday 1:00 p.m. matinee and Saturday 6:00 p.m. The two-hour concert will also feature guest artists such as Jeffrey Polston of Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company/NYC, K. Mockingbird, Native American Flutist and AZDance Group's Movement E-Motion dance program. Tickets will be available at Our Kitchen to Yours and Deer Valley Credit Union in Anthem. Your ticket requests can also be made by faxing (623) 551-6494. For more information about the company, contact Ms. Newbury at (480) 215-1916, azdancegroup@yahoo.com  or visit www.azdance.org .

 AZDance Group is supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts through funding from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts. Movement E-Motion (MEM) is made possible through a grant from the Molly Lawson Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation. Special guest artist Jeffrey Polston (December 2006) was made possible through a Sudden Opportunity Grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts.  Further support of the MEM program is made from the Rotary Club of Anthem and Friends of AZDance Group, including Dynamic Motion Dance Academy, Desert Foothills Dance, Our Kitchen to Yours, Dollyrockers Salon, Deer Valley Credit Union, ImagesAZ and the Volunteers of AZDance Group. Further support of AZDance Group includes a generous sponsor through the United Way.   

AZDance Group, the professional contemporary ballet, jazz and modern dance company of Arizona, is now officially a non-profit 501c(3) organization! Congratulations! And thanks to the Arts Council of the North Valley for being the company's fiscal sponsor for the past year. REMEMBER members of ACNV pay only $10.00 to see any of AZDance Group's spring concert Celebration Dance Concert performances May 4th and 5th, 2007 at BCHS PAC in Anthem. AZDance Group looks forward to our continued successes throughout the North Valley, Arizona and beyond.  AZDance Group is available for regional and national tours, master classes, showcases, choreography, collaborative projects and private parties. For information on how to continue to build educational programs, bring professional productions to the Arizona stages, expand the MEM dance program for individuals with different abilities and to foster art awareness in schools and communities, please contact the director. www.azdance.org (480) 215-1916.

Ballet Arizona Presents Mixed Repertory
Ballet Arizona presents a celebration of dance that includes ballets from three of the world’s greatest choreographers; from classical to contemporary, it’s the perfect evening of dance. “I have been waiting all season to present this program” says Ballet Arizona Artistic Director Ib Andersen. “It features three extremely different choreographers. However, the ballets have one thing in common; they are physically demanding, and truly exciting to watch.”

 Ballet Arizona is thrilled to present this rapturous ballet by Twyla Tharp (most recently she choreographed the hit Broadway show Movin’ Out set to the music of Billy Joel). The Golden Section, created as the explosive finale of The Catherine Wheel, a collaborative piece by Twyla Tharp and David Byrne (of The Talking Heads), expresses the joy and fiery energy of a select group of individuals. 

 About the choreographer: Twyla Tharp is a world renowned artist who has choreographed more than one hundred thirty-five dances, five Hollywood movies, directed and choreographed three Broadway shows, written two books and received one Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, and seventeen honorary doctorates, among many other awards and honors.

 Twyla Tharp on The Golden Section: "the dancers stormed the stage with a new, positive energy" and anything that wasn't sheer dancing "disappeared into a harmonious wash of light, costumes, music and movement." The scene was "an abstract arena of pure energy." Dressed in dancer/athlete get-ups of burnished golds, as if they were all Olympic champions, the seven male and six female dancers sail, soar, and tear through the air of the stage's golden, glowing light.”

 A ballet lover’s fantasy! Originally part of Jewels, a three-act full-length ballet, Rubies is a witty ballet, epitomizing the long-term artistic relationship between Igor Stravinsky and George Balanchine.  Inspired by the work of jewelry designer Claude Arpels, Rubies reveals the spirit, color and fundamental nature of the jewel itself. This exciting ballet is a burst of dazzling red on stage, full of pure athleticism and passion that will stimulate the senses and quicken the pulse.

 About the choreographer: George Balanchine (1904-1983), a major artistic figure of the twentieth century, revolutionized the look of classical ballet. Balanchine heightened, quickened, expanded, streamlined and even inverted the fundamentals of the 400-year-old language of classical dance. This had an inestimable influence on the growth of dance in America. His ballets are performed by all the major classical ballet companies throughout the world.

 Mixed Repertory presented by Ballet Arizona will be at the Orpheum Theatre 205 West Adams Street on April 13th, 2007 at 8 p.m. April 14th, 2007 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 15th, 2007 at 2 p.m. For ticket information call Ballet Arizona Box Office: 602-381-1096 or Ticketmaster: 480-784-4444

Curves of Steel
First-of-its-kind 20th century automobile design exhibition 

Throughout the 20th century, the automobile was revered in American culture; thus, many of the world’s greatest designers have worked in the field, creating and combining extreme beauty of line and the science of streamlining and aerodynamics. The Phoenix Art Museum is proud to organize and present the first exhibition in an art museum to explore the impact and influence of streamlining and aerodynamics on American and European automobile design in the 20th century. Curves of Steel: Streamlined Automobile Design, on view at Phoenix Art Museum April 1st – June 3rd, 2007, is an expression of cars and designs that changed the face and shape of the automobile. It features 22 of some of the rarest and most stunning cars ever to be presented in one show, many are the only existing examples of their kind. Assembled are such names as Auburn, Alfa Romeo, Lincoln-Zephyr, Hispano-Suiza, Bugatti, Delage and Delahaye – including the elusive 1937 Delahaye 145 “Million Franc Prize” Grand Prix winner.

 Streamlining is an expression of architecture and cultural design as a manifestation of aerodynamic science. The Phoenix Art Museum has assembled an array of some of the great chassis and designs that pioneered the science of airflow and aerodynamics. Some of North America’s most discerning collectors have opened their garage doors to share their prizes of automotive grace and form.

 From its earliest years, the automobile adopted the designs of the horse-drawn age. Gradually automotive design evolved and the engine moved forward. By the 1920s, European designers were beginning to adapt the science of airflow from aircraft to the automobile. At first these new designs were focused on experimental prototypes and speed record cars. In the 1930s, automobile culture exploded with art deco and streamline forms applied to the automobile.  Streamline designs or influences were applied to luxury vehicles such as Auburn, Cord and Lincoln-Zephyr in the United States.  General Motors used many streamline motifs, but was late to jump fully into the style, while Chrysler was an early proponent of aerodynamic design with the Airflow and the experimental Newport and Thunderbolt.  In Europe, the French Bugatti Atlantic Coupe, and many coachbuilt Delage and Delahaye automobiles featured striking and modern designs influenced more by style than aerodynamic function.

 Other, often smaller, manufacturers were more concerned with function and used design to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase stability.  Tatra found that a modestly-powered vehicle could attain and maintain relatively high speeds if it was shaped properly.  Many of the same principles were also applied to William Stout’s exquisitely-detailed Scarabs.

 The vehicles comprising this exhibition are among the rarest collector cars in the world and come to Phoenix from across North America.  Meticulously restored to their original elegance inside and out, their cultural content will be explored in the exhibition through additional drawings, photographs and posters.  Phoenix Art Museum also will present a wide-ranging line-up of public programs and events surrounding the show.  The exhibition is intended to be a total experience celebrating some of the finest automobile designs of the last century.

 The Book - A 192-page accompanying book is being published, guided and written by a select team of automotive historians, writers and designers, including Ken Gross, Beverly Rae Kimes, Richard Adatto, Jonathan A. Stein, Phil Patton and Geoff Wardel, with more than 200 color photographs by world renowned automotive photographer Michael Furman.  It will be available for purchase in The Museum Store. 

For more information about Phoenix Art Museum, visit online at www.PhxArt.org , or call the 24-hour recorded information line at (602) 257-1222. Exhibition Admission: $14 adults; $6 children ages 6-17, free for Museum members (some restrictions apply) and children under age 6.  Tickets are not for timed entry, but will be available for advance purchase.  Includes Museum general admission. Purchase Tickets:  In person at the Museum, online at www.PhxArt.org, or by phone at (602) 307-2090 or (800) 452-0314. Exhibition Hours: Open during regular Museum hours.

BCHS ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM WINS AT REGIONALS
Boulder Creek High School Academic Decathlon team took three silvers, two bronze and Rookie of the Year at the Region 2 Arizona Academic Decathlon on February 2-3.  Out of 50,000 total scoring points, BCHS team scored 32,153 which qualify the nine member team for state competition.  Taking individual awards at the Academic Decathlon were Elissa Thomas - Silver Art Honors, Elissa Thomas - Silver Art Overall, John Doyle - Bronze Music Scholastic, Scott Berlin - Silver Interview Scholastic and Katrina L. Vargas - Bronze interview Scholastic.  The team is coached by Rosalyn McDermott, BCHS Language Arts Teacher.  Region 2 consists of all schools in Deer Valley, Dysart, Glendale Union, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix Union, and Tolleson Union school districts plus Xavier College Prep.  Academic Decathlon is an honors level class for grades 10, 11 and 12.  It is a rigorous course of study on an exclusive topic which is announced each year by the United States Academic Decathlon curriculum committee.  This year's theme is China and its Influence on the World, with an emphasis on climatology and globalization.  Students will explore the topic through history, literature, economics, art, music, math and science.  

DVUSD HOSTS FREE PARENTS AS PARTNERS SEMINARS
DVUSD Parent/Community Involvement is excited to offer three free seminars for parents and community members.  No registration required; simply choose the dates and locations that best meet your needs.  All seminars will be held in the school media center and childcare will not be provided.  Seminars start 6:30pm and last approximately one hour.  Parents as Partners Spring Seminars are sponsored by the Deer Valley Education Foundation.  For more information on Parents as Parents, contact Kenna Hough, Parent/Community Involvement Manager 623-445-5017.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO TOUGH – Strategies for Raising Teens – Grades 7-12

Relationships are everything.  Happiness is a by-product of healthy relationships.  When we are happy our life tends to expand; when we are unhappy our life tends to contract.  As soon as you become unhappy with your teenager, you tend to stop doing things with him/her and start doing things to him/her.  It's not necessary to do the same things with your teenager as you did with him/her as a pre-teen but it helps to talk, listen, and share on a different level with this more mature person.  Dr. Mike Andersen, presenter.

Wednesday, March 7                              Wednesday, March 28                Tuesday, April 17

Diamond Canyon Elementary                  Mountain Ridge HS                 Barry Goldwater HS

 TOP TEN TIPS FOR DAD – All Grades

Just for Dad, tips from Dads about how to stay involved with your kids and make a difference.  Two dynamic principals will share not only research based fatherhood tips, but their own experiences as fathers (between them they have 8 kids!).  This new session is designed specifically by Dads for Dads!  Mark Anderson and Brian Fineberg, presenters.

Tuesday, March 6                                   Wednesday, April 4

Copper Creek Elementary                       Anthem Elementary

 ADVENTURES IN PARENTING – Birth – Grade 8

Parenting is not easy, but it is the most important job you will ever have.  Based on the book Adventures in Parenting published by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), this session will provide an overview of the RPM3 guidelines that help parents shape their own decisions about parenting.  Kenna Hough, presenter.

Thursday, March 15                                                Thursday April 12

Village Meadows Elementary                      Legend Springs Elementary

Walk-in Cardiovascular Screenings Now Available at Kronos Optimal Health Centre
Stroke, heart attack, Diabetes Kronos Optimal Health Centre now offers Valley residents monthly preventive screening services for these leading killers. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month through May, adults can take advantage of this convenient new opportunity to have Kronos health professionals check their blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. In less than 30 minutes, screening participants will walk away with both their test results and some proactive steps they can immediately take to improve their cardiovascular health. The cost of the testing is just $35.

 “We are delighted to make these important health screenings available to our community at such a reasonable price,” said William F. Fulton, Jr., MD, FAAEM, medical director for Kronos Optimal Health Centre. “Our mission at Kronos is to prevent or delay the onset of the chronic diseases and conditions that impair the quality of people’s lives. These simple, affordable screenings extend our preventive health services to a group of people who might not otherwise learn about their health risks, or know what to do about them.”

 Interested people can simply stop by 15211 N. Kierland Blvd., Suite 200, Scottsdale, Ariz. during the screening hours or call Kronos Optimal Health Centre at 480.483.4300 for more information

FIRST ANNUAL LAURA’S RUN FOR LUNG TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
Valley Run Honors Life of Loved One And Promotes Education On Innovative Procedure
In the wake of the newly formed lung transplant program at the St. Joseph’s Hospital, the first annual Laura’s Run, in memory of the late Laura Burdick will commence on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 9 a.m. at the Cap Basin Sports Complex in North Scottsdale. All proceeds generated from Laura’s Run will benefit the Laura Burdick Foundation, supporting programs for the families and recipients of the innovative lung transplant operation. 

“We are very excited to kick off the first annual Laura’s Run,” said Kristi Johnson, organizer and avid charity runner. “This will be an extraordinary event for all ages remembering the life of an amazing and strong woman, Laura Burdick while supporting a great cause."

 In addition to raising awareness and proceeds, Laura’s Run will celebrate the life of Laura Burdick who was a recipient of a lung transplant in 2003, but lost her courageous battle with life in 2005. Burdick’s friend, Kristi Johnson and Burdick's husband Jon Burdick serve as co-founders for the run, which they hope will continue for years to come educating and benefiting those who are touched by the lung transplant procedure in addition to sharing the importance of organ donation. After the race, Laura’s Run invites participants to kick off their running shoes and enjoy live music from local performers Todd and Ethan as well as complimentary food from leading sponsor Cactus City Catering.

 “We at the Laura Burdick Foundation wish to assist and educate families who are involved in organ transplantation,” said Jon Burdick, co-founder of the Laura Burdick Foundation and owner of Cactus City Catering. “Eventually it is our hope to fund housing for post operation patients and to provide education scholarships to individuals who reflect Laura’s strength.”

Those who register for the run will receive a free First Annual Laura’s Run t-shirt and a chance to win many great raffle prizes for their $25 donation to participate. Prizes will also be awarded to top male and female runners in each age group. The course will consist of a 5K walk/run, and a kids dash. Participants can register for the run online at www.active.com or www.arizonarunningeventsco.com/laurasrun . On-site registration is also available at Cap Basin Sports Complex beginning at 8 a.m. on race day, which is located at 8081 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale, Ariz. 85255 on the northeast corner of Bell and Hayden roads.

 For more information on Laura’s Run or the Laura Burdick Foundation, please visit their Web site at www.arizonarunningeventsco.com/laurasrun . For media inquiries please contact Brosseau PR at (480) 247-8090.

 Free Online Summer Camp Guide Lists Over 800 Camps in Its Fifth Year
Scottsdale, Arizona.  Before we know it, summer will be here and parents will be scrambling to locate summer activities for their children. Those who use www.CampsAtoZ.com can find just the right camp from the comfort of home with only a few key strokes.  Now in its fifth year, the convenient free online guide to kids’ summer activities lists more camps than ever - over 800 camps for a wide variety of interests and ages.   With listings throughout Arizona and California (and beyond--there is even a listing in Canada), it is free to parents and requires no registration. For busy parents, www.CampsAtoZ.com is the quick, simple answer to a prayer – one-stop shopping for summer activities.

 Using the site’s built-in search engine, parents can easily locate a camp that matches their child’s age and interests. They will find day and overnight camps for children from pre-K to eighteen and listings for camps to satisfy almost any interest and need.

 More than 500 of the camps are in Arizona.  They include such popular programs as Amare Stoudemire’s Basketball Camp, Girl Scout camps in four different locations, a variety of horse riding camps, theater, arts, academic, religious and special needs camps.

 The almost 300 California camp listings include a gifted program at UC-Berkeley, overnight camps in Yosemite and on Catalina Island, and a science camp in Malibu.

 Each year, the website receives high praise and numerous e-mails from relieved parents, many of whom use www.CampsAtoZ.com several times over the season.  Now as www.CampsAtoZ.com begins its fifth full year of operation, it is listing more camps than ever.

 The idea for www.CampsAtoZ.comm originated with Julia James, President of Corfe Marketing Group who, having spent countless hours searching for summer activities for her own family, discovered that other parents faced the same situation.   Determined to create an easy-to-use central source of camp information, she developed www.CampsAtoZ.com and introduced it in February 2003.  “CampsAtoZ.com is a solution for every parent who needs to find fun and more positive activities to occupy their children during the summer,” she commented.

 Corfe Marketing Group, a woman-owned business, is a Scottsdale marketing consulting boutique.  Owner Julia James has an MBA in marketing and over twenty years of experience in marketing.  Her expertise includes market research and marketing communications in medical products, consumer goods and consulting.

 For further information about www.CampsAtoZ.com, visit the web site at www.CampsAtoZ.com, email to info@CampsAtoZ.com , or contact Julia James at: Corfe Marketing Group, Inc. 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Suite D7 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Voice: (480) 563-3770, Cell: (480) 332-5340, Fax: (480) 342-9613 Email at julia@campsatoz.com 

Peoria Pioneer Days Parade Entries Wanted
Peoria’s Pioneer Day Parade will take place on Saturday, March 31st, 2007 beginning at 10am in Oldtown Peoria.  If you are interested in being a parade entry or would like more information, please call Jenny Sokol at (623) 773-7393 or download an application from www.peoriaaz.com/events .  There is no entry fee to participate in the parade.

University of Phoenix Celebrates Opening
University of Phoenix has a new home in the Northwest Valley and new leaders to welcome area residents to its degree programs. Craig Bartholomew recently was named Campus Director of the Phoenix campuses. He joined the University in 2001 and quickly climbed the ranks from enrollment counselor to business development specialist, corporate and community relations manager, and most recently associate director of corporate relations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Utah State University and an MBA from University of Phoenix.  

Marissa Vega was promoted to Director of Enrollment for the Phoenix campuses in 2007. Most recently, she served as associate director of enrollment in Tucson. Her career with the University spans more than a decade and includes efforts to lead enrollment and international efforts in Puerto Rico, Northern Mexico, New Mexico and California. Prior to this, she obtained diverse work experience in investments, import-export, and hotel remodeling. Marissa has participated in the board for the Instituto Cultural Mexicano and the Diocese of Tucson Lay Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from University of Arizona, and an MBA with specialization in global management from University of Phoenix.   

Both Bartholomew and Vega were available for opening day of the new campus at 2550 West Union Hills Drive in Phoenix. With construction complete, the University is able to make higher education more accessible to students in surrounding areas, including those who live and work in the North Phoenix area, Glendale, Peoria, Anthem, and Paradise Valley. The 45,000-square-foot wi-fi equipped campus features 28 classrooms, computer, and faculty labs, dedicated study rooms for individuals and learning teams, as well as administrative space. In addition to academic uses, the campus will offer rentable space to accommodate large groups for meetings and other events.

 “The Northwest Valley is a rapidly growing area with increasing demands for higher education,” said Vega. “We are responding to the population explosion by offering easier access to facilities and expanding our degree program offerings to meet our students’ needs and employer demands for ongoing workforce development.”

Arizona Fine Art EXPO hosts Ballet Folklorico ALEGRIA

3^rd Annual Fountain Hills Fine Art& Wine Affaire

Arizona Broadway Theatre
7701 W Paradise Lane Peoria AZ