Animal Rescue Kids invite you to a wine tasting event!

July 15, 2009

The Animal Rescue Kids Yard Sale held Saturday, July 11 helped raise money for Foothills Animal Rescue. With three weeks to go, only about $1,100 of FAR’s $4,500 goal has been raised.

Animal Rescue Kids (ARK) is a summer club of amazing kids helping no-kill animal rescue organizations in our area that do great work finding homes for orphaned and abused dogs and cats. Over the past 4 years, Animal Rescue Kids has raised over $13,000 for the animals! We hope to add to that amount again this summer.

Our thanks to VINO 100 for hosting this event. There will be three tastings ~ $10/per person, $1/raffle ticket. Ten percent of all proceeds of wine sales purchased during the event will be contributed to ARK. A few ARK children will be

Wine Tasting Event 7 – 9 p.m. Friday, July 31 Hors d’oeuvres, fabulous wines Over $1500 in raffle drawings VINO 100 30835 N. Cave Creek Rd.

present to sell raffle tickets; however this is an adult event.

Although the going is tough in the current
economic situation, ARK will give it a good
shot with their last event on July 31.
Auction items can be donated until July 21. Questions? Call 480-595-6595.

Elvis lives!

By Chuck Neal | July 15, 2009

Courtesy photos/Chuck Neal, Perreaud Photography

NEW RIVER – On Saturday, June 27, Elvis celebrated a second birthday. No, she can’t sing or shake her hips, but she is alive and well and living right here in New River. Elvis is a camel of the dromedary style.

Her owners Jerry and Pam Conrad acquired Elvis when she was 5 days old and hand fed her every four hours for six months. Elvis’ mother was too ill to nurse, so that’s why Jerry and Pam bought Elvis from a Scottsdale couple and then took over as surrogate mothers.

The party was attended by over one hundred well wishers and admirers of all ages. Jerry and Pam graciously supplied cake and refreshments for all the attendees. Beulah, Elvis’ friend at the camel compound, was also present for the party. Beulah is an older camel the Conrads own.

Elvis has risen to fame by playing a part in the Christmas pageant at one of the Valley churches.

It was exciting to watch the children of all ages as they petted Elvis and wished her happy birthday.

Jerry Conrad and Elvis. Elvis recently celebrated her second birthday.

Local families invited to host exchange students

PHOENIX – Local families are invited to host international exchange students coming to the area this fall.

The students are aged between 15 and 18 and will have their own spending money and health insurance. They will attend your local high school for the 2009-2010 school year. Our students are proficient in English and must maintain satisfactory academic progress while in school here.

Host families are responsible for providing meals, a place to sleep and a nurturing and safe environment. We place a large emphasis on supporting host families and will have a local representative who will maintain monthly contact with the family. All types of families are welcome to apply to host including empty nesters, older couples, young couples, families with/without children and even single parents.

Below are some profiles of students for next fall. We have over 200 additional students to choose from.

For more information on hosting call David 480-970-6337 or toll free 1-800-522-4678 or e-mail [email protected].

STS Foundation is a not for profit foundation and is dedicated to intercultural exchange. For more information visit www.stsfoundation.org.

Hello! My name is Martina and I come from Milan, Italy. I’m 17 years old. I live with my parents and my two older brothers, Andrea (22) and Federico (20). My Dad is a manager and my Mom is a home maker. I am an active Catholic and attend church with my family regularly. I have 8 years of English and French. My favorite hobbies are golf, jogging, meeting friends and playing volleyball. I was recently ranked 16th in the under sixteen bracket of the National Golf Championships. I also like to jog about 10k most days. My Mom says that I’m a little shy at first when meeting people but after a while you have to tell me to stop talking! I don’t have any allergies and I am an A student at school. I can’t wait to meet you and your family on my exchange program in the USA.

Hi, my name is Idun and I come from southern Sweden. I am 16 years old and my birthday is in October. I have 3 sisters aged 18, 12 and 7. My father is an Engineer and my mother is an Assistant Professor. My two biggest hobbies are cheerleading and gymnastics. Our gymnastics team has been ranked 4th or 5th consistently over the past few years. I have been practicing cheerleading for 1 year and I love it. I hope to try out for your high school cheerleading squad. I am enrolled in our Nature Science Program at school. My classes are in the sciences and my favorites are Biology, Chemistry and Math. I love animals and have an A average at school.

Hello, I’m Felipe from near Sao Paulo in Brazil. I am 16 years old. I have 11 years of English and have a B grade average in school. I like to eat healthy foods and I do not smoke or drink alcohol. I consider myself to be a very chatty boy. My favorite hobbies are soccer and swimming. I have participated in our Regional Championships in swimming but soccer is my favorite sport. I would love to continue playing soccer and try a new sport while I am in the USA. My teacher says that I am very mature for my age.

Two Childsplay Academy summer classes still open!

TEMPE – Childsplay, Arizona’s 2009 Summer Academy Class Schedule has theatre classes open for young people ages 12 through 17 years. An extended day (7:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.) program is available for students enrolled in full-day classes.

The Sybil B. Harrington Campus for Imagination and Wonder at 900 S. Mitchell Drive includes three classrooms, a movement studio, rehearsal rooms and a black box theater. All classes are taught by professional teaching artists.

Open classes include:
• Musical Theater Marathon – Legally Blonde. Ages 12-17. July 27 – 31, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. $180. Sybil B. Harrington Campus for Imagination and Wonder at Mitchell Park, 900 S. Mitchell Dr. Tempe
• Shakespeare Collision – Othello. Ages 12-17. July 20 – 24, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. $180. 180 Sybil B. Harrington Campus for Imagination and Wonder at Mitchell Park, 900 S. Mitchell Dr. Tempe

The mission of Childsplay, a non-profit theater company, is "to create theatre so strikingly original in form, content or both, that it instills in young people an enduring awe, love and respect for the medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, the hallmarks of childhood which are keys to the future. For information on Childsplay performances, classes or educational presentations please call 480-921-5700 or visit www.childsplayaz.org.

Childsplay's administrative offices are located in the Sybil B. Harrington Campus for Imagination and Wonder at Mitchell Park.

Attend Luv Shack Ranch Horse Rescue Kid’s Summer Camp

DESERT FOOTHILLS – The Luv Shack Ranch Horse Rescue in North Phoenix is offering a Kid’s Camp Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. beginning on July 20. The cost to attend the five day camp is $250 and includes a sleepover at the Ranch on July 25 for any child that attends. Activities will include learning about horse safety, grooming and care, movies, arts and crafts, and fundamental horse riding instruction.

We are hoping to find sponsors for deserving children who would otherwise not be able to attend. If anyone is interested in changing the life of a child, please call Joey at 602-400-0826, e-mail [email protected] or
e-mail Lisa at [email protected]
There are several ways to donate and help: Use your credit card to donate securely using Paypal at www.luvshackranchrescue.com
Or you may send a check to: 36029 N. 10th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85086 and make it out to LUV Shack Ranch, Inc. Remember ALL donations are tax deductible! Tax ID: 56-2528739.

Animal Health Services Receives AAHA Re-Accreditation

Cave Creek – Animal Health Services of Cave Creek has again received accreditation following a comprehensive evaluation by the American Animal Hospital Association. The evaluation includes a quality assessment review of the hospital’s facility, medical equipment, practice methods and pet health care management.
Only 17 percent of all small animal veterinary practices in the U.S. have achieved accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association. In fact, Animal Health Services passed in the 90th percentile. In order to maintain accredited status, Animal Health Services must continue to be evaluated regularly by the association’s consultants.

“Animal Health Services belongs to a select group of practices that are committed to meeting the highest standards in veterinary medicine,” says Ann Worth, VMD, AAHA president. “AAHA hospitals pass a stringent evaluation of over 900 standards covering patient care, client services and medical protocols. By attaining accreditation, Animal Health Services is demonstrating its dedication to offering the best care to its patients and clients.” For pet care information or referral to an AAHA-accredited practice, visit www.healhtypet.com.

Animal Health Services, located at 37555 N. Cave Creek Road, has been an accredited practice member of the association since 2008 and can be reached at www.ahsvet.com.

Full-time college including books for only $500 a year!

Phoenix – The Maricopa County Community College District Faculty Association, who represents the entire faculty at all the community colleges, is encouraging all students to take advantage of the American Opportunity Tax Credit. For only $500 a year, a student can go to school full-time (30 units) and pay for books at one of the Maricopa County Community Colleges.

"We feel this incentive will help more students that are financially strapped to go back to school," stated Jim Simpson, CPA and President of the MCC Faculty Association.

In brief, the proposed act specified:
Any full-time college or university student is eligible.

A $2500 partially refundable tax credit.
Hypothetical example:

Qualified Expense Amount Paid
Tuition for 30 credits ($71 per credit) $2,130
Registration fees for 2 semesters ($15) $30
Books for 10 courses (estimate) $ 840
Total Expenses Paid $3,000

Calculating the credit: The student pays $3,000 and receives a credit of $2,500 on their income tax return. Net cost to the student for thirty credits of MCCCD education: $500.

"Our community colleges are an essential component to the state's economic recovery. When people are laid off from work, the first place they turn for retraining and advancing their education is the community college," said Simpson. "I am happy that Maricopa County Community Colleges and faculty can contribute to the potential up-turn of the economic market."