MAY 2015 ECRWSS Postal Customer PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Tucson, AZ THE PERMIT No. 1710 TM VailThe community newspaper serving Vail, Rita Ranch, Corona De Tucson,Voice Civano, Sierra Morado, Mesquite Ranch, Academy Village and other Southeast Communities [email protected] • (520) 490-0654 • An Epiphany Communications, Inc. Publication Farewell to Bonnie Vining By Kimberly Crossland, Owner 2002, she attended an inter- She welcomed local artists to Java Edge. of GetVailAZ.com view where she was advised to come and play for a suggested avoid smiling too much. That’s donation. The locals loved it Vining and the artists felt the This June, the Vail School Dis- when she knew it was time for and soon she was attracting loss of the musician friendly trict is losing a valuable team a change. people from all over the state, venues in Tucson, so she took member – Bonnie Vining. For including from Oro Valley, Sier- matters into her own hands. the past six years, Vining has Vining opened Javalina’s Cof- ra Vista, and Phoenix. The eco- She formed a non-profit or- worked as the manager of the fee & Friends in Rita Ranch. nomic downturn in 2008 made ganization called Live Acous- Vail Theatre of the Arts. This The coffee shop was more than it difficult to keep her doors tic Venue Association (LAVA) job was well suited for her, a place to get a hot cup of Joe. open, so she sold her assets to where she could continue pre- given her rich background in senting concerts. Soon after, supporting local musicians and Left to right: Joe Schill, Bonnie Vining, Jon Kiser, Mary Bernardo, Bob Block, she received an opportunity to Amy Schill, and Bob Schill. Photo taken by container truck driver with Jon artists. Kiser’s camera. manage the Vail Theatre of the Arts. Vining grew up traveling the world. She went to school in With a lifetime of experience Kearny, Arizona and did study- under her belt, Vining has abroad programs in Australia decided it’s time to retire. She and Germany. From an early will be here through the end of age, she knew she was a small June to sell her house and two town girl at heart. After gradu- cars. After that, she’s moving ating, she worked in Prescott with her family to Costa Rica. for two years as a CPA and There, Vining plans to enjoy then moved to Tucson to continue her career at IBM. In Continued on page 12 State Senators Visit Speaker Gowan Visits Funding JTED: It’s Civano Andrada Polytechnic About The Economy Civano parents met with State Sena- High School tor Dave Bradley and Stephanie Mach By Greg D'Anna, Director of Public The latest from Pima County District 4 Relations at JTED to tour the school and see first-hand By Lucretia Free how the charter school has impacted Our nation’s help wanted ad could Water Crisis students and our community. Below Speaker David Gowan visited Andra- say: “Now hiring more than 70 million is an essay from Civano parent Kelly da Polytechnic High on April 27th. middle skilled workers for high paying By Supervisor Ray Carroll Farrell-Koren. Severe cuts have been proposed to jobs in fields such as; healthcare, the JTED program. The elevation of water in Lake Mead transportation, information technol- This past session, the Arizona legisla- ogy, and engineering.” That’s just to determines whether or not we are ture passed a budget that made huge experiencing a water shortage along cover the amount of workers set to cuts to the public education system. retire within the next decade, ac- the Colorado River. After this year’s We invited our legislators to our rainy season the levels are at 1,089 cording to the Bureau of Labor and school to thank them for fighting for Statistics. Middle skill jobs pay well feet above our children’s future and to let them sea level and provide the infrastructure for see first-hand what their efforts were critical economic sectors, such as (42%). for. Senator Bradley and Representa- When the manufacturing, energy, aerospace, tive Mach were the first legislators to and construction. elevation take us up on our invitation. hits 1,075 The Pima County JTED (Joint Tech- feet, a nical Education District) is a public level one high school district that works with shortage is all school districts in Pima County, declared. including the Tanque Verde District, As you are all aware Governor Speaker Gowan to provide students with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Jerry Brown, of California has He visited JTED classrooms and asked everyone to cut their water learned how important the program is consumption by 25%. California to the students and community (see water levels have been declining our Vail Students Speak Out on page steadily since 2002. It has just John Carruth, Representative Steph- 25). reached a crisis level due to the lack anie Mach, Senator Dave Bradley and of snowfall this past winter. Surveys parents... show that 94% of Californians consider the drought to be serious Vail School District is a model, known and one third support mandatory for giving parents a choice in how rationing. our children are educated within the As we read in the Arizona Daily public school system. The options Star, Arizona, as well as the rest here are amazing and they produce of the southwest is experiencing high-achieving students who are a drought. Urban Central Arizona ready for the challenges tomorrow Project (CAP) water shortages are will bring. At Civano, our parents saw predicted to be around 33% by 2016, that this model was under attack in and the number could rise to 75% the state budget. As the budget fight Speaker Gowan answers questions in JTED students in Steve Uyeda's by 2017. The Tucson area may fare became public, a huge percentage of a classroom. Bioscience program at Sunyside High a little better than most, because it the parents of children at the school School extract DNA for clients includ- met to see what we could do. We His favorite band is Iron Maiden and ing Native Seed Search, The UA, and has managed to recharge and bank he jammed with Andrada's rock band! 44,000 acre-feet of CAP water that made sure our voices were heard by the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum was purchased in prior years and the legislators and began to plan for the future. Businesses and Industry need JTEDs not used. Tucson delivered 93,000 to provide a skilled workforce. The acre-feet of CAP in 2013. It had Last month, we were parents, bring- number two reason for businesses not been this low since 1989. At ing our kids to school, volunteering not expanding is a lack of skilled this rate Tucson had expected to in classrooms and helping the school employees. Businesses and the store 350,000 acre-feet by 2020. run smoothly and efficiently. Now, State each need JTEDs because they However, if the drought continues, we are mobilized to maximize our enable students to become taxpayers residents and farmers across Arizona school’s potential in this new era. We earlier in their lives without taking on and the River Basin will have to pay have moms and dads learning the insurmountable student loans. These higher water prices while having intricacies of education legislation debts are a national problem and to conserve more. There would be and budgeting. It’s been amazing to preclude young adults from buying no CAP delivered for recharge into see our community come together homes, cars, and other big-ticket tax- the ground and seventeen irrigation to support our school and make sure able items. JTEDs bolster the econ- districts would receive less water. The that our kids and the students that omy. JTEDs also prepare students predictions then change and rise to a follow them will have the quality edu- Speaker Gowan "rocks out" with the to fill the one million additional jobs loss of 480,000 acre feet of water in cation our taxes support. students. opening in the U.S. for Registered 2020. Continued on page 4 hhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhh Continued on page 4 2 The Vail Voice 520-490-0962 Construction Zone LAS PLAZAS OLD VAIL Building a Better Community Las Plazas Old Vail is a new com- mercial development that will be By Lucretia Free, Owner & Publisher on the Northwest corner of Old Vail The Vail Voice and Houghton Rds. There will be 16 business pads when fully complete. SAFEWAY SHOPPING CENTER You can already see the prep work of clearing the land, moving protected New restaurant (renovating) opening plants and pipe installation. in May: Planned for Construction: • Happy Wok • Taco Bell HOUGHTON TOWN CENTER • Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steak- burgers Existing Stores: EEGEES • Walmart • Panda Express I have received several inquiries • Discount Tire about EEGEES. They are very inter- • Dunkin' Donuts ested in locating in the southeast and continue to shop for a location that Recently Open: works. • Champion Pool & Spa Supply OTHER RITA RANCH AREA (locally owned!) Vail Christian Church is building a Opening by spring: new facility at 9455 East Valencia Rd. Phase One construction has already • Dental Village begun: • Nationwide Vision * Over 22,000 sq.ft. • SuperCuts * Multiple Uses * Multi purpose room Healthy Weight Loss: Build a Positive Currently under Construction: * 10 classrooms * Kitchen Self-Image Along with a Better Body • Verizon Wireless • Northwest Emergency Center at This church has met for the last 9 By Dr. Azam, MD, MPH life on hold while working on weight Vail years at Empire High School.