Page 44 February 2 0 1 4 Hopi “Rock of Ages” Show It’s time for the annual Hopi Variety Show. The community is invited to join the 2014 Hopi MCs and over 300 students as they perform in Hopi’s Rock of Ages. This year Hopi Hawks will be showing how they “Rock” by doing a variety of acts. Students will sing, act, dance, and perform as we go through the “Ages.” The show will be at Arcadia High School on February 20 and 21 at 6 p.m. Refugee Continued from page 42 and provided translation services among teachers and parents. Aden said many of the students’ challenges are not due to cultural differences, but he still helps the teachers and administrators understand some of the students’ traditions. For example, the refugees practice Islam, so the women and girls wear a Hijab and refrain from eating pork. Aden said that many of them, like him, also prefer to eat with their hands. “When I come to help them, they are relieved and so thankful. The parents offer me lunch and food and say ‘What would we do without you?’” Aden said. Although it’s a large responsibility, Aden said he enjoys helping the students with their education. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Sahruja, daughter Asnino, 5, and 10-month-old son Sameer. He also loves wrestling and singing Somali music. Aden’s music is so well-known he has built a part-time career as a wedding singer for Somali weddings locally and throughout the country. He even has his own YouTube channel featuring his music. In April 2012, Aden officially became a U.S. citizen, and joined more than 30 new citizens from 15 countries in the 20th annual We are the World Concert and Naturalization Ceremony, which happened to be held at Tavan Elementary School. “The principal said ‘One of our own is becoming a citizen today,’” Aden said. “I was getting some goose bumps there.” Aden was asked to speak, but said he declined because he was worried he would become too emotional. “I’m not afraid of singing in public,” Aden said, “but I kind of get emotional with talking and sharing my story.” Tickets are $10. To purchase tickets please contact hopivarietyshow@gmail.com. This years Hopi Emcees are: Top Row: Finn Rewinkel, Tommy Logan, Lindsey Jones, Avery Durbin Middle: Ryan Hook, Jonathan Schulman, Crew Edwards, Sam Coles Front: Elana Naftolin, Shannon Zacher, Rachel MacWilliam, Rheana Stangler Visit your tablet’s app store and search “Arcadia News” to download your free app today! Find us on the go!
Page 45 February 2 0 1 4 Gardens, murals, and community...PHX Renews By Nicole Royse Driving down Central Avenue and Indian School Road you may have noticed new beautiful murals and gardens at the historic Steele Indian School Park. These murals and gardens are a part of the PHX Renews project, which focuses on reimagining a community space and temporarily transforming it into a multi-use public space for the next three years. PHX Renews was generously funded from grants from the Steele Foundation and Wells Fargo & Co. PHX Renews project is a partnership between the owners of the property, Barron Collier Companies, the nonprofit Keep Phoenix Beautiful, and the city of Phoenix. Keep Phoenix Beautiful is committed to “recycling initiatives and education, litter reduction, beautification, and community improvement activities” and is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. This project is part of the Mayor Stanton initiative, aiming to turn vacant properties in Phoenix into usable functional land. This includes Reimagine Phoenix, a “citywide effort to inspire residents and businesses to rethink the role of trash in our lives.” The Steele Indian School Park project has transformed over 15 acres of vacant land into community gardens, outdoor education, and art displays. The intriguing murals on display were created by local artists brought together by artist and activist Hugo Medina, who asked artists to paint 80 wooden panels during last year’s Phoenix Festival of the Arts. The result was 160 eight-by-four-foot panels creating a gigantic 1,280-foot-long mural. “I was working on the longest mural for the Phoenix Festival of the Arts and I still had no place to display the mural once it was finished,” said Hugo Medina. “The city contacted me and asked if I would like to hang them at the PHX Renews site.” Medina curated the placing of the panels throughout the PHX Renews site including along the fence. “I’m thrilled with the opportunity to do more similar projects in the future, for example, whenever they get a new storage container, I will enlist organizations or groups to add some color to the container,” said Medina. HEAT YOUR SWEETHEART! IS YOUR FURNACE WORKING? Family Owned & Operated Licensed, Bonded & Insured Service & Install on all Makes & Models Free Estimates on New Equipment RESIDENTAL & COMRAL REBATES & CREDITS AVAILABLE! ITAL NEW ENVINENTALY FIEY /C SE! ROC Licenses: 80131, 80132, 80133 R E F R I G E R AT I O N A I R C O N D I T I O N I N G R E S I D E N T I A L C O M M E R C I A L 3231 East Washington 602-957-3745 www.AccuTempAZ.com Bill Murley, President ACCUTEMP IS AN APS/SRP QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR /C • HETIG • LOW EMP • I MIN & MOR! v v Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Are you uninsured? Learn about affordable health insurance options. You can get free in-person help with a trained professional. Sign up for a plan that fits you, your family and your budget. Where: 12633 N. Cave Creek Road, Suite 4 Phoenix, AZ 85022 When: Mon-Sat, 8am-6:30pm Closed Sunday Contact us at 480-489-1400 HealthCare .gov