Page 20 May 2014 By Kathleen Shipman Area resident, Ryan Opel has a fond memory of being four years old, when his mother first asked if he wanted to play the violin. His response was, “Like grandma?” It was only destiny that Opel would develop the same passion for music for which his grandmother had. Now a lawyer, Opel dedicates his legal talents to the Phoenix Symphony, where his grandmother played as a violinist many years before. Recently elected as the Vice Chair of Nominating and Governance, Opel’s hope is to spread his love of the musical arts to future generations. He may not have chosen a career path of playing the violin professionally, but for Opel music has been the guiding force in his life. It was while playing the violin at Wake Forest University in North Carolina that Opel met his future wife Dawn. She too was a musician and also his standing partner in the symphony. “Music is not just something that is personally important to me,” said Opel. “It has created this incredible relationship with my wife.” After college, Opel decided to pursue another dream of his, which was to practice law. It was during Opel’s first year as a lawyer still in North Carolina, that a great mentor taught him the importance of giving back to his community. When given a chance to write the bylaws for the Winston-Salem Symphony, he saw it as a Musical passion leads lawyer to follow family tradition great opportunity to intertwine music into his profession. “I chose at that point that my way of giving back and being involved in my community was going to be through the arts,” he said. “There was something that was just really exciting to me. To be able to use my professional training to give back to an art form that was so foundational in my life was beyond meaningful.” Although he had only ever lived in Illinois and North Carolina, Opel’s family history is deeply embedded in the Phoenix area. In fact, when his wife Dawn was asked to relocate to begin a teaching career at ASU, they decided it was fate. “It’s been like this unbelievable sort of homecoming for us, even though we haven’t lived here a day in our lives,” said Opel. “We felt so lucky that Dawn had this opportunity. It gave us an excuse to come home.” Opel right away began practicing law at Gallagher and Kennedy in Phoenix. With the law firm also encouraging their lawyers to give back to the community, he once again discovered musical venues which allowed him to do so. Not only did he begin performing work for the Arizona Music Festival, but he also received an invitation from the Phoenix Symphony. For Opel, being able to donate his skills to a place that had such historical value to his family was indescribable. His grandmother, Josephine K. Davis, had played the violin in the 2nd and 3rd seasons of the Phoenix Symphony, and now he too would make an impact there. Opel is now able to combine his knowledge of the law with the art of music. He has found satisfaction in being part of an organization that offers such great educational programming to children, especially now being a father himself. For Opel, music has been so positively influential in his life, that he believes it is his obligation to provide the same gift to the younger generations. “It is my responsibility after being so benefited by music to give back,” said Opel. “We are equipping kids with the grit and with the life skills, whether they ever step into Symphony Hall as an adult, or whether they ever play a musical instrument. Music has the power to really change their lives and then the ripple effect of changing lives around them.” By Sarah Stec According book, “Lean Work and the by Sheryl Sa are more em ever but need opportunities potential. A g from St. The School (STC strongly belie be taught this age. Learnin is somethin can really Mother’s Day The key to is having a Three moms book club for to learn the supporting ea The moms in Kim McMull others contri the meetings. attend each m October. The idea s while in her after celebrat Her friends in Xavier Colle with her, so daughter tha connection. “As I was s thought came had somethin from school continue throu Prior to get proper schoo books that w third grade re books with ce Ryan Opel will soon play in the Phoenix Symphony just like his grandmother, Josephine K. Davis did, over 60 years ago. What’s a Domestic Partnership Agreement? Domestic Partners is a term used today to refer to people who live together but who are not married. Today, many older adults live with a brother or a sister, and they would be considered Domestic Partners. Domestic Partners also include same sex couples or nonmarried, heterosexual couples. Domestic Partners usually are very close to each other and know the wishes of the other. A Domestic Partnership Agreement or Property Agreement can set out the partners’ desires about shared living expenses, property ownership and estate planning. Without a Domestic Partner Agreement, family members may get involved and try to prevent a partner from living in the other’s home or using assets as the partners had desired. The Domestic Partner Agreement can put both partners at ease that their agreement to share expenses and care for each other is binding. Domestic Partners can also confer legal rights on each other with powers of attorney for finances and health. Contact Sharon D. Ravenscroft, Esq. (623) 815-7451 1850 N. Central Ave. Suite 2400 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 13250 N. Del Webb Blvd. Suite B Sun City, AZ 85351 WILLS ~ TRUSTS ~ ESTATE PLANNING ~ PROBATE PRE-MARITAL AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS S D. R Attorney at Law T C L F , P.A. T F O M , V E-M : sharonravenscroft.com • sravenscroft@cavanaghlaw.com What’s a Domestic Partnership Agreement? Domestic Partners is a term used today to refer to people who live together but who are not married. Today, many older adults live with a brother or a sister, and they would be considered Domestic Partners. Domestic Partners also include same sex couples or nonmarried, heterosexual couples. Domestic Partners usually are very close to each other and know the wishes of the other. A Domestic Partnership Agreement or Property Agreement can set out the partners’ desires about shared living expenses, property ownership and estate planning. Without a Domestic Partner Agreement, family members may get involved and try to prevent a partner from living in the other’s home or using assets as the partners had desired. The Domestic Partner Agreement can put both partners at ease that their agreement to share expenses and care for each other is binding. Domestic Partners can also confer legal rights on each other with powers of attorney for finances and health. Contact Sharon D. Ravenscroft, Esq. (623) 815-7451 1850 N. Central Ave. Suite 2400 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 13250 N. Del Webb Blvd. Suite B Sun City, AZ 85351 WILLS ~ TRUSTS ~ ESTATE PLANNING ~ PROBATE PRE-MARITAL AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS S D. R S D. R S D. R S D. R Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law T C L F , P.A. T C L F , P.A. T C L F , P.A. T C L F , P.A. T F O M , V E-M : sharonravenscroft.com • sravenscroft@cavanaghlaw.com Your Non-Corporate Alternative for new and used tires! We are proud to be your local Mastercraft Tire Dealer! We have access to nearly 20,000 used tires everyday. If it is available used, we are usually able to locate it. Our used tires come with lifetime rotation, balance, flat repair, and a 60-Day Road Hazard Warranty. This is a better warranty than many tire dealers give with new tires. WELCOME TO AZ BEST TIRE OUR LOCATIONS: 3100 W. Buckeye Rd. (602) 442-6828 3902 W. Indian School Rd. (602) 442-4848 5009 N. 22nd Ave. (602) 466-2730 1355 S. Country Club (480) 833-0377 8334 W. Glendale Ave. (623) 872-1801 5201 W. Peoria Ave. (623) 939-3131 7048 W. Grand Ave. (623) 934-9537 MONDAY-SATURDAY 8 AM TO 6 PM AND NOW OPEN SUNDAYS
Page 21 May 2014 Friendship lessons at STCS Tracey Zemer 602.478.0607 Tracey Zemer 602.478.0607 $1,795,000 4954 E Lafayette Blvd Phoenix $1,195,000 4115 N 62nd St Scottsdale $1,298,700 5617 E Montecito Ave Phoenix $798,000 7133 N. 40th St. Paradise Valley (desert lot) Coming Soon 4030 E Patricia Jane Phoenix $415,000 4119 E Osborn Rd Phoenix $1,349,000 5302 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, PV (Al Beadle) visit azarchitecture.com EQUAL HOUSING O P P O R T U N I T Y 98678 Ad_Layout 1 4/17/14 3:09 PM Page 1 By Sarah Stecko According to the popular book, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead” by Sheryl Sandberg, women are more empowered than ever but need to utilize their opportunities to their full potential. A group of moms from St. Theresa’s Catholic School (STCS) in Phoenix strongly believe girls need to be taught this from a young age. Learning these values is something these girls can really appreciate this Mother’s Day. The key to success for men or women is having a healthy support system. Three moms of STCS volunteer for a book club for their third-grade daughters to learn the important values, such as supporting each other and anti-bullying. The moms involved are Lourdes Smith, Kim McMullen, Chrissy Ryan and the others contribute by donating lunch to the meetings. There are 10-13 girls who attend each month since its formation last October. The idea sprung from Lourdes Smith while in her own book club last August, after celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Her friends in the group had all attended Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix with her, so she wanted to give her daughter that same sense of life-long connection. “As I was sitting in our book club, the thought came to me, how cool if Gracie had something like this with her friends from school—and maybe they could continue throughout their life,” said Smith. Prior to getting approved by STCS as a proper school activity, Smith researched books that were considered at average third grade reading level. She decided on books with central themes of women unity, friendship and anti-bullying. The titles also enable the girls to take Accelerated Reading tests on the books. “As I pitched the idea to the school, I thought, how great if we can address some of the issues that our girls would face in third grade and as they get older,” Smith said. Past experience of working as a mental health counselor in public schools helped lead Smith to her realization that bullying is still very real amongst adolescents. She also observed these situations occurring as early as kindergarten. The definition of bullying needs to be recognized as verbal and emotional abuse, not only physical. “As a woman, it breaks my heart that girls can be the worst toward other girls,” Smith said. More than just a book club, the monthly meetings aim to make reading more enjoyable, improve communication of thoughts and promote relationship building in a healthy way, according to Smith. Some examples of books they’ve discussed already are: Freckle Juice by Judy Blume, Jake Drake, Bully Buster by Andrew Clements and The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Este. Every girl in the third grade at STCS is welcome to attend the book club. Third-grade girls at St. Theresa gather to learn from the most important women in their lives. Serving the Arcadia area since 1958 BRIAN A. SERBIN, D.V.M. • RACHEL BART, D.V.M. RYAN AINSWORTH, D.V.M. • KATHERINE HEWITT, D.V.M. Find us on Facebook! Member Since 1959 • • • • • WWW.INGLESIDE.COM • 602-840-3446 Now offering Cold Laser Therapy for DRUG FREE treatment of Arthritis and improved tissue healing. NEW HOSPITAL HOURS! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Monday - Friday 7am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm