On Nov. 9, 2011, children across the city of Avondale will take the Kids at Hope Pledge in honor of Kids at Hope Day, signifying their commitment to a powerful initiative that is changing the way they see their future – a pledge to remember to celebrate the Kids at Hope culture and every child’s potential to succeed.

Research shows that children (and adults) who learn and practice positive self-talk are more optimistic, successful and hopeful than those who do not. As a result, the Kids at Hope pledge was created as an affirmation of the Kids at Hope initiative, an evidenced-based belief system that reverses the “youth at risk” paradigm and engages an entire school, youth organization and/or community in the effort to support the success of all children without exception. The city of Avondale became a Kids at Hope City in 2009, and since then, most of its school districts and youth-serving organizations within Avondale have adopted this initiative as well.

“It is important to instill in our youth the philosophy that we are capable of success in all we do and we make the effort,” said Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers. “We are proud to be part of this initiative that uplifts our children and gives them the opportunity and hope for a great future.”

The theme for 2011 Kids at Hope Day is “We Believe, We Connect, We Time Travel”:
· We Believe: Children succeed when they are surrounded by adults who believe they can succeed, No Exceptions.

· We Connect: Children succeed when they have meaningful and sustainable relationships with caring adults.

· We Time Travel: Children succeed when they can articulate their future in four domains rather than just one (which is generally education & career): Home & Family, Education & Career, Community & Service and Hobbies & Recreation

Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers has proclaimed November 9, 2011 as Kids at Hope Day in Avondale. Learn more and view the Kids at Hope pledge and how the cultural transformation is happening in communities throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, and the research behind it at www.kidsathope.org. For information about this and other Youth Services programs and initiatives in Avondale, contact Chris Lopez at 623-333-2700.

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10 Things parents can do at home to Believe, Connect and Time Travel in celebration of Kids at Hope Day 2011:

1.  Write a letter to your child that describes all the talents and skills that they possess
2.  Practice reciting the Kids at Hope pledge and the Treasure Hunter Pledge during dinner. You can find the Kids at Hope pledges here.
3.  Read The Kids at Hope Friends Meet the Dream Stealing Villain book at bed time to your child. You can purchase the Kids at Hope book here.
4.  Ask your child to name as many caring adults that they have in their life. Be sure to remind them that you are one of those caring adults
5. Help your child to figure out what year they will graduate from high school and college and prominently display those dates as “Graduating Class of ____ “ in your home.
6.   Ask your child what they want to study when they go to college. Remind them that they get to choose the subjects in college.
7.  Talk to your child about your hobbies and ask your child what hobbies would they like to have as an adult or start a new hobby with your child such as walking, hiking or biking
8.  Talk to your child about “service to others” and choose a project you can do together to help someone such as picking up trash or doing a good deed for a neighbor
9.  Have your child draw a picture of their future home and family. Ask them where they want to live, what kind of parent they think they will be etc.
10.  Ask your child to think of three careers that they might like to have as an adult and talk about what they need to do to get ready for those careers.

The Arizona Myeloma Network (AzMN) has created a grassroots campaign that makes fighting cancer fun with golfing, a spaghetti dinner, and a 4 foot teddy bear.

The cancer fighting fun starts with a partnership with the Black Bear Diner. Stop by the diner anytime on Tuesday October 11th, and 10% of your spaghetti dinner dollars will go to the AzMN. The Bears that Care raffle, is another great way to get involved during the month. For $1.00 guests are given the opportunity to win the diner’s beloved mascot, a 4 foot plush Brutus the Bear (or dinner for 8). Raffle tickets can be purchased at any of the five Arizona Black Bear Diner locations.

The festivities continue, and on October 22nd is the 7th Annual Arizona Myeloma Network/United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Charity Golf Tournament. Join local celebrities, (Kwamie Lassiter, Kevin McCabe, Russ Ortiz, Scott Hairston, and Butch Baird) and tee off for a chance to win $10,000 and other great prizes, while helping AzMN raise awareness for Myeloma. “It’s a fun event and we hope you will join our team,” says Kurt Riske, member of the AzMN Board of Directors and Brand Manager for Black Bear Diner and Smashburger.

Myeloma is a complex and often misdiagnosed bone marrow plasma cell cancer that attacks and destroys the bone. AzMN provides outreach events and educational programs for Myeloma patients, their families and caregivers. AzMN was formed after the founder’s husband was diagnosed with Myeloma. “We started AzMN to help others like us, who don’t know where to turn for help and information,” says Barbara Kavanagh, President and Founder. “Kurt Riske and the Black Bear Diner’s have been wonderful community partners…and truly inspire those of us who are ‘living’ with cancer.”

Participants wishing to register for the 7th Annual Arizona Myeloma Network/United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Charity Golf Tournament, or for more information on Myeloma and The Arizona Myeloma Network visit www.azmyelomanetwork.org.

On September 20,  from 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. we will proudly celebrate the grand-opening of the Estrella Mountain -Buckeye Educational Center. In partnership with the Town of Buckeye and Buckeye Union High School, Estrella Mountain has shared the cost associated with remodeling a facility adjacent to Buckeye Union High School. The Center, which opens for credit classes on October 17, furthers the College’s long-term strategic plans by enhancing Estrella Mountain’s presence in the Buckeye community. Estrella Mountain currently owns an 80 acre parcel of land in the Town of Buckeye. Enrollment reports indicate that over 250 students have already registered for credit classes at the new center.

Grand Opening Celebration
EMCC Buckeye Educational Center
Open House & Tour
September 20
10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tours * Refreshments * Prizes
The Estrella Mountain – Buckeye Educational Center consists of six classrooms, administrative support spaces, faculty and staff work areas, as well as areas for student advisement, counseling and tutoring.

From humble beginnings in 1984 when Wildlife World Zoo was just 25 acres with a collection of a few hundred animals consisting mostly of exotic birds and hoofed animals to what has become Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium today-Arizona’s largest collection of exotic animals– growth and reinvestment in its future has always been an overriding theme for founder and director, Mickey Ollson.

That mission, to continually provide Valley residents and visitors an ever-evolving fun, family-friendly attraction where people can learn to appreciate wildlife, took another major step forward today when the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a special use permit on 55 additional acres purchased over the past few years on the zoo’s southern perimeter.  Plans to develop the additional acreage into a unique walk/ride through Safari Park with dozens of new species are well underway.

“I see the approval today by County Supervisors for our next phase of expansion as an affirmation of nearly 27 years of hard work by hundreds of dedicated current and former team members to bring another world class
zoological institution to the Valley.  As a private institution, we appreciate the support of Maricopa County and our local communities as we move forward with what will ultimately be our largest expansion to date,”
comments Ollson.

Possible species for inclusion in the Wildlife World Safari park include: cheetahs, hyenas, an additional lion pride, baboons along with various other birds and mammals.  As with past expansion efforts, plans include a few additional ride attractions such as a tram ride that will immerse visitors near and even into some of the animal habitats, much like the popular Safari Train Ride and Log Flume Ride do now.

Currently the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium features 64 developed acres with hundreds of animal exhibits, 5 ride attractions, 3 retail shops and several dining options.  It displays over 600 different species of wild animals with more than 6000 individual specimens.  Notable species include: white tigers,
penguins, giraffe, zebras, oryx, lions, kangaroos, rhino, flamingos, some 20 varieties of primates, sharks, stingrays, small-clawed otters, tropical fish, rare albino alligators and many more! Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium continues to be home to Arizona’s largest collection of exotic animals and boasts Phoenix’s first major public aquarium.

Following today’s vote, Maricopa County Supervisor Max Wilson said, “The Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium has been one of the finest attractions we have in Arizona, much less the West Valley. It has provided family entertainment and education for a long time and with this addition for a long time to come. It is ideally situated in the West Valley, off Loop 303. I am pleased and proud to support this expansion. It is such a community and educational asset.”

Total amount of taxpayer dollars spent to build Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and future Safari Park: $0

While visitors will probably have to wait until 2013-14 to see the new safari park, they won’t have to wait long for new attractions at Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium.  Late this fall, “Dragon World” is set to open
featuring large monitor lizards, giant anaconda with underwater viewing, and crocodilians, including the state’s first Salt Water Crocodile from Australia.  That’s not all! Our fourth aquarium building is scheduled to
open this spring with about 7000 square feet of public display area featuring marine turtles and a permanent small-clawed otter habitat. The main exhibit will be a 40 x 10 foot, 40,000-gallon Amazon River Monsters
display containing 3-4 foot long arowana, even larger arapaima, and other South American fresh water giants. These species are so large, they are well known for their ability to jump several feet out of the water to catch prey animals such as birds and primates perched over the water. In addition, the display will have the menacing payara, nicknamed the “vampire fish,” with 6-inch fangs protruding from its lower jaw!  Other creatures from the Amazon River system will include: Giant Amazon turtles that can grow to nearly 4
feet across, Yellow spotted turtles, black piranhas as well as freshwater stingrays.

“The new aquarium building will also feature a 20-foot diameter display for turtles that will provide a venue to educating the public about the plight of these endangered sea creatures and the threats to our world
oceans,” commented Dr. Grey Stafford, Wildlife World’s Director of Conservation.

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is located at the intersection of State Route 303 and Northern Avenue in Litchfield Park at 16501 W. Northern Ave.  The zoo grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the aquarium is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daytime admission to both the zoo and aquarium is $27.50 for adults and $14.25 for children 3 to 12 (plus state sales tax), children under three are free. Special reduced admission (after 5 p.m.) to the Aquarium-only is $16.99 for adults and $8.99 for children 3 to 12 (plus state sales tax).

Visit www.wildlifeworld.com for more information.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) conducts Becoming an Outdoor Woman (BOW ®) twice a year at Friendly Pines Camp outside Prescott, AZ in the spring and late summer. AWF also hosts a Deluxe BOW in the desert at Saguaro Lake Ranch in January or February. The three-day workshops begin at noon Friday and end shortly after noon the following Sunday.

BOW gives women (18 and older) the opportunity to learn about hunting, fishing and related activities in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Skills such as gun safety, shooting, angling (including fly fishing), camping, Dutch-oven cooking, map and compass reading, marksmanship with rifle and bow are taught.

You can choose from classes in wildlife, wildlife photography, wildlife habitat, bird watching (birding), canoeing, kayaking, and rappelling to name a few more. In addition to the various classes, there are a number of evening events for the women to enjoy, that may include, “hawk talks”, nature hikes, fashion shows, fly tying and wild game tasting.

Our instructors, who volunteer their time to teach these classes, are experts in their field. Some are employed in the fields they teach; others are experts in their subjects, including archery and rifle marksmanship. Still others are Arizona Game and Fish and U.S. Forest Service employees with years of experience in the flora and fauna of Arizona.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) is a program started by Christine Thomas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Resource Management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Pointe. The first BOW clinic was conducted in Wisconsin in September 1991. The Arizona workshop is part of the same curriculum and each workshop is organized with the aid of the Safari Club International of Phoenix www.uwsp.edu.

Registration for the Friendly Pines BOW weekends covers meals, lodging in a rustic cabin, and most miscellaneous expenses related to the workshops. Enrollees need only personal items, bedding, and/or sleeping bags. The accommodations at the Deluxe BOW are more upscale, as you would expect.

Information and registration forms can be obtained from the Arizona Wildlife Federation Office, or on this website when they become available.

Read articles, comments, testimonials and see photos from some of the past BOW events by visiting our BOW GALLERY.

BOW Scholarships
Scholarships are available for the Friendly Pines workshops. Application deadlines are as follows for the 2011 workshops:
*April 1-3 – Scholarship has been awarded to Holly Hunter
June 28 for the August 26-28 event at Friendly Pines in Prescott

Did you know that 51% of Arizona school children are approved for free or reduced-price school lunches. That means we have potentially thousands of children who can’t afford food … every day. Supported by DeVry University, Westgate is hosting its first ever Bowls for the Hungry March 24. The concept is simple, West Valley High School students have created and painted artistic, ceramic bowls that will be put up for silent auction in the Plaza. Certain Valley celebs and Westgate tenants have also donated their time and talents in creating bowls, with prizes and opportunities for the winning bidders. And all money raised will go directly to the St. Mary’s Food Bank’s Kids Cafe, whose mission is to alleviate childhood hunger in Arizona. In fact, one dollar gives one child one meal. Join us March 24 as we help feed hundreds … if not thousands of children … one bowl at a time.

Bowls for the Hungry silent auction

March 24, 2011

4:30pm – 6:30 pm

WaterDance Plaza

For more information go to www.westgatecitycenter.com

Brought to you by West Valley Magazine