by Darin Lowery

Darin Lowery: Local writer and resident shares his views on Livin' Local

My high school English teacher was a pleasant man by the name of Mr. Beatty. He was slim and wore tweeds and had an amiable, professorial air. He put up with a lot from me, as most of my papers dealt with hookers, cheap drunks and nightclub singers- unusual material for a sixteen year old boy.

I’ll never forget his puzzling words after reading my first essay. “Darin,” he said, “almost every one of your sentences begins with an ‘I’. ‘I saw’, ‘I did’, ‘I went’- it just goes on and on. Perhaps you can use a different perspective.” Seeing as how ‘me saw’ sounds very much like a Vietnamese curry dish, I promptly forgot his suggestion. It just didn’t work for me. Besides- his class was the only one I excelled in. I flunked every other subject except Art.

And I loved the demimonde.

Welcome to DarinLand- the first in a series in weekly columns by yours truly. While I tend to be egocentric and self involved (but I really am trying to work through this, Oprah) there are times that my eyes do rise above my navel. On those days, moments in Life (mine, yours and ours), suspended like bits of reality in amber, seem so vivid they must be addressed.

DarinLand, if you will, is a collage, a mosaic, an amalgam of ideas and images and sometimes, a play of Dark against Light. It’s more a state of mind than a place; more a place than a fantasy. Sometimes it’s a prison; other times a church. It can be ‘sophisticated’ in its true sense, meaning ‘artificial’ (look it up) but it can also be as down and dirty as a bar brawl.

DarinLand is my life and all those who enter it. Welcome to my perfect world. Welcome to my nightmare.Living in the Globe-Miami area for five years now has definitely made me a sunnier, more affable guy. Perhaps it’s the light- that clear, swirling watercolor wash we call our sunsets. It reads a salmon pink and blood orange, and the trace of lemon yellow in the sky means that when a GlobeMiamiTimes article calls for a photo shoot, my editor Linda and I always opt for an after-seven snap session during the summer.

The photographer Annie Leibovitz, who shoots for Vanity Fair magazine, adores this type of light but I’ve never seen her or her camera on Broad Street.

The wind, too, has had an effect. Oh, you’ve seen movies where some wizened old duffer crawls off a porch, hair on fire, screeching, ‘The wind is a demon, the wind is ALIVE! I’ve gone mad in the last hour from this howling devil’.

Um, yeah.

The night air which rolls over my hill is actually a strong breeze, and with it comes coolness and the scent of pines and sweet four o’clocks. At times it also amplifies my neighbor’s musical choices, but we have similar tastes. When my pal Molly lived here, she always said she loved the way the loose shade on the old light post in back would rattle at night. For me, however, it only means the Earth is still spinning, and we each have a new opportunity to rise in the morning and begin again, fresh and clean and hopeful.

By: Linda Gross

(Reprint from GlobeMiamiTimes-Summer Edition)

The first faces to greet you as you walk into Past Times Antiques are rescue dogs – every one. Toby, Lucy and Benji were all rescued by Cheryl and Richard Brazell, just hours before they were to be put down. The story repeats itself further down, where the owners of the Drift Inn, already parents to two dogs- and adamant about not adding a third, found themselves with a little white fluff of a dog when the animal control worker placed “Claraclause” in Lisa’s arms just before Christmas last year and said, please take this one. It’s her last day.

Benji, Toby and Lucy of Past Times Antiques

Marvin was once a street dog, but has adapted nicely to couch sitting.

Here in Globe-Miami, the animal shelter is located up by the Old Cemetery. It was built by the Humane Society over 30 years ago and by some accounts might be considered one of the “most challenged” facilities in the state. It is small, hardly adequate for the volume of homeless dogs which find themselves behind bars because a former owner found them inconvenient, or a good Samaritan found them wandering the streets and brought them in. the facility is tucked away from public view, making it less likely that animals are viewed by the public – and thus adopted- before having to be euthanize.

Last year the Shelter euthanized nearly 15 dogs/cats a week. This year they are averaging 12 dogs/cats a month.
The Society has been around since 1965. It began to deteriorate in the 1990’s but was revived again in June of 2000 when Shannon Coons took over as president. Although they began with a new Board and several volunteers at the time, over the last ten years the lions share of the work has been done by Shannon herself and local business owners, Laurie Manzano and Jon Stahlnecker of the Blue Mule, who volunteered their building, a lot of their own money and most of their personal time to take care of, house and show the cats.
The numbers tell the story. Since 2000, the Shelter has placed 400 dogs. A majority of the dogs that go through the Shelter are not that lucky.  Dogs which are brought in by their owners are euthanized almost immediately. Dogs which are “found” and brought in are kept for 3 days. It is simply a matter of not enough funding, staff or volunteers to do otherwise.

Laurie Manzano has rescued over 2000 cats and kittens in the last ten years

The outlook for cats is significantly better thanks to Laurie and Jon who not only show the cats in their art studio, but spend hundreds of hours socializing wild, Ferrel kittens, tending to wounds and diseases, and personalizing their stories in a way that invites good homes. To date, they have placed over 2100 cats. “Those are just the cats we track through the vet,” Laurie says, “but there have been hundreds of others over the years which she has fostered putting the number closer to 3000.
“The animals we take in just need time and visibility,” says Laurie. “Then we can do something with them. That is the challenge up there,” she says, indicating the dog shelter which sits up at the Old Cemetary. Out of sight. Out of mind. Most dogs don’t have a chance. Claraclause, Drifter, Benji, Toby, and Lucy have been among the most fortunate.
This year, the local Humane Society is facing several changes in the coming year, which could bode well for the dogs. Maybe. The facility where the Shelter is now standing is land which the City would like for the Cemetery. While, there are lots of moving parts to this equation, overall it might afford an opportunity to create a better shelter, with more visibility in a new location.

In addition, after ten years of managing the reins of the group, Shannon Coons will be stepping down. It’s a job with its share of burn-out and still, she and her group have had several successes to point to: the Gila Humane Society helped the community spay and neuter a few thousand dogs and cats with money from Elizabeth Williamson, and local/corporate donations.

In 2004 they began helping those in the community that really couldn’t get their animals fixed. And in 2007 they paid the Arizona humane Society to bring their van up to spay 198 animals. If it sounds like all the Humane Society does is focus on Neutering and Spaying, it might be because this is the leading cause of pet over population which creates “throw-away” lives. If they could get one point across and have it stick, it would be this: If you have an animal get it fixed. Don’t add to the cruelty.
Laurie, who has seen everything in her ten years of dealing with this problem says, “…even those who are feeding wild cats out of the kindness of their hearts don’t realize they are contributing to the cruelty and slow death of the street.” Both Blue Mule and the Society offer to loan out traps. “And a hungry cat will go in one,” says Laurie.  If you need to get a cat off the street Laurie will do what she can to help. Just remember- this is not her “job.”

She is just one woman fighting a tidal-wave of mis-guided and blantant irresponsibility when it comes to caring for these animals.

She is currently taking care of 40 cats at the moment.

There is the ten-year-old gray long-haired female which Laurie named “Grandma” who was obviously someones pet at one time (she was de-clawed). Found wondering on the street with most of her teeth gone, Dr. Eubanks of Samaritan Vet Hospital (who has worked closely with the Human Society for years) went ahead and managed to pull the rest of her bad teeth- leaving her with her canines. She eats just fine, Laurie says, and has earned the blue ribbon award for “ Super Friendly.”

Then there is the little grey striped kitten which is the only one to survive out of a litter of wild kittens. His mother was caught in a trap and left in 90 deg heat before the owners brought her in to Laurie. “She was dehydrated and I put her in the bathtub to cool her down and gave her a solution-but it all just ran out both ends. She died a few hours later. “

It was Laurie who went up to trap the remaining kitten and bring him back to the Studio. Today, you pick him up, he purrs, his belly has a nice soft round feel and he is in good hands. Soon, he’ll be in a good home.

After posting this sign, there has been a reduction in the number of animals which have been dumped on Laurie's doorstep.

Asked how she ended up with all these cats and the keeper of their futures, she laughs. “ I told people when I was young, I was going to end up with a Cat House. And here I am, living in an old Bordello, surrounded by cats!”
As a well known artist in the area, Laurie’s paintings reflect both a social and environmental theme. Her artwork has been used to raise funds for the Humane Society and other local causes, though she has little time for painting these days.
She put a sign up several months ago because she was overwhelmed with the number of people who would just drop off bags, baskets and boxes of kittens and cats. There has been no “dumping” since she put up the sign.
The new president of the Humane Society, Cherly Brazell says one of her key projects will be to establish an outreach program to kids to teach them responsibility toward pets, and to show the the consequences of over-population- perhaps by even letting the older kids visit the shelter. “We also want to see what could be done in stopping the practice of selling puppies in parking lots. Maybe this will slow down the backyard breeding. And ensuring that all dogs which leave the shelter are actually spayed and neutered. “

Every cat and kitten gets their story told at Blue Mule.

Anyone who has spent time working for or volunteering for the Humane Society know the demands of being at the front lines where a humane society meets up with inhumane treatment and attitudes. Yet, it also has its rewards. It is found in the eyes and wagging tails of cats and dogs who have homes- and lives – because folks like Shannon, Laurie, Jon, Lisa, Eileen, Cheryl, Richard and others cared enough to stand up for them.

**This Summer, The Humane Society was chosen by 5 merchants as their Charity of Choice for the 1st annual Five and Dive Tour. Riders will be asked to contribute a $1 or more at each of the five locations and all monies collected during the 12 week tour will go towards the needs of this organization.

Plus, our friends over at The Blue Mule Gallery have agreed to host a photo contest for rescue dogs. We’re calling it the, “Rescue Dog Days of Summer – a Wall of Fame for those who Cared .” The display will show case photos of all the dogs who have been adopted by our participating merchants, as well as any local resident or visitor who would like to contribute a photo of their “rescue dog!”

It’ll cost you a $1 (donation) to enter your photo into the Wall of Fame, which you know goes towards a good cause, and your photos will help drive home the point that no dog should go homeless! Please bring us your favorite photo!

The GUSD Board met on Tuesday to discuss Trent's request for retirement, indemnification of possible criminal charges, and to recind 44 days of vacation pay to John Marquez.Shown here: Board President,Cayci Vuksanovich, Members,Anna Harmon & Dale Fletcher. Photo by: LeeAnn Powers

This week, Dr. Timothy Trent  submitted his request for early retirement to the Globe School Board, after spending over a year on home assignment while an audit of financial, procurement and HR records was conducted by Education Review Group.

The results of the audit were posted on local radio station, gila101.9 in March, (and again here – see below).  During the year long process, the School Board studiously refused to discuss the audit or any findings with the public.

The audit was completed in March and it appears that the Board was scheduled to present the findings in a public forum earlier this month when the meeting was canceled at the last minute.

When faced with the option of  reviewing all charges using a mediator or taking early retirement, Trent and his attorney opted to go for early retirement which negated the public airing of charges.

While this closes one chapter of the saga, it does not wipe the slate clean. There is the on going investigation by the state’s attorney general and the lawsuit which has been filed by the couple against the School Board and individual members. All of this serves to keep the results of the audit on the table and promises to air additional grievances on both sides of the table as the legal machinations gear up for yet another chapter.

In Tuesday’s meeting, Trent also requested that the Board pay for his defense in the AG’s investigation, which they roundly denied. It is one thing to indemnify an employee for mistakes or mis-steps they make while discharging their duties, and quite another to indemnify criminal actions. The AGs office does not investigate mis-steps.

The degree to which this whole case has embroiled the parties in legal proceedings, seems excessive when compared to other brouhaha’s regarding dis-enfranchised Superintendents and their School Boards. Take the recent case of a Utah school district where … two of three candidates for Superintendent have backgrounds in which they were placed on leave. One candidate left his former position before his contract expired – “…forgoing any salary or benefits for the remainder of his contract in exchange for the Boards agreement not to fire him and to take a neutral position in discussing his job performance.” Utah’s search for Superintendents.

In that same case, State auditors found “improper and potentially fraudulent payments” totaling more than $88,000 to his buddy, the business manager.  The business manager has reimbursed the district for $55,522 of that amount. No criminal charges were filed. This Superintendent is re-applying to the Utah Board for a position and says his former performance should not impact the Boards decision.

The local case involving Timothy Trent and the Globe School Board involves bigger “improprieties.”

Just consider this from the audit:

An excerpt from the 47 page procurement report “… revealed millions of dollars spent on contractual services for technology services and equipment. Of the services, much of it was illegally paid from the improper accounts. Change orders authorizing extra payments were signed by Dr. Trent, and documentation on several of the agreements were not able to be found. In one instance, the auditors could not find in the school board minutes any authorization for technology services in the amount of $56,910. The auditors suggested in the report that “due to the amount of money GUSD spent and due to violations of procurement and lack of documentation… the Reviewers strongly recommend that an investigative unit of the Auditor General’s office or the Attorney General’s office investigate these expenditures.”

The local case also has more than it’s share of lawsuits flying around. The most recent to be filed is by Trent and Flores against the District and each Board Member.

So, instead of walking away with the salary he has been paid for the last year to be on home assignment  ($100K plus), Trent and local-county-attorney, legal-eagle wife (Daisy Flores), have deemed it necessary to sue the local school District for the audacity of investigating these things and causing ‘them’ distress. Trent’s new job appears to be as victim, and he and Flores, are asking the School District to pay out $2million in damages, including reimbursing the power-couple for a $9000 European vacation which they say was ruined when they discovered the bad news about the home assignment.

Ahh the wheels of justice – how they turn.

Let us know what you think!

********************

For those who want to track the issue, we have provided a time line of events with corresponding documentation.

June 2009: School Board votes in special session to re-assign Dr. Timothy Trent and Supervisor of Facilities, John Marquez to home while an independent audit is performed. Initially thought to be a three month process, the audit took nearly a year during which both men continued to receive their reg. salaries, but were precluded from coming on District grounds.

Nov 2009: Daisy and Trent file a letter of Notice of Intent.   2010_01_07_Trent Complaint

Jan 2010: A class action lawsuit is filed by teachers and administrators alleging that Trent “…engaged in a campaign of harassment, fear and intimidation…”Globe_20091119145048

March 2010: The 90-page Audit report is released to the press. It covers Finance, Procurement and Human Resources. See below:

GUSD Audit Review_Table of Contents

GUSD Audit Review_Finance

GUSD Audit Review_Procurement

GUSD Audt Review_Human Resources Part 1

GUSD Audt Review_Human Resources Part 2

GUSD Audit Review_Human Resources Part 3

GUSD Audit Review_Human Resources Part 4

GUSD Audit Review-Human Resources Part 5

June 28th, 2010 – In a special session, the Globe School Board accepts Dr. Trent’s retirement request.

However, they  deny his request to pay for his defense in the on-going investigation by the State’s Attorney Generals’ office and and to indemnify him against possible charges stemming from this investigation.

It’s a fact that Arizona Summers are sizzling hot and, as a rule, most sane people will spend the next six months in a mall or on their couch in air-conditioned comfort in front of their Big Screen.

Not Bikers. Bikers are always breaking the rules.

Few things in life will keep one from riding. They’re like those mail carriers who brag:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds”

Bikers? They have a different motto.

“Whatever it is, it’s better in the wind.”

So, this summer, long after the last of the winter visitors have left for cooler climes, and even lizards have disappeared under their rocks to get away from the heat, we’ve designed a Summer Road Tour for The Children of the Wind.

Five and Dive Summer Tour 2010

We call it the Five and Dive and we hope to heat things up (economically) this summer while offering you some cool reasons to ride our roads, meet our people, drink our beer and have a good time. We’re offering up specials to help you save money – while spending money; good causes to help you add to your lifetime-karma points; and clues, riddles and scavenger hunts to introduce you to things you never knew you wanted to know about us – but now you do.

We initially called the tour the Five and Dime which was a nod to our incredible array of cheap thrills and lo-cost fun throughout this region. It also tied in with our feature on Woolworths. (One of those things you’ll want to pay attention to because it is the answer to a clue)

The Open Road at Roosevelt

But then one of our friends suggested the Five and Dive, over beers at The Huddle. And aren’t all ideas better with beer?  It’s seemed tailor-made for what we were putting together. Of course, I now have to pay Gerry royalties for coming up with the idea. (You can help me out by stopping by Pinal Lumber this summer and picking up a few nails, screws, wood, paint,… whatever you can fit on the bike.)

So, back to the meaning of the Five and Dive.

Did you know the spiritual meaning of number Five deals with travel, adventure, and motion?

According to this woman who runs a site, whats-your-sign.com, she goes on to say that Five “draws our attention to the wonder of life, and beckons us to appreciate the perception of chaos all around us. Five has wild vibrations: primitive and erratic.”

There has got to be a FIVE hidden inside every biker.

Really. Just log on and take a look at what the number two means for instance. You’ll see clearly why TWO does not work here. We could not have a Two and Dive Tour. Wouldn’t work.

And Dive? Well, I don’t have to explain that right?

So, now that I have your attention… let me explain how the Tour works.

It includes a punch card with over 30 merchants and local events throughout this region who invite you to stop in this summer. They have each come up with a special promo just for Tour Riders with punch cards and in exchange for dropping some cash along the way – remember this is an economic stimulus plan – you’ll get your card stamped, a big welcome from these merchants and a good reason to ride!  OK, maybe more – but you’ll have to do the Tour to discover what it is.

The Road Map at Superstition Harley Davidson

As for the clues and the scavenger hunts, we’re going to give you FIVE chances each week to solve a clue, riddle or scavenger hunt which will require some collective brain power. Solving these will result in earning our cool wooden nickels (don’t believe what your father said about not taking wooden nickels.*) worth points towards raffle tickets. Plus, as an added bonus, you’ll discover the inside jokes, arcane facts and local lore which will put you one step closer to being
“one of us.”

(*Even if you don’t “tweet”, check out the hottest Twitter account about Father’s advice. The account is Sh** My Dad Says. The author is a 29 year old, living with his 74 year old dad, who just started tweeting the things he said. He has now published a book & been on Larry King. Here is one from last week: “No. Humans will die out. We’re weak. Dinosaurs survived on rotten flesh. You got diarrhea last week from a Wendy’s.”)

OK, back to the Tour.

To begin, you can pick up the Tour Punch Cards at these FIVE locations beginning June 15th. Cards are $5….
(OMG – there is that number 5 again. Must be a sign!). Superstition Harley is waiving the fee for any riders who come into the Dealership to pick up the card!

Ohter locations include:

The Huddle Sports Bar, The Drift Inn, or 2 Lanes Saloon in Globe,

The Butcher Hook, or Jakes Corner up in Tonto Basin.

You can get your weekly CLUES/RIDDLES by going to globemiamitimes.com

Here you’ll find our EVENTS PAGE  and a link to our FACEBOOK PAGE.
Your first tip of the Tour…..  Bookmark these pages.

Since Globe Miami Times is sponsoring this Tour, we have designed it so you will read the paper, check out the website and – get to know us better during the Five and Dive.  You’ll discover answers to clues by looking at the ads in this summer’s edition, reading the stories and following the links on our website. Interesting Mr. Watson. Is this a plot to corrupt the mind? You decide.

Overlook of the Valley between Globe and Miami

Now for the pay off.  Yes, there will be prizes and good things given away to the deserving. But remember what Robert Pirsig said, in his cult classic, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycling”

“The only Zen you find on tops of mountains is the Zen you bring there.”
See you this Summer!

Javier Reynoso and his 'dancing horses' performed on Saturday

By Linda Gross

The Tex Mex Festival 2010 held at Globe’s Community Center did not have a shortage of great entertainment during the two day event. From Reynoso’s performance with his dancing horses, to the powerful performances by three Mariachi bands from Phoenix and Tucson, the colorful and well executed dancing of Ballet Folklorico tenochtitlan, the latin sound of New Frequency and, of course the two headlining bands: Tierra and Little Joe Y Familia, those in attendance were treated to teriffic performances!

As the City’s first Big Scale event in which they partnered with Los Vecinos De Companeros to put up the $32,000 for the headliner bands, and covered the costs of staging and managing a large scale event they showed it could be done. Matt Jankowski, Parks and Recreation Manager, and his team did a commendable job of setting up a large-scale facility at the Community Center. If thousands had shown up this weekend  they could easily have been accommodated at this facility. As it was, only hundreds attended the events both days with the majority of the crowds showing up for the bands – despite very low temperatures and high winds.

That is a risk of staging large outdoor events.

Mother Nature isn’t always on board with your plans. Last April/May at this time, we had 70deg weather and clear skies. Go Figure.

One of the event attendees for Saturday’s Little Joe Y Familia event was surprised at the small crowd, but wondered if the huge protests against Arizona’s immigration bill which were being held in Phoenix and Tucson, could have been a contributing cause for the low numbers. “I know several of my friends who were going to spend the weekend in Globe, decided it was more important to show their support for the protests.”

Mariach Sol Azteca from Tucson played both days. Representing the traditional music of Mexico which so many associate with Cinco de Mayo

And, then there is the aspect of change. The City and Los Vecinos de Companeros took the local celebration of Cinco de Mayo which had been held in downtown Globe for free and re-designed it into a large-scale event with the hopes it would actually bring in money to both the City and LVC. Billed as a Tex-Mex Festival the target audience appeared to shift from down-home to outta-town. There was some local push back to the Event which many felt was an over-reach for the community. Some felt the ticket prices were too high: $30 day/$50 for two days. Some felt Tex-Mex didn’t represent ‘their kind of music, or festival. Some just felt the show was for out of towners – not locals.

Yet, watching the performances during both days, visitors must have been struck by the variety of performances and the mix of traditional with contemporary expressions of Mexican culture. From the rhythym and blues sounds of Tierra on Friday night to the rich violins and voices of Mariachi Sol Azteca, the sounds of what it is to be Hispanic were showcased by some outstanding musical talent. From the Reynoso’s who showcased their horses and roping talent to the wonderful performances by Ballet Foklorico tenochititlan the rich history – which is Mexico- was well represented!

Ballet Folklorico tenochititlan performed several numbers to the crowds delight.

The comment of one visitor said they thought the ticket prices were reasonable…especially since all the food booths and beer were “cheap.” Unlike some events where the food and drink prices are jacked up because of a captive audience, the food vendors of Globe-Miami offered up good fare at good prices!

The presentation of the La Reina de Las Flores Queens and Contestants occurred under clear skies and each of the ladies are to be commended for their achievements and performance at Saturday’s event.

Ballet Folklorico tenochtitlan showcased a variety of dances and dresses!

Queens & Contestants

Talking to Globe’s Mayor, Fernando Shipley, about what he might do differently next year, he said he would begin the Festival on Saturday, since people are working on Friday and most can’t even think of showing up until they get off work.

There are other considerations which will surely be a part of the wrap up discussion regarding better signage, more advertising outside the area and coordination with local merchants, but this should not take away from the fact that many things went right with this event.

Globe proved that we do have an excellent “staging area” for a truly large-scale event and we have the people who can pull it off. Had the crowds been larger, an event of this type can bring in money and become a well-recognized asset for this community. It can be an event which smoozes locals and outta-towners alike and celebrates the Mexican culture which is not just one thing – but a huge melting pot of many expressions. It can be an event for all. And that would be something worth celebrating.

(PS: For more photographs on the Festival please visit Globe Miami Times Facebook.)

The women of Mariachi Sonido de Mexico deliver an elegant performance

By Linda Gross

The afternoon winds and storm clouds kept many away from yesterdays full venue which included performances by three exceptional mariachi bands from both Phoenix and Tucson. But for those who braved the weather, the line up of mariachi bands delivered an full day of exceptional performances by three of the region’s best mariachi bands.

Mariachi music which stems from the 18th Century, typically includes violins, trumpets, an acoustic guitar and a vihuela (a high-pitched, five string guitar), a guitarron (large acoustic bass).

Libby stands in front of MariachiMexico Nuevo as they serenade her with a birthday song!

The Band Mariachi Mexico Nuevo from Phoenix took the stage first and warmed up the weather by at least 10degrees as their music floated  across the field and filled the air. And they entertained the crowd by dedicating several songs to those in attendance including Libby Bracomonte, who was there with daughter Marissa and grandson celebrating her birthday…and, of course serving up great food (Libby’s El Rey).

The group calling themselves, Mariachi Sonido de Mexico from Tucson, then took the stage around 4, just as the sun broke through the clouds. The nine-piece band included an incredible string line up and tight vocals.

The addition of women to the stage is relatively new occurring sometime in the 50′s, and wasn’t always well-received according to an article done Laura Sobrino on the history of Women in Mariachi music. But by the ’90s women were showing up on stage in increasing numbers and today many mariachi bands are evenly balanced between men and women, with some all-women mariachi bands.

Listen to Mariachi Sonido de Mexico…and you’ll know why.

The interplay between male and female voices, strings and trumpets, acoustic and bass is part of the joy of what we hear in mariachi

Globe Vice Mayor, Carmen Casillas talks to a member of Mariachi Sol Azteca before they take the stage

The last Mariachi band to take the stage on Friday was Mariach Sol Azteca, also from Tucson. The group delivered an outstanding performance led by the trumpet sounds of band member Jesse Rojas and Monique Grijalva and the full sound of  9 professional musicians.

Note: You will get to see them play today if you missed them yesterday.

Mariach Sol Azteca will take the stage at 2:30 pm. Don’t miss it!

The band Tierra took the stage briefly for a sound check before beginning their performance for the evening. By then, a crowd had begun to gather, enjoy the setting sun, the sounds of LATINO floating across the open skies.

To see more photographs of the individual performances, check out GMT FB

By Linda Gross

This coming weekend, the Globe community will host one of the largest community events in recent history.  A Tex-Mex Festival in celebration of Cinco de Mayo will be held at the Globe Community Center both Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1. The City of Globe and Los Vecino y Companeros have each put up $16,000 to bring two major bands to the area for this event, along with a host of other entertainment including dancing horses, mariachi bands, Ballet Folklorico dancers and, of course, the crowing of the Queens.   The bands, Tierra and Little Joe y Familia are two of the biggest names in the industry and will be headlining the evening’s entertainment on both Friday and Saturday.

About the Bands…

Tierra, whose sound in a Latin rhythm and blues combo was  voted “Best R&B Vocal Group” by four leading magazines including Billboard. The group started their career in East Los Angeles “… with a blend of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and salsa. The result was a Latin R&B rhythm which produced classics like “Together”, “Gonna Find Her”, “Memories” and “Zoot Suit Boogie”. The band’s quarter century commitment shows a dedication that can only be understood by listening to their smooth and soulful sounds. ” The group has performed at Carnegie Hall, The American Music Awards, and American Bandstand. The second band, Little Joe and La Familia have been entertaining for more than 30 years and helped to pioneer the “Tejano” music, a mix of traditional “norteno” music and country, blues, and rock styles. Awarded a Grammy for “Dies y Seis De Septiembre”, Little Joe is known as the “King of Brown.”

Event Updates….

Matt Jankowski, City Recreation manager, has been working on plans for the event since last Fall. Just one week before the big event, everything seems to be nailed down. There will be approximately 1100 parking places on-site, and two shuttles which will operate between the Casino, several hotels, and the downtown area. The shuttles will enable event goers to park and ride, to-and-from the event. “I’m suggesting to local residents to park on the South end of Broad and take the shuttle from the Depot to the event,” says Jankowski. (Check out the Event Page for complete information on Shuttle stops and timing)

The event opens at noon on Friday and three Mariachi bands from Phoenix and Tucson will perform through the afternoon. And TIERRA opens their first set at 7:30pm.

Mariachi Mexico Nuevo  2 – 4pm  ;

Mariachi Sonido de Mexico 4 – 5:30pm; 

Mariachi Sol Azteca 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Day Two of the event begins with Opening Ceremonies at 11am and an introduction of La Reina de Las Flores Queens and Contestants.

A group calling themselves New Frequency… will start the entertainment for the afternoon and followed by a 2nd performance by Mariachi Sol Ateca, and at 3:30 pm , Javier Reynoso and his Dancing Horses will perform.

Tickets can be purchased on-line, at Globe’s City Hall and at the gate the day of the event. Prices are $50 for a two day pass and $30 for a one day pass. You can find the complete itinerary of both days on GMTeconnect.com/ CincodeMayo.

While You’re in Town…

As for suggestions while you’re in town, you might schedule some time to explore the downtown historic district of Globe, where you can start off with breakfast at Joe’s Broadstreet Grill, right across from the Old Train Depot (one of the shuttle stops), and check out the local shops, antique stores, and coffee shop. Here is a link to walking maps of downtown Globe and Miami. It shows all of the shops and restaurants in the downtown Districts. GMT will be covering the event on Facebook and twitter and we hope to see you here this weekend for Tex-Fest!

An Open Letter of response by Thea Wilshire, Chairperson of Globe’s Parks and Recreation Committee

Darin, thank you for posting this article to encourage better communication and to start to clear up the inflammatory misinformation that is being spread by a few.  And, Jim, thank you for your comments.  You state, “…it is my observation that more ‘homework’ is required.  Before a recommendation or decision to relocate the Dog Park is made, City Officials really need to complete a fact-based utilization review as to the best community use of the current facility.”  I agree with you wholeheartedly and want to let you know that this has been a part of our work all along.

As chairperson of the City of Globe’s Parks and Recreation Committee, I’ve been a part of this discussion from the start and have tried to share all the information I have with all the people involved.  To that end, let me add some background info on this discussion, some findings from our on-going “fact-based utilization review,” and several comments on this issue.

1.  If I didn’t know better, I would think from this article that the meeting you described was the first meeting called about the dog park. Rather, this was a continuation of an on-going series of discussions that the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee started with dog park patrons.  I called the first meeting at the dog park right after I heard that there was talk of changing the status of the park.  I have had hours of discussion with dog park patrons since then and over 2 hours of our publically-posted and open-to-all Parks and Recreation Committee meetings have focused entirely on the dog park.  There has been an invitation for input and dialog all along, as well as transparency each step of the way.  Despite accusations to the contrary, there have been no “secret” meetings, no petitions from Little League, and no powerful business people making demands about the field.

2.  As I shared at the first dog park meeting, this discussion started when our harsh winter weather and frequent storms put the renovations of the Claypool Little League ball fields way behind schedule.   With new city government and what they perceived to be a more open administration, the Little League folks who had left Globe started asking questions about getting back onto the fields they created in Globe.  Based on their questions and investment into those fields (they had raised the funds and done the extensive work to create the fields), the situation was investigated and the lack of any records or council action about the creation of a dog park was noted.

3.  This request from Little League supporters to use the field and the investigation into the history of the field coincided with us having hired Matt Jankowski as the city’s Recreation Manager.  We hired him with several mandates, one being to bring more visitors into our community through sports tournaments, concerts, and events.  By bringing in more visitors, we hope to bring positive financial resources to the entire community through 4 avenues:  an increase in traffic and revenue to local businesses, an increase in revenue to the non-profit groups supported by our local bed tax (several of whom are precipitously close to closing their doors due to the dramatic decrease in this funding source), an increase in sales tax revenue to the city (we are down to $2 million this year from our normal $3 million in revenue), and support for the city’s recreation department and the continuation of Matt’s position (i.e., if he can’t bring in money to run his department, then he will be out of a job).  One of the many suggestions to him for possible increased visitation and subsequent revenue is to bring back the baseball activity for which Globe used to be famous.  To this end, he was looking into what sports field options we have and the condition of these fields.

4.  Each different type of baseball and softball has different regulations about what is required for a field (e.g., length of bases, length of outfield, infield condition, pitching area, etc.).  We only have two fields in Globe that meet Little League requirements.  I didn’t know about the different field regulations when we started this discussion and had believed like Darin that “there are more than enough playing fields in Globe already.”  However, the truth of the matter is that for Little League there are only two fields that can be used for games:  the ones by Noftsger Hill B & B (one of which is now being used as our dog park).

5.  As a part of our utilization review, it was last reported to me that there are 565 kids enrolled in the Pinal Mountain Little League with over 1/2 of these kids coming from Globe.  [I have been told that due to very negative interactions with the former city administration regarding parks use, the Globe Little League grew frustrated, gave up their charter, and started funneling kids over to Pinal Mountain.]  All of these kids take limited turns on the Claypool and Globe fields for practices, but need regulation fields for games.  It has been difficult for years to get all of the games scheduled onto the limited fields.

6.  As a part of the dog park discussion, the Parks and Recreation Committee looked at the costs of building a new Little League field to allow the existing Little League field to remain in use as a Dog Park, but the costs are higher than those associated with creating a new space specifically dedicated to dog use.  Additionally, at the request of dog park patrons, we investigated and discussed having the current ball field space be shared between Little League users and dog park patrons.  However, the liability associated with having kids and dogs potentially in the same space, as well as the problem of having the dog owners be without a place to gather for the duration of the Little League season or having to move around to other parks during the Little League season, negated this option.

7.  Because our state-funded revenue streams are being slashed, the city is looking for alternative and diversified funding streams.  One source of funds is to increase our tourism base (see financial incentives listed in #3).  We have numerous groups and committees looking at ways to bring visitors into our area and it has been discussed that one of the things an increasing number of visitors look for is the presence of a dog park for use by their canine traveling companions.  Consequently, the dog park is important not only for our citizens who use it on a regular basis, but also for travelers who increasingly look for and expect this community amenity. [As an aside:  in talking about state funding streams being slashed, it is my opinion through discussion with other community’s elected officials that we are doing better financially than any other community in the state.  This is due largely to the prior administrations’ fiscally conservative governing approach and their ultra-lean budgeting for city departments.  Additionally, it is impacted by current and prior visionary leadership groups.]

8.  In addition to utilization review, we are also considering safety issues as we gather facts for an objective analysis of the needs of our community. A little while ago there was a situation where a child was in the dog park without a dog and began to harass one of the canines.  Reportedly, he threw his baseball mitt at the dog and the dog, thinking it was a game, took off running with the mitt.  Adults associated with the child reportedly came over and began to threaten the dog owner and the police were called.  More threats allegedly followed and the situation was eventually resolved, but not to the satisfaction of those involved.  This drew more attention to the need for us to look at safety issues associated with our current designation of a former Little League field as a Dog Park, particularly with children present at the neighboring field for baseball and large dogs present near balls with a short fence delineating the park boundaries.

9.  Darin, you state, “Any action to change the status of this park would have to go before the City Council”.  The dog park was never put into place by council action; it was done by the former City Manager without notification to the council.  No Parks and Recreation Committee meetings were held on this and no documented input was obtained as to this decision.  Consequently, this could be “undone” just as easily by the current City Manager.  [Please note that the City Manager was not acting inappropriately in this decision.  Unless we become a charter city, the City of Globe is legally mandated by the state to use a Manager-Council form of government just like all other cities and towns in Arizona.  Consequently, the City Manager makes all the decisions on the daily running of the city while the City Council sets policy and decides the vision or direction the community is going.  The day-to-day decisions, such as how parks are designated, are within the purview of the City Manager’s responsibilities.]

10.  Early on in this discussion, it was suggested by a few people to “just take down the dog park signs and let it go back to being a ball field.”  As chairperson for the Parks and Recreation Committee, I adamantly opposed this. I explained that we can have sites to accommodate both groups and I do not want to see the Little League field revert to ball use until another facility has been created for a Dog Park with dog park patron’s input and involvement.   I have been a dog park supporter for years and have visited dog parks in multiple states.  I planned to work to eventually get a dog park for our community, but then action was taken by the former City Manager so I focused on other community tasks — though I felt the “ball field” Dog Park was a poor space for the purposes of being a dog park with few of the amenities most other dog parks have.  Despite this, I brought my dogs up to the park, made doggy poop bag dispensers and attached these to fences (prior to the “official” dog park designation), worked to get “Dog Park” signs remade and put back up when the originals were removed by vandals, and insisted that the Dog Park be added to the parks section of the city’s new web site (www.globeaz.gov) when it was not originally listed.

11.  As a part of this discussion, there have been many possible dog park sites suggested, some by dog park patrons and some by Parks and Recreation Committee members. Research has been done on all.  The already fenced, free 17-acre Mountain View Estates site was one site I proposed, but many of the dog park patrons felt it was too far away (it’s at the junction of the 70 and 77 highways). I don’t think any of us would have thought of the presently-favored Pioneer Hill site if one of the dog park patrons had not strongly insisted that the location be somewhere mid-way between Globe and Miami.  Once the Pioneer Hills site was brought up and positive response received from the dog park patrons present at that Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, we began moving forward with feasibility studies.

12.  As a part of these feasibility studies, key players at the city have visited the site and confirmed that this could be made into a basic dog park with little extra cost.  First, to make the site safer, city workers can spend a day working on earth moving using city-owned equipment without having to contract with outside labor.  This would fit under the scope of their job descriptions, be in service to tax payers, and not cost us any additional funding.  Second, it was found that this land was donated to the city with the mandate that it only be used as a lift station or a park, so this would fit within those stated objectives.  Third, one of the biggest obstacles to starting a new dog park is the availability of land and the cost of the fence.  The Pioneer Hills site has both of these challenges nailed down.  Not only is it city land and 50% larger than the ball field, but there is a 6′ high industrial-grade fence already in place.  Matt Jankowski looked into fence costs and found that to buy 3′ high fencing with a top bar for 1 acre of land (about the size of the ball field), it would cost about $10,000 and that doesn’t include the cost of installation.  Several dog owners stated they needed a much higher fence for their larger dogs.  Consequently, this site would meet that request and already has a better fence than the current one in place at the ball field.

13.  If we go with the Pioneer Hills site, a local business man stepped up and volunteered to get us gravel for the parking area once it is flattened out a bit.  Other non-dog-park-user people have offered to give money to the project.  I met with my tax accountant and found out that money given to a city for a public park is considered a tax-deductible contribution, so the dog park group will NOT have to create a non-profit or account of some sort.  If people get behind this park and do some fundraising (perhaps with Dewey or Frank serving as mascots?), we can bring in more and more amenities besides the basics in place at the current dog park.  I bet the three local vets might even “sponsor” some of the amenities.  With some planning and based on the prioritized wishes of the dog park patrons, we could move toward having an area set aside for older and smaller dogs, build a shaded ramada or two with benches, put in dog agility training equipment, construct a dog water fountain, get local artists to paint murals on the buildings, possibly build a small pond for the dogs to swim, put up a bulletin board for posting notices and communication between dog owners, and possibly add picnic tables.  A walking trail along the inside perimeter of the fence might be nice and could be very easily constructed.

14.  There are multiple volunteer groups that could be invited to participate in the development of this park: Scout troops or boys working on their Eagle projects, some of our contracted prison labor, school kids (though not at the same time as prisoners), Parks and Recreation Committee members, Globe Clean and Beautiful, churches, and dog park patrons.  The Little League supporters have even voiced their willingness to help!

Jim, we have been doing our homework, we have been working on an objective analysis, and we have been completing a “fact-based utilization review as to the best community use of the current facility.”  You state that it is “obvious” that the city’s “present position is to relocate the dog park.”  Yes, that is completely true.  We want to provide both dog park use and appropriate Little League field use.  Based on the facts listed above, I stated from the very first meeting that this was our intention, have given my commitment to work toward having another dog park in place before the field reverts to its original Little League use, and have invited the dog park patrons to gather supporters, form a committee, and give input as to what they desire in their new park.

I think we can create a dog space so much better than a small ball park.  In fact, what a great opportunity this is!  If the question about the use of the field was never brought up, then the current Dog Park would probably never have been improved upon and just left as merely adequate for the dogs (though a great place for the community-building that occurs between dog owners who frequent the space). Whether we open a new park at the Pioneer Hills site or at another location, I think we will end up with so much more by the end of this process.  Though a vociferous few are setting this situation up as a scheme by the city to deprive them of any park use, this is simply not the case.  Compared to the few, I believe there are many more people willing to talk and work and improve our community through the addition of a new dog park.  I am hoping that all involved can come to the place of embracing this opportunity, working together, and celebrating our community’s future.

Thanks for reading this very long post,

Thea Wilshire, Globe City Council

A contract to develop a DVD intended to promote the Globe School District was given to Tom Leach, Eyes of a Child, who appears to have sub’d it out to a highschool student and was of such poor quality, the District never used it. This may have just been written up as a lesson in what not to do – had it not been for the fact that Leach was paid $8,450 for the job…and after such a dismal result, still received contracts for his services which amounted to nearly $300,000 over 3 years.

This is just one of many findings by an independent audit review(see below), recently released, involving Globe’s Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Trent and John Marquez, Supervisor of Facilities. Both men had been placed on home assignment last June and not allowed on the GUSD campus, as the School Board brought in independent auditors to look into financial, procurement and human resource records for the period of July 2006 through June 2009.

As you may recall, Timothy Trent was hired as the Superintendent of Globe Unified School District in 2003, and in 2005 married Daisy Flores the Gila County County Attorney. The marriage created a powerful force. One which reportedly contributed to a reticence by those involved to come forward earlier. Flores has adamantly denied any undue influence. It seems though, some still insist that her position as both wife and County Attorney played into their decision not to speak up.

The entire Audit Report may be found on

Bill Taylor’s website: gila101.9.

Some of the summary statements and recommendations found in the report include:

(1) A recommendation, “that because of improprieties of procurement and other possible violations of ARS this should be sent to the Auditor General office and Attorney Generals’ office for investigative review.

(2) A summary statement pertaining to Human Resources, which says, ” Based on conversations with GUSD personnel, the Human Resource Director and documents provided by the District we have determined that an allegedly evasive, widespread and systematic form of harassment and the subsequent creation of a hostile work environment has been prevalent within the GUSD over the past several years.

NOTE: Arizona SilverBelt. reported recently that a class action lawsuit involving several teachers and administrators was filed in Gila County Court in September against Timothy Trent and Daisy Flores.

(3) As a result of Dr. Trent appointing himself as GUSD Business Manager (Chief Financial Officer) on September 24, 2008 and October 8, 2008… and assuming responsibilities for cash management and completion reports…has led to the degrading of the entire GUSD Human Resource, Procurement and Financial Systems.

Without a highly competent business manager who will adhere to USFR and other legal and administrative rules and regulations the District, in our opinion, has either lost or abused many hundred’s of thousands of dollars over a short period of time.

Just recently, Flores’ office sent out a press release (posted on gila101.9) detailing, what they say are corrections to one of the allegations in the Audit: (1) That after her husband Trent requested an early voter list of individuals who voted in the May 2007 override and was denied access by Linda Haught-Ortega, Bryan Chambers and Rob Miller with the County Attorney’s office came to argue the issue in support of release, and when this didn’t result in a release of documents, that she had a visit by Flores herself who concurred with Ortega that the statute precluded the use to which Trent had stated. The press statement issued by Bryan Chambers, argues that Ortega came to him for advice on the matter. Not the other way around. And noted that Rob Miller was not actually on the County Attorney’s payroll at that time (it would be another 2.5 months before he was actually put on the payroll), but it does not deny that Trent requested the documents, nor does it broach the subject of the intent of such a request.

Chamber states that even after being denied access, Trent visited his office to “re-urge” his request. The Audit goes on to say that they were told by the Gila County Recorder she had received calls from teachers that worked for the District asking “if Dr. Trent could find out how they voted?” She said they called her office “in fear that Dr. Trent could tell how they voted.” Others at the District office voiced the same concern to our consultants.

Perhaps, in addition to counseling the County Recorder on her right to withhold records, Flores might also have counseled her husband on the efficacy of his request in the first place.

The Audit goes on to outline other connections with the County Attorney’s office, backed up by the recent press release :

Rob Thompson, who you’ll recall from the latest press release by the County Attorney’s office, worked 19 hours as a part time Deputy Gila County Attorney from August of ’07 to February of ’08, and then turned up at Globe Unified School District as the Assistant Principal at the High School with a salary of $67,000 although he did not hold an Arizona Administrative Certificate. Miller went on to actually received a total of $129,431.99 during one and a half year period – mostly from consulting to the District.

When Liz Atilano informed Dr. Trent that Rob Thompson did not hold an administrator certificate, Trent told her to just put his position down as Dean of Students.

Another favorite son of both the CA’s office and the District, appears to have been Timothy Leach who operated under his own name, and his business known as “From the Eyes of  a Child” and a business known as ” Through the Eyes of a Child.” Leach had originally been an employee of the District in ’05, but resigned in October of ’05 and reappeared as an independent contractor in January of ’06. Leach was paid a total of $293,357.07 by the District over 3 years. He also worked for the County Attorney’s office according to the Board of Supervisor’s minutes.

During his stint at GUSD, he was paid $8,450 to produce a DVD which Leach said said he was well qualified to produce, having done so for another client. However, it seems he passed the work off, as he confirms in the audit, the DVD was “100% done by a high school senior” and despite such a large investment by the District, not one copy was ever published or put on the website. Nor was it easy to find any copies. The reviewers did finally track down one copy and their report states ” the poor quality of the DVD would indicate it was not used.”

Leach won the contract to do this DVD in a bid process which included a bid by now acting CPA Dean, Tamara Gilinski who says she has only bid on one contract with the District (an AIMS contract), so how her name and bid appeared on the DVD ( TamaraGalinskiDVD ) is….well, a mystery at this point. (Her name shows up as a bidder on other Leach contracts, alas to no avail. Leach goes on to win each contract, even after he turns in one bid past the 5pm cut off.)

In another PO for $28,600, Dr. Trent directed a GUSD employee to advertise the RFP in the Payson paper – not one of general circulation in the area. The published dates of the RFP were within 5 days of each other, failing to meet the minimum standard of 14 days to allow bidders sufficient time to participate. Low and Behold, there was only one proposal for this contract, that being From the Eyes of a Child and the Board approved RFP 29-23-13 with a cap of $75,000. Tom Leach was paid 75,000 under this RFP “without any paramenters. Invoices did not reflect days or hours worked.”