Desert Foothills Theater Announces 2006 Scholarship Recipients

Every year, as part of the Desert Foothills Theater Youth Education Program, DFT awards two $500 scholarships to deserving graduating high school seniors in the Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Deer Valley and Paradise Valley school districts. These students have demonstrated excellence in the performing arts, academic studies and community service, and plan to continue in the performing arts after graduation. This year's award recipients are Cactus High School Seniors Chie Morita and Andrew Cupo, both of whom have been active in DFT productions for many years.

Ms. Morita is a talented and enthusiastic tech crew and cast member in Desert Foothills Theater productions, including lighting operator for DFT's last show, "Forever Plaid." She appeared on stage this past season in DFT's musical, "Into The Woods" as "Shadow" and "Cinderella's Mother." She has also had prior acting experience with Cactus Shadows High School , Desert Foothills Community Education, and Alithea Creations productions.

"In college, I intend on double majoring in business management and theatre at Northern Arizona University ,"says Morita. This very ambitious girl plans on using an education in microeconomics and stage management to provide a base for graduate studies and eventually manage her own theatre.

Andrew Cupo has also been a reliable and energetic presence backstage at DFT, filling nearly every role from running-crew to stage manager, most recently serving as a lighting operator in Forever Plaid. Mr. Cupo also performed on stage in Cactus Shadows High School productions of Rumors, Beauty and the Beast, A Midsummer's Night Dream and Grease.

"My love of the technical aspects of theatre is my main goal for pursuing Theatre Education and Technical Theatre majors. My attendance at NAU is going to prepare me for my future career as a Broadway lighting designer or high school theatre teacher." says Cupo.

The awards were presented by Susan Vanik, president of the Foothills Community Foundation, Toby Payne, chairman of Desert Foothills Theater, Kevin Glenn, artistic director of Desert Foothills Theater and Louise Rosenburgh, incoming president of the Foothills Community Foundation, in front of a full house at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center prior to the final performance of DFT's Forever Plaid. Desert Foothills Theater is a program of the Foothills Community Foundation. INFO> 480-488-1981; www.desertfoothillstheater.com

New Trauma Center Medical Director Plans Safety Outreach

John C. Lincoln's new Trauma Center medical director is planning an ongoing public education program to promote safety and reduce injuries that require hospital care.

"A large number of the patients we treat have suffered life-threatening blunt force injuries," says Christopher Salvino, MD, FACS, who on March 1 assumed leadership of John C. Lincoln's Trauma Center at the Health Network's North Mountain hospital. "These are the kinds of injuries that come from crashes when people operate vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when they run red lights, when they fail to wear seat belts or helmets.

"These injuries could have been prevented, which means both heartrending human tragedies and the truly staggering economic costs to the community can be reduced," Dr. Salvino says. "Our plan," he says, "is to do everything we can to save lives by continuing to provide the highest quality medical service for critically injured patients who come to us for care, but also by preventing these injuries through public education." A trained educator from John C. Lincoln's Trauma Services staff will contact area schools and community organizations to promote sober driving, stopping on red and wearing seatbelts and helmets.

Dr. Salvino, a board certified trauma surgeon, came to Phoenix from Chicago, IL, where he started an American College of Surgeons (ACS) verified Level I Trauma Center and ran it for ten years. Part of his mission at John C. Lincoln is to lead its Trauma Center to official ACS Level I verification, a relatively new designation for the nation's Trauma Centers. That means in addition to implementing public safety education outreach programs, Dr. Salvino will be supervising the development of all other programs which are required to qualify for the ACS Level I verification.

Dr. Salvino's academic education includes Bachelor's degrees in both biology and mechanical engineering, and Master's degrees in aerospace medicine, space studies and flight test technology. He earned his doctorate degree in medicine at Loyola University , where he completed a residency in general surgery and a fellowship in trauma medicine.

A jet pilot with helicopter training, Dr. Salvino has served as an F-16 flight surgeon as well as State Air Surgeon of Indiana for the Air National Guard. His professional experience in trauma medicine includes serving as medical director and pilot for an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) fixed wing program, and starting and supervising an EMS helicopter program.

He has worked as a volunteer surgeon in Somalia with the Nobel Prize-winning international medical service organization Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and more recently did volunteer surgery in Bolivia . Dr. Salvino has taught and led research in trauma and aerospace medicine, including pioneering work in trauma laparoscopy. His published work has appeared in a variety of books, trade publications and medical journals. INFO> 602-870-6309; www.jcl.com

What is the Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Anthem?

Have you recently moved to the Anthem or one of its neighboring towns, or have you lived in the area for several years? Either way, the Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Anthem (NNCOA) is the perfect opportunity for you to meet new and existing neighbors, make new friends, and become more involved in your community.

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Anthem began in October of 2005. It is a volunteer organization designed for Anthem residents, and its' neighboring towns (men, women, husbands, wives, and families of ALL ages), who have either lived here for several years or only a few days. We encourage new friendships and bring existing friends and neighbors together to make new friends and share their enthusiasm of living in the North Valley and the enjoyable lifestyle of Arizona . We are a network of friendships, entertainment, companionship, information exchange, education, enjoyable adult and family activities, and lots of fun!

Best of all, membership is FREE . You will enjoy a monthly newsletter (via email) that will keep you informed of upcoming events, activities, and interest group gatherings such as: children's playgroups, adults night out, ladies night out, men's poker night (and night out), memory albums, book discussion groups, golf groups, couples night out, supper club, and much, much more!! We encourage you to become involved in as many activities as you would like or just enjoy reading our informative monthly newsletter.

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Anthem is a non-political, non-partisan, non-sectarian, and non-discriminating organization. We are extremely proud and enthusiastic about the positive response that we have received from the community and our members. We continue to have new members join our group every day. Although it is not a requirement , we are very gracious and appreciative for our members that are able to volunteer their time to help coordinate interest groups and help with different activities within the club. If you like people, and are organized and friendly, we encourage you to join our group of volunteers, or even start your own interest group. INFO> Kim and Gary McGurin, kgmcgurin@cox.net

Desert Foothills Theater Cancels 2006-2007 Season

It's been a sad time for the arts community in the Phoenix area. On the heels of last month's closing of the West Valley Symphony, comes the news of the cancellation of the Desert Foothills Theater's season for 2006-2007. However, they are quick to point out, this doesn't mean the 31-year old community theater is closing - not if they have anything to do with it! Susan Vanik, the President of the Foothills Community Association, says: "As long as there is a Foothills Foundation, there will be a Desert Foothills Theater."

DFT volunteers will use the 2006-2007 Season to focus on fundraising and building a 'hope chest' that will allow the community theater company to continue performing in the Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale area. Desert Foothills Theater plans to produce smaller venue entertainment and fundraising events in 2006-2007 to support the 2007-2008 Season.

"It all boils down to fundraising," says Desert Foothills Theater chairman Toby Payne. "Lots of people see our shows, which are terrific, and say to themselves, 'How could a theater like DFT be in trouble? Impossible.' But here we are. It isn't a question of show quality or of the ability to draw a crowd." DFT has been honored with forty-six ariZoni Award nominations and draws strong audiences in a 400-seat venue. "Putting on a Broadway-style show, as DFT has been doing, is expensive and we can't raise ticket prices to the level that it would take to cover current production and administrative costs of the theater."

Most people would probably be surprised to find out how much it costs to put on a show at a theater that is so far away from the lights of Broadway. Musicals, in particular, cost a lot of money because of the high cost of royalties. For instance, it cost DFT $8,400 for the royalties to perform their last musical, Forever Plaid . In addition, the theater has the cost of renting the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center - something like $650 a day! Add to these basic costs, the price of buying the materials to build the sets, and paying for the costuming, lighting, sound equipment, publicity materials, and the cost of a live orchestra, and you can see that a typical musical production can cost anywhere from $18,000 to $30,000.

To volunteer or to make a donation, contact the Desert Foothills Theater through the Foothills Community Foundation at (480) 488-1090 or mail donations to: Desert Foothills Theater, P.O. Box 2074 , Carefree , AZ 85377 . Desert Foothills Theater is a program of the Foothills Community Foundation. INFO> 480-488-1981; www.desertfoothillstheater.com

Elected to Institute for Mental Health Research Board

Laura Lawless, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and the former Miss Arizona; psychiatrist Dr. Gary Grove; and Robert S. Tancer, Professor Emeritus of International Studies at the Garvin School of International Management, have been elected to the Institute for Mental Health Research (IMHR) Board of Directors.

Lawless, Miss Arizona in 2002 and a semifinalist in the national Miss America pageant that year, has been a leading advocate for issues and organizations relating to mental health. Having been diagnosed with clinical depression at 17, she used her position as Miss Arizona to serve as a spokesperson in the mental health consumer advocacy movement.

Lawless received the Women's Mental Health Program, University of Arizona College of Medicine's Hero in Women's Health Award in 2004. She has been featured on CNN, in People Magazine, Woman's World Magazine, The Washington Post and other national media outlets and is a motivational speaker for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

A 2005 magna cum laude graduate of the Arizona State University College of Law, Lawless earned her undergraduate degree in 2000 from Harvard University . She joined Greenberg Traurig as an associate in Labor and Employment in August 2005 after serving as a summer associate with the firm in 2004 and following an externship with the Arizona Center for Disability Law that spring.

Grove, a Board Certified general and geriatric psychiatrist also has certification by the American Society of Clinical Psychpharmacology. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has been a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society since 1986. He serves on the Alzheimer's Association Medical and Scientific Committee, and is a member of the faculty of the Good Samaritan Psychiatry Residency Program.

He is a speaker for several pharmaceutical companies doing round table discussions with primary care and other physicians to help them keep pace with advances in psychiatric disorders and their treatments. A 1987 graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, he received a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 1977 and a Bachelor of Science from the University of California , Irvine .

Tancer teaches a course on legal problems of international business in the Executive Program at Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management. Prior to his retirement, he taught courses at the graduate and executive level in intellectual property, legal problems of international business and trade, competitive policy, competitive policy, the World Trade Organization and the pharmaceutical industry.

He is a graduate of the University of Michigan College of Law and received his Master of Laws (LL.M) from Harvard University , concentrating in international and comparative law. He has practiced in Washington , D.C. , Buenos Aires , Argentina and Phoenix and also worked for the Department of State.

He currently serves as a consultant in matters of international business organizations, outsourcing and assembly operations and has contributed articles to various trade journals in intellectual property in world trade, foreign investment and the pharmaceutical industry. INFO> www.imhr.org

Music Man Auditions

The Music Man is coming! Starlight Community Theater is pleased to announce auditions for its first production with a cast of both adults and youth. Auditions will be held at the Anthem Community Center Pioneer room on the following days: May 21 st from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and from 4:30 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, May 23 and Wednesday, May 24 th , both from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Show dates are July 28, 29 and August 4th and 5 th .

Meredith Willson's The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City , Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize - this despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. Tap your feet and enjoy many well-known favorite songs like 76 Trombones, Wells Fargo Wagon, and Lida Rose. By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. INFO> Betty Towne, 623-594-3832; bettymt@cox.net

Locks of Love

Losing your hair is never fun for anyone, even for those of us whose hair thins a bit as we get older. But, it's a fact of life and we accept it. However, for people, particularly children, who lose their hair because of cancer or have a medical condition called Alopecia, it is especially traumatic.

That's where Locks of Love comes in. It's a way for many of us (particularly girls and women) to help someone, and all we have to do is donate some of our hair! The Fellowship Church in Anthem is planning a big party for this coming December, where hair stylists will be ready to shear off the locks of those of us who volunteer so that it can be used to make wigs for children who have lost their hair to illness. What a great way to do something nice for someone else just before Christmas. You don't have to be a member of the Fellowship Church - just someone who is willing to grow their hair between now and December so that the minimum ten inches of hair can be collected for this very worthy cause. Most of the hair donated to Locks of Love comes from children who wish to help other children.

The guidelines are as follows: the hair must be a minimum of ten inches in length (tip to tip) - not wigs, falls or synthetic hair; the hair must be bundled into a ponytail or braid; hair will be gladly accepted from men and women, young and old, all colors and races; hair may be colored or permed, but not bleached or chemically damaged; curly hair can be straightened to measure the minimum ten inches; layered hair is ok. All you have to do is care and donate some hair! INFO> Lisa Foreman, 623-308-2990.