The 6^th annual Bisbee Blues Festival announced its 2010 musical line up today.  Spokesperson Paul Orlando stated that the festival has signed Tel Arc recording artist Tab Benoit as the main, but not the only, headliner for this year’s show.  “Tab Benoit certainly deserves top billing at this year’s Bisbee Blues Festival”, said Orlando, “but we have another equally talented artist, Shemekia Copeland, who could headline the event on her own.”

Besides his three Grammy nominations, Benoit won Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year and the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year at the Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards) in 2007. The BMA award is one of the highest honors a blues musician can receive.

There have been many comparisons of Benoit to blues guitar heavyweights like Albert King, Albert Collins and even Jimi Hendrix. Despite the hype, Benoit has done his best over the years to maintain a commitment to his Cajun roots.

Benoit’s latest CD is Night Train To Nashville, recorded in Nashville in May 2007. This album captures the magic and intensity of Benoit in a live setting, joined by his faithful backup unit and New Orleans mainstay, Louisiana’s LeRoux, and a series of guests representing some of the most talented voices on the current blues, Cajun and country scenes.

An environmental activist as well as a stellar blues musician, Benoit has made the preservation of the endangered delta wetlands his personal crusade. He serves as president of Voice of the Wetlands, an environmental organization he co-founded in 2003, and he appeared prominently inHurricane on the Bayou, a 2006 documentary by filmmaker McGillivray Freeman that chronicles life in Louisiana after Katrina.

Shemekia Copeland, although young, is already a force to be reckoned with in the blues world. While still in her 20s, she opened for the Rolling Stones, headlined at the Chicago Blues Festival and numerous festivals around the world, scored critics choice awards on both sides of the Atlantic (The New York Times and The Times of London) and shared the stage with such luminaries as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Taj Mahal and John Mayer. Heir to the rich tradition of soul-drenched divas like Ruth Brown, Etta James and Koko Taylor, Copeland’s shot at the eventual title of Queen of the Blues is pretty clear. By some standards, she may already be there.

In 2004, at the 25^th W.C. Handy Award Nominations, Copeland won the Blues Entertainer of the Year award and Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year.  In 2005 she won Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year once again.  In 2006 she repeated the feat again and added Contemporary Blues Album of the Year to the list.  Then, she won Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year again in 2007.

Copeland’s passion for singing, matched with her huge voice, gives her music a timeless power and a heart-pounding urgency. Her music comes from deep within her soul and from the streets where she grew up, surrounded by the everyday sounds of the city – street performers, gospel singers, blasting radios, bands in local parks and so much more.

“These two artists could stage a blues festival on their own, but we have more great talent coming to lend them a hand”, says Orlando.  “The 2010 Bisbee Blues Festival will also host Bob Corritore, Big Pete Pearson and the Rhythm Room All Stars, a Phoenix based blues band with its own great pedigree.  Train Wreck, a local favorite, and a well regarded Tucson band called The Hounds will round out the card.”

The 6^th annual Bisbee Blues Festival is on Saturday, September 25^th, at the historic Warren Ballpark, in Bisbee.   Budweiser is the presenting sponsor, with additional support from Aegis, Freeport McMoRan and Superior Metal Buildings and Roofing.  The gates open at 10:00 am and the show will begin at 11:00am.

Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the gate and are on sale now.  They are available on the internet at www.thebisbeebluesfestival.com; at the Bisbee Visitor’s Center ; at High Desert Market & Café, in Bisbee; Safeway, in Sierra Vista; and at Zia Record Exchange, in Tucson and Phoenix.

AUGUST 2010

Can it really be true?  Is it really August already?  Yes, Virginia – it’s once again time to report to the classroom for another scholastic year of academic achievement and excellence.  For some the month of August is also the last gasp of summer vacations as at least one more trek into Arizona’s mountains or long weekend trip to San Diego is undertaken.  However, the one thread that’s common to all of us is the need to once again practice vigilance when we drive through school zones and crossings: slow down to 15 mph, don’t pass one another, and keep an eye out for children who don’t always wait for the crosswalk and a crossing guard.

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And finally a link to AOT’s travel identification information

http://www.arizonaguide.com/arizona-travel-info/identification-requirements

Here is a link to the governor’s Myths and Facts sheet

http://azgovernor.gov/documents/BorderSecurity/SB1070MythsandFacts.pdf
and more information from the governor’s website
http://azgovernor.gov/AZBorderSecurity.asp

Here is a link to the 1070 information on the AZ Peace Officer Standards Training website.  The entire video is available here.

http://www.azpost.state.az.us/SB1070infocenter.htm

(Tucson, Arizona) On Wednesday, July 28, 2010, Governor Jan Brewer announced a $1.5 million grant for the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI), a technology business incubator located at the UA Tech Park.

The grant will provide funding for AzCI to purchase laboratory equipment, establish a “Mentor in Residence Program” and develop a commercialization training program that can be implemented state-wide. The grant is funded from federal stimulus dollars.

“This grant is a wonderful way to emphasize the importance of developing a technology based economy in our state by growing our own technology companies. We have the ‘idea’ assets with our universities and several strong industries, but need to develop a stronger infrastructure that supports the entrepreneur,” says Governor Brewer.  “Today, I am building on my vision for the new Arizona Commerce Authority – expanding the toolbox to help Arizona entrepreneurs, grow Arizona businesses, and create more jobs for Arizonans.”

The Arizona Center for Innovation provides structured business development for new technology companies. It works with University of Arizona students, faculty and staff in moving technology through the commercialization process to create new companies in Southern Arizona as well as entrepreneurs from the community. Founded in 2003, AzCI has assisted over 36 technology companies in the region.

“The Arizona Center for Innovation is pleased with the announcement of this grant as it will provide the funding to allow us to further develop programs to assist technology entrepreneurs in Southern Arizona and throughout the state,” says Bruce Wright, president of AzCI. “We have identified several needs where we could significantly enhance our programs and services for our clients, but were limited as a non-profit by a lack of funding and resources. This is a significant step in building the ‘Entrepreneurial Ecosystem’ in Southern Arizona and throughout the state of Arizona.”

The Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) is a non-profit, high tech business incubator located at the UA Science and Technology Park. The incubator promotes the development of high technology companies in Southern Arizona through a disciplined program of business development. Interested companies should contact the Center at 520.382.3260 or visit our website at www.azinnovation.com

Office of University Research Parks (OURP) plays a significant role in economic development with a focused approach on utilizing research parks and business incubators as technology development and commercialization tools.  OURP accomplishes this by creating environments that support and promote research, education, technology innovation and commercialization, and high technology business development and attraction.  OURP oversees the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park (UA Tech Park), Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI), and the Arizona Bioscience Park (UA Bio Park).

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and its private-sector leadership board position Arizona to be more responsive to business needs and opportunities.  Governor Brewer will serve as chair of the board and will be joined by a prestigious and powerful mix of Arizona’s business leaders, all of whom are committed to securing a more complete global competitiveness strategy to advance Arizona’s economy and create quality jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping businesses in targeted, high growth, base industries.

Three opened Monday, two more expected to reopen in coming days

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation reopened three rest areas along state highways Monday, removing barricades that have been in place since last fall. Sacaton (I-10), southbound Canoa Ranch (I-19) and Ehrenberg (I-10) are now open for travelers.

The northbound side of Canoa Ranch will open later this week, in addition to Meteor Crater (I-40) and San Simon (I-10), as repairs and maintenance issues are finalized. By July 31, five previously closed rest areas will again be in operations.

Four more rest areas are expected to reopen this fall.

Rest areas were temporarily closed last October as a result of the state’s budget crisis, declines in transportation revenues and a need to focus on critical wintertime safety. Those rest areas are now reopening, due to a stabilizing financial situation and through careful planning and budgeting by ADOT.

Once all nine rest areas are reopened, the total number of operational rest areas around the state will be 14. Those rest areas are: Bouse Wash (I-10), Burnt Well (I-10), Canoa Ranch (I-19), Ehrenberg (I-10), Hassayampa (US 60), Haviland (I-40), McGuireville (I-17), Meteor Crater (I-40), Painted Cliffs (I-40), San Simon (I-10), Sacaton (I-10), Sentinel (I-8), Sunset Point (I-17) and Texas Canyon (I-10).

Four additional rest areas – Mazatzal (SR 87), Mohawk (I-8), Parks (I-40) and Salt River Canyon (US 60) – will remain closed due to serious repair issues.

Each year, Arizona spends about $320,000 per rest area for maintenance, electricity and water services. Funding for these facilities comes from the State Highway Fund, which is comprised of revenue from the state fuel tax and vehicle license tax.

Rest areas are required to be funded from the same ADOT budget source as critical public safety services, like snow removal, roadway maintenance and highway crash response. This budget—ADOT’s operating budget—is the same one that also funds MVD customer service and law enforcement support. It’s a budget that is often severely constrained by a requirement to balance critical needs across the state.

Arizona is pushing for reform at the federal level to change how rest areas are funded nationally. Long-term solutions still need to be considered to keep rest areas open and operational year after year.

ADOT Director John Halikowski says states with younger infrastructure, like Arizona, need changes at the federal level to allow for partnerships to operate rest areas, or privatization. Only states with rest areas in operation before passage of the 1956 Interstate Highway Act are eligible to privatize, outsource or engage in public-private partnerships for rest areas. Arizona has none of those options, and unlike East Coast states, has long stretches of open highway, some with few driver services.

Arizona continues to work toward a program to join forces with appropriate businesses adjoining highways to designate existing establishments as state-certified rest areas. Our state also continues to work with its Congressional delegation and other states to seek changes in federal law to allow for alternative funding strategies and the flexibility to use federal highway funds to support rest areas.

Happy Birthday USA: this July 4^th there are 234 candles on that really BIG cake!  On behalf of myself, my family, and, I’m confident, my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors, here’s a heartfelt “Thank You!” to all those Americans who have or are serving in our armed forces in order to protect and preserve our democratic form of government with all the privileges we enjoy today.  I want to especially take this time to salute not only the men and women who are serving today – particularly those warriors in harm’s way in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world – but their families as well.  Theirs is often the hardest battle and they deserve not only our gratitude for their sacrifices but our support during these long, lonely months of separation.

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Elevate and make your Event Great with Straight to the Plate! Sue Carlisle, owner of Straight to the Plate Catering, is very passionate about her business and takes this tag line very seriously. In the last 2 ½ years, she has served over 3500 guests from small office parties and open houses to large events for 550. Each event is special, unique and lots of fun for Sue. “I get to be part of making great memories and fulfilling a bride’s dream wedding or helping a company elevate their game by providing a great catering event for their board, customers or employees.” Sue is great at listening to the desires of her clients and providing wonderful, flavorful food and excellent customer service. Last month, Straight to the Plate was honored to be 1 of 3 caters featured for the 17th annual hospitality event, “Cool off in Style” event which hosted 550 guests at the Phoenix Museum for Children.

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AK-CHIN — So no finally means yes, it would seem.

As representatives from the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Harrah’s Entertainment and the city of Maricopa joined a crowd of more than 125 on hand last week for the groundbreaking of a $20 million, five-story hotel expansion project at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort, the facility’s general manager, Geoff Andres, gave a simple yet poignant anecdote to help answer an obvious question: “Why now?”

“Why would we be adding a hotel tower in a down economy? Well, I’ll tell you, my friends, we are sold out every night,” said an energetic Andres of the property’s current 140-plus-room setup. “In fact, do you guys want a room tonight? … Well you can’t have one, because we’re full!”

No, western Pinal County’s only gaming facility doesn’t have much availability, and yes, that’s exactly why the time is right, he contends, to expand.

“That’s been the story for us for quite some time,” he said. “We’re excited to be able to add these hotel rooms, we think it’s going to be a great thing for this business, and we also think it’s going to be a great thing for the city of Maricopa.”
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