State News

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STATE NEWS NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS!

By Amanda Salvione

A new year brings new laws into action. The laws to watch in 2017 range from simple form changes to moves to increase hourly wages and, across the nation, indicate certain trends for changes in marijuana legalization and cellphone usage.

MINIMUM WAGE

In November, Arizona voters passed Proposition 206 to increase minimum wage to $12 by 2020. As of January 1st minimum wage increased from $8.05 to $10 per hour. Consumers should watch for business owners’ response to the impact on profi ts and the cost of goods and services.

REVISED I-9 FORM

Starting January 22nd, employers will need to use the revised I-9 form to verify new hire eligibility status. Among other changes, employees will have to disclose whether a translator or preparer helped complete the form. New administration may change verifi cation requirements further in the future.

THE REAL ID ACT

REAL ID Act continues to phase in during 2017. Starting January 30th, in Kentucky, Maine, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Carolina people will be unable to enter federal buildings with their non-compliant state issued driver’s license and will need to obtain proper federal identifi cation. Arizona is in compliance with REAL ID guidelines to date. But if you still haven’t obtained the new version of Arizona’s driver’s license, add it to your New Year’s resolution list! Looking far ahead, in 2020 every air traveler will be required to present a REAL-ID compliant license.

MARIJUANA USAGE

California, Maine, Nevada and Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational marijuana use. A grand total of eight states have legalized recreational use as of the start of 2017. Arizona voters rejected its ballot initiative for legalization, but another attempt may show up next election cycle. This is an area to watch due to possible federal policy changes under the new presidential administration.

CELLPHONES IN THE CAR

For California drivers, 2017 brings the new law prohibiting them from holding cellphones in their hand for any reason, including app use. The phone can be mounted and used through voice commands, but no quick picture snapping while driving. With increased mortality of people texting and driving, watch to see if other states, such as Arizona, adopt a similar restriction on cell use.

Amanda Salvione is an attorney with Radix Law.

CITY NEWS

THE WESTBROOK VILLAGE PLAYERS PRESENT THE ODD COUPLE (FEMALE VERSION)

SYNOPSIS: Unger and Madison are at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in Neil Simon’s hilarious contemporary comic classic: the female version of The Odd Couple. Instead of the poker party that begins the original version, Ms. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The Pidgeon sisters have been replaced by the two Constanzuela brothers. But the hilarity remains the same.

DATES/TIMES: March 17 & 18, 2017 – BYOB, 6:15 pm; Play, 7 pm March 19, 2017 – BYOB, 1:15 pm; Matinee, 2 pm TABLE SEATING

LOCATION: Vistas Recreation Center Auditorium 18825 N. Country Club Parkway Peoria, AZ 85382 623-566-6178

TICKETS: $12.00 in advance; $13.00 at the door Sold at the Vistas Recreation Center & online at www. WestbrookVillagePlayers.org

DIRECTOR: Francine Rose

CAST (LEFT TO RIGHT): Mary Wright, Suzi Werner, Jeff Strickman, Rosa Leigh

CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER TO PERFORM STRAUSS HORN CONCERTO

NORTH VALLEY SYMPHONY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ORCHESTRA PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL FRENCH HORN FRENCH HORN PLAYER, PHILIP PLAYER, PHILIP JOHNSON, JOHNSON, will perform Franz perform Franz Strauss’ Horn Strauss’ Horn Concerto Op. Eight Concerto Op. Eight on Saturday, March on Saturday, March 4th, 7:00 p.m. at 4th, 7:00 p.m. at North Canyon High North Canyon High School Auditorium, School Auditorium, 1700 E. Union Hills 1700 E. Union Hills

Drive. Mr. Johnson Drive. Mr. Johnson was the winner of was the winner of

NVSO’s concerto NVSO’s concerto competition held competition held last September, with seven contenders vying for the opportunity to solo at an NVSO major concert.

Mr. Johnson completed his Sullivan, Vanessa Stiller, Ron Foltz, Mary Ellen Stepanich, Jacqueline Gaston undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University where he had the opportunity to study and perform under the direction of Dr. Patricia Hoy, former NAU Director of Bands, Director of the School of Music at the University of Memphis, and Dean of the Boston Conservatory. During this time, Mr. Johnson studied with his lifelong friend and musical mentor, Larry Conrad, a 28-year veteran of the Phoenix Symphony, with thirteen of those years serving as principal horn. Mr. Johnson has additionally performed with the Flagstaff Symphony, Flagstaff Festival Orchestra, Chandler Symphony, and is in his third year as principal horn for the North Valley Symphony Orchestra. He recently retired as a Captain with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (State Police) where one of his duties was the Bugler for the Honor Guard.

The concert will also feature the winner of the Summerford Violin Concerto Competition, yet to be announced, playing Accolay’s Violin Concerto #1 in a minor. In addition to performing at an NVSO major concert, this annual competition for NVSO Youth Orchestra members offers a prize of a violin hand-made by Mr. Jody Summerford, a local luthier living in Moon Valley, AZ.

The NVSO Orchestra will also perform Prokofi ev’s Symphony #1 Op. 25 “Classical” and Dvořák’s Symphony #7 in d minor Op. 70.

NVSO is committed to making concert tickets affordable for all. Tickets are only $5, and available on-line at http://www. northvalleysymphony.org/buytickets/

The Arizona Commission on the Arts offers funding to NVSO from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.

CITY NEWS

MIDDLE SCHOOL ‘PALS’ COLLECTING SUPPLIES TO HELP VICTIMS OF BULLYING PARENTS’ LACK OF FUNDS FOR PERSONAL CARE ITEMS CAN BE A TRIGGER FOR TEASING

WEST VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE PEER ASSISTANCE LEADERSHIP (PAL) PROGRAM ARE SEEKING DONATIONS of laundry detergent, body wash, deodorant and related items for students who endure bullying because of body odor, so DVUSD HAS FOUR ARIZONA FALL SPORTS CHAMPIONS: • Jesselyn Bries, Junior, Sandra Day O’Connor High School captured the state title in Cross Country. She fi nished with a time of 18 minutes, three seconds, which was one of her best times this season. • Claire Grover, Junior, Boulder Creek High School is the Girls Swim State Champion in the 50-yard Freestyle and 100-yard Breast Stroke. Claire was also the state swim champion last year in the 50-yard freestyle. • Noah Robinson, Senior, Sandra Day O’Connor fi nished at 9-under-par 133 to win the Boys State Golf Champion title. they have access to clean clothes and they have access to clean clothes and

toiletries before they go back to school from winter break.

Participants in PAL, a Catholic Charities program, are trained in the peer helping model, which includes communication, group dynamics, active listening and problem-solving. • MacKenzie Whitten, Senior Mountain Ridge High School swung her way to the Division I state championship for badminton. THE ARIZONA INTERSCHOLASTIC SWIMMING AND DIVING COACHES ASSOCIATION honored Boulder Creek High School’s Scott Newell as coach of the year. Scott has been the Swim and Dive coach at Boulder Creek High School for the past six years. Watching his students perform to the best of their abilities and being successful makes all the time and effort worthwhile. Many of his swimmers have earned regional, state swimmers have earned regional, state and national honors. When he isn’t coaching for BCHS, Scott serves as the aquatics coach for the Community the aquatics coach for the Community These “tweens” and early teens have These “tweens” and early teens have identifi ed a problem many adults have not recognized in body-odor related bullying, though some parenting guides advise parents to make sure their kids don’t have hygiene issues which could make them a target.

As many as one in fi ve students have limited access to clean clothes, because their families don’t own washer/dryers (or can’t afford the electricity to run them), have limited access to laundromats, or can’t afford detergent or body soap. Many stay home rather than deal with the embarrassment or the bullies who single them out for hygiene issues beyond their control.

These kids need soaps and toiletries including: • Laundry detergent/dryer sheets • Deodorant/body wash/soap/ shampoo • Loofahs/washcloths/sponges

PAL participants have identifi ed two campuses where this problem Center in Anthem where the number of kids in the Dolphins swim program has tripled during his time there. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, DEER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STANDOUT Joey Ramos has been invited to attend the U.S. Army National Combine at the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio Texas in is particularly prevalent, K-8 schools in Phoenix and Glendale, and are reaching out to anyone in the community who can donate the supplies or gift cards which can be used to purchase them, or even help purchase washer/dryer units to install at the schools for students’ use.

Donations can be dropped off at Catholic Charities’ offi ces, 4747 N 7th Ave. in Phoenix. For more information on how to help contact Linda Tailleart, director of volunteer services at LTailleart@cc-az.org or (602) 650-4837.

Founded in 1933, Catholic Charities provides care for the vulnerable of all faiths in Phoenix and northern Arizona through programs in foster care, early start education, housing, veteran services, refugee relocation and poverty reduction. Learn more by visiting www.catholiccharitiesaz. org. Social connections include www. facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesAZ

DEER VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

and twitter.com/CCArizona. January. This year, he’ll be joined January. This year, he’ll be joined

by a teammate, Brandon McCrea. Brandon and Joey will join the nation’s top high school football underclassmen for this honored tradition. Being invited to this combine recognizes these 18 young men as two of the top players in the country for their graduating class. The U.S. Army National Combine boasts an impressive list of alumni featuring several current and former NFL players. NFL players.