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Hugh Jackman in Tempe for "Wolverine" premier

The Aussie star was met by a crowd of fans in Tempe, Arizona for the premiere of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" as he roared into town on a motorcycle. Why Tempe, you may ask? Well, the Tempe won an online voting contest and subsequently hosted the film opening.

Our mayor is presenting him with his own parking space.

Tempe household waste facility celebrates 10 years

Just in time for Earth Day, this week the City of Tempe’s Household Products Collection Center (HPCC) celebrates 10 years of protecting the health and safety of Tempe and Guadalupe residents. 

Since opening on April 22, 1999, the center – the first of its kind in the Valley – has recycled more than 1.5 million pounds of potentially hazardous household waste. An estimated 55 percent of materials collected are flammable and toxic, such as gasoline and insecticides, while another 25 percent includes batteries and “e-waste,” such as computers and monitors. The HPCC recycles more than 88 percent of the materials it receives, saving space in our landfills and saving our storm drains and groundwater from potential contamination. 

Recent trends toward “green” living and sustainability have resonated with residents, as shown by a record-breaking year in 2008 at the HPCC. So far in 2009, the center is on pace to exceed that record. HPCC employees make use of paint that has been dropped off at the center, mixing it to make other colors that can be re-used by the city. Patrons to the center can even “shop” for free items they need, including paint, stains, cleaning products, automotive products, and lawn and garden products.

The center is open Fridays 7 a.m. to noon and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The HPCC is located at 1320 E. University Drive, on the north side of University just west of McClintock Drive. Proof of Tempe or Guadalupe residency is required in the form of a driver’s license or water bill. Items that cannot be accepted include appliances, tires and explosives. For a list of accepted items and for ways to safely transport items to the HPCC, visit www.tempe.gov/HHW or call 480-858-2223.

Demolition begins for Tempe Historical Museum renovation

Major demolition, including removal of the front entrance, will begin on Tuesday at the Tempe Historical Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave. The Tempe museum is currently closed to the public and is scheduled to reopen in March.  

Renovations include developing a children's area that involves families and schools in historical and educational activities, redefining the exhibit area to feature flexible spaces with changing exhibits, integrating new technology with innovative interpretation to dramatically stage the stories of Tempe, increasing program space to accommodate up to 300 people, creating a versatile multi-use area and creating a dynamic, highly visible museum entrance. 

Museum services remain available; however, the museum staff will not be able to guarantee that immediate access will be given to anyone who chooses to come to the museum without an appointment.

•         Research, collection and photographic reproduction services will be available by appointment only by calling 480-350-5100.

•         Ongoing programs, such as the Third Thirstday Night Café and the Tempe Historical Society's Lunch Talks will continue on their regular schedules. However, they will take place at the Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road.

Renderings/Information: www.tempe.gov/museum/CIPinfo.htm

Tempe Art exhibit conveys culture, diversity

Newly created and familiar work will be on display in "Outsiders Within: Contemporary Work from Regional Latino/a and Native America Artists" from April 25-July 3 at the Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway.

The exhibition will showcase artwork by more than 17 artists with culturally-rich backgrounds. The exhibition will seek to explore a dialog with the artists and audiences about the way they are affected by their own backgrounds and how that might affect their approach to visual art. 

Artists are: Kade Twist, of Tempe; Jose A. Benevides, Alfredo Manzo Cedeno, Ingnacio Farias, Randy Kemp, Monica Martinez, Steven Yazzie and Frank Ybarra, all of Phoenix; Cristina Cardenas and William Wilson, both of Tucson; Ryan Huna Smith, of Prescott; Hoka Skenandore, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Marion Martinez, of Glorieta, N.M.; Maya Gonzales, of San Francisco, Calif.; Edwardo Oropeza, formerly of Silicon Valley, Calif.; Sarah Sense, of Sacramento, Calif.; Melanie Yazzie, of Boulder, Colo.; and Tlisza Jaurique and Marcus Zilliox, both of New York City. 

The title of the show, "Outsiders Within," is a play on words revealing the subtle nuances of artwork that doesn't always fit exclusively into one or more styles or art worlds - a perfect description of most of the art on display for Outsiders Within. 

The Gallery at TCA offers visitors a warm and friendly environment for thoughtful and engaging experiences. It features a variety of curated, traveling and juried exhibitions, from contemporary art by local and internationally recognized artists to themes of popular and cultural interest.

Tempe summer youth camps

Valley youngsters are invited to keep their minds and bodies active this summer break at Tempe’s fun and educational sports, enrichment and cultural camps. Camps begin the end of May and run through August, with a range of starting and ending dates to fit every schedule.

Parks and Recreation’s sports camps help young athletes of all abilities improve their game in soccer, volleyball, basketball and tennis. Kid Zone enrichment programs are full-day camps held weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at local schools for children entering 1st through 8th grades. Cultural camps teach visual and performing arts and allow youth the opportunity to exhibit their talents to family and friends. 

A complete list of Tempe’s summer camps, including fees and registration instructions, is available at www.tempe.gov/rec. For more information on Tempe’s sports camps, call Parks and Recreation at 480-350-5200. For details on Kid Zone’s summer programs, call 480-350-5400. Call 480-350-5287 or visit www.tempe.gov/arts for more information on Tempe’s cultural camps.

Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition for Tempe girls and boys

Tempe Parks and Recreation will host a free Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition for local girls and boys on Sunday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to noon at the ball fields at Kiwanis Park, Mill Avenue and All-America Way.

Pitch, Hit & Run is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball and softball skills.

Competitors are divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.

The individual Pitching, Hitting and Running Champions, along with the All-Around
Champion in each age group at the local competition, will advance to the sectional level of competition in Scottsdale.

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and fill out a registration and waiver form prior to the start of the competition. Forms will be available on site. For more information, please contact coordinator Bobbi Jones with Tempe Parks and Recreation at 480-350-5267.

Tempe partners with residents to eliminate weeds

The City of Tempe Public Works Department is providing weed control in the city’s alleys as a measure to eliminate the vegetation that quickly grows after winter rains. Alleys from the north city limit to US 60 are complete; alleys from US 60 to the south city limit will be completed by the end of April. The city is asking residents and property owners to pull or cut down the weeds in their yards and on their sides of alleys.

Weeds are an eyesore and a fire hazard. The City of Tempe has codes that require residents and property owners to maintain their properties free from weeds or nuisances that may result in visual blight, fire or safety hazards, and neighborhood or economic deterioration. This includes grass or weeds over 12 inches tall, vegetation growing through gravel, or dead grass, weeds or other vegetation that may create a fire hazard.
“As the weather warms and the weeds dry up, the potential for fire is very real,” said John Osgood, deputy public works manager. “It is important that residents take their weed removal responsibilities seriously for reasons of fire safety and to be good neighbors by keeping their properties and alleys looking clean.”

Tempe has more than 165 miles of unpaved alleys and, by city code, property owners are charged with taking care of the alley space directly behind their homes, in addition to their property. As a result, the city is requesting help from residents in removing the dead weeds and keeping alleys and yards as well maintained as possible.

“Ideally they will bag up what they can and place them in the 300-gallon container in the alley,” Osgood said. “Or they can bundle them up and place them in a pile adjacent to their alley wall.”
For more information, call the Neighborhood Enhancement Division at 480-350-8372 or visit www.tempe.gov/codecompliance. For more information, call Street Maintenance in the Public Works Department at 480-350-8229.

Tempe continues to move forward with new businesses and developments

On the heels of the BusinessWeek designation as Best Place in Arizona to start a business, here is a list of some of the positive economic events that either have taken place in Tempe over the last three months or are coming forward in the next couple months.

Tempe Economic Development was vital in recruiting 25 new businesses last year and added hundreds of new jobs to the city. The Development Services Department has, so far this year, never seen a higher level of private capital investment -- $327 million this fiscal year. Much of that comes from new projects along the light rail line.

Development:

• Regency just opened -- 44 new condos, rehabilitating a 1950s building into state of the art housing just one block from ASU (www.regencytempe.com)
• Campus Suites on the Rail, at Apache and McClintock, will open this fall with new rental housing for students on the light rail line (www.campussuitesontherail.com)
• The Vue on Apache and Rural will also open with new rental housing for students. The development is almost completely filled. (www.thevueonapache.com)
• Tempe Gateway opens this July with 1,300 new parking spaces, new office space and retail space that is nearly 100% leased. (www.opuswest.com)
• Grigio Metro is pre-leasing for the opening in August with 180 move-ins anticipated. (www.grigiometro.com)
• Nearly 90% of the 525 apartments at Grigio Town Lake are leased. The Valley's most expensive luxury apartments. (www.grigio.com)
• 675 South is a 12 unit, five-story condo green-friendly infill project. Located just off Mill and on University, the project will be finished by July. (http://www.675south.com)
• The historic Fifth and Mill Building will be 100 percent occupied in late May. (www.tempe.gov/maps)
• New parking garage adjacent to City Hall in downtown Tempe opened on March 13, wrapped with 12,000 sq ft of office/retail space and including 438 parking spaces. (www.tempe.gov/parking)

New and Expanded Businesses:

• Medplast is adding a 20,000-square-foot clean room, a 20,000-square-foot white room, and many new engineering jobs by the end of the month. MedPlast Tempe focuses on the medical market and surgical tools. (www.medplastgroup.com/)
• MedImpact, the nation's largest pharmacy benefit management recently opened its southwest regional office in Tempe, and will eventually house as many as 200 employees. (www.medimpact.com)
• City Market and Deli has leased more than 2,000 square feet of space on the first floor of the Hayden Ferry Lakeside Retail Office Loft and is set to open this month. (http://www.citymarketanddeli.com/)
• Segway of Tempe is moving into Hayden Ferry Lakeside later this month to provide tours of Tempe Town Lake and sales of the Segway machines. 602 909-9188
• Knoll, Inc., a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded furniture and textiles for corporations, healthcare organizations and educational institutions as well as residences. Knoll is increasing its showroom size by 70 percent when it moves to Tempe, leasing 6,500 square feet in the Retail Office Lofts, a three-story office and retail building, at Hayden Ferry Lakeside. The new location will be one of 20 Knoll showrooms throughout North America. The company also distributes its products through a U.S. and Canadian dealership network. Knoll also has locations throughout Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East. (www.knoll.com)
• LandAmerica’s new Tempe facility includes 41,000 sq. ft. to house LandAmerica’s title production for Arizona, Nevada and California, as well as the escrow production for all LandAmerica branches, escrow officers and account managers in Arizona. Approximately 65 positions will be new hires.
• Arizona Production & Packaging, a leading manufacturer of liquid nutritional supplements, will be relocating its corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations to a Tempe facility. The 67,000 square-feet facility, located at 7303 South Kyrene Road, will house the company's office, distribution and manufacturing operations. (http://azpack.com/)
• Asic North, a Vermont based computer chip designer, is moving it’s new design center to Tempe. (www.asicnorth.com)
• While banks everywhere are closing and reorganizing, Comerica is going strong., and just opened a new branch on Mill Avenue that will cater to international students and global businesses. (www.comerica.com)

Sports/Tourism Business Development

• Spring Training continues to bring millions of dollars into the State and local economies. Tempe’s strong partnership with Arte Moreno and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim insures that kids and amateur ballplayers have a home throughout the year when the pros are back in LA.
• Global company, Athletic Republic, has opened a performance sports training center south of Kiwanis Park on Kyrene. Since 1990, over 570,000 athletes have taken advantage of the 160 facilities throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Russia and Japan. (www.athleticrepublic.com)

Tempe employees award two college scholarships

For the 21st year, a group of City of Tempe employees has awarded two $1,000 scholarships to local, college-bound students.

Each year, members of the Tempe Professional Development Club (TPDC) honor two students with the James L. Alexander Scholarship for Excellence, named after now-retired Tempe City Manager James Alexander.

The scholarships are awarded to the children of two Tempe employees based on community involvement, school honors and activities, academic achievement and a written essay. This year, the essay asked students to explore cultural, economic and environmental sustainability. The 2008-09 scholarships were awarded March 10 to Nina Porter, daughter of Prosecutor Nathan Porter, and Zachary Scott, son of Assistant Fire Chief Marc Scott.

Nina Porter is a senior at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, where she is in the top two percent of her class with a weighted GPA of 4.4. She is involved in soccer, band, the National Honor Society and community volunteering. Porter will attend Northern Arizona University and will study biology or biochemistry. 

Zachary Scott is a senior at Gilbert High School, where he is in the top one percent of his class with a weighted GPA of 4.5. He is involved in football, the National Honor Society and community volunteering. Scott will attend Arizona State University and will study medicine or medical research.

Alexander was City Manager from 1983-88, and started his career with the city in 1968 as Financial Services Director. He founded the TPDC as an employee organization that would promote and improve management skills.

Tempe to induct eighth sister city on April 3

Tempe Sister Cities will celebrate the induction of its newest sister city, Cuenca, Ecuador, at a “Southwest Tapas” celebration on Friday, April 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hackett House, 95 W. Fourth St. Tempe welcomed its last sister city, Carlow, Ireland, in 1998. 

Cuenca is Tempe’s first sister city located in the Southern hemisphere, as well as first to feature Spanish as its national language. Official visitors from Cuenca will include Richard Boroto, Director of the Abraham Lincoln School in Cuenca, and Luis Gallegos Chiribogo, Ecuador Ambassador to the United States.

In honor of the newest sister city, guests can enjoy fabulous southwest tapas-style cuisine, including southwest paella, spicy pork empanadas, tortilla española, grilled chimichurri beef skewers, flan, lime bars, white chocolate toasted pecan tamales and much more. There will be a cash bar featuring mojitos, sangria, wine, beer and soft drinks.

Admission is $15 for Tempe Sister City members or $20 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at the Hackett House, or by calling 480-350-8181. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Tempe Sister Cities educational programs, which include the Annual Geography Bee, Cuisines of the World cooking classes, field trips for Tempe schoolchildren, Passport to Understanding children’s multi-cultural programs, the Young Artists program and more.

WHAT:     Induction of Cuenca, Ecuador into Tempe Sister Cities and
Southwest Tapas Celebration
WHO:    Hosted by Tempe Sister Cities Organization   
WHEN:    Friday, April 3, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE:     Hackett House
                95 W. Fourth St. (one block west of Mill Avenue on Fourth St.)

For more information, visit www.hacketthouse.org.

About Hackett House:
The Hackett House is an organization formed through friendships that helps promote world peace awareness by providing award-winning children’s programs for the City of Tempe. It is the headquarters for the Tempe Sister Cities organization and offers a fun and exciting environment that encourages the exchange of customs and cultures worldwide in a historical setting. 
About Tempe Sister Cities:
In 1971, Tempe and Skopje, Yugoslavia, joined together as “sister cities”, becoming part of the people-to-people program started in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and known today as Sister Cities International. Tempe went on to affiliate with Regensburg, Germany in 1976; Lower Hut, New Zealand in 1981; Zhenjiang, China and Timbuktu, Mali in 1989; Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France in 1997 and Carlow, Ireland in 1998.  Cuenca, Ecuador was added in 2009.

The Sister City concept of citizen involvement is unique in international programs because it provides the opportunity for everyday people of two cultures to exchange ideas and opinions, and hopefully, become friends.