YOUTH

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WV performers hit the stage for ‘Affair-athon’

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

When Valley Youth Theatre streams its VYTal Affair-athon fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 21, West Valley residents may recognize some familiar faces on stage.

Youth and adults from Litchfield Park, Buckeye and Avondale are among the nearly 100 performers who will take part in this year’s eight-hour, Jerry Lewis-style telethon featuring live and recorded interviews and performances from current “VYTkids” and alumni cast members. That includes stars of stage and screen like Broadway’s Nick Cartell, who recently completed a twoand-a-half-year run as Jean Valjean in the National Tour of “Les Misérables.”

Nineteen-year-old Max Mendoza of Avondale, who participated in last year’s VYTal Affair-athon, was eager to jump on stage and raise money for VYT.

“It means the world to me to be able to help out and perform at a theater that has given me so much during some of the most important times of my life,” said Mendoza, who has performed in seven VYT productions including “Tuck Everlasting,” “Newsies” and “The Wizard of Oz.” “VYT has helped me grow into the person and performer I am today. I will always be thankful for the opportunities provided and the people I’ve worked with and met.”

The fundraiser will stream live from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. at vyt.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/valleyyouththeatre. Viewers can tune anytime throughout the day.

VYT veterans like Mendoza will be joined by younger performers across the Valley — including 10-year-old Buckeye resident Luca Grasso, who performed in “Tuck Everlasting” and also participates in VYT’s show choir, VYTweens.

“My first acting experience was with VYT, and I was hooked from then on,” he said. “It’s so much fun to be a part of this group of kids and adults. I hope the community will come together to help raise funds to keep theater alive, especially after over a year of being shut down. Being a part of this show makes me feel like I’m a part of something special and extremely important.”

His sister, 15-year-old Gabriella, has performed in VYT’s productions of “They Chose Me!” and “Matilda the Musical” and is part of VYTeens. She, too, was excited to get on stage for VYTal Affair-athon.

“Being a part of Valley Youth Theatre has been a dream come true. They give children like me an opportunity not only to grow as a performer but as a person,” Gabriella said. “I’m blessed to be part of the VYT family, and I want to make sure to do my part to show those who run the programs how appreciative I am.”

The virtual event replaces the 27th annual VYTal Affair, the theater’s signature fundraiser. It’s the second year the

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VALLEYWIDE SERVICE • 602-550-7732 COVID-19 pandemic prompted VYT to take the event online, but there are benefits to the virtual platform.

“Hosting the event virtually gives us an opportunity to showcase the incredible talent in Phoenix to people around the world,” said Bobb Cooper, VYT’s longtime artistic director. “The cast for this fundraiser includes performers as young as 9 years old, seasoned professionals who were in our shows 30 years ago, and everyone in between. It’s going to be a day of amazing performances.”

This is certainly a boon for Litchfield Park 12-year-old William Richardson, who also is part of VYTweens.

“It means my grandparents and family in the U.K. get to see me, too, as they can livestream the performance, which is brilliant, as I haven’t been able to see them for two years because of the travel restrictions,” he said. “It’s a great way to be together even though we are 6,000 miles apart.”

Most of the performances were prerecorded in July. In addition to vocal numbers, the event will include live Zoom interviews with alumni, multitrack numbers and a few surprise guests.

“We are truly grateful for the swell of support we’ve received over the last 18 months,” Cooper said. “It has touched our hearts and reaffirmed our commitment to inspire young people to be the best they can be — on stage and, more importantly, in life.”

A highlight of the fundraiser is the 21year reunion of the cast of “West Side Story,” which VYT produced at the Herberger Theater in 2000. Five alumni performers from the original production — Nick Cartell, Katie “Rex” Casey, Chris Ciccarelli, Sharie “Combs” Nievar and Ian Sidden — will come together for a virtual performance of the powerful “Tonight Quintet.”

Each hour of the telethon will be hosted by locals, including Yetta Gibson, Gina Salazar Hook, John Hook, Brad Perry and Carey Peña. The fundraiser also will include a silent auction featuring travel, entertainment, skin care, spa, hotel, and food and beverage packages.

VYT will stage “Spookley the Square Pumpkin, The Musical” from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31. Rounding out the season are the 25th annual production of “A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Junie B. Jones, The Musical” and “High School Musical.”

If You Go...

What: VYTal Affair-athon: Benefiting Valley Youth Theatre When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 Where: vyt.com or facebook.com/valleyyouththeatre Cost: Donations to VYT Info: vyt.com

WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | AUGUST 18, 2021

Sandra Marshall brings creativity to Avondale

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

When Avondale Middle School was awarded the 21st Century Grant, a competitive grant that provides federal funding to establish community learning centers, Assistant Principal Susana Gonzales turned to Phoenix artist Sandra Marshall.

“I came across her Facebook page and saw the amazing work that children had accomplished with her program and under her instruction,” Gonzales said.

Since February, the Avondale Middle School Family Paint Night has attracted as many as 100 participants monthly via Zoom classes.

“We have only heard positive feedback regarding AMS Family Paint Night,” Gonzales said.

“Students are proud to bring their final products to school the day after the event for a group photo. Parents have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate and go on about how much fun it is. Students have told their peers about the experience, and our number of participants continues to increase.”

Marshall — a professional artist, food artist, award-winning author, and mother of two — provides art instruction and presentations to schools via grants and presentations via Nepris, an online program that connects educators and learners with industry professionals virtually.

“My mission in life is to share the joy that creating art brings,” Marshall said. “Creativity should be explored, enjoyed and celebrated. I always start the sessions having everyone unmute their microphones to say, ‘I can’t mess up.’ You really can’t. This takes the pressure off, and then we all have fun.”

Marshall works in all types of art mediums in addition to her painting. Her food art recreation of the 2021 inaugural meme of Sen. Bernie Sanders went viral when it was retweeted by author Stephen King.

Marshall said her version of “Feel the Bern” made from a small potato, kale and eggplant had over 6 million hits on social media.

“Everyone was eating it up,” Marshall said with a laugh.

Marshall’s first book was published in 2016. “One Hot Night at the Veggie Bar” earned a Silver Award in the NIEA (National Indie Excellence Awards) for its combination of clever stories and pictures of her food art geared toward adults.

The now internationally known artist and author has released her second book, “The Razzle Berry Wackadoodle Garden,” to introduce children to plantbased eating through a charming story and layers of her food art featuring healthy fruits and vegetables turned into animals and scenery.

“The children get so excited when they recognize the fruits and veggies in my art. This is a book of exploration and discovery,” Marshall said. “They look at these fruits and vegetables through the eyes of an artist, and it brings a whole new meaning to them. Produce is often taken for granted. This helps everyone see what a gift they truly are.”

Also an entrepreneur, Marshall previously owned Phoenix’s Be..An Artist Studio, where she taught children and adults to paint. It soon became a popular event venue for live entertainment and comedy nights. Marshall closed the brick-andmortar studio so she could expand into other areas, including hosting painting events for corporations and private parties. In 2019, Marshall was the official artist at the 2019 NFL owners meeting held at the Biltmore in Phoenix. She has hosted events for up to 500 people.

Each of her party attendees receives a kit with paint, brushes and canvas prior to the class.

She started providing online instruction for schools during the pandemic, and families at Avondale Middle School couldn’t be happier.

“Our goal was to create opportunities for families to spend time together, learning in a fun way,” Gonzales said. “We also wanted to provide enrichment activities that our families may not be able to afford. Our goal has also been to help strengthen family units and build positive relationships with families, and Sandra has helped us do just that.”

Bids Due: 1 pm Local Time on September 16, 2021 Rivulon Infrastructure Improvements Project Bid Package Details Gilbert, AZ NOTICE TO BIDDERS/ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

NOTICE is hereby given that sealed GC bid proposals will be received no later than September 16, 2021 until 1 pm local time. All sealed bids must be delivered and received at the offices of Nationwide Realty Investors located at 275 E Rivulon Blvd, Suite 113, Gilbert, AZ, 85297, Attention Dean Aquino. Please mark the outside of the sealed bid envelope with the project name. Any bid received after the specified time will be returned without review and/or consideration. No bid shall be altered, amended, or withdrawn after the specified bid due date and time. This contract shall be for furnishing (unless otherwise indicated) all labor, materials, transportation, services, taxes, and coordination for the construction and on site installation of all improvements shown on the documents, including, but not limited to demolition of existing irrigation facilities, construction of Salt River Project above grade ditches, below grade pipes and structures, and demolition and construction of private irrigation ditches, demolition of existing pavement and curbs, installation of new pavement, concrete curbs, concrete walks, utilities, irrigation and landscaping, street lights, traffic signal conduits, sewer, water, drainage, private irrigation main, and dry utilities, slurry seal, stripping, traffic control, and all required construction as shown on the construction documents. For bid information and/or questions please contact Dean Aquino (aquinod@nationwide.com) with NRI-Rivulon, LLC at 614.221.2012 or Greg Brown (gbrown@ hubbardengineering.com) and Michael Wolf (mwolf@hubbardengineering.com) with Hubbard Engineering, INC at 480-892-3313. All questions must be submitted in writing via email. The deadline for any final questions will be 5 pm local time on September 7, 2021. In order for all prospective bidders to have an extensive knowledge of the project a GC pre bid conference will be organized and held on Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at the NRI Management Office Suite located at 275 E. Rivulon Boulevard, Suite 113, Gilbert, AZ 85297. The pre-bid meeting is highly recommended but is not mandatory. The pre bid conference will include discussion of the plans, specifications, special provisions, and other project details. A pre-bid review and walk of the project site can be done at this time. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase bid sets of Plans, Special Provisions, and Bid Proposal Details from ARC Document Solutions by visiting Public Planroom (e-arc.com) to order and pay for a project bid set on-line, price to be determined based on the number of sets of reproduction requested. Please note that the documents may be downloaded (free of charge) using the on-line service Public Planroom (e-arc.com) All services for acquisition of plans, specifications, special provisions, and bid proposal documents named herein provided by ARC Document Solutions are supplied on a pre-payment basis. Work is anticipated to start on site by Early October 2021 and the project must be completed and accepted by the Town of Gilbert as required and per their standards prior to Late September of 2022 (~12 Months of on-site coordination and construction). The Contractor shall submit a detailed project schedule with their sealed bid proposal coordinating with the dates and details indicated. Bids must be submitted on the Bid Proposal Form provided in the bid documents and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the bid payable to NRI-Rivulon, LLC or a certified or cashier’s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract and respective Addenda for the construction within ten (10) days after the formal notice of contract award. Failure by the bidder to properly execute the contract and provide the required certification as specified shall be considered a breach of contract by the bidder. NRI-Rivulon, LLC shall be free to terminate the contract or, at option, release the successful bidder. Payment and Performance Bonds will be required for this work. The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the required/specified Certificate of Insurance. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informality in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with NRI-Rivulon, LLC.