MICROSOFT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WILL KEEP GUESTS CONNECTEDAT SHERATON’S NEWLY BRANDED SIGNATURE COMMUNICATIONS HUB:“LINK AT SHERATON EXPERIENCED WITH MICROSOFT”  WHITE PLAINS, NY – May 14, 2008 – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft Corp. announced today a partnership to implement products and services at the “Link @ Sheraton,” its signature communications hub rolling out in Sheraton lobbies this year. Under the agreement, Sheraton will also co-brand and rename the space “The Link @ Sheraton experienced with Microsoft.” The partnership is one component of a comprehensive effort to enhance and differentiate the guest experience at Sheraton’s 408 hotels across 75 countries, currently rolling out globally.   Sheraton’s Link is a unique virtual and physical lobby lounge space that meets the needs of Sheraton’s core guests by enabling them to work, relax and remain connected with friends and family during their travels. It offers a unique and convenient online experience, including free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations, to allow guests to email, search the Web, review local attractions and even print up boarding passes. Through its relationship with Microsoft, the new, enhanced “Link @ Sheraton experienced with Microsoft” will offer Windows-based computers providing visitors with search, maps, email and information. In addition, many Link computers will also feature webcams, allowing guests to have free video-chats or email video postcards back home. Guests will also have access to televisions, daily newspapers, and food and beverage offerings.

May 21. A Unique Presentation/Performance on Flamenco Dance and History. Presented by Un Corazón Flamenco. Bring your lunch to The Mercado, ASU at the Downtown Phoenix campus, noon-1pm. Free. To RSVP and for information, call 602-496-1000 or email ASUlectures@asu.edu - The Mercado is located at 502 E Monroe.

May 16. “Cross-Cultural Communications Panel Discussion” with Kristi Dee Doden, communication coach. Kristi will facilitate a multiethnic panel. Phoenix City Council Chambers, noon-1pm. Free. For information, call 602 261 8242.       

May 17. In honor of International Astronomy Day, the Center will be filled with exhibits and activities related to astronomy. Arizona Science Center, 10am-4pm. Free with general admission. For information, call 602 716 2000 or visit www.azscience.org

The Arizona Science Center is excited to announce that the Dorrance Planetarium will re-open on Saturday, May 10th after undergoing major renovations.  When the Planetarium reopens, we will be the first Science Center in the world to have a state-of-the-art NanoSeam dome! With this cutting-edge technology, we can create, customize and present shows that not only reflect astronomy topics, but also new exhibits, feature exhibitions and much more.

Info online

A free Seminar is taking place at Phoenix City Hall on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 from 9 AM to 1 PM. 

Resources Available to Help Homeowners Facing Foreclosure

• Morning panel with Q&A
• Individual Counseling Sessions in Spanish and English
• Informational exhibits and take-away materials

Credit and housing counselors, loan servicers, and lenders will be available for brief individual consultations throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis. Please bring your loan documents and other financial information with you to the workshop.

Free Event. No charge for admission. Free parking at Third Avenue and Washington Street parking garage. Activities for children.

Register at fhlbsf.com

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Workshop and counseling 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Phoenix City Hall
200 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Special Guest, Congressman Ed Pastor

May 7. Looking for Loss in All the Wrong Places. Presented by Bronwyn Marmo. Learn some secrets about successful weight loss.  Bring your lunch to The Mercado, ASU at the Downtown Phoenix campus, noon-1pm. Free. To RSVP and for information, call  602 496 1000 or email ASUlectures@asu.edu .

Nearly 1000 students from 3 different ASU Downtown Schools will be honored this week as they graduate from College.  The College of PUblic Programs, will hold their Convocation at 5 PM on Thursday, May 8th at the Phoenix Convention Center.  The following day, Friday, May 9th, graduating students from the College of Nursing & Health Care Innovation, will march in caps and gowns from their buildings at 3rd St & Fillmore to the Phoenix Convention Center.  On Saturday, May 10th, in Tempe, graduates from University College will gather at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe to get their send-off.

For more info contact Julie Newberg, Media Relations, ASU Downtown Campus at 602 496 1005 or julie.newberg@asu.edu .

Whether you are headed to the big Cinco de Mayo celebration in Downtown Phoenix this weekend or at some other location, we thought it would be helpful for you to know the "real history" behind Cinco de Mayo. 

To enlighten you, we are passing on a piece written by George Vallejos, Principal at Maya High School.  George can be reached at george.vallejos@leonagroup.com .

So here's what George had to say about Cinco de Mayo:

In the United States and especially in the Southwest, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as the independence of Mexico. Although to an extent this is true, one must understand more about this “independence” to truly comprehend why it is such a celebrated holiday in the United States.A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day.  Mexico’s Independence Day is actually September 16, 1810 (declared) which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico. Mexico gained their independence from Spain; similar to America gaining independence from England. So what does Mexico’s independence from Spain have to do the United States? Simply put, nothing.

A visioning exercise to discuss, analyze and develop growth strategies to handle the future growth of Central Arizona will be held on Friday, May 16th at the Phoenix Convention Center.  A morning session of 300 nominated local leaders will be held to conduct visioning exercises.  A lunchtime and afternoon program will be held to share those results with the general public as well as to continue the dialogue.  The Keynote Address for the afternoon session will be given by Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University.

Initiated by the Urban Land Institute, AZ One is a collaboration of the State of Arizona, the Governor’s Growth Cabinet and an additional 18 public, private and civic alliances. Among these alliances are: Arizona State University, Central Arizona Association of Governments, East Valley Partnership, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Sonoran Institute, Maricopa Association of Governments, The Nature Conservancy, Valley Forward Association, WESTMARC and others.

The goal of AZ One is to facilitate consensus among diverse constituents on how to maintain the quality of life in Central Arizona and implement strategies to build a sustainable future for this rapidly expanding region. AZ One, a Reality Check differs from other visioning exercises in that it is a proven process that leads to the implementation of desired growth practices. It was created by ULI and has been used throughout the country as far back as 1997.

Lunchtime and afternoon program runs from 11:45 AM to 3:15 PM

More info and registration online