Ziegler takes on Fiesta Bowl chairman's role

2006-02-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

Ellie Ziegler has been elected chairman of the board for the Fiesta Bowl's 2006-2007 season. Ziegler has been a Fiesta Bowl volunteer since 1987 and a member of the Bowl's board of directors since 2001.
She becomes only the second woman in the Fiesta Bowl's 35-year history to serve as chair. Sherry Henry, general manager of the Fiesta Inn, held the same position in 1994.
"Our volunteers begin another new journey as we prepare to host three bowl games within a 10-day period," said Ziegler. "Our relationship with the BCS has allowed the state of Arizona to host what is anticipated as the premiere post-season lineup of bowl games. We will work hard in the coming months to improve our efforts and to stage these games along with 50 statewide, community events to a standard that makes our citizens proud."
This is the first time that an "and-one" game will be added to the four-bowl BCS mix. The and-one game will be the BCS National Championship game, which in 2007 will be hosted by the Fiesta Bowl.
So the Valley will host the Insight Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and the college football championship game. The Insight Bowl will be played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe and the other two games will be in the Glendale football stadium, scheduled to open this summer.
Ziegler has been a Valley resident for 32 years since moving here from Des Moines, Iowa in 1974, to study at Arizona State University, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications.
She and her husband, Michael, are founders of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, and she served as chairman of the board for the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and as chairman of its annual gala.
Ziegler has also volunteered for the Phoenix Art Museum, the Southwest Autism Research Capital Campaign, United Way, Arizona State University College of Public Programs and the ASU Capitol Campaign and Foundation Boards.
She is also a member of the Valley Leadership Alumni Association.
Ziegler's awards for her service to the community include induction into the ASU College of Public Programs Hall of Fame in 1997, and recently being named the Scottsdale Cultural Council Philanthropist of the Year. In 1999, Ellie and Michael Ziegler were presented the Scottsdale Life Achievement Award.
She and her husband, Michael, a Phoenix attorney, reside in Paradise Valley.

CGUHS band honored for Fiesta Bowl selection

2006-02-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

"Five years ago when I arrived on the campus we had a band of about 90 students and we were pretty much limited to performances locally in Casa Grande," Hebda said. "And through student dedication and an amazing staff that we've had on the band, we've rose to where this year we've had 165 members and we perform all across the state of Arizona - down to Tucson, Phoenix, northern Arizona. Up in Flagstaff we had two shows this year and we've even taken a few out-of-state trips to California.
"We're challenging the students and they're really rising to the challenge." Hebda said that each year a Fiesta Bowl committee selects one band from Arizona to compete in the marching band competition that sees about 16 bands from around the country. "We've expressed interest in it starting about three years ago," he said, "and they kind of studied the band's progress and consistency - consistency is a really big thing - and they've talked to me seriously every single year, saying they're really impressed with what the band is doing performance-wise. "And then this year they gave me a phone call and they said that they were really impressed at a Bands of America competition, which is a national competition where bands from surrounding states come and they compete, and they did like what they saw and they were wondering if we would accept being one of the finalists. "We were, of course, honored to be a finalist," Hebda continued. "We were down to about four bands and then they saw us again throughout the year and they decided that we were the group that they wanted to represent for the 2007 Fiesta Bowl marching band competition. So this is an honor for us to do this, we're extremely excited. "We will get a chance to compete and hopefully do Arizona proud. And we'll also participate in the Fiesta Bowl parade and there are plenty of other activities that are yet to get to me about what we'll be doing." Students spend a lot of time in preparation for performances, Hebda said. "Their usual rehearsal schedule all during the season starts in July, about three weeks before school even starts," he said, "and they have a week-long camp of about 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then when school starts they rehearse every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 until 9 p.m. "They work hard, and I'm very proud of them. They definitely put in some major time, and the school has been extremely supportive. They've purchased brand new uniforms for the band this year. "They're playing good, they're looking good and they're marching really well." Walton said the city was presenting the award certificate "so the rest of the community would recognize what a great job you and your band members have done, and the City Council would like for you to express our congratulations to all the band members and tell them good luck." Councilman Karl Peterson asked Hebda to pass on congratulations especially to this year's seniors. "They've been an integral part of this and they won't have the opportunity to be with the band next year," he said, "so please convey to this year's seniors that they've done a wonderful job bringing us to this point." In other major action Monday night, the council: n Changed zoning to planned area development for Eagle Meadows Four, north of Selma Highway and east of Hacienda Road, changed zoning to general business south of the southwest corner of Trekell and Rodeo roads for P&K Commercial Center, changed zoning to urban ranch at the northeast corner of Storey Road (Cottonwood Lane) and Interstate 10, and changed zoning to heavy industrial at the southeast corner of Thornton Road and the city airport. n Because of continued uncertainty about highway noise regulations, delayed until March 6 a request to change land use to allow medium-density housing immediately east of Interstate 10 and south of Selma Highway. n Approved closing Marshall Street between Second Street and Florence Boulevard between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on March 4 for the 19th annual Le Grande Bike Tour. n Gave local approval for a special-event liquor license for the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce's monthly Business After Hours on Feb. 22 and for the 28th annual Arizona State Open Chili Championship on March 4. n Approved applying for a state grant of $28,450 for purchase of a van for the Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center and for related expenses. n Approved applying for a state grant for items to be used at Len Colla Center, Casa Grande Union High School, Cactus Middle School and Mesquite Elementary School for Martin Luther King Jr. celebration activities. n Set a tentative schedule for working out the next city budget, including public study sessions May 2 through May 26 and a final public hearing on the budget and tax levy on June 19.

Fiesta Bowl Game

Ziegler takes on Fiesta Bowl chairman's role

CGUHS band honored for Fiesta Bowl selection