Monday, August 18, 2014

Too Bad There's No Mariachi Grinch (Your Help is Needed)

Posted By on Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 3:45 PM

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a Mariachi Grinch out there? Upset with all the cool mariachi fun the kids have over at Davis Bilingual Elementary. Just before the school year begins, the Grinch cames down from that shed he lives on at the very tip of Tumamoc and took an accordion, some keyboards and other musical supplies. By week's end, he returned hearing the kids play "La Negra," and with tears in his eyes and that broken black heart of his still broken, but less dark. Everything returned, the kids fall in love with him and make him equipment manager for all the out-of-town gigs.

But no. That didn't happen. Instead, some ass broke into a cabinet and stole those items, and now the school needs help to replace the accordion and keyboards.

From KGUN9-TV:

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - At Davis Bilingual Elementary Magnet School, it's all about the music, and their mariachi band travels all over Tucson to perform.

"Sometimes we go to sing to people that are in the hospital," said Davis Student Annika Arvayo. "Just seeing them smile, it makes you smile as well."

But just one week before the school year began, Davis Music Teacher Jaime Valenzuela says he went to his classroom and noticed his locked cabinet open.

"My heart dropped," he said.

The thieves took a brand new accordion, 20 piano keyboards and about $1,000 worth of tools and supplies from the school located on St. Mary's Road near I-10.

The new accordion and keyboards were part of a plan to expand the school's music and mariachi program.

In all, Davis Principal Carmen Campuzano says the thieves stole $3,000 worth of equipment.

"In schools right now, that's a lot of money," she said, noting that TUSD's insurance policy doesn't cover their loss because it was less than $10,000.

Some parents like Elizabeth Vega are trying to raise funds to replace what was stolen, because they know how valuable the music program is to their children.

"You know this is their beginning and their future," said Vega.

"You feel very violated because somebody took this not only from me but from the children," said Valenzuela. "And that's what really hurts."

Valenzuela says the accordion was black, and the keyboards all have "Davis Bilingual" written in sharpie on the back. If you have any information about what happened, call 88-CRIME. You can remain anonymous.

The school is also reaching out to the community for donations to replace what was stolen. If you'd like to donate, contact the school at 520-225-1400.

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