At 11 a.m. Sunday Feb. 21 be one of the first in Tucson to see a 1776 broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence at the Arizona Historical Society (AHS), 949 E. 2nd St. (west of Park Ave.). The Museum will open be till 8 p.m. that evening, and again from 8 to 4 p.m. on Monday Feb. 22, to see this historical document. Admission will be free for both days. AHS phone number is 520-628-5774.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will be joined at the opening ceremony by Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias. Also participating in the opening ceremony will be 30 VFW Riders, Arizona Rangers, Explorers, and the Tucson High School Mariachis. A video message from former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will be shown throughout the visiting 2 day exhibit. See event flyer here.

This 1776 broadside is only one of 25 known left of the Declaration, and here’s the information from the event flyer below on what a broadside is (and the amazing story of how this one was found in a Philadelphia flea market):

“THE DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE 1776 BROADSIDES–
A broadside is about the size of a full sheet of newspaper, printed on one or
both sides and folded.

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress, led by John Hancock, renders official
Thomas Jefferson’s text of the Declaration of Independence. The manuscript is
rushed to the shop of printer John Dunlap in Philadelphia. Dunlap typesets the
document and creates about 200 broadsides of the text.

The Dunlap broadsides are delivered to the nation’s founders early in the morning
on July 5, 1776. One copy is officially entered into the Congressional Journal, and
additional copies of the freshly drafted Declaration of Independence are carried by
riders on horseback throughout the colonies and read aloud to assembled colonists.
John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, dispatches Dunlap broadside
copies of the Declaration to America’s political and military leaders.

(The “original copy” of the Declaration of Independence – the one that was signed by members of Congress – is at the National Archives in Washington. However, this famous copy wasn’t produced until later in the summer of 1776, and wasn’t signed until August and later in 1776,when Congress returned to Philadelphia after a summer break.)

Today there are only 25 of these July 4 – July 5, 1776 first printing Dunlap
broadsides that are known to exist.”

The broadside copy that will be on display in Tucson was purchased at auction for $8.14 million by TV producer and philanthropist Norman Lear in 2001 at an auction. This copy was discovered in 1989 by a man (in Philadelphia) after he purchased a painting for $4 at a flea market because he was interested in the frame. Concealed in the backing of the frame was this original Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence.

That’s why flea markets are so popular in America!

Democratic Candidates for the State House and Senate in Legislative District 28 (LD 28) have been invited to attend a “Meet the Candidates” public forum:

Date: Sunday, February 21
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Place: St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. 3rd St. (west of Alvernon Way)

Five State House hopefuls (for 2 seats) have been invited to attend, and each will speak for 10 minutes, followed by an informal session to answer questions:

– incumbent LD 28 State House Rep. Steve Farley, in office since 2007, artist, www.friendsofarley.com

– Ted Prezelski, LD 28 house candidate in 2008 & former Democratic party officer, blogsite host of “Rum, Romanism & Rebellion” (and brother of former LD 29 State House Rep. Tom Prezelski), www.prezelskiforarizona.org.

– Mohur Sidhwa, former Democratic party officer, businesswoman, www.mohur2010.com

– Tim Sultan, candidate in CD 8 U.S. House in 2004, financial negotiator, www.timsultan.com

– Bruce Wheeler, former LD 13 House Rep. (1974 – 76), former 2 term Ward 1 Tucson City Councilmember (1987 to 1995), retired businessman, photographer, www.Wheeler2010.com

There are 2 Democratic State Senate hopefuls in LD 28 (one seat), and they are involved with this particular forum as well (news update since February 17, 3 p.m)

–incumbent LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud, in office since January 2006, property manager

– Dr. Ted Downing, former LD 28 State House Representative who served 2 terms (2003 to 2007), UA research professor of social development, www.ted-downing.com (UPDATE, see 5/12/10 blog here).

For more information about LD 28: http://www.pimadems.org/LD-28/index.html from the Pima County Democratic Party website.

Attend this Feb. 21st forum to meet and greet these candidates for the State House and Senate of Arizona, to be decided in the August 24 primary.

Ken Smalley, who ran for Pima County Treasurer in 1992 and for Tucson City Council against Molly McKasson in 1993 as a Libertarian, has filed to run as a Republican for an LD 28 House seat. (Thanks to AZBlueMeanie–whoever he is–at Blog for Arizona for this info as I’m not currently up to date on the Republican Party candidates).

UPDATE: for info on an LD 28 House candidates’ debate, click here for 3/19/10 event:

“Enriching lives and inspiring hope for all” is the theme for the Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JFCS) of Southern Arizona. This morning at 8 a.m. they held their inaugural “Celebration of Caring” breakfast at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel. The breakfast attended by about 400 people honored Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Suzanne Bloomfield who has been a clinician at the agency for 36 years.

JFCS logo

“Jewish Family & Children’s Service, a non-profit agency which is guided by Jewish values, provides quality social and behavioral health services to the Jewish and greater Tucson community. JFCS helps people of any religion or ethnic origin meet their full potential by restoring their well-being, cultivating self-sufficiency and strengthening family life.”

A video was shown at the breakfast of 3 women’s lives impacted by JFCS services — a woman suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a stroke victim, and a unwed teenaged mother. The agency “strengthens the bonds of family through family-centered support and counseling services” for individuals, couples, families and older adults, and has been providing these services since 1941.

For information log onto their website, www.jfcstucson.org, or call 520-795-0300. Their street address is 4301 E. 5th Street, email address is jfscinfo@jfcstucson.org.

Keynote speaker this morning was Tucson attorney Barrett Avigdor, who recently co-authored (with Dr. Cathy Greenberg) a self-help book entitled “What Happy Working Mothers Know.” She basically said that Happiness is a necessity, not a luxury, that it is a health and performance issue, and that happiness is the choice you make every day. She also provided a 5 letter acronym for Happiness:

H – be healthy
A – be adaptable
P – be proud of your work
P – be proud of your family
Y – be young at heart.

I’m sure you could find this interesting, helpful book at the local bookstores or at amazon.com. Avigdor’s message today was to “Be happy!” even for one perfect moment in each day.

Congratulations to JFCS for a wonderful inaugural breakfast and for continued success with their programs.