Just picked up Vol. 1 Issue 2 of Tucson Happenings at the Joel D. Valdez Main library. Never did see issue 1, which must have debuted on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. This issue 2 is dated February 21 and covers a weekly calendar from Thursday to Wednesday.

They say they are a free “weekly reference guide to what’s going on in Tucson and Southern Arizona”, website is www.tucsonhappenings.com. The Founders/Publishers are David and Carrie Francis, business address is 3961 E. Speedway, Suite 410, Tucson 85712.

Issue 2 has interesting articles about Crystalline Treasures of China, artist Nikki Bellio, the 31st Annual Peace Fair, Arizona Animal Fair, The Benefits of Thermal Imaging in Monitoring Heart Health, Alamos Torrontes (Argentinean wine), plus more. There even is a very detailed daily event calendar for the week’s happenings. The magazine is divided into these categories: Art & Culture, Events, Calendar, Health, Faith & Spirituality, Food & Beverage, Home & Garden.

From their website:

Think where to go and what to do is reserved for the weekends? Think again. Monday through Friday are now prime-time for your customers to plan where to go and what to do. Tucson Happenings will be your customers “Go-to-Guide” for arts and entertainment in the greater Tucson area. Tucson Happenings is like a “TV Guide” of local events for all of southern Arizona. Readers of all ages will be picking-up Tucson Happenings to plan their day, week or weekend. Your customers will eagerly go back for the guide they simply cannot live without. More readership means your business or non-profit stays top-of-mind.

So if you want to submit events, send them to events@tucsonhappenings.com, or an article about your special event to Carrie@tucsonhappenings.com. Call 520-620-9100 for more information.

Check out this new weekly Tucson Happenings, wherever you find it in town.

The new AZ Illustrated debuts February 4th

at 6:30 p.m. on PBS 6

Tucson, Arizona – – Arizona Illustrated, Southern Arizona’s weeknight news magazine series for over 30 years, and the flagship local TV production for Arizona Public Media (AZPM,) has undergone a make-over. The new AZ Illustrated (pronounced A-Z-Illustrated) debuts in its regular weeknight time slot at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013. The new AZ Illustrated features different hosts and topics each night – Metro, Science, Nature, Arts and Politics – offering insight and discussion relevant to Southern Arizona audiences. Tapping into the wealth of talent and experience of AZPM’s award-winning producers, reporters, and production team, while introducing new specialists from the community, the series will feature new voices, new stories and a new focus.

AZ Illustrated METRO

Mondays cover education, business, government, and the policies that affect our daily lives.

The host for AZ Illustrated Metro is Maria Parham, the newly appointed Editorial Page Editor of the Arizona Daily Star. A new face on television, but a long-time veteran of print journalism in the Tucson community, Maria has experience and insight on education, business, and government in Southern Arizona. Produced by AZPM’s Andrea Kelly, Metro will provide a deeper look at many of the decisions and developments that affect the community. Andrea will work with a host of other AZPM reporters to ensure the content on Mondays is current and that it keeps the audience informed about the economy and public affairs.

Arizona Illustrated SCIENCE

Tuesdays explore issues and advances in health, science, and technology.

Jane Poynter, the new host of AZ Illustrated Science, is no stranger to the Southern Arizona science community. A scientist, author, entrepreneur, and expert on sustainable development, Jane will provide perspective and context for the health, science and technological advancements that continue to change our world. The show will explore the broad range of science in the community and ask the larger questions about what that science and technology means and how it actually affects people’s daily life experiences. Producer Georgia Davis, a journalist, documentary producer and former network news director, brings her wealth of experience to the Science segment.

Arizona Illustrated NATURE

Wednesdays dive into the environmental news and issues unique to our desert landscape.

Host Georgia Davis steps from behind the scenes to the front of the camera to host AZ Illustrated Nature. The show’s mission is to raise awareness and understanding about the area’s many ecological treasures while addressing pertinent local and national subjects such as solar energy, recycling, development, hydrology and water conservation, ecotourism, and other topics. The show will tap into the abundant professional resources from the University of Arizona and community for their perspectives, concerns, and possible solutions to different challenges. The producer for Nature is AZPM veteran journalist, producer, and former Arizona Illustrated host, Tony Paniagua.

Arizona Illustrated ARTS

Thursdays embrace the vibrant cultural community that is distinctly Southern Arizona.

Providing a unique perspective on arts and culture, host Elizabeth Burden, an artist and journalist, brings her passion to showcase the multi-faceted arts and cultural community that embodies Southern Arizona. Program features will include music, spoken word, in-studio performance, stories, and guest interviews, enlightening the audience on the power of art to enrich lives and change minds. AZ Illustrated Arts producer, Mark McLemore, is a seasoned radio producer and host, having created over 300 episodes of Arizona Spotlight, which airs weekly on NPR 89.1. Arizona Spotlight has given Mark a deep appreciation of Southern Arizona’s arts and cultural assets.

Arizona Illustrated POLITICS

Fridays provides in-depth analysis of the week’s political news.

Jim Nintzel, host and producer of Politics, continues in his role as host of the political night for AZ Illustrated. The title of the program has changed, but the in-depth political coverage will continue to provide viewers with cutting-edge interviews with politicians and their views in a new setting.

Each AZ Illustrated show will begin with a two-minute summary of the top local and state news events of the day, anchored by AZPM’s Christopher Conover. Many stories will cross platforms to radio, NPR 89.1, and online. Frequently, stories that originate online or on radio will be further explored on AZ Illustrated.

About the new studio:

The new AZ Illustrated will provide Southern Arizona viewers with a 360° perspective of their community. The series will be broadcast from a custom-designed, versatile, 360° studio which will accommodate one-on-one interviews, round-table discussions, demonstrations, and live performances. The studio, designed by local Tucson architect Rick Joy (Rick Joy Architects) features a spectacular circular photographic backdrop of the Tucson skyline and its iconic mountain ranges. The backdrop photograph was taken by Jeff Dey. The new studio design will provide a welcoming environment to guests – a meeting place for community dialogue and discussion. Visit azpm.org for more information.

Lugo Charities Inc. is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 4th Annual Bike-In-A-Box Christmas event on Sunday, December 16, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral Church court yard that is located at 192 South Stone Avenue.

A special invitation to 500 under-privileged children from youth organizations, schools, churches, and children-support agencies in the Greater Tucson area will be attending this special day of giving.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 11:00 am to greet the children. Each child that has pre-selected will receive one of five-hundred (500) bicycles that we are planning to give away, along with a bike safety helmet provided by Tucson Medical Center of the Children’s Miracle Network.

The bicycles will remain in the box so that the parents or guardians can, together with the child, assemble the bicycle in promoting the true Christmas spirit and teaching the children the basic assembly and adjustments to their new bike.

There are many children in Tucson that may not enjoy the special occasion that Christmas should bring to all. Christmas should be remembered as a time of giving to help those in need.

Lugo Charities Inc. dba Bike-In-A-Box is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization which assist underprivileged children, so your contribution is tax deductible. Please click on the donation link as we would appreciate your support to make this a successful event to many children in need.

Merry Christmas! Jesse Lugo

You can donate online at http://www.lugocharities.com/, or by calling in to the John C. Scott radio show tomorrow between 4 and 5 p.m. KVOI 1030 AM on the radio. I reported about this 2 years ago with a photo (click here) and last year (click here). Host Scott, and guests Jesse Lugo and District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll raised $10,770 today on the radio show.

$45 purchases one bike, so please help by donating online, or calling 520-790-2040 on the radio show, as they need to raise money for 500 bikes. You can also mail checks to:
Bike In A Box
P.O. Box 26363
Tucson, AZ 85726

12/3/12 Update: Lugo reported on the John C. Scott show today that $22,195 has been raised to date. Please continue to send donations by mail, or online.

12/4/12 Update: $23,705 raised to date, so hopefully the goal of $25,000 will be reached shortly. Thanks to all who have donated so far. Go online if you haven’t, or mail a check to the address above.

12/5/12 Update: John C. Scott just reported on his radio show that $25,510 has been raised, so their goal has been reached. Thank you Tucson.

12/6/12 Update: $26,710 raised according to radio host John C. Scott. Drop by on Dec. 16 to see the kids get their bikes, 11 a.m.

Press release:

Tucson Woman, An exceptional lifestyle magazine, for extraordinary lives
Launches Nov. 9, 2012

Tucson Woman, a new glossy magazine for upscale women in metropolitan Tucson, is appearing in select mailboxes and on newsstands throughout the city.

The magazine is focused on helping women make the best possible decisions in their day-to-day lives. The premiere issue features holiday ideas from Louise Thomas, a Tucson professional party planner. The edition also includes tips for easing holiday stress, and new ways to approach year-end philanthropy. A feature story explores small steps to a greener, more-healthful lifestyle, provided by Mrs. Green’s Garage, written by Gina Murphy-Darling.

Future editions will include features on local personalities, business, health, education, social trends, finance, travel and food.

“Tucson Woman targets the women who move and shape our community,” said Jill A’Hearn, the magazine’s general manager.

Territorial Newspapers, a division of Sierra Vista-based Wick Communications, publishes the magazine.

The quarterly magazine, edited by Linda Ray, will have a press run of 10,000 and will be distributed by mail to select home addresses of women with a household income of $150,000 or more, according to A’Hearn. Additional copies will be available at AJ’s Fine Foods, select physicians’ offices, dental offices, upscale retail outlets and select spa-services locations.

“As we talked to the women within Tucson’s leadership, we found enthusiasm for an opportunity to share information,” A’Hearn said. “Women rely on a circle of friends and role models. Tucson Woman magazine is designed to be at the center of that circle.”

Tucson Woman content will be supplemented week-to-week via Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, Pinterest and www.tucsonwoman.com.

For more information, contact:
Jill A’Hearn
General Manager
Tucson Woman
(520) 295-4236
jill@tucsonwoman.com

Linda Ray
Editor
Tucson Woman
(520) 295=4224
linda@tucsonwoman.com

Linda Ray works for the Tucson Weekly, and it also the former Executive Director of Tucson’s Birthday. I’m one of Tucson Woman’s freelance contributors, so please check out this new magazine today! Can’t wait to read this premiere issue.

Through “Voices and Choices in the 2012 Election,” the College of SBS invites the Tucson community to engage in a positive dialogue about the election.

Win, Lose or Draw: Cartoon Humor in Campaigns
Tucson Jewish Community Center Ballroom, 3800 E. River Road
Thursday, October 25, 2012; 7-8:30 p.m.

Join us as David Fitzsimmons, a liberal cartoonist with the Arizona Daily Star, and Steve Kelley, a nationally syndicated conservative cartoonist, battle it out using only their well-sharpened pencils and wit. UA Communication Professor and political research guru Kate Kenski will moderate the “debate,” which will be unlike any you’ve ever seen.

To learn about other free events in the series, go to http://web.sbs.arizona.edu/college/democracy

If you have additional questions, please contact the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at (520) 621-1112.

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’s “Voices and Choices of the 2012 Election” is sponsored by Arizona Public Media, the Arizona Daily Star, the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the UA Honors College, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Pam Grissom, and Jan Lesher. Event co-chairs are Jan Lesher and Lisa Lovallo.

UA Communication Associate Professor Kate Kenski will attempt to moderate this forum. Now this sounds like fun: a liberal cartoonist battling it out with a conservative cartoonist. Sharpen those pencils! And sharpen your wits.

October 18: “How to Get Your Regional News in Print or Online” (yours truly is one of the panelists, along with editors of the Arizona Jewish Post (bi-weekly newspaper) – Executive Editor Phyllis Braun; Arizona Daily Star – Regional Editor Tiffany Kjos; and Desert Leaf (monthly magazine) – Editor Karen Nystedt.

Local newspaper and media representatives will discuss “how they select topics for stories, interviews, and publication”. Maxine Goodman, PCTWC Commissioner will facilitate this seminar.

I’m included on this panel, as an online blogger for our Tucsoncitizen.com news source, having written formerly as a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper. More about us:

TucsonCitizen.com is a compendium of blogs that serves as The Voice of Tucson, written by Tucsonans for Tucsonans. The bloggers and citizen journalists here provide news, information, opinion, commentary and perspective on the issues, interests and events that affect daily life in the Old Pueblo.

So this is my small attempt at shameless self promotion, but I have no journalism degree (only a law degree and a bachelor’s in Psychology & Anthropology). I have worked one year at the Tucson Citizen newspaper (guest columnist), and now almost three and half years blogging online at Tucsoncitizen.com (1118 posts to date) as a “citizen journalist”. I was also a Commissioner (twice) on the Pima County Tucson Women’s Commission back in the 1990′s.

The seminar is at the Women’s Commission, 240 N. Court Ave. (SE corner of Council St.), 7 to 8 p.m. on October 18. Deadline to sign up online or by mail is October 16. Hope you can attend to learn media/news insights from 3 journalists/editors and me.

Six free seminars offered at the Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission this fall/winter on Thursdays starting October 11 to December 6, each at 7 to 8 p.m. The Women’s Commission is at 240 N. Court Ave (SE corner of Council St.) in downtown Tucson. And yours truly has been asked to participate in the October 18 seminar!

The first seminar, “Desperately Seeking Capital,” slated for Oct. 11 is a complete review of funding options for start-up and early stage women-owned firms in Southern Arizona. It will feature Nova Sipes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and representatives from various local funding sources for small women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Women’s commissioner Lucy Howell, president of MOVE Media and Move Business Solutions will be the facilitator.

The Oct. 18 seminar, “How to Get Your News in Print and Online,” will give participants insight into how local newspaper, online, and magazine editors select topics for stories for publication. The seminar will feature Carolyn Classen, JD, an online blogger for “Carolyn’s Community” at Tucsoncitizen.com; Tiffany Kjos, regional editor, Arizona Daily Star; Karen Nystedt, editor, Desert Leaf and Phyllis Braun, executive editor, Arizona Jewish Post. Commissioner Maxine Goodman, MS, a former San Jose, CA weekly newspaper publisher and freelance writer will be the facilitator.

The November 1 seminar, “Bullying and Harassment – What It Is and What You Can Do About It,” will be presented by Margaret Dykinga, MEd., the regional manager for Holman Frazier Behavioral Health. She has managed mental health centers and provided services to over 50 local companies. Commissioner Lucinda Hughes-Juan, MBA, a business instructor at Tohono O’odham Community College, will be the facilitator.

The November 8 seminar, “Basic Intellectual Property for Women Artists and Entrepreneurs,” will focus on how to advance and protect your ideas, and how not to infringe on the protected works of others. Commissioner Kathleen Williamson, JD, LLM, PhD, Intellectual Property Attorney will present.

On Nov 15 – “Our Founding Documents – Our First Words,” will be presented by Bunny Davis, JD, MEdD Read and discuss selected portions of the actual words in the Declaration of independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, and a selected Article of the Constitution. Commission Chair Alison Hughes, former University of Arizona health educator will facilitate.

On Dec. 6, “How to Start Your Own Small Business – Pathways to Success and Challenge Faced” will be presented by Commissioner Lucinda Hughes-Juan.
She has been teaching and training for over 25 years in business and workforce development, specializing in business development, cultural dynamics of business management and leadership theory. She will discuss information needed to get started and focus on the planning process as well as insight on overcoming some of the challenges in entrepreneurship.

Please register online (click here), by mail if you have one of the brochures, or call 520-624-5559 or (520) 881-0917.
Registration limited to 15 participants in each seminar.Reservations are on a first-first-served basis at least three days before seminar date.

It’s the 3 year anniversary of when I started blogging here for the online Tucsoncitizen.com. It was June 18, 2009 when I wrote up a blog article entitled “Is Lani’s Luau international cuisine?” (link), as I was wondering how varied the food & ethnic culture was at Lani’s, my favorite Hawaiian restaurant in Tucson. For those of you who don’t know it, Lani’s is located at the NW corner of Harrison & Golf Links, 2532 S. Harrison Rd., phone 520- 886- LUAU (5828).

As for my 1001 blog articles, it’s amazing that I’ve managed to write so many, as it is now at the stage that I don’t remember all the topics I’ve chosen to feature in my blogsite — focusing mostly on community events/issues/groups.

And which one has been my most popular post? Sadly my farewell article on the late Gabe Zimmerman, Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Gifford’s slain aide, whom I knew.

I do have a chronological listing by categories for myself, but the most useful is the “Search the Citizen” box on the Tucsoncitizen.com front page. If you want to know when I wrote about a certain person or topic, just type it in. It’s been very helpful, even for me to locate previous articles. And because the tags below each article are so powerful, you can usually find our articles via Google as well. And I do have a long listing of archives on my blogsite (left column) starting in the hot summer month of June 2009, followed by each month up to June 2012.

So after being a “My Tucson” guest columnist at the original Tucson Citizen afternoon newspaper in 2008, I can now write on my resume that I’ve blogged for 3 years at Tucsoncitizen.com. Some of my blogs have been re-printed in Oasis, the only Japanese magazine in Arizona (published in Phoenix by editor George Nakamura). And I may be free lancing articles for a new magazine to debut this summer, “Tucson Woman” edited by Linda Ray, of Tucson’s Birthday fame.

Stay tuned, keep reading, and happy blogging!

“Carolyn’s Community” aka Carolyn Classen

My photo taken at Tucsoncitizen.com Dec.2010 holiday party

http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/info/calendars

Let me know which ones you find helpful, as I continue to report/blog about community events & people in Tucson. I didn’t hyperlink any of the listings, as the City’s website has done that for us.

Event Calendars
Downtown Tucson Partnership Event Calendar
Zocalo Downtown Event Calendar
Showup.com Art & Culture Calendar
AZStarnet Calendar
Dot Tucson Calendar
Tucson Style Event Calendar
University of Arizona Event Calendar
University of Arizona Sports Calendar
Pima Community College Event Calendars
AZ State Museum
UA Free Classes & Events
Tucson Weekly Calendar

Watch videos about local art:
Sonoran Style – Channel 12
DTown – Channel 12
Arte – Arizona Public Media
Arts and Life – Arizona Public Media

Videos about local music:
Studio C – Channel 12
Music – Arizona Public Media

Sports & Recreation:
Rec365 – Channel 12
Zoo News – Channel 12

Shop Local Businesses
Local First Arizona, Tucson listings
The 3/50 Project – Arizona listings

Attractions & Destinations
Tucson.com Travel
Tucson Attractions

Outdoor Activities
Arizona Parks
Saguaro National Monument
Coronado National Forest
Visit Tucson Day Trips

Food
Tucson Dining Guide
Tucson Originals
Local & Heritage Foods Directory

With all these listings & resources, I’m sure you’ll find something to do. Enjoy Tucson and Southern Arizona!

Here’s information for those of you undecided about the upcoming City of Tucson Mayoral election since vote-by-mail ballots were mailed yesterday on October 19– listen to the Buckmaster Show on KVOI AM 1030 radio tomorrow, at high noon to hear all 3 Mayoral candidates debate. I am sure that host Bill Buckmaster will ask them several tough questions about the City of Tucson’s financial & management woes, for this hour long special show.

Who’s running for Mayor (no incumbent):
Mary DeCamp (G)
Rick Grinnell (R)
Jonathan Rothschild (D)

And if you miss it live, log onto www.buckmastershow.com later in the afternoon to hear the Standard Podcast recording. I often do that whenever I’ve been busy at lunchtime.

Read my previous blog about campaign websites of these candidates, plus those running for City Council Wards 1, 2 and 4 (click here).

Vote wisely on/before the General Election on November 8. For information on where to vote in person, here’s the City of Tucson website with 7 voting locations (click here).

UPDATE: Here’s the link for the 10/21/11 show, http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/10/21/buckmaster-show-10212011-tucson-radios-only-mayoral-debate/