Charlie Spillar, who blogs online here at Tucsoncitizen.com as “Artistic Tucson” was just named one of 10 “local heroes” in the Tucson Weekly’s Dec.22-28 issue (on news stands now). Charlie was praised for his leadership in helping to save the unusual Valley of the Moon, finding new homes for the Magic Carpet Golf statues after that entertainment venue closed, and fighting to retain a drive-in theater in Tucson when the De Anza Drive In Theater also closed. I know Charlie from meeting over the last year/half at art receptions and galleries, and he is indeed passionate about art and preserving it. His own whimsical bird sculptures are unique and attractive, last seen by me at the Art Gallery on the NE corner of Stone/Speedway.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Spillar

To read more about Charlie go online to www.tucsonweekly.com (article is written by one of our former editors/artist Ryn Gargulinski, now a writer for the Weekly). Or pick up your issue today or tomorrow all over town, page 18.

Another local hero in that Weekly article is Patricia Maisch, who wrestled that gun clip away from Jared Loughner on January 8, 2011. She is now a spokesperson for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to tighten background checks of people who purchase guns. The article about Patricia is on page 15 of the Weekly. She is also honored as one of AARP Magazine’s “The Daring Dozen” in their December 2011/January 2012 issue (page 51). These 12 American individuals are recognized as people who use “their energy, creativity and passion to make the world a better place.”

Arizona shooting heroes Ret. Army Col. Bill Badger and Roger Salzgeber are honored along Patricia for their acts of physically bringing armed Loughner down to the ground at the NW Safeway. I recently met both Patricia and Roger at the Tucson hearing by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, through mutual contact Daniel Hernandez, Jr.

A tribute to one of these “daring dozen” was given to my former boss Hawaiian U.S. Senator Dan Inouye (page 48), now President Pro Tempore, who is committed to “common courtesy” as a “Chief Compromiser”. The Senator has served in the U.S. Senate since Hawaii’s statehood in 1959. He just sent me a President Pro Tempore medallion as a keepsake.

Read this AARP article about “Inspire Awards Honorees” online (click here).

Congratulations Charlie and to these other 9 Tucson local heroes, and to the AARP “Daring Dozen”, which also included famous people such as Jane Goodall and the late Steve Jobs.

Time Market

“Time Market Kids’ Day” will be held on the first Saturday of each month at Time Market Deli & Pizza with activities from 12 noon – 2 p.m. This is a community-friendly neighborhood market in the West University area, and also serves delicious wood-fired pizza, located at 444 E. University Blvd, on the SW corner of E. 3rd Avenue.

Coming up Saturday, March 6th, their first Kids’ Day event is “Kids Make Pizza” with their parents and the staff at Time Market. Enjoy a pizza tossing show, tossing lessons, pizza making stations, and pizza eating fun. It’s free for the kids. Sounds like good fun and good food to me.

Time Market also has great sandwiches & salads, fresh fruits, several espresso coffee selections, lots and lots of varieties of potato chips, and even a charming outdoor patio hidden in the back, toward the west side of the building.

Phone # there is 520-622-0761. There are about 10 tables inside on their wooden floor, a terrace with tables out front, and free WiFi too.

Thanks for this new event information to TC blogger Charlie Spillar (“Artistic Tucson”), who is a regular at this market and who loves their delicious breakfast burritos. He says that he enjoys going there for their “coffee and conversation,” a big part of the community life there. Photos courtesy of Time Market and Charlie Spillar.

Enjoy your time at Time Market, day or night!

Time Market at dusk

He humbly told me this afternoon in thanking me for my Tucson Portrait Project blog that he had been in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper on Sunday. I remembered reading the front page article so I quickly checked the hard copy and realized that the Ernie McCray who had been commenting on our TC blogs for months, was the same man who was honored at McKale Center on February 13, for being the Wildcat basketball player who scored a record 46 points in one game against Los Angeles State, back on 2/6/1960. He still holds the record for the most points scored in any Wildcat game.

And these are his words to me that he was honored “just for scoring a bunch of points in a basketball game on a magical day close to the middle of the last Century. I must be old (smile).” Wow, just a bunch of 46 points.

But the story goes on to say that Ernie could not join his team for dinner at a restaurant later as he knew that he would not be served. Yes, racism existed back then against Black Americans here in the Old Pueblo. But Ernie is not bitter or angry according to the article.

Read more about Ernie, who is now 71 years old and a resident of San Diego, in the Star article (click here). He went on to get his Masters Degree from U of A as well and overcame the racism he had experienced along his life.

Ernie McCray receiving standing ovation at McKale Center (courtesy of Ernie)

Congratulations Ernie for your record and for your loyalty to the Wildcats. I am pleased that while here last weekend you admired the Dia de Los Muertos art mural that “Artistic Tucson” blogged about at Speedway/Stone, and that you enjoyed seeing our faces immortalized on the tile portrait project under the 4th Avenue Underpass.

I have enjoyed your astute and kind comments over the months, and am happy for your recent honor. I used to play basketball with friends in my younger days and I know that what you did was a big deal, not just a “bunch of points”. Congratulations again from us here at the Tucson Citizen.

For more information about Ernie, see his website/blogsite OB Rag: http://obrag.org/