Be thankful on Thanksgiving:

– for living in the United States of America, a land of freedoms
– for the beautiful vistas & weather of Arizona and the Southwest
– for the lovely flowers blooming around you (even in November)
– for your family, friends, convivial associates and neighbors (community)
– for your health
– for your education & the teachers who inspired you
– for all your blessings (religious, spiritual, otherwise)
– for the ability to love

There lots to be thankful for today — Thursday, November 25, 2010. And be thankful you’re alive to read this. I am reflecting upon the friends and relatives who passed away this year and are no longer here on Earth to read this.

This is what I wrote last year for Thanksgiving (click here), and it still applies, even more so since my friend Hearing Officer Bill Beards has now departed. And the Tucsoncitizen.com is still thriving online, with new bloggers/citizen journalists.

May you enjoy today and your meal. Happy Thanksgiving!

Readers, what else are you thankful for? This week Hugh Holub (“View from Baja Arizona”) wrote a blog about the things you need to survive & be happy, and he mentions “a loving spouse” (click here.) And he goes on to say “And to whatever degree you have the things you need to survive…that’s what you have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.”

Seventh Annual Story Town at Joel D. Valdez Main public library/Jacome Plaza, 101 N. Stone Ave in downtown Tucson.

“Make Way for Books Family Literacy Festival”
Saturday November 6, 10 to 3 p.m.

Popular Costumed characters (i.e. Curious George, Clifford the Red Dog, Corduroy, Daisy, Cookie Mouse)

Story Book performances
–Rhyming Dust Bunnies
–Three Little Fish & the Big Bad Shark
–Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
–We’re Going on a Bear Hung
–I’m Not Cute

Music & Dancing
–Nepali Sunflower Dance Troupe
–Music with instrument making presentation(Anthony Aldinger from Bookman’s)
–Ballet Folklorico Tapatio

“This year the festival also will include short, family friendly workshops featuring read-aloud tips to keep children hooked on books.”

All free, with free parking under the main library and on the street. Food will be available for purchase. I’ve attended this event in the past and it’s a wonderful festival to encourage reading for children aged 3 to 12. It makes reading a book “alive” for children.

Curious George and friend at 2009 Story Town, courtesy of Pima County Public Library

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Saturday morning
10:00 Opening Ceremony with Honorary Mayor Llama Llama
10:00 Stroll over to Art Alley to make a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom craft
10:30 Head to the Book Nook for a fun and interactive storytime with Good Night Gorilla (Storytimes will begin on the half hour throughout the morning).
10:30 Ballet Folklórico Tapatíio on Rhythm Road
10:30 Grab your binoculars and follow the prints to the library for a Jungle Tracks adventure (on-going all day)
11:00 Performances begin on Storybook Lane (Stories are about 15 minutes long and will run continuously.)
11:00 Megascience Meg presents: Jungle Safari! (Lower Level Meeting Room inside the library)

Saturday afternoon
12:30 Music with Nature by Bookman’s Junk Band on Rhythm Road
12:30 Stroll over to Art Alley to make a We’re Going on a Bear Hunt craft
1:00 Head to the Book Nook for a fun and interactive storytime with Good Night Gorilla (Storytimes will begin on the half hour throughout the afternoon).
1:00 Performances begin on Storybook Lane (Stories are about 15 minutes long and will run continuously.)
1:00 Join librarians inside the library for Jungle Jammin’ a musical puppet show & face painting
2:30 Nepali Sunflower Dance Troupe on Rhythm Road
3:00 Parade of Characters closes Story Town

More info: 520-721-2334. www.makewayforbooks.org, email: storytown@makewayforbooks.org

Final showing of “A View from the Shadows: Child Sexual Abuse” video at Sam Lena- South Tucson Branch library on Friday, November 5 at 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA), a member of the Arizona’s Children Association Family of Agencies. The library is at 1607 S.6th Avenue, south of 22nd Street.

“Carmen and Soledad were both sexually abused as children by family members. Now, as adults,they share their stories.”

They are inviting members of the community to participate in this video presentation/free event, which has been showing at 7 other libraries in October. Q & A following this 20 minute bilingual video.

More info call: Etty Collins, Su Voz Vale Community Educator, 520-434-0195.
SACASA website: www.sacasa.org.

I found out about this video series at the public libraries at the art show opening of The Healing Mask (“La Mascara Sandora”) at 4444 E. Grant Rd., Suite 113. Local artist Cathie Jo Buhlert worked with clients at the Su Voz Vale Program of the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault “to express their feelings about the trauma of sexual assault.” These extremely creative masks (made from all types of materials) were very cathartic for the sexual assault victims (female & male), who also wrote poignant pieces of prose or poetry to accompany their masks.

To view some of the masks, click here for the flyer (English version).

Join them for a Dia de Los Muertos closing celebration tonight November 2, at this art show, 6 to 9 p.m. Suite 113 at 4444 E. Grant Road is between Columbus and Swan, on the south side of Grant.

At the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA) it is our mission to reduce the trauma and incidence of sexual assault by providing treatment and promoting prevention of sexual abuse, incest, molestation and rape. We provide a safe place for survivors to gain strength, learn coping skills, and develop trusting, caring relationships.