From Ward 3 Councilwoman Karin Uhlich’s newsletter:
“Buy Local Day Party on 4th Avenue – Friday, November 23 from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Next to Creative Ventures Mall (522 N. 4th Avenue). Local First Arizona invites you to kick off the “Buy Local Month” holiday shopping season during their annual Black Friday Sale. Free gift wrapping, gift certificates from local merchants and discounted shopping tokens”. More info: http://localfirstaz.com/news/local-first-arizona-holiday-shop-local-guide-tucson/

Local First Arizona (LFA) is a non-profit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona.

We educate citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. We build vibrant communities that make residents proud to call home.

Local First Arizona was founded in 2003 named Arizona Chain Reaction. In 2007, the organization expanded, applied for 501©3 non profit status, and changed the name to Local First Arizona. The name was changed in order to better define the positive messages of buying locally and community building, which better fit the mission of the organization.

Their website lists a whole bunch of local businesses in Metro Tucson and Pima County (click here). Being as Friday is the so-called “Black Friday”, a huge shopping day prior to the winter holidays, check them out for ideas where to get great gifts.

And if you’re not on their directory, contact:
Tucson Membership Coordinator
Deanna Chevas, (520) 333-2073, deanna@localfirstaz.com

I met Deanna again recently as we were in the same group for a Tucson Planning & Development Services Dept. workshop, plus I attended a press conference back in June, 2012 about their Golden coupon offer during Independents Week (click here for previous post). I used that Golden Coupon to save 20% off while eating lunch at Delectables on 4th Avenue, which really needed our business during that Sun Link construction period.

And it’s National Buy Local month, November 23 to December 25, 2012.

Enjoy shopping on “Black Friday”.

Three full days: December 9, 10 and 11 — 10 to 6 p.m. daily, on 4th Avenue between University Blvd. and E. 9th Street (north of the underpass).

Free to the public, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair brings together 400+ arts and crafts booths, 35+ food vendors, 2 stages, Community Stage North, Main Stage South, street musicians, food, jugglers, street performers, the ever so popular Free Az Virtual Academy’s Tucson’s Children’s Museum’s kids hands-on-art Pavilion, face painting, balloons, and tons of other fun activities, then packs them into three days of celebration.

The Fourth Avenue Street Fair began in 1970 when Fourth Avenue merchants put tables in front of their stores to attract customers before the holidays. From that beginning it has developed into one of the premier street fairs in the nation, drawing crowds of 200,000 to 350,000 and ranking as one of the top visual arts fairs in the country.

For information: http://www.fourthavenue.org/. Just in time for Christmas shopping, or for other winter celebrations.

While at Antigone Books (411 N. 4th Avenue) or Delectables restaurant (533 N. 4th Avenue) you can pick up a copy of the new Tucson photography book “Together We Thrive” (click here for blog). It features 22 beautiful photos of those three memorials after the mass shooting on 1/8/11.

Today at the YWCA of Tucson a beautiful book of 22 photographs taken at the 3 memorials by YWCA’s Executive Director Janet Marcotte, following the mass shooting on Jan. 8, 2011–combined with words by President Barack Obama (given at the Jan. 12 speech at the University of Arizona) was released before an audience of about 120 community members. The book sells at $20, and $17 of the proceeds will be divided equally between the YWCA and the Fund for Civility, Respect & Understanding — to fund anti-bullying programs, community mental health awareness, and to promote civility.

A community panel spoke at today’s release reception with MC Pamela Doherty of the YWCA Board — Mayor-elect Jonathan Rothschild, District 4 Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll, YWCA Executive Director Janet Marcotte, and CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford’s District Director Ron Barber (who was shot twice on January 8, 2011 and is still recovering from his leg injury).

Mayor-elect Rothschild said that the “community was changed forever, but it came together to go forward” after January 8. Supervisor Carroll (who attended 5 of the 6 funerals for the six who died that day) said that the photographs & quotes stirred his emotions, and that it is “bad to turn ON others”, we should instead “turn TO others”.

Photographer Janet Marcotte said that she wanted to “honor all those who were killed & injured on January 8″, and celebrate the community’s response. She thanked all those who had donated their time & efforts to make the book possible including Terry Rich, Sheila Johnson, attorney Sandy Forbes, Matt Russell, and Delectables restaurant for the catered reception food. Janet was obviously moved by tears as she spoke of 6 clay pots with yellow pansies at one of the memorials, for the 6 who died (photo on page 34 of the book).

Finally Ron Barber spoke of that fateful day reminding the audience that Tucson “had never seen such response”, showing its’ “strength of community spirit & unity.” Being a victim of the shooting he said he was touched by the “outpouring of compassion & love” at the memorials, and that he had decided to create the Fund for Civility, Respect & Understanding while in the ICU at University Medical Center (UMC). The 3 memorials after the shooting were outside of UMC, at the Ina/Oracle Safeway where the shooting occurred, and in front of Congresswoman Giffords’ district office (at that time at Swan/Pima).

Books can also be obtained online at www.ywcatucson.org. 30 retail outlets will be selling the book with no percentage taken: Walgreen’s, Bookman’s, Hallmark at Grant/Swan, Antigone Books, Crizmac, Ben’s Bells, Girls Scouts Shop, Hair & Nail Place, Delectables.

Each & every photo & quote from President Obama’s speech is moving throughout the 46 pages of this book. I was particularly touched by his words on page 28: “Their actions, their selflessness poses a challenge to each of us. It raised a question of what, beyond prayers and expressions of concern, is required of us going forward. How can we honor the fallen? How can we be true to their memory?”, and the accompanying photo of colorful butterflies at one of the memorials. After January 8 I spent a bit of time at each memorial and helped water the plants, fix the wind-blown balloons and mementos, re-light the candles.

By our community purchasing this book in tribute to the victims of that day, and supporting the work of the YWCA of Tucson & the Fund for Civility, Respect & Understanding, the questions asked by our President are being answered.