The Tucson Parks and Recreation Department would like to thank the Tucson Mayor and Council, the Tucson Parks Foundation and the private sector for their collaborative efforts in the Summer Splash Campaign 2013. Because of those efforts the department is able to provide the opportunity for additional swim lessons, open swim and summer youth employment this year. Eight summer seasonal pools (two more pools than 2012) in addition to the ten year-round pools will be open this summer.

The eight Summer Splash pools opening May 30 – July 31 are: Escalante, Freedom, Himmel, Jacobs, Mansfield, Menlo, Palo Verde, and Purple Heart.

A special thanks goes to our “Synchro Champion” donor Jim Click, “Swimmer’s Champion” donor M3 Engineering and Technology Corporation, “Learn-to-Swim Champion” donors Carondelet, Catalina [Tucson] Rotary Club, Royal Automotive Group and the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals for your support. The department would also like to acknowledge our media partners for helping promote this campaign: KVOA News 4 Tucson, Good News Radio Broadcasting, Tucson Channel 12, and Lacey Nymeyer John, Olympic silver medalist, Arizona Wildcat alumni and our spokesperson for the campaign. To find out how you can help visit www.TucsonParks.org.

Did you know Arizona is ranked in the top 5 states in the Nation for child drowning? Keep your loved ones safe by registering them for the “Learn to Swim” program through the Parks and Recreation Department. Details can be found in the Parks and Recreation Program Guide and Class Catalog available online and in all recreation centers and facilities. Join us for our Swim Safety Summer Kick-off Week from June 2 through 8 at all of our open city pools and on J

une 1 at Mansfield Pool for the Splash Down community event brought to you by Ward 3 and the Mansfield area neighborhoods.

For more information about the event contact Sierra Davenport at Sierra.Davenport@tucsonaz.gov.

City of Tucson Communications center received an estimated 90 calls in to 911, beginning at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2012. The multitude of callers reported experiencing, what was described by some as a “sonic boom,” and others as an “explosion.” Most of the callers reported their houses or business buildings shook, and callers also reported damage, primarily consisting of broken windows, to their residences and businesses following the extremely loud noise.

The areas affected were those all along East Pima Road, areas near East Fort Lowell Road and North Dodge Boulevard, and along North Wilmot Road, between Grant and Pima.

The Tucson Police Department is currently investigating the reports involving damage to residences and businesses.

Additionally, Davis Monthan Air Force Base Legal Department is accepting calls from those wishing to report damage related to this event. The phone number provided for reporting is (520) 228-5242.

Contact: Linda Galindo
Sergeant / Public Information Office TDD: 791-2639
520-791-4852
On-call PIO: tucsonpdpio@gmail.com
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/police

More from KVOA Channel 4: http://www.kvoa.com/news/danger-zone-sonic-boom-rattles-midtown/

“Anyone who wants to file a claim due to property damage is asked to call the 355th Fighter Wing Claims office at 520-954-0146 or its public affairs office at 520-228-3406.”

Apparently one of Davis Monthan’s air force jet demonstrations for this weekend’s air show broke the sound barrier & thereby caused this sonic boom. The show is called The Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona 2012 Open House.

If you want to meet & greet all Mayoral & Council candidates (Wards 1, 2, 4) plan on attending this candidate forum at Temple Emanu-El on 10/17, starting at 6 p.m. LWVGT stands for the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson and PCTWC stands for Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission. KVOA Channel 4 reporter Lupita Murillo will be the moderator.

For Mayor of Tucson:
Mary DeCamp G)
Rick Grinnell (R)
Jonathan Rothschild (D)

Ward 1:
Beryl Baker (G)
Regina Romero (D) – incumbent

Ward 2:
Paul Cunningham (D) – incumbent
Jennifer Rawson (R)

Ward 4:
Shirley Scott (D) – incumbent
Tyler Vogt (R)

Temple Emanu-El is north of Broadway Blvd., west side of the street.

My previous blog on campaign websites for these 9 candidates (click here).

Television reporter Lupita Murillo of KVOA Channel 4, Tucson, will moderate the conversation. The event is free and open to the public.

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Same-Gender Marriage Conversation
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Berger Performing Arts Center
1200 West Speedway Blvd.
Contact: Organizer Paul Barby, pmbarby@earthlink.net

“The national conversation about same-gender marriage is most often played out in sound bites and protest signs. We hope to have a deeper discussion in Tucson,” said local organizer Paul Barby. “This is an important conversation to have because what is really at stake when we talk about same-gender marriage is religious freedom and the nature of democracy.”

From the press release:
“The Washington Post has described Gallagher’s National Organization for Marriage, as “the preeminent organization dedicated to preventing the legalization of same-sex marriage.” Gallagher and her organization played a key role in getting Prop 8 on the ballot in California. She also helped orchestrate the rollback of gay marriage via referendum in Maine, and block gay marriage bills in the New York and New Jersey State Senates.”

“As President of Interfaith Alliance, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, promotes the idea that marriage is a civil issue, not a religious issue in the United States and that discussions about same-gender marriage should begin from the perspective of religious liberty. Gaddy serves as a pastor at Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, in addition to leading Interfaith Alliance, a national grassroots organization of more than 150,000 individuals and 75 different religious traditions.” He is also the author of a Green Paper entitled “Same-Gender Marriage & Religious Freedom”.

Sounds like a fair & balanced discussion on same-gender marriage, not legal in Arizona.
Can this issue find common ground? Why shouldn’t gays/lesbians be allowed to marry? Attend this conversation/discussion & find out.

Note: I wrote a blog entitled “Why marriage?” earlier this year (click here), where this issue came up in the comment section.

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Stevie Eller Dance Theater at UA

This forum entitled “Arizona $ales Tax: Fix or Folly” will be at the auditorium of the Stevie Eller Dance Theater at 1737 E. University Blvd. (west of Campbell Ave.). It will include representatives from both sides of the debate over this proposal, and Professor Stanley Reynolds, Vice Dean of the UA Eller College of Management.

Moderator will be AZ Illustrated host Bill Buckmaster, and he will be joined by Tom McNamara from KVOA -TV Channel 4, Linda Valdez of the Arizona Republic, and Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Weekly.

Doors for this event will open at 5:30 p.m. Parking is free on weekends on the street, or at the Cherry Avenue garage.

AZ Public Media will also live stream this show on PBS World Channel 27.3 (Comcast 203 and Cox 83), and then show it again the following day from 5 to 6 p.m. on KUAT Channel 6.

Proceeds from this 3 year temporary sales tax increase are to fund education, health care, and public safety. Websites for more info — Yes side: www.yeson100.com and No side: www.axthetaxaz.com.

If you’re unsure whether to vote yes or no, here’s your chance to learn more by attending this forum, or watching it on TV.

Arizona Public Media logo

4/13 Update: video on this forum is online at: http://ondemand.azpm.org/videoshorts/watch/2010/4/12/kuat-proposition-100-fix-or-folly/