Carolyn's Community » Lupita Murillo

Eat, sip, & bid at 23rd Annual Festival for Life

Carolyn Classen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:21:03 +0000

Eat. Sip. Bid!

at Jerome Beillard Festival for Life on Saturday Nov 19, at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road (east of La Canada, north side).

“Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuveres, and a no-host bar while viewing and bidding on more than 600 pieces of artwork, one-of-a-kind experiences, and gift packages featured in the Festival for Life live and silent auctions”, now in its 23rd year.

5:30 p.m. event registraton
6:00 p.m. silent auction dorrs open
7:00 p.m. live auction begins

Auction items include a trip for 2 to Bali, Mexican vacation packages, framed artwork by local artists Gail Marcus-Orlen, Liz Vaughn & Wil Taylor, framed photographs by Betsy Leacock and Lorraine Darconte, a ballet-themed Christmas tree, gifts baskets.

Each year, Festival for Life features more than 80 framed Paper Prayers for bids in our silent auction as well as 100s more unframed for sale at $10 each. Paper Prayers are created by artists, SAAF staff, clients, and volunteers and are one of the highlights of each year’s event. In Japan, when someone is ill, friends and family bring pieces of artwork on strips of paper, the traditional gift to inspire good health.
Bidding on framed Paper Prayers begins at $40.

Featured entertainment by Flam Chen, the Street Minstrels, Jose Luis Puerta.
Moderated by Lupita Murillo, KVOA Channel 4, and Bobby Rich, 94.9 MIX fm.

More info: www.festvalforlife.org or call 520-628-7223. All proceeds benefit SAAF, the Southern AZ Aids Foundation, www.saaf.org. It’s fitting to use these paper prayers to aid in the healing of SAAF’s clients.

Tickets are $25 in advance (purchase online) or $35 at the door.

December 8, 1989 was the first Festival of the Trees, a fundraiser for the People with AIDS Coalition of Tucson (P.A.C.T). The event auctioned off nearly 200 decorated trees and wreathes for the holiday season. Over the years, the event grew and in 1992, Festival of the Trees became Festival for Life adding artwork, menorahs, and celebrity items. That year also had a special appearance by Miss Mary Wilson, formerly of the Supremes. In 1995, P.A.C.T.’s co-founder and Executive Director, Jerôme Beillard, passed away from AIDS complications and Festival for Life was renamed to the Jerôme Beillard Festival for Life – honoring the work and spirit of a great man. Each year added amazing artwork, designer Christmas trees, gift baskets, celebrity items and sculptures. Each year also added local sponsors and community members all supporting the same cause.

Can’t attend but want to support Festival for Life? Make a $10 donation by texting “SAAF” to 20222 on your cell phone.

All 9 Mayoral/Council candidates to attend forum hosted by LWVGT and PCTWC

Carolyn Classen — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:34:13 +0000

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).

Mayoral/Council candidates’ campaign websites for General Election 2011

Carolyn Classen — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:22:59 +0000

Since only 16.65% of the registered voters (266,448) in the City of Tucson cast ballots in the Primary election on August 30, there is hope that more will vote in the General election on November 8. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out on October 19, so you can vote as early as the next day by mailing it back in. Or you can wait to take the ballot to one of the seven polling locations on November 8. Last day to register to vote for the General is on October 11.

Running for election this year:
For Mayor of Tucson (no incumbent, as Republican Mayor Bob Walkup is stepping down after 3 terms- 12 years- in office):

Mary DeCamp (G), www.decampformayor.org
Rick Grinnell (R), www.grinnell4mayor.com
Jonathan Rothschild (D), www.jonathanformayor.com

For Ward 1:
Beryl Baker (G), www.berylbaker.comli.com
Regina Romero (D) – www.votereginaromero.com, incumbent (elected 4 years ago)

For Ward 2:
Paul Cunningham (D) – www.votepaulcunningham.com, incumbent (appointed May, 2010)
Jennifer Rawson (R), www.rawsonforcouncil.com

For Ward 4:
Shirley Scott (D) – www.shirley2011.com, incumbent (elected 16 years ago)
Tyler Vogt (R), www.vogt4tucson.com

Familiarize yourself with these candidates, the issues facing the City of Tucson, and attend upcoming forums to learn more about your choices this fall.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson is hosting a candidate forum on Monday October 17 at Temple Emanu-El, and all 9 candidates have confirmed their attendance. KVOA Channel 4 reporter Lupita Murillo will be moderating this forum, which starts at 6 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission.

Discussion on same-gender marriage on May 11

Carolyn Classen — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:07:30 +0000

“Two nationally known leaders will bring the same-gender marriage discussion to Tucson in hopes to find common ground. Maggie Gallagher, president and founder of National Organization for Marriage and the Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance, will meet in Tucson to discuss their views on same-gender marriage and religious freedom.”

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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