Kids finishing a previous race, courtesy of Tucson Indian Center

“Theme: “Strengthening Our Families Through Healing and Balance”

Saturday, August 27
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
El Pueblo Neighborhood Center
101 W. Irvington Rd., Tucson (SW corner of 6th Avenue)

5 K Run/Walk
7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Special Guests
Steve Saffron- Motivational Speaker
Tony Duncan – World Renowned Hoop Dancer

Health activities to include:
–health & wellness workshops for all ages
–health resources fair (plus booth activities)
–FREE lunch
–raffles and prize

More info contact:
Marlene F. Jose at Tucson Indian Center at 520-884-7131, x 234 or Shawnell Damon of Indian Health Services at 520-295-2493.

A collaboration of Indian Health Services, Tucson Indian Center, VA Health Care Systems, City of Tucson Parks & Recreation, Tohono O’odham Ap’edag Ki:, Healthy O’odham Promotion Program (HOPP), Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, Casino del Sol, The University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Reactivate-New and Used Active Wear.

I used to be a tribal staff attorney at the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and and I well know the importance of the promotion and education of health to native peoples.

The Tucson Indian Center is located at
97 East Congress Suite 101
Tucson, Arizona 85701

They are on the northeast corner of Congress Street and Scott Avenue in Downtown Tucson.

Telephone Number (520) 884-7131
Fax Number (520) 884-0240
Email address: webmaster@ticenter.org

State Senator Jorge Luis Garcia

LD 27 State Senator/Senate Minority Leader Democrat Jorge Luis Garcia passed away suddenly due to a heart attack on Friday, October 15, 2010. He was 57 years old. Senator Garcia was elected to the Arizona State Senate representing LD 27 in 2003 and has served as Senator Minority Leader for the past 2 years. He had previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives (2 terms) from 1993 to 1997.

His colleague LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud stated this morning: “Senator Garcia was one of the most committed and dedicated senators I have ever known. In the Senate he was our beacon of goodness and kindness…and he will be missed so dearly by our Democratic community and his colleagues who loved him so.”

Because Jorge was termed out of the State Senate he chose to run for state-wide Corporation Commission this year. He was the top vote getter in the 8/24/10 Democratic primary for Corporation Commission, garnering 142,859 votes (34.08%), more than fellow candidates David Bradley and Renz Jennings. I last wrote about that race on October 4 (click here). His name will remain on the General Election ballot since early voting has begun.

In his own words from his campaign bio for Arizona Corporation Commission (www.votegarcia.org):

“I was born in Nogales, Sonora. At age 9 my mother, who was born in Miami, AZ, moved us to Nogales, AZ, and later to Phoenix. After graduating from Phoenix Union HS, I moved to Tucson with my wife. I earned my Bachelors degree (Sociology) from the U of A and a Master’s degree in Social Work from ASU. Maria and I have three adult children: Yvette (Special Education Teacher), Dominique (Marketing) and Rolando (Civil Engineer). Maria and I also have four grandchildren.
In my 7 years as STATE SENATOR for District 27, I have worked hard to bring JUSTICE to the interests of WORKERS, CONSUMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.”

I worked with Jorge back in 1996/97 when I served as Tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. He served as Director of Social Services at the Pascua Yaqui Tribe from 1988 to 1999. He was soft-spoken, but caring and compassionate for the underprivileged. When I last spoke with Jorge, I joked with him saying that he would miss the excitement of being in the State Legislature since he was termed out, and now running for Corporation Commission.

His career history from Project Vote Smart:

Social Worker/Practicing Registered Nurse, University Physicians, Incorporated, 2005-present
Contract Social Worker, Self Employed with Indian Tribes, 2002-present
Independent Contractor, Various Tribal Governments, 2000-2005
Home Health Administrator and Program Manager, Tohono O’odham Nation, 1999-2001
Social Service Director, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, 1988-1999
Emergency Room Social Worker/Practicing Registered Nurse, Maricopa Medical Center, 1990-1998
Social Worker/Practicing Registered Nurse, University Medical Center, 1991-1993
Clinical Manager, Maricopa Medical Center, 1984-1987
Deputy Director, El Rio Health Center, 1980-1984

You can see that Jorge dedicated his life to social service work and health care. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends & constituents in Legislative District 27, his fellow legislators, the Pima County Democratic Party, and the Arizona Democratic Party.

Memorial services are pending (click here.)

birthday logo

On August 20, 1775 Captain Hugo O’Conor, an Irishman in the Spanish Army selected the site for the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson in what is now downtown Tucson. This was the beginning of the historic presidio here and thus the beginning of the city of Tucson. Incidentally I just saw the statue of O’Conor at the Manning House downtown (450 W. Redondo Drive).

Lots to do today in celebration of Tucson’s 235th birthday, by starting off at:

El Presidio de San Agustin flag ceremony, 8 to 10 a.m. SW corner of Church Ave. and Washington St. in downtown Tucson.

“The five flags that have flown over Tucson – American, Spanish, Mexican, Confederate, and the State of Arizona – will be presented in a ceremony to celebrate Tucson’s 235th birthday. The Tohono O’odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona flags will also be presented, as will a replica of the 28-star American flag that was brought by the Mormon Battalion and flown over Tucson on December 16, 1846.

The ceremony will include an invocation, signing of a proclamation by distinguished guests, the honor guard presentation, and music and dance. The flags will then be retired to close the ceremony.

Those attending are encouraged to dress in period costumes and sample a piece of the Tucson birthday cake.

El Presidio flag ceremony, from their website

The annual flag raising celebrating Tucson’s birthday was begun by Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission in 1975. The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson interpretive center is located on the site of Tucson’s original adobe-walled presidio.”

I’ve attended this ceremony in the past, and the period costumes truly help to re-enact Tucson’s varied history, especially the Spanish Army soldiers.

Also lots of FREE birthday stuff today:

– Doubletree Hotel: free chocolate chip cookie, 445 S. Alvernon Way, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
– Reid Park Zoo: free admission for children (up to age 14), 3400 E. Zoo Court, adults $7, 9 to 4 p.m.
—Chick Fil A: free spicy chicken sandwich, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., 3609 E. Broadway (near El Con Mall)
—DeGrazia Gallery of the Sun: free cake & ice cream, 10 to 4 p.m., 6300 N. Swan Rd. with a special exhibition of original drawings and paintings that tell the “Tucson Story” as seen through the eyes of famed Tucson artist Ted DeGrazia. “Tucson Story” is a collection of 17 sketches and six oil paintings of historical events and places in the Tucson area, including “Kino Building San Xavier”, “Wishing Shrine”, “Camp Fort Lowell”, “400 Apaches Raid Tucson”

and tomorrow, free birthday cake at the Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., at 6 p.m., call 520- 622-8848. I hear there will also be an enormous sandcastle birthday cake across the street at Maynard’s Kitchen, as part of the Big Kahuna Tropical Bash (stay tuned for my blog on that event tomorrow).

For even more events for today and tomorrow, log onto the Tucson Birthday website (click here).

Plus a tribute today to Tucson’s “First Lady of Fashion” Cele Peterson who died on May 6, 2010 at age 101. Cele operated an upscale dress shop in Tucson since 1931 and was a benevolent, caring, community leader. The store is now at 4811 E. Grant Rd. in the Crossroads Festival Shopping Center.

Cele Peterson, courtesy of the Peterson family

This Annual Birthday celebration in August was Cele’s idea back in 2006 and we need to honor her memory today. We miss her, but her goal of “connecting” people has been happening all month all over Tucson. I attended her memorial service back in May, and hundreds of people dropped by to say “adios” to this grande dame.

Happy Birthday Tucson, con muchas gracias (with many thanks) to Cele.