Has it really been four years since I started blogging at Tucsoncitizen.com? I am now at over 1380 blog posts, and I can’t remember each and every one of course. Writing about community events and concerns is what I intended this blogsite to be back on June 18, 2009 and it has become that over the last 4 years.

I now have people in Tucson come up to me and say they enjoy my “community blog”. One lady noticed that I attend many events, so I calmly told her it was because it̵...

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A free concert (donations accepted of course) in midtown at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal church on June 22.
I’ve heard this orchestra before and they are wonderful. Sounds like a enriching event for a hot June afternoon.

More info at www.tucsonrepertoryorchestra.org.

Infomation about conductor Toru Tagawa:

Toru Tagawa

Toru, from Hiroshima, Japan, started playing the violin at age 6, and joined the Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra at age 10. He received his Violin Performance deg...

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I’ve been to this family-friendly event where children build & decorate a wooden dragon boat, then compete by blowing up a balloon which powers the boat in a trough of water. You have to see it to believe it, but it’s lots of fun.

Lunch only $5.00 (includes Chinese tamale and drink), $15.00 per entrant (includes take home boat & lunch).

Tucson Chinese Cultural Center is at 1288 W. River Rd. (just east of La Canada Rd.), 520-292-6900.

Also on Juneteenth, June 15 in the late...

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The T.O.P. (Top of Pennington) after sunset is the place to be for 2nd Saturday Downtown, coming up on June 8.

6:30pm-9:30pm: Mitzi Cowell & The Valiants
“Tasty classic, obscure, and original blues with a swampy feel and a deep devotion to groove!”

Last month on May 11 I checked out this new music/entertainment venue at 110 E. Pennington (between Scott and 6th Avenue) and it has terrific views of the city, and is a bit cooler due to the elevation (over 6 floors). Last month hund...

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What: Cinema La Placita outdoor film series 2013 schedule
Where: La Placita Village, located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Church Avenue in downtown Tucson
When: every Thursday night at 7:30, May through August, 2013

Cinema La Placita continues its 14th season in June with films of intrigue, both foreign and domestic.

The season this year will run May – August, beginning THURSDAY, MAY 9 (the SECOND Thursday in May) and ending THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013.

Here’s the schedule for June ...

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The City Council primary is set for August 27, but there’s no contested primary races after the May 29 deadline for filing by petition for City Council Wards 3, 5, and 6 this year. The City’s General election is set for November 5, 2013. The Write in candidate filing deadline for the primary is July 18, so there could still be other election challenges. September 26 is the write in candidate deadline for the General Election.

Who’s running this year:

Ward 3
Democratic Councilme...

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The Studio Ghibli Collection
Following the smash-hit success of our Hayao Miyazaki series earlier this year, The Loft Cinema is now proud to present an all-new retrospective series featuring a fresh line-up of classic titles from Japan’s famed Studio Ghibli animation house.

All throughout the month of June, don’t miss your chance to experience such beloved and influential Studio Ghibli films as Only Yesterday, Whisper of the Heart, Grave of the Fireflies, Ponyo and more, all on the big scree...

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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 S...

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Ah, water. With the long, hot summer approaching, here are examples of cool, aquatic places in Tucson to visit and enjoy.

I miss the Pacific Ocean and sometimes go out looking for ponds and public water features around town. So here’s my list of where there are large bodies of water (and fountains) in Tucson. Lots of ducks and other aquatic birds habitate most of these ponds.

Ponds:
1) Reid Park ponds, with cascading streams on the hill nearby. NE corner of E. 22nd St. and Country Club
2) Ft. ...

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Dig this! Summer reading program “Dig into Reading”:

May 24 to July 20 at all Pima County Public library branches, including one near you.

520-791-4010, www.library.pima.gov. Click on the images for more information about summer reading events.

More About Summer Reading 2013

Children will receive a game board when they sign up. Each time they reach a goal, they can visit their library to pick up stickers, special lists of recommended activities, activity booklets with coupons for ...

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“A Snowball’s Chance” book review

Powerful, traumatic stories of teenage drugs, pregnancies, juvenile prison time, poverty — by eight young people in Southern AZ are edited by Susan Lulic Enholm of Tucson. The eight (Carlos, Christina, DeAnne, Jarid, Marquis, Megan, Melissa, Nicole) are all now adults, and in their own words honestly related how they grew up with mostly unwed or divorced parents, in poverty, in dysfunctional families where some of their parents used drugs. And these...

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The Tin Drum / Newly Restored Director’s Cut!

Sunday, May 19 at 11:00am and Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00pm (Essential Cinema monthly film series)

Free Admission • Suggested Donation $5 at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Winner of the 1980 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award and the 1979 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or!

Danzig, 1924. Just before the start of WWII, Oskar Matzerath is born with an intellect beyond his infancy. As he witnesses the hypocrisy of adulthood and society, h...

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Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) Arizona chapter is sponsoring a conference in Tucson on September 20 and 21, so save the dates now and register online for the Saturday all day event (click here). Friday night talk will be free, but it costs $35 for the Saturday workshops/conference.

Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 20
7-8 PM
Unisource Building Conference Room
88 East Broadway in Tucson.
Eric Klinenberg, an inspiring, nationally known speaker (author of the critically acclaimed book, Heat Wave:...

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Back in January I reported that this exquisite chandelier designed for the castle of Empress Josephine of France has found its way to Tucson (appraised at $50,000), and is being raffled off to benefit Dragonfly Village. Click here for earlier post. Josephine was the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I of France.

photo courtesy of J. Jones

Last reminder, Tuesday, May 14 Grand Prize crystal chandelier and auxiliary prizes. The drawing is scheduled to take place at Dragonfly Gallery from 4-6 p.m. Tic...

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From 7:45 to 8 p.m. on Saturday May 11, Belly Dance Tucson will be performing on the Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway, for the monthly urban street fest known as 2nd Saturday Downtown. More events/happenings at www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.

Belly Dance Tucson offers Tucson’s best belly dance classes for dancers of all levels, student recitals, professional dance troupe performances, and community events. We are Tucson’s premier full time Belly Dance Studio. Come take a clas...

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NEON MILE: SIXTH ANNUAL HISTORIC
MIRACLE MILE OPEN HOUSE AND TOUR

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013, 5:30 P.M. – 10:30 P.M.
STARTING POINT: MONTEREY COURT, 505 W. MIRACLE MILE

The Sixth Annual Historic Miracle Mile Open House and Tour will take place on Friday, May 10, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to – 10:30 p.m. This year the FREE event will feature historic and revitalized resources on Miracle Mile between the Oracle Road intersection and Fairview Avenue.

This special evening will include history lec...

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Poster above drawn by Katie M. Berggren.

Emerge! serves many mothers who would go to the end of the earth to protect their children. Each year we choose one mother, a mother who has displayed exceptional courage and strength. At our Mother of the Year Luncheon we tell her story, and celebrate her bravery. This 12th annual event will also honor the service of our CEO for seven years, Sarah Jones.
Help us celebrate!

Save the Date! 12th Annual Mother of the Year Luncheon
Thursday, May 9, 2013, 11...

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WENDY’S® TO GIVE FREE JR. HAMBURGERS TO TUCSON’S EDUCATORS ON MAY 7, 2013 IN HONOR OF NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY

©2013 Oldemark LLC

Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Wendy’s franchise wants to show their support for all Tucson educators and “Give Something Back” on their special day for the hard work and dedication they put forth each day. On National Teacher Appreciation Day Wendy’s is inviting all Tucson educators and staff members to visit any one of 14 locally owned Tucson...

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On April 22 I reported that Tucson was ranked # 1 in the 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge on Water Conservation (click here) for our city size. The deadline to take the pledge online was April 30. Tucson was competing with other cities in the 300,000 to 600,000 population size. Well, Tucson won, along with Denver (CO), West Palm Beach (FL), Bremerton (WA) and Laguna Beach (CA)!

National Press release from Wyland Foundation below. They say on their website that “Together we pledged to ...

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