Pima Animal Care Center this Friday will kick off a December bid to make sure more shelter animals have a better chance at finding a home this holiday season.

Starting this Friday, Dec. 14, and running through Dec. 31, the adoption center is running a half-off promotion to make it easier for folks to add a new member of their household, while helping to reduce the numbers of homeless pets in the community.

All adoption fees are just $25.

“During the holidays, there are so many families who are willing to open up their hearts and their homes to pets,” said Shelter Manager Justin Gallick. “We really hope they will consider adopting from shelters, since we have so many worthy, adoring pets to pick from. They can get a lifetime of love for $25.”

Adoptions include updated vaccinations, a microchip and spay/neuter surgery. Adult dogs will require an additional $15 licensing fee.

Pima Animal Care Center also offers gift certificates, so that friends and loved ones can pick out the right pet for their households when the time is right for them.

Come visit our adoption center at 4000 N. Silverbell Road. We’re open weekdays from noon to 7 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  For more information, call or visit our website.

The Arizona Air National Guard at the Tucson International Airport and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base are so important to the Pima County economy that the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voiced unanimous support for their existing and future missions.

Even though the U.S. Department of Defense in August 2012 selected Luke Air Force Base inGlendaleas a new F-35 pilot training center, future opportunities may exist for reserve and foreign pilot training.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the Pentagon’s biggest weapons program.

The Air National Guard is the region’s 37th largest employer, generating more than $280 million in annual economic benefit. Davis-Monthan, meanwhile, is the third largest public employer in the region, contributing $1.1 billion a year to the local economy.

The Guard’s 162nd Fighter Training Wing is the largest in the country, serving as an
F-16 training unit for National Guard and international pilots on 94 acres atTucsonInternationalAirport. The wing has trained pilots from 28 countries that fly the F-16.

“A big part of the reason I placed this resolution on the agenda is that I wanted to make it very clear not only to other jurisdictions in our region, but clear to our congressional leadership as well as to the leadership in the Pentagon, that this community, its leadership and its elected officials adamantly support Davis-Monthan and the 162^nd and their missions,” said Pima County Supervisors Chairman Ramón Valadez. “I wanted to make that very loud and clear.”

Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías said that while it is important to be cognizant of those who live near the military installations and the need to balance their lifestyles with future missions, he said he felt confident supporting the 162^nd. “They’re very important to our community and very important to the economics of our community,” he said.

A number of local business and community leaders, including the DM-50, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and U.S. Rep. Ron Barber’s office, expressed support for current and ongoing missions as well.

David Welsh, representing Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, estimated the economic impact of adding an F-35 component to the mission of the 162^nd could add up to $60 million annually in economic impact to the region.

Mike Varney, President of the Tucson Metro Chamber, likewise applauded the board for its leadership. “One of the things that sometimes gets overlooked is the ripple effect of having both these installations in the community – the number of small businesses who are vendors to these installations and the number of people they employ and the paychecks they create.”

Citizens who are interested in expressing an opinion about the existing and future missions of the Air National Guard are encouraged to contact the Air Force. Letters may be sent to:

The Honorable Terry Yonkers, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics

1665 Air Force Pentagon

Room 4E996

Washington,DC20330-1665

Additional letters may be sent to the following:

Michael B. Donley

Secretary of theUnited StatesAir Force

1160 Air Force Pentagon

Washington,DC20330-1160

General Mark A. Welsh, III

HQ USAF/CC

Chief of Staff, USAF

1670 Air Force Pentagon

Washington,DC20330-1670

General Mike Hostage

Commander, Air Combat Command

205 Dodd Blvd., Suite 100

Langley AFB, VA 23665-2788

Lt. General Burton Field

HQUSAF A-3/5

1630 Air Force Pentagon

Washington,DC20330-1630

General Larry O. Spencer

HQUSAF/CV

Vice Chief of Staff, USAF

1670 Air Force Pentagon

Washington,DC20330-1670

Stories plucked from the imaginations of children will be featured at the second annual BEYOND event that commemorates the Jan. 8, 2011, tragedy.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday allocated $5,000 from its contingency fund to support the work of Stories that Soar!, a program of Literacy Connects. The group will join others in this year’s Jan. 5 main event, which will take place downtown at the Children’s Museum Tucson and the Armory Park Senior Center under the sponsorship of Tucson Medical Center.

On Jan. 8, 2011, a gunman opened fire at a congressional event in a supermarket parking lot on the northwest side, killing six people and wounding 13, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

While acknowledging the loss the community sustained that day, the event has a strong focus on renewal and promotes an awareness of physical, mental and emotional health.

Stories that Soar! celebrates literacy and creativity by asking children to feed their stories to a Magic Box. Their stories later come to life in a theatrical production.

Sharon O’Brien, the artistic director of Stories that Soar!, said the organization has been working with Ben’s Bells to collect stories of kindness, courage and civility.

“Both organizations strongly believe that by sharing stories written by members of the community, we can ‘be the change we wish to see in the world,’ ” she said, adding she is grateful for the opportunity to be part of a healthier and more positivePimaCounty.

Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías said that while it is important to reflect on those who were hurt that day and continue to heal,Southern Arizonashould move forward in unity.

“Our community is a better place when we are respectful and civil to those around us,” he said. “Stories that Soar! demonstrates respect for the impressive talents of our children and it gives them a voice in our community.”

The main BEYOND event runs from noon until 4 p.m. and will include dance instruction, historical walking tours, yoga, jump roping, bocce and table tennis. Other events will be taking place throughout the day and across the community.

To find one that works for you, check out http://www.beyond-tucson.org.

One way to stem the tide of unwanted animals is to turn off the faucet.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to put $220,000 into no-cost spay/neuter clinics in an ongoing attempt to reduce the number of homeless animals throughout the region.

The approval marks the fourth year the contract has been authorized with the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona, which provides the sterilization services on behalf of the County. The efforts target underserved and economically depressed areas.

In all, since 2009, the Board has allocated $880,000 to the effort.

The allocation allows for the sterilization of approximately 3,000 pets annually.

Additionally, the clinic atPimaAnimalCareCenteraltered nearly 6,400 animals last fiscal year, since state law requires the sterilization of shelter animals before they can go home with new families.

The investment makes solid financial sense, said Kim Janes, the Manager of Pima Animal Care Center.

A fertile dog can produce two litters a year, with anywhere from six to 10 puppies at a time. Theoretically, within six years, that dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs.

The numbers are even higher for cats, which can produce a litter of 4-6 kittens three times a year.

It costs roughly $15 a day to care for each animal that comes to the shelter.PimaAnimalCareCenterlast year cared for more than 24,000.

“Pets are languishing in shelters through no fault of their own, and it is our responsibility as a community to address this problem,” said Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll, who has rescued three dogs. “Addressing the problem through increased spay/neuter services is both financially and morally the right thing to do.”

For assistance on where to obtain low-cost spay/neuter services, please visit http://www.awasa.org.

For more information aboutPimaAnimalCareCenter, visit www.pimaanimalcare.org/.

With the holidays coming up, many families are looking for a new pet to join their households.

Staff atPimaAnimalCareCenterwould be thrilled if you would consider adopting a shelter pet and look forward to helping you find the right partner for your home.

“Before folks come to our adoption center and melt over those soft brown eyes, it might be helpful to mull over a few questions to help us find a good match,” said Shelter Manager Justin Gallick.

1. How will your pet fit into your current lifestyle? Daily exercise is ideal for both of you, if possible. Take into account any allergies and assess your tolerance for daily grooming, since those requirements vary widely among different animals. Pets are healthiest and less likely to develop behavioral problems if they have companionship, so your schedule is something to consider if you tend to be out all day and again at night.

2. Will your living space accommodate an animal companion? Whether you have an outdoor space or whether your pet will live inside will be important considerations. If you are in an apartment, make sure you check with your landlord to learn about any pet restrictions that might be in place.

3. Will your pet get along with members of your existing household? Finding the right pet is important if you have children or other animals at home. Many rescue dogs atPimaAnimalCareCenter already have kennel mates, so we generally know how they interact with other dogs. We offer a play area where your new prospect can meet your family, or grab a leash and take a walk at the park behind our adoption center.

4. What kind of activities would you like to do with your pet? If you like running and hiking, then certain physical characteristics might be important to consider. If you are more likely to gravitate to a remote control, you might want to find a pet that’s a bit slower speed.

5. What kind of financial obligations might you experience? Aside from food, there are other occasional costs associated with owning a pet, from veterinary services to grooming and annual licensing. Depending on the pet you select, behavioral training may be helpful. Those costs come with all pets, regardless of whether you choose a rescue companion.

Come visit our adoption center at4000 N. Silverbell Road. We’re open weekdays from noon to 7 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  For more information, call or visit our website.

Children in rural areas soon will have better access to dental care, with the Pima County Board of Supervisors voting Tuesday to allocate $50,000 from its contingency funds to assist with the purchase of a pediatric mobile dental unit.

The funding for United Community Health Center helps match funds provided by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation to provide pediatric dental services to more children in southern Pima County.

Services will be provided to as many as 1,800 children, largely on-site at area schools, with the goal of providing better primary care and addressing issues of poor dental hygiene.

“It is my hope that this dental unit can help reduce the health-care disparities in rural areas,” said Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson, whose district encompasses many rural areas. “Given transportation, educational and economic barriers, it’s often quite hard for rural families to get access to primary care. This allows those services to directly serve some of our most vulnerable residents – children.”

United Community Health Center serves as the federally designated safety net to the rural poor in southern Pima County.

There is clearly work to be done. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that nearly 40 percent of the state’s third-graders have untreated tooth decay and only 57 percent of children through third grade had visited a dentist in the previous year.

Freeport-McMoRan contributed $155,000 on the condition that the nonprofit raise matching funds for the remainder of the $307,000 purchase.

Dianna Gonzales, CEO of United Community Health Care, thanked the County for its contribution. “This contribution will really help us make a difference for families,” Gonzales said. “Establishing healthy dental habits early can really ease fears and secure a foundation of lifelong dental health.”

United Community Health Care is currently constructing a new pediatric dental clinic in Continental, Ariz., to provide services to the medically underserved.

Gonzales hopes to be able to start service delivery in the spring.

Construction will begin this month on a new communications tower that will allow more than 30 first responder agencies to communicate directly with one another to strengthen coordination in times of emergencies.

The construction of the 125-foot tower also will reduce the development footprint on Tumamoc Hill, by removing six towers and three buildings from the top of the hill, which is known for its cultural and historical significance, as well as for its popularity with hikers and walkers.

“Tumamoc Hill is clearly a community asset, which is why we’ve worked to protect it through our open space and historic preservation bond projects and why we’ve worked so diligently to reduce the impacts of this project,” said Capt. Paul Wilson of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, who is serving as project sponsor for the Pima County Wireless Integrated Network (PCWIN).

“The culmination of these planning efforts is really a win-win for the community. We will be better able to protect our first responders, and those who need their help, while also consolidating existing communications equipment on the hill itself to reduce the visual and physical impact.”

More than 61 percent of voters authorized the development of a regional public safety radio system and emergency communications center in the 2004 bond election.

The Tumamoc site was selected because its elevation and unique location are critical in alleviating poor radio service for local police, fire and emergency medical service responders. Approved in 2010 after a round of public hearings, construction will commence by mid-December, now that an environmental assessment has been completed, as well as an evaluation by the Federal Communications Commission.

Special care is being taken with the project, including:

• Construction will be contained to areas of previously disturbed land.
• The tower will not require lighting, so there will be no disturbance of the night sky.
• One of the buildings being removed is on theeast ridgeand currently the most visible from the valley floor.
• An archaeological monitor will ensure that no cultural features are impacted during construction.

Construction impacts on the public should be minimal, since the only area affected will be the parking lot near the buildings and towers at the top of the hill. Construction is expected to occur during times the University of Arizona already restricts hiking, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Pre-construction activities could start the first week of December 2012, and all construction will be completed by June 2013 with the communications system operational by the end of 2013.

A public meeting has been scheduled on Tuesday, December 11, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City of Tucson Community Resources Center, 320 N. Commerce Park Loop, for the community to receive current information about the project.

Every kennel at Pima Animal Care Center now has a comfortable dog bed after volunteers armed with channel locks and other tools spent Saturday building 105 dog beds.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to the volunteers who took the time to make sure the great pets at our adoption center will be comfortable and warm this winter,” said Shelter Manager Justin Gallick.

June Hall, a sixth grade teacher who works at Ironwood Elementary, which donated the space for the volunteer effort, said she was thrilled to see the community engagement. “Animals can’t help themselves. We have to do it for them,” said Hall, who has four dogs at home.

Meanwhile, volunteers Barry and Jennifer Gillaspie were on a roll, finishing their sixth bed by late morning. Jennifer, a retired city employee with four rescue dogs herself, now walks dogs at the shelter as a way to help out while getting her exercise.

“It just feels really good to do what we can to help,” Jennifer said. “These beds make sure they’re off the concrete and you can just tell how much they love them.”

Oliver, who was rescued from PACC in 2009, took time out from his busy schedule as a certified pet therapy dog and a shelter pet ambassador to provide quality assurance and motivation, while occasionally testing the finished products.

“The biggest takeaway from today is that anyone can help,” said Oliver’s owner Laurie Gaetano, who helped raise funds for the effort after seeing a post on Facebook. “So many people want to help, but don’t know how. Today is really a team effort and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Pima Animal Care is located at4000 N. Silverbell Road. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekends.

For more information, call 243-5900 or visit www.pimanimalcare.org

Just in case Santa is still working on that list he’ll check twice, Pima Animal Care Center would love to be able to check off a few items this holiday season.

“Our animals are well-tended, but we’re always appreciative of monetary donations and donated items,” said shelter manager Justin Gallick.

On average, it costs $15 a day to care for a shelter pet. Last year, the shelter took in more than 24,000 animals, with our pets staying with us an average of nine days.

“This season is infused with the spirit of giving and charity, and we would be grateful for any assistance in fulfilling our mission to care for the animals,” Gallick said.

 Shelter dog/cat:

• New or gently used collars and leashes, Kong toys of varied sizes, tasty treats for training (preferably moist or dehydrated treats), dog biscuits, dry and canned cat/kitten and dog/puppy food, scoopable or clay cat litter, puppy and kitten replacement milk (such as KMR or Esbilac,) pet shampoo and nonporous, preferably plastic cat toys that can cleaned and reused

General shelter needs:

• Bottles of bleach, disinfectant wipes, towels, sheets, hand sanitizer, and 4- to 8-quart galvanized buckets

Office supplies

• Black and blue ink pens, spiral notebooks, staples/paperclips/binder clips, clip boards, colored construction paper and other art and craft supplies

Of course, the best gift is a gift of a home. Come visit our adoptable pets!

Pima Animal Care is located at 4000 N. Silverbell Road. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekends. For more information, call 243-5900 or visit www.pimaanimalcare.org

Pima County’s new Public Health Director, Dr. Francisco A.R. Garcia, told the Pima County Board of Health Wednesday that he hopes to bring a unique perspective as he strives to find solutions to some of the health needs facing the community.

“It is with great enthusiasm and great happiness that I’ve accepted this huge challenge,” said Garcia, who attended medical school at the University of Arizona and who also holds a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

Speaking to the Pima County Board of Health, Garcia applauded the community’s strengths, including significant resources and supportive business interests. “We need to figure out how to bring them all together and start tackling some of these tough public health issues.”

The position is a new one for Pima County, essentially merging the functions of two separate positions after the retirements earlier this year of the County’s chief medical officer and the health department director.

Deputy Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher said members of the search committee were resigned to the reality that they might not get everything on their wish list. They wanted a candidate with a history in Tucson who knows the community, but still had a national perspective, especially given the changes that will be coming as federal health care reform takes shape. They hoped for someone who was not only a medical doctor, but who also had a strong grasp of public health policy.

Turns out the County won’t have to settle for either/or, she said. “We won the lottery,” Lesher said.

Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías, who sits on the health board, welcomed Garcia and agreed he does indeed have his work cut out for him. “It is a tremendous challenge that you face: declining revenues, declining grant funding, declining health. These are all situations we face here in Pima County,” he said, noting such challenges exist across the country.

Garcia will officially begin his new role Jan. 2, 2013, although he is already immersing himself in data and meeting key players.

He said he will be asking for input as he begins crafting an agenda that will set the stage for work to come in the near future.