Thursday, September 12, 2019
"All events in life have a beginning and an end and this is also true with my journey as your Pima County recorder," Rodriguez said in a statement. "I have decided to announce my tenure as your Pima County recorder will end at the end of my current term as I will not seek reelection in 2020."
The recorder is in charge of maintaining Pima County's records, including real-estate records and voter registration records. In Pima County, the recorder also sends out and verifies early ballots and has other election-related responsibilities.
The gig pays $76,600 in case you're interested in running for office.
Following a summer hiatus, The Black Rock Brewery Comedy Showcase returns with host Mo Urban at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13. Headlined by Josiah Osego (What Really Happened), the lineup includes Autumn Horvat (Comedians Who Aren’t Men), Tim Maggard, Mariah Dickson, Joel Martin (Good Enough Comedy) and Alice Valpey.
Tucsoncomedy.com Presents
We hope that by now you have bookmarked tucsoncomedy.com as your source for dozens of live comedy shows in Tucson every month. Tucsoncomedy.com comes alive with some of Tucson’s favorite comedians upstairs at Gentle Ben’s at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17. Tickets are $5 at the door. Pauly Casillas (Netflix, Laughs on Fox) headlines and the rest of the lineup comprises Amber Frame (The Estrogen Hour) and Monte Benjamin (Hollywood Improv) among others.
TIM invites you to come see their newbies
Tucson Improv Movement hosts a monthly late-night showcase featuring students of its standup comedy classes alongside veterans of Tucson’s comedy scene. At 10:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, pick the newbies from a lineup including Marty Moreno, Cami Anderson, Matt Tropman (TIM Soapbox), Drake Horner, Jana Gojic and Rebecca Tingley (Let’s Talk About Sex Baby) with TIM’s Megan Gossen hosting. Tickets are $5 at the door or in advance at tucsonimprov.com.
And the winner is ….
Congratulations to Andrea Salazar for defeating Priscilla Fernandez in the Battle at the Roast Room VI at The Screening Room last Saturday. It was both the women’s first competition and after racing through the rest of the challengers, they held no bars with the Latina snaps. Salazar, e.g. dropped this memorable line about her foe: “She’s evidence that Mexican women, too, want to speak to the manager.” Our favorite though, was Fernandez’ nickname for Salazar, “lesbeaner.” Salazar says she might keep it.
More Laughs
Friday, Sept. 13: Standup with Eliot Chang and Alex Elkin at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe ($12.50 and $17.50) Improv with Performance Evaluation, Harold Alpha and Choice Cut at 7:30 p.m. and The Soapbox at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement ($5). Family-friendly improv with Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed at 7:30 p.m. ($5 and $7) followed by Free Form Friday at 9 p.m.(free)at Unscrewed Theatre.
Saturday, Sept. 14: Kids’ Improv with F.O.M.P at 1 p.m., and Spanish language standup and improv with Carcajadas: Una Noche De Comedia at 7:30 p.m., followed by round 1 of the 3 v 3 team competition at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement, ($5). Family-friendly improv with Unscrewed Family Hour at 6 p.m. and Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed (NBOJU) at 7:30 p.m., followed by NBOJU Uncensored at 9 p.m. at Unscrewed Theater, ($5 and $8). Standup with Jason Love at 6 p.m. at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene ($5). Standup with Eliot Chang and Alex Elkin at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe ($12.50 and $17.50)
Sunday, Sept. 15: Free Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Chuckleheads in Bisbee.
Monday, Sept. 16: Free Open Mic at 7 p.m. at The Surly Wench.
Wednesday, Sept. 18: Free open mic at 7 p.m. at The Screening Room.
Thursday, Sept. 19: Standup showcase at 7 p.m. at Casa Marana (free). Free open mics at 8 p.m. at Laffs Comedy Caffe and 8:30 p.m. at Rockabilly Grill.
Tags: Roberto Rodriguez , The O , tucsoncomedy.com , Pauly Casillas , Amber Frame , Andrea Salazar , Priscilla Fernandez , Black Rock Brewery , The Black Rock Brewery Comedy Showcase , The Surly Wench , Chuckleheads , The Screening Room , Casa Marana , Casa de Comedy , Rockabilly Grill , Laff's Comedy Caffe , Church of the Nazarene , Jason Love , Eliot Chang , Alan Elkin , Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed , F.O.M.P. , Friends of Make Pretends , Tucson Improv Movement , Carcajadas: Una Noche De Comedia , Comedia en Espanol , Harold Alpha , Choice Cut , Megan Gossen , Marty Moreno , Cami Anderson , Matt Tropman , Drake Horner , Jana Gojic , Rebecca Tingley , Pauly Casillas , Amber Frame , Monte Benjamin , Josiah Osego , Autumn Horvat , Tim Maggard , Mariah Dickson , Joel Martin , Alice Valpey. , Image
I've been out of town recently, so I haven't been personally involved in any of the board meetings or other events connected with the proposed Family Life Curriculum. With that in mind, here are some thoughts and discussion topics, from a bit of a distance.
1. I strongly support the new Family Life Curriculum. The changes are long overdue. Children and young adults need medically accurate information about sex, safe sex and the scope of human sexuality. The idea that keeping students ignorant will assure that they will become happily heterosexual adults who will abstain from sex until marriage — which I guess is the ideal for most people who oppose the curriculum — is both absurd and destructive.
I can't say that I support every word and every concept in the curriculum. I'm not an expert in the field, so I don't pretend to understand all the fine points. That being said . . .
2. It is an exercise in futility to try and fine tune the language and instructions in the Family Life Curriculum. Teachers will read through the curriculum and get some in service training, then they will teach the material, each in their own way. The only portions that need to be written with precision are the curricular commandments: the Thou Shalts and Thou Shalt Nots.
If a curriculum states "Thou shalt not teach any form of birth control other than abstinence," that has an absolute, direct effect on the way teachers approach sex education in their classrooms. If it says, on the other hand, "Thou shalt teach about many forms of birth control including abstinence, while making sure to point out that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method," that is an important directive which teachers must follow.
Likewise, if teachers are told, "Thou shalt teach a certain topic in 4th grade" and "Thou shalt not teach another topic until 7th grade," those are absolute instructions which are supposed to be followed to the letter.
Beyond the commandments, a curriculum is a series of guidelines. Take it from a teacher who spent 30-plus years kinda following the district curriculum while spreading his own special sauce on all his lessons. It's up to the individual teachers to decide exactly how they will approach the topics mapped out in the curriculum.
Tags: TUSD , Family Life Curriculum , Sex education , Superintendent Trujillo , Mexican American Studies , Image
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
The Engage Foundation, which teaches youth how to “engage in life” through free events designed to build character, teamwork and sportsmanship, is throwing a fundraiser Sept. 13 at The Boxyard. The venue, located at 238 N. Fourth Ave., hosts four on-site food vendors and will offer $1 Firestone 805 beers for the event.
Other activities include a raffle, jersey grab, music and a poker tournament. The fun kicks off at 6 p.m.
The foundation provides several programs, primarily its yearly youth co-ed touch rugby team for anyone ages 6 to 18. Participants receive coaching, participate in league matches and receive rugby gear and a jersey all at no cost to the families.
The youth rugby league launches Sept. 29 at Rillito Regional Park, 4502 N. First Ave., and takes place Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. Register for the league and RSVP online at engagearizona.com by Sept. 20.
While much of the year is spent having fun on the field and donating balls to groups like the Boys and Girls Club, Engage Foundation Board Member Matt Stamp said this Friday’s fundraiser is integral to the success of the group’s mission.
“Our goal is to give as many children as possible the opportunity to participate in fun activities that they might not have the chance to otherwise,” Stamp said. “We are grateful for the community support and look forward to a great event and impactful season ahead.”
A $20 ticket to the event comes with a dinner, custom pint glass and $1 beers. A $40 ticket includes a seat at the speed poker tournament—where the best prizes are up for grabs. All proceeds from the events go directly to Engage. Buy tickets online here.
Those who can’t attend the event but would like to contribute to Engage’s mission may do so online here.
Engage is officially recognized and supported by USA Rugby, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tucson and the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.
Tags: Engage , Boxyard , fundraising , children , beer , food , Image
After a one year hiatus, the epic synthesis of jam bands, EDM, cutting edge sound and lighting that is Gem & Jam Festival 2020 kicks off its thirteenth installment at the Pima County Fairgrounds. Festival organizers are poised to deliver one of the most stunning shows anywhere.
This year’s lineup: Tipper, Big Gigantic, The Floozies, Twiddle and Billy Strings top the bill. With supergroup TH3 (featuring Michael Travis, Jason Hann and Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident), Manic Focus, Dirtwire, Desert Dwellers, Marvel Years, Cycles, Eminence Ensemble, Kitchen Dwellers and Late Night Radio rounding out the initial Phase One lineup announcement.
Over 55,000 people from around the globe are expected to flood Tucson during the three week Gem and Mineral Show, rekindling a fire for festival organizers.
“We are beyond excited to be able to bring Gem & Jam back for an epic three nights in the desert,” said festival co-producer Josh Pollack in a statement. “We have the best fans out there and cannot wait to share all we have planned for 2020.”
Gem & Jam Festival 2020 returns to the Pima County Fairgrounds, Jan 31-Feb 2, 2020. Visit gemandjamfestival.com for tickets and all the details.
Tags: Gem & Jam Festival , Gem and Mineral Show , XOXO , Image
Richardson, who was sentenced to three months in prison earlier this year for accepting bribes as part of the FBI's investigation into college basketball, was caught on tape making the claims in 2017, the article states.
According to the story, Richardson referenced paying $40,000 to the "high school coach" to ensure Alkin's academic eligibility.
Public record from the trial of former agent employee Christian Dawkins and former Adidas consultant Merl Code this spring includes the transcript of the previously unreported conversation. In it, Richardson makes multiple references to paying $40,000 to have Alkins’ transcript amended so the highly recruited guard would be eligible to play his freshman college season in 2016-17.
In the transcript, Richardson did not say where he got the money. He cited the payment as an example of the difficulty handling the demands of recruits, their families and those around them.
“So, again, is it something different each year?” Richardson said, generally referencing having to financially support recruits’ families. “It is. Like I said, $40,000 to do that was totally extreme. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would not do it. I'd try to barter something. I'd give blood. I'd give semen, something.”
It’s unknown why the conversation was not used as evidence or played in court earlier this year. The 1,500-word transcript of the discussion between Richardson, Dawkins, financial adviser Munish Sood and undercover FBI agents Jeff D’Angelo and Jill Bailey includes Richardson speaking openly about arranging a payment of “two grand” every month to Alkins’ cousin, who he said moved to Tucson with him.
D’Angelo and Bailey were posing as financial advisers who were willing to “provide … a pot of money each year,” as D’Angelo said on the transcript, to Richardson for use in recruiting in exchange for him steering Arizona players to them when they turned professional.
Academic fraud and payments to a player’s family are potential Level I infractions, the most serious on the NCAA’s scale of violations. Court testimony and evidence already implicated Arizona in numerous other potential violations, with the future of the program and the college coaching career of Sean Miller hanging in the balance as the NCAA follows up in the wake of the federal investigation. Miller has maintained he had no knowledge of or involvement in any potential violations within his program.
Steve Thompson, attorney for Sean Miller, declined comment. Arizona officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Richardson currently is serving a three-month sentence at the federal correctional institute in Otisville, New York, after agreeing to plead guilty to a federal funds bribery charge unrelated to the alleged payments to Alkins’ family or his coach. Richardson was not available for comment.
Americana/soul singer Hannah Rooth & Wild Hum will perform material from their debut album Wild Hum, such as their striking first single "Divorce in the Water" at Sky Bar.
A cross between Mississippi Fred McDowell and the Staple Singers, master of Mississippi hill country blues Reed Turchi searches for "Just A Little More Faith at Monterey Court.
Tags: XOXO , music , live music , shows , concerts , things to do , Image
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Not Alone. Suicide isn't an easy topic to discuss, much less halt. That's why this special documentary screening also includes a resource fair with community mental health organizations and a post-screening panel discussion. Not Alone is a documentary featuring interviews with teens sharing their struggles with mental illness and suicide attempts. Through these intimate conversations, both the audience and the speakers learn. The post-screening discussion features Joronda Montaño, director of notMYkid; Rezwana Islam, UA Public Health major and LGBTQ advocate; Ernestina Limon, former Pima County Health Dept. Community Mental Health and Addiction Program Coordinator and more. This film screening and community forum is presented by the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Free.
Day for Night: Deconstructing the Documentary. For fans of the style, documentaries can be eye-opening windows of truth into otherwise unknown scenarios. But what if manipulation is involved? The UA School of Theatre, Film & Television is hosting a panel about these "highly structured narratives shaped by directorial style." This session, presented by documentary editor and UA Film & Television professor Jacob Bricca, features a variety of film clips and breaks down the hidden conventions of the documentary style. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. 1103 E. Second St. Harvill 104. Free.
Citizen Kane. Is it actually as great as everyone says it is? The critics agree. The test of time agrees. This humble film writer thinks it's pretty dang good as well. For their Tuesday Night Classics series, Harkins Theatres are screening the film whose cinematography, editing and story structure are still influencing filmmakers to this day. But did you know, for all its retrospective praise, the film failed to recoup its production costs at the box office? 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz & 5755 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive. $10.
Tags: movies , Reel Indie , cinema , classics , specials , Image
