Financial aid from last spring's federal CARES Act allowed Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health and other community health centers to retain employees amid declining patient visits and other threats to funding streams.

The financial hit is estimated to be at least $2.9 billion nationwide, according to a study from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.

In addition to providing standard health services, these clinics have been on the front lines of COVID-19 testing efforts in underserved urban and rural communities.

In Arizona, 23 community health centers operate 176 sites throughout the state. Tara McCollum of the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers said most centers in Arizona experienced drops of 35% to 80% for in-person patient visits.

“Even the sliding fee scale wasn’t enough to bring people in,” she said, referring to discounts offered to uninsured patients. With the sliding scale, the less money a patient earns, the lower the cost.

Such discounts are made possible with financial assistance from the Community Health Center Fund, a federal program created through the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Congress renewed funding for the program last year at $5.6 billion, but that money is set to expire later this year.

With the ACA now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court, advocates worry the health center fund could be wiped out if the court decides to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Starting Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, glass will no longer be accepted in blue bins, and will instead be collected at drop-off sites across the city.

According to Tucson's Environmental and General Services Department, removing glass from curbside collection will reduce processing costs at the Materials Recovery Facility. The community drop-off sites are planned to keep glass reuse local and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This change is part of the City's Climate Action Plan, and comes after a 30,000-house recycling audit conducted by EGSD.

Drop-off sites will be opening in February, and more information will be mailed to all EGSD customers in January. Glass dropped off should be empty, clean, and dry, with lids and caps removed. There is no need to remove the labels.

Starting Feb. 21, 2021, here is what will be accepted in the blue barrel program: 

• Plastic bottles, jugs, and containers
• Paper 
• Cardboard
• Aluminum/tin cans

The City of Tucson is now accepting applications for the Somos Uno Child Care Scholarship Fund to help families offset childcare costs as the pandemic continues.

Families with children 12 years old and younger may be eligible for scholarships up to $2,275 per child, with no limit to the number of children in the family.

“For many working families, having reliable and safe childcare, particularly during the pandemic, can be the difference between going back to work or staying home,” Mayor Regina Romero said. “The scholarships will help low-income families pay for safe child care, giving them peace of mind when they leave home to provide for their loved ones.”

Applicants must live within the City of Tucson and South Tucson boundaries to receive the scholarship and priority will be given to families who haven't received state or federal COVID-19 relief funds. Funds will be paid directly to the families' child care provider.

“We're delighted that Mayor Romero and the Tucson City Council are leading the way to affordable early childhood education,” said Penelope Jacks from the Preschool Promise Coalition. “Early childhood education is vital for children's success, families' ability to work, and the city's economic growth.”

The city approved $500,000 in federal CARES Act funds to bankroll the scholarship, which will be administered by the Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona. The program is available until Dec. 31 or when funding runs out.

Check if your family is eligible and/or apply here 

Mercado San Agustin recently announced that their monthly flea market is returning from hiatus on Sunday, Oct. 11. The open-air flea market takes place in the parking lots and sidewalks on Avenida Del Convento between the Mercado San Agustin and the MSA Annex, and features dozens of local sellers. The market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the following restaurants and cafes in the Mercado district will also be open: Seis Kitchen, Agustin Kitchen, Decibel Coffee, Presta Coffee, Dolce, La Estrella Bakery, Beaut Burger, Kukai and Westbound bar.

In addition to the Flea, the Tucson Eat Yourself mobile event will be set up at the Mercado on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will feature several food trucks across from the Mercado, and a large LED screen running footage from previous Tucson Meet Yourself events and new video works from local musicians produced for Tucson Eat Yourself.

Shoppers at the Mercado Flea are requested to bring a mask and be prepared to wear it during any close contact during the market.

For more information: mercadodistrict.com

The Pima County Health Department opened a free flu shot clinic late last September in an effort to get Tucsonans vaccinated ahead of flu season.

The problem: The public isn’t coming in.

Registered nurse Heather Webber said she typically sees fewer than 10 patents a day during an eight-hour shift at Passport Health Clinic, located at 6383 E. 22nd St. Suite 101. The most she has helped in one day is 13 people, she said.

“There hasn’t been a line to get a shot since I started,” Webber said. “We have lots of time available for people to come in. They need to start coming in.”

The registered nurse said getting a flu shot is especially important this year so as to not overwhelm hospitals around Pima County. While the shot isn’t 100 percent effective, it does reduce the risk of flu illness by 60 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control website.

“Getting a flu shot is extremely important not only for the flu but if you get sick you’ll know it’s most likely something else because you got a flu shot,” Webber said.

The 22nd Street clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pima County Health Department encourages all people over the age of 6 months old to get a flu shot this season, especially the elderly, low-income and uninsured.

In addition to the free clinic on 22nd Street, Pima County Health is also offering free flu shots to the public at their eastside office at 6920 E Broadway, Suite E; their northside office at 3550 N. First Ave and at Theresa Lee Clinic at 1493 W. Commerce Court. Offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed for lunch between noon to 1 p.m.).

Reservations are recommended by health department officials, but you’ll probably be fine just walking in. Click here to reserve a space.

For more information, check out the Pima County Health website.

Pima County Parks and Rec continues to reopen outdoor areas in the wake of this summer's Bighorn Fire, which burned more than 100,000 acres in the Catalina mountains north of Tucson. The trails are open to the burn scar from the fire, so hikers should be aware that hazards still exist. The trailheads that feed into the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest that are now open are:

• Iris Dewhirst Pima Canyon, 1598 E. Magee Road

• Richard McKee Finger Rock, 7119 N. Alvernon Way

• Ventana Canyon, 6601 N. Resort Drive
  
  
• Bear Canyon, 5150 N. Bear Canyon Road

“We’re starting to see really great hiking weather now that October is nearly upon us,” said Steve Anderson, NRPR planning division manager. “Still, we encourage all hikers to pack plenty of water and snacks, bring a cellphone and dress appropriately.”

This announcement comes days after Pima County reopened access to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, however, the tram and facilities there remain closed. 

The Tucson Humanities Festival, facilitated by the University of Arizona College of Humanities, will focus on justice and morality this year, with a wide range of events throughout October. Unsurprisingly, all of the events are virtual but are hosted on a variety of platforms and websites.

"We chose the theme out of a moral necessity and obligation. The college is committed to advancing the cause of justice, and the festival will demonstrate the various ways that the work of our faculty is action toward justice," said College of Humanities dean Alain-Philippe Durand. "The humanities are critical for creating the open-mindedness, understanding and shared perspective that can eradicate racism, prejudice and intolerance in our increasingly interconnected world."

Event schedule:

Thursday, Oct. 1, 4 p.m.
Everyday Justice: How Students Can Create Equality on Campus
College of Humanities Student Panel
Moderated by Marcus Hastings and Karina Rodríguez, College of Humanities
Live on Zoom

Monday, Oct. 5, 4 p.m.
Film Commentary: "Us"
Film commentary by Tani Sanchez, Africana Studies
View on the Tucson Humanities Festival website

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 4 p.m.
Freedom in Africa: A Documentary & Digital Humanities Archive
Introduction by Phyllis Taoua, French and Italian
View on the Tucson Humanities Festival website

Thursday, Oct. 8, 4 p.m.
Black Lives Matter: A Global Call for Justice and Liberation
Panelists: Bryan Carter, Africana Studies; Erika Gault, Africana Studies; Obenewaa Oduro-Opuni, German Studies; Praise Zenenga, Africana Studies
Moderated by Daisy Jenkins
Live on Zoom

Monday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m.
Film Commentary: "Purgatorio: A Journey into the Heart of the Border"
Film commentary by Chuck Tatum, Humanities Seminars Program
View on the Tucson Humanities Festival website

Thursday, Oct. 15, 4 p.m.
Religion, Race & Health: Solutions to Disparities in Care
Panelists: Jerome Dotson, Africana Studies; Kristy Slominski, Religious Studies and Classics; Johnathan Vaknin, Spanish and Portuguese; Dr. Francisco Garcia, Pima County
Moderated by Dr. David Beyda, College of Medicine-Phoenix
Live on Zoom
Part of the UA Foundation’s Wonder at Home Series

Friday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m.
The Criminal Song: Voicing Soviet Intelligentsia's Dissent
Guest DJ: Anastasiia Gordiienko, Russian and Slavic Studies
Live on KXCI

Monday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m.
Film Commentary: "Fire at Sea"
Film commentary by Francesco Rabissi, French and Italian
View on the Tucson Humanities Festival website

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 4 p.m.
Art for Justice: New Poems & Digital Humanities Archive
Introduction by Diana Delgado, Poetry Center
View on the Tucson Humanities Festival website

Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m.
Justice Across Boundaries: Migration, Multilingualism & Exchange
Panelists: Carine Bourget, French and Italian; Wenhao Diao, East Asian Studies; David Gramling, German Studies; Anita Huizar-Hernández, Spanish and Portuguese
Moderated by Liudmila Klimanova, Russian and Slavic Studies
Live on Zoom

Friday, Oct. 23, 5 p.m.
Race and Religion in Contemporary Hip-Hop
Guest DJ: Alex Nava, Religious Studies and Classics
Live on KXCI

Monday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m.
and Thursday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m.
Toward Justice for All: The Global Impact of Humanities Research
College of Humanities faculty will give PechaKucha presentations. PechaKucha is a storytelling format in which a presenter shows 20 slides for 20 seconds of commentary each, totaling six minutes, 40 seconds. Presentations are grouped together for a fast-paced, simple and engaging showcase of new topics and ideas.
View on the Tucson Humanities Festival website

Friday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m.
Makes Me Wanna Holler: The Minefield and Hopes of Being Black in America
Guest DJ: Ntare Gault, Africana Studies
Live on KXCI

For more information, visit humanitiesfestival.arizona.edu

Families in the Amphitheater Public School District who can't afford internet service will soon get some help, thanks to a new program.

The Amphi Foundation, in partnership with Cox and Comcast, will pay for at least six months of free internet for those who qualify. Participating households will receive internet service speeds of up to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.

For more information on the program or assistance getting connected, contact Beth Lake with Amphitheater Public Schools at (520) 696-5211 or [email protected]. To support the initiative, head to amphifoundation.org for information on how to help.

“We are grateful for the donors and nonprofit partners that have stepped up to make this initial commitment, but this is also a Call to Action for our community to consider making an investment in an Amphi student’s education this school year so that we can ensure that every Amphi student is connected,” said Leah Noreng, Executive Director of the Amphi Foundation.

With the summer heat gradually reducing, foot traffic would normally be increasing in the downtown and Fourth Avenue areas. But rather than preparing for the usual influx of customers, the Historic 4th Avenue Coalition is working to reimagine the future of the independent business corridor.

The Historic 4th Avenue Coalition is hosting a virtual community forum at 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday, Sept. 10) for a presentation and community discussion about ideas to help local businesses expand their footprint and sales in the cooler weeks to come—and to create new community spaces.

HFAC, the Living Streets Alliance, the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, and Local First Arizona are examining ideas such as dedicated outdoor restaurant spaces, mini parks and "flex zones" for businesses.

Click here to join the Zoom call or check out the Facebook event page. 

You don't have to be a dowager socialite to entertain guests like a pro. You just quality provisions and a certain culinary skill set.

Flying Aprons is moving their in-person cooking classes online via Zoom starting Thursday, Sept. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This week's class, Shaken Not Stirred-Single Malt Whiskey Tucson Style & Savory Bites—featuring Tucson's own Whiskey Del Bac—pairs Phoenix mixologist Jax Donahue with beloved Tucson chef Devon Sanner to produce three delectable food and libation experiences you'll learn how to recreate at home:

First Cocktail: The S.S.S with Whiskey Del Bac Dorado, honey syrup, citrus bitters and other ingredients.
First Savory Bite: Prosciutto-wrapped fig, honey + chamomile goat cheese, thyme, prickly pear gastrique.

Second Cocktail: The Lawless Drinker, using Whiskey Del Bac Old Pueblo, passion fruit, vermouth and lemon.
Second Savory Bite: Ginger and lemongrass shrimp spring rolls with coconut and peanut dipping sauce.

Third Cocktail: Stone Fashioned, features Whiskey Del Bac Classic, peach syrup and other ingredients.
Third Savory Bite: Pecan and basil pesto bruschetta with heirloom tomato, balsamic agrodolce.

Registration for the Zoom class is $40 per screen and ready-to-go kits for the cocktails and savory bites are available to preorder and pick up before the class begins.

Click here for more information.