The paralyzed dog that united the Tucson community last year has found his forever home and will soon leave for Durango, Colorado. A public farewell party for Gil will take place this Saturday, Aug. 10, at Tucson Hop Shop, 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.

Team Gil is holding a pet food drive during his party for dry dog, puppy, kitten and cat food to replenish the shelves of Cody’s Friends Charity, a local pet food pantry, as a show of appreciation to the Tucson community that did so much to help Gil.

More than 40 human services organizations that serve people in need with pets depend on Cody’s for more than 35,000 pet food meals every month. Increased need this summer has left their shelves bare. Any kind or sized bag of dry dog and cat food would be appreciated, especially Purina and Pedigree.

For those unable to attend the party but who still want to donate to help, donations may be brought to one of several locations listed on Cody’s Friends Charity website, or monetary donations to purchase food may be made at https://codysfriends.org/wheretodonate/.

Gil was found paralyzed last July on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and was brought to Tucson where it was discovered he’d been shot point-blank in his spine. The Tucson community and others donated thousands of dollars to provide surgical care, physical therapy and medical equipment to help Gil regain the use of his hind legs. Unfortunately, due to the severity of his injuries, Gil will never walk again, but gets around very well with his wheelchair.

Gil’s new family saw a video that Gil’s team sent to the “Walkin’ Pets” company and contacted his foster mom, Kim Kelly. Gil will have other animal friends, including dogs, cats and Alpacas, and lots of room to roam.

“I’m in awe of how much has been involved to repair and nurture Gil through his life so far,” said Alena Alvarez-Mroz, Gil’s adopter. “It truly amazes me how much he’s come through and is now thriving. Gil inspires me, and I feel truly lucky to have found him.”

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) will begin offering American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Good Citizen training starting Wednesday, August 14.

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Training Program is designed to recognize dogs that have good manners at home and in the community. This program stresses responsible dog ownership for owners and basic training and good manners for dogs. The CGC TEST consists of 10 skills needed by all well-mannered dogs including meeting new people, grooming basics, walking on a loose leash, and commands such as sit, down, stay, and come.

“I love teaching people and their dogs. It’s amazing to witness the bond that forms when people are able to better communicate with their dogs. Canine Good Citizen is a great way to connect, bond, and learn how to interact with your dog so you can have a rewarding relationship with your dog as a well-mannered family member and community member. I hope that through CGC training that we are able to avoid any issues in the home and have more dogs stay with their forever families,” said Veronica Zimmerman, HSSA’s CGC Trainer.

Classes will be held each Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for six weeks. Upcoming programs will be held on different days and times. The cost per dog is $150, or $125 for dogs adopted from HSSA. Each dog must be partnered with their own handler. All dogs who pass the 10 step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

To register, or get more information, visit www.HSSAZ.org/CGC.

“I am a sweet 7-year-old girl. I came to HSSA shortly after my owner passed away and I can’t wait to be back in a comfortable home. In my previous home I did great with other cats. Great news, because of my age my adoption fee is only $50. Visit me at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. Have questions? Give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.” - Lazarus (874019)

Hailing from the Lower 9th Ward—that still bears the indelible cicatrices of Katrina's fury—this trumpeter/vocalist and his ace band are the definition of New Orleans. Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs are ready to "Sleep All Day, Party All Night" at 191 Toole. Tucson's debonaire Street Blues Family will get the festivities underway.

From Grenoble, France, electronic duo Lovataraxx bring their intoxicating darkwave/coldwave minimalist sound to Blacklidge Community Collective. Locals Lav Andula, Glacier.WAV and Sally Roundhouse add warm and light. Details here.

Wizards, muggles and fantastic beasts, rejoice! Harry and the Potters are returning to the Library for their 2019 Summer Tour!

Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 5 to 6 p.m.
Flowing Wells Library, 1730 W. Wetmore Rd.

This event is free, but space is limited to the first 200 people who arrive.

What would happen if Harry Potter quit the quidditch team, stole a time turner and started a punk rock band with himself from an earlier point in the time-space continuum? The answer is Harry and the Potters!

Costumes are encouraged.

Looking for a new friend with stylish clothes you can wear as well? Girlfriend's Closet is the new best friend you need. Located on the East Side, Girlfriend's Closet is a consignment shop that caters to those sizes 0 through 3x. The shop is owned by Ivonne Haskins.

Deeming itself "the chic resale boutique", the shop gives customers a collection of designer items as well. You can find an assortment of clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. A $5 sales rack is also accessible daily. Girlfriend's Closet is a veteran-owned boutique that gives other veterans a 10% off discount. You can find Girlfriend's Closet at 60 N. Harrison Rd. and you can learn more about it at www.girlfriendscloset.shop.

Hello! I’m a mellow 1-year-old boy named Dex. I am friendly, happy-go-lucky, and enjoy meeting new people. I walk well on a leash but prefer to be cuddled up next to your or sitting on your feet. My favorite thing in the world is food! I’ll do anything for a treat. I already know sit, down, roll over, but am best at beg,” Dex (873432)

Fall in love with Dex at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. Have questions? Give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.

College football teams from the Mid-American Conference will book a trip to Tucson every New Year's Eve, starting in 2020, thanks to a new affiliation with the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. MAC teams will play against those from the Mountain West Conference. The Sun Belt Conference previously participated in the bowl.

Bowl executive director Kym Adair delivered the announcement Thursday morning, adding that the new affiliation will run through 2025. Both conferences will send their “upper-echelon” teams to the bowl game, according to Adair, which will lead to better quality of play.

“This is a huge day in the history of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl,” she said. “We’re looking at the future, and we’re building something really special here in Southern Arizona. We’re going to bring two great, great football conferences to Tucson, and it really leapfrogs us forward.”

Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, who has led the conference since its inception in 1999, said the 13-team league is proud to re-up its partnership with the bowl game.

Thompson said the conference, which has teams in Colorado, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah, fits perfectly into the football culture of Southern Arizona.

He also believes the region’s support of the bowl game since its inception in 2014 shows how important it is to the civic pride of Tucson.

“Each year, it gets a little bit better, as far as fan experience, hospitality and the pregame festivities are concerned,” Thompson said. “We’re now going to play on New Year’s Eve, it’ll be fun. It will be a place to spend a different time than back home, in a different city.”

MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher called the conference’s decision to link up with Adair and company a no-brainer.

Steinbrecher is hopeful that players, parents and fans can all have a great time during the bowl week, which can in turn boost the city’s standing in the Midwest.

“For our student-athletes, what makes this [bowl game] special is that this is an area that many of them have never been to,” Steinbrecher said. “So, who knows how many of them will settle down here.”

Steinbrecher added that the conference’s decision to link up with Thompson and the Mountain West Conference stemmed from their shared vision for student-athletes’ welfare. He has no doubts that the Tucson-based bowl game can thrive on its new time and date, with a 2 p.m. kickoff local time.

Steinbrecher also said the Tucson bowl game can stand out in a crowded field, with 40 games played between Dec. 20 and Jan. 13. The longtime commissioner believes the MAC’s fans will flock to Southern Arizona, if for no other reason than the sunny, warm weather.

“I’ve waited a long time for this day to come around,” he said. “It is truly a privilege for the MAC to be a part of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.”

Another draw to the game being moved to New Year’s Eve is the downtown block party that will serve as Tucson’s newest way to countdown to the next calendar year.

With a litany of events planned, as well as the dedicated alumni and fanbases that surround each of the conferences’ programs and their willingness to travel to bowl games in years past, the new pairing brings with it exciting expectations.

Adair said her main concern is ensuring that anyone that makes the trek to Arizona Stadium in years to come enjoys a quality product.

“We want to put together terrific football teams and football games, so that everybody can have an amazing experience,” she said. “[Fans] want to come to the warmth of Tucson in December, so bringing those fans to Tucson is really, really important, and we've got a lot of synergy with that.”

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is on the lookout for roughly $50,000 worth of paintings stolen from a northside home earlier this month.

On Wednesday, July 10 just after 6:30 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglary call in the 6900 block of North Chula Vista Reserve Place, near the intersection of West Ina and North Oracle Roads, and were told the house was broken into earlier that day.

Among the possessions taken were three paintings by then-9-year-old Kieron Williamson. The three pieces, “City Temple,” Kelling Cottages” and "Thurne Mill,” were estimated to be worth approximately $50,000 by the owner.

Williamson, 16, is a watercolor artist from England whose paintings have sold for thousands of dollars. In 2010, a Williamson exhibition sold roughly £150,000 ($187,000) worth of paintings in under an hour.

PCSD Burglary Unit detectives have taken over the investigation, and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 911. Anonymous tips with the potential for a reward can be submitted by text, phone or by going to 88-CRIME.org.

Nearly a dozen businesses have already committed to attending a Pima County youth hiring event taking place next Wednesday afternoon.

From 1 to 3 p.m. on July 31 at Pima County’s Youth One-Stop Employment Center, 320 N. Commerce Park Loop, residents ages 16 to 24 are invited and asked to come dressed in their best clothes with a resume containing contact information.

The hiring event is sponsored by Pima County’s Community Services, Employment and Training Department, which is the administrative entity that operates the ARIZONA@WORK Job Centers known as One-Stop Career Centers. The event is geared toward youth looking for year-round and part-time jobs.

Anyone who needs help preparing a resume can stop by the One-Stop offices anytime until 4 p.m. on July 30.

Employers set to attend include: Arizona Lotus; Citi; Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health; Fry’s Food Stores; Gentle Dental; Harper’s LTD (carpentry)’ HDS Truck Driving; Park Avenue Healthcare; Pima Pain Center; the U.S. Army and the United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona.
The Pima County Youth One-Stop is located between Congress and St. Mary’s, west of I-10. For more information, call 724-9649.