Tuesday, December 29, 2015
One of the tax credit donations can be made to what used to be called charitable organizations that help the working poor, but now it seems they're simply being called charitable organizations. The other is for foster care charitable organizations. How do you know which organizations qualify? The Arizona Department of Revenue lists them in a List of Qualifying Charitable Organizations and a List of Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations. You can give $200—$400 for a couple—to each category. Some organizations fit both categories—they're highlighted in blue on the Charitable Organizations list — and if you want, you can use both tax credits for one of those organizations.
Repeat: Both of these have Dec. 31 deadlines. That's this Thursday! If your state income tax comes to $600 or more—$1200 for a couple—you can give the maximum amount to all three, the public school and the two charitable organization tax credits. Otherwise, you have to do some picking and choosing.
Tags: Tax credits , Charitable organizations , Foster care charitable organizations , Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Thursday, December 17, 2015
The people over at our long-time sister paper Inside Tucson Business are wrapping up their annual call for Women of Influence nominations.
I've said it before: Tucson women are endlessly inspiring. ITB's event has 18 different award categories, celebrating women for their business prowess, their mentoring skills and their career-long accomplishments. The honorees are decided by reader nominations, and finalists and winners are selected by an independent panel of judges.
Get a look at the categories, do some brainstorming and take the time to include thoughtful notes about the people you're nominating.
Tucson is filled with incredible women. Help ITB honor someone you know makes a difference in the Old Pueblo—Nominations close Friday.
Friday, December 11, 2015
After four decades in the same location serving up over 20 different varieties of bread, Small Planet Bakery is closing its doors. The historic building that houses the bakery at 411 N. Seventh Ave. is to be demolished as a part of the Aviation Extension Freeway.
While many have taken up the torch around town baking artisan bread, Small Planet’s long history in local restaurants and farmers markets left an indelible mark on the city’s food scene. The building itself, which was built in the ‘20s, will be replaced by a new Seventh Avenue bike underpass. The closure marks more than a decade of talks between Small Planet and the city about the new development plans. Longtime owner Lucy Mitchell and baker Chris French will be retiring after 40 years running the bakery.
French spoke with the Weekly about some of the building and bakery's history in a March 2015 feature. You can say farewell to this Tucson food institution on Saturday, Dec. 12 beginning at 5 p.m. at the bakery’s location. Live music from Cassette Culture, Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks and more will provide the night’s entertainment.
Tags: small planet bakery , bread , tucson , closing , artisan , aviation extension , downtown links , Slideshow , Image
It's official: Tucson is indeed a world capital of gastronomy. UNESCO announced their 2015 additions to the Creative Cities Network, and after the second year applying, Tucson's application to be recognized as a gastronomic site was approved.
As hashed out in last week's Tucson Weekly cover story, Tucson's application for the honor hinged largely on the region's 4,000 years of continuous agriculture, progressive native seed line preservation programs and the huge impact food-related jobs and businesses have on the local economy. Those reasons, among many others, were enough for the global organization to add Tucson to the network.
With the 2015 additions, Tucson became the first city in the U.S. to receive the gastronomy designation—one of 18 cities recognized for gastronomy through this program in the entire world. Ensenada, Mexico, Parma, Italy, and Phuket, Thailand, among several others, were also honored with the gastronomy designation. Other U.S. cities recognized this year include Austin (Media Arts) and Detroit (Design).
For more information on just what makes Tucson a creative city of gastronomy, check out The Road to UNESCO from the Dec. 3 issue of Tucson Weekly.
Tags: tucson , gastronomy , food , capital , unesco , designation , creative city , first , u.s. , america , Image
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Several local organizations are partnering up to distribute tampons and sanitary napkins to women throughout Pima County living in poverty.
Many women and girls in this community cannot even go to work or school when they get their period, because they cannot afford these products—which are quiet expensive, are taxed by state and local governments as "luxury" items, and not covered by food stamps. "This is both a health and economic issue," the YWCA says in a press release.
Project Period—to be launched by the YWCA of Southern Arizona tomorrow, Dec. 9, plans to tackle this issue starting next month, and they need you to donate feminine hygiene products.
A statement to the media by Kelly Fryer, CEO of the YWCA:
This is an economic and equity issue that hinders the efforts of many women to provide for themselves and their families. It encumbers young women from getting to school and keeps them from their education—an education that will help them escape poverty. Project Period is a way to step up as a whole community—men and women both—to address this pressing problem.Donations of sanitary napkins of all sizes, tampons, and reusable menstrual cups will be accepted at the YWCA's Frances McClelland Community Center, 525 N. Bonita Ave., starting tomorrow. Other locations will be announced in January. The launch event is taking place tomorrow at the YWCA as well, from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Emerge! Center for Domestic Abuse, Primavera Foundation, Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network, and the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank are among the groups involved in the effort.
Tags: YWCA of southern arizona , emerge! center for domestic abuse , primavera foundation , tihan , southern arizona community food bank , kelly fryer , project period , tampons , sanitary napkins , menstrual cups , women , poverty , tucson
In April 2014, Dante Celeiro, executive director of Fluxx, announced the studios' "imminent closure," also due to money strains. However, they ended up staying open, mostly thanks to community support. This time around, the studio hasn't said anything about a closure, even though this year they took a huge financial fall over problems with the state's liquor license laws. Without a license, many of the entities that rented Fluxx for events stopped doing so, because they were not allowed to serve booze. In the past, Fluxx has said that they couldn't afford a license, which is what triggered their possible closure last year.
As they prepare to move to another place, Fluxx is raising funds to help with the costs on a Go Fund Me page.
On Monday, Celeiro issued a letter to the community:
Through the commitment of countless passionate volunteers, donors, and collaborators like you, we have been able to continue to provide entertainment, art exhibitions, performances, workshops, classes, and more! In 2015 Fluxx made it possible for more than 6,000 people to connect to one another, to creativity, and to the community through our diverse events.
...
Now, we face a new and greater challenge: Fluxx has to move! The space we have loved and dedicated to our community for so long is for sale and, given rising rent and lack of financing options, we are unable to continue in the present space.
Tags: fluxx studio and gallery , dante celeiro , LGBT , tucson
Thursday, December 3, 2015
According to the organization, which acts as an advocacy network for cycling industry professionals and millions of riders, Tucson is a totally awesome place to take short trips to get around town every day (i.e. commuting) due to its high numbers of costumed, bearded, skirted and other unique, casual riding styles over the last year.
With support from contributors and counters across the country, these stats were compiled to draw attention to cycling as a mode of casual or utilitarian transportation. Tucson was closest in the rankings with Memphis, which ranked a few points behind. However, Tucson more than doubled the ranked score of Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Denver and more, making them look dumb for even trying. Get it, Tucson.
Oh, and while you're jazzed on biking in Tucson, just thought it'd be pertinent to remind y'all about the BICAS Art Auction that's taking place this weekend to raise money for an organization that helps many low-income individuals get mobile and empowers anyone with the information they need to ride, build and maintain a bicycle in town. Now go get on your bike and buy some art.
Tags: tucson , cycling , bikes , bicycles , beards , best , people for bikes
It’s that time of year where local businesses are cranking out masa and folks are stocking up on husks to start making tamales for Christmas. You likely have your own favorite recipe for tamales, which might be something classic like red chile or something you came up with like barbecue pork belly. Either way, you’re invited to showcase your tamal-making skills at Casino del Sol (5655 W. Valencia Rd.) for the 11th annual Tamal and Heritage Festival.
Members of the community are encouraged to put their tamal assembly lines to work in their home kitchens to compete, where entries will be judged in traditional red, traditional green, sweet and specialty categories. Last year, Judith De La Rosao took first place in the traditional category and Daniela Soto won for her sweet tamal. Those interested in vying for the tamal title this year can simply show up the day of the event with a dozen of their best tamales. 30 have already signed up online to participate. There is no fee to enter.
However, this event isn't just about the tamales. Roasted corn, street tacos, fry bread, cocteles de elote, Mexican-style hot chocolate and more will be available for purchase at different vendor tables, along with some tamal samples. Tamales will be for sale for through vendors by the dozen, half dozen or singles. Jewelry, bead work and art vendors will also be at the event, along with live Tejano and mariachi music and Azteca and Folklorico dancers.
You can just come to celebrate all things tamal at the casino on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Entry is free and open to the public. For more information visit the casino's website.
Tags: tamal , tamale , festival , tucson , heritage , casino del sol , competition , event , food
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
For those thinking about bringing a couple chicks into the fold at home, you can spend the weekend learning about the best ways to build up your own coop with the Food Conspiracy Co-op’s chicken coop tour. If you're looking to get tips on the best way to bring up your brood or just interested in chatting with some fellow fowl enthusiasts, the tour is a good way to kill two birds with one stone... Wait.
Although past iterations of the event specifically highlighted household chicken keeping, this year’s event has grown to include the “farm scale” operation at ReZoNation Farms in Avra Valley—the very farm that supplies the co-op with some of the eggs that they sell. Stops for the eighth year's event also include Las Milpitas Farm at the Community Food Bank, an herbal hen mix maker called Holistic Hen and more. The co-op itself is on the tour this year, providing information on their farmer loan program, local egg samples and some helpful chicken raising ideas. The tour is self-guided.
The chicken coop tour kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 and runs until about 3 p.m. that day. Tickets for the tour are $5 and available now at Food Conspiracy Co-op (412 N. Fourth Ave.). Tickets, along with more information, are also available on the co-op's website. Discounts on chicks and laying pellets at three local stores are included in the ticket price.
Tags: chicken , coop , tucson , tour , las milpitas , holistic hen , community food bank , rezonation farms , food conspiracy coop , backyard , home
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
In celebration of the community surrounding Iskashitaa, the organization will be hosting their third Refugee Thanksgiving Day event in the courtyard between Desert and Patio Courtyards Apartments (1411 and 1417 N. Alvernon Way), and Las Casitas (3835 Fairmount St.) to serve up the the multiculturalism, generosity, hospitality and gratitude that the holiday seeks to celebrate.
Serving over 150 U.N. refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, Somalia and more, the event seeks to draw attention the growing refugee crisis, which is the largest since World War II. The meal will feature a diverse array of foods prepared using those same edible plants that Iskashitaa gleans throughout the year. Prepared by both refugees and members of the community, traditional Thanksgiving dishes will be served alongside Nepalese fermented pomegranate seeds, pickled pumpkin seed paste, mole poblano, Somali sambusas, Afghan kadu (pumpkin stew), and chile verde. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available.
The event will also highlight a special campaign suggesting people “Save a Turkey, Stuff a Pumpkin” this Thanksgiving to cut down on waste.
Iskashitaa's Refugee Thanksgiving Day event takes place on Thursday, Nov. 26 from 2 until 4 p.m. While it is largely intended for refugees and volunteers, Iskashitaa is inviting anyone interested in their mission to join in on the celebration. If you'd like to lend a hand to Iskashitaa for this or other events, call 440-0100 or e-mail [email protected].
And, remember, it's almost citrus season, which means you should start thinking about scheduling an Iskashitaa gleaning for that backyard bounty.
Tags: iskashitaa , refugee , gleaning , food waste , thanksgiving , dinner , celebration , tucson
