Monday, November 23, 2015
Bike co-ops are a fantastic part of the community. Not only do these organizations, which are typically nonprofits, offer a place for folks to rally around a healthy, sustainable ride, they also are integral for low income individuals to get a cheap, efficient mode of transportation that they can learn to build and maintain on the cheap. That, among many reasons, is why supporting BICAS in their annual art auction is so important.
The BICAS art auction provides a decent chunk of operating income for the nonprofit each year, and this year's 20th anniversary auction is no different. While it's a great event to attend and maybe buy some bike-themed art for your home, artists are also welcome to participate in the fundraiser by submitting their own works to the auction. Last year's event alone saw over 200 pieces of entirely unique art up for auction.
Submissions for this year's art auction will be accepted through Saturday, Nov. 28 and can be inspired by bikes, made out of bikes, depicting bikes and more with various media accepted. BICAS is offering scrap metal for artists who need it, as well.
For more information on submitting works or the auction itself, which takes place on Dec. 4 and 5 at the Art Gallery (1122 N. Stone Ave.), visit the BICAS website. You can sign up to volunteer for the auction there as well.
Tags: bicas , art auction , annual , fundraiser , bicycle , call for artist , submissions , the art gallery , tucson , nonprofit
Friday, November 20, 2015
The people over at Inside Tucson Business, our long-time sister paper, do something pretty important ever year: They honor Tucson's "Women of Influence."
Now, Tucson women are endlessly inspiring, but ITB is looking to honor women in 18 different award categories. The honorees are decided by reader nominations, and winners are selected by an independent panel of judges. So, 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—You've got until Dec. 18.
Tags: Tucson Local Media , Inside Tucson Business , Women of Influence , Tucson Women
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
In a world where nearly 800 million people don't have enough food to sustain a healthy life (49 million in America, including 16 million kids)—fully 40 percent of food purchased by consumers in the U.S. ends up in landfills. But, it doesn’t have to be that way if we change our attitudes, habits and policies, according to two presenters at this month’s Controlled Environment Agricultural Center seminar.
“Over a third of Mexico’s winter produce comes through the Nogales port and is warehoused on this side of the border until it’s ordered,” says Dr. Pat Sparks of the UA’s Nutritional Sciences Department. “Unfortunately, a significant portion of that produce is never sold and ends up in a landfill…a significant waste we need to eliminate.”
Sparks says new ways of packaging that food are being explored that could extend its shelf life. Co-presenter Torey Ligon of the UA’s Take Charge America Institute says that if consumers shopped more frequently and bought less each trip, part of the problem would go away.
Tags: food waste , seminar , tucson , controlled environment agricultural center , pat sparks , torey ligon , take charge america institute
Friday, November 13, 2015
Sixty pounds of produce sounds like a lot, but you don't really get a clear picture of that number until you go to a Produce On Wheels Without Waste (POW WOW) event. A $10 contribution gets you 60 pounds of produces, like tomatoes, squash, eggplant and melons. Usually it's all good stuff, and sometimes a little overripe, which means you have to get busy cooking and getting extra that you won't use to friends and family would can use a little extra produce in their lives.
You can see the POW Wow schedule here, The next Produce On Wheels Wthout Waste (POW WOW) is Saturday, Nov. 14—that's tomorrow good people—and here's a suggestion: Tucson Magnet High School, 400 N. Second St., from 8 to 11 a.m. (head to the parking lot off Eighth Street and Euclid Avenue). $1 for each $10 box of produce goes to support the high school''s PTA.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Every year since the passing of Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl's Derrick and Amy Ross, we've written about the people they've left behind and the work they've done to make sure the husband-wife music duo are not forgotten through a benefit show for the Southern Arizona Lupus Foundation. This week, in a mini music feature, we gave you notice of Saturday's show at The Flycatcher. We're giving you notice the next couple of days, because we're certain with Jimmy Eat World returning to Tucson for this special night, it will sell out.
But we also want to make sure it's understood how special this event is. Yes, as a fundraiser you will hear a lot about lupus—complications from this disease took Amy away from the Tucson and Bisbee communities. But you will hear the music of NMWG from local music—many dear friends of the couple—who do want to make sure the music is heard, loved and celebrated.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Third Benefit to Fight Lupus takes place at the Flycatcher (340 E. Sixth St.).
So cheers to Bryan Sanders, Jimi Giannatti and Keli Carpenter for continuing this benefit and not forgetting their friends. We're lucky to have these dear people call Tucson home, just as we were lucky to have Amy and Derrick give us their music. Go. Remember. And yes, celebrate.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Now in its seventh iteration, MOCA is recognizing a diverse collection of thinkers in town who offer up some very different sets of skills.
Brad Lancaster, co-founder of Desert Harvesters, is being recognized for his visionary work in rainwater harvesting. Mort Rosenblum is a renowned journalist who currently teaches international reporting at UA and is known for his integrity in the field. Doctor Andrew Weil's work in integrative medicine focuses on both natural and preventative approaches to wellness. And last, but certainly not least, Tucson's former poet laureate Ofelia Zepeda will be honored for her commitment to teaching the Tohono O'odham language and promoting literacy in the indigenous language.
With such a varied group of recipients, you'll want to be sure to catch the events and lectures associated with the 2016 MOCA Local Genius Awards. While the final gala—which will be catered by another Local Genius, chef Janos Wilder—won't take place until April 16, 2016, events celebrating these luminaries will take place all throughout the spring. For more information on upcoming events at MOCA, visit the museum's website.
Tags: moca , tucson , local genius awards , brad lancaster , desert harvesters , mort rosenblum , ofelia zepeda , andrew weil
Thursday, November 5, 2015
The Central Arizona Project, the University of Arizona, and a handful of other organizations—including KXCI and the Southern Arizona Water Users Association—are hosting a forum on water sustainability this Friday, and they want the community to really pay attention.
"We’re on the cusp of major decisions about water and it’s critical that a large sector of the population is involved," says Mitch Basefsky, CAP external communications for Pima and Pinal counties, in an email. The groups especially want youth to be a part of the conversation. "Achieving a sustainable future for Tucson and our environs will require continuing communications and collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders and interest groups."
"The perspectives and involvement of our younger advocates is welcome and necessary to the long-term viability of our community," he adds. "This forum presents a wonderful opportunity for youth to learn and contribute to the water future of Southern Arizona."
Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources Tom Buschatzke will be the keynote speaker, followed by a panel with moderator Sharon Megdal, director of the UA College of Agriculture and Life Science's Water Resources Research Center.
The forum is happening Friday, Nov. 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Tucson Convention Center's Leo Rich Theater. It is a free event, and there will be free breakfast and parking. Couldn't hurt, right?
You have to RSVP, so call 621-4311 or email [email protected].
Tags: central arizona project , university of arizona , college of agriculture and life science , water resources research center , kxci
Monday, October 19, 2015
What's going on with the Mercado these days? Just last week, chef Ryan Clark announced his departure from the retail and dining square's flagship restaurant, which also saw him selling his share in the restaurant with an almost imperceptibly speedy replacement by The Coronet's chef Erika Bostick. Let's not forget Taqueria El Pueblito's move out of the space and replacement by Seis. Now Blu, the sandwich, wine and cheese shop, is calling it quits at the Mercado San Agustin too.
Unlike the expectedly mundane content of the announcement from Agustin Kitchen, though, Blu's release gave a little insight into something more. Owner Tana Fryer said explained that the store's closure was caused by "an impasse with her landlords."
“We had hoped and planned to be part of the Mercado for a long time,” she said in the release. “It makes me sad that we couldn’t come to terms with our landlord and it was awful to tell my team that most of them don’t have jobs anymore.”
With both Fryer and Clark leaving the Mercado without a solid next stepping stone, the initial question holds true: Just what exactly is going on with the Mercado San Agustin these days? As a beautiful venue for events, live music, a farmers market and more, hopefully the Mercado won't see any more of its keystone businesses closing up and moving out.
For information on the future of Blu, including gifting, catering and private events opportunities, visit Blu's website.
Tags: blu , tana fryer , ryan clark , wine , cheese , shop , leave , close , restaurant , tucson , mercado san agustin , landlord , dispute
Monday, September 28, 2015
Remember I mentioned this earlier in the month?
The forums have been happening all over the state, with the purpose of getting citizens involved, and identifying "solutions for critical policy and economic issues" caused by private and public transportation.
“The overall theme for each forum is exploring how the current transportation system is intimately interwoven and has impact on key factors such as the economy, jobs, community, health, lifestyle, education, housing and certainly, the environment. Through the community forums, we want to inform Arizona citizens of research and recommendations which came from the 106th statewide Town Hall..." said Tara Jackson, president of Arizona Town Hall, in a statement to the media a few weeks ago . "We want to hear from people who are affected by transportation issues. Those range all the way from concerns about roads and infrastructure to thoughts about public transportation, or transportation’s impact on the environment. We want the report to represent people, in the true spirit of a Town Hall which reflects consensus from the broad spectrum of the public."
Comments gathered at the statewide forums will then be distributed to state legislators, the public and others.
To register, visit www.aztownhall.org, or call 602-252-9600.
The discussion is happening on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Pima Community College's Community Campus, 401 N. Bbonita Ave., Room A-109/A-112. Lunch at the event is $20.
Luckily, all buses are in route again, so car-less citizens you will have a ride there.
Tags: arizona town hall , transportation , tucson , pima community college
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Come learn about the mass incarceration of immigrants at the YWCA tomorrow night.
This is the third event the YWCA is hosting as part of their ongoing talks on the country's sentencing and prison system, and their effects on the community. Tucson-based immigration attorney Margo Cowan, Coalición de Derechos Humanos' Isabel Garcia and Caroline Isaacs, program director of the American Friends Service Committee, will focus on Operation Streamline, and its connection to private prisons' bed quota and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A reminder of what Operation Streamline is:
Operation Streamline began in Del Rio, Texas back in 2005, It made its way to Tucson three years later, and now operates in a total of seven border cities. After migrants are apprehended by the Border Patrol, oftentimes while crossing the Sonoran Desert, some are put in temporary detention facilities and others forced to sign paperwork in English, which many of them do not understand, and by doing so they agree to immediate deportation back to Mexico and other native countries."The session will offer a context of why the Latino population is booming in prison right now, and how much state money is being allocated to Operation Streamline," says Liane Hernandez of the YWCA.
But every day, at least 70 migrants who are apprehended are then prosecuted in federal court. They get less than 20 minutes to talk to a public defender. They are shackled and given no option but to plead guilty to illegal entry, which leads to a sentence of up to six months in prison. They are then deported, except now with a felony conviction in their record.
Members of the group Mi Familia Vota will also participate. After the talk, they will help people register to vote for the upcoming elections.
The discussion is on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tags: mass incarceration , prison , immigration , operation streamline , American Friends Service Committee , mi familia vota , ywca. margo cowan
