Despite what the name might seem to suggest, the sixth annual Arizona Farmer + Chef Connection isn't just for industry professionals. Sure, the vendor marketplace is a great way for Tucson's restaurants and hotels to find new local vendors for their wholesale accounts, but the whole event is jam packed with informational sessions focusing on sustainability, farming and the importance of buying local.

Put on by Local First Arizona, the event allows you to listen in on conversations between panels of experts on a range of topics. So, whether you're interested in learning how to limit food waste from Proper chef Kris Vrolijk and Iskashitaa's Barbra Eiswerth, how to farm with FoodCorps Arizona's Will Conway and Chris Mazarella of the Community Food Bank or how to maximize your localism with Local First's Kimber Lanning, Mike Mallozzi of Borderlands Brewing Co. and more, there'll be something for to pique your interest. 

The final keynote speaking engagement features several big names and up-and-comers in Arizona's food scene. The event will pair purveyors with restaurant and business owners to discuss why they choose the sources that they do and more. Marco Bianco of Pane Bianco, James Beard Award nominated chef Kevin Binkley, Kelly Watters of the Food Conspiracy Co-op, Todd Bostock of Dos Cabezas Wineworks, Emma Zimmerman of Hayden Flour Mills and more will all contribute to this discussion.

The Arizona Farmer + Chef Connection will take over the Tucson Convention Center (260 S. Church Ave.) on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The event runs from noon until 5:30 p.m. with a closing reception featuring local appetizers, craft beer and wine to follow. Tickets are $10, which can be found online, along with more information, on the Local First Arizona website.

The nonprofit Arizona Town Hall wants to hear from people who known a thing or two about transportation issues in the state—i.e. bus riders effected by a certain bus strike that is close to hitting the 30 day mark.

The talks aren't just happening in Tucson but throughout Arizona with the purpose of getting citizens involved, and identifying "solutions for critical policy and economic issues" that stem from 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. "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 forums will then be distributed to state legislators, the public and others.

“It’s important that those in policy-making or decision-making positions of influence to hear what the people who are affected by those decisions really think,” Jackson's statement said. 

To register, visit www.aztownhall.org, or call the Arizona Town Hall office at 602-252-9600. 

The forum takes place Wednesday, Sept. 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Pima Community College's Community Campus, 401 N. Bonita Ave., Room A-109/A-112.

Remember that Summer Passport we've been telling you about all summer long? Well, I hope you've been earning your stamps because school is back in session and that means it's just about time for us to select a winner. 

For those of you who haven't been paying attention:

Do you love drinking and buying things with other people's money? Of course you do, that's The Dream. It's also why you're going to want to get started on your Summer Passport. We've talked about this a few times, but here's the deal: We've got about $2,000 in gift cards and prizes from Tucson businesses. We're raffling them off in bundles (detailed here). To enter, you need to visit the 24 businesses who contributed to the gift total—tell them thanks for being so cool and participating in this giveaway! Each business will have you complete a task (take a picture kissing a Hawaiian skeleton! Eat a quesadilla! Sing on stage!) and send you on your way with their part of your "passport" stamped. Your destinations are listed in the paper.

Sure, 24 seems like a lot. But these prizes are hefty and we're going to need you to earn them.

Here's a secret: There aren't a ton of people who have the time, patience or will power to earn all 24 stamps on the passport. That means, there aren't too many people in the running—bettering your chances to win! So get on it. Spread it out over a couple days (You've got until noon on Sept. 4) or challenge yourself to get it done in the smallest possible amount of time. I believe in you. Now win this.

If you're done with your passport, drop it off at Weekly HQ, 7225 N Mona Lisa Rd, #125. If you're just getting started, pick up a Weekly, turn to Page 22 and head to one of the businesses. Your deadline is Noon on Friday.

Kandis Capri was murdered last week. This added her to the list of trans women of color being brutally destroyed at a rate that continues to increase.

This calendar year is far from over and we have already passed the number of hate-fueled murders of trans women from last year.

What we don’t know is how accurate any of these numbers really are. The statistics say there were a dozen trans women murdered last year, and in 2015 we already have 20. These are the known murders of trans women and many more may be tangled in the system by the names on their driver licenses, the name at the top of the report, the failure of some families to accept who their children are, and until recently the limited ability of most news sources to know how to approach the subject. These issues need to be addressed to bring this violence into view.

Kandis Capri was loved by many people. At the vigil held this past Wednesday in Phoenix, there was an incredible mix of humanity there to attest to that love. There were  lots of little kids who adored her playfulness and friendship, buddies from childhood who had accepted the change from Dedrick to Kandis and only spoke lovingly of how Kandis remodeled the GI Joe they played with in their youth. There were members of the gay and trans youth groups showing respect and asking how to keep themselves safe. But most of all there was Adrias Gaines, Kandis' mother, who had the grace and strength to stand up and talk about the importance of love. 

Monica Jones served as the MC at this event. Her prostitution arrest garnered media attention as being only a case of “walking while trans.” Monica, who is studying social work at ASU, has stepped forward as a community activist. This is a mantle she wears well and her sincerity was beautiful. 

It is really easy to read about a murder in the paper and then never think of it again. It is easy to say that someone was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Violence is so much a part of the American cultural experience that we consider it entertainment. We stop and mourn when someone famous dies or when the event is spectacular. Something is innately wrong with this scene.

Peaceful farming Jesuit priest and local legend Father Kino founded the Mission San Xavier del Bac in 1700. Before that, different Native American cultures were known to farm the lush Santa Cruz River floodplain as far back as 12,000 years ago. However, on August 20, 1775, Hugo O'Connor decided to begin building the military fort Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón and that became known as the birth of Tucson.

According to Wikipedia (pre-eminent Tucson historian and, in general, bastion of revisionism), "During the Spanish period of the presidio, attacks such as the Second Battle of Tucson were repeatedly mounted by Apaches." Can't imagine why...

Regardless, what Tucson has become as a community is pretty special. So, raise a glass to 240 years of Tucson or 12,000 years of this land giving humans the means to survive. Or, you can skip all of that today, and celebrate the first birthday of Nandi. Yep, that's right. Reid Park Zoo's little baby elephant turns one the same day Tucson turns 240.



What can I say? Leos are the best.

The Old Pueblo lost one of its most talented stalwart local musicians this week. Stefan George, a genre melding blues guitarist, passed just two months shy of his 63rd birthday. According to longtime friend, TW contributor and fellow musician, Jim Lipson, George's impact on music will probably take years to really fully comprehend.

"When people get around to cataloging and archiving his music, they're going to be blown away," Lipson says. "I know it's cliche, but he really is one of those immense talents that never got the attention they deserved."

In the late '80s and early '90s, George and Lipson played together in the band Brain Damage Orchestra for six years, and the two men have collaborated as musicians and friends ever since. More recently, Lipson, along with Tucson Kitchen Musician's Association, made sure George was a Tucson Folk Fest headliner. Lipson comments that George's musical prowess extended beyond blues into folk, rock, bluegrass, reggae, ska, swing and zydeco. George was also a member of many local bands in his time in Tucson.

"He's not just a blues player, but a truly prolific musician," Lipson says. "He was a major talent—not just for Tucson."

George was also a staple at several local venues, including, until very recently, La Cocina. La Cocina bartender and fellow musician Steven Romo described George's personal impact via Facebook:

I just heard that Stefan George passed away. I'll never forget our conversation over whiskey about music, women, and life. You were always a stand out gentleman. You will be heavily missed.

George's reach, in terms of genre, generation and more, already has people talking about how best to honor him. Lipson says he wouldn't be surprised if HoCo Fest, TKMA and the Tucson Blues Hall of Fame (of which George was a member) all opted to honor him in different ways.

"It would be great to see musicians take the time to really learn his songs and pay tribute that way," he says. "I think everybody wants to do something, and I don’t think doing just one night could really cover it."

Lipson says George was found in his home by a neighbor.

"I'm not sure at this point what happened," Lipson says. "He had been in failing health for the last several months."

George is survived by his son, Josh Kelly, who is traveling from Vermont to plan services. Although "a celebration of George's life," as Lipson puts it, has yet to be scheduled, we will update you on information regarding services for George as it becomes available.

Until then, let's take a moment to listen to this legendary Tucson musician:

For those having a tough time reintegrating into the labor force—for instance, after doing jail or prison time—the city is hosting a "second chance" job fair tomorrow. Keep in mind, though, anyone who might benefit can also attend—not just people with a prior criminal conviction.

The fair on Aug. 19 at the Tucson Convention Center's Apache Ballroom, is bringing together several local employers—such as Goodwill Southern Arizona, Jim Click and others (totaling more than 40)—to give people tips on how to overcome issues faced on their "reentry efforts," according to City Councilman Steve Kozachik's weekly newsletter. 

"This is an issue of concern to the entire community. We talk about homelessness, unemployment, recidivism, and how all of that impacts Tucson," Kozachik says in the newsletter.

The Community Partnership of Southern Arizona—which provides employment opportunities "for those overcoming a difficult past and establishing a prosperous future"—and Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild are among those leading the efforts.

The job fair is happening from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Alright, Tucson. It's the moment you've eagerly awaited—that moment where a national study gives you the proof and validation that you knew just had to be coming. WalletHub, a consumer and finance information group, released a study recently that says Tucson is officially smarter than Phoenix.

Well, maybe not smarter, exactly, but Tucson is more educated according to their metrics. The 2015 study of the country's most and least educated cities ranked 150 major U.S. metropolitan areas based on different factors including quality of public education, average quality of universities, university enrollment based on gender and race and percentage of adults with varying levels of higher education.

Split into two categories—"Education Level" and "Quality of Education & Attainment Gap"—the factors were then ranked for each city. Tucson was rated 54 for "Education Level" and 38 for "Quality of Education & Attainment Gap," placing at an overall ranking of 51 out of 150. Phoenix and its neighboring cities, on the other hand, rated 76 overall. 

The top three cities on the list were Ann Arbor, Michigan; the Washington D.C. area; and Madison, Wisconsin. For more results on this and other WalletHub studies, you can visit the WalletHub website.

Ever feel as though your future is truly written in the stars? Not in the sense of destiny or fate, but rather that the stars are actually your future? For those seeking real life experience in the field of astronomy or any nature related career, the Kit Pitt Observatory is offering a worthwhile volunteer experience.

The observatory is currently recruiting volunteers for their docent training class, starting this October. The class will prep volunteers for hosting guided tours and serving guests of the observatory. Docents play an important role in the observatory’s educational goals are will share their knowledge with guests. Facilitating hands-on demonstrations, creating informative exhibits and hosting school groups are just a few things volunteers will be responsible for.

This opportunity is open to all and no prior astronomy experience is required. Applicants will need to meet their basic physical requirements and be able to work on their feet for long periods of time at a heightened elevation of 7,000 feet.

While this is an unpaid volunteer opportunity, transportation to the observatory and lunch will be provided for free. Other perks include a 15 percent discount at the gift store, free admittance to the Nightly Observing Program and access to guest speakers. Official vests and hats will be available at cost to those who complete the training program.

The training program will last seven weeks and will require participants to meet two to three times each week. This is a long term commitment and volunteers will be required to work at least three days a month for two years after the training course.

Each volunteer shift will last six hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will be able to select which days they would like to work up on the mountain but are asked to have some flexibility in their schedule.

Volunteers must be Kitt Pitt members or become members after their training to retain an active status.

The observatory is located on Kitt Peak, which is 56 miles southwest of central Tucson, and has no street address. If using GPS, you can enter in "intersection of Arizona State Route 86 and Arizona State Route 386.” Directions are available on their website.

If you see you stars aligning through sharing astronomy with others, engaging with the community and gaining valuable education in the astronomy field, registration is open now.

To apply, visit www.noao.edu/kpvc/Volunteer and download their application. For more information, email Robert Martino, Program Coordinator at [email protected]. 

Phase II of development proposals for the Ronstadt Transit Center downtown were unveiled last week during a public meeting. Despite what we may have read or heard, not everyone is a fan, though. 

Development plans bring fear of gentrification. We've already seen long-time Tucson characters like The District (and others) shutter over high-as-hell rent. While growth is good, watering down the diversity that is downtown Tucson will birth harsh resistance from critics. 

Local homeless advocate and one of the heads behind the Tucson Bus Rider Union Brian Flagg wrote a quick reminder on the blog Voces de Casa Maria that not all is good in the RTC-development-front:
City Councilman Steve Kozachik mentioned the meeting on his weekly newsletter, saying the development will be a "benefit to the entire Tucson area, not just downtown."

He, other city leaders and the public got to hear about two proposals—one from the firm Alexander/Campbell and another from Schwabe/Swaim—that include retail, housing and the transit portion. The Alexander/Campbell plan has a cost of about $50 million, while Schwabe/Swaim say it'll cost more than $170 million. Both groups mentioned they'd involve local designers, as we all hope they should.

Kozachik says both would require "some level of public funding involvement, but only the Alexander/Campbell team identified what that would be and at what level." (Any public funding for either one of the proposals would have to be OK under the Arizona Constitution's Gift Clause.)

At the meting, residents handed the development teams a series of questions that should be answered in the next 30 days. There will also be final recommendations from the committee selecting the team that will take on the project. After that, a winning proposal will be chosen, which Kozachik says should come by the middle of next year. 

"This is a big economic opportunity for the region. Six years ago, the City was on the cusp of making a very bad economic decision: building a luxury hotel and using the City’s General Fund as the backstop of the financing. We avoided that mistake, and now we have a chance to take this huge step in the right direction," he says.