Karin's Note: December 8, 2011
 

-Graffiti Clean-up in Keeling Neighborhood

-Kids’ Corridor Workshop in Coronado Heights

-Vice Mayor Uhlich Kicks Off Winterhaven Festival of Lights

-Toy Train Museum Holding Holiday Open House

-Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair

-Downtown Parade of Lights

-Did you know...

***************************************

 Dear Tucsonans,

In recent years the Mayor and Council has taken a new approach to resource management. We have adopted a defined water service area map to discourage sprawl; we have expanded recycling and actively promote solar, rainwater and greywater installations. We have protected our bus system and brought the modern street car to Tucson.

As we turn our attention to streamlining the land use code and adopting infill incentives (including overlay zones) I would suggest some steps that I think will help:

• Stay at the right altitude--Good planning isn’t possible if narrowly focused project-by-project or even neighborhood-by-neighborhood. Context and complementary designs/uses matter. To balance inevitable tradeoffs whole areas should be reviewed and planned.
• Utilize community expertise—Volunteers on our planning and advisory commissions and outside experts from entities such as the Drachman Institute, Imagine Greater Tucson, Sustainable Tucson, The Sonoran Institute and many more can help us gather widespread input and then zero in on the best policies to implement for the City.
• Focus on Shared Values—We want to protect our surrounding environment and enhance the quality of life within our City. We want to preserve unique historic and cultural assets. We want to draw investments and jobs that reinforce the well-being and security of our residents. We’re going to need to prioritize and make choices, and when we do the underlying values we call upon to guide us should be clearly stated.

To sustain a vibrant city we must cultivate more density and economic development within our boundaries. To do that well, we need good process and good planning.

We also need to take action to shape our future together instead of just watching it unfold.

There are also lots of chances to take action this holiday season to help your neighbors and your community. We hope you’ll support local businesses with your shopping dollars and contribute what time or money you can to good causes (some of which are highlighted below).

Karin

****************************************
Ward 3 Events
 

-Keeling Neighborhood Clean-up – Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Join Vice Mayor Karin Uhlich, Graffiti Protective Coatings and local businesses for a morning of graffiti removal. Meet at Keeling Elementary School, 2837 N. Los Altos Avenue. Morning snacks and celebration lunch provided. Wear clothing that you want to be covered in paint, close-toed shoes. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. More info: Bennett Bernal at 808-8773 or the Ward 3 Office: 791-4711.

-Kids’ Corridor Workshop – Saturday, December 10 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Coronado Heights Neighborhood with Ironwood Tree Experience invites kids and adults to join in planting, graffiti removal and beautification of the area. Meet on Castro between Blacklidge and Delano. More info: Bernie at 981-7136

 -Winterhaven Festival of Lights 2011 – Opens on Saturday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m. Join Vice Mayor Karin Uhlich as she kicks off the holiday season. Festival runs through December 25. More info at: www.winterhavenfestival.org

-Toy Train Museum Open House – Saturdays and Sundays, December 10 and 11 and 17 and 18. 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Gadsden-Pacific Toy Train Operating Museum is at 3975 N. Miller (near Prince and Romero). Free admission—bring the family! More info: 888-2222 or www.gpdToyTrainMuseum.com

*************************************

Events City Wide

-Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair – Friday through Sunday, December 9-11. Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. along Fourth Avenue between 9^th Street and University. 400 arts/crafts booths, 35 food booths plus street musicians, and entertainment for kids.  More info: www.fourthavenue.org/fairs/general-information/

-Downtown Parade of Lights – Saturday, December 17 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a chair and line the streets as floats, bands, fire trucks and convertibles light up the downtown sky! Annual parade begins at 17^th Street and Stone, winds throughout downtown and ends at Armory Park. More info: 971-0905 or www.downtowntucson.org

***************************************
Did You Know…

the Ward 3 Council Office collects for the Community Food Bank and Tucson Diaper Bank throughout the year? We especially need donations during this holiday season.

That the City of Tucson Parks & Recreation Department (West District) is holding a “Winter Break Schoolzout Program” this month? From December 19 through the 30th, at both the Marty Birdman and Donna Liggins Centers, kids ages 5-11 and IBC (11-14) can enjoy a fun day of activities, i.e. games, field trips, movies, even cooking! Cost is $2/day and parents must provide a lunch and snacks for their children. Registration began this week. Space is limited, first come, first serve basis. Payment and waiver form due upon registration. More info: Marty Birdman Center: 791-5950, Donna Liggins Center: 791-3247.

A Community Event, sponsored by Beyond Tucson, is scheduled to commemorate and celebrate loved ones injured and lost on January 8th. We will come together on January 7th to remember what happened, acknowledge how it changed us and commit to building a stronger community. Join us at any of our healthy, fun, safe, and inclusive outdoor events that day. Engage in activities that are good for your mind, body and spirit! Come walk, run, ride, stroll, dance at locations all over our region: 25 events are listed including remembrance, social, physical, and entertainment activities.  Look for updates, register and find a site near you at www.beyond-tucson.org

 that the City of Tucson is accepting applications for Section 8 Housing? Lottery based system gives applicants equal opportunity. Families, couples and individuals may now apply for the opportunity to have safe, decent and affordable housing through the City of Tucson/Pima County Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

The Section 8 Waiting List will open using a lottery system to ensure that everyone who submits an application within the appropriate timeframes will have an equal opportunity for placement on the list. This eliminates the need for applicants to wait in long lines. The application period runs from Tuesday, December 13, 2011, through Thursday, December 15, 2011.  Once all applications are received, a waiting list number will be assigned to each application using the lottery-based system. 

Applications will be available online at http://web2.transview.org/section8 and must be completed and submitted between Tuesday, December 13, 2011 and Thursday, December 15, 2011. For more info: Section 8 Office at 791-4739