Love of Reading Week
This week we celebrate the miracle of reading. It is truly amazing – we can read about almost anything, written by people unimaginably separated from us by time or geography, or both. By reading we gain knowledge and skills. We also get caught up in the most wondrous stories and tales. This week I will share my love of reading with two elementary classes by the simple act of reading to them a cherished childhood book or two. For myself, I will finish reading a gripping mystery start a science fiction novel that weaves climate change solutions into a thrilling story.
I love reading. And dear reader, by coming this far with me, I assume that you, too, are a reader. If you generally read only for utility – to get today’s news or to learn the latest best practices for the work you do, for instance – I challenge you to find some time to read for fun. Find something new at the public library, a little free library, borrow a book from a friend, or splurge at your favorite local bookstore. Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Join a book club.
If you need suggestions, here are a few subjects I like. Books that help me understand better the Sonoran Desert plants and birds, or the trees up on Mt. Lemmon or the place I am dreaming about vacationing someday. Anything by Gary Nabhan, Leslie Marmon Silko, David Yetman, Bill Broyles, or William Hartmann. Books that include Tucson, whether found in the novels of Lydia Millet and Barbara Kingsolver or in actual biographies and histories (like those by David Devine). I recently enjoyed and learned a lot from a book given me by Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, In the Shadow of the Freeway, a memoir by Tucsonan Lydia Otero. I also must recommend two histories of specific places in Ward 3: Flowing Wells by Kevin Daily and Marie Daily and Samos: Stories That Built a Neighborhood by Katherine Lancaster and Barbara Miller (full disclosure: Barbara is my wife). Anything by Wendell Berry, Walter Mosley, Ellis Peters, Octavia Butler, Haruki Murakami, and the list could go on. I told you I love to read.
Turnaround is fair play: if you care to recommend a good book or two, I would love to hear from you. Email your suggestion(s) to ward3@tucsonaz.gov.
If you’d like to join me in spreading the joy of reading, there are a few nonprofit groups in town that could use your help. Literacy Connects, located in our own Amphi Neighborhood, needs reading coaches for students and others (literacyconnects.org). Make Way For Books needs support in providing access to books for youth and families who have a hard time getting them (makewayforbooks.org). Like me, you can load up on inexpensive books at the regular (or online) book sales of the Friends of the Pima County Public Library (pimafriends.com/), and in doing so help support our libraries (next book sale is weekend after next).
It's Love of Reading Week. Be sure to show some love!
-Kevin
Bufflegrass by Katie Bolger
Last week I joined a group of volunteers led by Tucson clean and Beautiful in clearing a strip of Buffelgrass from the side of a neighborhood street. Digging up buffelgrass is satisfying, effective and time consuming.
From the Tucson Clean and Beautiful website: Invasive buffelgrass is a significant threat facing our beautiful Sonoran Desert community – both natural and urban areas alike. Buffelgrass is a fire-adapted grass from Africa that was introduced in the early 1920s and 30s.
Buffelgrass is an aggressive grower that outcompetes native plants; monopolizing water, nutrients, and even sunlight as it grows into a tall, thick clump. Each clump can produce thousands and thousands of seeds.
The fact that buffelgrass displaces our beautiful native plants is bad – but even worse is the fire threat that it poses. During the dry months buffelgrass goes dormant turning into a golden brown, tinder-dry clump. These large clumps ignite easily and they burn incredibly hot, over 1600 degrees – enough to melt most metal!
The Sonoran Desert did not evolve with fire – our native plants are not fire adapted, and often grow in a dispersed pattern where even naturally caused fires from lightning rarely spread very far. Buffelgrass grows in dense clumps and often fills in all available space, creating conditions for fires to leave behind a charred and blackened environment devoid of native species. Buffelgrass however, is quick to regrow from blackened clumps.
Buffelgrass is not just a problem out in the natural desert. It is growing in our alleys, washes, and along our roadways – threatening our homes, schools, and businesses.
If you would like to organize a bufflegrass removal in your neighborhood or be part of an already organized group please contact tcb@tucsoncleanandbesautiful.org
Would you like to be my neighbor? By Marlene Avelino
There is a lot of nostalgia around knowing our neighbors. A lot of people love the idea of a close-knit neighborhood where everyone knows each other, and you host yearly barbecues and block parties. The funny thing about this nostalgia is that it can be your reality with minimal effort. In fact, these neighborhoods still exist. There is a benefit to knowing your neighbors as anyone in a neighborhood association will let you know. A neighborhood association is a group of neighbors and business owners joining together to support and improve their neighborhood. We have over 25 associations in ward 3!
This Miracle Manor neighborhood mural can be found at S K Market, 2520 N. 15th Ave. It was made by Michael B. Schwartz.
There are many benefits to joining your association, the biggest benefit is meeting and getting to know your neighbors. Building these relationships creates a sense of place and pride that benefits everyone. Community safety starts with knowing who lives in your neighborhood. A tight knit group can take care of each other in small ways that can have big effects. Checking in on someone, picking up groceries, giving referrals, finding a babysitter, getting a walking buddy, there are many ways to be a good neighbor; the first step is saying hello.
Another benefit is planning and executing a neighborhood project. Many associations have raised funds and collaborated with artists for murals and other artwork, Tucson Clean and Beautiful frequently partners with neighborhoods for tree planting events, and a good old fashioned litter cleanup is always more fun with a little neighborly gossip.
Coming together with your neighbors also allows for an opportunity to voice concerns. Often many residents have the same or similar issue and by coming together they are better able to understand the problem and work on a solution together. Neighborhood associations have a direct relationship with the ward office, and we are always here to assist if needed.
The city of Tucson supports associations with Neighborhood Resources which is housed within Planning and Development Services. They update the association database, assist in mailings, host workshops, and provide general support. If you need help finding your neighborhood association, please reach out to the ward office and we’d be happy to connect you. The more voices contributing, the more vibrant the neighborhood.
City of Tucson Helping Persons Experiencing Homelessness by CJ Boyd
As Ward 3 and the city at large continue to see the housing crisis escalate, we welcome the announcement from Housing and Community Development that by the end of this month we will be opening a few different city properties, including a 46 room hotel that will be used to shelter people on their way to more permanent housing. Many times, as we try to provide housing for those in need, it comes in very small doses—a few units here, a few units there. But one of the properties is in Ward 3 and will soon start housing persons experiencing homelessness.
We congratulate Tucson and the Housing and Community Department, led by Liz Morales, on gaining this massive resource in our continued fight against houselessness and look forward to partnering with them on future projects.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Services
Through United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, households earning up to $73,000 annually can access free, quality tax preparation from IRS-certified preparers. Support is available in three ways in 2022: online through GetYourRefund, DIY self-prep, and in-person appointments. Appointment booking is required for in-person sites and can be scheduled at unitedwaytucson.org/vita. All in-person and Valet VITA Tax Preparers will be fully vaccinated, including boosters, and will be masked. All taxpayers must show proof of vaccination and be masked at all times during any in-person meeting. If taxpayer can’t show proof of vaccination, we encourage them to use the GetYourRefund online service.
The Ward 3 Council Office has provided a space for VITA to provide services to Ward 3 residents for years. Learn more about VITA options for 2022, including in-person locations and how to book an appointment: 2022 VITA Webpage
Ward 3 Neighborhood and Coalition Meetings
Balboa Heights
Friday
February 11
3-4 pm
zoom
Mountain First
Saturday
February 12
9-10 am
SAMOS
Tuesday
February 15
6:30-7:30
Email ward3@tucsonaz.gov for zoom info
Miracle Manor
Thursday
February 17
6-7 pm
Amphi
Thursday
February 17
6:30-7:30
Amphi High School
Rillito Bend
Saturday
February 19th
1pm
Rain Garden on Cactus Blvd
There will be a work session in the garden after the brief meeting. For details go to https://rillitobendna.org/upcoming-events.html
Ward 3 Events
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The Ward 3 office is currently closed to the public. Staff will answer phone messages, emails and requests for meetings by the next working day. Leave your message at 520-791-4711 or email at ward3@tucsonaz.gov. |
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