The Tucson Easter Bunny spent a long morning hiding eggs and hugging kids at the EGGSTRAVAGANZA at Mansfield Park in Sugar Hill last Saturday. The event was full of smiling families and happy kids playing games set up by Tucson Parks and Recreation. Kristin Woodall, from my staff and I joined in the festivities.
When the Easter Bunny sat next to me at our table, I was happy to provide a shady place to recover before more hugging and photos. But there was more on this rabbit’s mind.
Council Member Dahl with the Easter Bunny
“Mr. Council Member, I’d like a moment of your time to discuss a matter that concerns me.”
I leaned in to listen carefully, as one does when the Easter Bunny addresses you with some formality.
“I am very grateful that Tucson’s Mayor and Council – and most of the city’s residents – take Climate Change seriously” said EB. “If we don’t get a handle on this, Tucson will get dangerously hotter. Storms will be stronger, and floods more damaging.”
"Yes,” I agreed. “We need to act now and we need folks to get involved in supporting and implementing Tucson’s new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.”
“But why are you – a loveable holiday character – concerned about this?” I asked.
“Two reasons. The world’s supply of chocolate comes from areas along the equator where conditions are just right for growing cocao – and with Climate Change, prices will rise and crops will dwindle. Can you imagine a world where chocolate Easter eggs are too expensive for most people?”
“I don’t want to,” I said.
“More importantly,” EB said, “my home – Easter Island -- is threatened. Most people know it as that place in the Pacific where people who lived long ago carved some amazing gigantic statues. When it was named Easter Island by Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who first landed on it shores on Easter Sunday, 1722, I decided to start living there. I love it.”
“But like many ocean islands, rising sea levels are threatening it’s very existence.”
“Well,” I said. “We must do our part to save chocolate and your home.”
“When I tell people about this, maybe there is something more authoritative to share than just telling people the Easter Bunny needs help?”
As kids started coming to sit on EB’s lap and parents crowded in to take photos, the Bunny said, “I’ll send you some links.”
I later received an email with two websites: this one and this one.
The Easter Bunny wished me well and included a hopeful quote from young climate activist Greta Thunberg: “It is still not too late to act.”
…and it’s not, if we act NOW
Cabrini Neighborhood by CJ Boyd
Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church on E Presidio Rd
Named after Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, the Cabrini neighborhood became an officially recognized neighborhood association in 1999, although residents had been building homes in the area since the 1930s.The Cabrini neighborhood is part of an area that was annexed into Tucson in 1959, and was previously part of the Granada Park subdivision, dating back to 1936. The full name of the neighborhood used to be “St. Frances Cabrini”, but was shortened to “Cabrini” in 2006. According to 40 year resident and long time Cabrini neighborhood association board member, David Fossdal, “We changed the name because many thought we were tied with the church.”
Cabrini stretches from Country Club Rd to Palo Verde Ave, and from Fort Lowell Rd to Glenn Street. Like many neighborhoods in the ward, it’s mostly residential with businesses along the thoroughfares that make up its edges. Some favorite local restaurants include D’s Island Grill, which serves up Jamaican fare, and The Egg Connection, a local breakfast spot. Both are located on the northwest corner of Country Club and Fort Lowell in Winterhaven Square, which is also home to the Wild Bird Store, the Racquet Shack and a nail salon.
The Catholic Church at the center of the neighborhood is unusual in that its congregation merged with another parish last August. St. Francis Cabrini was losing members and in danger of closing due to financial insolvency until it merged with Our Lady of La Vang parish. Our Lady of La Vang parish serves mostly Vietnamese immigrants, including Vietnamese refugees who were resettled in Tucson during the 1970’s with aid from the diocese. With one congregation losing members and another one out growing it’s house of worship, the merger was a win-win. There is still one weekly Mass in English while also serving the growing Vietnamese community.
Besides the namesake church, the neighborhood also features Vineyard Church on Fort Lowell. There are no schools in its bounds, though it does include Outer Limits School, a day care center.
Diablo the donkey, on E. Presidio Road circa 1985
Up until fairly recently, much of Cabrini was still designated as “horse property”, land where it is legal to keep horses or other farm animals. Though the area is not zoned for that anymore, neighbors tell of some properties that were grandfathered in well beyond the rezoning. Fossdal has fond memories of a mule named Diablo (pictured above) who used to live in the 3200 block of East Presidio. “I lived across the street in the apartments in the early 1980's. I fed Diablo carrots. He could be heard throughout the area in the morning, calling out for his breakfast. There were a lot of open lots and desert back then. Still somewhat rural within the city. Now mostly filled in with apartments or family homes.”
Winterhaven Health Center on Country Club, which is located in Cabrini despite sharing a name with the Winterhaven neighborhood, has a mural by Michael B. Schwartz (pictured below). Unlike many of the other iconic murals in Tucson, this one is more abstract and can give many different impressions. At first glance, I thought it was of a tarantula, though other neighbors have described it as a bird or a woman giving birth.
Asked what she loves about living in Cabrini, recent resident Suzy Jacobs said, “We picked Cabrini because it's centrally located. We wanted to benefit from university events and live so close we can go on a whim. We can walk to Winterhaven.”
Mural by Michael B. Schwartz, located on the south wall of Winterhaven Health Center on N. Country Club Road.
Tucson Food Share by Marlene Avelino
Tucson Food Share will be celebrating its two year anniversary this April 23rd with games, a potluck, and a sunset dance party. Located at 2500 N Stone, Tucson Food Share is best known for their Wrap and Ride events held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month - volunteers prepare burritos and then deliver them via bike to neighbors in need!
Tucson Food Share on Stone Ave.
TFS is a volunteer and donation driven collective that distributes food and hygiene items to those in need. Items are either purchased wholesale or donated - donations come from grocery stores, farms, wholesalers, CSAs, non-profits, and backyard gardens. Money is donated mostly in small sums by hundreds of people, by cash, checks, and Venmo/Paypal; occasionally a grant will be awarded as well. In addition to Wrap and Ride events they host weekly food and hygiene item distributions or ‘distros’ - everyone is welcome, there is no income verification of any kind. Some people pick up food for multiple families - this is encouraged in acknowledgement that many households in need do not have easy access to transportation. The collective also distributes food directly to homes during the week for those that can not make it to distribution days.
‘We operate by the principles of mutual aid, distributing food and other necessities without judgment to anyone who asks. Through this process, we are creating and strengthening community bonds that empower a collective resilience through relationships of trust and care. It’s a practice that fills the heart and soul as much as it fills the belly!’ - from TFS website.
On the side of the building is a painted, plugged in refrigerator where people can contribute what they can and take what they need 24 hours a day.
TFS’s mission of resource sharing extends to information as well. They regularly host free classes and workshops that encourage both self sufficiency and community sufficiency. A recent event included an Acorn Harvest Skillshare - meeting up under the acorn groves at Mansfield and Reid Parks to teach and learn how to harvest, process, and cook acorns. In March were two Planting Parties and Gardening Skillshares with the Community Food Bank providing plant starts and seeds for two garden plots, one at Mansfield Community Garden and one at Blue Moon Community Garden.
To learn more about Tucson Food Share check out: www.tucsonfoodshare.org
ASU OCHER by Katie Bolger
Say what you will about Arizona State University, but you can only say good things about the ASU School of Social Work, which has had a long presence here in Tucson. Located off of Bonita St. on the West side of the Santa Cruz River, its campus shares its complex with the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development Department.
Jenny Granados and Valerie Sanchez with Council Aide Marlene Avelino
This week we learned more about ASU’s Office of Community Health, Engagement and Resiliency. ASU OCHER is part of ASU’s School of Social Work and is a great community resource and partner. Over coffee and empanadas (thanks Jenny!) We met with Jenny Granados, an Education Outreach Specialist and Valerie Sanchez who is the Community Outreach Manager for OCHER.
The aim of OCHER is to “build community capacity and solve complex social problems through partnership, and together achieve positive social change.” This is done by “participatory action and research.” Some of their community engagement includes partnering in Community Based Crime Reduction programs, assisting residents at Tucson House by connecting people to services and facilitating youth engagement with 6th graders at Nash elementary school. We are excited to work with and grow our partnerships with Jenny, Valerie and the whole team at ASU OCHER. To learn more visit www.socialwork.asu.edu
Ward 3 Neighborhood and Coalition Meetings
Dodge Flower Saturday April 16 1-2 pm Catalina Heights Church of Christ 2741 N Dodge Blvd
Flowing Wells Neighborhood Watch Saturday April 16 4-5 pm Old Times Kafe 1485 W Prince Rd
Samos Tuesday April 19 6:30-7:30 pm
virtual
Miracle Manor Thursday April 21 6-7 pm Good News Church 701 W Glenn St
Flowing Wells Thursday April 21 6-7 pm Hybrid Ellie Towne Center 1660 W Ruthrauf Rd Email Kevin Daily for link: kevincdaily@yahoo.com
The Ward 3 office is open. Staff will answer phone messages, emails and requests for meetings by the next business day. Leave your message at 520-791-4711 or email at ward3@tucsonaz.gov.
Ward 3 Events
SAVE THE DATE!
Ward 3 Expungement Clinic
Barrio Blue Moon Earth Day
Spring Tree Planting
Sugar Hill Resource Fair
Conner Playground Grand Opening
Mayor Regina Romero, City of Tucson Ward 3 Council Member Kevin Dahl, and Tucson Parks and Recreation invite you to celebrate the completion of a new playground at Conner Park. The project included a new playground structure with integrated shade, new swings, and an ADA-accessible walkway. The playground was made possible through Tucson Delivers, 2018 voter-approved Proposition 407 bond funds. Come celebrate with us! We will have free doughnuts and refreshments. Date: Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m. Location: Conner Park, 2200 E. Glenn St.
Business Navigators Come to Ward 3
Rio Vista Master Plan
Join Tucson Parks and Recreation and consultants from Smith Group to discuss updating the master plan for this park and the survey to prioritize improvements.
Wednesday, April 20, 5-6 p.m. Rio Vista Natural Resource Park 3974 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
Take the survey on the website (https://bit.ly/riovistanrpark) to help us prioritize improvements and develop a master plan for this park. The survey will close on Wednesday, April 27, at 11:45 p.m.
Donna Liggins Senior Club
|