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Sharon Bart, the former owner of The Running Shop at 3055 N Campbell Ave is the President of the Campbell Avenue Business Partnership (CABP).The CABP was founded around 2002 when the City was considering installing a grade separated intersection at Campbell and Grant. Businesses and neighborhoods felt a need to be represented and created the CABP.
The partnership has been inactive for years as board members retired and businesses along Campbell have changed hands. Sharon believes the partnership still holds value and she has been paying for and filing the necessary reports in order to keep the organization in good standing.
She reached out to see if the Ward 3 office could assist in getting the word out to see if there is any interest in keeping the partnership (which was a coalition of neighborhood representatives, business owners and non-profits) primarily between Grant and Ft Lowell on Campbell.
Sharon is ready to move on. She sold her business and no longer lives in the neighborhood. She is looking for someone who would like to take over and recruit new membership.
Although the following accomplishments are no longer active, the partnership was responsible for:
- Installing the Campbell Avenue light pole banners identifying Campbell Avenue.
- Establishing and maintaining the website CampbellAvenue.com
- A member of the Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, which includes Campbell Avenue as listing as a shopping district in the Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau directory.
- Established Campbell Avenue as a distinct and unique shopping district in both the Tucson Guide and Tucson Lifestyle magazines.
- Bin cards. Instead of a fold out map of the businesses on the avenue, bin cards have been printed to direct visitors to our website. The bin cards are distributed through the Visitors Center as well as major resorts and hotels.
If you live or work in the area and are interested in seeing the CABP continue on, please contact the Ward 3 office.
 Interior fire a truck bay at station 8.
The Amphi Neighborhood is getting a new housing project. It is still in the proposal phase, but is set to be located in the old station 8 at 250 W. King Road just east of Oracle Road. The project is being referred to as the "Amphi Housing First Resource Center." Currently, it is in the Planned Area Development (PAD) process. The resource center would serve as a low-barrier emergency shelter for unhoused residents of Tucson. The old fire station is still going through environmental testing.
 Amphi Housing First project proposal conceptual plan.
The shelter would be run very similarly to the Wildcat Inn and the Amazon Inn providing essential support services for people on site, with a maximum of 120 beds and a maximum of 35 units that could be built in the empty back lot. No new structures would exceed 30ft in height. To accommodate those dependent on vehicles, five parking spaces will be available on site.
 Tucson Housing and Community Development Director Ann Chanecka inside one of the sleeping quarters formerly used by the firefighters that occupied station 8.
The fire station has been empty for nearly a year and has been targeted by vandals. The City plans to renovate the building to improve the maintenance of the neighborhood. However, the renovation work cannot begin until after the zoning examiner has completed their review, which is expected to take place in May or June of this year. Approval and protest forms will be sent out in April. If you wish to learn more about this proposal, please visit https://tinyurl.com/2ky4ax7f
Differently Abled Entertainment (DAE) is a non-profit located in Balboa Heights whose goal is to “help marginalized individuals discover artistic empowerment.’ Founded by Jonni Campbell in January of 2020, DAE hosts acting lessons, songwriting workshops, a writers circle, and a weekly potluck and Karaoke night.
 Jonni Campbell in front of the Differently Abled Entertainment studio in Balboa Heights.
Driven by her passion for the arts and community, Jonni is intentional about making people of all abilities and backgrounds feel welcome in her space. So far it's a small but dedicated group attending classes and events but word of mouth is getting around and there is a real need for people with disabilities to have dedicated spaces to support each other and agitate for change.
Jonni shared that 26% of Americans live with disabilities and yet only 2% of characters in tv and film have disabilities; of those 2%, 95% are portrayed by able bodied actors. Jonni wants to see more people like her on screen. “I consider myself very lucky. I’m able to do almost everything I want, I just do it differently than someone who isn’t in a chair.”
 Mural inside Differently Abled Entertainment of Bride of Frankenstein with the words "I am not broken, the system is" around it.
Jonni became a paraplegic in December of 1999 after a bad car accident on a rural road in her hometown of Oshkosh, Nebraska. She was just 16 years old and spent the next three months in the hospital. Her advocacy for accessibility started almost immediately when her high school principal offered her a GED test instead of ramps to be able to get to classes. She went on to make several campuses and even a national monument wheelchair accessible. Jonni is now a mentor with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and along with a friend started the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Support Group.
 Dressing room at Differently Abled Entertainment with plenty of options.
Differently Abled Entertainment was born out of Jonni’s frustration at the exclusivity of the entertainment industry and its pay to play model. Notoriously difficult to break into, the industry is even harder for those with disabilities to crack. DAE’s acting classes include headshots and a starter reel, two standard requirements that can easily add up.
Differently Abled Entertainment is located at 2405 N Castro Ave #140 and can be found online at https://ourdae.org/
 This past Saturday was the Parks and Rec EGGstravaganza event at Mansfield park. We had a great success and many people attended. This was the 25th year that this event has been held. To check out all the fun go to our Facebook album of videos and photos by clicking the button below.
  The chapel at the west end of Pascua Cultural Plaza in Tucson. Photo by Ammodramus | public domain image
Pascua Yaqui Easter Ceremonies
April is a festive month as Spring time flowers bloom and the weather warms up. Easter is being observed and we wish well to all those who celebrate! For the Pascua Yaqui Tribe this is Holy Week. We have provided a short description below of their religious ceremony for those who might be interested in attending.
From the tribal website:
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe welcomes all visitors who come in a spirit of reverence appropriate for any religious ceremony. All communities are protected by tribal, town or city ordinances. Please note that audio recording devices, cameras, cellular phones, sketching and drinking of alcoholic beverages are not allowed at any ceremonial site.
Old Pascua Location: South of Grant, East of Fairview. You will need to park somewhere at least a few blocks away and walk.
The morning of Holy Saturday, both groups prepare for the final confrontation. In Tucson, this part of the drama draws crowds of visitors. The Chapayekas parade the figure of their straw Judas and ready themselves in front of their barracks. The church Groups, the Matachin, the Deer Dancer and the Pascolas, as well as the Caballeros arrive decorated with real and crepe paper flowers, greens and ribbons to help defend the church.
Around noon, the Fariseos and Chapayekas march towards the church, advancing towards the ash line which marks off the holy ground. Three times they charge and three times they are repulsed by the Maestros singing the Gloria, the ringing of the bells, waving of flags, the dancing of the Matachinis, the Pascolas and the Deer Dancer and the throwing of flowers by all the allies of the church.
At the end of the third charge, the Fariseos give in to their fate; they have been defeated, killed by the flowers and faith of the church people. They throw their masks into the huge bonfire which also consumes their straw Judas. They are now ritually cleansed of evil.
As part of the celebration be aware that fireworks and pyrotechnics are employed.
For more information on this event please go to: https://www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov/culture/ceremony-locations/
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