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Council Member Fimbres’ November Letter
Dear Friends,
The Thanksgiving holiday is a time to reflect on the blessings that make our lives and community here in Tucson so special. This time of year, we gather with loved ones, share traditions, and express gratitude for the people, places, and moments that bring us joy. In Tucson, we are particularly fortunate to be part of a city with such a strong sense of unity, cultural diversity, and resilience.
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Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday, it’s a reminder to be thankful for our connections and the unique beauty around us. Tucson, with its breathtaking sunsets, the surrounding desert, and the towering saguaros, reminds us daily of the natural beauty we are lucky to call home. We are also thankful for the countless people who contribute to our community, from our teachers and healthcare workers to local business owners, non-profit leaders, and volunteers. We certainly cannot forget our veterans and active-duty military who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy our freedoms. We are eternally grateful for all they have done and continue to do for our country.
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As we celebrate, let’s remember the importance of supporting one another and lending a helping hand to those who may be struggling. Together, we can continue building a community grounded in compassion, respect, and gratitude.
On behalf of the Ward 5 Council Office staff: Lupita Robles, Mary Kuchar, Gabriel Holguin, Cindy Gonzales, and Lita Reyes, I want to wish you a warm and joyful Thanksgiving. May your homes be filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories. Be safe and stay healthy.
Sincerely,
 Your Ward 5 Council Member
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The story of Sonoran Glass School began 25 years ago with founders Tom Philabaum and David Klein, who are glass artists themselves. They were teaching glass art at a school in Japan, and they dreamed of bringing it to Tucson. This dream came to life in 2001 when they formed the Sonoran Art Foundation and acquired the building that is now known as Philabaum Glass Gallery. They soon outgrew that space and acquired their current studio space where they are still thriving and prospering 20 years later.
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Sonoran Glass School is guided by its beliefs in Artistic Excellence, Teamwork, Inclusion & Diversity, and Community. It is evident that these beliefs are upheld as SGS works with schools not just in Ward 5 but across the City of Tucson to bring programs and scholarships to our diverse community of students so that they can express their creativity and artistry. In addition to working with our schools, SGS also provides classes for seniors. In every class, teamwork is emphasized as being extremely important. |
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We asked what long-term goals does SGS have, and one goal that Evan mentioned is to be a destination place for all those who visit Tucson in addition to having SGS have both a local and even a national presence. Those are excellent goals, considering that SGS has artwork on display by artists who not only teach at SGS currently, but also whose works of art have been on display in galleries across the United States and the world. What better than to come to this amazing school and take a great class or workshop and learn from them? |
Sonoran Glass School is located at 633 West 18th Street. For more information, you can go online at https://sonoranglass.org, email at info@sonoranglass.org, or you can call (520) 884- 7814.
We want to thank Evan Mendelson and Paul Anders-Stout for giving us a tour of their wonderful school.
Delivering Veterans Cards at the VA
On Friday, November 8, we had the opportunity to show our appreciation to our veterans by delivering thank you cards to them. This was in partnership with 22 schools across Tucson. I am happy to say that we collected over 2,500 cards. I want to thank the schools that participated in the making of the cards for the veterans, including:
Mission View Elementary School - Principal Sandra Calkins
San Xavier Mission School – Principal Minh Solorzano
Drachman Montessori K-8 Magnet School – Principal Jesús Celaya
Gallego Primary Fine Arts Magnet School – Principal Elizabeth Garate-Flores
Ocotillo Learning Center – Principal Norma Flores
McCorkle Academy of Excellence PreK-8 School – Principal Deanna Harris
Santa Cruz Catholic School – Principal Roxanne Terán
Miles Exploratory Learning Center – Principal Andrea Steele
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy – Headmaster John Tyler
Pueblo Gardens PreK-8 School – Principal Michael Konrad
White Elementary School – Principal Kelly Creasy
Holladay Elementary School – Principal Shakenya Humphries
Los Amigos Tech Academy – Principal Louie Ramírez
Robison Elementary School –Principal Shawn Blair-Lohn
Grijalva Elementary School – Principal Megan Chavez
Drexel Elementary School – Principal Jennifer Ambrosio
Elvira Elementary School – Kelley Brooks-Cavaletto
Gallego Intermediate Fine Arts Intermediate School – Principal Kathy Dong
Carrillo K-5 Magnet School – Principal Kirstin Bittel
St. Peter & Paul Catholic School – Principal Nora Jaramillo
Sierra 2-8 School – Principal Angelica Encinas
C.E. Rose PreK-8 School - Principal Alma Carmona-Alday
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2024 Veterans' Dinner
On Sunday, November 17, we held the 2024 Veterans Recognition Dinner at the KayCee Club. 56 veterans were nominated for recognition by members of our community in appreciation for their service to our Country. I want to thank Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Adelita Grijalva, Pima County Supervisors Matt Heinz and Rex Scott, U.S. Representatives Raúl Grijalva and Juan Ciscomani, Arizona State Senator Rosanna Gabaldon, Senator Mark Kelly and Governor Katie Hobbs for joining me in presenting this year’s honorees with certificates. I want to give a special thank you to those who helped me hand out the certificates at the event, including Council Members Lane Santa Cruz and Paul Cunningham.
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I want to acknowledge and thank Dan Eckstrom, Pima County Supervisor Emeritus, for emceeing the event, as well as U.S. Air Force Veterans James Christopher and Melissa Cordero for being this year’s keynote speakers. I also want to thank Little Mexico for providing a delicious meal.
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I want to acknowledge my Ward 5 Staff, Lupita Robles, Mary Kuchar, Gabriel Holguin, Cindy Gonzales, and Lita Reyes, for their hard work, Jerry Neely for providing wonderful music throughout the event, and Louie Valenzuela and Richard Michael Fimbres and Jim Rodriguez with the Kay-Cee Club. I also want to acknowledge Desert View High School Jr. Air Force ROTC led by Commander Robert Jaramillo for the posting of the colors, and Diara Kennedy for leading us in singing the National Anthem. I want to thank S.A.I.L as well.
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Lastly, I want to thank everyone who attended this wonderful event that honors our men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. |
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2024 Veterans’ Dinner Honorees
Armando Alvarez, U.S. Navy
Louis Armendariz, U.S. Navy
Joseph Badilla, U.S. Army National Guard
James Barnhart, U.S. Army
Martin Belden, U.S. Army
John Billups, U.S Marine Corps
Chuck Boyer, U.S. Army
Arthur Brewer, U.S. Air Force
Lupe Canez, U.S. Army
Victor Castillo, U.S. Army
Jesse Chamberlain, U.S. Army
James Christopher, U.S. Air Force
Daniel A. Click, U.S. Army
Melissa Cordero, U.S. Air Force
Marcos Corona, U.S. Army National Guard
Jon Covington, U.S. Air Force
Paul Cunningham, U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard
Theresa Diana, U.S. Air Force
Dan Eckstrom, U.S. Army
Wayne A. Edmondson, U. S. Army
Michael Engs, U.S. Army
Veronica Espinoza, U.S. Army National Guard
Arman Figueroa, U.S. Coast Guard
Nicolas Figueroa, U.S. Marine Corps
Richard Fimbres, U.S. Army
Phil Fitzgerald, U.S. Army
Dominic Flores, U.S. Air National Guard
Margarita Flores, U.S. Army
Marianne Gutierrez, U.S. Air Force
Richard Hardy, U.S. Army/Army National Guard
Shawn Heistand, U.S. Army
Michael Hunt, U.S. Marine Corps
Alex F. Jacome, U.S. Marines
Matt Laos, U.S. Army
Beth Lavin, U.S. Army
Nikki Lee, U.S. Air Force
Amos Lewis, U.S. Air Force
Lee Allen Moore, U.S. Navy
Melvin Morgan, U.S. Marine Corps
Pedro Najera, U.S. Army
Alejandro Navallez, U. S. Navy
Robert Norris, U.S. Navy
Stefano Panchesin, U.S. Air Force
Mickey Petersen, U.S. Marine Corps
Tyree Pierson, U.S. Army National Guard
George Poppe, U.S. Air Force
Michael Quezada, U.S. Air Force
Michael Ramsey, U.S. Air Force
Juan Rodriguez, U.S. Army
Neil Shaw, U.S. Coast Guard
Cari Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard
Mark Viramontes, U.S. Army
Tunin T. Vurro, U.S. Marines
Brandon Williams, U.S. Army
Jonathan Zaugra, U.S. Army
James Zimmerman, U.S. Army
Steve Kozachik Named Interim Director of PACC
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Pictured: Steve Kozachik. Photo Courtesy of Democrats of Greater Tucson |
Former Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik has been named as the interim director of PACC, effective December 7. He will spend the next several months listening and learning in anticipation of a new, permanent director, who will coordinate and collaborate with various strategic partners within the County and local government, as well as the animal care community. Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) serves the unincorporated County, the cities of Tucson and South Tucson, the town of Oro Valley, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. It has hundreds of pets available for adoption and foster care. Kozachik previously served as the Ward 6 representative on the Tucson City Council and has experience in the University of Arizona Athletics Department. Congratulations, Steve! We wish you the best of luck in this leadership role.
In Memoriam
John Iurino passed away on Monday, November 18. He was the Zoning Examiner for the City of Tucson and had been with the City Manager’s Office for more than six years. He was an extremely intelligent man, and he served our City with great skill and grace. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. He will be greatly missed.
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Join Our Sock Drive Extravaganza!
United Hearts of Arizona, in partnership with The Ward Five Council Office, is hosting its Annual Sock Drive benefitting our K – 5th grade children in the Southside until December 13, 2024. We kindly encourage you to bring boys’ and girls’ socks to our office at 4300 South Park Avenue. For more information, please call (520) 791-4231. We thank you for your support.
Upcoming Ward 5
Neighborhood Association Meetings
Neighborhood: South Park
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Quincie Douglas Center
(1575 East 36th Street)
Neighborhood: Fairgrounds
Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: La Mariposa Park (301 East Aviation Dr.)
Neighborhood: Miles
Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Miles Exploratory Learning Center (4000 E. Broadway Blvd.)
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Upcoming Mayor and Council Meetings
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2024
Study Session: 2:00 PM
Regular Meeting: 5:30 PM
Location: Mayor and Council Chambers
City Hall, 1st Floor.
255 West Alameda Street
Tucson, Arizona 85701
(Doors open 30 minutes before start time)
You can also watch the Mayor & Council Meetings on the City of Tucson’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cityoftucson/live
 
Tucson Parks and Recreation will host its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair on Thanksgiving weekend. This event has been held for more than four decades, attracting more than 140 vendors from all over the Southwest. All items must be unique, handmade goods that provide shoppers with a high-quality and diverse selection of items.
Date: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2024
Time: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: 920 S. Concert Place, Gene C. Reid Park (west side of park off of Country Club Rd.)
Help shape your shade in winter 2024/2025
Thanks to 407 Bond Funding, Ochoa Park will soon receive a new ramada to provide cooling shade for birthday parties, family picnics, and more! The ramada colors will match existing park features, but we need your help deciding what it should look like. Please take a few minutes to help shape your shade by completing the brief survey. The survey will close Thursday, Dec. 12.
Take the survey here
Ayude a darle forma a su sombra en el invierno 2024/2025
Gracias a la financiación del bono 407, el parque Ochoa pronto recibirá una nueva ramada para brindar una sombra refrescante para fiestas de cumpleaños, picnics familiares y más. Los colores de la ramada combinarán con las características existentes del parque, pero necesitamos su ayuda para decidir cómo debería lucir. Tómese unos minutos para ayudar a darle forma a su sombra completando la breve encuesta. La encuesta cerrará el jueves 12 de diciembre.
Tome la encuesta aquí
Important City Contacts
STAY INFORMED!
Check out our other
information outlets
https://www.tucsonaz.gov/ward-5
Like/Follow us on Facebook: Ward 5 City of Tucson
WARD 5 OFFICE
4300 S. Park Ave.
Tucson, Arizona 85714
Phone: (520) 791-4231
Fax: (520) 791-3188
Ward5@tucsonaz.gov
WARD 5 STAFF
Lupita Robles - Chief of Staff
Mary Kuchar - Council Aide
Gabriel Holguin – Council Aide
Cindy Gonzales – Council Aide
Lita Reyes - Staff Assistant
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