 
Paul Cunningham's Weekly Update
Table of Contents
 John "Button" Salmon
Paul's Note
October 16, 2026
“Tell the team to bear down.”
This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the death of John “Button” Salmon, who is important to generations of Wildcat sports fans as the originator of the phrase “Bear Down.”
Salmon was born in Texas in 1903. He was not only the quarterback of the football team, but was also the catcher for the baseball team, a member of honor societies Sigma Nu, Chain Gang, Bobcats and the “A” Club. He was also student body president.
While driving back from Phoenix on October 3, 1926, his car flipped into an arroyo on State Route 79 near Florence (near the same spot where actor Tom Mix also died in a car accident years later). He suffered injuries to his spinal cord and was in the hospital until he died on October 18.
Legendary coach “Pop” McKale visited Salmon every day. On the day he died, he asked Salmon if he had any words for his teammates. He said, “Tell them…tell them to bear down.” McKale told the team Salmon’s last words in a locker room in Las Cruces before their next game. They beat the Aggies 7 - 0.
Thus a slogan and a legend were born. “Bear Down” was formally chosen as the Wildcat slogan the next year and band director Jack Lee wrote the fight song “Bear Down, Arizona” in 1951.
The football team is off this weekend, but I’m telling men’s basketball, women’s soccer and our triathletes to bear down.
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The holiday season started off early in Ward 2 last weekend with some great events for families and our furry friends. First up was the kid and dog friendly Trunk or Treat in the Ward 2 parking lot in partnership with Camp Bow Wow. Thanks to Tucson Fire, Tucson Police, and many other groups and local businesses who made this event a success. Next, I attended the annual Trunk or Treat at the Elks Lodge on Pantano. And finally, the Palo Verde Park neighborhood had an amazing Pirate Parade and Trunk or Treat that was a big success. I hope to attend that one next year, check out photos from all three events.
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It’s cooling off, so we are starting our wash cleanups again. We are starting with the Owens Park Wash. We’re coming together to help keep our neighborhood clean, care for our beautiful Sonoran Desert, and make a positive difference right here in our own backyard.
Whether you can lend a hand for an hour or stay for the whole cleanup, every volunteer makes a difference! Bring your community spirit, roll up your sleeves, and help us show what we can accomplish when we work together. As the saying goes, be the change you wish to see in the world!
The clean up is Saturday, October at 8:30 am. Meet us in the back parking lot of the Ward 2 Recycling Center. We are providing cleanup tools and bags, you just provide yourself, sturdy shoes, water, and a willingness to help.
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Tucson Meet Yourself, Tucson's beloved folklife festival since 1974, featuring the food, music, dance, and folk arts, from the diverse cultures that create the tapestry of our community begins downtown this Friday, Oct. 16, running through Sunday, Oct. 18. To learn more about attending the event, produced by the Southwest Folklife Alliance, visit tucsonmeetyourself.org. To contact Tucson Meet Yourself for general information, email Info@TucsonMeetYourself.org or call (520) 621-4046.
Road closures for the event begin tomorrow and will continue through early Monday morning, Oct. 19.
The traffic restriction schedule associated with the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, 6 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, 4 a.m.
- Pennington Street from Church Avenue to Scott Avenue will close to all travel.
- Stone Avenue between Alameda Street and Congress Street will close to all travel. The intersection of Stone Avenue and Alameda Street will remain open.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, 6 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, 4 a.m.
- Church Avenue from Pennington Street to Alameda Street will close to all travel.
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, 6 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, 4 a.m.
- The Church Avenue closure will be extended from Congress Street to Alameda Street and will close to all travel. The intersection of Church Avenue and Congress Street will remain open.
All streets are scheduled to reopen by 4 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
The traveling public should use caution when driving, bicycling, or walking in this area. Please obey all traffic control and watch for detour signs and personnel providing traffic control.
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 Councilmember Cunningham and staff at this weekend's Trunk or Treat celebration
 Councilmember Cunningham talks to TPD personnel at the Trunk or Treat celebration this weekend
 Tent at this weekend's Trunk or Treat celebration.
 Crowds at this weekend's Trunk or Treat celebration
 Cornhole for the wee pirates at Palo Verde Park this weekend.
 Wee pirates at Palo Verde Park this weekend.
 Decorating pumpkins at Palo Verde Park this weekend.
 New friends like Jess can be found at the Eastside Pet Adoption Center, 7225 E Broadway
EPAC Pet of the Week
Located At: Pima Animal Care Center - Eastside
Description: My name is Jess
I am a neutered male, black and white Pit Bull Terrier and Boxer.
Age: The shelter staff think I am about 10 months old.
Bio: Someone call up Mike O’Malley, Jess is ready for a dog reboot of Nickelodeon’s “GUTS.” He’s handsome, smart and athletic. Jess won’t care what color your team picks because they look super similar to him. We’ve seen him win tug of war, speed through weave poles, and absolutely burst up the stairs. He’s ready for the Aggro Crag.
Community News
Mayor and Council: The next mayor and council meeting is Tuesday, October 20. There is an afternoon study session and the regular meeting starts at 5:30. Meetings are held at City Hall, 255 W Alameda and can be watched live or archived at https://www.youtube.com/@cityoftucson/live.
Paper Shredding: Free paper shredding, electronics recycling, and Dispose-A-Med sponsored by the Pima County Sheriff's Department will be at at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church (8625 E. Tanque Verde Road) on Saturday, October 17 from 8 am until noon. Non-perishable food donations accepted to benefit the Tucson community.
Guns to Gardens: If you have a gun that you no longer want, you can have it transformed into garden tools. The event is Saturday from 10 am to noon at St. Phillip's in the Hills Church (4440 N Cambpell). Leave the guns in the trunk and enter from the Campbell entrance and a trained volunteer will take your guns. If you'd like to know more about the process used to make guns into garden tools, you can go to a demonstration on Sunday from noon to 2, also at St Phillips.
Dancing in the Streets Nutcracker: Husband-and-wife Founders/Directors Joseph Rodgers and Soleste Lupu are celebrating 19 years of bringing The Nutcracker Ballet and the art of classical ballet to the Tucson community through their nonprofit ballet school, Dancing In The Streets AZ (DITSAZ). This Thanksgiving weekend, DITSAZ proudly presents its full-length production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Leo Rich Theater at the Tucson Convention Center.
This production and the programs that make opportunities like this possible are supported by an Opportunity Grant from Angel Charity for Children, along with grant support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, City of Tucson Ward 2 and Council Member Paul Cunningham, City of South Tucson, and the Eliot Spalding Foundation.
Fall Plant Sale: Saturday, October 24, from 8 - 11 am, the Pima County Extension Service is excited to welcome shoppers to our brand-new nursery-three times larger than their previous nursery space. Come see the new space while shopping cacti, succulents, perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs, seasonal vegetables and more. Bring your own cart. Load it up with your favorite finds, come early for the best selection, and take time to visit our Demonstration Gardens for inspiration. Pima County Cooperative Extension is located at 4210 N. Campbell Ave.
Division Advisory Council: Everyone is welcome to join the leadership for Operations Division East (the police command for the east side) for an interactive community information meeting featuring speakers from TPD, TFD and other City of Tucson departments. Representatives will be stationed at tables to provide information and answer questions. The meeting takes place at the Ward 2 office (7820 E Broadway) Thursday, October 22 from 6 pm - 7:30 pm.
Ready Steady Open: Tucson's Mayor and Council recently approved a one-year pilot program to provide assistance to businesses before, during, and after construction of City capital projects. The program aims to provide enhanced communications and outreach for City construction work zones; support to small businesses through the City’s Office of Community and Economic Impact; and, one-time grants to eligible small local businesses on selected City project corridors.
Applications for Round 1 Grants are open now through Nov. 1, 2026. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend upcoming Technical Assistance and Education webinars, via Microsoft Teams, on Tuesday, October 20, 1 p.m.
Businesses can find webinar links, learn more about the program, review eligibility requirements, view selected project corridors and apply for funding at: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Transportation-Mobility/Ready-Steady-Open
'The Streets Equation' Budget Forums Coming Soon - Join "The Streets Equation," a series of in-person and virtual forums where residents can share feedback on street maintenance and construction, transportation, and road safety, as the City plans its fiscal year 2028 budget. Forums will include budget education, informational presentations, small-group discussions, and opportunities for resident feedback. The first (virtual) forum is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9, from noon-2 p.m., on Zoom. You may select any of the events, regardless of the ward in which you live. Follow this link for dates, times, locations, and registration links: The Streets Equation
Garden District Porchfest: Tucson's Midtown Garden District Neighborhood Association would like to invite Ward 2 residents to join us for the 11th Annual Porch Fest October 25, 2026 2:30pm-5:30pm. Stroll the neighborhood to 8 different porch stages at this family friendly event with local food trucks and a kid's porch. The neighborhood is located between Pima and Grant, and Alvernon and Swan.
Attracting Beneficial Insects: The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension service is hosting a presentation by Dr. Wilfrid Calvin at the Highland Vista Garden (5300 E 7th St.) on November 15, 10 - 11:30 am. Learn proven ways to attract beneficial insects to your garden, enjoy a tour and ask all of your garden questions.
Mobile Meals: Do you know someone in your neighborhood who needs nutritious, low-cost meals delivered to their home by friendly volunteers? Call Mobile Meals at 520-622-1600. Mobile Meals serves all ages, including seniors and adults with disabilities. Anyone who has difficulty accessing the grocery store or cooking meals can sign up for Mobile Meals.
Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona is looking for compassionate volunteers to deliver nutritious meals to homebound individuals on Tucson's eastside.
With many of their regular volunteers taking a break from the heat, Mobile Meals urgently needs new drivers to ensure their clients receive the essential meals and friendly check-ins they depend on.
Visit the Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona website or contact Henry Gorton, Program Coordinator, at henry@mobilemealssoaz.org or (520) 622-2593 to learn more and sign up!
Step Up to Justice: Step Up to Justice has volunteer attorneys who hold free know-your-rights presentations for those who want to come. They offer several ongoing sessions, including The RENT Project (Renter Education for Neighborhoods and Tenants), The MAPP Project (Mobile Home Asset and Property Protection) and WORK (Workers’ Outreach, Rights, and Knowledge). You can find out when the sessions are held and how to sign up at https://www.stepuptojustice.org/.
Team Up to Clean Up: The City of Tucson, along with community partners, is organizing a citywide clean-up effort. Residents, families, students, community groups, and businesses are invited to join forces to clean and enhance our neighborhood. For more details, visit: Team Up To Clean Up.
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