Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, a life long Democrat, was born & raised in the State of Hawaii, was a Legislative Aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill, and practiced law for a while. In Tucson she worked as a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and later was the Interim Executive Director of the now defunct Domestic Violence Commission. In 2008 she became a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, then continued blogging for Tucsoncitizen.com for over four and a half years. Her blogsite was entitled “Carolyn’s Community” about community events and some political news, until Gannett Publishing shut down the site on January 31, 2014. She started with Blog for Arizona on Feb. 11, 2014. Part time she sat as a Hearing Officer in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts Small Claims Division since April, 2005 for 15 years. She is married to University of Arizona Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, a native of Germany. They have one son, who lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and daughter. She is also the Editor of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition website, www.southernazjapan.org (since Jan. 2013).

Chinese New Year festivities coming up for Year of the Sheep

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This year the Chinese New Year will be on February 19, but these are celebrations earlier than that at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road or at the JW Marriott Star Pass resort. More info: www.tucsonchinese.org. Also coming up on Feb. 14 a Chinese New Year celebration, 10:30 a.m. at the Himmel … Read more

It’s Groundhog Day!

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In the ever popular 1993 “Groundhog Day” movie  the main character  says at a town bar: “Phil: What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered? Ralph: That about sums it up for me.” Carolyn’s note: If you’re having one … Read more

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court moving to new location

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south facade of new Pima County Consolidated Justice Court building
south facade of new Pima County Consolidated Justice Court building

Press release from Doug Kooi, court administrator, and Pima County Communications:

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court moving to new location

New court open for business Monday, Feb. 2

The Pima County Consolidated Justice Court will be open for business at its new location, 240 N. Stone Ave., beginning at 8 a.m. Monday. The court is moving from the historic mosaic dome building at 115 N. Church Ave., and its satellite at 160 N. Stone Ave., to the new Pima County Public Service Center on the northeast corner of Stone Avenue and Alameda Street. The entrance to the Court’s new location is on the west side of the Public Service Center building on Stone.

An estimated 500,000 people pass through the security checkpoint at the Consolidated Justice Court annually. Although there have been notifications posted in the current location about the Court’s move on Feb. 2, it is anticipated some people will still show up at the old location. To help these lost find their way, Pima County will have signs around the iconic dome building and sandwich board notifications along key streets and avenues directing people to 240 N. Stone Ave.

The Pima County Public Service Center parking garage will not be completed until late March or early April, so persons visiting the Consolidated Justice Court will need to park in county parking garages on Alameda or Pennington streets, or at surface parking lots.

The move will allow all Justice Court services to be in the same location, something that hasn’t happened in 18 years, according to Douglas Kooi, court administrator. But space wasn’t the only reason for the move, he said.

“The original building was not designed with modern security, technology or access in mind,” Kooi said. “This new building lets us use the latest in audio and video technology and presentation equipment, and it is completely accessible to all members of the public. The old building was difficult to navigate, especially for persons with disabilities.”

The dome building will become the temporary home for Pima County’s senior administration and Board of Supervisors while the 10th and 11th floors of Administration.

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Talk on Love & Marriage on Feb. 3rd

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day 2015, a talk by my University of Arizona Distinguished Professor husband, on his research and historical perspectives. (We’ve also been happily married for 30 years, plus.) Enjoy learning about love, marriage, partnerships over time.

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik announces retirement

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Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik
Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik

35 year veteran Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik announced on the  Buckmaster radio show today that he will be resigning his office sometime this year. His successor will be appointed by the Pima County Bd. of Supervisors, and the Sheriff recommended that his replacement be his Chief Deputy Chris Nanos.   Dupnik would have been up for re-election in 2016 for his 9th term.

More about the Sheriff at their Pima County Sheriff’s Deparment’s website:

A veteran of over 50 years in local law enforcement, Clarence W. Dupnik has served as the Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, since his appointment in February 1980. County voters have re-elected him nine times. As Sheriff, he oversees a department of 1,513 employees and a $135 million budget.

 Since Sheriff Dupnik has been in office, the population of the unincorporated area of Pima County has increased from 191,216 in 1980 to more than 350,000. The Sheriff is known nationally for his implementation of innovative and effective law enforcement programs throughout his distinguished career. Sheriff Dupnik remains active in many professional, civic, and fraternal organizations, including the National Sheriffs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police

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