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).

The Migration Project

November 11, 2014 by Carolyn Classen

THE MIGRATION PROJECT, a theatrical docudrama exploring human migration and our efforts to claim home, opens November 14^th in a collaborative workshop production with ZUZI! Dance Company. (press release)

Playwright Eugenia Woods utilized input from refugee, immigrant and indigenous communities to shape this theatrical work. The play weaves together stories of 5 central characters from Mexico, The Hopi Nation, China, Zimbabwe, and one composite character representing the voices of refugee women from Iraq, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Blending actual interview material with dramatic writing, Woods’ play examines what compels these characters to leave home, what they are forced to leave behind, and how they attempt to create a new home in a foreign land.

Kilauea volcano ignites first home in Pahoa, Hawaii (photos) – updated

November 11, 2014November 10, 2014 by Carolyn Classen

The lava flow from Pu’u O’o vent of the Kilauea volcano from the Hawaii Volcanoes National park crossed Apa’a Street near the town of Pahoa on Saturday October 25. Moving about 250 yards/day it then covered a Buddhist cemetery, and about noon today ignited the first home in its path, moving in a NE direction towards the town and the Pacific Ocean. The residents of this home evacuated before the lava approached, upon orders from the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency. This home is near Apa’a Street and the Pahoa Transfer Station (which has been closed). Apparently the owners of this home already relocated to another part of the island, so the house has been vacant for a while. The front of the flow is about 480 feet from Pahoa Village Road, and has been installed in that area for over a week.

House with red roof is in the background as the lava burns the roadway.

Photos courtesy of journalist Melika Lincoln, of Hawaii News Now, who is covering this eruption. More photos and links to videos following —

25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

November 10, 2014 by Carolyn Classen

The concrete wall (with barbed wire & guard towers) separating East and West Germany (and East and West Berlin) opened on Nov. 9, 1989. Join in these campus week 25 years of reunification events, sponsored by the UA Dept. of German Studies:

Wednesday, Nov. 12th at 5:00 p.m., Poetry Center (and reception):

“Die Mauer and Memory: Looking back at the Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall” (Susan Crane, Department of History)

Thursday, Nov. 13th at 7:30 p.m., ILC (Integrated Learning Center) 130:

“Der Tunnel / The Tunnel,” directed by Sise Richter (2001) Movie Showing with snacks and drinks provided

Friday, Nov. 14th at 2:00 p.m., EDU (Education) 211:

Panel Discussion: “The 25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall”

Helga Walsh, Wake Forest University

Crister Garrett, University of Leipzig

Craig Whitney, Former Assistant Managing Editor and Foreign Correspondent, The New York Times

Moderated by Paulette Kurzer, SGPP

TUSD Governing Bd. race still close for 2nd seat – updated

November 14, 2014November 8, 2014 by Carolyn Classen

On election night November 4, 2014 in the TUSD Governing Board race incumbent Michael Hicks was losing by 435 votes, but as of yesterday November 7 at 5:18 p.m. he is only winning by 351 votes (27,413 to 27,062) over newcomer Jen Darland. Stay tuned as the Pima County Elections Division continues to count provisional … Read more

Enjoy koi at 35th Annual Koi Show

November 7, 2014 by Carolyn Classen

Did you know that koi can live to over 200 years old? They will outlast us humans in their beauty and tranquility. Check out the lovely koi pond as well at the new Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org, open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.