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).

Cyclovia Tucson on April 6

by

Cyclovia2014

Bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, carts, strollers, walkers, hikers, segways, skateboards, skates, etc….all welcome at the annual car-free Cyclovia in downtown Tucson, along a 5 mile route to South Tucson.

Read more

Friday Night Live at Main Gate Square (April to August)

by

SAACAlogo.jpt

Friday Night Live! Concert Line-up Announced (press release)

Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance and Main Gate Square present a series of free, evening jazz concerts at the Geronimo Plaza, beginning April 4.
A jazz infusion has taken place each summer on University Boulevard for the past few years. This season stages the best pick of jazz performers in the region – from the Spanish guitar serenades of DeGrazia Band to the soulful vocals of Crystal Stark.

Presented by Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance at Main Gate Square, the free performances alternate Fridays at 7 p.m. Coupled with delicious food from nearby local restaurants, the evenings provide a great way to begin the weekend.

“People come to Geronimo Plaza and discover Main Gate is a great place in a lively atmosphere,” said Jane McCollum, Main Gate Square general manager.
Main Gate Square, between Park and Euclid Avenues on University Boulevard, features more than 20 retailers and 30 restaurants near the University of Arizona. Main Gate merchants validate parking for the Tyndall Garage Monday through Friday after 5 p.m. to midnight (all parking fees incurred prior to 5 p.m. are the customer’s responsibility).

Read more

Film review of clever & engrossing “her”

by

Her2013PosterI resisted seeing the new Spike Jonze film “her” because I guess I was leary of the concept: the sci-fi story of a lonely single guy played by Joaquin Phoenix falling for his computer system (with a woman’s voice of Scarlett Johansson).

It’s now playing at the Crossroads Festival Grand Cinema discount theatre (4811 E. Grant Rd. in Tucson), which is  sadly closing for good on April 20.

 

The film is an amazingly well done, powerful movie about loneliness and alienation, and yet tastefully portrays a lonely, about-to-be-divorced guy with no kids,

Read more

Pima Dems Respond to Recovery of JFK Bust

by

 

City of Tucson photo
City of Tucson photo

Back on December 17, 2013 I reported for Tucsoncitizen.com that the JFK bust on a 5 foot tall pedestal at El Presidio Park (just west of the Pima County Courthouse) was stolen.  Here’s an update on that bust which had been placed there in 1964 (after President Kennedy was assassinated) by the Pima County Democratic Party.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jason Ground, Communications Director

Date: March 31, 2013
Cell: 520.954.0715
Email: news@pimadems.org

Read more