Garden District
Neighborhood Association
Grant to Speedway,
Swan to Alvernon
Tucson Police Department

NON - EMERGENCY POLICE
520-791-4444  NOT for crimes in progress.

FRONT DESK AT HARDESTY POLICE STATION 791-4253 8 to 5 pm M - Th Mask required.


LEAD POLICE OFFICERS:
Ofc. Scott Wakefield
520-589-8822

Ofc. Cory Atkinson  
520-306-6430

TPD CSO Renet Martin Neighborhood Watch, share video/photos of criminals, report suspicious activity or on-going crime concerns

HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM 520.837.7425
tpdhot@tucsonaz.gov






CONTACT GARDEN DISTRICT NA




REPORT CODE VIOLATIONS, ROAD HAZARDS, GRAFFITI, ETC. 792-CITY (2489)


TUSD SECURITY TO OPEN PARK AT WRIGHT SCHOOL IF IT IS LOCKED 520-584-7676
RECYCLING THIS WEEK!
NO GRABAGE OR RECYCLING PICK UP MOVED TO TUESDAY THIS WEEK DUE TO PRESIDENTS' DAY
The Presidents Day holiday will be observed on Monday, February 21st. All City of Tucson residential and commercial customers will have their trash and recycling collection delayed by one day.
MORE ROAD CONSTRUCTION! GRANT RD VENICE PLACE TO WILMOT
PROP 101 TUCSON DELIVERS BETTER STREETS 
REPAVING PROJECTS    
GRANT ROAD - VENICE PLACE (JUST WEST OF SWAN) TO WILMOT ROAD
WILMOT ROAD - GRANT ROAD TO PIMA STREET
 
Two roadway improvement projects are scheduled to begin as part of the voter-approved Proposition 101 Tucson Delivers Better Streets Program.
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, Sunland Asphalt, under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility, is scheduled to begin roadway improvements on Grant Road from Venice Place (just west of Swan Road) to Wilmot Road. This work does not include the intersection of Grant Road and Craycroft Road. Crews will begin conducting concrete work, including the installation of ADA compliant ramps and the lowering of manhole covers and water valve covers throughout the project limits. This work will take place Monday through Friday from about 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
During the week of February 28, crews will begin milling (removing) the old asphalt and repaving within these project limits. During the working hours, Grant Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction. This work will take place overnight, Sunday through Friday from about 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. This project is scheduled to be complete by the end of March.
On Thursday, February 24, crews are scheduled to begin work on Wilmot Road between Grant Road and Pima Street, this work includes the installation of ADA compliant ramps and the lowering of manhole covers and water valve covers throughout the project limits. During the week of February 28, crews will begin the reconstruction of Wilmot Road by milling, prepping the subgrade, and repaving with new asphalt. During this work, Wilmot Road will maintain one travel lane in each direction. This work is scheduled to be complete by the end of March.
The schedules are subject to change due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances. Electronic message boards are in place to alert motorists of this upcoming work.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION LOCATIONS NEAR US
TRAFFIC ALERT: PROPOSITION 101 'TUCSON DELIVERS BETTER STREETS' REPAVING PROJECTS - Roadway repaving projects are scheduled to begin this month as part of the voter-approved Proposition 101 "Tucson Delivers Better Streets" program.

  • Fort Lowell Road - Country Club Road to Alvernon Way (Wednesday, February 9) During this work, Fort Lowell Road will maintain one travel lane in each direction. This project is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of March
  • Glenn Street – Alvernon Way to Swan Road (Thursday, February 10) Glenn will close to one travel lane, and a pilot vehicle will escort vehicles through the work zone. This project is also scheduled to be completed by the beginning of March.
  • Wilmot Road - Grant Road to Pima Street (Tuesday, February 15)
  • Grant Road - Venice Place to Beverly Avenue  (Wednesday, February 16)
  • Grant Road - Craycroft Road to Wilmot Road (Wednesday, February 16)

Tucson Delivers Better Streets is a $100 million improvement program made possible by Tucson voters who approved a half-cent sales tax increase in May 2017. 
TRAFFIC DIVERTING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
A number of residents have commented recently about the increase in cut through traffic due to construction work on Alvernon, Grant, and Columbus, with Pima thrown in occasionally. Construction signs have not been being placed to direct traffic not to travel our residential streets. In November, Bob Roggenthen, City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility Project Manager, assured the neighborhoods bordering Grant and Alvernon that any time traffic was reduced to one lane, signage would be placed at the entrances to the nearby residential streets. This has not been happening recently.

Garden District is in for a very, very long, disruptive, frustrating haul with road re-paving, water main repairs, re-location of utilities and then, beginning in June, the actual RTA construction to widen Grant Rd. Bob Roggenthen said that Grant will look like Broadway for probably two to two and a half years. TEP, Tucson Water, and SW Gas are currently in our neighborhood, and there are numerous other contractors for cable companies who will also be working in our neighborhoods in the next few months.

If you have significant concerns about cut through traffic, unsafe egress and ingress to our neighborhood, lack of directional signage, etc., please contact:

Bob Roggenthen Project Manager, City of Tucson
Department of transportation and mobility
520-349-3963

You can also copy our Ward VI aide, Dora Maldonado, and let the Ward know about your concerns.
ELECTRICITY ON SOUTH SIDE GRANT, EAST OF ALVERNON WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR 8 HOURS FEB. 20
TEP informed the VASA gym at Grant an Alvernon that electricity will be shut off from 10 pm to 6 am on Feb. 20. TEP should have informed you if your home was going to be impacted.
CYCLOVIA RETURNS NEXT MONTH MARCH 27
CYCLOVIA RETURNS NEXT MONTH - After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Cyclovia Tucson is returning on Sunday, March 27, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Five miles of car-free city streets will be open to people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, roll, or skate and enjoy neighborhoods, participate in free activities, support local businesses, and connect with one another. Enjoy some of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods as you make your way between seven different activity hubs, parks, schools, and South 4th Avenue’s restaurant row. Dig in the dirt at Drachman Montessori’s eco-themed hub, get down with Zumba while you watch BMX bikers soar through the air, bounce your worries away at Ochoa Community School hub, and pick up dog treats all along the route. Volunteer opportunities are also available. Cyclovia Tucson is a program of Living Streets Alliance, in partnership with numerous sponsors. Learn more about the event by following the Cyclovia link below.
FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS EARNING UP TO $73,000 ANNUALLY
Free, quality tax preparation from IRS-certified preparers
to individuals and families earning up to $73,000 annually.

With tax season getting underway, Pima County and the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona are bringing back Valet VITA, (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) a tax-preparation program available to families with a household income of $73,000 or less.


Valet VITA for the first time will also offer DO-IT-YOURSELF CLASSES for those who want to learn how to prepare their own taxes or don’t qualify for the free tax preparation.  The new DIY classes will be held at the Kino Service Center, 2797 E. Ajo Way, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, March 2 and March 15.

*In-Person and Valet Drop Off VITA COVID-19 Protocols: All in-person and Valet VITA Tax Preparers will be fully vaccinated, including boosters and will be masked. All taxpayers must show proof of vaccination and be masked at all times during any in-person meeting. If taxpayer can't show proof of vaccination, we encourage them to use our free online service at www.getyourrefund.org/en *see full statement below

Pima County Mobile Valet DROP OFF VITA Sites & Dates
Valet VITA lets you, the taxpayer, drop off your documents to a certified IRS Tax Preparer who will scan and upload and prepare your tax documents. In one to two weeks, you can pick up your return or have it securely emailed to you for filing. *Appointment required, no walk-ins accepted*
Please ensure you have all required documents shown below or you cannot be assisted.
Space is limited, we want to make sure everyone who needs an appointment is able to make one. Please choose your appointment time carefully.
If you sign up for more than one appointment, all of your appointments will be cancelled and you'll need to reschedule.
Valet VITA will be available for a total of 12 days over six weeks at three County facilities. Dates and locations include:
  • Feb. 15-16 and Feb. 22-23: Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Road, Room 318;
  • March 1-2 and March 8-9: Kino Service Center, 2797 E. Ajo Way; and
  • March 15-16 and March 22-23: Rio Nuevo Service Center, 340 N. Commerce Park Loop in the Tortolita Building
Services hours at all three sites will be Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Space is limited, we want to make sure everyone who needs an appointment is able to make one. Please choose your appointment time carefully.
If you sign up for more than one appointment, all of your appointments will be cancelled and you'll need to reschedule.

City of Tucson - Ward III
1510 E. Grant Rd. 85719
Available by appointment only. 
El Pueblo Neighborhood Center
101 W. Irvington Rd. 85714
Available by appointment only.
Goodwill Job Connection
1703 W. Valencia Rd. 85746 
Available by appointment only. 
Interfaith Community Services
2820 W. Ina Rd. 85741
Available by appointment only. Appointment scheduler coming soon.
Literacy Connects
200 E. Yavapai Rd. 85705
Available by appointment only. 
Pima Community College 29th Street Campus
4355 E. Calle Aurora Rd. 85711
Available by appointment only. Appointment scheduler coming soon.
Quincie Douglas Community Center
1575 E. 36th st. 85713
Available by appointment only. 
LOOKING AHEAD - MARK YOUR CALENDARS PLANT SWAP/GIVE AWAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE YARD SALE
SAVE THE DATE:

PLANT SWAP/GIVE AWAY
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2022
9 to 10:30
WRIGHT SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
 
NO PLANTS???  
NO PROBLEM.
STILL COME TO THE PLANT SWAP!
THERE WILL BE PLENTY TO SHARE. 

SEEKING DONATIONS OF POTS - seeking donations of used or new pots for plants - clay or plastic. Will be painted and decorated and available at the plant swap for a donation to the neighborhood. Leave pot donations on the front porch of 3973 E Desmond (between Village and Alvernon.)
NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE YARD SALE
Saturday, April 9

NEIGHBORHOOD RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Create a map of Yard Sale locations with addresses and post on thegardendistrict.org.
  • Put a live link to the Yard Sale map on the neighborhood webpage.
  • Advertise the Multi Home Yard Sales and distribute the map - On Craigslist, the Ward VI Newsletter, Facebook, Next Door, the GDNA webpage and newsletter. We will ask neighborhoods adjacent to us to advertise, also.
  • There is no fee to residents for participating.
YARD SALE VENDORS:
  • Prepare for a sale and in LATE MARCH register your address with GDNA when there is a notice in the newsletter.
  • YOU are responsible for posting signs to direct buyers to your sale. Please remember to take the signs down afterwards. The neighborhood will not be posting any signs.
  • Advertise to your own friends and on your social media sites.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE TO DONATE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
COLORFUL SEED PACKETS: Some residents are building a new Little Free Library which will be placed near the entrance of the Community Garden in the NW Quadrant on Bell. They are seeking colorful unopened or opened with the picture intact vegetable or flower seed packets. They plan to decoupage the back inside of the library using seed packets.

They will empty any seeds out into a container and cut the directions on the back of the packet off to include with the seeds. These will be saved for the Plant Swap/Give Away. The fronts will be used for decoupaging.

If you have some old seed packets lying around, please leave inside the Little Free Library on the corner of Lester and Justin under the big mesquite tree.
BOOKS FOR THE NEW LITTLE FREE LIBRARY THAT WILL BE AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN - The library is moving along and almost ready to be painted and decorated. We are starting to collect books for its grand opening. We will be most in need of teen and children's fiction and non-fiction books, but adult fiction and non-fiction are also appreciated.please leave donations at the Little Free Library on the corner of Justin and Lester, 4102 E Lester. Leave donations on the front porch of the home.
NEW MESS MITT BOXES
Thank you to Mary on Desmond for making these wonderful "Mess Mitt" tubes out of PVC pipe. They will be stuffed with plastic bags for picking up dog poop and eventually placed one in each quadrant. Watch for them around the neighborhood.

Mess Mitt (AKA Poop Bags) dispensers are an effective and proven way to lower the amount of dog feces in yards and on the street. Dog waste that is not picked up is a quality of life and safety and health issue for us all. On our neighborhood webpage, there are other ideas for how to make dispensers for Mess Mitts. https://gdna.weebly.com/mess-mitt-boxes.html

SEEKING PLASTIC BAGS - ideally if there is a Mess Mitt dispenser near you, please keep an eye on it and refill with plastic bags as necessary. If you have extra bags, you can leave them at the Little Free Library at Justin and Lester. Plastic shopping bags, bread bags, the bags the newspaper comes in, etc. The lighter flimsy bags for veggies are not as useful for picking up dog waste sine they are so thin.
REOPENING PARKS PROGRAMS
FROM WARD 6 COUNCILMEMBER STEVE KOZAHCIK: Even before the Omicron numbers began to fall, we were getting the occasional email asking when parks programs would be reopening. To their credit, our parks leadership has taken a cautious approach. Now that we’re seeing good progress on the COVID front, we’re also in a position to begin the slow ramp-up to reopening some of our park's facilities.

Starting March 1st non-meal sites will resume their extended hours of operation, and all memberships will be re-activated. Activities for seniors will resume with small group sizes – examples include ballroom dance, and PCOA Healthy Living will have a 20 person maximum participation. That 20 person cap will also apply to gym activities.

On April 1st, the onsite congregate senior meal programs will resume. As of now, those sites will continue to have limited hours of operation. But it’ll be good to start getting people back into the same space again.

For now, these areas of our parks facilities will remain closed: 
  • Game Rooms
  • Lobby areas
  • Shower Facilities
  • Gymnasiums
  • no group rentals involving over 20 people, such as league or tournaments
  • drop in pickup games
  • Field trips
  • Indoor special events involving more than 20 people
  • Potlucks
  • Sundays closed
We’re getting there – together. And as long as the current COVID trend continues, some of the areas now closed will also soon be available.
WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT STUFF: QUEST TO DIVEST
THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION FROM THE ORACLE FOOTHILLS NEWSLETTER:
What to do With All That STUFF!
Do you sometimes feel like you are owned by all the STUFF you have accumulated in life? Or are you faced with emptying out the home your parents have lived in for 50 years? Maybe the thought of having a yard sale is overwhelming. You want to get rid of all those things in a responsible way and not just send good stuff to the landfill. So, what to do? Oracle Foothills Neighbor and writer, Marge Pellegrino, confronted this situation recently and writes about her creative solutions. This may give you some ideas!  Read about her Quest to Divest.

EARN A BIKE REPAIR CLINIC
March 14th-18th Monday-Friday 9am-12pm Enroll in our 5 sessions bicycle repair course and earn a bicycle, helmet, and lock to take home. All camps are sliding scale, scholarships available. Register at: www.bicas.org/camp 
2001 N 7th Ave, Tucson AZ 85705
GOT EXTRA FRUIT - FREE HARVESTING
Iskashitaa
Neighbors, Iskashitaa Refugee Network wants you to know that you can request a harvest of excess citrus by filling out the online form:
Or, volunteer to help: sign up to harvest Mondays or Fridays, 9-noon on their website.
REQUEST A FREE REPLACEMENT OF YOUR TRASH OR RECYCLING BIM
REQUEST A FREE REPLACEMENT TRASH OR RECYCLING BIN: Does not matter if it was stolen or is damaged- you can quickly and easily request a new trash or recycling can from Environmental Services at no charge.

Either use the Recycling Coach app or call ES Customer Service at 520-791-3171 or contact ES online.
DEEP WATER PINES AND OTHER TREES BEFORE SUMMER HEAT HITS
Overall, precipitation amounts were, not surprisingly, below-average for January just about everywhere in the state. The warm stretch in the middle of the month pushed temperatures to above-average for January for most of Arizona as well. Short-term drought conditions, which were continuing to improve due to the decent December precipitation have stalled out, with all of Arizona observing at least abnormally dry conditions and over half of the state still experiencing moderate or worse drought levels: Arizona drought monitor map

La Niña conditions also persist across the equatorial Pacific and are expected to impact Arizona’s weather through the spring. The latest 3-month precipitation outlook issued by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center indicates an increased chance of below-average precipitation for the February-April period.

SAVE YOUR TREES: Deep soak those old Aleppo Pines. Use a drip hose around...and around the outside canopy of the tree and let the water run overnight to make sure the deep roots get the necessary water. You should be able to push a water rod down 18"...36" is preferable. Watering them now will prepare and make them stronger to survive the long, hot summer ahead.
Thanks Fran Garcia, North Dodge newsletter editor

Our trees are a precious treasure and the most effective way to cool our homes and even our neighborhood and streets.
BY MARCH 6, TAKE SURVEY ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS AT MC CORMICK PARK ON COLUMBUS NEAR GDNA
McCormick Park is on Columbus between Glenn and Ft Lowell.
Survey
Take the survey below to provide feedback and help prioritize park improvements. The survey will close on Sunday, March 6, at 11:45 p.m.

On Nov. 6, 2018, the City of Tucson voters approved Proposition 407, a $225 million bond package for capital improvements via General Obligation bonds. Thank you! McCormick Park is budgeted for $86,106 in bond dollars for renovations and improvements.
McCormick Park is a 14.2-acre neighborhood park located at 2950 N. Columbus Blvd in ward 3. The park includes the Lighthouse YMCA, a pool, playground, ramadas, basketball court, walking paths, fitness stations, picnic tables, grills, benches, drinking fountains, a multipurpose field, and a restroom.  

There are future improvements slated at the park. Funds have been identified for irrigation improvements that will be coordinated with green stormwater infrastructure improvements that will allow more trees to be planted. This work will likely commence in early 2022. In the next 12-24 months, Parks and Recreation and UA Landscape Planning Studio will work to develop some concepts that may be useful for future improvements. Take the survey to help us plan and prioritize improvements. 
WARD VI NEWSLETTER FROM STEVE KOZACHIK
Read the Ward VI newsletter by clicking here:
Date: 02/14/2022
Topics in This Issue:
  • Poets Square
  • Municipal Zoning Preemption
  • Prop 101 Extension
  • Afghan Refugees
  • Omicron Surge
  • Oh, Deer
  • Flu Season
  • Becton Dickinson
  • Homeless Approaches
  • DanceSequences at Valley of the Moon
  • League of Women Voters
  • Parks Department Reopening
  • COVID Case Counts
  • Harvard Global Health Institute


Council Member Steve Kozachik
3202 E 1st Street
Tucson, AZ 85716
Ph: 520.791.4601
Ward VI Councilperson Steve Kozachik
FREE WATER HARVESTING CLASSES AND REBATE INFORMATION
Click here for information on $2.000 rebate from Tucson Water for active and passive rainwater harvesting. Also, click here for more info from Pima County.


SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED GARDEN DISTRICT
BE SURE TO LET THE BUSINESS KNOW YOU ARE FROM GARDEN DISTRICT AND
WHERE YOU READ ABOUT THEM!
Thank you to the following Garden District businesses for donating to our neighborhood identification signs. We appreciate their partnership and support of our neighborhood. When you visit these businesses, please be sure to tell them you are a Garden District resident and you read about them in our email newsletter.

The Garden District Dairy Queen coming summer, 2022 at Alvernon and Lee.
1725 N. Swan every day 10-5
letsplay@mildredanddildred.com
Free local delivery our neighborhood: orders $30 or more!
Voted "Best Toy Store" in Tucson Weekly 2021
520.326.9363
3719 E Speedway
Arizona's got the sun.
We've got the skill.
You get the power.
520-207-4053
2130 N Alvernon Way
(520) 303-3945
A Journey into the Spirit of Japan
3959 E. Mabel St.
520.477.9324
1225 N. Catalina Ave.
520-299-1582 TTY 711
Charming, quiet, garden-style "all studio" apartment community with pool
Servicing vehicles of all makes.
4373 E Speedway Blvd
(520)477-0582
Opening of new facility at 4585 E Speedway
expected Spring, 2022
Call Us: (520) 327-4505
Tellurian Eco Design: Stephen Monroe
(520) 342 9761
Designing With Nature: Rainwater, Greywater, and Stormwater Harvesting, Passive Solar Landscape Integration, Design+Build, Consultations
Qualify for up to $2000 with City Rebates
SIGN A NEIGHBOR UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER
Logo Garden District
Please forward and share this e-newsletter with neighbors. Communication and making connections with each other -- that is what will turn us from a collection of houses and apartments into a neighborhood, from strangers into neighbors. We only have a small portion of the neighborhood on this email list.  
 
To sign up, you can either reply to a newsletter or sign up on our neighborhood website. thegardendistrict.org  

YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY HITTING REPLY TO A NEWSLETTER OR GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEBSITE thegardendistrict.org Complete the Online Form.
GARDEN DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
DEPENDS ON YOUR GENEROSITY TO FUND NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS
Garden District Neighborhood Association does not charge dues and has no means other than fundraisers or your generous donations for raising funds for GDNA's many different projects in the neighborhood. We are a registered 501(C)3 for your tax deductible donations.  

Make checks payable to "Garden District" and mail to. 
GDNA
c/o Lois Pawlak
P.O. Box 32384 
Tucson, AZ 85751

When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases - at no cost to you.Designate “Garden District” in Tucson as your charity and support your favorite neighborhood!
Garden District Location: Tucson, AZ
Support Garden District at no extra cost when you shop at smile.amazon.com.
Garden District Neighborhood
Association Information
Logo Garden District

AGI (Alvernon/Grant Initiative) Crime Meeting with Tucson Police and  
Neighborhoods and Businesses surrounding Grant and Alvernon 
2nd Tuesday of EVERY month, 6:00PM 
Location and whether in person or Zoom will be announced in this newsletter.

Garden District Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meetings - Time and date will be announced in this newsletter.
President: Lois Pawlak 
Vice President:   Deborah Bicksler
Treasurer: Lisa Maher
Secretary and E-Newsletter:  Meg Johnson

QUADRANT LEADERS:
NW (PIma to Grant, Alvernon to Columbus) - Lois Pawlak 325-7611                      
NE (PIma to Grant, Swan to Columbus) - Juan (JP) Jorquera   981-3746 
SW (Pima to Speedway, Alvernon to Columbus) - Phyllis Montgomery 248-9915                  
SE (Pima to Speedway, Swan to Columbus) - Judy Ostermeyer 326-1517

YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY HITTING REPLY TO A NEWSLETTER OR GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEBSITE thegardendistrict.org AND COMPLETING THE ONLINE FORM.
"TAKE A BOOK. LEAVE A BOOK"
GARDEN DISTRICT'S LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES
Little Free Library NW 1 - Justin and Lester
Little Free Library NW 2 - North St. between Isabel and Marion
Little Free Library SW 1 - Bryant and Fairmount
Little Free Library SW 2 - 4044 E. Pima