Ward 2 Council Member Paul Cunningham

I made a trip down to the airport Friday morning to hand out gift cards to help TSA employees buy gasoline and necessities. Buried in the news about the government re-opening was the fact that employees for many agencies, including the TSA, still have to wait a couple of weeks for their next check.

People from across the community, from labor unions to churches, did some great work to support federal employees during the shutdown. After hearing about the TSA workers, I called Charles Sparks, who runs our local TSA, and asked how I could help out.

Soon, I’ll be making my appointment to the citizen’s committee that will be overseeing spending on the bonds that you and your neighbors passed in November. Those of you that paid close attention to the 409 bonds that were passed five years ago may see something a little different with the parks bonds.

In the road bonds, we had a list of specific projects along major streets, but there was also a part of the money set aside for neighborhood projects. That gave the citizen’s committee some leeway to address needs in individual neighborhoods that were brought to them.

From our friends at Davis-Monthan AFB:

The US Navy will deploy 14 F/A-18 Fighter aircraft to Davis Monthan from January 22 to February 8, 2019. The Navy F/A 18s will provide a significant joint training opportunity for DM’s own 354th Fighter Squadron. Joint integration among multiple aircraft is what makes the US military the most capable fighting force on the planet. The Navy F/A-18 deployment to DM will afford both squadrons the training to be better prepared for high-intensity conflict.

Sun Tran is once again partnering with HSL Properties and KGUN 9 News for the “Stuff-the-Bus” food drive, benefiting the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. The food drive will help restock items at the food bank that many families still rely on following the holidays.

You can help "Stuff-the-Bus" Friday, January 18, from 6 am to 6 pm at Dorado Golf Course, 6601 E Speedway Blvd (between Wilmot and Kolb). It's along Route 4 for those of you that want to ride the bus.

Here in my newsletter, I try to keep you all up to date on Saguaro National Park. Tucson has a rare and wonderful thing: a national park only minutes away from our city limits. Very few cities our size can say that.

It’s time for Tucson’s annual Senior Olympic Festival. It’s the 35^th year that Tucson Parks and Recreation has put this festival to promote fitness, health, and an active lifestyle among adults 50 years of age and older.

This year’s “headquarters” for the festival will be Udall Park, which will also be hosting the opening ceremony at the amphitheater.

I’m keeping this week’s newsletter short given our holiday schedule. Still, I’d like to give a shout out to the firefighters at Tucson Fire’s Station 9, which serves the area around Craycroft and 22^nd Street.

Some of you may have caught the story on KGUN over the weekend. 96 year-old Clarence Ellquist fell off a ladder while doing work in his yard. Firefighters responded and he was treated for a concussion and a nasty cut.