By Ayse Guner
Grandparents who take care of their grandchildren or relatives who take care of a family member's child can speak out about the issues they face during a town hall meeting this month
At this "everybody's voice counts" meeting, attendees will also be allowed to learn about Pima County's kinship support center for children. Although the facility does not exist yet, the Arizona's Children Association plans to build a center where relatives, grandparents and the children they care for can receive a variety of services. The facility should be built within a year.
These services include legal, education, behavioral, health referrals, transportation, health assessments and afterschool and Saturday programs.
About 8,400 people in Pima County take care of a relative's child, according to Arizona's Children Association.
Legislators, county supervisors, city council and other government representatives will be present to listen to issues and answer questions.
Translation services will be available for non-English speakers.
Fred Chaffee, executive director of Arizona's Children Association,
will give a preliminary speech.
The event begins at 6 p.m. on June 13 at El Rio Neighborhood Center,
1390 W. Speedway Blvd.
For further more information, call 622-7611.
Eighth annual memorial for John Valenzuela
The John Valenzuela Youth Center holds a memorial day for Officer John Valenzuela, who was killed in 1993 during a South Tucson shooting. Valenzuela was a resource officer at Ochoa Elementary School, which is located next to the center. The center was named after Valenzuela because of his interaction with children and his services to the community. The event, expected to attract about 200 people, will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 12 at the center, 1550 S. Sixth Ave. Within the first hour of the event, there will be a Mass in his honor. For further information, please call 792-9251.
The May fiesta
Mission View Elementary School will hold a day-long carnival for students and their families. The event begins at 1 p.m. on May 11 at Mission View, 2600 S. Eighth Ave. The tickets are 25 cents each at the door or, five tickets for $1 if purchased in advance. Donations: Please call 617-6390. Volunteers are needed to help with carnival prizes, games, sodas and hot dogs.
Home restorations
Southminster Presbyterian Youth College from St. Louis, Mo., will be lending a hand to the community of South Tucson from May 20 to May 26. House of Neighborly Service will provide home restoration projects for two South Tucson families. To donate, call 623-0100.
Youth participation for landscaping
Participants will team up with Primavera Builders to landscape
new homes in South Tucson between May 4 and May 6.
For further information, call 623-0100.