Merry Christmas

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas. Dale and I are freezing up in Spokane but having a great time. Love to all.

Justin

Jerusalem Chanukkiyah

I promised Gene's mother I would post a picture of my Jerusalem Chanukkiyah. Enjoy

At the Einfrank's Festival of Lights...

...last night, we were all greeted by this heavenly display which set the tone perfectly for the beautiful evening of fellowship and latkes that ensued. We basked in the warmth of the Einfrank's hospitality and good cheer, which clearly arose from the heart and soul of Hanukkah.

This was a perfect way for our community to celebrate not only the season's joys, but also the joy and pleasure we can take, throughout the year, to be in each other's company. Among the many things we all have to be thankful for, that surely sits near the top.

So thank you, Gene and Melissa (et al.), for sharing such a special gift with your community—the pleasure of which, like all those latkes, will sustain us throughout the year.

Wearing the colors

Proudly wearing the neighborhood jerseys on El Tour.

Sick Sycamores Update

I spoke with some folks at Silverbelle Nursery and showed them a few leaves with insects. Their take was that the very hot, windy and dry summer has stressed everything, us included (well, you guys anyway). Even if the trees had ample water, their leaves would have looked bad. The stress then allows insects to take hold, like the mites our trees have, further stressing them. They suggest doing nothing now as the trees will go dormant (if it ever gets cool) and lose their leaves; but come spring, be vigilant about watering and watch for the critters and if they show, take action by spraying with soapy water followed by a rinse. Repeat as necessary. The ground's crew had found and fixed a drip valve that was hampering water delivery, so that should be less of an issue, but I think ancillary, deep hand watering, as it becomes hot and dry, will help them get established, finding their way down to more reliable water and so become much healthier trees.

Garden Treasury Report

Our wildly productive garden (wink/smile) has new membership. The Walz family has joined, bringing our treasury pot to $200. You can see the original roster on a May 16 posting.

The pot is draining, slowly.

• $50 on soil testing at Turner Labs
• $100 for compost from Arbico
• $13.22 to the Lunds for two months of water usage.
• And pending, the cost of Dave's magnificent plumbing job

If I've left any expenses out that need to be accounted for, please let me know via email.

VP

Dia de los Muertos

Our Dia de los Muertos was a killer community event. No one was harmed in the making of these photos. Moon over Tucson at our celebration.

We had beautiful shrines, beautiful food, beautiful people and a beautiful moon. This year didn't disappoint. I hope this grows over the years.

Thanks to all you Mercadoans who took part!

BLESSING OF PADRE KINO SHRINE @ MISSION GARDENS

Come and Join us for this Truly Special Ceremony! Blessing of Padre Kino Shrine Saturday, November 7, 2009 ~ 9:00 to 10:30 am At: 930 W. Mission Lane O’Odham Blessing by Chairman Austin Nunez San Xavier District, Tohono O’Odham Nation ♦ Jesuit Blessing by Fr. Chris Corbally, S.J. Vatican Observatory ♦ Welcoming Remarks by Vice Mayor Regina Romero City of Tucson, Council Member Ward One ♦ Story of First Shrine by Steve Leal City of Tucson, Council Member Ward Five ♦ Future of the Mission Garden by Diana Hadley Ethnohistorian at Arizona State Museum ♦ Sponsors : Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, Kino Heritage Society, Neighborhood Associations

Some more Halloween. Great costumes!

Halloween at the Mercado

I know Roger has more photos, of course! Fun evening.

The Walk Street

Tom Wuelpern just sent me this. I think we can all be excited by the beautiful next phase of Mercado District. Cheers to Tom.

Adopt-a-Park is now official!

Thanks to Mercado neighbors, Tucson is cleaner and more beautiful!

Hi All - Do we have any formal plans going for Halloween in the plaza? I know there was initial interest. If we want to plan something concrete, I can do a flier that we can provide to our guests, and it gives us an "in" for the new neighbors in the apartments to join the festivities. Thoughts?

One more reason why Mercado ROCKS!

Visitors to our Community Garden

Just this morning. They were actually EATING the pumpkins until I opened the gate to the field next door and HERDED them out. We call them "big mice" around here.

Celebration of Memory

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

November 2nd, 2009 at Mercado San Agustin

Please join us for a celebration, blessing and potluck dinner. It has been a tradition for us to hold a day of the dead celebration each year. This year we are doing it in the Mercado. All are welcome, it's a beautiful event. We build shrines in the afternoon, have a candle lighting and blessing at sunset and then a casual potluck dinner after. We hope you'll choose to participate.

SHRINE BUILDING 3pm to Sunset

CANDLE LIGHTING & BLESSING Sunset - 30 minutes

THE FEAST Following blessing

The most fun part of the day is the shrine building. We bring photos of our loved ones we've lost over the years and a few of the things that they enjoyed in their lives and create multiple shrines to celebrate their lives.

To participate in the shrine building, please contact Jose Duran.

email: godduran63@msn.com

To participate in the pot luck dinner, please contact Ann Vargas.

email: atvinc@live.com

If you have other questions, please contact Justin Dixon.

email: jjdixonaz@mac.com

We really hope to see you all there!

On location at the Mercado

Over the weekend, Roaman's Fashion Catalog used our charming plaza as a background for their photo shoot. The crew was very friendly and loved the location!

Cody has mentioned several time he wants to plant an apple tree. We have convinced him that a) he won't get to eat an apple before he goes off to college, and b) apple trees aren't the best choice for our Tucson climate. After Gene's suggestion, we have convinced Cody that a pomegranate tree is a good second option. Anyone opposed to us planting a pomegranate tree in some of the available garden space? I need to research best time of year to plant, but thought I would wait until we knew it was a go.

Hola, Neighbors! Rick and I were just chatting and decided that it would be really good to have a neighborhood directory. Many times, I look to call someone only to realize I have no way to do so. If you are interested in being included, please forward full names (don't need middle, although you are welcome to add them), phone numbers - please indicate what kind, and email addresses. I can log everything into one document and send it to you via email. Thanks! Send information to: azjones5@cox.net

MERCADO OPEN HOUSE AND PARTY

By a vote of 5-0 (commenters and the Halls) it appears that SUNDAY NOV 15 is the preferred date for the open house and party. Please mark your calendars. Hopefully our builders and Kiera will read this and the Mercado vendors will participate. We all need to make an effort to think of and invite people who we think might have a serious interest in joining our special neighborhood.

Since Gordon and Jane are not here should we make then in charge??!!

Phil

Garden Layout as of 9-23-09

Click on the drawing to enlarge. Feel free to water whenever the mood strikes. The veggies will appreciate the attention! More dirt coming--if you'd like to plant something, go for it!

Our Garden--a great way to grow sweet kids!

At the gathering of los sembradores at the community garden on Saturday, the idea of an open house was resurrected. Several Mercado Distritèras (Jane, Anne-Marie, etc.) had suggested a Fall Open House several months ago. The idea would be to open our houses to folks we each know who we think might have a serious interest in building in The Mercado and make a bit of a party out of it. (And we seem to know how to do that!) The idea being that at one time, people can see the different styles and configurations of homes within the neighborhood. Kiera mentioned that the vendors who will eventually occupy the Mercado might be persuaded to provide foods! At least the semradores thought it was still a good idea and that we should pick dates.

SO, in the interest of moving the notion along, I suggest the following dates: Sunday, Oct. 18 or Sunday, Nov. 15. All those who are interested post away to see if this is something we want to happen or if either of those dates work.

Phil

Dave's Determination Wins!!

Horseshoe stake removed by Dave and over 300 horses. Horseshoe pit displaced by garden, new location TBA.

Thank You!

Here's Dave painting the new pipe he and Neda installed today. Wish I'd caught Neda but I didn't grab the camera in time.... They're generously giving us access to water for the garden and all gardening families will be sharing in the additional cost on the Lund's water bill.

Community Garden Update

Thanks to Rick, Jennifer, Cody, Rog, Dave and Neda for their "above and beyond the call of duty" work yesterday in bringing even more b.s. into the Mercado :)

Thanks, too, to Gene and Dave for mixing it up with our native soil today and for boxing our home-made compost which seems much richer and is better smelling than the imported variety.

A garden treasury update: 10 households have contributed $20 each towards digging, planting, watering and harvesting. We've spent $40 on soil testing and $106 for compost/soil amendment. Neighbors who've not yet jumped in are invited to do so. The Pfeuffers are collecting the cash and recording/reporting the expenses.

The window for planting is slowly closing. The suggestion is that people may want to plant seeds seedlings in small pots to get them started and then plant them, maybe as early as next weekend, but not before we get more dirt to add to the amended soils.

Good eating is coming up!

Vera

The Community Garden - The Next Phase

I can't wait to see the pictures from today's activities. I have to say gathering the required ingredients for our garden might JUST be the most disgusting thing I have ever done. Don't stand down wind. :)

Friendly Cats of the Mercado

Prepping the Soil

The end of summer brought Gene and Roger out to sift the soil that will become the beginning of our fall garden. These hunks are busting chunks...of dirt. Can't wait to dig in it!

September Nature Calendar

Film Location Possibilities

Hi, Dale. Hi, Justin.

Not sure if you remember me, but I'm friends with Douglas Starkey who lives

to the north of you. I have often attended Mercado events with him and I've

seen you at some of Douglas' parties. I hope it's OK that he gave out your

e-mail addresses.

I am the Production Coordinator at the Tucson Film Office and I've been

pitching the Mercado District as a film location to a couple of different

fashion shoots over the last couple of weeks. I have already put the

Location Scout on these projects in touch with Tom Wuelpern but I was

thinking perhaps I should the Scout in touch with both of you as well, in

case Tom is unavailable or whatnot. Would that be OK, and if so, is there a

number at which you can be reached?

Likewise, if there are any other homeowners in the Mercado who you believe

wouldn't mind meeting with the Location Scout to see if their property would

work for these fashion shoots, please put them in touch with me. I really

appreciate your help in getting these film projects to shoot here!

Feel free to call or write back if you have questions about this e-mail, of

course.

Best Regards,

Peter Catalanotte

Production Coordinator

Tucson Film Office

Division of Metropolitan Tucson CVB

100 South Church Avenue | Tucson, AZ 85701

520.770.2151 | 520.629.0160 fax

www.filmtucson.com | www.visitTucson.org

MSA update

Timing at the MSA is looking more to toward Spring than Winter. We finally got our bank loan but frankly it was not good enough. We are continuing to work on another option for the loan. While I know it is sad to not be open as soon as possible the overall project will be so much better in the long run. We have been making revisions that will for sure please you all. I will share when we have a couple more things locked down. Take care if anyone has questions they can email me at Kira@gadsdencompany.com.

Cheers,

Graffiti at the MSA

Agh, this sucks so much. After paying a fortune to coat the Merdado San Agustín in "Graffiti Coat" the product failed us and the graffiti is not coming off. After many fights with the manufacture we are still in a battle over responsibility. But most likely we will have to replaster the entire West side of the building. Our policy is to remove it as soon as it happens but as you can tell we can't get it off.

Westside Stabilization Plan

This was sent to us by Mac Hudson.