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Joybus Diner

Originally posted on Nextdoor June 8th, 2021

I saw this article on AZ Family today and thought I would share in case anyone wanted to help one of our local businesses. I admire the work they do for many in our community and it sounds like they need support. Looking forward to when they reopen in August! Phoenix chef struggles to reopen diner serving meals to cancer patients : https://www.azfamily.com/news/digital_features/phoenix-chef-struggles-to-reopen-diner-serving-meals-to-cancer-patients/article_d5124422-c946-11eb-94fa-ebf784bb105a.html
Click to View/Reply on Nextdoor

Maricopa County COVID-19 Community Impact Survey

I am sharing this message from Maricopa County Department of Public Health with you, regarding a COVID Community Impact Survey:

Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is seeking to understand how the pandemic has impacted residents and how to support the community in a post-COVID environment. As a valued partner in this effort, we would appreciate your help in this important endeavor.

We have launched the COVID-19 Community Impact Survey [survey.alchemer.com]. The Survey will help guide future community health improvement planning and funding efforts over the next two years to assist in the recovery of COVID-19. Grants will be awarded throughout Maricopa County to local governments and community-based organizations to support our communities and address priority areas. 

MCDPH’s goal is every person 12 years and older will take and share this survey. We hope you can share it with residents in your community and among your community networks, including among your elected officials, staff, and community partners. MCDPH has identified a base goal of 250 residents per city/town to fully complete the survey. With a 250 survey completion rate and higher in each municipality, MCDPH can create a strong community profile.

In return, we are committed to sharing the information learned with you for mutual benefit and collective action. You can help by:

  • Taking the Maricopa County COVID-19 Community Impact Survey. Click here [survey.alchemer.com] to take the survey, which is available in more than 12 languages!
  • Sharing the survey. Please feel free to use this email and messaging to share the survey with your employees and networks.
  • You can download social media graphics and printables using our Communication Toolkit [dropbox.com].
  • The survey is open to anyone age 12 years and up in Maricopa County—staff, friends, family, community members, professional networks.
  • The broader the survey is spread, the more representative the data will be. The survey will be open through June 30, 2021.

You can find all of this information and learn more about our community health improvement planning efforts at MaricopaHealthMatters.org [maricopa.gov] and see our data dashboard, which also has previous community health needs assessment survey information you may find useful. Please feel free to reach out to hipmc@maricopa.gov with any questions.

Draft Climate Action Plan Now Available for Public Comments

The Phoenix Draft Climate Action Plan is now posted on the Office of Environmental Program’s website. There is also a link to a survey to share your ideas and priorities for reducing the impacts of climate change in your community. The Draft will be available for public comment through July 16, 2021. View the Draft Climate Action Plan

Those recommendations can be submitted through the online survey or by emailing climate@phoenix.gov
Upcoming Virtual Workshops
Join the city of Phoenix and provide your input on addressing climate change. Share your concerns, needs, and ideas to co-create solutions. Your collaboration is needed to help the city determine priorities, needs, and opportunities to address climate change.​All members of the public are welcome to attend and participate in any of the workshops. View workshop details and register online.

June 26, 2021
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
The Air We Breathe: Climate Equity in Phoenix
cohosted with Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia, ​Councilmem​​ber Yassamin Ansari​​, Chispa Arizona, ​and the American Lung Association​

June 26, 2021
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Youth Climate
cohosted with Youth Climate Strike and Sunrise Tempe

June 29, 2021 
5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Your Community and Climate​​​​​​

Street Toppers: Art ideas needed for Mountain Preserve sign toppers!

Congratulations to Mountain Estates Block Watch and Paradise Gardens Block Watch on their new sign toppers. Mountain Preserve Block Watch has been approved for a grant from the City of Phoenix to acquire street toppers as well.

Thank you to all of neighbors that sent in their ideas in words.  What I am really looking for is more specific ideas including a drawing or clip art of your idea.  When providing the art, please also give your thoughts on the color of the sign.  I received an overwhelming vote to make the sign a color in lieu of white so it stands out and is differentiated from the actual street signs.

These two pieces were done by an artist in our neighborhood, Marsha Lazar:

Click to Read Article about Marsha LAZAR Klinger

Here are some samples of clip art I found online…  Imagine you are driving along 32nd Street, how far away do you have to be before you realize what the art is on the sign. 

Once we have gathered some solid ideas, then we can send them for a vote.

Phoenix artist brings Arizona wonders to life in her studio

I meet so many interesting people in my travels around Arizona that I’ve come to expect it. But I never would’ve expected to meet an award-winning artist at the trailhead in my own neighborhood.

As I was wrapping up a wonderful 6-mile hike in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, I exchanged pleasantries with Marsha LAZAR Klinger who was finishing her hike at the same time. We agreed on what perfect weather we were having and how beautiful it was that day. She mentioned she had sketched a few images while on her hike and I asked to see them.

I often find it challenging to capture with a camera the real beauty of the sights I see out on the trail, so I was amazed at what she had been able to portray with a pencil and a small pad. We chatted for a few blocks as we walked toward our homes. That’s when I found out that Marsha is quite an accomplished artist.

Below are some of Marsha’s creations. She paints in her home studio and displays her work on Instragram @marsha.lazar and at galleries in the greater Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

Artwork by Marsha LAZAR Klinger:

"Sunrise over Four Peaks" oil on canvas
Sunrise over Four Peaks oil on canvas. Painted in the parking lot of Scottsdale Community College. SOLD
painting of Red Yuccas
"Old Bones II" painting represents the "Boulders" area in Cave Creek, AZ.
"Screamin' Scarlett" a watercolor of a Prickly Pear in bloom.
"Sunset Duo" oil on canvas
"Colorful Cacti" Color Pencil

Just a few weeks prior to my meeting Marsha, her piece Blue War Horse had been awarded top prize by the Scottsdale Artists League. It was inspired by one of the wild horses she observed near Arizona’s Salt River.

I found out that Marsha’s recent affinity for horses began long before moving to Phoenix. She was an avid fox hunter when she lived near Cincinnati and belonged to two hunt clubs.

Horse artwork by Marsha Lazar Klinger

(Click any image for larger view)

"Blue War Horse" color pencil
Marsha’s Blue War Horse, created with color pencil, earned a blue ribbon (first place) from the Scottsdale Artists League.
"War Horse" color pencil
War Horse created with color pencil
"Red Eye" color pencil
Red Eye created with color pencil

Here’s how Marsha described her love for horses:

One must have a trusty horse out in the field because the dangers are everywhere if you and your horse don’t take care of each other. You and your horse must be fit and daring because you gallop over uneven ground and climb hills and must be able to jump over anything that hinders your progress to follow the field.

There are times when you and your horse are being quiet and enjoying the woods or fields. Being so close to nature on the back of your best friend is spiritually moving at times. You feel so close to God, Earth and Nature. My mind’s eye have many times out in the field when the beauty was overwhelming. My hunter (horse) grew old and spent his golden years out to pasture and lived a rich full life. I also grew older and was fighting a health issue which brought me to the “First Heaven”, Arizona. My illness is cured thanks to Mayo Clinic.

Nothing is dearer to a horseman than to see horses running free and taking a drink or two at the banks of the Salt River. So I basically joined the horses with the Indians who lived here before by painting Indian War Horses and Buffalo Horses. The symbols painted on the War Horse represents different things such as strength, aiding their speed, or senses and the many battles and wounds inflected during their battles.

Marsha LAZAR Klinger with her color pencil art "Blue War Horse"
Marsha LAZAR Klinger with “Blue War Horse” awarded 1st place by the Scottsdale Artists League

About Marsha LAZAR Klinger:

  • Multi-faceted artist who enjoys working with oils, watercolor and pencil
  • Studied Studio Arts at Kent State University and has studied under artists as Daniel Greene, Carl Samson and Shamah Lee Prince
  • She has won many awards and has her art in both private and public collections.
  • Was a member of the Cincinnati Women’s Art Club and is currently a member of Scottsdale Artists League
  • Has resided in the Scottsdale/ Phoenix area for 10 years

Although Marsha no longer rides horses regularly, you can find her hiking in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and sitting on rocks sketching the landscape or cacti.

“Phoenix artist brings Arizona wonders to life in her studio” AZ Wonders, February 25th, 2018. https://azwonders.com/2018/02/25/phoenix-artist-brings-arizona-wonders-to-life-in-her-studio/