Local Republican club schedules Rep. Paton

Green Valley News

State Rep. Jonathan Paton, who won renomination to the Arizona House while serving in the military in Iraq, will be the next speaker for the Santa Cruz Valley Republican women.

Paton is scheduled to appear at noon Monday at Esplendor Resort in Rio Rico.

Paton, who represents District No. 30, volunteered and served in Iraq from September 2006 until February 2007. While he was out of the country state Sen. Tim Bee, who was unopposed in the primary, campaigned for Paton.

Paton is a first lieutenant in the Army Reserves. Among his specialities are languages and he has served as an intelligence officer.

The Santa Cruz Valley Republican Women said the meeting is open to the public. For reservations for the luncheon meeting, call 398-2192.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749

Tohono O’odham festival planned for weekend

The Tohono O’odham nation will hold a four-day conference starting this week that includes a basketry and traditional foods marketplace Saturday and Sunday.

The event will be in the Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center and Museum at Sells, the tribe’s national capital.

Sells is about 70 miles west of Green Valley on State Route No. 86. It’s on the west side of the Baboquivari Mountain range that’s visible from Green Valley.

An announcement said there will be baskets of all different styes from native weavers and cooking demonstrations by chefs including Loretta Oden, host of PBS’ “Seasoned With Spirit, A Native Chef’s Journey;” John Sharpe, owner and executive chef of the Turquoise Room at La Posada; Fernando Divina, author of “Foods of America,” and chefs from Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.

The announcement also said “There will be performances by traditional dance groups and traditional food demonstrations including Yurok salmon roasting and piki break making.”

The new $15.2 million cultural center and museum is an 38,000-square-foot structure.

Nativity display greets the season

More than 200 Nativity related items will be on display Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, 555 S. La Canada.

The event, free and open to the public, will feature collections on loan from church members including Nativity sets, music boxes, snow globes, paintings, Christmas plates, wall hangings, angels and more.

Many items are family heirlooms while others are unique pieces recently acquired from various parts of the world.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740

Christmas shoes distributed at Tubac Saturday, Dec. 8

The Tubac Rotary Club plans to distribute about 5,000 pairs of shoes and socks to Santa Cruz Valley people in need Saturday, Dec. 8.

It’s called Operation Bootstrap.

Rotarians are busy helping pass out tickets to those who will get the free shoes in the all-day event at the Tubac Community Center, the old elementary school north of town.

Martha and Bud Eckert are the people behind the shoe giveaway. He was in the shoe business before he retired here from California. There they had conducted similar programs for more than 20 years.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 520-547-9749