Arizona lawmaker also to meet with Tucson firefighters, gem show organizers and Sahuarita Town Council
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will read about the Declaration of Independence to about 300 elementary school students on Monday as part of “Love of Reading Week.
Giffords will spend about an hour at Coyote Ridge Elementary School in Marana, where she will read to an assembly of fourth, fifth and sixth graders. She will read excerpts from a National Geographic book, “The Declaration of Independence,” by Judith Lloyd Yero.
Joining the Arizona lawmaker at the school will be Mayor Ed Honea, who also will read to the students.
Later Monday, Giffords will travel to Sahuarita to attend a meeting of the Town Council. While there, the congresswoman will present a flag that has flown over the Capitol to Mayor Lynne Skelton and council members.
While in Sahuarita, Giffords will meet with residents of Sonora at Rancho Sahuarita. She also will present the community homeowner’s association with a flag that has flown over the Capitol.
On Sunday, Giffords will be in downtown Tucson for two, back-to-back events: meetings with organizers of the gem show and firefighters at the city’s newest fire station.
The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is one of the city’s signature events, attracting more than 50,000 visitors from around the world and generating millions of dollars in revenue. Giffords will be briefed on this year’s show by officials from the American Gem and Trade Association, as well as representatives from the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The meeting with fire fighters will take place at Fire Central, the new headquarters of the Tucson Fire Department and home of Fire Station No. 1. Located in the historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood, the 67,000-square-foot building opened last year and is recognized as a significant example environmentally responsible design.
While at Fire Central, Giffords also will meet with Chief Patrick Kelly and Paul Mickelberg of WSM Architects, the Tucson firm that designed the structure.
Media is welcome at Sunday’s and Monday’s events. Details are below.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords tours the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase
WHEN: 1:30-2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7
WHERE: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords tours Fire Central
WHEN: 3-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7
WHERE: 300 South Fire Central Place (south of the convention center, near Cushing Street and Grenada Avenue)
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords reads to students at Coyote Ridge Elementary School
WHEN: 9:15-10:15 a.m., Monday, Feb. 8
WHERE: 8000 N. Silverbell, Marana
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords attends Sahuarita Town Council meeting
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8
WHERE: Sahuarita City Hall, 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords meets with residents of Sonora at Rancho Sahuarita
WHEN: 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8
WHERE: 600 West Camino Rancheria, Sahuarita