MAYOR STANTON WRITES…
Serving the Community Since 2002
By Mayor Greg Stanton
14
11.17
Thanks to advancements in medical science, we are more well-equipped to stop HIV/AIDS than at any point in history. With drugs like PrEP or (Truvada), which actually prevent HIV transmission, an end to this global epidemic is within our grasp. What we still lack is the community awareness and education to circle the wagons around those in our community who don’t know their status either because of the stigma associated with the disease or the idea that it MAYOR can’t happen to them. When in 2015 Arizona ranked 15th City of Phoenix among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses, we 602.262.7111 knew we needed to do more. When local leaders came www.phoenix.gov to me and asked Phoenix to become a leader in a global initiative centered around increasing access to treatment and education, it was an easy decision. The Fast-Track Cities Initiative (FTCI) started December 2014 at the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) meeting in Paris. That was when mayors from more than 50 high-HIV-burden cities began closely working with affected communities, city health officials, clinical and service providers and other stakeholders. The result was the Paris Declaration to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Last fall, Phoenix fully committed to this effort when we formed the FastTrack Cities Ad Hoc Committee to coordinate efforts between state, county, city and nonprofit organizations. I am now proud to report that the City Council unanimously approved the committee’s plan just last month. FTCI is in full swing in Phoenix. To meet the 2030 challenge, the initiative calls for cities to achieve three goals by 2020, commonly knowns as “90-90-90”. See Mayor Stanton Writes, page 16
Phoenix Pizza Festival Returns For Third Year The Phoenix Pizza Festival is the first festival in Arizona dedicated to the best food ever: pizza! This event brings together great pizza makers and local businesses for an amazing day of cheesy awesomeness at Margaret T. Hance Park in Central Phoenix. The Third Annual Phoenix Pizza Festival takes place Saturday, November 18, 11am– 5pm, and will feature approximately 15 pizza vendors, dessert food trucks, craft beer stations, related food vendors and festival fun including lawn games, live bands and a kid’s craft zone. A portion of event proceeds benefit Downtown Phoenix Inc., (www.dtphx.org) an organization dedicated to the creation of a thriving downtown. This community development group promotes the revitalization of downtown by supporting events and local businesses. Admission to the Phoenix Pizza Festival is $10, purchased in advance; babies and toddlers are free. Tickets will not be available at the door. Pizza vendors will serve $2-$4 slices, half-pies or full pies. To purchase tickets, or for additional information, visit www.phoenix.pizza.
Get Ready For Urban Farm’s Annual Open House Greg Peterson
he Urban Farm announced the open house dates for the 18th annual Urban Farm Fruit Tree Education Program in the Valley. The two-day event takes place at The Urban Farm, located at 6750 North 13th Place in Phoenix, November 3 and 4 from 8:30–11:30am. Attendees will see full-grown fruit trees and learn which ones will work for their yard. Two guided “tours” will run at 8:45am and 10am each day, and guests can learn from Greg Peterson, owner of The Urban Farm, about fruit tree growing, management and pruning techniques. This education is meant to plant the seed of inspiration and get people confident and prepared for growing their own trees. “I have helped plant more than 30,000 fruit trees around the Valley, and I know we have thousands and thousands more to go,” says Peterson. Peterson will dig in to share planting and growing strategies and selecting fruit tree varieties for success. He pulls on 40 years of experience growing fruit trees in the desert and is committed to sharing strategies that appeal to the lazy gardener as well as the beginning farmers and orchardists. The Urban Farm is Peterson’s personal home that he uses as a tool to educate people on the best techniques for successfully growing fruit trees in the desert. Once people become familiar with the best fruit trees for their yard and lifestyle, The Urban Farm offers a selection of deciduous (apples, peaches, apricots, plums, figs, grapes and berries) and citrus trees, including lemons, limes, oranges and more. At the open house, guests will have an opportunity to place their preorders for “Urban Farm Approved” fruit trees, which thrive in this climate. The program offers special early bird and bundle pricing through November 4. For more information on The Urban Farm, visit www.urbanfarm.org or Facebook.com/theurbanfarm.