21st July 2010

Farewell, Tempe Town Lake

Last night, around 9.45pm, one of the rubber retaining dams that contains Tempe Town Lake catastrophically failed emptying the lake into the downstream Salt River. The lake, which opened in 1999, was created by damming up a two-mile stretch of the Salt River and filling it up with water.

Listen to the press conference held this morning:
style="position:absolute; left:0;top:0;"
CLASSID="CLSID:6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6"
type="application/x-oleobject">







Nick Bastian, the owner of the ever-popular RailLife.com, has some interesting pictures from today’s press conference that feature the now-drained Tempe Town Lake.

It’ll be interesting to see how the recovery takes place. We shall see!

-E

30th October 2009

Requiescat in pace, Paul Manz

Paul Manz (1919-2009)Organist and composer Paul Manz died Wednesday. As a musician who’s spent a little time behind the organ, I had the great privilege to play some of Mr. Manz’s works.

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Paul Manz was a church organist who took the liberty of being creative at the keyboard. He liked to introduce hymns that the congregation at Minneapolis’ Mount Olive Lutheran Church would sing with improvisations. Church members loved them, and word about his compositions eventually led to Manz playing at hymn festivals nationwide.

For 37 years, he led music at Mount Olive at 3045 Chicago Av. S., where his music will be played and prayer services will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to mourn and honor him. He died Wednesday in St. Paul following a long illness. He was 90. [source]

Now, he’s with the company of Bach, Handel, Buxtehude, Mozart, and the entire company of saints. He will be missed but his music lives on.

-Edward Jensen

13th August 2009

Kirsten’s 30 Days, 30 Adventures

Friend and colleague Kirsten Martin is embarking on a 30-day blog post series that chronicles a daily adventure in her life.

In her words:

I heard my friends recently talking about this project that they were doing where they were supposed to take a picture a day for 30 days and post it with a caption to share with their friends. I’ve decided to take on this project and start my own 30 day adventure.

Good luck, Kirsten, and we look forward to a fantastic series!

[Her blog is http://mssocialwelfare.blogspot.com/.]

-Edward Jensen

16th April 2009

Grand Opening of the Downtown Phoenix Civic Space

Without further ado, here are some pictures from today’s opening of the new Downtown Phoenix Civic Space:

-Edward Jensen

14th April 2009

Janet Echelman's "Her Secret is Patience" at night

We’re just one day out from the opening of the new Downtown Phoenix Civic Space park.  Over the weekend, Janet Echelman’s “Her Secret is Patience” was installed.  Our friends from the City of Phoenix took this photo of lighting tests on the Echelman artwork that is too good not to share:

Night lighting of Janet Echelman's "Her Secret is Patience" at the Downtown Phoenix Civic Space park

The grand opening is Thursday.  See you then!

-Edward Jensen

20th January 2009

ASU celebrates Barack Obama's inauguration

Earlier today, Barack Obama took the oath of office to become the forty-fourth President of the United States. In the First Amendment Forum of the Cronkite School building, students from across the campus gathered to take in history.

Here are some pictures from the day:


if you cannot see the pictures, stop by my blog to see them!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

20th December 2008

Happy Last Weekend in Phoenix without METRO!

I know you’re all sad that this is the last weekend in Phoenix without METRO Light Rail. I am, too. [end sarcasm]

The thing that is extremely hard to believe is that it seems like yesterday when Central Avenue was still 3 lanes with the fancy bricks running down the center. Or when construction started in front of my house. Or even when we hit the 100-days-to-go plateau. But it’s here, and the grand opening celebrations are in ONE WEEK!

I’m probably going to be helping out that day at the Heard Museum (Encanto/Central Ave station) promoting the Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association. I work with them as a community engagement partner for businesses, residents, and METRO Light Rail. So, if you’re going to be riding the rails that day (so to speak), stop by and say hello. (I’m the tall one.)

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

24th October 2008

Isn't she beautiful?

As of tonight, we’re 64 days out to METRO’s grand opening festivals and things down here are getting exciting. Tonight’s the first night where my station, Central/Encanto, has been lit up.

Naturally, this calls for a picture, right?

Isn’t she beautiful?

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

15th October 2008

Remember this?

Remember this? Central Avenue without METRO? This picture (from 11 December 2006) should refresh your memory:

11 December 2006 was 747 days before METRO opens up. We’re only 73 days out today, and if only the time could go by faster!

Remember now?

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

13th October 2008

75 days to METRO!

Today marks 75 days to the opening of Phoenix’s METRO Light Rail! Are you excited?

As part of the grand opening weekend (27-28 December), METRO is planning festivities along the entire 20-mile route.

Anyway, in 75 days, we’ll be riding this:

Cheers-
Edward Jensen