A graduate of Pueblo High and University of Arizona, Francisco Romero spent 10 years as the sports anchor for the Telemundo affiliate in Tucson. Francisco has been behind the microphone for Spanish play by lay of wildcat baseball, softball, basketball and football and in 2008 took on the role with the Houston Astros

In 2005, Francisco was inducted into his High School Media Hall of Fame, Pueblo High and is appreciative that he gets to do what he loves for a living. He makes it a point to touch the grass of the major league field every day he works.

There's a lot of uncertainty in sports these days and we hope Francisco could shed light on those plans. Our conversation took a different turn and we heard the success story of a Warrior, a Wildcat and a Broadcaster.

This week we feature Francisco Romero, UArizona Grad and sports broadcaster

Today is May 10th my name is Tom Heath and you're listening to "Life Along the Streetcar".

Each and every Sunday our focus is on Social, Cultural and Economic impacts in Tucson's Urban Core and we shed light on hidden gems everyone should know about. From A Mountain to UArizona and all stops in between. You get the inside track- right here on 99.1 FM, streaming on DowntownRadio.org- we're also available on your iPhone or Android using our very own Downtown Radio app.

Reach us by email [email protected] -- interact with us on Facebook @Life Along the Streetcar and follow us on Twitter @StreetcarLife--- And check out our past episodes on www.lifeAlongTheStreetcar.org

Our intro music is by Ryanhood and we exit with Blue Mountain

We start today with a mountain makeover

Michael Guymon, VP of The Tucson Metro Chamber joins us to talk about the work the Chamber is doing to help local businesses and the role they play with Pima County's Back to Business Task Force.

This week we speak with Michael Guymon, VP of the Tucson Metro Chamber, about Pima County's new Back to Business Task Force

Today is May 3rd, my name is Tom Heath and you're listening to "Life Along the Streetcar".

Each and every Sunday our focus is on Social, Cultural and Economic impacts in Tucson's Urban Core and we shed light on hidden gems everyone should know about. From A Mountain to UArizona and all stops in between. You get the inside track- right here on 99.1 FM, streaming on DowntownRadio.org- we're also available on your iPhone or Android using our very own Downtown Radio app.

Reach us by email [email protected] -- interact with us on Facebook @Life Along the Streetcar and follow us on Twitter @StreetcarLife--- And check out our past episodes on www.lifeAlongTheStreetcar.org

Our intro music is by Ryanhood and we exit with Ace Diamond

This week we speak with Mike Peel, State wide sustainability Director for Local First Arizona.

Today is April 26th my name is Tom Heath and you're listening to "Life Along the Streetcar".

Each and every Sunday our focus is on Social, Cultural and Economic impacts in Tucson's Urban Core and we shed light on hidden gems everyone should know about. From A Mountain to UArizona and all stops in between. You get the inside track- right here on 99.1 FM, streaming on DowntownRadio.org- we're also available on your iPhone or Android using our very own Downtown Radio app.

Reach us by email [email protected] -- interact with us on Facebook @Life Along the Streetcar and follow us on Twitter @StreetcarLife--- And check out our past episodes on www.lifeAlongTheStreetcar.org

Our intro music is by Ryanhood and we exit with Calexico

We start today with getting back to getting back to business

Our featured guest today also represents hundreds of businesses across the state, including many right here in the urban core. Mike Peel and his staff from Local First Arizona were supposed to take over my show for a Sunday in March, but that got scrapped when Coronavirus safety protocols mandated social distancing. We didn’t know until a few days before that our plans would have to re-worked and, oh how times have changed.

Like the businesses they represent, LFAZ, has had to quickly adapt to a new environment, create a path for survival and still keep their eye on the post pandemic goals as they relate to the organizations overall mission.

Mike joined us by phone yesterday to catch us up.

This week we discuss various community partners collaborating for Covid responses

Today is April 19th my name is Tom Heath and you're listening to "Life Along the Streetcar".

Each and every Sunday our focus is on Social, Cultural and Economic impacts in Tucson's Urban Core and we shed light on hidden gems everyone should know about. From A Mountain to UArizona and all stops in between. You get the inside track- right here on 99.1 FM, streaming on DowntownRadio.org- we're also available on your iPhone or Android using our very own Downtown Radio app.

Reach us by email [email protected] -- interact with us on Facebook @Life Along the Streetcar and follow us on Twitter @StreetcarLife--- And check out our past episodes on www.lifeAlongTheStreetcar.org

Our intro music is by Ryanhood and we exit with Whiskey Treats

We start today with a story of giving the shirt off your back

Imagine the amazement of Bill Bowers, UArizona Graduate of 1927, as he discovers a bell headed for the Smelter. The bell was inscribed with USS Arizona. One of the 2 bells salvaged from the actual ship and is soon to be destroyed. Bowers was instrumental in saving the bell and getting back to his alma mater where it has rung since 1951.

It's no surprise that the bell was a centerpiece of the present day Student Union Memorial Center. Not just because of the connection to the USS Arizona, but also its connection to the 50 years it has previously been a part of the campus.

Frank Farias, retired Executive Director of the UArizona BookStore had a vision to create a new store which would transcend the idea of a campus book store and portray the university as an industry leader in retail. At the same time the University was planning a modern student union to replace the existing building.

The two projects worked together and the result is in this amazing structure just east of Old Main. To the west you see the bookstore, to the east the student union. From above you might think you are looking at a ship docked in the harbor. From the ground you are surrounded with elements of design from the historic buildings being replaced, from the regions geology and the culture of the students.

Even the process was a revolutionary departure. Up until the Student union, it was common practice to complete the design and send it out to find the lowest bidder. Bob Smith, current VP for University Planning, introduced the design-build model by which designers and contractors work together toward the final project. Construction can actually begin before the complete design is finalized. This method has been proven as more efficient and less costly and, another, innovation from UArizona

I had a chance to take a tour of the Student Union and BookStore with Frank Farias and recorded our conversation as we walked. We were joined by 2 members of the project, Chris Kraft a project manager with the university and Joe SottoSanti, the Student Union project operations manager , now retired.

This week we head over to campus and speak with 3 members of the 2000 team responsible for making the Student Union Memorial Center possible

Today is March 8th my name is Tom Heath and you're listening to "Life Along the Streetcar".

Each and every Sunday our focus is on Social, Cultural and Economic impacts in Tucson's Urban Core and we shed light on hidden gems everyone should know about. From A Mountain to UArizona and all stops in between. You get the inside track- right here on 99.1 FM, streaming on DowntownRadio.org- we're also available on your iPhone or Android using our very own Downtown Radio app.

Reach us by email [email protected] -- interact with us on Facebook @Life Along the Streetcar and follow us on Twitter @StreetcarLife--- And check out our past episodes on www.lifeAlongTheStreetcar.org

Our intro music is by Ryanhood and we exit with a Time Warp

We start today with a spring forward.

100 years ago The Rialto Theater opened across the street from the recently built Hotel Congress. It was our downtown entertainment district- hotel, restaurant, bar and theater. The Rialto is a downtown iconic fixture. As you roll in from the East, you cannot miss its marquee.

Last night The Rialto Theater Foundation celebrated

the 100th anniversary as part of their annual fund raising gala. As expected, it was a popular place to be on leap day. In honor of this milestone we pulled out of our archives a 2018 feature we did on the theater with Julie Ragland, the Development Director of the Rialto Theater Foundation

The theater survived an arson attempt, has staged Vaudeville, showed adult films, was used to store furniture and is haunted. But when you talk to Julie Ragland she simply says it has a Funky Vibe.

Formed as part of Rio Nuevo's efforts to preserve the history of downtown Tucson, the Rialto Theater Foundation has restored the theater to being one of the top live performance spots in the world. The foundation has also added R Bar and 191 Toole to its inventory.

Julie gave us the history of the Rialto Foundation and discussed its mission with us.