Block Talk is a weekly feature that tells about a neighborhood as seen through a resident's eyes. Today we're talking to Lori Oien, who is president of the Bear Canyon Neighborhood Association.
Name and occupation: Lori Oien, neighborhood activist and volunteer with several Tucson organizations including the city of Tucson's Magistrate Merit Selection Committee, Pima County's chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Southern Arizona DUI Task Force and the Black Stallion Literacy Program.
Oien is also planning to run for the Ward 2 seat on the Tucson City Council.
Neighborhood: Bear Canyon Neighborhood.
How long she's lived in Tucson: All her life.
How long she's lived in this neighborhood: Since 1990.
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Her involvement with the neighbors: As president of the Bear Canyon Neighborhood Association, Oien said she is concerned about communication between neighbors. So she has established an e-mail list of the area's residents, including some who live on Pima County land bordering the Bear Canyon Neighborhood.
"We're all on acre-plus lots so it's difficult to get information out just by talking to your neighbor," she said. "I think if you have informed neighbors, they are a lot less likely to get cranky over small issues."
Oien, 48, said she now sends out information that pertains to the residents such as possible zoning changes, flood news and information provided to her by the city Department of Neighborhood Resources on issues such as graffiti abatement and brush and bulky pickup.
A few weeks ago, Oien held a meeting at the Bear Canyon Library on methamphetamine to give people information about the drug "before it's on our doorsteps."
Why she chose to live there: Open space. Oien grew up with horses, so when she and her husband started looking for a new home years ago, one of their priorities was to find horse property still within the Tucson city limits.
One improvement that could be made: No more parking or vendors along the Catalina Highway.
"When you start letting cars for sale and other vendors in to sell their wares, it diminishes the beauty of the scenic highway," she said.
Oien would also like to see some artwork brought in to the area. One idea is to have life-size horses running in groups along the roadside to "really announce that you've come into a very horse-friendly environment."
east side
About the neighborhood
Name: Bear Canyon Neighborhood Association.
Founded: 1984.
Number of homes: About 1,100.
Boundaries: East Tanque Verde Road to Bear Canyon Road and East Catalina Highway on the north; North Houghton Road on the east; Tanque Verde Wash on the south; North Camino Seco alignment on the west.
Municipality: City of Tucson.
