Mailbag


And Now, The Tork's Family Story

To the Editor,

Bells and whistles? Sorry you missed them! This is one really special opportunity to find the stuff that makes Tucson Tucson. Tork's Cafe is a HAVEN for the tastiest Mediterranean food and a pristine setting. The setting isn't "exotic" but clean and light and airy--a sweet working-family environment. Even the name is simple--just a combination of a few letters of both family names.

Mom and Pop are graduates of the UA (where they met); Pop holds two degrees and Mom a master's in education, of which Pop is very proud. She's also the master of cuisine which I applaud. Their small cafe and catering company allows them to have their children with them in an enriching setting. They have two daughters after 20 years of marriage and a son (according to the doctors) to be born next month.

The patrons of this small eatery become friends and the kids are not confined to daycare while a livelihood is obtained.

I miss Cairo, Morocco and Istanbul until I stop in for food and music in this "drab" strip-mall and partake of fresh authentic food in a Dairy Queen setting. It seems the equivalent of other well-known eateries like Austin's and Robert's; may they be around as long with the kids taking over as the parents retire. Those are real bells and whistles.

--Jaelle Revelle


Going Out of My Way to Eat at Tork's

To the Editor,

I read with curiosity your review of Tork's Café ("No-Frills Middle Eastern," June 19). Your comment, "I wouldn't go out of my way to get there," is the opposite reaction of mine.

I specifically drive five to eight miles out of my way whenever I am in town to dine at Tork's. Having worked and lived in several North African, Mediterranean and near-Eastern countries, I deem Tork's falafel, hummus and babaganoush the best this side of East Jerusalem. Friends of mine who know this cuisine agree.

Yes, he is a "character," not your unctuous, "Hello, my name is Chad and I am your server" type. He and his wife both hold advance university degrees from our own UA, I believe, so their brains are geared for intellectual work. Also, if the décor was overhauled with elegance, the prices would go up, would they not?

--Mia Tschampel


Teach Abstinence, but Don't Teach ONLY That

To the Editor,

Planned Parenthood is delighted that Gov. Janet Napolitano chose to veto the diversion of scarce resources to the state's ineffective, ideologically based abstinence-only education program ("Abstinence Can't Wait," June 19).

We are not, however, against the teaching of abstinence as part of a medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education. We agree--and our own education programs reflect the fact--that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method of avoiding unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection.

What we are opposed to is abstinence-only education, which teaches that any sexual activity outside of marriage is physically and psychologically harmful, exaggerates contraceptive failure rates and excludes any instruction on birth control methods other than "just say no."

--Patti Caldwell
President/CEO
Planned Parenthood of S. Arizona


We Like Politics Just Fine, Thanks

To the Editor,

"We realize that most of you would rather read ..." Oh no, no, no. I don't want you to go to bed at night thinking that all your readers want to read about is sex, drugs and rock and roll with a little sports and movie news thrown in.

I read The Weekly precisely for the alternative political news and opinions. It is my responsibility to hear all sides of any issue and to search for those issues that some papers would rather not report; therefore, I look for the alternative weekly in the city I live in. This is the responsibility of any "independent" in my opinion. It would be a sad world without your paper and the other papers like yours (i.e. those alternative weeklies that attended that conference you went to recently).

Don't forget--many voters ARE independent, and silent, for the most part. I know that I am. This is the first time I have ever written in response to an article. I'm 57. But I just couldn't let you think that no one reads the political news. I have always thought of that as your most important function.

--Jennifer Wadsworth


Corrections

A story about Old Tucson in the June 26 issue, "Quiet on the Set," misstated the admission prices for guided, 45-minute tours of the theme park during the summer season. They are $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-11 and free for children 3 and younger.

A story about the Tucson Truck Terminal in the July 3 issue included a typo regarding two men named Josh who work there. The sentence should have read "Josh2 is now hustling to fuel and check Allen Eberly's 4-year-old Kenworth ..." We apologize for the error.