Marana News 04/05/2023

www.Maranaweeklynews.com

Summer Kids Camp Preview

Finding balance in improvements to preserve

hat was once a local barrow pit has been transformed into a thriving riparian, known to locals and birders as El Rio Preserve. To date, the preserve is home to over 249 documented bird species, and Jason Grodman of Marana Parks and Recreation noted

the town’s improvement plan will allow for many more.

“One of the things I’m most excited for is breaking that barrier to get to 250 species, which is quite a lot for Southern Arizona,” Grodman said. “It’s one of the things we’re really proud of in the town of Marana and with

see PRESERVE

Habitat Tucson opens

With the dramatic increase in housing prices, organizations are stepping up to create solutions for Southern Arizona. Habitat for Humanity Tucson recently showcased its new CHUCK Center, a project CEO Charlie Buchanan called a comparable answer to the growing problem.

“This is a crisis we haven’t experienced in generations,” Buchanan said. “It’s not a low-income challenge anymore, it’s an everybody challenge. It’s redefined housing affordability.”

The purpose of the new Connie Hillman Urban Construction Knowledge Center is to support the lack of affordable housing in Greater Tucson and to address the need for a skilled workforce in the trades. Habitat Tucson will be able to prefabricate homes and store materials in a temperature-controlled warehouse. The center will not only accelerate housing production but the education of schools, colleges and other programs in the area.

6

SATURDAY

APRIL 8

8 a.m. - noon

CELEBRATE ORO VALLEY

FREE EVENT AT STEAM PUMP RANCH, 10901 N. ORACLE RD.

Live music by OnesAll Band, ROH Band, and Black Cat Bones

Dance performance by Tucson Casineros

Heirloom Farmers Market

Petting zoo by Funny Foot Farm

Pusch House Tours by the Oro Valley

Historical Society

Archaeology demonstrations by Archaeology Southwest

Food trucks!

Special Eats, Churros el Rey, HiFalutin, GG’s Mexican Peruvian Fusion, Kona Ice and Fruit Shack Smoothie

Kids crafts and activities like rocket launching, wood branding and more!

For full event details, scan the QR code or visit orovalleyaz.gov and search “Celebrate OV”

A Senior Living Option as Unique as You.

La Posada, southern Arizona’s awardwinning Life Plan Community, is bringing its commitment to excellence to Oro Valley. Finely appointed, maintenance-free apartment homes. Stunning mountain views. An oasis of first-class amenities to enjoy with friends, old and new. All at an incomparable, wellness-centered community in the heart of nature.

Connect with our retirement counselors at an upcoming informative lunch to hear about the latest construction updates, delicious restaurant-style dining experiences and the long-term security of our Life Lease and more.

ORO VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

Thursday, May 4

Wednesday, June 7

Please join us for an upcoming luncheon and informative presentation on a date and location that is convenient for you:

SADDLEBROOKE 2 BALLROOM

Friday, May 19

Wednesday, June 14

RSVP today by calling 520-531-3480. Seating is limited. Lunch will be served.

Second and third place prizes will also be awarded. Selected bands will perform a 3-song set on stage in front of a live audience. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

Bands must submit original demo or youtube link to dhiatt@orovalleyaz.gov

50% of the band members must be in high school to be eligible.

the El Rio Preserve.”

In the next fiscal year, the town of Marana will reshape the lake to improve water quality and attract a wider variety of species, including the preserve’s large migratory bird population. They also plan to create a path around the lake with observation areas for birding. While plans will increase public access, the town will work with nonprofits, interest groups and the community to create a balance between preservation and recreation.

Grodman is the town’s national resource supervisor, outlining how most of the changes are more for the security of wildlife. The town will place a semipermeable layer below the 9-acre lake to better retain water. Grodman explained the addition will create different depths of water, which will improve quality and retention rates year-round. Their plan for public use is to create specific corridors for open and restricted areas of the preserve.

“There will be viewing areas for the public, and there will be ecological features with areas of refuge for birds and aquatic life where the public won’t have access,” Grodman said.

Currently, there’s a walking path connecting the preserve to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop and winding past the area. The town will create a new path around the lake with some observation areas, which will cater to the birders who frequent El Rio.

There will be no public access to the lake, including boating, wading or fishing. According to Grodman, the town will maintain the preserve with a priority toward wildlife. Public access will increase, but protecting the birds and other species will remain a precedent.

It’s a mission shared by Janine Spencer-Glasson and her interest group, the Friends of El Rio.

“The Friends of El Rio wants to work with the town and with other organizations to make sure we’re all working towards the same goal,” Spencer-Glasson said. “The town of Marana has a good start on it already, I think they’ve done a nice job.”

Sponsored by the Audubon Society, the Friends of El Rio advise the town on projects and improvements related to the preserve. They pro -

see PRESERVE page 8

5-DAY WEATHER

EXPLORER

The Explorer and Marana News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the Northwest Tucson. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Explorer and Marana News, go to www.TucsonLocalMedia.com

STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Executive Editor christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter kschaffner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Veronica Kuffel, Staff Reporter vkuffel@tucsonlocalmedia.com

PRODUC TION

Shannon Mead, Production/Design Supervisor smead@timeslocalmedia.com

Arman Olivares, Graphic Designer aolivares@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager, brian@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

Laura Meehan, Associate Publisher, lmeehan@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Leah Pittman, Account Executive lpittman@tucsonlocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising Zac@TimesPublications.com

EDITORIAL

Thank you!

Tour de Cookie’s 400+ riders and sponsors for helping us to raise $14,000 for local, int’l. community service projects.

2023 Tour de Cookie Sponsors

Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookie Level:

• Chasse Building Team

• Progressive Roofing

• Tucson Insurance Associates

• RG & Sons Plumbing

Sugar Cookie Level:

• MHC Healthcare

• Spectrum Auto Collision

• Brian Clymer Attorney at Law

Rider Packet Pickup Host:

• Pedego Electric Bikes

Cookie Booth Sponsors

• Janice Meyer and Family

• Chasse Building Team

• Oro Valley Bicycle

• Continental Ranch Pet Clinic

• Tucson Insurance Associates

• Progressive Roofing

• Kristine Ramos Long Realty

• RG and Sons Plumbing

• Catalina Brewing Co.

• Top Golf

•Arizona Youth Partnership

•Superior Water Treatment

It’s a development for the nonprofit, and Buchanan noted its potential for increasing work quality within Habitat Tucson.

“We build homes, community and hope,” Buchanan said. “This isn’t anything new to us, but it’s certainly a different scale. The ultimate goal is to provide more housing solutions in a challenging environment.”

The CHUCK Center holds offices, a classroom and a large warehouse. Habitat Tucson will use the space to store tools and materials for projects across the community, including prefabricated panels made in the facility.

A one-story home under 1,500 square feet takes 18 to 26 panels to build, while a two-story of the same size requires 24 to 32. Habitat Tucson plans to build at least 10 panels per day and store up to 144 panels, enough for around five to eight homes, in the CHUCK Center.

Tony Lundberg is an AmeriCorps member with Habitat Tucson, and addressed challenges in the past associated with building these panels and procuring materials.

“It would lag our construction progress,” Lundberg said. “At some point during the builds we had in Marana, we weren’t able to procure doors or windows, even lumber. It’s beneficial to have a safe, dry indoor spot for all of these sensitive materials.”

The CHUCK Center was primarily funded by the Connie Hillman Family Foundation, along with other organizations and nonprofits like The Stonewall Foundation, Bank of America and the City of Tucson. Its partners contribute to the facility with donations of money but also labor, as is the case with AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps contributes workers to volunteer with Habitat Tucson projects, one of the options for their member commitment to one year of intensive service. According to Lundberg, most organizations and nonprofits offer housing, but in past years, Habitat Tucson didn’t have the budget for it.

The CHUCK Center is building a duplex house in its backyard to meet the needs of out-of-state AmeriCorps members. Lundberg expressed his relief for future members and their access to this housing.

“The AmeriCorps members receive only a small stipend for their service, making living in Tucson hard for most,” Lundberg said. “It’s very difficult to pay rent and groceries on the stipend, so it’s a necessary means to find affordable or provided living for nonprofits like Habitat.”

Another key part of Habitat Tucson’s

commitment with the CHUCK Center is to provide educational resources to assist trade students. The nonprofit has started this by partnering with the Building & Construction Technologies program at Pima Community College. Lundberg of Tucson’s AmeriCorps team was one of the program's past students.

Due to current space constraints on campus, BCT Discipline Coordinator Himat Khalsa visits Habitat Tucson with his classes weekly. Pima Community College works to increase its facilities for the program, but for now, the CHUCK Center allows students to gain real-world experience and make an impact on the community.

“A lot of this has been facilitated through the CHUCK Center because there’s a real training focus,” Khalsa explained. “Here, there are potentially other people from different trades that will interact with the students as we’re building. Those are features that are hard to simulate in a lab environment.”

Khalsa and his students utilize the CHUCK Center to complete varied curriculums, building homes and designing plans which Habitat Tucson puts to use throughout the region. Between the college and nonprofit, their collective goal is to engage 100 student learners in construction trades in 2023.

The partnerships between programs, organizations and the nonprofit will not only create hands-on learning experiences but contribute to Habitat’s goal for universal housing. Here in Southern Arizona, Buchanan and Habitat for Humanity will continue to combat the housing crisis, developing new and innovative solutions to support Tucson.

“The CHUCK Center was our acknowledgment that the status quo wasn’t meeting the need to support the affordable housing crisis,” Buchanan said. “The potential and the partnerships are going to create opportunities for not only trade students and their careers but opportunities for families to have stability.”

PEACE OF MIND LIVING AT ALBUM MARANA

55+ Active Adult Community

Greystar is excited to bring their newest Album community to Tucson. The Album lifestyle is highly sought after by young at heart, 55+ active adults. It’s perfect for those looking for more in life, style, community, and activities.

Welcome to a carefree, maintenance-free living in a controlled-access community designed to be empowering as well as peaceful. Lead your life, as you see fit, and with time to spare, in a place where the feeling is one of excitement for what the future holds.

At Album Marana, you’ll find sophisticated residences with modern features in

addition to stimulating onsite offerings and beautiful social spaces to enjoy. They’ll be conveniently just outside your door; no need to drive anywhere! Your day might begin with coffee with new friends and then to the activities calendar to decide how your day will take shape. There is so much to do here. Each day will be full of variety and fun.

Album is the perfect place to share your passions, find new ones, and make friends easily along the way. What truly sets Album apart is the opportunity to have a real say in the active lifestyle clubs and events. Residents will create, contribute their talents, and run the clubs/events

they want. Examples include teaching a cooking class, meeting up for happy hour (and yappy hours), walking club, flower arranging, movie/game night, and seasonally inspired events. The only limit is your imagination.

The Album Marana leasing center is now open and located at 7620 N Hartman Lane, Suite 172 Tucson, AZ 85743. Our team will be happy to provide you with more information on available apartment homes that will be move-in ready Summer 2023. Whether you are considering downsizing yourself or have a loved one far away that you want close, Album is an exciting option right here in Tucson!

WELCOME TO A FRESH IDEA IN FEEL GOOD LIVING

•Celebrate an active lifestyle

•Share rich social experiences

•Enjoy maintenance-free living

•Valuable promotions for a limited time*

Schedule a personalized appointment with the Album Marana team to learn more!

IT TAKES MORE THAN LUCK TO BUILD A GOOD FOR TUNE.

DIVERSIFY YOUR RETIREMENT WITH AN IRA CD.

Marana News Briefs

COMPILED BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Marana waterline project scheduled to end April 5

The town of Marana is scheduled to wrap up the installation of a new waterline across Tangerine Road, just east of the intersection of Mandarina Boulevard.

The work is part of the town of Marana’s East Tangerine Segment 1 Pipeline Upsizing Project, installing a new waterline along Tangerine Road. For information, visit maranaaz.gov

Bridge deck repairs set for April 5 to April 7

3.50% 18-Month

3.75%

Federally insured by NCUA.

Annual Percentage Yield (s) accurate as of 4/5/23. Consult your tax advisor about IRA eligibility,contributions, qualifications, and early withdrawal penalties. Certificates (CDs) earn dividends. Subject to approval. Certain restrictions may apply. Minimum opening deposit of $500. Early withdrawal penalties may apply. Early withdrawals, fees, and other conditions could reduce the earnings on the account. Subject to change. Membership required. ¹Traditional and Roth.

Granite Construction will perform bridge deck repairs on southbound Thornydale Road at Hurvie Davis Bridge (over the CDO wash) between Aerie and Horizon Hills drives from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, to Friday, April 7.

PRESERVE

from page 4

mote “compatible recreation” and educate the community on the preserve’s unique habitat.

The group has also planted and maintained a pollinator garden, agaves and native vegetation for the area. Recently, they’ve advocated for solar-powered irrigators, invasive species removal and a partnership with Arizona Game and Fish to create a suitable habitat for native fish.

Overall, the main goal of Friends of El Rio is to ensure the public knows the preserve is for wildlife and prioritize corridors for species to thrive.

“(The town) needs to have some safe vegetative places along the shore that are inaccessible,” Spencer-Glasson noted. “There should be places where it’s good to view birds and walk past them. There also needs to be places where the birds feel safe and can roost at night.”

The town of Marana is trying to strike a balance between public access and preservation. The balance is important not only to protect wildlife but to educate the public about its importance.

Expect lane closures and traffic delays. If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice. For information, visit maranaaz.gov

Give blood this spring in Marana

The town of Marana is hosting a blood drive in April with the American Red Cross at the Marana Administration Municipal Complex.

The blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 11. Walkins are welcome, but donors are encouraged to make an appointment.

Those who give blood through April 23 will receive an exclusive American Red Cross and Peanuts T-shirt featuring Snoopy, while supplies last.

To schedule your appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and use the Sponsor Code: MARANANEEDSYOURHELP

Grodman explained the upcoming projects were designed with community interests in mind, creating opportunities to connect with nature in a responsible way. The partnership between the Town and groups like the Friends of El Rio ensures this as well as the maintenance of the preserve.

“This site has tremendous potential because it is close enough to town that people can enjoy it,” Spencer-Glasson said. “We just have to make sure we have balance with habitat protection and people’s enjoyment.”

With the upcoming improvements, species like migratory birds, including the frequenting “snowbirds,” will continue to have a place in Southern Arizona.

WARNING! PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Oro Valley AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin.

The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, tingling, pain, and balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves to degenerate – an insidious and often painful process.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “BandAid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Oro Valley is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Arrowhead Physical Medicine in Oro Valley, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage – a complimentary service for comprises a detailed your friends and family.sensoryEach exam evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for comprises a detailed your friends and family. Each sensory exam evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until December 31st, 2022. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until April 30, 2023. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (520) 934-0130… NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine 10425 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 125 Oro Valley, AZ, 85737

Family is the key to Miles Label Company’s success

Oro Valley’s Miles Label Company is one of those rare businesses that have been around for more than 100 years.

President P.J. Miles chalked up the success to Miles Label Company’s legacy.

“The business, to me, has become a lot of my identity,” P.J. said. “I’ve done it all my life. There’s a pride from my father that is still here to this day. We have fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation family members who are still in the office every day.

“My dad will tell you that he’s basically retired, but he’s still watching. He knows. I’m damn proud that I get to see him and work with him every day.”

Miles Label Company was founded in an Iowa garage in 1912 by Russell Hubert Miles. By 1930, he and his son, Paul Wilson Miles, were printing labels and creating specialty

items like policy labels and business forms for insurance companies.

“Back then, Des Moines was big with insurance companies and publishing companies,” P.J. said. “My great-grandfather saw the opportunity and it worked well for him through the Depression, World War II and through the ’50s.”

Paul printed gum labels for the insurance industry in the 1930s. In 1962, Paul and his son, Robert H. Miles, moved the business to Tucson. Five years later, the first Mark Andy label press was brought online and the current manufacturing started.

Now they print small and large projects like UL labels, continuous, piggyback and individual labels. Miles Label Company has eight-color capabilities with foil stamping as one of the colors with UV coatings and four-color process printing. It also offers spot color for long and short runs.

“We’ve been running labels and printing all these generations,” said P.J., who started his career at the company sweeping floors at age 8.

“Insurance printing has gone to the wayside. What we primarily produce now is for medical nutraseuticals and produce labels. We do a fair amount of UL durable labels for everything from the automotive industry to the appliance industry.”

He said people are often surprised at the equipment it takes to print a small label on the bottom of a coffee cup.

“You don’t realize it until you walk through a grocery store how many labels are on every product,” he said. “We’re one of the few in the state of Arizona running a digital HP press, 6900 series machine. We were the first in the state to get one and actually put it into retail operation.”

At Miles Label Company, its minimum quantity is 500. Recently, it printed 4.8 million honeydew and cantaloupe labels.

“That gives you an idea of how crazy the range really gets,” he said. “We’re seeing more and more cannabis companies needing labeling, too, for CBD products. That’s a hard one to keep up with. They are moving quite fast. It’s like the wine and beer industry, which we also print labels for. Trying to stand out in the

crowd is part of the challenge.”

Last year, Miles Label Company celebrated 110 years. P.J.’s son, Bobby, is a successful salesman at the company and he is the brainchild behind printing for supplements.

“It created a nice business for the family to continue with. It doesn’t make you rich, but it keeps you happy. We make a good living. It’s not an extravagant living. You have to work at it to make that work.”

Miles Label Co.

2300 E. Vistoso Commerce Loop, Oro Valley 520-744-0696 mileslabel.com

Egging it up at Sky Rider Coffee Shop

The Sky Rider Coffee Shop staff knows a thing or two about eggs. On weekdays the kitchen goes through about 450 eggs a day.

“That’s a lot of eggs,” said Calley Carpenter, the granddaughter of owner Barbara Abrams.

It’s all in a day’s work for the cooks and servers at the Sky Rider Coffee Shop, located at the Marana Regional Airport. The breakfast and lunch diner has survived staffing and supply chain issues, and the pandemic shutdown.

Although she owns the place, Barbara, 96, doesn’t see a need to work at the restaurant these days. Her daughter, Jenny Abrams-Wilson is the interim manager. Her father, Harold “Bud” Abrams, died in 2005. He’s in the Arizona Hall of Fame at the Pima Air Museum and was one of the destination’s founders.

This year marks 40 years in business. It was founded because a smart person saw a need; it started with a hungry pilot.

“My dad, he was a pilot,” Jenny said. “He was working on refurbishing an airplane out here, and there was nowhere to eat, so (Barbara) got tired of bringing food out so she said, ‘Let’s build a restaurant on the airport.’ There was nothing out here but farm fields then.”

Over the years, Jenny said, they have expanded the seating area, but now the kitchen space is tapped out. Still, that’s a problem for another day.

The American comfort food menu has evolved over the years. The current incarna-

tion has been around for five years, so the management team is making a few changes, not all of them happy ones, Jenny said.

For one thing, cost of everything, especially eggs, has gone up, so the menu pricing is increased. It’s not like they want to raise prices, but, Jenny said, at the old prices there is no profit.

“The cost of food has gone sky high,” she said. “It’s been years and years since we changed pricing. It’s almost like we’re forced to; we don’t have a choice.”

“I think we’re one of the only restaurants that has maintained pricing, especially in this massive boom right now, but we are getting to the point where that’s not feasible anymore,” Calley added. “We’ve held out for as long as we can, taking some losses along the way, seeing if it’s going to recoup.”

“When we buy a flat of eggs there’s 600 or 700 eggs in it,” Jenny said. “It’s hundreds of dollars now, hundreds.”

Over the years new menu items, suggest-

ed by the managers, have been added and removed. Because they have customers who have been coming for decades, staff takes their suggestions, too. Items that were not successful are dropped.

“We’ve found that out here egg whites don’t sell very well,” Jenny said with a laugh. “People want those hearty eggs.”

There are also specials, just to mix things up for many daily diners.

“We have a lot of farmers in this area who have been coming for years and years and years,” Jenny said. “All these (servers) know them.”

They even have staff who have been there for decades.

“One of our waitresses, this is her 21st year here, so she knows everybody who comes in,” she said. “Her name is Cindy Mangano. I don’t know many places where you can say the waitress has been there that long.”

“That’s probably the great thing about Sky

Rider,” Calley added. “With the (Abrams) family owning several companies in Tucson, it’s hard for us to be here every day. Having a staff like that is so helpful. Our customers love them.”

Although the restaurant opened in 1983, the Abrams family took over the operation of the airport in 1989. They now take in hangar revenues and run the fixed-base operation, which sells the fuel, does the avionics and airplane repairs. They built and own many of the buildings on site but the land is leased from the town of Marana. They also own Abrams Airborne Manufacturing, a precision sheet metal manufacturing company.

Now the family is looking to the future, hoping to become more involved in the community, but they don’t know exactly what that will look like just right now.

“Going forward, that’s something we would like to do,” Calley said. “Utilize this space as a platform to help build more of those community events.”

They’ve discussed hosting networking events, farmers markets or club meetings. Mainly, the family is grateful for the town of Marana and the people and community who support them and have supported them. Jenny said she is most proud of the fact that her parents started the restaurant 40 years ago and it’s still a going concern.

The Sky Rider Coffee Shop at the Marana Regional Airport

11700 W. Avra Valley Road, Marana 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily 520-682-3046

so many

There’s a lot to do at Villa Hermosa Senior Living Community—clubs, events, fitness options, and more. So, go ahead and make your want-to-do list. But don’t include a bunch of chores. We’ll take care of most of those for you along with delicious dining choices and supportive care needs. We invite you to experience Villa Hermosa at our upcoming event.

A big dream doesn’t have to come with big risk. Hughes Federal Credit Union can help you get started on saving for your retirement with as little as $1,000.

An IRA Certificate Account is a secure way to save for your golden years. Similar to a traditional certificate account, your funds are locked in for a predetermined term while earning our higher dividend rates. Plus your principal balance is protected and insured!

We take you further.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13TH • 3:00PM

Tap into your creativity and join us for this fun & relaxing event. You’ll be guided through a series of steps to paint your own masterpiece while enjoying a glass of your favorite beverage. To RSVP, please call 520.704.6491.

Exam & X-Rays (Cleaning can only be done in the absence of periodontal disease.)

Must mention coupon at time of appointment. Expires 04/19/23.

Introducing the next generation 10G network. Only from Xfinity. A network that can effortlessly handle a house full of devices. All at the same time. Which means that you and everyone else can seamlessly watch, work, stream and play whatever you want on all your devices with ultra-low lag. Get ready for a network that can handle the entire house, no matter how full it is. The future starts now.

Museum of Miniatures offering educational summer camps Kids Camp!

Summertime means camp, and The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is offering weekly sessions for children to learn and have fun.

The Tucson museum — which is dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of miniatures — is hosting multiple weeklong summer camps through its education department from either 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. from June 5 through June 30.

The camps will incorporate hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) concepts in an exciting setting for kids ages 6 to 12 to create, build and explore. The cost is $175 per child.

“We want them to have fun, and then we try to weave in some educational components that they can take with them,” s aid Director of Education Djamila JeanCharles. “We also want them to learn some practical tools, like sculpting, and (foster) a greater appreciation for exploration and creativity. Just opening up the space so they can get their hands dirty.”

New to this year’s camp series, sessions will be organized into beginner and advanced levels. The former is geared toward children who have less arts and crafts or camp experience, may need additional assistance using certain craft supplies and tools, and require further guidance on their project.

Advanced camps are for those who have taken previous classes, camps or workshops; are able to work independently; feel

comfortable using a variety of tools; and need less guidance while creating their project.

Each camp is limited to 20 participants to maintain a quality experience.

The museum’s summer camps, according to Jean-Charles, each explore a different theme through which kids will learn practical and academic skills.

Sessions focus on creating an imaginary world based on a childhood book, movie or game — such as Hayao Miyazaki films, or the Confessions and Guilty Pleasures games.

Some of this summer’s camps include The Mad Hatter Tea Party, which will focus on entomology, gardening, natural dyes and chemistry; while children participating in the Mini Mushroom Go Cart session will learn about basic mechanical concepts, electronics and fungi.

All materials and supplies are provided for the kids to complete each project.

“Typically, we do work with recycled materials. We just want the kids to get a

see MUSEUM page 17

First organized in 1948, the Arizona Biennial is a much-anticipated juried exhibition that showcases some of the most innovative and diverse new works being created in the state.

MUSEUM from page 16

sense of what they can use at home and then also use during camp and what they can create with it,” Jean-Charles said. “But for example, for our Minecraft Garden (camp), hopefully we’ll get a chance to work with (technology nonprofit) We Care Tucson. So they’ll provide computers so kids can actually make some three-dimensional models and we can 3D print here at the museum.”

This summer’s instructors are Adair Steig, a Ph.D. student in Anthropology at the University of Arizona; Augustine, an entomologist with five years of experience in entomology and ecology educational outreach with K-12 students; and Tasha Burr, a teacher and educator who is also a

member of Tucson Miniature Society and Miniature Club Casita.

Children should arrive at camp dressed in comfortable clothing for play, as well as appropriate snacks labeled with their name and a bottle of water.

The museum’s annual summer camp series, which has been held for nearly a decade, is one of several events that its education department hosts throughout the year. Children can also enjoy camps during spring and fall break, and Minis for All monthly DIY mini projects for athome creation.

“It’s just more exploration for the art of miniature making, but trying to make it palatable for the kids…” Jean-Charles said. “We try to just focus on making tiny things.” 

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures’ 2023 Summer Camps

Where: Mini Time Machine Musem of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, Tucson

When: Various dates and times from June 5 to June 30

Cost: $175 per child, museum members receive a 10% discount. Scholarships based on financial need are available

Info: To register and see a full list of camps, call 520-881-0606 or visit theminitimemachine.org

Summer at the Y is full of sun and fun

Friendship, fun and adventure are the building blocks of a child’s ideal summer vacation. At the Y, children can make this ideal fantasy a reality.

The Y offers eight weeks of full days dedicated to fun-filled summer activities such as games, treasure hunts, water games to cool down, sports and fieldtrips, to name a few. Parents can choose to sign their children up for the entirety of the summer festivities, or they can choose their favorite “theme week.”

Campers at the Y learn how to not only have fun but to find a love for learning. Children engage in play-based learning from the various different programs and curricula that the Y has set in place, this is beneficial to those who are struggling with learning loss, and it helps advance reading and math skills.

The Y allows children to participate in hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) literacy and

civics activities that spark their imagination and make their minds roam free. This ensures parents will have peace of mind knowing that their child is not only having fun, but also being productive.

All registrants must have a Y membership (monthly, includes facility usage) or a Y program membership (one-time annual fee, does not include access to gym facilities) to register for summer camp.

On the Y’s website, tucsonymca.org, it provides the theme for each week, a sample of the daily schedule, personal items allowed, and times to pick up and drop off children.

The Y serves children from 5 to 12 years old.

A $5 deposit is required for wraparound programming, which is nonrefundable and due at the time of registration. Extended programming will have limited availability. It’s recommended to sign up for wrap-around programming at

see SUMMER page 19

5 - June 9 July 10 - July 15

June 12 - June 16

(5 - 7)

June 13 - June 16

June 20 - June 23

(13 - 17)

10, June 17, & July 8

the same time you register for camp.

The Y also provides families with a tiered pricing system to accommodate those who are struggling yet still want to have their children do something engaging during the summer. Those applying for financial assistance must complete an application located on their website, and those with questions are encouraged to contact them at foryouth@tucsonymca. org.

The Y's three-tiered pricing system starts with tier A, which most accurately

•

•

•

•

•

reflects the true cost of camp, including depreciation, operational and administrative costs. Second, tier B is a partially subsidized rate for those who cannot quite afford the total cost of camp. Its pricing is available using promo code YDCAMPB during the registration process. Lastly, tier C pricing is available using promo code YDCAMPC during the registration process.

Payments will be automatically scheduled 16 days before the start date of the camp week. Registration for each week will close 14 days before the start date of the camp week.

Pinspiration builds confidence through art

At first glance, Pinspiration might look like an ordinary craft store, but in reality, it is something very different. Instead of navigating the uncertain journey of learning a new craft alone, aspiring creators can come to Pinspiration for guidance, supplies and community.

Upon arrival, customers choose from a preset list of crafts while Pinspiration provides the supplies and guidance; many of Pinspiration’s crafts are not projects that people typically can accomplish at home, said owner Tess Chua. One such craft is splatter art, which she said customers love because it yields consistently enigmatic results.

For the everyday visitor, Chua said Pinspiration builds confidence for customers unsure of their artistic abilities without the stress or complication of doing it at home.

“The biggest thing is people find it OK, or

At Pinspiration, children have the opportunity to find their artistic voices in a judgment-free space. (Pinspiration/Submitted)

PINSPIRATION

from page 20

safe, to bring their family and friends into a place like this to do things that one or two or three of them may not be comfortable with because they don’t like art or know how to do it,” Chua said.

For kids, Chua had something bigger in mind. Children rarely have enough time to sit and do arts and crafts, said Chua, and they aren’t taught how to be creative in school. That is why Pinspiration will be offering 10 weeks of summer camp programming for ages 6-12.

Each day of camp, kids will make two to three themed projects. Each day they will focus on something different, creating crafts ranging from canvas painting to macramé. For Chua, the camps are about teaching kids to spend time being creative and having fun in a world full of responsibilities.

Even if parents only have a day or two free over summer break, Chua encourages them to sign up for a single day. Pinspiration provides daily rates in addition to weekly rates for those who need flexibility in their schedule. For the people who fall in love, she said their kids could attend every camp session, and still not repeat a craft.

The kids are always excited to walk through the door, said Chua, and the camp helps them

build creativity. There are rarely kids who aren’t engaged, she said. For many of the parents, Chua added, sending their kids to the camp is about giving them opportunities they never had.

“I created summer programs to help kids that are missing out on what I always thought was so important when I was growing up –learning about art, and using that to be creative, de-stress and calm down,” said Chua.

In addition to offering programs for kids ages 6-12, Pinspiration also has a teen summer program designed to help older kids focus on one creative project and take it to the next level. That camp is just a couple days a week, but it will help teens turn simple art projects into something extraordinary, said Chua.

“It takes just a moment to stop and learn to be creative…In Tucson, specifically, what a great time to open up your imagination than in the middle of the day when it’s too hot in the summer.”

Pinspiration Summer Camps

WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon June 5 to Aug. 8

WHERE: Pinspiration, 7090 N. Oracle Road, Tucson

COST: $50 per day, $220 per week

INFO: pinspiration.com/locations/tucson/

Summer camps in Tucson are aplenty this break

Summer camps are all about having fun. Whether kids want to be handy in the kitchen or be the watermelon seed-spitting champ, there’s something for everyone.

Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics Camps

3949 W. Costco Drive, Suite 101, Tucson | 520-742-1444 azdynamics.com

Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics Camps offers a variety of camps during school breaks throughout the year. See its website for details.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

2023 N. Kinney Road, Tucson 520-883-2702 desertmuseum.org dcolodner@desertmuseum.org

Arts Express Summer Camp

Park Place, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard Suite 214, Tucson | 520-319-0400 arts-express.org

karen@arts-express.org

“Finding Nemo Jr.:” May 30 to June 22 for ages 8 to 18. $900

“Legally Blonde Jr.:” June 26 to July 27 for ages 8 to 18. $1,080

Astronomy Camp

The University of Arizona 933 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson 520-621-4079 astronomycamp.org dmccarthy@as.arizona.edu

Astronomy Camp provides opportunities to explore the skies and the environment. Each camp is immersive, combing all four STEM subjects. The staff emphasizes a hands-on learning approach with activities driven by student involvement and interest. A prior background in astronomy is not required, neither is a connection with The University of Arizona.

Champions

7450 E. Stella Road, Tucson 6188 E. Pima Street, Tucson

1-800-246-2154

discoverchampions.com

ch001305@discoverchampions.com

Each week there’s a different theme — innovation, movement, creativity, friendship and outdoor. The camps include morning activities, lunch, free outdoor play, afternoon activities, snacks, outdoor free play and then departure. Details, pricing and times vary by location.

Cuisine Classique Summer Camps

1060 W. Magee Road, Tucson

520-797-1677

cuisineclassique.com

mardi@cuisineclassique.com

Cuisine Classique features eight sessions, broken down by age, throughout the summer. The kids will learn breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners. Each day is educational. For pricing and dates, see the website.

Heart & Soul Kids Activity Center

8363 N. Oracle Road, Tucson

see CAMPS page 23

520-818-7974 heartandsoulkids.com heartandsoul@heartandsoulkids.com

Heart and Soul Oro Valley offers eight weeks of camps, from ninjas to princesses, water games to messes. No gymnastics skills required. Water Works Camp is May 30 to June 2; Ninja Camp is June 5 to June 9; Mad Scientist Camp is June 12 to June 16; Messa-Palooza Camp is June 19 to June 23; Superheroes and Princesses Camp is June 26 to June 30; Spy School Camp is July 10 to July 14; Exploration Station Camp is July 17 to July 21 and Anything Goes Camp is July 24 to July 28. See website for registration and pricing.

Houston’s Horse Camp

12801 E. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson 520-298-7450

tucsonhorsebackriding.com

bobbi@tucsonhorsebackriding.com

Houston’s Summer Horse Camp is a way for riders aged 6 to 17 to learn the basics of horsemanship, meet new friends and enjoy the outdoors. The camp runs

from 7 to 11 a.m., four days a week. Riders are assigned their own horse for the week and daily activities include lessons on groundwork, tack and tacking, horse health and wellness and riding. The cost, $350 per week, includes daily snacks as well as a Houston’s Horseback Riding T-shirt.

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, Tucson 520-881-0606 theminitimemachine.org

From June 5 to June 30, the week-long summer camps for ages 6 to 12 incorporate hands-on STEAM concepts in a fun environment designed for campers to build, explore and create. Each session explores a different theme and all materials and supplies to complete each project are provided. To ensure a quality experience, each camp is limited to 20 participants. Tuition is $175 per session, per child.

Old Pueblo Gymnastics Camps 7670 E. Wrightstown Road, Tucson

see CAMPS page 24

May 30th - June 30th, Monday - Thursday 9:00-11:00 am Ages: 6-10

$240 per person (uniform and belt test included) second family member 1/2 price

(520) 572-8669

7455 W. Twin Peaks Rd. Suite 115 twinpeaksakka@yahoo.com • www.twinpeaksakka.com

camps

CAMPS from page 23

520-628-4355 oldpueblogymnastics.com frontdesk@oldpueblogymnastics.com

Summer camps are held weekly and require a membership. Kids are grouped based on age (typically 4 to 5 year olds, 6 to 8 year olds and 8 to 10 year olds), but final grouping depends on the ages of the individuals who sign up for each camp.

Playformance Summer Camp

119 E. Toole Avenue, Tucson 520-623-3904 playformancetucson.com playformance@icloud.com

At Playformance, children connect, learn and play through the facility’s day camp. It offers a variety of physical play and activities designed for children of all temperaments and athletic inclination. In its 7,000-squarefoot facility, kids are engaged with the coaching team. See website for offerings and pricing.

Reid Park Zoo

3400 Zoo Court, Tucson 520-837-8200 reidparkzoo.org vivian.vanpeenen@tucsonaz.gov

Kids will embark on a summer camp safari of sorts with day camps for children entering first to fifth grade in the fall. The activities include games, crafts, scavenger hunts and the chance to meet zookeepers. The price is $285 for zoo member children; $335 for nonmember children. Scholarships are available.

Shine! Performing Arts Camp

4020 E. River Road, Tucson 520-577-6064

tucsongirlschorus.org jedelbrock@tucsongirlschorus.org

The summer camp runs June 5 to June 9, and June 12 to June 16 at $300 per week; sibling and multiweek discounts available. Shine campers ages 6 to 12 will learn songs from Broadway, movies and the radio, and put on a revue-style performance at the end of each week.

Trak

3230 N. Craycroft Road, Tucson 520-298-9808 traktucson.org/programs/#camps trakranch@gmail.com

Camps run from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, and they have sessions throughout the summer. Kids ages 5 to 14 cost $425 for

members, $450 for nonmembers.

Troubadour Theatre Summer Camps

3308 E. Grant Road, Tucson 602-790-6876

troubadourtheatre.com

troubadourtheartre@yahoo.com

All performing arts camp sessions conclude with a fully mounted live performance for family and friends in a real professional theatre, complete with costumes, set, lighting, and sound. In addition, musical theater shows are performed with a live band. Prices are $30 to $135.

The camps are:

“Rock, Roll, Repeat! Music Camp:”

June 5 to June 16

“First Spotlight Acting Camp:” June 5 to June 16

“Antic Arts Comedic Acting Camp:” June 19 to June 30

“Broadway Bound Musical Theatre:” July 5 to July 21

“Dungeons & Dragons Game Camp:” July 17 to July 21

Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus 5770 E. Pima Street, Tucson 520-296-6277

boyschorus.org

tabc@boyschorus.org

The camp is June 12 to June 16 and includes a week of adventure, including singing, rodeo roping, acting and stagecraft. It’s offered in two sessions, based on age, with three half days of camp and two full days. Camp locations include the TABC Chorus Hall, Reid Park and a local theater. The price is $185 for early-bird pricing until April 30; $225 for boys new to the chorus; $195 for current choristers.

Tucson Children’s Museum

200 S. Sixth Avenue, Tucson 520-792-9985

childrensmuseumtucson.org

Campers will explore STEAM topics throughout the summer. Weeklong halfday camps run May 30 to July 28 for ages 4 to 10. Costs differ for nonmembers and members. Visit the website for offerings and pricing.

Tucson Museum of Art Camps

Alice Chaiten Baker Center for Art Education

166 N. Alameda, Tucson tucsonmuseumofart.org

CAMPS from page 24

Register: https://bit.ly/ TMA SummerCamps education@tucsonmuseumofart.org

Inspired by the permanent collection and special exhibitions, the museum offers summer art classes for ages 5 to 13 to express their creativity and produce original works of art. Classes of up to 12 to 15 children (grouped by age) discover new places and diverse cultures through visits to the museum galleries and historic buildings. Draw, paint, sculpt, collage, print and more at the Tucson Museum of Art. Each weekly session is led by local teaching artists and art educators focusing on in-depth lessons in art making. Please note: TMA’s art camp will be closed July 3 to July 7. Prices are $250 per week for members; $275 per week for nonmembers; $40 after care.

Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club

Summer Camp

4001 N. Country Club Road, Tucson 520-303-7902 tucsonracquetclub.com summercamp@tucsonracquetclub.com

The day camps include junior tennis camp; junior all-sports camp; soccer camp; peewee sports camp; and peewee soccer camp. In the evening, the club features junior evening tennis camp.

Y Summer Camp

Various locations around Tucson tucsonymca.org/program/ summercamp

The YMCA offers eight weeks of full-day summer programming. Each theme-based week is led by trained staff and is packed with activities, games, treasure hunts, water fun, sports and fieldtrips. Camps are for ages 5 to 12.

www.maranaaz.gov/register

MUSIC CITY HITMAKERS 4/15

Nashville songwriters - The most famous people you’ve never heard of sing the songs that made someone else famous!

MUSIC CITY HIT-MAKERS CONCERT SET LIST!

A Little More Summertime, Jason Aldean

Fast Cars and Freedom, Rascal Flatts

How Forever Feels, Kenny Chesney

I Know You Won’t, Carrie Underwood

Take Me There, Rascal Flatts

There Goes My Life, Kenny Chesney

I’m Still A Guy, Brad Paisley

In Color, Jamey Johnson

It Ain’t My Fault, Brothers Osborne

Southern Girl, Tim McGraw

Whiskey and You, Chris Stapleton

You’re Gonna Miss This, Trace Adkins

MUSIC & MOVIES 2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN 4/8

MUSIC: TIREBITERS 7PM

MOVIE SCREENING: ALMOST FAMOUS 8PM

Athlete of the Week: Sarah Goldman

Shortly after finishing her latest singles opponent 6-0, 6-0 with a dizzying combination of laser-focused forehands, perfect-touch backhands and a serve that appears to defy the laws of physics by jumping (and seemingly accelerating) at the receiver after contacting the ground — Sarah Goldman is told by an onlooker to smile. “I am smiling,” she deadpans, as she sits and awaits her doubles match. Undertakers probably smile more.

The Ironwood Ridge sophomore made it to state last year, but got bounced relatively early. She wants more this year.

It has been an uncharacteristically rough start for her Nighthawk team. They lost to powerful Rincon/University and Catalina Foothills by 9-0 scores, but they also suffered lopsided losses to Marana (8-1), Sahuarita (7-2) and Nogales (6-3). Through it all, their roster had been somewhat fluid due to a couple minor injuries and some other off-court stuff. But they finally hit their stride with a win over district opponent Amphi and appeared poised to take on powerhouses Salpointe and Canyon Del Oro in the following week.

Goldman lost her matches to Rincon and Foothills, but the latter one still rankles her to this day. “She won the first set, but I came back and won the second one. So, we went to a tie-breaker.”

In such cases in high-school tennis (where a match is tied at one set apiece), a full third set is not played. Instead, they play a tie-breaker up to 10 points. It’s an exciting and nerve-wracking exercise in skill and will, one in which one bad shot or an out-of-nowhere double fault on a serve can cost a player the entire match.

“Against Foothills, we were battling and (exchanging) ground strokes. It was fun. But, in the tie-breaker, she totally changed her strategy. She started lobbing the ball, just getting it back, waiting for me to mess up. I didn’t adjust well to the change.” She lost the tie-breaker 10-6. “It was a lesson I learned.”

Sarah Goldman is taking physics and intro to calculus her sophomore year at Ironwood Ridge. (Sarah Goldman/Submitted)

Watching from the sidelines is her father, well-known local immigration attorney, Mo Goldman. While Sarah would love to compete for a state championship before she’s done at Ironwood Ridge, her dad actually was a state champion. He was part of the boys basketball team at Green Fields Country Day School that won a state title under (then) first-year coach Brian Peabody, a Pima County Athletic Hall of Famer who is now at Pima College.

As much as she aims high on the tennis court, her academic endeavors are equally rigorous. Only a sophomore, she is taking physics and intro to calculus — two courses often not taken (if taken at all) until one’s senior year. While she enjoys her math and science classes, she has no idea what she wants to study in college, which is still a long way off.

After taking a short break and hydrating a bit on the first really warm day of the season, she and her doubles partner, Charlotte Pierce, win their doubles match, 8-2. Then she smiles.

SPORTS & RECREATION |

In sports: equity now, equity forever

There was a time — one, in the grand scheme of things, that was not that long ago — when girls and women who wanted to play basketball in Iowa and other parts of the American Midwest had to do so under a set of rules that today would be considered, at the very least, absurdly sexist.

It was billed as 6-on-6 basketball, but in fact it was two sets of 3-on-3 played on the two halfcourts of a basketball floor. Team A would have start play by getting the ball at midcourt. They would play 3-on-3 against Team B’s defenders in the halfcourt until they either scored or Team B got possession of the ball (via steal, rebound or turnover). Then, play would stop and Team B’s three offensive players would get the ball at halfcourt and go on the attack on the other side of the floor against Team A’s defenders.

The bizarre form of the sport began not long after the invention of basketball itself. Schools interested in providing some form of physical education for their female students latched on to the game that was rapidly growing in popularity, but distorted it so that it wouldn’t be too stressful for the “female participants.” (I googled the sport all over the place, but I couldn’t find one reference to “female athletes.”)

Iowa held its first 6-on-6 state championship in 1920 and continued doing so

well into the 1980s. It took a Title IX lawsuit, one that claimed that Iowa school girls were being denied the opportunity to earn college scholarships because they weren’t being allowed to play real basketball, to finally put an end to the sexist practice.

I grew up with six athletic sisters and an open-minded mother. I’ve always been a huge proponent of women’s sports. I could tell you horror stories about some of the ridiculous and egregious things I’ve witnessed, some of them not that long ago.

Back in the 1980s, here in Tucson, the Arizona Interscholastic Association had a split-year arrangement. Boys would play high-school basketball in the regular winter season, while the girls would play in the spring. (That forced the girls to play softball in the winter, sometimes in freezing temperatures.) The “reasoning” behind it was that most of the schools in the Tucson Unified School District only had one gym, so rather than trying to schedule equitable practice schedules for the girls and the boys, they just decided to dump the girls in the spring.

I wrote an article about it back then and I asked a boys’ coach about the unfairness of it all. I asked if they were going to stick with the split schedule, why not have the boys play in the winter one year and then flip-flop with the girls the next year. The coach (a local legend and member of the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame) found that to be outrageous. He

replied (and I quote), “It’s more important for boys to get (athletic) scholarships than for girls.”

(I actually offered to allow him to retract or adjust the statement, but he said that he would stand by it.)

More than a decade later, I coached a girls basketball team to a region championship. After the season, I got called into the office and was told by the Principal that “all that winning is hard on the girls.”

I swear I thought he was joking, so I started laughing. He wasn’t joking. We had a really uncomfortable (for him) few minutes of verbal dancing, then he finished with, “I know all the right things to say, but you and I both know that boys and girls are different.”

Not when it comes to sports, they’re not.

Tonight (April 5), there will be an event at the Fox Tucson Theatre. It’s called Women’s Equity in Sports: The Fight, the Scars, and the Thrill of Victory. Panelists will include University of Arizona women’s basketball coach Adia Barnes, ESPN

announcer and former college athlete Sarah Spain, and Kathrine Switzer (the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon).

It should offer an uplifting look at some of the great places where women’s sports are headed.

One really cool thing is that the NCAA women’s basketball tournament is now generating so much media heat that the NCAA is taking steps to have it stand on its own in negotiating for media rights (and lots of money for schools). Right now, only football and men’s basketball have separate media deals. All of the other NCAA sports — from women’s basketball to men’s cross country to field hockey are lumped together in one low-paying package.

For decades, ESPN, et al, played the chicken or the egg with women’s basketball. We’ll cover it when it starts drawing fans. Well, ESPN is covering it, and fans are showing up in big numbers.

The chicken and the egg have both arrived.

AGING WELL

Gardening Cultivates Benefits for Your Health

A multitude of research shows that those who spend time planting or cultivating a garden can end up reaping a variety of health benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. This is good news for avid gardeners in the Tucson area, many of whom are transplants themselves from the Midwest, East Coast, and other parts of the United States.

One of them is Ken Simkins, who lives with his wife Kathy at Splendido, an all-inclusive community in Oro Valley for those 55 and better. Ken enjoys tending a variety of potted and in-ground plants outside their Villa Home, including a Lady Banks rose (like the famous one in Tombstone) along the wall of the back patio. He also vol-

unteers at Tohono Chul gardens, which, he jokes, “gives me an additional 47 acres to work with.”

Growth of a Gardener

“Gardening is something I’ve done for years, with a lot of education,” says Ken. “It’s been sort of a secondary career, and is now expressed through whatever I can do around our Villa and at Tohono Chul.”

A self-described “plant geek,” Ken has tapped into his background in computers to develop a database of the plants he’s worked with in his three years in Arizona.

“I have 1,800 so far,” he says.

In addition to working with plants in Tohono Chul’s propagation area, he serves as a docent in the park, teaching and

interacting with people.

“I enjoy seeing people interact with plants found in the Sonoran Desert,” he says. “It’s really my delight to be going out with a group of young children and noticing their wonder and joy as I point out the special features in the park.”

A Bouquet of Health Benefits

Multiple studies show that gardening is an ideal way to cultivate good health:

• Stress relief: Dutch researchers found that gardening fights stress better than other hobbies. In their study, participants who gardened outdoors reported better moods and tested for lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who spent time reading.

• Physical activity: Gardening may not burn a lot of calories, but activities like digging and weeding are wonderful forms of low-impact exercise. The stretching and repetitive movements are good for those who may not be able to exercise more vigorously.

• Healthy diet: A University of Florida study found that people who learn to garden as children or young adults are far more likely to eat the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and far more likely to enjoy them.

• Mood boost: Researchers found that people diagnosed with depression who spent six hours a week gardening showed a measurable improvement in their depressive symptoms; this trend

continued for three months after the gardening program stopped.

• Dementia fighter: One study tracked more than 2,800 older adults for 16 years and found that physical activity could reduce incidence of future dementia. Specifically, daily gardening reduced subjects’ risk of dementia by 36%!

There’s also no denying that gardening boosts our mood. “I get a sense of well-being while I’m working with plants,” says Ken. “It feels good!” Interested in learning more about Splendido? For floor plans, photos, and information on upcoming events, visit splendidotucson.com.

Childhood adversity and chronic adult illness

Sad to say, many children suffer neglect or abuse in ways that may not make headlines.

This is not a new phenomenon — the mistreatment of children has gone on for centuries if not longer. Other adverse experiences in childhood (such as witnessing domestic violence, parental incarceration, and parental drug or alcohol abuse) also may have lasting consequences as well.

These aspects of a child’s environment can disrupt any sense of safety and stability and impair a child’s ability to bond with others. Ongoing research has shown that such adverse childhood events (ACEs) can lead to chronic illness in adulthood ranging from heart disease, headaches and other chronic pain syndromes, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses.

Depression, panic disorder and generalized anxiety that develop before age 21 can also be outcomes stemming from adverse events in childhood. ACEs can have long lasting negative effects on health, quality of life, education, and job opportunities. There can be increased risks of injuries, sexually transmitted infections, teen pregnancies with complications, sex trafficking and suicides. The toxic stress can impact children’s brain development and immune systems, impacting their attention, ability to learn, and decision making.

Dr. Rodney Hammond, former director of the Division of Violence Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Prevention stated in 2009 that “Estimates based on 2008 national survey of children aged 2 to 17 years indicate that approximately one in 10 children reported having experienced maltreatment and one in 16 were victimized sexually.”

Research continues and more people are coming forward with personal chronicles of their upbringing that includes multiple ACEs. Today, according to the CDC, approximately 61% of adults surveyed in 25 states reported that they had experienced at least one ACE and now one in six said they had four or more

such events before age 18. The incidence and burden of child mistreatment is not only of great health concern in childhood but also as these children grow into adulthood.

Dr. Kate Scott, clinical psychologist in New Zealand, led a study which was published in the August 2011 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. She examined the responses to the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Surveys Initiative completed by 18,303 adults aged 18 and older from 10 countries, including the United States.

Conducted from 2001 through 2004, the team evaluated the survey responses to look for the risk for adult chronic illnesses and early onset depression and anxiety disorders because of specific childhood adversities. While there are an infinite number of possible childhood adversities, this study looked specifically at physical or sexual abuse, neglect, parental death, divorce or other such parental loss, parental substance abuse, parental criminal behavior, parental mental illness, family violence and family economic difficulties.

Survey respondents who reported a history of three or more of the listed childhood adversities were associated with six physical illnesses — heart disease, asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, headaches and chronic neck or back pain.

“There is a general message here about the importance of the childhood psychosocial environment for later health, both physical and mental, and a general mes -

sage about the interconnection between mental and physical health,” said Dr. Scott. Reports of two childhood adversities also increased the risk for adult-onset chronic illnesses, with osteoarthritis and heart disease having the greatest hazard ratios.

Such adversity as “childhood neglect, abuse, and parental psychopathology has widespread, long term associations with later poor physical health,” was shown in this report. As adults, those who experienced ACEs often have unstable work histories, chronic financial insecurity, and lifelong depression issues. These negative effects can be passed to their children and the ACE experience continues.

A similar study was undertaken by Roxanne Snyder RN, MS, DNP, professor of nursing at Yuba College in Marysville, California. In her doctoral dissertation at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst she also concluded that there is a strong association between adverse childhood events and chronic illness later in life. Ninety-six study participants in a Sacramento, California primary care office responded to an 11 item ACE questionnaire about adverse events they may have experienced in childhood. She, too, found an association between an ACE score of three or more and chronic disease; her research showed that there was a 6.29 times greater likelihood of having a chronic illness diagnosis.

There are tremendous costs in treating both ACEs and subsequent chronic

illnesses. The economic and social costs to families and society at large reaches hundreds of billions of dollars every year including health care, loss of productivity, civil transgression issues and more. The CDC predicts that a 10% reduction in ACEs in the United States could reap a savings of $56 billion per year.

Would preventing ACEs possibly reduce some chronic illnesses? The CDC predicts that by preventing ACEs up to 1.9 million heart disease cases and 21 million incidences of depression could be potentially avoided. Despite time constraints, health care providers should look for possible root causes of certain illnesses. Inquiry may be initially uncomfortable for both health care providers and patients, but a health care partnership relationship may open doors of honest communication.

Raising awareness of the ACE phenomena, reducing the stigma in seeking mental health services and help with parenting and observing children’s behaviors can help. The CDC has a pamphlet on its website, “Preventing Adverse Experiences (ACEs); leveraging the Best Available Evidence.”

So, we have more food for thought and another clear example of that intricate and intimate connection between mind and body.

Mia Smitt is a longtime nurse practitioner who writes a regular column for Tucson Local Media.

Thinking about senior living?

SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA

Today’s retirement communities are far different than you might think. They’re for people who want to maintain their independence, expand their horizons and make their own decisions. Below are four things to consider when making a decision.

I’m ready for more connection

Would you like to explore new interests and meet new friends? A retirement community can offer the opportunity to join in with peers as well as those of all ages, allowing you the choice of connecting with someone new or exploring a new interest.

I’m ready for more convenience

Are you looking to simplify your life with less home maintenance and housework? Are you tired of shopping and preparing meals? If so, now is the time to experience the advantages and independence of a lifestyle

within a comfortable and maintenance-free environment.

I’m ready to make my own decision

Most people need to make housing adjustments as they grow older. Don’t wait until a crisis forces you or your loved ones into a decision you haven’t prepared for.

I’m ready to be ready for whatever happens

We realize that circumstances can change. So, we offer vibrant, fulfilling lifestyle options from independent living to licensed and accredited assisted living services. You’ll have access to a full range of options, from help with minor tasks to daily assistance and care.

For more information about the engaging senior living lifestyle offered at Villa Hermosa located at 6300 E. Speedway Boulevard, call 520-704-6491 or visit villahermosaseniorliving.com.

Student Chronicles

Know of a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@ tucsonlocalmedia.com

Caroline Mays of Marana was named to the fall 2022 dean’s honor roll at the University of Mississippi at University, Mississippi. The list is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50 to 3.74. To be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester. Ole Miss is the state’s flagship university.

Paul Harper of Tucson was named to the president’s list for the fall 2022 semester at Georgia State University in Atlanta. To be eligible for the president’s list, degree-seeking students must have earned a GPA of at least 4.0 for a minimum of nine semester hours of academic credit taken at Georgia

force. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 125 fully online, hybrid and face-to-face programs and specializations. The university offers classes to military service personnel and their families at more than 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans.

State during the fall or spring term with no incompletes for the semester. Eligible students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all classes taken at Georgia State. Georgia State University is an urban public research university.

Four students from Marana graduated from the University of Maryland Global Campus. They are Xenia Delilah Thomas; Bachelor of Science in social science; Ashley Monae Spears, Bachelor of Science in human resource management; Rafael Spears, Bachelor of Science in information systems management; and John Coby II, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. University of Maryland Global Campus graduated more than 7,600 students worldwide in fall 2022. Students from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and 18 countries earned UMGC degrees. More than 2,200 graduates attended “Grad Walk” in Adelphi, Maryland, an in-person experience designed to place the spotlight directly on graduates and their achievements while helping protect the health and safety of their guests and the university community. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus was established in 1947 to serve adults in the work-

Four students from Marana made the president’s list at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the fall 2022 semester. They are Dhamian Rubio, Shawn Quibell, Cathy Macklin and Carolyn Huerta. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the president’s list. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired eight-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring and summer. Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with a 90-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 170,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus.

Elizabeth Rodriguez-Cuenca, a native of Marana, was recently initiated into the Arizona State University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The society recently welcomed 646 new initiates from 23 universities. Students initiated into the society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/ professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than 5% of students on a campus are invited to join each year. Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded in Lexington, Virginia, on Dec. 3, 1914. A group of 15 students and faculty members established the society to recognize and encourage leadership at the collegiate level.

Boy Scouts celebrate award winners

SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA

Community leaders, including parents and educators, received volunteer recognition for longtime leadership and service at the Boy Scouts of America Catalina Council’s Annual Awards Banquet held recently at the Hilton El Conquistador.

Keynote speaker paying tribute to the awardees was Oro Valley Mayor and Eagle Scout Joe Winfield, who is father to six sons — all Eagle Scouts, too.

The Silver Antelope and Silver Beaver awards, among other honors, were bestowed to scouters (adult leaders) who have given outstanding or exceptional service to their community and scouting in Southern Arizona.

Many awardees spent most of their lives involved in scouting and continue to lead the organization, either as scout leaders or in service on the council’s board.

Eagle Scout James Tarleton serves as the territory commissioner and assistant scoutmaster for Troop 209. This recently retired Raytheon electrical engineer was recognized with the Silver Antelope Award.

“Scouting reminds me of the importance of duty to others and giving back the gifts given to you,” Tarleton said.

Outside of scouting, he spends time with his wife, three children and two

grandchildren; he also coaches basketball at the YMCA, leads the DeGrazia PTO board, and tutors high school and elementary students in his free time.

Silver Beaver Award recipients Joyce Contrades and Kathy Winger are avid volunteers and mothers who started their scouting journeys as Girl Scouts and became involved in Boy Scouts of America when their children were old enough to join Cub Scouts.

Contrades, daughter of her engineer father and registered nurse mother, received the District Award of Merit in 2017 for her many years volunteering for Boy Scouts of America. She became the Sky Islands District Committee Chair in 2019 and, outside of scouting, volunteers for many organizations including Project Graduation when it was brought to Ironwood Ridge High School for the first graduating class.

Winger is a member of the council’s board of directors and the immediate past president. She is an attorney with her own law firm practice and teaches classes at Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. She is active in other nonprofit organizations including the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center where she serves as president of the board of directors. Her Eagle Scout son, JD, is a proud West Point graduate and now a second lieutenant in the Army.

dates, and locations for 2023

Mark at (520) 991-8511 or ccbm777@aol.com

744-2665

and Son Contractor Family Business 25 yrs. BBB Member & licensed. Specialize

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

GF and Son Contractor

Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans. Now Accepting Credit cards

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

1 Word with straw or exit 5 Kept in the loop, in a way

9 Org. originally founded to protect carriage horses 13 Oregon-based shoe company

Ring light ?

Broken up

Atingle, maybe

Gaelic language 18 The hate in hate mail

19 Name in price lists? 20 Larson who won Best Actress for 2015’s “Room” 21 ___ Heights

22 Instruct for a new job, say

1 Big bakery/cafe chain 2 Seeds-to-be

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

You don't idolize anyone, and neither do you demonize anyone. You really have a balanced view of who people are and why they do what they do, which will serve you well this week. You'll interact with new people, find common ground and come out with some real treasures.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

What sharing is, per a rhyming expression

Mommie deer-est?

Something you need to do to solve crosswords

Universal solutions

Pastries with a portmanteau name

Where bills get passed,

37 Some tap offerings, in brief 39 Susan of “L .A. Law” 40 Cousin of a cassowary

41 Like some of the mil.

42 Actress Thompson of “Sorry to Bother You”

44 Super-super-

48 John who wrote “ The Pelican Brief”

50 More up-and-down, as a relationship

52 Up

53 Guitarist ’s accessory

54 Sur veillance org.

55 Really hate

56 Short meeting?

57 French breakfast item that sounds like a response to a gut punch

58 A little of this, a little of that

29 Projection from the fashionably late

Short life? 32 Groove

Fresh talk

59 One who may need credentials

60 Avatar of Vishnu 61 Give up

62 A moose has a big one 63 “Less Than Zero” writer ___ Easton Ellis

“It was all a ___”

Some Ph.D. students

Fast-food chain with a cowboy hat in its

So many come to you with outstretched hands. If only you could help them all... Who knows? Maybe you will! If you do, it will be a byproduct of you following the impulses to help yourself. What do you want? If you don't know yet, you will by the end of the week.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Accept what you want and accept what you don't want. Acceptance is crucial to change because you cannot change that which you don't take on. Think of your current situation as a vehicle. You can drive this wherever you want, but you have to get inside it first. Acceptance puts you in the driver's seat.

C ANCER (June 22-July 22)

You've been known to do amazing things even when you're tired, not in the mood, under the weather or otherwise encumbered. Bottom line: You're the kind of person who comes through to the best of your ability no matter what. Quietly celebrate your strength and others will celebrate you far less quietly.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

It's easier to wake the sleeping than it is to wake the ones who think they are already awake. Luckily, it's not your job to be the alarm clock. It will be enough for you to simply note the alertness of those around you, meet them where they are and then raise awareness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

If you want someone to love you back, that's a less optimal goal than wanting to see their smile. Focusing on others comes easy to you this week. The attention you give them brings you out of your own mind and into the heart of the world.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Needing to know the reason for things is only human. The moment the mind lands on a reason (any reason at all, really), cognitive dissonance resolves. Until that point, agitation drives us forward. This week, provide reasons for people and for yourself. If you don't, you leave yourself open to speculative fiction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)

You keep putting yourself in new situations because they always lead to self-discovery. If there isn't enough novelty around you, a change of location will help. Travel is an especially effective way to jump-start your energy. If it doesn't work for this week, at least get something on the books. Looking forward to travel can be half the fun.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

"The more the merrier" only works up to a point. And for most of what you're doing this week, merriment isn't the point anyway. Small groups are better for keeping everyone accountable. When too many get involved, there's a diffusion of responsibility. You're the leader who helps everyone see how much they count. Together you'll move mountains.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

No one can get you to move if you don't want to today. You are self-directed. You follow your whims and do what you tell yourself to do. Follow-through matters much more than what you actually follow through with. It could be anything. The important thing is to trust yourself and know that you are compliant with your higher wishes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

No one wants you to feel obligated to them, and they will give of themselves freely without strings attached. They may appreciate reciprocity, but they don't expect it. They know it comes in many forms. Know that when people consult you and prioritize you, it's happening for a good reason. To understand that reason is to appreciate your own inherently lovable qualities.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

You'll watch everything closely and extract abundant joy from minutiae: a toddler playing, a bird feeding, the patterns of passing clouds. Take on a disorganized area of your home, as it could be stopping the flow of energy through your world and preventing you from receiving money. Clean, clear and organize your way into a weekend payoff.