CULTURE • SCIENCE • IDEAS
DECEMBER 2019 • DEWEY NELSON • ARTISAN CHOCOLATE GRIEF • FOREST BATHING • LOCAL JAMMING • MORE
Publisher: John Duncan Managing Editor: Ed Mickens Associate Editor: Abby Brill Design: Steven Ayres Graphics: Sylvia Wauters Contact us! 5ensesMag@gmail.com 928-421-1123; 5ensesMag.com All content ©2019 4am Productions Cover: Silver ring by Dewey Nelson (story on p. 12)
IN S IDE
Serving the Prescott region with local perspectives on culture, science and ideas.
6 Black Butterfly Chocolates 8 Forest Bathing at the Highlands Center 11 Amanda Marsh on Grief 12 Art as Ceremony: Jeweler Dewey Nelson 14 Intensive Expo at Northpoint High 15 News from the Wilds 16 What's Happening at YCPAC 17 Perceivings by Alan Dean Foster 18 Holiday Gifts from PCA 19 Food: Local Food at BiGA and John's Chophouse 20 What's Up? Mars and the Moon, Together Again 21 Bird of the Month: Bufflehead 22 On the Shelves: Book Tips 23 Stink Bug by Russ Miller
3•5enses
Vol. 8 No. 12 • December 2019
4 Wednesday Jam at Jersey Lilly's
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Wednesday Jammin’ at Jersey Lilly’s by Carlos de Gonzalez
P
rescott is known for a lot ofthings. We’re home to the world’s oldest rodeo. The entire state visits “Arizona’s Christmas City” during the holidays.
Whiskey Row has its own attractions, historic and alcoholic, and has survived more than one catastrophic fire. But did you know that, within some ofthose buildings on the Row, there is fantastic music to be heard? One great spot is upstairs at Jersey Lilly’s Saloon. Yes, the ambience is old- fashioned, yet inviting. It’s comfortable and the staffis very friendly, especially April, who regularly tends bar. Her cocktails are delectable, and the bar offers draft and bottle service. But back to the music: every Wednesday night between 7 and 10pm, musicians from different walks oflife get on stage and share their craft. Glenn Walker has been hosting this incarnation ofthe jam session for two years and has played guitar for over 50. He is deeply passionate about sharing music with audiences. Every week he brings a PA board, two or more speakers, and a guitar amp. Open-mic sessions first started at Jersey Lilly’s in 2007 and continued for three years. At the time Glenn’s job demanded more ofhim, so he had to travel extensively for a while, but couldn’t resist playing for long, and popped in when he could. Unbelievable as it may seem, the year that open-mic started at Lilly’s there was hardly any live entertainment on the weekends, and nothing during the week. Glenn says, “I love that it engages new talent, and that people feel comfortable.” One ofthe most important things to him is that everyone he plays with is really engaged and encouraging. He would never do it ifthey weren’t.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, but had to decline. He was so passionate about music he built his own recording studio on Lincoln Street, later bought by Taul Paul Epoch, another great local harp player. Sadly, there hasn’t been Glenn found out about Prescott on Findyourspot.com, anything like it since. Taul Paul is an incredible harmonica player, with great depth and tone, and learning about the music scene locally, he was drawn in. The core group on stage (Glenn, Devell, and Jimmy) have played together for years, and has been playing since the mid-’80s. His first and most important inspiration was his dad, who attended the Juilliard School right after he and Glenn’s main act is called Walker and Company. served in World War II. Why does he like playing at Jersey Lilly’s? The Devell Riley, the main drummer, has been playing for over 50 years biggest reason is the host, Glenn Walker, who has great musicianship and and brings his own drum kit, not only so he can play, but also to share it with other drummers who want to play. His family played various instru- is very fair about getting everyone to play. Another reason is the diehard passion ofthe fans. They show up, ments, leading him to explore his own flair for music. For him Lilly's is an dance, and provide a lot ofsupport. There’s also the generosity ofthe muopportunity to pay it forward: “Music is a gift that you don’t keep, you sicians toward one another. Week in and week out, there’s a special cashare it with the people around you.” maraderie and vast array ofaccomplished players that go through the Jimmy Jam Peck is a phenomenal guitarist and all-around musician, lineup. In Paul’s words: “It really is an amazing thing to witness and be a and Lilly’s is very fortunate to have him there every week. His style feels full, and you can tell that his heart is really involved when he plays. Even part of.” Also among the talent at Jersey Lilly’s is Travis Brockett, 26. He’s been while serving in the military he still found time to play, now for over 55 serious about acoustic and electric guitar for five years, although it sounds years. Jimmy has played with several famous musicians. One ofhis most like he’s been playing for a decade. Drums are an addition to his main notable feats is that he wrote the song “Mary Had A Little Lamb” — well, a more bluesy and fun version ofthe title, later to be made famous by talent, and he plays those well too. He started coming in September and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He also played with the Allman Joys, with frontmen has loved it ever since. Feeling welcome his first night, he keeps coming Duane and Gregg Allman, who later became, you guessed it, the Allman back, and enjoys the fact that the jam is welcoming to virtually anyone Brothers Band. To add to the repertoire, he also got a chance to tour with who can play or sing, and that it’s very accessible. His biggest inspiration
behind playing? The thrill he feels playing and hearing the music. It runs deep, to the core. Leslie Earl Lyman, 59 and another fantastic musician, has been performing and writing music for over four decades. He draws from a multitude ofinfluences. “There have been so many great players and songwriters in multiple genres that have inspired me to grow as an artist,” he says. Les has been performing regularly and supporting the Jersey Lilly Jam for years, within months ofits inception. He feels that “Playing at open mics and jam sessions are incredibly important to a healthy and diverse music scene … and I have a lot offun.”
And then there’s me, Carlos, your reporter. I was born in
Chicago in 1980 and moved to the Prescott area in 2010. I’ve been joining in at Jersey Lilly’s jams since August, and have experienced some of the most inspirational moments ofmy life. I’ve played the harmonica (“harp”) for 17 years and enjoy every moment ofit. Drawing on musical experience and influence from my mother, who was a professional singer, I joined junior high school choir, and continued singing within educational institutions until 1998. I also started learning violin in 1996 and put it away in 1998; not knowing then how much I would grow to appreciate such a beautiful instrument. The harp is a lot offun to play, and I’m primarily self-taught. My biggest blues influences are Little Walter, the Blues Brothers, Ricci, Paul Butterfield and Curtis Salgado, who not only taught me a few things about playing, but was also involved in writing the script for the movie that hooked me into playing most: The Blues Brothers. There are several others who have played through the Jersey Lilly’s Jams, and too many to name here, but everyone has fun and it’s likely to continue for years to come. Many who jam out have played or still play in bands outside ofWednesdays. Prescott is lucky to have such great local talent and a thriving music scene for a town ofits size. All the musicians bring most oftheir own equipment and aren’t paid, so tips are definitely appreciated. So what are you waiting for? Come party with us! Ifyou can sing or play music, get on stage. Ifnot, get on the dance floor! Carlos de Gonzalez is a regular contributor to 5enses.
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Prescott’s “Accidental Chocolatier” and Her Gallery ofEdible Art
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by Abby Brill
ot that long ago people stayed all their lives in one place, beginning work in their youth and sticking to that job forever.
In our time we have the flexibility and freedom to try different kinds of work — exciting, and sometimes bewildering —but we learn new skills throughout our lives. Tracy Taylor, owner ofBlack Butterfly Chocolates, is a prime example: she came to the task ofcreating the shop via a circuitous route. Note: I highly recommend that readers take a different approach, and make a beeline to visit this jewel ofa confectionary shop in the heart of Prescott, in the Old Firehouse Plaza at 218 W. Goodwin St. Tracy describes herselfas an “accidental chocolatier.” Originally from Canada, she worked in the telecom industry for years before dipping into the world offine chocolate. She did formal training at the École Chocolat in Vancouver, and learned from several world-class chocolatiers, including Norman Love, who first introduced color into chocolate. Tracy worked for some years out ofNaples, Florida, where she worked farmers’ markets and catering events all along the GulfCoast. Moving to Arizona to be closer to family, Tracy looked all around the Phoenix area, but found she much preferred the hometown, main-street vibe ofPrescott. She opened Black Butterfly Chocolates in 2017. Ifyou are wondering why you might choose to spend money on fancy chocolate instead ofjust satisfying your craving with a peanut-butter cup, you must first realize that these are two very different experiences. The vast majority ofcommon chocolate uses low-grade cacao and is blended with palm oil to stabilize it and prevent melting. Most palm oil comes
from Indonesia and Malaysia and, apart from being a saturated fat and not healthy to consume, the increasing need ofindustry for palm oil is causing poor farmers to slash and burn vital wildlife habitat for endangered species. Snarfing down a Snickers before a football game will satisfy your need for carbs, but savoring a Black Butterfly chocolate is a deeper taste experience.
Tracy sources her cacao from a family-owned business in Venezuela. She finds that Venezuelan cacao has far more depth and flavor than those from other sources. Rather than use palm oil as a stabilizer, she first “tempers” the chocolate. Tempering is the process ofheating the chocolate just enough to stabilize the beta-5 crystals. Correct tempering is what gives the snap and shine to chocolate. Once the tempering is done, she then uses the chocolate to make her various products. Sometimes the chocolate meets “inclusions,” which might be crystallized herbs, flower petals, peppercorns, dried fruits or nuts. Another really interesting product that can be found in Black Butterfly is cacao juice. This is made from the pulp that surrounds the fresh beans. In ancient times, before people began using cacao beans to make chocolate (around the 16th century), the indigenous peoples in Central and South America used to crack open the pods and suck out the juice. Tracy offers tastes ofcacao juice at the shop, and it’s not at all what you might expect, much more reminiscent ofcitrus than chocolate. Tracy likens it to lychee juice. Available for sale in small cartons, people in the know use it as a cocktail mixer, in smoothies or just as a refreshing drink. Definitely try it.
Color and image have always been used as symbols. The name “mendiant” referring to chocolate dates back to medieval Provence, when the mendicant orders ofthe Catholic church were prevalent. The inclusions on top ofa chocolate disk or bar evoke the colors associated with the four primary mendicant orders. • Grey (sultanas): Franciscans (the Grey Friars), founded 1209 • Brown (hazelnut/walnut): Carmelites (the Brown Friars), founded 1206-1214 • White (slivered almonds): Dominicans (the White Friars), founded 1215 • Deep purple (figs/cranberries): Augustinians (the Augustine Friars), founded 1244-1256
Modern mendiant wafers, a fresh take on an oldtreat.
Note: Ifyou want to impress Tracy, waltz into Black Butterfly some day and ask for some mendiant chocolates that lean toward the Dominican persuasion.
A sampling:
• Barks, in which the inclusions are mixed into the chocolate, then the bark is broken into pieces and sold by the bag • Mendiant wafers and bars, where the inclusions are sprinkled on top • Dipped fruits, including candied orange, lemon peel and Turkish apricots • Wine-pairing wafers, simple, high-quality chocolate in three different levels ofcacao content, sold in boxes offour, to hang on the necks of wine bottles • Bonbons, bite-sized jewels hand-painted and filled with ganache, caramel, marzipan or fondant • Snack bars, a larger bonbon style
Walking into the Black Butterfly is a treat for the eyes as well as the mouth. Tracy’s chocolates are beautifully displayed and
packaged, making perfect gifts for any occasion. Her creations are so finely crafted that they qualify as art. Some locals have even suggested she join the annual Artists Studio Tour, but up until now the committee hasn’t wanted to consider including edible art. I think it could be a delightful subcategory on the tour. Imagine the possibilities! She also offers classes for those who want to explore the world offine chocolate. Tracy’s monthly three-hour classes walk you through the process ofmaking either mendiant bars or bonbons. Included are all ingredients, sparkling wine or water, elegant hors d’œuvres, and you get to take home 24 bonbons or three mendiant bars that you’ve made, plus the recipe and instructions on how to use the seed method to temper cacao. Bonbon classes are $100 per person, and mendiant-bar classes are $75. Private classes can be arranged for a minimum offour people, great for bachelorette parties, birthdays and other occasions. When participating in a mendiant class, you choose whatever you want to include on your bars, limited only by your imagination. Follow Black Butterfly at instagram.com/blackbutterflychocolates or facebook.com/BlackButterflyartisanchocolates
Abby Brill is associate editor of5enses.
7•5enses
About mendiant bars and wafers
5enses • 8
Befriending Winter, with a Forest Bath by EdMickens
I am not a winter person. It’s not so much the cold (although ifyou add damp, my whining joints make me cranky). It’s the dark: the late sunrise and the ever-earlier sunset,
sometimes complicated by dark, cloudy days. Sometimes I think the bears have the right idea, hibernating in a snug cave. But there are meetings to attend, dinners that need to get on the table, publications that must make it to the printer. “I spend a lot oftime in nature,” says Felipe Guerrero, education director at the Highlands Center for Natural History, “but there’s something special about the forest in winter. Maybe it’s the light. Heat can be oppressive, but when you’re bundled up in winter, you pay attention. The forest can be very still, almost serene, then a microburst ofchickadees or warblers surprises you.” The core concept behind “Befriending Winter” is shinrin yoku, a Japanese practice usually translated as “forest bathing.” Some studies have shown forest bathing to boost immune strength, reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning. But there’s more. By slowing down and carefully observing with all our senses, there’s an opportunity to really notice the world. Stepping away from the rapid pace ofdaily routines allows all ofus to observe the beauty ofthe moment. It’s calm. I had heard about the idea from friends on the coast — spiritual seekers, alternative health advocates — and so had the board at the Highlands Center. They were contemplating how to introduce forest bathing to their incomparable “tub” within the Prescott National Forest when they were contacted by Jackie Kuang, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide, who had recently moved to Prescott.
Winter?“It’s a great way to get people outside, exposed to the sun andexperiencing the specialquality of winter,”Kuang states simply. “The mind, body and spirit allget a lift.”
Jackie Kuang Kuang had helped develop the popular forest-bathing program at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and had trained other guides around the world. She and the board found a synchronicity, and a year-round program was sketched out — to be introduced just in time for winter.
We chatted about seasonal affective disorder. She gets it, having grown up in the north ofChina and the American Midwest. But she laughed off my questions about the climate differences between Prescott and Southern California. “I’ve co-guided these winter programs in Stockholm,” she explains. “There are tricks to keep warm and comfortable. But don’t forget that, even in LA, it can get chilly in the canyons. Always carry layers.” The upcoming forest-bathing walks at the Highlands Center will be about two hours long, and cover maybe a mile or mile and a half, on mostly level paths. What sets them apart is a sequence of“invitations” presented by the guide. These aren’t exercises, more “suggestions that give (the bather) freedom to interpret, and tap into their inner wisdom,” explains Kuang.
Jackie Kuang will be leading “Befriending Winter” programs on a monthly basis, along with her co-guide, Michelle Balfe-Keefer. The next scheduled dates are December 21, January 18 and February 15. Each group is limited to twelve participants, so reservations are highly recommended. Cost is $30. The Highlands Center is at 1375 S. Walker Road in Prescott, (928) 776-9550, highlandscenter.org/forest-bathing. Ed Mickens is managing editor of5enses.
These might be taking time to look at the undersides ofleaves, or dead wood and the organisms within. Smelling a pine cone. To notice what moves. It might mean feeling the wind, pondering what other beings feel the same wind, comparing it to breath. Sometimes Kuang will suggest reciprocity, like offering the wind something to carry. The idea is to assist embodiment, to feel grounded. Forest bathing encourages using all five senses, as a direct link to the heart. “When you take a hike from point A to point B, that’s just good exercise. You see the light only when you’re still.”
Connecting with the earth
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Initially Kuang wondered what kind ofeffect her forest-bathing walks were having. “Then I got a call from a participant, months later,” she recalls. “She was calling from LAX (yes, an airport!) to tell me how calm she felt. How amazed she was that everything looks so different.” Kuang soon found out that she had a Yelp! page full of compliments from reviewers about how calm and relaxed they felt, and had a new perspective on nature. She was also surprised how her audience, originally comprised ofseniors, kept getting younger and younger. Millennials are finding the benefits of stillness, too. “Nature is the therapist,” she reminds me. “Not me.”
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Guest perspective by Amanda Marsh
riefcan feel debilitating. When it washes over me I can’t think, I can’t get stuffdone.
It removes my ability to function in the world because it removes my desire to function. Griefis always there, right under the surface, but some days are much harder than others and, let me tell you, many ofmy days are very hard. Some people believe that griefexists within a period oftime, and that at some point griefshould exit and “normal” life should ensue. Griefaccompanies loss. A person existing within the shadow ofgriefis also existing within the shadow ofloss. I miss Eric deeply, and his physical absence from my life will always be painful. He is as real for me now as he was the last moment I saw him. Eric’s death shattered everything about my life, including who I was. It changed me. I used to be so hard on myself. I thought I should be able to go back to that hard-charging, ride any horse, working all the time, multitasking 38-year-old I was when he died. But my mind could no longer function in that world. I couldn’t keep a schedule because I kept missing appointments. I didn’t mean to, I just couldn’t remember. Over six years later my memory is still affected. When someone close to us dies, griefmoves into every space, occupying every breath and creating wounds others cannot see. I wear my grief, my loss, my sorrow on my body. My tattoos are a reminder ofwho I am
and who I have lost. I wear them sometimes covered up, sometimes out for people to see. It depends on my mood. Usually they are covered, because my loss is so well known. Sometimes I want to carry it just for myself. Those are the days my head is down and I retreat inside the space my family, my very close friends, and my animals have made for me. Griefis complicated and sad to watch in those we love. It can be so confusing because we want the people we love to be happy. We want them to smile and move on. We want them to show up in our lives the way they were before. Griefcan make those ofus suffering to become absent. I know that I am often absent from the lives ofpeople I love, and that’s because griefhas demands. We have to allow griefa place at the table, we have to allow griefinto the bed as we try to fall asleep. Griefcomes and goes at its own will, and though we might think we have a measure ofcontrol, we do not. Griefis the shadow oflove, and it comes to our door, no matter who we are. Amanda Marsh is the widow ofEric Marsh, superintendent ofthe Granite
Mountain Hotshots. The crew was killed fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013. She started the Eric Marsh Foundation to raise money for firefighters and their families in time ofneed. She is an avid writer and is working on a collection ofessays.
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Giving Griefa Place at the Table
5enses • 12
Art as Ceremony
F
or thousands ofyears we humans have sought ways to express our reverence and pay homage to the world around us.
From the cave paintings ofLascaux in France and the prehistoric pictographic art ofthe Southwest, we know the expression ofemotion and intent through works ofart as a basic human need. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the works ofjewelry artist Dewey Nelson. Quiet and unassuming, Dewey was born and raised in Prescott and enjoyed a childhood filled with inspiration. His mother, an English teacher at Prescott High School, also directed the theatre department, and his Hopi father painted scenery for the productions. But it was exposure to the work ofhis Hopi relatives that drew him to jewelry.
The Hopi have deep cultural ties to jewelry-making dating back
to the early 1800s, and it was Dewey’s relatives Fred Katobie (who painted the famous murals at the Grand Canyon’s Desert View Watchtower) and Paul Saufkie who helped develop the overlay technique associated with traditional Hopi jewelry today. Fred Katobie’s first piece ofjewelry was a gift to Eleanor Roosevelt. It was from Katobie and Saufkie’s sons Michael and Lawrence that Dewey learned to make jewelry. After mastering basic silversmithing skills, Dewey quickly developed his own unique style, rejecting the common forms influenced by Spanish designs, such as conchos, in favor ofthe organic textures oftufa casting, which expresses his respect for the earth. This technique makes use ofthe compressed volcanic-ash material known as tufa, commonly found in northern Arizona. In a labor-intensive process, a chunk oftufa is cut in half, carved with the design, then carbonized. The two halves are then bound together, by Lesley Aine McKeown creating a mold into which molten metal is poured. Dewey uses this process to create his distinctively rugged bracelets and rings, as well as the ingots (solid silver blanks) he uses to begin his pieces. Working with low-tech techniques like forging and whitesmithing (working the metal cold), he embellishes his work with simple but stunningly powerful designs using tools he makes himselffrom softened steel, filed to create the desired design and then tempered (rehardened). Each stamp is intentionally created to express his personal and tribal philosophy, representing symbols ofprayers for rain (yoyleki), clouds (oomaw), lightning (talwiipki) and mountains (tuukwi).
The Jewelry of
Dewey Nelson
“My work is organic. I like to pay homage to the materials I use.
I believe leaving things unrefined, as well as leaving traces ofthe process, accomplish this,” says Dewey. Distinctive to Dewey’s work is the iconic male figure Mausauw, the Hopi earth guardian and central representation ofhis own Fire Clan (Kookopngngyam). Incorporating brightly colored handmade beads from Africa and natural gemstones, Nelson embraces tribal cultures around the world and effectively imbues his pieces with a deep feeling of inclusiveness. “The world has morphed into a global village. We are now connected as never before through technology.” Dewey hopes his work will bring a deeper understanding ofthe Hopi culture and reconnect the wearer to the fundamental truths ofour connections with one another and our responsibility to be thoughtful and present stewards ofthe earth that gives us a home.
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maker, and several precious-metal refineries are offering 100% certified (SCS Global Services) recycled metal. It is important to note that mining any metal creates environmental threats such as erosion, heavy metal contamination and pollution ofwatersheds. This is why it’s so important to support artists who use recycled materials. By using recycled metals it is Dewey’s intent to create pieces much as his ancestors did, and to honor his heritage and its longstanding jewelry traditions. Dewey Nelson lives and creates in his home studio in Prescott. His work is represented at the Museum ofContemporary Art in Los Angeles and collected around the world. Find more on his website, deweynelson.wordpress.com, and Instagram @_dewey_nelson.
Lesley Aine Mckeown is a nationally recognized jeweler exhibiting in fine galleries across the US and Canada.
Dewey is what we call a “jeweler’s jeweler.” His work is visceral and tactile, immediately evoking emotion. To another jeweler his strong, confident expression in the metal speaks ofa deep understanding of its nature. I find it deeply moving, and hope one day have the honor of wearing a piece ofhis work. Dewey is a featured artist in the recently published book Bejeweled: The World ofEthical Jewelry by Kyle Roderick, which speaks to his use ofrecycled metals and ethically traded materials. For centuries recycling metal has been a tradition among jewelers. As consumers seek things that are produced sustainably, many jewelers are marketing their work as “ethically sourced.” What is ethical jewelry? In a nutshell, it is jewelry created with no negative impact on the people who make it or the environment. In today’s global economy it’s possible to purchase materials directly from the
5enses • 14
Northpoint Ends Year with Intensives Expo once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Orleans to engage in service-based Northpoint Academy is cordially inviting the Prescott com- alearning and cultural immersion in The Big Easy. munity to visit on Thursday, December 19 for Expo Night, a Ghost Hunting, led by Leah Sussman: Ghost Hunting takes students community open house exhibiting student work. on a scientific journey through the darker elements ofPrescott and surNorthpoint Academy is a nonprofit middle- and high-school public
charter in the heart ofPrescott. In addition to its core academic classes, Northpoint enrolls students in once-a-semester elective courses known as “intensives.” Intensives are two-and-a-half-week block classes that engage students in a multitude ofsubjects ranging from history to math, art, English, science, and everything in between. Each intensive incorporates the expeditionary model by engaging students in hands-on experiences, community service, discussions with expert speakers, critical-thinking activities and project-based learning. To help foster future leaders, Northpoint understands the need to engage students in academic and career opportunities that prepare them for their lives beyond high school. Along with elective courses, intensives also provide Northpoint students with opportunities to travel abroad. Continuing the concept offostering future leaders, Northpoint encourages all students to engage in at least one travel-abroad opportunity during their high-school career. Once a year students get the opportunity to travel outside the US for foreign cultural immersion and eye-opening experiences. Expo, short for Exposition, is a student-led open-house event in which each intensive displays and presents knowledge and projects developed throughout the course. At the heart ofExpo is the student-led mission that encourages students to take initiative and express their newfound understanding ofcourse material, to ask questions and share experiences and comprehension. Accompanying the student-run presentations are various projects designed by students in the course ofthe intensives that exhibit their knowledge in visual and verbal ways. Each project demonstrates a core facet ofthe intensive, ranging from visual art displays to interactive exhibits. This December's roster ofintensives includes: NELA Goes to NOLA, led by Alison Zych, JeffWood, Dale Poole and Sherry Riley: this senior-exclusive intensive takes the graduating class on
rounding areas in pursuit ofghosts, spirits and apparitions; are spirits real, or simply a process ofthe mind? Arizona Jones and The Z Files, led by Robert Zinni: this intensive embodies Indiana Jones by combining outdoor adventures with paranormal investigation relating to the history ofArizona. Three Pillars ofSustainability, led by “Morgoth” Gamboa: this intensive looks at the three core elements ofsustainability — society, the environment and the economy — by having students analyze the social elements ofeach pillar. Sound and Color, led by Taylor Kelling in collaboration with local art enthusiast Jonathan Allred: this intensive immerses students in the visual and musical arts with the mission ofobserving art from conception to marketing. Going Wild in Arizona, led by Kyle Short: this intensive connects students with the wilderness around them through fishing, hunting and land conservation in Arizona. Tough Girls, led by Adrienne Carey: Tough Girls is a women-exclusive intensive that provides girls with the courage, confidence and martial arts needed to navigate the world on their own terms. Fabulous Fabrics and Fibers, lead by Liz Romberger: Fabulous Fabrics and Fibers encourages students to express themselves through fabric and design. Infographics, led by Steve Van Ummersen: this intensive provides students with an opportunity to revel in the art ofcomputer sciences through the expression ofdata in visual media. Northpoint Academy encourages all community members to participate at 551 1st St., to celebrate the hard work and dedication ofthe high-school students. For more information call (928) 717-3272.
by Ty Fitzmorris
T
he coldest season has come around again, and the Wilds have entered the depth oftheir quiescence.
Insect activity continues this month during sunny spells, though is often very difficult to find, such as this Pentatomid leafbug, which lives within the leaf litter ofdeciduous forests.
Though the nights are at their longest now — the longest ofthe year is on December 21, the winter solstice — the coldest (and, for many species, hardest) parts of winter are still to come. December is slightly warmer and bears a bit less rain and snow than January, when the days will be growing longer again. This lag between the darkest and coldest times is a result ofinteraction between the thermal qualities ofthe air masses in the atmosphere and the thermal mass ofthe landscape. The air holds its temperature long after incoming solar radiation has declined, but now begins to lose its heat to the rapidly cooling land. It is for this reason that the warmest parts ofthe summer are typically after the summer solstice, and that the coldest parts ofthe winter are after the winter solstice. As a result oflow temperatures and lack ofsunlight, plants and insects now enter the depth oftheir winter diapause, when we see almost no activity. These two groups are the primary food sources for almost all our species, so their somnolence brings extreme hardship for birds and mammals, the two groups that remain most active. Only the most resourceful and innovative can find food during this time, and often creatures are
Arizona Gray Squirrels are the only short-earedtree squirrels in our region, andare confinedto broadleafriparian forests with overlapping canopies, a rare andshrinking habitat.
more desperate because ofthis. Predators like Cooper’s hawks, sharpshinned hawks, coyotes and bobcats become more daring in their attempts to catch small birds and rodents, and as a result prey species become more adept at avoiding their predators. Many birds band together into mixedspecies foraging flocks, while rodents spend more time in near-hibernation in their dens after storing food for the last several months. Larger herbivores like mule deer and pronghorn live on stored body fat for the next few months, and stay on the move to avoid predators. For all species this season is the time ofhighest overall mortality. Even in this darkest time ofyear the astute observer can find the first glimmerings ofspring. In the lowlands and deserts a few insects and relatives will appear on sunny days — harvester ants maintaining their colonies and gathering seeds, mourning cloak butterflies flying in riverbottoms, and wolfspiders hunting for other small arthropods in leaflitter. Our deciduous trees, though leafless now, have begun swelling at their leaf-buds, growing what will become their spring flowers and leaves, while some, such as the Arizona alder, grow their entire pendant flowers. Female river otters are nearing the end oftheir pregnancies, and moving toward their dens, while female black bears wait in their hibernacula, also about to give birth. As in the great never-ending cycle ofbirth, growth, mating, dispersal and death, the darkness ofwinter enfolds the seeds ofspring. Ty Fitzmorris is an itinerant andoften distractible
naturalistwho lives in Prescott andis the Curator of Insects at the new NaturalHistory Institute at Prescott College. Reach him atTy@PeregrineBookCompany. com with questions or comments.
5enses • 15
News from the Wilds
A briefsurvey ofwhat’s happening in the Wilds High Mountains
• Pine siskins, red crossbills and Cassin’s finches may appear from the north during especially cold years, often finding and flocking with house finches and lesser goldfinches. This behavior helps migratory species learn the distribution offood in unfamiliar places . Example: Spruce Mountain Loop, Trail #307
Ponderosa Pine Forests
• Dark-eyed juncos arrive in force from colder lands to the north and join with bridled titmouse, mountain chickadee, brown creeper and several species ofnuthatches to form mixed-species flocks. These species stay together for months, and apparently gain protection from having many eyes ofdifferent types looking for predators. They avoid competing with each other by dividing up the microhabitats oftrees — look for juncos foraging on the ground, chickadees in the tips ofbranches, nuthatches foraging in downward spirals around trunks, and brown creepers foraging in upward spirals. Example: Schoolhouse Gulch Trail, #67
tend to feed in the deeper areas and the dabblers stay closer to shore. It is partly because ofthe importance ofWillow and Watson lakes near Prescott to North American waterfowl that they have been recognized as Important Bird Areas by the National Audubon Society, which affords them some protection. But both lakes carry extremely high levels of chemical and biological contaminants, and the effects ofthese on waterfowl are relatively unstudied.
Example: Willow Lake Loop Trail, offWillow Creek Road in Prescott
Deserts/Chaparral
• Some very few last native flowers persist, such as desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) and cliffrose (Cowania mexicana), providing nectar for a few species ofbutterflies, native bees, and flies. • Kit foxes, the smallest and most furtive ofour foxes, begin their mating season. Example: Agua Fria National Monument
Skyward
• 11th: Full moon at 10:14pm. Notice that this full moon passes directly overhead toward midnight, much higher in the sky than the sun was at Pine-OakWoodlands noon yesterday (or tomorrow, for that matter). The underlying reasons for • Bushtits are very active when the weather is calm. These tiny, mouse-like this are complex. At the winter solstice our position on the Earth is birds are distinctive in that they forage in large flocks, but the birds trickle leaning its furthest away from the sun, so the sun will be at its lowest in from one tree to the next in slow but continuous streams, chiming the sky at noon. But when we rotate around to midnight (where we’re continuously with beautiful calls. Once they have landed these birds facing directly away from the sun) the moon is high in the sky, since our search each tree assiduously, gleaning many thousands ofinsect larvae, position on earth is aimed more directly at it. By contrast, today at noon in thereby keeping many insect species under control. San Rafael, Argentina (exactly as far south ofthe equator as we are north • Several species ofharmless spiders move into human dwellings, the ofit) the sun will be at its highest ofthe year, and the full moon twelve most obvious ofwhich is the giant crab spider (Olios giganteus), which hours later will be at its lowest. can often be seen running on walls and ceilings. These spiders are non• 13th: The Geminid meteor shower peaks after midnight. This shower is venomous, and can easily be relocated to the outdoors by trapping them considered the brightest and most numerous ofall the annual meteor under a cup carefully so that they aren’t injured. showers, with between 60 and 120 visible meteors per hour. The full moon Example: Little Granite Mountain Trail, #37 will compete with this extraordinary event, however, and wash out all but the brightest meteors. This shower is among the youngest observable, first Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands appearing in our skies in 1860, and growing brighter and more numerous • Raccoons spend long periods, up to three weeks at a time, in their dens. until now. Over the next 100 years this shower will fade to relative Dens are typically in trees, though in the higher elevations they may inconspicuousness. excavate burrows. Dens can sometimes be found because ofnearby Winter solstice at 9:19pm. The northern hemisphere is tilted at its latrines, large deposits ofscat. This year’s young stay in the dens with their • 21st: maximum away from the sun, causing what we experience as the shortest mothers for their first winter. day and longest night ofthe year, while in the southern hemisphere the Example: Tin Trough Trail, #308 opposite is true. Every day after this one, until June 21, 2018, the days will get slightly longer (at higher rates around the equinoxes), while the nights Grasslands get shorter. Interestingly, however, this is not the day ofthe earliest sunset • Hawks continue to migrate from the north, escaping colder temperatures. and latest sunrise — those fall on December 3 and January 7, respectively. Look for Swainson’s, rough-legged, and the very rare northern goshawk. • 21st: Ursid meteor shower. This usually small shower periodically • Gunnison’s prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) begin their winter undergoes a dramatic increase, from its usual five to ten meteors per hour hibernation deep in their underground tunnels, to emerge again in March to over 100. While astronomers are not decided on the cause ofthis or April. This is the smallest species ofprairie dog in North America and periodicity, it seems that it happens every eight years, next expected in the only one in the Mogollon Highlands, and is one ofthe most 2023. The nearly new moon will rise just before sunrise, leaving dark skies important ofall species in maintaining the health ofour grasslands. Their ideal for meteor-viewing for most ofthe night, and especially after burrows both oxygenate and nitrogenate soils, which fertilizes grasses and midnight, when the shower peaks. forbs. Prairie dogs are also important sources offood for many other species, such as hawks, snakes, and black-footed ferrets. They are a Weather keystone species in that they are one ofthe species that form the basis of Average high: 51.8ºF (+/-4.2º) their ecosystem. Average low: 21.9ºF (+/-3.5º) Example: Mint Wash Trail, #345 All-time high for December: 78ºF (12/2/1926) All-time low for December: -9ºF (12/24/1924) Riparian Areas • Waterfowl ofmany different species, including pintail, ruddy duck, Average precipitation: 1.65” (+/-1.63”) American widgeon, gadwall, green-winged teal, shoveler, canvasback and All-time high precipitation for December: 6.96” (1965) bufflehead, have arrived in our lakes by the thousands, and are easily All-time high snowfall for December: 46” (1967) observed as they feed from now until early spring. Rarer birds like loons, All-time low precipitation for December: 0” (10% ofyears on record) ibis, some goose species and several kites appear in the lakes in midwinter, blown offcourse by winter storms sometimes thousands ofmiles away. Maximum precipitation in one day: 3.13” (12/30/1951) Notice that some species dive while others ‘dabble,’ or upend. The divers Source: Western Regional Climate Center
5enses • 16
A Few Ways You Can Start the ‘20s Roaring at the PAC
by MichaelGrady We are just days away from our own Roaring ‘20s. It may be difficult for modern society to live up to the legacy ofthe 1920s, with the Charleston, gangsters, bathtub gin and F. Scott Fitzgerald scribbling in the corner. Today folks are all abuzz about who’s under the penguin head in The Masked Singer, and the new season of The Crown is described as “feisty.” The Price is Right Live, January 17
Those ofus raised in the 1970s know much ofthat culture should be buried in a lead box and never spoken ofagain. But The Price is Right is different. Bob Barker’s midafternoon game show was “welcome home” for a generation oflatch-key kids. We learned the dollar value ofthings ($3,200 for a Buick Regal!). We learned to spay and neuter our pets. We learned that “consolation prize” was a euphemism for failure. That may be why YCPAC’s 2018 presentation of The Price is Right Live was so popular. FreemantleMedia’s live version ofthe show sold quickly and drew a long line ofhopeful contestants. A boisterous, freewheeling and funny night was had by all. Maybe it was the nostalgia ofbeing told to “Come on down!” Maybe it was the thrill ofspinning the wheel, bidding on a Showcase or watching Cliffhanger’s mechanical yodeler climb perilously near the price precipice. Or maybe it’s the fact that you can actually win money. The Price is Right Live has dispensed more than 12 million dollars in cash and prizes to local audiences over the last decade.
simple catchphrase chorus. You may hear arguments about which genre he belongs to, but no one leaves a Lyle Lovett gig without thinking it was time well spent. The four-time Grammy winner got rolling with a self-titled country album in 1986 and has never looked back. Lyle Lovett is an eternal student ofmusic, constantly diversifying his sound. Lovett’s earnest vocals anchor a style that can veer from traditional country to club jazz.
Tickets for The Price is Right Live start at $29; tickets for Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group start at $54. All shows are on sale at YCPAC, 1100 E. Sheldon St., in Prescott. For reservations or more information, please call (928) 776-2000 or visit ycpac.com.
Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group, February 15
When a musician slots neatly into a category, you can usually run a song title in parentheses to summarize who the heck he or she is. When the musician transcends category — ifthey start country for example, but then build in riffs, harmonies and lyrics from gospel, jazz and blues — that tells you: 1) you can’t sum them up with a thumbnail description, and 2) this performer is really worth seeing. Case in point: Lyle Lovett, who will be performing Saturday, February 15 at the PAC. Even Lovett’s fans struggle to describe him because his sound is compelling and complicated and his lyrics go deeper than a
Ifyou’re in your twenties, Yavapai College has a new program designed to draw you into the Performing Arts Center at a reasonable price. YCPAC’s 2020 Promotion offers $20 tickets to buyers in their 20s ifthey purchase tickets 20 days (or less) before the performance. This flagrant attempt to appeal to younger concertgoers offers a considerable savings for shows like The Hot Sardines, Colin and Brad, Scared Scriptless and ABBA the Concert. Regular ticket prices start at nearly twice the price. 2020 tickets must be purchased in person at the YCPAC ticket office, with a limit oftwo per patron. Note: The 2020 program actually starts this month, so ifyou’re reading this and you’re young, the sometime Pink Martini vocalist and force ofnature Storm Large (Dec. 20) is already a viable gift option. Get going! Gift Certificates
A word ofadvice to those ofyou out in the gift-giving trenches, trying to visualize how your sister’s head looks atop a rack ofclearance-rack sweaters: good, live entertainment is always the correct size. YCPAC gift certificates are a wonderful way to give a memorable experience this season. They are also a great passive-aggressive way to make your gift recipient ask you along as their “plus-one.”
I
Perceivings by Alan Dean Foster
t’s been about a year now since I saw da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. From something ofa distance.
Oh, I was close enough, I suppose. The trick is to go well to the left or the right ofthe mob that surges in front of it. You don’t see the painting from straight-on, but you can get much closer by looking from the side. That is the only way you can even approach La Gioconda. Nobody wants to take a picture ofMona at an angle. All that matters to the horde is that it is essentially impossible to take a decent selfie with Lisa ifyou are shooting from an angle. So the paradox is that the people who actually have an interest in the painting, as history, as art, as one symbol ofWestern civilization, must settle for the poorest viewing position. The more you wish to appreciate Leonardo’s work, the farther away from a perpendicular viewing line you have to stand. I suppose those who are the most interested in the Mona as art end up seeing the side ofthe frame with only a sliver ofmottled paint in front ofit. Meanwhile, other Leonardos that I find more accomplished and of more interest repose elsewhere in the museum. Only the discerning linger to gaze appreciatively at them. The majority ofvisitors give them a passing glance, perhaps pause ifthey happen to note the name on the identifying plaque, and hurry on. The Louvre is a vast treasure house of great art, and one mustn’t be late for lunch. Though it is a great painting and in some ways represents the epitome ofLeonardo’s art, nobody takes a selfie with Leonardo’s John the Baptist. Not even with La Belle Ferronniére, a much more accomplished portrait of a young woman than that of La Gioconda. The issue is not just with the Mona Lisa. In a different section ofthe museum a pair ofVermeers hang side-by-side. To see two Vermeers in one place is extraordinary. To look on as visitors pause before GirlWith a Pearl Earring to take a selfie and then move on while virtually ignoring The Astronomer is — disheartening.
The why ofthese highly selective decisions is obvious. These visitors are only marginally, or not at all, interested in the art. It is the selfie that is important. I only use the paintings in the Louvre as an example. It’s the same everywhere people travel. Noted monuments, dinosaur footprints, meals in restaurants, fields offlowers, spectacular beaches — to all too many people, none ofthese is as important as the selfies taken in front of them. Sure, travelers take pictures ofthe subjects, but it is the selfie that has become the king ofcasual photography. A picture ofthe Grand Canyon has no meaning unless you have at least one photo ofyourself standing in front ofit. Selfies, before the word became a meme, always conveyed a particular kind ofsocial status. Here we are, Mr. and Mrs. Yamashita, having beignets and chicory coffee at the Café du Monde in New Orleans. Proof for the folks back home in Kyoto. What matters and what requires visual confirmation is that Mr. and Mrs. could afford to take the relevant vacation. With the rise ofthe internet it is much worse now. I think ofselfies as photographic graffiti. Something about us humans requires not only that we record proofofour presence wherever we go, but that we inflict that proofon the rest ofhumankind, whether it wants to see such images or not. There are people making a living doing this. You are not a travel influencer ifyou can’t prove you’ve been someplace. I’m waiting for the first influencer to work exclusively out oftheir apartment in New York using only imagination, a suitable camera, and a green screen. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on a newish craze that has been adopted by youth. Had cameras and the ‘net been around hundreds ofyears ago, I suspect folks would have embraced the technology with equal verve. “Hey Caesar — move a little to the right! I can’t get all the Gaulish corpses in the frame with you!” Or, “That’s Joan ofArc burning at the stake behind me! You sure I’m in the shot?”That sort ofmemorialization. But while we’re busy putting ourselves in the picture, we do not spend sufficient time admiring the paintings. Or the sculpture, or the field ofbattle, or an episode from history. Via selfie we may acquire the recognition ofothers, but we lose the opportunity to gain something more valuable for ourselves. We become a tiny bit more widely known even as our souls grow shallower. For all the self-improvement we acquire taking selfies, we might as well selfie ourselves in front ofa cutout ofLisa Simpson as in front ofthe Mona Lisa. Prescott resident Alan Dean Foster is the author ofmore than 120 books. Follow him at AlanDeanFoster.com.
17•5enses
Mona Lisa Simpson
5enses • 18
Hello Holidays! Are you ready? Frozen Jr. on Your Local PCA Mainstage!
PCA is proud to present Frozen Jr. this December 5-15 for your enjoyment. Disney’s Frozen 2 debuted in movie theaters in November, but there will be nothing like seeing the original live here in Prescott. Frozen Jr. is based on the original 2018 Broadway musical and brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land ofArendelle to life onstage. The show features all the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristin Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. This fabulous Nordic-themed musical is being directed by Gina Steverson, a lifetime student ofmusic with training in piano, voice, and professional experience with clarinet. Gina helps direct summer youth programs in musical theatre, and was most recently the musical director of PCA’s production of The Hunchback ofNotre Dame. Here are some interesting bits of Frozen trivia: Disney had been trying to adapt The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen for more than 70 years. “Let It Go” was written in one (!) day, and has been recorded in 41 different languages. The names ofthe characters Hans, Kristoff, Anna and Sven put together make the name Hans Christian Andersen. When Anna sings “Love is an Open Door” with Prince Hans, it is the
first time a Disney princess has ever sung a duet with a villain. Animators created a snowflake-generator program to design the 2,000 different snowflake shapes used in the film. Art is the Perfect Gift
PCA is hosting its annual Holiday Market November 3-December 18 to help Prescottonians and visitors find the perfect gift for their special someone. Longtime local artist and Visual Arts Committee volunteer Arlene Minuskin shares why she believes you would enjoy shopping at the PCA gallery: “The Gallery is transformed into a festive holiday setting, with handcrafted, one-of-a-kind art and gifts for all ages. Participating artists work year-round to create only the best in unique pieces ofglass, jewelry, clothing, books, wood items, ceramics, furniture, stuffed toys, photography and wall art, both contemporary and traditional. The PCA Gallery consistently attracts experienced artists and encourages emerging artists. Over 50 artists are participating this year in the holiday show. Create a tradition offun by taking in a holiday show and then shopping downstairs for your seasonal gifts! Check out pca-az.net or call (928) 445-3286 for additional information on purchasing tickets, hours ofoperation, community education and volunteering opportunities.
by ChefMolly Beverly
T
here are many reasons to eat local — to stimulate the local economy, build community, preserve open space, reduce carbon footprint, freshness, and nutrition. Eating at BiGA or John's Chophouse in Prescott, you are hit with something more immediate — awesome flavor. ChefJohn Panza and Cassandra Hankinson, who’s in charge ofeverything else, teamed up professionally (and in life) to bring Prescott delicious, exciting and unforgettable meals.
• Seasonal vegetables, herbs, eggs and cheese from Whipstone, Aguiar and Hassayampa Vineyard & Farm • Mushrooms from Sun Valley Harvest, Glendale • Beeffrom Broken Horn D Ranch in Prescott and Four Corners Beef, a consortium ofsmall ranch producers with sustainable practices • Olive oil from Queen Creek • Organic coffee from Firehouse Coffee Roasters in Prescott • Bread and desserts made in their bakery • Meat and whole chickens cut, ground, spiced, roasted, smoked and cooked onsite • Sustainable seafood • Dressings, stocks and sauces all made from basic materials in their kitchens • Even smoked tomatoes!
John and Cassandra use real, whole food that is not pre-cut, preprocessed, pre-packaged, pre-mixed, pre-baked, frozen, canned or otherwise commercially prepared, grown without chemicals, without long storage or shipping. John says, "The further a product gets from its original state, the more you lose." They also use eco-friendly packaging, like paper straws. Even the kitchen scraps are recycled into eggs — they go to the Whipstone Farm chickens. Over the past several years "local" has gotten easier, but it is still not easy or cheap. Understand that most restaurants get uniform products year-round, delivered to their doors. John and Cassandra invest their time "Localfood"is producedwithin a short distance of as food-hunters on the lookout for inspiring and exciting finds, like King where it is consumed, often accompaniedby a social Trumpet mushrooms and Makah Ozette potatoes. They roll with the structure andsupply chain different from the large- punches when farmers lose crops to unplanned frost, hailstorms or blister beetles. They have fewer eggs in the fall and more in the spring, because scale supermarket system. — Wikipedia that's what the hens lay. They rejoice in spring asparagus, summer peaches, fall parsnips and sweet winter squash. Ingredients are collected, After years ofprofessional training, John and Cassandra met while not delivered, sometimes even ordered before the seed goes in the ground. working at the Capitol Canyon Club (the historic Hassayampa Golf It goes without saying they change their menus regularly. Club). They fell in love with the town and each other, and worked to "Educating the customers, that's the hard part," John says. Flavor is create a vision ofgood, clean food with the taste ofPrescott. to natural cycles, weather, water, seed and soil conditions. Ingredients They started with pop-ups. These were one-night-stand restaurants in tied alive and not uniform. Food grown in Prescott tastes different. It's a different locations that were not being otherwise used. One evening it was are radical idea that goes against the standard. This is something worth at Groom Creek Schoolhouse in the middle ofthe woods, where they paying more for. transformed the old building with lights and flowers, a satellite kitchen, In the ever-changing world ofreal food, John and Cassandra feel and a farm-to-table menu for 30 people. They didn't have a regular good about living the chef's challenge — producing exciting, enjoyable, business or commercial credit, so they bought what they needed at the nourishing meals that enhance the bounty ofour town. farmer's market. After developing a devoted following, they had the connections and opportunity to buy the restaurant BiGA. By then they BiGA: 623 Miller Valley Road, 928-227-2543 were in love with the crazy variety offresh, tasty and nutritious John's Chophouse: 217 W. Gurley, 928-458-7393 ingredients and with the farmer/friend connections they had made. They ChefMolly Beverly is Prescott’s creative food activist and teacher. As chair of weren't going back to the norm oflarge restaurant suppliers. Slow Food Prescott she champions community gardens and sustainable food BiGA was a big success. Two years later they opened John's education. Chophouse. At both restaurants, 60-70 percent oftheir products are local, sustainable, organic and/or produced right in their kitchens.
19•5enses
The Art ofEating (and Cooking) Local
5enses • 20
Conjunction ofMars and Moon What’s Up? by Adam England
Mars courtesy JoelCohen, PrescottValley May 21
Our planetary neighbor Mars will be making a close approach to the Moon in the wee hours ofDecember 23.
This is a great time to spot planets, as the moon is the biggest and brightest object in the night sky, and consequently easiest for the backyard astronomer to locate. We call this cosmic rendezvous a conjunction. Sometimes a conjunction with the Moon can be less than desirable for amateur astronomy, as the brightness ofthe Moon can make it hard to view the much dimmer objects around it. This conjunction will be a little different, as the Moon will be 27 “days old,” a term astronomers use to reference the time in the lunar cycle. In approximately 29.5 days the Moon completes one cycle or synodic month, usually counted from one New Moon to the next. So, when we say the Moon is 27 days old, it means that it will be just a thin sliver oflight and not a fully illuminated orb. Much dimmer now, the object in conjunction is not as washed out by reflected light, and easier to view. Rising at 4:33am in the Prescott area, in the constellation Libra, the waning crescent Moon will be at magnitude -10.4, and Mars at magnitude 1.6. By comparison, the Sun is a magnitude -27 and Sirius, the brightest visible star in our night sky, has a magnitude of-1.46. So, while Mars will be dim, it will still be one ofthe brighter objects in the sky that night, 3°31' to the south ofthe Moon. Look for the red dot!
5% sliver moon courtesy JeffStillman, StillmanImaging.com While a large telescope would not fit both the Moon and Mars in its field ofview, you should be able to easily locate the red planet with the naked eye. Large binoculars or a small telescope will quickly reveal the rust-colored surface. Larger telescopes will begin to resolve variations in surface features, and the largest backyard telescopes may even give hints of the Martian polar icecaps. These polar features are similar to what we have on Earth, though composed mostly offrozen carbon dioxide, more commonly known as dry ice. Adam England is a local insurance broker and smallbusiness consultant who moonlights as an amateur astronomer, writer, and interplanetary conquest advisor. Follow his rants and exploits on Twitter @AZSalesman or Facebook.com/AdamEfromAZ.
Bufflehead
Birdofthe Month by Russ Chappell
Considered the smallest diving duck, or sea duck, in North America, bufflehead get their name from the appearance of their heads, especially when the male puffs up his head feathers.
Males are black and white, with heads displaying glossy green and purple complemented with a white patch, and females are dull graybrown with a neat white patch. Males range from 13 to 16 inches in length and weigh between 9 and 19 ounces, with the smaller females averaging 14� and 13oz. While foraging, these beautiful and unique diving ducks abruptly disappear and resurface, spending halftheir time underwater, so scan carefully and patiently! A dive lasts about twelve seconds, rarely more than 25, and they then bob to the surface like corks, remaining on the surface for about twelve seconds before diving again. Preferring water depths offour to 14 feet, bufflehead feed primarily on larvae and zooplankton such as amphipods, snails and clams, but consume some plant matter in fall and winter, mainly seeds ofpondweeds and bulrushes. They are buoyant, yet dive easily by compressing their feathers to squeeze out air and thrusting forward and down with great power, using their feet to propel them underwater. Nesting in cavities created by northern flickers and sometimes pileated woodpeckers, as well as artificial nest boxes, the female pads the nest with downy feathers from her chest. The clutch is four to 17 creamor buff-colored eggs, laid one per day, incubating for 28 to 33 days. During incubation the male retreats to a molting area and returns when the young can fly, about seven to eight weeks after hatching. The pair bonds for years, and this monogamous behavior is unique for ducks. Bufflehead predators include the peregrine falcon, snowy owl, bald eagle, golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, Eurasian eagle owl, Cooper's hawk, and humans. They are not on the 2014 State ofthe Birds Watch List, though hunters harvest 200,000 to 250,000 each year. Dozens ofthese beautiful migratory birds are currently visiting Watson and Willow Lakes, so the timing is right if you wish to add this little duck to your 2019 list. The Prescott Audubon Society is an official chapter of the National Audubon Society. Check it out online at PrescottAudubon.com.
Art Walk Participants
Artist receptions, openings, and demonstrations at more than a dozen galleries Arts Prescott Co-op Gallery 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717 Art2 120 W. Gurley St., 928-499-4428 ButiFULL 211 N. Granite St., 928-848-4767 Hotel Vendome 230 S. Cortez St., 928-776-0900 Huckeba Art Gallery 227 W. Gurley St., 928-445-3848 Ian Russell Gallery 130 S. Montezuma St., 928-445-7009 Kriegers 110 S. Montezuma St. Ste. F, 928-778-4900 Mountain Artists Guild, 228 N. Alarcon St., 928-445-2510 Natural History Institute, 126 N Marina St., 928-863-3232 Parlor Gallery 102 E. Union St., 208-908-1758 Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286 Random Art 214 N. McCormick St., 928-308-7355 Sean GotĂŠ Gallery 702 W. Gurley St., 928-445-2233 'Tis Art Center & Gallery 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223 Thumb Butte Distillery, 400 N. Washington Ave., 928-443-8498 Van Gogh's Ear 156 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-1080 Weir Gallery 110 S. Montezuma St. Ste. 1, 307-371-1910 Yavapai College Art Gallery 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-445-7300
5enses • 22
On the Shelves
by Peregrine Book Company Staff Solo by Anita Lo
Finally, a cookbook for those ofus who have a heck of a time cooking for just ourselves. 101 fantastic recipes perfectly formulated for solo cooking that are both inspirational and delicious. (PS: These recipes can be easily adjusted to include more.) — Sienna TravelLight, Move Fast by Alexandra Fuller
Fuller's writing is as honest, fun and original as the family she portrays. Living on a banana farm in Zambia, her parents' stoicism and humor, as they deal with challenges from snakes in the living room to the death ofthe father, inspire, amaze and entertain. — Maria
Permanent Record
by Edward Snowden
From North Carolina to DC, Tokyo and Moscow, the author chronicles his career in the intelligence community, and his harrowing journey out ofit. — Jasper
Kindred
by Octavia E. Butler
Inexplicably yanked back in time to Maryland in 1815 from her comfortable home in 1976 California, Dana must save a young slave master from himself, at great risk to herself. It's amazing to me that this story, written in the ‘70s, still feels fresh and relevant today. I immediately went on to read all Butler's other works. — Susannah
ComingThrough Slaughter by Michael Ondaatje
When I started working here, I was alphabetizing the fiction section and reading the backs ofbooks when this title stopped me. It looked interesting and it was cheap, so I gave it a shot. It blew my mind. Michael Ondaatje's telling ofa slice ofBuddy Bolden's life is flat-out mesmerizing. This is a glimpse ofthe birth of jazz and one ofits most troubled progenitors. — David
Russ Miller is a local illustrator, writer, bagpiper, motorcycle enthusiast and former reference librarian.