Bear Essential News January 2021, Phoenix Edition by Bear Essential News

Bear

February 2021 • Phoenix Edition

40 YEARS!

www.bearessentialnews.com

essential news

Sustainability Solutions Festival Feature and AZ SciTech Festival Guide

See pages 10 & 11

In This Picture: Find a heart & arrow, a kite, a saguaro, Lincoln’s hat, READ, an emoji happy face, PREZ, a pyramid, a New Year’s Ox symbol and the word LOVE.

FEATURE

NEWS

S ustainability Festival Climate in the News 28-day Challenge & Contest! Pages 10 & 11

Spotlight on White House pets News Highlights page 5

NEWS

FAMILIES

STEM FUN!

What is S ustainability? Desert Crit t ers S ciTech Festival & more news kids can use Scoops pages 7 & 14

Bear’s Signature Event Page 19

Science fun for everyone Pages 15 thru 18

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February 2021

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Go... VALLEY METRO! Valley Metro Artsline: enhancing lives through creativity, culture and community

hat do public transit and public art have in common? They connect communities. The art on and around Valley Metro's transit system makes your bus and rail trips more interesting and enjoyable. Public art is different from what you see in a museum in that it is designed to be touched. Valley Metro works closely with artists to ensure the artwork is safe for passengers and would hold up in the environment. We ask each community for input to make sure the art would be meaningful to their neighborhoods. Artsline is like a gallery that is 28 miles long. Valley Metro bus and light rail connect to art centers, musical halls, historical places, and museums. When your family is ready to ride, check out the art show at the 35 light rail stations, some park and ride lots, traction power stations and many bus stops. Use Valley Metro's interactive station and public art map to identify the locations. https://gisportal.valleymetro.org/artsline/

At which light rail stations can you find these pieces of public art?

Write the letter next to the station where it is located!

______ Rail station: Gilbert Rd/Main St ______ Rail Station: 44th St/Washington ______ Rail station: Glendale/19th Ave ______ Rail Station: Dorsey/Apache Blvd

C welded Hands made of t high -fee steel stand 21

It's not a giraffe

, but his neck is

long.

Trees are adorned with metal sequin leaves. ANSWERS: A, Rail Station: Dorsey/Apache Blvd B, Rail station: Glendale/19th Ave C, Rail Station: 44th St/Washington D, Rail station: Gilbert Rd/Main St

A metal canopy create s cloud shapes using light and shad ows

For more art activities visit Valley Metro Fun: https://www.valleymetro.org/transit-education/valley-metro-fun

valleymetro.org

602.253.5000

February 2021 •

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Girl Scout Helps Make Sure Medical Supplies Do Not Go to Waste! When you purchase a box of Girl Scout Cookies, you do more than get a delicious treat! You help power amazing experiences and learning opportunities for girls in your community. Eden Sapien is one such budding entrepreneur. The 10th-grader used her cookie proceeds from last year to buy bins to collect medical supplies for the non-profit Esperanca, Inc. Each year thousands of new and gently used medical supplies get thrown away! But Esperanca collects supplies from local medical organizations

and puts them to use by connecting with local senior facilities, low-income community members and communities living in poverty worldwide. Eden, an Arizona Cactus-Pine Council Girl Scout in Troop 1738, is currently working towards her Gold Award. She titled her project “Saving Supplies Saves Lives.” By providing bins for Esperanca, Eden helps keep medical items out of the landfill and instead gets them to those in need. Supplies include gloves, dental supplies, baby and birthing supplies, wheelchairs, crutches, and more.

For Eden, selling cookies has given her a chance to practice leadership skills, become resilient and learn persistence. She has also learned communication skills she can apply in the real world, like emailing and networking. She will use this year’s cookie proceeds to continue growing her project. Girls like Eden are using their cookie proceeds to make a difference in their communities. At the same time, they learn valuable skills like business ethics, how to communicate with others, how to develop strategies, and practice their leadership skills. Did you know that 100% of cookie proceeds stay local? Troops use their proceeds for girl activities, community service projects, trips and programs. Often troop funds benefit their local community. Girls new to Girl Scouts can chose to participate in the program and chose how they, too, will make an impact in the community. So get started and make a difference. Join Girl Scouts today!

Join Girl Scouts today! Visit girlscoutsaz.org Call 602-452-7030 Text 844-317-9041

@GSACPC

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February 2021

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National Children’s Dental Health Month!

t’s important for children to learn good oral health care habits at an early age. Parents should teach their children the proper steps to maintain a healthy smile in order to minimize the risk of cavities and tooth decay. Maintaining good oral hygiene is beneficial to long-term oral health. A child’s oral health care should start at infancy. Parents can swab an infant’s mouth with water to clean the gums after each feeding. Once an infant’s first tooth erupts, a small, soft-bristled toothbrush should be used to clean the tooth. It’s best to consult a pediatric dentist before you start brushing your child’s tooth with toothpaste. Kidz Connextion recommends that at age 1 is the right time to bring your child in for their first dental visit. At age 2 parents can begin teaching them how to brush their teeth in front of a mirror. By age 6, children should be ready to brush their own teeth! Encourage your kids to brush at least two times a day for at least two minutes. Steps for Brushing: 1. Place the toothbrush at a 45° angle along the gum line. Move the toothbrush in a back and forth motion, and repeat for each tooth. 2. Brush the inside surface of each tooth, using the same back and forth technique. 3. Brush the chewing surface of each tooth. 4. Use tip of brush to brush behind each tooth—front and back, top and bottom, and up and down strokes. Brush your tongue, too!

Steps for Flossing: 1. Pull 18 to 24 inches of dental floss from the dispenser 2. Wrap the ends of the floss around your index and middle fingers. 3. Hold the floss tightly around each tooth in a C shape; move the floss back and forth in a push-pull motion and up and down against the side of each tooth.

www.KidzConnextion.com

A column to help parents with their kid’s attitude, behavior and charcter

Is a Messy Bedroom Driving You Crazy? Let’s talk about messy kids. You know, the child who hasn’t seen his or her floor since kindergarten. The one whose locker, closet, desk, backpack, bedroom, bathroom—you name it—is a disaster. What’s the deal? It might surprise you to learn that messy children are often the result of a parent who hovers over their child. Sometimes as parents, we hover over our children. We straighten up things that aren’t just right. We improve things. We “fix” their art projects. We remake their beds. We are always “should-ing” children— you should do this and you should do that. What this can result in is a child who doesn’t even try, which eventually leads to an adult who doesn’t even try. When an adult grows up as a kid with critical-eyed parents, they become comfortable living in piles. They become messy, and are possibly destined to live in piles forever. Understand that the genesis of messiness is usually spawned through a parent who has a critical eye, a parent who is always looking at the negatives and telling their children how they can do things better. So what do you do if your son or daughter has a messy room that is driving you up the wall? You can close the door, but most parents I talk to don’t like that option because they feel like the child should be accountable for his or her part of the home. A child’s first responsibility, after all, is to the home and the family. I think what helps is to tell your child that he or she needs to keep their room reasonably neat—nothing extreme, but seeing the floor is nice. Set some guidelines. Once that is agreed to, then as money manager of the home and as parent of the home, when that job is not done to your specifications, you, without warning, can hire somebody else to do the job for the child, paid for out of his or her allowance. It could be a sibling or someone that you hire to come in and clean the room for your child. That will usually get little Fletcher’s attention. If you do it without a lot of fanfare and without a lot of hounding—just make the rules clear and stick to them—you ought to see results pretty quickly. And let go of the hovering and the “should-ing.” It might very well be at the root of your problem. Dr. Kevin Leman is a Tucson psychologist and author of more than 40 best-selling books, including “Have a New Kid by Friday.”

February 2021 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

News Highlights

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, reported last month that 2020 was the world’s second-hottest year since record-keeping began in 1880. In the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the United States, we experienced our hottest year on record. According to NOAA, the temperature in 2020 surpassed the 20th century average by 2.3 degrees. Additionally, NOAA reported record-high sea surface temperatures in parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Satellite observations showed that Arctic sea ice shrank as well, and the amount of sea ice in 2020 was tied with 2016 for the smallest amount on record. NOAA and NASA reported slightly different numbers for last year, but both agencies agree that the planet’s seven warmest years on record have all been since 2014. “The last seven years have been the warmest seven years on record, typifying the ongoing and dramatic warming TREND,” Gavin Schmidt, a NASA climate scientist, said in a statement. “Whether one year is a record or not is not really that important—the important things are long-term trends. With these trends, and as the human impact on the climate increases, we have to expect that records will continue to be broken.”

White House Welcomes First Rescue Dog

Credits: NASA/Josh Stevens

The Climate Is Making News!

2020 was one of the hottest years on record

In the same statement, NASA reported that rising temperatures are causing problems around the world “such as loss of sea ice and ice sheet mass, sea level rise, longer and more intense heat waves, and shifts in plant and animal habitats. Understanding such long-term climate trends is ESSENTIAL for the safety and quality of human life, allowing humans to adapt to the changing environment in ways such as planting different crops, managing our water resources and preparing for extreme weather events.” President Biden has already indicated that climate change will be a high priority during his time in office. In the first few days of his presidency, he recommitted the United States to the Paris Agreement, which is an international treaty on climate change. President Biden also ordered federal agencies to start reviewing and reinstating a number of environmental regulations that were reduced or repealed under President Trump.

US Swears In New President and VP!

Image: shutterstock.com

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As tough times continue and deep divisions between Americans PERSIST, our newly elected leaders took office Jan. 20, promising action and encouraging unity. In front of the Capitol, Kamala Harris took her oath of office to become the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian-American vice president of the United States! A short time later, Joseph R. Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States after defeating President Donald Trump in a hotly contested November election. Just two weeks before Inauguration Day, hundreds of rioters had stormed the Capitol in hopes of upending one of the final steps of the election process. “So now, on this hallowed ground where just days ago violence sought to shake this Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power

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as we have for more than two centuries,” President Biden said in his inaugural address. Looking at the large, daunting problems our country faces, the president seemed certain about what’s needed. “Few periods in our nation’s history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we’re in now,” President Biden noted. “A once-in-a-century virus silently stalks the country. It’s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. “Millions of jobs have been lost,” he continued. “Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear. And now, a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat. “To overcome these challenges—to restore the soul and to secure the future of America–requires more than words. It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity. Unity,” the president said.

The Bidens’ family dogs, Major and Champ, have moved into the White House! Both dogs are German shepherds. The Bidens fostered Major for the Delaware Humane Association and decided to adopt him in 2018. He is the first rescue dog to live in the White House. Champ has been with the family for more than 10 years and was named by the president’s granddaughters. Not long after the dogs arrived, the White House said Champ was spending his time lounging in his dog bed by the fireplace while Major has been enjoying running around the South Lawn. Major and Champ are the newest dogs in a long line of presidential pets. Donald Trump was the first president to not have a dog while serving as president since William McKinley, who died in office in 1901. White House Mascot Trivia: · What types of pets did Abraham Lincoln have? Goats, dogs, cats & a turkey · What was the name of the Coolidge family’s pet raccoon? Rebecca

Major

The Obamas had Portuguese water dogs, Bo and Sunny. George H.W. Bush was our 41st president and had a dog named Millie. She had puppies, one of whom, Spotty, moved into the White House with George W. Bush when he became the 43rd president! While dogs are common companions for our presidents, they are certainly not the only pets to have INHABITED our country’s most famous house. Theodore Roosevelt’s six kids had dogs, cats, snakes, birds, guinea pigs, a badger and more! The Coolidge family had a raccoon who walked on a leash, and Woodrow Wilson kept a herd of sheep on the White House lawn during World War I. The sheep cut the lawn by eating the grass, and their wool was auctioned off to raise money for the American Red Cross. There have been some pretty EXOTIC presidential pets as well, such as elephants and tiger cubs, that were presented as gifts from other world leaders. Fortunately, our modern presidents understand that wild animals are not meant to be kept as pets!

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February 2021

What Will You Discover With

SCIENCE? Both ASU Sustainability Solutions Service and the Arizona SciTech Festival are firm believers in getting all students interested in STEM and looking into STEM careers, which can be highly rewarding, lifelong pursuits!

Check out all the science events and activities in this issue, and if you really love science, and you can even be a Science Reporter for BEAR! Go to BearEssentialNews.com to learn how you can become a Young Reporter. You’ll find printable sign-ups forms and helpful information about the program, or see page 19 in this issue.

Volume 42 • Issue 5

Editor & Publisher

Sales Director & Publisher

Stephen B Gin

Nancy Holmes

City Editor

YR Coordinator

Copy Editor

Art Director

Mike Loghry

Gary Shepard

Renee Griffith

Julie Madden

Bear Essential News for Kids®

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Get the Scoop!

Sustainability Is the Real Solution! by Reporter Abigail Hernandez, Arizona Virtual Academy At a recent virtual event, Young Reporters met ASU’s Kelly Saunders, the program manager from the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service. Saunders talked about the Sustainability Solutions Festival, and how many innovators and faculty come together to solve sustainability problems. Saunders started off by asking if any of us knew what sustainability was, which she replied is about the environment, people and money. Saunders says recycling is a good example of sustainability because “it saves our environment, it creates new economic opportunities for businesses (that) can use the recyled materials, and it helps people by keeping our environment healthy.” She also says that sustainability is built around people, so we need to live in a healthy environment to thrive. Since people are a key component, it has a social aspect to it, too. And, it can’t be a sustainable solution if it only serves wealthy people—all people need to be impacted and helped. Sustainable solutions, Saunders says, need to be affordable. Sustainability is a diverse and complex subject. Saunders encourages us to “make a better future for the next generation.” She asked us all what can we do in our lives that can make a better future for our

kids or even for our grandkids? Then we got to ask a few questions. I asked what was their main goal? Saunders says the goal is to inspire behavior change to a more sustainable way of living. And that sustainability takes more than one person—it happens with many thinkers coming together. She says, “Strength of one, power of many.” Another question was, “How has the pandemic changed how we see sustainability?” ASU and its sustainability partners have come up with some engaging and inspiring ideas. One is putting on a virtual reality exhibit, where people can experience things from the comfort of their own home. This year’s Sustainability Solutions Festival has a theme of connecting— connecting with food, connecting with our environment, connecting with healthy living and connecting with people. Saunders says the festival is for people K through Gray, so there’s something for everybody! Many of the events geared toward kids will happen in April. There will be Zooms where kids and teens can share their sustainability ideas on research or a community project that they are doing, or hearing from some special guests. Starting now and with you—let’s make 2021 and the years that follow a better time, and make our community a better place.

Valentine’s Day Has Ancient Beginnings by Reporter Zaniyah Parker, Arizona Desert Elementary “Will you be my Valentine?” This phrase is heard on Feb. 14 each year. This is the day that many people celebrate love and friendship. According to americaslibrary. gov, ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, a spring festival, on the 15th of February. According to Wikipedia, there are a number of martyrdom stories connected to people with the name Valentine. One story is an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the

Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. The custom we know of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in the UK. There are still various customs in England. In Norfolk, they have a character named Jack Valentine, who knocks on people’s back doors and leaves sweets and presents for children. Wikipedia also states that Valentine’s Day customs—sending cards, offering candy and giving flowers—developed in early modern England and spread through the English speaking world in the 19th century. Love, Cupid, hearts, candy, cards and flowers will be everywhere on Valentine’s Day. How will you celebrate?

Adviser: Karen Golden

MORE SCOOPS, page 14 ➧

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News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids

Astronauts in Phoenix by Reporter Brett Eymann Transitions Delta Center Have you ever wanted to become an astronaut and explore space? You don’t have to wait to apply to NASA or the Space Force, the new Astronaut Exhibit at the Arizona Science Center will allow you to do just that. In the exhibit are hands-on and full-body displays and you can learn about the mental and physical challenges that astronauts must go through, learn to problem solve, check out the Space Lab and even experience a rocket launch. Grab your space gear and prepare to learn about science in space, perform tasks and overcome challenges that astronauts might encounter, including the psychological and physical effects on the body. This exhibit runs from Feb. 6 through May 31.

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February was designated as Black History Month in 1976.

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February 2021

No matter what breed of dog you have, make sure to give it lots of playtime and love.

Traits of Dog Breeds and Groups

ertain breeds or dog groups have some fascinating characteristics, especially when it comes to their behavior. Let’s take a look at traits of these AKC groups: sporting, non-sporting and terrier.

SPORTING GROUP—Dogs in the sporting group are naturally active and alert, and make likeable, well rounded companions. Sporting dogs will need regular, invigorating exercise (an active family is a good fit). A few sporting breeds: Brittany: Bright, upbeat, fun-loving at home, tireless and enthusiastic worker in the field cocker spaniel: Happy, gentle and smart golden retriever: Intelligent, friendly and devoted Other sporting dogs include German shorthair pointer, pointer, Weimaraner, Irish setter and Vizsla.

NON-SPORTING GROUP—A highly varied collection of dogs in terms of size, coat, personality and overall appearance. This makes any group generalizations difficult! A few non-sporting breeds: American Eskimo: Playful, perky, very smart and excellent trick dog bichon frise: playful, curious and peppy bulldog: Calm, courageous and friendly. Also, dignified but amusing standard poodle: Proud, active and very smart. Other non-sporting dogs include Boston terrier, chow chow, Dalmatian, French bulldog and Lhasa apso. TERRIER GROUP—Terriers tend to be feisty, energetic dogs whose size can range from small, like a Carin Terrier, to grand, like an Airedale Terrier.

A few terrier breeds: Airedale terrier: Clever, confident, proud, friendly but courageous bull terrier: Playful and charming, sometimes mischievous but always loyal miniature Schnauzer: Friendly, smart and obedient Russel terrier: Alert, lively, inquisitive and friendly Other terriers include American Staffordshire terrier (also known as a pit bull terrier), Scottish terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, West Highland terrier and wire fox terrier.

February 2021 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

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itlaxochitl Venzor-Enrique teaches first grade at Encanto Elementary. She teaches in the Dual Language Program, which means that she teaches 50 percent of the class in Spanish and teacher Amanda Herscovici teaches 50 percent in English. Maestra Xochitl teaches reading and writing in Spanish while her partner teaches math and science in English, then they trade subjects every other week. Does that mean they work half days? No! They teach two classes with over 40 students. Enrique has been teaching at Encanto for three years. She says that while this school year is different and online learning can be challenging, she wants to make sure her students take away some happy memories from this unusual year. “I want to be one of the reasons they smile each day,” says Enrique. She and the other teachers work to stay flexible and to “focus on building a joyful community with our kids, and build in moments of joy,” she explains. That may mean playing games or telling jokes on Fun Fridays, or giving students a chance to socialize and say hi to their friends who they can’t see in person right now.

“Online it’s a lot different, but we still see interaction,” says Enrique. “It’s really cute to see how they interact in both English and Spanish.” She says that at the beginning of the year, she never would have guessed how her class would come together online, yet, “I’m amazed every day at the bond we’ve created.” Enrique meets with students in small groups. It makes the day longer, she says, but it gives her a chance to connect with students individually in a way she couldn’t do in a massive group lesson. In small groups, she can focus on what each student needs and that is “super important” and has helped kids “really thrive.” By focusing on students’ socialemotional well-being and remembering that “we don’t all learn the same way,” Enrique says kids can still do well academically in these strange times. Enrique’s two sons attend Osborn schools in the bilingual program, and have since preschool. Enrique loves that her kids can talk to their grandparents in their native language. Being a full-time mom and teacher, “I can relate to a lot of our families and what they’re going through,” Enrique says. “It’s a lot of hats that I’m wearing,” and it keeps her busy “balancing the needs of my kids and the needs of my students.”

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• February 2021

www.bearessentialnews.com

February 2020

•

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Page 11

Did you know by using native plants and creative thinking you can make a garden place for birds, insects and other wildlife in your neighborhood? In the space below, draw a picture of a healthy habitat garden for the wildlife in your neighborhood. Send your entry to Bear Essential News and be Entered to WIN a GIFT CARD for something to start your own garden!

Garden Art Contest Send to: Bear Essential News • 2525 E. Broadway Blvd. #102 Tucson, AZ 85716 • Contest Entry Deadline: March 31, 2021

Name: ______________________________ Tel.#_______________________ Age: _____ Email: _______________________________ Address: _____________________________

Enter a drawing to WIN a $50 Gift Card from a garden/home center for something to start your own garden!

______________________ZIP: ___________ Winners chosen by random drawing

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• February 2021

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February 2020

•

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Page 11

Garden Art Contest Send to: Bear Essential News • 2525 E. Broadway Blvd. #102 Tucson, AZ 85716 • Contest Entry Deadline: March 31, 2021

Name: ______________________________ Tel.#_______________________ Age: _____ Email: _______________________________ Address: _____________________________

Enter a drawing to WIN a $50 Gift Card from a garden/home center for something to start your own garden!

______________________ZIP: ___________ Winners chosen by random drawing

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February 2021

Boomer’s Boredom-Busting Activity Page

Let's Swing sum KidsInto Some Activities!

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Fun & Easy Recipes for Kids

& Health Tips for Kids

Crispy, Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich The average American eats about 193 sandwiches awww.bearessentialnews.com year. Here’s one you’ll love!

2008

olsum Kids

Ingredients:

Directions:

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What does it1. take to make bread?ingredients Do this You mix your crossword and find out.

Bake Up Some Fun Bake Up Some with our Tours & School Field Trips! with our Tours

Fun An A-MAZE-ing Slice! &

you ever have trouble getting School FieldDoTrips!

Holsum Bakery is Arizona’s oldest family-owned business and is a world-class bakery. A tour of Holsum Bakery is a fun and educational addition to curriculum! is any Arizona’s oldest family-owned Mr. SliceHolsum Bakery We welcome tour groups of business and is a world-class bakery. A tour of between ten and thirty-five people. Tour groups are Holsum Bakery is a fun and educational welcome on Wednesdays and Thursdays between the hoursaddition of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. For the best dates, to any curriculum! FINISH! Mr. Slice please callWe as soon as possible. welcome tour groups of

through a slice of pizza? Good luck with this one!

(602)

(given)

You have just

made it through between ten and thirty-five people. Tour groups are welcome on Wednesdays and Thursdays between the 252-2351 or 800-755-8167 a very cheesy hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. For the best dates, situation! please call as soon as possible.

(602) 252-2351 or 800-755-8167

(occasionally)

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Growing, Growing,

Strong!

February 2021 •

BEAR 40 YEARS

Sponsored by

Fun tips on healthy foods, fitness and well being —from our family to yours!

Ready, Set, Move!

hen we hear about physical activity, we often think about burning calories, working out until exhaustion, punishment for eating a certain food and the list goes on. Free yourself from these thoughts and know that physical activity is so much more. Physical activity provides us with energy, restful sleep, stress relief, strength, improved mood and most importantly, FUN! While we all love our video games, phones, tablets and computers, they don’t provide us with the same beneﬁts and can actually be harmful to our mood, energy, stress level and sleep. So, put down the electronics for a little bit and see for yourself what physical activity can do for you.

Here are 5 ways to keep activity fun: 1. Include the entire family: Ask everyone what activity they would like to do this week and support one another. 2. Find time: Sit down and plan what time is best for your family to be active; this will be different for each family and that’s what makes your family unique.

phoenixchildrens.org • 602-933-0935 Written by Candace Johnson, RDN, MPH, CDCES • Pediatric Dietitian

3. Choose activities you truly enjoy: If you don’t like to go for a run, then don’t. You’re more likely to maintain being physically active if you do what you love. Find your unique activity and go with it.

4. Try new things: physical activity does not have to

be competitive and you don’t have to be the best at it either. Don’t shy away from an activity you’re interested in just because you’re not the best or don’t want to do it competitively.

5. Start new family traditions: These can be weekly or monthly things you do with just your family, such as family tennis matches, soccer games, dance night, bike rides, walks, hikes, yoga, karate, etc.

Have fun and get some exercise!

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Nancy@BearEssentialNews.com

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

February 2021

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

Meet Meteorologist Royal Norman

by Reporter Briana Williams Arizona Desert Elementary

to the polar ice caps will effect our weather in the years to come. When Norman was at ASU, a professor named Randy Cerbeny influenced him the most. “Even though I did not have a class with him, he was part of Meteorology and he helped me advance in my profession. According to Norman, in the 80’s it was printouts maps and teletype machines. The maps were hard to read back then. “Now we get our information on computers on the internet. The information we get is pretty accurate. Weather stations are now automated. Pretty often we are right and it is so much better with our 1–7 day forecast.” Norman says that a 7-day forecast is right 80-85% of the time. Norman says we can predict the weather farther and farther every year. “We get more and more information. Outlooks from the National Weather Service for 30 days is getting better. We are pretty confident with two weeks.”

The Lunar New Year is a Chinese Tradition. It is also known as the Chinese New Year. It is the new year of the Chinese Calendar. The Lunar New Year begins on Feb. 12, 2021, and it is the year of Ox. The animals are according to the year of your birth. I am a Rabbit. The animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. According to Google, long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals across the fast-flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them. The Lunar New is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The festival begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with a lantern festival on the 15th day. Red and gold are popular colors during the celebration. Chinese people give red envelopes during this time as a way of sending good wishes and luck, as well as money. In China, certain foods are eaten. Dumplings are eaten because they represent wealth and the more dumplings you eat, the more money you will make in a year. Fish is eaten because it sounds like the word surplus in Chinese.

Adviser: Karen Golden

by Reporter Amanda Vega, Arizona Desert Elementary Anytime you step out the door, you are in weather. There is always weather. Royal Norman is the Chief Meteorologist with 3TV in Phoenix. Norman has been interested in weather since he was 10, or maybe even younger. “My aunt gave me a weather set for my birthday which is in February. I lived in Chicago. My whole family watched the, weather,” he says. In Chicago, Norman was able to tromp through the snow. Norman has been a meteorologist for 37 years, graduating from ASU in 1984. His major was Meteorology and Climatology. The one thing that impressed Norman about this profession was that people are really smart. People he went to school with went on to get other degrees. Norman says, “I have always watched the weather. The idea of trying to forecast the weather and how it can change all the time interested me. When it changes, that’s where it gets exciting!” Norman says events like the what is happening

Celebrate Lunar New Year

Special STEM Section • February 2021 • Page 15

Page 16 • Special STEM Section • February 2021

2021 SCITECH FESTIVAL

A special thanks to organizations who have organized Arizona SciTech Festival Events over the 10 seasons. 83rd Avenue - P83 District & Peoria Sports Complex Agua Fria Union High School District Air Force Alhambra Elementary School District Argo Research Sailing Vessel Arizona College Prep - Erie Arizona Coyotes Arizona Herpetological Association Arizona Museum of Natural History Arizona Parenting Magazine Arizona Project WET Arizona Renaissance Festival Arizona Science Center Arizona State Historic Preservation Office Arizona State Parks Arizona State University Arizona Technology Council Avondale Elementary School District

Centerra Mirage School Central Arizona Project Challenger Space Center Chandler Chamber of Commerce Chandler Unified School District

City of Avondale City of Buckeye

COLLABORATORS

City of Chandler City of Cottonwood City of El Mirage

Event attendance:

City of Glendale City of Maricopa

~3 MILLION

City of Mesa City of Scottsdale City of Sedona City of Tempe

You CAN do the Rubiks Cube competitors

Cochise College Copper Sky Regional Park Coronado Elementary School Cox Communications

Basha High School

Desert Sun Academy

Bear Essential News

Devry University

Beaver Creek School

Downtown Chandler

BIO5 Institute

Downtown Mesa

Blue Ridge School District's High School

Dysart Unified School District

Bridges Elementary

Education Empowers Inc

BGCS

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Tempe promotion for the 1st annual Geek’s Night Out

Eastern Arizona College One of dozens of interactive tables at the annual Chandler Science Spectacular

Flagstaff STEM City

Camp Verde Community Center & at the Archaeology Center

Flagstaff Unified School District

Canyon Ridge Elemetary School

Florence Unified School District

Canyon Springs School Carl Hayden High School

Fountain Hills Unified School District

Casa Grade Union High School District

Gila County Superintendent of Schools Office

Castlehill Country Day School

Glendale Community College

Cave Creek Museum

Glendale Public Library

Cave Creek Unified School District

Grand Avenue Merchants Association

2 » JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 28

1000+

Children's Museum Tucson

Deer Valley Unified School District

Centennial Best Fest

650+

Chief Alchesay Activity Center

Avondale Public Library

Buckeye Municipal Airport

Number of Signature Events over ten years

AZSCITECH.COM

Special STEM Section • February 2021 • Page 17

Page 18 • Special STEM Section • February 2021

Are You a

February 2021 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

BEAR 40 YEARS

SCIENCE NERD?

re you fascinated by space exploration, new discoveries in our oceans or breakthroughs in the fight against cancer? Maybe you like going small and enjoy learning about insects, or those other bugs—viruses. Or maybe you’re into the bigger picture and want to help build a more sustainable planet. Well, if you can’t wait to get back into the lab or already have a bunch of great ideas for this year’s science fair project…

We want YOU to write for Bear Essential News! Bear’s Young Reporters Program gives you the opportunity to become a true reporter. Young Reporters write news stories for the print edition of Bear Essential News and its online version—BearEssentialNews.com.

Write About What Interests You! As a Young Reporter, you get to choose what you want to write about. Even if you're into science, technology, engineering and/or math, you can still do movie reviews, interview pop stars or write about your super fun sports team or group. Bear is a partner with the Arizona SciTech Festival that happens in February and March, so you might be offered a special science assignment to cover!

What You Get as a Young Reporter Participants learn about journalism firsthand by interviewing, researching and writing news stories. To get started, Young Reporters receive their official kit—Young Reporters Notepad, Bear Stylebook and Press Pass & Lanyard.

Send in the Sign-Up Form Kids in grades 3 through 8 are invited to join this award-winning, statewide program. You must mail or fax us a completed Sign-up Form that's signed on the bottom by your parent. Go to BearEssentialNews. com and click on the Young Reporters button. Click on the Sign-Up button and print out the form for your area.

1-866-NEWS KID

For more information, please call toll free:

It ’s a Super Special Youn g Reporter Science Event!!! RSVP Required

Online Feb. 25 4–5 p.m.

Special Guests from Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park

Calling ALL Young Reporters & Young Reporter Wannabees:

As a Signature Event of this year’s Arizona SciTech Festival, Bear Essential, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park are hosting a virtual event for Young Reporters. Meet and learn about some desert critters! If you are not a reporter, sign up now! The Young Reporters Program is open to kids in grades 3 through 8. Send an email with the subject: Science Event to Info@ bearessentialnews.com. All new reporters MUST submit a sign-up form with a parent signature before Feb. 23.

a community program of Bear Essential Educational Services

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

February 2021

Dairy farmers are innovative upcyclers:

they upcycle parts of plants like almond hulls and citrus pulp from other local farms to feed their cows, helping to keep food waste out of landfills.

C ONNECT WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT! Connect with Each Other

Connect with the Planet Connect with Education

Connect with WellBeing

Connect with Yourself

Connect with Food

Banana Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait

Moooo-ve It Yog a

Prep time: 5 minutes Ready in: 5 minutes Serves in: 2

Ingredients

Directions:

• 12 oz vanilla yougrt • 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter • 1 cup multi-grain cereal, like Cheerios • 1/2 cup dried banana chips, crushed • 1 large ripe banana, sliced • 1/4 cup chopped peanuts

1. Divide yogurt in two parfait glasses. Top each with half peanut butter and cereal. 2. Add banana slices to each and sprinkle the top with banana chips and peanuts.