Bear Essential News June 2019, Tucson Edition by Bear Essential News

Bear 40 YEARS!

Marvelous MUSEUMS!

essential news

See pages 10–13

June 2019 • Tucson Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

In This Picture: Find a paintbrush, scissors, a tube of paint, a museum pass, a pencil, a painter’s palette, an easel and canvas, a palette knife, a beret and the word ART.

FEATURE

NEWS

FAMILIES

Marvelous Museums S nakes S aved from Fire! Center Will Help Kids The Thin g ? Win free museum passes! pages 10–13

Plus, Boomer’s summer fun maze News Highlights page 3

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 7, 8, 14–16 & 18

A fun look through alien eyes page 20

FREE!!!

Kid Fl icks

& literacy events! pages 4 & 6

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June 2019

B Letters to Boomer

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Write to Boomer Bear at

Bear Essential News • 2525 E. Broadway Blvd., #102 • Tucson, AZ 85716 or e-mail your letters to boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Kids Share Their Summertime Plans! Dear Boomer, This summer, I plan on going to the pool and to the park! Your friend, A.W. Hey Boomer, My plans are having fun, swimming and writing stories. Yours truly, K.E. Dear A.W. & K.E., When it’s scorchingly hot here in the desert, there’s nothing better than jumping into the pool! Just remember to always have adult supervision when you’re in or near the water. Being a polar bear, you might say that I was born to swim. And I love being in the pool or at the park with my buddies. Can’t wait to read some of the stories that you write this summer, K.E.!

Good call, L.R.! Museums are a great way to beat the summer heat. To celebrate them, I’m featuring some super cool ones in this newspaper (check out pages 10 thru 12), including the Children’s Museum. On page 13, you and your friends can do our coloring contest for a chance to win passes to your favorite museum! Readers are winners, Boomer Bear

Have a ton of fun! Boomer Bear Dear Boomer, Do you play an instrument? Just wondering, A.B. Dear A.B.,

Splish, splash, Boomer Bear Dear Boomer Bear, One of my favorite places is the Children’s Museum Tucson! It’s great because the games are cool and really fun. Sincerely, L.R.

How exciting, P.H.! The YMCA has great summer programs. And if you want to get moving, whether it’s on the basketball court or in the Y pool, you have found the right place. For families still looking for summer camps, go online to BearEssentialNews.com to the Guides tab, where you’ll find dozens of Tucson and Phoenix Summer Camps. When it comes to camping, I love going up to the mountains or setting up near a lake.

Dear Boomer, I am going to the YMCA for nine weeks, and I’m going camping this summer break. Yours truly, P.H.

I LOVE music! I tried playing piano, but my paws were sort of big and my claws kept getting stuck between the keys. Evidently, violins are kind of delicate, so having a polar bear playing one was a bad idea. So I’m sticking to my saxophone and will be playing it quite a bit this summer. Your buddy, Boomer Bear

Dear Boomer Bear, This summer, we are going to visit my aunt and her newborn baby down in Mexico. Young Reporter L.R. Now that’s worth a trip, L.R.! Congratulations on your new cousin! Is it a boy or a girl? And since you’re going to Mexico, you might as well do a story or two on your adventures. How is it different from where you live? Do the kids play different games there? What are the stores like? And with all the controversy lately, what do people have to say about President Trump? Have a great trip, Boomer Bear Dear Boomer, I think it is cool to keep sending humans into space, but it is not too, too safe. Your friend, K.E. Dear K.E., July 20 is the 50th anniversary of American astronauts being the first to step foot on the moon! Be sure to read about this amazing feat and where our space program is headed to next in the July issue of my newspaper. Bear will also have some fun and challenging space-related activities to test your smarts and creativity. Lifting off! Boomer Bear Dear Boomer, What is your favorite color.

— P.H.

Dear P.H., I’m kind of fond of blue! See ya, Boomer Bear

Purchase tickets from June 10 – July 3 at any Tucson area Pizza Hut location What: Diamonds in the Sky Celebration When: Thursday, July 4, 2019 • Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Where: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way About: Spend your 4th of July at the 4th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Celebration presented by Kino Sports Complex. Centered around a baseball game featuring the Sun Belt College League, this celebration includes fun for the whole family. Enjoy $1 hot dogs, giveaways at the gate, a Kid Zone with games, inﬂatables and face painting, music and a post-game ﬁreworks spectacular.

Tickets: $4 general admission (kids 5 and under FREE) FREE Parking with advance ticket purchase

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June 2019

For grades 3 thru 8

Young Reporter Nigh t Is Every Third T hursday Join Us at

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Thursday, June 20 • 4:30–6 pm 4:30 p.m. Article Editing

Presentation: Brainstorming—What should Bear cover next? For more info please call 792-9930 Proudly Sponsored by:

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News Highlights

A blazing house fire wasn’t all that Phoenix firefighters encountered on May 16. The also faced snakes—hundreds of ’em!!! The house was in Laveen just southwest of Phoenix, so both the Phoenix Fire Dept. and the Laveen Fire District responded to the blaze. “The first units arrived on scene and found a pretty well-involved house—meaning a lot of the house was on fire—a lot of it was up in the attic,” recalls Capt. Greg Hawk, one of the responders. “Winds were pushing smoke down around access points, like where the doors were, so it was difficult. Once firefighters got in there, there was really no visibility and a lot of fire.” Firefighters went in to make sure no one was still in the burning home. While they gave the all-clear that no one was inside, what they didn’t know was the house was full of snakes, lizards, a couple cats, some dogs and even really big tortoises! “Once when we started getting water on the fire, we were able to get some of the heat and smoke pushed outside. Some of the firefighters saw the reptiles—some snakes had escaped and gotten out and some of them were on the ground. There were some still in cages,” Capt. Hawk shares. About 40 firefighters were on hand with seven or eight trucks. To try and save as many creatures as possible, about a dozen bravely stayed inside to fight

A-Maze-ing

P LAN!

Make your way through the maze and gather all the items to make for a fun summer break!

START

the fire, some pulling down chunks of ceiling while others doused the flames. Others had their hands full picking up loose snakes and putting them into buckets to be taken to safety! None of these slithering serpents were venomous, but the firefighters didn’t know that, according to Capt. Hawk. Hundreds of snakes were rescued, from babies to big boa constrictors and pythons. Sadly, not all the serpents survived the intense heat. The battalion chiefs at the fire called the Humane Society, which called the Phoenix Herpetological Society. Their workers rounded up the rest of the reptiles and gave emergency care to the ones that needed it. Capt. Hawk says the large-scale reptile rescue made him proud. “All the trucks that were there from multiple departments did a great job,” he notes.

British Prime Minister Steps Down! Theresa May, the United Kingdom Prime Minister, announced her resignation as head of the Conservative Party last month, effective June 7. May, who has served as prime minister since July 2016, said she would continue serving as the prime minister until a new Conservative leader is selected—something the party hopes to do by the end of July. During her resignation speech, May said she was leaving with “no ill will but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.” She also pointed out that she was “the second female prime minister, but certainly not the last.” While May was successful in some ways, she will unfortunately probably be most remembered for her inability to reach a deal on Brexit—the shorthand term for Britain leaving the European Union (EU) formed by merging the words Britain and exit. Citizens of the United Kingdom voted back in June 2016 to leave the EU. The EU is an economic and

political partnership involving 28 European countries that was started after World War II. Votes to leave reached almost 52 percent. But the process of how to best separate from the EU has stirred up controversy. The next leader of the Conservative Party, who will serve as the prime minister, will have to step into the Brexit mess quickly and try to reach a resolution by an Oct. 31 deadline. Twelve members of parliament have already expressed their interest in the job and more people may still step forward. In addition to attempting to reach a Brexit deal, the prime minister is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government. The role also involves overseeing the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies, appointing government representatives and serving as the principal government ﬁgure in the House of Commons.

Boomer’s

photo courtesy of Pho enix Fire Dept.

Fighting Fire in a House Full of Snakes!

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Summer Fun!

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Get the Scoop!

Broadway Musical Is the Cat’s Meow by Reporter Rori L. Divijak, Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8

Recently a traveling production of “Cats” performed at Centennial Hall. “Cats” is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber that is based on the book “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Elliot. The play was about how the leader of the Jellicle Cats named Old Deuteronomy selects a cat that has spent his/her life well. The cat he selects has fulfilled

her life and will go with him up to Heaviside Layer. He chooses an old cat who has been around for a while and has a lot of knowledge—this cat is named Grizabella. Grizabella is a fat, striped, orange-ish cat who is often picked on by the younger cats. At the end of the play, Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella ascend up to Heaviside Layer together. My three favorite cats in the musical were: Mister Mistoffelees who is a sparkly, black cat, Griddlebone who is a pretty white cat, and Munkustrap who is a black cat with a white chest. The play had lots of songs that told stories about the cats. One of my favorite songs was called, “Jellicle Cats.” Jellicle Cats isn’t just about one cat, though, it’s about all of the cats. One of the most famous songs in “Cats” was “Memory” which Grizabella sings before she is taken to the Heaviside Layer. Cats was a fun musical that I recommend that you and your family go to see. “Cats” was part of the 2018-19 season of Broadway in Tucson. Visit broadwayintucson.com for information about next season’s shows.

Governor Dedicates New Shelter in Tucson by Reporter Lizzy Barrett Old Vail Middle School On May 17, I attended the dedication ceremony for the new H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity, to be run by Gospel Rescue Mission. It will be a one-stop source of shelter and services for the homeless and needy of Tucson. The idea behind the center is to provide the needy with all services they will need to get back on their feet while they are “home.” Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, and Humberto and Czarina Lopez were some of the guest speakers at the ceremony. I had a chance to interview some of them, including the governor. This new center is critical for local children in need. According to Gov. Ducey, “Centers like this are critical because there’s people in need. Often times they have children and a place like this not only provides shelter, but it’s safe and provides nutrition and allows their parents to find the right way to get the help they need and deserve.” He mentioned that the center will provide individuals with physical, mental, and spiritual resources all in one building. He hopes that the center will be a model for others going forward to help the needy in our community and in our country. Gospel Rescue Mission, which will operate the Center of Opportunity, is a Christian ministry for the homeless founded in 1953. According to incoming Executive Director for the Center of Opportunity Lisa

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News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids Celebration at Transportation Museum by Reporter Ella Flaminio Richardson Elementary Trains, Trains, Trains! You might not be excited about them now, but if you had been alive on March 20, 1880, you could have seen the first Southern Pacific Railroad train arrive in Tucson and that had to be full of excitement. To celebrate the train’s arrival, officials made a spike completely out of silver. A spike is like a giant nail that holds the railroad tracks in place. They called it the silver spike. Tucson now celebrates the Silver Spike Jubilee with speeches, dances, cake and more. People who attend the celebration can go inside a train engine that is rooted to the ground and even ring the bell. The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum is located at 414 N. Toole Ave., which is downtown. The museum goes deeply into detail with art, photographs, artifacts and lots more. You can celebrate at the Tucson Birthday Party on Aug. 18. Visit tucsonhistoricdepot.org for details.

Chastain (granddaughter of original GRM founder Ray Chastain), “We are in the business of changing lives... this is a solution to the community.” The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation bought the 70,000-square foot former Holiday Inn building and is leasing it to Gospel Rescue Mission for $1 a year for 99 years. I toured the facility and it was impressive. The Lopez family has been longtime supporters of Gospel Rescue Mission and felt they were an obvious partner in this new project to help Tucson’s homeless. MORE SHELTER, page 8 ➧

Young Reporter Night! Thursday, June 20 at

Bookmans–East 6230 E. Speedway

5–6 p.m.

(Story editing at 4:30)

This month’s topic: Brainstorming— What should Bear cover next? Call 792-9930 for more information.

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Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

More Shelter Continued from page 7 Humberto Lopez is the founder of the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation, which is owned by him and his wife, Czarina. Lopez was very poor as a child and was aided by welfare. When he was young, he worked really hard but had trouble until people helped him and his family. Now, he feels an obligation to help care for people in need. According to Lopez, “I had a vision...pay it forward by helping others as I was once helped.” Mrs. Lopez also feels proud about helping out the homeless and was happy for this opportunity to aid Lizzy interviews Lopez. so many people in need. When the Center of Opportunity is complete, it will have 300 shelter beds, 51 rooms to house GRM’s Men’s Addiction Recovery Center, an emergency shelter for women and children, access to many service programs, and a full kitchen capable of cooking 1,000 meals per day! It will be a big help in getting people in need back on their feet. The center is scheduled to open June 3. MORE SCOOPS, page 14 ➧

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• June 2019

Marvelous Museums Have you ever thought about how great museums are? Well, here are a few that will make you say, WOW!

Shutterstock.com

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Worth the drive, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the top nature museums in the country, if not the world! Bring your curiosity about our desert to this 98-acre wonder, covering everything from the nearby sky islands (isolated mountain habitat) down to the desert ﬂoor and the Sea of Cortez. This combination zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history and mineral museum is home to more than 230 native species and 1,200 plant varieties! There are indoor and outdoor displays, two miles of paths, restaurants and an art gallery. This summer, check out Packrat Playhouse: Hidden in the Midden and ASDM’s special offering: Cool SumExperience mer Nights. life— packrat Packrat Playhouse size in the is 4,000 square feet of amazing Packrat air-conditioned fun, where Playhouse! kids learn about the desert by pretending to be

packrats! They can climb through a tower of prickly pear pads, slide down a gila monster tail and even crawl through a giant rattlesnake. Plus there are all sorts of items for them to discover. It’s open from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. Cool Summer Nights are every Saturday through Aug. 31, offering thematic special evening events where you can beat the summer heat while learning something neat! The desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake. Regular admission applies, but ASDM members get in for free. The Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch stay open for Cool Summer Nights, too! ASDM is west of Tucson at 2021 N. Kinney Rd. For more information, visit www.desertmuseum.org.

Credit: Children’s Museum Tucson / Oro Valley

hese days, museums are not only great places to see awesome artwork and interesting exhibits. Many museums offer interactive displays, handson activities and special events with something for everyone. During the hot summer months, keep cool with a fun visit to a museum!

June 2019

imagine,” says Teresa Truelsen, director of marketing for Children’s Museum Tucson. Imagine It! will have an entire wall that kids can paint, KEVA Planks for building projects, Rigamajig gears and parts, and newer tools and supplies to allow kids to make their imaginings take shape.

“It’s going to be this big, brightly-colored space that will draw kids in to create something,” explains Truelsen. The Children’s Museum Tucson is located at 200 S. 6th Ave. Check out www.childrensmuseumtucson.org for the schedule of guests and other information.

Tucson Museum of Art Families can enjoy the Tucson Museum of Art for just $30 all summer! The SUMMERpass! will allow two adults and two kids under age 18 access to the museum and to special events through Labor Day. Young artists get creative at TMA. Artful kids can get creative at TMA! Pass the exhibit “Learning to See: Josef Albers” holders will get a discount for the will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. summer youth programs Little Tykes@ Second SundAZe on July 14 will TMA and Teens@TMA. Little Tykes is for coincide with the opening of the new exhibit preschoolers, ages 3–5, while Teens@TMA “Harold Joe Waldrum: Las Sombras.” Art will appeal to teens with its wide range of activities will be inspired by Waldrum’s weeklong workshops, including painting, prints and paintings—he is known for printmaking, comics & anime, makerspace, his depictions of Southwest buildings, zines, fiber arts and more. especially adobe churches. Second Everyone can enjoy the museum and SundAZe is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. special activities on Second SundAZe. This Tucson Museum of Art is located at free monthly event features hands-on art 140 N. Main Ave. Parking will be affected activities and education programs for kids. by construction this summer, so check On June 9 participants will explore the the website or call 520-624-2333 for geometric shapes, color and minimalism of updates. For more information, visit artist Josef Albers. Family-focused tours of tucsonmuseumofart.org.

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Crayola Experience, Chandler Are you ready for a colorful explosion of fun? The new Crayola Experience has just opened and has 65,000 square feet of handson activities that the whole family will enjoy. You can name and wrap your own crayon, mold a wax souvenir, sculpt a fun creation and even scribble on the floor in the special Scribble Square. You will not want to miss seeing “Big Blue,” a giant crayon that weighs 1,500 pounds and is made of 123,000 blue crayons that were collected from all over the world. Have you ever wanted to be in a coloring book? You can visit the coloring page photo booth and create a picture of yourself or your family with a Crayola character. Once it prints you can color it. You can also take silly selfies in a special interactive room. You create your selfie and watch it come to life as you project it on the wall. Other fun activities are dancing in virtual wax rain, making a melted wax spin art picture or making a melted wax masterpiece. In the Color Playground you can climb a tower, cross a bridge and slide out of a giant crayon box. There is Toddler Town for smaller kids, a Stomp and Play area and you can cruise your crayon boat down an 85-foot water table. All of the attractions are ADA certified. There’s a café if you get hungry, a souvenir shop and meet and greets with Crayola characters. The Crayola Experience is located at 3111 W. Chandler Rd., Suite 2154. Visit www.crayolaexperience. com for more information.

Kids try the Crayola Meltdown station.

Rewriting History: Far Out Fun at The Thing? Children’s Museum Tucson

The Children’s Museum Tucson will be open until 5 p.m. every day during summer. Make It Mondays! happen every Monday MOCA will be at CMT on July 22 and Aug. 26. through Labor Day, Sept. 2. The museum will have special pricing and special guests for Mondays during the summer months, too. Regular admission is $9 for everyone 1 year and older. On Mondays admission is $3. Special guests—such as Arizona Project WET, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society and Brain STEM—will be at the museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Monday this summer. In mid June, look for a brand new creative space at the museum. Imagine It! will be a maker space/artist space that will let kids “make whatever they can

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The Thing? roadside attraction has used dozens of bright yellow billboards along I-10 since the 1960s to entice curious travelers. Kids and families can be wowed by a dramatically revamped and expanded The Thing? It’s a walk through history, weaving a farfetched conspiracy theory—that rival groups of aliens altered the natural progression of the planet since the time of the dinosaurs! The aggressive aliens used mind-control to rule dinosaurs until the dinos evolved and revolted. These aliens were at war with more peaceful aliens. It’s Aliens vs. Dinosaurs, and kids will be amazed! Guests learn of many other alien-related conspiracies.

The improvements to The Thing? have been in the works for years. Once Bowlin’s creative department came up with a storyline, a Dallas company designed the new museum as a Tucson company expanded and improved the old building. “We more than doubled the size of the retail area. In addition, the new museum is about 11,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. as well,” says Kit Johnson, director of operations for Bowlin. Now the climate, life-size dinos and aliens, graphics and lighting are great. If your parents and grandparents are worried that The Thing? is a thing of the past, tell them that it remains the same—it’s just part of the story! Johnson says the changes are a hit, and that The Thing? has become more of a destination for guests. Bowlin still promotes The Thing? with bright billboards but also has expanded its marketing with print and social media. “We get a huge amount of families and children coming in there,” Johnson notes. The Thing? costs $5 per person, but it’s just $10 for families, no matter how many are in your family! There’s a group rate for schools, which includes discounts at the Dairy Queen right next to the curio area. “I really enjoyed it—it was really, really cool,” says Diego, a fourth-grader visiting from New Mexico. “They made everything seem so real because they backed it up with things that actually (happened).” Still, he remains skeptical “because they don’t have that much proof.” The Thing? is 45 minutes east of Tucson, right off of Exit 322.

More Museums on page 12

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• June 2019

Marvelous Museums Have you ever thought about how great museums are? Well, here are a few that will make you say, WOW!

Shutterstock.com

Credit: Children’s Museum Tucson / Oro Valley

June 2019

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Page 11

Kids try the Crayola Meltdown station.

Rewriting History: Far Out Fun at The Thing? Children’s Museum Tucson

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More Museums on page 12

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Marvelous Museums

Continued Feature from page 11

Heard Museum Have you heard about the Heard Museum? You can learn about American Indian arts and culture, see amazing collections of pottery, weavings, jewelry, rugs and more. You can tour the museum with a tour guide or explore on your own. A family guide is handed out at the front desk and you can look for various animals on baskets, pottery, canteens, rugs and other works of art throughout the museum. A popular display in the museum is called “HOME: Native People in the Southwest.” You can see katsina dolls, jewelry, beadwork, and pottery. A fun stop for kids is called “It’s Your Turn–Color!” This colorful and interactive gallery has many fun projects for kids to work on. Kids get to spin a color wheel and follow their color throughout the room. They can make a sheep, play a matching game, color a postcard, learn to weave and explore lights and shadow. Outside the museum is a ball court where Native American dances and performances are held. There are also many statues and the American Indian Veterans National Memorial. On the memorial wall are names of American Indians that fought as soldiers. Among the names is Ira Hayes who was born in Sacaton, AZ. He was one of the six Marines photographed while raising the American flag at Iwo Jima. The Heard Museum has a gift shop and restaurant. It is located at 2301 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. Visit www.heard.org for hours and more information.

The Mini Time Machine When you visit The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures your imagination will take over as you explore different time eras, fairies, dragons and other creatures from fantasy worlds. As you enter the Enchanted Realm, you will notice the enchanted willow tree. The tree has three faces and each face looks in the direction of particular displays. The spooky face looks in the direction of the Halloween display with haunted mansions and witches’ cauldrons. The smiling face looks in the direction of Kewpie dolls, playful mice and fairy tales. The winter face has a long flowing beard and looks in the direction of snowy villages and Christmas decorations. A section of the floor in the Enchanted

Realm is made of glass and under the glass is a miniature village. Both children and adults can sit or stretch out on the floor to get a better view. The Exploring the World Gallery features miniatures of Japanese, European, Mexican and other cultures from around the world. The History Gallery has miniatures from the 18th–20th century depicting what life was like during those time periods. The museum offers summer camps, summer movies, tinker workshops and a family summer pass that allows you to visit the museum all summer long. The museum is located at 4455 E. Camp Lowell Dr. in Tucson. For more information visit www.theminitimemachine.org.

Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs Go back in time and walk among giants at Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs at OdySea in the Desert. Kids will be in awe of the larger-than-life exhibits featuring 80 animatronic dinosaurs! They can climb through the inflatable T-Rex obstacle course, do the fossil dig, make their own dinosaur park on the magnet wall and more. Pangaea offers upgrade activities for an additional fee—kids can etch, sift or excavate for fossil finds, get a glitter tattoo or go on a dinosaur ride. Birthdays are great at Pangaea, too. Party packages include all of the upgrade activities, a guided tour through the Land of the Dinosaurs, soft drinks, invitations and dino-themed tableware. Pangaea is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. It is located at 9500 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale. Visit pangaealandofthedinosaurs.com for more information.

. . . S D MUSEUM of Your Choice! June 2019 •

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take your family to a cool museum this summer and everyone is sure to have fun, and maybe learn something new, too! After you have marked your museum choices (1 thru 8) and colored the artwork, mail the page ASAP! Or scan it or take a picture and email it to:

Info@bearessentialnews.com

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Win a Family 4-Pack of Tickets to the Mark your 2 favorite choices of museum from the list below, then color the artwork. Send this completed page and entry form to the address given in the form. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Children’s Museum Tucson Crayola Experience

Pangaea The Thing? Tucson Museum of Art

Heard Museum The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

Color the Artwork!

Entry Form Name:__________________ Address: ________________ Age: ______ Grade: _______ School: __________________ Tel: _____________________ Parent’s Email: ________________________ ________________________ Kids ages 14 and under eligible for contest.

Entry deadline: 6/30/19 Send your completed entry to

Bear Essential News/Museums 2525 E. Broadway Blvd. #102 Tucson, AZ 85716

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Day School

Home of the Champions!

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Continued from page 8

Amazon Opens Center in Tucson by Reporter Hunter Fuenning Cottonwood Elementary

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Do you like buying things online? Well, go to amazon.com. There are many things to buy on Amazon and they are coming to Tucson! I got to visit the new building. It is one mile long and ½ mile wide; a total of 1.7 million square feet. Actual Amazon trucks can offload and reload in the 86-truck loading dock. The neatest part about the building is that it will have a train depot to load and off-load stuff too! The building will also have 96 air conditioners that will be put on the building by helicopters! Amazon will open in July. I hope that means if I order something, they can deliver it in an hour! Inside it will have HD robots that grab products and Hunter outside the get them to the humans to new Amazon cente r ship. The warehouse is 95 percent automated. Employees will have PlayStations in the lunchroom and a walking track for exercise all the way around the building called the “Green Mile.” They have everything you want (even iPhones!). This would be a great place to go for work. They plan to hire food trucks in Tucson to come for lunch and feed all the employees. I can’t wait for Amazon to open. It will be so awesome for my city! Adviser: Sharon Dobbin

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June 2019 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Chicks Are Balls of Noisy Fluff! by Reporter Mateo Barton Tucson Country Day School

Have you ever held a chick or duckling before? I got to the other day, and they were balls of noisy Baby chicks stay warm under the fluff! red glow of a heat lamp. They were really soft and fluffy. Chicks and ducklings come in many different colors and sizes. They are so cute, in my opinion. They did not make much noise at first, but when I reached in the box to pick one up, they were quacking and peeping more. You have to be very careful with chicks and ducklings because they are as fragile as glass. They are very light too. If you hold a chick or duckling, you need to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterwards. Adviser: Sarah McKeown

MORE SCOOPS, page 16 ➧

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Museum Has Cool, Fun Exhibits by Reporter Aiden Molony, Homeschool

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The Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa has a lot of fun things do to. When you go there, you’ll see some cool galleries. One of those galleries is about the early Spanish settlers in Arizona. It also has a dinosaur exhibit, and I liked the cowboy exhibit. In the early Spanish settlers exhibit, there is a set of Conquistador armor and a replica of an old Catholic Church. In display cases there are weapons like a sword and musket. The dinosaur gallery is full of fossils that you can touch, but they are not real. There are robotic dinosaurs that move and make noises. You can help build a dinosaur skeleton or build a made-up creature. The dinosaur gallery is so big it takes up two floors. In the cowboy exhibit you can see display cases with Rough Rider weapons and some of the clothing the Rough Riders wore. There is also a beautiful sword from post-Civil War times. There are Native American artifacts as well. My favorite section was the historic jail because you get to go inside the jail and lay on the bed and sit on the toilet. I don’t want to miss the new dinosaur exhibit that they are making. You should plan to be there for four hours or maybe even the whole day because there is so much to see and do. This museum is fun for all ages. Visit arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org for more information.

Author DasGupta Visits Tucson Kids by Reporters Angelina Pacheco & Isaiah Weiler Coyote Trail Elementary We were thrilled to have an author come to Coyote Trail Elementary School in March during the Tucson Festival of Books. Sayantani DasGupta is the author of a popular series which is called Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond. DasGupta lives near New York City. She is not just an author, but also a college professor, a pediatrician and a mom. She has two kids who speak German, English, and Bengali. DasGupta has lots on her shoulders and she is still trying to get used to being an author, promoting her books, and being a pediatrician and professor. It must take lots of work to do all that, including keeping track of two teenaged kids. DasGupta was inspired to write the series because she loved to read but also had never really seen characters and heroes that seemed like herself. So she decided to write a book that had a hero that was a little like herself. Her parents came to the U.S. from India. MORE DASGUPTA, page 18 ➧

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June 2019 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Teacher Month of the

Nominate Your Teacher!

James A. Weaver D.D.S., M.S. Laura Robinson-Rabe D.M.D., M.S. Kyle Rabe D.D.S., M.S.

Making teachers smile! Each month Dr. JAW Orthodontists honors our teachers for their commitment, hard work and dedication by sponsoring the Teacher of the Month column in Bear Essential News.

Candid Kindergartners Keep Jolly Laughing

ina Jolly just finished her 12th year of teaching kindergarten at Howell Elementary. Previously, she taught middle school science before taking a break to raise her two daughters. Jolly enjoys the way the young students soak up information. “I think kindergartners are like sponges,” she says. “They pick up everything you teach them. They soak up so much.” She notes that they are very candid, too. “Kindergartners just say whatever’s on their minds,” she says. She recalls that when she was sporting a shorter hairdo this year, she told one of the boys in class that she liked his hair and wanted to emulate it. He told her she was missing the purple in her hair! “They are so up front, they share what’s on their minds,” she notes. “They always keep me laughing. They always keep me entertained.” Jolly says having a successful student means having parent involvement. "A lot of it is parent support (and) the partnership between parent and teacher,” explains Jolly. When she is not in the classroom, Jolly likes to take walks, read, rollerblade and spend time with her family. She is looking forward to relaxing and spending time with family this summer while her daughters are home from college.

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Jolly was nominated by parent Dominique Torres. Torres writes, “I think she’s an amazing teacher. Shes taught my daughter so much and Im so thankful for her.” Torres adds, “My daughter has grown a lot thanks to Mrs. Jolly.” Jolly comes from a family of teachers. She was in high school when she decided she might want to become a teacher, too. She says that while her mother was a teacher, she didn’t necessarily want her children to follow in her footsteps. But teaching turned out to be a passion for Jolly. She says she creates a familylike atmosphere for her students since during the school year they may spend more time with her and their classmates than they do with their family at home. “They’re like my own kids,” Jolly explains. Jolly tells her students to “work hard now so that later no one can tell them they can’t do something.”

Everyone at Dr. JAW Orthodontists wishes a safe, fun and relaxing summer to all of Southern Arizona’s teachers and students.

Did you love your teacher this school year? Nominate that teacher and she/he might be honored in the fall issue! Teacher name: _______________________ School: _____________________________ Your name: __________________________ Grade: ______ Phone: _________________ email: ______________________________ Why is your teacher great? ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________

Send your nomination to Bear Essential/Teacher of the Month 2525 E. Broadway #102 • Tucson, AZ 85716 or submit by email to renee@bearessentialnews.com or at bearessentialnews.com under TEACHERS tab

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How Much Is That Violin Worth? by Reporter Sophia Bradley Sonoran Science Academy East Historic violins have great stories that continue today, and only get more expensive as time goes by. They are known in the music world for their quality of sound and their great value and rarity. When they go up for sale, they sell for gigantic prices. In 2006, a damaged violin was found in the attic of a home in Britain. After two years of analysis, it was proven that this was the instrument used by Hartley during the Titanic’s last moments. This violin sold for $1.70 million at auction. The Carrodus Guarneri violin sold for $10 million! The Carrodus Guarneri was made by famous violin maker Guarneri. An interesting fact about the “Carrodus” is that it was made from the same tree as another Guarnerius violin known as 2 Cannone. The Messiah Stradivarius has an estimated value of $20 million. Much of the high value and prestige is due to the fact that it was made during Stradivarius’ golden period and it is one that has never been played after almost 300 years in existence. It is in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England.

There’s a Snake in My Door! by Reporter Travis Cooper BASIS Oro Valley A few weeks ago my sister noticed a small head peeking out of a gap in the bottom of our front door. It was a snake!!! We photographed the snake and identified it as a Sonoran lyre snake (Trimorphodon lambda). The Sonoran lyre snake is named for the u-shaped pattern on its head that resembles a lyre, the small harp that was common in ancient Greece. Sonoran lyre snakes are not dangerous to humans. They are nocturnal and live in cramped spaces, like canyon crevices. This explains why the snake was attracted to the tiny gap in the frame of our front door. We saw the snake in our door every night for a few days. Then, it moved out. Our parents were happy that the snake relocated on its own. Like most wildlife, snakes would prefer to be left alone. If you see a snake, give it space and treat it with caution. Fire Departments will relocate venomous snakes, like Western diamondback rattlesnakes, if they are in yards or public areas. You can learn more about local snakes on the Tucson Herpetological Society website: www.tucsonherpsociety.org.

More DasGupta Continued from page 16 When she was growing up her family would bring her to India in the summers to spend time with her grandparents and other family there. DasGupta’s grandmother would gather her and her cousins together at night under the ceiling fan and the mosquito netting and tell her Bengali folktales full of demons and flying horses and princesses and serpent kings. She wove some elements from Bengali folktales into her stories. Her own children inspired ideas about her characters’ names. One of the things that DasGupta told us is that if there is a story that we want to read but that no one has written it yet, we should try writing it ourselves. We enjoyed her visit and would recommend reading her fast-paced fantasy adventure books. The first one is called “The Serpent’s Secret” and the second one in this series is called “Game of Stars.” These would be great choices for summer reading. For more information, go to her website at: www.sayantanidasgupta.com/writer.

June 2019 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

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SAFETY POOL RULES

Water is fun when you play safely. Circle the pictures of things that are safe when you’re at the pool or beach. Then, read the important safety rules below.

Activity courtesy of www.mightykidsmedia.com

Barriers • Pool fencing around pools and spas • Self-closing, self-latching gates • Teach children to never climb over the gate or fence • Install a door alarm from the house to the pool area • Keep pool and spa covers in working order

Active Adult Supervision • Always watch children when they are in or near ANY body of water, without being distracted • Never leave children unattended • Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult • Designate an official Water Watcher – an adult tasked with supervising children in the water

Coast Guard-

approved Life Vest & Classes • All inexperienced swimmers should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest in or near all bodies of water. • Choose a life vest that is right for your child’s weight and water activity. • Arm floaties are toys. They are not a life-saving device and should never replace a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest. • Enroll children in swimming lessons • Take CPR classes just in case of an emergency

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June 2019