Bear Essential News - November 2018 Tucson

40 YEARS!

Bear

essential news

®

November2018 2018•• Phoenix Tucson Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com November

Wildlife Conservation Around the Planet

In This Picture: Find a sugar skull, a canoe, a recycle symbol, native corn, CONSERVATION, the U.S. Flag, a slice of pumpkin pie, STEM, a vote check mark and THANKS!

FEATURE

CONTEST

NEWS NEWS

S aving Species

Holiday Tickets

Oliver In

Arizona zoos doing their part! Color to win family tickets!

Page 17 pages 12, 13 & 14

the City

Find the urban wildlife!

Page 2

F

Trouble with Hubble!

Spotlight on Midterm Madness News Highlights page 5

Wright Flight Kids!

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 7, 16, 19 & 22

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BEAR 40 YEARS •

November 2018

www.bearessentialnews.com

November 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Volume 40 • Issue 3

B Letters to Boomer

Sales Director & Publisher

Stephen B Gin

Nancy Holmes

City Editor

YR Coordinator

Copy Editor

Art Director

Renee Griffith

Julie Madden

Mike Loghry

Gary Shepard

Social Media

Social Media Assist.

John de Dios

Kris Yanez

Bear Essential News for Kids®

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Dear Boomer, My favorite food during the holidays is turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

Your friend, H.B.

Happy Holidays, S.S., S.C. & H.B.!

While any holiday that brings family together is great, Christmas is certainly a super special time.

Christmas songs help get me into the spirit of the season, and I love trying to come up with thoughtful gifts for my friends and family.

Have a merry one! Boomer Bear

Dear H.B., I can’t wait for Thanksgiving— the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, pumpkin pie, and gravy simmering on the cooktop!

Dear Boomer Bear, I would like to cover events that are happening in Arizona or (do) book reviews.

Young Reporter R.A.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Boomer Bear

Boomer Bear, My favorite holiday is Halloween because you dress up and you get treats.

Yours truly, S.C. Dear Boomer, My favorite holiday is Halloween— it is the only time I will dress up!

Check Us Out Online!

3

Write to Boomer Bear at

An Award-Winning Arizona Original for Kids & Families Editor & Publisher

BEAR 40 YEARS

from A.L.

Dear S.C. & A.L., Hope you had a hauntingly happy Halloween! What did you go as? Just to let you know, I made the perfect Totoro. It got me a ton of candy, including some of my faves: Swedish Fish (I’m a bear after all), candy corn and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Your buddy, Boomer

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Medium 1-Topping Pizza, 10 Breadsticks, Stuffed Garlic Knots, 8 Bone-Out Wings, Mini-Rolls, Pasta, 4-20 oz Drinks, Hershey’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie.

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Hi, Boomer!

My favorite holiday is Christmas because my family gets time to be together.

Yours truly, S.S. Dear Boomer, My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to see all my family.

— S.C.

Boomer, My favorite holiday is Christmas because I love spending time and opening presents with my family.

Don’t Be a

TURKEY...

Pass the PIZZA! Color the artwork!

Your friend, H.B.

Great timing, R.A.! ’Tis the season for holiday events. There are concerts, plays, parades and special events at places like zoos, botanical gardens, museums and kid-oriented places.

And the winter break is when I catch up on the books that I’ve been wanting to read, especially new releases. Can’t wait for your stories.

Thanks, Boomer Bear

Dear Bear, My fave holiday food is pumpkin pie.

Your friend, A.V.

Dear A.V., I totally agree—YUM!

Thanks, Boomer Bear

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November 2018

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B

News Highlights photo courtesy of NASA

Hubble’s most famo us image— “Pillars of Creation.”

rain clouds and light pollution, so it gives scientists a better view than ground-based telescopes.

Hubble, which launched into orbit in 1990 aboard the space shuttle Discovery, is one of NASA's most successful and long-lasting science missions. The initial images Hubble sent back were blurry, so astronauts went to fix its primary mirror in 1993. Astronauts have serviced the telescope four times since then, most recently in 2009 when all six gyroscopes were replaced.

NASA expects Hubble to continue operating into the 2020s and providing amazing discoveries along the way. Even if another gyro fails, NASA explains that the telescope can continue doing Hubble-quality science, just in a smaller fraction of the sky.

Third-grader Makes the Find of a Lifetime!

photo courtesy of Andrew Vanecek

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Midterm Madness!

Hubble Hits a Hurdle One of NASA’s most famous telescopes, Hubble, hit a rough patch last month but is now back on track!

The Hubble Space Telescope began experiencing a problem on Oct. 5, when one of its gyroscopes failed and a back-up gyroscope sent back abnormal readings. The telescope went into a protective safe mode as scientists worked to solve the problem. Engineers were able to TROUBLESHOOT the problem with the back-up gyro and Hubble returned to normal operations on October 26.

Hubble actually has a total of six gyroscopes. The telescope needs to have three functional gyroscopes to work at maximum efficiency, and two Hubble gyros had previously stopped working before the October 5 failure.

The Hubble Space Telescope is actually a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Hubble’s job is to orbit Earth above the atmosphere and send images back to Earth. It has sent back hundreds of thousands of images, which has helped scientists determine the age of the universe and many other mysteries from the space around us.

NASA says that Hubble was the most significant advance in astronomy since Galileo turned his selfmade telescope toward the sky in 1610. One of the reasons Hubble has been so successful is its location.

Hubble is positioned above the atmosphere, far above

BEAR 40 YEARS

TÅNNÖ, Sweden—An 8-year-old girl just had a summer she and her family will never forget. Every summer, Saga Vanecek and her family enjoy a cabin by a lake called Vidöstern in Sweden.

But a record hot summer had really lowered the water level of the lake. On July 15, Saga was playing on the beach with her friend when her dad, Andy Vanecek, asked her to get a buoy from the cabin. He wanted to set up the buoy to warn boats of a shallow lake bottom.

As she waded into the cool water, Saga decided to make the most of it.

“I was crawling along the bottom of the lake on my arms and knees, looking for stones to skim (also known as stone skipping) when my hand and knee felt something long and hard buried in the clay and sand,” Saga recalled to The Guardian in October. “I pulled it out and saw that it was different…one end had a point, and the other had a handle, so I pointed it up to the sky…and called out, ‘Daddy, I’ve found a sword!’ I felt like a warrior.”

But this delicate, rusting and muddy sword is far from ordinary. While experts need to study it much more carefully, archaeologists believe it’s most likely a Viking sword and estimate that it’s between 1,000 and 1,500 years old. It is a very important ARTIFACT scientifically, historically and culturally to the area.

The ancient sword was handed over to a nearby museum, which asked Saga and her family to keep the find a secret.

The museum wanted to search the lake to find more artifacts before they announced Saga’s big discovery! While that area of the lake didn’t turn out to be the Viking burial site the museum had hoped for, workers did discover a brooch from around AD 300–400. Saga’s dad has started a funding page so that she could get a replica sword for herself.

According to legend, the Lady of the Lake is the one who gave King Arthur the famed blade Excalibur. So locals are having fun calling Saga the “Queen of Sweden!”

November is a big month: time to stuff yourself with tasty food at Thanksgiving and start the countdown to winter break! But there’s another big event in November that you have probably heard your teachers and family members talking about too— elections.

Elections happen every year in November, but the election this year has gotten a lot of attention because it’s what is known as a midterm election.

This is the term for an election held every two years for Congressional seats when the election falls in between a presidential election.

You’ve probably seen a lot of ads on TV and social media trying to encourage adults to vote.

Some adults choose not to vote and many take it

Election Facts: • Doug Doucey reelected as Arizona governor.

• 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, extends voting rights to African Americans.

• 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, extends voting rights to American women.

for granted, but it has not always been a guaranteed right for everyone.

The right to vote has been part of our country since it began, but was initially only for land-owning white men. Early in the 1800s, as states joined the union, each state created their own constitution which governed who was allowed to vote. Eligible voters continued to be mostly white men who owned property. Women began to organize and campaign for the right to vote, which was the start of the Suffragette Movement.

In 1848, Wisconsin entered the union and expanded voting rights to people who were living here from other countries if they had lived in Wisconsin for one year and planned to become United States’ citizens.

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extended the right to vote to African American men by banning voting restrictions based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” While this was a big win on paper, many states used poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation to keep these individuals from voting.

It took another 100 years of laws before most African Americans were able to register to vote.

For women, a handful of states had granted them the right to vote in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until 1920 and the passage of the 19th Amendment that the United States guaranteed women this right.

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November 2018

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e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Get the Scoop!

Wright Flight Lets Students Soar

by Reporter Abigail Miller, Gale Elementary Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly an airplane?

I flew an airplane in a program called Wright Flight. To be able to fly you have to be a fifth-grader at a school that participates in the program.

In Tucson the program is held at the Tucson Airport Executive Terminal. To participate you have to set a goal, achieve it, and pass a test on what you learn about in the Wright Flight program. You learn all about the Wright brothers and how they eventually built a successful flying glider, and about how aviation grew over the years.

You also learn about space exploration and about people who made big changes in these fields, such as Sally Ride, Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Doolittle and Eugene Bullard. You also learn about the parts of a plane and what they do.

You fly with a pilot who volunteers for this incredible opportunity.

In a small plane, you soar above houses, mines, hills, and other extraordinary views. On Oct. 27, I flew in the Wright Flight program.

I flew a red and white Cessna, MORE FLIGHT, page 16 ➧

It Takes a Lot of Work to Build a Show

by Reporter Zoe Nickola, Homeschool

Every Friday and Saturday for two months, 51 young people ages 8-18 leave home for three to six hours of singing and dancing. They are actors rehearsing for CYT’s (Christian Youth Theater) latest production, “Shrek the Musical!”

It is very hard to pull off a musical like Shrek. That’s why rehearsing is so important. The musical director shows what melodies and harmonies to sing. The choreographer teaches movements and dances to those songs, and after that there is practice, practice, practice!

There is so much work that goes into a musical, but a lot of it isn’t even rehearsing. Set designers build

and paint all the backgrounds and scenery. Props are a big necessity and usually made by hand, too. Have you ever wondered how those sets get on and off the stage so quickly? Well back-stage hands move sets and props while the stage lights are dimmed between scenes. Last but not least, the costume designers make or buy all the clothes. All of these forces—parent volunteers—combine into “Shrek the Musical!”

“Shrek the Musical!” was performed in October at the Pima Community College Center for the Arts.

For information about upcoming shows, visit www.cyttucson.org.

Talking Wildcat Sports

by Reporter Valentin Ortega, Twin Peaks Elementary I was very nervous when I arrived at Arizona Stadium. We went through the media elevator to the skybox. The hallways were crowded with journalists running through them. I started to get more and more nervous as I got closer to the skybox. And then suddenly there we were at the media entrance door.

The skybox is where Brian Jeffries does his announcing during football games. It is a very small room that shows you the entire field with an eagle’s perspective. Jeffries was on air and when he is announcing you have to be as quiet as a mouse, and you have to wait a few minutes to speak until he is off air.

I learned that Jeffries is a nice man and he is very wise. He is tall and he was wearing his UA business attire. Jeffries’ top responsibility is to do the play-by-play for all Arizona football, baseball and soccer games. Preparing for a broadcast is “kind of like doing homework, every night I do my homework,” he says.

MORE JEFFRIES, page 16 ➧

November 2018 •

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News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids Learn the History of Flowing Wells

by Reporter Ella Flaminio Richardson Elementary Have you ever thought about the history of your school district? Kevin and Marie Daily have written a book about the history of Flowing Wells School District and what Tucson was like between 1895 and 1967. The book is called “Flowing Wells.”

It is sponsored by the Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association and Community Coalition. All royalties from the book will be donated to the district, including high school student scholarships.

The Dailys say that when they decided to write a book about the district, they felt very overwhelmed. There were a lot of things to take care of, and it was hard to keep it straight! They were encouraged to write about the district when they found out that they had a family connection with the founders of Flowing Wells District. Kevin Daily is a member of the Flowing Wells School Board.

The Dailys always wanted to write a book, but they did not know what type. They like history, because it can teach many things, so they researched information from the Arizona Historical Society and local families who have been in the area for generations. They believe that it is important for children to learn local history because we would not understand much without history to guide us.

MORE FLOWING WELLS, page 19 ➧

Sign up to be a Reporter at

Young Reporter Night!

Thursday, Nov. 15 at

Bookmans—East 6230 E. Speedway 5–6 p.m. (Story editing at 4:30)

This month’s topic: News Sources

Call 792-9930 for more information.

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November 2018 •

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November 2018

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November 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Teacher Month

Nominate Your Teacher!

of the

Parents, faculty & students—let us know who you think should be in the spotlight!

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.

A Family Runs Through This Elementary GATE Program

S

andra Noriega teaches fourth grade GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) at White Elementary. Noriega says it was her child’s GATE teacher—also at White Elementary—who motivated her to become a teacher.

When her own two children, now young adults, attended White, Noriega volunteered in the classroom.

“They went through the same program I now teach in,” she explains.

It was their teacher, Mrs. Slaw, who was a beacon to her, leading her into the classroom. “Another teacher was my inspiration to become a teacher,” explains Noriega.

Noriega moved to Tucson from California with her parents when she was just 4. She worked at Hughes Missiles Systems (now Raytheon) for 10 years before she was bitten by the teaching bug. She has been teaching in TUSD for 12 years.

“She’s an excellent GATE teacher. She’s always helping others,” student Chelsea writes. Chelsea and her family have known Noriega for five years.

“She’s always improving herself, taking classes to be a better leader. She cares about her students and she helps us...encourages us to do better,” Chelsea writes.

Noriega serves on the Tucson Education Association. She says, “I’m very passionate about what I do. In particular, I am very passionate about gifted

BEAR 40 YEARS

students in our state.”

In her free time, Noriega likes to take advantage of Arizona’s state and national parks. She enjoys exploring, trailing and hiking, she says.

While her favorite subjects in school were math, art and P.E., Noriega says that she loves to teach her students leadership skills, which she notes are very important traits to have in the 21st century. She also enjoys teaching social studies and literacy.

Right now, Noriega’s students are doing research on Arizona and its native tribes, and soon they will “create awesome projects,” she says. “I like to encourage my students to speak up for themselves,” she says. “In situations (involving) social justice, I want them be able to advocate for themselves.”

Fun Facts: Letting Students Lead: Noriega says it is not unusual to see her students running the classroom.

Ready to take the jump: Noriega says she is interested in skydiving and will soon be taking the jump. “I have a fear of heights, but it’s something that I plan to do very soon,” she says.

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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November 2018

It’s a

November 2018

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Page 13

Susan Schmitz/Shutterstock

Reptiles Need Care, Too!

You’ll be amazed to know how much YOU can do!

Wildlife Conservation Around the Globe—Begins at Home!

Even creepy, crawly critters need love and care, sometimes. Luckily, these reptiles have a friend in the Phoenix Herpetological Society. This organization helps native and non-native reptiles through rescue and rehabilitation and also focuses on conservation education.

“Reptiles aren’t as cute and cuddly as some mammals,” admits Katelyn Garcia, but they are important members of our ECOSYSTEM, she notes. Garcia is the director of outreach for the Phoenix Herpetological Society.

“Snakes, they eat rodents, and as humans we can get diseases from rodents,” she says. “If you were to decrease the snake population, it would lead to an increased rodent population and more people would get sick.”

Garcia says people kill rattlesnakes and non-venomous snakes because of fear. But, the best thing to do if you encounter a snake near your home is to call PHS or another organization that will relocate the slitherer. Another option is to stay clear and not bother the snake.

“As long as you leave a snake alone, it’s not going to chase you or try to bite you,” explains Garcia. “They need their venom for their food.”

The Phoenix Zoo Helps Native Ferrets Avoid Extinction Efforts to exterminate prairie dogs throughout the West nearly led to the extinction of black-footed ferrets, the only ferrets native to North America. Now a handful of zoos, including The Phoenix Zoo, are helping this weasel-like predator make a comeback in Arizona and elsewhere!

“The biggest thing that happened was the persecution of the prairie dogs. The government even had a bounty on prairie dogs—they were thought to destroy crops, and ranchers were concerned that cattle would break their leg in prairie dog holes,” explains Brad Poynter, curator of conservation and science for the zoo. “By wiping out the prairie dogs they ended up wiping out the ferrets because that was their only food source.”

Wildlife experts believed the ferrets were extinct until a small group was discovered in Wyoming in 1979. All 24 of the remaining ferrets were caught for a captive breeding program in hopes of saving the species!

Out of that surviving population, only nine ferrets reproduced, which means the surviving population doesn’t have as much genetic diversity as it should. The Phoenix Zoo was one of the first zoos to join the federal program around 1988. Today there are five zoos breeding about 1,000 ferrets plus the National Ferret Center. The Phoenix Zoo has been highly suc-

cessful. “We’ve produced over 500 ferrets. All are either slated for release or if genetically valuable or not over-represented, stay in the breeding program,” Poynter says.

During this time, several sites in different states now have wild populations of black-footed ferrets, including a successful one near Seligman, Arizona. But a bacterial illness called the sylvatic plague is a setback to ferrets’ successful return to the wild. The plague kills prairie dogs and ferrets and can be TRANSMITTED from prairie dogs to ferrets through fleas.

Fortunately, the Seligman population has not been hit by the sylvatic plague and the ferrets’ numbers are growing naturally.

If the wildlife experts can get the sylvatic plague under control, the captive breeding program might not be needed in about 10 years!

Working on the survival of 11 native species, like the Chiricahua leopard frog, Three Forks Springsnail and narrow-headed gartersnakes at the Phoenix Zoo, Poynter describes his job as challenging and really rewarding.

Did You Know ?

Alligators normally have between 74 to 80 teeth in their mouth, which can wear down or fall out throughout their lifetime. They can go through 3,000 teeth before they die!

Mature male alligators can reach lengths of up to 15 feet and weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

Two of the

Three White Rhinos Find Haven At Wildlife World Zoo

At the beginning of the 20th century, a half million rhinos roamed the planet. Sadly, the number of these magnificent mammals has dwindled to just 29,000 in the wild.

All five remaining rhino species—black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan—are in peril from poaching, deforestation and habitat loss due to human ENCROACHMENT. Rhinos can be found in Africa, Indonesia and India. They are poached for their valuable horns, which certain Asian cultures wrongly believe have medicinal properties and other uses when ingested. The demand from Vietnamese and Chinese people who believe in (and can afford) the expensive, illegal horns drives the poaching.

Despite efforts to protect them, often with armed guards, three or more rhinos are poached per day in South Africa alone!

Almost a year ago, three young female white rhinos arrived at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park from South Africa. Their new, safe home is the Rhino facility, part of the new 9-acre expansion to Safari Park.

“It’s my hope that through education and awareness, we can work together in the fight for the rhino’s survival—to guarantee a viable genetic population and ensure that no more rhino species go extinct,“ says Mickey Ollson, director and founder of Wildlife World. “If the persecution of this species continues, we will likely see the rhino go extinct within our lifetime,” The white rhino is the second largest land animal on the planet. It is listed as near-threatened, but conservation efforts have its numbers on the rise! Wildlife World also awards funds to conservation organizations. Over the past 20 years, it has awarded more than $20,500 to rhino conservation efforts. o Zo Wildlife World three white rhinos at

An Aruba Island rattlesnake—ready to strike.

Injured Sea Turtles Find a New Home at OdySea Sea turtles are millions of years old, but nowadays these cool creatures are endangered. Loss of habitat, pollution and injuries caused by fishing and boating accidents mean that these gentle giants face a fearsome fight for their future.

OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale is home to several rescue sea turtles whose injuries make them unable to be released back into the wild. Three of the turtles—Charlie, a loggerhead sea turtle, and Greta and Valor, green sea turtles—have a condition that sounds funny, but is deadly serious.

Bubble butt means that these turtles have air trapped under their carapace or shell. The air affects the turtles’ buoyancy and makes it hard or impossible for the turtles to dive. Charlie was struck by a boat, which also paralyzed her rear flippers. But she was cared for by a Florida rescue facility where workers attached weights to the back of her shell and taught Charlie to swim and dive again.

Now this 135-pound turtle makes her home in Arizona at OdySea. Boudreaux is a green sea turtle who is a double amputee. Two of his fins had to be removed after becoming entangled in fishing line. He was found off the coast of Texas, but this 90-pound male now calls OdySea home.

OdySea gives a home to these tough, terrific turtles who would not be able to survive in the ocean on their own. It also has a mission to make things better for marine animals in their natural environment.

In 2017, OdySea won the Reef Alliance Award for its conservation and education efforts. OdySea offers educational presentations to classrooms and the community, takes part in clean up events like the Lake Pleasant and Salt River clean ups, and promotes marine life conservation every day. The folks at OdySea are doing their part to care for the animals that call the Scottsdale aquarium home, and make things better for marine life in the wild.

MORE WILDLIFE, page 14 ➧

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November 2018

It’s a

Butterflies To Go!

Continued from pages 12 & 13

Caution: Anteater Crossing You might not think of anteaters when you think about Tucson, but then again, maybe you do! Not only is the giant anteater the symbol of the Reid Park Zoo, but the zoo was home to the oldest anteater on record and is a leader in anteater reproduction, according to Brittany Caldwell. Anteaters born at Reid Park Zoo now live at zoos all around the world.

Caldwell is an education specialist at Reid Park Zoo, and she notes that zoo workers have learned much about this South American animal and share this knowledge with colleagues. The zoo also works on a project to help anteaters and humans to coexist—many anteaters get hit when crossing the road in their native land, Caldwell says.

Protecting an animal benefits more than just that species. “Biodiversity is critical to having a healthy planet,” says Caldwell. When any species’ numbers are decreased or wiped out, it can have devastating consequences for a widespread area.

Large animals in particular can be an umbrella species or keystone species, meaning that “by protecting them, everything else that also uses that space is protected…we take care of everybody also in that habitat,” explains Caldwell. This includes animals, insects, plants and even organisms that “we may not even know exist there,” she adds.

Have you been to Butterfly Wonderland at OdySea in the Desert or Butterfly Magic at Tucson Botanical Gardens? When you visit these or other butterfly exhibits, you help to preserve an important habitat!

Sustainable butterfly farms in Central and South America supply the exhibits and that helps to preserve precious rainforest habitat.

“Butterfly exhibits are supporting farmers in small communities,” explains Michael Madsen, curator of the tropical conservatory at TBG. He says that dozens of small farmers in areas like Costa Rica can make a living by harvesting butterflies instead of cutting trees and clearing land for agriculture. “(When) people care about the environment and keeping it clean, that’s a very important part of the butterfly trade,” says Madsen.

Did you ever wonder where the butterflies go when an exhibit ends? They are not released—all are non-native species. They get packed up and sent to another exhibit!

But how do you put a stamp on a butterfly?

Butterflies are cold-blooded, so they slow down when chilled, Madsen explains. Temperatures are turned down to make these flutterers less active, then they’re collected and placed in glassine envelopes “so they can’t flap around, can’t hurt themselves,” says Madsen. The envelopes go into a box with ice and are overnighted to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Virginia.

“They are in the box for less than 24 hours,” according to Madsen. Talk about airmail!

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

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More Jeffries

Continued from page 7

Continued from page 7

Jeffries has been announcing for about 40 years now.

Do you wonder how Jeffries doesn’t get nervous? “I look at it as a great responsibility, because when you broadcast radio you can’t see your audience...they could be down the block or from across the world.”

Jeffries says he is inspired by other broadcasters such as Ray Scott. “He was the longtime voice of the Green Bay Packers and one of the all-time announcers. I worked with him for a couple years, and he was my biggest inspiration.” Jeffries’ first career was as a radio disc jockey. He played rock and roll, broadcast high school football and basketball games and did the news.

I asked Jeffries what he would say to aspiring broadcasters. “You don’t need to specialize in one area. I tell students at the University of Arizona, you don’t need to major in broadcasting or journalism. In fact, it’s better to get a degree in history, let’s say, because it gives you better perspective.”

Jeffries says getting into the business is difficult, but to work hard in school and listen to a lot of different announcers. “I want you to listen to me, but don’t listen to just one, listen to a lot of different ones....Don’t try and be another announcer. You’ve got to be you and that’s the important thing.”

More Flight

Continued from page 7

but there are different models of planes as well. When I flew I went up with one other student and my pilot. We both took turns flying and we flew for about an hour. After you finish flying you receive a shirt, a bracelet, and a card with a picture of you and the pilot you flew with, signed by the pilot.

Wright Flight is amazing, and I had so much fun doing it with part of my class.

It’s an amazing opportunity for any fifth-grader.

MORE SCOOPS, page 19 ➧

November 2018 •

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BEAR 40 YEARS

17

Set the Stage for the Holidays!

H

! Win Tickets to one of these Holiday Events! s d i K urry . 28 ov

ine N l d a e D

Color the picture and mark which of these Holiday performances you & three family members would most like to see.

Coloring page is also available online. Dozens of lucky winners! BearEssentialNews.com (click on Holiday Contests!)

Magical Cirque Christmas,

Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress • Nov. 26 - Monday: 6:30 pm foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com

Luminaria Nights, Presented by Tucson Botanical Gardens

Nov. 30–Dec. 2 & Dec. 7–9 • 5:30 to 8:30 pm tucsonbotanical.org

LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS!

Under the Streetlamp-classic rock 'n roll holiday hits,

Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress • Dec. 3 - Monday: 7:30 pm foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com

Trace Bundy - Acoustic Ninja,

Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress • Dec. 7, Friday: 7:30 pm foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com

The Wizards of Winter-rock event for the family,

Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress • Dec. 13 - Thursday: 7 pm foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com

In the Mood Christmas, spirit of holiday variety shows,

Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress • Dec. 21 - Friday foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com

Jackie Evancho, Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress Jan. 10, 2019 - Thursday: 7:30 pm foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com Wee Winter Wonderland Presented by the Mini Time Machine Museum

Nov. 20 – Jan. 6 • 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive • 881-0606 www.theminitimemachine.org/weewinterwonderland

“Lights of the World Festival” • Tucson • Kino Sports Complex Nov. 8—Jan. 2 • lightsoftheworldus.com

Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus -Holiday Concert • UA Crowder Hall Dec. 16 • 6:00 • 296-6277 • boyschorus.org

Gadsen-Pacific Toy Train Museum—Polar Express Open House ($25 Gift Shop Certificate) Sat. 5–9pm • 3975 N. Miller • 888-2222

Dec. 8 • gptoytrainmuseum.com

Old Tucson -Family 4-Pack of Daytime Tickets for December 2018 (does not include special events)

Dec. 1–30 • oldtucson.org

Send to Bear Essential News/Holidays

2525 E. Broadway Blvd. #102 • Tucson, AZ 85716

Entry Deadline is November 28, 2018

Name: Grade: Address: City: ZIP: School: Phone #: Parent Signature: E-mail: Must be 14 or younger. One winner per household. Entries for multiple contests may be mailed in same envelope.

Kids!

Send in your colored picture for a chance to win tickets!

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Holiday Performances

2018–19 CALENDAR

S

ome families see certain shows each year as part of their annual holiday tradition. Some families may see a performance for the very first time as a special way to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. No matter which category your family falls into, make this holiday season meaningful, memorable and magical with a spectacular show or fun activity that you and your family can savor together.

Featuring talent from around the globe, “A Magical Cirque Christmas” will astound audiences with jaw-dropping magic, breathtaking circus acts, and angelic voices singing your favorite Christmas carols with live musicians on stage. This holiday show is sure to dazzle audiences of all ages. It will be a feel good, great way to kick off the holiday season with your whole family! Also, direct from the finals of “America’s Got Talent,” Duo Transcend will appear in “A Magical Cirque Christmas” this holiday season. See them on Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

If you want to be dazzled and delighted by a fantastic holiday light display, head over to the Kino Sports Complex to check out the largest light and lantern festival in North America.

Lights of the World will brighten the Tucson skies from Nov. 8. through Jan. 2, 2019.

Admission includes free carnival rides. Kids 3 & under are admitted free. You'll feel like a world traveler while you soak in the sights and sounds of different countries around the world, then go for a whirl on a fun carnival ride. For more information, go to lightsoftheworldus.com.

Get hip to the holidays with Under the Streetlamp! They’ll give their spin to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Santa Bring My Baby Back,” “Run Run Rudolph,” and “Ave Maria.” Everyone’s favorite man band, Under the Streetlamp delivers classic hits with their own unique blend of tight harmonies and dance moves.

Enjoy your favorite doo-wop, Motown and old time rock n’ roll holiday hits.

Under the Streetlamp performs on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox. Internationally-acclaimed guitar virtuoso, AKA the Acoustic Ninja, Trace Bundy will perform at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Bundy’s music has been described as poetry in motion, using harmonics, looping, multiple capos and more to provide an unforgettable live concert experience.

See and hear the fan-dubbed “Acoustic Ninja” play live—a special treat for any music lover. So don’t let the ninja slip by, see Bundy this December at the Fox. Have a rootin’, tootin’ western holiday with a visit to Old Tucson this month.

Old Tyme Holidays will include visits from Santa and a Christmas musical.

Kids Holiday Workshops Saturday afternoons in December Register Now, Space Limited!

Gre at Birthday Parties!

Each guest comple tes a masterpiece.

271-5023 • CreativeJuiceArtBar.com 6530 E. Tanque Verde #160 in La Plaza Shoppes

Find time to shop while kids enjoy Saturday workshops

November 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Don’t miss a holiday rock event for the whole family! The Wizards of Winter perform a rock opera, “Tales Beneath a Northern Star,” featuring former members of The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent Band and others. This musical journey takes audiences in search of the true meaning of Christmas. WOW brings its intensity, theatrics and holiday fun to the Fox on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Enjoy soaring harmonies and precision instrumentation in a stunning show that celebrates the season.

Experience a throwback to the classic holiday variety show when you go see “In the Christmas Mood: A Holiday Music Spectacular.” Tucson’s own Crystal Stark will be one of the singers paying tribute to treasured Christmas songs on Dec. 21 at the Fox. Special guests include the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. Enjoy classic songs with a show that is the perfect way to get in the mood for the holiday season.

Jackie Evancho first dazzled television audiences at the age of 10 with her stunning debut on “America’s Got Talent.” Since then, she has released platinum and gold albums—she’s the youngest solo platinum artist and the youngest person to give solo concert at Lincoln Center. Now you can see Evancho perform in Tucson on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Theatre.

In Southern Arizona, the sounds of the season include the voices of the world-famous Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. The TABC Holiday Concert is Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at Crowder Hall at the UofA. Hear your favorite holiday songs, traditional favorites, and more. For more information, contact the Chorus office at 296-6277.

Feel like a jolly giant in a Wee Winter Wonderland at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. From Nov. 20 through Jan. 6, 2019, the museum is decorated for the holidays and features over a dozen miniatures depicting holiday celebrations around the world and through time. Check the calendar of events for additional holiday programming. For more information, visit theminitimemachine.org.

See over 2500 candlelit luminarias and more than 20 Korean lanterns at the Tucson Botanical Gardens this winter. Luminaria Nights will also light up with nightly performances by local musicians, dancers and school groups from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 and Dec. 7–9. Luminaria Nights takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Find more information at tucsonbotanical.org.

All aboard for fun! Head to the Polar Express Holiday Open House at the Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum Dec. 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit Santa, watch the movie, "The Polar Express," drink hot chocolate and enjoy the magic of Christmas with toy trains. You can even wear your pajamas!

Whether you plan to gear up for the season or relax for the holidays, the perfect way to celebrate is by enjoying a holiday performance or event with friends and family!

For more information on all of these activities, find contact information on page 17 in this issue. Enter the coloring contest for your chance to win tickets to a holiday performance or special event.

Join Us!

Nov. 10 • 1–2 pm • Big Kid Toy Testing Day Nov. 18 • 11 am • Magic Show Nov. 25 & Dec. 9 • 11 am • Mr. Nature Enchanted Snowfall in the Courtyard Fri. & Sat. Evenings Nov. 23–Dec. 22 • 6 pm

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Continued from page 16

Clowning Around with Pets

by Reporter Lizzy Barrett, Ocotillo Ridge Elementary If you like a show that has pets and comedy, the “Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre” is worth seeing. Gregory Popovich and his pets are a world famous circus act and a finalist on Season 2 of “America’s Got Talent.” He is a gifted physical comedian and fourth-generation animal trainer. His family-friendly show features trained animals (many rescued from shelters). I saw Popovich at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sept. 30.

The show told the story of a down-on-hisluck circus performer who lost his job. As he wandered away, he befriended many animals he met along the way and they performed tricks.

Eventually, he and his new animal friends were welcomed back to the circus.

Popovich and his troupe entertained the audience with classic clown tricks, including juggling, acrobatics and balancing on a tall ladder. In the beginning of the show, dogs and cats boarded a train like passengers while the engineer waited to drive them around the stage. Later, another cat rode a pony around the stage while a parrot flew overhead. It was amazing how well all the animals did their tricks!

At the end of the show, Popovich went to the lobby with a tabby cat and a parrot to sign autographs. He also sold his books, “Doggy Gone Good” and “You Can Train Your Cat,” and the DVD, “The Voice of the Fabled American West.” I bought one of his autographed books and got to take a picture with him! Popovich is a very nice person, and this show is one of the cutest and most entertaining pet shows I have ever seen. If they come to a town near you, you should consider seeing it.

This Dance Company Has Heart

by Reporter Ruby Amick, Homeschool

This December, make plans to see a magical interpretation of the beloved story “The Nutcracker” produced by Arizona Arts Conservatory & Collective.

AACC is a community service-based organization built on the ideals of arts equality for all. At AACC instructors believe that each student is valuable and can give something special to the program, regardless of age, skill level, or years of experience. Classes are provided for preschoolers through adults.

The group also offers a safe home for at-risk youth and a positive environment for young artists to grow, while providing community enrichment.

Since 2015 the AACC has partnered with King and Queen Maker Productions, a dance program that performs fairy tale ballets. An original version of “The Nutcracker,” produced and choreographed by Mark Anthony Nichols, will premiere on Dec. 7 and 8.

In addition to public shows, AACC does monthly community service performances. They are currently partnered with Beads of Courage and dance regularly for the patients at the Diamond Center Children’s Hospital; instructors also help with art rehabilitation movement classes for long-term patients there.

More Flowing Wells

MORE DANCE, page 22 ➧

Continued from page 7

They learned that in the past, they taught the students dances because there were not many playground toys like there are today. The area used to have a lot of chicken farms. Farmers would cut off the tips of the chick’s beaks so that the owners would not be pecked!

Kevin and Marie Daily leave the reader with these words: “It is important to leave a legacy for the next generation.”

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Costume Contest Winners!

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1 cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon baking soda Continued from page 19 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup butter 3 egg white 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

by Reporter Ember Kopac, Tucson Country Day School ½ cup milk I grow up, if I am a baker, then I I have baked for as long as I Frosting: will plan to have a bakery named can remember. I think I started 3 cups powdered sugar “The Scarlet Batter.” I picked this baking because I was seeing my 1/3 cup butter name because my middle name is 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla mom bake, so I started helping Scarlet, and there’s a movie called 1 to 2 tablespoons milk and then started baking myself.

“The Scarlet Letter.” It would be a In baking, you normally make Food coloring play on words. things like bread, brownies, DIRECTIONS: I normally don’t sell my baked cakes, etc. I also cook, which is goods, although I do bring them to For the cupcakes: different and a little bit harder for Preheat oven to 350 degrees. me. In cooking, you normally cook barbecues and sometimes school Get a cupcake pan and put in events. I try to bake as often as things like hamburgers, hotdogs, cupcake wrappers.

I can and jump at the chance to. meatballs, etc.

In a large bowl, combine all the This would be a recipe I’d jump at I’d like to start baking birthday the chance to bake because I love dry ingredients, then put the wet cakes and work my way up to ingredients in. Stir. baking, and I hope you will, too. wedding cakes, but my main food Pour batter in cupcake wrappers, Recipes from preppykitchen. to bake is probably always going fill to about 2/3 full. com and bettycrocker.com. to be BROWNIES! I just love Bake for 15–20 minutes.

I modified some ingredients. brownies.

Although I love baking, I For the frosting: HOLIDAY CUPCAKES also love architecture (building Combine the ingredients in a large Ingredients: houses), so I can see myself bowl. Mix until smooth.

Cake: becoming an architect and Move to a piping bag.

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour probably not a baker. But when Frost cupcakes.

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Try a Holiday Baking Bonanza!

More Dance

Cont’d from page 19

The group creates live-action, dance-based story times at Tucson public libraries, which encourage arts education and reading. Additionally, the company visits senior centers and rehabilitation homes to provide free performances & interaction between the youth and residents, as well as special performances for local veterans.

If you are looking for a unique Nutcracker experience this holiday season, consider spending an evening with AACC. Why? Nichols, who created the show, says, “Expect the unexpected, this will be like nothing Tucson has seen before!

Our Nutcracker production is going to stand out from others... the interpretation of the Nutcracker into dinner theater will capture the storyline in a different way. We are recharting the way the Nutcracker experience is meant to be.”

“Imagine an evening where dinner and drinks become part of the show! Your whole evening turns into a magical event filled with dancing, laughter, and a delicious meal to enjoy, while you watch and interact with our ballet.”

November 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

BEAR 40 YEARS

Seat Belt Safety!

Take the challenge!

Can you match the scrambled word the word?

“Click” Rules for the Ride!

• Everybody must be in a chid safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt. People who are not buckled in can be thrown from the car or inside the car can get really hurt.

• There must be one safety belt for each person.

• No one— children or adults—can ride in the back of a van, pickup truck or station wagon. It's the law.

• No one under the age of 13 should ride in the front seat.

Child Safety Tips from the National Highway Safety Administration

Tomas says...

Boost your Booty until you are at least 8 years old and four feet and nine inches tall.

Color the picture!

1. euklcb

back seat

2. sftyea

belt

3. shecars

click

4. leivehc

driving

5. irbna

passengers

6. lteb

buckle

7. rnjyui

hospital

8. akbc aest

laws

9. ari gab

crashes

10. icclk

parents

11. opaishtl

vehicle

12. gspnaresse

injury

13. ginirvd

air bag

14. atrpens

safety

15. salw

brain

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