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

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Bite Into

HALLOWEEN!

October October 2019 2019 •• Tucson Tucson Edition Edition •• www.bearessentialnews.com www.bearessentialnews.com

SAFE HALLOWEEN! BASH! See back cover for details

In This Picture: Find a flashlight, a piece of candy corn, a bone, a spider, a reporter’s flip pad, a candle, a broom, a lollipop, a reporter’s pen and the word BOO!

FEATURE

NEWS

R eal B loodsuckers NASA R over Contest Tucson Buddy Walk In all shapes and sizes! pages 12 & 13

Spotlight on kids and the planet News Highlights page 5

& more news kids can use Pages 7, 8, 15, 16, 21 & 22

FAMILIES

CONTEST

Comic Fans Rejoice! S andra Cisneros Tucson Comic Con returns Page 4

You could meet her! Page 2

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October 2019

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October 2019 •

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B Letters to Boomer

Sponsored by

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

Dear Boomer, Halloween is my favorite holiday because you get to be whatever you want!

what I should go as this Halloween. I’m leaning toward something sort of scary though!

Yours truly, P.H.

BOO! Boomer Bear

Dear P.H., Halloween is always such a thrill for me! I’ve been spooktacular characters, and I’ve been silly ones. I liked this one where I wore a giant pumpkin head while I carried my candy bucket head around. This year, my friends and I are going trickor-treating—I can’t wait to see what they wear!

Have a ton of fun! Boomer Bear Hi, Boomer. My favorite Halloween treat is candy corn. My mom buys it every Halloween! Your friend, A.M.

Such sweet holiday tradition! Did you know that there are many people—my guess is they are mostly adults—who don’t like candy corn? That means more candy corn for you, A.M.!

Halloween Rocks, Boomer Bear

of year. For some reason, scary clowns and unblinking old dolls freak me out.

Be Safe Out There, Boomer Bear

Dear Boomer, I want to be a Kit Kat this Halloween. I plan on playing with my cats, too. Happy Halloween, A.H. Happy Halloween to you, too, A.H.! Those little Kit Kat bars are one of my favorite treats to get. That costume isn’t going to be easy to make, so I’d start on it really soon! They probably sell some foam ones at the store. I still haven’t figured

Dear Boomer, Halloween isn’t my favorite holiday because I’m not a huge fan of candy.

Hi, Boomer. For Halloween, I want to be a creepy/haunted doll—maybe one of those scary antique dolls!

I can’t wait, C.A.

Sounds chilling, C.A.! Some people like to be scared; some people like to be scary. And a lot of kids like to be both this time

Sincerely, A.H.O.

Wow, A.H.O.! Now that’s a creative idea. What kind of tricks do you already know? I can make candy and pepperoni pizza disappear!

Happy Trick-or-Treating, Boomer Bear

Dear Boomer, For Halloween, I want to be a ghost puppy. Your friend, S.B. Hi, Boomer, This year, we are going to trick-ortreat in three neighborhoods! I want to be a dragon. — P.H. Happy hauntings, S.B. & P.H.! The costumes and scaring people are my favorite part of Halloween. Both of those costumes sound perfect. Your buddy, Boomer Bear

Volume 41 • Issue 2

Yours truly, L.B.

Hey, L.B.! Too much of a good thing isn’t good for anybody. I love dressing up in costume though. Your buddy, Boomer Bear

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

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City Editor

YR Coordinator

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Gary Shepard

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Which Spider Is Different?

Happy Halloween! Pizza Hut Locations

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3801 S. 6th Ave.

294-0876

4710 E. Speedway

323-0042

9564 E. Golf Links

1865 W. Valencia

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6305 E. 22nd St.

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7082 E. Speedway

290-0600

8140 S. Houghton Rd. 663-5656

2680 E. Valencia

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10605 N. Oracle

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7665 N. La Cholla Blvd.

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8245 N. Silverbell Rd. 744-0848

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8906 E. Tanque Verde

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4811 E. Sunrise #151 529-2607

1502 W. St. Mary’s

296-9273

Hello, Boomer. For Halloween, I want to be a magician who does magic, and I want to learn more tricks!

Write to Boomer Bear at

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News Highlights

You Could Name the Mars 2020 Rover! Think you have what it takes to name NASA’s next rover? Well, it’s time to get creative because now’s your chance! NASA announced that K–12 students can enter the Mars 2020 Name the Rover essay contest now through Nov. 1. “This naming contest is a wonderful opportunity for our nation’s youth to get involved with NASA’s Moon to Mars missions,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement. “It is an exciting way to engage with a rover that will likely serve as the first leg of a Mars Sample return campaign, collecting and CACHING core samples from the Martian surface for scientists here on Earth to study for the first time.” The Mars 2020 rover weighs in at a whopping 2,300 pounds and is designed to help pave the way for humans to eventually visit the Red Planet. NASA said it’s also hoping that the naming contest inspires students’ interest in space and science, technology, engineering, and math. For those students who want to try their hand at naming the next robotic scientist, they have to write an essay that is no more than 150 words explaining why

their proposed name should be the one that NASA chooses. After the Nov. 1 deadline, students’ essays will be divided into three groups based on grade level. According to NASA, there is some criteria that each essay will be judged on: appropriateness, significance and originality of the proposed name, and the originality and quality of the essay, and/or finalist interview presentation. The essays will be narrowed down through several rounds and then the public will get to vote online for the nine finalists in January 2020. NASA says it plans to announce the winner on Feb. 18, 2020, which just so happens to be one year before the rover will land on the surface of Mars. The grand prize winner will not only get to name the rover but will also be invited to visit Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to see the spacecraft launch in July 2020! To learn more, visit https://mars.nasa.gov/ mars2020/participate/name-the-rover/.

Polka-dotted Zebra Spotted in Kenya MASAI MARA RESERVE, Kenya—A rare and wonderful zebra foal is hoofing it with its mom and the rest of the herd on the Masai Mara Reserve. The first people to “spot” the foal in September were confused by what they saw. Instead of black and white stripes, the little fella is brown…with polka dots!!! The reserve is 583 square miles of savannah wilderness along southwestern Kenya. It’s home to millions of African animals. Even tour guide Anthony Tira, who first spotted the foal, wondered what he was looking at. Was it a cross between a zebra and something else? Was it just a different breed of EQUINE in with the zebra herd? Did some oddball biologist paint the foal

to make tracking it easier? The answer turns out to be D) none of the above! This foal suffers a genetic condition called pseudomelanism. In zebras, the skin is dark and transfers a dark pigment called melanin into only some hairs to make the dark stripes. But the melanin transfer of this foal caused its hair to be noticeably brown with white polka dots! Since he was the first one to see it, the foal was named after him—Tira. Other odd-colored foals have been seen and photographed in other wildlife Photo courtesy of Frank Liu areas, but this is a first for Masai Mara, and excited visitors and photographers have been flocking to the reserve in hopes of spotting the foal.

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Young People Are Focused On Future! There’s no doubt about it: kids can change the world. From Malala Yousafzai, the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Prize, to Jack Andraka, who was in high school when he created a sensor that could detect early signs of pancreatic and other forms of cancer, there is no shortage of examples of kids doing amazing things! Some kids in the next wave of amazing youth doing inspiring things are focused on the future of the planet and climate change. Perhaps the most well known in this group is Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swede who recently spoke at the United Nations and helped inspire students around the world to walk out of their schools and demand action on climate change. Greta Thunberg speaking at the European Parliament in April of 2019 Photo credit: wiwikimedia.org

However, Thunberg is certainly not the only youth fighting for the environment. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is an indigenous climate activist and musician who recently turned 18. He started speaking to world leaders about climate change at just 6 years old and had spoken at the United Nations three times by the age of 15. He is also one of nearly two dozen young plaintiffs in a youth-led lawsuit against the federal government for failing to protect the environment. Mari Copeny, also known as “Little Miss Flint,” is only 12 years old but she gained national attention back in 2016. Back then, at age 8, she wrote a letter to then-President Barack Obama about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Her letter helped bring national attention to the issue after inspiring President Obama to visit Flint. Since writing that letter, Mari has continued to fight for clean, drinkable water. She is trying to help share drinkable water with others by working with a water-filtration company to bring water filters to communities without clean water. These kids, and countless others, show us all that anything is possible. While many of the kids doing big things are working on different problems, they all collectively demonstrate the power of determination.

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October 2019

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Get the Scoop!

Annual Buddy Walk Is Next Month by Reporter Aiden Vaughan, Esmond Station K–8

hotwheel packs for local donation. Get ready Tucson! The Registration is free because the event 2019 annual Buddy Walk wants to celebrate the families with Down is marching your way. This syndrome. year’s Buddy Walk is on At the event there will be information Sunday, Nov. 3, from noon to for families, a couple of inflatables, and a 4 p.m. at Reid Park, Tucson kids game section, and of course, the walk at De Meester Outdoor itself. The walk is less than 1 mile but it’s Performance Center. the biggest walk anyone can do without The Buddy Walk is a special training. group for Down syndrome. I interviewed Allyson Schug, president The SANDS and National of SANDS and co-chairman of the walk. Down syndrome Society, She said, “Whether you have Down who fund the Buddy Walk, syndrome, know someraise money in order to fund one who does, or just want to show your research and education. support, come and join us at the 2019 Money raised through this Buddy Walk!” program also provides the I will be there myself helping at my operating budget for the friend Jacob Schug’s booth. You can join following year and the Give any team you’d like, or host your own it Back! Program (GIB), team. Jacob’s team is called Jacob’s Jets. which provides scholarships and helps fund for things His team has been doing the walk for Jacob & Aiden are ready to walk. seven years now. You can join his team or families with someone with donate at https://www.ds-stride.org/tucsonbuddywalk/ Down syndrome can’t afford. profiles/team/JacobsJets. Their goal is $5,000 to help The program has been going since 1995, and has reach the big goal of $75,000. expanded from around 17 walks to more than 250 I hope to see you at the 2019 Tucson Buddy Walk! walks last year! It’s the 19th annual walk in Tucson, and this year is race car themed! SANDS is also asking Just go to www.ds-stride.org/tucsonbuddywalk for more attendees to bring hot wheels cars and unopened information.

Longtime Educator Honored by Reporter Rori L. Divijak Dove Mountain CSTEM K–8 I attended an event honoring Mr. Bernardino (Dino) Natta at Marana High School. I spoke to Bill DeStefano and Larry Casoni who were old friends of Natta. “He was a great teacher, loved and respected by everyone,” says Bill DeStefano. “He was such a special teacher because he enjoyed teaching more than anything else, his subject mattered to him, and the kids were so special to him,” says Casoni. Natta was special for many reasons—from being a good friend to his 22 years as an educator teaching math and AP U.S. history. However, in September, he was honored for bringing a historic newspaper collection to Marana High School. This collection includes copies of the Tucson Citizen and Arizona Daily Star from1913 to 1947. It is thought that there are only two places in the entire state with a collection of newspapers this large. Dino’s friends, family and colleagues also

October 2019 •

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News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids Going Batty with Bats by Reporter Lizzy Barrett Old Vail Middle School “Help, Mom! There’s a blood-sucking bat in the backyard and it looks like it’s after me!” Joey cried as he ran back inside the house. That is a common myth of bats. However, people should not be scared of bats. They are just fascinating and helpful mammals. Debbie Buecher, a bat biologist, did a bat presentation in my science class. She has worked with bats for over 25 years. Buecher has a strong understanding of ecology and cave exploration. Buecher brought two bats to the presentation: Rosie and Archie. Buecher’s bats are on an educational permit with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Rosie is a Pallid Bat and Archie is a little brown bat. Bats are nocturnal or nighttime animals. At my school, we have roosts, where bats rest during the day. Bats use sonar to hear the world and they use a frequency of sound that we can’t hear. In Mr. GokOng’s science class, we learned that sonar stands for sound navigation and ranging. Rosie and Archie both get different information from each ear and they combine them so they have a picture of their surroundings in 3D. There is a myth that bats are blind, but they’re not blind. Instead, they use echolocation to help them see what’s in front of them. In addition, bats fly like no other mammals. MORE BATS, page 16 ➧

Join us at the

donated over $1,000 to Marana High School from the Bernardino Natta Memorial Fund. Marana High School will use this money to purchase technology for students. “The students are going to use these resources for experiments and to explore with,” said Marana High School Librarian, Carrie Dawson. Ms. Dawson stated, “We are grateful to Dino Natta for securing these valuable archival newspapers for students.” MORE SCOOPS, page 8 ➧

Young Reporters Workshop

at KVOA Studios 209 W. Elm St.

Saturday, Oct. 26 • 9 a.m. till noon Call 792-9930 to reserve a space. See more about theYoung Reporters Workshop on pg. 20

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October 2019

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

My Adventure in Old Tucson by Reporter Anastasia Bradley Sonoran Science Academy East Recently, my family and I went to Old Tucson, and it was really cool! There were shows, events, games, and so much more! When we got into Old Tucson, we first went to the blacksmith. A blacksmith’s job is to make horseshoes, weapons and anything else made out of metal. The man told me that there were a lot of blacksmiths in Old Tucson, but because of the fire that spread around it, all the blacksmith shops burned down, and even the oldest shop, which ran 102 years, had to be closed down. After that, we went to the school. There were chalkboards, small desks, and a little stool for bad children. On the chalkboards, there were ABC’s and numbers. Next, we went to the game area. In the game area, there were desks for card games, food and drinks, and socializing. There was also a fake mini jail. We took so many pictures! We then watched a bit of a show. It was about a mayor who was treating his people badly, and he and his people got into a gun fight (don’t worry, there were no bullets). And that was our trip! It was such an exciting experience and was so much fun! MORE SCOOPS, page 16 ➧

October 2019 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Teacher Month

October Is National Orthodontic Health Month!

of the

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.

The Classroom Is Where Her Heart Is

rittany Camden teaches fifth grade at Gale Elementary. This is her third year at Gale. Camden previously worked as an inclusion specialist and behavior specialist at Cottonwood Elementary. Camden was excited to make the move to a new school a few years ago because “I heard wonderful things about Gale,” she explains. Camden also had a friend who was moving to Gale, and she was looking for experience with a general education classroom, she says. “It was a good decision,” says Camden. She now teaches a class with both gen ed students and kids with special needs or individualized education programs (IEPs). Camden says it’s important for kids with special needs to interact with their peers, and additionally “I love the empathy my gen ed kids get when exposed” to kids with differences. “The two main rules in my classroom are: we have mutual respect for each other, and we show kindness,” says Camden. Camden was nominated by her student, Michael. He was in her fourth grade last year and looped with her classroom to fifth grade. He writes that his teacher is fun, kind and very patient. “She helps us learn in the way our minds work,” Michael writes. He also notes Camden’s flexible nature when the unexpected

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happens, which helps her and her students. Camden says she encourages all of her students to “be flexible thinkers” and “to have a flexible brain.” Being flexible when the unexpected occurs was a good skill recently when the school had a power outage, she notes. Camden says that being flexible is something that Michael has worked hard at this past year. In her free time, Camden enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, going to the movies, having a barbecue with friends, hiking or reading. “If I’m not lesson planning, my nose is in a book or I’m strolling a bookstore,” Camden says. She was excited to meet author Stephanie Land at the Tucson Festival of Books. Camden enjoys non-fiction and autobiographies, and Land’s memoir was a favorite of hers. Camden is a Tucson native who was inspired to work in the classroom by her own fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Cloud. “I knew (I wanted to teach) when I was in fourth grade. I had a wonderful teacher,” Camden says, adding, “I knew that was where my heart was.”

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

It’s the season to celebrate healthy smiles, to learn more about the benefits of orthodontic treatment and the importance of good oral health. Did you know that the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7? At this early age, a child already has half of their adult teeth. It may seem young, but most orthodontic issues can be identified by this time. Your child may not be ready for braces, but an early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Schedule a complimentary consultation at Dr. JAW Orthodontists today and take the first step towards providing your child with a healthy and confident smile that will last a lifetime. Mark your calendars for Dr. JAW’s Annual Candy Buy Back taking place Nov. 1–7. Get paid $1 for every pound of Halloween candy you bring to Dr. JAW’s office (limit 5 pounds). Call 747-JAWS or visit www.DrJaw.net for more information.

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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October 2019 â&#x20AC;¢

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Blood Suckers! www.bearessentialnews.com

October 2019

Good to the Last Bite

Leech

o get you and your buddies into the Halloween spirit, Boomer Bear takes a look at creatures that live in a most CRINGEWORTHY way! Some bloodsuckers are so sneaky or tiny that the host (or victim, if you want to be dramatic) doesn’t even know it’s there! But why blood? It is rich in red and white blood cells, which are high in protein. The downside is that, as food, blood is low in vitamins and can carry disease. “All animals with backbones (from humans to birds to ﬁsh) have blood and are another (food) resource in the world. And many different organisms have evolved to use that resource!” explains Kathleen Walker, Director of Insect Discovery at the University of Arizona’s Department of Entomology. Bloodsucking goes by a few fancy names like hematophagy or sanguivore.

Bloodsucking leeches are sometimes used in cosmetic surgery and microsurgery for better healing!

Blood Thirsty Insects!

Most tend to be small, so let’s start with a few insects and other related animals that rely on blood. “A lot of them can bite people, even if we’re not their primary host,” Dr. Walker points out. “We have a few that target people, but there are many mosquitoes that are bird specialists. Lizards and other reptiles get attacked, too. It’s a huge diversity.” Our rainy season is good for our thirsty desert, but also brings about mosquitoes, which Dr. Walker studies. In fact, Arizona has 40 of the world’s 3,000 species of mosquitoes. Surprisingly, not all mosquitoes are bloodsuckers. While both males and females feed on nectar, “the females use blood to make their eggs for their babies,” she says. All mosquitoes spend their childhood in freshwater, often in icky water that’s stagnant. They don’t emerge from there until they’re an adult. They have a pointy PROBOSCIS with spe-

Tick There are 25 tick species in Arizona. Some transmit diseases.

cialized mouthparts. “Basically, they saw a little tiny hole and go in and suck the blood,” Dr. Walker says. And it’s their saliva that can make your skin get red and itch. Dr. Walker studies a pretty mosquito that’s black with white markings called Aedes aegypti, which can carry viruses like Zika, dengue or yellow fever. Fortunately, the ones here in Arizona don’t carry those viruses. They aren’t native around here, but still humans have unknowingly brought them here. They grow up in small manmade containers that hold water like the saucers that go underneath a potted plant or toys left outside that hold a bit of water. So the solution to getting rid of those biting pests is to find those containers and dump them! Kissing bugs are true bugs with a little cone-shaped head and are black with red or orange markings. These sneaky insects are larger and only live on the blood that they suck! They come out at night and are called kissing bugs because they like to bite around the mouth or eyes while the host sleeps. Fortunately, the kissing bugs here in Arizona don’t transmit chagas, an illness from a tiny organism that lives in their poop. Chagas is a problem caused by kissing bugs in Central and South America. Not all black bugs with red markings are kissing bugs, though! The small boxelder bug and giant mesquite bug look similar to them but won’t “kiss” you! Ugh! Bed bugs are a growing problem. And once your place is infested with these crawling insects, you might have to call in experts to get rid of them! Dr. Walker says bed bugs also solely rely on sucking blood to live. They are tiny, brownish, flattened insects that tend to hide in crevices of mattresses and between sheets and come out to bite humans and sometimes other warm-blooded animals like pets or birds. Fleas are also flightless insects, but can really jump. They are narrow and tiny, which helps them claw their way through fur or feathers. Their mouthparts

are specialized for piercing the skin and sucking blood. Sometimes ﬂeas carry certain diseases. Ticks, which are often found sucking the blood of dogs and cats, also attach themselves to humans, birds, reptiles and even amphibians. They aren’t insects, they are ARACHNIDS, more closely related to mites and spiders. Here in Arizona, we have 25 species of ticks. After their larvae hatch from eggs, they need blood in order to continue to develop into the nymph stage. Once an adult, female ticks need a blood meal in order to lay up to 5,000 eggs before dying!

What would Halloween be without Bats? You don’t need to worry about vampire bats getting you. Vampire bats, which sneak up on their hosts, make a tiny slice or two into the skin with their razor teeth and add their special saliva (spit) that has an anticoagulant to help the blood flow freely instead of clotting. The bat then laps up the blood. They are found in South and Central America and up through parts of Mexico. “There are only three species, and for two of those, their specialty is bird blood,” explains Robin Kropp, education specialist for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The northernmost branches of the vampire bat’s range is about 170 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border. The third species of vampire bat goes for mammals, like pigs and cows. Under the cover of darkness, they land on the ground and crawl onto their unsuspecting hosts. Still, Arizona is home to 28 species of non-bloodsucking bats, and Kropp finds them fascinating. Some feed on nectar and pollen while most actively hunt flying insects and a few find their prey (like scorpions, crickets and katydids) on the ground. The lesser long-nosed bat flies into Mexico in the winter. “They need to go where it’s flowering year-round, hang out in Mexico November–February, then start traveling north on what we call the ‘Nectar Corridor’—where they feed on the flowering columnar cacti—things like saguaros, cardons and etchos. They flower at night and have these big white, fragrant flowers…they’re like the perfect bat flowers,” Krop says. “The ones traveling north are pregnant. The reason they come north is because there are tons of fuel and protein in these cactus flowers. While they are feeding, they are also pollinating these plants (so their pollinated flowers can turn into fruit, which they also eat).” As winter approaches, these lesser long-nosed bats, including the youngsters, head back to Mexico along the “Agave Corridor,” feeding on the flowers of the blooming agaves! Read the captions to find out more about bloodsucker and do the Word Game!

Kissing Bug

Learn all about bugs—for FREE!

Arizona Insect Festival Sunday, Oct. 20 • 10 a.m.–3 p.m. UofA’s ENR2 Building on Sixth Street

Mosquito

It’s only the female mosquitoes that suck blood to produce eggs!

Lamprey, leech and insect images: shutterstock.com

Vampire Bat

And if you’re into birds that hunt…

Two of the three species of vampire bats target birds only.

Raptor Free Flights

Begin Saturday, Oct. 19 • 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Included with admission fee

These bloodsuckers are so named because they bite near the mouth or eyes!

•

BEAR 40 YEARS

Page 12

Lamprey Unlike other ﬁsh, lampreys don’t have jaws—just teeth and a funnel-like sucking mouth to take in blood!

Bloodsuckers Word Game Fill in the blanks to complete the words found in this month’s feature. Then use these letters (unscrambled) to complete the joke below.

Bed Bug

VA_P_RE B_T _EECH HEMA_OPH_GY I_SECT_ B_D _UG F_E_

On vacation? Check for bed bugs and keep your luggage on racks or a table so you don’t bring them home!

_ISSI_G _UG M_SQUI_O

Vampire Finch

_I_K This Galapagos Island bird drinks the blood of blue-footed boobies, and the boobies don’t seem to mind!

What sports do vampires like to play? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ OR __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (9 letters)

(10 letters)

Page 12

BEAR 40 YEARS •

Blood Suckers! www.bearessentialnews.com

October 2019

Good to the Last Bite

Leech

Bloodsucking leeches are sometimes used in cosmetic surgery and microsurgery for better healing!

Blood Thirsty Insects!

Tick There are 25 tick species in Arizona. Some transmit diseases.

Kissing Bug

Learn all about bugs—for FREE!

Arizona Insect Festival Sunday, Oct. 20 • 10 a.m.–3 p.m. UofA’s ENR2 Building on Sixth Street

Mosquito

It’s only the female mosquitoes that suck blood to produce eggs!

Lamprey, leech and insect images: shutterstock.com

Vampire Bat

And if you’re into birds that hunt…

Two of the three species of vampire bats target birds only.

Raptor Free Flights

Begin Saturday, Oct. 19 • 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Included with admission fee

These bloodsuckers are so named because they bite near the mouth or eyes!

•

BEAR 40 YEARS

Page 12

Lamprey Unlike other ﬁsh, lampreys don’t have jaws—just teeth and a funnel-like sucking mouth to take in blood!

Bloodsuckers Word Game Fill in the blanks to complete the words found in this month’s feature. Then use these letters (unscrambled) to complete the joke below.

Bed Bug

VA_P_RE B_T _EECH HEMA_OPH_GY I_SECT_ B_D _UG F_E_

On vacation? Check for bed bugs and keep your luggage on racks or a table so you don’t bring them home!

_ISSI_G _UG M_SQUI_O

Vampire Finch

_I_K This Galapagos Island bird drinks the blood of blue-footed boobies, and the boobies don’t seem to mind!

What sports do vampires like to play? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ OR __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (9 letters)

(10 letters)

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October 2019

Kindergarten

COUNTS! They’re cute; they’re energetic; they love to play and interact with the world around them. They’re 5 years old and taking their biggest step in life so far—kindergarten!

t’s a really big step (for such little feet) and a major milestone for kids and families. It can be exciting and sometimes intimidating for youngsters and their parents, too—but there’s no need to be scared! Kindergarten is a great adventure that will set your child on a path of lifelong learning. A great way to get started on the road to kindergarten is to visit the school, especially if it offers special events for new families. Kids who turn 5 before Sept.1, 2020, are eligible to attend kindergarten next year. To make sure your child has a place at the school of your choice, you should get started this year. For schools that offer open enrollment, the time to get started is just a few months away. Kindergarten roundups and open house events are offered by many schools in early 2020, but some are sooner! It’s a good idea to contact the schools you are interested in to get specific dates or to arrange a school tour. When you and your child visit a school, it’s an opportunity to meet with teachers and staff and get familiar with the campus. You may also meet other families and potential kindergartners. It’s an introduction to the brand new world that will be a vital part of your child’s life for many years to come! Bear has honored two kindergarten teachers in recent months, and both note that while kinder kids are cute, candid and always entertaining, they are absorbing new skills and knowledge at an awesome rate! Elyse Greenberg, a kindergarten teacher at Donaldson Elementary, says, “Kindergarten is the first opportunity to instill a love of learning.” She explains that kindergartners “are covering so many firsts” that will soon become a part of their everyday school routines—day-to-day tasks like lining up, holding a pencil, learning to write their name, and sitting attentively, just to name a few. Nina Jolly, who teaches kindergarten at Howell Elementary, notes that “kindergartners are like sponges. They pick up everything you teach them. They soak up so much” in that first year of school.

Getting Ready!

Educators agree that to be ready for kindergarten, kids should be able to do some things on their own. Can your child go to the restroom and wash hands independently? Can they put on their shoes? Write his or her name? These are some things you can work on before school starts next fall. When you visit a school for a kindergarten event or to begin registration, be sure to bring your child’s birth certiﬁcate and immunization records. You will also need two proof of residency documents—for example, a valid Arizona driver license or W-2 form, plus a bank statement or utility bill with your current address. If you have questions, check the school or district website or call the school ofﬁce. Here’s some information to get you started on your kinder quest:

Amphitheater www.amphi.com Contact individual schools for tours and information, or call 696-5168. Open enrollment starts Dec. 1. Catalina Foothills www.cfsd16.org Half-day and fee-based Kindergarten Plus offered. Kindergarten open houses are in December. Contact school for information and to RSVP to open house. Open enrollment begins Nov. 1. Flowing Wells www.ﬂowingwellsschools.org Free full-day kindergarten offered. Kindergarten Roundups happen in February and March. Marana www.maranausd.org Free full-day kindergarten offered. Registration begins in January. Contact schools for more information. For open enrollment apply by Dec. 15 Sahuarita Susd30.us Free full-day kindergarten offered. Kinder events usually held in March and April. Open enrollment Nov. (prev)

Sunnyside www.susd12.org To request registration information, visit SUSD12.org/district/enrollment Tucson Uniﬁed www.tusd1.org Free all-day kindergarten offered. Kinder open house or Kinder Welcome events happening in February. Call schools for dates and information. Tanque Verde www.tanqueverdeschools.org Half-day and tuition based full-day offered. Kindergarten Roundup happens in January. Call school ofﬁce for date. Open enrollment opens Nov. 1 Vail vailschooldistrict.org Half-day, full-day and tuition-based full-day programs at certain schools. Kindergarten Roundup events happen in February and March. Contact schools for dates and information.

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Kelly Reads at Downtown Library by Reporter Abigail Hernandez Arizona Virtual Academy Do you know who Mark Kelly is? He is a former astronaut who is running for senate. Not only has Kelly been to space, but he has also been to some local libraries. I had the chance to meet him at the downtown library. He read his bestselling book, “Mousetronaut.” After the reading, he answered questions. Kelly says he flew 17,000 miles per hour in space. He also noted that the first time you’re in zero gravity, it feels weird. Kelly’s identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, has been to space, also. The two have written a book together. At the end, pictures were taken. The long line was full of shouting, talking, energetic people! My sister saw her best friend. Finally, we got our pictures taken. If you ever have the chance to meet Mark Kelly, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. MORE SCOOPS, page 16 ➧

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More Bats

Continued from page 7

help crops grow. Also, what makes them unique is that they make up 20 percent of the mammals, and there are 28 different bat species in Arizona. For example, there are two bat species in Arizona called nectar bats. Nectar bats spread pollen and they help other plants grow. Another reason why bats are different is because most bats have one pup per year. Besides that, most female bats eat greater than 70 percent of their body weight. According to author Conrad J. Storad of the Bat Book, “To eat like a

They trap air with the stretchy skin of the wings and then push it away from them. Unlike birds, they don’t glide through the air. The bats’ wings also resemble the human hand. Bats are unique and important in their own ways. Most bats are insectivorous bats, meaning they eat insects. In fact, 70 percent of bats eat insects, making them our organic pest control. Bats are great in our environment. According to Bat Conservation International, scientists in the U.S estimate that “bats are worth more than $3.7 billion a year in reduced crop damage and pesticide use. And that, of course, means fewer pesticides enter the ecosystem.” In addition to this, guano, meaning bat poop, is used as fertilizer to

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bat, a 150-pound teenager would have to eat about 300 quarter-pound burgers in a single day.” Diseases like “White Nose Syndrome,” habitat loss, and human disturbance are affecting bat population. “White Nose Syndrome” is a fungal disease and it could possibly kill the bat. Fungus spores clog the bat’s nose and mouth and it can make holes in the wings. For safety reasons, if you see a bat, don’t play with it. Just leave it alone. Immediately contact an adult. Adults should always use gloves and call a wildlife rehabilitator assistance. So, bats are not evil bloodsuckers. They are just fascinating, useful mammals that are important to our environment. MORE SCOOPS, page 21 ➧

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October 2019

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Stay Safe! Fire Safety Search Find the words in the alphabet soup. One is already circled to get you started.

Safety Word “Fill In the Blank” Game Fill in the blanks in the Halloween Safety Tips.

Halloween Safety Tips 1. Walk only on the _________________ . 2. Bring all of your _____________ home for your parents to check. 3. _________________ with an adult or a group of ______________. 4. Wear face paint instead of a __________ . 5. Never play near ________________ that are lit. 6. Wear bright ______________ so others can see you when you ____________ . Word Bank: costumes, trick-or-treat, jack-o’-lanterns, mask, sidewalk, walk, treats, friends

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Big Book Has Classic Monsters by Reporter Candace Armbruster, White Elementary This is a book review on The Big Book of Monsters. It was written by author Hal Johnson who loves frights and monsters. The book was illustrated by cartoonist and animator Tim Sievert. The book features 25 creepy and classic short stories. The stories are excerpts from classic novels. At the beginning of each story there is a quick summary which contains the category, setting, powers, weaknesses, and fear factor. After each story there is more information about the original authors and the classic stories they wrote. This book is written for ages 10 and up. When I first was given this book to review I thought it would be boring, lame, and not a book I would be interested in reading! Then I opened the book and boy was I surprised. It is an amazing book! I was amazed how much I had learned from this book. All together I loved the book, but you might not. You won’t know until you read it.... Yes, I liked the book, but I didn’t like all of the stories. For instance Beatrice Rappaccini by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was all about poison, but didn’t really catch my eyes. But I loved Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, it taught a great lesson in the end. It doesn’t really matter what I think, it’s about you and what catches your eye. Like I said, you might love it, but you won’t know unless you read it for yourself. MORE SCOOPS, page 22 ➧

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Reid Park Gets a New Playground by Reporter Payton Hamill Tucson Country Day School I met Mayor Jonathan Rothschild at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible playground at Reid Park. The playground has ramps and plenty of shade. Mayor Rothschild said his favorite part of this project was getting the funding to build it. He also enjoyed seeing all the kids having so much fun together. The new playground is located near the DeMeester band shell. The old playground there was removed. The playground has an area for little kids and one for bigger kids too. Make sure you check out the new park. I think it is the best park you will ever go to! There are new benches, new swings, musical instruments, climbing structures, a rope climber, a drinking fountain for people and one for pets too. After the ribbon cutting, those of us that attended were treated to popsicles.

Flying High with Amazing Dock Dogs by Reporter Sophia Bradley, Sonoran Science Academy

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On Sept. 1, my family went to Old Tucson. While we were there, a group called Dock Dogs had a competition. I got to interview a lady named Emily who had a dog named Rosy. Emily told me about Dock Dogs while they were waiting their turn for the “Big Air” part of the competition, which is a long jump. Dock Dogs is a big group of people and their dogs that compete all over the country. They compete in three different activities: big air, speed retrieve and extreme vertical. The dog’s owner gets the dog’s favorite toy, and the owner throws the toy into a pool of water. The dog runs down a 40 foot dock and jumps into the pool. For big air, whichever dog jumps the farthest wins, and some of these dogs can jump 30 feet! For speed retrieve, the toy is put at the end of the pool and the dog is timed on how long it takes it to jump and swim to the toy and bring it back. Extreme vertical is to see which dog can jump the highest, and the best dogs can jump over 8 feet! This competition was Emily and Rosy’s very first, and was very important to them. Emily said that Rosy loves to jump and swim, and the rest of the training is just practicing running, jumping and swimming by throwing Rosy’s toy in the pool over and over again. We did not get to stay long enough to see Rosy jump, but I bet she had fun!

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HALLOWEEN

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