MARCH 2022
Poppy Fest 2022
19
COVID-19 UPDATE BY THE NUMBERS • On March 9, global total reported cases of COVID stood at 450 million, and total official deaths had reached 6,038,177. (1) • Total reported cases in the USA reached 81,012,955 and total official deaths exceeded 987,615. (2) • Arizona has seen a total of 1,980,769 cases and 27,946 deaths attributed to COVID. (3) • Gila County has had 16,863 reported cases and 352 deaths, with 4,002 cases in zip code 85501. (4)
“We have to come up with an approach that reflects the fact that there will always be COVID-19. It can’t be eradicated or eliminated.” – Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
AROUND THE WORLD
BY DEBORAH DOVE
Spring in Globe and Miami can only mean one thing—poppies, poppies, and more poppies. A display as magnificent as the one Mother Nature puts on in the area deserves to be celebrated, which is exactly what the AZ Poppy Fest is all about. This is the second year for the popular event, which was the brainchild of Christie Cothrune, president of the Miami-Globe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and owner of Bouquets on Broad Street. This year’s Poppy Fest occurs the weekend of April 1st, with festivities surrounding everything poppy in both Globe and Miami. Good poppy growth depends on the area getting a good soaking rain once a month in the six months prior to spring, and according to Tianna Holder, Executive Director of Globe-Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2022 is on track for a good bloom.
• Total global recorded deaths passed 6 million on March 7. (5) • Scientists found that people who’ve had COVID suffer long-lasting losses to brain tissue, resulting in loss of sense of smell, “brain fog,” and lack of ability to concentrate. In the study’s subjects, the effects lasted at least four months. It’s uncertain whether the symptoms will be permanent. Most of the people in the study had only mild COVID cases. (6)
ACROSS THE COUNTRY • Hospitalizations and case counts have dropped significantly across the United States – by about 85% – since the end of January. (7) • However, public health officials warn the future is uncertain. And a majority of Americans believe the pandemic is still only somewhat or not at all under control, while 6 out of 10 say we still need to take measures to control the virus. 52% of Americans support an indoor mask mandate. One out of five say they’ve completely returned to normal life. (8) • President Biden announced a new pandemic road map calling for increased tracking of new variants and more use of antivirals, in an attempt to help return life to normal. (9) • The Centers for Disease Control switched to an emphasis on hospital-related measures rather than case counts in assessing local severities. The new guidelines mean about 90% of Americans can safely reduce their masking. (7),(10) • Congress is working on a new bill for coronavirus aid. It’s expected to come in around $15 billion and to help fund vaccines, treatments, and testing. (11)
IN ARIZONA
Events in Globe The weekend kicks off with downtown Globe’s First Friday event from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., with food trucks, vendor booths, and a classic car cruise. The fun continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday with food, vendors, and live entertainment, as well as Poppy School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Silver King lot. With the goal of educating the public on the recovery and restoration of the Pinal Mountains and surrounding areas after a summer of flooding and wildfires, Poppy School demonstrates how folks can help the land heal after natural disasters – with lots of fun hands-on activities. Highlights of Poppy School will include educational presentations, recognizing native flora and fauna via native plant trading cards and native animal bingo, a fingerprint poppy craft, and storytelling/puppet show about watersheds. Visitors can create their own native seed balls to take home and plant by pedaling a stationary bike, or take advantage of the poppy seeds available for free at the event. There will also be live entertainment and local dancers performing throughout the day, and ebikes will be available to rent from E-volve Adventure Rentals for festival goers who want to pedal around downtown.
• After a large spike in the second part of January, cases have dwindled to their lowest point since last summer. (3) • As of the first week of March, only two Arizona countes fell into the high risk category according to the CDC’s new system – Yuma and La Paz. The rest of the state is in the medium category. That means people in most of the state can stop masking up indoors, unless they have symptoms, have recently tested positive or have been near a person with COVID. (12)
GLOBE-MIAMI • As of March 7, Gila County public health authorities reported the following town-by-town case numbers: Payson: 19, San Carlos: 16, Globe: 9, Peridot: 5, Hayden: 3, Miami: 2, and one case each in Pine, Tonto Basin, Winkelman, and Young. (13) (1) https://bit.ly/3sUsT5u, (2) https://bit.ly/3Cvj2q3, https://politi.co/3pSiDsy, (3) https://bit.ly/3IXgK57, (4) https://bit. ly/3tHE0xK, https://bit.ly/3IXuAEI, (5) https://bit.ly/3hPTcU9, (6) https://bit.ly/3tLP7pk, (7) https://wapo.st/34sgY5o, (8) https://wapo.st/3HYXHX4, (9) https://wapo.st/3sTcUEK, (10) https://bit.ly/3MzJLGp, (11) https://bit.ly/3HYr5gb, (12) https:// bit.ly/3Kx57Co, (13) https://bit.ly/3pRoaQd
Events in Miami In Miami, Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum will be open on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with live music from the Globe Centennial Band from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a family-friendly movie on the plaza and food trucks – including Cowboy Kettle Corn – to enjoy during the show. Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair. There will also be live music, food trucks, and vendors on Sullivan Street from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with downtown Miami shops open late. Ghost Tours with the AZ Paranormal Investigation & Research Society will start at 7 p.m. at the Miami Mercantile & More building. Reservations are required. Contact Vincent Amino at (480) 489-7146 or vinnie@azpirs.com to purchase tickets. Miami Mercantile & More will have a pop-up bar inside starting at noon, with tours of the historic building from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Best Poppy Bloom Viewpoints Of course, the highlight of the weekend is the poppies themselves, and there’s no better place in the Copper Corridor to view them than at Peridot Mesa in the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Here, wildflower aficionados will find expansive swathes of the gorgeous gold and orange poppy blooms blanketing the rolling hillside. Visitors will need a recreation permit to visit, which will be available to purchase for $10 from tribal members at the entrance on Sunday. The Peridot Mesa trail is clearly marked and easily navigable without a guide. The reservation is sacred land, so please stay on the trail and be respectful of both the land and the poppies. Looking for other ways to enjoy the poppies? On Sunday, First Christian Church will be hosting a 7 a.m. poppy hike at Round Mountain Park, followed by a free pancake breakfast at the church. You can also enjoy hillsides of flowers, along with boating, kayaking, fishing, or picnicking, at Roosevelt Lake. Across from the lake and just 25 miles from Globe-Miami, the trails up to the 800-year-old Salado-style cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument also typically have a good poppy bloom. Or you can catch glimpses of plenty of roadside blooms in downtown Miami.
Additional Information Wristbands for the weekend-long event can be purchased for $20 from the Chamber of Commerce. The entrance fee includes a brochure or digital download of a list of deals and discounts available with the wristband. For more information, visit https://www.globemiamichamber.com/azPoppy Fest.
THE LEADER IN ORTHODONTIC EXCELLENCE Actual patient
Providing braces for children, teenagers and adults.
FREE CONSULTATION AND
$300 OFF TREATMENT *Mention this ad. Cannot be combined with any other offer.*
GIVING YOU A REASON TO SMILE!
Serving you in our Globe office with offices in Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek
(480) 924-2880 5981 W. Electric Drive, Suite A Conveniently located on Electric Avenue at the top of the hill in Mountain View Dentistry.
arizonabraces.com
*Not to be combined with any other discount or offer.
