News Briefs

Romero says Tucson will stay the course

Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order banning cities from instituting COVID-19 vaccine mandates on December 15. The city of Tucson will keep its current policy requiring employee vaccinations.

“Arizona Attorney General (Mark) Brnovich already told the governor what he doesn’t want to hear. He has no authority to preempt local actions through executive orders,” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero says.

Romero reiterated that “the governor needs to focus on the crisis at hand as COVID-19 cases rise. He can’t say that he’s for public health and tie the hands of cities and counties as the pandemic surges to record levels and hospital ICU beds dwindle.”

According to the latest city of Tucson employee data, 99% of its workers have complied with the city’s requirement and/ or have been granted an exemption. “Our employees answered the call to protect each other and protect our community,” Romero says.

Avelo Airlines takes off from LA for Tucson

Avelo Airlines began nonstop service between Los Angeles and Tucson December 16. It’s Avelo’s 10th nonstop destination from its Southern California base. Everyday one-way low fares starting at $29 are available at aveloair.com.

Avelo’s exclusive, twice-weekly direct service between Tucson International Airport and Los Angeles’ most convenient and popular airport - Hollywood Burbank Airport will operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Flight 143 departs Burbank at 5:40 p.m., arriving in Tucson at 8:10 p.m. Flight 144 departs Tucson at 8:50 p.m., arriving Burbank at 9:30 p.m. Avelo will also offer additional flights on select Tuesdays and Saturdays during the end-of-year peak holiday season.

The flights will be operated by Boeing Next Generation 737-800 aircraft.

Remodeled Walmart stores provide a better way to shop

ters at 8280 N. Cortaro Road and 1650 W. Valencia Road.

The remodels include several department transformations and the expansion of innovations that will help customers save time. The upgrades also complement the measures the company has taken in its U.S. stores to help protect associates and customers from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited for Marana customers to visit our newly remodeled supercenter that is going to make their shopping fast and easy,” says store manager Vicente Verdugo. “These upgrades add even greater convenience while also keeping safety top of mind.”

At 8280 N. Cortaro Road in Marana, guests will see a slew of updates, including improved lighting, Vision Center 2.0, new building signage, a mother’s room, grab and go, and expanded electronics department.

Customers will enjoy the following changes at 1650 W. Valencia Road, Tucson: updated apparel department; improved auto care center; new building signage; expanded pickup and delivery; remodeled restrooms; grab and go; and expanded electronics, home, deli and tools.

Mayor, council designate Beck House a historic landmark

Tucson’s mayor and city council unanimously voted at the December meeting to designate the John Beck House, located on Potter Place in the Catalina Vista neighborhood, a historic landmark.

The property, nominated for the designation by the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, is a rare residential expression of modern architecture, a 4,000-square-foot binuclear international modernist residence with tilt-in-place cast concrete wall system.

Designed in 1959 by architect John Beck as his own home and built in 1960, the project incorporated a cast exposed-aggregate concrete panel system. Each panel was fabricated on-site using river rock and lifted into place giving the principal elevation a monolithic quality. The primary living spaces surround a glass-walled atrium/courtyard, which allows diffused natural daylight to illuminate the interior.

“Through this designation the mayor and council continue to underscore the importance of protecting historic resources in our community. The historic landmark designation protects the exterior character features of the house under local zoning law,” says Demion Clinco, CEO of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation who prepared the historic landmark and rezoning applications.

“Designation of properties like the John Beck House is only possible through the partnership of forward-thinking owners who understand the importance of protecting the architectural heritage of our community and region. Without this ethic of cultural stewardship, designations like this would be impossible.”

Dr. Michael Fassett, board president of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, notes, “The Beck House is an important example of modern architecture that celebrates the contribution of an important local architect. As a result of this designation, we hope owners of other John Beck buildings will work to designate their properties.”

He concludes, “The foundation is available to help owners of iconic historic architecture prepare local historic landmark designation.”

Beck was born in Boston in 1919. He studied architecture at Wentworth Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His first architectural project was a home for his family in Seattle, built in 1953. The Becks moved to Tucson in 1956.

His Tucson buildings include Randolph Park Communications Center (1960), Palms Mortuary and Chapel (1960), Beta Theta Pi Greek House (1960), Christopher City (1962), Park Student Union at the University of Arizona (1965) and Alvernon Village Shopping Center (1969). Beck and his family traveled extensively through Asia, Africa and South America. Beck died April 15, 2006.

Board approves county redistricting process

The Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved establishing a county redistricting committee to draw the lines for the supervisors’ districts, which will also serve as the district lines for the five Pima Community College district lines.

State law requires counties to review supervisor district boundaries with each decennial census and require supervisor districts have equal population with no more than 10% variance. Three districts — one, two and three — are within the variance with each other, but districts one and four have more than 10% variance with district five.

To balance the districts, the board created a redistricting advisory committee that will begin meeting after January 18 and hold a minimum of five public meetings. Each board member will appoint a representative to serve on the committee. The board wants the committee to complete its work and present its recommendations by April 30.

The state requires the board adopt the new district lines by July 1. For consistency, Pima Community College has agreed to use the same district lines for its five governing board districts.

The public will be able to track progress of the committee’s work, provide comments, and see draft maps and other information at pima.gov/ countyredistricting.

Pima County approves $3M to support COVID-19 testing

The Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to authorize $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) contingency funds to support the Pima County Health Department’s ongoing COVID-19 testing program.

COVID-19 testing at health department sites has been supported by federal funds via the Arizona Department of Health Services as a pass-through agency, but that funding source was expected to deplete in December.

“We continue to believe that the county’s investment in free and accessible testing is critical during the current COVID-19 surge,” Acting County Administrator Jan Lesher said in a memo to the board.

Pima County offers free COVID-19 antigen rapid tests and PCR tests at centers and mobile events throughout the county and has plans to expand hours at the Ellie Towne Center, Tucson Electric Power’s Downtown office and Liberty Plaza, with hours and days of operation to be decided soon.

A complete schedule, hours of operation, and additional information can be found at pima.gov.

Additionally, Pima County is providing free BinaxNOW at-home self-test kits at all Pima County Public Libraries during their regular hours of operation.

Features LET the GAMES Begin

Senior Olympic Festival evolves with the pandemic

At the Senior Olympic Festival, track and fi eld events are popular. (Photos courtesy of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department)

BY LAURA LATZKO

After a pandemic-fueled break, the Senior Olympic Festival will return this month, giving athletes the chance to show their prowess in a variety of events.

The Tucson Parks and Recreation Department’s event is Saturday, January 8, to Saturday, January 29, throughout Tucson.

“We want people to show up and feel prideful for being part of something,” says Joe Stubbins, a planning committee co-chair. “A lot of these people are active year-round, and we are just lucky enough to off er an activity that draws interest.”

At the Senior Olympic Festival, the events are not sanctioned, so athletes will not earn points for state games, Stubbins says.

“We consider our festival for fun and for pride,” he adds. “It’s one of those special activities that you can play cards or you can powerlift. We off er any activity in between those categories.”

Stubbins says it is important to have a variety of activities to keep it inclusive.

The participants take the games seriously. Leisure walkers meet throughout the year to exercise. The parks and recreation department off ers facilities and classes for those who want to keep up on activities. In the summer, for example, a track and fi eld program begins.

“It basically encourages people of all ages to get out there and be active, run, jump and throw,” Stubbins says. “It’s the only practice they will get before the Senior Olympic games.”

During the festival, nimble participants can take part in bowling, badminton, archery, shooting, trap and skeet, billiards, tennis, bocce, golf, handball, horseshoes, pickleball, powerlifting, racquetball, 5K and 10K races, slow-pitch softball, swimming, table tennis and volleyball.

Various track and fi eld events are scheduled, too, including the discus, javelin, high jump, standing and running high jump, shot put, and 200- to 1,500-meter dashes.

Calmer events like bridge, cribbage, bingo, shuffl eboard and Texas hold ‘em are set.

The events are broken down into age categories, starting with the 50 to 55 group. Women and men compete separately, except for bridge, cribbage, darts, shuffl eboard and leisure walks.

Many popular events are returning, but 3-on-3 basketball, euchre, and air pistol and air rifl e shooting were canceled due to a lack of space or the inability to socially distance. For some, coordinators were uneasy about the return of in-person games. Other activities were moved to diff erent venues.

“We used to reserve a space at the University of Arizona’s track and fi eld facility,” Stubbins says.

“Since COVID, they haven’t opened for outside usage and private rentals. Unfortunately, the Senior Olympic Festival falls into that category. We aren’t allowed to use the facility that we’ve used in years’ past.”

Some events, like badminton, are expected to be less popular this year due to COVID-19.

“We don’t have open gym badminton for people to come in and practice, unfortunately,” Stubbins says.

“The ones who register this year are ones who are there strictly for fun or are confi dent enough in their skills that they didn’t lose it in a year and a half to two years.”

Billiards and pickleball have garnered high registration numbers, while bowling isn’t as popular this year.

“The times have never changed, and it’s the same exact event,” Stubbins says. “We just have a feeling a lot of people don’t want to be in a confi ned space for multiple hours, just for safety purposes.”

To play bridge, participants must be vaccinated, per the planners, Adobe Bridge Club.

Others have changed format, like darts and handball, the latter of which will be held over two days for social distancing.

“It costs us a little more in the long run because we are paying for an additional day at a venue, but it’s so much safer,” Stubbins says. “It’s much more organized, too. We aren’t rushing to get games in before 6 p.m. It was a change that’s for the better, and we think it’s something that we are going to stick to even after the pandemic.”

Stubbins hopes things will change for 2023, such as the return of disc golf and fi shing.

“The pandemic has caused us to do a diff erent type of thinking and planning than normal,” Stubbins says.

Pickleball is one of the most popular events at the Senior Olympic Festival.

MORE INFO

What: Senior Olympic Festival When: Various times Saturday, January 8, to Saturday, January 29 Where: Various locations in Tucson Cost: No registration fee; $2 for pins; $5 for T-shirts. Registration required online, by mail or in person Info: 791-4931, tucsonaz.gov

During the Senior Olympic Festival, seniors can compete in events such as swimming.

King Crossword

ACROSS

1 Earring site 5 Smack 8 Blog entry 12 Regrettably 13 Fuss 14 “May It Be” singer 15 Dealer’s foe 16 Moving-day rental 17 Aviation prefix 18 Energetic person 20 Galley supply 22 Strikers’ queue 26 Manhandled 29 Chemical suffix 30 Hobbyist’s abbr. 31 Rue the run 32 German conjunction 33 Lavish party 34 -- Paulo 35 Fuel stat 36 Devil’s domain 37 Playgoer’s souvenir 40 Writer Quindlen 41 Short jacket 45 Gambling game 47 Jay follower 49 San --, Italy 50 Help a crook 51 Hosp. sections 52 Author Sheehy 53 Striped fish 54 Perched 55 Deco artist

DOWN

1 Crow’s-nest cry 2 Skin care brand 3 Hoedown site 4 Jailbreak participant 5 Mayhem 6 Greek mountain 7 Ad nauseam 8 Oyster’s prize 9 Biased 10 Aleppo’s land (Abbr.) 11 Eastern “way” 19 Central 21 Consumed 23 Monarchs 24 Evening, in an ad 25 Peepers 26 Bygone days 27 Exotic berry 28 “So what?” 32 Chimney pipes 33 Maker of ornate eggs 35 Gents 36 Coloration 38 Shoelace woes 39 Secret rendezvous 42 Dread 43 Send forth 44 Portrayal 45 “Terrif!” 46 Lawyers’ gp. 48 Altar constellation

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!