Foothills News 02/08/2023

Volume 13 • Number 3 February 8, 2023

INSIDE INSIDE

Tucson’s only wildlife rehab center hosts 11th fundraiser | Page 6 Third grader writes, releases debut single | Page 12 Gym was the original place to Bear Down | Page 14

Bayless connects real estate, love of helping people

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK Tucson Local Media Contributor

Lisa Bayless always wanted to help people.

Following that desire, Bayless, who attended Greenfields Country Day School in Tucson, moved to the East Coast to attend college. She graduated with a degree from Bates College in Maine, then earned a graduate degree in social work from Boston University. She also met her future husband, who was a real estate developer in Boston. She assisted him with some of his work on buildings, projects and homes.

That’s when she noticed the connections between real estate and social work.

“I began to understand that there is a considerable amount of overlap between real estate, social work and counseling,”

Bayless said.

“I began to understand that real estate is as much about people as it is about the commodity itself. It’s all about understanding what people need, solving problems and finding clients a place that they can call home, which really isn’t that much different from social work.”

Bayless also realized the connection between the real estate market and the community itself. “Real estate is very entwined with the community,” Bayless said. “The health of the community really impacts the value of the local housing market and vice versa.”

Bayless returned to Tucson, landed employment with Long Realty, and began working in real estate in early 2007. She started with Long Realty because of the

See BAYLESS Page 8

Dream inspires Dirk Dieters’ 1st book, ‘The Ring’

BY HOPE PETERS Tucson Local Media Staff

Tucson nonprofit leader Dirk Dieters awoke in the middle of the night last January, recalling a dream.

“It was about a kid who was fixing a BMW and found a ring in it,” Dieters said. “People had to figure out who it belonged to.”

The founder and executive director of the nonprofit management consulting

firm Fremont Group put pen to paper. It led to his first novel, the newly released “The Ring,” which is the start to the Martin Dougherty mystery/thriller series. The follow-up book, “Suspicion,” is set to hit stores in the spring.

“It was really kind of fun,” Dieters said. “The only reason I did it was because it was flat-out fun to do.”

“The Ring” tells the story of a family responding to tragedy and caught in the center of the deadly affairs of others. On

moving day, Dougherty’s wife is unexpectedly killed, sending the family into turmoil.

Dougherty and his three children — Kristi, Kim and Ken — must deal with a new city and life, which becomes complicated.

The characters and the store are fictional, but it does draw from Dieters’ move from Colorado to Tucson.

“The saga moves in erratic fashion from

See AUTHOR Page 6

The Tucson housing market remains strong, Lisa Bayless said, particularly in Marana and Oro Valley. (Lisa Bayless/Submitted)

Hot Picks

ARTS

Wednesday, Feb. 8, ongoing

8. Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of American History, this exhibit examines the sport and how Latinos have helped shape what it is today. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 students/children, and free for active military. For more information about permanent and ongoing exhibitions, visit tucsondart.org. Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road.

LIVE MUSIC

The African American Museum of Southern Arizona opened its doors at the UA. Co-founded by Beverly and Bob Elliott, the museum presents a cultural and educational experience through items of significance and intentional storytelling to preserve African American and Black life, culture and history in Southern Arizona to benefit the community. Located in room 244 of the Student Union Memorial Center, the museum has free admission. Until regular hours are established, interested visitors can schedule an appointment by emailing aamuseumofsouthernaz@ gmail.com. Visit aamsaz.org for more information. African American Museum of Southern Arizona, 4511 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 255-2.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Saturday, May 20

It’s been a long journey for Willem de Koonig’s “Woman-Ochre,” since its shocking theft in 1985 from the University of Arizona Museum of Art. After three decades later, it’s returned home. It’s on display through May. Tickets for “Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre” are $8 general admission; $6 seniors 65-plus and groups of 10 or more; and free for students with ID, museum members, UA faculty, staff, military personnel, AAM members, visitors with a SNAP card or Tribal ID, and children. For more information about other ongoing exhibits, visit artmuseum.arizona.edu. The University of Arizona Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Saturday, April 8

The Tucson Desert Art Museum presents its “¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues/En los barrios y las grandes ligas” through Saturday, April

Thursday, Feb. 9

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) presents the Oro Valley Concert Series on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Jam with local alternative folk rock band Sophia Rankin and the Sound from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Its unique blend of folk, pop, Americana and rock music connects with listeners across all ages. Admission is free. For more information about events sponsored by SAACA, visit saaca.org. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Sunday, April 2

Huzzah! The 35th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival returns to Pinal County. The medieval amusement has a 16-stage theater, a 50-acre circus, arts and crafts fair, jousting tournament and feast. Mingle with more than 2,000 characters in costume, and don’t forget to eat a giant roasted turkey leg. Eat, drink and be merry, for there is so much to see and do. Tickets are $33 for adults, $21 for children 5-12 (children 4 and under are free) if purchased in advance at any Bashas’ or Food City statewide. For a full list of activities

FOOTHILLS NEWS

The

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@timeslocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Executive Editor christina@timeslocalmedia.com

Katya Mendoza, Sta Reporter kmendoza@timeslocalmedia.com

Hope Peters, Sta Reporter hpeters@timeslocalmedia.com

Karen Scha ner, Sta Reporter kscha ner@timeslocalmedia.com

PRODUCTION

Shannon Mead, Design/Production Manager smead@timeslocalmedia.com

Veronica Thurman, Graphic Designer vthurman@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager brian@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

Gary Tackett, Associate Publisher gtackett@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising Zac@timeslocalmedia.com

Simplifying

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH • 10:00AM

and schedule of events, visit arizona. renfestinfo.com. Arizona Renaissance Festival, 12601 E. U.S. Highway 60, Gold Canyon.

Sunday, Feb. 12

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block hosts Second Sundaze: Family Day at the TMA. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every second Sunday of the month, the TMA offers “pay-what-youwish” admission all day. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. enjoy family-friendly activities while engaging with art, history and regional culture and from noon to 5 p.m., shop the Mujeres Market Tucson, a femme-centered marketplace showcasing BIWOC and QTBIPOC creators and artisans, including a DJ, mimosa bar. Visit tucsonmuseumofart.org for more information. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Avenue.

GEM SHOW

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Saturday, Feb. 11

The American Indian Fine Arts Show at the Red Roof Inn brings together the creative talent of American Indian artists from Tohono O’odam, Hopi, Yaqui and other nations this weekend during the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. From silvery inlay and overlay jewelry, baskets, painting and other works of art, visit the show for authentic American Indian art. Free admission. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday. Visit xpopress.com for more information. Red Roof Inn Tucson Downtown, 1300 N. Stone Avenue.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Sunday, Feb. 12

The world-renowned winter Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, which began Jan. 28, attracts nearly 65,000 visitors from around the globe each year at over 48 locations throughout the city. Guests are invited to enjoy rare gems, minerals and fossils. Shows begin anywhere between 8 and 10 a.m. lasting through 6 to 8 p.m. daily. For a full guide, visit visittucson.org.

6 p.m. daily, now through Sunday, Feb. 12. Known as one of the “Big 3,” shows in town, the 22nd Street Show provides free admission, free Wi-Fi, a food court, and on-site parking for $10 or $5 for offsite parking. This show is also known for its climate-controlled hard wall tents and perfect balance of minerals, fossils, dinosaurs, meteorites, jewelry and beads. For more information, visit 22ndstreet.show. 22nd Street Show, 600 W. 22nd Street.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Sunday, Feb. 13

The Kino Sports Complex Gem and Mineral Show closes out its final weekend, from Wednesday, Feb. 8, through Sunday, Feb. 12. The showcase features gems, minerals, fossils and other unique treasures from some of the largest dealers in the biz. The Kino Sports Complex Show is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13. For more information about the show, visit as-shows.com. Kino Gem & Mineral Show Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way.

KIDS

Saturday, Feb. 11

Every Second Saturday, the Children’s Museum Tucson features the Art After Dark series, Cuentacuentos, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This Saturday, Feb. 11, bring the family Downtown for an interactive storytelling program that is free of admission for children and their guests and hands-on activities. For more information about the many other diverse program’s that the CMT offers, visit childrensmuseumtucson. org. Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Avenue.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Wednesday, Feb. 8, to Sunday, Feb. 12

The 22nd Street Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show is open from 10 a.m. to

Send romance into orbit this Valentine’s Day at the Flandrau Planetarium with special light shows, music and other activities from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. Choose one of the two planetarium shows offered — “Lovers in the Sky” about the connection between Greek mythology and the constellations or sing along with “Laser Beatles.” These options are sure to sell out. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit flandrau.org. The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Boulevard. 

AGING WELL

Sustainable containers for residents’ carryout meals are just one of the green initiatives at Splendido.

There is no age limit for taking steps to reduce, reuse, and recycle, according to new research from Mather Institute, which reveals that preserving the environment is a top priority for people age 55 and better. Mather Institute, an award-winning resource for research and information about wellness, aging, and more, is the research arm of Mather.

Mather, along with Arizona-based Plaza Companies, owns Splendido, a Life Plan Community for those 55 and better in Oro Valley, where Mather manages day-to-day operations. Before they even broke ground on the community, the two organizations ensured that Splendido’s design would include strategies for water savings, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

“We have a stormwater

ARE ECO-FRIENDLY

management program that minimizes surface erosion, and our landscaping includes lowwater-use plant material as well as more than 1,000 shade trees to reduce solar heat gain and decrease water evaporation,” says James Edwartoski, Splendido’s executive director.

Today, residents enjoy Splendido’s garden areas featuring native, reused trees, as well as indoor spaces designed to support biophilia—people’s innate instinct to connect with nature.

“We wanted to showcase our beautiful surroundings in Oro Valley and spectacular views,” James notes.

Reducing Waste

In Mather Institute’s 2022 survey of older adults around the country, more than 60% of respondents noted that they engage in envi-

ronmentally friendly practices at least some of the time, including separating recycling, minimizing food waste, and minimizing their consumption of energy, water, and disposable items.

Splendido residents embrace the community’s use of reusable take-out containers. “As with the general public, residents enjoy carryout meals. Who doesn’t love having the choice of eating at home and not having to cook when you may not feel like eating out at a restaurant,” says Thad Parton, director of restaurant operations for Mather.

All to-go food from Splendido restaurants is packaged in sustainable OZZI-brand containers, which can be used and reused 1,000 times before being recycled. “These containers are made from remarkably

durable, BPA-free plastic, designed to withstand our commercial dishwashers, and work well with hot or cold food,” says Thad. “And at the end of their life cycle, they are 100% recyclable.”

Once residents are finished with their carryout meal, their containers are returned to Splendido’s kitchen, where staff wash and put the containers back into rotation. “Not only are the containers cost-effective, but our kitchen waste is way down as we’ve eliminated disposable to-go packaging—everyone is happy with the substantially reduced amount of plastic we’re recycling now,” says Thad. Interested in learning more about Splendido? For floor plans, photos, and information on upcoming events, visit splendidotucson.com.

Tucson’s only wildlife rehab center hosts 11th fundraiser

BY HOPE PETERS

Tucson Weekly Staff

As Tucson Wildlife Center’s development coordinator, Hubert Parker says he feels blessed. He is grateful for the community, which covers Tucson Wildlife Center’s $900,000 annual operating costs through grants, donations and fundraisers.

“We are blessed with good support around us,” Parker said. “It says a lot about the heart of this town.”

The nonprofit will once again rely on the community to help as it hosts its 11th annual fundraiser Sunday, March 12, at the Westin LA Paloma. It begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 4:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by a live auction.

The live auction lists trips to the Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field Rooftop Experience, a day with a K-9 unit, a private dinner for 12 prepared by Tucson’s renowned chef Janos Wilder, two tickets and accommodations for the Country Music Awards and a personal tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the naming opportunity for the center’s orphaned bobcat facility.

Silent auction items include outstanding art, jewelry and gift certificates.

The once-injured raccoons will soon be released back into the wild. (Hope Peters/Staff)

Tickets are $225 at tucsonwildlife. com. The benefit contributes approximately 35% to the funds needed to maintain the wildlife center.

The Tucson Wildlife Center, which rescues injured and orphaned wild animals, receives no state or federal aid and relies on grants, donations and monies raised at its fundraising events.

Most other wildlife rehabilitation centers in Southern Arizona have closed their doors, leaving the 25-yearold Tucson Wildlife Center as the area’s only full-service hospital and rehabilitation center.

“We are the only one and people believe in it,” Parker said. “We run on donations and some grants. We are financially sound.”

HIRING NURSES

valued by us and our patients. 1:1 RN/Patient ratio means no burn out. Make your own schedule. 520-546-4141 • pcatucson.com Feel free to call or stop in.

Lisa Bates and Peter Lininger founded Tucson Wildlife Center in 1998 on 3 acres of land near her home. Now it sits on 15 acres on Speedway Boulevard, about 3.5 miles east of Houghton Road.

“She didn’t have an idea she would be opening up a center like this,” board Secretary Jack Herring said. “She had two injured racoons and went around to different vets, and none of the vets would take wildlife. … That’s when she realized there

was a real need for the larger (wildlife) mammals, for someone to take care of them when they’re injured.”

Parker said it costs about $2,000 a day to run and someone is always on call.

With 20 employees and 40 to 50 volunteers, the center has a hospital, triage and surgery room. Of those workers, eight are veterinarians who donate their time and services.

“They come here or we go to them, depending on what the situation is,” Herring said about the vets. “We have some who come in and do surgery here, some just come in and inspect the animals, and do immediate triaging sometimes.”

The triage area is the first stop for a wild animal who has been rescued or found. One such wild animal, a baby javelina was brought in recently to triage. Once triaged and treated, animals are placed into enclosed rooms in the hospital for observation and care. Once the animals are on the mend, they move out to the various outside buildings, pens and cages on the grounds.

Herring, who has been with the wildlife center for eight years, said animals must be sick, injured or orphaned to receive care.

“But anything else in the Sonoran Desert wildlife, they pass through here,” Herring said. “From a horned toad to coyotes to bobcats to javelina.”

AUTHOR from Page 1

Denver to Tucson; connects with a small town in South Carolina; and affects national politics in Washington, D.C., exposing them to violent forces threatening them and the teenage girl, whom they must save to save themselves.”

A member of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, Dieters had penned business management books, including “Minding My Own Business”; a blog; and numerous legal briefs. But novels are new to him.

“I have been writing for a long, long time,” Dieters said. “A couple times I thought about doing a novel here and there, but never really got into it.”

As a first-time fiction author, the 71-year-old Dieters said it was difficult to generate interest in his manuscript. Dieters’ “The Ring” was published by Author Solutions Inc. on Nov. 15. Author Solutions Inc. is the parent company to AuthorHouse, which is a provider of supported self-publishing services for authors worldwide.

“We got through it, and they put it out,” Dieters said about AuthorHouse support and publishing. “And they were very happy with the response it was getting from, basically, a nonpromoted, first-time author.” 

“The Ring” Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, AuthorHouse and ddietersauthor.com

New author Dirk Dieters recently released “The Ring,” available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and AuthorHouse. (Dirk Dieters/Submitted)

from Page 6

Tucson Wildlife Center cared for more than 5,000 animals in 2020, but it averages 4,000 to 5,000 animals a year. The most treated wildlife includes hawks, vultures, great horned and barn owls.

“But in sheer numbers, it’s probably dove and quail in the summer,” said Parker, who has been with the center for about two years. “The quails come in orphaned a lot.”

It does not take in deer, mountain lions or bears. They are treated by Arizona Game and Fish, Herring said.

Depending on the animal’s injuries, Herring said it could take several weeks, at least, for it to be rehabilitated and released to its natural habitat.

“It just depends. It could be like if a hawk or an owl has a wing injury,” Parker said. “You have to wait then for them to molt and get new feathers. … It could be six months.”

Tucson Wildlife Center also has a foster program for animals who cannot be released back to the wild.

“We are a Global Federation of Animals Sanctuaries (facility). … We are the only one of those recognized in Arizona,” Parker said.

A foster mother is caring for bobcat babies, Parker said of its current residents.

The public is asked to call the Tucson Wildlife Center at 520-290-WILD (9453) if they find an animal who is sick, starving, injured or in need of rescue.

Winter is the facility’s slow time, as not many animals are brought in for

A newborn javelina was triaged Jan. 20. (Hope Peters/Staff)

treatment. The spring and early summer months are its busiest time, attracting 180 to 190 volunteers. Many are college students who intern or volunteer for credit.

“We are not the Desert Museum. …

We don’t have crowds.” Parker said.

“Our whole goal is to release them back to the wild. … That’s how we judge our success.” 

If You Go...

Tucson Wildlife Center Fundraiser

WHEN: 4:30 p.m. cocktails and silent auction; 6:30 p.m. dinner followed by live auction on Sunday, March 12

WHERE: The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive, Tucson COST: $225

INFO: 520-290-WILD (9453), tucsonwildlife.com

WARNING! PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Oro Valley AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, tingling, pain, and balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves to degenerate – an insidious and often painful process.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “BandAid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Oro Valley is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Arrowhead Physical Medicine in Oro Valley AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage – a complimentary service for comprises a detailed your friends and family.sensoryEach exam evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for comprises a detailed your friends and family. Each sensory exam evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy ndings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until December 31st, 2022. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be o ering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until February 28, 2023. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers Y OU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (520) 934-0130 NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine 10425 N Oracle Rd., Suite 125 Oro Valley, AZ, 85737

Hubert Parker, left, development coordinator for Tucson Wildlife Center, and board Secretary Jack Herring discuss the nonprofit organization. (Hope Peters/Staff)

WILDLIFE

company’s strong local, national and international presence regarding Tucson real estate. Bayless continued a steady ascent to the top in sales.

“We closed on $88 million in homes sales last year, our biggest year ever,” Bayless said. According to Bayless, that placed her as the top-selling agent at Long Realty and in Northwest Tucson.

Bayless brings her social work background and education into her interactions with clients, taking it to a personal level. She treats each meeting, particularly the first one, like a counseling session. The first question she asks is, “What brings me here today?”

“It’s my goal that the client talks more than me,” Bayless said. “I’m really there to listen and understand what they need, what is important to them, and what is driving their decision.”

Once she understands that, she creates a plan tailored to their wants and needs. “Everyone is different, so you’d better take the time to listen to them and understand each person’s unique situation.”

Why hire an agent

Why someone wants to sell or buy a home varies depending on personal situations. They may need more or less space. Buyers may be coming from out of state for closer proximity to family members, wanting to retire in Tucson’s desert climate and, with that, a need for social and active adult lifestyle for retirees. If health is the reason, medical facilities need to be nearby. Understanding each person’s situation and what they are trying to achieve is key in her real estate interactions, she said.

The Tucson housing market remains strong, she said, particularly in Marana and Oro Valley. She estimates that half of her clients are local and half out of state.

Homebuyers or sellers need a real estate agent to guide them through the complexities of the transactions and the process, according to Bayless. Realtors bring expertise and the latest updates on market list prices to list the home at the most accurate price. “A Realtor can help a seller set a

market-based price, and a Realtor can certainly advise buyers on the pricing of homes that they are seeing,” Bayless said. “(The agent) can help buyers and sellers navigate the complex process of buying and selling homes, and make that complex process uncomplicated because they have a professional there to help them navigate through, one step at a time.”

Bayless enjoys the people and the ongoing interactions, but it isn’t always happy stories she hears. That inspires her to help them. “When people buy and sell, it’s not always for pleasant and positive reasons in their life. It can also be very sad and sometimes very complicated situations as well, but I find a lot of meaning in whatever their situation may be, being a part of it, helping them walk through it, and achieve the best results that is possible for them. That keeps me going every day.”

Helping others

Donations to worthy causes also help Bayless connect to the community and give her satisfaction in seeing others lifted up by these actions.

“I think that, in life, you can’t always take,” she said. “You have to give. So, with that said, I give a portion of our commission from each home sale back to the communities I live and work in to strengthen those communities and also assist people within those communities who could use a little help.”

Last year Bayless donated $100,000 from her home sales to local nonprofits. Previous years have seen donations given to pay off lunch debts of public-school students in Oro Valley and another to buy a K-9 dog for the Oro Valley police. In another year, she donated $20,000 to Impact of Southern Arizona, a food bank and resource of other community services, for Thanksgiving dinners to 500 Northwest Tucson residents. She donated $60,000 over two years to STEMAZing, a program administrated by the Pima County superintendent’s office to provide programmable Edison robots to fourth and fifth graders at the Amphitheater school district.

Each kid learns coding and programming by working on these robots.

“I think that, in life, you can’t always take. You have to give. So, with that said, I give a portion of our commission from each home sale back to the communities I live and work in to strengthen those communities and also assist people within those communities who could use a little help.”

“I have visited some of the classrooms and watched it, and it’s unbelievable,” she said.

“They will create obstacle courses for their robots. They will do it with music, decorate with art. They are lying on the floor with their robots, and they have absolutely no idea they are learning to program because they are having too much fun. It’s amazing. I’m so thrilled to see those fourth and fifth graders learn to code. I love that they love it.”

It gives her great satisfaction when she is approached by a mother of a student when she happens to be at a beauty salon.

“When someone approaches me and tells me her child was in a class that received the robots, and that it enhanced her child’s life and prospects, it is very meaningful to me that my efforts to be successful don’t only just benefit me but benefit other people as well. That is very important to me. It helps other people’s lives, and it is a part of something bigger. It makes my community a better place to live, and it contributes to the people who live there, too.”

She is a past board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and currently a senior board member, as well as an active board member of the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. She was also appointed an honorary commander of the 68th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Her community involvement helps her “to get to know her neighbors and people in the community,” she said. “It contributes to my life; it gives me a community and gives me an opportunity to help others.”

Treatment may be enhanced with placebos

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

So just what is this phenomenon called the placebo effect? It is having a beneficial response to a health intervention (such as a medication or procedure) because a person believes it will help. It is a somewhat mysterious effect and shows the power of our minds.

A placebo is an inactive substance or treatment that has no objective therapeutic value. These can be “sugar pills,” saline injections rather than medication, or sham surgeries. The placebo effect works by stimulating the body’s own natural healing to reduce such symptoms as pain, nausea, fatigue or anxiety. It helps the brain heal the body in many ways.

Placebos are an important part in evaluating if a new treatment or medication works as it is designed. The best way to test the efficacy of a new medi-

cation or treatment is the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

It is “double blinded,” meaning neither group knows what they are being given. This is considered the best testing, the “gold standard” in the industry. Study volunteers are randomly assigned to either a group receiving the product being tested or a control group receiving the placebo.

After some period of time, results are measured in both groups and the researchers can evaluate whether the treatment was more effective than the placebo. Many variables can affect the results. Shady practices can skew the results, so it is essential that clinicians read all the data, not just the conclusions, when considering a new medication or treatment. Even a researcher’s attitude and demeanor can steer study subjects responses so rigorous control in these clinical trials is essential.

The placebo effect is being studied as a possible adjunctive treatment all its own. It has been shown that the expectation of a result often causes that result to happen. When a person is convinced that a certain behavior will cause an anticipated outcome, that outcome often does occur. Conditioning occurs when a prior success precedes an expectation such as taking a particular medication for nausea or pain; the mind expects it to work

again so it does, and sometimes more rapidly due to that expectation. Our mind can turn on our body’s natural mechanisms to make us feel better.

In the January 2023 issue of the National Institutes of health (NIH) newsletter, Dr. Luana Colloca from the University of Maryland in Baltimore described this phenomenon as our “inner pharmacy.”

“Our mindset is so critical because our thoughts are not independent from our bodies’ responses,” Colloca said.

The brain releases certain hormones in response to certain feelings and beliefs. If you are told that something will help you relax, improve sleep or have less pain, the brain might produce fewer stress hormones and release more endorphins which promote relaxation.

It must be noted that this “inner

See PLACEBOS Page 10

pharmacy” cannot treat everything. For example, most infections still need antibiotics or antivirals, high cholesterol and diabetes cannot be thought away, tumors and other cancers need intense treatment.

There are studies underway looking to see if placebos can be used to decrease the amount of medication people take. “Dose extending placebos” might offer symptom relief with less potential for medication adverse effects or abuse as with opioids for chronic pain. The August 2016 issue of the journal, “Pain,” explored this concept in 22 studies of humans and animals showing that the placebos did work as a sort of dose extender of painkillers. This could be potentially helpful in reducing active drug intake, limit dose escalation and lower costs. For a placebo to work as hoped, is it necessary to think it is “the real thing”? Not necessarily. A patient may be told, “This will likely help your pain (or nausea, or insomnia, or anxiety,

etc.),” and the expectation is what will determine how well the placebo treatment will work. And seeing someone else benefit can also have a positive impact. The placebo effect has not always been viewed in a positive light. To deliberately lie to a patient is deceptive, unethical and can harm a patient-clinician relationship. It is essential that full disclosure and informed consent is obtained. Good communication will produce better treatment results.

There are no known adverse effects with taking a placebo. There is the “nocebo effect” — just as with positive expectation, if there is a negative expectation, there will likely be a negative outcome.

Further study is needed, but perhaps our future pharmaceutical and treatment arsenals may be enhanced with placebos.

Mia Smitt is a longtime nurse practitioner. She writes a regular column for Tucson Local Media. 

Blood donors critically needed in February

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant urges all eligible donors to help meet the critical patient need for blood donations, share the love and make a heartfelt difference in February, Heart Health Month.

In addition to helping save lives, Vitalant donors receive a free mini-physical checking their pulse, blood pressure and cholesterol level.

With each donation, donors can help save more than one life and track their wellness information in their secure and confidential online portal account.

To make a blood donation appointment, download the Vitalant app, visit vitalant.org or call 1-877-25-VITAL (1-877258-4825).

The Bloodmobile will visit Fry’s at 10450 N. La Canada Drive, Oro Valley

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27. In Tucson, donors have three opportunities to give blood: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Rincon Country West RV Park, Rally Room, 4555 S. Mission Road; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at DOD Tucson National Guard, Main Multipurpose Room, 1750 E. Silverlake Road; and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the Bloodmobile parked at UA Alpha Epsilon Delta, on Highland between Fourth and Sixth streets.

Donors of every blood type are critically needed, especially those with Type O. O-negative is the universal blood type that can be transfused to any patient when there’s no time to match. O-positive is the most in-demand and transfused blood type. Platelet donations are also critically needed every day. About 50% of platelet donations go to help cancer patients. 

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Government is trying to make tax season harder

BY HUBERT JOHNSON Guardian Tax Law Owner

We all know what it’s like to toss and turn in the middle of the night, thinking about an issue that won’t go away. Most often, the issues keeping people up at night are money related. In fact, a new study found that financial worries cause 87% of Americans to lose sleep.

I see this all the time with our clients — individuals, parents and small-business owners who have persistent tax issues. Not only is their hard-earned money on the line, but they are having to go up against massive agencies like the IRS to resolve any taxes owed. My job is to make sure they don’t have to go it alone and give them much-needed expertise under stressful circumstances.

Unfortunately, some politicians in Washington are pushing a proposal that could leave millions of American taxpayers to deal with the IRS on their own. Last year, Congress passed a bill requiring the IRS to study the feasibility of a government-run tax preparation system. That may sound innocuous enough; it may even sound like a good idea to some. In reality, however, it would mean that Americans — including busy parents, overworked small-business owners, and low-income

families — would be responsible for holding the IRS accountable to get the refunds they deserve. We already see plenty of clients deal with plenty of issues, from getting bad tax advice or incorrectly prepared returns. Many have used “cheaper” tax services that have caused thousands of dollars in damages.

Relying on the IRS to give you good tax advice is like relying on a prosecutor to give a defendant good advice. The IRS’ whole job is to collect as much tax revenue as possible. They are not there to defend your rights or help with tax-saving tactics.

Dealing with the IRS can be incredibly time consuming. During recent tax seasons, a taxpayer seeking IRS assistance had a 1-in-50 chance that the agency would answer the call. Since COVID-19, most taxpayers have had to wait up to two hours to have their call answered. Adding insult to injury, it’s very common for taxpayers to wait only for the call to drop. It’s understandable why so many Americans turn to trusted professionals or online tax preparation resources when the IRS is clearly overwhelmed.

Just last year, a truck driver named Donald Krimpler took a day off of work to deal with the IRS. And it turned out that the mistake was the IRS’ fault. Most taxpayers find that they cannot

Recently, a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that less than half of government pre-populated returns would be accurate.

even communicate with the IRS departments handling their cases and spend hours, days or months to get a response from the IRS. Arizonans work too hard to use their time fixing the government’s mistakes.

Taxpayers also work too hard to miss out on deductions. Recently, a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that less than half of government pre-populated returns would be accurate. If the government simply auto-fills your return, it’s likely

that they will leave out important information that occurred over the last year for tax credit purposes. An inaccurate return could mean missing out on a deduction that would put money back in your pocket or having to contact the IRS to correct the mistake. Either way, it’s an unnecessary headache.

For 15 years, dealing with the IRS and state tax agencies has been my full-time job, but it shouldn’t have to be yours. As a tax attorney, I help solve tax problems, and this latest proposal to move toward a government-run tax preparation system only creates more problems for taxpayers. In Arizona, we pride ourselves on independent thinking that solves real problems for real people. I would urge Sens. Sinema and Kelly to put a stop to this misguided proposal on behalf of Arizona taxpayers.

Hubert Johnson is a tax attorney and the owner of Guardian Tax Law based in Tucson. 

Third grader writes, releases debut single

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Staff

Academy del Sol first-year music teacher Shane Harkins was looking for a way to help his students be creative.

One student was particularly passionate: Jhoan Santa Cruz.

“Like many other kids his age, he has big dreams of becoming a rock star when he grows up,” Harkins said. “I have fostered a genuine connection with Jhoan through many recesses spent together jamming and rocking out to my acoustic guitar.”

One day, Jhoan told Harkins he wanted to write songs together.

“He pulled his purple $5 Walmart harmonica out of his pocket and began telling me a story,” Harkins recalled. “I acted as Jhoan’s transcriber, jotting down the unique ways in which he encapsulated the world around him as he played on his harmonica.”

Jhoan said, “They’re jumping like bunnies,” pointing at a group of girls playing jump rope.

“Soon enough, we had a song,” he said. “I saw Jhoan really transform into a rock star of his own that day, and the big smile on his face told me he saw

himself that way, too.”

For the song “Kirby,” Harkins played

See JHOAN Page 13

(Left) Shane Harkins teaches student Jhoan Santa Cruz to play the drums. (Right) Shane Harkins inspires Jhoan Santa Cruz with the guitar.

(Photos by Noelle Haro-Gomez)

guitar, Jhoan rocked the harmonica, and other third graders sang into one microphone.

“What started as a fun recess activity quickly turned into something far broader reaching,” Harkins said.

“Kirby” hit streaming platforms late last year. Harkins said Jhoan’s parents are proud, as they play piano and guitar. The Roger Road campus of Academy del Sol serves a diverse and predominantly low-income population. Harkins is “extremely passionate” about giving his students the space to meaningfully engage in the musical process in multifaceted ways to accommodate all learning styles and abilities.

“My job as a music educator extends beyond simply teaching children to read sheet music, but rather to identify and unlock artistic and creative potential that I know each and every one of my students has,” Harkins said. 

Student Chronicles

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Know of a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com.

Kara Jones of Tucson graduated with a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jones was among the 1,890 prospective candidates who attended commencement exercises on Dec. 18. UWM is the second largest university in Wisconsin, with over 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Linda Nielsen-Reynolds of Tucson earned a Master of Business Administration at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. Schreiner University is an independent coeducational liberal arts university related by choice and by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Julian Lopez of Tucson earned dean’s award with distinction at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. A Pueblo High School graduate, Lopez is ex-

pected to earn his degree in physics this year. Students who receive a term grade-point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least three courses during the spring 2022 semester earn the dean’s award with distinction.

Sophia Lewis of Tucson, a MidAmerica Nazarene University student, made the dean’s list at the Olathe, Kansas, school for the fall 2022 semester. A total of 423 students qualified for one of the honors. All students in traditional programs carrying 12 semester hours or more with a term GPA from 3.2 to 4.0 may qualify. Neutral credit hours are excluded from the calculation and reduce the course load used to figure the honor. The honor roll is a grade-point average of 3.2 to 3.49. MidAmerica Nazarene University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university of approximately 2,000 students. Offering 50 traditional undergraduate areas of study and 11 pre-professional programs, the university is also known for its accelerated professional and graduate programs. Info: mnu.edu

Academy del Sol first-year music teacher Shane Harkins is looking for ways to help students like Jhoan Santa Cruz be creative.

SPORTS & RECREATION EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY

Gym was the original place to Bear Down

By Tom Danehy Tucson Local Media Columnist

When the Arizona Wildcat men’s basketball team beat UCLA at McKale Center a couple weeks ago, it was a highly satisfying afternoon.

The win kept Arizona in the hunt for a Pac-12 regular-season championship despite the Cats’ three head-scratching conference losses (to Washington State at home and at Utah and Oregon). It ended UCLA’s long winning streak, and it re-established McKale Center’s reputation as an absolutely dreadful place for a visiting team to have to play a basketball game. One of the greatest highlights of the day came when the UA finally got around to honoring Ernie McCray. A legend at Tucson High, McCray went on to star at the University of Arizona. He became the first African American basketball player to graduate from the UA. And next week will be the 63rd anniversary of the night that McCray set the school record for points in a game when he poured in 46 against Cal State-Los Angeles.

McCray was delightfully self-deprecating when asked about that singular achievement. He said that his Wildcat teams “weren’t very good” back then, so somebody had to shoot. The current Wildcat teams (or even those from the Lute Olson era) have so many good players, the scoring is spread around. Nobody is going to score 30 points, let alone 46. It is, indeed, a record that may stand forever.

We just passed another anniversary, as well. Jan. 18 marked the 50th anniversary of the final men’s basketball game that was played in old Bear Down Gym on the UA campus. Originally built in 1926, Bear Down went from being a state-of-the-art facility to a raucous venue to a comfortable old shoe to a relic seemingly destined for demolition.

Almost 500 college basketball games were played in Bear Down. (It would have been more, but the building was used for military purposes during World War II, when most, if not all, college sports were curtailed or eliminated altogether. For decades after that, during the first few weeks of school, it was used as a temporary dorm for overflow students before permanent housing could be found for them.)

Many big names in Wildcat history

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spent a considerable amount of time in Bear Down Gym. Fred Enke, the man for whom the street in front of McKale Center is named, coached there. Legendary future U.S. Rep. Morris Udall played there.

Mo Udall and his brother, Stewart (who served as U.S. secretary of the interior under President John F. Kennedy and later Lyndon Johnson), also had African American teammates while at the UA in the years after World War II. The two of them helped integrate the UA dining hall. Back then, Black students could buy food in the student cafeteria, but they had to eat outside. That meant that their dining experience was delightful for a couple weeks in October and maybe a couple more in March.

The Udalls were going to lunch one day and saw one of their African American

teammates sitting outside and invited him to join them to dine inside. It was actually anticlimactic. None of the other students made a fuss, and most of the cafeteria staff was Hispanic and, probably having faced discrimination of their own, greeted the new development with a shrug.

The aforementioned Black teammate turned out to be Morgan Maxwell Jr., the son of the principal of Tucson’s all-Black elementary and middle school, The Dunbar School, and the man for whom Maxwell Middle School, on Tucson’s far-west side, is named. Maxwell Jr. played football at Tucson High and was a teammate of Karl Eller, for whom the UA’s Eller School of Business is named, and Frank Borman, the commander of Apollo 8, the one that first flew around the Moon on Christmas Eve of 1968, sending back the legendary “Earthrise” photo.

Anyway, Bear Down was the site of some great (and also some mediocre) basketball over the decades. In the late 1940s and early ’50s, Arizona basketball had its first taste of national celebrity. The Wildcats went 132-40 over a six-year stretch and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time. During that stretch, Arizona won 81 consecutive games in Bear Down Gym. That’s the fifth-longest home winning streak in the history of college basketball.

People who were around back them remember that Bear Down was a crazy place on game night. The facility only seated around 3,000 (McKale Center seats over 14,000) and the place was always packed with standing room only crowds and hundreds of people waiting outside, hoping to find a way to get in.

There are so many other great stories about Bear Down, like the time that the UA student body president got shoved down a flight of stairs by campus security, suffered a skull fracture, and was arrested on felony charges… but that’s for another time.

Athlete of the Week: Amy Senkerik

By Tom Danehy Tucson Local Media Columnist

Like many kids born in the second half of the first decade of the 21st century, it has been a rough athletic time for Ironwood Ridge senior guard Amy Senkerik.

Someday, she will probably tell her kids or grandkids about the season that lasted three years. Or the time where you had to “practice” separated from your teammates, not even being able to pass a ball back and forth for fear of passing along an infection.

Those days, thankfully, are in the recent past. Their lingering memory serves to make a return to normalcy that much sweeter.

This season, the Nighthawks are doing fine. At press time, they were 11-5 in the regular season and comfortably ensconced in the No. 15 spot in the Power Points. If they can hold onto that spot, they will get to host a first-round game in the playoffs. They close out the regular season with a road game at last-place Cholla and finish on Senkerik’s senior night with a home contest against first-place Catalina Foothills. It will be the second straight year that the Nighthawks advanced to postseason play. For the self-professed perfectionist, that’s good, but not great. It is, however, certainly better than what came before it. Her freshman year, when she was not yet as tall as she is now, was a struggle. (Going back to the use of the word “tall,” it must be noted that the term is relative. She is officially listed as being 5-foot-3 but spoken out loud with her present will invariably elicit a snicker.)

“I really am 5-3!” she exclaimed, convincing absolutely no one. (Last year, on the MaxPreps website, they had her listed as 5-foot-5.)

Back to her freshman season, she was battling to earn playing time on the varsity, bouncing back and forth between that and the JV team. By her sophomore season, she was ready to take the reins of the varsity team,

Amy Senkerik plans to attend ASU next year to study molecular bioscience and biotechnology with a minor in political science.

but there were basically no reins onto which to grab. Like teams all across the country, that season was all but wiped out by COVID-19. Because of strict pandemic protocols, Ironwood Ridge started that season late and ended it super early, going a sad 1-2 in games played.

Just to add insult to injury, she got COVID-19 the first week of the season.

It will be another couple years before the prep sports system is free from the aftereffects of that time. Next year’s seniors will have been freshmen during the 2020-21 season. And even last year, in 2021-22, there were dozens of last-second game cancellations, with players, coaches and refs having to be masked and regularly tested.

“Yeah, it was tough to go through, but we’re here now. We have a chance to make the most of it,” she said.

Next year, she plans on attending Arizona State University’s Barrett the Honors College, where she will study molecular bioscience and biotechnology with a minor in political science. At ASU, they’ll probably believe that she’s 5-foot-3. 

•

(Amy Senkerik/Submitted)

Edited by Will Shortz No. 1115

Edited by Will Shortz

HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member could make contact as well.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped into your lap. But you’d be wise to take this one step at a time to allow new developments to come through.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re almost ready to make a commitment. A lingering doubt or two, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide important answers to your questions.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Caution is still the watchword as you move closer toward a decision about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance its prospects for success. In your private life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Your associates are firmly on your side, and that persistent problem causing you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satisfaction.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Favorable changes continue to dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved in what you’re doing.

BY SANDY GANZELL

in other words 14 Fix, as shoelaces 15 On fire 16 Group that may stand on risers

Up overhead

“___ to a Nightingale” (Keats poem) 19 Humble, as a manger 20 “Just chill!”

23 French su x with jardin

24 Loose-fitting Hawaiian dress

27 Convene to strategize on the football field

30 Places of paradise

31 Game fish whose face resembles that of a herd animal

35 “Hmm, where ___ I?”

37 Rum-soaked cake

38 1980s sitcom E.T.

39 What an adjective modifies

40 Chicago ballplayer

41 Capital of the Yukon

44 Feminine name that’s also a tropical jungle vine

47 Hip-hop dance move popular in the 2010s

48 Married woman in Madrid

50 ___ Scout cookies

51 Children’s song featuring the animals and sounds in this puzzle

56 Refrain in 51-Across that accompanies the sounds at 24-, 37- and 47-Across

59 Hole-punching tool

60 Rank between sarge and cap’n

61 Healthful husks in cereal or mu ns

62 Actress Saldana of “Avatar”

63 Slow on the uptake

64 “The Rose” singer Midler

65 Pointy-eared magical creature

66 Got some shut-eye Down

1 Alum

2 Realtor-speak for “move”

3 Alma mater for Aldous Huxley and George Orwell

4 Marketer’s suggestion for the holidays

5 Turn to others for assistance

6 Something good to have on hand for cold weather?

7 Assistant

8 Power source for old locomotives

9 Apple storage service beginning in 2011

10 “Please demonstrate”

Sooner than soon

12 Word with change or spill

13 Audition, with “out” 21 Greek war god

22 Prompted, in a play 25 Like brand-new tires 26 Patriotic World Cup chant 27 U.K.-based financial giant 28 Some moving rentals

29 Singer Gibson or Harry 32 “Pshaw!”

33 “The Book of ___” (2010 Denzel Washington film) 34 Toward the back of a ship 36 Old dagger 39 Carol words before “Born is the King of Israel” 41 Maternity ___ 42

___ Chicken (Chicago-based restaurant chain)

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) That impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into moving before you’re ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you act.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) A legal matter you hoped would finally be settled could be a pesky problem for a while until all the parties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Partnerships — personal or professional — which began before the new year take on new importance. They also reveal some previously hidden risks. So, be warned.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could answer some questions you’ve wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to be strong.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Stay on your new course despite so-called well-meaning e orts to discourage you. Rely on your deep sense of self-awareness to guide you to do what’s right for you.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have the capacity to meet challenges that others might find overwhelming and turn them into successful ventures.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd. Inc. 

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