Tucson Weekly 10.6.22

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Tyler Vondrak, Associate Publisher, tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Claudine Sowards, Accounting, claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

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

Hope Peters, Staff Reporter, hpeter@timespublications.com

Katya Mendoza, Staff Reporter kmendoza@timespublications.com

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter kschaffner@timespublications.com

Contributors: Summer Aguirre, Vincent Arrieta, Brian Box Brown, Rob Brezsny, Max Cannon, Rand Carlson, Tom Danehy, Luke Hertel, Clay Jones, Laura Latzko, Katya Mendoza, Andy Mosier, Xavier Otero, Dan Perkins, Linda Ray, Will Shortz Jen Sorensen

PRODUCTION

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CIRCULATION

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NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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DANEHY

THERE’S NOTHING CHEESY ABOUT LOVING TV

By Tom Danehy

I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT the monumental, enormously spectacu lar televised debate between Sen. Mark Kelly and his really kinda’ sad opponent, the MAGA mutant who used to be Blake Masters.

I was even going to try to attend the viewing party up in Oro Valley. As I have mentioned in the past, I could easily pass physically for a MAGA moron — termi nally white, somewhat schlubby, blank stare, mouth breather. Three broken noses, or actually the same nose broken three times, so I do breathe through my mouth.

However, they’d probably catch on to me pretty quickly. I have this dead-give away habit of speaking in complete sen tences.

It’s too bad. I would have enjoyed hear ing the adoring Oohs and Yups from the crowd as Blake tried to talk his way out of all the dumb-ass things he has said over the years. Something like, “When I

said ‘Cut the cord,’ I didn’t really mean that we should privatize Social Securi ty. I meant that Peter Thiel should stop throwing tens of millions of dollars in my direction in an effort to buy me a Senate seat.”

(Actually, Thiel did that very thing and now, with Blake drowning, the national Republican group that helps fund cam paigns has thrown him an anchor.)

Anyway, that was my plan, but just be fore I sat down to start writing, I checked my mail and I had received this month’s issue of Rolling Stone magazine. (Yes, there is still such a thing as Rolling Stone magazine and some people still read it.)

One of the articles was a list of the Top 50 TV series of all time. All such lists are utter nonsense, subjective fodder for the starting of discussions or, more likely, ar guments. I couldn’t wait.

First, I love TV. I always have. You know how they say that a person’s IQ is inverse proportion to the amount of television

that they watch? Well, if that’s true, then I’m whatever is below an imbecile. I was blessed to grow up in Los Angeles, where they had the three network channels and three local channels, including one that showed UCLA basketball games on tape delay and another one that would show the same crappy movie for five straight weeknights and then twice on Saturday. I watched the original “Invaders from Mars” so many times, I started checking people’s necks for electronic implants.

I couldn’t wait to see the entire list, reveling in which ones they had correct ly included and cursing their entire fam ilies for the ones they had left out.

At No. 1 is “The Sopranos.” I’m terribly embarrassed to admit that I have never

SORENSEN

seen even one episode of that. When it was first on, we didn’t have HBO and my wife wondered why I would want to spend mon ey to watch one TV show. She said, “I don’t get it. They’re Italian, you’re Ital ian. Big deal. Why don’t you just watch ‘The Godfa ther’ on VHS?”

It could have been worse. She could have told me to watch “The Godfa ther” on Betamax.

The show was created and mostly written by Da vid Chase, who wrote some of the best episodes of the 1970s detective dram edy “The Rockford Files,” which was in TV Guide’s list of the Top 50 of all time, but is quite ludicrously missing here. Chase’s best line in the show was uttered by guest star Isaac Hayes, play ing Gandolph Fitch, a former prison cell mate of Rockford (James Garner). When Fitch sees that the sometimes detective is working a probate case to earn a few bucks, Hayes, in his deepest mournful bass, said, “Poor Rockford. He’s workin’ for the County!”

The list includes two of my three fa vorite drama series of all time. “Breaking

(STOCK IMAGE)

Bad” comes in at No. 3 and “Friday Night Lights” is No. 28. But somehow, quite criminally, they left out “Justified.” Created and sometimes written by the late, great Elmore Leonard (“Get Shorty”), “Justified” is absolutely amazing.

Leonard wrote my favorite movie line of all time. In “Out of Sight,” a sexy crime caper in the mold of “To Catch a Thief,” characters played by George Clooney and Don Cheadle are pointing guns at each other. They had served time in prison together and pretty much hated each other. When Clooney’s hand starts shaking a bit, Cheadle coolly says, “You know, in a situation like this, there’s a high potentiality for the common mother (expletive) to bitch out.”

Move over, Shakespeare!

There are six comedies in the Top 10. They include “The Simpsons,” “Cheers,”

“Seinfeld,” “Atlanta” (a bold comedy in which an entire season was without any discernible humor), “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and the surprise “Fleabag.” I probably wouldn’t have “Fleabag” in my Top 50, but that one season where she did a doomed pas de deux with a priest (Andrew Scott, who brilliantly played Moriarty in “Sherlock”) was really good.

Oh wait, “Sherlock” should be on the list.

Other comedies on the list include the delightfully upbeat “Parks and Recreation,” the tricky existential thought piece “The Good Place,” and Tina Fey’s tour de force, “30 Rock.”

There’s one scene where Fey’s character, Liz Lemon, is alone in her apartment, lying on the couch in her Snuggie, munching on something. She pauses and coos, “Mmm, night cheese.”

That’s definitely Top 50.

CUSTOM BLINDS, SHADES, SHUTTERS & DRAPERY

PINK

By Katya Mendoza

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S

Pink Out the Park, presented by TMC Health, returns to Tucson at the UA Tech Park from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 16.

The celebration for breast cancer survivors offers a new, completely shaded walking route; a VIP pancake breakfast for survivors and their families sponsored by Walmart; and special guests, Wilbur and the UA Cheer team, the Tucson Roadrunners and other local sponsors.

Registration for the mile-long route

will begin at 7 a.m.

The University of Arizona Cancer Center, a department of Banner-University Medicine, will also be present at the event to provide breast cancer awareness and education about screening as the event’s education sponsor. Nova Foster, a breast surgeon and medical director of the Breast Program at the UA, will also speak at the event to go over early detection kits, the UA Cancer Center and the services that it offers.

“We have about 60 members of our team across the ambulatory service line including imaging, oncology services (and) leadership walking in the event” said Lexie Smith-Raymond, director of regional radiation oncology at Banner Health.

Smith-Raymond said that early detection is key and that it is important to get the word out to the community regardless of their family history.

“Once (women) hit that 40-year mark, they really need to get in for their annual mammograms to make sure that they’re (practicing) prevention to make sure that if anything does pop up for them, we catch it early,” Smith-Raymond said.

Screening can begin as early as 25 for those who have a family history of breast cancer.

“People don’t realize how important [detection methods] are for finding cancer early, so that we can treat them as early as possible,” Smith-Raymond said.

Formerly known as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the rebranded event strives to bring the breast cancer survivor community back together. Roxanne Majeski-Hiller, development manager for the American Cancer Society, said the event usually brings together about 200 to 300 survivors.

“When you’re facing cancer or when you’re going through cancer treatment, it can be a very lonely process,” Majeski-Hiller said. “I feel this is a way to show you aren’t alone, you have a community and you have a community backing you.

Valerie Marine, associate director of operations at Banner Health, added, “We’re looking forward to having fun,

getting good exercise and showing support for our cancer patients, their families and (educating) the general public.”

Pink Out the Park challenges participants to fundraise at least $100 to help meet their goal of $115,000 for further cancer research, patient care programs and more during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society is open to donations year-round.

“It’s all about the reason why we’re doing this in the first place and bringing the community back together for our breast cancer survivors,” Majeski-Hiller said.

Pink Out the Park

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, October 16

WHERE: UA Tech Park, 9070 S. Rita Road, Tucson

See

Formerly known as the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, the American Cancer Society presents the Pink Out the Park at the UA Tech Park on Saturday, Oct. 16, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY/SUBMITTED)

PEACE OF MIND

Active Adult Community

Greystar is excited to bring their newest Album community to Tucson. The Album lifestyle is highly sought after by young at heart, 55+ active adults. It’s perfect for those looking for more in life, style, community, and activities.

Welcome to a carefree, maintenance-free living in a controlled-access community designed to be empowering as well as peaceful. Lead your life, as you see fit, and with time to spare, in a place where the feeling is one of excitement for what the future holds.

At Album Marana, you’ll find sophisticated residences with modern features in

addition to stimulating onsite offerings and beautiful social spaces to enjoy. They’ll be conveniently just outside your door; no need to drive anywhere! Your day might begin with coffee with new friends and then to the activities calendar to decide how your day will take shape. There is so much to do here. Each day will be full of variety and fun.

Album is the perfect place to share your passions, find new ones, and make friends easily along the way. What truly sets Album apart is the opportunity to have a real say in the active lifestyle clubs and events. Residents will create, contribute their talents, and run the clubs/events

they want. Examples include teaching a cooking class, meeting up for happy hour (and yappy hours), walking club, flower arranging, movie/game night, and seasonally inspired events. The only limit is your imagination.

The Album Marana leasing center is now open and located at 7620 N Hartman Lane, Suite 172 Tucson, AZ 85743. Our team will be happy to provide you with more information on available apartment homes that will be move-in ready early 2023. Whether you are considering downsizing yourself or have a loved one far away that you want close, Album is an exciting option right here in Tucson!

WELCOME TO A FRESH IDEA IN FEEL GOOD LIVING

AlbumMaranaPoolCourtyard

CURRENTS

THE LOFT CINEMA RETURNS ‘FULL THROTTLE’ FOR 12TH FEST

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media

THE LOFT CINEMA IS CELEBRATING

the silver screen — and its 50th anniver sary — during the 12th Loft Film Fest from Wednesday, Oct. 12 to Thursday, Oct. 20.

Showcasing over 45 features and shorts programs, the festival debuts the docu mentary “Anatomy of an Arthouse: 50 Years of the Loft Cinema,” in celebration of the theater’s golden anniversary.

Jeff Yanc, the cinema’s program direc tor of the past 16 years, said the arthouse is back at “full throttle,” re-emerging from reduced operations during the pandemic.

“Festivals are a great experience if you love film,” Yanc said. “There’s an entire universe of the movies out there that you may never see in a theater because a lot of these movies just don’t get released or they will disappear on a streaming plat form.”

Yanc — a UA alum with a master’s de gree in film history — formerly owned Reader’s Oasis before working at the Loft. A serendipitous job opening occurred at the arthouse around the same time of the bookstore’s closure.

“A big part of the job is watching mov ies, going to film festivals and scouting films,” Yanc said. “There’s also an edu cational component because I introduce and give talks on films.”

Part of the nonprofit cinema’s identity is to show films “slightly out of the main stream” like alternative or foreign flicks or documentaries, he said.

“People are more willing to take chanc es at festivals, to see some offbeat movies that they haven’t heard of before,” Yanc said.

The festival’s program includes film makers and actors such as Wes Studi, 2019 Honorary Academy Award recipient for his lifetime achievement.

“We’re showing the movie he credits as sort of creating his career as a main stream actor, ‘The Last of the Mohicans,’” Yanc said. The film, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will offer a

Q&A with Studi after the film screens.

Also featured will be British actress Jacqueline Bisset, whom Yanc calls “Hol lywood royalty. Working primarily in the 1970s and 1980s, her resume includes the 1973 Academy Award-winning Best Foreign Language Film, “Day for Night.” Studi, Bisset and actor/musician Gary Farmer are set to receive the 2022 Lofty Achievement Awards for their contribu tions in cinema.

“I’m excited about opening night be cause it’s very specifically a Tucson-kind of event,” Yanc said. The lineup includes the premier of “Quantum Cowboys,” a rotoscope animation and Western film about time travel and what Yanc calls “cosmic landscape that is actually Arizo na.”

Tucson’s Howe Gelb, whom Yanc de scribed as producing music that “sounds like Tucson,” wrote the film’s score and makes an appearance.

“We really like showing movies that were shot in Tucson,” Yanc said. “People seem very interested and kind of proud to watch movies that were shot (here) and people who worked on the film can come.”

Films including the documentary about the arthouse which will be featured on Saturday, Oct. 15, will also have a few familiar faces.

Mike Plante, one of the film’s directors said the film is a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the “New” Loft which used to be, “a bit of a grindhouse” during the 1970s.

Originally a meeting place for LDS stu dent members and a community theater space turned adult film house in the late 1960s, emerged The New Loft Cinema in 1972, on the UA campus.

“The fact that the Loft was showing a bunch of softcore (porn) in the ’70s wasn’t just the Loft, that was almost all theaters trying to survive,” Plante said. “The docu mentary is a celebration of this place and

how it existed.”

Yanc added, “It was called the Loft be cause it was on top of another business and you had to climb the staircase to get there.”

Locals have fond memories of films that played in the formerly dilapidated theater.

Plante and co-director Jason Willis condensed the arthouse’s history and fea tured vintage calendars, advertisements and interviews with former employees.

“We really stuck to the real core of people who were operating the theater throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s,” Plante said.

Featured are Nancy Sher, founder of the New Loft Cinema, and original theater manager, Bob Campbell, original direc tor of programming, and former Arizona Daily Star critic and Joe Esposito, former owner, theater manager and film pro grammer in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Plan te and Willis will attend and facilitate a Q&A with some of the film’s interview subjects immediately after the showing.

Plante, a UA alum, is also a former Loft employee who worked in every position, ranging from the box office to conces sions. His time as a projectionist allowed him to branch out and work at film festi vals, including the Arizona Film Festival in the early ’90s.

“We’re hoping just by watching this, you get excited about all of the movies that come through theaters like this,”

Plante said. “This excitement around this arthouse culture.”

The Loft’s mission as an arthouse is to “build community by celebrating the art and diversity of film,” influencing the “philosophy” of the films that are shown.

“There’s an interesting cross section to all of that, to where it feels like you feel somebody in the building is picking the films that show, which we know to literal ly be true,” Plante said.

“That’s one of the most gratifying parts of the job to me, is knowing that (the the ater) is a part of the cultural landscape and transcends beyond just being a place to watch movies,” Yanc said.

Through partnership events and com munity initiatives such as specific film series, the Solar Cinema program, the Loft Kids Fest and the Loft Film Festi val, the arthouse continues to cultivate a special moviegoing experience for locals that has proven to withstand the tests of time.

Loft Film Fest

WHEN: Various times Wednesday, Oct. 12 to Thursday, Oct. 20

WHERE: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson

COST: $12 general admission;

$10 members; $200 Loft Film Fest badge

Jeff Yanc, program director of the Loft Cinema, has worked there for the past 15 years. He says his lifelong obsession started with childhood. (NOELLE HARO-GOMEZ/CONTRIBUTOR)

By Clay Jones

CURRENTS

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TUCSON DEBUTS STORYTELLING PROGRAM

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Tucson will debut its new storytelling program, Cuentacuentos, on Saturday, Oct. 8, as part of its Art After Dark program, a monthly collaboration between local art partners and nonprofit organizations.

Hilary Van Alsburg, executive director at the CMT, said the museum received a project grant from Arizona Humanities in August to bring in multicultural storytellers as an ancillary initiative to support the Art After Dark’s arts programming.

Arizona Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that supports public programs to “promote understanding of the human experience with cultural, educational and nonprofit programs across Arizona.”

“There’s such a rich, vibrant storytelling community in Tucson,” Van Alsburg said. “Being able to bring in individuals who are skilled at this and highlighting different cultures for the audiences we serve is such a great benefit.”

Cuentacuentos is a partnership between the CMT and the University of Arizona’s College of Humanities and Africana Studies Department. Dr. Praise Zenenga, director of Africana Studies will be the first featured storyteller sharing oral histories from Africa including a West African Folktale about “Anansi the Spider.”

“There will be a lot of participation in terms of call and response and asking questions back and forth, wanting [the kids] to predict the outcomes,” Zenenga said.

The stories will have morals and span

a variety of delivery methods, including digital and performance storytelling. The department invites professors, and graduate and undergraduate students to participate in the program.

Zenenga, who is tasked with finding other storytellers throughout the university said that narrators will be sourced from programs such as the School of International Languages, Literatures and Cultures (SILLC), area studies programs such as East Asian, Russian and Slavic German, Judaic, Latin American and Middle Eastern.

“We decided that these area studies within the university can bring us stories about diversity, inclusion and equity from different parts of the world so that these kids will get to know that a difference is something that has to be celebrated and not disdained,” Zenenga said.

With a theme of acceptance, Cuentacuentos reaches out to children in marginalized communities to prepare future leaders to think critically, make decisions, fairness and acceptance, Zenenga said.

The Cuentacuentos program is set to run through spring. CMT’s free Art After Dark program runs year-round, every second Saturday of the month with the goal of increasing accessibility to the arts for historically underserved and marginalized communities.

Cuentacuentos at Art After Dark, supported by AZ Humanities

WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the Second Saturday of each month through the spring

WHERE: Children’s Museum

Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Avenue, Tucson

COST: Free

childrensmuseumtucson.org

Children play with drums in the courtyard of the Children’s Museum Tucson during Art After Dark on Second Saturday, Sept. 10. Local nonprofit and Japanese ensemble drumming group Odaiko Sonora provided play-based activities for children and their families.

MUSEUM TUCSON/SUBMITTED)

CURRENTS

COUNTRY SINGER LUKE BELL DIED OF OVERDOSE

By Laura Latzko and Christina Fuoco-karasinski Tucson Local Media

COUNTRY SINGER LUKE BELL

died of a fentanyl intoxication and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the Pima County medical examiner’s report.

Drug paraphernalia was found with Bell in a shaded area of a parking structure in the 5500 block of East Grant Road in Midtown Tucson on Aug. 26, police and the autopsy report said.

It also said Bell, 32, was identified by FBI fingerprint comparison on Aug. 30. He was found dead after missing for a week.

Among Bell’s songs were “Jealous Guy,” “Where Ya Been?” and “Sometimes.”

His death was initially reported by his friend and fellow country artist Matt Kinman in the blog Saving Country Music.

Bell, who was born in Kentucky and raised in Wyoming, suffered from bipolar disorder, according to published reports.

According to the blog post, Kinman and he had been in Arizona playing music when he disappeared during a food stop.

During his life, Bell lived and played in Texas, Wyoming, New Orleans and Nashville. He also worked as a ranch hand.

His breakout self-titled album was released by Nashville label Thirty Tigers in 2016.

It was his third overall album. He also recorded another self-titled album and a second album called “Don’t Mind If I Do.”

His single “Sometimes,” off his 2016 al-

bum, was heralded by NPR and Rolling Stone.

In 2016, Rolling Stone named him as one of the “10 Country Artists You Need to Know.”

Bell also collaborated with Martha Spencer on a cover version of Guy Clark’s “Dublin Blues” in 2021.

Bell opened for artists such as Dwight Yoakam, Hayes Carll, Hank Williams Jr. and Willie Nelson and collaborated with Margo Price, Alabama Shakes and Langhorne Slim.

He was known for his traditional “honkytonk” style that paid tribute to the past.

On social media, his friends and colleagues shared stories and condolences.

Price shared on Twitter: “I was just thinking of a memory of Luke Bell and his dog, Bill, hitching a ride in our van on the way to wildwood revival in Georgia in 2015. Bill was ripping these terrible dog farts and we were all laughing so hard we cried. We swapped stories, listened to music and got drunk as skunks with no plan of where we were staying and ended up sleeping on a hardwood floor.”

She also stated: “I don’t always have the right words when something tragic happens. But I do feel deeply for Luke’s family and all of his friends who knew him well. I hope one day we can shake the stigma surrounding mental health problems and addiction and let people know they aren’t alone.”

Catlin Rutherford of Mike and the

Moonpies tweeted: “So sad to hear the news tonight our buddy, Luke Bell. I don’t really know what to say. Thank you for the friendship and great music.”

Country singer/songwriter Kelsey Waldon expressed on Twitter: “I have been heartbroken to hear about the passing of Luke Bell. A bunch of us met in Nashville when we were so young and obsessed with country music-those years were so formative. He was extremely gifted & special.”

Lorie Liebig, editor of The Boot and a contributing writer for Taste of Country, tweeted: “When I first moved here in 2014, I saw Luke Bell as part of the cool crowd of artists trying to bring traditional country back to Nashville, back when Santa’s was still smoky wood paneling and tourists hadn’t found the Legion yet. What a heartbreaking loss.”

Saving Country Music tweeted: “This

is a hard one. He was one of the most authentic and magnetizing artists to grace the country music art form in the modern era.”

Coming in October

AND

Luke Bell’s songs include “Jealous Guy,” “Where Ya Been?” and “Sometimes.” (PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIBIO)

CURRENTS

PCC CELEBRATES ITS HSE 2022 GRADUATING CLASS

By Hope Peters Tucson Local Media

PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

High School Equivalency students cele brated their graduating with pomp and circumstance Sept. 23 by sharing inti mate stories to a large audience of cheer ing friends and family.

Graduate Athena Martinez, a 32-yearold mother of six, passed her GED in 2021 and is now enrolled in PCC’s Building and Construction Technologies IBEST program with emphasis in electrical. She plans to open a youth center to teach ba sic and advanced carpentry skills.

“If there is only one thing you leave here with today, it’s to follow your dreams…let your hard work and perseverance drive you for a better future,” Martinez said. “Don’t give up, challenge yourself!”

Her plans won’t stop after receiving

her Building and Construction Technol ogies certificates.

“Next year, in the spring, I plan on getting my teaching degree,” she said. “I will start pursuing that so that way I can come back and get my certificates, so I can open up a program for the youth and help them learn advanced carpentry skills. That way, they can build their own houses or find stable income rather than go the route that we see our youth going toward.”

Jennylee January-Hocking, a 29-yearold who was homeschooled until high school. She was forced to quit high school after her mom was injured in a car crash to keep their ranch and businesses afloat. For years she carried shame about not finishing high school.

She found Pima’s adult education pro gram at the 29th Street Coalition Center and was welcomed with open arms. After passing the GED, she continued her ed ucational goals at PCC. She is pursuing an associate’s degree in liberal arts with an emphasis on education and plans to be a teacher.

“I am hoping to transfer to a four-col lege, but I don’t know where yet because my husband is in the military, so who knows,” she added.

“I want to be a teacher. It’s going to be elementary education. I want to get more schooling, so I can actually teach high school.”

To reach this goal, high school equiv alency (HSE) diploma, January-Hocking researched adult education.

“I researched it and then my husband actually dragged me to the adult educa tion office,” she said. “He knew how much I wanted to get it.”

The stigma of getting an GED and

PCC Assistant Vice Chancellor, Adult Basic Education for College & Career, Laurie Kierstead-Joseph emcees the event.

The graduation ceremony ends with PCC HSE 2022 graduating class moving its tassels from the right side to the left to indicate that the wearer has passed from one level of learning to another. (HOPE PETERS/STAFF)

PAGE

HSE, weighed heavy on her, like others who did not finish high school in their teens.

“I was too prideful and too full of my self,” January-Hocking said. “I am too old and I’m an officer’s wife…And I didn’t want to go through that.”

But she did, along with 20-year-old mother of two, CC Flannery

Flannery left high school at age 16 to raise her daughters. Many hardships fol lowed, but Flannery was committed to pursuing her dreams and being a role model for her daughters. Once she de cided to get her HSE diploma, it took her two months to prepare for and pass her GED. Since then, she has earned her peer mentoring certificate and is preparing to continue her education at PCC in Janu ary.

“I want to use (the peer mentoring cer tificate) and my life experiences to help other youth like me,” she said. “I want to be a life coach or peer mentor when I am older.”

Flannery said she does want to contin ue her college education through PCC.

“I might go further,” Flannery said post-associate’s degree work. “I was thinking of (degrees) in psychology, or I like philosophy, too. I want to work with people, that somehow, some way helps people.”

She faced a big obstacle.

“I lived in my car, that was my biggest thing,” she said. “I am nervous about my speech (tonight), but I want to inspire (at least) one person. “

PCC’s HSE program has been success ful. For more information, visit pima.edu.

Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, PCC assis tant vice chancellor of adult basic edu cation for college and career, said three HSE pathways are available to learners in Arizona.

There are three ways to obtain an HSE in Arizona, all of which require a pass ing score in the Arizona civics test. Visit azed.gov for more information about the GED testing pathway, the college credit pathway, or the HSE Plus career readi ness pathway.

GRADS

New PCC HSE grads Athena Martinez, CC Flannery and Jennylee January-Hocking.

TUCSON MEET YOURSELF

There will be some poignancy to this year’s epic downtown feeding frenzy, dance party and shopping spree. It’s the first Tucson Meet Yourself since founder Big Jim Griffith died. But how can we be sad when he created it for joy? This is the one time every year we find each other all in one place, learn a little about our respective cultures and eat each other’s favorite foods. Will we get this mega-block party back up to its traditional 150,000 attendance? Let’s hope for at least 65 ethnic-food vendors, 40 or so exhibitors, 104 folk artists and 180 musicians. We can attend 50 workshops, listen to folk tales, watch rituals, learn about community organizations, visit the Yaqui/Yoeme and Tohono O’odham pavilions and just meet ourselves all around the historic courthouse and the main library.

11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, Tucson Meet Yourself, 101 N. Stone Avenue, tucsonmeetyourself.org, free admission

“HONKY TONK HACIENDA”

TURNS 20

Local music promoter Jeb Schoonover was “Alternative Country” before it was cool. He’s long favored a mix of blues, country, folk and rock, and he created the Honky Tonk Hacienda concert series as an annual tribute to those original sounds. Gabriel Sullivan will host this 20th edition. It features Dave Gonzales, Mike Hebert, Heather Hardy and their bands. Sullivan leads a band of Tucson all stars in a Gram-Parsons-inspired set. 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, Hotel Congress Plaza Stage, 311 E. Congress Street, hotelcongress.com, $12 via dice.fm

TUMACÁCORI: LEARN TO BIRD

Birda.org has named Arizona the best state for birding in the United States. They specifically recommend the Southeastern part of the state, east of I-19, for its diversity of small-range bird populations. Thousands of birders visit Arizona every year. The museum at Tumacácori offers fall bird walks for anyone who would like to learn more about how to find and identify birds. You can borrow their binoculars but bring water and wear comfortable shoes. You’ll walk for two hours over variable surfaces. Located on the I-10 access road south of Tubac, the museum’s exhibits illustrate the area’s

by Linda Ray

JONATHAN RICHMAN FEATURING TOMMY LARKINS ON DRUMS

It’s been 50 years since Jonathan Richman and his band Modern Lovers helped set the stage for punk music. Now, connoisseurs of Richman’s resonant storytelling, poetry and wit appreciate the legendary intimacy of his concerts. He can make an arena feel like a coffee shop. Musicians flock to his concerts to marvel at his craft. Tucson drummer Tommy Larkin has toured with him for years.

8 p.m. Friday, Oct.7, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 265 S. Church Avenue, moca-tucson.org, $25 MOCA member, $30 general admission standing, $35 general admission seated, $40 door if available.

“THE UGLY DUCKLING”

The Ugly duckling sings! Red Herring Puppets presents an original musical version of the folk tale that’s charmed generations.

The poor ugly duckling, you’ll recall, is put upon, picked on and piteous until he finds courage in the support of new friends, and determination in the encouragement of an old woman. A hen eventually helps him to appreciate his true self and face the world with confidence.

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sundays through Oct. 23, Red Herring Puppets, Tucson Mall upper level, 4500 N. Oracle Road, redherringpuppets.com, $8, online reservations recommended

REVEILLE

MEN’S CHORUS: “ABRACADABARET”

Humorist and cartoonist David Fitzsimmons hosts for a stage show and silent auction to benefit the Reveille Men’s Chorus. Professionally produced, Reveille’s shows are always great fun. “Abracadabaret” promises “a ghoulish theme,” organizers say, with a little magic in the music. The chorus has performed all over the world “to promote human rights, diversity and a world free from AIDS”.

6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, Cabaret Space (upstairs), Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Avenue, reveillemenschorus.org, $50.00

The UA’s Arizona Repertory Theatre stages

“Legally Blonde: The Musical.”

(ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE/SUBMITTED)

indigenous history as a crossroads of O’odham, Yaqui and Apache people.

8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and the second Saturday of every month through Saturday, Dec. 11, Tumacácori National Historic Park, nps.gov/tuma/index. htm, 1891 I-19 Frontage Road, $10 age 16 and over.

PATAGONIA: SKY ISLANDS ARTISANS MARKET

The town of Patagonia celebrates its 30th year hosting this weekend of art, crafts, music and artisanal foods. Many artists make their home around Patagonia, so the gift-buying options are exceptional. Beyond shopping, though, are the beautiful drive from Tucson and the pleasure of a cool autumn day among the walnut, desert willow and pines around the park.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, “Sky Island Artisan Market,” Patagonia Town Park, 325 W. McKeown Avenue, Patagonia, skyislandsartisanmarket.com, free admission.

“LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL”

Reese Witherspoon and Elle Woods won our hearts in the 2001 movie, “Legally Blonde.” Broadway took it to a whole new level as a musical in 2007. The UA’s Arizona Repertory Theatre brings it home this week with six performances at

LAUGHING STOCK

CLEAN COMEDY: WHEN YOU LAUGH AT THE SAME JOKES

By Linda Ray

CLEAN COMEDY MARANA WASN’T even a glimmer in Randy Jenkins’ eye when he asked his now wife, Stephanie, out on a first date. It was for a comedy show. Her response? “I don’t do those.”

Randy asked why not, and Stephanie said, “I don’t like vulgarities.” He had her, there. The comedy show was to be in a church. It was part of a series, “Clean Com edy USA,” that his friend Randy Houser produced in Phoenix.

She went, she laughed, they fell in love. Randy kept her laughing after she had a stroke soon thereafter, and through her recovery. He learned that comedy helps stroke victims’ brains retrieve their abil ity to make connections. As Stephanie’s condition slowly improved over a long, post-surgery rehab, they continued to make the drive to Phoenix. Within a year, they married.

Eventually the drive got old, though. Houser suggested they start a clean com edy show in Marana, closer to their Avra Valley homestead. He helped the Jenkins’ find a location and work out booking and promotion strategies.

Clean Comedy Marana was born on the Jenkins’ first anniversary in 2015. “Initially he produced our shows for us,” Randy says of Houser, “Then after about six months, we had sufficient contacts within the in dustry and we just started doing it.

“We had a few shows that were strug gling, that just weren’t really funny,” he said. “They were a learning experience, but every show now is a good one.”

A good one is substantial. Clean Come dy shows attract an average 300 people to the 600-seat theaters Randy rents in Ma rana and now Vail. Before COVID-19 lock down, the Jenkins’ were producing three shows a month. Having rebooted a year ago, they are just now back to booking two shows a month.

SO LET’S INVITE WILL ROGERS!

The Jenkins are among the millions of us today who wish we could all get along.

Stephanie Jenkins may not like vulgarities, but she dislikes hatefulness even more. Who better than Will Rogers to pillory the haters on all sides and get us all laughing at ourselves, as well as each other?

Rogers famously poked fun at political strawmen from both parties but was so beloved that Republicans and Democrats both claimed him. Life magazine suggest ed in 1928 that he launch “The Bunk Party” and run for president himself. He accept ed, writing in his “Life” column, “Your offer struck me like what the better fed English authors call ‘a bolt from the blue.’ It leaves me dazed, and if I can stay dazed, I ought to make a splendid candidate.”

Teddy Roosevelt said of him, “This man Rogers has such a keen insight into the American panorama and the American people that I feel he is bound, in the course of time, to be a potent factor in the political life of the nation.”

Rogers was a Cherokee cowboy, a trick roper, a vaudevillian, a newspaper colum nist, a radio star, a silent movie actor and a pilot. He circumnavigated the globe three times, but he never ran for office.

He excelled at everything he did, in part because he was a comic genius rooted in compassion for the human condition. He claimed to have wanted for his gravestone epitaph, “I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I dident (sic) like.”

OR AT LEAST LET’S SEE STEVE MCALPHABET TO “GET THE BUNK OUT”

Actor, musician and humorist Steve McAllister (aka Steve McAlphabet) came to know Rogers, and his humor, when he played the lead in a Sarasota, Florida, staging of “The Will Rogers Follies.” The production is a musical show in which each phase of Rogers’ life is portrayed as it might be in the Ziegfeld Follies. Rogers was a popular headliner in the Follies for years.

McAllister dove into the part, and into

Rogers’ life, to absorb his outlook, philos ophy and especially his wit. The result was his own one-man show, “Get the Bunk Out.” McAllister has said that most of the laughs in his 90-minute performance arise from the words Rogers actually used, ex actly as he wrote them.

He will perform shows in Tucson and Vail along the route of a 74-day motorcycle tour of America he began on Aug. 28. He’s visiting sites named after Will Rogers.

Rogers often spoke of Arizona includ ing his admiration for the cattle industry and his impressions of its Boulder, Hoover and Coolidge dams. He attended the ded ication of the latter. He’s quoted as recom mending, in particular, his experience of flying a plane over the Grand Canyon.

McAllister both amplifies and show cases Rogers’ story with some of his own original poetry and songs, accompany ing himself on guitar. He’s written, refer ring to Rogers, “Revisiting the insights of America’s ‘ambassador of good will’ as he addressed them (a century ago) would do us well. As democracy moves forward, it’s time to ‘Get the Bunk Out.’”

Jenkins said he has invited every politi cian running for office in Pima County. Clean Comedy presents Steve McAllis ter channeling Will Rogers in “Get the Bunk Out” at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14, at Coyote Trail Stage, 8000 N. Silver bell Road, Tucson, and 7:30 p.m., Sat urday, Oct. 15, at the Vail Theater of the Arts,10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way.

MORE COMEDY THIS WEEK

• Catalina Craft Pizza, 15930 N. Oracle Road, Suite 178, 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, “Comedy in Catalina,” $8 or free with a do nation of food or clothing. Phoenix comic

Leslie Barton and Tucson favorite Monte Benjamin co-headline and Kristopher Roy er and Kyle Verville co-host this produc tion by Kenny Shade. Reservations recom mended, 520-825-0140.

• El Jefe Cat Lounge, 3025 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 141, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, el jefecatlounge.com, reservations $18. host ed by Lady Ha Ha Comedy, 21 and older, BYOB and snacks. Priscilla Fernandez, Mo Urban, Morgan Kuehn, Corbin Barker, Katei Rose, Jackie Carpio.

• Laff’s Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, laffstucson. com, $15, $20 preferred seating. Tucson favorite Pauly Casillas and Bryan Ricci of Phoenix coheadline.

• Tucson Improv Movement/TIM Com edy Theatre, 414 E. Ninth Street, tucson improv.com. Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. Harold Epsilon and Harold Zeta; 8:30 p.m. Open mic, Friday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m. Improv Jam; 7:30 p.m., “The Soapbox” with An drew Campbell and Nate Wade; 9 p.m. Stand Up Showcase. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, “You’re Favorite Movie Improvised” and “The Meeting;” 9 p.m. “The Haunted Tees” and “Spooooky Girls.” $7 each show, $10 for both shows, same night, free jam and open mic.

• The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress Street, 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, “Keep Tuc son Sketchy: A Film Festival,” eventbrite. com, $10, $15 at the door.

• Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, unscrewedtheatre.org, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, “From the Top Improvised Musical;” 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. Family-Friendly Improv, 9 p.m. “Coming Unscrewed for Pride;” $8, live or remote, $5 kids.

Mo Urban performs comedy for adoptable cats at Kitty Ha Ha. (TUCSON IMPROV MOVEMENT/SUBMITTED)

Steve McAlphabet channels Will Rogers with a touch of Woody Guthrie. (DALE ANN CLANCEY/CONTRIBUTOR)

Breast cancer conqueror o ers hope to other warriors

By Hope Peters Tucson Local Media

Women — or men — can be at their best, healthy, strong and feeling in tip-top shape. They can be 23 or 73, religious or not, Democrat or Republican, any race or nationality, rich or poor, any occupation. Out of the blue, the perfect life comes crashing down when a breast cancer diagnosis comes. A deep feeling of doom is overwhelming. The fear? A death sentence. Through the tears, the fear, the excruciating pain, the hair loss and the scarring, Nadia Larsen’s nonprofit organization, Nadia Strong, offers photography and breast cancer resources to help restore beauty. She brings hope to those who have begun their journey and to those who won the battle, but still carry the physical and mental scars, the terrifying reminders of the biggest fight for their lives.

In 2015, Larsen was diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer. When she was declared cancer-free in early 2016, she knew she had to

help other women. As a photographer, she documented her treatment, and felt that doing this helped in the everyday struggles of her treatment. She came to consider it an important component, among others, in

her proactive battle to conquer cancer.

Nadia Strong is designed to empower and assist women and men undergoing breast cancer treatment and all survivors of the disease.

“What I did when I was going through radiation…I did the chemo, they (removed) the breasts, removed the lymph nodes, then the reconstruction and radiation, and after that I had several more reconstructions,” Larsen said.

“I was thinking, is there somebody in town that went through this hell…I literally call it my year from hell…is there a photographer who can document their journey.”

Larsen said she looked but found no such person, so she decided she would have to

Grand

do it herself — a photographer and breast cancer survivor. It was the start of Nadia Strong.

“What I do, women (and men) who are survivors, conquerors…someone just told me, ‘I’m in remission,’ and I said, ‘No, don’t say that word...there’s no such thing,’” she said.

“Remission means it may be coming back. I don’t like that word ‘remission.’ I am cancer free.”

The person asked Larsen how she knew she was cancer free. “I just took this test, here’s the brochure,” Larsen explained. Larsen is talking about the Galleri test.

The Galleri multi-cancer early detection test shows more than 50 types of cancer through a simple blood draw. Offering the benefits of early cancer detection, it detects many cancers that are not commonly screened for today, to allow for earlier treatment.

If a cancer signal is found, the results can point to the location with high accuracy to help a health care provider guide the next steps.

Nadia Larsen points to a poster advertising the Pink-Ribbon Boudoir photo retreat held in August. The photos will be on exhibit in December. (NADIA LARSEN/COURTESY)

CONQUEROR

Through nadiastrong.org, women and men share their breast cancer journey.

“Then we meet up and I do a photo shoot for them and I send them all the digitals they want, all free, I don’t charge them for anything,” she said. They then pick their favorite photos from the shoot to put on the Nadia Strong

site.

“It gives hope to the other women who are just diagnosed,” she said.

“The photography is either during (their treatment), so they don’t have hair, or afterward, and they dress up and put on makeup to show them you can be beautiful beyond breast cancer.

“Then put it on social media or do whatever they want because this is not the end, you fought it and you’re going to keep fighting it.”

Nadia Strong is not just about photographing and sharing breast cancer sur-

vivors’ and fighters’ journeys. Her site offers recommendations and life-saving resources, such as the Galleri test.

Larsen said primary care providers can order the test, which is currently not covered by medical insurance. The price is $949, or $80/12 months billed afterward.

Larsen and photographer Jana Suchy of Way Out West Creative will host the Pink-Ribbon Boudoir Photo Exhibit and Silent Auction from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at The Post Workspaces, 7400 N. Oracle Road. Admission is free and open to the public. The show will feature boudoir photos from an August retreat for survivors. For more information, visit pinkribbonboudoir.com or email jana@wayoutwestcreative.com.

Nadia Larsen after her year from hell fighting and winning the battle: Beautiful beyond breast cancer. (NADIA LARSEN/COURTESY)

Nadia Strong Photography Inc.

“Beautiful Beyond Breast Cancer”

Nadia Larsen

6371 E. River Road, Tucson 520-245-8888 nadiastrong.org

Nadia Larsen shares the aftermath of her radiation treatments. (NADIA LARSEN/COURTESY)

October is breast cancer awareness month

By Mia Smitt Tucson Local Media

The Ronstadt Familin Concert y

10.23.22

More important than pumpkin spiced everything, October is also breast cancer awareness month. This is the second most common cancer in women, as skin cancer is first. While the vast majority of those who develop breast cancer are women, this disease also can affect men.

The most recent compilation, 2019 statistics, showed 264,121 new cases were reported in the United States and 42,280 women and 500 men died of breast cancer that year.

In Arizona, 5,234 breast cancer deaths occurred.

According to the National Cancer Institute, 12% of women in the United States (that’s 1 in 8) will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. One in 800 men, or .12%, will be diagnosed. While most breast cancer occurs in women over age 55, young women are not immune and 12% occur in women under 45.

So, what is cancer? It is the rapid growth of abnormal cells when the DNA in some normal cells somehow becomes damaged. Sometimes the body can destroy these aberrant cells but more often they proliferate and divide more quickly than healthy cells. They form a mass or lump and can spread to other parts of the body, invading healthy tissue. There are several types of breast cancer depending on where it is in the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an early form of breast cancer. The abnormal cells inside a milk duct have not spread to other parts of the breast or adjacent lymph nodes. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer and starts in those cells that line a milk duct. Cancer cells break through the duct wall and spread into adjoining breast tissue and can then spread to other parts of the body though the bloodstream or lymph system. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) starts in the milk-producing glands, or lobules. This, too, can spread to other parts of the body. Of interest is that this form of breast cancer will affect both breasts in about 20% of women with ILC.

What can be confusing is lobular carcino-

ma in situ. This is not actually cancer but the precursor and is often found on biopsy or imaging studies other than mammograms for another suspicious lump or mass.

Triple negative breast cancer does not have the cell receptors estrogen, progesterone and HER2, (human epidermal growth factor) that are usually found in breast cancer (a receptor is a site on a cell surface that can bind with a particular substance). This cancer is more difficult to treat because many drug therapies need those receptors to get into the cancer cells. There are other, less common, breast cancers also, such as angiosarcoma, Paget’s disease, and inflammatory breast cancer. There are breast cancer symptoms that warrant evaluation. A lump that is new and not associated with the menstrual cycle (but not all breast lumps are cancer), changes in the appearance of the nipple, any change or puckering of breast skin, any nipple discharge, and changes in the size or appearance of one breast compared to the other need to be evaluated. And these symptoms apply to men as well as women. Breast pain is not a common symptom of cancer.

Treatment of invasive breast cancers will depend on the type and “stage” of the cancer — how advanced it is and where it may have spread. Different surgeries include lumpectomy (just tumor removal), mastectomy (breast removal) and lymph node removal.

Radiation treatment is an external beam to target either just the cancer site or the entire breast. Systemic treatments include chemotherapy, anticancer drugs that may be given as intravenous medication on a scheduled basis or an oral pill taken daily depending on the cancer.

Hormonal therapy is used when the cancer cells have receptors for estrogen or progesterone. Hormone blockers help prevent cancer growth and may be taken for many years. Then there is “targeted therapy,”

which kills cancer cells by interfering with specific proteins in the cell that promote growth. Research has opened new avenues for successful treatment and continues to explore ways to treat breast cancer.

The five-year survival rates are approximately 99% for localized disease (breast tissue only), 86% for regional involvement (cancer affecting nearby lymph nodes) and 28% for distant reach (a farther spread such as to bones, lungs and liver). But these statistics change with improved treatment and should be individualized.

Breast cancer cannot be prevented but there are ways to reduce the risk of any cancers. Not smoking, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and eating vegetables and fruits every day are healthy lifestyle choices that promote overall good health.

Excessive alcohol consumption and obesity are considered risk factors for developing different cancers including breast cancers. And approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancer is hereditary. If a close relative has it, your chances of developing breast cancer are greater.

As with many other illnesses, screening is essential. Monthly self breast exam is recommended by some organizations and health care providers but has not been found to be as effective as clinical exams.

Routine mammograms, ultrasound imaging and MRIs can detect the smallest cancers for earlier treatment. Certain blood tests are more widely available for those who have a hereditary risk. Screening rates vary by state with Massachusetts taking the prize last year at 87% and Wyoming the worst at 66% as reported by the National Cancer Society.

Arizona’s screening rate was 75%, not bad but we can do better.

Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic halted or delayed many screening exams but hopefully we are getting back on track this year.

There are many national campaigns to raise awareness and promote screening.

From the CDC’s serious “Right to Know Campaign” and The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s “Together We Rise” to the humorous “Know Your Lemons” and “Lux Soap with a Lump” promotions, there are messages galore that can appeal to women across the age and demographic spectrums.

The Estee Lauder Companies have had a goal and a mission to help eradicate breast cancer worldwide since 1992 and have donated over 108 million dollars to prevention and research. The Susan G Koman Foundation sponsors an annual walk to raise money. There are many other organizations with various campaigns and projects also.

Get that mammogram. They are not the painful procedure noted in cartoons. OK, sometimes a little uncomfortable but well worth the effort. Maybe we should offer pumpkin spiced lattes or cookies with the

mammograms in October.

If I may share a personal note — my dear grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 99. She had a total mastectomy followed by oral chemotherapy, tolerated both and lived alone till she was 102. She had no cognitive decline when she died, not from breast cancer, just before her 104th birthday. So don’t let age stop you from following up on any suspicious symptoms and enjoying good health.

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

Double Feature of Films of Director John Waters

SAT 10/14

FOX TUCSON THEATRE

THE PLACE TO BE • THE ARTISTS TO SEE

Johnny Depp A Film by John Waters

False Negative: An Evening with Director John Waters SUN 10/15

A rapid-fire one-man spoken word “vaudeville” act that celebrates the film career and joyously appalling taste of the man William Burroughs once called The Pope of Trash.

Wurlitzer Haunted Halloween Concert SUN 10/30

An eerie mood prevails. The curtain rises. You start to believe something is lurking in the shadows when suddenly the organist pounds a familiar cord and you JUMP — The Phantom has arrived!

Relive the thrill of one of the greatest horror films of all time in our historic, haunted theatre, Lon Chaney’s 1925 Phantom of the Opera. Dave Wickerham will accompany the fully restored silent film on Fox’s own Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Join us if you dare!

Artists fly, balance, float on air, and defy gravity in an exhilarating tale of the unrelenting tug-of-war between man and nature. A fresh approach to “cirque,” using pure human energy to harness the power of the wind!

Family!

11/6

By Xavier Otero

Local Media

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

THURSDAY, OCT. 6

Led by vocalist/guitar hero Lzzy Hale — named shredder of the year at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, in 2016—Halestorm has an aggressive-yet-hook-heavy sound that’s has become a fixture on American rock radio. In 2013, they took home a Grammy Award for best hard rock/metal performance, to add to their bragging rights. The Pennsylvania metal quartet began writing its latest album pre-pandemic, but continued throughout lockdown.

As the light grew visible at the end of a long tunnel, Halestorm resurfaced with “Back from the Dead.”

“The story of me carving myself out of that abyss,” Hale said. Halestorm fall back “Into the Wild Life” at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Special guests The Warning and New Years Day lend support… Inspired by the synth-laden film score to “Drive,” the future members of The Midnight — vocalist Tyler Lyle and producer Tim McEwan — met while attending a writing workshop in North Hollywood. The synthwave duo’s 2016 LP “Endless Summer,” proved to be their breakthrough. It spent several weeks on Bandcamp’s bestseller list and landed at No. 17 on the Billboard dance/electronic chart. Now, touring in support of “Heroes,” its 2022 release, The Midnight passes through the “Golden Gate” at the Rialto Theatre… After cementing their place in Austin’s roots rock scene, Micky & The Motorcars bring “Long Time Comin’” — an album of plainspoken alternative-country grit laid smooth by the Braun brothers’ signature harmonies — to The Maverick. With

local support by Scotty Freel & the Flying Diamonds… While most musicians use their talents to entertain. It is rare to find an artist who purposefully utilizes their platform for the greater good. Lauren Monroe, a globally recognized advocate for mental health awareness, does just that. Americana singer/songwriter and healer Monroe — along with her husband, Rick Allen of Def Leppard — impart “Messages from Aphrodite,” her latest release, at 191 Toole… The 18th annual Tucson Film & Music Festival — showcasing music-related films with a special nod to films and filmmakers with a connection to the desert southwest — takes place Oct. 6 to Oct. 9 at The Screening Room. See tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com for full details… “Now Girls Rule.” From Guadalajara, indie rocker Elis Paprika & The Black Pilgrims and Tucson’s own female-fronted pop-punks Diluvio join forces on the plaza stage for a bilingual/bicultural evening at Hotel Congress… Celebrating the release of “Boilermaker,” their debut album on vinyl — as if reason to drink was ever necessary — Barnaby and the Butcher perform their signature blend of roots rock and Southwestern Americana at Tap & Bottle Downtown… From Copenhagen, Danish, punk rockers Iceage and American drone-metal experimentalists, from Olympia, Earth are in league, fortified by conviction — “where every note and every strike on the drum kit carries the weight of the world” — at Club Congress… Shining a light on turntablists from deep in Tucson’s underground, digital artist/musician Dmoticon presents Cyber Sonica: A cyberpunk rave at The Rock…

FRIDAY, OCT. 7

Growing up in Buckhead, Atlanta, vocalist Emily Kempf’s early interest

was in visual art. She never imagined being in a band. Since bursting onto the Chicago music scene in 2016, DEHD — with a spareness of sound, idiosyncratic vocals and use of counter-melody — soon became a refreshing addition with their variant strain. Believers that love is everyday magic, DIY trash-poppers DEHD return with “Blue Sky,” their 2022 LP, to the Rialto Theatre. Exum opens… Sentient, introspective and forward-thinking, New York via El Paso, René Kladzyk — also known by her nom de guerre, Ziemba — is a performance artist, musician, perfumer, writer and cultural geographer. Her work has been featured in Vogue, The FADER and i-D Magazine. Ever pushing boundaries, in support of “Unsubtle Magic,” her latest LP, Ziemba makes an appearance at R Bar… Founded in 1969 in the state of Michoacán by three brothers, Heraclio, Jesús and Francisco García. From the late-1990s to 2006, every one of their original releases landed in the upper echelons of the Billboard Latin albums charts — establishing Los Huracanes del Norte as one of the most influential norteño groups. The 50th Anniversary Tour brings Los Huracanes del Norte to the Desert Diamond Casino. Special guests Banda La Prendida join in the celebration… Celebrating local impresario Jeb Schoonover’s 60th birthday. The 20th anniversary of The Honkytonk Hacienda — a rollicking honkytonk, blues, soul and swing shindig — features performances by Dave Gonzalez (The Paladins and Hacienda Brothers), Mike Hebert (Forbidden Pigs) and Heather Hardy. In addition, Gabriel Sullivan’s Honky Tonk All-Stars — featuring Mark Insley and Clay Koweek — will rip through a Gram Parsons-inspired opening set of American cosmic music. Schoonover enthused, “It’s going to be one heck of a party,” on the plaza at Hotel Congress… Westbound presents Birds and Arrows as they celebrate the release of their new album “Electric Bones.” Bear witness as they transform from a lovelorn folk duo into hard hitting rock ‘n’ roll badasses on the stage at MSA Annex. Special guests Soda

Sun open… What began as a party, by two enterprising friends, in a tiny Echo Park dive bar has blown up into a phenomenon.

“We made a Facebook event, and all of a sudden, 500 people showed up,” co-founder T.J. Petracca recalled. It soon expanded exponentially to recurring events thrown by like-minded hipsters in over 30 cities and festivals nationwide. Emo Nite pops off at 191 Toole… Storied desert rocker, Rich Hopkins and The Luminarios fête the CD release of “Exiled on Mabel St.,” their latest LP, at Monterey Court. Special guest troubadour Oscar Fuentes opens… Known for his warm timbre and stratospheric range. One of the world’s leading countertenors — winner of the 2021 Sarah Vaughan vocal competition — Chicago vocalist G. Thomas Allen and his 4TET perform two sets of soul-infused contemporary stylizing and straight-ahead classic jazz at The Century Room… The end looms near. Arizona death metal/grindcore outfit Languish celebrate the release of “Feeding the Flames Of Annihilation,” their new album, at Club Congress. Neyquam and Mastadonna share in the revelry… Singer and songwriter Little Cat presents her “original sad girl twangy songs along with a funky new set of covers” at St. Charles Tavern… Spinning records for music lovers, the Late Night Lounge finds vinyl DJ Carl Hanni manning the decks at The Century Room… Founded in 1974 by folklorist “Big Jim” Griffith and his wife Loma, The 49th annual Tucson Meet Yourself: A Folklife Festival celebrates the authentic cultural foods and living traditional arts — from traditional Balkan music to Yaqui ceremonial deer dancers — of Arizona-Sonora’s folk and ethnic communities. Tucson Meet Yourself runs Oct. 7 +to Oct. 9 at Jácome Plaza. See tucsonmeetyourself.

SATURDAY, OCT. 8

James McMurtry grew up in “a little bitty ranch house crammed with 10,000 books.”

He was weaned on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. At age 7 his novelist father, Larry McMurtry, gave him his first guitar. “My mother taught me three chords and the rest I just stole as I went along.” Fast forward to 2005, his song

“We Can’t Make It Here” — which criticizes George W. Bush, the Iraq War and Walmart — was praised by Rolling Stone’s Robert Christgau as “the best song of the 2000s.” Its lyrics cut like incisors and still resonate. “Will I work for food, will I die for oil / Will kill for power and to us the spoils / The billionaires get to pay less tax / The working poor get to fall through the cracks

/ Let ‘em eat shit.” Americana singer-songwriter James McMurtry speaks truth to power on the Hotel Congress plaza. Jonny Burke opens… Tucson power trio Insound performs material from “Take Away” — its 2021 album of innovative progressive rock — at 191 Toole. San Francisco electronica enthusiast DJ Flow spins… In a brave and ambitious tribute to classic ’80s alternative rock and new wave — the passion project of veteran Tucson musician Daniel Thomas who has curated a setlist consisting of deeper album cuts — Overdramatic make their performance debut at R Bar. DJ Future Syndicate spins… Perennial flowers, the River Roses play selections from their 1989 release “Each and All.” Jangle-pop classics like “Forever Seventeen” and “Phoenix 99” will come flying at you like a swarm of bees at St. Charles Tavern… Spinning new wave, electronic, gothic and industrial, DJ Stubbie lights a black clove-scented candle in honor of the Fineline — a Tucson nightclub of yesteryear that lives on in revered infamy — at

the Surly Wench Pub… Australian musician Ben Waples found the inspiration for his persona while watching an Italian accordionist perform at a nursing home. Utilizing vintage synths and drum machines, Donny Benét disperses his signature ’80s post-disco sound at Club Congress… Blues harpist Paul Green leads the descent into the dead of the Late Night at The Century Room…

SUNDAY, OCT. 9

“I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.”

Although the gray hair “don’t mean a thing,” country superstar Clint Black still has neon in his veins. In continuation of a career spanning nearly 40 years — one peppered with more than 30 singles on the Billboard country charts, 22 of which landed at No. 1 — Black released his 23rd album during the height of the pandemic and time of social turmoil. “America’s aspirations are great. Its future is always uncertain.” Black reflected. “But if history tells us anything, we will get through this, and we will be more united than ever before.” Black is “Killing Time” at the Fox Tucson Theatre… Known for intermixing spiritual themes and motifs from traditional Jewish music with his beatboxing hip-hop and reggae rock, Matthew Paul Miller — aka Matisyahu — is said to be a “gift of God,” according to the etymology of his biblical Hebrew name. On Matisyahu’s self-titled new album, his most autobiographical work to date, the New York native tells stories that aim to enlighten, uplift and expand the listener’s sense of possibility. “A King Without a Crown,” Matisyahu holds court at the Rialto Theatre. Cydeways opens… In recognition of Pride Month, Kalae Nouveau, Erotica Powers, Greg Stickroth, The Stravenue Sisters, Shira Maas, Reverb and pianist Khris Dodge perform as part of Downtown Tucson’s

premiere LGBTQA+ jazz cocktail party. Fruit Cocktail Lounge: Pride Edition takes place at The Century Room… Trumpeter John Black hosts the Jazz Jam Session at The Century Room… Boasting Arizona Blues Hall of Famer Mike Blommer on guitar and “Hurricane” Carla Brownlee on saxophone, Sunday’s installment of the Congress Cookout sees Tucson blues institution Bad News Blues Band stoking a devilish fire on the Hotel Congress plaza… KCMT 92.1 FM La Caliente radio celebrates the station’s 20th anniversary with a bashment — featuring performances by La Arrolladora, Laberinto, Los Tramposos, Ruben Rendon Y Su Explosion y mas — at AVA Amphitheater… Prog rock duo Zombi take their name from the Italian title of George Romero’s horror film classic “Dawn of the Dead.” But, bassist/ synthesist Steve Moore and drummer Anthony Paterra’s zealotry doesn’t stop there. They are obsessed with Goblin — the Italian prog rockers who scored several Dario Argento and Romero films — to the extent that Zombi have been described as a Goblin worship band. Zombi leads a tour through the “Black Forest” at Club Congress…

MONDAY, OCT. 10

In 2018, Texas-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and one-man band Sloan Struble — operating under the name Dayglow — created an indie buzz when “Fuzzybrain,” his home-recorded, self-released debut went viral. His gushing and hook-laden indie pop earned him a spot at Austin City Limits Music Festival and a label reissue of “Fuzzybrain.” Inspired by the nostalgia of 1970s and ’80s pop music, the 23-year-old continues to embrace the DIY aesthetic on “Harmony House,” his latest release. The People in Motion Tour

TUESDAY, OCT. 11

A band whose sound walks a tightrope between roots and alternative rock, the only constant since the release of The Wallflowers self-titled debut album in 1992 has been co-founding member Jakob Dylan. After a nine-year hiatus from the recording studio and a departure into filmmaking — serving as executive producer for “Echo in the Canyon,” a 2018 documentary examining the birth of the Laurel Canyon music scene — Dylan entered the studio with producer and multi-instrumentalist Butch Walker and a handful of session players to record a batch of songs. The result: “Exit Wounds.” Dylan reflected, “So yeah, Exit Wounds is a transition. Even the good experiences that you’ve had in your life, there’s going to be some kind of heartache that probably comes along with it.” On “Move the River — a song featuring country singer Shelby Lynne — Dylan sings, “The sky’s the color of an ashtray / Full of Van Gogh’s yellow clouds.” Dylan reflects, “Yeah. I’m sure it conjures up an image. But you can’t look at it too close. If you look at it too close, it disappears like a puff of smoke.” No longer content to remain on the sidelines, The Wallflowers play the Fox Tucson Theatre… Named after a line actor Ben Kingsley delivered in “Sexy Beast,” childhood friends guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mat Uychich began playing together as The Front Bottoms in 2007. Sella worked at a grocery store and Uychich worked in landscaping, at the time. Offering a slightly surreal perspective on the world as they experience it, in late 2010, the band filmed a music video for the song “Maps,” after being contacted by an anonymous filmmaker through social media, gaining significant exposure. Months later they signed with Bar/ None Records. “Back on Top,” indie rock/ folk-punks The Front Bottoms return with “In Sickness & In Flames,” their fifth studio album, at the Rialto Theatre. The Joy Formidable and Mobley lend support… Rising around the grunge movement — evolving from a garage band à la The Replacements to incorporate R&B and soul influences into their sound — The Afghan Whigs have been cited by numerous artists, spanning genres, as being of significant influence. After releasing six studio albums, citing their geographic dispar-

ity and family obligations, The Afghan Whigs called it quits via press release in 2001. Co-founding member Greg Dulli frequently claimed in subsequent interviews that the band would never get back together. Call it kismet, if you will, the group reunited in 2012. Now, back on the road in support of their ninth studio album, “How Do You Burn?” Cincinnati alt-rockers The Afghan Whigs make a stop at 191 Toole. Pink Mountain Tops open… Slide guitarist and singer Bennie plays blues, ragtime and compositions all their own at Club Congress. Yippee and Disco Girl open the show…

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12

Drawing from trip-hop, jazz, world and EDM — incorporating smooth breakbeat loops, samples, synthesized and organic sounds — Simon Green finds inspiration in both nature and UK club culture to help shape his tranquil downtempo electronica. From his debut album “Animal Magic” to his latest work, 2022’s “Fragments,” Green aka Bonobo — a stage name that is a reference to a pygmy chimpanzee species — has become a key figure in the downtempo electronica scene. “The difference between this album (“Fragments”) and the previous albums came from me trying not

to hang onto old techniques or old ideas. That’s the main thing. Seeking whatever exciting thing is out there to chase.” Los Angeles-based electronic music producer Bonobo brings the Fragments Live Tour to the Rialto Theatre… Since taking first prize at the ARD International Music Competition in 2008, the Apollon Musagète Quartet has captivated the European musical scene. Launching into their 75th season, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music present Apollon Musagète Quartet with critically acclaimed pianist Garrick Ohlsson — with a program featuring works by Bach, Penderecki and Shostakovich — as part of the AFCM’s evening series at the Leo Rich Theater… Esteemed pianist Elliot Jones returns to town to once again host Piano Bar — a mélange of jazz standards, musical theater and opera pieces — at The Century Room… Local luminaries Howe Gelb, Thøger Lund and Gabriel Sullivan perform a short set before the screening of director Geoff Marslett’s “Quantum Cowboys” — a film soundtracked by John Doe, Neko Case, XIXA and Gelb — at The Loft Cinema…

MUSIC

THE WAR ON DRUGS IS HAPPY TO BE BACK ON STAGE

By Luke Hertel Tucson Local News

THE WAR ON DRUGS DRUMMER

Charlie Hall said it feels good to be back on stage promoting the band’s new al bum, “I Don’t Live Here Anymore.”

The War on Drugs will play The Rialto Theatre in Tucson on Thursday, Oct. 13, during the tail end of its tour that started in January.

“We’re going to be coming around the bend of 100-plus shows for the year,” Hall said. “There’s this feeling of, ‘Let’s just air it out. Just leave it all out on the table.’ It’s going to be great. It’s going to be super fun.”

The tour has had many notable stops and many new stories for Hall to tell. A highlight was playing The Olympia in Paris.

“It was just packed, and we were sound ing good,” Hall said. “We’re flowing. That’s the goal with all this. You want to find that state of flow. We weren’t over thinking things. It has happened before, and it’s happened since but I just remem ber the Olympia and Paris being one of those gigs where it’s just next level.”

A bucket list accomplishment was playing Madison Square Garden. Unfor tunately, Mother Nature tried to stop it from happening.

“It was in the middle of a Biblical bliz zard,” Hall said. “Everyone who was there wanted to be there. They had to work to

be there because freaking trains were shut down. Everyone that was there was like, ‘We’re in this thing.’ It felt so warm. I was talking about how freezing it was on the bus, but that gig felt so warm.”

They also stopped by in Arizona pre viously to play at the Innings Festival in Tempe in late February. It was a stop Hall said the band desperately needed so they could ditch masks and frigid tempera tures.

“We finished this grinder of a tour and all of a sudden, we’re all together out side and I can see people’s faces, like our crew,” Hall said. “I haven’t seen some of these people’s faces in months. We weren’t doing a lot of like eating together and all that stuff. We’re just trying to be as safe as possible.

“I Don’t Live Here Anymore” is the band’s fifth studio album since its incep tion in 2005. This album serves as a met aphor for growing up.

“I think focus is a good word for it be cause I think there’s a lot of attention to making sure that there’s a lot of inten tionality,” Hall said. “We’re not really a jam band. You might say we’re like jam adjacent.

This focus has even leaked into their touring style. The songs seamlessly flow from one to another.

“We’ve been making an effort to switch

it up because that’s what people want, but we settled in some really sweet blocks,” Hall said.

“Like, ‘Oh, these four songs really work together. They flow into each other real ly well.’ So we have been keeping these blocks of songs together, and then there’s a spot here where we’ll throw in some audibles or whatever. That intentionali ty with the record and that focus, I think we’ve been doing that with the live show to kind of extrapolating.”

The album was created during the COVID-19 quarantine. The isolation leaks into it as does all the familial bonds the band got to focus on with their new found time off.

“Everybody handled it differently,” Hall said. “It was tough. We are a band that

likes to work and play shows. So, I think everybody dug in a little bit. and obvi ously, there were some positive outcomes creatively. And everyone was working on both this record and also their own proj ects. Another positive of the whole thing was just getting to be together (with your family). But, it’s really nice to be to be out and finally able to do our thing.”

The War on Drugs

WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13

WHERE: The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $41 INFO: 520-741-1000, rialtotheatre.com

the Marroney Theatre. Sweet, confident and serious about pursuing her goals, Elle learns that reality may not always map to her sheltered and privileged life. She learns to rely on the better, more du rable aspects of her character and wins the day, if not the guy. You may go home singing.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 14; 1:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 9 and Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 15; “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” Arizona

Repertory Theatre, Marroney Theatre, UA, 1025 N. Olive Road, theatre.arizo na.edu, $33 to $35, $15 student

MERCADO FLEA

Starting on Sunday, Oct. 9, Mercado Flea returns to Mercado San Agustin on the second Sunday of every month through May 14. An open-air “flea mar ket,” the event features 45 or so vendors of antique, vintage and other used and collectible items. The Mercado itself of fers unique local retail outlets, two coffee shops, Mexican food takeout, a bakery

and two bars.

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 and the second Sunday of every month through Sunday, May 14, “Mercado Flea,” Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento, mercadodistrict.com/mer cado, free admission

EARTH SCIENCE WEEK AT ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM

We live in a great place for children to hunt rocks. Tucson lies in an enor mous geologic feature called a caldera,

rich in minerals used all over the world. Our mountain ranges thrust up from the earth millions of years ago and some of our hills were once mountain tops far away. This week, the museum celebrates the ageless drama and infinite treasures beneath our feet with “Earth Science Week: Earth Science for a Sustainable World.” Every visitor gets to take home a mineral bag.

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Arizona So nora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, desertmuseum.org, $19.95 to $29.95

The War on Drugs’ latest album, “I Don’t Live Here Anymore,” was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. (JIMMY FONTAINE/CONTRIBUTOR)

MUSIC

JAMES MCMURTRY BRINGS WESTERN NARRATIVES

BACK TO TUCSON

By Vincent Arrieta

THERE ARE CERTAIN MUSICIANS

who have the scope of the great American Southwest in their pocket. Songwriters like Jonathan Tyler and Ry Cooder’s essence evokes long highways and rolling clouds, while rogues like Townes Van Zandt and Kris Kristofferson embody its slighted frontiers. James McMurtry is one of those songwriters, having surreptitiously documented and concocted tales of the American West and beyond for over three decades, and he’ll be returning to Tucson for a performance at Club Congress on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

Even among his celebrated peers, James McMurtry certainly knows a thing or two about how to put words in the right order. His father Larry McMurtry (who passed away in 2021) is responsible for some of the most acclaimed novels in the American firmament like “Lonesome Dove” and “The Last Picture Show.”

Ironically, despite the Jr. McMurtry’s celebrated songsmithing, he’s not much of a bookworm. “My Dad collected books,” McMurtry says. “Books were like wallpaper to me.” McMurtry says that non-affinity for longform writing may have been a motivating factor in his push towards music. “I’ve always had stories in my head, and I was often looking for an escape,” he says. “Especially since when I was a kid I got dragged to a lot of bookstores where I didn’t want to be.”

Born in Fort Worth and raised in Virginia only to eventually become a student at the University of Arizona, the now 60-year-old McMurtry finds himself

comfortably settled in the town of Lockhart, Texas – 30 miles south of the Austin airport – but still regularly gigs around the Texan capital despite his lack of desire to live there. “It’s become too expensive to live in Austin,” McMurtry confesses. “So many people from California have moved there with the idea that it’s cheap – for their standards. It’s changed a lot even in the last three years.”

McMurtry’s latest record “The Horses and The Hounds” received a higher-than-usual amount of acclaim upon its release in 2021, even landing on Rolling Stone’s list of the best albums of 2021. Strangely enough, McMurtry says that its origins were motivated by a desire to go back on the road, rather than an overt urge to record. “It used to be that I would tour to support record sales, but I’ve never really worked out for me,” he says. “But now, for the most part, our money comes from the road. So people know we’re coming to town, fill up the seats, and when that starts to fall off, it’s time to make another record.”

That being said, McMurtry says that he has never felt comfortable in the studio, preferring the wilderness of the

stage. When asked if he would rather record live albums than studio records, McMurtry says he would in a perfect world, but the consumer desire is no longer for

live LPs but for studio LPs.

That means that come Saturday, McMurtry will be right at home on the Club Congress stage.

tucsonweekly.com

James McMurtry will hit the stage at Club Congress on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

EEGEE PALOOZA

Eegee’s, local chef team up for special taco launch

By Summer Aguirre Tucson Local Media

EEGEE’S IS COLLABORATING

with a local chef for the first time, and their sweet, spicy menu creation will be dropped at an exclusive event.

The restaurant is hosting Eegee Palooza to launch a specialty taco brainstormed by Che West, a Tucson native and chef who owns a pop-up kitchen called Tortillas by Che West. The event is from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 exclusively at the restaurant chain’s location at 4765 S. Landing Center Drive.

Alongside the chef’s taco masterpiece, guests can stop by the restaurant to enjoy music, giveaways and merchandise.

“Utilizing our platform and bringing in people like Che West can create these amazing ideas and these amazing con-

cepts with food, it’s a no-brainer for us,” said Gabe Oropeza, Eegee’s senior engagement manager.

West’s specialty tacos consist of maple syrup-sriracha tortillas stuffed with Eegee’s new Chipotle and Buffalo Chicken tenders, cotija cheese, lettuce and maple-sriracha sauce. For $15.99, customers can get a meal including two tacos, a medium seasoned fry and a small Scary Berry Eegee drink topped with Tajin and Chamoy.

Che West is a Tucson native who owns a pop-up business called Tortillas by Che West. He specializes in unique tortilla and taco flavors. (EEGEE’S SUBMITTED)

The chef, who specializes in unique tortilla flavors and tacos, began his business around six years ago in his backyard. For $20, visitors enjoyed tacos, enchiladas and margaritas. He was only expecting 50 people to attend, but attracted over 100.

From there, he took his pop-up to restaurants, collaborating with Rollies Mexican Patio, Hop Street Lounge, Owls Club and Saint Charles Tavern. He has built a community following and a brand as an “elusive chef.”

“I think this is just something that’s unfathomable for me, and I just can’t believe that I got this opportunity to make tacos with Eegee’s,” said West.

Oropeza believes that Eegee’s collaboration with West is the beginning of a number of future partnerships with other local talents — from chefs, to graphic art-

ists, to muralists.

“We’re always trying to follow new trends and be the leader of new trends, and we don’t see other restaurants or other businesses around Tucson, around Arizona collabing with local artists or local chefs and making a meal out of it,” he said. “So I think this is an opportunity to open eyes and show people there’s a market out there and that collabing with the community can work.”

For more information about Eegee’s, visit eegees.com. Chef Che West can be found on Instagram and Facebook.

PETALFAST ACCELERATES THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CANNABIS BRANDS IN AZ

By Hope Peters Tucson Local Media

CANNABIS BRANDS IMMERSED

in the Petalfast platform, such as Space Coyote, Emerald Sky, Bloom Brands and Yada Yada, now have a new way to expand their products into the Tucson dispensary market.

Petalfast is the first-of-its-kind routethrough-market platform for the thriving cannabis market in Arizona.

“Petalfast is a selling organization with field marketing,” Petalfast CEO Jason Vegotsky explained. “Most of Arizona is

vertically integrated and there’s very few specialists. We specialize in selling to integrated markets.”

Petalfast helps cannabis brands thrive via its go-to-market accelerator program in California and its full spectrum of agency services available to brands nationally.

Vegotsky said Petalfast will have a seven-person full-time team built in Arizona and 25 to 50 part-time brand ambassadors, all focused on selling brands into

stores and selling them out of stores with trade marketing activity.

“Our partner is already licensed here, Consensus Holdings,” Vegotsky said. “And we will be taking their brands and looking for other brands to bring into our portfolio.”

Petalfast helps the cannabis brands expand their marketing and products into dispensaries, such as setting up demos, budtender training, brand displays and getting products on the shelf.

Petalfast, through its incubator program Pilot by Petalfast, also provides new and recently launched brands with direct access to leading retailers and opportunities to gain first-hand market analysis while also offering select retailers the opportunity to see future brands before they formally hit the market.

“Consensus Holding (home to Feel Sublime) is who our distributor is in Ari-

zona,” Vegotsky said. “And we will represent their brands as well.”

CEO of Petalfast, Jason Vegotsky expands Petalfast into Arizona, marketing cannabis brands to dispensaries throughout the state including Tucson and Phoenix. (COURTESY/PETALFAST)

TUCSON AREA DISPENSARIES

Bloom Tucson

4695 N. Oracle Road, Ste. 117 293-3315; bloomdispensary.com

Open: Daily 9a.m. - 10p.m.

Botanica

6205 N. Travel Center Drive

395-0230; botanica.us

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily

Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center

8060 E. 22nd Street, Suite 108

886-1760; dbloomtucson.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily

Offering delivery

Downtown Dispensary

221 E. Sixth Street, Suite 105 838-0492; thedowntowndispensary.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

D2 Dispensary

7105 E. 22nd Street 214-3232; d2dispensary.com/

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Earth’s Healing

Two locations:

North: 78 W. River Road 253-7198

South: 2075 E. Benson Highway 373-5779 earthshealing.org

Open: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Offering delivery

The Green Halo

7710 S. Wilmot Road

664-2251; thegreenhalo.org

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily

Hana Green Valley

1732 W. Duval Commerce Point Place

289-8030

Open: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Harvest of Tucson

2734 E. Grant Road 314-9420; askme@harvestinc.com; Harvestofaz.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily

Nature Med

5390 W. Ina Road 620-9123; naturemedaz.com

Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily

The Prime Leaf

Two locations:

4220 E. Speedway Boulevard

1525 N. Park Avenue 44-PRIME; theprimeleaf.com

Open: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Southern Arizona Integrated Therapies

112 S. Kolb Road 886-1003; medicalmarijuanaoftucson.com

Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily

Green Med Wellness Center

6464 E. Tanque Verde Road 886-2484, greenmedwellness.com

Open: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Satuday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

DAILY FLOWER SPECIALS!

to tucsonsaints.com for easy online ordering

Medical & Adult Use Facility

Petalfast will be available to all the dispensaries in Tucson and across Arizona.

“We help the brands expand their marketing into the dispensaries,” he said. “We like to say we service brands better than everybody else.”

Jason Vegotsky, chief executive officer of Petalfast, has an extensive background in sales and business development. He leads Petalfast with a team of professionals in sales, marketing and brand man-

agement on a mission to revolutionize the go-to-market for cannabis brands.

“We are here and actively hiring our team,” Vegotsky said.

Prior to Petalfast, Vegotsky was the co-founder of Summit Innovations, Inc. and the driver of the company’s business development. Here, he expanded the business to over 600+ customers and 25 employees in its first year of operations.

The company eventually sold to Kush Co Holdings where he was president and instrumental in the company’s growth.

FREE

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) When you Aries folks are at your best, you are drawn to people who tell you exactly what they think, who aren’t intimidated by your high energy, and who dare to be as vigorous as you. I hope you have an array of allies like that in your sphere right now. In my astro logical opinion, you especially need their kind of stimulation. It’s an excellent time to invite influences that will nudge you out of your status quo and help you glide into a new groove. Are you willing to be challenged and changed?

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Author Toni Morrison thought that beauty was “an ab solute necessity” and not “a privilege or an indulgence.” She said that “finding, in corporating, and then representing beau ty is what humans do.” In her view, we can’t live without beauty “any more than we can do without dreams or oxygen.” All she said is even truer for Tauruses and Libras than the other signs. And you Bulls have an extra wrinkle: It’s optimal if at least some of the beauty in your life is useful. Your mandate is summed up well by author Anne Michaels: “Find a way to make beauty necessary; find a way to make necessity beautiful.” I hope you’ll do a lot of that in the coming weeks.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, “It requires a very unusual mind to make an analysis of the obvious.” I nominate you to per form that service in the coming days, both for yourself and your allies. No one will be better able than you to discern the com plexities of seemingly simple situations. You will also have extraordinary power to help people appreciate and even embrace paradox. So be a crafty master of candor and transparency, Gemini. Demonstrate the benefits of being loyal to the objective evidence rather than to the easy and pop ular delusions. Tell the interesting truths.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) Cancerian poet Lucille Clifton sent us all an invita tion: “Won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life? i had no model. i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay, my one hand holding tight my other hand.” During

October, fellow Cancerian, I propose you draw inspiration from her heroic efforts to create herself. The coming weeks will be a time when you can achieve small mir acles as you bolster your roots, nourish your soulful confidence, and ripen your uniqueness.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) “Dear Rob the As trologer: This morning I put extra mousse on my hair and blow-dried the hell out of it, so now it is huge and curly and impos sibly irresistible. I’m wearing bright or ange shoes so everyone will stare at my feet, and a blue silk blouse that is much too high-fashion to wear to work. It has princess seams and matches my eyes. I look fantastic. How could anyone of any gender resist drinking in my magnifi cence? I realize you’re a spiritual type and may not approve of my showmanship, but I wanted you to know that what I’m doing is a totally valid way to be a Leo. —Your Leo teacher Brooke.” Dear Brooke: Thank you for your helpful instruction! It’s true that I periodically need to loosen my tight grip on my high principles. I must be more open to appreciating life’s raw feed. I hope you will perform a similar service for everyone you encounter in the coming weeks.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) How to be the best Virgo you can be during the coming weeks: 1. You must relish, not apologize for, your precise obsessions. 2. Be as nosy as you need to be to discover the core truths hidden beneath the surface. Risk asking almost too many questions in your subtle drive to know everything. 3. Help loved ones and allies shrink and heal their insecurities. 4. Generate beauty and truth through your skill at knowing what needs to be purged and shed. 5. Always have your Bullshit Detector with you. Use it lib erally. 6. Keep in close touch with the con versations between your mind and body.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) The Libran approach to fighting for what’s right shouldn’t involve getting into loud ar guments or trying to manipulate people into seeing things your way. If you’re do ing what you were born to do, you rely on gentler styles of persuasion. Are you

doing what you were born to do? Have you become skilled at using clear, elegant language to say what you mean? Do you work on behalf of the best outcome rath er than merely serving your ego? Do you try to understand why others feel the way they do, even if you disagree with their conclusions? I hope you call on these su perpowers in the coming weeks. We all need you to be at the height of your po tency.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) “One bad apple spoils the rest” is an idiom in the English language. It refers to the idea that if one apple rots as it rests in a pile of apples, the rest will quickly rot, too. It’s based on a scientific fact. As an apple de cays, it emanates the gas ethylene, which speeds up decay in nearby apples. A vari ant of this idiom has recently evolved in relation to police misconduct, however. When law enforcement officials respond to such allegations, they say that a few “bad apples” in the police force aren’t rep resentative of all the other cops. So I’m wondering which side of the metaphor is at work for you right now, Scorpio. Should you immediately expunge the bad apple in your life? Or should you critique and tolerate it? Should you worry about the possibility of contamination, or can you successfully enforce damage control? Only you know the correct answer.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Sagittarians know best how to have fun even when life sucks. Your daily rhythm may temporari ly become a tangle of boring or annoying tasks, yet you can still summon a knack for enjoying yourself. But let me ask you this: How are your instincts for drumming up amusement when life doesn’t suck? Are you as talented at whipping up glee

and inspiration when the daily rhythm is smooth and groovy? I suspect we will gather evidence to answer those ques tions in the coming weeks. Here’s my pre diction: The good times will spur you to new heights of creating even more good times.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) More than you might realize, people look to you for leadership and regard you as a role mod el. This will be extra true in the coming weeks. Your statements and actions will have an even bigger impact than usual. Your influence will ripple out far beyond your sphere. In light of these develop ments, which may sometimes be subtle, I encourage you to upgrade your sense of responsibility. Make sure your integrity is impeccable. Another piece of advice, too: Be an inspiring example to people with out making them feel like they owe you anything.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Rap per-songwriter Nicki Minaj says, “You should never feel afraid to become a piece of art. It’s exhilarating.” I will go further, Aquarius. I invite you to summon inge nuity and joy in your efforts to be a work of art. The coming weeks will be an ideal time for you to tease out more of your in ner beauty so that more people can bene fit from it. I hope you will be dramatic and expressive about showing the world the full array of your interesting qualities. PS: Please call on the entertainment value of surprise and unpredictability.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) Author Robertson Davies declared, “One learns one’s mystery at the price of one’s inno cence.” It sounds poetic, but it doesn’t apply to most of you Pisceans—especial ly now. Here’s what I’ve concluded: The more you learn your mystery, the more innocent you become. Please note I’m using the word “innocence” in the sense defined by author Clarissa Pinkola Estés. She wrote: “Ignorance is not knowing anything and being attracted to the good. Innocence is knowing everything and still being attracted to the good.”

Missing Savage

Albert Lavenziano

Life Coach

GARAGE SALES/ BAZAARS

MEETINGS/

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