Lovin' Life After 50 - Tucson - October 2021 by Times Media Group

October 2021

Steep Demand

Sowing the Seeds of Connection

Independent teahouses provide a welcome oasis

Relationships grow at SaddleBrooke Ranch

‘Live Life Until You Die’

Patricia Person crowned 2022 Ms. Senior Arizona

Tucson Edition

Diana Madaras shows the colorful side of Tucson Page 14

The latest news and top local stories!

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inside THIS ISSUE

8 ‘Live Life Until You Die’

Patricia Person crowned 2022 Ms. Senior Arizona

Opinion

5 6 JOIN US ONLINE FOR THE FOLLOWING VIRTUAL EVENTS/CLASSES

Monday

OCTOBER

9 IMPROVING MUSCLE STRENGTH

OCTOBER

Wednesday

OCTOBER

Education is Key Giving Tree Dispensary makes shopping easy

Sowing the Seeds of Connection

Relationships grow at SaddleBrooke Ranch’s new community garden

HMO Chart Info

Supporting the Animals

Gallery of Gourmet

What’s Cooking?

2:00 p.m. Mike Urquhart, Exercise Physiologist, TMC Cardiac Rehab

Entertainment

THE FORMULA TO BUILD HEALTHY BONES

‘Love Affair’ with the Desert Diana Madaras shows the colorful side of Tucson

10:00 a.m. TMC Wellness ZOOM

Dining

16 Tuesday

Leibo At Large

Features

14 Wednesday

Ask Gabby Gayle

WOMEN’S BLADDER ISSUES

Steep Demand

Independent teahouses provide a welcome oasis

Reid Park Zoo hosts its ZOOcson gala

Reinvented bodega fulfills even the most esoteric tastes Apple Fritter Pull-Apart Bread

10:00 a.m. Alexis Chesrow, MD, Urological Associates of So. AZ

19 VARICOSE VEINS: PREVENTION & SOLUTIONS 10:00 a.m. Jennifer Clark, PA-C, Pima Heart and Vascular

Columns The Healthy Geezer

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Graphic Designer Tonya Mildenberg

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Opinion

Ask Gabby Gayle

Gabby Gayle says goodbye BY GAYLE LAGMAN-CRESWICK Dear readers: It is with a heavy heart that I say farewell. This will be my last advice column. I have had two strokes, and it has become increasingly difficult for me to write the column as well as I would like. I have so enjoyed writing every column. It was the highlight of every month for me. At the suggestion of my publisher in Colorado, I have begun to write a book about my columns. I have columns going back to the year 2004 in my computer, so I believe I have been doing this for 17 years. Thank you for all your letters and comments. Even though we’ve never met, I feel as if I know you.

Dear Gabby Gayle: I am so mad at my son that I find it hard to speak to him. He is married to the most wonderful woman, and he has asked her for a divorce. She is devastated, as I am. When I asked him why, he said I wouldn’t understand. He is right. I don’t understand. What can I do? Signed, Worried Mom

Dear Mom: I hate to tell you this, but outside of being there for them, there is very little you can do. This decision has nothing to do with you. It is between the two of them. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. You may never understand. You don’t need to. When kids become adults, they are not automatically wise. They make mistakes like we used to do! We can only hope they learn from them. There will be times when we’d like to give them a whack on the side of the head, but we can’t. They are out of our jurisdiction! She may be a wonderful woman, but obviously their marriage was not. I say suck it up and let go of it! You should remain as neutral as possible. Don’t bear a grudge. Be a good and positive mother. Divorce is painful at its best. Don’t become part of the problem. Signed, Gabby Gayle Dear Gabby Gayle: In a recent column, you wrote about a person in assisted livwww.LovinLife.com

ing who wanted nail polish and couldn’t get it. As a nurse who works with dementia patients, I would like to remind your readers that oftentimes, dementia patients can’t have things like nail polish because they may drink it or otherwise use it incorrectly. It is always good to check with the charge nurse to see what a patient may receive. Signed, Nurse

Dear Gabby Gayle: In a recent column you took up the subject of spirituality versus religion. I agreed with everything you said, but I have a question. My son said he does not believe in God, but I believe he’s about as good a person as you could find. He helps the poor, he gives money to his family when they’re in need, he’s kind, but I have trouble believing that he would not go to heaven, even though he says he doesn’t believe in God. What do you think? Signed, SW

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Dear SW: It seems to me there are a lot of people out there who say they don’t believe in God. I would venture to say that God still believes in them. If they are living the life you describe, the God in them is showing up in their daily lives. Also, one can never know what is in another person’s heart. We may hear their words, yet we can only see their actions and we are not here to judge them. If you recall in that same column that you’re referring to, a woman wrote in saying that going to church does not make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage can make you into a car. I subscribe to that philosophy. We can pray for them, we can set a good example, we can lead them to the water, but we can’t make them drink. We can be proud of them and let God decide what happens to their souls. I have to believe that God has experienced the resistance many times and he has a way of bringing people to their knees. Blessings to you, GG

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Leibo At Large

Not enough attention paid to all the missing BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ There’s no telling what seizes our population’s collective imagination on any given day, what generates news headlines and clicks by the million. But one topic remains a sure bet: an attractive young white woman gone missing. The latest such tale, the disappearance of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, came to the saddest end imaginable September 19, when investigators found her body in Wyoming’s Teton-Bridger National Forest. On September 21, the Teton County coroner ruled Petito’s death a homicide. The news media’s Petito obsession will likely continue for some time: The deceased’s travel partner and fiancé, Brian Laundrie, is still missing at press time. Authorities are combing a swampy 25,000-acre nature preserve in west Florida searching for Laundrie, who could hardly look guiltier in Petito’s death. In July the pair went off to explore the American West by van. It was set to be a four-month trip, but Laundrie reportedly came home on September 1, solo and mum about Petito’s whereabouts. The girl’s family reported Gabby missing 10 days later. A national whodunit erupted that has stretched for weeks. In its wake trail the names we all have heard: JonBenet Ramsey, Chandra Levy, Elizabeth Smart, Laci Peterson, Natalee Holloway, Caylee Anthony. All white, all female, all gone, all the subject of intense fascination. Which leads to my point: I’ve read often about “missing white woman syndrome,” a media reality that has been the subject of academic research. Many who cite it complain that the Gabby Petitos of the world don’t deserve such attention. That sounds small to me, petty. Instead, I wish that every missing person — skin color, age and gender aside — would receive some level of national attention, with the resources that scrutiny brings. Because for every Gabby Petito, there’s a Daniel Robinson and a thousand more cases like his. Robinson, a 24-year-old African Ameri-

can male, went missing in the far West Valley near Buckeye on June 23. Three weeks later, a rancher found the geologist’s Jeep upturned in a ravine. Twelve days after that, searchers found a human skull near the vehicle, but police say those remains are not Daniel. What happened to Robinson is still a mystery, despite Buckeye police using off-road vehicles, cadaver dogs, a drone and a chopper to search 70 square miles of desert. For every Gabby Petito, there’s also a Jhessye Shockley. The 5-year-old Glendale girl with the big smile went missing in October 10 years ago. Police have never found her body, which they believe was forced into a suitcase and abandoned in a Tempe trash bin. A month after the little Black girl vanished, cops named her mother a suspect. Today, Jerice Hunter is serving life, convicted of murder and child abuse despite no eyewitnesses and no body. The case is closed beyond a reasonable doubt, but I still wonder about Jhessye every year about this time. I think about Mikelle Biggs, too, every January. The Mesa 11-year-old went missing the day after New Year’s 1999. One minute she was riding her bicycle on El Moro Avenue; the next she was gone. It has been nearly 23 years. I wonder what becoming a national obsession might have meant for Mikelle, Jhessye and Daniel. I wonder about the 600,000 Americans who go missing yearly and about the 970 Arizonans currently listed in NamUS, the national missing persons database. Some blame racism for our fascination with Gabby Petito. That’s part of it, but hardly the major felony at hand here. These are kidnappings, trafficking cases, homicides. We should pay as much attention as we can to as many of the disappeared as we can, for as long as we can. Ignorance is not bliss, not when lives hang in the balance. David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com.

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Features

Live Life UNTIL YOU DIE

Patricia Person crowned 2022 Ms. Senior Arizona BY JORDAN HOUSTON At 27, Patricia Person vowed to never compete in a beauty pageant again. The California native recalls the moment she was announced the winner of a local competition, only to have the title stripped from her seconds later. “They called me as the winner, and as I was walking on the stage, happy with a big smile, they retracted it,” she recounts. Now, the 64-year-old finally got her moment of glory — and on a much larger stage. In September, Person was crowned the 2022 Ms. Senior Arizona at the Cameo Foundation’s 32nd annual pageant at the Vista Center for the Performing Arts in Surprise. The nonprofit organization refrained from crowning 2020 and 2021 title holders due to COVID-19-related obstacles. “This time, when they called my name, I was looking around like, ‘Let me wait, I don’t want this to be a repeat,’” Person said with a laugh. The mother of three also earned herself the Most Elegant recognition. Open only to women 60 and above, Ms. Senior Arizona is more than just a “beauty contest.” The pageant honors the “Age of Elegance” by embodying the motivation and inspiration of senior women, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. The nonprofit organization strives to offer older women a platform to showcase their achievements, talents and values, while reenforcing the importance of self-worth, inner beauty and charm. “I am feeling proud, excited and happy,” says Person, an activity coordinator at MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care. “I wanted to win. I practiced to win, but I was still shocked.” Contestants must live in Arizona for at least three months prior to the state contest and are judged on four categories:

OCTOBER 2021

their philosophies of life, judges’ interviews, evening gown presentations and talent. Person, who grew up in Los Angeles and frequently modeled in local fashion shows, says she adheres to her philosophy of life, “Live until you die,” every day. “When I was in California, I was robbed at gunpoint,” recalls Person, who now lives in Mesa. “After I was robbed, I was afraid everywhere I went. I was scared, skittish, and when I went to the store, everybody looked suspicious. “I just woke up one day and said, ‘I’m just going to live my life until I die and carry on and be cautious, but I can’t walk around and be scared of every single thing.’” It’s safe to say that Person, an original “Soul Train” dancer and Zumba instructor, has embodied that promise to live her life to the fullest. Person went on to work for Boeing in various capacities for almost 40 years. She simultaneously earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing at the University of Phoenix. Now, she balances her time at the Fountain Hills assisted living facility with operating her own hot dog catering business, LA Hot Dog Catering Service. Person is proud of not only her title of Arizona’s Ms. Senior queen but as a woman of color title holder as well. For her talent, Person paid tribute to Bessie Coleman, the first African American and first Native American woman pilot, according to the National Women’s History Museum. The 64-year-old performed a dramatization of Coleman’s story from her “successes to her demise,” she explains. “It made me feel great,” Person says. “It makes me feel like what she did wasn’t lost and I kind of brought her back around, in a way, to make me feel better

Mesa resident Patricia Person, 64, was crowned in September as the 2022 Ms. Senior Arizona. The Morning Star Assisted Living Center activity coordinator is now gearing up to compete in nationals in Hershey, Pennsylvania, next year. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

and to let people know how courageous and brave she was. It was sort of full circle, if you will.” A caregiver by nature, Person adds that she is looking forward to working with the Cameo Foundation, a national organization of previous pageant contenders. The local nonprofit works to provide resources to arm its members with the needed expertise and self-confidence to maximize their potential. It also funnels fundraising proceeds to support survivors of domestic violence. “I want to use my title to go around to different facilities and let them know I am part of the Cameo club and that we want to help those that have been hurt by domestic violence,” Person explains. The Cameo Foundation showcases performances for nursing homes, veterans’ and children’s hospitals, schools, senior citizen centers, fairs, and other community and charitable organizations.

Person is also gearing up to compete in nationals next year. The Ms. Senior America pageant, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to enriching not only “the lives of seniors” but also to encourage them to “tap their energy to enrich the lives of others,” is slated to take place in September in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “I’m feeling very good,” Person says. “Me winning the title here has built my confidence, but I’m going against all of the winners. I like to say I’m competing with them because all of the ladies are so nice and friendly.” Person will continue to work with her coach, Kim Anderson, to finetune her skills before the big day. For more information about Ms. Senior Arizona, visit its website at msseniorarizona.com. To learn more about the Cameo Foundation, head over to cameofoundation.org. www.LovinLife.com

Education is Key Giving Tree Dispensary makes shopping easy BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI As the owner of Phoenix’s Giving Tree Dispensary, Lilach Mazor Power wants to take care of her customers naturally — literally and in theory. So, when women approach her about menopause, she offers a hormone-free remedy — cannabis. “Menopause is a natural and biological stage in every woman’s life,” says Power, the developer behind the cannabis lifestyle brand Kindred. It is available at Nature Med, 5390 W. Ina Road. “We wanted to use nature as a medium to help manage the emotional and physical challenges that come with it.” October is World Menopause Awareness Month, and Power is celebrating this life stage with her new cannabis for menopause brand Revelry. The collection features “approachable and discreet THC-infused day and night capsules that are 100% hormone free and low calorie,” says Power, who co-founded the products with Stef Swiergol. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health care needs of women increased and exposed a lack of wellness options on the market. “Menopause is a natural and biological stage in every woman’s life. We wanted to use nature as a medium to help manage the emotional and physical challenges that come with it,” Power says. Revelry is designed to alleviate the common symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause and to improve sleep quality, focus and mood. The daytime sativa gel caps are a microdose option that provide relaxation as well as mental focus, incorporating several different cannabinoids with anti-inflammatory benefits at 2.5mg each. The nighttime capsules offer a calming and restorative THC:CBD 1:1 ratio at 20 mg each. “It’s become our magic pill for women going through menopause,” Power says. “A lot of women have diﬃculty sleeping. This has been the formula we really find

helps them.” On July 4, Revelry released a CBD- and peppermint-based vaginal lubrication that has medical properties. “Menopause doesn’t mean life is over,” she says. “We need to celebrate everything we’ve achieved. Let’s start a tribe and be a rebel. “Our inspiration for Revelry was the modern woman, the mothers, partners, leaders and legends who need to keep moving regardless of menopause. The product line can easily be incorporated into a daily health regimen while also supplementing any homeopathic or medical menopause treatment,” Swiergol explains. In the U.S., 6,000 women enter menopause each day with 75% experiencing hot flashes, night sweats and other lifestyle-inhibiting symptoms. Recent analysis estimates the global femtech solutions industry will reach $1.15 billion by 2025 from $648 million in 2020. Dispensaries pepper the Valley, but Power says Giving Tree is different in that education is important. “We call ourselves cannabis concierge,” Power says. “We talk about cannabis and be part of your journey. Cannabis is uncomfortable or foreign to a lot of people. Everybody is welcome to come. There’s no pressure to buy anything. We want to maintain a relationship with our customers. “We know how to match the best regimen for the customer’s lifestyle. That has been really good for people over 50. They have so many questions and a fear of walking into the store.” Power entered the business after hear-

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Lilach Mazor Power is celebrating October as World Menopause Awareness Month with the release of her new cannabis brand Revelry that is speciﬁcally for menopause. (Photo courtesy of Lilach Mazor Power)

ing stories from her husband, who is an emergency room physician. Patients kept visiting the ER for chronic issues and not finding a solution. “I thought, what if we introduce other treatments and have a safe place for Western and Eastern medicine to have a

safe conversation. When cannabis came up on the ballot in Arizona, I thought I would sell cannabis. “I was always a proponent. I just want to make sure customers understand how cannabis can be part of their lifestyle. It’s not a one-time thing.”

Do You Have Pain/Numbness/Tingling in the Feet/Legs??? A doctor has moved to Tucson that treats neuropathy (nerve problems), and his name is Dr Trent Freeman DC (Dr T). He has been treating Neuropathy for the last 10 years. Maybe you have seen him interviewed on CBS by Steve Ochoa or during the Dr Oz show, maybe you saw him on NBC. He has brought this new treatment to persons suffering from neuropathy in Tucson. He uses two kinds of Light to stimulate the nerves to function better. He uses pulsed infrared technology that helps reduce the pain, and FDA approved cold lasers that help the cells function better. He offers his consultation for FREE. He looks at the interview time as a time for him to see if you have the type of neuropathy that he treats but more importantly, for you to interview him and see if he is someone that you would like to work with. His clinic is certiﬁed with the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of America and he has received advanced training in the treatment of neuropathy. There are fewer than 100 doctors in America that have received this advanced training in this type of therapy. Dr T looks at neuropathy as a thief that comes to your life and starts to steal from you. If you allow neuropathy to continue, it will steal your independence (driving, walking, balance) As Dr T says “Everyday we are having more success relieving neuropathy pain, WHY NOT YOU?” Give his ofﬁce a call and schedule the FREE consultation and see if you qualify for this new therapy 520-445-6784.

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Sowing the Seeds of Connection Relationships grow at SaddleBrooke Ranch’s new community garden BY JORDAN HOUSTON Residents at SaddleBrooke Ranch are embracing their green thumbs while planting the seeds for stronger connections through a community garden. The 55-and-above resort-style community recently embraced the new amenity, offering its active residents the chance to enjoy the benefits of gardening. The garden is now open to its members, featuring 110 individual 4-foot-by-8-foot plots. The plots can be leased for $50 annually. The garden also includes tools and materials, hoses, storage boxes, a storage shed and ramada. “It’s absolutely fantastic,” resident Lucy Lange says. “Everyone has their own water spicket, and there is a beautiful shed that has tools in it, wheelbarrows, gardening information and magazines. If people have extra pots, they can put them in on one of the shelves.” Lange, who has lived at SaddleBrooke Ranch since October 2020, adds that worms are available for the participants,

SaddleBrooke Ranch is giving its residents a new way to connect to not only each other but mother nature as well. The community garden is now open, featuring 110 plots of land that are available for annual leases. (Photo courtesy of Evolve)

courtesy of the community’s master gardener, Grace Ehrman. Because of the desert’s rough terrain, the worms can be beneficial in aerating the soils, she says. “We have icky soil here,” Lange ex-

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OCTOBER 2021

plains. “So, everyone has had to amend their soil with a lot of compost and planting soil and that kind of stuff.” SaddleBrooke Ranch added several handicap-accessible plots, which are raised to appropriate heights. They also feature faucets that turn on in “different ways” for those who might not have full grip capacity, Lange says. Gardening, for all ages, provides a multitude of benefits. “It’s a sense of community,” Lange says. “We’re all kind of from someplace else, and this has brought likeminded people together in a very positive setting. It just makes me happy.” On top of fostering a sense of community, gardening provides opportunities for physical activity, stress relief, stronger immune systems and a possibility of increasing brain health. Resident Glenna Matthews, who moved into SaddleBrooke in June 2020, says the community garden has been extremely beneficial during isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s not only about the community and meeting new people,” she states. “It’s getting back to the earth. For retired people, we haven’t been able to have gardens because we were always working, so this was a real benefit in which we didn’t expect to come to fruition — especially during COVID. This gave us an outdoor thing that everyone helps each other with.” The bountiful garden is decorated with hot-weather vegetables and flowers that

are complementary of the desert’s soil and terrain, Matthews explains. Matthew notes the space is also protected by a fence to keep larger animals at bay. “The entire garden has a chain-link fence to keep big mammals out,” she shares. “We have javelinas, and the garden is at the end of the property and the beginning of the desert.” The garden boasts zucchini, squash, cucumbers, varieties of tomatoes, cantaloupe and green peppers, to name a few items. Lange’s plot, on the other hand, is overflowing with colorful flowers. “I grow flowers,” she shares. “We grow veggies in our backyard because my husband says it’s too much work to drive two and a half miles to the garden to pick tomatoes.” “I have zinnias, asters, sunflowers, and I just planted this summer snapdragons,” Lange continues. “I have so many blooms. It has just taken off, and anyone is welcome to come by and cut some flowers.” The resident gardeners can also participate in SaddleBrooke’s Gardener’s Exchange group to learn about gardening in the North Tucson area and the challenges they are facing. The group provides horticultural information for desert gardeners. In addition to the Exchange, the University of Arizona Pinal County Cooperative Extension provides research-based information on environmentally responsible gardening and landscaping through a wide variety of outreach activities. The cooperative offers educational programs and classes, horticultural information about environmentally responsible gardening and landscaping, plant problem diagnoses, water conservation best practices, safe pest control methods, and plant identification and selection guidance. SaddleBrooke Ranch highlights a new Ranch House Clubhouse and Creative Arts and Tech Center, a pool complex, indoor pool, casual and fine dining and fitness and sports facilities. “It’s a beautiful community,” Matthews says. “It has everything from pickleball, to tennis, to a dog park, to a tech building, to an arts and craft building, a clubhouse and two pools.” To learn more about the community or its new garden, call SaddleBrooke Ranch at 1-866-818-6068 or visit robson.com/ communities/saddlebrooke-ranch. www.LovinLife.com

Interest

for 12 months OAC

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OCTOBER 2021

GOT MEDICARE QUESTIONS?

Steve

Call today for an appointment t review your cur rent plan option In-Person or Vir tual appointments available

In-person or Virtual appointments available

Licensed In

Steven Smith

520-21

Licensed Insurance Professional

520-213-9900 TTY:711 sesinsadvocates@outlook.com www.medicare4tucson.com

sesinsadvo

www.med

HMOs Which Assume Responsibility for Medicare Coverage BluePathway Plan 2 (HMO)

BlueJourney Local PPO (LPPO)

(Maricopa OR Pima County)

Premium or Subscription Charges

$0 monthly premium

$59 monthly premium

Registration or Policy Fee

NONE

Pre-existing Health Conditions

-----

Costs on Entry to Hospital

$175 per day, Days 1-7 in plan hospital (medical or mental health). Same cost share applies with prior authorization at non-plan hospital.

In Network: $260 per day, Days 1-7 plan hospital (medical or mental health). Out-of- Network: 40% coinsurance at a non-plan hospital.

Maximum Period of Coverage for Any One Benefit

364 days in a calendar year

Skilled Nursing Facility

$0 copay per day, Days 1-20. $188 copay per day, Days 21-40. $0 copay per day, Days 41-100 in plan skilled nursing facility (SNF). Same cost share applies with prior authorization at non-plan skilled nursing facility. No prior hospitalization required.

In Network: $0 copay per day Days 1-20, $188 copay per day Days 21-40 in plan skilled nursing facility (SNF). Out-of-Network: 40% coinsurance. No prior hospitalization required.

Medical Coverage for Part B

Covered in full after applicable copayments/coinsurance

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Outpatient Care

In Network - $0 Primary Care copay, $40 Specialist copay. $40 Urgent Care, $40 Physical/Speech/Occupational therapy, $0 lab copay, $0 most xrays, $225 ASC.

Physician care for hospital or office services, surgery, anesthesia, X-ray, laboratory, injections, splints, casts, dressings, physical and speech therapy, radiology, ambulance, prosthetics, etc.

$0 Primary Care copay, $30 Specialist copay, $30 Urgent Care, $10 copay Physical /Speech /Occupational therapy $0 lab copay, $0 most xrays, $175 ASC. Medicare coverage limits apply.

Outpatient Prescription Drugs

T1 - Preferred Generic $0; T2 - Generic $7 Extended day supply for T1/T2 provides 100 days for One copay; T3 - Preferred Brand $47; T4 - Non-Preferred Brand $100; T5 - Specialty 33%. Network pharmacies nationwide.

T1 - Preferred Generic $0; T2 - Generic $9 Extended day supply for T1/T2 provides 100 days for One copay; T3 - Preferred Brand $47; T4 - Non-Preferred Brand $100; T5 - Specialty 33%. Network pharmacies nationwide.

Renewability of Contract

Renewable annually

Travel Restrictions Out of Area

Coverage throughout the United States and its territories for emergency and urgently needed care only

In Network copay and coinsurance apply when using travel benefit in select states with participating providers.

Major Options Available from Company

Silver & Fit, Over-the-Counter allowance, Telehealth, No charge upgrade to rechargeable Hearing aids, Eyewear allowance, 20 visits for Complementary medicine (chiro/acupuncture/therapeutic massage) using preferred network providers, Dental cleaning/exam/xray. Coverage limitations apply.

Silver & Fit, Over-the-Counter allowance, Telehealth, No charge upgrade to rechargeable hearing aids, Eyewear allowance, 20 visits for Complementary medicine (chiro/acupuncture/therapeutic massage) using preferred network providers, Dental cleaning/exam/xray. Preferred network providers. Coverage limitations apply.

A.M. Best Rating

Medicare STAR ratings released in October

For More Information

For more information about all of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Medicare Advantage plans or to register for a seminar please call 1-888-273-4093, TTY:711. Daily 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Oct 1 - Mar 31. Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 8:00p.m. April 1 - Sept 30.

Out-of-Network: $40 Primary Care copay, $80 Specialist copay. 40% coinsurance for most other covered services when out of network. Medicare coverage limits apply.

www.LovinLife.com

October 15th December 7th

December 7th

Discover What Extra Benefits for 2022!

This is your time to make changes! Will your PCP or Specialist remain in-network? Are your PCP and other co-pays increasing? is your time to make changes! Looking for additional benefits? your PCP or Specialist remain Are youin-network? a veteran?

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iew your cur rent plan options! Benefits are availablerevfor 2022! Steven Smith Discover What Extra Benefits are Savailable teLicensed ven Smith Insurance Prof Call today for an appointment to for 2022! 520-213-9900 TTY:711 520-213-9900 TT review your currentCplan Options! all today for an appointmesesinsadvocates@outlo nt to In-person or Virtual appointments available Discover What Extra Benefits are available review your cur rent plan options!

This isDiscover your time to make changes! What Extra Will your PCP or Specialist remain in-network? Are your PCP and other co-pays increasing? Looking for additional benefits? Are you a veteran?

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for 2022!

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HMOs Which Assume Responsibility for Medicare Coverage

Call today for an appointment to review your cur renUnited t plaHealthCare n optioAARP ns!

In-Person or Vir tual appointments available COMPANY MedicareComplete (HMO) Plan 1 (Available in Pima County)

Steven Smith

No monthly premium.Professional Medicare Complete contracts with Medicare to Licensed Insurance Premium or provide full Medicare coverage plus additional benefits. Member must TTY:711 Subscription Charges 520-213-9900 continue to pay Part B premium.

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NONE

Pre-existing Health Conditions

NONE

Costs on Entry to Hospital

PLAN 1: $225.00 days 1-7

PLAN 2: $275.00 days 1-7

Maximum Period of Coverage for Any One Benefit

Hospital - Unlimited number of authorized, medically necessary days. Other limitations may apply for other benefits

Skilled Nursing Facility

PLAN 1: $0.00 days 1-20/ $188.00 days 21-34/ $0.00 days 35-100

PLAN 2: $0.00 days 1-20/ $188.00 days 21-39/ $0.00 days 40-100

Medical Coverage for Part B

Covered in full after applicable copayments/coinsurance.

PLAN 1: $0 Preventative Screenings. $0 copay for PCP and $25 for specialist. $90 for emergency care, waived if admitted, and 20% for DME. $250 for ambulance - air and land. Outpatient hospital and outpatient surgery is $125. Lab copay $0. Xrays $15. Copays and coinsurance count toward the out of pocket max of $2,6000.

PLAN 2: $0 Preventative Screenings. $0 copay for PCP and $30 for specialist. $90 for emergency care, waived if admitted, and 20 % for DME. $250 for ambulance - air and land. Outpatient hospital and outpatient surgery is $150. Lab copay $0. Xrays $15. Copays and coinsurance count toward the out of pocket max of $3,400.

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Outpatient Care Physician care for hospital or office services, surgery, anesthesia, X-ray, laboratory, injections, splints, casts, dressings, physical and speech therapy, radiology, ambulance, prosthetics, etc.

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Outpatient Prescription Drugs

*NO PART D Deductibles and Tier 1/2 drug coverage in the gap. Plan allows for 100 day Rx fill. $35 monthly insulin copay max* PLAN 1: Tier 1 is $0 copay, Tier 2 is $8, Tier 3 is $45, Tier 4 $95, and Tier 5 is 33% to the initial coverage limit of $4430 . No coverage after $4430 until out of pocket costs equal to $7050. Then 5% or $3.60 for Generic and Preferred Brand, All other 5% or $8.95.

*NO PART D Deductibles and Tier 1/2 drug coverage in the gap. Plan allows for 100 day Rx fill. $35 monthly insulin copay max* PLAN 2: Tier 1 is $0 copay, Tier 2 is $10, Tier 3 is $45, Tier 4 $95, and Tier 5 is 33 % to the initial coverage limit of $4430 . No coverage after $4430 until out of pocket costs equal to $7050. Then 5% or $3.60 for Generic and Preferred Brand, All other 5% or $8.95.

Renewability of Contract

Guaranteed renewable for life.

Travel Restrictions Out of Area

Worldwide coverage for emergency with a $90 copay (waived if admitted to hospital). Routine & preventive care is covered out of member’s residence county w/Passport Benefit.

Major Options Available from Company

Plan covers Optum Fitness as a Fitness Rider, routine eye exam and hardware, routine podiatry visits, hearing aid coverage, and optional dental riders, Large Network of Providers

A.M. Best Rating

For More Information

1-800-547-5514 TTY 712 including additional plan options (PPO) www.aarpmedicareplans.com

www.LovinLife.com

Get your copy today! OCTOBER 2021

Entertainment

‘Love Affair’ with the Desert Diana Madaras shows the colorful side of Tucson BY LAURA LATZKO Tucson gallery owner and painter Diana Madaras has had a 45-year love affair with the city’s landscape and wildlife. Each fall, she takes that relationship and parlays it into her annual show. This year, she dubbed it “Love Affair” and it runs from Saturday, October 23, to Sunday, November 7, at her gallery. For “Love Affair,” Madaras painted desert landscapes and floral scenes as well as portraits of different domestic and wild animals, including birds, bobcats, coyotes, horses and bison. Madaras was inspired by spots in Southern Arizona, including Hacienda del Sol and Santa Catalina Mountains, as well as Rancho de la Osa in Sasabe, and places in Wyoming and South Dakota. She tried to incorporate important details — such as the pots that the plants were placed in at Hacienda del Sol — into scenes in her paintings. For reference, she uses photos taken by herself and a photographer friend. “You have to start with a good reference to make a good painting,” Madaras says. “I have thousands of photos, and sometimes I will look through them and see what captures my imagination at any particular time.” This year, the show will feature three new pieces from “The Masters Series,”

in which Madaras recreates the styles of renowned painters using saguaros as the focal point. Her newest pieces are in the styles of Jackson Pollock, Frida Kahlo and Raphael. For the Pollock-inspired piece, she used a paint-splattering technique. Within the Kahlo-inspired piece, she painted an image of Kahlo on a saguaro cactus. Thus far, she completed eight works of art for the series, which was inspired by artist John Nieto, who combined Native American subject matter with a Picasso-inspired cubist style. “I thought that was very interesting and wanted to try my hand at painting my subject matter, which is more of the desert, in the style of Picasso,” she says. “That was one of the first ones, and it led to more and more because it was so much fun.”

Stately saguaros Madaras has used saguaros in her work for years and was not at a shortage for inspiration. “I’ve painted the saguaros so many times that I know the shape pretty well. I can paint saguaros from memory,” Madaras says. “It’s an iconic representation of the Sonoran Desert. It’s one of the only places that has saguaros. They are so stately, and each one has personality.” Madaras, who uses watercolor and acrylic paints and pastels, has been working as an artist for about the last 25 years. The impressionist painter is known for her use of vibrant col-

ors and her nature-themed subject matter. She often tries to highlight the beauty within everyday scenes. She says her style continues to evolve, but it still retains signature elements. “I never want to lock myself into anything, but I think you can recognize pieces as ‘Madaras’ pieces,’” says Madaras, a signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild. “You will see some very traditional Madaras pieces in this show and then some that are more experimental, but that’s pretty typical for me.” Throughout the years, Madaras’ artwork has been featured in the Tucson Museum of Art, the estate of a former president of Mexico and resorts. Along with painting, another passion of Madaras is giving back to her community. Madaras founded the nonprofit organization Art for Animals in 1999 to help injured, abused and orphaned animals through art. The foundation has raised more than $200,000 during the last 20 years for various animal causes. She has had a love and respect for animals from an early age. Growing up in New Jersey, her father was a veterinarian. “I grew up in my dad’s veterinary hospital, taking care of animals from the time that I could walk,” Madaras says. Madaras has also supported the Boys and Girls Club, the Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Passionate about painting

Madaras Gallery’s annual show “Love Affair” will feature works such as Diana Madaras’ “Saguaro Pollock” (left) and “Take the High Road” (above). |

OCTOBER 2021

Madaras enjoyed painting in high school and college, but she wasn’t encouraged to be an artist. She was on a very different path before she decided to pursue art in her 30s. Formerly, Madaras owned a sports marketing company. It was during a trip

Madaras Gallery’s annual show “Love Affair” will feature works such as Diana Madaras’ “Pink Ocotillo II.” (Photos courtesy of Diana Madaras)

to Greece in 1993 that she picked up a brush. “I saw somebody’s work and got inspired to paint again,” she says. “I had stopped for many years. A professor at the University of Arizona saw my work and invited me to paint with his group in Greece and it changed my life.” When she started, she was painting buildings and landscapes from the Bahamas. A commission from a local friend encouraged her to paint the desert landscape and then animals. “That’s the first time I painted the desert, and I just really loved doing it. And then the animals came later,” Madaras says. Madaras hopes the new exhibition spotlights her deep passion for being an artist. “I love the whole painting scene, every aspect of it, from taking a photo for reference, to creating a design, to painting it, to framing it, to selling it. I love all aspects of the artist experience,” Madaras says. Madaras says over the last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, painting helped her to stay centered. “It is meditative for me and peaceful,” Madaras says.

MORE INFO

What: “Love Affair” Gallery Show When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, from Saturday, October 23, to Sunday, November 7 Where: Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road Cost: Free admission Info: 615-3001, madaras.com www.LovinLife.com

Supporting the Animals Reid Park Zoo hosts its ZOOcson gala BY LAURA LATZKO For the Reid Park Zoo to cover operational costs, provide educational programming, offer new enrichment activities for animals and take part in global conservation efforts, it needs to raise money each year. The zoo’s annual gala helps it to fund these endeavors. This year, the zoo’s annual gala is themed African Wild Dogs, a new species at the zoo this year. “ZOOcson” is Friday, October 8, at the zoo and will include a food from 25 local and national restaurants, live music, animal ambassador presentations, chances to explore the zoo at night, and live and silent auctions. General admission tickets come with the restaurant tastings and two drink tickets. The restaurants will offer a variety cuisine, including vegetarian and vegan options, entrees, desserts and appetizers. This year, steel drum group Jovert and the Adam Townsend Band, a soul, folk and rock group, will perform throughout the night. With VIP tickets, attendees receive access to a special area in the South America Loop, hear music from the Ronstadt Duo, and early entry into the event at 5 p.m. Development officer and zoo personality Jed Dodds says the gala provides a chance to experience the zoo at night while also giving back. “When you purchase a ticket to come into ZOOcson, you get a really fun evening,” Dodds says. “You get to come in at nighttime, when the zoo is typical-

www.LovinLife.com

ly closed, and get to hang out with our amazing animals but also get to taste some fabulous food, get an opportunity to bring home a gift or a basket, and get a once-in-a-lifetime zoo experience. People come to enjoy the event, but they leave with a feeling that they did something meaningful.” Money raised during the gala goes to the Reid Park Zoological Society, the nonprofit corporation that manages the zoo, for educational, enrichment, operational and conservational efforts. The fundraising effort includes live and silent auctions. Dodds and board member Edmund Marquez will emcee the live auction, where guests can bid on experiences themed around the zoo’s animals and conservation efforts. “It’s an opportunity where people get to bid back and forth and create some fun energy, all in raising money for a great cause,” Dodds says. One of the experiences is themed around African Wild Dogs and includes a themed painting by local artist Diana Madaras (see related story about Madaras), a dinner catered by Craft Culinary Concepts, and behind-the-scenes training and enrichment activities with the animals. A “Crocodile Rock”-themed experience comes with two tickets to see Elton John at Chase Field in Phoenix, a hotel stay and an American alligator behind-the-scenes tour. As part of a “Safari Sleepover” experience, the winners can sleep in tents at the

zoo and take part in themed activities and a flashlight safari and scavenger hunt. Dodds, who helps to create the experiences, says it is important that the experiences relate to the zoo’s work so winners can feel more connected to it. “I’m looking for something that is out of the box, fun and exciting but also really speaks to our mission,” Dodds says. “We don’t just want to send people to an Elton John concert. We also want to tie that back to what we have going at the zoo. “You get an opportunity to meet our North American alligator, learn about him, learn about the conservation behind the alligators. That’s where we can connect people in an immersive way with our animals. That creates a passion for not only wanting to learn more about them but also wanting to do something good for them. A lot of the time doing good is taking small steps to change the way that we interact with our environment and our habitat that benefits protecting wild habitats.” The silent auction features more than 400 items, including artwork, jewelry, power tools, outdoor baskets, tickets to the theater, and gift certificates to local restaurants. The silent auction will be online so those who can’t make it to the event or live outside of Tucson can participate.

This year’s ZOOcson gala will be themed around the African Wild Dog. (Photo courtesy of Reid Park Zoo)

The auction will end October 10. Zoo board members, staff and volunteers are integral to making the gala happen. “Everyone in the zoo pulls together. All different departments pull together,” Dodds says. “This is one of those events where everyone helps out, even if it isn’t part of their job description, per se. They are here supporting and really pulling together.”

MORE INFO

What: ZOOcson gala When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, October 8 Where: Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court Cost: $130 for adults, $110 for members, $200 for VIP tickets Info: 791-3204, reidparkzoo.org

OCTOBER 2021

Dining

Steep Demand Independent teahouses provide a welcome oasis BY VALERIE VINYARD Enough with coffeehouses. It’s time for teahouses to have a moment. During the past year, Tucson has experienced a brewed awakening in tea. Inviting teahouses in Midtown Tucson are ample to sip hot, cold and icy versions. Emily Gastelum, a Pima Community College communications student, wasn’t always a tea lover. Over the years, however, her mindset has changed. “I feel like tea’s pretty relaxing,” says Gastelum, 19. “It brings more energy to your immune system. It’s a Mexican thing, I guess. It’s the first thing your mom ever tells you.” Gastelum visits Starbucks to get a tea fix and rates the chain an 8.5 out of 10, but “I feel like I could try better.” “I plan to go to more local tea shops. I feel like they have new herbs where people can benefit.”

OCTOBER 2021

Here are three that stand out. Ni Hao Tea 4726 E. Broadway Boulevard 367-4083, nihaoteausa.com Ni Hao, which means “hello” in Mandarin, is a small store tucked in a strip mall next to a Planet Fitness. The shop, which features boba tea, opened in February 2020. Customers can sit at well-spaced tables inside as well as choose to play a variety of board games while they sip their drinks. “I didn’t like tea before I started working here,” says manager Nicole Goldman, a UA student majoring in American Sign Language. Now her favorite is the strawberry lemon green tea, which she described as “super refreshing.” “We have a wide variety of high-quality drinks,” Goldman says. “We try to make our drinks the way the customers want.” Cheesecake-flavored cream cheese tea and a slightly bitGoldman said boba, which is ter iced black tea from Ni Hao. (Photo by Valerie Vinyard) an Asian root that takes about 90 minutes to cook, is made in-house neglect Seven Cups, a longtime instidaily. Ni Hao’s signature drinks include tution that opened in April 2004 across fresh brown sugar boba milk (tiger milk from Bob Dobbs at Tucson Boulevard boba), ceremonial-grade matcha latte and Sixth Street. An affable server named Ron seated and real cream cheese tea. In addition to us at a table inside the peaceful room boba, Ni Hao offers traditional teas. Customers choose a Thai, green or resplendent with Asian décor, music and black tea base for many of the menu op- influences. After presenting us with subtions, and an abundance of lactose- and stantial hardcover menus, he patiently explained the differences among yellow, dairy-free options are available. Guests can also choose the level of white, scented and display teas. Seven Cups is a traditional Chinese sweetness for their drinks. A 24-ounce cream cheese tea with a black tea base teahouse that offers more than 80 looseand added brown sugar boba ($6.25) leaf Chinese teas, which can be served with minimal sweetness added was a either hot or iced. There’s a small area in tasty combination of cheesecake-fla- the front that features packaged teas, tea vored cream cheese, semi-sweet boba ware and accessories for sale. The dining room offers sit-down tea and the slightly bitter iced black tea. For non-tea drinkers, an array of iced service ($5 to $14) and a menu of simple snacks that include savory and sweet or creamy slushes are for sale. options ($2 to $5). Try a sweet vanilla or savory red bean paste snack ($4). The $2 Seven Cups Fine Chinese Tea hard-boiled egg was steeped in tea, leav2516 E. Sixth Street ing the egg with a firm and salty flavor. 881-4072, sevencups.com Seven Cups Tea House was named Tea connoisseurs would be remiss to

One of 80 loose-leaf Chinese teas along with sweet and savory snacks. (Photo by Valerie Vinyard)

one of Travel + Leisure magazine’s Best Places to Drink Tea in America and Best of Tucson in the categories of Best Tea Service and Best Bulk Tea Selection by Tucson Weekly annually since 2004. Tucson Weekly is also owned by the Times Media Group. Transit Tea 2645 E. Speedway Boulevard 433-2886, transittea.com Tucsonan Manish Shah has owned Maya Tea Company since 1997, but he wanted to offer neighbors something more. “He wanted to shake up the tea world,” brand manager Kristin Brakke says. “He wanted to do something different.” “Different” is Transit Tea, which opened in February to serve patrons out of its store’s drive-thru and pickup windows. Local artists created the artwork. Though there’s no indoor seating, outdoor seating is plentiful on the patio near the walk-up order window. Transit’s menu features a variety of plain, chai, tea latte, tea soda and tea snow. It even offers a dozen flavors of tasty tea popsicles for $2.50. Drink prices range from $2.50 for a small plain tea to $8 for a large tea latte with oat, almond or coconut milk. The alluring combination of elderflower, pomegranate and anise flavors that made up the Wanderer black tea ($3.25 for a small) needed no sweetening. Despite the competition from other teahouses, Brakke says the quality of Transit Tea stands out from the rest. “They don’t do tea like we do,” Brakke says. “We have figured out a way to brew it where we have turned tea into a shape shifter.” www.LovinLife.com

Gallery of Gourmet Reinvented bodega fulfills even the most esoteric tastes BY VALERIE VINYARD Gallery of Food is a cornucopia of about 700 food, beverage and personal care products in a relatively small space. There are unusual fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses, along with specialty coffees, teas, herbs and spices. Owner Kristine Jensen, 60, moved from Boulder to Tucson in 1984, partly because her husband was an avid rock climber. The Santa Fe native first worked as a bookkeeper, but she had been interested in food since she was a teen. She started Gallery of Food as a catering business 30 years ago, but the concept has evolved into a specialty shop and, most recently, a takeout restaurant. Its original location at 256 E. Congress Street was last occupied by the nowclosed Elvira’s Mexican restaurant. Her space and evolving concept were born out of the pandemic. Jensen was operating Café Botanica at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, but it closed in March 2020 because of COVID-19. She transformed the Fort Lowell location from a storage and office spot into a bodega and immediately started delivering food. “I made an online store in four days flat,” she says. On August 4, she debuted a takeout menu. The often-changing menu features soups, sandwiches, desserts and entrees. A couple tables are inside the shop, and a recently expanded patio has seating.

A recent sampling of walnut mushroom soup with spruce tips and a side of bread was a flavorful, filling delight. Other regular soups for sale can include Southwestern chicken mole, smoked watermelon gazpacho and beet apricot. Christopher Baldwin, who formerly helmed Delectables, serves as Gallery of Food’s executive chef. One of the most popular takeout dishes includes corn pudding from a Frida Kahlo recipe. Jensen featured it on the Café Botanica menu, and it quickly became a favorite. Though she still has the online store, the inviting shop, which opened to the public last October, is worth exploring in person. “Many of the things in here you can’t get anywhere else,” Jensen says. “We focus on local, sustainable and artisanal products.” Though not all her products are local, they share a similar trait. “Even the far-away stuff still has the farm-to-table mentality,” she says. Cindy Elliott, a piano teacher who lives in Midtown Tucson, has shopped at Gallery of Food and discovers something new each time. “I like to go in there and find something I’ve never had,” says Elliott, citing the variety of unusual cheeses, coffees and her favorite, a garlicky baba ghanoush that’s made at the bodega and sold in the refrigerated section. “The shop Salmon cakes were recently on the menu at Gallery of Food.

www.LovinLife.com

(Above) Gallery of Food is a cornucopia of about 700 food, beverage and personal care products in a relatively small space. There are unusual fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses, along with specialty coffees, teas, herbs and spices. (Left) Gallery of Food owner Kristine Jensen, 60, moved from Boulder to Tucson in 1984, partly because her husband was an avid rock climber. (Photos courtesy of Gallery of Food)

is a mecca for foodies.” Other delicacies in the freezers include soups, meatloaf, cinnamon rolls, chicken quarters and pecan bars. Because of the focus on small purveyors and businesses, the prices can be a bit higher than what you’d find at big-box stores. With its approximate 800 square feet of space, the bodega is cozy but manages to offer variety. “I had to decide what I was going to have but also what I want,” Jensen says. Jensen tries to get her products from local farms and purveyors. Almost all the grains, produce and meat are local. There also are local pecans, pistachios, syrup and candy. And the shop sells loaves of Tucson’s Barrio Bread.

Gallery of Food’s website states: “We are inspired by the culinary traditions of the Sonoran Desert and the abundant food that is indigenous to the surrounding area and the tenacity of the many farmers and ranchers who are trying to make a difference in the community and the quality of our local food. “We add some contemporary ideas, a little rebelliousness, and come up with what we hope will be some delicious food!”

Gallery of Food

2522 E. Fort Lowell Road 884-5033, galleryoffood.com 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays

Paletas flavors vary for $15. OCTOBER 2021

Puzzles

What’s Cooking?

ANSWERS ON PAGE 7

Apple Fritter Pull-Apart Bread BY JAN D’ATRI

Donuts with our coffee were always a treat in my family because we didn’t buy them very often. When you’re Italian, the perfect paring with your espresso is a biscotti. But oh, those donuts! My real weakness, though, was an apple fritter. Those rugged, rustic clumps of dough smooshed together with apple bits, laced with an ooey gooey glaze, were just too irresistible. Now, to make matters worse for my waistline, what sits before me is a bread pan bubbling over with what pretty much looks like an apple fritter on steroids. This is going to be really good — or really bad, depending on how much willpower I have. ACROSS 1 5 8 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 24 25 28 30 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

-- Valley, Calif. Indent key Booty Portent Hot temper Corduroy ridge Arm of the Arctic Ocean Desire Sub detector Sunflower State Study all night Pvt.’s superior Salamander Canal feature Acapulco gold “The Greatest” Continental cash “Awesome!” Sweetie Apple computer Memory unit A billion years

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Crazy Treat badly Available Contented sounds Left the band “-- Rhythm” Actress Mendes Now, on a memo Cuts off Gym unit Egyptian deity

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Scatters seeds Texter’s “As I see it” Chow -Unbroken “-- the season ...” Exist Toucan’s feature Tried to hit a homer Veteran’s tale Pond growth

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

11 16 20 22 23 25 26 27 29 31 32 34 38 40 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 52 53

Pop music’s Bee -Goof up Requests Grad Aesopian ending “Unh-unh” “Evil Woman” gp. Port authority? Designer Chanel Squealer Poetic tribute Drei minus zwei Dwarf tree Expels Camp bed Postal delivery “Othello” villain Ornamental jug Pitch Jai -Band in Boston? Prior night Snooze

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

Apple Fritter Pull-Apart Bread Ingredients 3 containers refrigerated croissant dough, rolled out into one solid rectangle or homemade dough below For the dough • 3 cups flour • 1 package yeast • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup water • 1 egg, beaten • 3/4 cup milk • 1/4 cup butter (I used Kerrygold Triple butter) For the ﬁlling • 6 large crisp apples, peeled and diced • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice • 1 cup brown sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 tablespoon cornstarch For the glaze • 1 cup powdered sugar • 3 to 4 teaspoons milk, half & half or water Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-by-5-inch bread pan. In a skillet, cook apples, lemon juice,

OCTOBER 2021

I found this recipe for apple fritter pullapart bread that is made with delicious and delicate a sweet yeast dough and sugary, buttery diced apples that are caramelized. The dough is rolled out, topped with the diced apples, and then sliced in squares, stacked in groups of four, and just stuffed into the pan. This recipe is just downright fun. The pan went into the oven, and an hour later, sitting before me were apple-laced slabs of heaven ready to be pulled apart and devoured! You can make this with the homemade dough recipe below or you can make it with refrigerated croissant dough. Just promise me you’ll make it!

brown sugar, vanilla, butter, cinnamon and cornstarch until mixture is thickened. Set aside to cool. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles; remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted; set aside. Put flour, yeast, brown sugar and salt in a bowl; mix well. Add the water, egg and milk/butter mixture. Mix until dough forms into a ball, kneading for about 5 minutes. On a floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle. Evenly spread apple mixture over dough. Cut dough into even 3-inch squares. Stack four squares onto each other with spatula. Stack them side by side in pan until piles are used up. Bake 50 minutes. If top gets too brown, place foil over top and continue to bake. In a bowl, mix together powdered sugar and milk, cream or water until smooth. Remove bread from oven and pour on glaze. Pull apart and enjoy! www.LovinLife.com

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Biz Box

The Healthy Geezer

Germs are everywhere — even on pets

Deadline: 16th of the month for the next publication

BY FRED CICETTI

Is it my imagination, but am I getting fewer fevers than I did when I was younger?

The immune system doesn’t function as efficiently in older adults as it does in younger people. The body’s fever response to infection is not always automatic in elderly people. More than 20% of adults over age 65 who have serious bacterial infections do not have fevers. This brings us to germs, which are defined as microbes that cause disease. Infectious diseases caused by microbes are the leading cause of death. Microbes are microscopic organisms that are everywhere. Some microbes cause disease. Others are essential for health. Most microbes belong to one of four major groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa. Bacteria are made up of only one cell. Less than 1% of them cause diseases in humans. Harmless bacteria live in human intestines, where they help to digest food. Foods such as yogurt and cheese, are made using bacteria. Some bacteria produce dangerous poisons. Botulism, a severe form of food poisoning, is caused by toxins from bacteria. However, several vaccines are made from bacterial toxins. Viruses are among the smallest microbes. They consist of one or more molecules that contain the virus’ genes surrounded by a protein coat. Most viruses cause disease. They invade normal cells then multiply. There are millions of types of fungi. The most familiar ones are mushrooms, yeast, mold and mildew. Some live in the human body, usually without causing illness. In fact, only about half of all types of fungi cause disease in humans. Penicillin and other antibiotics, which kill harmful bacteria in our bodies, are made from fungi. Protozoa are a group of microscopic onecelled animals. In humans, protozoa usually cause disease. Some protozoa, like plankton, are food for marine animals. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite. You can get infected by germs from other people in many ways, including transmission through the air from coughing or sneezing; direct contact such as kissing or sexual intercourse; and touching infectious material on a doorknob, telephone, automated teller machine or a diaper.

www.LovinLife.com

A variety of germs come from household pets. Dog and cat saliva can contain any of more than 100 germs that can make you sick. Mosquitoes may be the most common insect carriers of disease. Mosquitoes can transmit malaria. Fleas that pick up bacteria from rodents and can then transmit the plague to humans. The tiny deer tick can infect humans with Lyme disease. We become immune to germs naturally and artificially. Before birth, we received natural immunity from our mothers. Once we are exposed to a germ, we develop natural immunity to it from special cells in our immune systems. Artificial immunity can come from vaccines. Most infections caused by microbes fall into three major groups: acute infections, chronic infections and latent infections. The common cold is an acute infection. Hepatitis C, which affects the liver, is a chronic viral infection. Chickenpox is an example of a latent infection that can emerge many years later and causes a disease called “shingles.” Hand-washing is a simple and effective way to stop the transmission of germs. Health care experts recommend scrubbing your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. It is especially important to wash your hands before touching food, after coughing or sneezing, after changing a diaper, and after using the toilet.

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I’m four years into recovery and feeling great! - Lisa Israel, Patient Member of the P3 Patient Engagement Committee I’ve always been in good health and feeling healthy. But when I went in for a routine annual mammogram, a small spot turned out to be cancer - small but aggressive - type triple negative. With no known breast cancer in my family, my doctor suggested genetic testing. Tests came back BRCA1 positive. I was able to inform my daughter, sister and cousins – two discovered the same gene and took proactive steps. I made the decision to have a double mastectomy supplemented by chemotherapy. It was wonderful to be so fully informed so that I could make a good decision. I am four years into recovery and feeling great!

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OCTOBER 2021

Lovin' Life After 50 - Tucson - October 2021

Articles inside

The Healthy Geezer

Supporting the Animals

What’s Cooking?

Steep Demand

Gallery of Gourmet

‘Love A air’ with the Desert

Sowing the Seeds of Connection

Education is Key

Ask Gabby Gayle