Desert Times, Feb. 02. 2022 by Times Media Group

www.tucsonlocalmedia.com

Feb. 2 2022

DESERT TIMES The Voice of Southwest Tucson

Volume 35 • Number 2

Active Living

Local outdoor clubs, Southern Arizona hikes, and more | Page 8

Pima County approves new testing sites as COVID cases continue rise

INSIDE

Donations

Library hosting drive for refugees | Page 5

Dynamic Duo

Tucson Museum of Art celebrates a diversity of art

| Page 14

Electric Cars Charging hub opens downtown | Page 19

Photo courtesy of Splendido

Splendido ranked among top five senior living communities in North America Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

plendido at Rancho Vistoso, a retirement community in Oro Valley, recently earned a Pinnacle Award by the International Council on Active Aging. The Pinnacle Awards recognize the five best retirement communities

in North America with a commitment to wellness in every sense of the word. While Splendido has previously won other ICAA awards, it has never won their highest-ranking Pinnacle award for a wellness culture that “permeates all aspects of life.” “It’s very individual,” said Gale Morgan, senior vice president

of sales for Mather. “The industry used to consider wellness as strength, muscle, fitness and lack of illness. But wellness can still be important to someone even as fitness changes. In addition to those, wellness can be the ability to stay engaged or stay connected or feel like you’re learning new things.” See SPLENDIDO, P13

Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

s the Omicron wave continues to pack hospitals and spread across the region, the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a plan to increase COVID testing availability during their Jan. 19 meeting. The Board unanimously voted to increase PCR testing in Pima County with an additional 1,000 tests per day through Paradigm Laboratories. “I am concerned with our PCR testing site at the airport,” Supervisor Sharon Bronson said. See COVID, P4

Desert Times, Feb 2022

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Desert Times, Feb 2022

DESERT TIMES

The Desert Times is published the first week of every month and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout south Tucson. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Desert Times, please visit www.TucsonLocalMedia.com

STAFF ADMINISTRATION Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher Michael Hiatt, Vice President Jaime Hood, General Manager jaime@tucsonlocalmedia.com Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com Sheryl Kocher, Receptionist sheryl@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL Jim Nintzel, Executive Editor jimn@tucsonlocalmedia.com Jeff Gardner, Managing Editor jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com Alexandra Pere, Staff Reporter apere@tucsonlocalmedia.com Nicole Feltman, Staff Reporter nfeltman@tucsonlocalmedia.com PRODUCTION Courtney Oldham, Production Manager, tucsonproduction@timespublications.com Ryan Dyson Graphic Designer ryand@tucsonlocalmedia.com Emily Filener, Graphic Designer emilyf@tucsonlocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION Alex Carrasco, Circulation alexc@tucsonlocalmedia.com ADVERTISING TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Desert To-Dos

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising Zac@TimesPublications.com EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT The Desert Times expresses its opinion in the editorial. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author. The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Tucson Local Media assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement. Publisher has the right to edit for size or refuse any advertisement at his or her discretion. 7225 N. Mona Lisa Road, Ste. 125 Tucson, Arizona 85741 PHONE: (520) 797-4384

Copyright:The entire contents of DesertTimes are Copyright Times Media Group . No portion may be reproduced in whole or part by any means without the express written permission of the Publisher,Tucson Local Media, 7225 N. Mona Lisa Rd., Ste. 125,Tucson, AZ 85741.

Courtesy photo Winter Tucson Gem Shows at Casino Del Sol. The Gem Show is back, baby! Over at Casino del Sol, that means multiple days of shopping, workshops and fun for professionals and hobbyists alike. At Colors of the Stone, tradespeople and designers can purchase gemstones, met-

als, leather, cords, wire, clay and other jewelry making and bead making supplies wholesale. Artisans in residence will also be teaching workshops in skills like metal work, hand knotting, crystal setting and mixed media. And To Bead True Blue is also part of the lineup, featuring 1,000 ar-

tisan exhibits, galleries and ring Puppets, 4500 N. Oracle workshops. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Road, suite 421. $8. through Feb. 5. Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road. Dinosaur Discovery at the Free entry. Reid Park Zoo. We know the zoo is all about seeing live anJack and the Beanstalk imals from around the world, and Other Adventures in but for the next few months, Folklore. The latest show over the Reid Park zoo is also going at Red Herring Puppets is, as prehistoric. The show features always, full of creativity and animatronic dinosaurs, incharm. In this one, Rowby cluding the obligatory T-Rex the alien puppet shares some and a 45 foot-long spinosauof his favorite folktales from rus. According to the zoo, planet Earth. For instance, the dinosaurs are produced there’s a Celtic version of “Jack by Imagine Exhibitions and and the Beanstalk” and a hip created in collaboration with hop version of “The Three renowned paleontologist Little Pigs.” Then there’s “The Gregory M. Erickson – one of Drum,” a story from India only 150 full-time professionabout kindness and general dinosaur paleontologists in osity. Red Herring Puppets the world. Advanced computis owned by Lisa Sturz, who er animatronics makes each has worked everywhere from creature amazingly realistic as Disney to PBS to Jim Henson they bellow, blink and breathe. Productions, so you know Saturday, Feb. 12 through she knows her puppet stuff ! 2 Sunday, May 15. Free with zoo p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6. Red Her- admission. 3400 Zoo Court.

Desert Times, Feb 2022

COVID: New testing options throughout Tucson, Pima County Continued from P1

“We are seeing that we’ve got some issues at TAA (Tucson Airport Authority) with staff coming down with COVID and we’ve got people in line who have COVID. So I would think as part of the implementation of the new testing we need to find other sites than the airport.” Cases continue to rise in Pima County due to the Omicron variant, with the county seeing 17,528 cases as of mid-January as opposed to 14,735 cases in the entire month of December, according to Act-

ing County Administrator Jan Lesher. Supervisor Adelita Grijalva said she had noticed that testing appointments through the county website were being scheduled two days out. She raised concerns this would make it more difficult for children to get back into school under the new testto-stay policy. Bronson added that constituents reported testing sites had a two-hour waiting period, even with appointments. Low testing availability has also impacted the local healthcare system. “People, because they can’t find a testing site, are

going to ERs to ask to get COVID tested and that is incredibly disruptive for the healthcare system,” Supervisor Matt Heinz said. Pima County launched the new PCR test center this week at the Kino Event Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way. Testing is open to anyone 2 years and older from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. PCR (or polymerase chain reaction) tests amplify trace amounts of virus DNA to provide an accurate result. Getting PCR test results through the county is expected to take between 24 to 48 hours. Testing at this location will be available for 30 days.

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Matkin/U.S. Air National Guard

To provide more access to rapid testing, the Board voted unanimously to approve a master agreement with Stratus Point Global to supply more than 45,500 COVID-19 BinaxNOW Antigen Self-Test Kits to Pima County this year. “The kind of testing that is widely available is typically 24 to 48 hours so it doesn’t get children back in school and doesn’t get people back into the workplace,” said Garcia. The County also received federal support for a new drive-through PCR testing site at Pima Community College West Campus. The site was fully operational on Monday, Jan. 24, and test results are expected to take about 48 hours. It will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lastly, a contract funded by the CDC with Partners in Health was passed by a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Steve Christy opposed. Partners in Health is a nonprofit healthcare

organization that will help the County collect quantifiable data on K-12 schools as they reopen with new COVID mitigation strategies, such as mental health services for children that tested positive for COVID. “This contractor over the next three years will be providing these services to include helping us with some of the data gathering, analysis, as well as some of the new strategic initiatives in this space,” said Garcia. Meanwhile, COVID cases continue to put pressure on hospitals across the state. Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer for Banner Health in Arizona, said during a Jan. 24 press conference that COVID cases now account for one-third of the hospital system’s total patient population. But Bessel said that while intensive care units remain busy, “ICU numbers are less than they were during our peak of January of the prior year, and we believe that is a di-

rect result of the decreased severity that we are experiencing with Omicron.” She said she hoped that hospitalizations would peak next month before declining. Bessel noted that 83 percent of hospitalized COVID patients at Banner are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and 87 percent of ICU COVID patients are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. She encouraged Arizonans to get vaccinated if they haven’t already and to get their booster shots. “Vaccination continues to be your best defense to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID infection,” Bessel said. “Boosters will help maximize your protection.” She also said people should wear high-quality masks such as a N95 or KN95 mask when indoors or around large crowds while Omicron is in widespread transmission.

Desert Times, Feb 2022

Pima County Library hosting donation drive for Afghan refugees Jillian Bartsch

Special to Tucson Local Media

he Pima County Public Library system is hosting a drive through Feb. 10 to collect supplies for Afghan refugees who recently settled in Tucson. The library’s Welcome to America Team started the drive to collect items such as newborn essentials (especially newborn clothes), personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies. The Welcome to America Team is working with the Tucson Afghan Community and the International Rescue Committee to collect these items. Irina Delone, librarian at Miller-Golf Links Library and Welcome to America team member, helped organize the effort. Delone has personal connections with the Tucson Afghan Community, so once she learned about the refugees’ needs, she contacted the Tucson Afghan Community to organize the list of items needed. According to the Welcome to America team, around 400 Afghan refugees have arrived in Tucson since September. They are expecting more refugees to arrive and predict that the number may grow to 2,000 by this September. “When they brought this influx of Afghan refugees to America and particularly in Arizona and Tucson, many refugee settlement agencies were not properly prepared

to accept these families right away in these big numbers,” Delone said. The Tucson Afghan Community has storage facilities available to collect donated items because not all of the refugees have found housing since their arrival. “A lot of people are still staying at the hotel, and government agencies have problems with finding homes for the families,” said Ritiek Rafi from the Tucson Afghan Community. “They are brand new so we try to help introduce them to the new culture here, to find ways to go to school, to learn the language and to find jobs.” Many of the refugees are housed in hotels right now and agencies like the International Rescue Committee are working to find apartments and housing for them. The City of Tucson has been helping the refugees by providing them with free hotel rooms, Delone said. “As soon as they get their housing, it is empty,” Delone said. “For example, they get a house and this family has like four, five, six children, empty house, nothing is there. They need many items like basic necessities, so that’s what we do for them.” As soon as the Afghan family or individual gets a house, they are brought into the Tucson Afghan Community’s storage facility to choose what they need for their house. The refugees also need

big furniture items, but they cannot be donated to this drive. Delone said if there is someone who wants to donate big furniture, they can contact the Tucson Afghan Community directly. The team is also looking for volunteers to help by driving the items from the libraries to the storage facilities. They are also looking for a volunteer to help with sorting out the items into different categories. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Delone or the Tucson Afghan Community. The donation drive is a pilot project for the Welcome to America Team and for the Pima County Public Libraries, which may lead to them hosting similar drives in the future. The Welcome to America Team has been working with refugees and immigrants for more than 10 years with various types of aid, such as translation services and the collection of different materials and resources in different languages. The donations can be dropped off at 15 different libraries, including the Dusenberry-River Library, the Eckstrom-Columbus Library and the Flowing Wells Library. The donation boxes can be found in most of the libraries near the entrance. For more information, visit library.pima.gov. The Tucson Afghan Community can be contacted on their social media, facebook.com/ TucsonAfghanCommunity

READER PHOTO OF THE MONTH Reader Kate Stephany captured this vivid, pastel sunet over the Santa Catalinas. The saguaros make it a perfect example of the beautiful sights we enjoy here. Send your photos to readerphotos@tucsonlocalmedia.com. Include your name, contact information and details about the photo, including who took it, where it was taken and the subject. Not all photos can be printed. See other photos online at www.tucsonlocalmedia.com.

Desert Times, Feb 2022

Trico breaks ground on solar power facility in Pinal County Cameron Jobson Tucson Local Media

rico Electric Cooperative, which serves rural communities throughout Southern Arizona, is constructing a solar power and battery storage facility that will bring renewable energy to residents of Pinal County. The project, Chirreon Solar, is located on Edwin Road, just north of the Pima County line. The 90acre facility is expected to begin producing power this summer. The facility is being built in partnership with Torch Clean Energy,

SOLV Energy and CoBank. Trico is installing more than 40,000 solar panels that will eventually generate power to more than 3,000 homes in the Trico territory, which includes portions of Pinal, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties. The generated solar energy will be automatically distributed to anyone in the SaddleBrooke subdivision, without any need for athome installation. “Trico’s aspiration is to be our members’ energy provider choice,” said Trico CEO and general manager Brian Heithoff. “The majority of the grading has been done. Now we have to

shift into actual erection of the solar and storage units.” The battery units are going to be delivered in the last week of January and the solar panels will be delivered in March. Next, Trico will work to construct the solar titling structures, mounting the panels, and installing the Tesla mega pack batteries. Heithoff ensures that the ongoing construction will be secluded in the construction zones. There may be some truck traffic near the highway exits, but it will not result in any road closures. Over the long run, producing energy with solar panels is environmentally and financially beneficial. Heithoff said that the primary environmental benefit will be the reduction in carbon emissions. “Generating energy with solar and storing it in batteries will reduce the amount of energy that we source from facilities that produce carbon emissions,” Heithoff said. And without the need to buy fuel such as coal or natural gas, Trico and their members will increase sav-

VOTE FOR YOUR PICK FOR

Photo courtesy of Trico

ing, and peak in the afternoon. Then the batteries will be able to discharge in the early evening hours. “During the rest of the night, when the sun doesn’t shine, we will continue to provide power from our other sources,” Heithoff said. “We are displacing some of our other generation with renewable resources.” Trico plans on expanding their sustainable energy footprint in future projects.

ings over time. Additionally, Tucson’s 350+ days of annual sunlight only strengthens solar prospects. “We are seeing solar power being implemented across the country, but Arizona for sure,” Heithoff said. Although it may vary by day or season, the desert sun will charge the batteries and store the energy. Heithoff explained most of the power generation will ramp up in the late morn-

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arana High School Salutatorian Diya Patel didn’t sugarcoat challenges the of graduation the last year in her speech last “I think most people would month. me when agree with I say ful year,” Patel that this has been said. “Graduation a dreadC in the past D speeches have Tucson Local Media formals and included stories of Director of proms, Rural Arizona said they this year we football games. However, Action, should were approached had to adjust tate Rep. fire him.” Finchem’s way of life to a brand by constituents full sent a “ceaseMark Finchem ganize On May 5, to help orCOVID tests, of Zoom calls, masks new the recall. and desist” and der to the a letter from the group received “We exist to or- power Q-tips being which consisted of group petitioning emFinchem’s people, massive shoved up for his recall, lawyers, of reminiscing our noses. are involved regular folks who which according threatening sue the group Instead in the on a joyful Finchem website, to the Recall experience, for defamation. to system high school The Republican, and really democratic ral we are all “demands Arizonans collectively sitting here recalling Ruelected offi who sents District for Accountability an taking a deep today, cial is a power 11, faces a repre- for being grateful breath and Rural Arizonans reserved destroy all campaign the people recall by that we’re of Arizona Finchem materials finally here.” just Patel, like ability, a group for Account- state’s constitution,” incorrectly by our so many deems ‘defamatory’ of his district’s “If longed for other students, constituents, and publish enough registeredsaid Fierros. a for spreading stead lived year of normalcy, fraud conspiracy voters sign tions in local newspapers. retracvoter that petition but inthrough and they agree theories and Finchem Finchem’s tel and fellow a pandemic. his ties to lawyers promise If not, the that PaMarana Unified does lack District graduates oters at the “Stop the Steal” ri- he to sue.” Rural Arizonans’ integrity, that School is dangerous Jan. 6 Insurrection expressed lawyers rethe U.S. Capitol. of trying jected Finchem’s and an ineff the woes at legislator, to graduate ective then it goes demand a series of Natali Fierros, stated they while juggling and would seek co-executive ers in that district to to the vot- against trol caused changes beyond sanctions get a by the COVID-19 their conhim should to vote on “This past he sue. whether or chance outbreak. not they that we were year, the Class of 2021 some of the proved See FINCHEM most adaptable , P10

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he Supreme Court Thursday ed claims rejectthat Arizona’s vesting and ballot-harout-of-precin rules discriminate ct election voters, a ruling against minority a sledgehammthat one critic said “takes er” to protections. equal voting The 6-3 ruling said that while laws may the state result in some ing rejected, voters’ ballots they do not beburdens of “exceed the voting” and usual group of voters do not affect one more than any other. In dissent, the majority’s Justice Elena Kagan “tragic” opinion said Voting Rights rewrites the that stands Act “to weaken … a statute as a monument greatness.” to America’s

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Desert Times, Feb 2022

BOARD NOTES

Workforce development is the economic priority for Pima County in 2022 Sharon Bronson

Special to Tucson Local Media

ima County’s economy and businesses have much to look forward to in 2022— in part because it won’t be the severe disruption, shortage and uncertainty of doing business in 2021; and it certainly won’t be the sudden shock, closure and fear that permeated business in 2020. But there are other reasons too. Pima County’s economic development efforts in the new year are moving forward to position our region as the place to do business in both the pandemic economy and the emerging

post-pandemic economy. As we work to update the 2019-2021 Pima County Economic Plan, our primary focus will be on workforce development. Workforce development, which has long been a strong point for Pima County, will move faster, further and in more creative ways than it ever has before. Providing opportunity and higher wages for the residents of Pima County while meeting the needs of our existing employers—and the companies we need to attract in the future—will be paramount in Pima County’s economic development strategy in 2022. As the pandemic dis-

ruption and concepts such as the Great Resignation and the Baby Boomer Retirement Cliff continue to become manifest, Pima County will work with Pima JTED, our school districts, Pima Community College, and the University of Arizona to develop the post-secondary training needed to meet the demand. We will work to extend those opportunities into underserved communities, rural areas, and to residents of Pima County who have found that education and training for good paying jobs were seemingly out of reach. Pima County’s creative partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as JobPath, which

provide social support to students, will be key in helping us bridge this divide moving forward in 2022. Pima County will work with our business attraction partners, such as Sun Corridor, Inc., to continue to expand high-wage economic sectors in aerospace, defense, biomedical and trade sectors. We will continue to diversify the economy by attracting innovative technology companies who value the landscape and lifestyle found in Pima County which offers their employees and CEOs a place where they want to live and work. A new emphasis will also be placed on supporting and expanding small business

in Pima County. As we set out in a new direction with our Pima County Economic Development Plan in 2022, we will be doing so under new economic development leadership. After 20 years of extremely capable service to Pima County, Dr. John Moffatt has announced his retirement in January 2022. Pima County, after an extensive and competitive recruitment process, recently announced the appointment of Heath Vescovi-Chiordi as Dr. Moffatt’s successor. Heath comes to us from the Town of Marana and is well known for his economic development skills and his work in our region. Under

his leadership, and with a new direction for economic development strategy, Pima County will be well positioned for more economic success and prosperity in 2021. Sharon Bronson is the Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair.

Active Living 2022

Active Living

Take a Hike! Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

Spend a day on the trails with the Southern Arizona Hiking Club

t 63 years old, the Southern Arizona Hiking Club is the oldest club in Tucson. It was originally founded by onetime Arizona Daily Star columnist Pete Cowgil, who pitched the idea for a hiking

club in his column “Tucson Trails.” His brainchild continues to bring Tucsonans together to explore Arizona trails, even after his death in 2019. A year’s membership in the club costs $25 for a single person and $40 for a couple, with discounted member prices for families. The membership includes monthly presentations on a range of naturalist topics as well as access to a calendar filled with hikes planned throughout the month. No

reservations are needed, just show up! Club Contact and Orientation Person Nancy Debolt said every hike is submitted by club guides, who also lead group hikes. “We take anybody,” Debolt said. “We have all kinds of levels of hikes so almost anybody can find something they can do. We have urban as well as trail hiking.” Debolt said she loves the club because of the people she meets and the the friends she makes. She finished hiking the 800-mile Arizona Trail, which runs from the Mexican border to Utah and links everything from the desert to the forests, at age 75.

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foods and carbs! Water alone won’t keep you going on a big hike. • Wear clothes to match the weather. Summertime calls for short sleeves, while winter weather, even in Arizona, calls for long sleeves. Arizona has intense sunlight so wear hats and sunscreen. Sun exposure can lead to skin cancer so don’t forget to protect commonly missed places like the back of your ears, eyelids, lips, and scalp. (Another reason to wear a hat!) • Older hikers should consider using hiking poles, especially on steep hikes. They can make the downhill journey easier on your body. • Bring tweezers! Staying on trails will lower your chances of stepping on cactus, but it’s good to have a pair just in case you get a jumping cholla cactus stuck in your boots. • Speaking of boots: The Southern Arizona Hiking Club says any good trail shoe will make your hikes comfortable but hiking boots can be more supportive of your ankles. Sturdy shoes are best!

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“I have seen more of Ar- Burro Trailhead, 14810 N. Seizona than I ever thought,” cret Springs Drive, just a few miles away. she says. We also recommend Check out membership for bringing sunscreen and hats to protect from the Arizona SAHC at gosahc.org/join. sun. Although there is ample desert vegetation, it isn’t enough to provide consistent Take a Hike in shade on every trail. the Tortolitas Post hiking treats can include a beer at the Dove rom huge saguaros to Mountain Brewing Compaironwoods and road- ny, 12130 N. Dove Mountain runners, the Tortolita Blvd, just two miles from the Mountain Range is the Wild Burro trailhead. perfect location for desert Be Sure To Stay Safe exploration. While Hiking The Tortolita Preserve, also known as Dove Mountain, was established in 2009 to protect local desert ecosysiking in the desert is tems. The Tortolita preserve no walk in the park. trail is nine miles of flat land, Prepare yourself for making nature watching, the desert ecosystem mountain biking, hiking, and with these simple safety tips nature photography easily ac- provided by Tucson Local cessible to all ages. Media and the Southern ArMore difficult hikes near- izona Hiking Club: by include the Wild Mustang • Tell a family member or Trail, which is 3.8 miles with friend where you are going 870 feet of elevation change. and when you plan to be back Be prepared to bring lots of in case anything goes awry on water because there are no the trail. water fountains on either trail, • Stock up on necessary although there are restrooms nutrients like water, salty and fountains at the Wild

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Active Living 2022

How to Use Your Health Plan to Help Maintain Your New Year’s Resolutions Dr. Donna O’Shea

Special to Tucson Local Media

very year, scores of Arizonans make New Year’s resolutions, especially to improve their health and wealth. In fact, 55% of Americans plan to make health-related New Year’s resolutions this year, while 53% have vowed to improve their financial well-being, according to a recent UnitedHealthcare survey. What are the most common resolutions for 2022? Among people making health resolutions, the survey found that 26% hope to lose weight, 24% are planning to exercise more and 21% intend to eat a healthier diet. When it comes to financial health, the most common resolutions include saving more money (26%), increasing income (25%) and paying off debt (19%). Achieving any of these goals will likely require willpower and dedication, but additional support from your health plan may be helpful too. Whether you have coverage through an employer, an individual or family policy or a

government-sponsored plan such as Medicare Advantage, here are five ways to potentially use your health plan to help encourage a healthier lifestyle in 2022: Get a Digital Fitness App. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted some people to avoid public gyms due to potential exposure risks to the coronavirus, contributing to a surge in the popularity of athome fitness routines. In fact, 30% of Americans surveyed said they had used a digital fitness app as part of their fitness regimen since COVID-19 emerged. Whether your fitness resolution is focused on improving strength, enhancing endurance or finding new levels of flexibility, some health plans now include subsidized subscriptions to digital fitness apps with thousands of live and on-demand workouts, in some cases giving access at no additional cost. Find a Fitness Tracker. Wearable devices are becoming increasingly popular and sophisticated, enabling people to track their daily steps, monitor their heart rate and analyze sleep patterns (among other

measures). With that in mind, some employers and health plans are including fitness trackers as part of wellness programs, in some cases enabling people to earn over $1,000 per year in incentives by meeting certain daily activity goals, such as walking, running, swimming or strength training. Some smartwatches even sync with digital fitness apps, offering personalized feedback to help track individual workouts and progress over time. Enroll in an Online Weight Loss Program. Given that shedding unwanted weight is a priority for many people after the holidays and year round, it can be helpful to check with your employer or health plan for online programs that focus on helping users build healthier habits, such as increasing daily activity and eating more fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a healthy body weight is more than just cosmetic: Research shows that when overweight people lose just 5% of their initial weight, it can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more Continued on P13

Active Living 2022

Active Living

Seniors can spin their wheels with Vistoso Cyclists

Nicole Feltman Tucson Local Media

on Wheeler, the president of Vistoso Cyclists Bicycling Club, calls his group “the best cycling club for seniors in the country.” Founded more than 25 years ago in the mid ’90s, the social club is primarily for seniors who live in Sun City Oro Valley and, Wheeler says, is focused on being a “valuable component of the community.” There are currently more than 200 members that participate in the 150 scheduled

rides a year. “The reason we bought our house in Sun City Oro Valley was largely due to the Vistoso Cyclist Club and the proximity of great cycling and cycling trails,” says club member Albert Marshall. The club’s rides range between 20-60 miles depending on the skill level of the rider’s group, which is broken down into three colors: green for short, blue for medium and orange for long rides. Most rides are destination-based, with different pathways for each. Destinations include more 20 local cafés all around Tucson, in-

cluding Kneaders, Decible Coffee Works, and Ren Coffeehouse. Wheeler says that Vistoso Cyclists have pride in bringing business to Oro Valley. Madison Weston, assistant manager for Ren Coffeehouse in St. Philip’s Plaza, says the riders are always welcome. “They are all super friendly to us,” she says. “We have a good connection with all of them because they are all so nice and treat us well.” Rides for Vistoso Cyclists are scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Departure times are usually early in the morning, de-

pending on the season and the temperatures. At this time of year, the rides start around 9 a.m. Chris Held, 73, a snowbird from Washington State, has been a member of the club for a decade. He says he loves to see the club grow into a fellowship of riders who are into healthy activities. “We’re keeping our heart healthy,” he says. “It’s absolutely wonderful.” There is also a women’s group, Women on Wheels, that sponsors rides up to 50 miles, although the average is closer to 35 miles, according to Wheeler.

Courtesy photo

Vistoso Cyclists also sponsors social events for three local nonprofits, including Wheels for Kids, Interfaith Community Services and El Grupo, to support charity. NO CITY SALES TAX

Wheeler says the group is about having a good time while getting a workout. His signoff on messages to the group is inspirational: “Smiles, Miles, and Tailwinds.”

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Active Living 2022

AGING WELL

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ging Well in the home is evolving, due to the growing popularity of smart speakers and other connected devices. Whether you like to relax to music, keep up with current events, or catch up with friends on a video chat, you can do so with a simple voice command. Imagine applying that convenience and flexibility to controlling your Select Villa Homes at Splendido feature built-in technology that allows residents to control lighting, temperature, and more via home’s lighting, temperature, a Google hub (shown on kitchen counter). and even doorbell. into one of our ‘smart’ Villas •Smart speakers in the through their smartphone. This type of smart-home can enjoy this technology as kitchen and bedrooms allow •Smart light switches let technology is built into some soon as they move in. We the home’s residents to ver- residents adjust lighting with of the Villa Homes at Splen- provide an iPad loaded with bally check the internet, play verbal commands, and they dido, an all-inclusive com- the necessary apps, so they music, and control many can set certain lights on a munity for those age 55 and don’t even have to wait to other features from adjust- timer from inside the home better in Oro Valley. “Smart download anything to their ing the lights to changing or remotely. Residents can appliances, smart thermo- own smartphones or tablets.” the temperature. The kitch- turn off their home’s lights stats, and the like—these en hub includes a screen and once they’re in bed, for exare part of a broader trend Convenient Connections video camera for video chats, ample, or turn them on bein home design that reveals Each of the smart Villa and is ideal for requesting fore they come home after people want convenience Homes comes with an in- recipes! dark. (Lights can also be and ease in everyday life,” stalled package of Goo- •A smart doorbell provides turned on and off manually.) says Marisela Panzarella, the gle products that work off added security and peace of •A Nest thermostat can be Designer/Move-In Coor- a Google Hub, providing mind when strangers come adjusted with a verbal comdinator at Splendido, a Life unique, often interconnected to call. Residents can view mand, from a smartphone, Plan Community in Oro conveniences and efficien- and speak with visitors at the or manually. Residents can Valley for those 55 and bet- cies, including: front door from any room preset the air conditioning ter. “And residents who move of the house, or remotely or use a smartphone to turn

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it on when they’re due to return home from being out and about. •A preconfigured iPad for each Villa Home allows residents to easily control smart-home technology through the Google Home App. That same app can be installed on a smartphone, so the resident can control the system remotely. For example, if a resident is out walking their dog and someone rings their doorbell, they can look at their phone and see who it is through the camera built into the doorbell. Each system operates on a high-speed, mesh WiFi network that ensures a strong signal throughout the home. Splendido has available Villa Homes in a variety of floor plans—some with smart technology and others without. For more information on the homes, including a virtual tour and sample floor plans, visit splendidotucson.com/villas.

See inside some of Splendido’s gorgeous Villa Homes for yourself. We regularly host Parade of Villa Homes events, where small groups can walk through some model homes. Join us on Wednesday, February 9. Time slots are available between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. All are welcome, but reservations are required.

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Active Living 2022

Active Living

Splendido Continued from P1 Splendido is a joint venture of Mather, an Illinois-based organization that operates specialty wellness communities for older adults. For 15 years, Splendido has offered a variety of wellness and fitness activities to adults over 55. Their amenities range from an 18-hole putting course to a specialty spa to a creative arts studio. However, the physical elements are only part of the appeal. According to Morgan, they also host engaging community events to create a culture centered around wellness. These include group hikes near the Pusch Ridge mountains, hosting visiting artists for art therapy, and architectural design programs. “Part of why I do what I do is seeing how wellness can change the lives of our residents,” Morgan said. “I once worked with a couple who were enjoying retirement, but they wanted more out of life. And when they moved into Splendido, with something as simple as the indoor pool, they went from walking in the water to swimming laps. Then they were in the gym and got a dog… The old thought that you’re going to age and lose ability is truly something that we’ve seen turned around so many times when people move to Splendido.” The community offers

living plans from independent to assisted living to memory care support. Their nearly 300 independent-level homes range from 850 to 3,000 square feet. But despite these different lifestyles, they work to ensure their community programs and activities are available for all. This has even resulted in some surprising outcomes, such as how art classes blossomed in the memory care track before any other. “It’s really nice to see the different and unique ways our communities embody the ‘continue wellness’ philosophy,” Morgan said. “Everything we approach from wellness and we expect it to play across every one of those areas. So maybe you’re in skilled nursing and require 24-hour support. That doesn’t mean wellness can’t still be a part of your life… Every wellness program we launch, we’re cognizant it needs to be active throughout one’s life.” This wellness and active lifestyle philosophy has even resulted in opportunities their residents may never have otherwise thought to pursue. They call this “Repriorment Living” and introduce residents to “the joy of long-forgotten pursuits we all push to the side as we make our way through the world.” These range everywhere from yoga to painting to sushi to gardening.

New Year’s Resolutions Continued from P9

Courtesy photo

“We really want to foster a wellness culture that goes beyond programming,” said William Myers, corporate director of wellness strategies for Mather. “What really sets us apart is how we evolve our concepts and localize them.” Due to Tucson’s yearround sunny climate, Splendido can offer opportunities that Mather’s other communities cannot. For instance, they are currently working to add a walking labyrinth to the property for an ancient form of stress relief, exercise and meditation. “As an organization we’re always sharing thoughts and ideas between our communities,” Myers said. “When we’re launching new initiatives we’ll also pick one of the locations to serve as a pilot site and deploy different strategies or wellness technologies. From there, we can measure engagement or usage depending on what the new element is, and share them so they can be adopted as best practices.” Mather’s other locations are in Evanston and Wilmette, Illinois, with a new community under construc-

tion in Washington D.C. All of their communities receive guidance from the Mather Institute, which researches wellness and aging. The institute’s Age Well Studies research associations between Life Plan Community residents’ happiness and life satisfaction, and their individual personality traits, resources, communal factors, and behaviors. Alongside Splendido at Rancho Vistoso, the other Pinnacle Award winners for 2021 are Tapestry at Victoria Harbour in British Columbia, Sunnyside Retirement Community in Virginia, Friendship Village of Bloomington in Minnesota, and Moorings Park in Florida. “We’re extremely grateful to be ranked among the top senior living communities on the continent, especially regarding wellness for residents and employees,” said James Edwartoski, Splendido’s executive director. “It’s wonderful to know that our efforts to foster and encourage a wellness-centered community have long-term benefits for everyone here.”

than 50%. This is especially important amid COVID-19, as diabetes is among the most common risk factors linked to an increased chance of COVID-19 complications. Take a Pass on Tobacco. While smoking rates have declined over the last few decades, 14% of Americans are still consistent smokers, with cigarette use ranking as the leading cause of preventable death nationwide. Kicking the habit can help support your health – both in the short and long term – while avoiding an estimated $1 million or more in lifetime costs associated with cigarette use. For support, many health plans include smoking cessation programs, which may offer – at no additional cost – nicotine gum or patches, online tools and one-on-one coaching. Support Your Smile. With growing evidence of a link between oral health and overall health, it is important take care of your teeth. That means consistent-

ly brushing, flossing and using mouthwash. Even if you are doing all that, regular dental cleanings are also crucial, as consistently visiting the dentist can help remove plaque that tends to build up over time. Many dental plans include up to two annual cleanings with no cost sharing, with some even offering discounts on electric toothbrushes to make this type of technology more affordable. The new year is a great time to reflect on your personal and financial health, and it’s never too late to rededicate yourself to health. In fact, people who make specific resolutions may be more likely to reach those goals than people who don’t set explicit pledges. By taking advantage of available resources that may be included with your health plan, it may be possible to improve both your waistline and wallet. Dr. Donna O’Shea is the chief medical officer of population health at UnitedHealthcare

Desert Times, Feb 2022

A pair of shows at the Tucson Museum of Art explore radically different art Margaret Regan

Special to Tucson Local Media

f you ever wanted to test your taste in art, get yourself down to the Tucson Museum of Art. The curators have spiced the place up with two radically different art forms on view at the same time but in different galleries. Olivier Mosset, a Swissborn artist now in his 70s who has lived in Tucson for many years, is devoted to pure abstract painting and color. Patrick Martinez, an LA artist, prizes multimedia work that exposes injustice and highlights the lives of people of color. Upstairs in the main gallery, a show named simply for its artist, Olivier Mosset, is stacked with enormous abstractions. Many hue to one color: you’ll see a giant painting of three yellow circles, another piece that’s a rectangle all in white, and a deep black work that stretches over an entire gallery wall. The trend of all black painting goes back to a Russian artist Kazimir Malevich from the avant-garde in 1915. The point of Mosset’s single-colored “monochrome” piece, writes curator Julie Sasse, Ph.D., is that it’s the “ultimate vehicle to eliminate all meaning from the painting and allow the work to stand on its own as an object.” There is no meaning beyond color and shape. Those are fightin’ words for diehard fans of narra-

Two Artists at Tucson Museum of Art Olivier Mosset until Feb. 27 Patrick Martinez: Look What You Created until April 24 Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Sunday. $12 adults; $10 seniors 65 and up; $7 college students and teens ages 13 to 17. Free for children 12 and under, members, veterans and active military. 140 N. Main Ave. Tucsonmuseumofart.org. 520-6242333 Visitors must reserve timed tickets online in advance. Masks and social distancing required. EXTRA: The museum is open 5 to 8 p.m. on First Thursday, Feb. 3. Free. Music and art activities included. Reserve tickets online two weeks before the event.

tive art. But the other show at the museum is equally serious, if not as cheerful. Patrick Martinez, an LA artist born in 1980, created the installation Look What You Created, a painful exploration of racial discrimination. Inspired in part by the horrors of 2020—including police murders— Martinez’s work is about history and injustice. He uses his narrative art to denounce evils across the centuries in his first solo museum exhibition. Like Olivier Mosset, Martinez uses materials both beautiful and ordinary. Tongva Landscape, a masterful, multimedia painting uses neon lights, stucco, earth and metal bars to cover the long and sorry history of the Tongva, the name given to the various indigenous peoples who lived in California long before the arrival of the Spanish. But the work brings us from past to the present, a time when migrants are

reviled. A feathered Tongva warrior leans against a contemporary building covered with prison bars. A neon sign on the jail window reads: No Body Is Illegal. Small red ceramic roses—both mournful and joyful—are scattered everywhere. Other works include drawings of Chicano teens, sometimes dealing with the police. A couple of “cake paintings” feature portraits of the late heroes Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist, and Nipsey Hussle, a rapper who particularly inspired black men. They too are honored with flowers. Neon signs are everywere. “I am tired of talk that comes to nothing,” says one; “Hate is too great a burden to bear,” declares another. The title of the show, Look What You Created, has two possible meanings: the past may have been heartbreaking, but we can try like hell to create a better future.

Photo courtesy of the Tucson Museum of Art

A neon sign designed by Patrick Martinez in the exhibit “Look What You Created.”

Mosset’s work is also about making the world better, by creating beauty that gives us joy. When you step into his galleries, you (or at least I) get transported by the colors and shapes. Some of the works remind me of the first objects that are given to infants. The clear colors—think of those yellow circles—are just the thing a baby wants to see, and chew. If that’s what we loved as newborns, yellow circles might be just what we need now. The artist, born in 1944, moved around in radical circles early on. In the 1960s, he went to Paris, a hot spot for new

work, and became enamored with monochrome. According to the text at the show, Mosset, following the efforts of other artists, became known for his single-color works. By 1977, he was in New York and a member of the Radical Painting group. By the ’90s, in Tucson, he began experimenting in “shaped canvases,” a form that banished the idea that paintings had to be rectangles. He works in paintings of all shapes, from giant X forms to Ls and circles and arrows. The new shapes brought a fresh geometry to his work. One piece work in the show is a

gloriously colored pieces of geometry with, a big triangle in blazing orange and a second triangle—pure white—that’s upside down. Mosset is still working. Lately he seems interested in flat rectangular canvases once more. He has a number of delightfully painted squares: a long one in shades of pale green, and some lovely rich blues on paper. The most dramatic, perhaps, is a giant flat checkerboard in the colors of the Tucson sun. Called Camino de Oeste, its red and pink squares blaze in the sunset sky.

Desert Times, Feb 2022

Parish owner brings a little southern comfort to downtown with The Delta Matt Russell

Special to Tucson Local Media

he seed was likely planted when Travis Peters was a punk-rocking teenager, wearing an Operation Ivy band T-shirt and shredding around the streets of downtown Tucson on his skateboard. He was a regular fixture on the downtown punk and boarding scene long before he captured the nation’s attention as a multiple award-winning chef and Food Network star. Though he opened his first restaurant on the northwest side a decade ago, The Parish, his connection to downtown remained strong. And just last week, he opened his second restaurant on the same street where he used to shred as a kid. The Delta, located at 135 S. Sixth Avenue in the re-imagined space that was formerly Janos Wilder’s DOWNTOWN Kitchen & Cocktails, is Peters’ and

his business partners’ nod to genuine southern hospitality and “a healthy dose of spirited swagger.” As Peters points out, both of his restaurants are inspired by southern traditions. But The Delta’s menu is dominated by smaller, tapas-style dishes in a setting that pays tribute to the music culture of America’s big cities. “Try to imagine The Parish’s punk rock cousin, who grew up in Los Angeles rock clubs, won the lottery, moved to the South, bought an old swanky joint and turned it into a chef-driven bar and grill, that’s The Delta,” he said. So what does swank look like at the center of the plate? The Big D is Peters’ response, “a most ridiculous sandwich” as he defines it. The “Big D” comes with a smoked and Dr. Pepper-braised bone-in beef rib on a locally baked baguette, with an andouille sausage aioli, habanero-dill pickles, pickled vegetables, fermented, dehydrated and

Pastors Daniel J. Valasakos and Craig T. Larson Saturday Evening Worship 5:00 PM Sunday Morning Worship 8:00AM & 10:30AM (with Holy Communion) Adult Forum 9:15AM Bible Study - Thursdays 10:00AM

fried Shitake mushrooms and crispy beef tendons. This is especially good news to me as you just can’t find decent beef tendons these days. When the dish is delivered to the table, the server effortlessly pulls the bone from the meat and sets it alongside the plate. Another salute to the swank is The Delta’s Stuffed Pork Rib Crown, a full rack of brined and smoked pork ribs turned up on its side with the ends fastened together with “meat glue.” Peters stuffs fried tater tots in the middle of the circle of ribs and tops them with pimiento cheese, two kinds of barbecue sauce, crumbled pork rinds, pickled onions and blueberries, and jalapenos that are fried with onions and soy sauce. Excuse me, but how in the world does a guest even begin to attack this dish? “This one clearly comes with a steak knife,” he said. “The ribs are standing straight up and down so you can see where you need to cut.”

You can just imagine the accelerating landslide of saucy tots as each rib is eliminated. But what about those smaller plates that are said to define The Delta’s distinctness? Peters has you covered, with nearly 20 dishes ranging from a Giant Chicharron to a Crispy Pig Tail Confit. There’s also a Roasted Forbes Bone Marrow, with an upcharge for the “Bourbon Luge,” of course. “This is a place for sharing, a place to enjoy food and drinks with the people you love,” he said. Operation Ivy, that punk band that Peters loved in his youth, recorded a song in 1989 called “Gonna Find You” which promises, “If you can’t find a place it’s gonna find you.” While Travis Peters wasn’t necessarily looking for The Delta as a kid on a skateboard, I believe that it found him. And now we’ve found a fun new place to get our swank and swagger on.

Photo by Javier Castillo.

The “Big D” comes with a smoked and Dr. Pepperbraised bone-in beef rib on a locally baked baguette.

Contact Matt Russell, whose day job is CEO of Russell Public Communications, at mrussell@ russellpublic.com. Russell is also the publisher of On-

TheMenuLive.com as well as the host of the Friday Weekend Watch segment on the “Buckmaster Show” on KVOI 1030 AM.

Mount Zion Lutheran Church FEBRUARY 2022 MARCH 2nd FEBRUARY 2022

February 5th; 8:00-11:00AM: POW-WOW---70# of produce for $12 February 26th ; 8:00AM-3:00PM : BOOK SALE 520-883-0627 4520 West Ajo Way Tucson, AZ 85746 February 27; 7:00AM-12:00PM: Book Sale Office Hours: March 2nd: Noon & 7:00PM; Ash Wednesday Services Mon - Thurs 8:30am - 3:00pm

Visit us on website for Zoom link: mountzionelca.com

Ash Wednesday Services

Noon & 7:00PM

52 56

53 58

ACROSS 1 Like court arguments 5 What travels on sound waves? 9 Heart’s home 14 Kind of bread 15 Part of the foot 16 Saddlebacks, tumps, knolls and the like 17 Lettered awards show host? 19 “Not a problem” 20 Celebrity dog trainer Millan 21 Articles of exercise equipment 23 Buster 26 Bonobo, for one 27It’s a little longer than a foot 30 Lettered adversary in a battle of wits? 36 Bit of bar food 37“You ready?” 38 Pulitzer winner Harper 39 The end 41 ___-eared 42 Retail figure

44 Bega who sang “Mambo No. 5” 45 Barack Obama’s “A Promised Land,” e.g. 48 Confirmation or quinceañera 49 Lettered home on the range when no one’s home? 51 Pickle 52 ___ milk 53 Rigging support 55 Sure thing 60 Stereotypical lumberjack feature 64 Around, for a date 65 Lettered school paper that’s a snap to write? 68 First-stringers 69 Ingredient in traditional medicine 70 Film shot 71 Prevails over 72Ding-y thingy? 73Hastened DOWN 1 International grp. founded in Baghdad in 1960 2 Fog-induced frost

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve felt trapped by jobs before, but now you have choices. You work to earn money but you’re not strictly motivated by it. You’ll consider other factors before you take on a task. Who does it help? How does it stretch you? What talents does it hone? What connections does it facilitate? Do you actually enjoy it? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You tried to end the year on a high note and now you’ll try even harder to end the first month of it in a way that sets you up for success. Note what pushes your emotional buttons. Whatever helps you manage your energy and moods will be key to keeping your energy high and your resources stocked. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). In the moment, action triumphs, and words are forgettable minor details. As for history, there is no action that can change it, so the words win. How you tell a story will manage the perspective and even influence the future. So, give serious thought to how you frame the events that led up to this day.

Crossword Puzzle Answers

T S K S

S L O T

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Having hit a few milestones of this journey, more roads are now open to you. You won’t go wrong with this guiding principle: Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. The life you want is exciting yet uncomplicated. Don’t let anything distract you from the beautiful simplicity of it.

E L S A

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Don’t wait for the perfect company. You think of certain activities as group activities, but celebrating, dining, dancing, traveling and even working on big projects can each be a marvelous adventure for a party of one. What if anything worth doing with someone else is worth doing alone? Test the premise this week. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Many relationships don’t start off with total reciprocity. It can take a while for mutual feelings and interests to start flowing. There are benefits to sticking with a one-sided interest for a short period of time just to see what happens. Set the countdown timer, then chalk it up to research and development. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Whatever the situation, it will help to remind yourself why you’re in it. And if you don’t know anymore or never did, do some soul searching. Get curious, ask yourself good questions and figure it out. Because when you know what’s in it for you, you’ll contribute gladly and fully and get back what you put in. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You feel fine about where you’re at, then along comes a measuring stick. Other people’s ideas of scale can be eye-opening, intimidating, funny or just plain wrong. Develop your own system of accountability to the greater scheme and then answer to that instead of the assessments and comparisons of others.

R I M E

O P E C

Y E S E S

M E E T S

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have a talent for creating smooth interactions with difficult people. You think ahead about what they need, what might set them off and how to make them as comfortable as possible. Because you make the effort to look for the good, you really do see something to love in practically everyone.

E L L I E

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re a thought leader, whether you realize it or not. You don’t have to share your opinion because you live it. No need to formulate a social media post about your ideas, goals and priorities; you’re already radiating with every quality you’d care to broadcast. This week, everyone gets it loud and clear.

H I M O M

3 NCR devices 4 Fail miserably, unless you’re a chicken 5 [Kapow!] 6 “The Lord of the Rings” brute 7 ___-deucy 8 Van Gogh’s art dealer brother 9 1980s fad items advertised as “the gift that grows” 10 Ice pack? 11 Lohengrin’s love 12 Parking meter opening 13 Clicks that chide 18 Historically significant period 22 Singer known as the “Prince of Motown” 24 Magnavox rival 25 “You have my number!” 27 Muscled, slangily 28 Shout-out from the stands 29 A stroke ahead, in golf 31 Thick, liquidy clump 32 Notices 33 Ewing matriarch on “Dallas” 34 Pool competitions 35 Some R.S.V.P.s 40 Leading star in Disney’s “Enchanted” 43 Where elbows may collide 46 Ides of March reproach 47 Agent, briefly 50 Garfield, for one 54 First prez to have a 60-Across 55 Healing indicator 56 Low-calorie, in beer names 57 Field of expertise 58 Well-kept 59 Cabbage kin 61 Acronym of urgency 62 Leave no leaves, say 63 Like pink or purple hair 66 Fenway squad, in brief 67 “The best is ___ to come”

S W O L E

D Y E D

19 21

R A K E

A S A P

9 16

A T C H C H H I E E I T Y O G A M A P E G E Y E N L S E T O P S A O I R R P E E M S P A R K B E A S Y E S L O E T E X T S

B O A R E M C R A R C C A A L L E M T E T U N E A T

A M Y A D A M S

A L T A M Y S A N O E N G E G U P T O M C A T

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Ideas can progress you... or not. You’re a deeper thinker. Much beauty can come of your thought spirals. Better a spiral, which goes somewhere, than a loop, which doesn’t. Stay aware of your patterns. Share with an objective party who can, if necessary, nudge you out of unsupportive mental repetitions.

A R E A

HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis ARIES (March 21-April 19). To know you’re loved, honored and cared for is to be cradled in the most secure sensations humanity has to offer. Money can’t buy the feeling, yet we keep trying. Before you take out your wallet, think about the ways, however small they may be, you already feel adored. Focus there and let the feeling grow.

L I T E

Desert Times, Feb 2022

S C A B

Desert Times, Feb 2022

Worship Guide BAPTIST

LUTHERAN

DESERT TIMES 520.797.4384

Classifieds@tucsonlocalmedia.com LUTHERAN

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11575 N. 1st Ave. Oro Valley, AZ 85737 (520) 575-9901

Changing the world through Christ, by caring for all people

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8:30 & 10 a.m. in person 10 a.m. online umcstmarks.org/live-worship 1431 W. Magee Rd. (520-297-2062) www.umcstmarks.org

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Welcome to Resurrection Lutheran! Come join us every Saturday evening or on Sunday for worship! Oro Valley Location 5:00 pm Saturday evening Worship

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ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

OUR DOORSORO ARE OPEN! VALLEY, AZ 85742

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Please joinWorship us for for In-Person Vista Sunday at 10Church amand Please join us LIVE! Online service Children’s Sunday School Live Streamed Worship Service Sunday @ 10am @ 10:00am at 10:15 am after the children’ s www.vistaumc.org www.vistaumc.org time in the church service or watch anytime using the the previor watch anytime using ous broadcast previous broadcast Adult Sunday Schoolbutton! –button! 11:15 am Please visit our website and/ 3001 E. Miravista Catalina or VistaUMC onLane, Facebook for Facebookfor viewing and daily updates updates on our our viewing on Locatedand on daily Oracle Rd. between Sunday services. services. Sunday

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UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1401 East El Conquistador Way

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New fast-charging hub for electric cars opens downtown Nicole Feltman Tucson Local Media

rivers of electric cars have a new spot to charge their vehicles in downtown Tucson. Hotel Congress has launched the first fastcharging Electric Vehicle charging hub in Southern Arizona. The charging hub debuted with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Regina Romero on the morning of Jan. 11 in the Maynards’ parking lot between the historic train depot and the Depot Parking Garage. The charging hub has four charging ports, with two ports being Level 3 DCFC Ports, which recharge an EV battery up to 80 percent in 15-45 minutes, depending on the voltage capacity of the vehicle. The other ports are Level 2, which can recharged an EV battery with 250 miles of range in less than five hours. It’s the latest step in the City of Tucson’s effort to support electrical vehicles as part of a push toward a carbon-neutral economy. In 2020, Romero and the Tucson City Council approved a climate emergency declaration in an effort to become a climate-resilient city “for the betterment of not just our environment, our economy, but also our health,” Romero said. Romero noted the transportation sector is the largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions, so she wants to accelerate the city’s electric vehicle roadmap, especially since the federal government wants to invest in infrastructure. Romero said she wants to be ready for the release of

federal infrastructure funds. Romero said everyone has a responsibility to respond to climate change, not just the government. “Climate change is not just an environment issue,” she said. “Climate change affects those most vulnerable amongst us. It is a public health hazard. Our seniors, our children, our low-income communities, our communities of color are the frontlines being effected by climate change.” Tucson Electric Power and the City of Tucson have partnered up to electrify the transit system. Currently the City of Tucson has five electric buses and plans to add another four electric buses in the coming year. By adding more electric vehicle charging stations, she hopes to encourage Tucson residents to buy electric vehicles. Kimber Lanning, CEO and founder of Local First Arizona said, more charging stations were important for the electric car revolution. “As we think about transitioning in a just manner to a post-carbon economy, we need to really steer our electric vehicle infrastructure into the areas that are most accessible for all people to participate in the transition of electric vehicles,” Lanning said. Local First Arizona is the largest local business coalition in the country committed to working toward building a more diverse and inclusive Arizona economy through supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and locally owned businesses. Local First Arizona runs programs, such as the SCALE UP program, that take local

businesses and organizations through energy audits and sustainability-focused assistance to help them collaborate and compete to strengthen Arizona’s economy. “We believe that the more locally owned businesses that we can have in any economy, means more dollars and jobs keep recirculating in that community and part of our focus is making sure we are building resiliency in the small business community,” Lanning said. Hotel Congress CEO Todd Hanley was the first graduate of Local First Arizona’s SCALE UP program. “We want to work with people that believe in what we believe in, not just because we are making money,” Hanley said. “We are here for a vision a mission, and ultimately for me, Hotel Congress and Maynards Kitchen has set the bar since 1985.” Hanley believes that Hotel Congress is one of the “most forward thinking hospitality businesses in the region.” “We kind of live and breath sustainability, we live and breathe localism and what’s best for the community,” said Hanley. Lanning said Tucson is one of the leaders in the effort toward sustainability. “Tucson really is not only leading Arizona but leading the region in building resiliency in this community and I am especially proud on the emphasis on building inclusivity and consideration for those most vulnerable among us,” said Lanning. Local First Arizona, Chapman Automotive, TEP, Hotel Congress, CLEAResult, and Mrs. Green’s World partnered up to create the charging hub.

Desert Times, Feb 2022