Tucson Desert Times - December 2022

Mayor Romero welcomes 105 new citizens

By Hope Peters Tucson Local Media

Mayor Regina Romero welcomed 105 new U.S. citizens to the country on Nov. 10 with per sonal family stories, while Presi dent Joe Biden offered an inspir ing video message.

The United States of America Citizenship and Immigration

Services and the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizo na’s citizenship ceremony was administered by Magistrate Judge Lynnette C. Kimmins at the Pima Air and Space Museum in honor of Veterans Day.

“Welcome my fellow Ameri cans, first and foremost, I want to thank you for choosing us, and believing that America is worthy of your aspirations,” Biden said

via video.

“Every immigrant comes to America for different circum stances and for different reasons, but you all have one thing in common: courage. The courage it takes to sacrifice and make this journey, the courage to leave your home, your lives and your loved ones, and come to a nation

New tenants coming to Ajo Way

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Local Media

Starbucks and Bisbee Breakfast Club are headed to a retail pad at Ajo Way and Camino de Oeste.

Sixteenth & Ajo LLC c/o Pete Villaescusa, manager, purchased a 50,000-square-foot retail pad at the southwest corner of Ajo Way and Cami no de Oeste in Tucson for $450,000. Lot 2 in El Portal Dorado, 4633 W. Ajo Way was purchased for construction of a mul titenant retail building.

Starbucks Corporation leased 2,400 square feet of retail space from Sixteenth & Ajo LLC. Greg Furrier, principal, retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in the transaction.

Starbucks will be on the east end, while Bisbee Breakfast Club will sit on the west

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media

ARTS

Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 9

Pima Community College closes out the “Invisible Borders” exhi bition at the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, now through Friday, Dec. 9. The exhibit which features 31 fe male photographers from Mexico and Southern Arizona present a unique collaboration from wom en on both sides of the border, who “temporarily make the divisions dis appear.” The gallery is open Monday to Friday, holiday hours may differ. Visit pima.edu for information. Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road.

Sunday, Dec. 11

The Tucson Museum of Art and His toric Block hosts Second Sundaze: Family Day at the TMA. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every second Sunday of the month, the TMA offers “paywhat-you-wish” admission all day. Family-friendly activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 2 to 3 p.m., join the Docent Art Talk with Adrienne O’Hare: The Art of the Wild, Wild West. During the talk guests will learn more about artists and the American West. Limited tickets are available, visit the website for more informa tion, tucsonmuseumofart.org. Tuc

son Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Avenue.

THEATER

Saturday, Dec. 10 to Sunday, Dec. 11

Tucson Regional Ballet presents, “A Southwest Nutcracker,” at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. Set in the 1880s, watch the story of the nutcracker unfold throughout historical Tucson and the Southwest. For more information about the production and how to purchase tickets, visit tucsonregionalballet. org. Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.

Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 18

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. The Arts Express Theatre presents “Elf the Musical” at the Park Place Mall on Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 18. Based on the beloved modern-day holiday classic, join Buddy the Elf on his quest to find his true identity. Recurring weekly during the week ends, times vary. Tickets start at $35; arts-express.org. Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard.

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday, Dec. 7

San Xavier Roman Catholic Parish presents Patronato Christmas from

Hot Picks

San Xavier, on Wednesday, Dec. 7. A series that defines the holiday season, these four concerts feature sacred and holiday music. Visit patrona tosanxavier.org for ticket informa tion. San Xavier, 1950 W. San Xavier Road.

Thursday, Dec. 8

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultur al Alliance (SAACA) present the Oro Valley Concert Series on Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Enjoy swing and holiday favorites by the local ambassadors of the Great Swing Era, the Wholly Cats Swing Club from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Appealing to all generations, the Wholly Cats Swing Club plays classic hits. Admis sion is free. For more information about events sponsored by SAACA, visit saaca.org. Oro Valley Market place, 12155 N. Oracle Road.

Friday, Dec. 9

Arizona Arts Live and Broadway in Tucson present, Harry Connick Jr. A Holiday Celebration at Centen nial Hall on Friday, Dec. 9. Join the best-selling musician, singer, com poser and legendary live performer to celebrate the holidays with him and his band. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more information about the show, visit arizonaartslive.com. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Oro Valley Parks & Rec. present the Steam Pump Ranch Second Saturdays Live Music on the lawn of the his toric Steam Pump Ranch from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10. Lis ten to the sounds of the Post-Modern American West by singer-songwriters Liz & Pete, while shopping at the Oro Valley Farmers Market. Food trucks, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Outside alcohol is not permitted. For more information about this free event, visit saaca.org. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Sunday, Jan. 8

The city of Tucson, Rio Nuevo and Pima Pain Center present Tucson Holiday Ice through Sunday, Jan. 8. Winter visitors may have their own skates, but locals can rent equipment to join in on the seasonal fun. Socks are required and gloves are highly recommended. Tucson Holiday Ice tickets are available online for var ious sessions, visit tucsonaz.gov to reserve a spot. Tucson Holiday Ice, 260 S. Church Avenue. (In front of the Tucson Convention Center Ticket Office.)

Friday, Dec. 9 through Saturday,

Dec. 24

Yuletide comes to Old Tucson Studios on Friday, Dec. 9, to Saturday, Dec. 24. The holiday spectacular rings in the “holidays the Old West Way” this Christmas season with interactive ex periences, live shows, hayrides, train rides and more. Visitors are encour aged to purchase tickets in advance on yuletideaz.com because tickets are timed. Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road.

Friday, Dec. 9 through Saturday, Dec. 17

Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Galleries present Holiday Nights on Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10. Enjoy live performances by Tucson musicians and nosh on food by local vendors while walking down the gar dens’ illuminated pathways. Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for the gen eral public, $6 for kids ages 3-12, and free for kids ages 2 and younger. For more information on dates, vendors and musicians, visit tohonochul. org. Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte.

Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Wednes day, Dec. 30

“Ready, set, glow!” The Reid Park Zoo and Tucson Electric Power present Zoolights: Holiday Magic

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 through out 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 Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

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

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter kschaffner@timepublications.com

Hope Peters, Staff Reporter hpeter@timespublications.com

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham, Production Manager, tucsonproduction@timespublications.com

Nathalie Proulx, Graphic Designer nproulx@timespublications.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager, brian@timeslocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Gary Tackett, Account Executive gtackett@timespublications.com

Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL

6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, through Wednesday, Dec. 30. Take a walk under enchanting lights and a “confection-merry Candyland,” head to the Arctic Zone, you just might run into St. Nick. There’s “Snow Place like Reid Park Zoo for the holidays.”

Ticket prices are as follows: $12 adults (ages 15 to 61), $10 seniors (ages 62 and older), $8 children (ages 2 to 14), Free for children younger than 2, zoo mem bers receive $3 off admission Tuesdays to Sundays. For the full line-up of perform ers and how to plan your visit, check out reidparkzoo.org. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court.

Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Sunday, Jan. 15

The highly anticipated and luminous hol iday installation, “Lights Up! A Festival of Illumination,” returns to the Tucson Bo tanical Gardens through Sunday, Jan. 15. Comprised of more than 3,000 luminarias, this local tradition brings together metic ulously constructed experiences, thematic zones and installations from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. six nights a week. For information about ticket prices, FAQ and special

foodie events during this time, visit tuc sonbotanical.org. Tucson Botanical Gar dens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way.

Saturday, Dec. 10

The Oro Valley Historical Society has decked the halls of the Pusch House Mu seum for guests to peruse Traditions, Toys and Trains from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10. No reservations are required, visitors are can sign up at the Oro Valley Historical Society booth at the south end of the farmers market. There is a $5 sug gested donation. For more information about ongoing tours, museum hours and events, visit ovhistory.org. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle.

LOCAL MARKETS

Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11

The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association presents the annual Fourth Avenue Street Fair from Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11. Bringing together hundreds of merchants, vendors and artisans, the mar ket gives guests the chance to finish their holiday shopping list early. From 10 a.m. to dusk each day. For more information, fourthavenue.org. Fourth Avenue Win ter Street Fair, 316 N. Fourth Avenue.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Support your local farmers, ranches and small food purveyors offering their season al produce, farm-fresh eggs, meats and hol iday goods during Holidays at the Markets at the Oro Valley Farmers Market on Sat urday, Dec. 10. Operating every Saturday, year-round at the Historic Steam Pump Ranch, the farmers market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. For more information about the featured Holidays at the Market at Oro Valley Farmers Market or other Heirloom Farmers Mar kets, visit heirloomfm.org. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road.

KIDS Saturday, Dec. 10

Every second Saturday, the Children’s Mu seum Tucson features the Art After Dark series, Cuentacuentos, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The interactive storytelling program is free of admission for children and their guests. This weekend watch “Elf” in the courtyard this Saturday, Dec. 10. For more information about the many other di verse program’s that the CMT offers, visit childrensmuseumtucson.org. Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Avenue.

that is more than just a place, but rather an idea, an idea where everyone is created equal and deserves to be treated equal.”

Biden told the audience America can be defined by one word: possibilities.

“Today you have earned a new title, equal to that of an American president,” Biden said. “A title I am most proud of, citizen, citizen of the United States of America. I look forward to standing with you as you embrace your new rights and responsibilities, as you build your lives, your legacy here like generations have done before you in this great nation of im migrants. Welcome my friends, welcome my fellow Americans, welcome. May God bless you all and may God bless the Unit ed States of America.”

The citizens were born in 25 countries: Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Congo (Kinshasa), the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Guyana, India, Ire land, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Philippines, Somalia, South Africa, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

“It is an honor to be here with all of you

today,” Romero said. “I’d like to first start by thanking (Pima Air & Space Museum executive director) Scott Marchand for welcoming us to this beautiful historic place that holds so much value to the city of Tucson and our residents.”

Romero asked for acknowledgement for the original stewards of the Sonoran Des ert; the nations of the original people, the Tohono O’odham and the Pascua Yaqui tribes.

“Really, in actuality, we are all immi grants,” Romero said. “Today you have taken the same oath, you have become U.S. citizens. Taking this oath of citizen ship with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges that it holds. It is what brings us all together.”

The mayor also thanked Kimmins for presiding over the naturalization and ad ministered the oath. Romero told the new USA citizens of her immigrant family.

“I am a proud daughter of immigrant farm working parents,” she said. “Although my family has lived in the Sonoran Desert region for over six generations, I was the first person in my family to be born on the United States side of the border.”

From her parents, Romero said she learned to respect the lands, to work hard,

to value her education and “to always ex ercise my right to vote.”

She told her fellow citizens that every one faces struggles, yet there are so many possibilities and opportunities awaiting them.

“As a young girl, I never thought I would be the first woman mayor of the city of Tucson.” Romero said. “I have always be lieved in our democracy and public ser vice. I love being able to serve the people of Tucson, Arizona.”

Facing challenges and struggles, Rome ro told the new citizens to “remember this setting, this place, this day, and the faces around you.”

“It becomes our job to work together toward perfecting our democracy,” she added. “That is the essence of what being a citizen is all about. Participating in our democracy.”

Romero said the United States needs each of them “...to create the best United States that we can be.

“The place where you and your family will grow and thrive. We need your lead ership, your creativity, your problem solv ing, your heart, your voice. We need your ideas and insights, we need your cour age…We are one, Somos uno.”

end. That leaves 970 square feet in the mid dle available for lease.

“With over 39,000 people in this grow ing area it is an underserved trade area,” Villaescusa said. “The growth of residential homes is high with few retail opportunities besides the high-volume McDonald’s and a new Circle K at Kinney and Ajo.”

Whiskey

By Karen Schaffner Tucson Local Media

Tucson distillery Whiskey Del Bac hosted the first of what it hopes will be many member events at its new Whiskey Club.

Recently, distillery founders Stephen Paul and his daughter Amanda Paul threw open the doors of the plant to reveal to club members just exactly what they’re doing in the warehouse-size facility.

It was a grand blast-off for the new club. “We’re really excited to be launching the club; it only took us about 10 years to get our act together,” Amanda said with a laugh.

“Whiskey is one of those things that brings people together, and all of our club

Bac introduces ‘exciting’ members club

all kinds of different things that really let us be creative.”

The first club release, for example, is 500 bottles only of mesquite-smoked Ameri can single malt whiskey finished in Pine au des Charentes barrels at cask strength (53.5% proof). Its base is the distillery’s flagship mesquited single malt, Dorado.

Stephen said this is their version of the scotch produced on the island of Islay, Scotland, which specializes in single malt, peated whisky. For Del Bac’s purposes, mesquite is the smoke of choice, peat be ing in short supply in the Sonoran Desert.

“We’re in Tucson, Arizona, but we take pretty much the same method and try to replicate that here, but we don’t have peat bogs here,” distiller Raymond Hammond said. “At least none that I know of. Instead, we use mesquite.”

Del Bac whiskeys begin life as 2-row barley seed, which is sprouted and smoked with locally sourced mesquite, he added. In fact, it’s that smoking process that stops the barley’s growth process, which later becomes the main ingredient of whiskey.

members are ones that love to geek out on the chemistry and science of the whole thing, and I’m really excited.”

Stephen added, “This is a fun project, something we’ve never done before, and it seems to be going very well. It gives us a chance to relate in ways we haven’t been able to do and give people a discount or break on things and enhance our relation ship.”

For both Pauls, it comes down to Whis key Del Bac’s home.

“Tucson has been really special to us. We’re very much tied to this place, and when we first took our product to the local Tucson marketplace in 2013 it was very warmly received, and then that never stopped,” Stephen added.

Amid the huge metal vats and wood casks, club members sipped on the latest distiller’s cut, while Two-Row, the plant’s

mouser, strolled among the guests. This club is not exclusive, however. Any adult may join. Those who like to taste exclusive are invited to join.

There are benefits such as tours of the distillery; discounts on merchandise; and invitations for you and a guest to a club event, which comes with the entry level at $120. Membership lasts until the next distiller’s release, about three times a year. The next release is set for Feb. 3. Level up to receive more perks, but the main ben efit for all members is, depending on the club level, one or two bottles of the most recent cask-strength distiller’s cut release, which Stephen said is a way for the distill ers to innovate.

“The distiller’s cuts are very fun for us because they’re always finished in used, either port barrels or cognac barrels, Ma deira casks, Pineau des Charentes barrels,

Hammond worked as a bartender for more than 12 years before his employ ment at Del Bac. Now, he has a true ap preciation for what goes into making a good whiskey.

“I didn’t really know how much labor goes into every single bottle,” he said.

For this event he was tending a rather tall fire box, which is connected to the warehouse by a complex system of pipes so none of that precious mesquite smoke is wasted.

It turns out that Whiskey Del Bac spe cializes in making handcrafted whiskey.

“We’re known for our American single malts,” head of marketing Jenny Bud wig said. “Everything — our classic, our Dorado and all our distiller’s cuts — are made here in-house, everything from grain to glass.”

“So, this is kind of cool because we are, as far as we know, one of a dozen distiller

Raymond Hammond

signature mesquite flavor of Whiskey Del

Whiskey

ies in the country that are doing this malt ing process ourselves,” distiller Abbey Fife said.

Even if patrons are not in the club, they may experience Del Bac’s latest rye release, called Sentinel, which just hit area restaurants and liquor stores. It’s not handcrafted, but it is finished in the Forbes Boulevard plant.

“Our distillery team just had this idea: What if we can make a Southwestern rye?” Budwig said. “Our team is only four distillers, so we couldn’t take time away to actually make our own, so we sourced the base rye, a mix of two- and threeyear, and we finished it here. We filtered over the mesquite charcoal that we use to make our Dorado smoked whiskey. We also aged it over the summer in our Dora do-wet, mesquite barrels, and we finished it here.”

But back to the club.

“We want people to know they can engage with our distillery and all our products and new products, including the seasonal offerings that we do. They’re one-offs and distiller’s cuts. That’s the only way you can get them,” Stephen said.

Hidden deep within the warehouse-like distillery is a small, den-like space with a cabinet full of bottles waiting to be opened and sampled. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/ Contributor)

Whiskey Del Bac whiskeydelbac.com/ the-whiskey-club

Whiskey Del Bac launched a new club by opening its doors to members for a taste of the distillery’s latest. Benefits such as the latest cask strength limited edi tion distiller’s cut release, tours of the distillery, discounts on merchandise and invitations to club events are included in the $120 entry fee. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

Father-and-daughter team of Amanda Paul and Stephen Paul are the founders of Whiskey Del Bac. Behind them are just a few of the casks used to age and impart flavor to the whiskey they produce. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

Distiller Abbey Fife explains the process of sprouting and imparting the mesquite-smoked flavor to 2-Row barley seeds used to produce whiskey. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

Distillers use casks and barrels made of a variety of woods to add flavor to the whiskey. Some of those are port or cognac barrels, madiera casks and Pineau des Charentes barrels. Barrels are often constructed of American white oak and are a type of cask. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

ENTERTAINMENT

The Mavericks’ Eddie Perez visits with the ghosts of Christmas

By Xavier Omar Otero Tucson Local Media Contributor

In advance of The Mavericks’ Very Merry Christmas on Saturday Dec. 10, at The Fox Tucson Theatre, guitarist Eddie Perez reflects on his past, pres ent and future.

Born in 1968, Edward Anthony Perez grew up in La Puente, California, weaned on a steady diet of rock ‘n’ roll.

“My heroes were Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Van Halen and Ace Frehley,” Perez said. But the most profound imprint left on his life has roots in different origins.

“My biggest influence was my father. He was really a music lover.”

A boy looking up to his dad. Perez’ beloved father, Edward Perez Sr., died in 2018 after a long battle with cancer.

“I remember him saying, ‘You know Ed, if you want to be a rock ‘n’ roller the first thing that you have to learn is Chuck Ber ry,’” Perez recalled, wistfully.

“The music of my dad’s day was Merle Haggard and Chuck Berry on the car ra dio driving around Bakersfield, Califor nia. That’s where I get the country music from.”

Watching his uncles singing and strum ming a few chords in the backyard at fam ily barbecues, Perez taught himself how to play guitar. Soon, the burgeoning rock ‘n’ roller was hooked. With his brother be hind the drum kit, Perez began playing in bands at the age of 13.

“In the late 1980s, I rediscovered coun try music in a different way. With some one I’ve had the privilege of playing music with, Dwight Yoakam.”

Bridging the gap between rock ‘n’ roll and country music, it was Yoakam’s 1986 release, “Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.” — the first album to feature ace guitarist Pete Anderson — that blew Perez’ young mind asunder.

“Hearing that album really turned me around. It gave me a focus.”

Being a part of LA’s cow punk move ment of the ’80s — early on, he backed rockabilly singer James Intveld — is how

Perez began to hone his signature sound.

Around 1998, volatility in the world’s fi nancial markets forewarned change.

“Clubs were closing. There was nowhere to play in LA.”

Perez took a leap of faith and left the fa miliarity of Southern California.

“I needed to be close to the source of all things. I was heavily influenced by records from the 1950s and ‘60s, country music in particular,” Perez said. “I felt that I should go and be a part of that.”

When an opportunity to move to Aus tin, Texas presented itself, Perez did not hesitate.

“I was there for about three years,” Perez recalled. “And, I’ll tell ya, for a musician it is a really hard place to make it because a lot of the industry is based in Nashville.”

Despite a glut of venues to play, Perez struggled.

“That was the richness of that moment for me. I got to play a lot of gigs, with a lot of people, in a lot of different styles,” he

said. “But, eventually I reached the point where I was like, ‘Man, there is only so much Top Ramen that I want to eat.’”

Along came Fortuna the Roman god dess of fortune and the personification of luck, redirecting his path.

“That very week, I was contemplating moving back to California when I got a call from (country star) Gary Allan’s man ager. He offered me a job on the spot. No audition,” Perez said, proudly. “‘We know that you’re the guy. The only thing is you have to move to Nashville.’”

Impulsivity, ambition and Perez’ grow ing distaste for ramen fueled his decision; he jumped at the opportunity.

“So, I went from being in Austin one week, struggling, to two weeks later, being on a tour bus, playing for 25,000 people in enormous arenas as part of the Brooks & Dunn Neon Circus tour in 2001,” Perez recalled. “It was like a movie.”

“I’ve been very fortunate and charmed in some way. For that reason, I just try to

keep giving it my best.”

Or is it the blessed Virgen de Guada lupe — an image emblazoned on his 2009 Nash T-56 Telecaster — that has interced ed when the chips have been down?

During his early days in Nashville, Perez and Mavericks’ frontman Raul Malo be came fast friends. Regulars on the Down town Nashville club scene, one night while out drinking, Malo offered Perez a gig to join him on solo dates without ever actu ally hearing him play a lick.

“He talked a good game. That was good enough for me,” Malo recalled.

The Mavericks came into existence in the mid-’90s as a traditional country quartet. But by the early 2000s, the band was expanding its musical palette. In spired by Doug Sahm and the Texas Tor nados rough hewn sound — regarded as a prominent figure in the history of Texan music — they incorporated Tex-Mex into

The Mavericks — from left to right, guitarist Eddie Perez, singer Raul Malo, drummer Paul Deakin and keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden — are ready to cele brate the holidays with a Very Merry Christmas show. (The Mavericks/Submitted)

Mavericks

the mix.

continued from P7

In 2003, Perez joined the Mavericks as a member, replacing guitarist Nick Kane.

“You wouldn’t think that an influence of Jimmy Page or Angus Young of AC/DC would fit into The Mavericks, but some how it works,” Perez said, amusedly.

The band broke up just two years into Perez’s tenure. But Perez was not “Born to be Blue.”

In the interim, Dwight Yoakam came calling. Perez would spend the next seven years with the “Honky Tonk Man” tour ing and recording before The Mavericks reunited in 2013, with the release of “In Time,” to critical acclaim.

“The Mavericks have always been a mu sical, moving art piece project from one album to the next,” Perez concluded.

Known for going against the grain, in 2020 The Mavericks took a bold step and released “En Español,” an album sung en tirely in Spanish.

“We felt it was something that we had to do. Something that was long overdue for us.”

As the band was putting finishing

touches on the album, literally overnight, the pandemic brought the music industry to a halt.

“Normally when you release a record you go out and you tour it. Now we were left wondering, ‘What are we going to do? How long is this thing going to last?”

Left with more questions than solid an swers, The Mavericks released it anyway.

“We just started doing stuff on our own.”

Partnering with a streaming service — that helped them cultivate an online subscription concert movie — the band found a way to promote “En Español,” independently. The risk paid off. “En Es pañol” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Pop chart.

“We came in right on top of Bad Bun ny and Maluma, for one week,” Perez en thused, hardly able to contain his laughter.

“Music is much more than just the words. It is also the feeling.”

“We just got done touring in Canada, from west to east. Before that we did three and a half weeks in the UK and Europe. Honestly, it didn’t matter where we played them; people love to hear these songs,” Perez offered as testament to music’s uni versality.

In a divided and charged environment, The Mavericks look right through politics and focus upwards.

“I’m on the side of what is best for hu manity. What is best for all of us. “We are about inclusivity. If you look at our band, you will see how diverse we are.” Perez added, quoting his bandmate, “‘It’s like Noah’s Ark, Raul said. We have two of everything.’

“I feel that my superpower, if I have anything, is to be up on that stage and to spread as much joy and loving, inclusive good vibes as I can. We are all on board with that. That’s what our music is about and that is who we are as people.”

In 2018, The Mavericks released “Hey! Merry Christmas!” A holiday album con taining eight originals penned by Malo and the band, and two covers of Christ mas classics.

“Everybody loves the Christmas al bum,” Perez declared.

“At the show you can expect to hear our Christmas songs, some cover Christmas songs and maybe some surprises that Raul will spring on us,” Perez said.

“It’s a celebration. We are ending the year strong, fulfilled, gratified and also

hopeful for the next opportunity.”

“Next year we’ve got some plans.”

The Mavericks have started work on a new album and are booking dates for a 2023 tour that will take them to Ita ly, Spain, France and beyond. The future looks bright.

“As long as the world stays sewn togeth er. I joke about that. But it’s no joke,” said Perez, uneasily. “There is such a discon nect between the heart and the brain these days.”

“We are all human beings that want the same things,” Perez said, reflectively. “I am doing my part to try to keep people re membering just that.”

The Mavericks w/JD McPherson

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10

WHERE: The Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson COST: Tickets start at $45 INFO: 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

FEATURES

Author tells story of girls and women in Tombstone

By Bridgette M. Redman Tucson Local Media Contributor

History has always appealed to Tuc son resident Vali Benson.

So, writing a historical novel came naturally to her.

When her children were young, she took them to Tombstone — because, she said, what little boys don’t like gunfights and horses? But she learned the stories were deeper than that.

At the center of her novel, “Blood and Silver,” is a 12-year-old girl, Clarissa Beau mont, who lives in a brothel and is trying to save her drug-addicted mother. She wins an ally in China Mary, the actual woman who ran Tombstone with an iron fist.

China Mary helps her get a job at a ho tel where she meets and befriends China Mary’s 12-year-old niece.

Benson described Clarissa as a spunky young woman who perseveres despite challenges.

“She’s had a rough life since her dad died and her brother died,” Benson said. “Then she and her mom had to head to Tomb stone alone and then her mom got hooked on drugs. She knew something was wrong. She just thought her mom was sick until she got to Tombstone and had a doctor tell her what it was, but she didn’t give up.”

As a reader who loves history, Benson did plenty of research to make sure her novel was accurate.

The book was published at the begin ning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which immediately ended all publicity. However, it enjoyed critical success, winning many awards including:

• Winner, History and Winner, Young Adult, 2021 San Francisco Book Festival

• Winner, Young Adult, 2021 New York Book Festival

• Finalist, Historical Fiction and Winner, Novella, 2021 American Fiction Awards

• Winner, Novella, 2022 International Book Awards

• First Book — Arizona, New Mexico-Ari zona Book Awards

• First Place, Fiction, Arizona Authors As

sociation Literary Contest Winners, 2021

• Winner, 2021 Top Shelf Fiction Awards

• Best First Book, Chapter Book, 2021 Moonbeam Awards

• First Place, Westerns; Honorable Men tion, Historical Fiction; Honorable Men tion, New Author: Fiction; Royal Dragon fly Book Awards

• Winner, Young Adult Fiction, 2021 Paris Book Festival

Tombstone wasn’t an obvious first choice for a location. The more she learned about it, the more interested she became.

“The town is such a dinky little place and had nothing to offer but some guys dressed up in cowboy suits,” Benson said. “The more I read about it, I find out it was home to over 15,000 people in 1880. I just thought, ‘What would that have been like to be a teenager growing up here?’ It was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco at the time. The more I learned, the more intrigued I was.”

It was a city that had its own red-light districts and a lot of brothels. Children, she said, had to live in the brothels because of the lack of options for women. Their ma jor roles were wives, mothers, teachers or prostitutes.

Tombstone also maintained a lot of the original buildings, including one that fig ures prominently in “Blood and Silver,” a little room under the stairs where a man lived who was stealing silver from the mines. Benson looked into this room, and it sparked her imagination of what it might

have been like if two young girls were to discover this.

While the book focuses on two 12-yearold girls, the novel was written for slight ly older teenagers, in part, because of the frank discussion of drug addiction and brothels. Benson even ran into one review er who refused to read her book, writing her back and telling her that he doesn’t re view filth.

“He was serious,” Benson said. “He thought it was filthy because it mentioned the word brothel. It was a huge part of life in Tombstone. There were saloons and brothels and then there were stores. Every day a new brothel opened because some new lady came to town.”

While researching the novel, Benson quickly learned of the Chinese population in Tombstone. In 1879, there were only 11 Chinese there. Within 18 months, there were 250.

“They really were a big part of Tomb stone’s society and their history,” Benson said. “China Mary was a real person, and she was really revered. When I go down there, they still talk about her. One guy at the Birdcage told me that her descendants came in one day.”

China Mary was a force in town, but it was hard to find information about her. In her next book, she will include a section about how China Mary ended up in the United States via San Francisco and then Tombstone.

“They sent her here with a couple of set tlers to build a town and they staked out an acre on the far end of town,” Benson said. “They started building buildings there and pretty soon it was known as Hop Town be cause they thought it seemed like the Chi nese hopped in and out.”

China Mary owned a general store with a gambling hall in back. She controlled the Chinese labor, guaranteeing their quality and honesty and collecting their pay. She had a money-lending business, police force and the town’s laundry services. She also dealt in vice. She sold opium and lauda num and provided Chinese prostitutes.

Drugs were also important to the story

because Benson knows many young adults today have parents who are addicted to drugs and deal with the fall-out from that. Clarissa attempts to save her mother from the brothel’s madam, who is drugging her. Benson said today’s kids can relate to it.

While Benson didn’t plan to write a se quel, she’s had many people asking for one, people who want to know what happened to Clarissa and China Mary. She said she was surprised that so many adults liked the novel — it wasn’t something that just her original target audience was reading.

She was also surprised at how many awards her book won.

“I was just dumbfounded,” Benson said. “I couldn’t believe it. People really liked this itty-bitty book. I mean, San Francisco, New York and Paris? Like, what the heck?”

While she has some books available in stores in Tombstone and elsewhere around the state, “Blood and Silver” can be purchased online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. More information about the author and future announcements about her book can be found at her web site, valibenson.com.

Tucson resident Vali Benson explores the history of nearby Tombstone in her debut young adult novel, “Blood and Silver.” (Vali Benson/Submitted)

Vali Benson’s first novel, “Blood and Silver,” takes place in Tombstone, where her young heroine tries to save her mother. (Vali Benson/Submitted)

HoliDaze 2022

Your holiday gift & event guide

HoliDaze … on the stage, with family

Holiday Gi Guide: It’s Better To Give…

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Local Media

ucson arts patrons can celebrate the holidays with celebratory twists on tra ditional events like local bands in bars, with ballerinas and “The Nutcracker,” or mariachis.

Want something low-key? Visit Oro Valley or Marana for their tree-lighting ceremonies.

Centennial Hall

TIt’s that time of the year again: e holidays are here! And the sta of Tucson Local Media is ready to help you nd one-of-akind local gi s for everyone on your list. Take a look and support local stores while you buy!

Ajo Bikes, 1301 E. Ajo Way. Whether you’re looking for a new bike, a tune-up for your wheels or just ni y accessories as stocking stu ers, Ajo Bikes is the place to look. With friendly service and skilled technicians, they’ll have you spinning your wheels on Christmas day. is shop specializes in those recumbent

1020 E. University Boulevard, Tucson

8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9

Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr. celebrates the holiday with his take on Christmas classics, as well as his originals and fan favorites like “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” and “When My Heart Finds Christmas.”

4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10

TDA: Spirit of Christmas

Tucson Dance Academy’s “The Spirit of Christmas” embraces “New York City Broad way Holiday magic” (including Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and the Grinch) and the spiritual dimension behind the Christmas message of hope.

The Century Room

311 E. Congress Street, Tucson hotelcongress.com/family/century-room

7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

“Nossa Bossa Nova: Jazz Christmas Italia no”

Celebrate the holiday season with Nos sa Bossa Nova as it performs songs from its 2020 album, “Jazz Christmas Italiano.”

Staff Report Tucson Local Media

Mariachi Sol De Mexico’s Merri-Achi Christmas has become a holiday tradition. (Mariachi Sol De Mexico/Submitted)

Featuring Brice Winston, Richard Katz, and Alejandro Canelos with Theresa and Mike Levy, the evening will blend traditional holiday standards, sung in Italian with acous tic jazz quartet.

7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 Britney Chauntae: “A New Orleans Christ mas”

New Orleans vocalist Britney Chauntae travels to Tucson celebrate Christmas with jazz music.

In 2009, she competed, won and toured with (BET) 106 & Park “Wild Out Wednes day Competition.” After that win, Chauntae wrote and performed music while living in California. She then signed on to write music in Australia with the likes of world-renowned aboriginal actor David Gulpilil.

Chauntae first visited New Orleans in early 2012 when she volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club and also sung on Bourbon Street at night.

She made it her permanent home in 2014— the same year she auditioned for season 14 of “American Idol.” She made it to Hollywood Week and hasn’t stopped performing since then.

Fox Tucson Theatre 17 W. Congress foxtucson.com

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9

“In the Christmas Mood: A Holiday Music Spectacular”

Produced by Khris Dodge Entertainment, “In the Christmas Mood” showcases holiday tunes such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Happy Holidays,” “Jingle Bells” and “The Christmas Song.” and many, many more.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10

The Mavericks’ “Very Merry Christmas Tour” with special guest JD McPherson Grammy winners The Mavericks will play selections from their 2018 holiday album, “Hey! Merry Christmas!,” along with their favorites from their 30-year career.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15

Doo Wop Project: “A Doo Wop Christmas”

Hear holiday hits with a doo-wop twist. The show features Christmas tracks as well as “doo-wopified” versions of hits by Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz, Maroon 5 and Sam

Harry Connick Jr. celebrates Christmas at Centennial Hall. (Harry Connick Jr./Submitted)

See HOLIDAZE P12

HoliDaze

Smith.

Continued from P11

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 Merri-Achi Christmas

Mariachi Sol De Mexico with Jose Hernan dez’s Merry-Achi Christmas has become an annual tradition.

While his family tree is rooted in five gen erations of Mariachi musicians that hail from La Sierra del Tigre region of Jalisco, Hernan dez grew mariachi music in new lands, in new musical genres, and in the hearts of new audiences.

2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 “The Polar Express”

The computer-animated 2004 film “The Polar Express” stars Tom Hanks, with Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett and Ed die Deezen. The Fox’s Mighty Wurlitzer will play a medley of holiday tunes 30 minutes prior.

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914”

A German soldier sings “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of cama raderie, music and peace. A true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 “It’s a Wonderful Life”

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra.

Based on the short story and booklet “The Greatest Gift,” “A Christmas Carol” stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams to help oth ers in his community. His suicidal thoughts on Christmas Eve bring about the interven tion of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). The Fox’s Mighty Wurlitzer will play a medley of holiday tunes 30 min utes prior.

Family

Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson tucsonmusichall.org

2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11

Tucson Regional Ballet’s “A Southwest Nut cracker” tucsonregionalballet.org

Tucson Regional Ballet’s “A Southwest Nut

cracker” transports Tchaikovsky’s traditional Nutcracker to 1880s Tucson, giving the char acters and events a Sonoran Desert twist.

Dec. 17 and Dec. 18

Tucson Symphony Orchestra: “Happy Holidays ¡Feliz Navidad!”

Join Maestro José Luis Gomez, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Tucson Girls Chorus, the Tucson Boys Chorus and other special guest artists to celebrate the hol idays with a multicultural Tucson flavor.

Various times Thursday, Dec. 22, to Saturday, Dec. 24

“The Nutcracker”

Celebrate the beginning of Ballet Tucson’s vibrant new partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for what is sure to be the holiday event of the season. This award-win ning production brings the enchanting sto ry of The Nutcracker to life with sensation al dancing, lavish sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s worldclass musicians.

Tucson Convention Center 260 S. Church Avenue tucsonconventioncenter.com

Various times through Sunday, Jan. 8

Tucson Holiday Ice Rink

The Tucson Holiday Ice Rink, hosted by the City of Tucson, will be located on Church Avenue, south of Broadway, in front of the Tucson Convention Center.

Skates begin at size 8 for children and run as large as size 15 for adult men. Socks are required, and gloves are highly recommend ed. Tickets are for 90-minute sessions; adults $20, $14 for children younger than 12. Skate assists are $5. Private use is $700 per 90-min ute session during off hours.

Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum 414 N. Toole Avenue, Tucson tucsonhistoricdepot.com

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

17th Annual Holiday Express

Features visits with Santa in front of “Okla homa’s” Locomotive 1673, bilingual exhibits, a reading of “The Polar Express” singing of holiday music and an arts and crafts show.

Simply having, a wonderful Yuletide

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media

Experience the “holidays the Old West Way” at Old Tucson Studios for “Yuletide” through Saturday, Dec.

24. After experiencing record turn out of “Nightfall’s” comeback, this equally immersive experience invites visitors to step into an illuminated 1882 Tucson.

“It’s great to come and experience what a holiday looks like from an earlier time frame because there will be things that you recognize and things that you don’t,” said Erik Blair, the creative director of “Night fall” and “Yuletide.”

The inaugural theme, which takes place during the early 1880s, celebrates the novel ty of electricity, as it makes its way from the East Coast to the Southwest. “The ability to light the night and buildings is being called a revolution,” according to a statement. The timed-entry experience will include a prompt 28-foot Christmas tree lighting in Town Square at 6:10 p.m. nightly that cele brates the industrial achievement.

The experience will also bring back a re

al-life former Tucsonan, the affluent Roy al A. Johnson. Old Tucson will have an in-house historian located at Shelton Hall to talk about movies, said Kristine “Kiki” Keefner, Old Tucson Studios’ general man ager.

“We’re really creating something here that brings Old Tucson back and continues the history of this location and of its events in a way that people are going to recognize and appreciate,” Blair said.

The movie studio and theme park which was acquired by American Heritage Rail ways (AHR) from Pima County back in April, and operates Old Tucson Studios un der the subsidiary corporation Old Tucson Entertainment LLC and has since looked forward to more immersive initiatives that include seasonal productions such as Nightfall and Yuletide.

“We have about 16 different things going on inside the park for families, depending on what you like,” Keefner said.

Holiday visitors can enjoy live produc

Happy Holidays

The Old Tucson Amateur Theatrical Society perform their own version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” This play is a comedic version of the tale as the society attempts to put on a show while its actors squabble, forget their lines, get stage fright, and even beg for the audience’s help. (Old Tucson/Submitted)

See YULETIDE P16

Yuletide Continued from P14

tions, including a customized version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Yuletide carolers, a luminaria display, hay rides and train rides. Guests can also pur chase Christmas trees from the tree lot. Children will have the opportunity to pen and mail their letters to Santa. Parents can send their naughty kids through the Kram pus Koal Mine while nice kids can visit Santa and his elves in the Christmas Cove.

“We’re starting a tradition,” Keefner said. “It’s time to come in and have a little bit of Christmas magic.

Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios

WHEN: Through Saturday, Dec. 24; timed entries run from 4 to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $45 for adults ages 12 and older; $40 children ages 5 to 11; free for children through age 4. Parking is $5

INFO: yuletideaz.com

This historical reproduction of a classic American carousel provides a safe ride for bronco-busters of all ages. (Old Tucson/Submitted)

The Christmas Fantasy Train will be running throughout the event, bringing citizens and visitors alike through a fantasy of lights and sound as it travels through town and out into the desert. (Old Tucson/Submitted)

Saguaro City’s inaugural show is ‘Wonderful’

By Laura Latzko Tucson Local Media

Before streaming and podcasts, com pelling stories were told over the radio.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Ra dio Play” captures a live radio broadcast while sharing a Christmas classic with au diences in different way.

Saguaro City Music Theatre will mark its first production with “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” from Friday, Dec. 9 to Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Berger Performing Arts Center.

Led by executive director Charlie In gram, artistic director Drew Humphrey and director of outreach and education Dena DiGiacinto, Saguaro City Music The atre boasts 60 years of combined profes sional theater experience.

The radio play is being directed by Hum phrey, who grew up in Tucson and attend ed UA before moving to New York to pur sue a career as a director, choreographer and performer.

The radio show takes place in New York in 1946 and tells the story of Bedford Falls savings and loan officer George, his wife Mary and their children.

The show, which draws from Frank Capra’s 1946 film and Philip Van Doren Stern’s “The Greatest Gift,” was adapted by Joe Landry.

It shares a similar message as the film about the power of goodwill and commu nity and the importance of human con nections. DiGiacinto said the ideals in the show fit with Saguaro City’s mission.

Humphrey has a personal connection to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which is his favorite Christmas movie.

“I love watching it every year, go on that journey with George Bailey and find my self a blubbering mess at that end. I’m not ashamed of it. It’s exciting to work on this piece,” Humphrey said.

DiGiacinto said the radio broadcast has a similar format as “Live from Here,” a ra dio variety show once known as “A Prairie Home Companion.”

“You see the special guests come on and off, and they set up different things. There’s always so much going on,” DiGiacinto said.

“It’s cool to see it in front of your eyes and visualize the chaos that goes on to get from one segment to another.”

“It’s designed to be performed for the audience in the seats. It’s as if they are be ing whisked back to Christmas Eve 1946 to watch a live broadcast,” Humphrey said.

The production will have six actors voicing 51 roles. DiGiacinto said during rehearsals, it was important to find actors who could portray multiple characters. One actor has to jump between four voices in one scene.

“Those characters are having a conversa tion with each other. Finding the actor that is able to color all of those voices and switch between them effortlessly and instantly was a major part of finding an actor to play that role,” Humphrey said.

“The actor who plays Harry does such an incredible job making it clear who’s who with different accents and tones of his voice. It’s just really impressive,” DiGiacinto said.

Only two actors, who portray the George and Mary, will be voicing one character each.

George will be played by actor James Kel ley Carroll from UA. Samantha Beemer, a Pima Community College student, is Mary. She was recently featured in SAPAC’s pro duction of “Fun Home.”

The radio play has a show within a show feel.

This means that actors will be part of the radio show and the story of “It’s A Wonder ful Life.”

Stewart Gregory, for example, will play radio host Freddie Filmore in the broadcast and Mr. Potter and Joseph in the play.

The show will also have a jingle singer, who will perform in a 1940s style.

Humphrey designed an original jingle for the show, which is used for the radio station.

Music has been added to the show, in the background during the radio play and during the “commercial breaks.” It is a combination of jazz standards and classic holiday songs.

Matt Marcus, a sound designer and live

“He is lending his expertise on how do

make a wind machine? How do you make wind out of props that they would have used in 1946? Or how would we break glass over and over again and not have glass shattered onstage? All of these things we have to figure out how to achieve with props you would find in 1946 and be able to produce these sounds live for the audi ence,” Humphrey said.

DiGiacinto said they tried to feature lo cal actors and creatives as well as talented individuals from cities such as New York. This is the formula they plan to use going forward.

“Coming from our background in the ater, we both spent a couple of decades in New York City, working professional ly in the theater business. We had a lot of fortunate opportunities to perform with regional companies that belonged to the community. We like the idea of bringing something like that, a musical theater com pany in Tucson that the community can really be a part of and have ownership of,” DiGiacinto said.

The company will offer a space where graduates from the UA and local commu nity colleges can apply their knowledge and skills.

Humphrey said it will also be important to bring in creatives from around the na tion to expose local audiences to their tal ents.

“When I was a kid in Tucson, there was

a company that brought in out-of-town tal ent from New York, LA and Chicago and out-of-town designers. That was what in spired me to go and pursue the career that I enjoy,” Humphrey said.

“That is the biggest part of our mission is to hire local and also find a way to outreach to professional actors or designers out of New York or LA and bring them into our

community so that we can all benefit from it.”

The sets in the show were created by a designer from New York, and they are be ing built by local artisans.

The set incorporates a Bedford Falls bill board, which Humphrey said helps trans

Saguaro City Music Theatre’s inaugural production will be “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” (Graphic by David L. Arsenault/Submitted)

port viewers to another time and place.

The creative team captured the time pe riod with little details, such as the vintage Christmas bulbs used in the show.

“In order to allow the audience to be transported back to 1946, those details re ally matter,” Humphrey said. “The time pe riod is just as special as the quality of the story.”

Although the theater component is new, the company has already been engaging the community as part of its educational branch, Saguaro City Studio Arts.

Through this program, they provide tu ition-free, inclusive education to people of all ability levels, including young people and adults with special needs.

The company has offered theater educa tion to 100 students so far.

The upcoming show will feature a chil dren’s ensemble, which includes students from the educational program. They will be portraying youth choir members.

“They’ll be singing some Christmas songs and entertaining the audience during some of the commercial breaks,” DiGiacin to said.

The founders plan for the theater and

educational components to work together.

“We are here to provide top-tier musical theater entertainment and create an envi ronment and expectation where the kids from our educational arm can aspire and see that there is a space for them onstage,” Humphrey said.

The company plans to partner with local nonprofits and creative organizations. For the show, they are working with the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Foun dation, Tucson Jazz Festival and Kids Un limited.

The organizations will receive a ticket code, which will get their supporters a dis count, and $5 of these tickets’ value will be donated to the organizations.

Live Radio Play”

WHEN: Various times Friday, Dec. 9 to Saturday, Dec. 24

WHERE: Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: saguarocity.org.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A

James Kelley Carroll and Samantha Beemer will star in Saguaro City Music Theatre’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” (Ray Frieders/Contributor)

Football season just flew by

By Tom Danehy Tucson Local Media

In a flash, the football season has come and gone.

The University of Arizona Wild cat football season started and ended with a couple serious high notes. The Cats started the year with an upset win at San Diego State, spoiling the first game in the Aztecs’ new stadium. At one point, Arizona was 3-2 and needed only to win three of its final seven games to receive a bowl game bid. They lost four straight games to teams ranked in the Top 25 in the country, giving up an absolutely shocking amount of points and yards in the process.

Just about the time that Arizona fans had given up on the season, the Cats pulled a stunner, beating highly ranked UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Suddenly, the bowl possibility was back on the table. All the Cats had to do was win their last two games, both at home. They got smacked by the Washington State Cougars, killing any chance to reach a bowl game. That left the season within a season — the Ar izona State game.

The much-despised Sun Devils had won the matchup five years in a row, in cluding a brutal 70-7 beatdown a couple years ago.

It wasn’t particularly pretty and the Wildcats gave up another ton of points

and yards, but a couple big defensive plays late in the game gave Arizona a 3835 victory and possession of the Territo rial Cup for the next year.

After the victory was secured, we could also revel in the performance of the ASU quarterback. Trenton Bourget starred at Marana High back before the pandemic, shattering school and state passing re cords. Considered to be too short, most colleges passed on him and he walked on at ASU. He had a game for the ages, pass ing for 376 yards in a losing effort.

Arizona heads into the offseason with a serious tailwind. They won four more games than last year. If they can come even close to a similar improvement next year, they could be one of the top teams in the Pac-12. (It’s not far-fetched. Wash ington went from 4-8 last year to 10-2 this season.)

One of the strangest decisions made

by a radio station executive is that to air Northern Arizona football games on Sat urday on the local ESPN radio channel (104.9 FM and 1490 AM). Nobody hates on NAU; we all wish them well (except when they’re beating the USA, as they did last year). The general response to a mention of NAU is “Aww…isn’t that nice.”

However, to devote a three- to fourhour chunk of prime airtime on a Sat urday during college football season is crazy. I’ll be driving along, listening to Prince or Marvin Gaye and I’ll switch over to try to get some scores of games from around the country. Instead, I’ll get some third-level announcer saying, “And the Lumberjacks are backed up after that penalty…” It’s infuriating.

And you can’t switch over to the other sports channel on the radio because they have like 17 hours of pregame stuff be fore the Arizona Wildcats game. I real ly like Glenn Howell and Kelvin Eafon, but how many times do you have to hear, “Well, the Wildcat defense needs to show up today?”

I’ve been tempted to switch over to 1450 AM, but I’m afraid that they would have the NAU pregame show.

It was a fairly decent year for prep football in the Northwest. Canyon Del Oro reached the 4A Final Four in football despite losing six starters to the drinking scandal. We’ll never know if they could

have advanced further. Pusch Ridge also reached the state semifinals, doing so in Class 3A. The Lions are a consistent win ner in their division.

Marana’s Tigers has a splashy season, going 9-1 in the regular season to reach the Class 5A State Tournament. However, that one loss — by the ridiculous score of 59-58 — probably cost them a chance to reach the third round of the playoffs.

The cockeyed Power Point formu la used by the Arizona Interscholastic Association to determine State playoff participants and their rankings severe ly punished the Tigers, dropping them down to eighth place. That gave Marana a home game against the No. 9 team in the first round of the playoffs, but it also guaranteed that they would have to face the top team in the State — on the road — in the second round.

That’s exactly what happened. The Ti gers handled Sunnyslope in Marana, but then had to travel to the Valley to face top-seeded Notre Dame Prep. It didn’t end well.

After getting off to an 0-3 start, Moun tain View had a winning record the rest of the way but fell short of making the playoffs. The other three schools in the Northwest (Amphi, Flowing Wells and Ironwood Ridge) had a combined record of 6-24.

Only 269 days until next football sea son!

Christmas Services

Christmas Services

2022 Ad

Christmas Services

Please join us in -person or online

Christmas Eve at 7:00 pm Christmas Day at 9:30 am Casas Adobes Congregational, UCC 6801 North Oracle Rd., Tucson www.caucc.org/christmas

Please join us in-person or online Christmas Eve at 7:00 pm

Please join us in -person or online

Christmas Eve at 7:00 pm Christmas Day at 9:30 am Casas Adobes Congregational, UCC 6801 North Oracle Rd., Tucson www.caucc.org/christmas

Christmas Day at 9:30 am

The path to wellness is a very person al journey, and is unique for each of us. That’s why organizations that are committed to help ing people meet their well ness goals see positive results when focus is placed on indi vidual preferences.

Splendido, a Life Plan Community for those 55 and better in Oro Valley, has mastered this approach. This year, it ranked #1 in wellness among senior living commu nities in all of North America, earning a ICAA NuStep Top 5 Pinnacle Award for excep tional, above-and-beyond performance using wellness as a foundation, and partner ing with residents and staff to create relevant, meaningful opportunities that empower people to age well.

“This award means so much to us,” says James Ed wartoski, executive director of Splendido. “It recognizes the work, ideas, and dedica tion of team members who take our wellness offerings to the highest level, with inno vative approaches, meaning ful programs and spaces, and leading-edge wellness tech and tools. And our offerings succeed because of the enthu

siastic participation of highly engaged residents!”

Splendido’s unique ap proach to resident and staff wellness is based on the Per son-Centric Wellness Model that was developed by Mather Institute, the research area of Mather, one of Splendido’s two parent organizations.

“The model recognizes each individual’s unique wants and needs,” explains James. “Grounded in scientific re search, it offers an evolved approach to whole-being wellness that empowers in dividuals to choose the types of fulfillment that match their aspirations.” The model is ap plied to Splendido’ offerings, from cultural and educational programs to creative arts of ferings to the fitness center’s group classes, personal train ing, and equipment. Now it has found its way into the community’s spa and salon.

Making Waves

The Gharieni Welnamis spa wave bed, located in one of Splendido’s spa’s massage rooms, uses computer-con trolled vibrational therapy and audio frequencies to train the brain to relax. Similar to meditation, certain sounds heard through stereo head

phones slow mental activity, while the bed’s vibrational frequencies target the body’s energy centers.

“The bed can specifical ly target—and has settings for—PTSD, stress, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep, as well as headaches and dif ficulty focusing,” says Todd Lutz, Splendido’s spa and fit ness manager. “The technol ogy was developed to treat post-traumatic stress disor ders of American veterans.”

The high-tech bed will allow residents to select their desired wellness jour ney, such as improving sleep quality, and can choose a 30or 60-minute session. “We might also combine treat ments with the bed—such as giving someone a facial while they’re on it,” says Todd. “I know that residents are excit ed to try it.”

Todd is running a twoweek pilot program of the spa wave bed with a group of residents and staff members so that their outcomes from specific therapies can be doc umented, and their personal improvements measured.

More Than Skin Deep

In addition to the spa wave bed, Saluté Spa offers

salon services and signature treatments for body and skin health on a fee-for-service basis. “We are working with Comfort Zone, an Italian company which uses natu ral products with a focus on global sustainability,” says Todd. “We use their line of re generative, effective and sus tainable face and body prod ucts, treatments, and rituals, which are developed in the scientific botanical garden at Davines village in Parma, It aly.”

A variety of body treat ments and facials are de signed to restore the skin’s resilience and capacity to stay toned, firm, and radiant. “I know the residents who use the spa are happy, and the staff really like working there,” says Todd.

From new healing tech nology to soothing skin treat ments, Splendido’s Saluté Spa services are just a few of the community’s offerings that support residents on their unique wellness journeys.

Interested in learning more about Splendido? For an overview of our services and amenities, including a list of spa services, visit splendi dotucson.com/ life-at-splen dido/services-amenities.

EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY SPORTS &RECREATION

Athlete of the Week: Knowledge Smith

By Tom Danehy Tucson Local Media

This is a c r ossroads in the prep sports calendar. The fall sports have just about wrapped up (the football teams from Marana, Canyon Del Oro, and Pusch Ridge all had state play off games last weekend) and winter sports will be kicking off with basketball and soccer tournaments that straddle the Thanksgiving holiday.

We thought it would be a good time to recognize a former Northwest-area prep athlete, one who followed her dream and defied the odds and the naysayers to be come a college basketball player.

Her name is Knowledge Smith — and yes, that’s her real name.

Not surprisingly, Knowledge is a good student, but she also always wanted to be a basketball player. Not an all-around athlete — a basketball player. “I’ve always loved basketball. People tried to get me to do other sports, but that’s all I ever played.”

Somewhere along the line, she devel oped a passion for shooting the 3-point er. She became adept at it and then that morphed into freaky good. By the time she got to Amphi High School, she was shooting from college range. (The highschool three-point line is 19 feet 9 inches from the hoop. College and international basketball is 20 feet 9 inches and the NBA is 23 feet 9 inches.)

She was on the varsity from the jump and was an immediate contributor. But

her first three years at Amphi (including one truncated by the pandemic) were largely unfulfilling. In her first three years, Amphi went a combined 16-35. But during her senior year, the Panthers exploded, going 20-8, winning the region championship and advancing to the state playoffs. During the season, Knowledge made more than 100 3-pointers, shatter ing the school record and becoming one of the top long-range shooters — boy or girl — in all of Arizona.

She wasn’t simply a 3-point shooter. She also led her team in rebounding and blocked shots and was third in steals.

Knowledge had always dreamed of play ing in college but wasn’t sure of her pros pects. She had played on the wing in high school, but was rather short to be a wing

player in college. But that didn’t stop her.

She walked on at Pima College, which has one of the top junior college programs in America. The Aztecs are ranked 17th in the country. She did the full summer workouts, getting up at 4 in the morning to get her running in before it got too hot. She hit the weight room and always found time to get in some shooting.

Pima coach Todd Holthaus is very pleased with Knowledge. “We knew she could shoot, but she does everything else, as well. She rebounds, plays defense, pass es well. We’re glad to have her.”

And she’s glad to be there. She says that college ball and college life are different than high school. There is more freedom but also more demands on her time.

“I love it,” she beams.

There are good uses for psychedelics

By Mia Smitt Tucson Local Media Columnist

To those of a certain age, psychedelic substances such as “magic mush rooms” and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are remi niscent of Timothy Leary, The Grateful Dead, and the “tune in, turn on, drop out” culture of the 1960s and early ’70s.

Hallucinogens are a varied group of drugs that can alter users’ awareness of their surroundings and their own thoughts and feelings.

They can cause a feeling of disconnec tion with the world around them. There are two major categories: classic hallucinogens such as LSD, psilocybin, and peyote (mes caline) and dissociative drugs such as ket amine and phencyclidine (PCP).

Some hallucinogens are extracted from plants and others are manmade. Historical ly these substances were used for religious purposes, as medicines, and in healing rit uals by various cultures for thousands of years. More recently they have been used for recreation, to create spiritual experienc es, or deal with stress.

In 1938, a Sandoz chemist named Albert Hoffman was working on ergot, a fungus that grew on grain when he accidentally de veloped LSD, a potent psychoactive com pound. This ergot fungus can infect various grains and sometimes caused people who ate it to appear mad or possessed.

It wasn’t until 1943 that he discovered those hallucinogenic effects when he acci

dentally ingested a small amount and saw intense colors and shapes. He then took a larger amount and took the first inten tional “acid trip.”

Burgeoning research into such drugs was co-opted by both the countercultures of that time and the United States military. During the 1950s, the U.S. government with help from research universities and pharmaceu tical companies tried to develop LSD as a weapon of chemical warfare that could in capacitate enemy troops.

Soldiers who volunteered for the experi ments were not given adequate information about the drug and possible adverse effects and sadly later studies found that many of these study subjects experienced such psy chiatric symptoms as terrifying flashbacks and they have needed intense psychiatric help for decades following the experiments.

Too many people suffered such severe adverse reactions that they were unable to function and suffered.

This research was halted in 1963 because they found that the LSD effects were too unpredictable to be weaponized. That pro gram had so many violations of research ethics and abuses and these, in part, led to hallucinogens being classified as Schedule 1 substances and preventing any federal funding for hallucinogenic research until recently.

Psychedelics such as LSD, Psilocybin and methylenedioxy-methamphetamine

(MDMA, also known as ecstasy) are again being researched, not for recreation and profit or for warfare purposes, but for health care.

Goals of this research are not mind con trol but to reduce cycles of repeated reliv ing of trauma, to change patterns of self-in jury or -destruction, and even to promote an affirmation of life in the face of debili tating illness. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe substance use disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and ruth less mental anguish that can lead to suicide might respond to a hallucinogenic medica tion.

Ketamine was approved as an anesthet ic for painful medical procedures and has been used in emergency settings for severe depression as well. There have been stud ies into the use of psilocybin as an effective treatment for anxiety and depression that doesn’t respond well to conventional ther apies.

Experiments with varying doses of psi locybin in terminally ill patients were conducted at Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and New York University in 2010. Many of the volunteer subjects reported that over the course of their guided psychedelic expe rience, they rethought how they saw their cancer and the reality of dying. Several said they no longer had a fear of death. The Nov. 30, 2016, issue of Psychopharmacol ogy published an article titled “Psilocybin and palliative End of Life Care,” which highlighted this research.

Other studies have looked at the effica cy in treating alcohol and substance abuse with positive and sustained results. Smok

ing cessation might be better achieved with psychedelic therapy. PTSD research has shown that when used in a controlled set ting, some psychedelics can affect signifi cant and lasting psychological and behav ioral changes.

Sometimes depression and anxiety are not relieved with conventional therapies and medications but treatment with certain hallucinogenic drugs can help to mitigate symptoms.

Of course, as with many medications, there are risks with hallucinogenic drugs. Self-dosing and experimentation without proper supervision can be dangerous and lead to serious psychiatric problems includ ing panic, psychosis, paranoia, depression and suicidal thoughts, memory loss and speech problems. Dependence or addiction can occur with some drugs. But this is true of many conventional psychiatric medica tions as well, so caution is always advised with most treatment modalities.

“How to Change Your Mind,” by Mi chael Pollon, is an interesting book with an intriguing history of psychedelics and current research into their utility. He cites many research studies as well as his own experience with psilocybin under the guid ance of specially trained psychiatrists.

We are a long way from seeing psyche delic drugs on the pharmacy shelves. But what was once considered completely morally and culturally objectionable might someday be a possible answer to maladies for which we have no adequate relief.

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

a.m.

Village People classic with a pantomimed chorus

Many a new driver DOWN

Opportunities to face a pitcher

Having a concern for wealth and respectability, in slang

Like humor that’s even more far out

Like Bo-Peep’s sheep

College URL ender

Vehicle for moving day

Traveler’s stopover

Nonexperts

Jarring noise at

Something just outside the front door

Back in time

Family members 13 Summer: Fr. 18 Comic book sound effect 22 Popeye’s assent 25 “This’ll be the day that ___” (final words in the song “American Pie”)

Icy

Middle of the leg

The Bruins of the N.C.A.A.

Connery who played James Bond seven times

Ice cream mogul Joseph

Bill of fare at a smorgasbord

Author Capote, to friends

“Same old” place to be stuck

with lock or freeze

Hasty escapes

Peacekeeping grp. since 1949

Obama attorney general ___ Holder

Resident of a virtual “City”

Baseball legend Willie known as the “Say Hey Kid”

Send elsewhere, as to a spess cialist

“You have my full attention” … or something 17-, 24-, 38- and 51-Across might say?

Golfer’s warning shout

Mocking retort to Captain Obvious

Opposed (to)

___, place or thing

You are here

___ Kan (dog food brand)

Served without ice, at a bar

Participated in a marathon, e.g.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) . A number of changes are coming. Fate favors you because you’re willing to try different tactics and approaches, adapting to make things work. This is very different from fickleness, which is the inclination to change regardless of the ef fectiveness of the current tactic. Your success move is to stick to the plan.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) . The power source is already inside you, but where is your energy flowing? There are things you tend to that do not deserve the focus but are so in grained in your habits that you hardly realize they are a part of your daily pattern. You’ll root them out this week and decide whether to re distribute your energy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) . It’s taking more work than you thought it would, but the best things require continuous effort. They cannot be easily held on to. They have their own sea son. You have to keep reaching for them over and over. You have to recreate them each time, but luckily, you are endlessly creative this week.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) . A long-term project will require you to get more in touch with your performance levels throughout the days. It’s also good to note when you get tired and what sort of recovery style works best for you. The fruition of your project hinges on a re alistic and efficient plan for the future. .

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Getting good at something often involves first being terrible at it repeatedly. What makes an endeavor worth while isn’t your inherent skill but what you learn about yourself and life in the process. It helps if you enjoy the endeavor. That will keep you in the game longer.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) . You’ll go on a fact-finding mission. Take your time in this research phase. Not only is it fun but it’s your moment to soak in a wide range of possibility. Then, let things marinate. Don’t be too quick to make sense of it or you’ll jump to shallow or wrong conclusions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Ego separates people, but you go the other way. You know you wouldn’t enjoy a world in which everyone thought the same way, and you’re eager to learn from others and appreci ate how they see things, even if it’s not a view you share. For these reasons, you’ll be an agent of peace in situations that sorely need them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Maybe you won’t start out in the optimal frame of mind, but you’ll be favored by the fates anyway because you’re brave enough to go forward. Even when you don’t feel particularly open and ready for new experi ences, life will sweep you up and cradle you with the song of its loveliness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There are people you don’t have to know well to be com pletely comfortable around, maybe because they are so welcoming and interested in others. According to the new friends you meet this week, you’re one of those people. You’ll expand your social and professional network in delightful and useful ways.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). This week, you will know firsthand what loyalty really is. A true friend tunes into what you’re doing and listens and reflects. Around such a friend, your mistakes seem minimized and your attributes maximized, and regardless of how you do, a true friend is unfailingly on your side. You strive to be such a friend.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You think everyone can do what you do, but that’s simply not true. It’s fine to think it. You have no point of reference except for the one inside you, looking out. Would your self-esteem be lifted if you knew you were uniquely talented? You are. You’re smart in a way that will help more than just you. Believe.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s much easier to champion the underdog when you can manage not to insult the overdog at the same time. If you have the grace to finagle such an interaction (and the stars suggest that you can and will have such grace), you’ll essentially be the anomaly -- an un eaten agent in a dog-eat-dog world.