Desert Times June 2023

DESERT TIMES

The Voice of Southwest Tucson

Summer Survival Guide Slow

From museums to galleries to Tombstone, stay busy this month

| Page 3

Health Lentils, a true superfood, keep things on a regular schedule | Page 11

Meet Jessica Greene, Athlete of the Week

Page 10

stay

| Special section

Local students receive Flinn Scholarships

BY

Two local, family-oriented students, Samuel Gonzalez and Matthew Gibson, won’t have to worry about massive debt when they graduate from college.

This spring, they were among 20 students awarded the Flinn Scholarship, a merit-based

scholarship that provides a full-ride to a public Arizona university.

Gibson and Gonzalez, who graduated from Desert View High and Pueblo High Magnet schools, respectively, will attend UA in the fall.

The Flinn Scholarship, which is valued at more than $130,000, covers the costs of tuition, housing, meals and at least two study abroad experiences.

The scholarship also includes mentorship and networking opportunities, social and cultural activities, membership to the school of choice’s honors program and participation in the Flinn Scholars community. More than 1,000 applications were received last October for the scholarships. Students had

Gold Star families honored with memorial, park

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media Staff

Agifted athlete, Christopher Moon was an active kid who rode BMX bikes.

Christopher was an artist and a good student. By all reports he was a bright light, a natural leader. One thing about him, he always wanted to be a soldier.

Christopher graduated from Tucson High School and attended one semester at the UA. Then he enlisted in the Army. He served with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and was a sniper with the 2508 Parachute Infantry Regiment.

His mother, Marsha Moon, knew he would enlist. She also knew she wouldn’t have her son for long. It wasn’t easy to admit, but it was always there.

“I don’t know if moms have this connection with their kids, (but) even when he was a child and growing up, I always had this sense, and I didn’t like it, but I had a sense,” she said. “It’s like, why do I feel like I’m not going to have

Marsha Moon was the keynote speaker at the

ument.

him that long? It was something that I didn’t like thinking about. Well, you worry about your children, but for some reason, more so him than anything.”

She was right; she didn’t have him long. He deployed to Afghanistan, where he was shot at

LAURA LATZKO Tucson Local Media Staff

DESERT TIMES

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STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Laura Meehan, Associate Publisher

Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

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

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter kschaffner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Veronica Kuffel, Staff Reporter vkuffel@tucsonlocalmedia.com

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham, Production Manager, production@timeslocalmedia.com

Ruth Carlton, Graphic Designer rcarlton@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@timeslocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising Zac@timeslocalmedia.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

Leah Pittman, Account Executive lpittman@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT

The

Hot Picks

ARTS

“Reverence” THROUGH JUNE 10

Photographer Laurie Lambrecht chooses abstract motifs from her photography then embroiders them with pigment on linen. The media creates fascinating effects unique to her work. Wendi Schneider’s work captures fleeting moments of beauty in the grace of trees and bare branches, gilding them and pairing them with antique frames. Alongside “Reverence” hangs “In The Cases,” a collection of works by Claire A. Warden from her series, “99 Moons.”

Etherton Gallery, 340 S. Convent Avenue, Tucson, free, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, ethertongallery.com

Intro

to Glass Cutting

JUNE 10

Scoring, breaking and nipping are skills essential to many forms of glass art, including fused and stained glass and mosaics. This workshop provides an overview of glass-cutting tools and their functions, as well as

5-DAY WEATHER

hands-on practice using the Morton System for straight cuts; a glass square; and circle and lens cutters.

Sonoran Glass School, 633 W. 18th Street, Tucson, $50, 1 to 4 p.m., 520-884-7814, sonoranglass.org

Linda McCartney Retrospective TO AUG.

4

The North American premiere of the Linda McCartney Retrospective comes to the University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography, now through Friday, Aug. 4. Spanning McCartney’s entire career from 1965 to 1997, this exhibition features 176 photographs and archival materials, including Polaroid images and presents three sections such as family life, photographic experimentation and artists. The exhibit will recur weekly from Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The exhibition will also feature various community events inspired by the collection.

Center for Creative Photography 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson, various times and pricing, ccp.arizona.edu

Mini Time Museum: Steve Farley’s “Dowdytown”

TO AUG. 20

Pandemic isolation inspired artist, graphic designer and former Arizona State Sen. Steve Farley to explore childhood memories through a series of miniatures. They’re artifacts of his Ontario, California home, but their resonance with childhood reveries is universal. Farley’s youth included a fondness for building miniature models. As an adult, he’s an artist and graphic designer renowned for public murals. He found that creating these tiny structures helped to ground him in the social and emotional upheaval that accompanied our months in lockdown.

Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, tickets start at $8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, theminitimemachine.org

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Local Media Sta

EVENTS Biosphere 2 DAILY

We may have experienced an earlier iteration of the Biosphere as something like a passive “zoo” of biomes, but now the focus is on climate change and sustainability research. Interdisciplinary scientists from all over are finding ways to “increase resilience and sustainability of Earth systems and human quality of life.” Ecosystems under glass include the world’s largest controlled tropical rain forest, desert, savanna, mangrove, and ocean biomes. Eye-popping fact: 7.2 million cubic feet are sealed within 6,500 windows. Those systems have now seen 30 years of evolution.

Biosphere 2, 32540 S. Biosphere Road, biosphere2.org, $25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., reservations recommended, find a virtual tour on the site

Dog Days of Summer JUNE 1 TO SEPT. 30

Guests can take their dogs to Tucson Botanical Gardens June 1 through Sept. 30. Imagine the smells they’ll enjoy and the fun of exploring new trails, most shaded by the gardens’ old-growth trees. No doubt they’d also welcome a bite from whatever you order from Edna’s Eatery on site. It’s run by Westward Look Resort.

Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, tickets start at $15 with discounts available, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., tucsonbotanical.org

“Tombstone” 30th Cast Reunion JUNE 23 TO JUNE 25

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film “Tombstone” with special guests, including Michael Biehn (Johnny Ringo); Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Mattie Earp); Joanna Pacula (Kate); Christopher Mitchum (Hooker’s Ranch foreman); John Philbin and Robert Burke (Tom and Frank McLaury) and Peter Sherayko (Texas Jack Vermillion). Billy Zane was recently added to the lineup of stars. Selection of free and ticketed events throughout Tombstone. Tombstone, see website for locations, ticket prices and times, tombstone30th.com 

Your Trusted Source for Community News

to go through multiple rounds of interviews before being chosen.

Matthew Gibson Gibson’s goal was to be a model student. He said receiving the Flinn Scholarship is a testament to his hard work.

“It meant a lot to me. I think just working really hard through high school, it was nice to see it pay off. Just that feeling that the hard work wasn’t for nothing,” Gibson said. Gibson is undecided about his major, although he’s leaning toward history and political science. Up until recently, he thought he was going to pursue engineering.

“For a long time, I struggled with that. My dad was an engineer, and I feel like I was trying to follow in his footsteps instead of following my own path. The past month or

two, I finally decided to go after what I really wanted,” Gibson said.

Taking engineering courses at the UA and Pima Community College while in high school helped him see it wasn’t the career path for him.

“I think it’s interesting, but I can’t see myself doing that for the rest of my life. I’m interested in other subjects in school, but my strong suits and what I like doing is history, political science, government, anything like that,” Gibson said.

UA appealed to Gibson because it is a strong research school and offers a tight-knit community.

With the Flinn Scholarship, Gibson is excited for the opportunity to study abroad. If given the chance, he would like to travel to Rome and Greece.

“I think especially with liking history so much, there’s so much culture and history I’m excited to explore,” Gibson said. “When they asked about that during the interview, I was nerding out about it. There are so many different places in the world with so much history, it would be amazing to go.”

Since junior year, he has been enrolled in advanced placement (AP) classes at his high school. He also took honors classes in

subjects such as math and history early in his high school career.

Gibson has cared for his grandmother for six years and works an after-school job. He hasn’t had time for many extracurricular activities.

Gibson said his grandma always took care of him growing up, so he wanted to be there when she needed him.

“For me, I just had to step up because she raised me for I don’t know how many years of my life… I’ve had help from my siblings and my mom too, so it’s not just on me, but I definitely felt like it was something I needed to step up and do,” said Gibson, the youngest of four siblings.

He helped his family by performing household chores. Along with paying for his own expenses, such as his car insurance and phone, Gibson has also used money he has earned to help his family.

For the last few years, he has also cared for his father.

“I would go to pick him up, take him to the grocery store every weekend, wash his clothes, stuff like that. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s nothing I stray away from. It’s just taking care of your family. That’s what you’re supposed to do,” Gibson said.

In his spare time, Gibson enjoys working

on cars with his friends.

He expects he will continue to do this as a hobby.

“I’ve always really liked cars. My dad was an electrical engineer. I always liked planes, any vehicles,” Gibson said.

Samuel Gonzalez

For Samuel Gonzalez, the Flinn Scholarship is a pathway to bringing larger change to his community.

“I took it as an opportunity to not only impact myself but my community and those around me, to impact their lives for the better. I also saw it as an opportunity to grow and learn as an individual,” Gonzalez said. At the UA, he plans to pursue a business degree, with a focus in accounting, finance and marketing. He hopes to start

Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing Offer Resources, Support for Seniors with Hearing Loss

BY SHERRI COLLINS

Most of us know someone who has hearing loss. Some of you may be experiencing hearing loss yourself. Oftentimes people dismiss signs of hearing loss as “no big deal.” In reality, hearing loss is a very big deal. Hearing loss can impact all the areas of your life, including relationships, health, and safety. It can also be linked to depression and memory loss, an early indicator of dementia.

While the likelihood of developing dementia exists, there are ways to prevent hearing loss:

• Protect your ears. Keep music or TV volumes low, especially when wearing headphones. If you have headphones on and someone else can hear it, the volume is too high.

• Don’t ignore your hearing loss. If

you are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, see a hearing healthcare professional right away to start combating the symptoms.

• Tackle the hearing loss head on. Don’t assume hearing loss will go away on its own. The sooner you get assistance with your hearing loss, the more likely you are to possibly prevent early dementia.

• Utilize technology. If you have a hearing aid, wear it as much as possible. You can also consider other hearing interventions including cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, amplified telephones, or captioning.

Access to Resources

As you begin to age, access to valuable resources is critically important. However, an Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard

of Hearing (ACDHH) survey found that older adults report that they are concerned with where to find these resources. Survey respondents indicated that they need information on general health and wellness as well as information on memory loss and dementia, pharmacy benefits and access to mental health services. Other important resources mentioned included assistance with maintaining their independence, access to caregivers fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), and access to attorneys and estate planners.

As such, ACDHH is launching its Age of Access initiative designed to be a one-stop destination for resources, information and programming for Arizona’s older adults who are deaf or experiencing hearing

loss. An online survey is in the field right now to gain additional information regarding the needs of the community and how best to provide access to these resources. Take it here: https://bit.ly/acdhhsenior

Respondents that participated in preliminary research conducted by Gallaudet University indicated that there is a lack of access to home health care aides (caregivers) that can sign or have awareness about deaf people’s needs. Therefore, in the fall of 2023, ACDHH, in partnership with the University, will conduct focus groups on this as well. Sherri Collins is the executive director for the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing. www.acdhh.org

MATTHEW GIBSON

SAMUEL GONZALEZ

daily. The enemy knew he was a sniper.

On July 5, 2010, just days before he turned 20, Christopher was severely injured. He stepped on a remote-detonated IED, the Army said, that went off beneath him. He fought for a week but on July 13, 2010, Christopher died and Marsha’s family — husband, Brian, Christopher’s sister, Sunday Lewis, and his niece Semira Moon — became a Gold Star family.

On the corner of South Richey Boulevard and South Palo Verde Road sits Veterans Gold Star Family Park where on May 30, under a brilliant sun, a memorial to Tucson’s own Gold Star families was dedicated. Marsha served on the committee responsible for completing the park and the black granite memorial monument.

“A Gold Star family is a family who has lost a son, a daughter, a spouse, a sister, an uncle, aunt either killed in war or died of injuries sustained in war,” said Barbara Brownlie, who along with Dave Faulkner are honorary board members of the Gold Star Family Memorial Monument and a cochair of the seven-person committee that brought the memorial to Tucson.

At least one committee member must belong to a Gold Star family. For this committee the duty fell to Marsha.

The park promises to be a meaningful place not just for Tucson residents but for the families who have given all.

“(It’s) a place where we Gold Star families can hold events, a place to go to have a solemn place to remember our loved one,” Marsha said in her public acceptance of

his own business and help educate others in his community about managing and leveraging finances.

“I’ve seen in my community that poverty has stricken us for a long time. I would like to be one of the role models that inspires the next generation to not only impact themselves and their family but also everyone around them as well,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez began taking honors courses in middle school and AP courses since sophomore year of high school.

This year, he was the president of his school’s gardening club. He has been interested in gardening since he was young.

“My grandmother on my mother’s side, she’s always been a huge gardener her entire life. She has a garden in her back yard. I would always spend the summertime, when

the memorial. “We will never get to hold our loved ones but we can gather together and hold each other, shed tears, laugh and share stories.”

The memorial and park came about with the help of the Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Woody Williams Foundation of Louisville, Kentucky, its mission to build a Gold Star Memorial every 50 miles, according to Brownlie. Pima County provided the park and a matching grant of $125,000.

“(Pima County) had a two-phase project there,” Brownlie said. “They finished phase one and they ran out of money for phase two. When our project came on board two years ago, they were partnering with us, and they would do a matching grant, so they gave us the land and they did all the vendors and the basic concrete work for

we would visit my grandparents in California, with my grandma outside helping her take care of garden duties,” Gonzalez said.

He also participated in National Honor Society and the UA’s Trio Upward Bound program, which helps first-generation students from low-income households pursue higher education.

Throughout the College Knowing and Going program, Gonzalez mentored other students at Pueblo High. He felt this was important because many students in his school don’t see higher education as a priority or as obtainable.

“I worked with students individually or as a group, providing them various resources to pursue higher education. That was a way of showing others that it could be done and never put your goals or your passions to the side,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez and other Flinn Scholars had

us. We just came in with the memorial and put it on their property.”

Other donations came from private citizens and several Tucson businesses.

Vietnam veteran Robert Ortiz came to the dedication to remember his brother, Antonio Ortiz, a lieutenant junior grade helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy. He was shot down over southern Vietnam.

Antonio Ortiz grew up in Douglas. According to Robert, his brother worked very hard and it paid off when he became a pilot.

“He studied hard to get to where he got to be, and unfortunately, everything came to an end on Dec. 19, 1970,” Robert said, “but he had a big dream on his mind, and he accomplished his dream. He wanted to be a Navy pilot and he worked hard for it, and he got to be one.”

a chance to take tours of the UA, ASU and NAU. They spoke with students, staff and professors.

Gonzalez said that for him, UA was the best fit.

“I’m biased because I was born and raised in Tucson for all of my life, but I thought that the community and the options within the University of Arizona really aligned with not only my values but my dreams and my passions,” Gonzalez said.

UA’s sports programs also appealed to Gonzalez, who is a longtime fan of the school’s basketball team. He plays basketball with friends in his spare time.

Gonzalez has faced some of his toughest times in the last few years. He lost his mother to cancer in 2020. They were close and he said she helped shape him.

“My mom was a significant part of who I am, what characteristics I carry through

The dedication included a flyover by the Arizona Air National Guard, a presentation of colors by the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Honor Guard and a rendition of “Taps” by Dan Pinda of Bugles Across America.

Gold Star families hope the community will avail themselves of the park and its memorial monument.

“Our community came together to donate and build a memorial for Gold Star families; our country has not forgotten them,” Brownlie said.

“We hope you, too, will spend time here, bring others and family members and share what a Gold Star family is and to honor our fallen heroes,” Marsha said.

“It would be worth the time to come and see (the memorial), look at it, think about it; it can speak to you,” Robert said. 

life and just my mindset,” Gonzalez said. He is the middle child of four siblings and helps his family.

“I took on the responsibility of not only being an older brother and a son but also a parent/role model because my older brother was always at work or at school. My father was always at work to provide for the family. So, I was that parent/role model figure for my two younger siblings,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said in his personal and academic lives, he striven to always overcome challenges set before him.

“I’ve never feared or discouraged adversity. I’ve always been one to face it head forward and be like, ‘Give me the challenges. I’m ready for it. Whatever you give me, I’m going to beat it and do the best that I can to achieve what I strive for,’” Gonzalez said. 

SPC CHRISTOPHER MOON

The Gold Star Families Memorial monument was dedicated on May 30. It is located in Veterans Gold Star Family Park, on the corner of South Richey Boulevard and South Palo Verde Road.

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

FLINN SCHOLARS from page 4

BUSINESS

Valley Feed & Supply celebrates success in first year

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Inside Tucson Business Staff

Customer service is key to John and Sally Burke’s Valley Feed & Supply. John puts it simply: “This isn’t our store. This is your store.”

“It’s the truth, right?” he asks rhetorically. The store is open seven days a week, but the staff is eager to take care of customers — even those running a little late.

“When a customer asks how late we’re going to be open, I ask them ‘What do you need? I’ll be here for you. Don’t hurry because I don’t want to hear you got into a wreck,’” he said.

“We know about animals. We have a number of animals ourselves. The community is great.”

Valley Feed & Supply impresses its vendors, too, as it is the Pima County supplier of Awesome Super Feed, which is manufactured in Colorado. The store stocks Awesome Super Feed for a variety of animals.

“This feed line just took off huge,” Sally said. “I probably go through 4 tons a month. It’s just an amazing seed. It has everything combined into one feed. You don’t have to buy six bags of feed. People walk in the door and say, ‘My chickens look so healthy.’

“I honestly can’t keep it in stock. It just

flies off the shelves. I stumbled across it last year. The owners are devoted to keeping us the only dealer down here in Pima County for now.

The Burkes use it themselves for their 12 horses, chickens, goat, dogs and cats on their small ranch in Picture Rocks.

Valley Feed & Supply will celebrate its one-year anniversary in mid-June. Visit its Facebook page for information; search Valley Feed & Supply. Sally said she’s sur-

prised by the success.

“The growth has been great,” she said. “You know you’re doing well when you’re outgrowing your building. We keep seeing repeat customers come through the door. You get to know them by name.”

The Valley Feed & Supply — which the Burkes purchased in late 2021 and opened May 22, 2022 — is more than an outlet for pet and animal needs. It’s a community gathering place.

With its 1800s western general store feel, customers come not only to pick up their feed, but they socialize with ranchers, farmers and other residents living in Picture Rocks. They gather at the store to share their stories.

“People came in and prayed,” Sally said. “It’s a little community store and a landmark.”

When they purchased the store, it was a rental in poor condition. The dilapidated building was close to demolition. Rats were living there so, Sally said, crews sealed the store and installed new drywall, walls, concrete and solid doors. It was closed for five months during the renovation. The challenge was keeping the historical integrity of the building, which was important to the Burkes.

“The rats basically lived in the building, and they would come up through the floor,” she said. “We had to jackhammer out that concrete floor. We had years of mice that lived in the store. Customers walk in the door and just stand there. We ask if they’re OK and they say, ‘We’re in shock because of the way it used to look. It’s a special place.

“It’s (the feed store) such a need in the community. I saw the potential. This is my

Valley Feed & Supply’s staff includes, in back row, Luis Perales, John Burke and Aleister Turney. In the front are Sally Burke and Cindy Beyer. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

phone keys wallet bag

‘Tombstone’ reunion brings ‘SVU’ ‘bad guy’ to town

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Weekly Staff

Robert John Burke has starred in “Law & Order: SVU,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and a slew of other productions.

But he is excited to return to Arizona to promote the 30th anniversary of the film “Tombstone,” in which he starred as Frank McLaury. McLaury and his brother, Tom, owned a ranch outside of Tombstone, Arizona Territory during the 1880s. He had ongoing conflicts with Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp.

The “Tombstone” 30th cast reunion is Friday, June 23, to Sunday, June 25, throughout Tombstone. Besides Burke, among those scheduled to appear are Michael Biehn (Johnny Ringo); Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Mattie Earp); Joanna Pacula (Kate); Christopher Mitchum (Hooker’s Ranch foreman); John Philbin (Tom McLaury) and Peter Sherayko (Texas Jack Vermillion).

The cast will sign autographs and greet fans from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 25, inside Wyatt Earp’s Oriental Saloon. Biehn will be at Vintage Cowgirls. Entrance is free to the public, although the cast will charge for autographs and photographs.

Other activities include: “Mescal Movie Set” discussion with Mark Sankey from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 23; followed by the “Birth of the Buckaroos” behind-thescenes history of “Tombstone” with Sherayko; from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 24, is the actors symposium, when the cast will share their stories and answer audience questions.

He’s hoping there’s much less drama than during the filming of “Tombstone.” Writer/producer/director Kevin Jarre was fired a month into shooting and replaced by George P. Cosmatos.

“There’s a lot of consternation about the way it was being shot, initially,” Burke said. “The conflict was that they were not happy with Kevin Jarre, who was the writer/producer/director. It was his project. Ultimately, the studio wasn’t happy with the way it was turning out and decided to make a change.

“That was very difficult for all of us. It was his creation. They brought in George Cos-

matos. As one of the actors said, ‘It’s bad news that Kevin won’t be with us, but we’re going to continue to tell his story.’ That was some type of redemption.”

Jarre recruited Burke for “Tombstone.”

The two discussed the film over lunch in

LA. The first thing Jarre asked Burke was if he could ride a horse.

“‘Like the wind,’ I said, which was true,” Burke recalled. “He had spent some time in Ireland and my family is all there. We had a common subject of conversation.

He told me a little about his project and should one of the actor’s pilots be picked up, I would step into that role.

“I was Frank McLaury and we had an awesome amount of fun. It was hot, sweaty and itchy. We understood why cowboys were so crazy. It’s not like they could go into an air-conditioned bar and get a cold drink. I understood why people were so sensitive.”

The “Tombstone” anniversary is Burke’s second fan event. He’s definitely appreciative of those who come out.

“At a certain point in one’s work career, you understand that, without them, you don’t really have anything going on,” he said. “I think a lot of other actors and performers or sports figures, or what have you, meet the fans and give back to them.”

He has kind words for the “Tombstone” 30th anniversary event producer, Gordon Anderson, too.

“Gordon’s been earnest, genuine and authentic in his communication. He’s a tough guy to say no to,” he said with a laugh.

Tough guy himself

Burke starred as hard-nosed, uncompromising Internal Affairs Capt. Ed Tucker on “Law & Order: SVU.” In season 17, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) started seeing Tucker, but their relationship falls apart after he suggests she retire with him.

“I was with my friends recently at the fire department of New York training facility and Mariska and Christopher (Meloni, ‘Law & Order’s’ Elliot Stabler) joined us,” said Burke, a 22-year firefighter as well. They were there as part of the fundraising Leary Firefighter Challenge, an event hosted by actor Denis Leary’s The Leary Firefighters Foundation. The foundation helps firefighters by building state-of-theart training facilities, buying cutting-edge vehicles and supplying modern technology and tools to firehouses and departments across the country.

Leary started the foundation in 2000 in response to a fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, that claimed the lives of his cousin, a childhood friend and four firefighters.

“At the event, they coupled executives and celebrities with firefighters to go through a lot of the tasks that firefighters in New York City go through each day — rap-

Robert John Burke starred as Internal Affairs Capt. Ed Tucker on “Law & Order: SVU.” He’ll travel to Tombstone in late June to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the western with the same name. (Michael Parmalee/NBC)

Robert John Burke’s character on “Law & Order: SVU,” Capt. Ed Tucker, romanced Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). Burke calls it a highlight of his career. (Michael Parmalee/NBC)

pelling, searching rooms, hose handling, car fires, vehicle extrication.”

Hargitay was determined to get through the exercises, despite the hardware she has in her ankle, he said. She fractured her right ankle in three places in a fall in July 2021.

“She’s got ACE Hardware in that ankle of hers,” Burke said with a laugh. “I was a little reluctant to have her participating, but she’s one of those, ‘Hold my beer’ people. She rappelled down a six-story building and made it look easy.”

He’s impressed by Leary’s dedication to firefighters.

“Everybody thinks the fire department gets everything they absolutely need,” he said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. We’ve helped over 100 different fire departments with ropes, thermal imaging cameras, the list is endless of the materials we’ve provided. With Denis, it’s one thing for somebody to write the check, but it’s another thing to crawl through a burning room. You have a little more skin in the game.”

Updates

Burke, who played Smitty in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” recently starred as Eddie Holland in Hulu’s “Boston Strangler” with Keira Knightley.

“I thought Keira Knightley was brilliant in the role of a Boston journalist, Loretta McLaughlin, trying to solve the case,” he said. “She’s helping the Boston Police Department, who just seemed bereft in the tasks.

“Not only was she a woman bucking the glass ceiling, but she was also leaving

FEED STORE from page 6

passion; a full-service feed store. Before they were predominantly selling hay, it was a hay store. Now, this is a full-blown, full-service feed store. If we don’t have it, we will get it.”

Recently, the Burkes diversified and now sell a full line of dog and cat food.

“We can get everything the big-box stores can get,” she said. “We all buy from the same suppliers.”

And customers are thankful, Sally said.

“People are the heart of this place,” she said. “People are so grateful that they don’t have to drive 8 miles or into town. A woman came in yesterday and bought a bag of cat food. She said she was so glad

her home at night to report on the crime. Women were taking karate classes, buying guard dogs. The city of Boston was terrorized for quite a few years. But Loretta, who went from writing lifestyle pieces to the crime desk, insisted upon it. The thing about Loretta is when you read her reporting, she was gifted. The descriptive narrative, the style of her writing was potent and informative.”

Between “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Tombstone,” Burke has played a variety of characters, although he does tend to be pigeonholed.

“My career has been like a pinball machine,” he added. “People have said I’ve been typecast a lot as a detective or federal agent. I always tell people, ‘I don’t care if I’m typecast as long as I’m cast.’ One of my favorite things to do was be the bad guy on ‘SVU.’ I’ve often said, nobody wants to play the good guy. When I was told I was going to be Mariska’s love interest the next season, I said, ‘I’m the most hated guy on the show.’ She told me it would work. I love her desperately. Acting with her was one of the highlights of my work experience of my 33-year career. She’s just the best person in the whole wide world.” 

“Tombstone”

30th Cast Reunion

WHEN: Various times Friday, June 23, to Sunday June 25

WHERE: Throughout Tombstone

COST: Free admission; charge for photographs and autographs INFO: tombstone30th.com

she didn’t have to go over the hill. We’re all about convenience and customer service.”

John added he and Sally encourage customer feedback. If a product isn’t up to par, they won’t sell it any longer.

“If they don’t want it, I don’t want it either,” he said. “Our customers are the judges. We’re trying to make their animals happy, and so are they.” 

Valley Feed & Supply

11910 W. Orange Grove Road, Tucson 520-682-8474

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY SPORTS &RECREATION

The kid’s not all right this graduation season movie quiz

Graduation week should be one of the happiest times of the year. Young women and men are reaching the culmination of a decade-plus-long journey full of academic challenges and extracurricular opportunities. Learning how to play a musical instrument or playing on a team. Running into the brick wall that is geometry and getting that first job. Learning how to drive, all the while figuring out how to negotiate the blind curve of adolescence.

On graduation night, young people can take pride in what they have accomplished (especially having lived through the bleak COVID-19 years) and graduation can mark a clearly delineated turning of a page in their lives. They are surrounded by friends and family and it can be a great, great night.

I know one kid for whom graduation was probably not so great. And it’s a shame because a year ago at this time, “the kid” had the world on a string. Some people in the local sports community know of whom I am writing, but I don’t want to identify the person nor even mention his/her gender. What’s important was what happened to “the kid” and how much of it was self-inflicted.

Heading into last summer, the possibilities were numerous and almost all of

Jthem were extremely positive. All “the kid” had to do was to stay focused on the goal and not get sidetracked by nonsense and/ or hubris. But when you’re dealing with 17-year-olds with stars in their eyes, that’s easier said than done.

“The kid” was a member of a solid basketball program, a consistent winner who has made frequent trips to the state tournament over the past decade. Another solid year lay ahead, with a strong senior class leading the way.

Like a lot of one-sport athletes who get pigeonholed and browbeaten into dropping all other interests and doing just one thing every day, “the kid” played on a club team.

As last summer progressed, somebody in the club system started using the word “better” with “the kid.” You’re better than your club teammates. You’re better than your high school teammates. You’re just…better. And what do “better” ballers do these days? They turn their backs on their high school teammates, many of whom they have probably known since elementary school. They turn their backs on their club teammates. That’s actually not that hard, because club “teams” aren’t really teams; they’re just collections of kids whose parents are willing

to spend lots of money.

And then they go to an “academy.” This particular perversion of the English language is rich in irony. They are basically places where kids take a few online courses (which are useless) and then play a lot of basketball all day. It sounded like a dream gig to “the kid” and away they went.

Alas, “the kid” wasn’t the only one who had been given the “better” talk. Lots and lots of “better” players gathered at the “academy,” each probably believing that the opportunity to play all that ball would allow them to rise to the top, perhaps further enhancing their chances for a college scholarship. (What’s sad is that “the kid” probably would have gotten a scholarship, anyway, just by playing the senior year with the high school team.)

Even under the best of circumstances (let’s assume that all of the players at the “academy” were indeed at the elite level), that kind of pressure cooker situation can have some bad (and unintended) results. It would be like dozens and dozens of high school valedictorians gathering for their freshman year at MIT. After having been the smartest person in the room for the past 13 years, all of a sudden, you’re not.

And that’s just the best-case scenario. Imagine that the people running the “academy” had something different in mind instead of straight-up competition. Perhaps they had an agenda or they played favorites or maybe they just weren’t that good at assessing talent.

Suffice it to say that “the kid” learned some hard lessons in a relatively short time. When the “academy” began its season playing other “academies,” playing time was initially hard to come by and then dwindled from there. Frustration set in, followed by anger, and then despair.

“The kid” left the “academy” midseason with the unrealistic hope of perhaps rejoining the high school team. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (for sure) and the school (almost certainly) were having none of it and “the kid’s” prep basketball career was over. “The kid” didn’t even go back to the school, finishing up with online courses, instead.

It’s a sad story and some adult(s) should pay a price for their part in it. But they won’t. As Bruce Hornsby and then Tupac said, that’s just the way it is.

We wish “the kid” well. We wish the academy system only the worst. 

Athlete of the Week: Jessica Greene

essica Greene, a state-level high school athlete at Marana High School, is 6-foot-2. She has to be a volleyball player, right?

“No, I was going to try volleyball for the first time back in the eighth grade, but then COVID hit and it wiped out the season. I never got around to trying it when I got to high school.”

Well then, certainly a basketball player. “No, not really. I’ve been thinking about doing it next season, but it’s my senior year and I’ve never done it before…”

What, then? Swimming? Cross country? Golf?

“I’m a thrower in track and field. I throw the shot and the discus.”

Of course you do. With that height, it should be easy to discern in which event

she does better. The shot put is mostly a strength event and if a tall person can scrunch down enough and have an explosive motion coming out of the squat, the ball should go a decent distance.

On the other hand, taller people often struggle with the discus. The key to a good discus launch is generating a lot of speed and torque in the small ring. Tall people, with all those legs and arms in that circle, tend to struggle in the event. So…

“Discus is my best event,” she said. “It’s what I went to state in.”

We give up.

When asked if she also throws the javelin, she says, “No, I’ve tried it, but the motion puts a strain on my shoulder.” This is somewhat odd because she used to play softball and of the three throwing events,

the javelin comes closest to a normal human throwing motion. She has also done herself a little bit of arm damage in the shot put event.

“When I first started doing the shot, I had trouble keeping the (ball) up tight against my neck in the proper throwing motion. I would bring it away from my body and almost try to throw it like a softball. That hurts.”

She works for the Marana Parks and Recreation Department, doing all sorts of different tasks. “One week, I was helping with youth soccer at Crossroads. The next week, I was at Dove Mountain and then Gladden Farms. It keeps things interesting.”

When asked to name their favorite class, the response of math will generate the strongest emotions, either positive or

negative. Some kids will name a specific science (most often biology), but the most common response is English. So, naturally, Greene said hers is history.

“I loved my AP history class. It’s so amazing learning about things that actually happened. I like reading about history.”

She will be busy her senior year. While others will be playing volleyball in the fall, Greene will be spending her after-school hours serving as the manager for the boys’ football team. “Coach (Phillip Steward) is really cool and it’s fun being around the football team because they’re so good.”

She’s still undecided about basketball but really looks forward to another track season. “I really want to go to state again. It’s just the greatest experience.” 

The cure for the summertime blues SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

There’s no reason to be blue this summer. Tucson has plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied — and cool. Here are our top picks for things to do this summer.

1.

See a movie at the Loft Cinema 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard loftcinema.org

If you can’t find anything to do this summer, you clearly have not looked at the Loft Cinema, where even kids can get their fill of popcorn, games, prizes, raffles and, oh yeah, movies. During Loft Kids Fest they will be screening “Toy Story,” “Sing 2,” “The Sandlot” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” among others. The best part of this nine-day fest? It’s all free.

Things kick off with a Looney Tunes Outdoor Movie Party on Friday, June 23, at Himmel Park. After that, Loft doors open at 9:15 a.m. and the movie starts at 10 a.m.

Adults are not without their entertainment at the Loft. No, not that kind, just really good, sometimes kitschy, movies from times past.

Every Thursday until Aug. 31 check out the likes of Doris and Rock in “Pillow Talk,” or the amazing Marlon Brando at possibly his very best in, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Find out what we were really afraid of in 1956 with, “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” or watch Jimmy Stewart become a peeping Tom in “Rear Window.” It’s all part of the Loft’s Hollywood Classics Series.

Think that’s all? This is the Loft; there’s way more.

LAST YEAR AT THE LOFT IT WAS INDIANA JONES. THIS YEAR, THE MINIONS AND TOY STORY. (SUBMITTED)

Of course, the Loft will still be showing its usual selection of interesting, bizarre and contemporary films.

Find all the featured titles, times and tickets on the website.

2. Stay in your cool house and binge kanopy.com

Because we don’t have enough streaming services, here’s one that’s free.

With Kanopy, all you need is a library card or to be a university student or professor. After that it’s classic and not-soclassic movies galore.

Didn’t see “Chinatown” the first time around? It’s here. Watch, with regret, Amy Winehouse come apart in the documentary, “Amy.” Get some good advice from Mo Willlems when you “Don’t Let the Pigeon

Drive the Bus.”

There’s something for everyone.

3.

Thousands of years in the making

Arizona State Museum

1013 E. University Boulevard statemuseum.arizona.edu

Across the street from Centennial Hall on the UA campus is the oldest and largest anthropological research facility in the Southwestern United States, the Arizona State Museum. Want to do some archeological digging? This is where you go to get permitted, though that happens upstairs in the offices.

In the first-floor public spaces find a bit of the more than 3 million archaeological, ethnographic and modern objects that belong to the region’s Indigenous people.

There’s also the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Native North American basketry with objects from more than 7,000 years ago, along with southwest Indigenous pottery that goes back roughly 2,000 years.

Right now, the museum is showing off some of its ancient and modern Southwestern native jewelry.

It’s worth your time, won’t take all day, and the gift shop is pretty good, too.

Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets start at $8, $6 for seniors ages 65 and older and free for children younger than 17.

4.

Be on a mission

San Xavier del Bac Mission 1950 W. San Xavier Road 520-294-2624

sanxaviermission.org

Drive 9 miles from Downtown on I-19 and you will see a sight that has welcomed visitors to Tucson since 1797, our own San Xavier del Bac Mission. One look, even from the freeway and you will immediately see why it got the nickname, The White Dove of the Desert.

The mission is Arizona’s oldest intact European structure. It is a National Historic Landmark founded as a Catholic Mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692, though the actual structure wasn’t completed until the late 18th century. Inside the church’s walls are original statuary and mural paintings that remember Spanish Colonial times.

Here’s something to keep in mind when

Crow Medicine Show 7/19

Co-Founder of The Beach Boys Al Jardine & His Endless Summer Band 6/17

Don’t

Chapin Carpenter 6/10 Cowboy Junkies 7/27

visiting. This is a working Roman Catholic Church, a house of worship. Mass is offered here, and people still come to pray. Be respectful of the space and the worshipers.

The church houses a small museum, which has been closed for a bit, but staff is hopeful it will be opening again. Call ahead to be sure.

Still open, however, is the gift shop, where they have any number of Roman Catholic items, T-shirts and other souvenirs.

After seeing all there is to see, get native frybread hot out of the boiling oil and covered in powdered sugar. If that doesn’t do it, get it with meat. Both yummy. Fry bread vendors are in the parking lot.

5. Picture this

Etherton Gallery

340 S. Convent Avenue

ethertongallery.com

Hankering to start an art collection but don’t know where to start? Etherton Gallery has an idea. Here you will find works created by the masters of the art of photography, both past and present. Pieces are available to see but they can also be available to buy. As they say on their website, “...we remain dedicated to making great works of photography accessible to novices and experienced collectors alike.” You don’t have to buy to visit the gallery. These days see works by Wendy Schnieder and Laurie Lambrecht until Saturday, June 10.

6.

Yeah, but is it art?

Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson

265 S. Church Avenue

moca-tucson.org

It couldn’t be the summer of art without spreading your vision a little with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, which lets you in for free every first Thursday of the month.

Currently showing is “While Hissing,” by Raven Chacon, from Fort Defiance, the Navajo Nation. He wants to celebrate sound as a medium for resistance and connection. “Through video installation, graphic scores, and performance, Chacon amplifies Indigenous women’s voices, centering their leadership and vision both as carriers of memory and

authors of culture,” according to the museum’s website. Was he successful? Visit the exhibit and find out.

Touch the edge of your memory with, “Subrosa,” by Na Mira. The exhibit showcases nonlinear film that uses radio transmissions and the color red all bleeding together. This installation uses 16 mm film and infrared video. Yes, it is different but make of it what you will.

MOCA’s artists are often a part of the BIPOC community and are women-identifying, giving a broader perspective to the current exhibits.

Keep your kids busy at the weeklong kids’ art camps in June, which you will find listed on their website.

7.

Take a trip to the stars

Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium 1601 E. University Boulevard flandrau.org

Even if you can’t get away this summer, take a trip that’s out of this world at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium.

In the domed planetarium you may tour our very own solar system or visit a black hole with a film produced in collaboration with NOVA and NASA. Stay after the film for a star talk. You don’t have to be a genius or even a science geek to enjoy these programs.

There are also Laser Light Music Nights, where colorful lights dance to themed

World of Bugs,” “Sharks: Magnificent and Misunderstood” and “HiRISE: Eye in the Martian Sky.”

Plus, there’s a little gift shop, where they have every kid’s favorite, astronaut ice cream.

8.

Find Sombra Fria in Agua Caliente

Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park

12325 E. Roger Road

friendsofaguacaliente.org

music, but you have to be quick about getting tickets. They sell out fast. Check the website for times and ticket info.

In the science center, look for these four exhibits: “Undersea Discover,” “Wild

Don’t let the name Agua Caliente, or “hot water,” sway you from this summer gem. The vast 101-acre spread of land includes a perennial warm spring and an artificial stream linking its three ponds. The park supports diverse wildlife from fish to animal populations and allows for birdwatching, bat sightings and idle ramblings among the acres of cool shade. Restored buildings that dot the landscape recall the property’s long history as a ranch and thousands of years beyond that. Admission is free, parking is ample, and hours are 7 a.m. to sunset.

see CURE page 15

Experience works by over 100 artists from 40 countries including PichiAvo, Swoon, Banksy, Kara Walker, Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Cey Adams, Lady Pink, Willem de Kooning, Barbara Kruger, WRDSMTH, Wangechi Mutu, Vhils, Kerry James Marshall, Tracey Emin, Keith Haring, Saber, MuckRock, Judy Chicago, CES, D*Face, Ai Weiwei, MissMe, The Connor Brothers, Li Hongbo, Martin Schoeller, LeDania, Corie Mattie, Shepard Fairey, Sofia Cianciulli, Rayvenn D’Clark, Mando Marie, Saype, Jenny Saville…

PichiAvo 2018 Orphical Hymn to the Graces Spray, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas

We suggest you visit the website of the Friends of Agua Caliente Park before you go. You’ll find a video tour, information about the bats and birds and a top-line history of the property. The site also relates a cautionary tale of the human interventions that, in just the last two centuries, all but destroyed the flowing springs that first attracted our ancestors.

9.

Feel the breeze through a dozen species

Madera Canyon

South Madera Canyon Road, Green Valley

fs.usda.gov

Throughout the summer, the canyon’s average temperature sits in the low 90s with a typical light breeze through the opening. A few dozen species of oak trees shade the land and provide a cool, low-key adventure along the Madera Canyon Nature Trail. At 5.8 miles out and back with a 921-foot elevation gain, it’s an easy path for those interested in

hiking. If you’re not the type for a hike, there are plenty of spots to bust out the cooler and camp chairs and enjoy the nice weather.

Native plant species are labeled along the trail, so it’s fun to count the kinds of oaks. Take your binoculars, too, because Madera Canyon is rated the third-best birding destination in the United States.

10.

See photos Center for Creative Photography

1030 N. Olive Road

https://ccp.arizona.edu/

The UA Center for Creative Photography is home to a collection of photography and is known as one of the finest academic art museums in the world. The center holds more than 100,000 works from 2,200 photographers, along with archives of major artists like Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennedy. Check out, “The Linda McCartney Retrospective,” displaying her whole photographic career from 1965 to

1997. Her work features striking Tucson landscapes and portraits of famous celebrities throughout the generations, including those of her husband, Sir Paul McCartney. The CCP galleries are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday with free admission. The McCartney exhibit will close Aug. 5.

11.

Gotta have art

Tucson Museum of Art 140 N. Main Avenue tucsonmuseumofart.org

The Tucson Museum of Art, fresh from a number of recent expansions, is bigger and better than ever. The gallery specializes in curating art from Latin America, the American West, Modern and Contemporary themes. Moreover, their mission is to celebrate the diverse culture of Arizona and the Southwest Corridor. Enjoy the renowned Arizona Biennial Exhibition, presenting the work of professional Arizonan artists chosen through a juried competition.

see CURE page 16

SEE THE PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKS OF LINDA MCCARTNEY, AN ARTIST IN HER OWN RIGHT. (SUBMITTED)

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday with $7 to $12 admission and free for members and specified populations. While you’re there, grab a bite at Cafe a la C’arte, which serves delicious omelets, sandwiches and salads. Or at least get something sumptuous from their dessert case.

12.

See more art

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun 6300 N. Swan Road degrazia.org

Starting in the 1950s, the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun was built and curated by the late artist Ted DeGrazia. What started as a small museum in the middle of nowhere has transformed into an adobe fortress through seven decades of creative ingenuity. You can tour the wonderful gallery filled with his works and then wander the grounds to see DeGrazia’s original house, his “Little Gallery,” where he first showed his work. The galleries were designed by the artist and include the lovely chapel he built in honor of the Virgin de Guadalupe.

13.

Stop and smell the lavender

Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm 1221 N. Rancho Robles Road, Oracle lifeundertheoakslavenderfarm.com

In the northern foothills town of Oracle

lies a flower oasis among 100-year-old oak trees. The elevation and vast fields of lavender encourage cooler weather on the grounds of Life Under the Oaks Farm. Enjoy a tour of the farm and take your pick of lavender-induced and -themed products. Life Under the Oaks also hosts tea parties, wreath and art workshops and farm-totable meals. Plus, the aroma of lavender, we’re pretty sure, has a cool, calming effect on our fried brains.

14.

Climb a mountain, eat a cookie Mount Lemmon/Rose Canyon Lake Catalina Highway/Sky Island Scenic Byway

recreation.gov, skycenter.arizona.edu

Spend a day, a weekend or the entire summer on Tucson’s most popular mountain range. Mount Lemmon is an oasis in the middle of the desert. Driving up the mountain, the plants slowly change from cacti and shrubs to oak and ponderosa pines. Its biodiverse environment also offers hiking, camping and fishing. While swimming is not allowed, the altitude and shade leave the area 20 degrees cooler than Tucson. Campgrounds are available for rent on recreation.gov. Consider stopping in one of the few mountain towns and visiting the Mount Lemmon Cookie Cabin for cookies, pizza, chili and sandwiches. Sawmill Run and Irondoor restaurants are also open for business. While you’re

at 9,000 feet, check out the Arizona stars at the Mount Lemmon Skycenter by making a reservation.

15.

What’s zoo with you?

Reid Park Zoo

3400 E. Zoo Court

reidparkzoo.org

Summer Safari Nights are back at the Reid Park Zoo. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 12, families and friends can explore the zoo in the cooler evenings. Every night will focus on a “Rock Star Animal,” including events themed after the chosen species from the zoo, along with the usual fun with giraffe feedings, live music from local bands and, of course, carousel rides. Tucson Parks and Rec will partner with the zoo for “Ready, Set, Rec!” Games and activities.

While Reid Park Zoo undergoes expansions of its parking lot and exhibits, Summer Safari Nights will continue with little interruption. Admission ranges from $6.50 to $10.50 and is free for members and children under 2.

16.

There’s something magical about summer concerts. And there’s something magical about Downtown’s gor-

geous Fox Tucson Theatre. Put them together and you have memories that will last a lifetime. This summer, you’ve got the likes of

• Mary Chapin Carpenter (June 10);

• Junior Brown w/Mark Insley and the Broken Angels (June 14);

• Al Jardine w/Yahtzee Brown |

(June 17);

• Graham Nash (June 20);

• One of These Nights (June 23);

• Old Crow Medicine Show (July 19);

• The Robert Cray Band (July 25);

• Lodge (July 26)

• Cowboy Junkies (July 27);

• The Australian Pink Floyd Show (Aug. 23).

Besides the concerts, the Fox will be doing movies, including singalongs with “West Side Story,” “Annie” and “Greatest Showman.”

17.

Tucson Botanical Gardens

2150 N. Alvernon Way

tucsonbotanical.org

Tucson Botanical Gardens mission is to connect people with plants and nature through art, science, history, and culture. Originally founded in 1964 by horticulturist and collector Harrison G. Yocum, the gardens are now a lovely spread pathways through gardens on the historic Porter Family property. This nonprofit organization hosts events, classes,

programs, including a seasonal butterfly exhibit.

This year, it’s once again hosting Dog Days of Summer, by welcoming leashed dogs from June 1 to Sept. 30. They can accompany their parents on their strolls through the gardens. Take in the free smells, summer plants and grab a pup-a-licious snack from Edna’s Eatery.

Every Sunday June to August, from 6 to 8 p.m., guests can picnic, hang with friends or take in the garden sights as the sun goes down. Regular admission prices apply.

This community favorite is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except for Sunday evenings. Ticket prices range from $8 to $15 and are available online.

Butterfly Magic hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

18.

A whole new world

The Dive Shop

1702 E. Prince Road, Suite 150 azdiveshop.com

72 Aquatics

3110 E. Fort Lowell Road 72aquatics.com

Paragon Dive Shop

2951 N. Swan Road, Suite 175 paragondivestore.com

It turns out it is possible to breathe underwater. You need an apparatus, of course, but where do you get that? At any one of the three scuba shops in town.

If you’re just curious about what’s under the sea try an introductory snorkel class for about $50. For those who want to have more than just passing acquaintance, there are classes to be certified to scuba dive. Finally, for the really enthusiastic, look for classes to become PADI certified to teach scuba diving. You don’t even have to go far. At least one of the shops has an on-site pool to learn in.

Once you’ve mastered a snorkel, mask and tank, take an organized tour to one of the many international and exotic locales that all the shops offer. Or maybe just go on a drive-and-dive weekend to San Carlos. There’s plenty there to see, including a sunk, decommissioned ship. 19.

Introduce yourself to your town

Trejo Walking Tours, the Real History of Tucson trejostucson.com

520-329-2639

Taste of Tucson tasteoftucsondowntown.com

520-904-2119

Borderlandia borderlandia.org info@borderlandia.org

Even if it is hot, take a tour that will introduce you to your very own UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Hear a different take on the history of a few of Tucson’s neighborhoods, sample the wonderful food produced here in local restaurants, learn about the Turquoise Trail or blaze a new trail in Tubac, Tumacacori or our side of Nogales. You might even venture out for an overnight trip to learn about, and more importantly sample, bacanora. There is still plenty to see when the town slows down.

Some of the tour operators prefer to lead their tours in the early morning or evening so check their websites for details, and some of them will give you a private tour if you prefer. Here are just a few tours.

Find more here: rb.gy/qpn08

20.

Be a hero

Santa Rita Park 401 E. 22nd Street

Next time you visit your favorite discount warehouse, consider picking up a couple of cases of water and a bulk package of flavored electrolyte powder packets. Then round up some friends to help take it all to Santa Rita Park. You don’t have to talk to anyone you see hanging out there. If you don’t want the company, just leave your gifts on a picnic table. Folks will find and share them among your house-less fellow Tucsonans. You’ll

Season at the Lavender Farm in June!

Memorial Weekend on the 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th & 28th from 8am-1pm. We will also be open Wed-Sun of every weekend in June from 8am-1pm.

etc in the evenings.

SAN XAVIER DEL BAC MISSION IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. (SUBMITTED)

Summer Safari Nights start amid zoo construction

BY VERONICA KUFFEL

Tucson Local Media Staff

Summer Safari Nights are back at the Reid Park Zoo to help beat the heat.

“During the summer, it’s so hard to spend time outside when it’s 110 degrees,” said Chelo Grubb, the zoo’s marketing and communications supervisor.

“We want to give that opportunity for people to come enjoy the zoo during the cooler evening hours and get some time outside without risking sunburns and whatnot.”

Every Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 12 has a theme based on a “Rock Star Animal,” a species that staff incorporate into their programming.

“We’ll do keeper chats about the specific animals we’re featuring each week,” Grubb said. “Depending on the animal, we’ll have docents out with some really cool artifacts. People will get to know the animals a little more intimately.”

Presented by TMC Healthcare, Summer Safari Nights include animal encounters, artifact stations, giraffe feedings, carousel rides and crafts.

The Reid Park Zoo also scheduled live music each night, featuring local artists and acts that range from The Circus Academy and Mr. Nature’s Music Garden to Mamma Coal and Dry Wash Anglers.

“As opposed to later hours at the zoo, it’s a little bit more of a celebration, more of a summer festivity,” Grubb said. “We work with a number of great bands throughout

the year at different events. There’s nothing more fun than taking a break from walking through the zoo.”

For a few nights, the zoo will also host a Shopping Night with Desert Peach Management. Local artisans will provide their artwork and products of varied media types for the public. Reid Park Zoo has partnered with Tucson Parks and Recreation to put on their “Ready, Set, Rec!” games and activities throughout the night as well.

Summer Safari Nights will run alongside the zoo’s current construction projects, supervised by Lloyd Construction. CEO Nancy Kluge confirmed the Reid Park Zoo will continue to be open to the public and will not affect summer programming.

“There won’t be any effect on Summer Safari Nights, so that’s the good news,” Kluge said. “We’re constructing a sloth exhibit… so there is a small portion of South America closed off, but all of the animals in that area are still visible.”

The zoo is renovating a portion of its South America loop to welcome a new habitat for a Linne’s two-toed sloth. Kluge projected it will be completed by the end of the summer.

With development so close to existing animal enclosures, the CEO also noted the zoo puts animal well-being at the forefront.

“We monitor how our animals are doing during construction very closely,” Kluge said. “Our contractors know the animals come first here, so even if an animal looks like it’s having a difficult time with noise

or vibrations, then they know they pull off that day.”

Along with habitats, a new nature playground will be constructed outside the Conservation Learning Center and will also be finished in late summer. The Angel Charity for Children World of Play Area will feature an Antarctic Ice Cave and a 30foot manmade Sequoia tree.

Reid Park Zoo will expand its parking, allowing more visitors to the area and shade pathways with an additional 100 planted trees. After completion, developers will work on a new Pathway to Asia.

“Pathway to Asia will be a big addition, and that will open in 2025,” Kluge noted. “That’s the one that will have red pandas, small-clawed otters, tigers and reptiles like Komodo dragons.”

Kluge said she’s proud that the building plan uses no existing green space in the zoo or park. It will add 300 trees, converting 45% of the area to green space.

Kluge, Grubb and other zoo staff hope families not only have fun but leave with a new respect for nature and all of its wildlife.

“Our mission is to connect people with wildlife to inspire them to protect wild animals and wild places,” Grubb said. “We’re excited about any opportunity we have to get people to come to the zoo, to learn more about the animals in our care, to learn what they can to do make conservation a part of their life.” 

Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 12

WHERE: Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court, Tucson

COST: $6.50 to $10.50 (free for members and children under 2) INFO: reidparkzoo.org

GUESTS OBSERVE THE RESIDENT FLAMINGOS AS THE SUN SETS OVER REID PARK ZOO (CHELO GRUBB/SUBMITTED)

HEALTH

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

Lentils are the superfoods we all need

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

Lentils, those tiny flat legumes that look like pea “wannabes,” are a powerhouse of good nutrition.

They may be one of the first foods ever cultivated; 8,000-year-old lentil seeds have been found in Middle Eastern archeological sites. Lentils are mentioned in the Bible as something Esau traded for his birthright, and also as part of the bread the Jewish people ate during their time of Babylonian captivity. Their use spread to Africa and Europe as people migrated and they were introduced to India in the first century A.D. where they remain a staple of Indian cuisine. Lentils are a dietary staple in many countries. Canada is

the leading producer and exporter of lentils at 3.2 million tons per year. India is second and Australia is the third largest lentils grower.

Lentils are members of the legume family and grow in pods that contain one or two seeds. There are dozens of varieties of large and small size and a variety of colors. In the United States, we use mostly the green and brown but are finding more red lentils in nonspecialty supermarkets. There are also orange, yellow and black varieties and are found either whole or split. They are available year-round.

The health benefits of lentils are many. Like other legumes, lentils are rich in soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. The soluble fiber binds with bile and cholesterol in the intestines and they are excreted in the stool. Studies have shown that high fiber foods can lower total choles-

terol and triglycerides significantly. The insoluble fiber increases bulk and helps to prevent constipation and may help to prevent such maladies as irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. Insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, hypoglycemia, and diabetes can cause wild fluctuations in blood-sugar levels. The soluble fiber helps to regulate blood sugar and provide steady energy.

Research has shown that high fiber diets promote an overall lower level of glucose and insulin, improving glycemic control. Lentils can also increase energy levels by increasing the level of iron. Other iron rich foods such as red meat also carry a lot of fat and calories while lentils offer a lower calorie and fat free alternative.

cup) source of molybdenum, an essential trace element for all forms of life in that it acts as a catalyst in chemical processes in the body. They also offer a rich supply of tryptophan, manganese, iron, protein, phosphorus, copper, potassium and thiamine.

There has been concern that lentils contain a high level of purines, naturally occurring substances that provide part of the chemical structure of genes in plants and animals. Purines are metabolized into uric acid which is an antioxidant that helps to protect the lining of blood vessels. When the kidneys cannot adequately keep uric acid levels balanced or there is an excessive breakdown of purines and accumulation of uric acid, these crystals can be deposited in kidneys, joints, tendons and other organs.

This is known as gout, a painful inflammatory illness that can be crippling though treated. Recent research has shown that animal purines clearly increase the risk of gout while plant purines do not. So, eating lentils will not cause gout.

Lentils have a positive impact on heart health. The Archives of Internal Medicine published a study in 2001 showing that eating high fiber foods such as legumes (lentils) helps to prevent coronary heart disease. It reported 9,632 American adults were followed over 19 years. Those who ate legumes such as lentils four or more times per week had a 22% lower risk of developing heart disease.

Besides their fiber content, lentils have significant amounts of folate, lowering homocysteine which damages arterial walls. The high folate content is also very beneficial for pregnant women in that it helps to prevent neural tube defects in their infants (severe birth defects of the brain or spine and spinal cord that occur in the first month of pregnancy). They are also rich in magnesium which naturally relaxes blood vessels improving blood, oxygen, and nutrients flow throughout the body.

Lentils are a low-calorie (239 calories per

Lentils can be found dried or canned — both have the same nutritional value (just watch for added salt or preservatives in the canned products). Stored in an airtight container, dried lentils will stay fresh for a year. They are easy to prepare by boiling one cup of lentils in three cups of water for 20 to 30 minutes. They can be served hot in soups, stews, and various ethnic dishes, and they will absorb the flavors of spices and herbs. They can be served cold in a variety of salads. Sprouted lentils are another nutritional powerhouse. They can be found in some grocery stores but are easy to make at home. Soak dried lentils overnight, then drain and rinse them the next morning. Leave them in a jar with good air circulation and within 24 hours they should begin to sprout. Turn the jar and rinse the lentils a few times a day until fully sprouted. These are actually easier to digest and have more vitamins B and C and are great on salads, in sandwiches, or as a garnish. Do your waistline, heart, colon, and tastebuds a big favor and add some lentils to your diet.

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

1 Crooked, as a painting on the wall

6 Nine-digit ID

9 How revenge (or pizza for breakfast) is best served

13 Steeple

14 Noshed

15 Corporate rule or regulation

16 Concept that can’t be criticized or questioned, metaphorically

18 Tennis’s Agassi

19 Torah holders

20 Bigeye or yellowfin tuna, at a sushi bar

21 Feel great sorrow

22 Shout made with a fist pump

23 Seafood often served with picks 25 Dab, as with a paper towel 27 Chicago trains 28 Not showy

30 Language spoken in Bangkok

32 Ballet dancer’s knee bend

36 Pre-employment investigation

39 “A guy walks into a bar …” may start one

40 Caesar’s words to Brutus

41 Music Mann?

42 Shoofly ___

43 Norway’s biggest city

44 Cocktail named for two iconic beverage brands

50 Catch forty winks

53 Changes, as a hemline

54 22-Across, in French

55 Regarding

56 Latin for “in itself”

57 Behaved in a laid-back way

59 Connections for car wheels

60 Author Edgar Allan ___

61 In an unusual way

62 Army’s football rival

63 Mr. Potato Head piece

64 Sell illegally, as tickets Down

1 Test for purity

2 What a diagonal line represents on a bowling scoresheet

3 Relaxes

4 Commits a fumble

5 Small, to a Scot

6 Borat creator ___ Baron Cohen

7 Showing no emotion

8 Either “N” in NY, NY

9 Jaded doubter

10 More ancient

11 Stage in a butterfly’s development

12 Socially inept sort

15 Poets of yore

17 It’s tossed toward a bull’s-eye

21 Frozen

23 Viet ___ (armed force of the 1960s-’70s)

24 Reeves of the “Matrix” films

26 Thumbs-up on Facebook

28 Gooey lunchbox sandwich, informally

29 Language spoken in Vientiane

30 Schlepped

31 Primitive dwelling

32 TV’s Dr. ___

33 San Pellegrino offering

34 “Rocks” that clink in a drink

35 ___ out a living

37 Rider’s handful

38 Assignment for a lawyer

42 Removes skin from

43 “The Grapes of Wrath” figure

44 Mount Fuji’s locale

45 Amazon “assistant”

46 PC command to paste

47 Ken who wrote “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

48 Hot drink with marshmallows

49 Word before space or limits

51 Coral islet chain

52 Coral reef producer

55 “Highway to Hell” rock group … or a hint to electrical switches found in 16-, 23-, 36-, 44- and 57-Across

57 Gorilla, e.g.

The countdown to Saturn’s retrograde warns against overvigilance. It’s possible to waste a lot of energy on things that don’t really matter or aren’t worth the effort. Step back and assess the situation before deciding how to respond. By picking our battles, we can focus our energy and attention on the things that are truly important or that we have a chance of winning, which leads to a sense of victory and accomplishment.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). What you tell yourself can take your mood from “meh” to “yeah!” or from “bleh” to “oh, no!” If you’re having trouble finding the right verbiage for your self-talk, think about what is working for you in a situation and focus there. This week, the key to improvement of anything and everything is gratitude. TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Even a groovy week like this has its tensions, mostly caused by expectations that do not align with reality. Though you can’t always control the experience, there’s much you can adjust in what you think will happen, or what you hope to gain or lose in an interaction. You’ll be very adaptable this week and you’ll shine.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll need to work smarter this week to get it all done, and this means you cannot do it all yourself. Be like the honeybee. Send out scouts in every direction. Let them come back and tell you where the flowers are. Then you can fly to the places that are open and inviting and focus your efforts where the air is the sweetest.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Three interrelated concepts will keep coming up this week: intelligence, humility and self-awareness. The work of becoming self-aware requires bouncing ideas off others and being receptive to what comes back. Many will love to be your mirror. Your modesty makes you everyone’s favorite person to talk to.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can learn anything you want to. In many ways, deciding what to learn is the act that alters fate. You can afford to be bold about it this week. Consider that it will take just as long to learn something basic and general as it will to learn something specific and fascinating.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You haven’t always known what to pay attention to, but through trial and error, you learned. Now you spot potential complications and distractions from a mile away. Now you can focus on the things that pay off for you. You’ll have a clear idea of where you’re going, and this is why people start to line up behind you and do what you do.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In a weird way, being too busy is a comfort. A crammed schedule makes life a blur, so you don’t have to look at any single issue for too

long. You needn’t avoid that now. You’re in a solid place emotionally. Slow down for some peace and relaxation. You’ll be able to handle whatever comes up.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Don’t work in the direction that will make other people happy. Instead, work in the direction that is best for all including you. Fickle feelings matter less than the deeper joy that comes from doing the thing that will contribute to many levels of health and nourishment including physical, spiritual and emotional.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There are people who are committed to your development and who want you to be your best. Then there are people who need you to fill a role, and your development beyond that role is of no relevance to them. For optimum success, put your best effort into relationships with people in the first category.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Doing hard things is crucial to self-esteem because a person cannot learn to trust themself without the proof of what they can handle. This is why you’re not afraid of what life will bring. You know you can do hard things because you’ve already done them. Remind yourself of the specifics of your victories.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People often feel offended or resentful when others attempt to control them. It is possible that when we try to control everything, the universe feels similarly disrespected. This week, you’ll back off and even take the hands off the steering wheel for a spell to let the universe show you a little love.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The heated emotions like anger, passion, embarrassment and desire are like hot peppers. They add spice, and a little goes a long way. Some people can’t take the spice and don’t want any at all, while others think the dish of life is bland without a little kick. You serve it up perfectly when you know everyone’s preferences.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: Welcome to your year of cosmic congruence and marvelous alignment! What inspires attraction, desire and pursuit will also agree with you, make you look good, and bring ease and beauty to your life. Who you love will love you back. What you do will matter. It’s an all-around fantastic year. More highlights: Lifestyle tweaks turn into a new look and routine. A message hidden in your heart will have its moment of broadcast. You’ll receive a fancy set of keys and off you go! 