Explorer News 08/23/2023

At Timeless Play, kids

‘rediscover childhood’

BY DAVE PERRY Tucson Local Media Contributor

hildren “have forgotten how to play,” Rosalind Prather said.

Young ones can “rediscover childhood” at Timeless Play Oro Valley, a

drop-in, licensed child care facility opened in June by Prather and her business partner Caroline Wesnitzer at Oro Valley Marketplace.

Parents can leave their children ages 1 to 12 for an hour, or up to four hours, at Timeless Play. While mothers and fathers take care of personal business, see PLAY page 9

BY AIDAN SCHONBRUN

Tucson Local Media Sta

The nationally recognized Grey Muzzle Organization has chosen Lifeline Oro Valley Animal Rescue as one of its animal welfare groups to receive a grant to help local senior dogs.

The Oro Valley group was one of 90 welfare groups to receive the grant from 370 applicants. The grant money will be used to provide help such as medical care to local senior dogs.

“LOVAR is deeply grateful for the recognition and support of our work with senior dogs from such a prestigious organization as Grey Muzzle,” said LOVAR’s Director Jeanette Regan-Anders.

“This grant will help toward medical

Streams DO come

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WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Tucson, AZ - When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with anti-depressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs o en trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This o en causes weakness and numbness.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “BandAid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

(above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Arrowhead Physical Medicine in Tuscon, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. This ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling.

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less them 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Hot Picks

BY LINDA RAY Tucson Local Media Sta

Summer Social: “Life in the Tar Seeps” AUG. 23

Complimentary snacks and a cash bar set the stage for a social evening reflecting on a tragedy possibly best understood through poetry. Gretchen E. Henderson will read and discuss her work, “Life in the Tar Seeps: A Spiraling Ecology from a Dying Sea.” Henderson visited the Great Salt Lake’s tar seeps in the wake of a near-fatal car accident. Her work leans into the landscape’s shared experience of life and death, degeneration and regeneration, injury and healing. The Century Room, Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, Tucson, free, 5 p.m., poetry.arizona.edu

Greatest Showman Movie

Musical Sing Along AUG. 26

creativity and following their dreams. Find her there on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road, Tucson, free admission, 6 to 8 p.m., hotelmccoy.com, or themermaidodette.com

Music & Movies:

“Selena” with Las Azaleas SEPT. 9

The Fox pairs one-of-akind performances by local music artists with a music-themed film. This time, it’s “Selena” with Las Azaleas presenting Como la Flor. Las Azaleas invites audiences to sing along to some of Selena’s greatest hits at Tucson’s Historic Fox Tucson Theatre.

In the biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla (Jennifer Lopez) is born into a musical Mexican American family in Texas. Her father realizes his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds

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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 Scha ner, Sta Reporter kscha ner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham Production/Design Supervisor production@timeslocalmedia.com

Arman Olivares, Graphic Designer aolivares@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

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Leah Pittman, Account Executive lpittman@tucsonlocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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

EDITORIAL

see HOT

Thankfully, Tuscon is the birthplace of a brand new facility that sheds light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage – a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until August 31st, 2023. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment.

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (520) 934-0130...NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Fans of “The Greatest Showman” can sing along with the tunes the way they wanted to — in the theater. This sing-along version will display the tunes’ lyrics on the screen, allowing the audience to hit all the notes with Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Zendaya!

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson, tickets start at $7.50, 7 p.m., 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

Swim with a Mermaid AUG. 26

Mermaid Odette just loves Hotel McCoy’s saltwater pool. She’s been holding forth there every other Saturday, talking to kids about ocean conservation,

HOT PICKS from page 4

success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez (Jon Seda), who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she never completed.

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson, tickets start at $12.50, 7 p.m. music, 8 p.m. movie, 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

“I Love to Eat”

SEPT. 5 TO SEPT. 17

Before Rachael Ray, Gordon Ramsay and even Julia Child, there was James Beard — America’s first TV chef and namesake of the coveted culinary prize. In this oneman comedy, Beard welcomes us into his Greenwich Village kitchen where he cooks, gossips, sings, fights loneliness and reenacts moments from his ground-breaking 1946 TV show.

Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Avenue, Tucson, tickets start at $20, various times, invisibletheatre.com

Lyle Lovett and His Acoustic Group SEPT. 5

A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett

has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. The Texas-based musician fuses country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers.

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson, tickets start at $20, 7:30 p.m., 520547-3040, foxtucson.com

ONGOING EVENTS

Cool Summer Nights TO AUG. 26

This will be the last Saturday night for

awhile that the Sonora-Desert Museum celebrates summer nights.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, tickets start at $20, free for members, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday to 9 p.m. 520-833-1380, desertmuseum.org

Dog Days of Summer TO SEPT. 30

Guests can take their dogs to Tucson Botanical Gardens 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

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, Tucson, $25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., biosphere2.org

Heirloom Farmers Market SATURDAYS

Fresh fruits and veggies deliver the cool on these summer days. Find all your favorite local produce for a dessert, a salad or a slaw and stock up on pork, beef and eggs from nearby farms and ranches. The Heirloom folks now operate all five of the biggest farmers markets hereabouts. In this Oro Valley event, food vendors and artisans spread their wares among the historic structures and gardens of Steam Pump Ranch.

Historic Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, free admission, 8 a.m. to noon, heirloomfm.org

Lyle Lovett and His Accoustic Group performs Tuesday, Sept. 5. (Submitted)

OV starts work on La Cañada path

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Oro Valley has begun construction of a new, $700,000, detached multiuse path on a section of La Cañada between Naranja and Lambert in the heart of the community.

A lane closure is required for the construction, which is along the west side of La Cañada between the Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center and La Cañada’s intersection with Cañada Hills Drive. The right lane on southbound La Cañada Drive is closed, with speeds on the rest of that roadway reduced to 25 mph, the town said in a release.

The work, performed by contractor KE&G Construction, is expected to last until Friday, Oct. 20, if weather allows.

During construction, the right-hand lane is closed all day, every day. Message boards have been placed to remind drivers to merge to the left and slow down.

Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through the construction area, and are encouraged to find alternative routes to avoid delays, the town said.

When the path is complete, it should improve “recreational safety and access for Oro Valley residents,” the release continued. “The town of Oro Valley appreciates your patience.”

Funds for the work come from town sources as well as the Pima County Regional Transportation Authority.

Anyone with questions regarding the project or construction may contact Fernando Redo at 520-229-4892 or fredo@orovalleyaz.gov.

Town publishes two-page budget summary

A document explaining the town of Oro Valley’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget is now available online for people to read or

download, according to a town release.

On June 21, the Oro Valley Town Council adopted a $148.5 million spending plan that took effect July 1. It represents a $785,000 increase, or 0.5 of 1%, from the adopted 2022-23 budget of $147.7 million.

Oro Valley “understands that not everyone has the time to peruse a massive budget document,” the release said. To make the budget more accessible, it publishes a two-page summary each year entitled, "Know Your Town’s Budget."

The summary provides residents with an overview of the Town’s key sources and uses of funding, as well as how the annual budget helps the town prepare for the future. The hyperlink is here: https://bit.ly/OVBudgetFacts.

Know Your Town’s Budget highlights five areas of focus — capital investments, recreation and culture, public safety, the general plan update and financial

stability and sustainability.

“As reflected in previous fiscal years, the town is exceptionally strong financially and does not deficit spend,” the release said. “Oro Valley maintains the highest bond rating in Southern Arizona at AA+.”

Oro Valley’s annual budget is “structurally balanced,” it continued, and reflects “the careful allocation of available resources toward the services our residents, businesses and visitors value and deserve.”

The town has received two awards for its financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. One is for outstanding achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting, the second is a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting.

“Our team is grateful for the see PATH page 7

recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association for our efforts to provide the community with financial reporting reflecting best practices and standards,” said Dave Gephart, chief financial officer for the town. “I am humbled to lead such an amazing team of financial professionals.”

For information about the town’s finance documents and reporting, https://bit.ly/OVFinanceDocuments.

Tucson firearms smuggler gets 60 months

Victor Coronado Jr., 40, of Tucson, was sentenced on Aug. 15 by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Coronado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States.

Coronado was the leader of a conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the United States into Mexico between October 2019 and July 2020. Coronado and his co-conspirators purchased firearms, made false

statements to firearms dealers in the acquisition of firearms, provided funds to others for the purchase of firearms and assisted in smuggling 49 assault rifles and high-capacity semi-automatic pistols into Mexico.

The firearms Coronado conspired to smuggle are prohibited from being exported from the United States into Mexico without a valid license. Neither Coronado nor any of his co-conspirators had a valid license or any other lawful authority to export the firearms into Mexico.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, assisted by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

Your Source For Community News!

SAACA event is a fiesta come to life

BY BANNON CLARK

Tucson Local Media Sta

Guests can indulge in a fusion of flavors at the 10th annual Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge, hosted by the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA), at El Conquistador Tucson.

The Saturday, Aug. 26, event blends cocktail craftsmanship and culinary creativity, showcasing the region’s offerings and celebrating the city through salsa, tequila and tacos.

The event will feature 30 vendors from the Tucson area, competing for 20 awards. Apart from the food and drinks, this year the event will introduce six lucha libre wrestling matches. Music and dance performances will also be a highlight of the night, featuring an assortment of mariachi, folklorico, Mexican pop and more.

This year holds special significance as it marks the event’s 10th anniversary and the first one since 2019. According to Jonathan Frahm, SAACA marketing and events coordinator, the event began as a block party but evolved into what it is today.

“We wanted to do something different to make it more memorable, with it being our 10th anniversary,” he said.

Adding a special touch to the event is HighWire Tucson, a premier bar and the home of molecular mixology. It’s known for its boba-like “spoon shots,” filled with alcohol.

HighWire is one of only 10 bars in the United States specializing in this kind of mixology. The bar, which experiences long lines on weekends, will showcase its signature Sonoran sunset cocktail, which mixes creative elements like Chiltepin-infused Hornitos Reposado and tequila caviar.

“It’s not exactly like boba, but the texture is similar. You pop it, and there’s a shot of alcohol inside,” said Maddy Robbins, event coordinator.

With over 30 local professional and emerging restaurants and chefs participating at El Conquistador Tucson, attendees will have many things to experience. With many restaurants showcasing the culinary creativity that Oro Valley and Tucson restaurants and vendors offer, some restaurants are participating in this challenge for the first time;

take Fork and Fire as an example.

Opened in March 2022, Fork and Fire transitioned from a food truck to two brick-andmortar locations in Oro Valley and Catalina. Blending Mexican and barbecue flavors with a Texas-style influence, it smokes its brisket for 12 hours.

With chef James Byrne’s six years-plus of professional barbecuing experience, the menu collaboration and prior social media marketing have grown the restaurant, solidifying its reputation for introducing barbecue to Oro Valley as what he calls “a match made in heaven.”

The Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge goes beyond offering great food and drinks; it’s also for a good cause. SAACA promotes engagement in arts and culture, while the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona addresses hunger’s root causes. Proceeds go to arts programs by SAACA and local projects by the Community Food Bank.

Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge

WHEN: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26

WHERE: El Conquistador Tucson, 10000

N. Oracle Road, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $80

INFO: saaca.org

The Challenge is an opportunity for chefs to display their creativity (Submitted)

Salsa samples are king at the Salsa, Tequila and Salsa Challenge, set for Saturday, Aug. 26. (Submitted)

go to a doctor’s appointment or spend time with one another, the kids are having a “super magical” play experience without computer screens or electronic toys, Prather said. The result? Everyone’s happy. “People love it,” she said.

In the spacious, uncluttered playroom, secured behind an automatic locking door, children play with “nutrient-rich toys” emphasizing discovery and nostalgia. They’re making jewelry, playing with building blocks, dolls and puppets and learning social skills.

Joining them on the floor are “play experts,” intensely screened child care providers who are “engaging with kids, rather than passively observing them,” Prather said. They talk with children, not at them. “They’re adults who are paid to play.”

At six distinct centers, children create, build, move, pretend, play time-honored board games and wonder. They move through the play stations “in a really thoughtful way,” said publicist Stephanie Sanstead. “All the toys and gadgets are not all out on the floor at the same time. Sensory overwhelm can be a real thing for these kids.”

Working mothers can feel overwhelmed,

At Timeless Play, children ages 1 to 12 are busy with hands-on activities. Timeless Play is a licensed childcare facility open at Oro Valley Marketplace. (CommuniCadence/Submitted)

too. Prather, with two children, and Wesnitzer, with three, know that firsthand. Prather (then known by the last name Ross) and Caroline Malkin met as kids at Coronado K-8 School, then roomed together and worked as nannies while earning degrees at the UA. In 2011, not long after their

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graduations, the two of them opened Trusting Connections Nanny Agency in Tucson.

“I had to learn the juggling act,” Prather said. “When we opened, I was 24, and the month we opened, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Caroline was not happy.”

They persevered, and the business grew. Trusting Connections expanded to Dallas/ Fort Worth in 2015, then to Phoenix in 2018.

“When I look back, it was truly a ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ story,” Prather said.

The two women “couldn’t be a more perfect partnership,” Prather said. “We’re exact opposites.” Wesnitzer is “an operator,” and in fact the company’s chief operations officer. “I’m a visionary,” and the spokesperson, Prather continued. Wesnitzer “takes all my wild dreams and ideas,” and makes them happen. “It’s a very special relationship between the two of us. It really feels like a marriage in many ways.”

They are “proud of our growth” at TC Holdings, the parent company, which now has five businesses. Last year, TC Holdings had revenue of $2.7 million, and it now employs nearly 175 people. It is “operating pretty well,” said Prather, giving all the credit to “an incredible team of women” led by Wesnitzer

and strengthened by operations manager Katie Meyer, “the third leg of our team.”

Even with all that success, the partners — or, at least, Prather — “got a little bored,” she said. “We were ready for a new challenge.” Through Trusting Connections, Prather and Wesnitzer saw that people wanted on-demand, drop-off child care services.

“A lot of parents really only need, sometimes, a few hours, maybe for a hair appointment, time at the gym, visits with doctors, to go shopping or to spend time together," Prather said.

The first Timeless Play opened at River and Campbell in Tucson in March 2021, during the Delta variant of COVID 19. “It’s growing nicely,” Prather said.

She’s excited about the Oro Valley location. “There are so many families with young kids here,” Prather said. Proximity makes it convenient, and Timeless Play’s rates make it “more accessible" to middle-income families. Memberships are $15 a month. Members pay $15 an hour for the first child, $10 for a sibling.

“Child care doesn’t make you rich,” Prather said. “We picked the lowest-profit, highest-liability business.”

see PLAY page 19

The brand new Cottages of Tucson offers memory care in a home-like community with private and semi-private accommodations.

With first class amenities, and a professional and caring staff, we provide individualized care for residents living with all types of memory-related illnesses.

• Specialized dementia care

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• Tailored daily activities for residents based on needs & abilities • Ask us about nancial options!

Gardening in the SW takes skill

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media Sta

Even during the blistering days of summer, gardeners are busy.

SaddleBrooke Ranch is a few degrees cooler than Tucson, so they are harvesting like crazy, but not without some work.

“Trying to keep your plants alive right now is the real goal,” said Elon Jarvis, experienced gardener.

Even so, that doesn’t mean all their plants are producing.

“Some of (the tomatoes) are a little slow to ripen because of the heat,” she said.

“They have a temperature range that they will germinate,” said gardener Glenna Matthews.

“They stop pollinating at about 95 degrees,” Jarvis added.

Gardeners are watering, but they are also keeping a shade cloth in place to save plants from dying in the intense desert sun. If they do die, don’t give up.

Gardening here is not like growing in the northeast, for example. For one thing, Jarvis said, the soil here is so hard packed that roots almost don’t have a chance. Instead of growing downward as they are designed to do, they will grow sideways, weakening the plant.

“It’s hard, rock hard,” gardener Lucy Lange said.

“You need a pickaxe or dynamite to dig a hole,” Jarvis added.

Therefore, you have to soak your soil, and not just once. And when they say soak, they mean deeply soak.

“You soak it and then you let it drain through, and then you soak it (again),” Jarvis said. “What you’re doing is softening the soil.”

In fact, Lange had to soak an area three days before the ground at her home was soft enough to dig a hole. As with all the other SaddleBrooke Ranch gardeners, she has a 3-by-6-foot plot in the community’s garden.

Once the ground is soft, what’s next? Trees, like pomegranate trees, will be OK because the roots will break through as long as it has enough water. Smaller

flowers. (Karen Scha ner/Sta )

Another trick to keeping moisture in the ground is covering the soil with straw as mulch.

The gardeners agree that cucumbers and squash are a good bet now.

“You can plant cucumbers now, some of the squashes for a fall harvest if you have the space,” Jarvis said.

Their seeds should be planted directly into the ground because, Jarvis said, they don’t transplant well. Second, they also need a bit of babying and a lot of space.

“They have to have enough light,” Matthews said. “You can’t put them under the squash leaves and expect them to grow.”

“Squash and cucumbers take a lot of room because they’re vines — and very hardy vines for the most part,” Lange said.

“You have to make sure that you’ve got, I would say, a 5-foot by 5-foot place where the only thing that you’re going to plant is cucumber.”

“ unless you have a trellis,” Matthews added.

“They will take over your whole garden,” Lange said.

What about other vegetables?

“This is a really tough time of the year for vegetables,” Jarvis said, “because they’re mature, most of them.”

Matthews said, “You’re actually getting tired of your plants. You’re ready to pull some of them up because the squash plants look horrible. You want to get them out so you can prepare your bed for fall planting.”

Don’t destroy your tomato plants, though.

plants need the help.

“You have to amend the soil before you plant something,” Jarvis said. “You want to put in compost.”

“Compost and topsoil,” Lange added about the products available at a local garden center.

Of the three gardeners, Lange grows flowers. She listed a few that grow well here: salvia; roses; lavender; bearded irises, which are very drought tolerant; anything in the mint family; poppies; and snapdragons.

Sunflowers do very well.

Vegetables, however, are not

desert-adapted plants, Jarvis said. Still, if a gardener makes a few adjustments, they can be successfully grown here.

“You have to provide what they need,” Jarvis said. She means water and shade.

“I don’t think there are any desert specific vegetables,” Lange said.

The gardeners like to water between 8 and 10 a.m. if it’s by hand. Many, however, have a sprinkler system on a timer and set it to water in the evening when it’s cooler.

“There’s more shade and it isn’t as hot so the water’s going to stay longer in the ground,” Lange said.

“Tomatoes down here can have a second crop in the fall,” Lange said. “So, don’t pull your tomatoes. They may look like they’re dead on the vine and they’re not producing any fruit but it gets a little cooler and all of a sudden they come back and they grow bigger tomatoes, even, than the first crop.”

Lange had a two tips to working with tomatoes during this time of year: For one thing, keep them watered even if it looks like they’re not producing. They also still need shade.

“And since we said that, it won’t happen,” Jarvis said with a laugh.

Lucy Lange and Elon Jarvis examine the flowers in Lange’s community garden plot at SaddleBrooke Ranch. While many gardeners grow vegetables, Lange likes to grow

Home Sweet Home

Agent Network

Welcoming Stephan Desgagne: An Expanding

Desert Sunset Realty is thrilled to introduce its latest sales partner, Stephan Desgagne from the Southwest Alliance Group. As the local representative for OpenDoor, he presents Move with Freedom options that showcase the brokerage’s commitment to transparent choices for clients looking to sell their homes. Stephan offers clear cost comparisons between traditional listings and the innovative approach of selling to Opendoor. By providing clients with comprehensive options, Desert Sunset Realty and Stephan Desgagne prioritize meeting clients’ unique needs and wishes.

Visit our website: www.desertsunsetrealtytucson.com and connect with us on Instagram and Facebook @desertsunsetrealty for genuine answers to your questions and more information on the Move with Freedom options with OpenDoor.

Tucson native revolutionizes real estate

BY VERONICA KUFFEL Tucson Local Media Contributor

Leah Crandell has worked in the real estate industry for over 25 years, gaining experience in everything from title and escrow to brokerage and property management.

However, the most valuable asset she brings to her brokerage, Desert Sunset Realty, is her deep passion for the desert community.

“Our dedication to this area speci cally is in the people, the culture and kind of the rural lifestyle that identi es Marana,” Crandell said. “It’s preserving rural living that’s close to our hearts while we embrace the growth.”

Crandell established Desert Sunset Realty in 2021 with an emphasis on communication, transparency and honesty. Combined with her expertise and love for the community, the broker is determined to help Tucson-area residents nd their ideal homes.

Her story in the real estate world began with her rst home purchase. From there, Crandell worked her way up in agencies like Eureka Realty and became a broker by 25.

Her knack for the industry created many opportunities, which included raising her family while she worked.

“Real estate allowed me to be an athome mom, it allowed me to raise three kids in Tucson,” Crandell said. “I also worked for big teams in town, large brokerages, and I’ve seen a lot more than most agents have. It’s taught me a lot.”

Crandell opened Desert Sunset Realty as a personal venture, which quickly grew into a team of dedicated and well-trained agents and experts. Her husband, Matt, came on to manage the business development of the growing enterprise.

e couple grew up in Tucson, and their connection to the desert became an integral part of Desert Sunset Realty.

“People have lived in this valley almost longer than anywhere else in the world,” he said. “It is unique that we still live here, that there’s still a community out here.”

According to the couple, Desert Sunset Realty is an environment where carefully selected agents can thrive, allowing a culture of collaboration, empowerment and

commitment to excellence.

e company’s team and resources guide consumers to nd a home, make an o er and have it accepted all on the same day it hits the market.

“We believe in the potential of every agent we choose to work with,” she noted.

“We have a very cooperative environment where we all support each other and are not adversarial. Fostering this culture is very important and rare in our industry.”

eir business model is a straight

location because sometimes the ‘why’ opens up to other areas they would have never known about.”

Desert Sunset Realty helps clients buy and sell properties, but Crandell also puts a huge emphasis on educating the public. One opportunity is o ered through the broker’s connection with the Marana Chamber of Commerce.

“ rough business-to-business networking, (we connect) with owners or managers that want to o er their employees a bene t when purchasing a home,” Leah noted. “We o er classes for the employees to explain the information, and (we're also) available for questions they may have.”

In addition to real estate services, Leah partners with community organizations to further her impact.

On Aug. 31, the second anniversary of Desert Sunset Realty, the brokerage will host a blood and toy drive at the Marana Chamber to bene t the nonpro t Team Lizzie Bell. e event coincides with their Chamber-designated ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“By combining the initiatives with our ribbon cutting, we’re making a statement about the type of impact we aim to make,” she explained. “It sets the tone for commitment to community support beyond just the celebration.”

anks to her e orts, Desert Sunset Realty will continue to serve Tucson residents in both real estate brokerage and philanthropy. What started as a passion project has transformed into an experience-rich practice with community at its heart.

percentage brokerage without monthly or transaction charges. e team ensures that buyers and sellers know exactly what they are paying for or earning on a property with the broker’s “full transparency” guarantee.

As for nding the perfect home, she explained the company’s strategy when assisting clients.

“When matching someone with a property, location is always key,” she said. “We try to nd out why they like a particular

“Both Matt and I are Tucson natives, and we want to make a positive impact where we live. With Marana speci cally, the immense potential of the area excites us,” she said.

“We’re con dent in Avra Valley’s growth, and we are excited about its progress while we preserve its essence,” she continued.

Desert Sunset Realty

3648 W. Sunglade Drive

520-686-5838

desertsunsetrealtytucson.com

Leah Crandell (right) and husband Matt Crandell emphasize education about buying and selling your home. ( Submitted)

Custom makes it, your closet designed for you

BY CLASSY CLOSETS

Custom Closets addresses the fact that one closet size or style doesn’t fit all. Each room has a size and shape and needs a specially designed closet.

You’re unique, and your home should cater to your life the way you want to live it!

Most homes are designed and built with basic and uniform closet layouts that appeal to the general population. The materials used are like the design: basic, standard and inexpensive.

Your daily activities, way of doing things and the things that bring meaning and purpose into your

life belong to you, and your home should play a supporting role.

If you want and deserve custom closets, work with the best, Classy Closets!

Classy Closets is Arizona’s premier custom closet manufacturer and has been designing, building and installing custom closets and organizational solutions in Arizona homes for over 35 years.

We’ve seen firsthand how one basic closet size does not fit all. We’re Tucson, Arizona, and surrounding areas’ best company for any storage solutions, organizing your garage, home office, kitchen closet pantries or just about any closet ranking design and installation need.

Trico launches electric vehicle time-of-use rate

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Trico Electric Cooperative launched a voluntary electric vehicle time-of-use rate for eligible Trico members who have electric vehicles.

This is designed to support the growing demand for EVs among Trico members, reduce strain on Trico’s system during peak hours and lower costs for Trico’s overall membership.

Trico members who sign up for the electric vehicle time-of-use rate will receive up to 400kWh of energy at a 45% rate reduction if they charge their EVs between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

This experimental rate is available to the first 1,000 Trico members who sign up. Trico has 67 members enrolled in the experimental rate.

This experimental rate will help Trico better understand members’ electric vehicle usage, encourage members to charge during off-peak periods and determine how many electric vehicles are in

Trico’s service area.

This information will help Trico develop future electric vehicle programs as the

company works to better serve electric vehicle demand and members’ needs.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, Trico

focuses on putting members’ interests first. By encouraging members with electric vehicles to charge during nonpeak hours when energy supplies are high and costs are low, Trico can control costs and efficiently manage its distribution system, which benefits all members — even those who do not own electric vehicles.

“Trico has been planning for an increase in electric vehicle adoption,” said Brian Heithoff, Trico chief executive officer and general manager.

“Trico is committed to providing its members with sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions, and that means our EV strategy starts with our members.”

Learn more about the electric vehicle time-of-use rate and additional electric vehicle information at trico.coop/electric-vehicles.

Trico Electric Cooperative Inc. is a notfor-profit electric cooperative serving nearly 50,000 members in Marana, Corona de Tucson, SaddleBrooke, Mount Lemmon, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Three Points, Star Valley and Arivaca.

Trico Electric Cooperative members who volunteer for its time-of-use rate could save money charging their electric vehicles. (Trico/Submitted)

Things to consider before installing solar panels

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Before signing any agreement, Trico Electric Cooperative encourages you to take the time to read the fine print thoroughly, get the responses back in writing and ask questions. Some questions you may want to ask:

• How much will this system cost over the life of the lease or purchase? Are there any interest or fees to be paid? What are total number of payments and due dates?

• Who has the tax obligations, including the increase in property values?

• Are there any eligible tax incentives and rebates? Who will be getting them?

• Can the warranty or maintenance obligations be sold or transferred? If so, how?

• Who do I contact in the event of a system malfunction?

• What happens if I sell my home? What happens to the lease?

• What statistics are you using for the projection of future electric rates?

• What is the minimum performance

Before signing any solar panel agreement, ask questions. Trico can help. (Trico/Submitted)

guarantee for the system?

• Will I be compensated if the system does not produce as much power as promised?

• What are my fixed monthly fees to the utility?

Before agreeing to install a PV system

at your home, you should review all the requirements of Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 44-1761 through 44-1764.

If you are considering investing in solar panels, know the facts. Visit Trico’s website, trico.coop/sustainableenergy or call us at 520-744-2944, ext. 1524, to learn more.

Trico is hosting a virtual solar workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Learn more at trico.coop/sustainable-energy

Megastores may be declining, but the DIY scene is thriving

BY JIMMY MAGAHERN Tucson Local Media Contributor

Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s HabiStore may not be the first business you think of when searching for a home improvement megastore.

The 18,000-square-foot building on Grant and Fairview mainly serves as a donation center for surplus or reusable building materials that go toward helping Habitat for Humanity’s volunteers build affordable housing for low-income families.

But it also operates as a retail outlet, selling a lot of the donated stuff the builders don’t use — furniture, appliances, building materials, tools and hardware — at discounted prices. Those funds are then used to finance the nonprofit’s work.

While not exactly a Home Depot or Lowe’s, the HabiStore, along with other community-supported do-it-yourself centers, is where America’s home improvement boom, already waning for the megastores, is sending some welcome aftershocks.

“When the lockdown happened in 2020, everybody was at home and suddenly home projects became a priority,” said Tanna Johnson, the Tucson affiliate’s communications director.

“Certainly there were lots of donations that were coming in during that time, because I think people started going through their garages and closets and, you know, deciding what they could give away.”

But while the bubble appears to have burst for the home improvement megastores (Home Depot and Lowe’s both posted

lion in 2019 to $497 billion in 2020. And the growth continued into 2021, as Americans spent another $538 billion at home improvement stores that year and the U.S. remodeling industry earned $1.1 billion in revenue.

But things have slowed in 2023. Home Depot’s first quarter earnings, posted in May, reported a 4.5% drop in sales at stores, decreasing the market leader’s overall income by 6.4% compared to the first quarter of 2022. Calling it “a year of moderation for the home improvement market,” Home Depot CEO Ted Decker told Wall Street analysts that weather-related challenges in lumber production and higher interest rates and inflation may have also hurt sales.

Mostly, though, Decker attributed the drop to life just returning to some semblance of normalcy. “Obviously, people aren’t spending all their time at home as they did in the prior few years,” he said.

sales drops in May), it’s sending a second wind to DIY markets like thrift and secondhand stores, where people with shelved home makeovers are finding cast-off building materials on the cheap for their still-lingering projects.

“We have a lot of DIY-ers,” Johnson said. “The HabiStore has become sort of this place where people go for inspiration, to discover things they can work with in their own home projects. And sometimes they get lucky and sometimes they don’t. It just depends on what the local community is donating to us.”

The past three years have been challenging — and, in some cases, crushing — for a large number of industries. But for the home improvement business, COVID-19 was uncharacteristically kind.

About three quarters (76%) of U.S. homeowners tackled a home improvement project in 2020, according to the market insights firm Statista, mainly because they were stuck at home with more spare time and, in some cases, stimulus money (or savings from canceled vacations) to spend. Of the homeowners who completed projects in 2020, 44% said they did it that year because they’d been putting off needed repairs or renovations and finally had the time to do it, while 36% said they finally had the money.

Accordingly, the home improvement industry’s value exploded by over $90 billion during that period, from around $407 bil-

Lowe’s, the second-largest home improvement company in the United States, saw a slightly bigger drop: for the first quarter, Lowe’s reported overall sales decreased by 5.5%. Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison blamed it on a “softer-than-expected consumer demand for discretionary purchases.” CNN put it another way: “The money that was perhaps previously earmarked for spending on fixing and beautifying the home is now being spent more freely on eating out, traveling, shopping and other indulgences.”

Nevertheless, homeowners’ desires to refresh and reorganize their living spaces has not gone away. Johnson says the surge in viewership during the pandemic for Netflix shows like “Minimalism” and “Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo” sparked a home improvement movement that has more to do with mindful meting out than accumulation — a mindset that benefits a community DIY thrift store more than the big home improvement retailers.

“A lot of people just started to really simplify,” she said, “and I think that’s still going on.”

People also discovered and developed their own crafty skills during their pandemic projects that some have opted to continue flexing.

“I think that for those people who were willing to take on home repairs and learn how to do it, the pandemic gave them the

Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s HabiStore on Grant and Fairview sells home improvement materials donated by contractors and DIYers. (Habitat for Humanity Tucson/Submitted)

time and opportunity to tackle home repairs themselves, and they have most likely continued to do minor repairs on their own,” said Richard Hoffman, Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s home repair supervisor. While Hoffman hasn’t yet seen that translate into a big boost in workers (he says their volunteer labor force was “nonexistent during the pandemic and limped along until recently”), he feels companies are responding to employees returning to the office who still hanker for a hammer.

“We haven’t seen volunteerism return to pre-pandemic levels, but we have found that businesses seem more willing to send groups out to volunteer,” he said. “It is a joy to teach someone how to use a pneumatic staple gun and see their comfort level grow throughout the day.”

Of course, some home improvement work is well beyond the skill set of the newbie weekend workshopper. For those projects, professional remodelers, repairers and installers are still in demand — and perhaps more appreciated than ever.

“I was calling on this guy a couple months ago who’s an engineer,” said Tom Rompel,

owner of Desert Solar Energy in Oro Valley. “His wife told me that he’d been talking about putting solar in for years. So, I get out there, I explain the whole thing to him — he loved it. Then he goes, ‘Well, I can do this myself.’ I said, ‘Really? Do you have the CAD system? Can you engineer it so that when you submit it to Tucson Electric Power you can get the permitting? This is a power plant you’re putting on your house, you know!’ And, finally, he says, ‘OK, let’s do it.’

“This is not like putting in a barbecue pit,” Rompel added. “Everything has to be done perfect.”

For solar energy installers, he says the more time people spend at home, the better it is for his industry.

“With a whole lot more people working in their homes, they’re using more electricity, and they’re seeing that on their utility bills,” he said. “Suddenly getting solar panels put in moves up on the priority list.”

Not surprisingly, Rompel considers installing solar energy to be the ultimate home improvement.

“What you’re creating is another provider for your electricity. And you’re the provider!” he said. “That beats remodeling your kitchen.”

Richard Ho man, Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s home repair supervisor, left, with a volunteer. (Habitat for Humanity Tucson/Submitted)

care for dogs like George, a loveable 10year oldie-but-goodie and make a positive difference in the lives of senior dogs and the people who love them.”

LOVAR is a nonprofit volunteer driven organization that, since 2015, has worked toward rescuing animals that are considered by some to be least adoptable. The organization takes in feral, senior, sick and injured dogs as well as those with behavioral and fear problems, those in hospice and mothers with litters. The organization also works with cats who are seniors and bonded pairs.

Almost 90% of the animals they rescue are of special needs according to LOVAR.

“Often we don’t know their background and they need to be screened for health issues like valley fever and make sure we have addressed any needs,” Anders said.

The Grey Muzzle Organization is the largest national nonprofit organization focused entirely on senior dog well-being providing funding and resources to animal shelters and rescue groups. The organization brings in grant money to 90 animal welfare groups and organizations in 29 states and Puerto Rico. With $848,000 in grant money this year, the Grey Muzzle Organization has raised $4.6 million over the past 15 years.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like Lifeline Oro Valley An-

imal Rescue make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in their communities,” said Lisa Lunghofer, executive director of Grey Muzzle.

“Many senior dogs in the southern Arizona area are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the wonderful work of LOVAR.”

The grant money received from Grey Muzzle often goes into providing medical and dental care that is critically needed by senior dogs. The money is also used to promote adoption and programs such as hospice and foster care to the animals in need.

There is a level of uncertainty for senior dogs as they enter shelters. Senior dogs have a hard time adjusting to the new sounds and colder environment provided by shelters, making the transition very difficult. Adoption rates for dogs seven years and older, according to Grey Muzzle, is lower than all of the other ages combined, with just over 50% being able to find new homes.

“In the pandemic we saw lots of adoptions increase,” Anders said. “Since then, people have gone back to work, and we have seen more dogs surrendered and sheltered so we’ve seen a real sharp increase.”

According to Anders, in Pima County there are more than 100 senior dogs in shelters, the grant money provided to the LOVAR organization will allow the dogs to get treatment and care that they need.

Timeless Play uses “a super-stringent screening process,” complete with background checks by a private detective, to evaluate play expert candidates. “We’re always very picky,” Prather said.

To grow the business, Timeless Play has created days of special planned activities, after-school clubs, a kindness camp, the occasional “kids-free Friday” for date nights and Lego building challenges. The play space is available for private party rental.

“The sales cycle is long,” Prather said. “It takes a long time for people to trust leaving their child.”

When a child’s day is done, each VIP (very important player) fills out a paper report card about their “magical play experience.” They can circle one of three faces — smiling, frowning or neutral — to describe their day. Prather is smiling. She said she believes

Timeless Play “helps every business in this center,” telling the story of a mom who took her hair care to nearby Lewis & Ivey Salon “so she has a place to pop her kids.”

“That’s the reward,” Prather said, “knowing we really make a difference for families. I have had moms tell me ‘without you, we wouldn’t have date nights.’ Another said, ‘I get to just leave her there?’ That’s really, really cool.”

Besides, this “momtrepreneur” said, “I want to inspire my daughters to start a business and have an idea.”

Energy’s contagious at Live Theatre Workshop

BY AARON KAHLE Tucson Local Media Contributor

Live eatre Workshop’s lobby is surprisingly pristine, despite the thousands of patrons who have passed through it.

ey come to experience “real theater” at the Live eatre Workshop, run and operated exclusively by the city’s creative minds.

Live eatre Workshop is by the community, for the community. Case in point: the organization invited local school children to a showing of “No Other Nemesis,” a fun take on superhero tropes who adorably engage their young audience members.

Live eatre Workshop’s executive director, Michael Martinez, said the community theater has been staging plays for 27 years.

“LTW serves about 20,000 people each year,” he said, to dismantle the Eurocentric model of American theater “that has been exclusionary of marginalized groups.”

Live eatre Workshop’s children’s

programming director, Amber Gremel, and marketing director David Ragland said the organization is thriving.

Parents recently dropped o their aspiring performers at Live eatre Workshop on a 113-degree Wednesday. e 15 to 20 students frolicked in a partner sequence while a sta member played the piano. e energy was contagious.

Funds from donations, season ticketholders and events help employ 10 full- and part-time employees at the nonpro t. In addition, funding has provided the theater with 60 volunteers and more than 50 teachers, performers and technical artists.

“We rely a lot on our donors, season ticketholders and parents whose children take our classes,” Ragland said about its budget.

While the Live eatre Workshop focuses on children’s theater, its performers are mostly adults with children in the mix

Despite the heat, Live Theatre Workshop hosted a young cast of characters. (Submitted)

as well. In a time when TikTok and video games run rampant among children, Live eatre Workshop has a large clientele of children with a passion for performing.

For parents and children eager to experience the world of theater, the nonpro t offers several classes to the community from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We teach them all about theater and how to be part of an ensemble, which is really important,” Gremel said.

ey’re also year-round. Even when all the schools are out, LTW is still bustling, whether it’s their seasonal camps or one of the several theater classes being o ered. It doesn’t matter where children are in terms of their performance level because chances are LTW has something for them with courses ranging from kindergarten to high school.

Classes such as dramatic exploration are for beginners and center on key aspects of theater such as storytelling and characterization. For those seeking more dedication to the cra , there is e Mini Players, a class speci cally designed for children who want to take theater to the next level.

Of course, not all children that adore theater gravitate toward the stage. Perhaps they’re more of a scribe than a performer. If that’s the case, LTW also provides script writing, a class exclusively for writers that want to learn how to bring their creativity alive in the form of a play.

Ragland, for his part, hustles to get LTW’s wonderful cornucopia of events and classes out to the public in a variety of ways both new and old.

“I put a lot out on social media, and we advertise with our partners,” he pointed out, something that has obviously helped.

Whatever Ragland has been doing has worked. “No Other Nemesis” sold out, and the next production, “Hir,” is scheduled for Sept. 7 to Sept. 24.

As for the community of Tucson, LTW serves it not only without a pro t but with more than just a little extra e ort. By Martinez’s estimate, LTW puts at least $7 back into the Tucson economy for every dollar donated to them.

LTW is a rare community theater that continues to succeed in an ever-changing world where theatrical arts, like many other arts, have fallen victim to more accessible entertainment like streaming or online

media. ey continue doing it the old-fashioned way, with acting, movement, dialogue and costumes all on a wooden stage in front of a live audience. It’s that kind of authenticity that gets the kids to keep coming back.

“I’m actually a student of LTW,” Gremel said with a big smile. “And now I’m the director of children’s programming.”

She’s not the only one that’s returned so far and she won’t be the last, either. For parents, LTW is a hark back to the theater of old, performed by Tucson’s own artists in

an ode to a city with an underrated pool of creative talent. As for the future, LTW is adamant about continuing to grow as a staple of Tucson’s unique live theater industry.

livetheatreworkshop.org

livetheatreworkshop@gmail.com

Guests enjoyed a few minutes outside during intermission at Live Theatre Workshop. (Submitted)

Sportswriter Jim Murray: Gone too long

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Commitments.” It’s a raucous comedy/ musical about a ragtag group of pasty-faced kids in Dublin who get together to form a soul music band.

The music is incredible and it’s also one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. When they get together to watch a video of James Brown performing, the lead singer says, “I can’t do that! I’d kneecap myself!”

One of the pivotal scenes in the film comes when the prospective band manager puts an ad in the paper announcing the group’s formation. He gives his address for potential applicants to stop by for an interview.

In a series of quick cuts, one person after another comes to the door and is greeted with the question, “Who are your influences?”

And one response after another is met with a slamming of the door. Their influences? Sinead O’Connor. SLAM!

Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. SLAM! U2. SLAM! Wings. SLAM! Barry Manilow! Extra SLAM!

I thought of that scene the other night when a friend of mine emailed and told

me that it’s now 25 years since the passing of Jim Murray, the greatest sportswriter of all time.

When I was a kid growing up in LA, I would get up extra early to go for a run before heading off to high school. My dad, whose education had been cut short by World War II, would be sitting at the dining room table, poring over the dense Los Angeles Times coverage of the Six-Day War or whatever turmoil was hitting the United States that week.

I would grab the sports page and hope that Jim Murray had written something. I never dreamt of being a sportswriter (don’t say it!). My educational background is in engineering and physics; writing about sports is just one of the things that I do. I went to college on a basketball scholarship and got into writing completely by accident. But once I started, I can definitely say Jim Murray was a big influence. He was just the funniest guy ever (but good enough to win a Pulitzer Prize).

• Of John Wooden, Murray wrote, “He’s so square, he’s divisible by four.”

• At the Indianapolis 500, he wrote, “Gentlemen, start your coffins.”

• After covering a game at Washington State, he wrote, “The only trouble with Spokane is that there’s nothing to do after 10 — in the morning,”

• In Cincinnati once, he complained,

“They still haven’t finished the freeway. It’s the state of Kentucky’s turn to use the cement mixer.”

I received a handwritten note from Jim Murray once (and yes, I still have it). It was back in the early 1990s, when notorious basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian had assembled a monster team at UNLV. This team was an almost-unparalleled collection of basketball talent, but, at the same time, it was an unmatched gathering of knuckleheads and ne’er-do-wells.

Recruit a bunch of guys with more baggage than O’Hare Airport during a blizzard and set them loose in Las Vegas — I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

UNLV won the 1991 NCAA Championship, blowing out Duke, 103-73, in the title game, then started the next season 34-0 before being upset by Duke in the championship semifinals. Throughout that second season, the tales of illegalities and bad behavior just continued to pile up. Late in the season, I wrote (in another publication) “If the starting unit for UNLV went to a $5-a-carload drive-in, at least three of them would try to hide in the trunk.”

About a week later, I got a letter from Jim Murray. It simply said, “That’s funny … on two different levels.” It was as though God had spoken to me.

As much as I would like to pat myself on

the back for that one, it wasn’t the funniest line inspired by that UNLV team. Sitting in the stands the day of that Duke upset was legendary coach John Wooden, whose UCLA teams had won 10 NCAA championships, including a ridiculous seven in a row in the era that spanned the collegiate careers of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. A reporter for the TV network went into the stands to speak to Wooden, who was asked, “Coach Wooden, is this UNLV squad the greatest college basketball team of all time?”

Wooden responded, “Well, lots of teams have won one in a row.” Ouch!

I have a couple compilations of Jim Murray’s columns. They’re as fresh as the day he wrote them. His life didn’t end well. He lost his beloved wife and then his eyesight. But he never lost his love of sports or his sense of humor.

Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson would crouch down so much in the batter’s box that Murray wrote, “He has a strike zone the size of Hitler’s heart.”

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18 *Colorful cereal with the mascot Toucan Sam 20 Omani currency

22 King: Fr.

23 Successor of Nintendo’s GameCube

24 *”Uh-oh, ___!” (classic line in commercials)

28 Catering container

24 horas

New ___ smell

*Bulk purchase of Gouda, e.g.

Climbing vine

Weeding tool

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*“Ice Cream of the Future” since 1988

Edited by WIll Shortz

Backstabber’s forte

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

You're not surprised when answers elude you or prizes play hide and seek, but you don't expect to play such games with your own feelings. Perhaps this week you'll be stymied about what you're going through, unable to give it a name, and this is only because it's new. Stay curious and keep coming back until you know what this is about.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Your mood: candid. With your lters down, you may reveal things you didn't mean to, but since you're living to your own code, the shared information can only liberate you. That's the bene t of accepting yourself in all honesty. You don't prefer publicity, but when it happens, it's no big deal.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

It's perfectly normal to feel unmotivated at times and therefore a silly thing to ght. Get rest when you can because a shining focal point enters your scene this week, which will be wonderfully disruptive. Everything aligns to draw you toward it. You'll then stop thinking things should be di erent and start living your best life.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

You're so good at prioritizing. You'll think about what's actionable, relevant and necessary. There are things you're still waiting for, but only with a sliver of your attention. What you put on the front burner needs stirring. The rest you can check in on from time to time with but a glance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

You'll be letting go of a problem. This is not the same as solving it. Solving isn't always required. Dissolving will work better. The issue dissipates and loses meaning. You no longer see it as a negative if you can see it at all. There's a promising new place to focus your mind, and it's exciting to see di erent things take shape in your life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

If you don't feel you can say no to someone, how can you be sure you're ever really saying yes? Maybe what you're saying is, "Sure, it's easier just to do things your way." You'll work toward healthy relationships, which include the freedom to thrash out di erences and establish mutually acceptable boundaries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)

Consider going easy on yourself and giving yourself participation points instead of only rewarding yourself if you win. Internal harshness creates an energy drain you don't need this week. Instead, go for a little sugar and self-care to encourage your next incarnation into being.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Emojis can be perceived di erently, not only by di erent people but on di erent platforms and devices. The same will go for other kinds of communication this week. You will prevent misunderstandings by checking in to get clarity about what other people perceive and experience. You'll bring harmony to your scene.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You've expected a lot from yourself and now it's time to ease up on the demands. Take the break; avoid burnout and injury. Who said you have to be the best at everything? It's not necessary (and could be detrimental) to always be doing something. Bonus: Someone is very attracted to the way you kick back and have fun.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You'll be presented with a group challenge and may feel a pressure to belong, t in, in uence and the like. Avoid looking at the group as though it's one entity. Instead, see each person as a separate individual to get to know. And remember, with individuals, everything is negotiable.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

More logical people may think it's a waste to spend so many hours fantasizing, but they just don't get it. Your creativity is boundless, and fantasizing unreasonably gives you access to stratospheric ideas. Shoot for the sun. You could hit the moon, or you could hit the oor. But that's better than shooting for the garbage can and hitting the oor.

There's something exciting and attractive about unpredictable people, but ultimately, they could distract you from this opportune moment to make real progress toward your goals. Seek stability. Focus on what you know and can control. In predictable circumstances, you will create brilliant systems and excel.

29 Contents of a farmyard stack

30 Sound represented by an upside-down “e”

31 Capture on casse e

33 Star of Disney’s “Once Upon a Snowman” 35 ___-state area (N.Y., N.J. and Conn., e.g.)

36 Coop resident

Nutritionist’s recommendation … or what the answers to the starred clues make up, to an overly

Something to make when tossing a coin into a fountain 65 Singer and AIDS charity founder ___ John 66 Genesis backdrop

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay

67 With 41-Down, Buffalo’s body of water 68 Corporate shake-up, for short

Sales pitch display, informally

Slender

PUZZLE BY ERIC ROLLFING

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Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953