TUCSON FOOTHILLS NEWS, DECEMBER 14, 2022

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The Voice of the Catalina Foothills

Holiday festivities begin at La Encantada

BY TALLULAH ANNE Tucson Local Media Contributor

La Encantada is celebrating the holiday season this year with extra evenings of Enchanted Snowfall and a variety of holiday-themed happenings.

The beloved Tucson holiday tradition is back throughout December, this year with extra evenings of faux snow flurries falling in the courtyard Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 6:15 p.m. and 6:45 to 7 p.m. through Dec. 23.

There will be complimentary hot chocolate as the flakes fall, as well as live entertainment from an array of Tucson talent in between snowfalls. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, Santa will make an appearance.

The Santa photos are available to pets, too, from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, in the courtyard.

For budding artists, La Encantada has partnered with Southern Arizona Arts Guild to create ornaments for the center tree. The Community Art Fest Project is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, led by

Gillian Allard.

This year, La Encantada is also offering something new with a Ballet Tucson storytime for kids 8 and younger at 10 a.m. Saturdays Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.

“The Story of the Nutcracker” will be narrated by a ballerina from Ballet Tucson in the La Encantada fountain courtyard.

For a chance to give back, the Salvation Army Giving Tree will return to La Encantada this year. Shoppers can donate new toys for families in need from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 24.

For budding artists, La Encantada has partnered with Southern Arizona Arts Guild to create ornaments for the center tree. The Community Art Fest Project is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, led by Gillian Allard (La Encantada/Submitted)

roundabout in front of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and North Italia, run from 4 p.m. to close from Thursdays to Saturdays.

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Mayor shares vision for Tucson amid re-election announcement

BY KATYA MENDOZA Tucson Local Media Staff

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero delivered her vision for Tucson as an equitable, sustainable and thriving desert city during her 2022 State of the City on Dec. 1. Ahead of her third address, she announced her candidacy for re-election in the city’s 2023 election.

The mayor recalled her first 100 days in office in 2019, during the early stages of the pandemic, and addressed global supply chain issues, shortages and inflation, stating that federal funding made available through the American Rescue Plan has been transformative to Tucson, citing $136 million in aid.

The mall has extended its hours for holiday shopping; for complete information, visit laencantadashoppingcenter. com. Valet services, at the

New stores are opening in the shopping center. Levi’s is slated to open Wednesday, Dec. 14; meanwhile, Tucson Geodes & Gems is now open. 

Romero — whose tenure in public service includes experience in administering neighborhood reinvestment programs with Pima County, 12 years on the city council working on economic development initiatives and her past three years as mayor — said her top initiative has been supporting public safety while striving to redefine what community safety, health and wellness means to constituents.

Hot Picks

THEATER

Friday,

Dec. 16, to Sunday, Dec. 18

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. The Arts Express Theatre presents “Elf the Musical” at the Park Place Mall from Friday, Dec. 16, through Sunday, Dec. 18. Based on the beloved modern-day holiday classic, “Elf the Musical” sees Buddy the Elf on a quest to find his identity. Ticket prices start at $35 at arts-express.org. Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard.

ONGOING HOLIDAY EVENTS

Friday, Dec. 16, to Friday, Dec. 23

The Marana Pumpkin Patch and Farm Festival presents the family-friendly holiday event, the Marana Christmas Express, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, to Friday, Dec. 23. Enjoy holiday activities, train rides, snacks and more to spread Christmas cheer this holiday season. Tickets start at $20 at maranapumpkinpatch.com. Marana Pumpkin Patch & Farm Festival, 14950 N. Trico Road.

Thursday, Dec. 15, to Saturday, Dec. 24

Visit the holiday production Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios from Thursday, Dec. 15, to Saturday, Dec. 24. The festive spectacular rings in the “holidays the old west way” this Christmas season with interactive experiences, live shows, hayrides and train rides. Visitors are encouraged to purchase time-entry tickets in advance on yuletideaz.com. Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Monday, Dec. 26

The residents of Winterhaven invite guests to celebrate their 73rd annual Festival of Lights, now through Monday, Dec. 26. From 6 to 10 p.m. every night, walk through illuminated neighborhoods or hop on a hayride tour, bus trolley or pedal-powered group bike. Sponsored by Tucson Electric Power, the festival supports the Community Food Bank, so guests are encouraged to bring dried or canned foods or monetary donations. For more information about most-needed items, visit winterhavenfestival.org. Winterhaven, 3235 N. Country Club Road.

BY KATYA MENDOZA Tucson Local Media

Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Wednesday, Dec. 30

“Ready, set, glow!” The Reid Park Zoo and Tucson Electric Power present Zoolights: Holiday Magic from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, through Wednesday, Dec. 30. Take a walk under enchanting lights and a “confection-merry Candyland,” head to the Arctic Zone, where guests may run into St. Nick. There’s “Snow Place like Reid Park Zoo for the holidays.” Ticket prices are as follows: $12 adults (ages 15 to 61), $10 seniors (ages 62 and older), $8 children (ages 2 to 14), free for children younger than 2. Zoo members receive $3 off admission Tuesdays to Sundays. For more information, visit reidparkzoo.org. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 8

The city of Tucson, Rio Nuevo and Pima Pain Center present Tucson Holiday Ice now through Sunday, Jan. 8. Winter visitors may have their own ice skates, but locals who do not can rent them here. Socks are required and gloves are highly recommended. Tucson Holiday Ice tickets are available online for various sessions. Visit tucsonaz.gov to reserve a spot. Tucson Holiday Ice, 260 S. Church Avenue. (In front of the Tucson Convention Center Ticket Office.)

Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 15

Tucson Botanical Gardens continues to present the highly anticipated and luminous holiday installation, “Lights Up! A Festival of Illumination,” from Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 15. Made up of over 3,000 luminarias, this local tradition brings together meticulously constructed experiences, thematic zones and installations from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. six nights a week. For information about ticket prices, FAQ and special foodie events during this time, visit tucsonbotanical.org. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS Thursday,

Dec. 15

Celebrate the holidays the Loft style at its film presentation, “The Very Merry Holiday Sing-A-Long Spectacular!” on

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BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Staff

any of us remember either having the measles or knew someone who did. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that causes a rash, fever, inflamed eyes and sore throat. Also called rubeola, this illness kills. It is not a “mild” or “routine” childhood illness. There were 9 million reported cases last year with 128,000 deaths. This was a huge jump from 7.5 million cases and 60,700 deaths in 2020. Most are children who are unvaccinated.

Unfortunately, this disease may be heading for a resurgence, according to both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both public health agencies called measles “an imminent threat in every region of the world” after noting that 40 million children missed their vaccine doses last year.

MThis is a “record high” in missed vaccinations. The COVID-19 lockdowns are the biggest contributing factor in the missed vaccinations, but also weak surveillance during the pandemic, delayed response plans to the ongoing outbreaks in more than 20 countries, and misinformation have led to increased illness.

Measles symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after exposure. Mild to moderate fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat and conjunctivitis (inflamed eyes) are common and usually last about three days. Then a rash appears as small red spots that cluster together; this starts on the face then progresses to the rest of the body, all the way to the feet. The fever can rise to as high as 105 degrees. The rash will usually fade after a week or 10 days.

Most people will recover. But there can be acute complications that mostly affect children less than 5 years, adults over 20 years, pregnant women, and people with a compromised immune system. Complications include visual impairment, ear infections, diarrhea and pneumonia. One

child out of every thousand will develop encephalitis (brain inflammation) that can cause seizures and lead to hearing loss or cognitive delay. Two children will die from respiratory or neurological complications.

The United States had declared measles eradicated after no cases were reported in 2000, but we still have an occasional outbreak. 2020 saw 13 cases, 2021 saw 49 cases and so far this year (as of Nov. 17) there have been 51 reported and documented cases. Right now, there is a very large outbreak ongoing in central Ohio. It began in June with the first recorded measles case in 20 years. As of Nov. 28, 32 children have confirmed illness. Thirty-one of those children are unvaccinated; the remaining child’s vaccination status is unknown. About 63% of those children are 1 to 2 years old; 19% are 3 to 5. Thirteen have been hospitalized.

At these ages, children are most vulnerable to complications that can occur. The Disneyland measles outbreak of 20142015 caused the greatest number of infections in 20 years. It spread to seven states

in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The first case was in an unvaccinated 11-year-old. The case count for 2015 was 1,274. The Brooklyn outbreak in 2018 saw 654 measles cases. About 73% of patients were not vaccinated. The report said 125 of these patients needed hospitalization and 65 reported complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.

Most of the people who get measles have not been vaccinated. Here in the United States, we have the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) usually given at age 1 with the booster at age 4. When unvaccinated people travel to areas where the disease may be more prevalent, they are more likely to get sick. Several areas of Africa, Asia, the South Pacific and Europe harbor the measles virus. Once home, they spread it to others who also may not have been vaccinated.

The anti-vaccination movement in this country is often based on misinformation and downright untrue information regarding vaccine safety. That MMR caus-

es autism is a classic example of a fraudulent initial paper and subsequent repetition of a falsehood.

This movement has unfortunately grown and there are pockets of children at increased risk of serious illness. Kindergarteners in Marin County in California are twice as likely to be unvaccinated than other children that age. A record number of parents in California claimed “personal belief exemptions” from vaccines in 2014. That year the state recorded the most measles cases in 20 years and the highest rate of pertussis (whooping cough) in 68 years. Those statistics changed with the 2016 law mandating full immunization for all children entering public school. (Valid exemptions include some illnesses and true allergies.)

“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on the face of the earth,” said New York’s health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, after the 2016 Brooklyn outbreak. “There may no longer be local transmission of measles in New York City, but the threat remains given other outbreaks in the U.S. and around the world. Our best defense against renewed transmission is

having a well-immunized city.”

Routine childhood vaccination rates are declining in some areas due to “vaccine hesitancy,” a fear that the vaccine will cause harm. There are public health and economic consequences in unvaccinated communities. The Sept. 1, 2017, issue of JAMA Pediatrics (Journal of the American Medical Association) reported that a “5% decline in MMR coverage in the United states would result in a three-fold increase in measles cases for children ages 2 to 11 years nationally every year with an additional $2.1 million in public sector costs.”

We need to vaccinate our children and ourselves against preventable illness. When enough people are vaccinated, we create “herd immunity” to protect our most vulnerable neighbors who may not be vaccinated such as newborns and the immunocompromised. A 95% vaccination rate helps to create that community, or herd, immunity. We are currently at 90.6% in Arizona. Five cases have been documented in Arizona this year, and those patients were not vaccinated. Prevention is the key.

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

WARNING! PERIPHERAL

NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Oro Valley, 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 antidepressants 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 often 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 often causes weakness, numbness, tingling, pain, and balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves to degenerate – an insidious and often painful process.

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.

Thankfully, Oro Valley is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new 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.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

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

Arrowhead Physical Medicine in Oro Valley, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. Th is 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!!

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 than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage – a

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

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

complimentary service for comprises a detailed your friends and family.sensoryEach exam evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for comprises a detailed your friends and family. Each sensory exam 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 December 31st 2022. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until December 31st, 2022. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers Y OU 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.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine 10425 N Oracle Rd., Suite 125 Oro Valley, AZ, 85737

Public safety will receive $90 million over the course of five years for fleet replacement, capital improvements, equipment and more, Romero said. An independent oversight and accountability commission oversees the expenditure of revenues.

After Tucson voters passed Proposition 411, residents will see the $740 million investment toward infrastructure over the next 10 years, including $15 million allotted for “collector” streets, Romero said.

Working alongside Police Chief Chad Kasmar, Romero said the city has obtained almost six federal grants totaling over $6 million.

The Tucson Police Department was also selected by the department of justice to participate in the National Public Safety Program, to collaborate and implement evidence-based decision making to ensure that local resources are maximized and that federal assets are leveraged where they are needed most. The department was also provided with funding for over 100 positions.

Romero highlighted the hiring of Sharon McDonough as the city’s public safety communications director, noting her experience to help stabilize the 911 Communications Department and work

Thursday, Dec. 15. Guests can feast their eyes and ears on subtitled Santa-licious musical moments from some of their favorite music videos, TV shows and movies. The loft invites you to wear your most over-the-top Christmas themed outfit and join the Kooky Christmas Costume Parade. The event starts at 7 p.m. General admission is $15 or $12 for Loft members and $10 for children 12 and younger. For more information about the annual holiday event or showtimes, visit loftcinema.org. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway.

Friday, Dec. 16

The Fox Tucson Theatre and Mariachi Sol de Mexico present Jose Hernandez Merry-Achi Christmas at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. A beloved annual Tucson holiday tradition, Merry-Achi Christmas shares five generations of mariachi musicians and music to the hearts of audiences old and new. Tickets start at $27.50. For more

with the public safety leadership team, and Sarah Launius, the city’s first community safety, health and wellness program manager, to operationalize the 311 system, a nonemergency service line.

The mayor and council dedicated $8 million for bringing a remodeled Emergency Communication Center to nine public safety agencies in Tucson, Romero said.

“Our innovative programming

information, visit foxtucson.com. The Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street.

Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17

Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Galleries present Holiday Nights on Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17. Guests can enjoy live performances by local musicians and nosh on food as they walk the illuminated pathways throughout the gardens. Ticket prices are $15 for members, $20 for general public, $6 for ages kids 3-12, and free for kids ages 0-2. For more information on vendors and musicians, visit tohonochul.org. Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte.

Saturday,

Dec. 17

Guests can discover their favorite holiday Traditions, Toys and Trains at the Oro Valley Historical Society’s Pusch House Museum from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 17. Meet Father Christmas can drop their letters off to the “jolly old soul” at the post box on the porch

through our Community Safety, Health and Wellness program is building bridges from Tucson Fire’s TC-3 program and TPD’s Mental Health Support Team to ensure that our city improves the outcomes for individuals struggling with mental health, substance use, homelessness or extreme poverty,” Romero said.

The city has added care coordinators and navigators who are broadening access to resources that address underlying issues that lead to reliance on emergency services, while directly working with marginalized individuals and communities.

“We are building the bridge to connect people to resources,” Romero said. In two months, the city and county were able to allow 29 families and individuals who were at risk of eviction or homelessness, to be or remain housed as well as connecting 300 individuals to services such as detox.

“The city of Tucson was a successful partner in distributing $53 million in Federal Rental Assistance Funds to support more than 9,800 households in Tucson and South Tucson,” Romero said. An additional $10 million was used to convert vacant hotels into transitional and low-barrier housing for those experiencing homelessness, including a partnership with the Arizona Department of Housing, which will implement $2.1 million in tax credits to build The

of the museum. No reservations are required; visitors can sign up at the Oro Valley Historical Society booth at the south end of the farmers market. There is a suggested donation of $5. For more information about ongoing tours, museum hours and events, visit ovhistory. org. The Pusch House will be closed for the last two weeks of December. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road.

Saturday, Dec. 17

The Arizona History Museum invites guests to celebrate the holidays from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Enjoy holiday activities, live musical performances, storytelling, face painting, films and even a special appearance by Santa Claus. Ticket prices are adults $10, youth (7-13) $8, youth (6 and under) free, and can be purchased online at arizonahistoricalsociety.org. Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second Street.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Milagro, an adaptive complex that will bring 63 units of affordable housing to the Grant and Oracle area.

About 31,000 older adult households are housing-cost burdened, Romero said, paying over 30% or more of their income on housing. The Public Housing Authority assists over 5,300 households with rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program and over 1,500 public housing units. The city and county have also developed a task force to address homelessness and the Homeless Encampment Reporting Tool to report precise information to direct outreach and cleanup efforts.

The city’s Housing First Program provided outreach to 1,512 individuals and connected 225 people to permanent housing.

This past year, the mayor and council delivered a wage increase to all city workers, including a 13% increase worth $14.9 million to Tucson Police Department and an additional average of 7% worth $10.4 million.

After establishing the Office of Equity in 2020 to combat racial and socioeconomic inequities throughout the city, Chief Equity Officer Laurice Walker has implemented tools to help assess budget decisions on marginalized populations.

In August, the city welcomed Depart-

Celebrate the 39th annual lighting of Tucson’s tallest Menorah at El Presidio Park from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. Join in the Hanukkah festivities including kosher foods, treats and a light show performance by Cirque Roots at this free local event. Visit chabadtucson.com. El Presidio Park, 160 W. Alameda Street.

LOCAL MARKETS

Friday, Dec. 16, through Sunday, Dec.

18

The Mercado District presents the 15th annual Mercado District Holiday Bazaar, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the Mercado District near the MSA Annex and Mercado San Agustin. The open-air, holiday market will feature over 60 vendors selling handmade and vintage goods. For a glimpse into the itinerary for the bazaar’s opening night winter celebration, visit mercadodistrict.com. 100 & 267 S. Avenida del Convento. 

Mayor Regina Romero delivers her third State of the City address on Dec. 1 at the Tucson Convention Center. Ahead of the event, Romero announced she’s running for re-election. (Office of the Mayor/Submitted)

Ballet Tucson, TSO collaborate on ‘The Nutcracker’

BY VERONICA KUFFEL Tucson Local Media Contributor

During the holidays, Ballet Tucson dancers don their ribboned pointe shoes to perform “The Nutcracker” with remarkable prowess. But unlike other years, this performance welcomes a match made in Tucson arts heaven. Their upcoming winter show is a partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, thanks to the efforts of the James H. and Frances R. Allen Family Foundation.

The company has a long tradition of performing the show, and for many of those years, they used professional recordings to back up their dancers. As a School of Ballet Tucson alum and an accomplished former dancer, Artistic Director Margaret Mullin said the orchestra’s involvement enhances the show.

“Energetically, it’s so much more powerful to have life onstage and life in the pit all radiating out to the audience,” Mullin said.

Tucsonans can expect the same show, with just a few choreographic updates and live music. To Tucson Symphony Orchestra CEO and President Paul Meecham, it was the perfect way to change things up for the holidays.

“It was serendipity,” Meecham said regarding the initial conversation. “We were looking for things to do that perhaps were different to what we were doing before the pandemic.”

The partnership would not have formed without the collective efforts of the Allen Family Association, longtime supporters of Ballet Tucson and Tucson Symphony Orchestra. James H. and Frances R. Allen endorse the show in memory of their daughter, Kimberlee Allen. They understood and appreciate the element of live music with ballet, and want to see their family tradition go further.

“We feel that it is important that the performing arts organizations here in Tucson collaborate to bring world-class performances to Tucson,” the Allens said in a statement.

“That is why we are sponsoring both Ballet Tucson’s holiday performances of ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Linda Ronstadt

Music Hall and also the Tucson Symphony Orchestra to play Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score to accompany the dancers and create the magic only live music can provide.

“It is important to note that all of our performing arts organizations here in Tucson rely not only on ticket sales but also the generosity of the community, individual contributors and sponsors to thrive and greatly enrich our lives here in our beautiful and very special small desert community.”

Mullin added that the foundation’s contribution, however, has another special reason.

“They’re not just sponsoring ‘The Nutcracker,’ they are sponsoring our partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra,” Mullin said. “They believe it is important for arts in our community to be collaborative and for all of us to be coming together to provide inspiring arts experiences to Tucson.”

Ballet Tucson’s “The Nutcracker” is its

biggest production of the year. The company is adding some new choreography and is working behind the scenes on extravagant sets and props and elaborate costumes. Ballet Tucson prides itself on a more traditional take of the show, following the 19th century German timeline. Every element is upheld to historically accurate standards — the party scenes and the adults and children in them are rooted in the 1800s. The land of sweets is whimsical but in the spirit and tone of its traditional design.

Generations of thespians have helped the company put on this show, most with a history of performing with Ballet Tucson. Many of the costumes, including the nutcracker, rat king and sugar plum fairy, were made and remade “out of love” for decades.

With the design elements in check, everything is appropriately “tied into the musical tone” of the dances, and the orchestra will guide audiences further into the realm of The Nutcracker.

“It’s a dream for us to not only have live music but to partner with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. They’re a wonderful organization, their musicians are very talented,” Mullin said.

The organization is the first professional symphony orchestra in the Southwest and the oldest art institution in Arizona.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra performs highly skilled and award-winning shows and engages the community through education and outreach.

A big part of this includes working with other organizations to bring something extra special to Tucson. To Meecham, it’s a way to help audiences explore artistic expressions.

“It’s that cross-pollination of audiences, which I think is very exciting,” he said.

“It can lead to those audiences pursuing each company separately or further collaboration.”

While Ballet Tucson practiced “The Nutcracker” for months, TSO had a much shorter timeline. Preparation for the show began well in advance, but the rehearsal was condensed into a week.

This is common for the orchestra, especially with music it has played before. For TSO, “The Nutcracker” is, as Meecham put it, “in our fingers.”

“These kinds of partnerships are crucial to expanding the impact of what we as individual organizations can do. I think that’s good for the quality of the arts in Arizona,” Meecham said.

This will be the first year of a multiyear partnership between Ballet Tucson and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for “The Nutcracker.”

“To be responsible for creating a magical moment in people’s lives and to do so in a community-minded way is really a gift,” Mullin said. “I’m very grateful to be a part of this exciting new partnership and to share this beautiful tradition with my hometown of Tucson.” 

“The Nutcracker”

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

WHERE: Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $40 INFO: ballettucson.org

From left to front, Skylar Burson, Jennifer Holoubek and Alexis Collins practice during rehearsal for their upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker.” (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

Ballet Tucson’s Artistic Director Margaret Mullin. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/ Contributor)

David Arkenstone celebrates Christmas in the desert MUSIC

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Weekly Staff

David Arkenstone remembers waking up on Christmas morning as a child in Geneva, Illinois, playing in the snow, making snow angels and sledding.

“Winter is beautiful — everything sparkles, the lights on the houses and the trees,” Arkenstone said.

“The world is not in the best shape right now. The Christmas season gives us a little hope; the spirit of it and the brotherhood. I love trying to be a part of that. We need healing in a lot of areas.”

David Arkenstone & Friends will bring A Winter’s Eve Concert to Yuma, Phoenix, Sedona and Tucson, Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Saturday Dec. 17.

Arkenstone’s A Winter’s Eve Concerts feature chart-topping favorites and surprises, including the debut of some of his neo-classical compositions featuring strings, flutes and percussion. Get a glimpse of the concert here:

“I’ve done a lot of Christmas wintery music and a lot of original songs that are inspired by winter,” he said.

“And then we do a bunch of songs that people will recognize with my own

arrangement style. We have wintery sets to bring a mood to the people. There are four musicians with me — a violinist, a flutist, a cellist and percussionist. It’s a pretty cool combination. They really enhance the songs and there are moments when they individually shine.”

Arkenstone plays the keyboards, guitar and handpan, “which is kind of like a steel drum but the opposite side. If it bulked out, it would be a handpan. I got this one last year and I love using it,” he said.

Arkenstone has more than 60 albums to his credit, plus numerous film and game score compositions, and themes for NBC (The Kentucky Derby, US Figure Skating, Premier League soccer and more).

The Windham Hill artist is working on a new album, tentatively called “Winterlude.” He’s also a penning an opera with his brother.

“We played in the summer in Arizona,” Arkenstone said. “I wasn’t planning on going back there but we had requests,

STATE OF

THE

and I couldn’t really pass that up. I go to the Grand Canyon as much as possible. I just love Arizona.” 

A Winter’s Eve Concert with David Arkenstone & Friends

WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14

WHERE: Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main Street, Yuma COST: Tickets start at $45 INFO: 928-373-5202, yumaaz.gov

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 WHERE: Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $49.50 INFO: 480-478-6000, mim.org

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 WHERE: Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona COST: Tickets start at $30 INFO: https://bit.ly/DavidArkenstoneTix

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 WHERE: Sea of Glass Center for the Arts, 330 E. Seventh Street, Tucson COST: Tickets stat at $30 INFO: theseaofglass.org

CITY from Page 1

ment of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who announced the $25 million RAISE grant for the city of Tucson’s 22nd Street Bridge Revitalization Project, which addresses historic disinvestment between communities with infrastructure. The project called for cooperation between Pima County, the Regional Transportation Authority board, Arizona Department of Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad.

Romero announced the Transform Tucson Fund, a strategy to invest in green jobs, infrastructure for a climate-adapted city in partnership with the city of Tucson Industrial Development. The fund calls for an extra $1.5 million for the AVANZA Revolving Loan Fund for Under-Represented Entrepreneurs, the co-locating the city of Tucson Small Business Program and the city of Tucson IDA to a singular

incubation center and $1.5 million to the Essential Worker’s Mortgage Assistance fund in public-private partnership with the Tucson Association of Realtors and the IDA.

“Every single Tucsonan deserves a city that holds its resources dear and takes actions today to build our climate resilient future,” Romero said. Under her leadership, the city has taken decisive action to leave 26,000 acre feet of water in Lake Mead, with the commitment to do so again in three years.

The mayor and council have taken into consideration about 1,000 in-person and 4,000 online surveys to help draft the climate action plan, Tucson Resilient Together, which will be available for public review early 2023 before council votes.

“A climate action plan such as ours positions Tucson strategically to compete for federal dollars,” Romero said.

https://youtu.be/zihbfwuIm4g

A Winter’s Eve Concert with David Arkenstone & Friends comes to Arizona for four shows. (David Arkenstone/Submitted)

2022 Giving Guide

Putting an end-of-the-year spotlight on local nonprofits

The Voice of the Catalina Foothills

“I really

the future now, because the present is so wonderful. Primavera made my dreams come true.”

The last two years have been a struggle for many in our community. Below are focus areas of our programs and services, and just some of the outcomes.

people

14,000 individuals and families were served through our programs and services 615 veteran families moved from homelessness to housing, 61% of whom were permanently housed

place

Teresa is a single mother with a 12-year-old daughter, who has worked and studied hard, and proudly became a U.S. Citizen in 2015.

This last year, Teresa’s property owner told her he was raising her monthly rent from $650 to $1,150. There was no way she could financially absorb a nearly 80% rent increase. She wondered if eviction and even homelessness might follow.

But then, a friend told her about Primavera Foundation and our HomeOwnership program. While she truly did not believe that she could possibly qualify to purchase a home, Teresa reached out and met our team.

They helped her navigate the complicated processes, improve her credit score, and create a viable budget. Finally, our team helped her to qualify for and secure vitally important down payment assistance, and in September, Teresa became a first-time homeowner!

29 families purchased a home, totaling $5,000,000 in home purchasing power

2,500 individuals received safe, affordable housing, 1,700 of whose housing became permanent

294 participants worked 35,310 hours through Primavera Works, a social enterprise workforce development program; 65% of the workers exited Primavera Works with stable housing $451 per month is the average rent of a Primavera resident, while the average Tucson renter is paying $1,240 per month

Primavera Foundation qualifies for the Arizona Tax Credit. Please give a gift of any size today to help make more outcomes like Teresa’s possible.

Together, we can and do make dreams come true.

Primavera Foundation 151 W 40th Street Tucson, AZ 85713

don’t dream about

The Primavera Foundation provides pathways out of poverty through safe, affordable housing, workforce development and neighborhood revitalization.

Ten tips for making charitable donations

BY JIMMY MAGAHERN Tucson Local Media Contributor

Tis the season for giving back, for exercising that “attitude of gratitude” and leaving a legacy with a charitable donation, fa-layada-yada.

But let’s face it: Our giving in to warm fuzzy feelings is not why nearly a third of all philanthropic gifts happen in December.

“The emotional benefits of giving certainly play a part in the generosity associated with the holiday season,” said John Hilderbrandt, a Chandler-based wealth adviser with First Interstate Bank.

“But I think if you added up the dollars given for various reasons, it’s probably much more geared toward the tax planning.”

For that, it helps to have some expert guidance.

“Most people donate cash at this time of year, but it’s not necessarily the most tax-advantaged way to go when you have other assets that will be taxed if you sell

them,” Hilderbrandt added. “If you have securities, whether they be public or private, real estate or alternative assets, there are ways that you can donate those and get the full tax benefits of your charitable giving.”



1. Donate appreciated noncash assets

Hilderbrandt said his first tip is to donate appreciated noncash assets that are held more than a year. “The reason for that is, you can claim the full fair market value as the itemized deduction. And then the other benefit of that is that the wash sale rules don’t apply,” he added, referring to the IRS rule that prohibits taxpayers from claiming a loss on the sale of a security if that person repurchases the same stock within 30 days. But this rule doesn’t apply when appreciated stock is donated to a charity. “So you can buy those same shares after you donate immediately, and you’d have a higher cost basis.”

Hilderbrandt offers an example. “Let’s

say you have $50,000 worth of Apple stock that you’re looking to sell, and you’re in the 15% tax rate for long-term capital gains. If you sold that stock, you’d have to pay 15% of that value as longterm capital gains. But if you donate the shares to a charity, you get to deduct the whole amount on your taxes, and the charity doesn’t have a tax consequence when it sells the shares.” Most large charitable organizations are set up to accept stock donations and then sell them.



2. Donate private securities and private real estate or business interests

“There’s more involved in donating private interests and investment interests, but for the wealthy, they certainly have that as an option,” Hilderbrandt said. “Like donating stock, you don’t have to pay any long-term capital gains on donating those assets either.”



Every child has something important to say.

We help them say it.

Our team of professionals provides an exceptional learning environment to support speech and language development in young children when it matters most.

Talking really does matter.

Your donation helps provide: • Speech-language therapy services • Classroom materials • Community education

Donate online at clctucson.org to receive your Arizona Charitable Tax credit.

The Child Language Center is a not-forprofit community outreach program that has served Southern AZ since 1989.

202 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ 85705

www.clctucson.org • 520-628-1659

3. Donate employee stock owner ship plan (ESOP) funds

“Many companies issue ESOP shares,” Hilderbrandt said. “If you gift those shares, the benefit there might be that your company could match charitable contribution. So your charitable donation is effectively doubled.”

 4. Consider using a donor

advised fund

“Many of the brokerage firms and mutual fund companies have what are known as donor advised funds, where you can set one up and make contributions to it throughout the year without specifying what you’re going to donate that money for,” said Hilderbrandt. “So you can avoid this year-end rush to immediately decide who you’re going to give the money to when you use a donor advised fund.”



5.

Consider “bunching”

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included some changes related to charitable giv-

Help Break the Cycle of Homelessness

Our Mission: The Hearth Foundation provides affordable housing and related programs, goods and services. 



Our Vision: The Hearth Foundation Provides a model program for local, regional and national organizations

The Hearth Foundation

Visit our website and donation page at: Https://www.thehearthfoundation.com

Year End Giving Arizona Charitable Tax Credit

to follow by creating affordable housing communities.

Our Values:

works to improve the quality of life for our residents helping them to rebuild their lives and discover the value of community

ing. Principally, the standard deduction has been raised to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for couples. “That’s a big increase over what it was in the past,” Hlderbrandt said. “And what that does is when you make a donation, unless it’s pretty sizeable, you may not actually qualify for itemized deductions. So one of the strategies would be to bunch multiple years of contributions into one.” This works best if you’re coming off a high earning year or planning on retiring. “Let’s say you normally make a $10,000 contribution to your favorite charities each year and you only have, say, $13,000 in other deductions,” said Hilderbrandt. “That doesn’t get you into the itemized deduction range, meaning it’s really not having a big impact on your taxes. In that case, doubling or tripling the amount that you would normally contribute in one year gives you the ability to itemize deductions, and then either do zero or a much lesser amount in the next year or two.”

 6. Use the charitable donation to offset the tax costs of converting

a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA

Since the introduction of the Roth IRA in 1997, many investors have opted to convert their traditional IRAs or 401k’s to Roth plans, which allow them to build tax-free retirement income, have easier early access to the money and offer better terms for their heirs.

The catch is that because a Roth uses after-tax contributions rather than before-tax dollars, as a traditional IRA works, the investor has to pay income tax on the appreciation in that traditional IRA upon conversion.

Hilderbrandt suggests making a charitable donation to offset those costs.

“That’s a little bit more complicated, but it’s an effective strategy that helps convert savings to a tax-free retirement vehicle while making charitable contributions.”

 7. Make a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA

If you stick with a traditional IRA past age 72, the IRS binds savers to start withdrawing required minimum distributions, or RMDs, or face a 50 percent penalty excise tax on the amount they don’t withdraw. This can place those with oth-

er sources of income into a fairly high tax bracket.

Hilderbrandt advises clients in that enviable situation to make charitable donations from their IRA. “You can give up to $100,000 per individual charity from your IRA per year, and that distribution is not even reported as taxable income.”



8. Donate cash from the sale of depreciated assets

“Each year, investment managers will do what is known as tax loss harvesting,” said Hilderbrandt. “You have both losses and gains in your portfolio, and typically if you sell something at a gain and you’re going to have a tax consequence, you look for losses within that portfolio you can sell to offset that gain. In this case, you could actually donate the proceeds of a depreciated asset sale and claim the charitable deduction. While you may be disappointed in the performance, you’re able to actually provide benefit to others by using those proceeds, and still have the ability to claim that loss against future gain.”

 9. Donate appreciated assets to

balance your portfolio

“When we rebalance a portfolio, we’re typically buying or selling to make sure that one asset class is not out of whack in terms of the recommended asset allocation model,” Hilderbrandt said. “So you can utilize a what’s known as a part-sale, part-gift strategy. You claim the charitable deduction for donating appreciated assets in the amount that offsets capital gains tax on the sale of other appreciated assets. This is usually only done in years where there were a lot of gains in a portfolio.”



10. Set up a charitable remainder trust

“In a charitable remainder trust, you donate an asset to a charity that they’re going to get at a future date, but you get the tax deduction today,” explained Hilderbrandt. “So you get income from those assets for a set period of time, and then that fund is donated at the end of the trust. Universities, in particular, love to be named in these charitable major trusts.

“Typically, we only do these for very wealthy individuals,” Hilderbrandt added. “But we do get those clients.” 

GIFT Arizona spotlights other nonprofits

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Tucson Weekly Staff Writer

Serving others before oneself is the mission behind the nonprofit GIFT Arizona.

Created by Steve Ochoa, and Morgan and Sheila Chonis, GIFT Arizona supports Tucson organizations by increasing donor contributions and founder endowments, and fundraising and hosting events benefiting their programs.

“GIFT stands for ‘giving and inspiring from the heart together.’ So that’s what we want to do — We want to give and we want to inspire others to give,” said Sheila.

The co-founders, who all have deep roots in Tucson, were driven to begin GIFT to support the many local causes with which they align.

They realized that they could combine their individual skills and experiences to support the missions of other organizations instead of creating a traditional nonprofit contributing to one need in

the community.

With integrity, community and amplification as its core values, they launched GIFT Arizona in January 2022.

“It’s really important in our family and our community to support the local business, the local restaurants, the entrepreneur, the little guy who’s just starting out or struggling and has limited resources,” said Sheila.

Morgan explained that they often see nonprofit founders and executive teams “wearing many hats” to operate their organizations, as many don’t have the necessary team members or resources to meet their needs and goals.

“If we can come in and provide support for any of those hats, that allows them to shine brighter in their zone of genius, because we can support them in the other areas that they may be strapped too thin or they don’t have the resources for,” she said.

GIFT begins by determining what would be “life-changing” for other local nonprofits. From there, the organization

supports them by donation matching and utilizing their local connections.

By donating through GIFT, the organization capitalizes the funding that goes toward other nonprofits.

“We’re better together. When we come together and someone donates to GIFT, that dollar is extended by the leveraging pool we’re creating with all of our other partners, as well as amplifying where the dollar goes,” Morgan said. “So every dollar is expanded when given to GIFT rather than going directly to the organization itself.”

On the occasion of an organization’s event, GIFT will not only match to a specific amount of money raised, it will heighten the organization’s exposure and social media presence. Sometimes the funding they generate is two-fold or more, simply from increasing exposure.

From the time GIFT received its 501(c)3 designation in March 2022 to September, the organization had provided over $11,000 to local entities.

The co-founders’ focus this year has been its coordination with Jim Click Millions for Tucson Raffle, which they chose to benefit Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids (TRAK) Ranch. As a result of fundraising through selling raffle tickets, GIFT matches the money raised between the two organizations to fund TRAK’s programming.

Other aligning organizations that GIFT supports include the Tucson Family Food Project, Diaper Bank of Arizona and the equine therapy program Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT). It also supports household-name nonprofits, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House.

One of GIFT’s highlight partnerships is Tucson’s Ascent Real Estate Team, which donates a portion of its agents’ commission.

“The first gift they gave was to the Bill Felix Memorial Foundation, and the nice thing is we were able to come in and

amplify and get them a matching gift,” Ochoa said. “It’s been an amazing process as we go down the line.”

Ochoa described one of the foundation’s donors as a 10-year-old boy who enjoyed listening to Arizona Public Media’s programming with his grandmother during the pandemic so much, that he was moved to donate $20 of his allowance.

GIFT offered to match the boy’s $20, spurring a movement of donations on social media through comment sections.

“This just grew and grew, and then we came together as GIFT and offered to match up to $500,” Morgan said. “So just with us kind of initiating this amplification on social media, his $20 has turned into — and is still counting — $1,450.”

Moments like these are moving for GIFT’s co-founders.

Although GIFT is in its infancy, its co-founders are looking forward to their organization taking off. They have been creating an extensive plan for how to further support aligning organizations going into spring 2023.

“We want the Tucson community to

realize that the co-founders of GIFT all have the same intent to be good citizens of Tucson, Arizona,” Ochoa said. “We want others that have that capability, irrespective of what that is, to recognize how large or how small you may seem, as long as you’re willing to give back to the community in many, many different ways.”

Whether it is a smile or a thoughtful word, Ochoa said that kindness is something needed daily throughout the country, including Tucson. Spreading kindness is one of their missions moving forward with GIFT.

“I feel that we have a lot of momentum and a lot of power behind GIFT to do great things,” Sheila said.

For more information about GIFT Arizona, visit giftarizona.org. 

Trico Electric Cooperative awards $70K in POWER Grants

Special to Tucson Local Media

Trico Electric Cooperative’s staff believes that connection powers its purpose. This connection brings us together as a community — with the understanding that we can do more together than we could do by ourselves.

They support the community through The Trico Electric Charitable Trust. Since 1996, the trust has donated more than $900,000 to local community organizations, schools, veterans groups, first responders, and food banks.

In 2022, the trust awarded $70,000 in POWER Grants to nonprofits providing critical services in southern Arizona. Those grants would not be possible without contributions from members who participate in Operation Round Up, where they round up their electric bill.

The Arivaca Human Resource Group, which provides daily meals and emergency food boxes to clients within the community, received a $5,200 POWER Grant in the spring. The organization wanted to purchase a small walk-in refrigeration unit along with shelving from the Sahuarita Food Bank but could not afford it. With help from lender CoBank, which matched Trico’s grant, they purchased the refrigeration and freezer unit.

“This is something we have desperately needed in order to store food we use for the daily meals we serve and for the emergency food boxes we provide for our community members in need,” said Sahuarita Food Bank President Rick Vogel.

The Arizona Burn Foundation, which received a $7,400 POWER Grant, partners with local fire departments to install free smoke alarms in low-income and highrisk areas across Arizona to keep communities safe.

“Your kindness means so much to parents, caregivers, burn survivors and children in the burn community,” Catherine Sebesta said.

transportation to senior citizens going to medical appointments.

“Because Friends In Deed operates entirely on donations, we are very appreciative of your generosity,” said Jan Morgan, Friends in Deed operations manager.

“These funds will be helpful in assisting with operations of our Transportation Program, which provides rides to Green Valley seniors to medical appointments, including the expenses of operating our wheelchair vans for those who require a wheelchair trip. Thank you for your generosity.”

Arivaca Helping Hearts received an $8,500 POWER Grant and used the funds to repair a swing bridge, install a fence around the playground and to purchase physical education equipment at San Fernando Elementary School in Sasabe.

$1,000 to the I-19 Rotary Warmth

the Heart Project, which provides free cold weather clothing for adults, children and families struggling to stay warm. “Trico’s generous donation made it possible for so many people to be warm this winter,” Joyce Finkelstein said. (Submitted photo)

Youth On Their Own received $2,500 to provide basic needs, financial assistance, guidance and support services to Tucson/Pima County’s students experiencing homelessness with the goal of high school graduation.

“Every day I meet kids whose lives are better because of the generosity of organizations like yours. They have a fighting chance to finish high school and plan for the future because you showed them that you believe they can succeed,” Fred Rodriguez said.

Sister Jose Women’s Center received $5,000 to provide a cooling center for women experiencing homelessness during the extreme heat.

“Your donation will have a transformative impact on the lives of the women we serve. Contributions like yours, make an immeasurable difference and open up a path to a sustainable existence for our guests. Thank you for taking on this vital and rewarding work with us,” Jean

Fedigan said.

Friends In Deed, a Green Valley nonprofit, received a $2,500 grant to provide

“This makes their playground equipment usable again. It’s nice to know the students at San Fernando are safe on the playground,” said Michelle Davis, grant coordinator.

Info: trico.coop/power-grants 

Trico Electric Cooperative donated

from

During the Pandemic, 60Million Americans Sought Assistance From Food Banks!

THAT IS 1 IN EVERY 5-6 PEOPLE!

Of those households with earned income, 72% were living on $20,000 or less each year; and truly, two thirds of those were bringing in less than $10,000 per year. Imagine how difficult it must have been to provide basic necessities for their families!

Of those households with earned income, 72% were living on $20,000 or less each year; and truley, two thirds of those were bringing in less than $10,000 per year. Imagine how difficult it must have been to provide basic necessities for their families!

Years ago, IMPACT decided to find new ways to support children so they could be more successful in school, to ensure they are ready to tackle the world as young adults. We focused on ways to help end generational poverty.

Years ago, IMPACT decided to find new ways to support children so they could be more successful in school, to ensure they are ready to tackle the world as young adults. We focused on ways to help end generational poverty.

Before COVID, we talked about having to do more than just stabilize families and individuals. A comprehensive plan had to be developed so we could help clients achieve self-sustainability. Now, we also focus on Moving People Forward!

Before COVID, we tallked about having to do more that just stabilize families and individuals. A comprehensive plan had to be developed so we could help clients achieve self-sustainability. Now, we also focus on Moving People Forward!

That ripple of change begins at IMPACT!

An INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP with B2 provides us, and the campus pantry, with a sustainable weekly supply of fresh produce grown with little water, and additional support for many low income UA college students.

In 2022. IMPACT welcomed a new staff member, David,

In 2022, IMPACT welcomed a staff member, David, a Client Advocate who will work with all our families to help them identify their individual challenges and goals. Clients will be supported by our new corps of Community Navigators; volunteers who will mentor and assist each family to connect with our community partners every step of the way!

IMPACT will also be partnering with a variety of local businesses and organizations to provide families with training, certification and placement in a wide range of high-demand careers, with increased income potential. This will ensure a sustainable self-sufficient future. This innovative concept of providing a diverse collective of partners and workshops will break down the traditional barriers that keep people from reaching their potential. Together we can take a family from surviving to thriving!

Pet adoption is not advised for the holiday season

BY LAURA LATZKO Tucson Local Media Contributor

The decision to bring a furry friend into a home during the holidays shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Rescue Me Marana President Nancy Young Wright stressed that pets should not be given as a present.

“We don’t adopt out pets as gifts, and most groups I know don’t either… We don’t feel that’s a good idea to surprise an adult with a dog, cat, kitten or puppy,” Young Wright said.

Located in the Tucson Premium Outlets, Rescue Me Marana is a collaborative adoption center that works with rescue organizations throughout Arizona, including those in rural areas with minimal resources and adopters. They seek to provide an alterative to pet stores selling puppy-mill dogs and cats.

Instead, adopting a pet should be a family decision.

“We hope this is a lifetime commit-

ment to the animal,” Young Wright said.

“We want to make sure the person has a connection to the animal, really loves that animal and feels like it’s the

right one for them. The right one can be a lot of things, so we try really hard to match the needs of the adopter to the animal.”

The organization requires a meet-

Happy Holidays

and-greet with other dogs that will be in the home.

“We introduce dogs together and try to help them to integrate. How to integrate these cats together, that is important. They aren’t fond of having new animals coming into their turf,” Young Wright said.

Young Wright encourages adopters to think about their schedules, lifestyles and activity levels when adopting, as some breeds or ages may be more appropriate for them.

She said large breed dogs shouldn’t immediately be discounted, as older large-breed dogs 5 and older often have similar energy levels as smaller dogs. Puppies especially require a lot of attention and training.

“We have a conversation with folks. We try to find out what kind of time do they have? Are they both working? Will they be out of the house for 10 to 11 hours a day? If so, adopting a puppy

Bonded pair Alpha and Montana, a brother-and-sister duo, were able to find homes through Rescue Me Marana. (Rescue Me Marana/Submitted).

is going to be difficult with that type of schedule unless they are committed to having a pet sitter come in to take the puppy out to the bathroom. Even an adult dog can’t be left that long… Lots of people have help from family members, hire pet sitters or even take the animal to work with them,” Young Wright said.

Volunteers try to educate families about different breeds, so that they understand their energy levels, behavior and needs.

Young Wright said adopters should consider their apartments’ rules when getting a pet.

In general, expenses are important, too. They will likely have grooming, veterinarian, dental, food, toy, training and other costs. As they get older, their costs of care often increase.

Rescue Me Marana has a standard adoption process and application.

“They need to set aside at least an hour to think about it, to talk about it and to fill out the paperwork,” Young Wright said.

During this process, volunteers share as much as they can about the animals’ backgrounds.

The holidays can be a good time to adopt for those that are prepared and have some time off from work. This will allow them to be around as their adopted pets adjust to their new homes.

“There’s a rule called the 3-3-3 rule,” she said.

“It’s what an animal goes through in three days, when they shut down, hide and might not want to eat. Then in three weeks and then in three months. You might not get to see your true dog until longer than that. We ask people to

be patient and to allow a minimal of 30 days for the animal to adjust.”

Young Wright cautioned that new owners should watch their newly adopted animals closely during the first few weeks of the adjustment period.

“It doesn’t know these people. It doesn’t know it’s their new home. The dog may door dash out the front door. The dog may jump over the fence. The dog may dig under the fence. We strongly urge people year-around to watch the dog closely for the first few weeks, go out holding the dog’s leash in the yard, don’t let it go out there

alone, don’t leave it out there alone. With small dogs, we urge caution with doggie doors because of all of the predators in the area, hawks, owls, coyotes, bobcats,” Young Wright said.

Since opening in September 2021, Rescue Me Marana has adopted out more than 570 animals.

At their facility, they have eight cat condos, five small dog kennels and five large dog suites.

Pets that come to them become part of the system for different reasons, including illness of the owner or pet, the death of an owner and life changes such as divorce. Many are also rescued

as strays.

The facility works with rescue organizations such as Valley Humane Society, High Desert Humane Society and Pima Paws for Life.

Young Wright said many people are looking for smaller breeds, such as Poodles or terrier mixes, which can be more difficult to find at shelters.

When potential pet owners can’t find the right fur friend at the adoption center, they referred to other rescue organizations. They can also learn more about breed-specific rescues and responsible dog breeders.

“We find that people just need a little information and a little time, and we are happy to spend that with them. We do that every day in person, on the phone and by Facebook,” Young Wright said.

There have been many positive stories that have come out of Rescue Me Marana.

A blind orange tabby cat named Nacho was adopted by a mother/daughter duo, who were looking for a cat that “needed” to be rescued, that they could spoil. The cat had been discounted by many potential adopters because of his blindness.

Another cat named Carmen was overlooked because of the stigma associated with black cats. A family had been watching her through the organization’s social media channels and decided to adopt her. She is now the “queen of her castle” and goes by the name Little Miss Chloe.

Many of the pets that come through the organization have had tough lives, but their personalities shine through and make them great pets.

Teddy was the outcast of his litter and had been ignored and possibly

abused. He was taken in by Pima Paws for Life, receiving love and care, and then adopted through Rescue Me Marana. At the shelter, his personality and “striking good looks” made him a favorite amongst volunteers.

Often, the volunteers will put in extra time, walking, spending time with and starting to train dogs.

By sharing images of day trips Felix took with a volunteer to a splash pad, park and home, the facility found a family for the great dane/bulldog mix. He was hard to place because of his size and energy, but volunteers could tell he was a “very good boy” with a great deal of potential.

Often, the organization will adopt

out bonded pairs, which can be more difficult to find homes for because they need to be kept together.

Alpha and Montana were a shy Shepherd mix brother/sister duo that came to the adoption center when they were puppies. Volunteers helped to social them, teach them tricks and teach them how to play for the first time. They found a loving home with a couple that was grieving the loss of their dogs due to age-related illnesses and looking for new fur friends to shower with love.

Dogs must leave the facility on a collar or a leash. If owners didn’t bring one, they are available for purchase. The organization also sells toys and treats, and profits help to support their mission. 

Teddy is one of the dogs who has been able to find a forever home through Rescue Me Marana. (Rescue Me Marana/Submitted).

Mobile Meals serves nutritional meals, conversation

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK Tucson Local Media Contributor

With food insecurity facing thousands in Pima County, Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona drops off lunch and dinner five days a week to the tune of 500 meals a day, or 110,000 meals annually to homebound individuals and seniors.

Founded in 1968 with a grant from Meals on Wheels, a core group of volunteers continued the service once the grant ended two years later. The organization evolved into Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona. The volunteers’ visits are two-fold – to meet nutritional needs of the clients and socialize with them.

“The meals are prepared by local hospitals and are designed according to the medical needs of the client,” said Robert Jensen, CEO.

Mobile Meals offers 10 diet-specific meals to address various health

issues or dietary recommendations, including cardiac, diabetic, renal, cancer support, soft foods, low sodium, low sugar, low fat and others.

“These meals are delivered by a team of 400 volunteers that do a wellness check on our clients every day,” Jensen said. “Many times, our volunteers are the only contact these folks get.” In MMVA’s most recent survey, the delivery drivers were the favorite service of the clients. “MMVA is 50% nutrition and 50% compassion,” Jensen said.

A personal connection

Volunteers ensure that clients receive a friendly visit, a moment to talk to a real person face-toface and a wellness check on necessities, such as running water, a home in decent repair or use of other utilities. If the client has issues with one of these items, MMVA connects the client to other

community organizations to assist them.

MMVA delivers to anyone with a need and an address. “Because of many health issues related to aging, our clients tend to be elderly individuals,”

When a client is referred to MMVA, MMVA conducts an interview, typically by phone, to assess the individual. A nutritionist is consulted to choose a diet. Meals are priced on a sliding scale, depending on income. “Those with little to no income received the meals for free, and the price progresses up to $5 a meal for those with an adequate income but a need for the meals or a special diet.”

Some clients are long-term, as the service enables them to stay in their home and not need to enter an assisted living facility. Others may only need the meal service

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temporarily as they recover from surgery or an illness.

MMVA expects to increase services “four-fold” with the opening of a new kitchen at the former El Indio restaurant. Once the facility undergoes $600,00 in renovations to accommodate new administrative offices and a remodeled kitchen at the 4,500-square-foot building, the renovation of the new digs will allow more clients to be served and more meal choices, allowing MMVA to conduct emergency feedings, catering, and expand the nonprofit’s footprint geographically and demographically. Donors can help with the funding campaign by visiting the MMVA website.

Jensen said the new kitchen will allow the Dining with Dignity program to begin. Local chefs will prepare one of their favorite recipes to be showcased for the entire month. “So even though you may not be able to leave your house to go to a nice restaurant, we will bring that restaurant’s food to you,” Jensen said. “As you age and your health begins to decline, you don’t have many choices you can control. But you can control what you eat. So, we are going to give you that choice and quality, and increase the dignity of your dining.”

Volunteers will now have a gathering place to mingle with other volunteers and the MMVA team. Currently, volunteers pick up meals at the loading docks of hospitals. “They have very little interaction among themselves due to these conditions. Now they will be able to sit in the volunteer café, and get a cup of coffee or tea, nibble on foods put out by the chef, such as fruit or veggie trays. They will be able to build relationships with like-minded volunteers.”

Donors see results

MMVA is funded by private donors, foundations and local corporate partners. The nonprofit writes grants to city, county, state and federal governmental agencies and private foundations.

Donors also can see all facets of the organization in full

swing. “They can meet the volunteers, talk with their operations team and see the food being prepared. They will see the fruits of their labor up close and in person.”

Residents can register for meal service, donate or to volunteer at the website at mobilemealssoaz.org. They can also call 520-622-1600.

The 400 volunteers primarily perform the meal deliveries. “It is the best volunteering gig in town,” Jensen said. “You pick one day of the week, you drive your own car, listening to your own tunes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you deliver nutrition and smiles. We also have office volunteers that do typical office duties such as filing, calling clients, etc. With the opening of our new kitchen facility, we will also have volunteering opportunities to prep food in the kitchen.”

A key determinant of health in addition to adequate nutrition is socialization, Jensen said. “According to the National Institute of Aging, social isolation and loneliness has been linked to a variety of physical and mental conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and death,” Jensen said. As volunteers meet with clients, relatives who often live in other parts of the country are reassured that loved ones are being cared for, he said.

Arizona law (A.R.S. 43-1089.01) allows taxpayers to receive a tax credit of up to $200 for a single individual or a head of household and $400 for a married couple filing a joint return for donations that benefit students in our public schools. That’s not just a deduction, it’s a tax credit - it reduces what you owe in state taxes, dollar-for-dollar.

TOGETHER WE THRIVE.

Connection is key to a longer and more vibrant life, and powers everything WE do. It’s like being part of a super supportive family of waiters, chefs, housekeepers, ZEST® activity coaches, care & wellness teams, and even a bunch of really friendly and fun neighbors, all helping you thrive. It’s all here at Villa Hermosa senior living community. Experience the Power of WE!

Meet the Team

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 ST • 11:30AM Join us for an interactive discussion of senior living resources. Learn tips and best practices to tailor senior living to your needs. Refreshments will be served. To RSVP, call 520.704.6497.

Thank you for giving

The path to wellness is a very personal journey, and is unique for each of us. That’s why organizations that are committed to helping people meet their wellness goals see positive results when focus is placed on individual preferences.

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

“This award means so much to us,” says James Edwartoski, executive director of Splendido. “It recognizes the work, ideas, and dedication of team members who take our wellness offerings to the highest level, with innovative approaches, meaningful programs and spaces, and leading-edge wellness tech and tools. And our offerings succeed because of the enthu-

siastic participation of highly engaged residents!”

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

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

Making Waves

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

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

“The bed can specifically target—and has settings for—PTSD, stress, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep, as well as headaches and difficulty focusing,” says Todd Lutz, Splendido’s spa and fitness manager. “The technology was developed to treat post-traumatic stress disorders of American veterans.”

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

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

More Than Skin Deep

In addition to the spa wave bed, Saluté Spa offers

salon services and signature treatments for body and skin health on a fee-for-service basis. “We are working with Comfort Zone, an Italian company which uses natural products with a focus on global sustainability,” says Todd. “We use their line of regenerative, effective and sustainable face and body products, treatments, and rituals, which are developed in the scientific botanical garden at Davines village in Parma, Italy.”

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

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

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

Football season just flew by

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media

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

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

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

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

It wasn’t particularly pretty and the Wildcats gave up another ton of points and yards, but a couple of big defensive plays late in the game gave Arizona a 3835 victory and possession of the Territorial Cup for the next year.

After the victory was secured, we could also revel in the performance of the ASU quarterback. Trenton Bourget starred at Marana High back before the pandemic, shattering school and state passing records. Considered to be too short, most

colleges passed on him and he walked on at ASU. He had a game for the ages, passing for 376 yards in a losing effort.

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

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

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

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

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

It was a fairly decent year for prep football in the Northwest. Canyon Del Oro reached the 4A Final Four in football de-

spite losing six starters to the drinking scandal. We’ll never know if they could have advanced further. Pusch Ridge also reached the state semifinals, doing so in Class 3A. The Lions are a consistent winner in their division.

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

The cockeyed Power Point formula used by the Arizona Interscholastic Association to determine state playoff participants and their rankings severely punished the Tigers, dropping them down to eighth place. That gave Marana

a home game against the No. 9 team in the first round of the playoffs, but it also guaranteed that they would have to face the top team in the state — on the road — in the second round.

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

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

Only 269 days until next football season! 

Happy Holidays

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media

It is a statistical fact that the average high-school athlete will go through his/her entire prep career without going to state even once.

It’s because many athletes play a year of freshman ball, then a year of JV, followed by a couple years on the varsity. That leaves only a two-year window for reaching the postseason. In addition, in an eight-team conference, probably only two teams will make it to state and finally there are some programs that simply aren’t very good year after year.

Bianca Castillo doesn’t have to worry about any of that. The junior guard from Flowing Wells is firmly ensconced in a monster basketball program, one that not only goes to state every year, but has actually reached the Class 5A State championship the past two seasons. It’s a good feeling knowing that you and your teammates won’t have to sweat out the vagaries of the AIA Power Point system. But being part of a monster program also carries with it the expectation to maintain a level of excellence in both practice and in games.

“I’m really happy to be part of this,” she says. “Basketball is all I’ve ever really wanted to do and our team is so good. It’s a nice feeling knowing that we should probably win every game.”

Castillo puts in the work in the classroom, as well. She’s just shy of being a straight-A student, a point she recounts with a roll of the eyes. “I’m taking some hard classes this year. It’s a challenge.”

She plans on attending the UA after she finishes at Flowing Wells, hoping to major in either sports medicine or psychology.

During the brief interview, she picked up a couple cool math tricks, including one involving six-digit numbers that boggles the mind. When asked if she

wanted to know the secret behind the maneuver, she politely declined. “No, I want it to remain magic. Or if I ever do, I want to discover the secret myself.”

Flowing Wells High School has an enrollment that is right on the borderline between classes 4A and 5A. For this year and next, at least, the Caballeros will be in the smaller-school 4A. But that won’t make it any easier to get back to a state championship game. Flowing Wells is in the 4A Kino Region, a grouping that appears to have been put together by the Marquis De Sade.

Four of the members of the Kino — Sahuaro, Flowing Wells, Salpointe (which doesn’t belong in the 4A), and Pueblo — have all been in state championship games in the past four years. Added to that mix is poor, unfortunate Canyon Del Oro, a team that is much improved over last season but will have to face the aforementioned four teams twice each in January.

Despite being one of the top teams in the entire state, it’s anybody’s guess if Flowing Wells will even be the best team in their region. “This will be a great season,” Castillo said. “We’re going to see just how good we can be.”

Bianca Castillo, junior guard from Flowing Wells. (Flowing Wells submitted)

1

Game pieces in Othello and Connect Four

Provocative … like this answer’s position in the grid?

Q: What happens when the ___ clears over Los Angeles? A: UCLA!

Beer brand whose name translates to “morning sun”

Looney Tunes bunny

Cézanne or Gauguin

“You cooked this? It’s disgusting!” said Tom ___

Gumbo, e.g.

One foot in “the grave,” poetically speaking

Festoon

Bugle call at lights out

Support group associated with the Twelve Steps

“What do you mean there are no PlayStations left in stock?” asked Tom ___

“Peace out”

“Well, ___ be!”

Lip

Spot for a sojourn

Charge for tardiness

Grief-stricken state

Scorch on a stovetop

Brewery vessel

Pastry dough used in crullers and beignets

“I’m worried I may have anemia,” said Tom ___

Had an inclination 55 Kind of column

3

Relief pitcher’s success

Target of a canine’s canines, maybe 5 Ben Kingsley or Ian McKellen, e.g.

“West Texas town” in a classic country song

Gloom’s partner

Formless mass 9 Common word in pirate-speak 10 Outings devoted to relaxation and self-care 11 Employee at a brick-andmortar business 12 Musical bit that slowly fades 13 Close in many close-ups 18 Coyote calls

HOROSCOPE

By SALOME’S STARS

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Restless Rams and Ewes might want to let others finish a current project while they start something new. But if you do, you could risk losing out on a future opportunity.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The Bovine's creative forces start revving up as you plan for the upcoming holidays. Some practical aspects also emerge, especially where money is involved.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Moments of doubt disrupt your otherwise clear sense of purpose. Don't ignore them. They could be telling you not to rush into anything until you know more about it.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A planned trip might have to be delayed. Plan to use this new free time to update your skills and your resume so you'll be ready when a new job opportunity opens.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) A flood of holiday party bids from business contacts allows you to mix work and pleasure. Your knowledge, plus your Leonine charm, wins you a new slew of admirers.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An unexpected act by a colleague complicates an agreement, causing delays in implementing it. Check out the motive for this move: It's not what you might suspect.

some decisions, and maybe change them.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your plans to help provide holiday cheer for the less fortunate inspire others to follow your generous example. Expect welcome news by week's end.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) You're in your glory as you start planning for the holiday season ahead. But leave time to deal with a problem that needs a quick and fair resolution.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) The upcoming holiday season provides a perfect setting for strengthening relationships with kin and others. A new contact has important information.

34

Nowhere to be found, say 35 Genre for Luther Vandross 36 “___ and I Know It” (2012 #1 hit for 52-Down)

Fervent 40 Sailor, in slang 41 Behold: Lat. 44 Encounter unexpectedly

Is connected

Prominent part of an apatosaurus

Pulitzer-winning columnist Peggy

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might want to cut ties with an ingrate who seems to have forgotten your past generosity. But there might be a reason for this behavior that you should be in the know about. Ask.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Be careful not to set things in stone. Much could happen over the next several days that will make you rethink

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Instead of fretting over a cutting remark by a co-worker, chalk it up to an outburst of envy of your well-respected status among both your colleagues and superiors.

BORN THIS WEEK: You instinctively know when to be serious and when to be humorous -- attributes everyone finds endearing. 

52

Electronic dance music duo that performed at the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show

See 66-Across

57

Rug rat

___ transfer

Man, for one

Consider

Swirl in a stream

Before, to Byron

the gift of broadway