Foothills News May 4, 2022 by Times Media Group

Business is back on Fourth Ave. | Page 4 • Inside the Science of Consciousness Conference | Page 6

FOOTHILLS NEWS M ,  • V  • N  • .TLM.

Weaving a Tale Glorious baskets, handmade by native artists, grace the Tohono Chul gallery | Page 10 850,000

4BD/3BA (2,628 sq ft) estate. Pool/Views!

860,000

2BD/3BA+Den (2,661 sq ft) Marc Soloway remodel.

Lisab@LongRealty.com 520-668-8293

#1 LONG AGENT & #1 REALTOR IN ORO VALLEY 11365 N Placita Alameda Dorada, Oro Valley, AZ 85737

MLS #22210046

36974 S Rock Crest Drive, Tucson, AZ 85739 MLS#22208691

Voted Best of Northwest Realtor & Realtor Team

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

Desert To-Dos Tucson International Mariachi Conference. This weekend, mariachi music takes over the Tucson Convention Center and Tucson Music Hall. There are multiple events throughout, including a mariachi student showcase, a “Fiesta Garibaldi,” and it all concludes with the “Espectacular Concert.” This final show features performances by Tucson’s own Mariachi Cobre, the Grammy-winning Mariachi Los Camperos, and guest singer Lupita Infante. This combination of culture, music, dance, and education exemplifies the “best in entertainment with amazing talent that energizes audiences.” Various times, Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8. At the Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. tucsonmusichall.org for full details. Environmental Transcendentalism. This art exhibit at Pidgin Palace Arts is a conversation between two artists. Nika Kaiser’s The Passage portrays an imagined future in which humans, animals and plants from Glen Canyon’s past reemerge through slots in the drowned canyon walls. Celia Reed, who has lived off the grid in the San Simon valley for the past 30 years, portrays what she sees and feels, often mountains with solitary figures in the fore-

ground and lots of exploration of light. The show is on display throughMay 14 at Pidgin Palace Arts, 1110 S. Sixth Ave. Hours are listed as “11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (aspirational).” Psycho. The Loft Cinema is screening Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful masterpiece in a new film restoration. It’s a film so ingrained in our culture that it’s hard to picture what modern movies would be like without it. (For instance, did you know Psycho was influential in movie theaters having set start times, rather than playing films on a loop?) It’s a mystery, it’s a horror, it’s a psychological drama, it’s potentially the first “slasher” film. And this special screening includes approximately one minute of material cut after the initial 1960 theatrical release, not seen for more than 60 years! If you haven’t seen it, you owe it to yourself, as it certainly holds up after all this time. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 8. At the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard. Loftcinema.org $10.

favorite regional, national, and international wines while supporting animals at the Zoo. The event includes animal activities, live music from Zona Libre, wine glass painting, photo booths, and a VIP opportunity to meet one of the zoo’s rhinos. Participating vineyards include Arizona Wine Collective, Flying Leap Vineyards, Rancho Rossa Vineyards and more. Food vendors include Craft Culinary Concepts, Chef Chic, and Ken’s Harwood Barbeque. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. At the Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. $25 - $65. reidparkzoo.org

Madaras Masters’ Series. Have you ever wanted to see the Sonoran Desert through the eyes of some of the greatest painters? A new exhibit at Madaras Gallery is just that. Madaras’ Master’s Series is a collection of saguaros painted in the style of Jackson Pollock, Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh and more. We’re talking about surreal saguaros, cubist canyons, and chiaroscuro chollas! All month. Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. / Wine Gone Wild. The Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Reid Park Zoo is calling 3035 N. Swan Road. madaall animal (and wine) lov- ras.com ers for their Wine Gone Wild event. You’re invited to raise your glass to conservation and wildlife. Here, you can sip some

Cover image courtesy of the Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens, part of the Roy J. Kurtz Collection. Photo by Shari Coia.

FOOTHILLS NEWS

The Foothills News is published twice each month and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the Catalina Foothills. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Foothills News, go to www.TucsonLocalMedia.com

STAFF ADMINISTRATION Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher Michael Hiatt, Vice President Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL Jim Nintzel, Executive Editor jimn@tucsonlocalmedia.com Jeff Gardner, Managing Editor jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com Alexandra Pere, Staff Reporter apere@tucsonlocalmedia.com Nicole Feltman, Staff Reporter nfeltman@tucsonlocalmedia.com PRODUCTION Courtney Oldham, Production Manager, tucsonproduction@timespublications.com Ryan Dyson Graphic Designer ryand@tucsonlocalmedia.com CIRCULATION Aaron Kolodny, Circulation, aaron@timeslocalmedia.com ADVERTISING TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com Gary Tackett, Associate Publisher gtackett@tucsonlocalmedia.com Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising Zac@TimesPublications.com EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT Foothills News expresses its opinion in the editorial. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author. The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Tucson Local Media assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement. Publisher has the right to edit for size or refuse any advertisement at his or her discretion. 7225 N. Mona Lisa Road, Ste. 125 Tucson, Arizona 85741 PHONE: (520) 797-4384

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

Foothills News, May , 

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

Fourth Avenue businesses and events seeing increased traffic Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

fter nearly two years, vendors and patrons filled the colorful streets of Fourth Avenue for the Winter Street Fair in December 2021. Following that successful winter fair, the larger Spring Street Fair returned just last month to an even larger turnout. The events, which annually draw hundreds of thousands of attendees, were delayed multiple times due to the pandemic, bringing fewer patrons to the already-impacted local businesses lining Fourth Avenue. With the return of these large events, plus an increase in daily traffic, the avenue is looking bright — albeit with some remaining roadbumps and potholes. Fourth Avenue might have the strongest ratio of personality-to-square-feet in all of Tucson. North of the Fourth Avenue underpass, the corridor contains multiple coffeeshops, record stores, boutiques, art stores and bars. Geographically and culturally, it is the intersection of the university district and downtown. However, that culture has suffered multiple losses over the past few years, including the closure of the Flycatcher bar to be replaced by an apartment building. The pandemic certainly didn’t help, with multiple small businesses closing. But for some, including the eclectic art store Pop Cycle, things

are well on the road to recovery. “This last year has been our best year ever. It’s kind of crazy, and we’re blown away by how lucky we were. There’s been so much support, not just from the Tucson community, but also from visitors from out of town,” said Shannon Riggs, co-owner of Pop Cycle and chair of the Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition. “The avenue’s busy. I know the retail is doing well, and of course the bars and restaurants struggled a lot more, but when I look around the avenue, it always looks pretty hopping these days.” Pop Cycle, which sells a variety of recycled and local art, closed for six months in 2020. Not only did this impact the staff, but also the local artists whose work is sold in the store. Though Riggs admits the pandemic was very difficult for the avenue, she says it could have been worse. “We’re super lucky to not have lost many businesses,” Riggs said. “We did lose a few, but all the people that I know of who were running those businesses have bounced back and are doing something else. That’s really rad.” But now with restrictions lifted and business back up, there was also an opportunity to bring back the Made In Tucson Market in addition to the Street Fair. On a smaller scale, the Made In Tucson Market is exclusively for vendors from the area. With 165 vendors and thousands of attendees, this April saw the largest ever

Photos by Jeff Gardner

Pop Cycle, which sells a variety of local and recycled art, is seeing their best sales since the pandemic began. Made In Tucson Market. “Something we hear from people is that the Street Fair should have more local vendors. Of course there are local artists who do Street Fair, but we wanted to do an event that was exclusively local,” Riggs said. “And I think it just has a funkier, grassroots vibe. All of the signs were handpainted, and I feel like that matches the funky vibe of Fourth Ave that is important.” While many stores are doing better, that’s not to say others haven’t been forever changed by the pandemic. Just down the avenue, Antigone Books is another beloved shop that survived. However, co-owner Kate

Stern says they are a smaller operation and that pre-pandemic time was almost like operating a different business. “I wouldn’t say that we’re back to where we were, even without the inflation. It’s hard to gauge,” Stern said. “It was actually kind of slow here for the Street Fair. Traditionally, it’s always a lot of people browsing, and not everyone is shopping. But overall, it’s good for us. Our sales are not amazing. Usually, the winter fair is bigger for us. We didn’t notice a huge uptick in sales, but it’s always good for the avenue as a whole. The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association relies on that revenue, and

we rely on them. So it’s systemic in that way.” Stern says there are a number of difficulties in the world we now find ourselves in. Beyond record inflation, there are also lingering staffing issues and the pervasive supply chain problems. As a result, Antigone has been forced to raise prices on their gift items like calendars, while list prices of books have also increased. Because of supply chain backups, some of the bookstore’s orders have either not shown up, or showed up months later. Stern says it’s been difficult to keep their displays stocked, and people have even asked if

they’re going out of business because their shelves might be empty, even if an order had been placed months prior. This has also impacted special book orders, as it’s difficult to give customers an estimated time of arrival. “People have been pretty upset at times, not understanding we have no control over it,” Stern said. “People have learned to be more flexible over the past year, but not everyone is quite used to it.” Over the pandemic, the rate of shipping a 40-foot container across the Pacific has surged more than 500%, breaking $20,000, a record price. This type of increase has even impacted stores

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

like Pop Cycle, which use many recycled materials for their products. “Almost across the board, our artists have had to raise their prices,” Riggs said. “Even though it’s recycled and handcrafted, there’s always something you have to buy. And we make a lot of the things ourselves in our studio in the back, and the magnets we use, the price and shipping has doubled. So we’ve had to raise prices on things that we’ve never raised prices on ever.” Riggs says that she doesn’t know of people who can’t get what they need, it’s just that there are delays and price increases on everything, and that can be difficult for artist deadlines. Despite all this, merchants like Riggs and Stern say they feel that Fourth Avenue business owners are hopeful. Antigone plans to bring back their own community events later this year. “It’s been a really rough couple of years for every-

one, and it’s definitely better now. But we’re all still dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic,” Stern said. “Even though a lot of people in the world have moved on and are ready to be done with it, I think there are longer term effects from it. But we’re all in it together and it’s been refreshing to see that other businesses are in the same place as us. And I think the general attitude of the merchants is support. It’s made people closer, more understanding and neighborly.” The pandemic hasn’t stopped some Fourth Avenue stores from even expanding. On Thursday, May 5, the Food Conspiracy Co-op broke ground on an additional entrance on the back of their store. The finished expansion will add an entrance on their store’s east side, 2,000 square feet of retail space, 33 parking spaces and solar panels. Andrea Buttrick, communications coordinator for Food Conspiracy Co-op, says the expansion has been

planned since before the pandemic. “Our sales are now growing exponentially, and shoppers are showing back up,” Buttrick said. “There’s a feeling of excitement and interest to be back out. Of course, there is still some hesitancy, but people are excited.” Buttrick says the Food Conspiracy Co-op was in a unique position to weather the pandemic as compared to other grocery stores, because they get much of their produce from local farmers. As a result, they were able to stay open through the pandemic. However, she confirms they are suffering from inflation like everyone else. “It really shows the caliber of our staff that they showed up and continued working,” Buttrick said. In total, the Winter Street Fair had approximately 300,000 attendees. The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association says they made little revenue on the first one back as the event was

primarily “to make good from all the cancellations due to COVID.” However, the following Spring Street Fair saw an estimated 600,000 attendees, and vendors reported it being one of the best ever. Because the fair was shuttered for three instances, the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association estimates it will take one more fair to get “back on its feet.” “We just want to remind people that Fourth Ave. has been this hub of localism and community fun for all these years, and we’d love to do more cool stuff,” Riggs said. “With the money we’re making from events, I think that is going a long way to helping us put on more. We just want people to come down to the avenue and remember what they like about it.”

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

Mental Breakout: Answering big questions at the Science of Consciousness Conference Emily Dieckman

Special to Tucson Local Media

little over an hour into a keynote speech about the brain and consciousness, physicist Christof Koch, Ph.D., also the chief scientist and president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the chief scientist of the MindScope Program, grips the audience’s attention by sharing an image of The Dress. You know the one: the yellow and gold/black and blue frock that captured our collective attention in 2015. “So it’s obviously white and yellow, right?” he jokes, asking who in the audience sees the same thing and watching a few hands go up. “Who sees it as, what’s the other one, blue and black?” Far more people raise their hands, and Koch teases them for being wrong. This foray into meme territory is kind of a relief after hearing him talk extensively about neuronal correlates of consciousness and the theory that the brain is a quantum computer earlier in the talk. But it’s all connected. Koch’s point, here, is that different people perceived the dress in different ways, and they did so passionately because it was based on people’s individual perceptions. For example, I agree with Koch

that the dress looks white and gold, even though, factually, it turned out to be black and blue (insanity). This is because, as he puts it, everything we experience in the world happens within our own frameworks, what he calls “The Perception Box.” “Everyone is a prisoner of their experience of reality, living within their own idiosyncratic Perception Box,” he says. “You can sort of, maybe, rationally appreciate the other point of view, but when push comes to shove, you say ‘No, the world is like this.’” Mapping the Brain Koch is speaking at the Science of Consciousness Conference in Tucson, AZ, where people who study the mind from every which angle gather from all over the world to discuss consciousness and have playful arguments about it. There are philosophers and physicists, neuroscientists and anesthetists, microbiologists and planetary scientists and meditation gurus and people interested in psychedelics. I meet Stanford professors and dudes in flip flops and recent graduates from psychology and physics programs trying to figure out what they want to do next.

Koch himself worked with Francis Crick to kick off the modern search for “neuronal correlates of consciousness,” or the minimum neuron activity required to produce a specific conscious experience. Crick, of the famous duo Watson and Crick, is perhaps best known for his contributions to understanding the structure and functions of DNA. This work is sort of like the neuroscience equivalent: Now that we know some of the physical DNA structures that lead to specific traits in the body, can we figure out what physical neuron activity leads to specific conscious experiences? This community of researchers calls explaining this link “the hard problem.” To people who believe that the hard problem exists, there’s something specifically different, and difficult, about finding the link between physical substrate and experiences (e.g. “falling in love” or “sitting on the couch with your dog watching a movie”) as compared to finding that link for specific behaviors or tasks, like social reasoning, information integration and use of working memory. How do we map something like a toothache, or a gut feeling, or seeing the color red, to specific substrates in the brain? Can we?

There are a lot of factors that make this a complicated question, but one is the brain’s neuroplasticity. The majority of our neurons are in the cerebellum, Koch explains, but there are a handful of documented cases through history in which people are born without cerebellums, and can still function. Or, Koch described talking to people who have cerebellar lesions or have had parts of their cerebellums removed. While these people may lose or struggle with certain abilities, like speaking, walking or playing the violin, they don’t lack consciousness. The best explanation scientists seem to have is that the brain rewires itself to be able to do things like speak, walk and remember. This flexibility is amazing and fascinating and makes the whole thing difficult to map. Expanding the Perception Box The consciousness research community gets very passionate about this stuff. (Koch even has a running bet about solving a piece of the hard problem by 2023, which he reluctantly says he will probably lose.) But it can be easy for a pleb like me to get lost in how interest-

ing it all is and miss the ways figuring these things out can actually improve our lives. It turns out there a lot of ways, though! Did you know that even though anesthesia has been in use since the mid-19th century, scientists still don’t really understand how it works? Studying consciousness could help figure that out. It could also help us learn more about neurodegenerative diseases, how to build more effective AI models and how different drugs, including psychedelics, can affect the brain. Which brings us back to the dress. Well, back to the Perception Box that the dress was meant to represent. If we can all only view the world through our own Perception Boxes, which are formed through a combination of nature and nurture, then we are all limited. It’s like we’re all wearing our own sets of glasses we can’t take off. So, first of all, we’ve got to realize we’re in boxes at all. Koch said not realizing the limits of our own perception boxes can cause real problems. “This gives rise to a lot of suffering and low self-esteem, polarization, distorted thinking and other trauma that we experience in our society today,” he says. He believes if people

could learn to identify their own Perception Boxes, it could be the first step to learning to expand those boxes. At the end of his talk, Koch makes a compelling announcement on behalf of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, a nonprofit organization researching consciousness for which Koch serves as chief scientist: They’re funding rigorous, scientifically valid research on how to fix this. “We want to support research to characterize the perception box and its boundaries in the brain, track those boundaries and modify them with distinct interventions,” he said. “The intervention could be psychedelics, it could be mindfulness training, it could be breathwork, it could be long-term meditation, it could be dancing. It could be sweat lodges.” So, if you have a theory on how to expand the bounds of our perception boxes and change humanity for the better, keep an eye out for the call for proposals from the Little Blue Dot Foundation this summer. Maybe we can work toward a world where we are all able to perceive the dress the same way, and Team White and Gold and Team Blue and Black can finally be united.

Foothills News, May , 

Report: Arizona needs to graduate more high-school and college students to fill available jobs Tucson Local Media

little over an hour into a keynote speech about the brain and consciousness, physicist Christof Koch, Ph.D., also the chief scientist and president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the chief scientist of the MindScope Program, grips the audience’s attention by sharing an image of The Dress. You know the one: the yellow and gold/black and blue frock that captured our collective attention in 2015. Arizona will be issuing far fewer bachelor degrees through the end of the decade than are needed to fill jobs, according to a new report presented at The Future of the Workforce, a discussion sponsored by the University of Arizona Eller College of Management’s MAP dashboard on Thursday, April 21. “Arizona is at an inflection point in its economic trajectory with a comparatively low college completion rate and a growing labor demand for workers with bachelor’s degrees,” the Advancing Arizona’s Economy: Investment in Workforce Development report noted. Ron Shoopman of the Arizona Board of Regents warned that as a result

of that low graduation rate, Arizona won’t have enough people to fill the jobs created by development in Arizona’s private and public sector. The Advancing Arizona’s Economy: Investment in Workforce Development report estimated Arizona will issue 26,300 fewer bachelor’s degrees than the economy needs annually until 2030. “Last year, companies in Arizona imported, hired and moved into Arizona 19,000 people with four-year degrees to fill jobs that they couldn’t fill with the people in Arizona who were either unwilling but likely just not qualified to fill,” Shoopman said. Shoopman, however, doesn’t put the blame on Arizonans. He said it goes back to what the Board of Regents found in 2019: Arizona has a 79% high school graduation rate. One out of every five students in Arizona is not receiving a high school diploma. “We know … that if you don’t have a high school diploma, you probably don’t have a job,” Shoopman said. “Less than half of the people in the state that don’t have a high school diploma are unemployed.” Shoopman said this report made it clear that Arizona needs to be doing better by their students and preparing people for

the workforce. However, Shoopman said Arizona doesn’t need to funnel students into four-year universities. He said state leaders needed to also focus on certification programs, community colleges and trade schools. Jennifer Pullen, senior research economist at Eller College’s Economic and Business Research Center, revealed that a surplus of jobs available in Arizona had dramatically increased from the early months of the pandemic. In January, Arizona had 241,000 open jobs in Arizona, which amounted to 80,000 more jobs than February 2020, according to Pullen. Although Tucson has been slower to recover these jobs compared to Phoenix, the statewide unemployment rate for March was 2.9%, a 23-year low. “There are primarily two reasons that the unemployment rate falls: Either those unemployed individuals find a job or those unemployed individuals leave the labor market,” Pullen said. Pullen speculated that many people chose to retire during the pandemic or left the labor market to take care of themselves or family. Skyrocketing housing prices also increased the equity of homeowners, which could allow them to stay out of the labor market for longer periods of

time. Migration should also be considered a part of the equation, although international migration fell during the pandemic. Pullen noted that inflation may bring workers back into the labor force. Pima Community College Chancellor Lee Lambert said the job market is changing to match new trends. “We’re moving from a first-curve society, the industrial era, to a second curve era, which is a knowledge-based digital era and at the center of that is this notion of

skills,” Lambert said. The overwhelming statement from each presenter and panelist is the urgent need for preparing Arizona’s workforce to fill the jobs the state has created. Mister Car Wash CEO John Lai said during his panel appearance that investment in early education is the obvious answer to the incoming increase in job openings. “There’s a revenue issue,” Lai said. “We have to pay teachers more, or invest in our school systems, preK, K through 12, and

we’re not doing that. The high school graduation rate was shocking. It’s a precursor to college.” According to the Board of Regents report, Arizona is currently sitting at an inflection point where jobs are increasing too fast for people to fill the vacancies. Shoopman said it is imperative the state prepare Arizona’s next generation of students and workers by investing in the education system to retain students in the system.

h s a L p! it u

First full set of Eyelashes

Regular price $250

Book Your Appointment Today! Oro Valley 7625 N. Oracle Rd #105 Oracle Crossings Shopping Center (520) 219-8962 Hours M-F 9-8 / Sat 9-7 / Sun 10-6

AmazingLashStudio.com |

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE

Alexandra Pere

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

UA ‘Confluencenter’ of Creative Inquiry working to humanize border issues through art Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

ucson’s location lends itself to being a mosaic of cultural diversity, but mass media often portrays this bustling crossroads of religion, heritage, identity, food and art as a violent location. “I feel like the biggest misinterpretation is that it’s unsafe and dangerous,” said Melissa Brown-Dominguez, an administrative associate at the University of Arizona who also works with her partner, Mel Dominguez, at Galeria Mitotera, 1802 S. Fourth Ave, to show the rich culture of South Tucson. Brown-Dominguez is the arts administrator at Galeria Mitotera. “We get represented in the media that it’s so scary,” said Brown-Dominguez, who added that the gallery sometimes has trouble working with students “because they are told don’t go past 22nd, it’s dangerous, it’s scary. And it’s the opposite.” With large numbers of border crossers seeking amnesty and controversy over the federal Title 42 in the headlines, the borderlands are a battleground for political contention. Much of borderlands coverage focuses on demonizing border crossers, but Galeria Mitotera and the University

of Arizona Confluencenter of Creative Inquiry are illuminating unheard voices in the borderlands. The Confluencenter recently received a $1.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Galeria Mitotera is one of its many supported projects through the Fronteridades program created by the Center. “They’ve been watering us and watching us grow and it’s been such a great thing to be a part of to see that growth and connectivity,” Dominguez said. Dominguez is an artist and muralist who is passionate about providing a safe space for artists of color, Indigenous artists and queer artists. Galeria Mitotera is the meeting place for these artists in South Tucson. Dominguez said the Confluencenter is supportive of their work. Brown-Dominguez said the gallery will be giving out mini-grants to artists in the community to create mobile murals. The murals can be moved to different buildings in South Tucson, with possible trips to Nogales in the future. “It’s intercambio, or ‘exchange’ of these arts,” Dominguez said. Dominguez and Brown-Dominguez say their work with the Galeria is amplifying narratives through visual artistry. “This is what we’re do-

ing to tell that story that’s not being told,” Dominguez said.

r. Javier Duran, professor of Latin American and border studies and director of the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry, said the organization wants to humanize the borderlands through not just research but also through artistic representation and community engagement. “We see a lot of value bringing in the component of our diverse mosaic of communities to the conversation,” Duran said. Duran describes the misrepresentation of the borderlands as a narrative of crisis. In opposition to mass media narratives, Arizona is not the most dangerous state in America. According to Statista, Arizona sits in-between South Dakota and Michigan for reported violent crimes in 2020. Neither of these states are characterized in the media as states of crisis. “The point is that this brief indication of the wall becomes this political signal that is sent to mainstream America and the world and by extension, at the expense of the local narratives of resilience, progress and community building (that) are happening as we speak,” Duran said. “Therefore we felt, and the Mellon Foun-

Courtesy photo

dation agrees, that this is the type of work that needs to be done from the perspective of the humanities and the arts to elevate those discourses that are really trying to empower a lot of the communities and a lot of the young people in the communities.” To continue to amplify borderland voices, Duran and the Confluencenter want to support a new program through the recent grant called, “Amplifying Blackness in the Borderlands.” “The idea is to work with youth in creating internships and to educate people about what the meaning of Blackness is in our region as well,” Duran said. Dr. Stephanie Troutman Robbins is the department head of Gender & Women’s Studies at the University of Arizona, a Black feminist

scholar, and the leader of the “Amplifying Blackness in the Borderlands” program. Robbins said she attended a collaborative shark tank event held by the Confluencenter and presented her program idea to other colleagues. Her idea won the crowd. She hopes to bring together Black youth from different educational spaces such as graduate students, undergraduates, and possibly high schoolers in the Tucson community through her project. “I want to create something where those Black people could come together and talk about their experience of living in the Southwest, on the border in Tucson in some kind of an expressive arts way that amplifies black identity, whether that’s Afro Latina, or Black and Mexican, or

just being African American in this space,” Robbins said. The project will begin in the upcoming fall semester. Robbins will provide resources and support to Black students to bring their projects to life. Due to Arizona’s location, Mexican Americans and local tribes such as the Pasque Yaqui, Tohono O’odham, and Mexican Americans tend to have more opportunities for representation in media. Robbins said this leaves a lot of Black people in Tucson out of borderlands storytelling. Due to this underrepresentation, Robbins’ project will encourage Black youth in the borderlands to fill in the missing narratives. Continued on P11

Foothills News, May , 

AGING WELL Sponsored content

Hike Up Your Heart Rate & Your Mood

hy work out in a fitness center when you can get a great cardio workout while exploring the beauty of the Sonoran Desert? Of all the opportunities for outdoor exercise in the Tucson area, hiking may be the most versatile—and one of the most beneficial. Residents at Splendido, a Life Plan Community in Oro Valley for those 55 and better, have an opportunity to participate in the community’s hiking club, which goes out together twice a month, November through May.

Led by Splendido’s Spa and Fitness Manager Todd Lutz, the group rotates among a variety of nearby trails with different levels of difficulty. “The nice thing about the group is you get to hike some trails you wouldn’t normally do,” says Splendido resident Clive Probert, who enjoys hiking yearround. “We typically hike for two or three miles, and Todd organizes it so the first

hike of each month is on flat terrain, and the next one is more challenging.” Hikes like these provide a multitude of benefits for your body, brain, and mood.

A Walking Workout Hiking—even on flat land— will exercise muscles including your quadriceps, hamstrings, lower leg and hip muscles. Hiking on an unpaved, slightly uneven trail will also engage the core muscles in your torso. Like any other cardio workout, hiking is good for your cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as sleep quality and weight loss. (A brisk hike can burn up to 550 calories per hour.) And because walking is a weight-bearing exercise, it also helps build Residents of Splendido hike twice a month to benefit their physical and cognitive health. bone density. Another benefit of hiking Hit the Trail, Not the to “green areas” can cause Step Up to a Better Mood is the release of endorphins Treadmill our bodies to relax and let Todd explains, “Walking is in your brain. Endorphins Research shows that tak- go of stress, as well as ease good for your brain, as well are chemicals released in ing your exercise outdoors anxiety. One study found as your body. Through sim- the brain that minimize any compared to working out in that people in nature had ple exercise, your body be- physical discomfort, block- a gym offers unique benefits slower heart rates and lower gins to release proteins and ing the feeling of pain and for physical, cognitive, and levels of the stress hormone chemicals which can help causing a natural “feel good” emotional health: cortisol than those who lower stress levels and have rush. spent time in the city. positive benefits on memo• Multiple studies have ry.” shown that regular exposure

be yourself 0422KC TLM

• Walking or exercising outdoors has also been proven to strengthen short-term memory. Simply spending time in nature is also associated with improved concentration and attention spans. • Studies have linked time spent in nature with lower levels of inflammation, reduced hypertension, and even a stronger immune system. • Research found that people who run outside exert more energy than treadmill runners; they also enjoy it more and therefore will run for longer periods of time. “This is a wonderful area to hike,” says Clive. “You don’t have to drive very far to find a good trail. And Splendido is right next to Honey Bee Canyon, so we can just walk right in. I hike there about once a week.” Interested in learning more about Splendido? For floor plans, photos, and information on upcoming events, visit splendidotucson.com.

AN APPROACH TO SENIOR LIVING SO UNEXPECTED, IT’S TURNING HEADS (520) 762.4084

SplendidoTucson.com

Oro Valley, AZ

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

Weaving a Legacy: Glorious baskets, handmade by native artists, grace the Tohono Chul gallery, courtesy of a longtime collector Margaret Regan

Roy J. Kurtz Collection of American Indian Art

Special to Tucson Local Media

his may be the first time that the art on view inside the Tohono Chul gallery is made entirely with the same kind of grasses and plants that grace the gardens outside. On display are 85 stunning woven baskets handmade by native artists. Visitors can look out the big gallery window and see yucca, devil’s claw, willow and beargrass baking in the Arizona sun. For centuries, native people used these exact plants to make bowls, jars and even ollas, jugs weaved so tight that they could carry the life-giving water essential in the desert. The works come from a trio of Arizona tribes: Western Apache, Akimel O’odham and Tohono O’odham. Once upon a time these objects were necessary and practical, but the makers also made them beautiful. One of the Tohono O’odham pieces, an exquisite round-shape, is adorned with two slithering rattlesnakes and curving coyote tracks. The stitching of the designs is black, and the base is a

Tohono Chul Park, 7366 Paseo del Norte Through May 16 $15 adults; $13 military and seniors 62 and up; $13 students; $6 for children 5 to 12. Free for children under 5 and for members. Free for mothers and grandmothers on Mother’s Day, May 8; free for fathers and grandfathers on Father’s Day, June 19. Exhibit House, shops and Greenhouse open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. Gardens open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Garden Bistro 8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. daily. Closed 4th of July and other holidays tohonochul.org, 520-742-6455 EXTRA: A revolving exhibition featuring more of the Kurtz Collection is in the Foyer Gallery of the Desert Discovery Education Center. COURTESY PHOTO

Tohono O’odham basket weaver, Roy J. Kurtz Collection.

pale sandy shade of beargrass. The Western Apache pieces are generally on the dark side, but their designs are charming. Stitched antelopes gallop across a large olla jar. And in another piece, women in dresses and men in pants stand on a curvy bowl. An Akimel O’odham coiled platter is covered with checkerboard in blue and red. These beautiful works were recently given to Tohono Chul by Roy Kurtz, a longtime collector in Tucson. As a social work-

er at the VA hospital, he spent years comforting and helping G.I.s in distress. And during his own stint in the army overseas, he learned to appreciate other cultures. When he moved to Tucson from the east 50 years ago, he was enchanted by Native art of all kinds. Kurtz wasn’t a wealthy man, but during those years he carefully collected some 1000 objects created by Native artists from all over the desert Southwest, including ceramics. But he bought more baskets than anything else,

600 strong. When he decided it was time to find a permanent home for his treasures, he wanted them to stay in Tucson. Tohono Chul, a combination of museum and desert plants, with a long-term interest in Native life seems a perfect fit. And don’t forget the museum’s name, Tohono Chul means Desert Elbow or Corner in the language of the O’odham. The works are arriving in small batches, under the care of curator James Schaub. The current exhibition of

EXTRA: On Thursday, May 12, Terry DeWald, an author and dealer of native arts, gives a talk about Southwest basketry at noon in the Garden Pavilion. He will be in the Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to sell native works.

85 baskets is only a small sampling of the Kurtz collection. Their beauty pulls us into the rich history of the Arizona tribal nations. The O’odham’s forebears lived for thousands of years in the Santa Cruz Valley and southwestern Arizona and northern Sonora. Archaeologists have found that these early peoples hunted, farmed—and created baskets, primarily of willow and devil’s claw. In his-

torical times, the Tohono O’odham still benefited from the region’s rivers and streams. But when the settlers arrived in the 1800s, they introduced cattle and canals that diverted water into their own properties. The O’odham were left with less water for their own agriculture and the new livestock eroded desert landscapes. Traditional materials for basketry became scarcer. As a result, O’odham

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

artisans made fewer traditional baskets; they substituted them with tin buckets and other cheap manufactured goods. But the industry did not disappear altogether. Eventually, the basket weavers, most of them women, figured out new ways to make their cherished baskets. By the 1930s, they largely stopped making household goods for their families and switched to selling their wares to tourists and collectors. They made a number of changes for this new market: they traded yucca for the traditional willow; added lids on certain styles; tried out tiny baskets for size (a bunch of these are in the show); and turned to a new kind of stitching that used less material. In two photos in

the show, two proud O’odham women stand in front of an elaborate basket they have just finished, circa 1930. And no wonder: they are saving one of their people’s the art forms. Nowadays, the O’odham baskets are still in demand and still being made. In contrast, the history of basketry among the Western Apache and the Akimel O’odham is a story of loss. The Akimel O’odham—the River People—lived along the Gila and Salt Rivers. The bountiful waters gave them excellent fields, and by the 18th century they made good money selling wheat to the calvary stationed in Arizona. They made baskets for their own households. Tragically, when settlers arrived later in the

century, they diverted the river to their own fields. The Akimel’s streams dried out and the disaster pushed the people into poverty. In the 20th century, while some weavers jumped into the new commercial markets, many families could not. There are still some Akimel making baskets, according to the curator, but not nearly many as in the late 19th century. The Western Apache wove prized baskets that they used for hunting and gathering, and were especially known for burden baskets, super-sized to carry big loads. But like the Akimel, they did not adapt readily to the new markets. The fine samples of their art in the show are poignant reminders of what has been lost.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARI COIA

Borderlands Grant Continued from P8

“It’s kind of become this mosaic, you know, here’s our piece,” Robbins said. “We’re all part of this mosaic that is about the border that is about living here and being in community and being in relationships and reckoning with history.” Robbins’ own experience as a Black woman in Tucson has informed her aims for the project. Tucson is the furthest West Robbins has ever lived and she feels comfortable here, but it’s been difficult to create relationships with other Black people. For one, the population of Black people in Arizona is much smaller compared to other parts of the coun-

try. The latest U.S. Census numbers for Tucson showed Black or African American people make up 4.9% of the population. This is much lower than the Hispanic or Latino population of 44.2%. But Robbins notes there is a lot of diversity within the Black community in Tucson that she hopes to document through artistic work. “What I mean by that is that there are Black folks who live in Tucson because they’ve lived here their whole life, or because they’re from Arizona or New Mexico,” she said. “They are from the West and they live in Tucson. And then a lot of the Black folks who are at the University are transplants. We’ve come up to work so we joined this

group of Black Tucsonans, but it’s very different. There’s a certain culture that is very geographically rooted.” While Robbins’ program will be reserved for students, Brown-Dominguez and Dominguez will be hosting the Confluencenter’s Show & Tell presentation on Tuesday, May 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Registration for the event will be available at confluencenter.arizona.edu/ events/show-tell. They will be bringing several artists along to present their work. “And it’s funny, our name Galeria Mitotera, that kind of translates to what we’re doing, hosting being MCs, we get to interview these guest artists and get them out of their little comfort zone and talk about their story,” Dominguez said.

Foothills News, May , 

Tidal wave of sound led to Royal Blood’s ‘Typhoons’ Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Local Media

here’s nothing simple about the English duo of vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, who create a whirlwind of sound as Royal Blood. But Kerr shared the basics of Royal Blood’s show that comes to the Rialto Theatre on Monday, May 9. “If you’ve been to a rock ‘n’ roll show, you know half of it,” Kerr said with a laugh. “Seriously, our new record, ‘Typhoons,’ is nearly a year old but we haven’t really toured it. It’s been a long time since we played in the States. There’s a lot of new music and it’s an exciting setlist. There’s no time to go and use the restroom at our shows.” The shows are as commanding as the record. The 38-minute “Typhoons” kicks off with the wave of synthetic fuzz tone in “Trouble’s Coming.” “I think that track was the first song we had written that had that sound to it,” Kerr said. “It was a good segue because it’s bold as well. We’re not pussy footing around. We’re fully committed to the sound of the record.” That said, “Typhoons” fits perfectly in Royal Blood’s catalog, according to Kerr. He contends fans and musicians are sometimes concerned about how old and new material will mesh.

Royal Blood w/Cleopatrick 8 p.m. Monday, May 9 Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Tickets start at $30 rialtotheatre.com

“I think those concerns might have some validity,” he added. “But once we started playing, we realized these songs were really heavy and have a raw energy that we bring to them when we play them live. It all works together. In fact, it gives our set real variety as well, which, perhaps was missing before. “When we started piecing the set together, having the luxury of three albums, you get to have a stronger setlist by default. You end up playing the best songs.” Thatcher and Kerr formed Royal Blood in Brighton, England, and released their self-titled debut album in 2014. Playing the bass like a lead guitar, Kerr couples his visceral sound with Thatcher’s thunderous drums. The success followed with 2017’s “How Did We Get So Dark?” Each of Royal Blood’s three studio albums has topped the U.K. charts, selling more than 3 million copies worldwide. Their accolades include a BRIT award for Best British Group, and awards from NME and Kerrang, and a Mercury Prize nomination. Sharing stages with the

Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood performed “Trouble’s Coming” on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” “Typhoons” was created primarily during the U.K.’s pandemic lockdown, which proved to be creative for Kerr and Thatcher. Dean Martindale “It was a process to get Royal Blood vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr, left, and drummer Ben Thatcher are on a worldwide tour in support of their to that sound,” Kerr said. latest album, “Typhoons. ” “I think we’ve always been very clear that we wanted to evolve and make something that felt like a progression and try something new. It took a lot of attempts to get to that point. “By the time we go to ‘Trouble’s Coming,’ it felt like we had something we knew that was out that we were really excited about. Pullout Section It anything bores us while we’re playing it, it’s an inTell our readers how to survive the summer! dication that we shouldn’t pursue it.” With “Typhoons,” Royal Blood stretched its sound as it was a route to pursue. “Records are ultimately something to play live,” he said. “We used production and extra layers that people have never heard us use before. At its core, it’s all about live energy.”

Summer Survival Coming May 2022

Reserve your space NOW! Call 520-797-4384

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

HAPP EN EN INGS Visit www.tucsonlocalmedia.com/livenup/calendar to submit your free calendar listing. For event advertising, contact us (520) 797-4384 or tlmsales@tucsonlocalmedia.com

THEATER DAILY THROUGH THURSDAY, JUNE 5 • It’s all for one and one for all at the Gaslight Theatre, which is continuing their rendition of The Three Musketeers. For those unfamiliar, the eastside Gaslight Theatre performs a special kind of family-friendly parody, filled with music, stage effects and endearingly bad jokes. While it's been updated for modern audiences with a healthy dose of quirk, the story remains the same: The fate of France hangs in the balance as swashbucklers battle for the throne. In the hands of the Gaslight family, this funny French farce says "All For One and Puns For All." 6, 7, and 8:30 p.m. through June 5. 7010 E. Broadway. (520) 886-9428. $27 for adults, $15 for children. thegaslighthreatre.com

MUSIC FRIDAY, MAY 6

• A regular on local stages, OnesAll Band is hosting a dance party at the Gaslight Music Hall. They're performing a series of funk music covers, ranging from Earth Wind & Fire to Chaka Khan to Michael Jackson. 7 to 9:30 p.m. At the Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road #165. (520) 529-1000. gaslightmusichall. com. $20. • The Friday Night Concerts series returns to Steam Pump Ranch. The four-piece rock and blues band Split Decision takes the stage. Groovy solos, drums that will get you moving; it’s everything you might be looking for in local rock and roll. These concerts will take place on the wide expanse of the lawn at Steam Pump Ranch (be sure to bring your own chair or blanket). Food trucks, beer, wine, soda and water will be available for purchase. 7 to 9:30 p.m. At Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road. Free.

Court. $25 - $65. reidparkzoo.org

SATURDAY, MAY 7

• The Westward Look Resort continues their Lookout Tucson Concert Series with the Whose Blues Band. Familiar to many local stages, Whose Blues are rooted in the Chicago blues style, but implement a variety of other genres and improvisation. The concert series is co-hosted by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance. 6 to 8 p.m. At the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa, 245 E. Ina Road. westwardlook.com $10. • The Tucson Convention Center continues their mariachi music showcase this weekend with the Tucson International Mariachi Conference “Espectacular Concert.” This show features performances by Tucson's own Mariachi Cobre, the Grammy-winning Mariachi Los Camperos, and guest singer Lupita Infante. This combination of culture, music, dance, and education exemplifies the "best in entertainment with amazing talent that energizes audiences." 6:30 p.m. At the Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $50 $100. tucsonmusichall.org

SPECIAL EVENTS & CLASSES THURSDAY, MAY 5

• Part of the new Pueblos del Maiz cultural festival, the Fox Theatre is screening the film "Maize in Times of War." Directed by Alberto Cortés, the documentary features multiple families in Mexico discussing the importance of their crops, and the practical knowhow that enables the "everyday epic tale of corn." Featured cultures are Wixárika, Ayuuk and Tzeltal. The film examines the need to preserve the land used by countless indigenous Mexican communities and farmers to grow their cornfields. 7:00 p.m. At the Fox

DAILY THROUGH MAY 31

Courtesy photo

The "I Dream In Widescreen" festival of University of Arizona student films takes place at the Fox Theatre, Saturday, May 7. Picture is from the film "Crocodile Tears" by Emory Macchione.

• Have you ever wanted to see the Sonoran Desert through the eyes of some of the greatest painters? A new exhibit at Madaras Gallery is just that. Madaras’ Master’s Series is a collection of saguaros painted in the style of Jackson Pollock, Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh and more. We're talking about surreal saguaros, cubist canyons, and chiaroscuro chollas! All month. Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. / Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 3035 N. Swan Road. madaras.com

KIDS SATURDAY, MAY 7

Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Free. foxtucson.com • The Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market continues the Desert Harvest Series. At this culinary event, the Desert Harvesters' wild foods experts demonstrate a different recipe from the classic desert cookbook. Local foods can include mesquite, prickly pear and more. 4 to 7 p.m. At the Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento.

SATURDAY, MAY 7

• C elebrate public gardens with Community Day at Tohono Chul botanical gardens. This special event allows free admission to the park with family-friendly activities and entertainment. There are also free events throughout the day, including Build a Native Bee Habitat, Paint With a Yucca Paintbrush, Plant a Seed, and Make Insect Antenna. There will also be a performance by the Desert Players, a live pantomime group made up of Tohono Chul volunteers and docents. By allowing free admission to a family environment, the Gardens "hope to encourage guests to learn more about the Sonoran Desert.” 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. At the Tohono Chul botanical gardens, 7366 Paseo del

Norte. Free. tohonochul.org • C atch a variety of local independent films when I Dream In Widescreen returns to the Fox Theatre. This showcase of senior thesis films from the University of Arizona features a variety of short films, many of which were filmed right here in Tucson. Both fiction and non-fiction, this annual showcase generates buzz beyond the city limits. 7 p.m. At the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. $5. foxtucson.com

SATURDAY, MAY 14

• The Reid Park Zoo is calling all animal (and wine) lovers for their Wine Gone Wild event. You're invited to raise your glass to conservation and wildlife. Here, you can sip some favorite regional, national, and international wines while supporting animals at the Zoo. The event includes animal activities, live music from Zona Libre, wine glass painting, photo booths, and a VIP opportunity to meet one of the zoo's rhinos. Participating vineyards include Arizona Wine Collective, Flying Leap Vineyards, Rancho Rossa Vineyards and more. Food vendors include Craft Culinary Concepts, Chef Chic, and Ken’s Harwood Barbeque. 6 to 8:30 p.m. At the Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo

• The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is bringing back their Coati Kids Club event. This month, the club is focusing on Desert Harvesters. Participants will go to the museum to discover how native people thrived in Southern Arizona long before there were supermarkets, pharmacies, and hardware stores. At the museum, students will try their hands (and

taste buds!) at harvesting and sampling some of the desert’s edible bounty, as well as experimenting with pigments and fibers. Day one: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Day two: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Online and then at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. (520) 883-2702. desertmuseum.org

SUNDAY, MAY 8

• Learn the meaning of "Kodomo no Hi" at the Yume Japanese Gardens' Children's Day event. This national holiday of Japan celebrates the healthy growth and happiness of children. The event, which coincides with Mother's Day, will feature Taiko Drumming performance by Odaiko Sonora, Kamishibai ("paper play") storytelling, origami, ikebana for children, Japanese crafts, and more. A Japanese food truck will also be on-site. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. (520) 3033945. Adults: $18. Members: $10. Children: $6. Children under 5: Free. yumegardens.org

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

Here’s your chance to learn to love liver and onions Matt Russell

Special to Tucson Local Media

y affinity for liver and onions ranks right up there with anchovies and fruitcake, and I’m well aware that I stick out like a sore thumb when I order these foods in public places. That I enjoy dishes which have evoked responses of repulsion from some of my friends is my burden to bear. Encouragingly, though, and somewhat surprisingly, I experienced something a couple of weeks ago that gave me

comfort that I no longer have to bear it alone. My wife and I had joined two other couples for dinner at Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club. I ordered the liver and onions, which our server respectfully noted as she circled around the table for the balance of orders. To my amazement, three other liver lovers revealed their identity in real time, resulting in four orders of liver and onions served to a table of six. Astonished by that ratio, and curious to know how this old school dish remains relevant today, I sat down with the Club’s chef

to get his perspective in the countdown to National Liver and Onions Day on May 10. “Liver and onions is one of those classic comfort foods, like beef stew, fried chicken, and meatloaf, which has a way of connecting people with their past,” said Issa Moussa, executive chef of Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, 6200 N. Clubhouse Lane. “Our members who ate it growing up tell me that it brings back childhood memories, and that’s why it’s important for us to preserve the tradition.” Moussa’s version starts with two sizeable slices of

beef liver that he dips in corn meal and seasoned flour. He then transfers the fully dusted organ to a flattop grill, cooks it to the preferred temperature, and plates it with a red wine and mushroom sauce, caramelized onions, bacon, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. “The saltiness from the bacon, the sweetness of the sauteed onions, the savory aspect of the mushrooms and red wine sauce, all these flavors are amazing when you put them all together,” he said. Moussa’s first experience with liver was at the age of 9. His family only ate meat on Sundays, and he remembers his father bringing home these choice innards from freshly harvested calves at the week’s end. His love of food and respect for family tradition ultimately put him on a career track which led him to the Culinary Institute of America in New York with subsequent stints at their satellite location in Napa Valley. And wherever his career took him after that, from California to Florida to Arizona, he took his liver along. “I can never take liver and onions off our menu at the Club, we sell quite a bit, and there have even been times when I worried that we were going to run out of it,” he said. Just think about that for a minute. Genuinely worrying about the potential

Chef Issa Moussa

undersupply of liver and onions. This is a chef who knows his audience. While Moussa’s cuisine may be reason enough to join Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, those craving liver and onions can find it at a few public eateries around town, including Jonathan’s Cork, Old Times Kafe, and Gus Balon’s. If you didn’t grow up eating liver, or if there was a skipped generation among your liver-loving ancestors, Moussa has some advice. “You won’t know how good it is unless you try it,

and trust me, you’ll be surprised by its greatness,” he concluded. Yes, chef! Contact Matt Russell, whose day job is CEO of Russell Public Communications, at mrussell@ russellpublic.com. Russell is also the publisher of OnTheMenuLive.com as well as the host of the Friday Weekend Watch segment on the “Buckmaster Show” on KVOI 1030 AM.

16 19

22 25

28 31

34 40

36 42

46 50

61 64

ACROSS

Bunch of wolves or cards 5 Busy with other things 11 The Beatles’ “Till There ___ You” 14 Jai ___ (sport) 15 Francis of old TV’s “What’s My Line?” 16 It clinks in a drink 17 Nurses, as a drink 18 Swamp in “Pogo” 20 In few words 22 Museum-funding org. 23 Like auto shop rags 24 1990s cartoon series featuring Yakko, Wakko and Dot 27 Org. featured in the documentary “This Film Is Not Yet Rated” 28 Abbr. meaning “and others” 29 Arizona college town 31 Some Best Buy buys, for short 34 Doggie doc 36 Bones next to ulnae

45 47

39 Baby-boomer series that

starred Ken Olin

44 Indian stringed instrument 45 Around 50.25% of the world’s

adult population

46 Letters before an alias

Meters and liters 50 Eve’s man 53 Pinnacle 55 Poet William who wrote “The Prelude” 60 Play opener 61 Flamenco cheer 62 Reproductive cell for a fern 63 South American rodent with soft, dense fur 67 One may be half-baked or brilliant 68 “___ soon?” 69 “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” author Joan 70 Must-have 71 ID in the form xxx-xx-xxxx 72 X-ray follow-up, perhaps 73 Deities 47

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What you want to make or do may seem far away to you right now given your current financial constraints. But creative influences will inspire you to go at it a different way this week. What if you brought more hope to the problem? Because you're open to them, unconventional solutions abound.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You prize loyalty and honesty. These qualities have the potential to clash this week, as no one wants to hurt the feelings of the ones they are loyal to, and honesty sometimes allows people to see the merit in the opposing team or argument. Which quality would you choose if you knew you could only have one?

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You'll see what you've seen before. Your low tolerance for boredom will inspire you to go off on fascinating tangents. At first, you'll do this alone, but when others see what you're up to, you'll have followers. People will be glad to have someone like you around to spice things up. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You'll experience a good fit -- a person, job, relationship or shoe that sets a new bar for success. What doesn't work at all gives you the blessing of guidance. Then there are the things that don't quite work. Their lessons are subtle and tricky. You'll have examples in every category this week! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There are two ways to reduce the amount of stress flowing through your days. You can avoid challenges, or you can accept them with the mindset that you don't have to get everything right. The second way makes life easier in the weeks to come. You're getting so adept at handling things that, soon, nothing will scare you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Life is complicated enough. You see no need to complicate things further by having too many opinions and rules. Because of your tendency to keep it simple this week, you'll be popular. Your social instincts are spot-on, too, and your breezy approach to relationships makes you extremely attractive.

Crossword Puzzle Answers

S E E Y A

A C E L A

DOWN Linguine or fettuccine 2 Not from Earth 3 ___ pants (cropped style popularized in the 1960s) 4 Instruction to Kate in a Cole Porter title 5 “___ Te Ching” 6 Rub the wrong way 7 Justice Kagan 8 Reason for a markdown 9 Disquieted state 10 Writing implement filled with 37-Down 11 Popular online reference 12 Amtrak express train 13 “So long!” 19 Tuba sound 21 Enjoy a meal 25 Dark shade of blue 26 Parts of a French archipelago 30 Actor with the famous line “I pity the fool!” 31 Six for a TD, e.g. 32 Ho ___ Minh City 33 Word before room or comedy 35 Male cat 37 10-Down filler 38 “Hometown proud” supermarket 40 Jeannette ___, first woman elected to Congress 41 Prefix between bi- and quad42 Cultural anthropologist Margaret 43 Make ___ meet 48 Like some well-pitched games 49 One side in eight-ball pool 51 “How cute!” sounds 52 In a sulk 53 Agreements 54 Amazon speakers introduced in 2014 56 Archaeologist’s find 57 Contest with roping and riding 58 Cornered, in a way 59 Two are better than one, they say 64 Public health agcy. 65 Mauna ___ (Hawaiian volcano) 66 Journalist Curry 1

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It's natural and typical to focus more on others than on what you're getting out of the situation, though you should be aware that some people are only out for themselves. It's not necessary to avoid the "takers" altogether -but do be ready for them. Know what you're willing and not willing to give. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Though a sense of belonging is essential to your well-being, you sometimes feel that wanting the acceptance of others is embarrassing. Consider that anyone slow in accepting you may not be right for you anyway. Loving hearts await. You deserve sweetness in relationships. Believe it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You understand what people are expressing, both the public-facing version and the private implications; you get the text, the context and the subtext. Because so many in the world are unobservant and incurious, interactions with you will stand out in people's minds. Your curiosity will culminate in adventure. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Love shapes you. It contributes to your experiences; it is the reason for where you are in the world. You make your home around love. Considering how much you give to relationships and how changed you are by them, you're right to be choosy about who you let into your heart.

C A P R I

A L I E N

P A S T A

I I N G K A

W I K I P E D I A

H E A D S

T R E E D

R O D E O

D U P E N E F E N O E A O C S M T E M P R A M E T H E N A D A M D S WO S P I N G

L A O N A N

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Have you ever seen someone juggle sacks of potatoes? Unlikely. It's easier to juggle things that have form than it is to manage the unpredictability of floppy or feathery things. This week, you'll get very good at compartmentalizing, which helps you balance a few different areas of your life at once.

K T I E I A R L S O K E S E N M A N I A E T A L V E T R T Y S O A R M N I T S K WO R I O L E N C H I L D I D I C T S C

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Once you know something, you often adapt so quickly to the knowledge that you forget how valuable the information really is. You're not thinking about how much other people would love the information. You could help many (including yourself) through teaching, publishing, consulting or speaking.

P C S T H I S I T U A T I O N

HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis

E C H O S

P A C T S

Foothills News, May , 

Foothills News, May 4, 2022

OSIRIS-REx gets a new NASA mission Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

pon a successful landing back on Earth next year, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will be the first American mission to retrieve a sample from an asteroid. But NASA announced last week that the story won’t end there. NASA has extended the University of Arizona-led mission, and after drop-off, the spacecraft will head back into space to study near-Earth asteroid Apophis for 18 months. In this second mission, OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) will be renamed to OSIRIS-APEX (OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer.) The extension adds another $200 million to the mission cost cap. OSIRIS-REx, led by UA professor Dante Lauretta, launched from Earth in 2016 and headed toward the asteroid Bennu. In 2020, the spacecraft briefly touched down on the asteroid’s surface, collecting an estimated pound of extraterrestrial dust and rocks. OSIRIS-REx is expected to return to Earth orbit in September 2023 and deliver the capsule of samples, which researchers will study for information about our early solar system and potentially the origins of life. Now, the spacecraft is planned to head back into space on the Apo-

phis mission only a month after returning the samples. “Apophis is one of the most infamous asteroids,” said OSIRIS-REx deputy principal investigator Dani DellaGiustina, who is also a UA assistant professor. “When it was first discovered in 2004, there was concern that it would impact the Earth in 2029 during its close approach. That risk was retired after subsequent observations, but it will be the closest an asteroid of this size has gotten in the 50 or so years… It gets within one-tenth the distance between the Earth and moon during the 2029 encounter. People in Europe and Africa will be able to see it with the naked eye, that’s how close it will get. We were stoked to find out the mission was extended.” The university stated that OSIRIS-APEX will not collect a sample on this next mission, but when it reaches Apophis, it will study the asteroid for 18 months and collect data along the way. It also will make a maneuver similar to the one it made during sample collection at Bennu, by approaching the surface and firing its thrusters. This event will expose the asteroid’s subsurface, to allow mission scientists to learn more about the asteroid’s material properties. “OSIRIS-APEX is a manifestation of a core objective of our mission to enable the next generation of leadership in space exploration,” Lauretta said.

Foothills News, May 4, 2022