Marana News 03/08/2023

www.Maranaweeklynews.com

Bluegrass festival is about music and community

BY LAURA LATZKO Tucson Local Media Contributor

Bluegrass music takes on various forms, whether it’s traditional or “newgrass,” and can blend rock, folk or Americana.

From Friday, March 10, to Sunday, March 12, the Desert Bluegrass Festival at Gladden Farms Community Park will highlight these various forms.

The festival is organized by the Desert Blue-

grass Association, an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1995. The festival debuted in 2000.

Board member Suzette Sommerer said the Desert Bluegrass Festival is an intimate chance to listen to music from bands from around the country. There’s an effort to book Arizona bands, however.

“We are trying to support and promote local bands,” Sommerer said. “We are lucky to have some great bands, so it’s not hard to find them.”

The festivities kick off Friday afternoon with a

After a rare snowfall in Marana, a snowman popped up overnight to greet residents near the town hall. According to the National Weather Service, Tucson-Marana Regional Airport received approximately a half-inch of snow on March 1. (Town of Marana/Submitted)

band scramble. Musicians put their names in buckets and their names are drawn at random to create new groups. They choose monikers and songs and perform.

Desert Bluegrass Association president Karen Dismachek said most bluegrass musicians can quickly adapt and play with their peers.

“That’s a big part of bluegrass is being able to jam with anyone,” Dismachek said.

The band scramble will be followed by the act Monsoon Sky.

The festival’s Saturday and Sunday lineups features the likes of Central Valley

Chris Sanders of Hard Road Trio hits the stage at the Desert Bluegrass Festival. (Suzette Sommerer/ Submitted)

A Beautiful Life Now Under Construction.

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ORO VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, May 4

SADDLEBROOKE 2 BALLROOM

Friday, March 17

RSVP today by calling 520-531-3480. Seating is limited. Lunch will be served.

Please join us for an upcoming luncheon and informative presentation on a date and location that is convenient for you:

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ORO VALLEY SPRING FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

MARCH 18 & 19

SATURDAY 10AM - 5PM | SUNDAY 10AM - 4PM FREE ADMISSION

ORO VALLEY MARKETPLACE

12155 N Oracle Rd, Oro Valley, AZ 85737

Hot Picks SUPPORT LOCAL

130+ ARTISANS

The Spring Festival of the Arts will feature over 130 vendors, exhibitors, food, and interactive art experiences. Stroll through the walkways of artists while enjoying a cold beer and experiencing all the arts have to offer. Shop directly from the makers and learn how they create their unique works of art. Support small, local & sustainable!

ARTISAN, FINE ART & CRAFT EXHIBITORS

ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITIES

LIVE MUSIC ON THE EVENT MAINSTAGE FOOD TRUCKS & MORE BEER GARDEN

LIVE

MUSIC ON

THE MAINSTAGE

SATURDAY MARCH 18

10:30AM Dave McCleery (Bagpiper)

11AM Culfadda (Traditional Irish)

12:30PM Vinyl Grooves (Vintage Rock)

2PM Nico Barberan (Rock/Latin)

3:30PM Saguaro Stompers (Irish and American Folk Dance)

SUNDAY MARCH 19

11:00AM Maguire Academy of Irish Dance (Irish Folk Dance)

12PM Puca and the Wild Ones (Irish music)

1:30PM - 3:30PM Rave Review (Irish music)

Inflatable Art Experience

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Sta

ARTS

African American Museum of Southern Arizona

Ongoing

The African American Museum of Southern Arizona has opened its doors at the UA. Co-founded by Beverly and Bob Elliott, the museum presents a cultural and educational experience through items of significance and intentional storytelling to preserve African American and Black life, culture and history in Southern Arizona to benefit the community. Admission is free to the museum in room 244 of the Student Union Memorial Center. Until regular hours are established, interested visitors can schedule an appointment by emailing aamuseumofsouthernaz@gmail. com. African American Museum of Southern Arizona, 4511 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 255-2. Info: aamsaz.org

“The Addams Family” Through Saturday, March 11

The Addams Family is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the dark world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandmama, Wednesday, Pugsley and Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. This macabre new musical comedy is created by “Jersey Boys” authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (“The Wild Party”), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (“Jersey Boys”) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (“Shockheaded Peter”) with creative consultation by fourtime Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks. Ironwood Ridge High School, 2475 W. Naranja Drive, Oro Valley. Info: 520-696-3900.

“¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues/ En los barrios y las grandes ligas” Through Saturday, April 8

The Tucson Desert Art Museum presents its “¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues/En los barrios y las grandes ligas” now through Saturday, April 8. Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of American History, this exhibit examines the sport and how Latinos helped shape it. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 students/children, and free for

active military. Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. Info: tucsondart.org

“Woman-Ochre”

Through Saturday, May 20

Willem de Koonig’s “Woman-Ochre” was stolen in 1985 from the University of Arizona Museum of Art. It has returned home and on display through May. Tickets for “Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre” are $8 general admission; $6 seniors 65-plus and groups of 10 or more; and free for students with ID, museum members, UA faculty, staff, military personnel, AAM members, visitors with a SNAP card or Tribal ID, and children. The University of Arizona Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road. Info: artmuseum.arizona.edu

Linda McCartney Retrospective Through Friday, Aug. 4

The North American premiere of the Linda McCartney Retrospective comes to the University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography, now through Friday, Aug. 4. Spanning McCartney’s entire career from 1965 to 1997, this exhibition features 176 photographs and archival materials, including Polaroid images and presents three sections such as family life, photographic experimentation and artists. The exhibit will recur weekly from Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The exhibition will also feature various community events inspired by the collection. Center for Creative Photography 1030 N. Olive Road. Info: ccp.arizona.edu

THEATER

“Pru Payne” Through Saturday, March 25

The Arizona Theatre Company presents “Pru Payne.” Created by Pulitzer Prize nominee Steven Drukman and directed by Sean Daniels, “Pru Payne,”' follows the emotional story about an esteemed critic Prudence, in the face of memory loss. The Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Avenue. Info: atc.org

LIVE MUSIC

Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra Sunday, March 12

The Oro Valley Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series supports some of the finest classically trained musicians with the oppor-

EXPLORER

The Explorer and Marana News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the Northwest Tucson.

To nd out where you can pick up a free copy of the Explorer and Marana News, go to www.TucsonLocalMedia.com

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NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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EDITORIAL

tunity to perform monthly in the community’s largest outdoor amphitheater. This month features Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Riverfront Park Amphitheatre is located at 551 W. Lambert Lane. Info: orovalleyaz.gov

Simply the Best: Tribute to Tina Turner Sunday, March 12

“Simply the Best: A Tribute to the Music of Tina Turner” stars Jenn Cristy (national touring performer and former backing vocalist/instrumentalist for John Mellencamp). The Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road, Tucson. Info: gaslightmusichall.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson

Various days and times

Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson celebrates its 10th year of attracting U.S. and international visitors to authentically detailed recreations of intimate courtyard gardens in Kyoto, Japan.

Upcoming events include:

• “Duo Chinoiserie” – Koto Concert: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 9

• Issun Boshi (“Little One Inch”) Puppet Show: 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12

• Book Presentation: The Japanese American Experience – Change and Continuity, by Minoru Yanagihashi, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18. Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Info: yumegardens.org

Sunday, check out fast horses, jockeys and big purses for nine weekends this spring. Gates open at 11 a.m. on race days. Post time is at 1 p.m. Rillito Park Racetrack, 4502 N. First Avenue. Info: rillitoracetrack.com

Arizona Renaissance Festival

Through Sunday, April 2

Huzzah! The 35th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival returns to Pinal County. The medieval amusement has a 16-stage theater, a 50acre circus, arts and crafts fair, jousting tournament and feast. Mingle with over 2,000 characters in costume and don’t forget to eat a giant roasted turkey leg. Eat, drink and be merry, for there is so much to see and do. Tickets cost $33 for adults, $21 for children 5-12, (children 4 and younger are free) if purchased in advance at any Bashas’ or Food City statewide. Arizona Renaissance Festival, 12601 E. U.S. Highway 60, Gold Canyon. Info: arizona.renfestinfo.com

5-DAY WEATHER

the community is great! Jumpin...

At the risk of exaggerating just a bit, there must be a million reasons to live here. Example number one is the pool. Example number two— all the great opportunities you’ll find like our Aqua Aerobics program (part of a full calendar of activities) as well as fine dining, maintenance-free living and more. And if you need a little help, we o er assisted living services, too. We invite you to see it all for yourself.

Lunch & Learn

| WED., MARCH 15TH • 11:30AM

Join us for a presentation on the benefits of senior living and the exceptional services offered. Afterwards, take a tour of our beautiful community and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our talented culinary team.

To RSVP, call 520.704.6491.

Rillito Park Racetrack

Through Sunday, April 2

It’s racing season at the historic Rillito Park Racetrack. Every Saturday and

Arizona State Prison Marana News Briefs

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Prisoners make sugar cookies

The prison’s afternoon culinary class baked its first batch of sugar cookies.

The instructor gave each of the students the steps to making the cookies. The class practiced the kitchen safety rules and regulations, and practiced handling food items safely.

The culinary classes received their career and technical programs Servsafe Credential certificates.

Staff attends visitation training

ASP-Marana visitation staff member Officer B. Strom attended visitation training in Phoenix from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27. The training was conducted by DOC staff members.

The trainers covered in their training a variety of subjects from applications to

visitation day. They included maintaining files for audits.

With the training, Strom improved her ability to manage the visitation workload. Strom said she is grateful that she attended the training program. She received a 100% on her final exam.

“I feel that I am better prepared to do my job,” she said.

Retreat held; staff training specialist honored

The fourth Residents Encounter Christ (REC) retreat was held at the Arizona State Prison – Marana from Jan. 23 to Jan. 25.

On the last day of the retreat, ASP-Marana’s staff training specialist Rebecca Smith was recognized with a certificate of appreciation.

The volunteers honored Smith for her ability to host the retreats annually. The retreat is held each year in the training

building where Smith holds the cadet academies.

The fourth retreat saw 13 Men in Orange (aka Brothers in Christ) and 11 volunteers.

The Arizona State Prison Marana is a minimum-security prison. The facility opened in August 1994 and was the first

private prison in Arizona. The all-male facility has a capacity of 506 inmates and provides rehabilitative programming, life skills, and re-entry services for all inmates. The facility is an active member of the community, including the chamber of commerce and local charities.

Boys, the Sierra Sweethearts, the Sonoran Dogs, the Buckjumpers, the Cross-Eyed Possum and North of Lonesome.

Audiences will also have a chance to hear youth bands such as Jam Pack Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band and the Arizona Wildflowers, a homegrown family band made up of fiddle champions.

Several participating musicians will host workshops focused on specific instruments. Children and teens are also encouraged to take part in them.

“Even if the kid ultimately doesn’t decide bluegrass is what they want to do, the experience is something that’s going to put them in a good position for any music they want to do,” Sommerer said.

“Learning to play together this way and be mutually supportive in a group is a good thing.”

After the performances, the musicians will get together for jam sessions that are open to anyone with an instrument.

“It is a genre that is based on joining in and participating…Once the festival is done, people break into groups and start jamming,” Sommerer said.

The Desert Bluegrass Festival is about more than music. It’s a community. Artisan vendors will sell handmade jewelry. Children can take advantage of the musical instrument petting zoo and kid’s zone with

games and rock painting.

Many guests make the festival into a weekend-long event, bringing their RVs or tents for onsite camping.

Food vendors will sell items such as tacos, kettle corn, fish and chips, burgers, barbecue, ice cream and lemonade.

Many bands have formed because of the festival. Sommerer and Dismachek perform with the Notorious No-Gig Girl Band.

Also a member of Hamilton Beech, Sommerer is a longtime musician, who started playing bass in high school but put the instrument down until retirement. They play at noon Sunday.

“I was looking for people to play my fiddle with,” Sommerer said.

“I had been playing about three years. The community is just so welcoming, and I loved the music.”

Dismachek had played the guitar for most of her life but rediscovered her love of bluegrass and the fiddle after moving to Tucson. She was introduced to the genre at a young age.

“I came from a musical family. My grandfather was from Canada, and he was a fiddler,” Dismachek said.

“He knew bluegrass and old-timey music. He would play records, and we would sing along with them. There was a local TV show with local bluegrass music, and we

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.

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

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

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

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.

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

1. Finding the underlying cause

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3. e 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:

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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

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

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

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

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

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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 o ering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until March 31, 2023. Call (520)

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!!

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

Lex Browning and Peter McLaughlin of Canyon Currents perform at the Desert Bluegrass Festival. (Suzette Sommerer/Submitted)

would sit and watch it.”

Dismachek is a member of Ocotillo Rain as well. They play at local retirement homes and give donations to local charities.

Dismachek said the festival is a great way to connect with other musicians.

“It’s a way to network. You meet lots of people, and you have a common interest. A lot of groups got together from jamming together or meeting each other at the workshops,” Dismachek said.

On Sunday morning during the festival, there will be a gospel open mic, which is open to anyone. Dismachek said this is a good space for newcomers to get their start.

“It gives them a chance to get their group together, practice some songs and get some experience playing at the festival on Sunday morning,” Dismachek said.

Desert Bluegrass Festival

WHEN: 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 10; 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 11; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12

WHERE: Gladden Farms Community Park, 12205 N. Tangerine Farms Road, Marana

COST: $30 for weekend pass; $20 for Saturday or Sunday day pass; $40 for camping, people younger than age 16 are free. Friday evening free admission

DETAILS: desertbluegrass.org

Members of Jam Pack Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band will return to this year’s Desert Bluegrass Festival. (Suzette Sommerer/Submitted)

CASINO NIGHT Friday, March 31, 2023

Enjoy a casual, fun evening including fabulous food, drinks, music, a silent auction and casino games while helping your community!

• 5pm

The Highlands of Dove Mountain 4949 W Heritage Club Blvd • Marana, Arizona 85658 presented by

$65 per person

Includes the dinner, dessert, one cocktail and play money. Exchange the play money into raffle tickets for fabulous prizes!

Purchase tickets through your local Dove MT Rotary Member or at dovemountainrotary.org

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Proceeds from this event benefit 501c3 non-profit organizations in our community targeting education, children, at risk individuals, veterans, homeless and animal missions.

In-Kind Media Sponsor

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Spectacularly going nowhere around the garden

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media Sta

John Carmichael has a serious avocation.

Hidden behind a bit of leafy screen in his front yard is evidence of his devotion to craft. There sits a garden train. It sounds prosaic enough, but one peek and the viewer will be amazed at the technology, the engineering, the electronics, the artistry and the mechanics of it all. Carmichael’s garden train diorama is a true STEAM project.

“Every single one of these ties and stays are handmade,” said Chuck Cook, president of the Tucson Garden Railway Society. “And designed,” added Carmichael. “Each one is different. Each one is made for the location.”

This is no small project, considering there are about 200 trestles.

“If you put all the pieces together, that’s about 4 linear miles of wood,” Carmichael

said.

To it they add Victorian-era figures who, though stationary, seem busy. Then there’s the working funicular railway, and the spectacular garden that surrounds the entire layout.

The public can check out these masterpieces during Rails in the Garden 2023 on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12. It’s a nine-stop, self-guided, self-paced tour of members’ layouts, most of which are outdoors.

The train set is G-gauge, or 1:24 scale. It’s fairly large for those who are accustomed to the household-sized HO scale model trains, and was actually designed for garden railways.

Before he retired, Carmichael spent 25 years in the “retail and wholesale tropical foliage industry,” he said, which explains the garden.

“Most people who do the layouts pick a spot in their yard, and they say, ‘Oh, I want

HeartCare. Better Together.

This outdoor, G-Gauge model railroad diorama was designed and built around the existing foliage. It can be seen Saturday and Sunday during the Rails in the Garden tour.

a figure 8 or a circle,’ and they build it,” Cook said. “This one, John had an aerial shot of the yard and put all this in the cactus that was already here.”

Carmichael added, “Most people just take everything out of their yard, and it’s a totally blank canvas. I didn’t want to rip out our plants. The plants were really import-

see GARDEN page 11

(Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez)

GARDEN

from page 10

ant to me, so we had to find a design that would work around the existing plants.”

Carmichael took great care in designing around what was there.

“Rather than fight the trees and fight the plants, we wanted to bring them into the whole show,” he said. “We wanted the little people to live with the plants, so all over you’ll see how they adapted to living with plants.”

Although miniature, the Swiss Family Robinson-type treehouse, among other structures, prove his point. There’s even a dinosaur dig. Carmichael built and designed everything himself.

He didn’t do it alone, however. He had help from his partner, Philip Pappas, who did quite a bit of the lugging and toting.

“He was my boulder guy, my landscaper helper,” Carmichael said.

Pappas said with a laugh that he had to go to work in his office during the week to get a break from the weekend labor.

Tucson Garden Railway Society members are concerned about the next generation, as they’re aging.

“This isn’t going to last long because we’re all getting old,” Carmichael said. “We’ve lost some of our best members this year. Some of our best companies are going out of business because of COVID supply chain problems. We’re disappearing, so if you want to see some of these things, you better see them in the next few years be-

cause they’ll be gone.”

That is, of course, unless they can interest younger people in the hobby. All three men see great value in having garden railroads.

“The good thing about garden railroading is it’s artistic,” Cook said. “It’s handson, it’s outdoors, it’s electrical. You have to learn set up. There’s a lot of things that are good hands-on things that I hope the kids will pick up.”

“They can learn everything,” Carmichael added. “It’s so great for kids.”

The outdoor layout has also united the neighborhood.

“The other cool thing about that is we’ve developed a neighborhood feel,” Pappas said. “Every neighbor knows us. They bring their grandchildren over. They stop by, so we’ve really developed a neighborhood mentality because of this.”

Rails in the Garden 2023, a self-guided tour of members’ model train layouts

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12

WHERE: Locations around Tucson COST: Free; monetary donations requested for Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and Tucson Garden Railway Society INFO: tucsongrs.org

Creators Philip Pappas and John Carmichael, and Garden Railway Society president Chuck Cook stand in one of the many gardens featured in the Rails in the Garden tour. (Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez)

Marana Rotary hosts treat-filled fundraiser

BY VERONICA KUFFEL

Tucson Local Media Sta

For the Rotary of Marana, March is the month for sweet tooths, cyclists and great causes.

On Saturday, March 11, it is hosting its fourth annual — and sold out — Tour de Cookie.

This year, Tour de Cookie will have its biggest turn out, with 400 bicyclists pedaling for 30 miles on the Loop. Participants can bike all or parts of it and grab cookies from stands around the track. Rotary member and Tour de Cookie chair Dan Contorno said the treats are the best part of the event.

“When you do the big races and rides, there’s a competitiveness to some of those, and this isn’t about that,” Contorno said. “This is about hanging out with your friends and laughing and enjoying the ride.”

“Marichris did a lovely job with my first set of lash extensions ever. They look very natural as I wanted. I’ll go back!”

“I have been going to Amazing Lashes since 2016 and have always been very happy with my eyelashes, their customer service and pricing. My regular technician is Molly and she’s great. I have gotten to know her over the years and look forward to catching up with her on my visits. Thank you Amazing. Lash!”

“Julianna definitely knows what she’s doing. She’s patient and very detail oriented. She exceeded my expectations”

Participants donned Cookie Monster-themed racewear to prepare for the Tour de Cookie. (Laura Clymer/Submitted)

The Tour de Cookie starts at 8 a.m. at Rillito River Park and takes advantage of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop for most of the route. The website’s map lays out a few routes bikers can take to hit all or some cookie stands, strategically placed around the area.

These 12 stands are run by Tour de Cookie sponsors. While it’s up to them for sourcing, the Rotary suggests they provide local or homemade cookies for participants.

“People are excited to do it year after year,” Contorno said. “It’s an opportunity for them to be on the path and meet 400 and some riders and get their name out there.”

Tour de Cookie also lets companies sponsor at different levels—sugar cookie, oatmeal raisin cookie and chocolate chunk pecan, for example — starting at $500.

The Rotary of Marana averages around $8,000 to $10,000 a year in donations from the ride. These funds go toward the Marana Rotary Foundation, a general collection that gives back to communities here and around the world, said President Laura

Clymer.

‘Right now, it’s not marked for anything in particular,” Clymer said. “We do have some ongoing projects we support — some are every year and others that bubble up on an as-needed basis.”

Recent club efforts include the ShelterBox Relief Program for those suffering from natural or human disasters, like the war in Ukraine. The Rotary of Marana is part of the program’s HERO Club, an honor given to Rotaries that continues to provide relief in disaster response.

Locally, the Rotary of Marana partic-

ipates in community food banks, donation events and volunteering. The group recently partnered with other Rotaries to plant 100 trees at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana. They’ve also hosted the Rotary Youth Exchange and sponsored monthly MCAT Star Students for their achievements.

Clymer said Tour de Cookie is an opportunity for bicyclists to put their best cookie-loving foot forward.

“We’ve got people who have a lot of fun with it,” Clymer said. “They’re usually riding with their family or friends, and

it’s a beautiful time of year to be here in Tucson.”

Tour de Cookie

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 11

WHERE: Start at Rillito River Park, 4502 N. First Avenue, Tucson COST: Free for the public to watch, $40 general registration INFO: rotarytourdecookie.org, maranarotary.org

Another infectious disease outbreak may be looming

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

Norovirus is not a new illness. It’s been around and reported for many years worldwide. It is a gastrointestinal (GI) infection that can cause sudden severe vomiting and diarrhea and it is highly contagious. It sometimes causes fever, chills and overall body aches but the GI symptoms are the most prominent.

It is usually spread through contaminated water and food or from unclean food preparation surfaces. It can also be spread through contact with an infected person. It occurs most often in crowded environments such as schools, nursing homes, airplanes, and cruise ships. It is most common in the winter.

Transmission is quick with vomiting and diarrhea appearing anywhere from 12 to 24 hours after exposure. The illness usually lasts only up to three days for most people and recovery is complete. But for those at higher risk such as young children, the elderly, and people with a compromised immune system or chronic illnesses, the vomiting and diarrhea can require medical attention or hospitalization for severe dehydration.

Norovirus cases have been steadily rising in England this year and it is looking like the United States is seeing an increase as well. It is an underreported illness since many people have mild symptoms and do not seek testing or medical treatment and also it is not an illness that health care providers have to report.

As of Feb. 4, 17% of norovirus tests

were positive, higher than at any time last winter. While trending upward, the numbers are not reaching epidemic proportions here, though it hard to know how many cases are present since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only gather data during norovirus outbreaks, not from random laboratories or hospitals. Outbreaks are a collection of cases from the same source, such as a school or restaurant and these must be reported to the CDC.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused problems for reporting norovirus outbreaks because many, if not most states, redirected much of their public health services, including reporting, to COVID-19 case numbers and public education on the pandemic. Unfortunately, this means the norovirus numbers were truly higher than the CDC estimates of community outbreaks.

Also, the pandemic lockdowns limited

exposures. Schools and restaurants were closed. Hospitals and nursing homes were on extraordinarily high alerts for infection control. We became more diligent with hand washing and distancing so transmission of almost all seasonal illnesses waned significantly.

This was good in many ways but with less exposure to some illness pathogens, our immunity to those decreased, making some people more vulnerable and susceptible now as those illness resurface. (This is true of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well.) Between Dec. 26, 2022, and Jan. 2 the number of norovirus outbreaks in the United States increased from 15 to 25 according to the CDC.

While it is hard to make accurate predictions on these numbers, trends in Europe often travel across the Atlantic to our shores, as we have experienced with other diseases.

The COVID-19 virus has been especially deadly because it mutated frequently, and people were exposed to new variants and further illness despite vaccination. The only good news about the norovirus is that it has not undergone many mutations. The current strain causing infection is the “Sydney strain,” which has been dominant for the past few years. Fortunately, we can prevent personal infection and community outbreaks. Hand washing will continue to be a first line preventive measure for so many transmissible illnesses. Of interest is that those alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not as effective at killing this virus as soap and water. Keeping distance from people

who are sick, masking around people who are coughing and vomiting, and carefully cleaning household surfaces with a product containing bleach will help to control the spread of illness.

Children can be little “petri dishes” and schools can be incubators for transmissible diseases such as norovirus. They forget to wash their hands or do so haphazardly unless supervised, and they have very close contact with each other and share toys. They take illness home and often everybody in the household gets sick.

Norovirus is a very unpleasant experience but fortunately it is usually short lived. Treatment is for symptomatic relief and staying hydrated is of utmost importance. Drink water and an electrolyte drink such as pedialyte or diluted Gatorade every 30 minutes, enough so that you can urinate at least every six hours. Nausea can be relieved with over-thecounter anti-emetics if needed. Hold off on solid foods when suffering through bouts of diarrhea and start with dry toast or a banana when that passes. Seek medical care if you cannot keep fluids down or your stools become bloody, or your symptoms persist beyond three or four days.

Be aware that we can harbor and shed the norovirus for a few weeks after the active illness so stay diligent on the hand washing and surface cleanings. Hopefully we can prevent an outbreak.

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

Blood donors needed to reverse shortage

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Vitalant is urging all eligible blood donors to give in March to help patients amid a prolonged blood shortage that was compounded by inclement weather.

Cold, snow and other adverse weather conditions across the country canceled blood drives, preventing more than 1,300 donations to go uncollected in February. To make a blood donation appointment, download the Vitalant app, visit vitalant.org or call 1-877-25-VITAL (1-877-258-4825); Southern Arizona location details are below.

Donors of every blood type are critically needed, especially those with type O. The universal blood type, O-negative can be transfused to any patient when there’s no time to match.

O-positive is the most in-demand and transfused blood type.

Those living with disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease

depend on blood donations for their treatments to alleviate chronic pain and uncontrollable bleeding. Donors of every blood type are critical to helping patients for both ongoing and emergency needs.

Those who donate with Vitalant in March will automatically be entered to win one of two $10,000 prepaid gift cards, to be used wherever accepted, enough to buy groceries for a year. In addition, all donors are invited to join Vitalant’s donor recognition program.

With each donation, donors can receive points toward thank-you gifts redeemable online.

Local blood drives:

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, March 19: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, gym, 8650 N. Shannon Road

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 27, DOD Tucson National Guard, main multipurpose room, 1750 E. Silverlake Road

Village Medical fetes one-year anniversary

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Doctors and patients from Tucson Village Medical at Walgreens celebrated the practice’s one-year anniversary in Southern Arizona on Feb. 28.

The company boasts six Village Medical at Walgreens in Tucson and two in Oro Valley. The celebration was held at the 5525 E. River Road, Tucson, location. They are full-fledged practices with a separate entrance, eight exam rooms and a door in the back of the practice that leads to the pharmacy so the doctors and pharmacist can communicate efficiently.

Village Medical provides health care services for individuals and communities across the United States, with primary, multispecialty, and urgent care providers serving patients in traditional clinic settings, in patients’ homes and online ap-

Village Medical feted its one-year anniversary with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony.(Village Medical/Submitted)

pointments.

Its workforce of more than 20,000 operates from 680 practice locations in 26 markets.

villagemd.com

SPORTS & RECREATION | EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY

Tournament time: The best time of the year

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

Today marks the start of the most-glorious 27-day period of the entire sports calendar. For today is the first round of the Pac12 men’s basketball tournament, a five-day extravaganza of nonstop hoops against the backdrop of Las Vegas and whatever that lonely outpost in the Mojave Desert has to offer.

Theoretically, the Pac-12 Tournament should attract a substantial number of fans from all of the conference’s schools, but year in and year out, Vegas turns out to be hosting a huge contingent of Arizona fans and a smattering of folks from everywhere else. It’s McKale North and the 11 Dwarfs. Having been blessed to have lived through the glory days of Arizona basketball, I always look forward to the Pac-12 Tournament and what lies beyond—the Promised Land of the NCAAs. I’m eternally optimistic just about every year. (Admittedly, I was less optimistic during the latter years of the Sean Miller regime; he was such a sour guy. Somebody told me that they once saw Miller smile, but I think he just had gas.)

Last year, the cats rolled to the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles and grabbed a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. It was euphoric. Those of us who have been around had visions of the wonderful times. There was the first Final Four, with Lute Olson and Sean Elliott both becoming mega-

stars in Tucson and the country.

That year, 1988, was one of the hottest springs in Tucson. It was ridiculously warm in March and April, but nobody cared, because the University of Arizona had a monster team. The thing I remember most about that week leading up to the Final Four showdown with Oklahoma was that it seemed that every single person in Tucson had bought and was wearing a Final Four T-shirt.

Of course, the Wildcats had a lousy day against Oklahoma, Steve Kerr had a horrible day against Oklahoma, and all of the T-shirt vendors in Southern Arizona had their worst day ever as their dreams of making and selling another 50,000 shirts saying “National Champions” went bye-bye.

The cats made it back to the Final Four six years later. Three years after that, they won it all in a most-improbable manner, upsetting three top seeds en route to the school’s only national title. Despite having virtually everybody back from the nation-

al championship team, the 1998 Wildcats didn’t even make it back to the Final Four, getting blasted by Utah in the Elite Eight.

But after another three years, Arizona was back in the national championship game, facing nobody’s favorite, Duke. Because we’re all adults here, we never complain about officiating, but from a completely objective perspective, what happened in that game remains the most ridiculous no-call in the history of basketball.

Sadly, that was the last time Arizona has made it to the Final Four. An entire generation has passed without getting to experience of blowing 35 bucks on a T-shirt that will be worn once, maybe twice.

I would love to say that this will be the year that the cats will be playing on the third weekend of the NCAAs…but nah! Part of the light load of optimism can be traced back to what happened last year. After receiving that aforementioned No. 1 seed, the cats came perilously close to getting knocked out of the tournament in

the second round. They survived with a “Whew!” then got spanked in the Sweet 16 game. And last year’s team had three guys who are all playing in the NBA now. This year’s team isn’t nearly as good.

Arizona could have gone into last weekend’s trip to Los Angeles with a chance to claim another regular-season title. Instead, the games against USC and UCLA had been rendered meaningless thanks to a very spotty showing in earlier Pac-12 games. By the time the cats arrived in Southern California, they had already lost conference games to the teams in fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and 10th place in the Pac-12.

Upsets are always going to happen, but in retrospect, it looks like the weirdest upset of the season happened when Arizona beat first-place UCLA in what seems like a really long time ago. I’m sorry, but if your team loses five conference games to five different teams, there’s a serious consistency problem.

The most troubling of those losses came a couple weeks ago when the cats fell to Arizona State at McKale. Everyone will remember the 60-footer that won the game for Arizona State, but what the cats should be focused on is the old truism that if you let inferior teams stick around, bad things are going to happen. ASU isn’t horrible, but they are inferior. Arizona blew a 10-point lead in the final six minutes…at home…on Senior Day. Not good.

But it’s tournament time. Glorious, unpredictable, anything-is-possible tournament time. Let the fun begin!

TOWN OF ORO VALLEY

date: Friday, April 28, 6:30 - 9 p.m.

Battle it out at our annual Battle of the Bands and perform on stage in front of a live audience!

A grand prize will be awarded to the first prize winners. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded. Bands must submit original demo or youtube link to dhiatt@orovalleyaz.gov by April 14. Selected bands will perform a 3-song set on stage in front of a live audience. 50% of the band members must be in high school to be eligible. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

Athlete of the Week: Jackson Ganz-Golston

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

Jackson Ganz-Golston needs a better story. Last summer he broke his arm (and nearly dislocated it at the same time). It was a nasty injury, one bordering on disastrous. When asked how it happened, he recalled, “Well, I had been at my grandmother’s house. I was watering her plants because she was out of town. I was riding my bike home and there was this rock… I was riding a mountain bike, so I thought I could handle it. It turns out I couldn’t.”

Seriously, dude?! Grandmother? Watering plants? A rock?

Well, he’s only a freshman. By the time he’s a junior, the story will involve rampaging javelinas and perhaps even some pirates.

Jackson is a runner for the Flowing Wells track team, and not just a runner. He’s a crazy-good runner, with the emphasis on “crazy.” On a track team, runners are usually broken into categories based on a number of factors — their innate ability, the needs of the team, and sometimes a particularly mean coach.

The sprinters run the 100 and 200 meters, plus the short relay. Distance runners tackle the 1600 and 3200 (basically the mile and the 2-mile). The brave and the foolish tackle the hurdles and the masochists run the 400 and/or 800 meters.

Pardon the horrible use of a horrible cliché, but almost all track runners stay in their lane. You’re not going to see somebody running the 100 meters and the 3200 meters. One of the greatest runners of all time, Michael Johnson of the United States, won Olympic gold medals and set world records, but he stood out because he did the weird double of running the 200 and 400 meters.

Ganz-Golston has decided to go that route as well. He’ll be running the 1600 and the 800. We don’t have time or space to go into details, but that double places him squarely in the “strange” category.

“I think I’ll do OK with it,” he says. “Those two events are far enough apart

Besides running for Flowing Wells’ track team, Jackson Ganz-Golston is a private first class in the school’s ROTC and played basketball this past season. (Jackson Ganz-Golston/Submitted)

in a meet that I’ll be able to do both.”

Yeah, but by running the 800, he may also be asked to take part in the 4x800 relay, the first event of the meet. Ah, freshmen.

He was the only member of the Flowing Wells cross country team to make it to state last fall.

“There was another guy who was faster than (I), but he moved away about halfway through the season and so I became the fastest.”

He credits his endurance to having competed in hybrid events in which athletes run and ride bikes (but not over rocks).

Jackson is a private first class in the school’s ROTC and also played basketball this past season. His favorite NBA player is Golden State’s Steph Curry, the long-range shooter who either saved or destroyed basketball, depending on your outlook.

“I really like shooting the ‘three,’ but I’m left-handed and I only weigh about 130, so it’s not a thing of beauty…yet.”

Jackson did OK in his first track meet. He finished third in the 800 meters but wasn’t able to compete in his other events because the meet was cut short by galeforce winds that preceded a heavy snowstorm…in Tucson — in March!

That’s a story that won’t need to be embellished.

Saguaro Aquatics celebrates anniversary with new pool

BY GREY GARTIN

Tucson Local Media Sta

For almost two decades, Saguaro Aquatics has stuck to its mission of increasing water safety knowledge through a variety of swimming lessons and other aquatic activities for all ages.

On Saturday, March 11, Saguaro Aquatics will celebrate its 18th year of aquatic programming with the grand opening of its indoor pool at 9260 N. Thornydale Road.

The event will be complete with games, food truck vendors, shaved ice and the Golder Ranch Fire Truck.

Admission is free, and attendees can win free swimming lessons and Saguaro Aquatics swag bags.

“We want to offer swim lessons and drowning prevention to all of Tucson,” said Sarah Franklin, a member of the management team and wife of Saguaro Aquatics owner Josh Franklin. “These are very important life skills, and we want to make sure that all kids in Tucson have the opportunity to learn those skills anytime.”

Like its location near Craycroft Road and Pima Street, Saguaro Aquatics will have its slate full of swimming lessons for all age groups.

Saguaro Aquatics has water safety lessons for toddlers 6 months and younger. These come in the form of 30-minute

parent-tot classes that encourage parent-child bonding and teach first-time submersion, back float and socialization skills.

“Our instructors’ student-to-teacher ratio is 3-1. So, it’s super low,” Franklin said. Kids’ private and group swim lessons are also available for enrollment at Saguaro Aquatics. For those 3-years-old and older, there are three learn-to-swim-focused groups and four stroke technique groups, totaling seven “team” experiences for prospective swimmers.

For more advanced swimmers, Franklin said Saguaro Aquatis has a higher-level intensive group.

“We do have what we call a junior swim team, and it’s basically for the older kids that already know how to swim. They're going to do more of a workout-type of lesson. Similar to what they would get at a competitive swim team practice.”

Additionally, Saguaro Aquatics offers group, private and semi-private swimming lessons for adults of all skill levels. Some of these lessons are taught in a warm saltwater pool to offer swimmers a comfortable experience in the water.

Wellness aquatics are held in the saltwater pool as well. These classes are designed with heart and lung health in mind and are for those who want to better their mobility and health. The programs include lap swim, core fusion, aqua aer-

obics, aquachi and theraquatics — a meditation and breathing activity.

Saguaro Aquatics’ pools are available to rent for parties and events. Lifeguards are included in the rental, and additional activities like pool games can be added on a la carte style. Residents can register for classes year-round on its website, as spots are always opening.

Saguaro Aquatics Grand Opening

WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11

WHERE: Saguaro Aquatics, 9260 N. Thornydale Road, Tucson COST: Free admission INFO: saguaroaquatics.com

5 Wide-eyed wonderment

Molecule whose structure was discovered by Rosalind Franklin

Consider

Garden west of Nod

Ninth-inning relievers, o en

Desert wanderer’s mount in a 1972 hit by

Chow for a chow, perhaps

Quaint farewells

Its Andean variety has the largest wingspan among all raptors

“Gangnam Style” musician

Ratite featured on Uruguayan currency

American raptor that’s the size of a mourning dove

Small brown passerine that holds its tail upright

Roll call call

African antelope

Qualifying words

Style featuring natural curl

Goose that might nest

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

You want what another person has, but you wouldn't give up being you to get it. You'll give up envy and gain energy, plus the knowledge that your goals can and will be accomplished in your own way, and in your own time. You will love them all the more and know they are enough for you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

There are those who see each insect as a pest and others who see each insect as magni cent and weird. You're able to swing from one mind to the other on this and any issue. You can appreciate things for what they are, but your perception and reaction shifts radically once a thing invades your territory.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Some truths have to be sni ed out, dug for, quested, but not the truth you discover this week. It's right in front of you, and you don't even have to be very aware to notice it. If you miss it the rst time, you'll trip over it the next. It wants to be known by you.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

It occurs to you that you have it pretty good. Sure, you could think of 10 ways right o the top of your head to have it better. But with your poetic perspective, you'll see how the banged-up parts of life, relationships and your material surroundings are quite worth cherishing for their beautiful imperfections.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

You don't prefer to work under pressure, and yet you can't help but notice how good you are at it this week. Things get done quickly, not despite the stress but because of it. Furthermore, you're able to wrangle amazing deals because a quick buck is appealing to all.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

The work is fascinating and it goes quickly this week, especially the work you're not exactly supposed to be doing. But you'll get it all nished -- the side projects as well as that which you're duty-bound to -- and make friends in the process. People admire your fairness and you'll be called on to mediate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

The trick to getting the important things handled is super simple: Schedule them and stick to the

schedule. You won't want to do the thing when it comes up on the calendar. Do it anyway. There are uncontrollable things happening to and because of us. There are storms inside us that ripple out, and events miles away that resonate at our core. It's a day to respect the wilderness and control what we can.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)

Balance requires wisdom. When you are in the heat of a di cult part of life, you counteract the stress by going easy on yourself in your downtime and prioritizing your own comfort and care. But when life is coasting along, you seek challenges in your downtime to keep things interesting. You'll strike the most healthful equilibrium this week.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Simplicity and frugality are not so di cult to pull o this week. These qualities are what's needed to gather enough resources to execute a big plan for the future. It also helps that you don't really want to impress anyone and there's nothing to gain from showing o .

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

TFor someone to act in accordance with the greater good, they have to notice and understand what that is. You will be adding friends to your fold this week. Be on the lookout for bright minds, big hearts and observant people with a social conscience. When you align with these types, you can achieve much good together without much e ort.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

The task at hand seems daunting, but dive in anyway. With your gracious communication style, people will be delighted to help you. A few excellent questions get the ball rolling. You don't need to know everything; you just need to know enough to get to the next step. Bonus: Your prior experience is more related than you may have guessed.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Outreach will be your success key this week. Freshen up your connections with a check-in phone call, or throw a party to enliven your social swirl. Ask friends for introductions and talk to people you don't know. The more people you tell about your dreams and schemes, the closer you'll be to making them true.

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

e.g.

Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay

PUZZLE BY DAVID ROCKOW

Guide

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Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

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

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GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

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

Now Accepting Credit cards

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