Marana News 04/19/2023

Blazing a trail: An 8-hour shift

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media Sta

arcela Hammond has a lifesaving story she likes to tell when civilians ask about her job. It involves a little girl and a terrible car crash.

“When I was a regular firefighter, and I was on the ambulance, I remember we had a vehicle accident on the freeway, a very busy interstate where there was a child who was injured,” she said.

“I remember talking to the mom, and I was getting the information for the child. She tells me the little girl’s date of birth, and it’s the same date of birth as my own daughter. I think that hit not only a personal thing, but I was talking to another mom who had a baby the same day I did, and now

her baby is on the street. It was horrible.”

Hammond shares this as part of a multistory package about the women firefighters of the Marana Fire District. Out of the nearly 300 firefighters and administrative staff in the Northwest Fire District, Hammond is one of only five women who have sworn to lay it all on the line to protect lives, community and property. This is a bit of Hammond’s story.

Hammond began her career in the fire service 23 years ago, when she joined the Phoenix Fire Department. From there she moved to Nogales and finally to Marana.

These days, the fire department veteran works

www.Maranaweeklynews.com

Multigen facility in final steps of design

BY LAURA LATZKO Tucson Local Media Staff

The town of Marana is in the final stages of designing its multigenerational community center and aquatics facility with the firm Architekton.

Updates have been given at town council meetings every three months. Town staff are also working with Abacus, a project management firm, and Chasse Building Team, which is providing preconstruction services.

Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy said he expects the groundbreaking to take place in the summer, with opening slated for fall 2024.

Conroy said the center will improve Marana residents’ quality of life.

“As you get into the lifestyle, physical fitness and mental health benefits, that’s what these facilities are all about,” Conroy said.

The facility was designed with people of various ages and interests in mind.

“We really think it’s going to be the heartbeat of the community because it’s

(Karen Scha ner/Sta )

Hot Picks

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, Tucson, free, by appointment only, aamsaz.org

Juried Student Art Exhibit

TO MAY 5

The Spring 2023 Annual Juried Student Award Art Exhibition, hosted by the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, brings together the best student artwork for the summer, fall and spring semesters from any student taught at the five campuses at Pima Community College. The 237 entries were received from 104 students, and 77 entries were accepted

by the jurors for this exhibition. This year, the Bernal Gallery has Tucson Art Museum staff as jurors who choose the students and award winners. The jurors were Dr. Julie Sasse, chief curator of modern and contemporary art, Tucson Museum of Art (TMA); Olivia Miller, interim director and curator, University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA); and Harrison Orr, education director, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA-Tucson). The reception is 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 20; award ceremony at 4 p.m.

Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, Center for the Arts -West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road, free, various times, 520-206-6942, pima.edu/cfa-gallery

“Woman-Ochre” TO MAY 20

see HOT PICKS page 6

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

STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

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

Karen Scha ner, Sta Reporter kscha ner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Veronica Ku el, Sta Reporter vku el@tucsonlocalmedia.com

PRODUCTION

Shannon Mead, Production/Design Supervisor smead@timeslocalmedia.com

Arman Olivares, Graphic Designer aolivares@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager, brian@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

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NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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

HOURS

8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Drop o 8–8:30 a.m.

Aftercare available 3–5 p.m.

PRICES (per week)

$250 Members

$275 Nonmembers

$40 Aftercare

More information available online at: tucsonmuseumofart.org/summer-art-camp

Alice Chaiten Baker Center for Art Education 166 W. Alameda, Tucson, AZ 85701 education@tucsonmuseumofart.org

TucsonMuseumofArt.org / 520-624-2333

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Willem de Koonig’s “Woman-Ochre” was stolen in 1985 from the University of Arizona Museum of Art. It’s 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, Tucson, various pricing, artmuseum.arizona.edu

Linda McCartney Retrospective TO AUG. 4

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

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

Mini Time Museum: Steve Farley’s

TRAIL from page 1

a more normal eight-hour shift, though that doesn’t mean she won’t get called out at any hour of the night to do her job. She started out just like everyone else, as a probationary firefighter/EMT, but has climbed the ladder to fire inspector/fire investigator.

As a fire inspector, Hammond is there before a fire, doing her best to prevent them. After a fire, Hammond comes out to the site of the blaze to try to learn what caused it. The job suits her, she said.

“Our job as investigators is to find the origin and cause of the fire,” Hammond said. “We tear the scene apart, reconstruct it again, find out what happened. Did we have a failure of equipment? Was it improperly discarded materials? Find out what exactly

“Dowdytown” TO AUG. 20

Pandemic isolation inspired artist, graphic designer and former Arizona State Sen. Steve Farley explores childhood memories through a series of miniatures. They’re artifacts of his Ontario, California, home, but their resonance with childhood reveries is universal. Farley’s youth included a fondness for building miniature models. As an adult, he’s an artist and graphic designer renowned for public murals. He found that creating these tiny structures helped to ground him in the social and emotional upheaval that accompanied our months in lockdown. An artist reception and talk take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22.

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

THEATER

Borderlands Theater: “Barrio Stories” TO APRIL 30

The evening starts with family fun: an interactive game show, shadow box installations, an augmented reality installation and a heritage talk circle where anyone can tell personal histories of Tucson’s west side barrios. At 8 p.m. a theatrical presentation of curated barrio stories carries the audience back in time. This event continues the tradition that Borderlands established with the stories of Barrio Viejo, which historically covered the heart of Downtown.

Borderlands Theater, 20 N. Bonita Av-

happened, what caused this fire. Much of what we do is research.”

Finding the cause of a fire is like solving a puzzle, she said. She walks in with no expectations.

“I have a rule that I don’t go in with any preconceived notion of anything, because that wouldn’t be ethical,” she said. “I go in with a clear mind, and I find whatever I find. I follow all the steps, make sure we do it always the same way and follow your protocols.”

Hammond is clear that when she suspects arson, she has to be 100% sure. It begins with a lot of research.

“Is it probable that it could have been an equipment malfunction or was this deliberately set?” she said. “You have to discount, especially if you’re looking at a fire that was

enue, pay what you will, 6 p.m. interactive family fun and picnic time, 7:45 p.m. main stage show, borderlandstheater.org

“One Twig at a Time” TO APRIL 30

Found object puppetry, poetic visual theater, humor, pathos, drought, flood, overabundance and the vacuum of space are explored in a new work by visual storyteller Wolfe Bowart. An ensemble of five multigenerational actors — including Bowart — will explore community via visual poems drawn from notebooks filled with abstract sketches, dreams and theatrical images by Bowart. For scoundrels and scamps ages 5 to 105. Various times and days with school matinees available. Scoundrel and Scamp Theater, 738 N. Fifth Avenue, various times and pricing, 520-448-3300, scoundrelandscamp.org

SPECIAL EVENTS

Western Experience TO MAY 7

Journey into a Western Experience at Old Tucson Studios, through Sunday, May 7, and witness the spirit of the Old West come alive. Get a glimpse of a historic town in Arizona territory during the 1800s and enjoy live action cowboy gun fights, death-defying stunts, rides and attractions.

Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, $34 adults, $17 children ages 5 to 11, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays, oldtucson.com

High in the Desert Music + Cannabis + Food 420 Festival

APRIL 20

Brought to you by Bl_nk Media, Tucson Doobie and Tucson Foodie, High in the Desert features Los Angeles-based reggae band Iya Terra, Seattle-based hip-hop artist Grieves, Phoenix hip-hop artists Mouse Powell, Sacramento’s Chuuwee, the Tucson reggae act Desert Fish and hip-hop artist Marley B. DJ EVOL will spin between sets, and the show is emceed by YoungMe. A cannabis expo and marketplace will feature local growers and more than 40 cannabis industry brands. Food from local restaurants and food trucks will be available. Hand-washing and hydration stations will be provided throughout the festival grounds. MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Covento, Tucson, tickets start at $40, 2:30 to 10 p.m., highinthedesert.com

The Tucson Mariachi Conference

More than a dozen workshops, competitions and showcases include several especially for young performers. The signature performance event is Noche de Garibaldi, a colorful spectacle of mariachi and folklorico at the MSA Annex. There’s also a mariachi mass on Sunday and the Espectacular concert, featuring international favorites, Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan, at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Ronstadt sang with Los Changuitos Feos, a youth mariachi ensemble that inspired the conference’s founding in 1984. Various times and locations, prices vary, tucsonmariachi.org

intentionally set, every single thing before until you get to your final determination, because this is somebody you’re going to blame for this fire. You want to make sure that the process you follow gets you to that point and that you cross all your t’s and dot your i’s.”

As one might expect, Hammond’s training as a fire inspector impacts her life outside of the job, especially when she and her family are out and about.

“I always take the time to look around, know where the emergency exits are,” she said. “I always make sure, is this a sprinkler building? My husband sometimes will look at me and go, ‘You’re not at work.’ I know, but I have to know these things. It’s what we do.”

Hammond knows they blazed the trail for women like her, women who were already parents when they joined. At that time Hammond had three children; she later had three more.

“Being a mom and going through the process in the fire department was a little bit of a challenge,” Hammond said. “However, the women who were there before established these things for the rest of us. They created a path for us to follow. I think I’ve had nothing

Hers is not the first generation of women to join the fire service; in fact, Hammond is really a part of the second or third generation of women who became firefighters. Those first women were retiring when she joined the fire service, and they are her heroes and mentors.

going to be able to serve so many different people,” Conroy said.

The facility will be built with longevity in mind. The team behind it is thinking not just of today’s needs but of the next 20 to 25 years.

“This place is going to be here for a long time. The residents of Marana deserve a facility like this, and we want it to be the best it can be,” said Wayne Barnett, deputy director for the Marana Parks and Recreation Department.

The project is part of a larger 2020-30 master plan, which was approved by the town council approximately two years ago. Town staff heard from residents about their hopes for the community.

“We had thousands of interactions and surveys done by the community,” Conroy said.

“A little bit over 80% of the citizens who took our survey indicated that one of the top priorities for them was a yearround heated swimming pool for the community and a recreation center. … Those are two areas that we were deficient in, and the master plan really represented that really well. This community center and aquatics facility are a very community-driven project.”

Community support

In August 2021, the town council passed an ordinance increasing the town’s sales tax by a half-cent to help pay for the community center. The sales tax was put into effect a year ago.

Conroy said residents were supportive of the tax because of the quality-of-life benefits that come with it.

“This will serve everybody. I think that makes a big difference in how it’s received,” Conroy said.

Throughout the process, locals have had a chance to be involved.

Town staff sought feedback from individuals and groups in Marana, including swimming and sports teams, teens, school district officials and seniors.

“We had a really lively discussion with the teens. They gave us way more feedback than they were expecting,” Barnett said.

“To me that’s the most enjoyable part about any of these projects is to interface with the public and get that feedback. The last couple of years, it’s really been a

work of joy for us,” Conroy added.

The plan is to build a 61,000-squarefoot facility at the corner of Marana Main Street and Bill Gaudette Drive.

The building will have a community space/lobby where locals can come in and socialize with each other, plug in their phones, use Wi-Fi, sit and read, or wait for a ride.

Off the lobby will be a room for teens with an eGaming center, which will be free for adolescents to use.

“There will be opportunities for teens to play different video games. We are trying to provide a space where they can come in and play games with the power and bandwidth they can’t get at home,” Barnett said.

The room will have space for tutoring, playing board games and hanging out, as well as amenities such as pool and pingpong tables.

The first floor will house a large community space and multipurpose rooms, which groups can rent for meetings, classes, sports league registration events, birthday parties, wedding receptions and other gatherings.

Barnett said these spaces will allow the parks and recreation department to expand their class offerings.

“Currently, we just don’t have interior space. Some of the programs that we are not able to offer now, we’ll be able to. So, we’ll be able to expand some of the arts and crafts offerings we have,” Barnett said. “Anything you would expect to be able to have inside that we can’t do now, we will be able to do at that point.”

A three-court gym will allow for different activities, such as volleyball, pickleball or basketball. Conroy said the gym won’t have a traditional wooden floor. Instead, it will be made from a special durable rubber material.

“You could be doing a basketball tournament on a Saturday night or volleyball, and the next morning, you could pull out 20 tables and have 200 people there for a pancake breakfast. So, having that type of material, having those type of floor systems in a gymnasium like that, you’ve just exponentially increased your ability to use that space,” Conroy said.

The gym will feature an indoor walking track. The second-floor track and other parts of the building will have views of the Tortolita and Catalina mountains.

“When you are inside, we want you to be able to see the really nice landscape of

these mountain ranges and sunsets that are in this area. It’s another element that’s in the design,” Conroy said.

The gym will lead outside to a multifunctional outdoor area with artificial turf, where yoga and strength and conditioning classes can be held.

The second floor will feature a fitness loft with a machine-driven weight room, a functional fitness area for activities such as medicine balls or suspension resistance training straps, and two rooms for exercise classes.

The two rooms will be available for fitness and meditation classes, including yoga, Zumba, self-defense, tai chi and spin.

“We’re going to see where the programming takes us. We’ve got an idea about what people are interested in, but we’ll continue to be open to new trends. We always want to try new things that people might take an interest in,” Barnett said.

These spaces will have on-demand fitness classes, which won’t require a teacher. For families, the center will have a child-watch area, where adults can drop off their children while they are taking classes or partaking in activities.

The centerpiece of the aquatics center will be a heated lap pool with 10 lanes and diving boards, which will be available for competitions, swim practices, aqua aerobics and lap swimming.

A second, recreational pool will have a zero-depth entry, play features and a forced-water channel for physical fitness or rehabilitation activities.

“The design is ongoing. Our intention

TRAIL from page 6

but a positive experience.”

Finally, the little girl who was in a serious car crash was lift-flighted to a trauma center, underwent surgery, then went to a rehab center.

“She wound up recovering perfectly,” Hammond added. “She didn’t have any permanent deficits, (nothing) after a pretty horrific accident. We would see her around town every now and again. We would go read at her school. That’s probably one of the most rewarding calls and yet one of the most terrifying moments where everything came out OK, but at the beginning it was pretty dramatic.”

is to make this space as functional as possible,” Barnett said.

Another feature in the aquatics facility will be a slide.

“It will be its own facility. It won’t slide into the pool. It will have its own runout,” Barnett said.

Conroy said with its current pool, the parks and recreation department has to close seasonally after Labor Day. The new facility with heated pools will allow for year-round use.

Once the facility opens, the seasonal swimming pool will close. Splash pads available around the community will remain open.

Job opportunities

For the new community center and aquatics facility, more staff will be needed, as the building will be open seven days a week.

“There will be job opportunities for everybody, from students through adults,” Conroy said.

Barnett envisions one of the biggest challenges will be in finding lifeguards, as there is a shortage countrywide.

The current pool requires two fulltime staff members and eight seasonal lifeguards. Barnett said with a yearround facility with two pools, the need for staffing will increase.

“Those are the kinds of things that we are starting to focus on now even though we are a ways away from the facility opening,” Barnett said.

When Marcela Hammond goes to inspect a post-fire scene, she brings along several tools, including a bucket and pick. (Karen Scha ner/ Sta )

Clerk’s office ‘proclaims’ five-star service

BY DAVID L. UDALL

Town Clerk / Assistant Town Attorney

Tt’s another great day in Marana.

From its high-quality streets and parks to its proactive and responsive public services, Marana has earned a reputation as a great place to live, work and play.

I know from firsthand experience that staff throughout the town are dedicated to providing five-star service to the Marana community. For my part, I feel honored and grateful to work alongside such talented professionals within a culture of excellence and teamwork.

Here in the clerk’s office, we are driven to serve, preserve and enrich our community. We work hard every day to provide five-star service to Marana residents, the town council and town staff. Our responsibilities include carefully preserving official records for future generations; timely providing access to public meetings, documents and information;

helping prepare for and documenting action taken during town council meetings; and preparing for and overseeing town elections fairly, impartially and in accordance with the law.

We strive daily to live by the town’s values of dedicated service, respect, teamwork and engaged innovation. For us, these are not just slogans; they are the way we do business.

Recently, we revamped the town clerk’s webpage (maranaaz.gov/town-clerk) to make it more comprehensive and user friendly. As part of that process, we created a new proclamation portal accessible from our main page that provides a

an impact on the town.

The mayor has issued several proclamations over the years, which can be found on the proclamation webpage (maranaaz.gov/mayorcouncilproclamations).

In addition to listing proclamations already issued, the proclamation webpage includes the town’s proclamation guidelines and a link to download a fillable proclamation template that can be used to upload draft language when submitting a proclamation request.

To submit a request, click on the “submit proclamation request” button on the

desired, the finalized proclamation may be presented to the recipient in person at a town council meeting and read aloud to those in attendance.

Assisting with proclamations is just a small part of how we in the clerk’s office strive to provide five-star service, but it’s an important part of how the town honors people and causes that make a difference in Marana.

To learn more about the town clerk’s office or about proclamations, please visit maranaaz.gov/town-clerk.

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.

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.

1. Finding the underlying cause

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

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

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!

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

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:

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

1. Increases blood ow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small ber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

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

It’s completely painless!

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

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

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.

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

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 April 30, 2023. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment

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

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

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

BANHEZ AGAVE HERITAGE DINNER

SEIS KITCHEN ON RIVER - 5:30 PM

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- 5 PM & 8

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SPIRIT OF SONORA AGAVE HERITAGE DINNER

THE CARRIAGE HOUSE - 5 PM

CHEF GARY HICKEY (SI CHARRO) & GUEST CHEF JOSE LINO (QUIRIEGO)

Red Cross chapter honors local volunteers

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross honored its volunteers with a brunch and ceremony on April 8 at the Gaslight Theatre.

The event celebrated 546 volunteers from seven counties — serving 1.4 million residents over 33,000 square miles and recognized nine volunteers for their special commitment over the past year.

In 2022, Southern Arizona volunteers donated over 40,000 hours of service providing emergency shelter, food and comfort to over 1,000 individuals in response to 284 local disasters.

They taught disaster preparedness, trained 12,765 people in first aid, CPR and other lifesaving skills, supported 3,526 local service members and veterans and their families, reconnected loved ones separated by crises around the world, and collected 45,410 units of blood.

The 2023 Southern Arizona Red Cross Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award recipients are:

• Brenda Hunter, Behind the Scenes Award.

• Steve Cunningham, Biomedical/Blood services.

• Terry Parrott, Disaster Cycle Services.

• Brian Larson, Disaster Cycle Services.

• Lynn Sagara, Diversity.

• Joan Scott, Exceptional Volunteer.

• Bob Porter, Professional Responder.

• Susan Valdez, Youth Volunteer.

• Les Atwood, Virginia Hollen Philanthropy Award.

Chapter board President MaRico Tippett said 90% of the Red Cross’ work is done by volunteers.

“Our volunteers have such a wide range of skills and experience and they stand ready to deploy day or night, whenever and wherever we are called to respond to an emergency or disaster,” Tippett said.

“They unselfishly embody the words of Red Cross founder Clara Barton: ‘You must never think of anything but the need and how to meet it.’”

To learn more about how to volunteer, donate blood and financial contributions, and lifesaving training, visit redcross.org/arizona or cruzrojaamericana.org.

The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross honored its volunteers with a brunch and ceremony on April 8 at the Gaslight Theatre. (Mike Sagara/Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross)

Nonprofit to bury 19 unclaimed veterans

BY VERONICA KUFFEL Tucson Local Media Sta

Growing up in a community of servicemen, Shaun Pfund joined the Missing in America Project as a way to give back to those who gave their all. The Pima County detective has now helped lay more than 1,000 unclaimed veterans to rest in Arizona.

“My dad, my uncles and a lot of my friends were in the service,” Pfund said. “They represent our freedom and all the virtues and liberties we enjoy here as a nation. It’s important to give recognition to these individuals for their sacrifice.”

The Missing in America Project identifies unclaimed veterans who die alone, on the street or estranged from their families. As a veteran recovery program, the volunteer-led nonprofit works with government agencies to notify families and host ceremonies for fallen service members. On Saturday, April 22, Missing in America

Unclaimed veterans encased in marble urns at a Missing in America Program ceremony.

(Shaun Pfund/Submitted)

Project-Tucson will bury 19 veterans at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and honor them for their service.

As the assistant state coordinator, Pfund helps locate remains, identify veterans and plan ceremonies in Southern Arizona for

Missing in America Project.

“Once we determine they’re a veteran, we become their caretakers. We become their family,” Pfund said. “Our main purpose is to recover and render them an honorable burial and rights they deserve in lieu

of serving our nation.”

When Pfund and his team secure remains, they identify the person through the Veterans Administration. He noted remains can be found in the most unlikely places, including gas station parking lots. The Missing in America Project will then run a background check on the individual to contact family or to follow instructions from the deceased.

Sometimes, remains are returned to relatives or even sent to be buried at sites like Arlington in Washington, D.C. If family or instructions are not found, the Missing in America Project holds a burial service at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Pfund ensures the veterans are each recognized with dignity and pride during the ceremony.

“We give full honors to our veterans as they’re laid to rest,” Pfund noted. “It’s recognition of their sacrifice and honoring

see VETERANS page 14

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HIRING NURSES

VETERANS from page 13

their memory and service to

The Missing in America Project of Tucson works with Adair Funeral Homes to organize an introductory service. After the memorial, the veterans are transported to the cemetery with an escort from regional law enforcement agencies. Servicemen and women stand with flags as speakers discuss the impact of the military and respect for the fallen.

Each veteran is then buried in a marble urn etched with their name, dates of birth and death, service ID, rank and military honors. At times, the local aircraft group, the Flying Scorpions, completes the missing men formation over the service. There is a gun salute, and flags are distributed to families and friends present. A Missing in America Project chaplain closes with a prayer.

Pfund asks veterans to help carry the cremated remains into their final resting place, an honor he noted as life changing.

“If you haven’t carried cremains and you’re a veteran, I encourage you,” Pfund said. “It makes a real impact on you. When you do that, you’ll never be the same.”

Along with Southern Arizona, the Missing in America Project offers veteran recovery services across the country. They represent a solution to an unfortunate problem in our nation, in which, according to Pfund, veterans are disrespected.

Determined to make a change, the Missing in America Project works with private, state and federal organizations to ensure unclaimed veterans are given honor and dignified ceremonies.

“These men and women have sacrificed so much, and sometimes they come back in parts and pieces,” Pfund said. “The least we can do is thank them for their service. The most we can do is serve them as best we can.”

Missing in America Veteran Recovery Program

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22 WHERE: Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 15950 N. Luckett Road, Marana

COST: Free

INFO: https://bit.ly/MIAPTucson

Movies and camping events come together

BY VERONICA KUFFEL

Tucson Local Media Sta

The Movies in Marana series was a summer staple for families throughout town. When the parks and recreation department was forced to shut it down due to staffing issues, fans of the event series eagerly awaited its return.

“The No. 1 question I have been asked since I started here, at any large-scale event, is when the movies are coming back,” said Shelby Scheer, special events supervisor.

“We listened to the feedback, and being able to execute a public program they want is a priority for us.”

In conjunction with the award-winning Camping Under the Stars event, Marana Parks and Recreation will kick off the Movies in Marana series on Saturday, April 22.

“A Bug’s Life” will premiere from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ora Mae Harn Park for free, or at a low cost, if participating in Camping Under the Stars. The movie is a part of Camping

Under the Stars programming, along with opportunities to make crafts, meet animals and win prizes in the annual tent decorating contest.

With family events planned throughout the summer, Scheer noted many programs already had movies scheduled. The plan to

merge them also allows families throughout Marana to participate without driving too far from home.

“It’s an easier program to execute because we’re piggybacking on other events,” Scheer said. “Our strategy is to highlight our parks, and Marana is so big now we want to make sure it’s easily accessible for people, depending on where they live.”

Unlike other summer movie events in the area, Movies in Marana will rotate through parks and amenities in the town. The movie list is loosely connected to the place it will premiere, like “Luca” at the Splash Pad on May 20 and “Coco” at the Family Fun Fiesta Zone on Oct. 21.

The selection is also dependent on the parks and recreation division supervising each event. Scheer indicated their aquatics, natural resources, sports and signature events divisions chose movies to represent their associated events and locations.

Along with the movie premiere, Tucson Amateur Astronomers will provide equipment to watch the stars and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum will host a program with their Critter Ambassadors. The education and experience will allow families to test out camping and sleeping outdoors, building the confidence to camp out in nature next.

“Camping Under the Stars is a signature event for the town of Marana,” Scheer said. “A lot of locals who were born and raised here remember doing it as children, and they’re bringing their own children to the event. It is truly a family-friendly event.”

There will be an Arts and Crafts Pavilion on-site, and families can enter the tent decorating contest. Participants will decorate their tents according to the Earth Day theme and get a chance to win camp-related prizes. First-, second- and third-place campsites will be awarded at the event. Families will also be able to order food from vendors like Ry’s Snacks and Sweet Sensations throughout the night, regardless of participating in either event. All activities and amenities are not only a product of Scheer’s team but a reflection of community efforts in Marana. Scheer hopes the programs get families outside this summer and involved in the town.

“As a parks and recreation department, a high priority is to have programs that get people outside, interacting with the outdoors and recreating as a family,” Scheer said. “Not only are we supporting a healthy lifestyle, but we’re also helping to create memories and strengthen family bonds.”

“The movies were strategically selected, mostly because quite a few of them happen at existing programs or events,” Scheer said. “‘A Bug’s Life’ is following the theme of Camping Under the Stars and celebrating Earth Day.”

Camping Under the Stars is run by the natural resources division and is an award-winning tradition for many Marana residents. Started in 2007, it received the Outstanding Program Award from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. Participants pay for a campsite in the park per size of their tent and celebrate with a variety of activities from local organizations.

“A Bug’s Life”

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 22

WHERE: Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road, Marana COST: Free

INFO: maranaaz.gov/movies

Camping Under the Stars

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23

WHERE: Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road, Marana COST: Campsite rentals start at $7

INFO: https://bit.ly/MaranaCamping

Movies in Marana, organized by Marana Parks and Recreation, is a popular event for the community. (Shelby Scheer/Contributor)

Car wash influx planned amid mega drought

BY VERONICA KUFFEL

Tucson Local Media Sta

Amid a 27-year megadrought, plans for a new car wash facility can be concerning, let alone three within a few miles of each other. But when the average person washes their car once or twice a month, whether with a business or in a driveway, a car wash service may be the better alternative, officials say.

“Compared to washing your car in your driveway or a private area, there’s no sewage collection,” Marana Water Department Director Jing Luo said. “We would rather direct people to use car washes. That’s the best way to conserve in terms of water usage.”

The town of Marana has approved plans for three car wash facilities near or on West Tangerine Road, including Mister Car Wash, Super Star Car Wash and Clean Freak Car Wash. While these companies are considered “water-intensive,” the Marana Water Department commits to approving development plans within water conservation criteria, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Luo said that at car washes, wastewater is collected and dumped into the Marana sewer system for reclamation. It then gets recycled through one of Marana water treatment facilities.

“Regardless of method, it still uses a significant amount of water to wash cars,” Luo said. “The benefit of the car wash facilities, according to our review of their development plans, is that 30% to 50% of their water will be recycled on-site.”

The Mister Car Wash website indicates a priority to recycle water and reduce water consumption. Along with utilizing energy-saving technology, Vice President of Marketing Jill Adams addressed the company’s partnership with Project Wet, a nonprofit that educates the community on the benefits of water stewardship.

Mister Car Wash also works with municipalities to ensure it’s meeting local water regulations and track its wastewater impact.

“It’s not just about washing cars. It’s about how we wash them,” Adams noted. “Being good stewards of the environ-

ment and the communities in which we serve is a priority at Mister Car Wash.”

Super Star Car Wash and Clean Freak Car Wash did not respond to requests for comment. Super Star Car Wash states on its website that customers can save up to 25% by using their facility over washing at home. As of now, Clean Freak Car Wash has no information regarding water conservation on its website.

When it comes to approving general developments, including car washes, Marana Water Department restricts businesses that use too much water, Luo said.

“Before we accept development plans in Marana, we review their water consumption and capacity for sewage,” Luo said. “We’ve turned down quite a few requests because of high water consumption with developments.”

Based on Arizona Department of Water Resources criteria, each business must have Assured Water Supply Certification, meaning they can demonstrate an assured water supply for at least 100 years. This can be from groundwater, reclaimed water or even water delivery through organizations like the Central Arizona Project.

Once they obtain this certificate, the Marana Water Department guarantees long-term water supply for businesses. The department also monitors water use through a smart metering program.

Around 50% of the town’s meters are smart meters, which reports water consumption every 15 minutes.

“The customer can monitor their water consumption almost instantaneously,” Luo noted. “If there’s an abnormal amount, you can find out very quickly with the meter.”

As for the quality of water used, most companies can use reclaimed water for appropriate services. Luo explained there’s no reclamation facility near the three car washes, but by partnering with the Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District, the town can provide nonpotable water to prevent misuse of the drinking water supply.

The megadrought has greatly impacted many regions of Arizona, but thanks to Marana’s location, Luo noted the town is in good shape regarding water sources.

“Marana has a pretty strong groundwater system, and in many other places, the groundwater has decreased or deplet-

ed,” Luo said. “We’re located downstream from recharge facilities in Tucson. The mountain areas surrounding us also naturally replenish our aquifers.”

Luo encouraged Marana citizens to learn more about sustainability practices. The department plans to roll out a rebate program to promote rainwater harvesting and other conservation practices. They are also looking for Marana Water customers to join their Citizen Water Academy, an educational program to teach the town about water systems. Visit maranaaz.gov/water for more information.

Your Source For Community News!

Jing Luo is the Marana Water Department director. (Town of Marana/Submitted)

Get ‘Lassoed’ in with these sports-themed series

BY TOM DANEHY

Tucson Local Media Columnist

Now that “Ted Lasso” is finally back, maybe the online uproar can cool down a bit. The delightful fish-out-of-water series about an American football coach who is hired (for originally nefarious reasons) to take over an English professional soccer team landed during the pandemic and was an instant hit, drawing huge audiences and winning two straight Emmys for best comedy series.

The problems started when the creators of the show let it be known that they had only planned for the series to have a three-season arc; the fans wanted more. Then there were numerous delays in production and the rumors started flying. Should they give the public what it wants and go beyond three seasons? Should they stick to their original plan because everything they’ve done so far has been just about perfect (except for the “Coach’s

Night Out” episode)? We really don’t know, and we don’t know if they know either.

It’s weird, I had the darnedest time getting my son to watch the show. He thought the title was stupid. (He still does, but he’s hooked on the show.) I later had the same issue with trying to get him to watch “Hacks,” a very funny show for which Jean Smart has won the Emmy for best comedy actress.

One of the best things about “Ted Lasso” is that it uses sports action judiciously to move the story along. And even though it’s soccer, we remain interested in what happens to the characters.

“Ted Lasso” does an amazing job of using sport as a backdrop while serving (for many players) as a raison d’etre. It has entered our culture in a big way, from Dani Rojas’ mantra of “Football is life!” to a handwritten “Believe” sign hanging in thousands of high school and college lock-

see SERIES page 19

Brett Goldstein, Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt star in “Ted Lasso,” now streaming on Apple TV+. (Apple TV+/Submitted)

from page 18

er rooms throughout America.

If you haven’t watched it, ignore the dumb name and give it a try.

“Ted Lasso” is one of a small handful of sports-related TV series that has been artistically and commercially successful. It’s not an easy do. There have been a whole lot of bad attempts. “One Tree Hill” was on for something like 15 seasons. A soap opera with basketball in it, the show served as the launching pad for a huge number of actors, all of whom can now be seen on Hallmark Christmas movies.

“All-American” follows a star high school football player who is moved from an inner-city school and taken to a school in Beverly Hills. The show should have been called “Cliches.”

Among the good ones are:

“Sports Night”: This thing was doomed from the very start. It was created and written by Aaron Sorkin, who wrote many of the great episodes of “The West Wing” (the greatest TV show ever about politics) and also wrote the screenplays for “The Social Network,” “A Few Good Men” and “Moneyball.” The show had snappy dialogue, razor-sharp banter and was very funny. I wrote at the time that it was too clever for its own good and “probably way too smart for the average sports fan.” That last line was condescending and cruel and, for just about everyone living in a state that contains at least one school in the Southeastern Conference, almost certainly true.

“The English Game”: You must check this out when you get the chance. It’s an absolutely wonderful six-part miniseries that has a beginning, a middle and a completely satisfying end. It’s not one of those things where it has a magnificent season and then, because it was so well received (critically and/or ratings-wise), comes back for more even though nobody asked them to. (That’s what happened with “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which was a near-perfect adaptation of the book…and then came back for seconds and thirds. Anyway, back to sports, this thing is set in the 1870s and it involves the early days of soccer. It reminded me of the Academy Award-winning best picture “Chariots of Fire” in that it is based on a true story and it uses sport to explore the sources and deleterious effects of classism.

It’s really good.

“Friday Night Lights”: Not just the best sports-related series ever, it’s one of the best TV series, period, of all time. It’s set in a football-crazed small town in Texas with the classic chant “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose!” When it first premiered, one critic said that was “great — not just as a TV series, but like a painting or a poem.” Crazy praise indeed. It survived low ratings and a writers’ strike to become a classic. In the last two seasons, you’ll marvel at the performances of soon-to-be big stars Jesse Plemons, Jurnee Smollett and Michael B. Jordan. And the series finale is one of the greatest in TV history.

It makes me wonder if “Ted Lasso” will be able to stick the landing.

SERIES

Cristo Fernández, left, stars as Dani Rojas in “Ted Lasso,” now streaming on Apple TV+. (Apple TV+/ Submitted)

Athlete of the Week: Jenya Zurita

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

When I started talking to Canyon Del Oro junior tennis player Jenya Zurita, I asked her some of the basic questions and she kept getting the answers wrong. She takes the good-natured ribbing in stride and laughs along as we continue.

What’s your favorite subject? “English.” (Wrong! The answer is always math.)

In English, what do you prefer, reading or writing? “I think I like them both equally.” (Wrong! That’s like asking a parent which of the kids he/she likes the most. They will say that they love all of the kids equally, but we know…)

So, who’s your favorite writer? “I like them all.” Edgar Allan Poe? “No, I don’t like him.” (Wrong, wrong, wrongedy-wrong wrong!)

However, when I asked her the most-important question, she absolutely nailed the answer.

At the time of the interview, her Dorado

team sat at a lofty No. 9 in the power point rankings with a record of 8-1 (the lone loss coming to division 3 tennis factory Pusch Ridge). The next day was the biggest match of the year, as her Dorados faced Catalina Foothills.

To the casual observer, it probably seems

that, when it comes to so-called Olympic sports (tennis, swimming, golf), teams from Catalina Foothills High School have won something like 8,000 state championships in the past couple decades. Of course, that’s ridiculous; the actual tally is probably not even half that number.

What can be quantified is the eye-popping excellence of the Foothills program. Since 2014 (not counting the truncated pandemic year of 2020), the Foothills’ girls teams have a combined regular-season record of 105-1.

(For the morbidly curious, the one loss was an 8-1 thrashing in 2019 to D-1 power Desert Mountain. Foothills still won the D-2 state championship.)

Anyway, when discussing the upcoming match with Foothills, Zurita was asked what one word came to mind describing how she was feeling. It would have been understandable had she said “anxious” or “nervous.” She would have even been given a pass had she said “scared.” But her response — quickly and forcefully — was “eager.”

She added, “We want to put up a fight. If you want to try to be the best, you have to play the best. I’m really looking forward to it.” (Right!)

Foothills won, 8-1, but there were some good signs. The Dorados are young; besides Zurita, the varsity is four sophomores and a freshman. (Foothills had two seniors.) Also, CDO won one of the three doubles matches, and lost the other two by scores of 8-6 and (in Zurita’s match) 9-7.

Her team will almost certainly make it to the state team tournament, and one or two of her teammates should compete in the separate State individual playoffs.

Zurita will continue working on her game, something she does year-round. She has a private coach, but she also finds time to coach others.

“We rent the courts at Green Fields, and I help give private lessons. I really enjoy it.”

Maybe we could do a mashup of her answers and ask if she likes the writer “Eager” Allan Poe?

Jenya Zurita (Jenya Zurita/Submitted)

Smitt: ‘Beezing’ is the latest fad to avoid

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

Another goofy yet potentially hazardous fad is back. “Getting high though your eyeballs” is the fad appearing on TikTok and other social media sites.

Applying a peppermint oil-based lip balm to your eyelids and just below your eyes is supposed to increase alertness and possibly give a little high sensation. It is often used in conjunction with alcohol or marijuana. “Beezing” or “Beezin’” refers to using Burt’s Bees chapstick on the eyelids. The term debuted in 2010 and was added to the Urban Dictionary.

That definition was “to apply a light layer of Burt’s Bees natural lip balm wax to one’s eyelids for a freaky yet pleasurable tingling sensation. Usually applied when one is really (expletive) high.”

This trend has come and gone since 2010 with renewed reports in 2014, 2019 and today. Some users report that doing this outdoors in colder weather gives an even more heightened sensation and call it “beez and freeze.”

This fad is not without risk. Mentha piperita is the peppermint oil that causes a cooling or icy sensation when applied to skin. While momentarily pleasurable, this practice can have negative skin effects as stated in the March 3 edition of Ophthalmology Today.

According to Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, beezing can cause or exacerbate atopic dermatitis, a complex skin condition of rashes and scaling that can be both itchy and uncomfortable.

The skin on our eyelids is very thin so more susceptible to irritation, inflammation and damage. And the peppermint oil can migrate into the eyes causing redness, a burning pain, possible corneal damage and even vision problems. Lip balms are not sterile, and not always even clean.

Using the same chapstick on mouth and eyelids invites infection (such as herpes simplex) from microbial contamination especially when users share the lip balm.

Treatments for these injuries can include steroids for the inflammation, anti-

biotics, antivirals, antihistamines and artificial tears. The Burt’s Bees lip balm label states “100% natural” but natural does not always mean safe.

A Burt’s Bees company representative stated in 2014, “It may be 100% natural origin, but that doesn’t mean it can go on eyes. Burt’s Bees tests all of its products, including the beeswax lip balm, to ensure they are safe for their intended use. We recommend that people use our products as directed.”

Dr. Patrick Harkins, an ophthalmologist in Waco, Texas, stated in an interview last month, “Anytime someone talks about putting any product that’s not specifically made for eyes or the eyelids near the eye, you’re asking for trouble because the eyes and eyelid are very sensitive parts of the body. They react very differently than a lot of other places. So, anything that is not specifically formulated for eyelid or eyeball use is probably not a good idea.”

The University of Michigan Hospital issued a public warning last month titled “Beezin’: The dangerous TikTok tend involving Burt’s Bees.” Dr. Olivia Killeen, clinical lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Michigan Medicine, stated, “The practice is risky and ineffective.”

There is no hard evidence showing that this practice induces intoxication, though many people have claimed (on social me-

dia platforms) that the cooling effect leads to a sharper sense of alertness and sense of being “high.”

The peppermint scent is often used as an energy booster by people who use essential oils for various sensations (such as lavender for relaxation and sleep or lemon oil for stress and pain relief).

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (January 2008) published a study showing that peppermint oil was associated with boosting alertness and memory. Those into beezing could be mistaking an enhanced state of alertness to being high or mildly inebriated. They are also possibly experiencing the placebo effect; they expect the high sensation, so it occurs.

Beezing may not cause a physiological intoxication, nor is it addictive, but besides the physical risks noted, the social media pressure to “try new things” is always potentially dangerous. Beezing produces a physical sensation, so possibly a sense of risk and danger for the very naïve who are willing to “try anything.” Peer pressure through social media can encourage risky behaviors that lead to serious substance abuse or injury. (Common sense does not always prevail.)

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

Edited by Will Shortz No. 1219

21 Shiny item of fishing tackle

Give the cold shoulder

Sink a achment

“Yes, captain”

___-Royce

Mrs. ___ (year-round North Pole resident)

Soar 8 1970 Jackson 5 hit with the line “Easy as 1, 2, 3”

Goof-off

Some Japanese cuisine

Giant computer of the 1940s

Bird on many a birth announcement

More tightly packed

Empire State Building style, for

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

The intensity of a relationship will escalate. Your feelings may seem out of your control. But if emotions could be controlled, things like sad songs and comedy sets wouldn't exist, and neither would art. You'll find relaxation and perspective in the world of entertainment.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

The discrepancy between the truth and the wish is a pain source. Can you close the gap by changing something about the reality? How might you adjust your expectation to bring it closer to the current state of things? Healing happens when the truth and the wish are in agreement.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

To lead the team, you don't have to have all the answers — or any of them! Strong posture and presence will take you far toward gaining trust, as will your observant, curious and decisive nature. You'll ask the questions that reveal the best destination and route.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

Don't worry too much about the friction this week. It will happen whether you resist it or not, so you may as well lean into the good things about it. For instance, controversy means people care and will pay attention. Emotion could be unpleasant, but without it, life would be flat and featureless.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

The process of acquiring excellent habits seldom occurs in one smooth, straight line. The dance of improvement is more often a jitterbug involving one step forward, two steps back, three steps forward and so on. Even when you are doing your best, results will be mixed. No matter what happens, love yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

When you have the impulse to share, it tells you valuable information about who you feel you can trust, what you care about, and why you feel more comfortable in some situations rather than others. This week, getting curious about how you choose to share yourself will lead to self-discovery.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)

No matter how clever, huge or obvious your hints may seem to you, they won't get you what you want this week. There will be no better way than the direct route. Ask outright and be exact about it. Draw a picture, write down the specifications — whatever it takes to make your point, do it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

It would be great if people were strictly attracted to what's best for them. Alas, the dance between desire and self-discipline creates tension. To admit you want a thing and lean into the feeling will relieve some of the tension, making it easier to move on from temptation. This week, you will want something, choose not to have it and then celebrate the victory.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Your thoughts will tend to run away with you this week, which you can use to your advantage. Focus on the area that could use the benefit of wild imagination and lean into a positive tone. One idea leads to another, and soon you're solving a problem, making change, creating your world.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You've let go unrealistic ideas before, so you know the first step is to understand the realm of what's possible. The trouble is, that's almost impossible to tell right now, and you wouldn't want to limit yourself by thinking small. For now, hang tight and keep watching. Don't give up your dream.

27th U.S. president and 10th chief justice

58 Intuit

Things usually sold by the dozen

Instrument often used as the “J” in a “Jazz Club” sign

62 Prime bird-watching spots for indoor cats

Seek damages

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

You will move through various feelings about your individual identity and how your various roles connect to others. A sense of belonging can be very complex. It's normal to feel whole on your own, even while sensing your interdependence. You'll distinguish yourself and feel the joy of being part of a group, too.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

You can move forward with confidence even if you're not sure what to believe. The one thing you can really trust is your ability to learn and adapt. This week sees you as balanced and flexible. It only takes a little open-mindedness to make way for enlightenment.

23 Scorch 24 Part of a swimmer’s sidestroke 27 “Get over it” 30 Part of a

64 Archer’s arrow launcher 66 Nation in Polynesia 67 Hawaiian party 68 Cozy

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

69 English county at one end of the Thames 70 “Will there be anything __?”

“Washboard” muscles, informally

Good vantage point at

Something in an office

PUZZLE BY JENNIFER NUTT

MUSD hosting job fair in May

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

The Marana Unified School District is hosting an employee job fair from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Mountain View High School Library, 3901 W. Linda Vista Boulevard.

No appointments are needed. Applicants can bring resumes and participate in on-site interviews.

The Marana District is seeking support and certified/exempt staff for numerous openings, including certified and substi-

tute teachers, counselors, social workers; aides, health service, bus drivers/attendants, secretarial/clerical, and child care preschool aides and supervisors.

Benefits include holidays, personal days, sick leave, employer-paid medical insurance, health saving account contribution, dental, vision, employer-paid short-term disability, employer-paid group term life insurance, and stipends for hard-to-fill positions and hard-to-staff schools.

For more information, call 520-6166318 or visit maranausd.org/jobs.

Richard Carl Alexander

just looking and listening to nature. One of his favorite places to be. Taking long walks near and in the wash with Gigi (his dog) where they grew to depend on each other and learned what true friendship was.

Born in Detroit, MI to parents Joseph and Irene Alexandrowicz. Richard passed away peacefully on February 24, 2023. His last days were spent in Legacy Oaks Senior Living in Midlothian, TX. This is where he took part in several senior living activities (playing cards, group trips to a Casino, light walks with friends). Priory to TX Richard spent 25 years in Tucson, AZ where he lived at the base of the Foothills mountains. Enjoying every morning out on the patio

He was preceded in death by his wife (Judy), his parents, his brother (Bobby), father-in-law, Colonel George Gibbs, and mother-in-law, Anna Gibbs. He is survived by his three children, Debbie Morgan of Harvest, AL, Ricky Alexander of Cedar Hill, TX, and Matt Alexander of Durango, CO; 8 grandchildren, Brooke, Alexis, Donte, Dylan, Nathan, Hunter, Kady and Kyler; 1 great-grandchild, Gibson; sister Joyce (Frank) Houghton; niece Stacey (Marty) Houghton; great-nephews, Aidan, Adam; and great-niece Adeline, of California. Funeral arrangements were made by his family. Memorial/Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2023 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 1375 S. Camino Seco, Tucson, AZ.

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