Marana News 101922

victim

Gabby Giffords named Rose Parade marshal

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media

Former Rep. Gabby Gif fords was named the 2023 grand marshal by Tourna ment of Roses President Amy Wainscott.

Giffords’ recovery from trau matic injuries epitomizes the 2023 theme, “Turning the Cor ner,” Wainscott said.

The announcement was a celebratory event on the front steps of Tournament House in Pasadena, 80 days before the Rose Bowl Game and Rose Pa rade presented by Honda, both on Jan. 2.

“It’s a tremendous honor to serve as the grand marshal of the 134th Rose Parade,” Gif fords said in a statement.

“I love the theme of ‘turning the corner’ — the idea that we

all can make a conscious deci sion to go in a different direc tion, toward something better. This philosophy of moving ahead is one that I’ve tried to embody both in my personal journey of recovery since being shot in 2011 and in the fight for gun violence prevention that has become my life’s work.”

Wainscott said she is looking forward to hosting Giffords.

‘Man on the Horse’ rides back into Marana

BY TOM LEYDE Tucson Local Media

Ahistoric Marana art piece is back on display after years languishing in a maintenance yard at Heritage River Park.

“Man on the Horse,” built by Marana High School students in 1994, is now outside the park’s stables after being repaired and paint ed. The near life-size piece was officially un veiled at Marana’s Fall Festival on Oct. 15 at the park, 12375 Heritage Park Drive.

It is surrounded by a low wooden fence, and the space also has flowerpots. The piece was a joint project between the Marana Parks and Recreation Department and Ma rana Unified School District.

For years “Man on the Horse” sat out side the Circle K on Marana Road. “People would stop and take pictures of it,” said Nate Jansky, Marana’s park maintenance super visor. “It was kind of a little landmark out there.”

When the area around Circle K was re vamped in 2013 the piece was moved to Heritage River Park and covered up in the maintenance yard. “We didn’t want to get rid of it, so we stored it,” Jansky said.

Over the years, Jansky said, “People were always asking what’s going on with that?” Earlier this month a decision was made.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal Gabby Giffords, who was unveiled last week. (Pasa dena Tournament of Roses/Submitted)

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

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EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT

THEATER

Thursday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 23

For one weekend only, Broadway in Tucson presents “the record-breaking musical spectacular,” “Cats” at Centennial Hall. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical tells the intimate story of an “extraordinary” tribe of cats who gather for their annual ball. The show runs for approximately two hours and 20 minutes, including an intermission. For a full performance schedule and how to purchase tickets, visit broadwayintucson. com. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard.

LIVE MUSIC/COMEDY

Saturday, Oct. 22

Grammy-nominated comedian, TV host and actor George Lopez visits the AVA Amphitheater stage on Sat urday, Oct. 22, for his “OMG Hi” Tour. Named one of the most influential Hispanics in America by Time, Lopez has enjoyed a multifaceted career in standup comedy, film and late-night television. Show starts at 8 p.m.

For ticket information, visit casinodelsol.com. AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 19 and Thursday, Oct. 20

BY KATYA MENDOZA

Wednesday night features, “Day for Night,” with acclaimed actress Jacque line Bisset. There will be a Q&A with Bisset after the showing. For a full list of the lineup and ticket pricing, visit loftcinema. org. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard.

Thursday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 30 Nightfall celebrates its 30th anniversary at Old Tucson Studios with a plot twist this spooky season. Its return in full throttle offers a more immersive storyline that invites the whole family to follow clues and engage with cast members to uncover multiple mysteries, allowing themselves the opportunity to determine their night’s outcome. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead

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The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, tingling, pain, and balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves to degenerate – an insidious and often painful process.

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

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The Loft Cinema closes out its 12th annual Loft Film Fest on Wednesday, Oct.19, and Thursday, Oct. 20. The festival’s programming included over 45 features and short programs, guest speakers and other eclectic programming including the documentary about “The New Loft,” in celebration of the Loft’s 50th anniversary.

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

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“We are just over the moon thrilled to have Gabby as our grand marshal,” she said.

“It all starts with our theme, ‘Turning the Corner,’ and I can’t think of anybody who is more of a hopeful, optimistic person that embodies that theme.”

There’s a second Tucson tie to this year’s parade. The Catalina Foothills High School marching band is going to participate in the parade.

“It’s a great coincidence that we have the high school and Gabby Giffords in our pa rade,” Wainscott said. “They’re under the direction of Renee Shane Boyd, who is an other incredible female.”

To choose Catalina Foothills, Wainscott traveled to Tucson in the spring. She also encourages the community to help fund the band’s trip to Pasadena.

“We visit all of our bands and bring awareness to the community that they’ll be traveling to Pasadena,” she said.

“They have to pay their way to get to Pasadena. We were there this spring and we were able to visit with the students who are amazing musicians and the boosters, the administrators at the school and the community. (Artist) Diana Madaras had a

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fundraiser and Gabby said she knew her. It all came full circle for us.”

Giffords was the youngest woman elect ed to the Arizona State Senate, represented the community in the Arizona legislature from 2000 to 2005, and then in Congress from 2006 to 2012.

On Jan. 8, 2011, at a “Congress on Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson, Gif fords was shot in the head by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. She stepped down from Congress in Janu ary 2012 to focus on her recovery. Giffords embarked on a path to regain her ability to speak and walk.

“The idea of ‘turning the corner’ also resonates from a national perspective,” Gif fords said.

“Our country has faced multiple years of a deadly pandemic and political rancor. Yet medical advances and bipartisan compro mise have helped us to take steps toward a better future, even if these steps aren’t al ways as quick or as sure as we would like them to be, but I’ve learned the importance of incremental progress — and that prog ress starts with having the courage to hope, and then to act on that hope.”

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In the Rose Parade, Gabby Giffords will be joined by the Catalina Foothills High School Marching Band. (Pasadena Tournament of Roses/Submitted)

of time, due to the park’s timed-entry approach on nightfallaz.com. Nightfall at Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road.

Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22

Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Galleries hosts its autumn series, Brewin’ at the Chul, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22, through Saturday, Nov. 26. With free admission, visitors can roam the grounds after hours and partake in a rotating food menu that includes beers, brats and more from the Garden Bistro. Enjoy live music by guitarist Nico Barberan on Friday, or singer-songwriter Brett Dooley on Saturday. For the menu and full list of performers, visit tohonochul.org. Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte.

Saturday, Oct. 22

The Amerind Museum presents the Amerind Autumn Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Take a day trip to Dragoon to celebrate the O’odham community’s history, culture and arts with members of the community for this day-long festival. Special guests include the No:lik Traditional Singers and Dancers. For a full list of scheduled talks and activities, visit amerind.org. Admission is $10 per vehicle. Amerind Museum, 2100 N. Amerind Road.

Saturday, Oct. 22

The Arizona History Museum presents Night at the Museum from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. The family-friendly spooktacular event features an evening of trick or treating, music, kids craft and ghost tours. Adults $10, kids (7-13) $8, children 6 and younger free. After 9 p.m., adult guests can join the museum for a lights-out experience and can use EVP equipment to locate paranormal activity inside of the museum. Tickets are $30. For information about tickets and activities, visit arizonahistoricalsociety.org. Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second Street.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Join the Hellfire Club and take a trip to the Upside Down at the Flandrau Planetarium’s Laser “Stranger Things” light show at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Surround yourself with 4K resolution laser lights, moody synths and ’80s pop hits. Based on

the Netflix hit series, this show always sells out. Stick around for its newest feature, Laser Bowie, which celebrates the “musical legacy of the enigmatic chameleon,” David Bowie, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets sold separately. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 kids 4 to 17 and college students and $8 for seniors and military personnel. For more information, visit flandrau.org. Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Boulevard.

Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23 Pumpkin (spice) season is here, so grab the family and take a day trip down to Willcox for Apple Annie’s Orchards, Fall Pumpkin Celebration, throughout October. Take a hayride or get lost in the corn maze as you enjoy the fall weather at the pumpkin patch located at The Farm on 6405 W. Williams Road. Apple Annie’s Orchard is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., no charge for admission but bring money for produce purchases and hayride tickets. For more information about seasonal produce availability or Apple Annie’s Orchard, visit appleannies.com or call 520-384-2084.

LOCAL MARKETS

Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23 The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) presents the La Encantada Fine Art Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23. The open-air market brings locally designed arts and fashion, metalwork and other hand-made artisanal goods. Admission is free. For a list of vendors and artists, visit saaca.org. La Encantada Shopping Center, 2905 E. Skyline Drive.

CLASSES PROGRAMS

Wednesday, Oct. 19 to Saturday, Oct. 29 This month, the Sonoran Glass School hosts its annual Pumpkin Fiesta. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., SGS offers its popular Make Your Own Pumpkin Experience during which participants can pick colors and design elements and work with SGS artists to create their own glass pumpkin. This event costs $115 per pumpkin, reservations are required. Proceeds from the program support SGS and its youth education programming. To make reservations or learn about other activities, visit sonoranglass.org. Sonoran Glass School, 633 W. 19th Street.

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“We just kind of got together with the town manager and the mayor and they decided on a spot for it, and we just went ahead and moved it,” Jansky said.

A lift was used to gently move “Man on the Horse” to its new location. “That was scary,” Jansky said. It’s now attached to a concrete base.

The piece was not in the best of shape. “The cowboy’s foot was coming off and it had a crack around (the horse’s) neck,” Jan sky said.

He spent a number of hours, repairing the foot and the crack and painting the piece with an ivory-colored paint.

For now, the art piece will remain at the park, with the cowboy sitting tall in the sad dle and the noble horse facing east.

PICKS from Page 5

the scenic Marana Heritage River Park for Adult Paint Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Registration for the instructor-led class is $30 per resident, $37.50 for nonresidents, and includes a 16 by 20 canvas and painting supplies. No experience necessary. Participants may also bring food and alcoholic

Nate Jansky, Marana’s park maintenance supervisor, with the art piece “Man on the Horse,” which has been restored. It now sits at Heritage River Park. (Tom Leyde/Contributor)

beverages to enjoy responsibly. For information, visit maranaaz.gov.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Friday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 23

The Reid Park Zoo is hosting the Boo at the Zoo for a “bewitching evening” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 23. Friends and family of the Reid

In 2013, after the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, Giffords co-founded the or ganization now known as Giffords.

During the past several years, the orga nization has made gun safety a kitchen table issue for voters. Giffords has worked hard to pass legislation in states across the country and at the federal level. This sum mer, Giffords was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest ci

vilian honor. “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down,” a documentary from the filmmakers behind “RBG,” premiered this year and is now available to stream at home on demand.

“I’m extremely grateful to follow in the footsteps of the many distinguished grand marshals in the parade’s history and to blaze my own path forward,” Giffords said.

“Thank you so much to Tournament of Roses President Amy Wainscott and to the board of directors for this privilege, and I look forward to being at the parade on Jan. 2.”

Park Zoo can show off their “boo-tiful” costumes, visit the Rancho Sahuarita Fall Festival Zone to play games, and visit trick-or-treat stations and spooky scenes. Timed-entry tickets are $11 for zoo members and $13 for general admission. For information, visit reidparkzoo.org. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. Saturday, Oct. 22

Tucson Parks and Recreation hosts Halloween Boo Bash at the Lincoln Park Soccer Fields from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Join in on an evening full of “tricks and treats,” carnival rides and a costume parade. Food will be available for purchase. For further information, visit tucsonaz. gov. Lincoln Park Soccer Fields, 4325 S. Pantano Road.

Climate change, bacteria kill iconic saguaro

BY ISABELLA FREDRICKSON Cronkite News

For close to two centuries, Strong Arm stood sentinel over the Tortolita Pre serve near Marana — an icon of the Sonoran Desert and host to many birds and bugs. But a monsoon storm in August toppled the giant saguaro, revealing that it fell prey to a deadly bacteria that sci entists believe is more prevalent than ever.

“The Strong Arm saguaro was approxi mately 40 feet tall and had 34 arms,” said Jason Grodman, natural resources super visor for Marana Parks & Recreation. “It was one of the most impressive specimens in the Tortolita Preserve — and really an iconic fixture of the park.”

Grodman said strong winds during a monsoon storm pushed Strong Arm over.

Because the cactus had endured centu ries of monsoon storms, Marana residents were shocked that one run-of-the-mill storm could take down the behemoth. It turns out, however, that Strong Arm was already dead before it toppled in the wind.

Strong Arm, a well-known saguaro cactus in the Tortolita Preserve near Marana, was esti mated to be 150 to 200 years old and 40 feet tall when it toppled during an August storm. But the actual cause of death was Erwinia cacticida, a bacteria that causes saguaros to rot and ooze a thick, black liquid. (Jack Wu/Cronkite News)

“One of the things we did find out from a saguaro expert is that the saguaro did have an infection and the necrosis really kind of helped the saguaro on his demise,” Grod

man said.

William D. Peachey, a field science ex pert, ecologist and cactus expert, was among the first on the scene after Strong

Arm toppled.

“It took me about 15 seconds to figure out why it died,” said Peachey, who inspects dying cactus across the state. “It was infect ed with Erwinia cacticida, which is the bac teria that ends the lives of lots of saguaros.”

Erwinia cacticida, also known as bacteri al necrosis, causes saguaros and other cac tuses to rot and ooze a black, sticky liquid. The bacterium occurs naturally in the soil and can be spread by birds and insects.

Although the death rate from bacterial necrosis is difficult to track, Peachey said, more saguaros are dying from it than pre viously. That worries him.

“What’s different is that they are dying off rather suddenly,” he said. “Normally, over decades you might lose one, two or three here and there, but we are losing large numbers of them.”

Peachey blames climate change for the alarming increase. Saguaros are shocked by extreme temperature fluctuations and more severe storms, he said, making them

See

MPD’s mission sets a gold standard

BY MARANA POLICE CHIEF REUBEN NUNEZ

Over the last few years, we’ve wel comed thousands of new residents to our beautiful community. As we continue to grow, the Marana Police Department (MPD) is committed to pro viding quality services, so Marana is the best place to live, work and play. To show you how we do this, I’d like to share with you our department’s mission and vision. MPD’s mission is to provide unparalleled service and unwavering protection, with uncompromised integrity, to every citizen in the town of Marana.

This mission statement guides and directs not only what we do in the policing indus try, but how we do it. Our reputation with the Marana community and neighboring communities was earned by the courteous, compassionate, and caring service that our officers strive to demonstrate every day. Un paralleled Service, Unwavering Protection

with Uncompromised Integrity are more than words on our cars and plaques, they’re actions that we demonstrate every day.

As we followed our mission statement over the years, we started developing a profession al reputation as a role model within our com munity and surrounding jurisdictions.

This led us to our vision statement: MPD will be the role model for public safety agen cies in the state of Arizona. Here are some of the milestones and objectives that we’ve accomplished to help reach our vision.

Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) increased resources to the Marana community, assigning area law en forcement and federal officers to a variety of task forces. Sgts. Jose Alvarez, Joe Castil lo, Chris Warren, and William Dittiger each served as Marana representatives, leaving a positive impact on our agency partners.

Our new police facility at the Marana Mu nicipal Complex has become a best-practice model for police facilities that many agen cies in the state of Arizona and across the

county want to inspect, tour, and emulate.

MPD, along with the University of Ari zona and Kingman Police Department, was the first in the state to become accredited through the Arizona Law Enforcement Ac creditation Program (ALEAP).

Pima Regional Task Force (PRCIT), a regionwide model for policing, recently ex panded to include critical incidents (OIS) and in-custody deaths throughout Pima County and city of Tucson. MPD’s involve ment in the PRCIT has highlighted our de partment’s professionalism and diligence in working investigations on a regional level.

We were the first in the region to fully implement a body-worn and in-camera system, as well as the first agency in the re gion to adopt the NBR program.

MPD has received numerous grants and awards from the Governor’s Office of High way Safety (GOHS), and I have personally heard the GOHS Director Al Gutier com ment on how much he appreciates MPD and how we lead in many of our specialized

deployments.

Our longstanding relationship with the Stonegarden Project, a Homeland Security initiative, has garnered a strong working relationship with federal agencies as well as garnered the department new equipment.

Lateral officers, who moved to MPD from other agencies, have all commented about the positive family-like environment and work culture of the department.

A compensation study was completed and salary adjustments were made that help us recruit and retain the best.

Marana is ranked one of the safest cities in Arizona.

These are just a few examples of what we’ve done to reach our vision statement but we’re not stopping there. We will con tinue to lead in all these areas and demon strate what unparalleled service, unwav ering protection with uncompromised integrity looks like.

Town of Oro Valleyfinances are strong

BY DAVID GEPHART Chief Financial Officer

The Town of Oro Valley has been mov ing forward with some high-visibility projects of late, including acquisition of the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve (formerly known as Vistoso Golf Club), Naranja Park improvements, building of multiuse paths, improvements and expan sion of the tennis and pickleball courts at the Community Center and golf irrigation improvements to both the Cañada and Conquistador golf courses, among others.

Further, virtually everyone has seen the run-up in prices and experienced the im pact of persistently high inflation on their household budgets.

The Town has certainly seen its share of cost increases on many of our parks and rec reation projects. This may beg the question: How is the Town doing financially, and are there any concerns moving forward?

To answer the question, it is helpful to understand some basics about the Town’s finances. First, the Town is primarily sup ported by sales tax collections and stateshared revenues. The Town does not levy a property tax. What this means practically is that the Town’s primary revenue sourc es can be a bit volatile depending on the economy. Thus far, impacts of inflation on Town spending have largely been offset by increased sales tax collections also caused by inflation. So, the overall impact of inflation on the Town has been somewhat subdued.

Second, the Town is very conservatively managed from a financial perspective and has a strong set of comprehensive finan cial policies designed to guide and protect it in any economic climate. These policies require the Town to plan, prepare and act on any sign of financial distress caused by either declines in revenue and/or increases in expenditures. The policies represent best practices in the arena of governmental fi nance and are reviewed by the Town Budget and Finance Commission and approved by Town Council.

Third, the Town does not deficit spend.

Town policies require it to ensure that ongo ing revenues are sufficient to fund ongoing expenditures. This prevents the Town from running a structural deficit of ongoing expen ditures exceeding ongoing revenues and con tributes to the healthy reserves of the Town. These reserves safeguard the Town and allow it to continue providing the high level of ser vices our residents expect and deserve.

Fourth, the Town is not overleveraged with debt. The Town’s utilization of debt is strategic, policy-driven, and purposeful, al lowing the Town to maintain a AA+ rating from Standard and Poor’s on debt issuances.

The rating is just a notch below AAA, which is the highest rating provided to issuers.

Comparatively, the Town’s bond rating is the highest of any local government in South ern Arizona. Practically speaking, the rating represents the level of risk to bondholders of repayment on their investment and is best reflective of the excellent overall financial condition of the Town. Similar to your per sonal credit score, the higher the debt rating, the lower the cost of borrowing. Ultimately, a high credit rating saves the Town and its residents money on debt issuances.

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more susceptible to Erwinia cacticida.

“Because these events are happening more frequently, and they are worse weath er events, it seems like (the saguaros) are all dying at once.”

Even in death, however, saguaros (Carn egiea gigantea) provide life to many other organisms in the Sonoran Desert.

“One of the most fascinating things about saguaros is their role in the ecosystem with

other plants and animals,” said Don Swann, a biologist at Saguaro National Park near Tucson. “They are the tallest plant in the desert, where most of the plants are pretty short.”

Birds use saguaros as perches and nest ing sites. The smallest raptor in the world, the elf owl, which stands at under 6 inches, relies on saguaros to nest, as do woodpeck ers, flickers and other species. In the spring, saguaro fruit is a reliable source of food for birds and bats and mammals on the desert

floor. Besides birds, many insects and or ganisms depend on saguaros to live.

Grodman said that because of this re liance, Strong Arm will be left untouched where it fell.

“One of the things the Marana Parks and Rec decided to do was to leave the saguaro in place and do as little movement as possi ble,” he said. “The saguaro will serve a sec ond purpose.”

Although Strong Arm’s demise is mourn ed by many, it will benefit the ecosystem

immediately, as well as into the future.

“There is still moisture left in all of the arms where insects and bugs will benefit from moisture, which is very precious here in the desert,” Grodman said. “Over time in the next few years, organic moisture will return to the soil and potentially be nour ishment for the next generation of saguaros to come.”

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

OV TOWN TALK from

Finally, the Town’s finances are award-winning, and externally reviewed and audited on an annual basis. The Town receives awards from the Government Fi nance Officers Association (GFOA) for its adopted budgets, Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (financial statements),

and Popular Annual Financial Reports. The Town was recently notified that it is one of only 317 governments in the en tire nation that received all three awards for fiscal year 2020 — dubbed the “Triple Crown” of financial awards.

Not only does the Town have financial re views by bond rating agencies as described above, but it also undergoes a full annual

audit by a CPA firm qualified to perform audits of local governments in Arizona on its financial statements. The Town has nev er received anything less than an unmodi fied (clean) opinion on these audits, which should provide comfort that the Town is accurately reflecting its financial results on its financial statements.

Looking forward, there are always chal

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lenges needing to be navigated. However, the Town is well positioned to weather an economic downturn and is always striving to balance community needs, priorities, and service levels with available funding. This forward-looking, policy-driven, con servative approach has served the Town and its residents well in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

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Halloween, fall events aplenty in Tucson area

BY CAMERON CHESTER Tucson Local Media

Halloween brings out the creepiness in all of us. From haunted houses and corn mazes to dance parties, here are some of what the Tucson area has to offer this fall.

GHOSTBUSTERS IN THE HAUNTED RUINS

Something odd is going on in the Haunted Ruins and Valley of the Moon’s fairy woods. Join patrons on an interactive journey across the Valley of the Moon with the mostly fearless Ghostbusters.

When: 6 to 10 p.m. daily until Oct. 30

Where: Valley of the Moon, 2544 E. Allen Road

Cost: $10 adults; $5 students; free for members and children ages 7 and younger Info: valley-of-the-moon.yapsody.com

GLOWING PUMPKINS TUCSON

Explore the magical pathways of lit pumpkin sculptures and displays,

with music, sounds and special effects.

When: Noon to 10 p.m. daily until Oct. 31

Where: Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Oracle Road

Cost: $20

Info: glowingpumpkins.com

NIGHTFALL AT OLD TUCSON

For its 30th anniversary, Nightfall returns to Old Tucson in a new format. This year, the festival offers a totally immersive experience that blends deadly mazes with time-honored

stunt performances and a town full of people to chat with all night. Learn their secrets, solve their issues, or just watch a perfor mance in the Grand Palace.

When: 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. daily until Oct. 30

Where: Old Tucson, 201 Kinney Road Cost: $30 for children younger than 12; $35 older than 13 and adults

Info: nightfallaz.com

FALL PUMPKIN CELEBRATION AT APPLE ANNIE’S

At Apple Annie’s, autumn brings with it sunflowers, hayrides, a corn maze and pump kins. Family events are aplenty here. The 12.5-acre, 600,000-stalk corn maze opens at 9 a.m. daily. The last entry is 4 p.m. The largest collection of pumpkins growing on vine in Arizona may be found in the pumpkin patch. Tickets are available for the hayride that takes guests to the pumpkin patch.

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Oct. 31

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HALLOWEEN from Page 14

Where: Apple Annie’s, 6405 W. Williams Road, Willcox

Cost: $6 corn maze (ages 3 to 11); $8 adults. Corn maze and hayride combo $8 (ages 3 to 11); $10 adults

Info: appleannies.com

TERROR IN THE CORN

An immersive and frightful cornfield connects a range of “haunts” and Halloween activities. The frights, cries and general fear increase as night falls and the moon emerges. When: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 31

Where: Terror in the Corn, 9312 N. Rillito Village Trail, Marana

Cost: $28

Info: tucsonterrorinthecorn.com

SLAUGHTERHOUSE

According to Scurryface, this was 2021’s top haunted house in the nation out of the 85 it reviewed. Organizers promise that 2022 will be even scarier.

When: 7 p.m. nightly until Nov. 4

Where: Slaughterhouse, 1102 W. Grant Road

Cost: $25 is the price for a ticket

Info: slaughterhousetucson.com

BOO AT THE ZOO

Grab your ghouls and dig up your zom bies. At Reid Park Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo, display your boo-tiful costumes for a fun, family-friendly evening that isn’t too spooky. At this Tucson Halloween tradition, the whole family will have a magical experience. The money is used for the upkeep, manage ment and educational programs of the zoo.

When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 30

Where: Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, Tucson

Cost: $13 general admission; $11 zoo members; timed tickets

Info: reidparkzoo.org

HALLOWEEN BOO BASH

Tucson Parks & Recreation is hosting a spooktacular evening of tricks and treats at Lincoln Park from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. At the park, 4325 S. Pantano Road, guests can take part in the costume parade, trunkor-treat, and carnival activities. Food will be available for sale.

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

Where: Lincoln Park’s soccer fields, 4325 S. Pantano Road

Cost: Free

Info: tucsonaz.gov/parks

TUCSON TERROR FEST

The only horror convention and film festival in Southern Arizona, the Tucson Terror Fest presents and celebrates movies from around the world. Organizers stress the creative, enjoyable and artistic aspects of indie horror cinema.

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, and Sun day, Oct. 23

Where: 191 Toole, 191 E. Toole Avenue, Tucson

Cost: Tickets start at $8

Info: 191toole.com

HALLOWEENPALOOZA

Join 100 fun, costumed folks at Catalina Brewing Company for the Oro Valley Social and Business Club party. Tickets include appetizer buffet and new connections.

When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26

Where: Catalina Brewing Company, 6918 N. Camino Martin

Cost: $20

Info: 520-355-7127, eventbrite.com

SPIRITS AT THE ZOO 2022

Wear your best “haunt couture” and fly to Spirits at the Zoo, presented by Casino del Sol. At this Halloween gathering for adults only, have fun with your pack while contrib uting to the zoo’s conservation fund.

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28

Where: Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court Cost: $40 for zoo members and $45 gener al admission

Info: reidparkzoo.org

HOWL AT THE MUSEUM

This 21-and-older event features music by Birds and Arrows, burlesque performances, DJ Humblelianess spinning music, a cos tume contest, Whiskey del Bac showdown, art-making activities and immersive art experience by Lex Gjurasic.

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28

Where: Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Avenue, Tucson

Cost: $35 members; $40 nonmembers

Info: tucsonmuseumofart.org/HOWL

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

This year, the Oro Valley Community & Recreation Center will host The Spooktacu lar once more. Games, crafts and a trick-ortreat lane organized by nearby businesses are all part of this event. While children enjoy themselves as their favorite costumed char acters, a live DJ will keep the rhythms going. There will be food trucks present, and alcoholic

and nonalcoholic drinks can be purchased.

When: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

Where: Oro Valley Town Hall Parking Lot, 11000 N. La Cañada Drive, Oro Valley Cost: Free Info: orovalleyaz.gov

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN PARTY

Come in your costume and enjoy a great Halloween party with treats, themed crafts, open play games, costume contest and gifts bags. When: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

Where: We Rock the Spectrum, 4811 E. Grant Road, Suite 141 Cost: $25 in advance; $35 at the door Info: werockthespectrumtucson.com

TRUNK OR TREAT AT THE Y A haunted house, live DJ, games and trunk

or treat are all part of the fun at the Northwest YMCA Pima County Community Center.

When: 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

Where: Northwest YMCA Pima County Community Center, 7770 N. Shannon Road, Tucson

Cost: Free admission

Info: 520-229-9001

TUCSON HALLOWEEKEND HANGOVER BAR CRAWL

This Halloween, let’s get spooky for the spookiest season of the year. Tucson’s streets will be turned into eerie paths for the Tucson Halloween Hangover Weekend Bar Crawl.

When: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

Where: Various venues in Tucson

Cost: Free registration; charge for drinks Info: eventbrite.com

Visit www.goldengooseaz.com for full details on this 5 day extravagant Estate Event 15970 N. Oracle Rd. Catalina, AZ 85739 – (520) 825- 9101

Columnist: Flu shots are proven to save lives

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

Flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the throat, nose and some times lungs.

It is not a benign disease, though symp toms may be mild in some people; in others it can cause severe illness and even death. Every Fall, the recommendations that we all get the influenza vaccine are posted in health care offices, in various media, and even on public transportation vehicles.

Many people heed the advice and dutiful ly bare their arms for the injection to pro tect themselves and the people around them from the flu and its potential complications. But, according to a national survey reported by Helio medical news, only 49% of United States adults plan to get the flu vaccine for the 2022-23 season.

This is of public health concern because the flu season is gearing up to be much more severe than the last two years (last year saw

a mild flu season with cases decreased by 35% due to a milder strain and continued COVID-19 precautions).

The COVID-19 pandemic may be waning but many thousands of new cases are being diagnosed daily, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and enteroviruses are on the rise in children, and already flu case numbers are rising in parts of the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention (CDC).

Add these factors to a hos pital health care staffing short age and we could be heading for a “perfect storm” of viral illness with not enough re sources to control it.

“Flu is not just a bad cold. In fact, the words ‘just’ and ‘flu’ should never be used in the same sentence,” said Pa tricia Stinchfield, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Influenza is a serious illness with the potential for severe complications.

Flu symptoms appear abruptly. Fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, chills and fatigue are common symptoms. Sore throat, stuffy nose and sneezing are not common but sometimes occur. Vomiting and diarrhea are also not usual symptoms but occur more in children than adults.

The flu can cause mild to severe symp toms to life-threatening complications in cluding hospitalization and death, not only

in people with chronic illnesses but healthy adults and children, too. Complications can include pneumonia, sinus and ear infections, and a worsening of such chronic conditions as asthma, congestive heart failure, and dia betes. This is a highly contagious disease, es pecially one day prior to showing symptoms through the first three or four days of illness. There are lab tests to identify flu cases and an tiviral medications to lessen the severity and duration of illness.

Vaccinating against influenza offers more than a season free of the flu. The Canadi an Cardiovascular Congress presented two studies showing that the flu vaccine cuts the risk for a heart attack or stroke by up to 50%.

Dr. Jacob Udell, a cardiologist at the Uni versity of Toronto and the Women’s College Hospital, led a team of researchers from the TIMI Study Group (Thrombolysis in Myo cardial Infarction, an Academic Research Or ganization affiliated with Brigham and Wom

See

Fine Art Festival

10AM - 5PM SATURDAY

11AM - 4PM

OCTOBER 22 & 23

FREE ADMISSION

Established as one of the most well-respected fine art festivals in Southern Arizona, this two-day event features original artwork from 40+ artisans, as well as interactive arts learning experiences and artist demos, set against the backdrop of the bloom-filled courtyards of the La Encantada Shopping Center.

SAACA and SAAG partner to present the La Encantada Fine Art Festival. We invite you to visit the SAAG gallery at La Encantada to experience weekend-long artist demonstrations.

Saturday, October 22 10 am to Noon Noon to 2 pm 2 pm to 4 pm

Tracy Ann Holmes (Watercolor Demo)

Tom Bacon (Contemporary mixed media Japanese basketry techniques)

Nina Fickett (Contemporary mixed media designs) Phil Smith (3D mixed media photo collages)

Karen Lustrup (sculpting masks by using clay body)

Suzanne Villella (new and vintage paper works)

Corinne Babcock (jewelry demonstration)

FEATURED FINE ARTISTS & EXHIBITORS

David Craig

Deboragh McDonnell

Eliza Plumlee

Elsa M. Jacklitch Photography

Floret Art Design

Flying Crow Metalworks

Geri Bringman Fine ArtGot All Your Marbles?

Holladay Design Jewelry HPSilver, LLC.

J Paul Copper Creations Jacqueline Chanda Fine Art

John Vermette Karen Bell Kevin Pratt Art Kim & Krystal Obrzut Laura Tanzer Lily Roman Art Linda Bayne Linda Mann, Arizona

Madera Ink Designs, Tucson Tea Company Mary Helen and Ray Pelton: Gourds as Art

Melinda D Curtin Melrose Macrame Mirage & Bird BotanicalsSean Hill Solaz Designs Somniative Splendid Nature Splendido and Rancho VistosoTheresa Poalucci Wonderland Design

Sunday, October 23 10 am to Noon Noon to 2 pm 2 pm to 4 pm

Bijou D’Arpa (Cyanotype photographic blueprint)

Tamara Scott Anderson (weaving, dying, stitching and beading to create unique 3-dimensional textile wall sculptures)

Eric Black (sketch artist demonstrating Metalpoint)

Vivian Paric (Demonstrating roving wool and a needle) Donna Vargas (dried gourd art)

Casonti McClure (contemporary Abstract Colorist)

Amber Pierson (Prismacolors, Polychromos and, or Luminance pencils)

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT EVENT DETAILS VISIT WWW.SAACA.ORG

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, preservation and advancement of the arts

Jere Moskovitz/Studiojere LLC

en’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston) and Network for Innovative Clinical Research who examined published clinical trials dating back to the 1960s.

The trials included 3,227 subjects whose average age was 60 years and half of whom had been diagnosed with heart disease. They were randomly assigned to a group, which either received the flu vaccine or a placebo and their health status was monitored for the following year.

They found that the influenza vaccine could help to maintain a healthy heart and prevent cardiovascular illnesses such as strokes and heart attacks. “For those who had the flu shot, there was a pretty strong reduc tion,” Udell said.

The vaccine provided about a 50% reduc tion in the risk of a major cardiac event such as stroke or heart attack and a 40% reduction in death from any cause compared to placebo after a year of follow up for those with and

without already diagnosed heart disease.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Jan. 25, 2018) found that the risk of a heart attack was six times higher within a week of a diagnosed influen za infection. Another study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (Oct. 20, 2020) examined the records of 80,261 adults in the United States who were hospitalized with the flu over eight flu seasons.

One in eight, or 12%, of those patients developed serious heart complications. An older (2012) study published in the Oct. 19, 2012, issue of the Canadian Medical Associ ation Journal looked at 78,000 patients ages 40 and older.

They found that those who received the flu vaccine within the previous year were 20% less likely to experience a first heart attack even when patients had such cardiovascular risks as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or were smokers.

Of interest is an “inflammation connec tion.” The body’s response to viral and bacte

rial illness is an inflammatory response, which can be healthy in certain circumstances but deadly if this inflammation causes the rupture of plaque in arteries. This plaque rupture is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Influenza vaccination may also lower the risk of severe COVID-19 infection. A PLoS One study in 2021 looked at 75,000 COVID-19 patients, half of whom received the annual flu shot. Those vaccinated against the flu had fewer ER visits, hospitalizations, and blood clots than those who were unvac cinated. More research is needed to prove the link between better COVID-19 outcomes and influenza vaccines.

Prevention is of primary importance. The flu vaccine has been shown repeatedly to re duce flu related illness, complications, hospi talizations and death. Diligent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding con tact with people who are ill, staying home if you are ill are also preventive measures. And those dreaded masks we wore for COVID-19 might just be a good idea during flu season.

As a nation, we are still woefully under vac cinated against influenza. Some people reject the vaccine with arguments ranging from that they don’t need it, or that it causes illness and possible side effects, or that vaccines do not work very well, or that encouraging the vaccine is an infringement on their rights (the right to get sick and possibly make oth ers sick?). The vaccine does work to prevent infection in most people. Those who do get sick will have a much milder course of illness. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. This is not a live vaccine. Immediate reactions such as a sore arm or achiness and fatigue the next day are common and not the influenza disease. A sore arm for a day is a small price to pay for a season of illness protection.

Late September until the first week in No vember is considered to be the optimal time to receive the flu vaccine. This vaccine just may save your life.

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

Athlete of the Week: Dezmen Roebuck

BY TOM DANEHY

Just a few days ago, I asked Marana High School senior Makayla Roe buck a question about her brothers. A multisport athlete herself (wrestling, beach volleyball, basketball), I figured that she would have little trouble answering this question: Which of her brothers is hav ing the best football season so far?

She had just returned from North Dakota where she got to see her older brother, Isaiah, catch the winning touchdown pass to lead his Jamestown University to a win. Only a soph omore, he is already a star on the football field and baseball diamond for the Jimmies. Yes, the Jimmies.

Her youngest brother, Little Sean, is not so little anymore. He played quarterback and safety and handled the kicking duties for the Marana Middle School team and led them to an undefeated season. But the one who may be having the greatest season so far is her sophomore brother, Dezmen, who has helped to lead his Marana Tiger team to a No. 6 spot in the Class 5A Power Points ranking at the midpoint of the regu lar season. Their only blemish was a bizarre 59-58 loss to Mesa Westwood, a wild foot ball game that ended in a basketball score.

Heading into an Oct. 14 game with win less Nogales, the Tigers were hoping to avoid a repeat of last year when they had a playoff spot all but sewn up only to lose their final two games and fall just outside of the Top 16. Other than an upcoming matchup with 3-2 Sunny side, the remaining teams on the Tigers’ sched ule have a combined record of 3-17.

Dezmen makes bruising tackles while on defense and spectacular catches on offense. He is the favorite target of Tiger quarter back Elijah Joplin, who survived a bru tal facial injury this past summer and has made an improbable comeback.

Meanwhile, Dezmen’s numbers jump off the page:

Seven catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-0 win at Buena.

Eight catches for 109 yards and a TD against Marana Mountain View.

Ten catches for 104 yards and a TD in the 40-37 win over previously unbeaten Can yon Del Oro.

When asked if he prefers offense or de

fense, he answers with the former. Howev er, it’s not like he doesn’t appreciate playing defense. Last year, as a freshman on the Marana Varsity basketball team (coached by his dad, Sean), he was the 5A Region Defensive Player of the Year.

Life is good for the high-school sopho more who turned 16 on Oct. 11. So, what did he get for his birthday? A car?

“I don’t even have my permit yet. I’m too busy with sports and school.”

He does have a college scholarship — something not many high school sopho mores have. In fact, he has two. UNLV of fered him first and that was followed by a full scholarship offer to play wide receiver at the UA. The UA coaching staff had one of the top recruiting classes in the country this year and the Wildcat coaching staff’s recruiting acu men is unquestioned. To offer a local (soph omore) kid a scholarship speaks volumes about Dezmen’s ability and potential.

However, before we see him in a Wildcat uniform (we hope), he has the rest of this season, then next season, and then the sea son after that to continue to put up insane numbers. At the current pace, he could be come one of the top receivers in Southern Arizona football. And then maybe get a driver’s license.

Marana High School sophomore Dezmen Roebuck is Athlete of the Week. (Submitted)

Dodger Stadium is a shrine in decay EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY SPORTS &RECREATION

Iunderstand that everything looks better in the rearview mirror, but Dodger Stadium when I was growing up was heaven.

You could sit out in the leftfield bleach ers for $1.50. That was basically the minimum wage back then, so you could go to a game for hour’s pay. Try to do that today when the av erage ticket price at Dodger Stadium is $260. My friend Gary Matthews had a car that would run most of the time. We would go to Dodger Stadium and there were a couple plac es along Stadium Way where you could pull off and illegally park on the dirt so we wouldn’t have to pay for parking. (More on that later.) The walk to the stadium wasn’t that long and we were young. We’d get there early and try to catch fly balls during batting practice.

My two strongest memories of Dodger Sta dium during my youth include a time we went and a time we didn’t go.

We were sitting out in left field and Gary suddenly said, “Someday, I’m going to be play ing on that field.” A few weeks later, we actually played on that field in the city championship game, but that’s not what he had meant.

A few years later, I sat in the bleachers and watched as Gary was playing left field for the San Francisco Giants. He went on to become NL Rookie of the Year. It sucked that he was with the much-despised Giants, but it was cool

that he was on the field. I felt like the nerd sportswriter at the end of the movie “Sandlot.”

Gary later played for the Braves and Phillies, but he’s probably best known for his stint with the Cubs, where he was known as “The Sarge.”

Dodger Stadium maintained its sparkle (for me, anyway) for a few decades after that. When my son’s middle-school band was in a compe tition in Southern California, I flew over to watch him play, then I took him to a Dodger game that night. He had his first Dodger Dog, which used to be a semi-religious experience.

But then came the “steroid era” and I lost in terest in baseball. Meanwhile, the Dodgers lost their way. Instead of competing and working hard, they bought their way to championships.

(It’s working; they’ve won nine straight National League West titles, but only one World Series.) They’re no longer lovable; they’re insufferable.

Worst of all is that the Dodger Stadium experi ence has gone to rot. An old friend of mine who lives in LA has attended three to four Dodger games a year for the past several decades. He called me during the summer to tell me that he was done.

He and his wife had gone to a game the night before and it was a complete nightmare. First of all, he had paid $50 online for a parking space. Not a great parking space, just a parking space. But when he showed up at the stadium, he was told that the parking lot was full. He showed them his online receipt, but they just said, “Sorry.”

He had to park off-site and pay for a shuttle

to take them to the ballpark. When he tried to file a complaint, there was no one in the cus tomer service office. He initially thought that there might have been a computer mistake that overbooked the parking lot, but then he heard rumors that the parking attendants were allowing drive-ups to park for $20 cash, which would go into the attendant’s pocket.

They finally went to their seats, and he had to look everywhere to find an usher willing to kick out the two people camping in them. Two ushers told him, “Just tell them to move.”

He went to get a Dodger Dog, knowing full well that the Dodger organization had gone cheap and had broken a decades-long deal with Farmer John to save a few pennies. My friend hadn’t had one since before the pandemic, when Farmer John was supplying them. Sure enough, he could tell the difference in taste right away.

He decided to try to kill the taste, but guess what? The mustard dispenser was empty…in the fourth inning! Oh, there was plenty of catsup, but as we all know, people who put catsup on a hot dog will spend time in purgatory in the afterlife.

He then told me a disgusting story about the bathrooms (which I won’t share). He’s done and I’m done.

It’s a shame. It used to be a great place, a shrine to baseball. Now it’s just a shrine to greed and to a lack of pride.

Dodger Stadium used to be a great place, according to Tom Danehy.

AGING WELL A Fresh Take on Active Aging

Thefirst week of every October marks Ac tive Aging Week— an international celebration designed to call attention to positive aging, showcase the capabilities of older adults, and shine a spot light on positive role models.

You might say that every week is Active Aging Week at Splendido, a Life Plan Com munity for those 55 and bet ter in Oro Valley. “In fact, the vision statement of Mather, one of Splendido’s two parent organizations, is to transform the way that society views ag ing,” says William Wesley My ers, director of Wellness Strat egies for Mather. “That ideal has long been woven into our culture and philosophy, so it’s natural for us to look be yond traditional offerings and events for residents during Active Aging Week.”

Hiking & Holistic Health

In a week full of on-site classes, workshops, and games focused on cognitive health, skincare, balance, and more, Splendido residents—and team members, too—were in vited to try two unique expe riences that combined several aspects of “active” personal wellness, and offered multiple benefits for physical and men

tal health.

“On October 3rd, we facilitated a nature- and sound-bathing hike in Hon ey Bee Canyon for interested residents and staff,” says Wil liam. “The short hike to the canyon offered an opportunity to try authentic shinrin yoku, or forest-bathing, including an experience of gratitude toward nature, followed by a guided meditation with a crystal bowl sound-bathing component. Sound bathing uses tone and vibration to res onate with the body, and may help with stress, fatigue, and depression symptoms. “Sound bathing relaxes the soul and the mind,” says Kimberly Ber berich, Splendido’s director of Repriorment Services.

Judy Effken, a Splendido resident, enjoyed the Honey Bee Canyon hike and medi tation. “It was nice to get out in nature and really hike,” she says. “We saw some birds and butterflies, and the walk itself, with all these wonderful staff people, was wonderful.”

Later in the week, William led a meditative nature walk on the grounds of Splendido, during which participants fo cused on carefully observing the weather, birds or other wildlife, and indigenous plants

Sound bathing, nature immersion, and much more were part of Active Aging Week at Splendido.

and cacti. The walk ended in the outdoor courtyard of Fig urati, Splendido’s holistic well ness space. There, participants tried a guided gratitude reflec tive meditation, again with the vibrational tones of crystal singing bowls.

These events were care fully planned to incorporate

research-based techniques that support overall wellness. “For example, we incorporate the singing bowls and sound bathing because science has shown that sound has a pro found effect on our physical health, mood, mental health, and overall well-being,” ex plains William. “Much of this

has to do with how our brains respond to sound, vibration, and rhythm.” There are simi lar findings for being in nature and for mindfulness.

“Active aging encompasses so much more than you might think,” says William. “We’re exploring the benefits of hav ing an active mind, an active

spiritual side, and actively seeking the peace and calm of nature—all of which can have a profound effect on our well ness.”

Interested in learning more about Splendido? For floor plans, photos, and informa tion on upcoming events, visit splendidotucson.com.

the

Green machine

Words shouted before “No hands!”

Experiencing a flow state

Ponzi scheme, for one

90° bend

Instruments played pizzicato in Britten’s “Simple Symphony”

Subjects

Title role for Alan Ladd in a classic 1953 western

1995 Pixar film that launched a franchise

Mined-over matter

What games like chess, Stratego and Risk simu late

Forbiddance

Albanian currency

Regretful soul

Top of the Highlands?

The “E” in B.C.E.

Murmur lovingly

Projectiles from a pellet gun

The marbling in marbled beef

Gets in the way of

“Caesar”

Passionately protesting

Running by the pool, e.g.

Term of endearment

Airport once called Idlewild, for short

Lawyers’ org.

“Respect” singer Franklin

A 0% chance, colloquially

Aaron who created “The West Wing”

Big name in skin care

Un- gerrymandered, say, as a voting district

Whopping

The Terminator and HAL 9000, for two

Enthusiastic response to “Want some ice cream?”

Variety show routine

network

de parfum

Clean air org.

By Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). While it's not possible to control what other peo ple want, it's certainly within your realm to entice the senses, spark interesting ideas that are fascinating to engage with and generally create the sort of atmo sphere people want to be around. This week, you'll use your skills to attract and persuade.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The week will bring a wealth of ideas, from the brazen to the bizarre to the brilliant. Theoretical knowledge can do nothing for you, though; the real test is in the application. It's better to pick one and try it out than to know of a thousand you don't act on. It's also an ideal week for networking. You're naturally charming and curious.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Keep work ing on your idea until it requires very little, if any, explanation. You'll know when it's ready because it will be very easy to relay -- you will not have to fan the spark of understanding for too long before it catches on. Leonardo da Vinci suggested, "Simplicity is the ultimate so phistication."

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though you're not exactly a mind reader, your empathy and intuition allow you to make pretty good guesses about what's happening for others this week, and you'll make your moves accordingly. You realize that what others demonstrate is likely only the tip of the iceberg of what they are really feeling.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You've extended yourself to understand and contribute to people's worlds. Not everyone can get out of themselves in this way. It takes confidence and intellectual flexibility. It takes courage and an inner core of secu rity. Because you've often been the one to leave comfortable realms, you're ex panded. You become a bit of everything you learn.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). When you work alone, it can be difficult to deter mine how you compare with others in the marketplace. You welcome the in sights of those who can help you see it from another perspective. These are the opinions that will help you to grow. In

doing so, you won't lose a thing. Every one you've ever been is inside you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There is noth ing more exhilarating than generosity. As you contribute to the lives of others, you will become aware of the difference you are making. And so, the act of giving doesn't imply sacrifice, rather it often results in unexpectedly receiving quite a lot in return.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Optimism is the fountain of youth. Hope regener ates your cells and restores your spirit. People you reach out to may be reserved until they understand what you want and how they can help. So make it easy for them -- talk about what you need to move forward.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Using your imagination as a flight machine, you can go wherever your inner pilot desires. It takes more mental discipline than you'd think to keep the journey aloft, though when you learn to fortify and fuel your imagination, it really will take you anywhere you want to go.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Tension is the basis of all music. It holds the string; it pins the melody to its reso lution or irresolution. Tension keeps the action taut. Don't be afraid of the missteps and unresolved connections. Chances are, they hold the most exqui site tension. Without conflict, no stories exist. Embrace it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Once you've mastered a task, there is a very short window of time in which you enjoy repeating your success to good effect. But you'll need a new challenge soon enough. This week brings reminders to savor where you are in the journey. There is no stage inherently better than another. These are the good old days.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The nature of the opportunity won't be indicated in its title -- only in the work itself. To know if an opportunity is right for you, look at what skills are being honed in side it. Will the job afford you a chance to fill in the gaps of your knowledge, sharpen your talent or strengthen your weakness?

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