Marana News 121422

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Staff

Oro Valley’s only synagogue, Chabad of Oro Valley, is hoping to build community during its free Hanukkah celebration at the Gaslight Theater’s outdoor theater at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.

Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman, who heads the congregation said he expects more than 200 celebrants at the hour-long 11th annual community party that features a fire circus, gelt drop, latkes, donuts, Hanukkah gift boxes, and the

9-foot menorah lighting. Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield is scheduled to participate.

“Our first year in 2012, we had about 60 people and it grew over the years to 100,” Zimmerman said. “Then, a few years ago, we made the shift over to the Gaslight Theater. The outdoor theater is a big enough venue, and attracts a larger crowd.

“This year, in particular, is going to be even bigger,” he said. This is the year of Hakhel, which means “gath-

Instrument project snowballs, leading to more music

BY HOPE PETERS

Tucson Local Media Staff

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Staff

ro Valley Town Council agreed to reconvene for further discussion of the proposed ordinance for shortterm rentals during the governing body’s Dec. 7 study session.

OWhen Grace Albrecht was in the fifth grade, she was disturbed by the number of her Estes Elementary School classmates who couldn’t afford musical instruments.

Grace, of Red Rock, decided to do something about it. She sold homemade bracelets for $3 and raised $794.

The Community and Economic (CED) Director Paul Melcher presented the proposed ordinance for vacation and shortterm rentals at the council’s request during its Sept. 7 meeting.

Ed Verburg, his Kiwanis Club of the Desert and Christina Wallace, former plant office administrator at Vulcan Materials, were so impressed that they, too, decided to help the Estes students.

Mayor and council voiced concerns during the presentation, primarily regarding enforcement and the prevention of parties.

Deputy Police Chief Curtiss Hicks and Chief Civil Deputy Attorney Joe Andrews answered police and legal questions.

“You want to treat short-term rentals kind of like your children,” said Councilmember Josh Nicolson during the presentation.

“I had asked (Wallace) for any suggested community service projects for our club prior to a meeting early last year,” Verburg recalled. “She mentioned there was a need for musical instruments at Estes Elementary School. She had heard about it on a PBS clip, which was a repeat of KOLD 13’s interview with Grace Albrecht. Grace had started selling bracelets to raise money to purchase musical instruments for her fellow students who could not afford to buy them.”

“If your children do something good you get them a little prize or some money. But if they do something bad, you want it to be a big enough consequence — to say, ‘Hey, fix it.’”

Verburg had eight recommended community service projects from Marana business and community leaders.

Short-term rentals’ neighbors, as well as the council, are concerned about parties and the accompanying traffic and noise.

The Voice of Marana, Oro Valley

The

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THEATER

Friday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Dec. 18

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

Ticket prices start at $35 at arts-express.org. Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard.

ONGOING HOLIDAY EVENTS

Friday, Dec. 16 to Friday, Dec. 23

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

Thursday, Dec. 15 to Saturday, Dec. 24

in advance on yuletideaz. com. Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road.

Wednesday, Dec. 14 to Monday, Dec. 26

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

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12/16 2-5pm, 12/17 9am-2pm 12/18 11am-2pm Fred.Mees@CBRealty.com

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Beautiful great room w/window walls lead to a patio with amazing, unobstructed sunset, desert, and mountain views for you to enjoy.

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Visit the holiday production, Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios from Thursday, Dec. 15 to Saturday, Dec. 24. The festive spectacular rings in the holidays the Old West Way this Christmas season with interactive experiences, live shows, hayrides and train rides. Visitors are encouraged to purchase time-entry tickets

HOT PICKS from Page 3

Wednesday, Dec. 14 to Wednesday, Dec. 30

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

Wednesday, Dec. 14 to Sunday, Jan. 8

The city of Tucson, Rio Nuevo and Pima Pain Center present Tucson Holiday Ice now through Sunday, Jan. 8. Winter visitors may have their own ice skates, but locals who do not can rent them here. Socks are required and gloves are highly recommended. Tucson Holiday Ice tickets are available

online for various sessions. Visit tucsonaz. gov to reserve a spot. Tucson Holiday Ice, 260 S. Church Avenue. (In front of the Tucson Convention Center Ticket Office.)

Wednesday, Dec. 14 to Sunday, Jan. 15

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

SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS

Thursday, Dec. 15

Celebrate the holidays the Loft style at its film presentation, “The Very Merry Holiday Sing-A-Long Spectacular!” on Thursday, Dec. 15. Guests can feast their eyes and ears on subtitled Santa-licious musical moments

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

Friday, Dec. 16

The Fox Tucson Theatre and Mariachi Sol de Mexico present Jose Hernandez Merry-Achi Christmas at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. A beloved annual Tucson holiday tradition, Merry-Achi Christmas shares five generations of mariachi musicians and music to the hearts of audiences old and new. Tickets start at $27.50. For more information, visit foxtucson.com. The Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street.

Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17

Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Galleries present Holiday Nights on Friday,

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

Saturday, Dec. 17

Guests can discover their favorite holiday Traditions, Toys and Trains at the Oro Valley Historical Society’s Pusch House Museum from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 17. Meet Father Christmas, and kids can drop their letters off to the jolly old soul at the post box on the porch of the museum. No reservations are required, visitors can

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Oro Valley AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

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

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

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

Thankfully, Oro Valley is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

1. Finding the underlying cause

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

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

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

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

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

It’s completely painless!

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

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

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

INSTRUMENTS from Page 1

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

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Our club voted on them and selected musical instruments as the No. 1 project we wanted to undertake as a team. We help youth in the community, so it was perfect.”

The club raised $8,400 for clarinets, saxophones, drums, cellos, violas, violins, trumpets, and instrument supplies and cleaners.

Supporters included the Monterey Court with Peter Ronstadt and The Company, Chicago Music Store, a sister Kiwanis de Amigos Club, and Marana businesses. Contributing companies included Vulcan Materials, CalPortland, Alan Bradley Roofing and Sam Levitz.

The 17 instruments and supplies were presented during a recent assembly for 600 students.

“This new project took on a lot of energy because, what else can you do that’s better for kids?” Verburg said.

“Introducing them to music — having had a music class when I was in high school — you never forget learning the notes and playing in a group. You learn what different instruments sound like. You can hear them in the background on the radio. When kids learn the notes and melodies, they’re so much better off. They’ll have an enjoyment they might not have had.”

Vulcan put $2,400 upfront. CalPortland gave $1,000 and Sam Levitz donated as well.

“I just kept asking,” Verburg said.

The Kiwanis Club of the Desert held a fundraiser with Ronstadt and the money made pushing the organization beyond its goal. The Chicago Music Store offered a discount on the instruments. The club also purchased 10 buckets to serve as the kids’ drums.

“It’s almost as good as drums,” Verburg was told.

When the Kiwanis Club of the Desert presented the instruments to Estes Elementary School, Verburg said it touched his heart.

“They were thrilled,” he said. “The two part-time music teachers were there. They showed me to the closet where they stored their instruments, and they had two drums and two instruments on the shelf. We gave them 17 instruments. They could reach kids who wouldn’t ordinarily been in the classes.

“We had five (Kiwanis) members at the assembly — this is during working hours. People just took off work. The CFO of Sam Levitz was there, for example. It made you feel good. That’s what we do.”

In 2023, the Kiwanis Club of the Desert will begin providing instruments to every Marana Unified School District school that needs them.

“We wouldn’t have known about it if it wasn’t for this little lady, Grace,” he said. “It worked out so nicely and everybody in the club loved it.”

The Kiwanis Club of the Desert’s club members meet with Grace Albrecht, center, and Estes Elementary School teachers. (The Kiwanis Club of the Desert/Submitted)

ering.” It only happens in the Jewish calendar once every seven years.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins this year on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 18 and concludes the evening of Monday, Dec. 26.

It recalls the victory of a militarily weak Jewish people who defeated the Syrian Greeks who had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life and prohibit religious practice. They also desecrated and defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the oils prepared for lighting the menorah, which was part of the daily service. Upon recapturing the temple only one jar of undefiled oil was

found, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight.

Zimmerman said “today, people of all faiths consider the holiday a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.” There’s a profound joy in the celebration, which is upbeat with music and dancing at the end, he added.

Other local Hanukkah events, all at 5 p.m., include menorah lightings in SaddleBrooke on Monday, Dec. 19 (at the clubhouse); Marana Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 20 (with Mayor Ed Honea); and at the Oro Valley Public Library on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The public celebration of Hanukkah started in 1973 when the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, launched the Hanukkah campaign, of which Oro Valley’s public Hanukkah activities are a part.

“We also visit many assisted living homes in Northwest Tucson. It’s hard for them to get out, so we bring it to them,” Zimmerman said.

“To keep our program exciting, we always have new entertainment. This year, we’re having an internationally traveled circus troupe called Kumpania Phoenicia come do a professional fire show. We’re also having Golder Ranch Fire Department do a ‘gelt (chocolate coin) drop’ from the

top of the ladder. That’s always a fun part of the program.”

For the Gaslight Theater Hanukkah event, reservations are recommended. Visit bit.ly/JewishOroValley to RSVP.

If you go

Grand Hanukkah Community Celebration

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

WHERE: Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley

COST: Free

INFO: jewishorovalley.com

sign up at the Oro Valley Historical Society booth at the south end of the farmers market. There is a suggested donation of $5. For more information about ongoing tours, museum hours and events, visit ovhistory. org. The Pusch House will be closed for the last two weeks of December. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle.

Saturday, Dec. 17

The Arizona History Museum invites guests to celebrate the holidays from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Enjoy holiday activities, live musical performances, storytelling, face painting, films and even a special appear-

ance by Santa Claus. Ticket prices are adults $10, youth (7-13) $8, youth (6 and under) free, and can be purchased online at arizonahistoricalsociety.org. Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second Street.

Sunday, Dec. 18

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

LOCAL MARKETS

Friday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Dec. 18

The Mercado District presents the 15th annual Mercado District Holiday Bazaar, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the Mercado District near

the MSA Annex and Mercado San Agustin. The open-air, holiday market will feature over 60 vendors selling handmade and vintage goods. For a glimpse into the itinerary for the bazaar’s opening night winter celebration, visit mercadodistrict.com. 100 & 267 S. Avenida del Convento.

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Now in sixth grade, Grace is modest about her efforts.

“Last year, we were doing this thing to see which class we wanted to do,” she said shyly. “There were kids in band who didn’t have enough money, so I made bracelets to sell. They were rubber bands with different colors.”

Her mom, Rachael Albrecht, said her daughter’s heart is “too big for this world.”

“I still cry thinking about it,” Rachael said. “I’m so proud. She’s always had a very big heart. She just came home when they were choosing between band and orchestra. The teacher split the kids into groups — those who wanted to do band and then those who had an instrument, those who didn’t, and those who couldn’t afford it. Grace was distraught.”

Rachael said she, her firefighter husband, Marc, and their 9-year-old son, Gavin, turned their living room into a “bracelet-making factory.” With the $794 Grace raised, the family bought instruments and Rachael’s aunt, Katy Hada of Houston, donated a drum set and bought

used instruments.

Verburg was just as impressed by Grace.

“She’s just a kid but she’s already thinking of others,” he said.

“It’s pretty cool that she had that vision at her age because some kids don’t. Some people never do.”

Estes Elementary School Principal Colleen Frederick said the instruments are being put to good use.

“Grace is just dynamite,” she said. “That one little seed was planted, and it turned into something really great. Working with Ed and the whole Kiwanis team was wonderful. They jumped on board and wrapped themselves around the project. When they played instru-

ments, it enriched their lives. They wanted these students to have the same feeling.

“We have 50% free and reduced lunch,

which is how we benchmark the socioeconomic status in the school. We have parents who don’t have a lot of income.”

The Kiwanis Club of the Desert presents musical instruments to students at Estes Elementary School. Inspired by student Grace Albrecht, the club decided to do its own fundraiser for the school’s music program.

Principal Colleen Frederick emcees the assembly with the Estes Elementary School eagle mascot.

Grace Albrecht meet and greets with the Estes Elementary School eagle mascot.

Hear better with the opening of a new Beltone clinic

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media

Tucsonans can soon hear better when Beltone opens its Oro Valley clinic in the former Urgent Care at Oracle Crossings early next year. It will be Beltone's only Tucson clinic. In the meantime, there’s a once-a-week clinic at 3037 W. Ina Road.

“It’s great synergy for health care and also retail; it has really good, easy access,” said Kory Castro, a co-owner. “There was definitely a need for a Beltone to be out in Tucson.”

This is the fourth Beltone in Arizona that Castro, his father and brother-in-law own and operate. The others are in Prescott, Carefree and Scottsdale.

Beltone does more than sell hearing aids.

“We treat hearing loss,” Castro said. “At times that involves recommending or fitting a hearing aid on to somebody, but really it’s evaluating somebody’s need and performing hearing tests.”

Typically, Castro said, folks visit Beltone because they are having issues hearing and understanding people. That’s when things get complicated. Clients don’t just show up and get a hearing aid.

“Our job is to evaluate to see if, one, are those issues they’re having validated, and do they have a hearing loss?” Castro said. “Two, what kind of hearing loss is that and is it something that needs to be seen by a physician? Are there other underlying health concerns?”

Hearing is a two-organ function; we hear with our ears and understand with our brain, he said. When clients come in for an evaluation, the staff performs a tone test to determine how well the brain is functioning.

“We do word understanding tests, speech and (noise) tests, and we use that to determine how well somebody would perform if they were to use a hearing aid,” Castro said.

Castro has been in the industry for 15 years. He became interested in this type of work when he was in middle school while watching his dad, who is still in the trade.

Beltone offers free hearing tests, and will clean, service and repair any hearing aid model. Although some Medicare Advantage plans help with the cost, Medicare does not cover this, and that can be an issue because

hearing aids are expensive.

“All of our hearing aids we bundle with lifetime care, so the cost is the device plus all of that follow-up care and the fitting services bundled into one cost,” Castro said. “For two years for both ears, that’s going to start around $2,000 and it can go up to $6,000 or $7,000, depending on how sophisticated the device is.”

Over-the-counter hearing aids can be more cost effective. Beltone has them, but there is a caveat.

“We’re worried that people will try to take their hearing health care into their own hands, and that they’ll skip seeing a professional,” Castro said.

Although Beltone offers payment plans, leasing hearing aids is an option. Castro said clients pay a monthly fee and then every four years the old hearing aids are replaced with new devices.

Kory Castro is a co-owner of the soon-toopen Beltone clinic in Oro Valley. (Beltone/ Submitted)

Lovin’ Life Expos offer a wealth of info

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Staff

The Lovin’ Life After 50 Expo is returning to the Double Tree Resort Reid Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, with exhibitors ready to talk about tour and travel, retirement living, health care, financial matters, leisure and more.

The Tucson event is part of Lovin’ Life After 50’s cadre of events, which are Arizona’s longest-running expos for the after-50 market.

“The Tucson Lovin’ Life After 50 Expo is still the most well-attended event for those over 50 to enjoy in all of Arizona,” said publisher Steve Strickbine.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet new friends, network with peers and build new relationships. There will also be raffle prize giveaways, live entertainment and a $100 cash prize each hour.

Entertainment includes Ms. Senior Ar-

izona contestants performing throughout the day.

“I have been working the Lovin’ Life After 50 Expos for over 16 years now and have watched them grow and also watched our Arizona seniors flock to each expo all over the Valley,” said Herme Sherry, executive director of Ms. Senior Arizona.

“The expos bring so much information to our seniors. They are there waiting for the doors to open and always leave with a bag full of information to maybe help them in some areas of their lives. The expos have grown each year and we look forward to working them and meeting and getting to know so many of our seniors we see year after year.”

Sherry shared the expos are a “blessing” to the senior community.

“We get to know so many of them year after year,” she adds. The Lovin’ Life After 50 expos are something we look forward to each year, also.”

Strickbine is proud of the variety of

vendors, including Optum Care, TMC Health, PCOA and Arizona Daily Star. “A wide spectrum of exhibitors and thousands of attendees are at the Lovin’ Life Expos each year,” he said. “There’s bound to have something for anyone over the age of 50.”

If

you go

Lovin’ Life After 50 Expo

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11

WHERE: Double Tree Resort Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson COST: Free INFO: lovinlife.com/expos/

*$19.95 is the monthly price of subscription to a MobileHelp Classic at home only system. There is a one-time $49.95 processing fee and $15 shipping fee required to subscribe to this plan. Equipment may vary as shown. System featured in photo above is the MobileHelp DUO available at an additional monthly cost. Call or see terms and conditions for further details. 50% off Fall Detection Promotion valid when Fall Detection Service is added to your monitoring system and MobileHelp Connect Premium service is included with the order. Offer is valid for the first year of service only. This offer is for new customers only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Promotion available for select plans only and for a limited time. During the promotional term, you will receive $5 off the $10 full retail price of Fall Detection service. After first year, Fall Detect pricing reverts to discounted price of $7.50/month when combined with MobileHelp Connect Premium. Fall Button does not detect 100% of falls. If able, users should always push their help button when they need assistance. Fall Button is not intended to replace a caregiver for users dealing with serious health issues. Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation. MobileHelp is a registered trademark. Patented technology. MobileHelp is an FDA registered company. MHPN-00939 Rev. 1

David Archuleta invites fans to celebrate with him

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Staff

David Archuleta has become known for his holiday tours. But when “David Archuleta: The More the Merrier Christmas Tour” comes to Arizona for two shows, the “American Idol” runner-up promises it will be more intimate.

“That’ll be interesting to see how that goes,” Archuleta said.

“I’m playing with the idea of just being me on stage. Usually, it’s a more of a grandiose kind of Christmas show experience.”

He’s playing Tucson for the first time on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Rialto Theatre, and the Chandler Center for the Arts on Friday, Dec. 23.

“Being in a different place of life, instead of making it all big and epic and massive Christmas songs, I wanted it to feel more nostalgic,” he said.

“I want it to be like we’re reminiscing around the family room, just talking to each other. I want to reflect on the good times. I’m looking back on the wonder of Christmas from an adult perspective this time.”

Christmas is special for Archuleta. From spending time singing carols with his family as a youngster to performing for them, he enjoys the holiday season.

“I feel like the Christmas tours that I’ve done have been a highlight,” he said about his holiday memories.

“My family comes to the shows and it’s fun to create a magical world for people to step into. For me, the shows get me into gear for Christmas Day. I’ve had time to really savor the Christmas spirit and magic.

It’s like I’m celebrating it almost every night.”

Archuleta became a star when he was 16. In 2008, more than 30 million TV viewers watched him place second in season seven of “American Idol.”

Soon after, Archuleta’s single “Crush” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the track sold 166,000 downloads in its first week in the United States and subsequently more than 1.92 million digital copies to reach double platinum.

Three months later, his self-titled album went gold, selling more than 750,000 copies in the United States and more than 900,000 copies worldwide.

The Nashville resident is spending 2023 reflecting on his life. Recently, he publicly said he’s gay and he’s taking a break from the Church of Latter-day Saints.

“I think I’m going to do a little more self-discovery,” he said.

“I need to get some inspiration to create more music. I need to explore cultures, tour, make new friends and visit other parts of the world. I need to pull from some sort of inspiration. I’ve been in a drought with creativity for the last year.”

Still, Archuleta is excited about coming to Arizona.

“It’s a great place,” he said. “It’s the neighbor of where I grew up in Utah. I’ve been able to go there a lot and make friends there. They’ve got some great restaurants in Arizona. It’ll be fun to go back.”

David Archuleta enjoys visiting Arizona, but is playing Tucson for the first time on Thursday, Dec. 22. (Zack Knudson/Contributor)

If you go

David Archuleta: The More the Merrier Christmas Tour

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22

WHERE: The Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress Street, Tucson COST: Tickets start at $59.90

INFO: rialtotheatre.com

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler COST: Tickets start at $39.90

INFO: chandlercenter.org, davidarchuleta.com

The Town of Oro Valley is grateful for your dedication and service.

The Town of Oro Valley is grateful for your dedication and service.

You help make us a community of excellence!

You help make us a community of excellence!

Learn how you can get involved at www.orovalleyaz.gov.

Learn how you can get involved at www.orovalleyaz.gov.

2022 Giving Guide

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

Ten tips for making charitable donations

BY JIMMY MAGAHERN Tucson Local Media Contributor

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

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

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

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

For that, it helps to have some expert guidance.

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

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



1. Donate appreciated noncash assets

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

Hilderbrandt offers an example. “Let’s

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



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

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



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

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



4. Consider using a donor advised fund

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



5. Consider “bunching”

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included some changes related to charitable giving. Principally, the standard deduction

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Help Break the Cycle of Homelessness

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

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Our Vision: The Hearth Foundation Provides a model program for local, regional and national organizations to follow by creating affordable housing communities.

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Primavera made my dreams come true.”

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

people

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

place

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

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

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

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

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

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

294 participants worked 35,310 hours through Primavera Works, a social enterprise workforce development program; 65% of the workers exited Primavera Works with stable housing

$451 per month is the average rent of a Primavera resident, while the average Tucson renter is paying $1,240 per month

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

Together, we can and do make dreams come true.

Primavera Foundation 151 W 40th Street Tucson, AZ 85713

“I really don’t dream about the future now, because the present is so wonderful.

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

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

in 1997, many investors have opted to convert their traditional IRAs or 401k’s to Roth plans, which allow them to build tax-free retirement income, have easier early access to the money and offer better terms for their heirs. The catch is that because a Roth uses after-tax contributions rather than before-tax dollars, as a traditional IRA works, the investor has to pay income tax on the appreciation in that traditional IRA upon conversion.

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

 7. Make a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA

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



8.

Donate cash from the sale of depreciated assets

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

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



10. Set up a charitable remainder trust

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



6. Use the charitable donation to offset the tax costs of converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA Since the introduction of the Roth IRA

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



9. Donate appreciated assets to balance your portfolio

“When we rebalance a portfolio, we’re

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

GIFT Arizona spotlights other nonprofits

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Tucson Weekly Staff Writer

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

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

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

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

They realized that they could combine their individual skills and experiences to support the missions of other organ-

izations instead of creating a traditional nonprofit contributing to one need in the community.

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

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

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

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

GIFT begins by determining what would be “life-changing” for other local nonprofits. From there, the organization supports them by donation matching and utilizing their local connections.

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

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

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

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

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

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

One of GIFT’s highlight partnerships is Tucson’s Ascent Real Estate Team,

which donates a portion of its agents’ commission.

“The first gift they gave was to the Bill Felix Memorial Foundation, and the nice thing is we were able to come in and amplify and get them a matching gift,” Ochoa said. “It’s been an amazing process as we go down the line.”

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

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

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

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

Although GIFT is in its infancy, its

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

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

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

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

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

Trico Electric Cooperative awards $70K in POWER Grants

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

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

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

The Arivaca Human Resource Group, which provides daily meals and emergency food boxes to clients within the community, received a $5,200 POWER Grant in the spring. The organization

ject,

warm.

wanted to purchase a small walk-in refrigeration unit along with shelving from the Sahuarita Food Bank but could not afford it. With help from lender CoBank,

I-19

which matched Trico’s grant, they purchased the refrigeration and freezer unit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friends In Deed, a Green Valley nonprofit, received a $2,500 grant to provide transportation to senior citizens going to medical appointments.

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

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

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

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

Info: trico.coop/power-grants 

Trico Electric Cooperative donated $1,000 to the

Rotary Warmth from the Heart Pro-

which provides free cold weather clothing for adults, children and families struggling to stay

“Trico’s generous donation made it possible for so many people to be warm this winter,” Joyce Finkelstein said. (Submitted photo)

Special to Tucson Local Media

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

THAT IS 1 IN EVERY 5-6 PEOPLE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

That ripple of change begins at IMPACT!

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

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

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

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

Adopt - we have over 200 cats ready for adoption. Some bonded pairs, some older, some kittens. But there's sure to be the purr-fect feline friend for you.

Donate - our adoption fees don't begin to cover the costs of housing, feeding and caring for our cat residents. Any amount helps!

Foster - we receive so many cats that need a home environment to thrive. Bottle babies can be labor intensive but most cats just need a quiet, loving place to recuperate.

Volunteer - with over 200 cats you know there's always something that needs to be done! From cleaning, to maintenance and everything in between, we need your help.

We're open Tuesday-Saturday from 10-5. 5278 E. 21st Street

Pet adoption is not advised for the holiday season

BY LAURA LATZKO Tucson Local Media Contributor

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

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

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

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

Instead, adopting a pet should be a family decision.

“We hope this is a lifetime commit-

ment to the animal,” Young Wright said.

“We want to make sure the person has a connection to the animal, really loves that animal and feels like it’s the right one for them. The right one can

be a lot of things, so we try really hard to match the needs of the adopter to the animal.”

The organization requires a meetand-greet with other dogs that will be

Holidays

in the home.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rescue Me Marana has a standard adoption process and application.

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

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

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

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

“It’s what an animal goes through in three days, when they shut down, hide and might not want to eat. Then in three weeks and then in three months. You might not get to see your true dog until longer than that. We ask people to be patient and to allow a minimal of 30 days for the animal to adjust.”

Young Wright cautioned that new

owners should watch their newly adopted animals closely during the first few weeks of the adjustment period.

“It doesn’t know these people. It doesn’t know it’s their new home. The dog may door dash out the front door. The dog may jump over the fence. The dog may dig under the fence. We strongly urge people year-around to watch the dog closely for the first few weeks, go out holding the dog’s leash in the yard, don’t let it go out there alone, don’t leave it out there alone. With small dogs, we urge caution with doggie doors because of all of the predators in the area, hawks, owls, coyotes, bobcats,” Young Wright said.

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

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

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

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

Young Wright said many people are

looking for smaller breeds, such as Poodles or terrier mixes, which can be more difficult to find at shelters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teddy was the outcast of his litter and had been ignored and possibly abused. He was taken in by Pima Paws for Life, receiving love and care, and then adopted through Rescue Me Ma-

Left: Nacho, a blind cat, is one of the success stories of pets adopted through Rescue Me Marana. Right: Carmen, later known as Little Miss Chloe, is a black cat who found a home through Rescue Me Marana. (Rescue Me Marana/Submitted).

rana. At the shelter, his personality and “striking good looks” made him a favorite amongst volunteers.

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

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

Often, the organization will adopt out bonded pairs, which can be more difficult to find homes for because they need to be kept together.

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

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

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

Mobile Meals serves nutritional meals, conversation

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK Tucson Local Media Contributor

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

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

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

Mobile Meals offers 10 diet-specific meals to address various health issues or dietary recommendations,

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

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

A personal connection

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

MMVA delivers to anyone with a need and an address. “Because of

many health issues related to aging, our clients tend to be elderly individuals,”

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

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

MMVA expects to increase services “four-fold” with the opening of a new kitchen at the former El Indio

Help Handi-Dogs Help People

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

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

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

Donors see results

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

Donors also can see all facets of the organization in full swing. “They can meet the volunteers, talk with their operations team

and see the food being prepared. They will see the fruits of their labor up close and in person.”

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

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

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

Strategies for year-end giving in 2022

BY JENNY FLYNN Special to Tucson Local Media

If planning your year-end giving feels more difficult this year, you are not alone.

The giving season is one of my favorite times of year. The opportunity to talk about the causes that are particularly important to each person – and then identify local nonprofit organizations that are making a difference in the area –is an annual tradition that brings special meaning to our family year-end holiday celebrations.

This year…

Inflation has made it more difficult for families to make ends meet and cover everyday essentials like groceries and gas. The need for services provided by our local nonprofits remains significant, especially for the more vulnerable members of our community.

On the other side, market declines and inflation have made 2022 a more chal-

lenging year for many of us to fulfill our annual giving objectives to the nonprofit organizations that provide critical support to families in need. Most of us are feeling the pinch, and the margins are incredibly small for everyone as we look to an uncertain economy in 2023.

Simply put – there is a lot of need and

not as many resources this holiday season.

If you are like many of the community members I’ve spoken with recently, you are still looking for ways to support the organizations you care about and that rely on your support to achieve their missions. Here are some of the giving strategies that we are talking about right now with our team of professional advisors.

Give unrestricted gifts

Like all local businesses, nonprofits continue to navigate the uncertainties of a post-COVID-19 world, with staff and volunteer shortages and inflation further complicating their service delivery models. It is vital that the nonprofits our community relies on for support receive the kind of financial support they need to respond to changing community needs. Flexibility helps each dollar go further.

When you give a nonprofit an unre-

stricted gift, you will be providing the type of support that sustains nonprofits and creates opportunities for nonprofits to direct their energy into fulfilling their mission.

Donations of appreciated stock are still a win-win

Not every stock is down, and it can still be extremely tax-efficient to donate appreciated stock to your favorite nonprofit – just make sure they are equipped to receive and process a gift of securities.

Another option is to use that donation to replenish or establish a donor advised fund. Establishing a donor advised fund with a contribution of appreciated stock can help you maximize the tax benefits of your donation, streamlines your charitable giving recordkeeping moving forward, and still allows you to support your favorite local charities with a yearend gift.

held for more than one year (a long-term capital asset) to your donor-advised or another type of fund, instead of selling it outright, you avoid capital gains tax. Plus, marketable securities are typically deductible at their fair market value, further helping your overall income tax situation.

Don’t overlook Arizona’s tax credit opportunities

Arizona has a variety of charitable tax-credit opportunities that allow you to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to schools, qualified charitable organizations, and organizations that support children in foster care, among others.

You can view information about the various tax-credit opportunities and lists of approved organizations at https:// azdor.gov/tax-credits.

Qualified charitable distributions offer special benefits

If you are over 70 1/2, a Qualified Char-

itable Distribution (“QCD”) is a very smart way to support the nonprofits you care about here in Southern Arizona. Through a QCD – also sometimes called

an IRA charitable rollover – you can direct up to $100,000 from your IRA to local charities. If you are over 72, QCDs also count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year. That means you avoid income tax on the distributed funds.

Our team at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) can work with you and your advisors to go over the rules for QCDs and evaluate whether the QCD is a good fit for you.

Although IRA distributions cannot be contributed to a donor advised fund, they offer an opportunity to reduce your taxable income while supporting a specific nonprofit or area of interest, including the initiatives and funds at CFSA, such as our Civic Leadership Fund, Greatest Need Fund, Healthy Communities Fund, Environmental Sustainability Impact Fund, or African American Legacy Fund.

To make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA to a nonprofit, I recommend starting the process as soon as possible to ensure that your gift is re-

ceived and processed on or before Dec. 30, 2022.

We are here to support you

Please don’t hesitate to call or email our team if you need help determining how to best support local efforts to create a vibrant and equitable community for all Southern Arizonans. You can reach us at 520-770-0800 or by email at giving@cfsaz.org. As always, we recommend connecting with your legal and financial advisors for specific information regarding your individual situation.

This holiday season, please give the gift of generosity. Together, we can continue to support the vital nonprofit organizations in our community that enrich our lives and make Tucson a special place to live.

To learn more about CFSA’s services and impact, visit cfsaz.org.

Jenny Flynn is president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

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

Broadway veterans pay tribute to the greats — on their terms

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Staff

With credits like “Jersey Boys,” “Motown: The Musical” and “A Bronx Tale,” a group of charismatic Broadway actors wanted to fill their off time with a special project that utilized their talents.

They founded The Doo Wop Project, which blends the classic sounds of acts like Frankie Valli and The Drifters with the 2000s’ Maroon 5 and Jason Mraz. In June, they were featured on PBS.

The Doo Wop Project will play three shows in Arizona in December — Tucson, Wickenburg and Chandler.

“We love coming to Arizona,” said singer Dominic Nolfi.

“Everyone’s ready to party when we come to Arizona. They’re ready to have a good time and we love that kind of energy. We’re high energy.

“We come from a Broadway background,

so we’re used to performing a lot of shows in a week — sometimes eight in a week. When we started this group, we were doing three a weekend, maybe four at the most. We’re just full of energy and we leave people surprised. There is a lot more action and energy than people maybe expect.”

Back with its new holiday show, The Doo Wop Project traces the evolution of doo wop from the classic sound of five guys singing harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio. With Nolfi, Charl Brown, Dwayne Cooper, Russell Fischer, John Michael Dias and Sonny Paladino, the set will also feature non-holiday tunes.

For a taste of the show, visit https://bit.ly/ DooWopProjectHoliday

“The holiday songs we do are vintage, with the exception of the ‘Doo-Wopified’ George Michael’s ‘Last Christmas,’” Nolfi said. “But we do The Drifters’ ‘White Christmas,” which has a doo-wopy feel.”

Santino Paladino, Charl Brown, John Michael Dias, Russell Fischer, Dwayne Cooper and Dominic Nolfi are The Doo Wop Project. They have three Arizona shows in December. (The Doo Wop Project/Submitted)

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As a child in San Francisco, singing came naturally to Nolfi. His mother choreographed musicals and is a dancer, so he grew up in rehearsal studios, he said.

“When they needed kids to be in the show, my brother and I were always volunteered,” he adds with a laugh.

“We liked it. We ended up enjoying it. Both of us went on to do it professionally. My brother went on to a more lucrative field, but it’s in my blood these days.”

He went on to study youth acting at the acclaimed American Conservatory Theatre. He studied voice at the San Francisco Conservatory and attended the Boston Conservatory on scholarship, where he graduated with a BFA in theater.

Upon graduation Dominic joined the European production of “Grease.” It was there that he met his future wife Sonia Iannetti; they have a daughter, Vivienne.

Nolfi most recently performed on Broad-

way in Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale –The Musical,” directed by Robert DeNiro and Jerry Zaks.

When the men formed The Doo Wop Project, it was just for fun. Nolfi said he’s pleasantly surprised at how it took off.

“This was an idea where we said, ‘We’ll do this a couple times for fun,’” he explains.

“Then people were like, ‘Can you do this here?’ So we got an agent who said we could go all over the country if we did it right. We

started with 10 gigs and three years later, we’re doing 60. That’s a huge jump. Now, this year, we might break 70.”

He said it works out nicely because it keeps them busy.

“We researched other groups that do this,” said Nolfi, who is writing and helping develop Broadway shows. “We thought if they could do it, we could, too. We have a Broadway pedigree that can help sell us, too.”

If you go

The Doo Wop Project

WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15

WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street

COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler

COST: Tickets start at $32 INFO: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

WHERE: Webb Center, 1090 S. Vulture Mine Road, Wickenburg

COST: Tickets start at $45 INFO: dewpac.org or thedoowopproject.com

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BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media

There is a new high school in the Tucson area, Mica Mountain, in the ever-growing Vail District. It is named for, you know, Mica Mountain, which is the highest point in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson.

Rincon Peak is more easily recognized as it is a prominent peak while the top of Mica Mountain is broad and flat. (That’s about as exciting as I will ever get when discussing anything even remotely related to hiking, a phenomenon which I will never understand. Why would I want to walk in the blazing sun for a couple hours and then, when I’m done, end up back where I started? I don’t get it.)

Anyway, Mica Mountain is in the 4A Gila Region, which means that it will compete against the likes of Sahuarita, Douglas and Amphi. To come up with a unique mascot, they decided to call their sports teams (and individual athletes) the Thunderbolts. That’s in honor of the lightning that strikes the area during the summer monsoons. It’s also a nod to a type of fighter plane that used to fly out of nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Mica Mountain will definitely be the only team in Arizona with that name as a mascot. In fact, only a handful of teams in the entire country have that name. A few high schools here and there have the plane as a mascot (and even on their logo). And there’s a minor league hockey team in Evansville, Indiana, that has ThunderBolts as their mascot. The capital “B” is not the weird thing. I saw that they were going to be playing the Birmingham Bulls this week. Just imagine how much you would have to love the sport to play minor league hockey — in Alabama!

Arizona happens to be the home of two of the most unique — no, make that strangest — sports mascots in the entire world. First off, the mascot for Yuma High School is the Criminals. They are so named for the infamous Yuma Territorial Prison (as in “3:10 To Yuma”). Parts of the prison remain as a state historical site, and you can actually go into one of the cells and just imagine what it had to have been like locked up in there in Yuma during the summer.

Their logo is the face of a stereotypical tough guy, like from the old black-andwhite gangster movies or something out of a Dick Tracy comic, although it (he) is

sometimes shown with a ball and chain around his ankle.

And then there are the Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes. Back in the 1970s, a bunch of anti-establishment hippie types took over the student council at Scottsdale. Claiming that sports are somehow fascist, they tried to have the school eliminate its athletics programs. The school said no, but the StuCo members persisted. They found a loophole in the school’s charter that said that they had a right to change the school’s mascot and colors. So, in 1974, the school’s sports teams were renamed the Artichokes and the school colors became pink and gray.

Meant to be an embarrassment, the name was instead adopted by the athletes, fans and student body. The StuCo lunatics soon fell out of power, but by then, everyone was all in on Artichokes. They drew up a mascot named Artie Artichoke and added “Fighting” to the mascot name. Today, nearly a half-century later, they’re still the Fighting Artichokes (they wear green and gold).

My daughter got her master’s in engineering from Cornell. They’re known as The Big Red. The teams at Ithaca High School, down the road from Cornell, are

known as The Little Red. Doesn’t seem to strike fear. What does strike fear is the mascot for the Richland High School Bombers in Hanford, Washington.

In the Manhattan Project, which produced the first atomic weapons, there were two types of nuclear devices. One used enriched uranium, which was made in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The other used plutonium, a transuranic (an element that doesn’t exist in nature) that was created in reactors in Hanford, Washington. The school’s teams are called the Bombers but the mascot on the back of the letterman’s jackets is a mushroom cloud. (Google it.)

The absolute worst mascot of any sports team in America is at Whittier College.

Named for famed Quaker abolitionist and poet John Greenleaf Whittier, the Southern California liberal arts college is probably best known as being the alma mater of Richard Nixon.

Their sports teams are known as the Poets. Not the Fighting Poets or even the Mildly Annoyed Poets. The Poets.

Someday I will share with you some of the stuff I found when I was doing research for this. Like the fact that three teams in America have as their mascot The Clothiers.

by Realtor Lisa Bayless

Athlete

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

How far does one go in pursuit, not of some lofty athletic dream, but rather in pursuit of a simple opportunity to compete? This philosophical question has no doubt crossed the mind of Amphi wrestler Lesly Hernandez many, many times in the past year. And while it screams at her from the past, it also whispers to her off in the not-too-distant future, offering her that one last chance.

Last year, the then-junior made the long bus ride from Tucson to Safford for an invitational. With wrestling for high-school girls still in its nascent stages, such meets can be incredibly frustrating for some with only limited competition (or sometimes none) in the various weight classes.

“We had made that three-hour bus ride to Safford and when we got there, I found out that there was nobody for me to wrestle (at 118 pounds),” she recalled. “So we set up an exhibition match and I was going to wrestle a boy.”

She was holding her own and having a good time when her opponent dove at her legs (certainly a legal maneuver). She planted her legs but felt a twinge in her knee. The twinge turned to searing pain when her opponent completed the move, twisting her and then landing on her leg during the takedown.

“It hurt for a while, but it didn’t hurt that bad.”

She continued her season, wearing a

sleeve on her sore knee and wrestling at least five more matches in the following weeks. Then, suddenly, in another match, she planted her leg and her knee went in a direction that human knees aren’t supposed to go.

“I knew,” is all she can say about it.

She had the surgery for her torn ACL and is nearing the end of her year-long rehab. In the meantime, she has been focused on her AP-heavy academic workload (she’s taking AP calculus). She wants to go to college in Pennsylvania, having narrowed her choices down to either Lehigh or Swarthmore. A friend of hers from last year, former Amphi tennis star Mi Meh, is at Swarthmore and speaks highly of it. Hernandez hopes to major in biomedical engineering.

But that’s next year. Right now, wrestling is still calling her name. She is rehabbing her knee and working out with the wrestling team daily. She wants to be medically cleared and ready to wrestle by the sectionals on Feb. 4.

“It would be nice to have a couple warmup matches before then, but I don’t know if I will be able to,” she said.

“The sectionals are all that matter. You can have a great season, winning a lot of matches in invitationals and (dual meets), but the only way to go to state in by winning at sectionals.”

Going to state is probably beyond her wildest dreams, but getting on that mat one last time is definitely front and center. “I’ve worked so hard to get back. I just want to wrestle.”

Walking backward multiplies health benefits

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Staff

It is well known that walking can be our best exercise routine. It doesn’t cost anything except a decent pair of shoes and some time. You don’t need to join a gym and there’s no special equipment required. And walking is something we do every day, all the time, anyway.

Getting from the bedroom to the kitchen or from a parking lot to a store involves something so automatic that we often don’t think about it unless on a special hike or over different terrain. (Think snow and sleet!)

Our brains are rarely challenged but still our bodies get a pretty good workout. We feel it’s just not complicated, and we reap great health benefits from a walking exercise regimen. Or maybe it is a bit more complicated than we realize. Staying upright requires coordination between three systems:

our visual (what we see), our vestibular (movement), and our proprioceptive (the awareness of where we are in the environment). Most of us walk without the appreciation for, or full understanding of, how we are doing it.

But could we make it a better workout for

both body and brain? Walking backward has been shown to multiply the health benefits of walking. When we walk backward, we actually have to think about balance and orientation as to where we are in the environment (whether indoors or out).

The journal Clinical Rehabilitation published a 2019 study looking at the effectiveness of backward walking in the treatment of people with walking impairments related to neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. It concluded that backward walking along with regular physical therapy was clinically effective in improving the stability and balance in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Walking backward forces us to take shorter and more frequents steps. This leads to improved muscular endurance in the muscles in our legs and lessens the burden on our joints. And adding an up or downhill to the walk can relieve the heel pain of plantar fasciitis.

We have a different posture when walking backward and we use more of those muscles that support our lumbar spine. This could be great exercise for people suffering from chronic lower back pain. The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in 2019 published research that showed an increased activation of paraspinal muscles and aerobic movement with backward walking. The international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published a study showing that walking backward on a treadmill improved the walking ability of people with chronic stroke disorder.

Backward walking has benefits aside from improving clinical symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for

overall good health and walking backward consumes 40% more energy than forward walking. In 2005, there was a research study that showed a reduction in body fat in young women after a backward walking and running training program (International Journal of Sports Medicine, April 2005). Running backward heightens those benefits even more. There are fewer running injuries and greater economy of movement due to the increased strength of the muscles that straighten the knee. This also places a heavier demand on the heart and lungs for more aerobic benefit.

Walking backward sounds simple but it is not that easy. You must have a heightened awareness of your surroundings to avoid tripping or crashing into some obstacle behind you. This is a learned skill that comes with practice. Starting indoors is a good idea where you know most of the landmarks.

The technique is look straight ahead holding your head and chest upright. Reach back with your big toe for each step, landing on your heel. Using a treadmill allows for speed control and adjusting the inclines but holding the handrails is always a good idea. Loading a sledge and dragging it backward is also good exercise with a moderately low risk of injury. Legs become stronger and even with weights a little as 10% of body weight can lead to faster sprint times for those who are enjoy running.

Walking is excellent exercise regardless of what direction you are headed!

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

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Horoscope

By Holiday Mathis

Lessons of Jupiter in Pisces Jupiter, the mack daddy of the zodiac, takes 12 years to travel through all of the signs, remaining in each for approximately a year. This is the last full week of Jupiter’s journey in Pisces, which ends not only the cycle through a sign but the cycle through an entire zodiac. Jupiter represents luck, abundance and largess. The next stop for Jupiter will be Aries, a journey of revolution and freshness, innocence and naivete.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You will tell the world how to treat you, sometimes with your words, though more often with your spine. People will understand what to expect from you as they watch you either stand straight, bend backward or mold yourself to the curvature of the situation. Do what works for you. Everyone’s backbone is different.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You don’t like to contribute to the conversation unless the opportunity organically arises. However, it will benefit you and ultimately everyone if you raise your profile and position within a group. The power move is to contribute, even if you have to invent the reason. Make it known that you’re an

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your leisure time is precious, and when you really think about it, you have many options, so there’s no reason to say “yes” out of obligation or “no” out of fear. Novel choices offer the most benefit. If there’s any chance at all of doing something you’ve never done before, you’ll win just by showing up.

Whether you’re coming to an agreement about lunch or a life-changing decision, the joy or arduousness of the decision-making process will set a tone for what follows. Facts matter, but satisfaction is a feeling, not a fact. You’ll heed information that comes to you in the form of emotion.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You will find yourself in a position where you know a lot more than you might want to say. Consider what’s being asked of you, what might benefit the situation and all that could be learned in the end. There will be other things to weigh, too, like the emotions and rules of the situation. You’ll be a masterful diplomat.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A tourist sees the ultra-low tide as an interesting phenomenon, while the islander sees it as a warning. You have special knowledge, too, and will be tuned in to signs about what’s around the corner. This week, there are potentials to realize, benefits to scoop up, events to avoid and “tourists” to assist.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll be rearranging your environment and schedule to get the alone time you need, especially for your project. In solitude, you’ll have laser focus and the productivity of a fast-moving robot. But if there’s even one person, animal or device to distract you, it’s a different story with a far less optimal outcome.

Actress Mendes

They’re shared by twins

Occur

One of many on a starfish

Ethical gray area

–

Dude

“Here’s what we should do”

Called balls, say

Mustang or Impala

Tarnish

Complete series, maybe

31 Familial outcast depicted three times in this puzzle 32 Greek spirit 33 Small songbird 34 Isn’t oneself? 35 N.Y.C. neighborhood next to TriBeCa 37 Some small Scots 38 Internet service provider whose name is now stylized with a period

One may keep you on the right track, for short

41 –45 “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” 46 “Your Song” singer Rita 49 List on Craigslist, say 51 Arrival declaration 52 Coral ___ 54 They’re found in brackets 55 November, Alfa, ___, Oscar (“NATO” in the NATO alphabet)

James who sang “How Strong Is a Woman”

Accessory for Hello Kitty

Place for a spiritual retreat

Eponym for an annual prize for American humor

Portrait mode feature

Bar mixer

Big time

Word with star or navel

Place for swimming lessons, informally

Prefix meaning “sun”

Non-pro

Sisterly

Flight ___

Like the bunny slope

Slice of brie, e.g. 60 –

Laughs

Dance move named after a Manhattan neighborhood

Sinus doc

Not qualified (to)

Mideast royal

Part of what makes you you

Dark volcanic rock

GOLDSTEIN Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay

Toward el Atlántico, from Cuba

56 Cousin of a carp 57 Tennis’s Mandlikova 58 Divisions of history 59 Actor Idris 61 Fat in Indian cooking 63 Put away securely 65 –66 Hobbyist’s purchase

Comic book onomatopoeia Down

Tagliatelle topper

Morsel in Hansel and Gretel’s path

Comedian with the 2014 humor book “Yes Please”

In the thick of

End of a presidential address?

Upright

Chapter after chapter

Blackjack choice

U.S. Open winner of 1994 and 1999

Hawaiian word meaning

“hors d’oeuvre” 11 Tablet 12 Citation abbreviation 13 Part of a U.N. address? 19 Italian auto with a bull in its logo 21 Sandwich order specification 25 Accept as a loss 27 Wok, e.g. 30 “Notorious” justice, in brief 31 Familial outcast depicted three times in this puzzle 32 Greek spirit 33 Small songbird 34 Isn’t oneself? 35 N.Y.C. neighborhood next to TriBeCa 37 Some small Scots 38 Internet service provider whose name is now stylized with a period 41 –45 “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” 46 “Your Song” singer Rita 49 List on Craigslist, say 51 Arrival declaration 52 Coral ___ 54 They’re found in brackets 55 November, Alfa, ___, Oscar (“NATO” in the NATO alphabet) 56 Cousin of a carp 57 Tennis’s Mandlikova 58 Divisions of history 59 Actor Idris 61 Fat in Indian cooking 63 Put away securely 65 –66 Hobbyist’s purchase

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The difference between loving and being (SET ITAL) in (END ITAL) love has to do with the effort required in enactment. Those who are in love effortlessly tend to their beloved, and indeed are so driven to do so that it would be much harder (SET ITAL) not (END ITAL) to focus their attention thusly. This is the passion you have at your disposal this week.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A change seems necessary, but the time frame is unclear. Should it be done in an instant, or with a gentle, gradual shift? Until you feel surer, don’t begin. Strategize first. You can always change your strategy when you know more, but if you go in without making a plan, you’ll get stuck with the one that is made for you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s not hard for you to fit in with new groups when you actually want to, and this week, you’ll accommodate and impress those who share your values. But the challenge comes when you interact with those who aren’t so easily understood. Your willingness to try is a testament to your excellent character.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You will strike a deal.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You are enmeshed in community, and it shows in your activities and conversations. This week, it will seem like you can’t go anywhere without running into someone you know, and you’ll love the unexpected route some of these meetups take. Your destiny will be favorably enhanced by tips, hints and invitations.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’d like to trust a person or process, but you can’t be expected to have faith in a thing until you know it closely. You’ll work diligently to do that this week. “’Well now that we have seen each other,’ said the unicorn, ‘if you’ll believe in me, I’ll believe in you.’” -- Lewis Carroll, “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There”

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: You’ll be praised often and sometimes publicly this year! Some of the most validating attention you get is the kind you can put in your wallet. An overlap of interests will lead to an exciting love life. But when it’s time to get to work, you compartmentalize well and enjoy a clear focus that few can achieve. Approach your work with the idea that you will continue to deliver the same thing indefinitely. The right attitude for a job is the one you can maintain over a long term. If you’re opposed to a task, don’t do it even once.

Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

OBITUARIES

Jeanne Seaman Farnum May 11, 1921-December 2, 2022

Jeanne was born in Houghton, Michigan to Wyllys Arthur Seaman and Vera Williams Seaman. She graduated from Houghton High School in 1939, then spent one year at Michigan School of Mines (now Michigan Technological University) before transferring to University of Illinois where she majored in Geology. Upon graduation Jeanne worked as an assistant curator at the Mineral Museum and then joined the Michigan Geological Survey team as their first female geologist. In 1944 while serving on the U.S. Geological Survey team in Indianapolis, Indiana, she joined the American Red Cross as a staff assistant and was sent to Italy and Germany.

On January 12, 1946, Jeanne married Lawrence B. Farnum (Larry), in Stamford, Connecticut, whom she met her senior year of high school . They were married for over 68 years and had six children.

In 1948 Larry re-enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers, thus beginning an exciting 20 year adventure for Jeanne as an Army wife (at which she excelled). This took the family to many places in the US, Turkey and Germany. Larry and Jeanne retired to Tucson, Arizona. They were soon uprooted to Singapore and Viet Nam, later to Sar Cheshma, Iran, back to Tucson, and then to Denver, Colorado. Finally Larry fully retired and moved to Summit County, Colorado where they were avid skiers and served as “Ambassadors” at Copper Mountain Ski Resort. Jeanne participated in the Senior Winter olympic Games until the age of 85 earning many gold medals in the Giant Slalom, Obstacle Course, Cross Country, Speed Skating, and Biathlon. She had been the president of the rifle club in college.

Jeanne was a proud member of Alpha Phi Sorority, PEO and her church choir. She was a beautiful dancer, ice skater and skier, as well as an accomplished seamstress and pianist. She and Larry shared a passion for the outof-doors and loved to canoe, travel and meet people from all walks of life. They were excellent bridge players and party hosts. Jeanne continued to play bridge and canasta past her 101st birthday.

Preceding Jeanne in death were her brother Bill Seaman, husband Larry Farnum, son-in-law Bill Torrence, and her only son Jeffrey Lawrence Farnum. Jeanne is survived by her brothers Jack and Arthur Seaman; her daughters Donna Cole (Tom), Joanie Rooker (Cal), Diane Woodworth (Steve), Deborah Torrence, Pam Hoyt; Daughter-in-law Jacqueline Heijting Farnum; 13 Grandchildren- Rebecca Cole Ahola, Guy Rooker, Daniel Cole, Calarri Rooker Cox, Sam Supowit, Brian Supowit, David Cole, Kristina Cole Gregg, Michael Cole, Jeff Torrence, Allison Woodworth, Ray Woodworth, Zoe Woodworth and 11 great grandchildren.

Jeanne was an inspiration to all who knew her for her strength of will and character, her optimism, her graciousness, her remarkable poise and talents, and her amazing luck at cards.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 1:00 at Vista de la Montana Methodist Church, 3001 Mira Vista lane, Tucson 85739. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Michigan Tech Fund #5312A (Lawrence B. Farnum Scholarship) 1400 Towsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

A celebration of life will be held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on 2022-12-29 at Vista De La Montana Methodist Church, 3001 Miravista Lane, Tucson 85739.