2017-02 5enses

FEBRUARY 2017 | VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 | 5ENSESMAG.COM

5enses

February MMXVII • Volume V, Issue II ~ absens haeres non erit ~ Copyright © 2017 5enses Inc. Contact us at 5ensesMag@Gmail.Com & 928-613-2076 Visit 5ensesMag.Com & ISSUU for more

In which: Mara Trushell

4 16 18 5 6 19 7 + 10 8/9 11 20 12 21 14 22 canvases the community with the High Desert Artists of Chino Valley

Robert Blood, too

spies a local bird who’s a bit jumpy and heads for the hills in the winter

Kathleen Yetman

COVER IMAGE: Prescott Regional SciTech Fest logo. Courtesy image.

Robert Blood

branches out to discuss a vital plant with strong roots in riparian habitats

Maxine Tinney

indexes a treasury of gently used pages at the The Purple Cat

Paolo Chlebecek

parses her garden and finds fine words that, indeed, butter parsnips

takes an upfront approach to backing up data and packs up a BOB bag

Peregrine Book Co. staff

catalogs a course of compendiums catering to all kinds of characters

Alan Dean Foster

Here & (T)here

tunes in, turns on, and drops out, then promptly turns off and looks around

Reva Sherrard

Discover events in and around Prescott and the surrounding area

Prescott Peeps

mines and minds the myths of yore for your enlightenment and elucidation

James Dungeon

Celebrate someone who’s making our community an even greater place

Get Involved

sidles up to the scientific method at the Prescott Regional SciTech Fest

Ty Fitzmorris

Publisher & Editor: Nicholas DeMarino Copy Editor: Susan Smart Featured Columnist: Alan Dean Foster Staff Writers & Columnists: Robert Blood, Paolo Chlebecek, James Dungeon, Ty Fitzmorris, Reva Sherrard, Mara Trushell, & Kathleen Yetman

Discover ways to make a positive difference in our community

Oddly Enough

weathers the wintery wilds whether or not said wilds are so-said wintery

Smart, quirky comics about the strange-but-true by Russell Miller

Sean Gote´Gallery 702 West Gurley Prescott, AZ 86305 928 445 2323

Sean and Dolores have created an Art, Jewelry, and Home Decor Gallery that defies discription.

The building is filled with Sean’s paintings, Dolores’s jewelry and decorative items from velvet couches, stainglass lamps and oriental carpets to cool “ stuff” they have collected over the past 20 years.

Featured Artist Alexi Allens The gallery will be featuring a different local artist every month and having fun events like Movie Night, BYOS Night (bring your own steak), Live Music, Poetry Readings and more.

OPEN 11 to 6

Or by appointment or coincedence

Adorn Your Lifestyle Buy | Sell | Trade •

UNIQUE APPAREL & EXOTIC GOODS

928-776-8695

133 N. Cortez, Historic Downtown Prescott

22

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OPEN DAILY 10AM-5PM •

brating Cele

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@ Snap Snap

5ENSESMAG.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 • CONTENTS • 3

W

By Mara Trushell ith a height that can reach 130 feet and a trunk that can span over four feet in diameter, Fremont Cottonwoods (Populous fremontii) are giants within riparian ecosystems. These glorious trees are common along lake shores, rivers, and streams in Arizona from 150 – 6,000 feet elevation. The grayish bark is thick and furrowed at maturity and massive trunks support extensive branches that spread into broad, open crowns. Cottonwoods not only have a noteworthy visual presence; they also have a significant ecological role.

Whether an individual tree or an expansive forest, it’s the entire tree, from root tip, to canopy structure, to seed capsule, that supports a rich habitat, complete with food and shelter.

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he life of a cottonwood begins within moist soils. With substantial amounts of consistent water, these fast growing trees soon reach their full potential.

Intricate root networks stabilize the soil along stream beds, and saplings offer leaves that are a food source for many mammals.

As cottonwoods reach maturity a multitude of flowers are produced in long-stranded catkins, just before the leaves fully emerge from their buds each spring. Both male and female flowers are obscure but develop into long catkins. Female flow-

ers, warblers, and hummingbirds, to name only a few, creating a symphony of movement and interaction that is only heightened by wind.

Plant of the Month

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Fremont Cottonwoods

A Yellow-rumped Warbler perches atop a Fremont Cottonwood. Photo by David Moll. ers develop seeds with attachments of soft cottonlike puffs that catch the wind and carry them off to spread the next generation further afield.

Summer brings dense foliage that attracts a wide assortment of insects while hefty branches become ideal nesting sites for both song birds and birds of prey. The insects are gleaned by flycatch-

ith additional years, the branches become twisted and sculptural while the trunks gnarl and cavities begin to form. This only increases the tree’s value as a resource, because cavity nesters (including mammals such as bats and raccoons) can use it as a home. With fall comes, glorious colors of golden yellow and as leaves drop they envelop the earth below with layers that are rich in fragrance and nutrients.

The Fremont Cottonwoods are a tree worthy of admiration. Not only do they play a key role within riparian ecosystems; throughout the seasons, they provide a magnificent and dramatic focal point in our picturesque southwestern landscapes. **** Visit the Highlands Center for Natural History at 1375 Walker Road, 928-776-9550, or Highlands Center.Org. Mara Trushell, education director at the Highlands Center for Natural History, grew up in Prescott surrounded by its natural wonder and now teaches through science and nature to inspire new wonder in current and future generations.

Feb. 25, 2017 10 AM - 4 PM Prescott Gateway Mall, indoors and outdoors SEE SOME OF PRESCOTT’S MANY SCIENCE WONDERS!

To promote a culture that celebrates and embraces education, research, collaboration, innovation, and economic growth in the Prescott region, related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts.

Some of the various participants include:

ERAU • YC FreeportMcMoRan Mine Heritage Park Zoological Society Astronomy Club of Prescott ®

www.facebook.com/PrescottSciTechFest | pruriout@erau.edu Sponsors Children’s Museum Alliance, Inc.

4 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

TRAX

Bird of the Month

Records

Dark-eyed Junco Photo by Maxine Tinney.

A

By Maxine Tinney s winter approaches in central Arizona, the common Dark-eyed Junco sometimes congregate along with other sparrows and warblers in coniferous forests. They may be seen pecking in leaf litter or searching for food in the underbrush. In backyards with feeders, they’re hopping and foraging on the ground for millet, sunflower seeds, and corn. A sudden movement or flash of noise may send the flock flying to nearby trees flashing their bright white tail feathers.

In general, the Dark-eyed Juncos have a pale pinkish bill, gray/black heads, gray or brown backs and wings, gray/brown/pinkish flanks, and gray necks and breasts with a white belly. The Dark-eyed Junco species (Junco hyemalis) of the sparrow family in Yavapai County may consist of at least five recognizable populations or subspecies based on different sizes and colorations, genetics of the birds, how the bird communicates, and the frequency of hybridization.

The smallest subspecies is the Oregon with dull gray or black head, reddish brown back and pinkish brown flanks. The Pink-sided subspecies has a bluegray hood with blackish lores around the eyes and extensive pinkish-flanks. The slate-colored varies from pale brown to slate gray, while the gray-headed and Redbacked have a rufous back mantle.

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ost Dark-eyed Junco will retreat northward as spring approaches, but some remain yearround at higher elevations. During migration they enjoy feasting on a variety of insects including caterpillars, moths, beetles, flies, ants, and wasps. Flight is very agile with continuous flapping of wings and pumping of the tail. The female Dark-eyed Juncos seem to prefer males with more white tail feathers showing, and after courtship and mating, the female builds a nest of twigs, leaves and grasses and uses her body to shape the nest for her clutch of three to six gray/bluish white and heavily spotted eggs which hatch in less than two weeks. Under the watchful guard of the male, the chicks grow quickly. As fall approaches the broods and family begins the southward migration to warmer areas and may again continue the circle of life by wintering in central Arizona.

234 S. Montezuma St. 928-830-9042

Buy & sell new & used vinyl & CDs

The Contemporary P

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Making Our Mark 2017 February 23—March 21 4th Friday Artists’ Reception ion February 24th 5:00 – 7 :00 0 In the ‘Tis Art Center Main Gallery 105 S. Cortez St. Prescott www.TisArtGallery.com

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***** Visit Prescott Audubon Society at PrescottAudubon.Org. Contact them at Contact@ PrescottAudubon.Org. After retiring as an overseas educator of mathematics, science, and computer in International Schools for some 30 years, Maxine Tinney enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, photography, birding, and the environs of central Arizona.

5ENSESMAG.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 • FEATURE • 5

Vegetable of the Month

Parsnips

Open Every Day of the Year!

Winter Hours, until April 30th: 10 am - 4 pm

Photo by Kathleen Yetman.

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By Kathleen Yetman

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1403 Heritage Park Rd.; Prescott, AZ 86301 • www.HeritageParkZoo.org Phone: 928.778.4242 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by the community.

Prescott’s 4th Friday

ART WALKS PRE S

COT T

’S

4FRIDAY EVERY

TH

Beginning at 5 PM

See Special Events

www.ArtThe4th.com

6 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

he parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is a root vegetable closely related to parsley and carrots that has been cultivated and eaten for thousands of years. Parsnips are indigenous to Eurasia. Documents show that they were cultivated in both Greek and Roman times.

Like carrots, parsnips are a biennial plant, meaning that it produces seeds in it’s second growing season.

Most farmers grow parsnips like an annual, only until the taproot has reached a good size. Here in the Greater Prescott Area, they are planted throughout the summer for a continuous harvest in the fall and winter.

Parsnips are best in the winter, when the cold temperatures keep them crisp, crunchy, and sweet. The edible taproot is white or cream-colored and frequently grow up to a foot in length when left to mature, which generally takes about four months.

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utritionally, the parsnip is a good source of vitamins C, B, E, and K as well as potassium, manganese and

magnesium. They also have a decent amount of dietary fiber and folate.

Parsnips have a sweet flavor similar to carrots. They can be eaten raw, but are usually served cooked. Parsnips are typically roasted along with other vegetables and many people aren’t sure how else to prepare them.

They are actually quite versatile.

Some alternative ways to eat parsnips: boiled and mashed along with potatoes, sautéed and drizzled with maple syrup or chopped up like apples in a cake. They make delicious fries, can be added to hummus, shaved in salads, blended into creamy soup, and incorporated into latkes. ***** The Prescott Winter Market is 10 a.m.1 p.m. Saturdays through April 29 at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center Pendleton Center parking lot, 930 Division St. The Prescott Valley Market is 3-6 p.m.

Tuesdays through April 25 at the Harkins Theatres parking lot, at Glassford Hill Road and Park Avenue.

Kathleen Yetman is the managing director of the Prescott Farmers Market and a native of Prescott.

Peregrine Book Co.

Staff picks Catered by Reva Sherrard “Three Moments of an Explosion”

By China Miéville A collection of short stories, ranging from somewhat odd to completely absurd. The range of styles and moods expressed in Miéville’s work is impressive to say the least. For a quick taste, I’d recommend “The Rope Is The World” and “The Crawl.” ~Sean “And Then There Were None”

By Agatha Christie Arguably the single best story penned by the most popular mystery author of all time. “And Then There Were None” is full of subtle guidance and misdirection; I challenge any reader who claims to have predicted the simply unpredictable conclusion of this timeless mystery. ~Sean “Based On A True Story”

By Norm Macdonald At first glance, Macdonald’s book seems like the typical autobiography you’ve come to expect from a comedian. However, the brilliance of the novel is that it’s an “honest” work of fiction with bits of truth sprinkled in. ~Joe

“Home”

By Carson Ellis Beautiful illustrations. Wonderful storyline. Open it up and see! ~Jon “Despair”

By Vladimir Nabokov A story of doubles and dopplegangers. Pay very close attention to each paragraph, sentence and word with this story because as soon as you think you’ve figured everything out, Nabokov turns everything upside down. The key is to look beneath the surface. A perfect example of the secrets within the wordplay is held within the title itself. ~Joe “Trainwreck”

By Sady Doyle A funny, passionate, and compassionate second take on the public lives of women guaranteed to make you reexamine attitudes you take for granted. I loved it. If you’re female, or care about someone who is, do read this! ~Reva “The Girls”

By Emma Cline Though inspired by Charles Manson and the infamous murders, Emma Cline’s The Girls’ real subject is girls — their vulnerability and anger, their hunger to be noticed and loved. Insightful, haunting, and beautifully written! ~Michaela ***** Visit Peregrine Book Company at PeregrineBookCompany.Com and 219A N. Cortez St., Prescott, 928-445-9000.

5ENSESMAG.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 • FEATURE • 7

Here & (T)here

Find out what's happening in and around Prescott

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Molly Idle • 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11: Children's author Molly Idle, of “Tea-Rex” fame, discusses her stories and career. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500)

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Prescott Winter Farmers Market • 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays: Weekly farmers market featuring local food and much more. (Yavapai Regional Medical Center Pendleton Center parking lot, 930 Division St., PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

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Groups & games

“Judging a Good Mineral Specimen” • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14: Steve Maslansky, professional geologist and lifelong collector, discusses why some rocks cost so much. A monthly Central Arizona Geology Club meeting. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500, PrescottLibrary.

Info, CentralArizonaGeologyClub.BlogSpot.Com) “Tests of Special & General Relativity in the Solar System & Beyond” • 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16: Dr. Quentin Bailey, ERAU associate professor of physics, discusses hypothetical tiny deviations from the laws of special and general relativity that may give a glimpse of a much-sought-after fundamental theory of physics. A Third Thursday Talk via Prescott Astronomy Club.

(Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Building 74 Lecture Hall 107, 3700 Willow Creek Road, PrescottAstronomyClub.Org)

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Professional Writers of Prescott • 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22: A monthly Professional Writers of Prescott meeting. (Prescott Valley Public Library, 7401 E. Civic Circle, 928-864-8642, Catalog.YLN.Info/Client/En_US/PVPL)

“Prescott Regional SciTechFest” • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25: Arizona SciTech annual regional event featuring a variety of participants with the goal to promote a culture that celebrates and embraces regional education, research, collaboration, innovation, and economic growth related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts. [Editor's note: In the interest of disclosure, 5enses is an official sponsor of this event.] (Prescott Gateway Mall, AZSciTech.Com) IMAGE: Courtesy image.

Talks & presentations

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The Purple Cat birthday party • 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4: Break a purple balloon and find a discount on your purchase to celebrate the one-year birthday party for The Purple Cat Good Used Book Shop, plus local artists. (The Purple Cat, 3180 Willow Creek Road, 928-776-0116)

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“Dandy the Lion: Helping Other” • 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4: Local children's author and youth worker, Kasey Shaver, reads her book, best suited to children 3- to 8-years-old. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

“Support the Prescott Public Library” • 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4: Informational meeting about the Prescott City Council's discussion and consideration of charging fees for library access or stopping funding altogether.

(Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

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“The Forgotten Airborne” • 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8: Kay Nehring, daughter of a World War II C-47 transport pilot, talk. An ERAU Prescott Aviation History Program lecture. (ERAU Davis Learning Center, 3700 Willow Creek Road, 928-777-6985) “Tea-Rex” • 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 11: Join children's author Molly Idle for a prehistoric tea party with Tea-Rex, the tea drinking dinosaur. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1537, PrescottLibrary.Info, RSVP)

food and much more. (Harkins Theatres parking lot, Glassford Hill Road and Park Avenue, PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

“White Sands: Experiences from the Outside World” • 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24: Novelist Geoff Dyer reads excerpts from his recent book, via the Yavapai College Literary Southwest Series. (Yavapai College Library, Susan N. Webb Community Room, Building 19, Room 147, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-445-7300, YC.Edu)

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“Stalking the Wild Dragonfly” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25: Author Nancy Rivest Green, of “On the Brink of Shards” fame, discusses her new non-fiction.

(Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

Saturday Night Talk Series • 7 p.m. Saturdays: Talks on bringing traditional spiritual ideas and practice into everyday life, via Vigraha and Sukham Seminars. (Vigraha Gallery, The Courtyard Bldg., 115 E. Goodwin St., 928-771-0205, VigrahaSacredArt.Com, $5)

Nature, health, & outdoors Jay's Bird Barn bird walks • 8 a.m. Feb. 3, 9, 17, 18, & 25: Local, guided bird walks. Via Jay's Bird Barn. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, JaysBirdBarn.Com, RSVP)

Prescott Area Boardgamers • 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 1 & 15: Play board games.

(Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500, Prescott.Library.Info)

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“Game Time” • 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2: Open game night for enthusiasts of all ages and origin stories, facilitating all tabletop, card, and board games. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com) “Death Cafe” • 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9: People gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death with the objective “to increase awareness of death with a view to help people make the most of their (finite) lives.” (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

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Classic Hollywood Adult Prom • 6:30 dinner, 7:30 p.m. dancing Saturday, Feb. 18: Don your best Hollywood dress for an adult prom with dinner, dancing, cash bar, and music by DJ Harmony, via GYCC. Proceeds benefit the Teen Launch Pad. An LGBTQ Safe Zone. (Gurley Street Grill, 230 W. Gurley St., PrescottAdultProm.BPT.Me, $35-$40)

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GYCC LGBTQ Coalition • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21: Monthly general meeting open to all LGBTQ and allies in Yavapai County with guest speakers.

(First Congregational Church, 216 E. Gurley St., Facebook.

Com/LGBTQYavapai)

NAZGEM Support 7 p.m Friday, Feb. 24: Monthly support group meeting for members of the transgender and beyond gender binaries community as well as family, friends, and youth. (Granite Peak Unitarian Congregation Education Center, 882 Sunset Ave., Facebook.Com/LGBTQYavapai)

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Prescott Audubon bird walk • 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11: Monthly bird walk. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-7769550, HighlandsCenter.Org, PrescottAudubon.Org)

Citizens Water Advocacy Group • 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 11: The Prescott Water Resource Manager talks about Prescott's water portfolio. (Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation Building, 882 Sunset Ave., 928-445-4218, CWAGAZ.Org)

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“Mind of the Raven” • 9:30-11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17: Discuss Bernd Heinrich's book, “Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds.” A monthly Natural History Book Club meeting.

(Prescott College Natural History Institute, 312 Grove Ave., 928-350-2280, Prescott.Edu/Natural-History-Institute)

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“Exotic Birding in India” • 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23: Karen O'Neil, Prescott Audubon Society Important Bird Area coordinator, discusses her birding expedition to India. (Trinity Presbyterian Church, 630 Park Ave., PrescottAudubon.Org)

“Viva La Verde” • 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28: Documentary screening of “Viva La Verde: Values, Threats, and Stewardship of the Verde River,” by filmmaker Hugh Denno. (Prescott College Crossroads Center, 220 Grove Ave., AshUghsual@Gmail.Com) Prescott Valley Farmers Market • 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays: Weekly farmers market featuring local

8 • EVENTS • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

“Victorian Parlor Arts” • Mondays-Saturdays: Library vieweries featuring examples of Victorian parlor arts from the collection at Sharlot Hall Museum, as catered by Debra Matthews et al. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500, PrescottLibrary.Info) PHOTO: Crocheting from Sharlot Hall Museum. Courtesy photo.

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(‘Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223, TisArtGallery.Com) Mountain Artists Guild • Jan. 9-Feb. 24: “Nouveau” gallery show.

• Feb. 27-April 28: “Cultures & Customs” gallery show.

(Mountain Artists Guild, 228 N. Alarcon St., 928-445-2510, MountainArtistsGuild.Org) Mountain Spirit Co-op • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Mountain Spirit Coop, 107 N. Cortez St., 928-445-8545, MountainSpiritCo-Op.Com) Peregrine Book Co. • New art by Megan Dean, with opening reception during Feb. 24 4th Friday Art Walk. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

The Glenn Miller Orchestra • 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25: Recapture the era of “In the Mood” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” with one of the most sought-after big bands in the world. Pre-show dinner tickets available. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928776-2000, YCPAC.Com, $30-$44) PHOTO: The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Courtesy photo.

Performing arts

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Open mic poetry • 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8: Monthly poetry jam presented by Decipherers Synonymous. (The Beastro, 117 N. McCormick St., 971-340-6970, TheBeastro.Com)

“Swan Lake” • 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15: Via satellite, The Bolshoi Ballet’s production of “Swan Lake,” wherein Prince Siegfried meets the bewitched swan-woman Odette. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, YCPAC.Com, $10-$17)

“Calendar Girls” • 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16-18 & 23-25; 2 p.m. Feb. 19, 25, & 26: Tim Firth’s poignant and humorous play about six friends who decide to pose nude for a calendar. Directed by Catherine Miller Hahn. (Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286, PCA-AZ.Net, $14-$22) “Robin Hood” • 7 p.m. Feb. 17, 18, 24, & 25; 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18, 19, & 25: Dan Neidermyer’s take on the life of the prince of thieves as see through the narrative of wandering minstrel-troubadour Friar Tuck. (Prescott Valley Performing Arts Family Theater, PV Entertainment District, 2982 Park Ave., $10)

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“Meet Me … At the Symphony!”

• 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19: Join Music Director and Conductor Joseph Place as he leads the Prescott POPS. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, YCPAC.Com, $25)

Hassayampa Inn • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Hassayampa Inn, 122 E. Gurley St., 928-778-9434, HassayampaInn.Com) Huckeba Art Gallery • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Huckeba Art Gallery, 227 W. Gurley St., 928-445-3848, Huckeba-Art-Quest.Com) 4th Friday Art Walk • 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24: Monthly art walk including artist receptions, openings, and demonstrations at more than 18 galleries. (ArtThe4th.Com) Ian Russell Gallery • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Ian Russell Gallery, 130 S. Montezuma St., 928-445-7009, IanRussellArt.Com) ‘Tis Art Center & Gallery • Jan. 15-Feb. 14: “Bozko,” featuring organic, intuitive works

by Ken Bozkoff, “Preserving Our Oceans, Waterways and Land Through the Medium of Art,” in the Mezzanine Gallery.

• Jan. 26-Feb. 21: “A Piece & a Poem 2017,” an annual art and poetry exhibit, “xoB ehT edistuO knihT,” in the Main Gallery.

• Feb. 15-March 14: “Photo Elegance: A Passion for Capturing a Moment That Lives on Forever,” featuring photos by Regina Helstrom and George Lewis, in the Mezzanine Gallery, with opening reception during Feb. 24 4th Friday Art Walk.

• Feb. 23-March 14: “Making Our Mark 2017,” featuring work by the Contemporary Printmakers Group of Prescott, in the Main Gallery.

Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery • Jan. 2-Feb. 11: “The Four Elements,” featuring art highlighting earth, water, air, and fire.

• Feb. 13-March 25: “The World in Miniature,” featuring grand art in tiny proportions.

(Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St., 928-4453286, PCA-AZ.Net) Prescott Winery • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Prescott Winery, 216 N. Alarcon St., 928-350-8467, PrescottWinery.Com) Random Art • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Random Art, 214 N. McCormick St., 928-308-7355, RandomArt.Biz) The Raven Café • Jan. 9-Feb. 19: New art by Donna Bobadilla, owner of Papa’s Italian Restaurant. (The Raven Café, 142 N. Cortez St., 928717-0009) Sean Goté Gallery • New art by Millie and Doug Miley and Alexi Allens, opening reception 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 with live music, food by Dolores, and libations by Sean.

• 4th Friday Art Walk participant.

(Sean Goté Gallery, 702 W. Gurley St., 928-445-2323) Thumb Butte Distillery • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Thumb Butte Distillery, 400 N. Washington Ave., 928-443-8498, ThumbButteDistillery.Com) Van Gogh’s Ear • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Van Gogh’s Ear, 156 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-1080, VGEGallery.Com) Yavapai College Art Gallery • Jan. 4-March 6: “Altared Realities: Toward Atonement,” featuring photography-based prints by Albuquerque artist Randy Waln.

• March 10-April 6: “Under the Surface,” featuring work focusing on the meditative process and subconscious zone by Sara Kriehn and Denise Yaghmourian, with opening reception during March 24th 4th Friday Art Walk.

(Yavapai College Art Gallery, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-4457300, YC.Edu)

Open mic poetry • 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22: Poet Dan Seaman emcees monthly open mic poetry. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

“Rusalka” • 10:55 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25: Via satellite, The Metropolitan Opera’s live encore performance of Antonin Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” a fairy tale opera about the tragic, titular water nymph.

(Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, YCPAC.Com, $12-$24) Contra Dance • 7-7:30 p.m. lesson; 7:30-10 p.m. dance Saturday, Feb. 25: Contra dancing. Calls by Suze St. John, music by Scrub Oak. Via Folk Happens. (First Congregation Church, 216 E. Gurley St., 928-925-5210, FolkHappens.Org, $4-$8)

Visual arts The Beastro • New art. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (The Beastro, 117 N. McCormick St., 928-778-0284, TheBeastro.Org)

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery • Jan. 27-Feb. 22: “The Edge of My Knife,” featuring oils with palette knife by Dane Chinnock.

• Feb. 24-March 23: Photographs by Nicole Fetter, opening reception is Feb. 24 4th Friday Art Walk.

(Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717, ArtsPrescott.Com) IMAGE: “A Chill in Skull Valley,” painting by Dane Chinnock. Courtesy image.

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The distancing has begun

Considering a virtually reality-free exist-stance

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By Alan Dean Foster have nothing against virtual reality. But I worry where it may lead.

It’s just getting started and there’s nothing to stop it. The idea that we can put on a pair of goggles and be anywhere, do anything, is too seductive to be disavowed, too tempting to be ignored. Want to be Superman for an hour? Slip on your VR goggles. Always wished to visit Bora Bora? It’s VR time (and you can even eliminate the annoying jet skis in the lagoon).

Have a fear of heights but always dreamed of scaling Everest? Move your arms and legs and VR will do the rest.

Harmless entertainment, you say? I suppose it is. What concerns me are the inevitable ramifications as both the technology and its acceptance continue to mature.

I

Alan Dean Foster’s

Perceivings

Honey, did you remember to feed the digital cat?

’m writing this just before Christmas. I love Christmas. The sparkling, chromatic municipal decorations as well as the lesser ones that are purely domestic.

The excitement on the faces of children as their parents convoy them through the mall. Even the crowds in the stores, though there’s always a grumpy gus standing in the checkout line complaining to all who’ll listen about how long checkout is taking. I love the crispness and crackle in Prescott’s air and the turquoise-framed view of snow on the San Francisco Peaks and the change of clothing necessary to cope with the change of seasons.

And I am very much afraid that the ongoing perfection of VR might make all of that go away.

After all, if it’s sleeting and freezing outside but you still want to experience that, slip into your advance VR gear. You’ll have the same sensation of moving around in the wicked weather but your body won’t have to suffer the extremes. At least, it won’t unless you intentionally activate your VR suit (that’s in development) which will integrate with the goggles to allow you to feel cold, wind, and precipitation according to your chosen program. When you’ve had enough, you simply flip the off switch.

It’s not the off switch that worries me. It’s the on switch.

Imagine a future Christmas dinner. Uncle Mo and Aunt Cheryl don’t want to spend the money to make it to the family homestead. But

Image components public domain. Illustration by 5enses. they’re present if you put on your VR goggles and everything has been appropriately programmed.

Little cousin Betsy has the flu, but she can be there safely via VR. So can best friends Stan and Muriel, who are living in Ouagadougou. Doesn’t it sound wonderful, being able to bring everyone together for Christmas irrespective of desire, cost, health, and distance? Just envision it.

You can have a whole family Christmas dinner … by yourself.

10 • COLUMN • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Heck, if they were downloaded, you can even bring in your grandparents. Your deceased grandparents. And “interact” with them.

V

R is liable to change society in ways we can’t begin to imagine. Why spend the time and money to go to an amusement park when you can enjoy all the rides via VR, on the comfort of your own couch? (I anticipate the forthcoming Disney release of all their park rides in VR format.) Why dream of visiting the Prado, or the Uffizi, or any of the world’s great museums, in person when you can do it via VR? Study Bernini’s sculpture, then head for the fridge for a cold one.

Why struggle with driving and parking and rude fans to see an NFL game when you can do so via live VR, broadcast directly to your home goggles?

No bad, overpriced seats anymore: You can even view the action in person, via on-field cameras.

Teams will play before empty stadiums filled with computer generated crowds. There’s just one thing missing from all these time-saving, money-saving, travel-saving developments.

Interacting with other human beings.

Is that really necessary? Do we have to bump into other visitors at a museum in order to enjoy the exhibits? Is it important to listen to other fans yelling and howling at an NFL game in order to immerse ourselves in the action? How much of standing in line at Disneyland contributes to the enjoyment of the ride or the park “experience” when the latter includes blister-raising walking and pushy crowds?

Y

es, VR is going to change our society. Whether for the better (certainly if you’re physically challenged it will be better) or the worse (how can we get to know and understand our fellow citizens if we never actually meet them?).

To paraphrase Pogo; we have met the zombies and they is us. ***** Alan Dean Foster is author of more than 120 books, visitor to more than 100 countries, and still frustrated by the human species. Follow him at AlanDeanFoster.Com.

Myth & Mind

The drinking horn full of the oceans

W

By Reva Sherrard hat is myth? Raven stealing the light, Athena bursting fully-armored from Zeus’ forehead, and so on? Where did these stories come from and why? Well — once upon a time — our primate ancestors lived, ate, loved, and died just like other animals and needed nothing more. Like wolves and chimpanzees, we hunted cooperatively and communicated using indicative vocalizations. Then language happened, and from thinking largely in concrete facts we started thinking in symbols.

We made the cognitive leaps from grunting when we saw antelope, to having a specific sound that meant “antelope,” to using it when there were none around. Suddenly we had more to think about apart from whether or not we could run the antelope down; now we were concerned with meaning, and lo, through one of evolution’s stranger vicissitudes the human consciousness was born. Language and the super-complex brains it built gave our sorry, furless ancestors the cooperative and imaginative edge they needed to survive. But now, those complex brains found equal complexity in otherwise straightforward struggles to get food, mate, fight, and resolve fights. Life had a new dimension for which meat and copulation alone were not enough (well, for some of us). We needed to find a working truce with the loneliness and fear that go hand-in-hand with speculative thought; we needed not just physical but psychological strength to outwit death as long as possible and then to face it at the end. More than facts, we needed truth.

T

hat’s where myth came in — not created the way a novelist sits down and cobbles together a plot, but coevolved with the human mind, a self-contained syntax for the symbols through which we perceive the cosmos, an almighty root system defining the individual’s and community’s relationships to the seen and unseen worlds, the present moment’s connection to past and future. Like language, it’s too big to take in all at once; stories are the bite-sized pieces by which the cosmic vision is communicated and consumed.

For an interesting layering of metaphors, consider Thor’s visit to Útgarða-Loki. ***** In the mood for adventure, Thor asked Loki’s help to meet his counterpart, Útgarða-Loki or

Thor wrestles Elli. Drawing by Robert Engels, 1919, public domain.

“Loki-Out-There,” in a mysterious place far from Asgard.

“You don’t want to go there,” said Loki. “I don’t want to go there.”

They went anyway. After traveling a long time they and Thor’s servant Thjálfi came to an enormous fortress. Too small to open the gates, they slipped between them and entered a mighty hall where Loki-Out-There sat on a throne among a host of shadowy figures.

“Welcome, travelers,” said the giant, who looked just like Loki, or not at all, man-sized or impossibly vast, depending on the way the light hit him. “It’s the custom in this hall that guests provide entertainment. What are you good at?”

“Eating,” said Loki, who hadn’t done so all day.

In an instant a contest was arranged: Servants set a long platter of freshly roasted meat between Loki at one end and his opponent, Logi, at the other. On the count of three they set to devouring the meat as fast as they could, and met in the middle — but though Loki had licked his half of

the platter clean, Logi had eaten the bones, the platter, and his knife, and bitten Loki’s hand, too. So Logi won.

“I can outrun anyone,” said Thjálfi — and promptly lost a race to Hugi, the fastest man in the hall, who moved so quickly that a blink lost him.

Then it was Thor’s turn. Loki-Out-There handed him a horn of mead saying, “Drain it in one gulp if you can. No one here cannot drain their drink in two.” Thor laughed, for he had a huge capacity for drink, and poured the mead down his gullet. Once, twice, thrice he swallowed, and gasping for air peered into the horn. He’d only lowered the level of mead by a hair.

“Bad luck,” said Loki-Out-There. “I hear you’re strong; why don’t you pick up my cat?”

Thor sweated and strained, but try as he might he could only lift one dainty paw from the floor.

“Enough!” he roared. “Let me fight one of you — anyone!”

“My grandmother Elli used to wrestle, though she’s past her prime,” said Loki-OutThere.

A bent and shriveled old woman rose from the benches and set to grips with Thor, who was hard pressed to keep his feet against her iron strength. Long they wrestled, till she finally wore him down and forced him to one knee.

Humiliated, Thor turned to storm out of the hall. “Wait,” called Loki-Out-There, “Why leave when you’ve done so well? Loki lost to fire, Thjálfi to nothing slower than thought itself; the mead you drank was the oceans, and my little cat is the great serpent that girdles the world. As for Elli, she is age, whom no one defeats.”

In a rage Thor flung his hammer at Loki-OutThere’s head. Before it could strike, the giant and the hall disappeared, leaving the three standing in an empty meadow.

What did I tell you?” said Loki. ***** While I aim for themes of general interest, my focus in this article is on the myths of Northwestern Europe because they are what I study. The world is full of other rich, complex, and sometimes contradictory traditions I omit because of my lack of sufficient knowledge, not through a lack of appreciation and respect.

Reva Sherrard works at Peregrine Book Company, studies Old Norse religion, and is writing a novel.

5ENSESMAG.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 • FEATURE • 11

Fair’s fair

Prescott Regional SciTech Fest returns

By James Dungeon [Editor’s note: The following interview was culled from conversations between the reporter and Judy Paris, president of the Children’s Museum Alliance and original organizer of the Prescott Regional SciTech Fest. The fourth annual Prescott Regional SciTech Fest is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Prescott Gateway Mall, 3280 Gateway Blvd.] ***** How did you get the Prescott Regional SciTech Festival started?

Paris: Well, between 2004 and 2007, I’d organized a group of people, all volunteers to start a STEM-based museum for kids of all ages in Prescott.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. So, we had our own children’s science museum. We truly wanted to blend all of the sciences with the arts, so we added an art focus.

They went smashingly together. As part of developing the museum — which, unfortunately, closed last June— I met Jeremy and went to a couple of informational sessions he had regarding SciTech fests. Flagstaff has had one for years. I visited that and that’s when I really decided we needed to make the jump for Prescott. STEMbased jobs aren’t only the future of our community but of the globe. I just wanted to show what Prescott actually has, as there are a lot of science-focused hidden treasures here. So much that’s going on locally in the schools, with organizations, and with businesses have a science focus. I worked with Jeremy in 2013 and organized our first fest, which was in 2014. The timing was great because it was the city’s sesquicentennial celebration. We went to the city to ask if we could hold our first festival on the Courthouse Square. Someone there had already come up with three themes for the city’s celebration — Old West, Wild West, and New West — and they were having trouble filling the last of those.

That’s where we came in. ... We had 13 participants or groups who had booths and got really wonderful feedback. Considering we only had six months to pull it together, it was a great start and we got a lot of good feedback. We were called Prescott SciTech Fest: The New West, but since then, we’ve expanded it to a regional event, and “The New West” part was

taken off. It was moved to the Prescott Gateway Mall the next year, which has remained our home. Our goals are simple, but I think they’re strong. We want to expose everyone to all of the science wonders of Prescott and the region. We want to encourage 21st century learners and those already in the field to think more deeply, problem solve, be inspired, and share. Last year’s event, our third, was probably our biggest, and we’re continuing to grow.

What can patrons expect?

Paris: There’ll be anywhere from 15 to 30 individual booths set up in the public spaces in the mall.

The Gateway Mall has become a partner over the years and donated the space and helped with setup and cleanup — that’s their contribution. Area organizations, schools, and businesses will have tables, all staffed with volunteers, and each one has demonstrations and information. One booth, the University of Arizona, had info and games about nutrition and filling up your plate in proper proportions. In previous years, Jeff Brown, of UniSource has blown up gas in test tubes. People love that. The Heritage Park zoo has animals, and people can touch some of them. The Children’s Museum of Science featured a booth on flight and one on the science of spin with wooden tops. There are robotics demonstrations, too. These booths feature what these places are working on and invite the public to participate.

It sounds like a science fair.

Paris: It is a science fair, but we always include the arts. We have performances from jazz bands from the area and had school art on exhibit.

One group last year used tops with markers to create imagery on paper.

One of the big ideas is to integrate science and art. … For the fest, we give each person a passport to get stamped or punched at each of the booths. When you get a certain number of stamps or punches — 10, or whatever it is this year — you can come back to the registration table and choose some kind of science-focused trinket. We give away mind puzzles, tops, flashlights, bicycle reflectors, and all sorts of things. Last year Embry-Riddle gave away 500 t-shirts. We had a donation from APS last year that allowed us to print some Sci-Tech t-shirts last year, too. It’s all first-come, first-served. … In general, it’s hard for us to track the exact number of people who attend the event because we’ve got people coming

12 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Scenes from previo SciTech Fests.

ous Prescott Regional Photos by Judy Paris.

into the mall from all different directions. We have clickers at the registration tables though, and we estimated around 750 who received passports last year. You don’t have to stop there, though, and we think our actual numbers were around 1,000.

What’s the age range of attendees and who is this really for?

Paris: This is for anyone and everyone, both here in the county and tourists who’re here that weekend. There’s something to inspire and encourage everyone. It’s a great way to learn about what’s in the area. The Baghdad mine has participated the last couple of years and set up tables showing materials they’ve mined out of Arizona. There are booths for kids as little as 2-years-olds, lots of touching things on tables, and our age range is really 2 to 99, but 105-year-olds are welcome, too. We’ve had groups from senior centers come, as well as groups from YEI, so there’s stuff for DD (developmentally disabled) adults to do, too. A lot of ex-military pilots end up coming as visitors and end up having in-depth discussions with people from EmbryRiddle. A lot of the demonstrations can be catered to whatever ages and knowledge bases are at the table at the moment. It really is a one-on-one interaction in most cases.

What do you want people to take away from the festival? What would make it a success?

Paris: We want people to be inspired about the future. We get to chose, as a community, what we want our future to be or, rather, how we interact with that future. We want to support our children to become the next generation of innovators and artists and engineers. They’re going to experience a world that none of us can even imagine. The festival is a time to take a step back and look at where we are in our community, in our place in the world, and say wow — look at all these amazing things happening in our own backyards. I would bet the vast majority of people don’t really know what Embry-Riddle is doing to educate people for the future and what the Heritage Park zoo is doing to promote animal habitats. This is a way to feature all of that. The take away, though, is that you can’t just think about your own backyard. Influences from the outside are becoming greater and greater, and we need to find ways to get our kids and ourselves involved with 21st century thinking, as they are part of the 21st century workforce. It’s about getting inspired and getting educated. It’s about finding something you’re passionate about.

What’s been something you’ve learned from the festival besides, obviously, the nitty Technology often gets conflated with science. gritty of event organizing.

What are some of the ways you can see the Paris: I think I’ve learned that we’ve got some two interact at the fair in ways that might very talented, very focused people in sciences in the surprise people? community, and that, if we want the future to grow, Paris: We’ve had some technology people there we need to support that. I’ve lived in Prescott for before, with robots, show how programming turns more than 30 years and it’s always been touted as a into physical motion. In the past, there were a couple Western community. I love that, but when I see how booths like APS (Arizona Public Service) and SRP much science and art is right around the corner, we (Salt River Project) that need to share that, too. showed how computers Yes, our future includes Visit 5ensesMag.Com interact with different shootouts on the square. for a bonus interview aspects of their business.

And it needs to include with Dr. Jeremy Babendure, art and enlightenment, We’ve had Sharlot Hall Museum and Smoki Muexecutive director & founder too. And our future is ulseum showcase different timately, intimately, tied of Arizona SciTech tools from the past and to the sciences. show how they created food using a stone or used a simple tool to start a fire. If someone’s reading this and wants to get The science aspect is how other tools were developed involved in the fest, not just provide patronand built upon to do those same things better. age, can they still get involved?

Paris: We’d love to have more artists and people Why pair art with STEM? in the performing arts. We may be able to have some Paris: It’s such a natural blend. I think it was more exhibitors, if you reach out early in the month. It Einstein who said that science is art and art is scimay be too late to get on our promotional materials, but ence — if not, then I said it. There’s science and art we can always use more participants and exhibitors. everywhere. I don’t think you could go through a day without interacting with both in almost every ***** aspect of your life. We hardly do anything anymore Find out more about the fourth annual Prescott that hasn’t been created through science. And, at the Regional SciTech Fest on Facebook and more about same time, we can appreciate the aesthetic beauty Arizona SciTech Fest, in general, at AZSciTech.Com. of a painting or any number of other things. Then look at something in the natural world like a butterJames Dungeon is a figment of his own imagifly. There’s art in that wing and engineering, and so nation. And he likes cats. Contact him at James much more we sometimes take for granted.

DungeonCats@Gmail.Com.

13

News From the Wilds Skyward

Mallards have completed their alternate plumage molt, and are now in their finest breeding plumage. During this molt, males replace all of the feathers on their bodies except their wing feathers. Photo by Scott Fitzmorris.

I

By Ty Fitzmorris n most years, February in the Mogollon Highlands of Arizona is still a very quiet time when mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants remain quiescent, waiting for the combined cues of increased day-length and higher temperatures to end their winter diapause and begin searching for mates and food. But in all years, the first glimmerings of spring’s vivacity begin this month in the deserts and the chaparral of our region. Over the next several months the activity in the lowlands will grow from a hum to a roar and gradually flow up the slopes and into the highest mountains, carpeting the whole of the Mogollon Highlands with flowers, warblers, and butterflies. But, for now, the uplands remain relatively quiet, leaving the naturalist to search for hints of Spring.

B

ird migrations begin to pick up steam now, as overwintering species such as Northern Goshawk and Townsend’s Solitaire begin the months-long journey that will ultimately end in their breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic Circle. Other species migrate through our region to points nearer to the north, while the last of the migrants will include the neotropical migrant warblers who have spent the winter in the rainforests and dry forests of Central America, and will breed and nest here. The overwintering waterfowl

on Willow and Watson Lakes, as well as the many smaller bodies of water will stay in our region for a while yet, since they need to wait for the lakes to the north to thaw before migrating.

A very small number of insects and their relatives begin to wake from their short winter torpor in February. On sunny days, Mourning Cloak Butterflies (Nymphalis antiopa) begin claiming mating territories in riverbottoms, and can be seen patrolling in lazy circles, chasing passers-by.

The earliest flowers, such as some manzanitas and willows, draw honeybees as well as native bees, which are extremely variable in size and color.

Small longhorn bees, iridescent mason bees, and early bumblebee queens all can be seen at these blooms during sunny spells.

Most remarkable, however, is a phenomenon that is barely noticeable — astute observers will see a proliferation of spider silk blowing in the sunlight, and near cliffs and canyons these pieces of silk might be extremely abundant, lofting in the wind. These pieces of silk are actually “balloons” created by young spiders, who use them to catch upward breezes and disperse over vast distances.

In fact, many will loft up to a thin band of the atmosphere called the Aeolian Zone, which wavers around 25,000 feet in altitude. This largely unstudied region is populated by pollen grains, fungal spores, and very small insects, all of which might be able to cross vast distances once they’ve reached this relatively stable atmospheric zone.

14 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

• Feb. 10: Full Moon at 5:33 p.m. and Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. An penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the edge of the Earth’s shadow and is partially obscured by it. From our position on Earth, the Moon will be in eclipse as it rises in the east around 6:10 p.m. and will be fully out of the Earth’s shadow by 8 p.m.

• Feb. 26: New Moon at 7:59 a.m.

• Astronomical Highlight: When the skies are at their darkest early this month, our nearest galactic neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy, is visible with the unaided eye.

Look for the galaxy as a smear of light next to Andromeda’s knee, to the northwest after twilight, or using a more direct method, draw a line between the two highest stars in Cassiopeia — Segin and Ruchbah — and the brightest star in Andromeda, Alpheratz (her head in most drawings), and then look for the galaxy two-thirds of the way from Ruchbah to Alpheratz.

F

ebruary can bring amazing storms, and holds the record for both the highest rainfall in a 24-hour period and the third most snowfall in a month. On the other hand, February’s precipitation is extremely variable and difficult to predict, with as many as 1 in 10 years receiving no or nearly no rain or snow. This is especially true in years that are dramatically outside the norm, such as the last three years have been — 2016, 2015, and 2014 were the first, second, and third warmest years ever recorded (respectively). This warming trend, which has increased Prescott temperatures an average of 2.5 degrees over the last 80 or so years, makes forecasting nearly impossible and disrupts precipitation patterns. A wet February can, by itself, usher in a glorious, flowering spring, while a dry one when there is no other snowpack can herald low fuel-moisture and high fire-danger. In high desert, such as the Mogollon Highlands, the abundance and distribution of water is the single greatest predictor of all activity in the wilds. ***** Ty Fitzmorris is an itinerant and often distractible naturalist who lives in Prescott and is proprietor of the Peregrine Book Company, Raven Café, and Gray Dog Guitars, all as a sideline to his natural history pursuits. He can be reached at Ty@PeregrineBookCompany.Com.

News From the Wilds, too A very brief survey of what’s happening in the wilds ...

By Ty Fitzmorris High mountains • Ravens begin nesting and laying eggs. Yearling Ravens have spent the winter in communal roosts and can be seen flying in large numbers, but these flocks begin to break up now as breeding pairs form.

• Northern alpine birds, including Red Crossbills and Pine Siskins, move into this area during extreme cold to the north. These finches follow the seed-crop of coniferous trees, including Douglas Fir, White Fir, spruces, and pines.

Visit: Maverick Mountain Trail, No. 65.

Ponderosa Pine forests • Peregrine Falcons return to our area from Central and South America to reoccupy nest sites.

Most Peregrines are monogamous from year to year, with both partners migrating independently back to previous nest sites and beginning courting and mating once there. This species is named for its extraordinary migrations which can lead some individuals to migrate from Chile to Greenland.

• Abert’s Squirrels chew off the tips of growing Ponderosa branches to reach the inner bark, or cambium. This is an important food source for this rare squirrel during the late winter after they have depleted their other food stores, but they also perform a vital service to Ponderosas. Ponderosas rely on a symbiotic root fungus to break down soil nutrients, and Abert’s Squirrels carry this fungus in their feces, transporting its spores from tree to tree and thereby keeping forests healthy.

Visit: Miller Creek Trail, No. 367.

Pine-Oak woodlands • Townsend’s Solitaires, relatives of the American Robin, begin migrating north to their breeding grounds as far north as Alaska. Solitaires subsist largely on the last of juniper berries from last year’s crop while in their wintering ground.

• Sharp-shinned Hawks, the smaller cousin of the Cooper’s Hawk, begin migrating north through the Mogollon Highlands. These small hawks were once considered a threat to songbird populations, and so were hunted aggressively. Now “mesopredators” such as the Sharp-shinned Hawk are understood to foster biodiversity by preventing one species from outcompeting another, and studies have documented increases in prey species where these types of predators are found.

Visit: Little Granite Mountain Trail, No. 37.

Pinyon-Juniper woodlands • One-seed, Utah, and Rocky Mountain junipers all release their pollen now causing extraordinary allergies for many mammal species.

Manzanita Mason Bees (Osmia ribifloris) emerge with the first manzanita flowers, and are the most important pollinators of these keystone plants.

Photo by Ty Fitzmorris.

• Winter flocks of Western Scrub Jays begin to break up as jays form breeding pairs.

Visit: Tin Trough Trail, No. 308.

Grasslands • Pronghorn begin giving birth after eight months of pregnancy. Young Pronghorn are able to walk after only about an hour and can outrun a human when they are several days old. Pronghorn typically give birth to twins who will remain in the center of their herd for several months.

• Toward the end of the month, broad-winged hawks such as Rough-legged Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, and Swainson’s Hawks begin migrating north through the Mogollon Highlands following the open grasslands where they can see rodents. Many can be seen perching on power line posts during this time.

Visit: Mint Wash Trail, No. 345.

Riparian areas • Beavers, after consuming most of their winter stores, are very active in chewing away the inner bark of riparian trees. Their breeding season continues through this month.

• The earliest wildflowers begin appearing now, led by Golden Corydalis (Corydalis aurea).

• Coyote Willow (Salix exigua) flowers and is mobbed by Honeybees (Apis mellifera) for nectar and pollen. Honeybees are native to Europe and are unlike most of our native bees in that they are social and live in massive hives of up to 80,000 individuals. North America is home to roughly 4,000 species of native bees, most of whom are either solitary or seasonally social and so remain inactive during the winter.

• Newborn River Otters remain in their dens and, toward the end of the month, will open their eyes for the first time.

• “Vagrant” bird species (birds dramatically outside their range) can be found in and around our region’s lakes. Some of these birds have been blown by storms, while others are simply exploring potential habitat. These might include Common Loon, Ross’s Goose, Tundra Swan and extremely rare species such as the White-tailed Kite.

• The first migratory songbirds, including spectacular breeding-plumage warblers, follow rivers and riparian corridors through our region to their breeding territories to the north.

Visit: Willow Lake Loop Trail, off of Willow Creek Road.

Deserts/Chaparral • Flowering begins in earnest starting with Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), which paints large swaths of the desert bright yellow. Some species of verbenas and anemones, as well as Desert Marigolds (Baileya multiradiata), begin flowering at lower densities. In some pockets, manzanitas begin flowering.

• Butterflies begin flying now, including the small Sara Orangetip (Anthocaris sara) and the tiny Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), both of which can be seen at patches of wet mud, seeking out minerals and nutrients.

• Native bees begin to emerge from their soil or wood nests to pollinate the earliest flowers. Arguably most dazzling is the iridescent blue Manzanita Mason Bee (Osmia ribifloris), our most important manzanita pollinator, which flies on warm days.

Visit: Aqua Fria National Monument.

Weather Average high temperature: 54.2 F (+/-4.4 ) Average low temperature: 24 F (+/-3.7 ) Record high temperature: 77 F (Feb. 27, 1986) Record low temperature: -12 F (Feb. 6, 1899) Average precipitation: 1.76” (+/-1.75”) Record high precipitation: 10.59” (1927) Record high snowfall: 37.5” (1932) Record low precipitation: 0” (7 percent of years on record) Max daily precipitation: 7.92” (Feb. 28, 1905) Source: Western Regional Climate Center

15

Canvasing the community

High Desert Artists take art to seniors

By Robert Blood [Editor’s note: The following interview was culled from conversations with Pamela Lopez-Davies and Deanna Matson, the former of whom is the High Desert Artists communications director and the latter of whom is a new member of the group.

Contact the High Desert Artists via their Facebook Page, High Desert Artists Inc.] What can you tell us about the High Desert Artists?

Matson: The group has been active in Chino Valley as a nonprofit for 30 years. Right now, we have artists that represent painting — oil, acrylic, water color —and artists who draw, who create fine art, and who make jewelry. The goal of the group is to continue volunteer work to teach seniors how to paint at the Chino Valley Senior Center. We also do community outreach and have small grants for local nonprofit agencies. Right now we have 23 members, and another goal is to grow that number. Over the past 30 years, that number has changed. We’re looking for photographers, people who work with computer graphics, crafters, quilters, sculptors, and, really, all the arts and crafts are welcome in the group. The dues are $24 per year, and a family can join for $40. Meetings are on Saturdays.

Lopez-Davies: There’s a business portion to the meetings. Sometimes there are activities or

demonstrations by local artists. We talk about upcoming activities and shows. An example of one of those is our annual arts and crafts show at the Chino Valley Senior Center at the end of October. We sometimes go on field trips to galleries in Sedona or Phoenix. Last year we went to Wickenburg to see the “Cowgirl Up” exhibit.

And, of course, sometimes we also get together to create art. Occasionally, at a meeting, we’ll print our paints and all paint together and we can help one another with whatever issues or questions we might be having.

How did you first get involved?

Lopez-Davies: I moved here from California in 2011 and was looking for things to do around Chino Valley. I visited the senior center and found out they had these painting classes through the High Desert Artists. Having been an artist in the past, I started going to the classes and eventually joined the group and became secretary of the group. I was elected the president the following year. For me, it was just a matter of trying to get back into art and painting. … I was glad to see something that I could do that drew on my own experiences. I’ve enjoyed being part of the group and have held several offices, and today I’m the communications chair and on the board. Today, we have about 25 members and we’ve been around since 1985.

16 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Matson: I just started making jewelry this past year, in 2016. I was looking for ways to be involved in the community and also just wanted to offer my products for sale. So, I locate the group and reached out to Pam and Judy, found out they accepted folks who did that, and became a member.

But why this group, specifically?

Matson: Well, they’re close to my home. I live in Prescott and was interested in what they were doing and in marketing my product to the Tri-City area. Whenever they have an event or a meeting, they’re supporting those outreach grants. Also, as an artist, I’m interested in learning about other members’ craft. I love that this group teaches painting classes at the senior center. Because the members have the opportunity to display their work at the Chino Valley Library, the High Desert Artists offer a great way to connect with other artists. There’s a social aspect to all of this, too. We learn from each other. For the holidays, there was a potluck and a nice evening of socializing. They’re an open group, and everyone is welcome. There are no prerequisites to attend a meeting or participate in a show.

PHOTO: The High Desert Artists. Courtesy photo.

Why start creating art now?

Matson: I’ve wanted to make jewelry for many years. Any time I saw an opportunity like a class, I always had a personal conflict. Finally, I saw a non-credit class listed at Yavapai College in June, took that beginning class, then took the consecutive intermediate class. Once I started, I couldn’t stop doing it. I make my jewelry from repurposed, reused, and upcycled items. I buy different kinds of costume jewelry and I tear it apart. I also take other things like purses, luggage, and a lot of different things that inspire me. I don’t have a particular style I stick with. I look at it kind of like clothing design where the designs are different and unique, not just one particular thing.

Why is art for seniors important?

Lopez-Davies: It’s a way for them to interact with other seniors. It keeps them physically and mentally active. And it helps maintain an artistic community.

Matson: It’s always good to keep your mind engaged, and, also, art can be very therapeutic. I’ve worked in healthcare for 25 years and I’ve worked in facilities with professionals who all say the same thing: Music and art can make a difference. … I know art can be therapeutic, firsthand. When you sit down and you’re in the moment, time kind of stands still. You get lost in creativity and forget the world around you. At the end, you’ve got a product to show for it.

How are the classes structured and who exactly are they for?

Lopez-Davies: The painting classes are primarily for seniors since they take place at the Chino Valley Senior Center. Some of them are past artists, like myself, who’ve worked a long time and didn’t have time for their painting, so they’re getting back into it. Some of them are first-timers who just want something to do, to learn a few new things. We welcome everyone. It’s usually a pretty

lively group. Last month, we painted our own versions of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” It’s a fun process and we try to learn a different artistic principal every month.

So, Pamela, you’ve gone from attending the class to joining the group to teaching classes?

Lopez-Davies: Yes. We have about four instructors who take turns teaching every month.

Sometimes we all do the same thing, but sometimes it’s free style and the teacher is there to help people achieve whatever it is they’re trying to achieve. All of the instructors are members of the High Desert Artists, though the students are not.

They each pay a small fee, $3, for the class which covers materials, supplies, and instruction.

Why have the High Desert Artists set up as a group separate from the classes?

Lopez-Davies: As a 501(C)(3), we’re required to have some outreach to the community, and the classes are one of our programs that do that. We also donate money to other organizations, including to the Chino Valley Senior Center, who support and house our classes. We also have funds available for scholarships for younger people, too. … We’re here to support each other and to support the community at large in an artistic way. ***** Contact the High Desert Artists via their Facebook Page, High Desert Artists Inc., or email Pamela Lopez-Davies, communications chair, directly at PCLD@ Q.Com. Robert Blood is a Mayer-ish-based freelance writer and ne’er-do-well who’s working on his last book, which, incidentally, will be his first.

Contact him at Bloody Bobby5@Gmail.Com.

FROM TOP: Deanna Matson, High Desert Artists logo, and Pamela LopezDavies. Courtesy photos.

17

One for the books

The Purple Cat celebrates one year turning pages We also have more audio books — books on CD — than I thought there’d be. They’ve been a good thing for us.

By Robert Blood [Editor’s note: The following interview was culled from conversations between the reporter and Shari Graham, owner of The Purple Cat used books store. Their one-year anniversary celebration, replete with prizes and entertainment, is Feb. 3 and 4 at 3180 Willow Creek Road, 928-776-0116.]

Can you give us a little background about yourself and the story behind The Purple Cat’s name?

I had a tax accounting business in Prescott for 17 years, so this has been a nice departure for me, really, where I get to interact with people. That’s what I enjoy the most. Plus you get to hear good jokes. … The name is because, well, simply put, it makes me smile. When I was getting ready to open the shop, I had about two pages-worth of ideas for names and, honestly, they were all boring. I wanted something memorable and, when I saw the clip art of the cat we use for our logo, the name and that little guy’s face made me smile.

That’s it.

Looking back, a year in, what do you wish you would’ve known starting out a used book store?

I wish I would’ve known more about what trends to expect, when are the slows times and busy times, things like that. Summer was a lot slower than I expected, then the fall started out slow then turned out to be very good as we got into November and December. I just didn’t know what kind of flow to expect.

What met your expectations?

The good response we’ve gotten from people.

I was hoping it’d be that good, but it’s actually exceeded that. We get compliments daily on how clean and well-stocked the shop is. … There had

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Where do you get your books?

Pretty much, the main source is my customers. We take in anywhere from 25 to 100 books a day and I give store credit. We’ve very particular about the quality of books we take, though, and as our inventory grows, we’re getting more particular.

What’s the most difficult part of running the business?

Well, the paperwork. I love being in the shop and talking to people and taking care of the books, but there’s a lot of paperwork that goes along with owning a business.

Shari Graham. Courtesy photo. been a used book shop in the area before — right next to what became our location — for about three years, and I worked there, so I knew there was a need when we started. I knew it could work, so that was one of the reasons I decided to open once the previous owner moved. The north side of Prescott is vibrant and growing, and it needs a good place to get inexpensive books.

What’s been a surprise along the way?

The diversity of customers. I sell a lot more children’s books than I’d expected and, because of that, we’ve expanded that section. They range from $2 to $4. The same thing happened with fantasy and we’ve gotten a lot of young people looking for that. … Far and away, though, my biggest sellers have been paperback mysteries.

Plus we’ve sold quite a few Westerns. That’s not a surprise, really.

But, a genre that’s done better than I expected is history and military history. People seem to really like reading a lot of nonfiction. There’s also been a lot more interest in newer releases or popular authors, but that’s expected. I have a few diehard romance fans, but they’re responsible for the bulk of the romance sales.

18 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Amazing appurtenances!

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Marvelous Celebrate the first year of 5enses for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

What actor is mentioned by character or movie in every 2013 5enses science guide?

Email 5ensesMag@Gmail.Com with the answer, your name, and contact info by Feb. 1 t0 be entered in a drawing for one of three incredible prize baskets.

Visit 5ensesMag.Com for contest rules and prize descriptions.

Winners will be announced in March’s 5enses.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

The Art Store, Alan Dean Foster, Jacques Laliberté, Prescott Farmers Market, Dale O’Dell, Snap Snap, & Prescott Arts Journey for prize donations.

What’s next for The Purple Cat? Well, we’re having a birthday party for the shop on Feb. 3 and 4. There’ll be balloons with prices inside — coupons for money off. I’m seriously considering confetti; it’s fun and messy. We’ll also have the artists whose work is in the store stop by to talk to people. There’s Brien Hawkes who does pen and ink pieces, Max Harper, a photographer who shoots in black and white, Susan Congdon, who paints oil on canvas, and Marti Huzarski, a photographer who mounts her pieces on metal. …

Other than that, I don’t think we’ll be doing too much different from what we’ve been doing to this point. ***** Find out more about The Purple Cat used book store at ThePurpleCatAZ.Com or via Facebook.

Robert Blood is a Mayer-ish-based freelance writer and ne’er-do-well who’s working on his last book, which, incidentally, will be his first.

Contact him at BloodyBobby5@Gmail.Com.

Diagnosis: Technology

Y

By Paolo Chlebecek ou hear a report from the news that an impending crisis is heading your way. You have only moments to react. What do you do?

Far too often these days, we hear of various instances all over the world where people must flee their homes to avoid serious consequences. Sadl,y many are not prepared for such events and thus suffer more than they might’ve. Can you avoid the last minute panic? If you had to go now, what would you grab? Many people say photos or photo albums. But is that practical with all of the digital media now prevalent in these times? Does your smart phone have all of your data?

I

have often extolled the virtues of off-site backups of your data. While there are many to choose from, there are only a few worth mentioning. Carbonite and Mozy, while not the only ones, are among the most recognized and reliable on the market today.

I have been using them faithfully for backups and restoration of data for years. There are others to be sure — Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive from Microsoft, iCloud, and Evernote to name a few.

In any case, it’s time, my friends, to stop what you’re doing and make a choice.

Thankfully, if you have either an Android or Apple smartphone, there’s a built in backup that you can use right now for free, and that’s a good

What about BOB?

A good backup comes up front price. But it’s limited in storage space, and won’t automatically backup all of your devices and computers for you. You can buy additional storage from either company to be sure there is enough room for all of your digital snapshots, but let’s be realistic. Most of us say “I’ll get to it when I have time,” until that day comes when your phone is still lost or stolen without a backup. Worse yet, there’s a disaster at home, whether it be water damage or fire, and your entire tech at home is rendered useless.

What then?

E

asy answer: Get an automated offsite backup solution. Once the appropriate software is installed and configure properly for all — ahem, all — of your devices, it should be a simple matter of “set it and forget it.”

When it comes to backing up you have to take the human element out of the equation.

Sorry, but it’s true. It’s too easy to forget to backup, so most software has a simple schedule or even continuous backup option.

“I have an external hard drive, so I’ll grab it if I need to get out fast,” you say. Sure, that’s good. In fact I recommend that as well. Don’t even take the cables — it takes too much time and the cable can easily be purchased again if needed, but not your priceless data. It should be part of your BOB: Bug Out Bag. You know, the bag you

keep by the door for just such emergencies. You have a BOB, right? That’s great, but what if you aren’t at home or work? Maybe there’s a lightning strike or a terrible storm or fire and there simply isn’t time for anything except to get you and your family out as fast as possible.

F

ar too often, I have heard people say, “Then before I knew it all my data was gone!” And it’s not always from a disaster. Sometimes it’s from a malicious virus or ransomware. What’s ransomware? Trend Micro, a leading Antivirus software manufacturer, defines ransomware as “A type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files unless a ransom is paid.”

How can you prevent this from happening? Well for starters, have a backup. But more about protecting yourself from ransomware in an upcoming article.

For now, let’s not dwell on the negative, but as the Boy Scouts say, “Always be prepared.” ***** Paolo Chlebecek is founder and owner of PaoloTek, which he started in 2003. He loves to be helpful to people and our animal friends. Feel free to contact him at Paolo@ PaoloTek.Com.

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5ENSESMAG.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 • COLUMN • 19

Prescott Peeps: Sharon Nordyke Who are you and how did you first get involved in the community?

I’m Sharon Nordyke, and I helped found Chalk It Up!, the Electric Light Parade, and the Pandemonium Steel Drum Band. ... I came to Prescott for a fire inspector job with the city in 1981. That, itself, was very community oriented. One of my favorite things about my long career there was researching children’s museum’s and building a hand’s-on exhibit for the “Learn Not to Burn” program, which was held in the old Ponderosa Plaza.

There was tremendous support from the chief, who budgeted the money to help build many interactive exhibits like a giant smoke detector that kids could crawl through. Kids were bused there for fire prevention week. I also performed with the concert band and orchestra at Yavapai College, followed by a long tenure with the Prescott POPS Symphony. I’d come from a background of playing French horn for many years. Getting involved with musical groups and performing helped me get to know the community.

So you were involved with the community from the outset. What inspired you to create new events and groups in town?

The inspiration to bring an event to the city has always been motivated by my interest in sharing an exceptional experience I have had elsewhere.

In the case of the Holiday Light Parade, I was sitting on the curb in the city of Phoenix, watching their light parade and it was so fun, I thought why don’t we have one in in Prescott? Today, take our holiday light parade — it’s magical, it’s not just a parade. What better way to kick off the holiday season than to bundle up and head to one of the most scenic downtowns anywhere, with your family and friends in tow. The parade is held at night and the brilliancy of the colored lights is magnified as they reflect off a hundred polished surfaces. It’s almost like clouds of colorful fireflies dancing down the street in front of you. When I’m standing there waiting for the parade to start, the excitement and anticipation is almost palpable in the air. I feel like an excited child seeing the parade for the first time, but I also feel a great deal of pride, after all it’s my baby. So, that’s one specific example.

I organize fine arts-related events because I want everyone to be immersed in the creative process. Artists of all ages and abilities can create art on the ground at Chalk It Up! Prescott. It’s like visiting an art museum where you get to be the artists. There’s something very special about the out-of-doors environment where you’re given a box of pastels and join hundreds of others on the ground around you to spontaneously create art. And almost anyone could learn to play a steel drum in the Pandemonium Steel Drum Band.

It started in 2002 as a family band and over the next 11 years quickly grew into a multi-generational community band with up to 20 members. My fa-

experience possible. Events only become sustainable when they become endearing to the public. ... In each case, I had a solid group of friends that I could call on who I knew would help. Because of my background with the City of Prescott, I already knew how to tap the resources there and solve some of the problems, like blocking off streets, getting necessary permits and covering all the safety issues.

What advice do you have for people who want to start events?

I’d encourage people not to be intimidated. If you have an idea that you’re excited about, chances are that you can excite other people about the idea and more easily than you might expect. A lot of these things start with a conversation across the coffee table. All it takes is that one other person to say “I’m in.” ... Events endure because ,at the end of the day, people want to learn, they want to experience something that stimulates them in a different way and they want to participate in something that’s extraordinary.

Sharon Nordyke. Courtesy photo. vorite performances were Acker Night, what a great turnout we had from the community. I’m often asked why we disbanded and the answer is that we downsized our home and no longer had the rehearsal space. Inspiration for Pandemonium came from watching a group of middle schoolers from Sedona. They were having so much fun that I decided to give it a try. Being a life-time musician has enriched my life in countless ways. Sharing that gift with others has been my greatest joy and privilege.

There are tons of great ideas out there, but very few become realities. How do you take something from the idea stage to actually happening?

Well, there’s definitely a planning process and you need to recruit your friends as a think tank so you can begin to figure out the logistics. The budget, that’s a big one, and how are you going to fundraise for this thing? I think it’s best to just do some brainstorming. When you do that, you see what needs to be done and how to delegate it. You have to meet frequently to talk about your progress, and it really is a group effort. I think the biggest challenge, initially, is sharing your excitement with people who are willing to get on board and put time into the event. ... Creating a special event takes more than someone with an idea. I can see both the big picture and the details without feeling daunted by the process, but still need to surround myself with a cadre of family, friends and coworkers who bring with them the necessary planning and organizational skills. Together we work tirelessly and spend hundreds of volunteer hours to make sure each event offers the best

20 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

What’s something from one of your events or groups that you’ve struggled with?

For the chalk festival, we always struggled with how to acknowledge the folks that did really outstanding work. We went through several evolutions of how to do that and always wanted a system of awards, even if they weren’t monetary, to acknowledge that. The judging process was always tricky, too, as well as the labeling of spaces.

Sometimes someone would go home and it was, “Who did this great piece of art on Space 26?” It got better through registration, but hundreds of folks come through. You can always do some kind of logistical thing better.

Were you raised as someone who took initiative in the community or did that come later in life?

I wasn’t raised with that example, but I was raised with a family with a great amount of creativity. That was part of my upbringing. When I first moved to Prescott, it wasn’t unusual for us to make some type of parade float and participate in things like that. That was modeled in my family and I tried to model that for my kids. Now I’m trying to model that with my grandkids.

What are you up to these days?

These days I’m honing my woodworking skills at Yavapai College and playing homemade instruments called a tubulums with friends in my garage. My wood sculptures are contemporary and occasionally displayed in local galleries. The tubulum, well it looks like a plastic pipe organ of sorts and it’s just plain fun to play. *****

Get Involved Professional Writers of Prescott Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Katherine Caccavale and I’m the vice president of programming and public relations for the Professional Writers of Prescott, which has been around since 1978. We’re a community-oriented group of writers of various levels and skills. We gather for monthly meetings, and the group sponsors three or four professional weekend workshops each year that our members are entitled to attend. Typically that’s the biggest expense of the club — bringing in professionals to help with our craft.

We have many published writers, some nationally known, and we’ve also got people who still have their work in-progress on their desks. We all work together and have a couple of networking meetings per year. I was new to the group about four years ago and people took me under their wing and shared the ups and downs of their writing. It’s really nice to be involved with people at various levels. We’ve got people who’re fairly well known as well as a lot of people who are really talented. Some of our writers work with publishers and some are self-published. … Our members write pretty much everything. There are a lot of fiction writers, and we’ve got poets, freelance writers, creative-nonfiction writers, grant writers who are looking to expand their repertoire, and some children and young-adult writers, too. A lot of our members are retired although we’ve go a few members in their 20s.

How can we get involved?

Our monthly meetings are 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Prescott Public Library.

People should feel free to come try it out and see if it’s a good fit for them. Membership costs $20 a year and entitles people to our professional workshops and posting on our Facebook page. We just want the word to get out about us. We’ve been in existence since 1978 and have a board of eight members, all volunteer, and just try to keep going. Usually the regular talks and workshops really focus on topics that reflect our members interest.

In our last meeting (of 2016), we discussed the small press publishing landscape with a local author who graduated from Prescott College who’s had work in the Utne Reader and Southwestern American Literature. Her novel was published

by Harvard Square Editions. We’ve had other ones about how to research a local area, we’ve got an open mic for poetry, and we’ve got ones lined up for book covers, character development, and going from images to imagery. The workshops, themselves, are more focused on things like plot, characters, or point of view. The groups membership is roughly 110, but meetings are about 30, on average, up to about 50. We just started posting meetings on YouTube, too, for people who can’t get out to our meetings in person. …

The main thing is for us just to get the word out about the Professional Writers of Prescott. ***** Find out more at PrescottWriters.

Com or via Facebook.

Prescott Creeks Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Peter Pierson, development and communications manager of Prescott Creeks which is in its 26th year. Our mission is to achieve healthy watersheds and clean waters in central Arizona for the benefit of people and wildlife through protection, restoration, education, and advocacy. Traditionally we work on surface water quality in the Granite Creek watershed as well as stream and riparian area restoration, as well as managing one-off flows through a number of green infrastructure projects throughout the city.

Part of Prescott Creeks roots go back to the original Watson Woods restoration about 25 yeas ago, which originated as a project through a number of Prescott College students. The area of Watson Woods was, at one time, the town dump and site of light industry. … In the last five or six years, especially, we’ve recreated the more natural, meandering stream flow of Granite Creek.

That helps slow run off and filter out contaminants like e. coli and phosphorous nitrogen before it ends up in the Watson Lake reservoir. …

The two primary green infrastructure projects in the city are an area at the Adult Community Center on Rosser and an area at the intersection of Whipple and Miller Valley roads, by Taco Bell, which we fondly refer to as Taco Basin.

How can we get involved?

We always welcome new memberships and donations. We receive some mitigation fees and grant money on larger projects, but most of our outreach and education and

advocacy work is supported solely through private donations and memberships. We have an ongoing public CREW team, which stands for Conservation Restoration Education for our Watershed, which occur on the first and third Thursdays of the month. During the wintertime, most of our work is focused on Watson Woods and some of the other green infrastructure sites, especially managing invasive species, which is an ongoing task. We also have ongoing water monitoring, which we do the training for. Our big event is in April — the Granite Creek cleanup on April 22 — which draws over 500 people every year. Our original focus was picking up trash in the creak, but this year we’ve really expanded it as an outreach to the community about all of the natural and wild spaces in and around Prescott. …

We’ve got about 80 to 100 active members, and memberships range from $35 on up to $500.

For the layperson, riparian areas are those green belts of vegetation surrounding waterways. At one point, between 12 and 15 percent of the Arizona landscape was riparian areas. Right now, it’s less than one percent of Arizona’s landscape. A lot of that change has happened in the last 50 years because of increased development and water consumption. … They’re important for over 90 percent of the wildlife and bird and insect species, to say nothing of water quality or even property value. ***** Find out more at PrescottCreeks.

Org or via Facebook.

***** In these features, 5enses highlights individuals and organizations in the community that are making a difference. They were inspired by Alert Reader Aarti Pani and community leaders Sadira DeMarino and John Duncan. Thank you, Aarti, Sadira, and John.

Want to nominate a do-gooder or a doing-gooder group? Email tips to 5ensesMag@Gmail.Com with “Get Involved” in the subject line. Don’t like who we feature? Do some good deeds or start your own group and tell us about it. Remember, our community is whatever we make it.

5ENSESMAG.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 • FEATURE • 21

Not-asholy days

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etween groundhogs and naked babies, you’ve got plenty to celebrate, but there’s no reason to limit yourself to Bill Murray movies and rom-coms. Consider celebrating …

Feb. 4: Create a Vacuum Day. (Nature will be at you, though.)

Feb. 5: National Weatherman’s Day. (Whether the weather, wether or not.)

Feb. 9: Toothache Day. (Popcorn optional.)

Feb. 10: Umbrella Day. (The best frown-shaped implement.)

Feb. 13: Get a Different Name Day. (Might we suggest … Tim?) Feb. 14: Ferris Wheel Day. (Come around full circle.)

Feb. 15: National Gum Drop Day. (Yummy.)

Feb. 22: Be Humble Day. (It was my idea.)

Feb. 26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day. (Once upon a time ...)

Feb. 28: National Tooth Fairy Day. (And that’s the tooth.)

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or those of us who enjoy the pleasure of central heating, we can thank an ingenious Roman by the name of Gaius Sergius Orata. Approximately 80 B.C., Gaius was developing a series of ceramic flues that would pipe warmed water and warmed air into air pockets under Roman floors and later on, even through tiled walls. His furnaces were used to heat the water for public baths and warm the homes of private well-to-do villas.

ODDLY ENOUGH … Gaius wasn’t seeking to invent human comfort when he began his hypocaust systems. He was attempting to produce a year-round source of warmed sea water in hopes of harvesting farm-raised oysters.

D

*****

uring the Middle Ages, most types of textiles from wool to linen were produced, spun, and woven by women. Women were so connected to this craft that some bits of clothing were given by women to women exclusively as charms for those who were pregnant, or were facing a difficult labor.

ODDLY ENOUGH … According to a bulletin produced in 1010, churchmen were warned that some clothing produced by women who uttered incantations while they worked — had the ability to bewitch or even kill its owner. Hence, to be sure the apparel was rendered “safe,” counter-incantations were often performed before the clothing was worn. ***** Russell Miller is an illustrator, cartoonist, writer, bagpiper, motorcycle enthusiast, and reference librarian. Currently, he illustrates books for Cody Lundin and Bart King.

22 • FEATURE • FEBRUARY 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

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