2017-08 5enses

5enses

August MMXVII • Volume V, Issue VIII ~ in cauda venenum ~ Copyright © 2017 5enses Inc. Contact us at 5ensesMag@Gmail.Com & 928-613-2076 Visit 5ensesMag.Com & ISSUU for more

In which: Mara Trushell

Maxine Tinney

4 16 5 18 6 19 7 + 10 8/9 11 20 12 21 14 22 drags out some stunning photos and previews more 4 A.M. Productions

Justin Agrell

is lured outdoors by a wika-wikawika and drops some knowledge

Kathleen Yetman

Sean Gote´ Gallery

Robert Blood

opens up about a fleetingly beautiful and beautifully fleeting flowering

shoulders 1,000,000 aches and pains and unwinds with 1 megahurtz

William Topaz McGonagall

gathers daylilies and celebrates Prescott Farmers Market’s 20th anniversary

weaves deft, deaf, and (arguably) def poetry and justifies his wordy infamy

Peregrine Book Co. staff

brings bell, book, and candle to a reading and uncovers contextual truths

Alan Dean Foster

Here & (T)here

takes a less classical approach and orchestrates better programming

Reva Sherrard

Discover events in and around Prescott and the surrounding area

New shipment of Western & Animal Sculptures

Whimsical art for creative minds

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

Get Involved

spots the sun and moon and parties with the Prescott Astronomy Club

Ty Fitzmorris

702 West Gurley Prescott, AZ 86305 928 445 2233

Prescott Peeps

furiously creates a cross-cultural connection and incites furor, óðr

James Dungeon

Publisher & Editor: Nicholas DeMarino Copy Editor: Susan Smart Featured Contributors: Alan Dean Foster, Ty Fitzmorris, Reva Sherrard, & Russell Miller Staff Writers: Justin Agrell, Robert Blood, James Dungeon, Mara Trushell, & Kathleen Yetman

Discover ways to make a positive difference in our community

Oddly Enough

reins in the wealth of waterborne wildlife and makes monsoon merriment

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

Adorn Your Lifestyle

@ Snap Snap Buy | Sell | Trade •

UNIQUE APPAREL & EXOTIC GOODS OPEN DAILY 10AM-5PM •

928-776-8695

133 N. Cortez, Historic Downtown Prescott

COVER IMAGE: “Solar Eclipse,” digital art by Dale O’Dell for 5enses. See page 12 for more.

Fidget Spinners Regular: $3 LED: $5 $1 from each sale goes directly to Catty Shack Rescue a 501©3 that helps keep community street cats fed, sheltered, housed, and loved.

(Included n this service is spay/ neuter, shots, and well cat vet visits.)

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2017 • CONTENTS • 3

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By Mara Trushell he Birdbill Dayflower (Commelina dianthifolia) remains underground living as tuberous roots for much of the year. The beauty of this dayflower may only be enjoyed after the monsoon thunderstorms saturate grassy openings and meadows within woodlands and conifer forests from 4,000-9,000 feet. By late July, relatively long, linear leaves grow alternately up thin stems that are topped with a large spathe (folded sheathing bract); this is the “bird bill.”

Plant of the Month

eginning in August, during the cool morning hours, a single flower at a time emerges from the spathe. These flowers are comprised of three unique petals: two equal petals sit above a slightly smaller petal. Each is thin at its base, but then fans into delicate but wide vibrant blue petals; these just barely touch. In the center of the trio the stigma extends just beyond the vibrant yellow stamens which are set on filaments that are a deeper blue than the petals themselves.

The display is complete when light catches the purple edges or stripes of the vibrant green spathe from which the flower emerged.

By the hot afternoon, this single flower often wilts, hopefully only after successful pollination, and the next day a new flower opens. This display continues through September. Then, once again, the Birdbill Dayflower reduces to its underground tubers until the next summer.

[Author’s Note: Birdbill Dayflower is one of two common representatives of the Commelinaceae, Spiderwort Family, in Arizona. The second, Western Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) has a similar appearance at a glance. When observed in detail, the solitary spathes and flowers of the Birdbill Dayflower are quite distinct from the Western Spiderwort flowers, which are arranged in an umbellate inflorescence (multiple flowers creating a parasol shape) with purple petals that set broadly into slightly protruding sepals.]

Birdbill Dayflower

ART WALKS 2017 Jan. 27 Feb. 24 March 24 April 28 May 26 June 23 July 28 Aug. 25 Sept. 22 Oct. 27 Nov. 24 Dec. 22

See Special Events

www.ArtThe4th.com

4 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

***** Mara Trushell is a local natural science enthusiast.

FROM TOP: Birdbill Dayflower; Western Spiderwort.

Photos by David Moll.

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By Maxine Tinney n incessant tapping sound along with a wika-wika-wika calling awakens my husband and I one early Spring morning. Going outside, we find the source of the drumming. A male Redshafted Northern Flicker is gripping the side of one of our bird houses using his two toes pointing forward and two toes backward for support and his tail as a prop.

He proceeds drilling on the surface of the wood roof with his robust, slightly downcurved bill to claim his territory, including intermittent calling of his wika-wika-wika love song to attract a mate. He is a large, light-brown woodpecker measuring about 12.5 inches with a handsome black-scalloped plumage, barred upperparts and spotted underparts, has a black bib, gray face, tan crown, red mustache malars, and would be a catch for any tan-malared female. As he flies away, he shows off his orangered under-wing primaries and tail, white rump spot, rising and falling smoothly with interspersed periods of flapping and gliding.

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he Red-shafted Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer) is common to woodlands and forests of Yavapai County and the western United States. If you travel to the east and far north of the United States, you will find the Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus) with yellow under-wing primaries and tail, black mustache malars, and red crest on the nuchal nape. With luck and a keen eye, whilst visiting woodlands and forests, you might see an integrade or hybrid Northern Flicker which have some traits from each of the two forms, red-shafted and yellow-shafted.

The Northern Flickers live in open woods and forest edges and feed on ants, beetles and insects on the ground or in snags with their barbed tongues that can extend two inches beyond the bill and is covered with a sticky saliva. These ground foraging woodpeckers also eat flies, butterflies, moths, snails, berries and seeds and can be attracted by backyard suet and seed blocks and a pan of water for drinking and bathing. The Northern Flicker is protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Although still abundant and widespread in the United States, recent surveys indicate declines of 49 percent since the 1960s.

Bird of the Month

Northern Flicker FROM LEFT: Male Red-shafted Northern Flicker, Male Integrade Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker with red mustache malar and red crest on nuchal nape.

Photo by Maxine Tinney, Ranch, Prescott.

***** Prescott Audubon Society is an official Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Through our “Window On Nature” presentations, exciting field trips, and a multitude of educational outreach programs, PAS is your onestop nature resource. Check us out online at 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 • AUGUST 2017 • FEATURE • 5

Growing panes

A window on the Prescott Farmers Market 20 years on

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By Kathleen Yetman trolling around the Prescott Farmers Market today, it’s hard to imagine its humble beginnings 20 years ago. On August 9, 1997 the Prescott Farmers Market opened in the parking lot behind the Chamber of Commerce and Post Office in downtown Prescott. A handful of farmers and backyard gardeners attended the market the first year. The opening of this market was a turning point for small growers here in Yavapai County — not only because it provided a space for them to sell their goods to the public, but also because it allowed them to supplement each other by providing a variety of crops for customers. The increase in sales allowed farmers to expand their production and, in return, the market itself grew.

In the beginning, the market was run by a single seasonal, part-time market manager with support from many volunteers. In 1998 the market moved to Goodwin Street, then Cortez and in 2005 relocated to Yavapai College. In 2007, the Prescott Farmers Market opened two new markets in Chino Valley and Prescott Valley to increase access to local food in those communities. In 2014, it expanded to become a year-round market in response to farmers’ ability to grow food even in the dead of winter.

Today, the Prescott Farmers Market is a nonprofit organization running

Photo by Kathleen Yetman. two year-round markets in Prescott and Prescott Valley and a summer market in Chino Valley. We employ four part-time staff. At the peak of the summer season, we host more than 50 vendors with an incredible variety of locally grown crops. The Prescott market has been recognized nationally as one of the best farmers markets in the country. As a nonprofit, we do more than what customers see on Saturdays including teaching gardening and nutrition to school children, educating customers about everything food at the market and providing professional development for Yavapai County farmers and ranchers.

Prescott’s finest submarines since before downtown traffic 418 W. Goodwin St., 778-3743 M-F 10:30-2:30, Weekends closed

6 • COLUMN • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

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s a vital part of the economy, the mission of Prescott Farmers Market is to support and expand local agriculture, cultivate a healthy community and increase access to affordable local food.

The Greater Prescott Area can be proud of this homegrown organization as it turns 20 this month. We’ll continue to grow for the community — always with farmers leading the way. ***** The Prescott Farmers Market is 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays, May through October in Yavapai College Parking Lot D, 1100 E. Sheldon St. Find out more at PrescottFarmersMarket.Org. Kathleen Yetman is the executive director of the Prescott Farmers Market and a native of Prescott.

Peregrine Book Co.

Staff picks

“Seven Brief Lessons on Physics”

By Carlo Rovelli Direct and elegant. Gain a better understanding of the fundamental laws that govern our universe. Maybe if you memorize them you’ll get special powers or something. ~Sean “Legacy of Ashes”

By Tim Weiner This book is a comprehensive chronicle of the achievements and foibles of the CIA since its origin as the OSS in the early 21st century. ~Joe “Complete Stories”

By Clarice Lispector Lispector writes in a way that allows you to feel as if you know her characters intimately, to comfortably exist in the space she has created for them, and to feel every emotion and thought they have, in just a few short lines. Feelings that only intensify as you continue to read. ~Lacey “Speedboat”

By Renata Adler Adler forces you to look at your surroundings with new eyes, question those seemingly insignificant meetings with strangers,

It’s Drag Time 7 & 9 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Aug. 18 & 19

Catered by Reva Sherrard “Annihilation”

By Jeff Vandermeer This short novel has such a thick, ominous sense of atmosphere that it almost creeps off the pages in a musky fog. A little bit of Bradbury, a little more of Lovecraft, and a lot of something new that evades comparison. ~Sean

4AM Productions presents

and explore your curiosity as she grants glimpses into the special oddities of her life. Adler disregards the rules of the novel with unexpected ease as she takes you on a journey through the ’70s. ~Lacey

@ PCA Stage Too

(behind PCA, 208 N. Marina St.)

Tickets: $15 online @ DragTime.BPT.ME $20 door Hosted by

Aimee V Justice

“Bonjour Tristesse”

By Francoise Sagan At first airy and lighthearted, “Bonjour Tristesse” quickly becomes full of heartache and horror, darkened by frivolity and selfishness. ~Lacey “Faces in the Crowd”

By Valeria Luiselli This is one of the mindbendiest books I’ve ever read. Using wonderful language, Luiselli makes the reader question every passage. ~Jon

***** Visit Peregrine Book Company at PeregrineBookCompany.Com and 219A N. Cortez St., Prescott, 928-445-9000.

Piper M. Shay

DeeJay Galaxy

TRAX

“I, etcetera”

By Susan Sontag The amount of praise given to “Against Interpretation and Regarding the Pain of Others” should be given to “I, etcetera” as well. A unique collection of short stories. This is a wonderful introduction to Sontag if you are unfamiliar with her work. ~Lacey “The Lottery & Other Stories”

By Shirley Jackson Reading the stories of Shirley Jackson is like being dragged by the wrists through a nightmare that when it ends leaves you shocked and wanting more. ~Lacey

CoCo St. James

Records 234 S. Montezuma St. 928-830-9042

Turntables & quick special orders Buy/Sell/Trade new & used vinyl & CDs

deriving ideas, style and taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

by Prescott area artists

August 24—September 19 4th Friday Art Walk Reception

August 25th 5 – 8 PM

In the ‘Tis Art Center Main Gallery 105 S. Cortez St. Prescott www.TisArtGallery.com

$5 off any service ≥$30!

515 E. Sheldon St., Prescott, www.erasalonandspa.com

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2017 • FEATURE • 7

Here & (T)here

Find out what's happening in and around Prescott Talks & presentations

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“The Eagle & the Archeologist: The Lindbergh's 1929 Aerial Survey of Southwest Prehistoric Sites” • 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3: Historian and writer Erik Berg uncovers the important but little-known role of Charles and Anne Lindbergh in Southwest archeology. An Arizona Humanities Lecture. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1526)

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“Wester History Symposium” • Saturday, Aug. 5: Annual day of free lectures on a variety of Old West historical subjects. (Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., 928-445-3122)

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Solar Eclipse Celebration • 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Aug. 21: Observe and learn more about the total solar eclipse, plus talks, safe viewing techniques, and activities for all ages. Via the Prescott Astronomy Club. See the cover story on pp. 12-13 for more. (Prescott Valley Civic Center Amphitheater, 928-759-6188, PrescottAstronomyClub.Org)

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“Wet & Wild” • 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26: Water Day at the zoo featuring a water slide, splashy bounce house, water gun station, dunk tank, animal feedings, aquatic animal encounters, and more. (Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, 1403 Heritage Park Road, 928-778-4242, HeritageParkZoo.Org, $6-$10)

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Prescott mayoral and council candidate forum • 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 5: Water issues and more discussed by candidates during monthly Citizens Water Advocacy Group meeting. (Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation bulding, 822 Sunset Ave., 928-455-4218)

LAN party • 10 a.m. -10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 : Play multiplayer computer games like “Killing Floor,” “Rocket League,” “Counterstrike,” and “Tribes.” A monthly Prescott PC Gamers Group Event.

(Step One Coffee House, 6719 E. Second St., Ste. C, Prescott Valley, PPCGG.Com, $10) Prescott Area Boardgamers • 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, 23, & 30: Play modern, Euro-

“Ordinary Skin: Essays from Willow Springs” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5: Amy Auker launches her new collection of creative non-fiction exploring her mid-life transition through prose poems and essays that illustrate a new terrain as well as enw ways of being in the world. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBook Company.Com)

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Cartooning workshop • 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12: Meet members of the Northern Arizona Cartoonist Association with workshops throughout the day, including talks and appearances by The Janimal, Russ Kazmierczak, Dave Beaty, Al Sparrow, and Daniel Franks. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-4459000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

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“Frontier Arizona Experience” • Saturday, Aug. 19: See a day in a frontier soldier's life from officers to cavalrymen. A monthly event. (Fort Whipple Museum, Arizona 89, north side of Prescott)

“The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19: Roger Naylor returns to discuss his latest book, which celebrates the adventuring photographers of the early 1900s. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com) “Arizona Frontier Ranch Medicine” • 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19: Jody Drake discusses medical care on the frontier in Arizona. (Phippen Art Museum, 4701 AZ 89, 928-778-1385, PhippenArtMuseum.Org)

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“Appetite” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26: Former Arizona Science Center CEO Sheila Grinell discusses her debut novel and “writing as a second act.” (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

“Just Let Me Hear Some of that Rock 'n' Roll” • 2:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28: Historian Bill Weiss discusses the origins and evolution of rock 'n' roll from gospel and blues through doo wop to the tuneful '50s, and to the '60s era of psychedelics, supergroups, and general pop lunacy.

(Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1526)

Nature, health, & outdoors

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“Artists on the Fly” • 1-4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4: Artist Neil Rizos is back for another sketching workshop, featuring live raptors from the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550, Highlands Center.Org, $22, pre-registration required)

Jay's Bird Barn bird walks • 7 a.m. Aug. 5, 10, 17, & 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)

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Prescott Audubon bird walk • 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12: Monthly bird walk. (Acker Park, Virginia Street entrance, 928-776-9550, HighlandsCenter.Org) Summer Star Talk • 8-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18: Highlands Center naturalist John Mangimeli discusses the stars. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550, Highlands Center.Org, PrescottAudubon.Org)

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Empty Bowls • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27: The 20th annual Empty Bowls event. Choose a ceramic or wooden bowl made by local artists and sample any pair of 14 soups prepared by local chefs. Proceeds benefit Prescott Area food banks and help fight hunger. (Yavapai County Courthouse Square, 120 S. Cortez St., 928-765-5013, $15) PHOTO: Empty bowls. Photo

by Ralph Nicolay.

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“Dinosaurs in Arizona” • 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31: Field trip to the Museum of Northern Arizona with Dr. Dave Gillette., curator of vertebrate paleontology. Roundtrip transportation to Flagstaff and lunch provided. Via Highlands Center. (928-776-9550, HighlandsCenter.Org,$65, pre-registration required)

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

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“Death Cafe” • 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10: 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.” Hosted by Dani LaVoire. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBook Company.Com)

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Mile High Brewfest • 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12: Savor Southwest beer, wine, and food. Benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arizona.

(Downtown Prescott, 928-776-8686)

Prescott Valley Farmers Market • 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays: Weekly farmers market featuring local food and much more. (Harkins Theatres, 7202 Pav Way, Prescott Valley, PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

Prescott Arts & Crafts Festival • 9 a.m. Aug. 12 & 13: The 67th annual juried festival featuring all manner of wares. Benefits Mountain Artists Guild.

(Downtown Prescott, 928-445-2510)

Chino Valley Farmers Market • 3-6 p.m. Thursdays, June-October: Weekly farmers market featuring local food and much more. (Olsen's Grain parking lot, 344 Arizona 89, Chino Valley, PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

GYCC LGBTQ Coalition • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15: 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)

Prescott Farmers Market • 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays, May-October: Weekly farmers market featuring local food and much more. (Yavapai College Parking Lot D, 1100 E. Sheldon St., PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

Groups & games

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Prescott Indivisible • 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4: Monthly meeting of a non-partisan group which seeks to promote a progressive and inclusive agenda in support of human rights and the environment.

(Granite Peak Unitarian Congregation Education Center, 882 Sunset Ave., 928-443-8854)

8 • EVENTS • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

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PFLAG Support Night • 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18: Monthly support night for LGBTQ+ community and those who love and support them or desire to do so. (First Congregational Church, 216 E. Gurley St.)

Professional Writers of Prescott • 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23: 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) NAZGEM Support 7 p.m Friday, Aug. 25: 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)

Performing arts “Same Time, Next Year” • 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3, 4, & 12: A love affair between two people, Doris and George, married to others, rendezvous once a year.

Twenty-five years of manners and morals are hilariously and touchingly played out by the lovers. (Prescott Center for the Arts Stage Too, alley between Cortez and Marina streets behind Peregrine Book Co., 928-445-3286, PCA-AZ.Net, $15) “Plaza Suite” • 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 2 p.m. Aug. 13: Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at the Plaza. (Prescott Center for the Arts Stage Too, alley between Cortez and Marina streets behind Peregrine Book Co., 928445-3286, PCA-AZ.Net, $15) “Bus Stop” • 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 & 11; 2 p.m. Aug. 6: The action of this endearing romantic comedy takes place during a howling snowstorm in a cheerful street-corner restaurant adjacent to a bus stop in a small town about thirty miles west of Kansas City. (Prescott Center for the Arts Stage Too, alley between Cortez and Marina streets behind Peregrine Book Co., 928445-3286, PCA-AZ.Net, $15)

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

workshops and one large performance. Via Why Not? Bellydance. (Holiday Courtyard on Whiskey Row, WhyNot BellyDance.Com, $10 registration plus workshop fees, performance is free) PHOTO: Diosa, a Phoenix-based dance instructor, choreographer, entertainer, and publisher of Shimmy Magazine, is leading an instructional session during the Beat the Heat festival. Courtesy photo.

Contra Dance • 7-7:30 p.m. lesson; 7:30-10 p.m. dance Saturday, Aug. 26: Contra dancing, via Folk Happens. Calls by Archie Maclellan, music by Chupacabras. (First Congregation Church, 216 E. Gurley St., 928-925-5210, FolkHappens.Org, $4-$8) Social dance classes • Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays: Learn the Argentine tango, West Coast swing, tribal belly dance, Lindy hop swing, flamenco, and Latin dance. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928-432-3068, Flying NestStudio.Com, prices vary) Performance dance/movement arts classes • Wednesdays & Thursdays: Learn contemporary dance, movement for life, and normative movement. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928-432-3068, Flying NestStudio.Com, prices vary)

Visual arts ’Tis Art Center & Gallery • July 15-Aug. 14: “Clay + Wax = Fresh New Art,” featuring art

by Mary Lou Wills and Patty Heibel.

• July 27-Aug. 22: “Black & White with a Splash of Color 2017,” featuring art by Prescott area artists.

• Aug. 15-Sept. 14: “Sparks & Splashes,” featuring steel works

by Joseph Rech and paintings by Elizabeth Bartlee, opening reception is Aug. 25, 4th Friday Art Walk.

• Aug. 24: Sept. 19: Eclectic works by Prescott area artists. (‘Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223, TisArtGallery.Com) IMAGE: Art by Elizabeth Bartlee. Courtesy image.

Drag Time • 7 & 9 p.m. Aug. 18 & 19: 4AM Productions presents “Drag Time,” hosted by Aimee V Justice with the talents of DeeJay Galaxy, Piper M Shay, and CoCo St. James. (Prescott Center for the Arts Stage Too, alley between Cortez and Marina streets behind Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St., DragTime.BPT.ME, $15 advance, $20 door) “Groovy!”

• 7 p.m. Aug. 18, 19, 25 & 26; 2:30 p.m. Aug. 19, 20, & 26: A musical comedy tribute to the 1960s. (Prescott Valley Performing Arts Family Theater, PV Entertainment District, 2982 Park Ave., 928-583-4684, PrescottValleyPerforming Arts.Org, $10)

Mountain Artists Guild • July 21-Aug. 16: “Dynamics of Nature,” featuring art by Barbara Andress, Deanne Brewster, and Lyn De Lano.

• June 26-Aug. 25: “America the Beautiful” gallery show.

(Mountain Artists Guild, 228 N. Alarcon St., 928-445-2510, MountainArtistsGuild.Org)

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Open mic poetry • 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23: Poet Dan Seaman emcees monthly open mic poetry. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000, PeregrineBookCompany.Com)

Mountain Spirit Co-op • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Mountain Spirit Co-op, 107 N. Cortez St., 928-445-8545, MountainSpiritCo-Op.Com) Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery • July 26-Aug. 23: “The Linscott Group,” featuring watercolor paintings and jewelry by students of Caroline Linscott.

• Aug. 25-21: Fine beaded jewelry by Joyce Ash, opening reception is Aug. 25, 4th Friday Art Walk.

(Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717, ArtsPrescott.Com) PHOTO: Beaded purse.

Courtesy photo.

Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery • July 24-Aug. 19: “Artistic Visions,” featuring art from Visual Arts Committee members and more. (Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286, PCA-AZ.Net)

Art2 • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Art2, 120 W. Gurley St., 928-499-4428, ArtSquaredPrescott.Com)

Sam Hill Warehouse • Student, faculty, and alumni exhibitions. (Sam Hill Warehouse, 232 N. Granite St., 928-350-2341, PrescottCollegeArt Gallery.Org)

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

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4th Friday Art Walk • 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25: Monthly art walk including artist receptions, openings, and demonstrations at more than a dozen galleries. (ArtThe4th.Com)

Granite Mountain Jewelry Artists • 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26: Third annual jewelry show and sale featuring more than 20 artists with handmade jewelry in a broad spectrum of designs and styles including metals, lapidary, enameling, glass, casting, precious metal and polymer clays, mixed media, and beadwork. (St. Michael Hotel’s Ballroom, 205 W. Gurley St., GraniteMountainJewelry Artists.Weebly.Com) Huckeba Art Gallery • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Huckeba Art Gallery, 227 W. Gurley St., 928-445-3848, Huckeba-Art-Quest.Com)

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Ian Russell Gallery • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Ian Russell Gallery, 130 S. Montezuma St., 928-445-7009, IanRussellArt.Com)

Random Art • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Random Art, 214 N. McCormick St., 928-308-7355, RandomArt.Biz)

Sean Goté Gallery • New art and décor, plus guest art in the parking lot on weekends. 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Sean Goté Gallery, 702 W. Gurley St., 928-445-2233, SeanGote.Com) Smoki Museum • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Smoki Museum, 147 N. Arizona Ave., 928-445-1230, SmokiMuseum.Org) Thumb Butte Distillery • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Thumb Butte Distillery, 400 N. Washington Ave., 928-443-8498, ThumbButte Distillery.Com) Van Gogh’s Ear • 4th Friday Art Walk participant. (Van Gogh’s Ear, 156 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-1080, VGEGallery.Com) Yavapai College Art Gallery • July 15-Aug. 12: “Language of Memory & Maps of the Imagination,” featuring art by Shelley Heffler and Diane Silver exploring the preexisting languages throughout the topography of time and space within the universe. (Yavapai College Art Gallery, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-445-7300, YC.Edu)

“Beat the Heat” • Aug. 25-27 festival, 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 performance: Second annual belly dance festival featuring a variety of

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Stravinsky, dinosaurs optional: Part II The unusual suspects

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B

By Alan Dean Foster ach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky. Wonderful composers. Whose music, as I mentioned last month, retains its luster but after dozens of performances of the same works, tends to … not bore, necessarily. But to lose the excitement of the new. There are only so many ways to play Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue,” Beethoven’s ninth symphony (interminable TV commercial excerpts notwithstanding), or Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto. Yet that’s what most orchestras do, then wonder why attendance falls off and interest in classical music wanes.

I don’t care how much you love “Star Wars.”

You don’t want to just see “Star Wars” every time you go to the movie theater. Ah, you say, but I’d go to see something like “Star Wars.” So, isn’t there something like Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky?

There’s plenty, and much more besides, but modern orchestras just won’t program it.

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ove Tchaikovsky? When was the last time you saw Sergei Bortkiewicz’s first or second symphony on an orchestral program? Like, never?

There’s so much wonderful music by so many fabulously talented composers that never, and I mean never, gets played. Here’s a sample program of American classical music that I’d drive a long ways to hear but that you’ll never see on a domestic symphony orchestra program. Because, no Copland.

“Rocky Point Holiday” (yes, that Rocky Point)

by Ron Nelson. “The Fiddle Concerto,” by Mark O’Connor. “A Night in the Tropics,” by Louis Gottshalk, and lastly Symphony No. 2 by Meredith Wilson (yes, the same Meredith Wilson who wrote “The Music Man”). Alternative: “Symphony in D,” by John Vincent. If you don’t leave this hypothetical concert feeling good, you shouldn’t be listening to music, period.

We can’t even hear good ol’ Howard Hanson these days. Why won’t the Phoenix symphony do Alan Hovhaness’s “Mt. St. Helen’s” symphony, never mind delightful early American composers like Strong and McDowell. Orchestras do Christmas concerts all the time. Instead of the 4,863rd set of excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah,” how about essaying Vaughne-Williams’s wonderful “Job” or Fry’s “Santa Claus Symphony”?

If I was a trumpeter in a symphony orchestra, I’d be both terrified and exhilarated at the prospect of performing in a rendition of Bantock’s “Hebredian Symphony.” What about celebrating the music of Iberia without yet again programming … well, Albeniz’s “Iberia?” Instead of yet more de Falla, how about we hear Braga-Santo’s

Alan Dean Foster’s

Perceivings

third or fourth symphonies, or Guridi’s “Symphonia Pirenaica”?

Like film music? How about this for a lineup?

“Theme, Variations & Finale”, by Miklos Rosza; “Violin Concerto” by Erich Korngold; “Variations on a Waltz,” by Jerome Moross; and “Moby Dick,”

by Bernard Herrman. All composers much better known for their film scores.

A fan of the comic book/movie “Thor”? You should hear Geirr Tveitt’s “Prillar” or “Baldur’s Dreams.”

There’s just so much great, listenable music that never gets performed. I expect to die before I have a chance to hear Tournemeire’s sixth symphony, “L’an Mil” by Vierne, or any of the great romantic French works for orchestra and chorus. Forget about ever hearing Bantock’s huge setting of “Omar Khayyam.” But, orchestral programmer’s say, these pieces are expensive to mount, and who would pay to hear them?

There follows a tale.

Havergal Brian, circa 1900. Public domain.

10 • COLUMN • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

avergal Brian. There’s a great composer you never heard of because he never gets played. At least, not in this country and certainly not by major orchestras. The word “iconoclast” was invented for Brian. An honorable definition for a true artist. Brian was British, self-taught, lived to be 96, wrote five operas, thirty-two symphonies (a bunch of them after he turned 80 (!)), and much else besides. Concertos.

Orchestral suites. Songs. It took him eight years to finish his first symphony, “The Gothic,” which requires two double choruses, a children’s chorus, four soloists, over 200 musicians in the main orchestra, an organ, and three separate, isolated brass groups. It had only been performed a handful of times, usually with reduced forces, until the BBC decided to open its 2011 Proms season with the first fully staffed compliment of performers.

Expensive to mount? You bet. No one would come to hear it?

Tickets sold out in less than 24 hours.

I flew to London to hear the performance … the only time I’ve ever done anything remotely like that. It turned out to be the greatest concert-going experience of my life. For the curious, there’s an award-winning CD of the live performance and plenty of relevant material on line. Also my own partial video excerpt of the rehearsal, viewable on Vimeo. Sadly, no video was made of the actual performance itself.

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use this as an example of music that’s rarely played but when it is, often draws a bigger response than the familiar Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. Maybe if performances of wonderful music by composers like Buttner, Tanayev, Klami, Steinberg, and others were more frequent, classical music performances might sell out more often. Maybe if instead of the Nutcracker suite we heard some excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Vakula the Smith,” those who love Tchaikovsky might come out for a concert they would otherwise have skipped.

Maybe then I wouldn’t have had to inform a wide-eyed concert goer at a live performance many years ago by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, that no, they didn’t write “Pictures at an Exhibition,” but that it was actually composed by some Russian chap named Mussorgsky, and maybe she should go see “Fantasia.” ***** 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:

Óðinn’s ecstatic fury

bow, refusing to fight.

His charioteer Krishna — the god Vishnu in flesh — counseled him to embrace his destiny as a warrior and to recognize the path fate had laid before him as something far greater than his own limited understanding.

Transfigured by Krishna’s teaching, which comprises the “Bhagavad Gita” segment of the epic poem “Mahabharata,” Arjuna led his army to victory.

When Harald Wartooth, a great eighth-century Scandinavian king, felt the shadow of death from old age fall over him he challenged his friend Sigurd Ring to an almighty battle. Harald in his youth had vowed to dedicate all those he slew in war to Óðinn (Odin), and in return the god granted him untold military success and dominion over lands from Northumbria, to western Norway, to Estonia. In the blinding heat of his last battle the king forgot that his purpose was to die in it. Odin did not. As Harald drove in his chariot to meet Sigurd Ring he saw suddenly that his charioteer was the god himself, and was stricken to the heart with the knowledge that divine favor had deserted him. He pleaded for one final victory, in vain. Odin cast the king down from the chariot to his death.

By Reva Sherrard I know that I hung the windswept tree upon, nights full nine, spear-wounded and given to Óðinn, self to myself on that tree that no one knows whence its roots run.

With loaf they heartened me not nor with horn, I peered down, I took up the runes, screaming took them, I fell back from there.

-Rúnatal

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n the brink of a terrible battle that would pit him against cherished friends and relatives, the Indian prince Arjuna quailed in painful moral turmoil and threw down his

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intermediaries humanity conceives to help itself come to terms with life. Social structure, morality, even individual loss or gain are meaningless in the paradigm of Odinic fury: óðr in Old Norse, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *wet-, meaning to blow or breathe into, to infuse with divine essence. This is not fury in the sense of anger. Rather it is a state of inspiration (Latin inspirare, to breathe into) so complete that in the blink of an eye it establishes itself in the consciousness of the inspired as the overriding context of existence. Like dharma it transcends the mundane self and its concerns. But dharma is a tool for civilization-building, dependent on concepts of good and evil, right and wrong; óðr is the shattering touch of unpolarized Life Itself.

Hence Odin’s medieval reputation for treachery as the giver of fortune in battle. “Surely we have deserved victory of the gods,” protests the fallen Norwegian king Hákon in a 10th-century poem composed in his honor, but “Odin has shown great enmity towards us.” A line in the Icelandic “Saga of King Hrolf Kraki” asserts that “it is Odin who comes against us here, the foul and untrue.”

(Translations by H. R. Ellis Davidson in her classic “Gods and Myths of Northern Europe.”) To expect comfort and security from a god who hanged himself from the World Tree to gain knowledge is a prime piece of human foolishness. The embittered kings of yore would have done better to entrust themselves to gods of growth like Freyja and Freyr, or the original battle god Tyr if they wanted victory and prosperity.

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din’s gifts are not so quantifiable. din the shaman, discoverer of the Armed with Krishna’s advice, runes, keeper of the blood-mead of Arjuna won his war and came to be pure poetry, is the Germanic god at peace with himself. Yet the day associated with war and death. His would inevitably come when he must steed is eight-legged Sleipnir, “slipagain feel strife within his soul, and when, like per,” the four two-legged pallbearers who give Harald Wartooth, he had to die. Odin is an unthe dead a last ride as the soul “slips” to the next canny and uncomfortable god because he embodworld. He is called Flaming Eye, Blind, Hanged, ies a state not indeed of calm but of overwhelming Gaping Frenzy, Shouter. In exchange for a drink spiritual stimulation so profoundly altering that from the well of primordial universal memory he the tensions between life and death, pleasure and gave one of his eyes. Wednesday is his particular agony, are subsumed in the ecstasy of experience. day, from Wodan (Wodan’s-day), the Anglo-Saxon It is not a happy ecstasy; it is certainly not bliss. It version of his name, which means “one possessed is more: the simple communion with Life. with transcendent fury.”

Krishna and Arjuna’s conversation in the ***** “Bhagavad Gita” centers on dharma, the duties Reva Sherrard works at Peregrine Book Comand standards of conduct from which social order pany, studies Old Norse religion, and is writing on a grand scale is built. The principle of furor a novel. that Odin exemplifies is by contrast an intensely personal force likelier to destroy rather than build, not because it is destructive per se IMAGE: “Odin’s Self-Sacrifice,” by W.G. Collingbut because as raw, undiluted wood. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. divine urge it has absolutely nothing to do with the gentler

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2017 • COLUMN • 11

MOON DANCE

The total solar eclipse of 2017 comes to Prescott (and, you know, everywhere else in the U.S.)

By James Dungeon The last time it happened was Feb. 26, 1979. It’s been more than 38 years since that event: a total solar eclipse visible across the contiguous U.S. And, on Monday, Aug. 21, you can see it again — hey, stop staring: that’s the Sun! — from right here in good ol’ Prescott.

The partial eclipse lasts two to three hours, though it won’t reach totality here. Prescott’s zenith is a 75 percent eclipse around 10:30 a.m.

There’s a deluge of information about the eclipse online, but if you want to experience some local flair, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better gathering than that hosted by the Prescott Astronomy Club. From 9 a.m. through noon, at the Civic Center Amphitheater, 7501 E. Civic Circle, in P.V., there’ll be presentations, displays, hands-on activities, and more.

Below, Adam England, publicity coordinator for the Prescott Astronomy Club, shares some info about the event. *****

Will you be able to see the whole thing from this part of the country?

Here in Prescott, we’re only going to see about a 75 percent eclipse of the Sun by the Moon. It’ll never reach totality here. Still, you have to be safe; you’re looking at the sun. You can wear mylar shades or use No. 14 welders glass [Editor’s Note: This is much darker than standard welder’s glass.] Just so you know, even pointing a camera at the Sun basically turns your lens into a magnifying glass and can fry the computer chip in your camera. There are a lot of safe ways to view the eclipse, though.

What’s happening celestially during an eclipse?

Well, an eclipse only happens during a New Moon, when we normally don’t even realize the Moon is out. If the Moon had a perfectly elliptical orbit, we’d have an eclipse every month. But, because it’s slightly oblong, it only happens about two times a year. The majority of the planet is water, so often times it’s only visible in places in the ocean. We’re lucky enough for the Aug. 21 eclipse, though, to be able to see it from coast to coast across the U.S. This is the first time since 1979 that that’s happened.

What does the Prescott Astronomy Club have in store for the solar eclipse?

The event, itself, is 9 a.m.-noon on Monday, Why’s an eclipse Aug. 21. There’ll be presuch a big deal? sentations. One is from Besides the rarity members of the Prescott of the event, people, Astronomy Clubs with historically, have been telescopes with filters witnessing it long before so people can view the they understood the Sun and Moon in real Earth was round. It was time. There’s also a local a harbinger of doom or photography club who’ll a sign from the gods. show how to safely phoInterpretations were tograph the sun before, either very positive or A photo of the annular eclipse taken during, and after an very negative, depending in Page, Ariz. in 2012. Photo by Jerry eclipse, as well as any on the time and place.

Shaw, of the Prescott Astronomy Club. It’s just a really special other time, for that matter. thing to see. There are There’ll be a PowerPoint presentation from engipeople who travel around neering students and professors about the impact of the world to chase these things. If you don’t have the a solar grid across the nation. There’s another about resources to do that, hey, there’s one in your own how flora and fauna respond to the darkness of sky back yard on Aug. 21. While it won’t happen here, during an eclipse. There’s also the live stream from when you’re in the totality of it, there’s about three NASA from across the country. There’ll be hands-on minutes of darkness in the middle of the day. The projects with eclipse viewers and a raffle, too. animals go quiet; plants change as if it were nighttime; it’s a practically unique experience. It can be humbling and very spiritual for some people.

12 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

The path of total solar eclipse, Aug. 21 What else can you say about the eclipse, itself.

The path of totality goes across the U.S. from Oregon to Georgia. Just south of Carbondale, Illinois, in a state park, totality will last 2 minutes an 42 seconds, which is the longest in the country. In most places, it’ll last 2.5 minutes. People have been planning trips to places along the path of totality for years in advance. Here, it’ll reach about 75 percent of totality right in the middle of our 9-12 a.m. time frame, at about 10:30 a.m. We’ll have the NASA live feed, too, so you’ll be able to see video of totality. They have a legion of planes and high-altitude balloons that’ll be chasing the shadow of the eclipse across the U.S. No matter what time you come to our event, you’ll be able to see something.

You mentioned a speaker about photography. Even with all the professionals out there shooting the eclipse, is there a need for that?

Everybody from amateurs and professional photographers are going to be shooting the event.

I suspect every documentary maker will be storing away some footage of it. Every telescope and camera, more or less, will be pointed at the sky. I imagine Facebook will basically explode with eclipse pictures. We didn’t have the technological capabilities we have now 20, or even 10 years ago. It’s another way to interact with the event.

How do you springboard interest in this eclipse into interest in astronomy?

Well, this is a unique event, especially for the younger group of people, and it can instill a lifelong interest in science, astronomy, and technology.

That’s why we’re really trying to make this a community event. It doesn’t matter what age you are or

shadow start to creep across it. It looked like a clipped off fingernail. It was really neat.

What effect did that have on you?

I was hooked on astronomy right then. I used to get up in the middle of the night to look at meteor showers. My mom joked with me about it and I used to make her get up and watch them with me. I’ve picked up more toys as an adult, now, but still enjoy it. The first time I saw the rings of Saturn with a telescope, that was another important moment that stands out.

Will the maximum 75 percent eclipse here affect the visibility of other stars or have any other peripheral effects?

You know, 75 percent sounds like a lot for most instances in our daily lives, but as far as the Sun goes, that’s not that much. If you didn’t look up, you probably wouldn’t notice there was an eclipse going on.

1, 2017. Image via NASA, public domain. what field you come from; it’ll be a fun event and you’ll learn about all different aspects of the eclipse.

Historically and culturally, we’ll all be experiencing this together. It’s also a way to introduce or reintroduce the Prescott Astronomy Club to people from all walks of life. You don’t have to be a professional scientist or astronomer to be part of our club or enjoy astronomy.

In preparing for this event, what did you learn about the eclipse that you didn’t know prior?

Well, in addition to learning about the percentage of eclipses moving across the country, there’s how quickly and slowly the shadow of the moon moves. Earth is not flat and the orbit isn’t flat, so the shadow speeds up and slows down as it goes across the planet at speeds of 1,700 mph to 2,700 mph. As a result, it’s a quicker or longer eclipse based off of the ways those features interact.

Any parting thoughts?

We’ve got so many different groups from the community and some corporate sponsors. We’re so thankful for that. … It’ll be another warm day in Arizona, so we’d recommend sunscreen and sunglasses — whatever you’d normally have outdoors in Arizona — and there’ll be free water. Also, the local higher education groups from Embry-Riddle and Yavapai College have been really great. Overall, we’re just excited about this opportunity and sharing this amazing event. ***** The Prescott Astronomy Club’s celebration of the solar eclipse is 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Aug. 21, at the PV Civic Center Amphitheater, 7501 E. Civic Circle. Call 928-759-6188 with questions. Find out more at PrescottAstronomyClub.Org. There’s a luxury of resources about and for the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. Two websites worth visiting are NASA’s, at Eclipse2017.NASA.Gov, and the American Astronomical Society’s, at Eclipse.AAS.Org.

A composite image of photos of the annular eclipse taken in Page, Ariz. in 2012.

Photo by Jerry Shaw, of the Prescott Astronomy Club.

James Dungeon is a figment of his own imagination. And he likes cats. Contact him at JamesDungeonCats@Gmail.

Com.

Field notes on, from a reporter at large

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his month’s cover is a digital illustration of the Total Solar Eclipse that that occurs later this month. 5enses has gone to great expense to send a reporter/ photographer to Nebraska for the momentous event. Our intrepid reporter will be among the expected 10,000-person throng out on the prairie of Central Nebraska with his camera and protective eclipse glasses.

Risking retina-burning and camera sensorfrying sunlight, he’ll be photographing the eclipse and its totality, and he’ll be reporting on the thousands and thousands of people sharing this rare event.

Our reporter: “I’ll be driving 1,000 for a two and a half minute photo shoot! This will be the most photographed American eclipse ever – there will be zillions of photos online within minutes of fourth contact. But, aside from the photography, I’m there for the experience. Sharing the unique astronomical experience with thousands of like-minded people will be incredible, especially in a country whose majority ruling party and president don’t support science.”

A full year before the eclipse, motel rooms in small towns in the path of the moon’s shadow began selling out. Reservations have been made for people coming to middleAmerica from far-flung places like Greece, Germany, Japan, and China. This eclipse is truly Woodstock for the science-minded.

Next month, 5enses reveals exactly where our reporter will be and the October issue will feature his full report. Stay tuned for more.

Do you remember the first time you saw an eclipse?

I was in elementary school, probably third or fourth grade. We all went outside and made pinhole viewers at Miller Valley School.

We had black pieces of paper with a hole in them and, on another piece of paper, you could see the

13

News From the Wilds Skyward

The youngest Acorn Woodpeckers fledge this month, and lean out of their nests in anticipation of their first flight. Photo by Ty Fitzmorris.

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By Ty Fitzmorris ugust susurrates with storm and shower interwoven with the cacophony of resonant thunder and the assonance of cicada song. In the high heat of summer, the monsoon rains turn the land to emerald, and it seems as though living things are everywhere. Many mammals are teaching their young to forage in this time of plenty, while young birds are on longer and longer forays away from their parents.

Ectothermic animals, such as lizards and snakes, whose body temperatures are tied closely to ambient temperatures, are at their most active now, chasing insect and rodent prey, while insects, from the minute leafhoppers to the massive saturn moths, enter their time of greatest abundance.

The majority of woody plants bear their seeds during this season, including Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa), and all seven of our oak species. Many herbaceous (non-woody) plants are growing and flowering now, most of which are specialist monsoon plants and did not appear in the spring. This is the time of plenty for many birds and mammals, as insects of all types proliferate, from giant moths to enormous strange and beautiful beetles, to dragonflies, who reach their peak now, while alien-like cicadas measure the day’s heat with their shrill cries. This second flowering brings with it a glut of insect prey, which sends a wave of life through our ecosystems — from the predatory insects to the lizards, birds, bats, and even terrestrial mammals.

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mong the insects, August marks the beginning of the time of the giants. Massive moths with 4”-6” (and greater) wingspans, such as the sphinx moths, saturn moths,

and the massive Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata), which can have an 8” wingspan, fly for miles searching for mates, while Grant’s Hercules Beetles (Dynastes granti), Rhinoceros Beetles (Xyloryctes jamaicensis) and Longhorn Oak Borers (Enaphalodes hispicornis) bumble to porch lights and streetlights. The Grand Western Flood Plain Cicada (Tibicen cultriformis) flies in large numbers, providing many species of birds and mammals with food, while all eight of our preying mantid species can be seen. The proliferation of giants happens now because their larger bodies have required longer to grow to their massive size and so have timed their metamorphism into their adult forms for this resource-rich time of the year, when both food and egg-laying sites are abundant.

During the day, butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, and damselflies are at their most prolific during the monsoonal season. Many of the butterfly species out now fly only during this time of year, and the damsels and dragons are groups that are notably absent during the spring, though they are virtually everywhere now, from parking lots to lakes. Our flagship monsoon butterfly is the Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia), which glides over riparian clearings near oak stands. Look also for Buckeyes, Queens, Monarchs, and Pipevine and Two-tailed Swallowtails. In all, the wild diversity of living creatures this month is dizzying. ***** 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.

14 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

• Aug. 7: Full Moon at 11:11 a.m. and partial lunar eclipse (not visible from North America).

• Aug. 11: The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks after midnight. This is one of the year’s brightest and often most dazzling meteor showers, one of the best meteor showers of the year, with up to 60 meteors per minute.

These meteors are dust particles left behind

by Comet Swift-Tuttle, a very large comet that swings through our solar system every 133 years, and which last appeared in 1992. ...

This year, the waning gibbous Moon will wash out many of the fainter meteors, but it won’t rise high in the sky until after midnight, so viewing should be excellent up until then.

• Aug. 21: New Moon at 11:30 a.m. and Total Solar Eclipse from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the first total solar eclipse to be entirely visible from North America since 1994, and arguably the most important astronomical event of the year (for those of us in North America, that is). This event, which has been dubbed the Great American Eclipse, is drawing unprecedented national interest and festivals and gatherings are planned all along this route. The darkest part of the Moon’s shadow will pass over Prescott from 9:48 a.m. until 1:02 p.m., during which time the sky will gradually darken to dusk levels, causing a chorus of confused singing from crepuscular insects and songbirds, as well as unusual behavior from many other animals.

• Safety Note for Eclipse Watchers: While the eclipse will be visible from Prescott, we will only see the Moon cover about 70 percent of the Sun from our position, leaving a blinding 30 percent of the Sun uncovered at maximum eclipse. It is therefore extremely important to view the eclipse using appropriate techniques, which include either eyewear designed and certified specifically for this purpose — (according to NASA, “Five manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: American Paper Optics, Baader Planetarium (AstroSolar Silver/Gold film only), Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17”), or any of a number of projection techniques, such as pinhole cameras and projection on a screen from reversed binoculars or a telescope. Homemade viewing equipment and welding helmets are NOT RECOMMENDED and can lead to blindness. For safest viewing, visit the Eclipse Celebration at the Prescott Valley Public Library from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

By Ty Fitzmorris High mountains • Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) nurse their young. Their roosts are often in caves, or cavities in trees, but sometimes they roost communally in buildings. Amazingly, a nursing mother can eat up to 110 percent of her body weight every night of insects, many of which are pests of humans.

• The leaves of some deciduous trees, such as Boxelder (Acer negundo), which grow in riparian drainages, begin changing color.

• Convergent Lady Beetles (Hippodamia convergens) gather in the tens of thousands in crevices in rocks and plants in the high mountains.

Visit: Dandrea Trail, No. 285.

Ponderosa Pine forests • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in flower. This is one of the most storied of our plants, and has been used as a medicinal plant by many cultures, dating reliably back to the Neanderthals.

In ancient Greek lore Yarrow appeared from the scrapings of Achilles’ spear (hence the genus name), and was used to heal Telephus’ wound, and has since been used for everything from immune support to wound treatment to small pox.* • Golden Columbine (Aquilegia crysantha) flowers by cooler mountain streamsides, while sedges bear their seeds and Wright’s Deervetch (Lotus wrightii) continues to flower. Other flowers include Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata), Scruff y Clover (Dalea albiflora), Silverstem Lupine (Lupinus argenteus), and Wild Geranium (Geranium caespitosum), and many others.

• Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) bears its delicious black fruits. The fruits have a sweet coffee flavor, and a large coffee-bean-like seed.* Visit: Aspen Creek Trail, No. 48.

Pine-Oak woodlands • Many different types of “June beetles” fly now.

Our most distinctive species is the Ten-lined June Beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata), of the scarab family, which is often drawn to porchlights.

• Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) fruiting.

These fruits can be small and tart or large and sweet, depending on the year. When they are larger, they rival store-bought cherries for sweetness, and outdo them for flavor.* • Oaks of all species bear their acorns, providing the largest overall food crop of the year for mammals and birds, most notably the Acorn Woodpecker.

• Deep blue-purple four o’clocks (Mirabilis spp.) flower on hillsides.

Visit: Miller Creek Trail, No. 367.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula pulchella) hunt for flies, caddisflies and other small insects above most of our flowing monsoon creeks. Photo

by Ty Fitzmorris.

Pinyon-Juniper woodlands • Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) flowers exuberantly in the evenings. These large white trumpetflowers glow in the dusk, attracting moths and bats. This species has been mistakenly described as having hallucinogenic properties, a piece of terrible misinformation that has resulted in many poisonings and some permanent blindness. No part of Datura should EVER be ingested.

• Our several species of brickellbush (Brickellia spp.) begin flowering. These inconspicuous flowers are not often seen, but their extraordinary aroma suff uses the dusk air. Arizona is home to more than two dozen species of Brickellia, several of which have been found to be very effective in the treatment of certain types of diabetes.

Visit: Juniper Springs Trail, No. 2.

Grasslands • Yellow and white species of evening primroses (Oenothera spp.) flower exuberantly and are visited

by White-lined Sphinx Moths (Hyles lineata), which are often mistaken for small hummingbirds.

• Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) begin their great seasonal flowering here in the Southwest, where they are native. Look for “longhorn” Melissodes bees, as well as iridescent green Agapostemon and Augochlora bees, foraging on their flowers.

• Purple and white-flowered nightshades (Solanum spp.) begin flowering.

Visit: Mint Wash Trail, No. 345.

Riparian areas • All of our creeks run exuberantly.

• Our annual explosion of cicadas continues,

bringing ear-shattering noise to the Central Highlands. Even though this species, Tibicen cultriformis, is ubiquitous to us, it is only found in the Central Highlands.

• Scarlet Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and bright Yellow Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus) bloom, drawing Two-tailed Swallowtails.

• Snails become active in streamside vegetation.

Arizona is home to more than 200 species of snails, most of which are largely unstudied.

• Swallows and bats abound near creeks, consuming large amounts of insects.

• Many species of dragonflies and damselflies hawk over the water, patrolling territories. Look for dancer, bluet and rubyspot damsels, and spiketail, saddlebag, and skimmer dragons, and especially the massive Giant Darner (Anax walsinghami), which has up to a 5.5” wingspan, and is the largest dragonfly in the U.S. Visit: Bell Trail, No. 13.

Deserts/Chaparral • Prickly pears (Opuntia spp.) bear their fruits.

These spiny fruits provide food for many species, including humans.

• As Coyote Gourd (Cucurbita palmata) and other squashes flower, native Xenoglossa and Peponapis bees begin pollinating them, and sleeping in the flowers in the afternoon. The Coyote Gourd is not edible, though our cultivated squash are beginning to flower also.

• Paloverdes and mesquites bear their seeds now, as do Southwestern Coral Beans (Erythrina flabelliformis), the poisonous seeds of which are sometimes used for jewelry.

Visit: Algonquin Trail, No. 225. *Always consult with a trained professional before ingesting any part of a wild plant. This information is not intended to encourage the attempted use of any part of a plant, either for nutritive or medicinal purposes.

Weather Average high temperature: 86.1 F (+/-2.4) Average low temperature: 56.4 F (+/-3.3) Record high temperature: 102 F (1905) Record low temperature: 32 F (1968) Average precipitation: 3.24” (+/-1.99”) Record high precipitation: 10.51” (1971) Record low precipitation: 0.11” (2002) Max daily precipitation: 3.15” (Aug. 22, 1960)

15

The main drag

The ladies (& gent) of 4 AM Production’s ‘Drag Time’

By Robert Blood We here at 5enses have lobbied pretty hard for drag as medium in Prescott. We’ve talked to queens, interviewed the event organizer, and just, in general, tried to get the word out.

You know what people really respond to, though? Pictures. And, girl, do we have pictures for you today.

And, oh yeah, there’s another drag show coming up. ...

Drag Time • 7 & 9 p.m. Aug. 18 & 19: 4AM Productions presents “Drag Time,” hosted by Aimee V Justice with the talents of DeeJay Galaxy, Piper M Shay, and CoCo St. James. (Prescott Center for the Arts Stage Too, alley between Cortez and Marina streets behind Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St., DragTime.BPT.ME, $15 advance, $20 door) Plus, a special message from 4AM Productions: “With the success of the shows and the support of the Prescott Center for the Arts, the amazing, talented Phoenix drag community, Greater Yavapai LGBTQ Coalition, and the volunteer crew of 4AM Productions, we are proud to be announcing we will be adding plays and other events.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and our new website 4AMProductions.Net for up and coming events and shows.” ***** Find out more about 4AM Productions and “Drag Time” at 4AMProductions.Net. 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.

COUNTER CLOCKWISE: “Drag Time” host Aimee V Justice, CoCo St. James, Piper M Shay, photos by Scotty Kirby; DeeJay Galaxy, art by Brando McGill.

16 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Get out!

What: “Drag Time” When: 7 & 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Aug. 18 & 19 Who: Drag queens (& king) Where: Prescott Center for the Arts Stage Too, alley between Cortez & Marina streets, behind Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St. Why: Art, culture, music, & good ol’-fashioned genderbending fun Web: DragTime.BPT.ME 4AMProductions.Net Worth: $15 advance, $20 door

17

READY.

An ode to a garage queen

M

By Justin Agrell any people will be familiar with the term garage queen. It refers to an object (generally a vehicle) that sits in someone’s garage and is kept in excellent shape, hardly ever used in order to avoid the wear and tear. A garage queen must be loved to exist but many consider it wrong to not use a machine regularly and instead pamper it and admire its very existence. I myself am victim to such attachment and have a machine that is very dear to me.

Near my workbench, next to several old boxes of 5-and-a-quarter inch floppy disks, is my beloved Commodore SX-64 Executive. She was released in 1984 and runs at 1 megahertz. Packing the 64 thousand bytes of memory that made the Commodore platform famous there are limitations to be sure but there are also bucket loads of potential. There is no hard drive and unlike the normal Commodore 64 units of the eighties this unit was a “luggable” that took the shape of a briefcase.

It had a small 5 inch color screen and a small speaker built right into the frame.

B

ut that is not all that makes it special.

More than its name or history these old systems represent to me a time when computers were built for people who were excited about computers.

Much like the cars and motorcycles of days past, there is something special about a machine that doesn’t cater to you completely and expects you to want to learn what it is capable of and how it works. There is no pre-loaded software. No flashy splash screens with fancy logos or sound effects.

When you flip the rear power switch there is just a blue screen with a prompt saying “READY.” This prompt is a BASIC interpreter. BASIC is a programming language that once you learn the syntax is how you tell the computer what you want it to do.

Unlike so many modern systems, this computer came with a book. This book is simple to get started with and written very clearly. Just using what was provided with the machine when you bought it you can solve complex math and logic problems and even create 2D graphics and sound. The simplicity of this system meant that you could scribble your simple application on a piece of scrap paper and give it to your friend and they just typed it in to the Commodore when they got home to use it. No disks necessary.

18 • COLUMN • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Two-bit Column

I

n this modern time, I grow weary of the soulless selection of systems provided to us at stores. The entire lineup seems to only care about cloud storage options and who can get you connected to your social media website the fastest. To me computers are more than just gateways to the internet but a tool very capable of helping those willing to help themselves online and offline. We now are stuck in a cycle of shopping for who can provide us with the solution to our problems when it used to be that computers were the solution to our problems. We could go to the local store and pick one up. It came with a manual. It showed us what programming we had to do to make a custom fit solution to our problems. We did not need monthly subscription suits of applications or the cloud. We didn’t hire programmers since we were the programmers.

When affordable computers first appeared they cleared out the finger-straining typewriters and dusty filing cabinets. They represented simple solutions to many of the common annoyances of the day and they certainly were not the cryptovirus infected, good-for-only-two-years, foreverupdating systems we are so familiar with today.

So, after a long day of work watching the companies I support spend thousands a month on solutions they don’t need because they refuse the alternatives, I like to take out the old Commodore Executive and switch her on. I let the blue light fill my eyes and I am reminded of a simpler design. I’ve got floppy disks with some favorite games to lose myself in or I may even try my hand at writing a program myself.

Everything I need is right there at my fingertips. ***** Justin Agrell has been a certified IT technician since 2005. He loves Linux, adventure motorcycling, and computer gaming. To get in touch just email him at Justin@U4E.US.

Moon the Sun

A pretty pair of ecliptic poems

By William Topaz McGonagall

For the honey it hath gathered during the day, In the merry month of May, When the flowers are in full bloom, Also the sweet honeysuckle and the broom.

“The Beautiful Sun” Beautiful Sun! with thy golden rays, To God, the wise Creator, be all praise; For thou nourisheth all the creation, Wherever there is found to be animation.

How beautiful thy appearance while setting in the west, Whilst encircled with red and azure, ’tis then thou look’st best!

Then let us all thank God for thy golden light In our prayers every morning and night!

Without thy heat we could not live, Then praise to God we ought to give; For thou makest the fruits and provisions to grow, To nourish all creatures on earth below.

“The Moon” Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou seemest most charming to my sight; As I gaze upon thee in the sky so high, A tear of joy does moisten mine eye.

Thou makest the hearts of the old feel glad, Likewise the young child and the lad, And the face of Nature to look green and gay, And the little children to sport and play.

Thou also givest light unto the Moon, Which certainly is a very great boon To all God’s creatures here below, Throughout the world where’er they go.

How beautiful thou look’st on a summer morn, When thou sheddest thy eff ulgence among the yellow corn, Also upon lake, and river, and the mountain tops, Whilst thou leavest behind the most lovely dewdrops!

How beautiful thou seem’st in the firmament above, As I gaze upon thee, my heart fills with love To God, the great Creator, Who has placed thee there, Who watches all His creatures with an eye of care!

Thou makest the birds to sing on the tree, Also by meadow, mountain, and lea; And the lark high poised up in air, Carolling its little song with its heart free from care.

Thou makest the heart of the shepherd feel gay As he watches the little lambkins at their innocent play; While he tends them on the hillside all day, Taking care that none of them shall go astray.

Thou cheerest the weary traveller while on his way During the livelong summer day, As he admires the beautiful scenery while passing along, And singing to himself a stave of a song.

Thou cheerest the tourist while amongst the Highland hills, As he views their beautiful sparkling rills Glittering like diamonds by the golden rays, While the hills seem to offer up to God their praise.

While the bee from flower to flower does roam To gather honey, and carry it home; While it hums its little song in the beautiful sunshine, And seemingly to thank the Creator divine —

The poet, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the Esquimau in the night; For thou lettest him see to harpoon the fish, And with them he makes a dainty dish.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the fox in the night, And lettest him see to steal the grey goose away Out of the farm-yard from a stack of hay.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the farmer in the night, and makes his heart beat high with delight As he views his crops by the light in the night.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the eagle in the night, And lettest him see to devour his prey And carry it to his nest away.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the mariner in the night As he paces the deck alone, Thinking of his dear friends at home.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the weary traveller in the night; For thou lightest up the wayside around To him when he is homeward bound.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the lovers in the night As they walk through the shady groves alone, Making love to each other before they go home.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the poacher in the night; For thou lettest him see to set his snares To catch the rabbit and the hares. ***** Aug. 18 is Bad Poetry Day. See more at McGonagall-Online.Org.UK.

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2017 • FEATURE • 19

Prescott Peeps: Russell Chappell How did you first get involved in nonprofits in the community?

When my wife and I moved to Prescott in December of 2004, we discovered our home was surrounded by birds and wildlife. We thought it would be nice to feed the birds, so I visited Jay’s Bird Barn, where Eric Moore loaded me up with optics, books, seeds and birding information and invited me to the next Prescott Audubon Society meeting, so I guess Eric is ultimately responsible for my relationship with Audubon, and I thank him and blame him for that.

As a pilot, I focused on avoiding birds, but I really never studied them. Halfway through that first Audubon meeting, I was planning how to graciously thank them for their hospitality and quietly slip out the door. The chapter’s IBA Coordinator, Karen O’Neil, was giving a presentation and her vocabulary and passion about birds were foreign to me, and I didn’t feel birders and I would be compatible. During a break, Eric introduced me to the chapter president, mentioning my background in computers, aviation and technology.

The president asked if I’d be willing to operate their projector at the next meeting. I agreed and was thus committed to a second meeting.

One thing led to another — I worked with the membership chair on a database and mailing campaign and Terry Baeseman, of Virtual Property Development, tutored me for hundreds of hours at times until 3 or 4 a.m. on the chapter’s website — and I eventually accepted the title of webmaster which I question frequently when things go awry.

After a few meetings at Audubon, I was somehow appointed as a board member. I don’t remember how or why, but I have appreciated the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with this wonderful group as we worked to make the chapter the best it can be. I’m a firm believer in term limits and a few months ago I resigned from the board, but continue to support their website and several administrative functions. Years of interacting with the board and members of Prescott Audubon has brought me much joy and a special appreciation for people and nature.

How did you get involved with the Prescott Astronomy Club?

While visiting the Prescott Library, I noticed there was a Prescott Astronomy Club meeting, and I had enjoyed several astronomy classes in college and have always been in awe of the universe, so I attended. It was a Third Thursday Star Talk and I enjoyed the presentation and found the members of the club well versed in all aspects of the vocation and eager to share their knowledge.

I did notice that birders and star watchers are different. I generally find birders to be more

selves to mission of the organization. Working as a volunteers often is harder than a regular job.

With military experience as a Battalion Adjutant, Operations Officer, Aviation Instrument Examiner, Safety Officer and numerous other duties, combined with a government, business and sales background, it would be a disservice to the community not getting involved where there is a need. And I’m simply one of untold numbers of individuals who volunteer each day. Beside, assisting these organizations provides me with a mission which in life is very important. I approach all responsibilities as missions. I approach life as a mission, and believe all missions should be completed to the best of your ability.

emotional, outgoing and excited as they roam the countryside armed with guide books, spotting scopes and binoculars looking for some special species. Astronomers, on the other hand, simply hope it doesn’t get cloudy or rain. They setup their telescopes, brave bugs, weather, unexpected lights and the occasional sprinkler system someone forgets to shutoff, while precisely aim their scopes at unique celestial objects, that are precisely at the right place, at precisely the right time, all the time.

However, they do get emotional about astrophotography, a wandering comet, or special events like the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.

Terry Baeseman was also webmaster for the Prescott Astronomy Club, working with his cousin John Baeseman to maintain the website.

I was looking for ways to contribute and they permitted me to work on the website. I now can show my appreciation for the knowledge I glean from these folks.

So, volunteering to do one thing snowballed into all these other things. Is that typically how things happen for you?

It is. For several years prior to moving to Prescott, I served as president of the Pueblo West, Colorado Neighborhood Watch. Again, my administrative and IT background filled a need and let me contribute to the community. I especially enjoy working with all-volunteer nonprofits. They only exist because people care and freely devote them-

20 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

There are endless tasks with tech stuff, though. Do you still get that same sense of accomplishment?

Yes! I’ll tell you something only Pat, my wife, knows. When an event or meeting winds down, I find a quiet place and call her. I thank her for encouraging me to interact with these organizations, and I then I tell her how the event went — what worked and what didn’t. If it has been a successful event, I’m elated and if things haven’t gone well, I whine and explain how I think we can do better. It is during these conversations I feel a special sense of accomplishment and no recognition or award could make me feel better.

Why help out these groups?

First, there are so many people in both these organizations who work behind the scenes who are definitely more capable and worthy of recognition than me. [Editor’s Note: Russ spent the next 15 minutes listing other people and related groups who deserve coverage because, hey, that’s Russ.]

To answer your original question, I have difficulty saying no. I contribute time and resources not expecting or enjoying recognition, and the only reason I’m doing this interview is to promote the idea of supporting these all-volunteer organizations like the Prescott Audubon Society and Prescott Astronomy Club, plus, 5enses provides a unique and special service to our community and deserves support.

I encourage people to volunteer to the nonprofits in our area, especially those that are totally volunteer-staffed. Groups like PAS and PAC, the Native Plant Society, Central Arizona Geology Club, Citizens Water Advocacy Group, and a few more, including Prescott Creeks, which technically isn’t totally volunteer-staffed, but is extremely deserving. ... There are many important volunteer opportunities in our community, and if this article results in just one person becoming a volunteer, I will be thrilled and our community will benefit.

Get Involved Boys to Men Northern Arizona Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Charles Matheus, and I’m the executive director of Boys to Men Mentoring Network of North Central Arizona. For the last six years here in Prescott we’ve provided rights of passage and long-term mentoring for teenage boys. We know that young men need to be embedded in the community and involved with adults and often times they get a little separated. As far as rights of passage go, it’s a modern right of passage based on the ancient rights of passage of separating boys from the village and taking them somewhere and providing them with challenges and allowing them to discover new thing about themselves and more ways of being an adult and returning to the village with newfound respect. It’s a weekend event at a camp with really specific activities and a lot of attention of adult men. We have one of the highest ratios of adult men to boys, one-to-one, and have a lot of volunteers who help. There’s a lot involved, and we tell the parents exactly what’s going to happen, but we keep the activities of the weekend under wraps from the boys so there’s some surprise.

We’re nonsectarian and only spiritual to the extent that we believe that young men need to have some sort of spiritual path that helps keep them humble, connected, and hopeful. We also do weekend activities every two weeks, for example going to the Highlands Center to clean up trails, the Prescott Creek clean up, art activities, health and wellness, rock climbing, hiking, and other adventure outings. And we do weekly programs in four different schools,

mentoring circles where we facilitate discussions, usually three men with 8-15 boys. The goal is to keep them engaged with school and connect with adults outside of their families.

How can we get involved?

For men, become a mentor. We have about 80 volunteers a year and it’s a very easy process to get involved. Because we keep the adult to boy ratio as even as possible, it’s easy and fun, not as daunting as being, say, one adult in a classroom of 30 kids. We’re looking to expand the school-based circles, so that’s one thing we need help with. For some volunteers, the right of passage weekends are their first time with the group. The next one of those is at the end of September into October.

Any young man 13 or older is welcome.

We do an enrollment meeting with parents or guardians and that’s that. For teens, some of them do the weekend first, but there are multiple points of entry.

If you want to contribute to the group, we are a 501(c)(3), so you can get part or all of your Arizona state tax credit by donating — $400 for individual, $800 for married. You know, some men don’t think they know how to be a mentor, but it’s not that difficult. Really, just showing up and listening makes a big difference. ***** Find out more about Boys to Men Northern Arizona at BoysToMenAZ. Org or via Facebook.

Why Not? Bellydance Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Lisa Hendrickson and I’m a visual art teacher at Skyview School, a visual artist, and a dancer. I’ve been a member of Why Not? Bellydance since their inception about two years and eight months ago. We grew out of a local belly dance troupe called Troupe Salamat, headed up

by Terri Walden for 16 years.. We’re six members, all told. We’re a largely improvisational group, so our dancing is not so much on choreography as it is a response to the music. So, what we’ve done is established a kind of dance language where we are learning combinations of movements that we lead each other through. The leadership changes multiple times during a dance, so you aren’t always looking toward the same person for an entire dance.

We’re also informed by a lot of different kinds of music. A lot of people think that belly dance is just Middle Eastern or Egyptian music. We do appropriate movements from folkloric traditions from Egypt and other parts of the world, but we’re also informed by Balkan music, hip hop music, Northern African music, Indian music and more.

Our dancing and performances have evolved into a fusion of these things.

traditionally performed at things like Acker Night, Day of the Dead at the Smoki, Ghost Talk at Prescott Center for the Arts, and the Earth Day celebration downtown.

This is our second year running the Beat the Heat belly dance festival, which is the last weekend in August, Aug. 25-27. For that, we have more than 20 other belly dance troupes and solo artists from around the state. We organize different belly dance workshops and have a big performance at the end of the second day at 7 p.m. in the Holiday Courtyard on Whiskey Row. Saturday, we have workshops all day, and then there are a couple of workshops on Sunday, as well. There’s themed: one is Egyptian cabaret, one is Latinfusion based, like that.

We ask that people register for those online, though some are already full.

There’s a $10 registration fee to take part and each class is $5 apiece. Some of them are meant to be accessible for beginners, and if you have any questions you can email us. So, that second day, for the big performance, we’re selling the first two rows of seats for $1o apiece, but subsequent rows and standing room will be for free. This year’s theme is Birds of a Feather.

How can we get involved?

If you want to dance, one of our members, Sarah Hinson, teaches two beginning classes at The Nest (322 W. Gurley St.). They’re both six-week classes. If you want to see us, we’ve

***** Visit Why Not? Bellydance and find out more about the Beat the Heat festival at WhyNotBellydance.Com and 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 • AUGUST 2017 • FEATURE • 21

Not-asholy days

O

dds are you’ve already got plans for the month’s flagship holiday. Still, there’s no reason to anchor the party boat for the rest of the month. Consider celebrating ...

Aug. 7: National Lighthouse Day. (With regards to Virginia Woolf.)

Aug. 13: International Lefthander’s Day. (You can borrow my scissors.)

Aug. 15: National Relaxation Day. (Franky says so.)

Aug. 16: Joke Day. (… to get to the other side.)

Aug. 17: National Thrift Shop Day. (It’s Thrifty Thursday, too.)

Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day. (William Topaz McGonagall wasn’t all that bad.)

Aug. 24: Vesuvius Day. (Vulcanologist rejoice.)

Aug. 25: Kiss and Make Up Day. (Make sure it’s consensual.)

Aug. 27: Race Your Mice Day. (There may be more vermin, proper, than desktop.)

D

uring an archaeological dig at the prehistoric village of Cladh Hallan (on the island of South Uist, off the coast of Scotland) scientists discovered two preserved bodiesone male, one female. Strangely, these bodies had been buried 300 to 600 years after their deaths; having been left in a bog to mummify before being transported to their final resting place. Stranger still, was the fact that these fetal positioned bodies were actually composites of as many as six different people who had been deliberately pieced together into two complete cadavers.

ODDLY ENOUGH ...Whereas the female body had been composed of body parts that date to around the same period of time, the male was made up of parts from people who had died a few hundred years apart.

N

*****

avy cannon projectiles have varied creatively for centuries, depending on the desired effect upon the enemy. Spider shot (chained together cannonballs) and Angels (split balls separated by an iron rod) were designed to spin wildly and rip through masts and rigging, rendering the enemy vessel nu-maneuverable. The hinged blade-shot would spin and deploy knives destroying sails and crushing moral.

Some ships had cannonball furnaces on board developed for heating cannonballs red hot (approximately 1,500 degrees F) to be fired at enemy targets to start fires or produce black powder explosions.

ODDLY ENOUGH … Heated shot, though very effective at times, was incredibly dangerous for the artillery batteries who handled them. The shot could injure those who heated and transported the shot, they could set off any loose powder near the cannons, or even warp when fired, jamming the bore of the gun. This is why the term “hot shot” began to refer to persons who were reckless or drew trouble to themselves or those around them. ***** 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 • AUGUST 2017 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Announces A New Name

Same Friendly Staff, Two Great Locations, One Name: SWC SWC Prescott

FREE GRAM with the Purchase of 1/8th

123 E. Merritt St. Prescott, AZ. 86301 928-778-5900 Mon-Sat 10:00-7:00 Sun 12:00-7:00

SWC Tempe

New Patient Special

Follow Us On

2009 E. 5th St. Ste. 11 Tempe, AZ. 85281 480-245-6751

SWCARIZONA.COM

Mon-Sat 10:30-6:00 Sun 12:00-6:00

We’re We re Growing for you Prescott Farmers Market Saturdays,!7:30/Noon!

Yavapai!College!

Prescott Valley Farmers Market Tuesdays,!3/6pm!

Harkins!Theatres!

Chino Valley Farmers Market Thursdays,!3/6pm!

Olsen’s!Grain!

As!a!vital!part!of!the!economy,!the!mission!of! !Prescott!Farmers!Market!is!to!support!and!expand! local!agriculture,!cultivate!a!healthy!community!and! increase!access!to!affordable!local!food.!

www.prescottfarmersmarket.org!

Saturday, August 26, 2017 9 am - 5 pm

All events are FREE with general paid admission!

Sponsored by:

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