Bear Essential News Decemeber 2020, Phoenix Edition

Bear 40 YEARS!

December 2020 • Phoenix Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

essential news

®

Happ y

Holi days!

In This Picture: Find a snowman, a heart, a holiday bell, a snow mitten, a gingerbread man, the word HOPE, a musical note, an elf’s shoe, a gift bow and the year 2021.

FEATURE

NEWS

NEWS

FAMILIES

CONTEST

A mazing A nimal Heroes Lonely Elephant Gets Herd Mayor On the Move! Hot Chocolate CongratsWin n ers!

Critters can be heroes, too! pages 10 & 11

Spotlight on inaugurations News Highlights page 3

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 5, 13, 15 & 18

Fun holiday recipes Page 20

Valley Metro art contest Page 9

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BEAR 40 YEARS •

December 2020

www.bearessentialnews.com

December 2020 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

News Highlights

Inauguration Day Is a Long-standing Tradition

Photo source: Four Paws via AP

Lonely Elephant Finally Gets Home Kaavan, a 36-year old elephant who has been called the world’s loneliest elephant, has arrived to start his new life at a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia thanks to the help and serious determination of a team of people.

Kaavan lived in a Pakistani zoo for the last 35 years in a small enclosure that lacked the natural environment he needed, and he has been without a companion for the last eight years.

In 2016, an unlikely ALLY learned about Kaavan’s story: Cher. The Oscar-winning actress and singer is also the co-founder of a wildlife protection charity called Free the Wild. Cher was certainly not the first to advocate for a new life for Kaavan, but her charity’s involvement helped lead to a court order earlier this year closing the zoo and ordering all animals at the zoo to be relocated, including Kaavan.

Along with U.S. businessman Eric Margolis and the group Four Paws International, Cher’s charity helped pay for Kaavan’s relocation.

A team of vets and experts from Four Paws spent months in Pakistan, getting Kaavan ready for his move. The head of the Four Paws International team, Dr. Amir Khalil, found an unlikely way to connect with him: music.

“My initial plan was just to examine Kaavan and work on making him fit for travel, but for some reason he seemed to like my voice,” said Khalil to CBS News.

Khalil said he spent hours standing at the back of

Kaavan, left, meets a new friend.

Kaavan’s enclosure trying to gain his trust. It turns out that Kaavan was a big fan of Frank Sinatra songs and Khalil’s voice.

The bond allowed Khalil to lead Kaavan into the specially-designed crate for his more than sevenhour flight aboard a cargo plane to the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in Siem Reap.

Before his departure, Kaavan got to meet Cher, who offered her elephant friend a bite to eat and a song for the music-loving pachyderm.

Kaavan is in a controlled environment for the first month, but shortly after arriving he used his trunk to reach out and tentatively greet a fellow elephant for the first time in eight years. After the first month, he will be free to roam the 25,000-acre sanctuary and enjoy his new life with other elephants.

Food Program’s Work Wins Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 was awarded to an organization, the World Food Programme. With this year’s award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to turn the eyes of the world towards the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger, according to the announcement.

The Nobel Committee recognized the World Food Programme for “its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”

The World Food Programme is part of the United Nations. It was created as an experimental program in 1961 at the request of U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. WFP provides aid during emergencies and also works with communities to build food security and improve nutrition.

In 2019, 135 million people suffered from ACUTE hunger, and the WFP assisted 97 million people in 88 countries. The coronavirus pandemic has increased food insecurity for people in the U.S. and around the world this year. According to the Nobel Committee, the world is in danger of experiencing a hunger crisis of inconceivable proportions if the World Food Programme and other food assistance organizations do not receive support.

In Arizona, St. Mary’s Food Bank distributes food to shelters and food pantries around the state.

St. Mary’s Food Bank was founded in 1967 and is one of the largest food banks in the country!

You can donate non-perishable food at 2831 N. 31st Ave. in Phoenix or 13050 W. Elm St. in Surprise. Or make an online donation at www.firstfoodbank.org.

3

Every four years, the new President of the United States RECITES a 35-word oath and is sworn in to serve the country.

But why is it done this way? How is the date picked? Where does the oath come from?

The Constitution of the United States established both the words that are used in the oath and the date for Inauguration Day, March 4.

George Washington was first sworn in on April 30, 1789, in New York, but his second inauguration was held on March 4, 1793.

Inaugurations were held on that date for many years, unless they fell on a Sunday or were administered in times of emergency.

This date was originally selected so there was enough time after Election Day for votes

Inauguration Facts: · When is Inauguration Day? January 20 · How many words are in the oath? 35 · Who delivered the shortest speech? George Washington · Who had the first parade?

James Madison

Inauguration of President Warren G. Harding in 1921

Image: wikimedia.org

B

BEAR 40 YEARS

to be counted and to allow the newly-elected candidate time to travel to the capital.

However, as technology and transportation improved over the years, the inauguration date was moved to Jan. 20 with the passage of the 20th Amendment in 1933.

After reciting the oath, the newly sworn-in president traditionally makes a speech known as an inaugural address. George Washington made the shortest speech in history, only 135 words, in 1793. William Henry Harrison’s speech was 8,445 words, and he spoke for one hour and 45 minutes at his inauguration in 1841!

After the ceremony, there’s a parade to kick off the festivities. The first organized parade was held in 1809 for James Madison.

The parade is usually held rain or shine.

William Taft’s inaugural parade was held during a blizzard in 1902, but the temperature was so frigid in 1985 that Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural parade was cancelled.

After the parade, the celebrations continue indoors with inaugural balls, a tradition that also started with James Madison. Bill Clinton holds the record for having the most inaugural balls—there were 14 balls held to celebrate his second inauguration in 1997!

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Get the Scoop!

Tolleson Mayor Tovar Seeks New Position

by Reporter Amanda Vega, Arizona Desert Elementary Have you ever had dreams about being a politician? How about joining student council, city council or even more?

Mayor Anna Tovar went to school in Tolleson and grew up in Tolleson. Tovar was the first-grade representative for student council at her school. She continued her passion for politics during high school and college.

As an adult, Tovar taught kindergarten in Tolleson. “I didn’t wait for someone to ask me to be a part of council, I did it myself,” said Tovar. Tovar was on the Tolleson City Council for eight years, two years of that as Vice Mayor. Tovar was the first elected female Mayor of Tolleson. Tovar’s political career also includes being a State Representative and a State Senator.

This year, she ran for the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Tovar feels her biggest accomplishment as

mayor was leading the City of Tolleson through the pandemic. “It was my job to help the council through this to help students and families. Some of the families were losing their jobs due to the pandemic,” she said.

According to Tovar, she is running for Corporation Commission to help families in Arizona that need help. “Some people call it the fourth branch of government,” says Tovar.

Tovar says she will be a voice for Arizona if elected.

“Running for this position is a lot of work. You need to know why you are running and establish goals,” says Tovar. “I had to get a lot of signatures to be on the ballot. I wanted to run what was called a clean election and run independent.” Tovar says if she is elected, she will be one of five voices for Arizona.

Tovar did win one of the three seats up for election on the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Adviser: Karen Golden

Maricopa Elects New County Attorney

by Reporter Thomas Gunnigle Waybright Technology Academy

A county attorney is an elected official who operates countywide and chooses what cases to prosecute. Bill Montgomery is the current Maricopa County Attorney. He has prosecuted many cases during his time in office, including armed robbery, abuse, and even discriminative border cases.

The way our election works is that the candidates fill out paperwork and then advertise to everyone, because they need votes. The deadline for filling out the paperwork for this year’s election was April 6.

Primary elections between people in their own parties narrow the number of candidates—down to one for each party is generally the rule. The primary elections happened in August.

After primary elections, things get really hard for the candidates. They need to reach both parties if they want to win the election. This can be done through phone banking, text banking, lit drops, etc.

The general election happened on Nov. 3.

The candidates were Democrat Julie Gunnigle and

Republican Allister Adel. Gunnigle won her primary, defeating Will Knight and Bob McWhirter. Adel won her primary automatically, as she was the only Republican candidate.

According to smartjusticeaz.org, Gunnigle plans to create a team of law enforcers dedicated to investigating police brutality cases. According to Gunnigle, “The war on drugs is a significant driver of the racial divide in policing and prosecution. We need to invest in significant diversion and deflection practices and work to end mandatory minimums that needlessly and disproportionately imprison communities of color.”

According to Adel, “The goal of the criminal justice system and this office is to reach a fair and just result in each individual case, not hit a quota or statistical benchmark.”

Adel won the close election, getting about 51 percent of the votes.

MORE SCOOPS, page 13 ➧

BEAR 40 YEARS

5

News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids

Ursine Fans Vote for Fat Bear

by Reporter Isabella Mercado Salvidio Apache Elementary Have you ever heard of Fat Bear Week?

Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament held at Brooks River, Alaska, in Katmai National Park and Preserve. The preserve stretches about 4.1 million acres. The event determines the fattest bear of the year in Brooks River.

From Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, anybody can cast their vote to decide the fattest bear.

It all started as an event titled Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014. It grew into a weeklong contest a year later in hopes of raising awareness about wildlife in the park and preserve, the home of about 2,200 brown bears.

A lot of brown bears in Katmai get massive, weighing in at about 1,000 pounds by fall! This year’s bear crowned fattest bear of 2020 is bear 747, sometimes referred to as Colbert or Earl of Avoirdupois, weighing around an estimated 1,400 pounds! His belly nearly touches the ground and because of this his belly got stuck on a rock when climbing up a hill.

This year’s runner up was bear 32 named Chunk that weighed over an estimated 1,100 pounds. The votes were about 28,800 to over 47,000. This year attracted more than 600,000 votes!

If you’d like to see the bears and other wildlife, you can view them at Katmai Wilderness Lodge or you can see footage of the bears from the park’s six webcams.

Adviser: Tara Woodward

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BEAR 40 YEARS •

December 2020

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December 2020 •

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aren Golden is a longtime elementary school librarian. She is also a longtime adviser for Bear Essential News’ Young Reporters Program. For the last seven years, she has been working with students at Arizona Desert Elementary.

Golden first started as an adviser for Bear back when students were known as Cub Reporters in the 1980s. After a move to Colorado, she ended up in Grand Junction where she started a Young Reporters Club, These Colorado kids covered news stories for Bear Essential under her guidance. Now, Golden leads the Young Reporters Program at Arizona Desert. She also sponsors the Student Council at her school.

“Many of my Young Reporters participate in both clubs,” according to Golden. “It is so rewarding to see young journalists grow and improve their writing skills. They get so excited when they see their story in print.”

Golden was first offered the job as school librarian at John F. Long School. She says she took the job and “absolutely fell in love with it right off the bat.” She enjoys getting kids excited about reading, and says that tapping into their interests is the key.

“Early on, I had a boy who said he didn’t like

reading,” she recalls. After asking him about his interests, she learned he liked cars and directed him to drawing books with cars. Before long, this reluctant reader turned into someone who checked out a new book every week.

“I was not a good reader. I was not good at comprehending what I read,” Golden says. That is why it’s important to her that students find books that interest them and that are at the right reading level. “I don’t want kids to have that problem,” she explains.

When she was at John F. Long, she became an adviser for Bear Essential News—helping students learn to write news articles for the paper. “I’m not sure if I called them or they called me” about becoming an adviser, but “I thought it was a great idea,” says Golden.

Recently, her students have interviewed elected officials, an author/illustrator, and a Disney World worker, among others. “I just think kids should have those opportunities,” she says. “The Young Reporters Program gives them so many opportunities, things they might not do otherwise. I love it.”

“I don’t think kids write enough these days because of technology,” says Golden.

In her leisure time, Golden likes to sing (including karaoke) and bake. She likes to read mysteries, too.

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December 2020

Growing, Growing,

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Fun tips on healthy foods, fitness and well being —from our family to yours!

May Your Holiday Season Be Light: Managing Portions

T

he holiday season is upon us and we might be wondering how to navigate the festivities while still being healthy AND enjoying our food! Here are a few tips for managing our portions every day and during the holidays.

3. Go ahead and eat before the big meal. When we eat our normal meals, we won’t feel so hungry before the big meal. When we get too hungry, we will often over eat (and not feel so good afterward).

4. Out of sight, out of mind. When we don’t see certain foods in the house, we won’t think about eating them as often. Store tempting foods like cookies, chips and candy out of eye sight and keep healthier foods where we can easily see them.

Supporting BEAR through 2020!

BearEssentialNews.com 1-866-NEWS KID

5. We can exercise in the morning of the holiday like a fun family walk or after eating to avoid the sleepiness that tends to follow a large meal.

7. Make sure you have veggies as a side with your meals. We should still follow the plate method of half our plate consisting of veggies when we celebrate the holidays.

2. Avoid eating or snacking in front of the TV. If you do, put the amount you plan to eat into a bowl or other container instead of eating straight from the package. Distracted eating typically leads to overeating.

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6. Remember the holidays typically fall on one day. Celebrate the day instead of celebrating for months at a time. One day of fun, celebration and enjoying our foods never ruins healthy eating habits.

1. Serve your meal on plates instead of in serving dishes on the table. Tip: use smaller plates for smaller portions.

Thank

Written by Jasmine Swier, RDN, CDCES • Pediatric Dietitian at Phoenix Children’s Hospital

8. Avoid the extra calories and sugar and drink water throughout the day and with meals.

9. Enjoy your food. Remember to eat slowly and savor every bite by asking yourself how it tastes, feels and smells.

Happy Holidays from Phoenix Children’s Endocrinology Department!

F

or more than four decades, Bear Essential News has been part of the fabric of our community, fostering a love of reading, writing and the pawsitive side of the news. During this time, we’ve counted on teachers, parents, the business community and our media friends to keep this newspaper moving forward.

As 2020 draws to a close, we, like so many of our friends and supporters, can say that this has been the most challenging year we have ever faced. It forced Bear to be more nimble, to drastically change its distribution method, to find new avenues of funding and to expand the reach of its literacy award-winning content and programs.

The crew here at Bear Essential News is grateful for those businesses and organizations that continue to support our efforts to educate, enrich and entertain the young people of our community. We also want to send a beary big THANKS to the dedicated educators and parents who use Bear as a way to encourage reading and critical thinking in their kids. And if you have students in second grade up to eighth grade, please see if they’d like to join our Young Reporters Program this school year. They can cover stories that interest them and get published in the newspaper!

As we transition into 2021, we look forward to a much more positive year. Hopefully soon things will return to normal at schools again, and families will be able to shop or go out to dine or explore the zoo or children’s museum or take in a movie or visit the library without having to worry.

Regardless of how long it takes us to get our world back on track, Bear Essential News will continue providing quality reading content that helps young people grow, instills a love of reading and puts a smile on their faces.

Thank you for continuing to support Bear Essential News, its programs and community outreach efforts—we really could not have made it through this year without you. Wishing you good health, good times and much success in the new year!

Nancy Holmes, Co-publisher

Stephen B Gin, Editor

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

December 2020 •

BEAR 40 YEARS

Let’s Go...

VALLEY METRO!

9

Animal Her es

Page 10

BEAR 40 YEARS

• December 2020

www.bearessentialnews.com

They help us every day in many ways—and it’s time to tell their stories!

A Whole Herd of Heroes at TRAK There’s a ranch in Tucson that got its start by introducing kids with challenges to some very special horses.

TRAK (Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids) started 13 years ago. “Jill Prickett-Tilley and Scott Tilley—they founded TRAK. Jill’s background is in special education. So she’s worked with kids who have had traumatic backgrounds who have traditionally received services for whatever reason,” explains Jordyn Carter, development officer for TRAK. Prickett-Tilley wanted to find a more meaningful therapy than what was traditionally being offered. “If you would teach them how to care for animals and teach them to become a service provider themselves, their self-confidence goes through the roof.

And that process transfers to their entire life,” Carter explains. Inclusivity is an important part of the culture at TRAK, which has just under 20 workers and dozens and dozens of volunteers, who can be as young as 12.

And while TRAK has a variety of animals at the ranch, it’s a whole herd of hero horses that ection at TRAK Making that vital conn shine, not only helping kids, but people of all ages! Currently, TRAK has 33 horses for its wide range of programs. The youngest, Tinka, was born two years ago on the ranch. And the oldest is 32.

But what makes for a hero horse when it comes to therapy? Some TRAK participants have physical or mental disabilities. Some have been mistreated or abused or have lost a parent. Some veterans at TRAK suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). And some kids and adults are there just to learn how to relate to, care for and ride a horse better!

“Horses are the best therapeutic tool. They’re non-judgmental,” Carter explains. “Each horse has to go through a process to make sure they are fit and qualified to be here. Our horses have to be calm; they have to have a certain TEMPERMENT. So most of our horses, I would say, are on the older side. Our average age is 15.”

The therapy horses have a willingness to be still and calm and to be in the moment with a person! They have to be very trusting. Surprisingly, many of these hero horses are donated to TRAK and are a variety of breeds.

“We have an Appaloosa, most are Quarter Horse; we have one that’s part Clydesdale; we have some Paints; we have an Arabian—so we have lots of different breeds out here. We also have five miniature hors-

es,” Carter points out.

Being so young, Tinka is still in training to be a therapy horse.

One of the most popular horses with participants is Norman the Clydesdale. He’s also the biggest horse on the ranch—a gentle giant that loves munching on Nature Valley granola bars. Norman seems to like being the center of attention and his calmness makes him perfect for many of the dozens of therapeutic programs TRAK offers, including Tiny Trailblazers, which is for those just 18 months to 4 years old.

Ginger is also a favorite. A Quarter Horse fairly new to the ranch, she is a small mare, almost pony-sized. She is described as being very calm and willing to teach.

Izzy is a smaller horse as well and does well for beginners who are learning to ride and for older kids, too. Dude and Ditto are known for their gentleness and calmness and are retired from riding.

And then there are Dusty, Baby Ray and Romeo—horses in adjacent stalls at TRAK that love tossing those orange traffic cones back and forth!

“When it’s a one-on-one situation with the horse, they just have this ability to teach you so much about yourself, about emotions that you’re carrying,” Carter explains. “In that moment of stillness, of calmness, they want that connection with a human being.”

For more about TRAK and its many programs, visit traktucson.org.

LEFT, It’s amazing what you can learn about yourself by working with a horse!

ABOVE, Bubba the St. Bernard has the run of the ranch and also visits clinics and nursing care homes.

December 2020

BEAR 40 YEARSPage 11

Awesome Animals

Horse Hero Promoted to Staff Sergeant Would you believe that a horse made Life magazine’s list of America’s 100 all-time heroes?

During the Korean War, a Marine lieutenant bought a small, 5-year-old mare for $250 from a Korean racetrack. It trained to be a pack animal to HAUL heavy ammunition for the platoon that operated the large recoilless rifles (known as reckless rifles) for the 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

The gentle horse soon bonded with the Marines and was allowed to roam about the camp freely, occasionally ducking into tents on cold nights. In the mornings, she enjoyed chowing on scrambled eggs and pancakes to go with her coffee.

She would train to haul heavy loads through the worst battlefield conditions. After being led by a trainer just a couple times along a route, she could be trusted to follow it on her own!

Fittingly, they named her Reckless.

During a battle, the horse made 51 solo trips in one day, going up and down steep hills.

•

Fill in the Blank Activity

When I want to practice reading aloud, I can read to a _____(animal).

It’s relaxing to watch _______(animals) when they _________(verb).

A trained dog can help people __________ (verb) and ___________(verb).

Reckless ended up delivering nearly 5 tons of much needed ammunition. She also shielded four Marines who needed to reach the front lines. She was wounded twice during the battle.

In the field, Reckless was promoted to corporal in 1953 and then to sergeant the following year shortly after the war had ended. This amazing horse was decorated nine times and earned two Purple Hearts for being wounded during the battle.

A few years after her arrival to the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Randolph Pate, promoted Reckless to staff sergeant. This hero horse spent her final years being pampered at Camp Pendleton, California.

Animals Helping with Scientific Research Pinnipeds are providing important data to help climate change researchers. Scientists in the Antarctic did not have a good way to take measurements in the waters in the Southern Sea as portions of the sea are under ice, some that melts and reforms seasonally. Getting data from the frozen waters, especially water under the ice, was tricky.

So the researcher turned to elephant seals. These marine mammals routinely swim under the ice, spending as much as 90 percent of their time underwater. So researchers put the seals’ deep diving skills to use to monitor currents and flows in these icy waters. Sensors on the seals’ bodies and heads measure the temperature and salinity of the water.

Ocean waters are a major storage place for carbon and heat, and flows can affect how much is absorbed. According to an August New York Times article, Swedish researchers were surprised to find that eddies under the ice are almost as active as those in the open ocean, even in the middle of winter when the ice is thick. One downside to using seals is that they don’t follow directions! They go where they want to go, usually swimming after squid and other tasty treats.

Dolly Pawton Is a Hero!

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards named Dolly Pawton as the 2020 Service Hero Dog. Dolly, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, is a cardiac dog for her owner, Amy. Amy uses a wheelchair and suffers from anxiety and several medical conditions.

Dolly Pawton alerts Amy if her blood pressure drops or if her heart rate accelerates too much.

Besides keeping Amy safe, Dolly Pawton has offered her handler companionship, comfort and confidence. Amy, who rarely left her home before she met Dolly, wrote and illustrated a children’s book called “Pawsibly the Best Medicine” which shares their story. She and Dolly Pawton also traveled to schools to teach kids about the importance of service animals.

I think a ________ is the best companion animal because it can _______(verb).

I love the sounds a _______ makes because they make me feel _________(adjective).

A _______ would be good to travel with because it can ______(verb) very _____ (adverb).

To do research in ________(noun/place), you could put a monitor/camera on a ________ because it can ____________(verb)_______ (adverb).

In the future, I think _______ may be used to ___________(verb).

I think _______ are ______(adjective) because they can _______(verb) so ______ (adverb).

What Makes a Hero?

Boomer Bear wants to know what you think goes into making a hero! Is it doing a brave act?

Overcoming a major setback? A life dedicated to helping others? Share what you think below.

Animal Her es

Page 10

BEAR 40 YEARS

• December 2020

www.bearessentialnews.com

They help us every day in many ways—and it’s time to tell their stories!

A Whole Herd of Heroes at TRAK There’s a ranch in Tucson that got its start by introducing kids with challenges to some very special horses.

TRAK (Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids) started 13 years ago. “Jill Prickett-Tilley and Scott Tilley—they founded TRAK. Jill’s background is in special education. So she’s worked with kids who have had traumatic backgrounds who have traditionally received services for whatever reason,” explains Jordyn Carter, development officer for TRAK. Prickett-Tilley wanted to find a more meaningful therapy than what was traditionally being offered. “If you would teach them how to care for animals and teach them to become a service provider themselves, their self-confidence goes through the roof.

And that process transfers to their entire life,” Carter explains. Inclusivity is an important part of the culture at TRAK, which has just under 20 workers and dozens and dozens of volunteers, who can be as young as 12.

And while TRAK has a variety of animals at the ranch, it’s a whole herd of hero horses that ection at TRAK Making that vital conn shine, not only helping kids, but people of all ages! Currently, TRAK has 33 horses for its wide range of programs. The youngest, Tinka, was born two years ago on the ranch. And the oldest is 32.

But what makes for a hero horse when it comes to therapy? Some TRAK participants have physical or mental disabilities. Some have been mistreated or abused or have lost a parent. Some veterans at TRAK suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). And some kids and adults are there just to learn how to relate to, care for and ride a horse better!

“Horses are the best therapeutic tool. They’re non-judgmental,” Carter explains. “Each horse has to go through a process to make sure they are fit and qualified to be here. Our horses have to be calm; they have to have a certain TEMPERMENT. So most of our horses, I would say, are on the older side. Our average age is 15.”

The therapy horses have a willingness to be still and calm and to be in the moment with a person! They have to be very trusting. Surprisingly, many of these hero horses are donated to TRAK and are a variety of breeds.

“We have an Appaloosa, most are Quarter Horse; we have one that’s part Clydesdale; we have some Paints; we have an Arabian—so we have lots of different breeds out here. We also have five miniature hors-

es,” Carter points out.

Being so young, Tinka is still in training to be a therapy horse.

One of the most popular horses with participants is Norman the Clydesdale. He’s also the biggest horse on the ranch—a gentle giant that loves munching on Nature Valley granola bars. Norman seems to like being the center of attention and his calmness makes him perfect for many of the dozens of therapeutic programs TRAK offers, including Tiny Trailblazers, which is for those just 18 months to 4 years old.

Ginger is also a favorite. A Quarter Horse fairly new to the ranch, she is a small mare, almost pony-sized. She is described as being very calm and willing to teach.

Izzy is a smaller horse as well and does well for beginners who are learning to ride and for older kids, too. Dude and Ditto are known for their gentleness and calmness and are retired from riding.

And then there are Dusty, Baby Ray and Romeo—horses in adjacent stalls at TRAK that love tossing those orange traffic cones back and forth!

“When it’s a one-on-one situation with the horse, they just have this ability to teach you so much about yourself, about emotions that you’re carrying,” Carter explains. “In that moment of stillness, of calmness, they want that connection with a human being.”

For more about TRAK and its many programs, visit traktucson.org.

LEFT, It’s amazing what you can learn about yourself by working with a horse!

ABOVE, Bubba the St. Bernard has the run of the ranch and also visits clinics and nursing care homes.

December 2020

BEAR 40 YEARSPage 11

Awesome Animals

Horse Hero Promoted to Staff Sergeant Would you believe that a horse made Life magazine’s list of America’s 100 all-time heroes?

During the Korean War, a Marine lieutenant bought a small, 5-year-old mare for $250 from a Korean racetrack. It trained to be a pack animal to HAUL heavy ammunition for the platoon that operated the large recoilless rifles (known as reckless rifles) for the 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

The gentle horse soon bonded with the Marines and was allowed to roam about the camp freely, occasionally ducking into tents on cold nights. In the mornings, she enjoyed chowing on scrambled eggs and pancakes to go with her coffee.

She would train to haul heavy loads through the worst battlefield conditions. After being led by a trainer just a couple times along a route, she could be trusted to follow it on her own!

Fittingly, they named her Reckless.

During a battle, the horse made 51 solo trips in one day, going up and down steep hills.

•

Fill in the Blank Activity

When I want to practice reading aloud, I can read to a _____(animal).

It’s relaxing to watch _______(animals) when they _________(verb).

A trained dog can help people __________ (verb) and ___________(verb).

Reckless ended up delivering nearly 5 tons of much needed ammunition. She also shielded four Marines who needed to reach the front lines. She was wounded twice during the battle.

In the field, Reckless was promoted to corporal in 1953 and then to sergeant the following year shortly after the war had ended. This amazing horse was decorated nine times and earned two Purple Hearts for being wounded during the battle.

A few years after her arrival to the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Randolph Pate, promoted Reckless to staff sergeant. This hero horse spent her final years being pampered at Camp Pendleton, California.

Animals Helping with Scientific Research Pinnipeds are providing important data to help climate change researchers. Scientists in the Antarctic did not have a good way to take measurements in the waters in the Southern Sea as portions of the sea are under ice, some that melts and reforms seasonally. Getting data from the frozen waters, especially water under the ice, was tricky.

So the researcher turned to elephant seals. These marine mammals routinely swim under the ice, spending as much as 90 percent of their time underwater. So researchers put the seals’ deep diving skills to use to monitor currents and flows in these icy waters. Sensors on the seals’ bodies and heads measure the temperature and salinity of the water.

Ocean waters are a major storage place for carbon and heat, and flows can affect how much is absorbed. According to an August New York Times article, Swedish researchers were surprised to find that eddies under the ice are almost as active as those in the open ocean, even in the middle of winter when the ice is thick. One downside to using seals is that they don’t follow directions! They go where they want to go, usually swimming after squid and other tasty treats.

Dolly Pawton Is a Hero!

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards named Dolly Pawton as the 2020 Service Hero Dog. Dolly, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, is a cardiac dog for her owner, Amy. Amy uses a wheelchair and suffers from anxiety and several medical conditions.

Dolly Pawton alerts Amy if her blood pressure drops or if her heart rate accelerates too much.

Besides keeping Amy safe, Dolly Pawton has offered her handler companionship, comfort and confidence. Amy, who rarely left her home before she met Dolly, wrote and illustrated a children’s book called “Pawsibly the Best Medicine” which shares their story. She and Dolly Pawton also traveled to schools to teach kids about the importance of service animals.

I think a ________ is the best companion animal because it can _______(verb).

I love the sounds a _______ makes because they make me feel _________(adjective).

A _______ would be good to travel with because it can ______(verb) very _____ (adverb).

To do research in ________(noun/place), you could put a monitor/camera on a ________ because it can ____________(verb)_______ (adverb).

In the future, I think _______ may be used to ___________(verb).

I think _______ are ______(adjective) because they can _______(verb) so ______ (adverb).

What Makes a Hero?

Boomer Bear wants to know what you think goes into making a hero! Is it doing a brave act?

Overcoming a major setback? A life dedicated to helping others? Share what you think below.

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December 2020

Join Us for New Member Virtual Parties and the Girl Scout Cookie Program Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is hosting virtual parties in December for elementary school age girls who want to learn about Girl Scouts. The Robot Building Party and the Animal Dance Party were so popular this fall, more dates were added. Now is a great time to join, just in time for the new year and for the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

The Animal Dance Party on Dec. 15 invites girls in K–6 to make friends, learn about animals and get moving with different animal inspired dance moves led by a GS staff member.The Robot Building Party on Dec. 17 also invites girls in grades K–6 to learn about robots and learn how to build a robot using recyclable items they find at home.

Both parties happen at 5:30 p.m. Participants will receive a fun patch through the mail.

These virtual parties are a great way for girls to safely meet and interact with other girls their own age. It is also a great way for girls and families to get involved in Girl Scouts and learn about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Animal Dance Party and Robot Building Party events are followed by a virtual Girl Scouts Did you know you can join Girl Scouts virtually and participate in the cookie program digitally?

information meeting. It’s a springboard for families looking to join and find a virtual troop. So, don’t miss out, RSVP to one of these parties today!

Plus, if you've always wanted to be a part of the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, now is the perfect time! Girls can chose to participate in digital sales or a hybrid option.

Girls will get to sell cookies through their own cookie website, and learn business skills like e-commerce, web design, and inventory management! Not to mention the other core skills all girls learn through the program, like goal setting, decision making, people skills, business ethics and money management.

To register for the free 45-minute virtual sessions, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/join.

To learn more about cookies, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/cookies. You can also call 602-452-7030 or text 844-317-9014.

Why join?

• Girl Scout programming supports education, focusing on four core program areas: STEM, outdoors, entrepreneurship and life skills.

• Our virtual programs make it easy for any parent, caregiver or volunteer to lead programs at home.

• Girl Scouts provides girls a sense of normalcy and a community of support during times like these.

Join Girl Scouts today!

Visit girlscoutsaz.org Call 602-452-7030 Text 844-317-9041

@GSACPC

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

B

Get the Scoop!

Get the Scoop on Phoenix Zoo’s ZooLights

Continued from page 5

Zoohes in t

! s w e N

by Reporter Nava Nelson, Homeschool

‘Twas late in November and, hurrah—the annual ZooLights are back! I had the opportunity to virtually interview Linda Hardwick, Director of Communications at the Phoenix Zoo. Phoenix ZooLights is in competition for #1 Best Zoo Lights Display on USA Today’s Readers’ Choice 10best.com. You can even vote for your favorite display! I voted for the Phoenix Zoo. The deadline to vote is Dec. 7.

“We are going on our 29th season of ZooLights,” Hardwick says. “So it is a long-standing tradition, almost three decades...and this year, we are bigger, brighter, and better than ever!”

She also says that the hardest part about prepping the lights is that they have just a few staff members setting them up. “It is a team of only four guys, and they actually start in June. It takes them that long to wrap all the trees, put up the armatures and get all the lights strung everywhere they need to. ZooLights runs from November through the end of January, and by the time they take the lights down, it’s the end of March.” Wow! Hardwick says the foursome is decorating during temperatures as hot as 116 degrees Fahrenheit!

Due to COVID-19 there are changes to this year’s ZooLights.

MORE PHOENIX ZOOLIGHTS, page 15 ➧

Wildlife World Reopens for Visitors

by Elite Reporter Athena O’Brien The Wildlife World Zoo is open after almost five months of being closed because of COVID-19. To celebrate this event, I interviewed Mickey Ollson, the founder of Wildlife World Zoo. Ollson wanted a zoo from the time he was very young. When he was 10, he drew a map of his zoo.

He had always loved animals, since he grew up on a farm with all sorts of farm animals, birds, and the family’s dogs. He even once had a pet alligator!

Ollson taught school in Glendale, but he never gave up on wanting to have a zoo. After 20 years of teaching, Ollson finally got his zoo. Ollson’s favorite animals are birds and hoofed animals, like giraffes. When Ollson was younger, he went to a zoo where they had a Patas monkey. Ollson says that he promised himself that he was going to have Patas monkeys in his zoo, and he does.

He says that his favorite part of running a zoo is that something new happens every day.

He says that the hardest part is not the animals, but the people. There are a lot of people to work with, including the government for things like permits.

Zoos like the Wildlife World Zoo used to import animals from other countries by capturing them in the wild. Ollson says that most animals in modern zoos were born and raised in captivity. When my parents were younger, zoos might have looked like prisons for the animals—they were enclosed in cells

because people believed that the animals couldn’t handle outdoor climates. Today, the Wildlife World Zoo makes habitats look like an animal’s natural environment. Ollson says, “If it comes from a forest, we try to simulate a forest; if it comes from a jungle, we simulate a jungle…”

The Wildlife World Zoo has a large staff of dieticians and veterinarians to keep the animals healthy. As a result, these animals will live longer than their counterparts in the wild. These animals have no predators, and they get special diets and good medical care. The animals are entertained by watching the humans that come to look at them, just like we are entertained by watching them. While the zoo was shut down due to COVID-19, the animals became even more excited to see the keepers, and made noises of excitement.

In addition to displaying animals, zoos also help conserve animals. The Wildlife World Zoo and other zoos breed endangered species and release them into the wild. The California Condor was saved from extinction by zoos. It can now be seen at the Grand Canyon, and in California.

December 2020 •

BEAR 40 YEARS

13

Changes & Fun Events Coming to Reid Park Zoo

by Reporter Aiden Vaughan Esmond Station K–8 Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo is one of the 12 zoos we have in Arizona. It started in 1965 as a very small zoo. Every year Reid Park Zoo puts up their lights during the holiday season to bring joy and fun during Christmas time.

This year the ZooLights will be going from Dec. 4–23, with a break for Christmas Eve and Christmas, and then from Dec. 26– 30.

Tickets are available for 5:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. at entry points. This year, numbers of people attending are going to be reduced per day due to social distancing, but now you can socially distance meeting Santa in the new North Pole Village!

Not only is this year extremely different, but (in a much better way) the zoo is going to be too! Newly announced, Reid Park Zoo is undergoing changes to make it one of the best in the nation, and better at animal care and conservation. There are three phases to this project. The first phase includes adding a new Asian themed area to the zoo, with Asian temple ruins, and new animals, including red pandas, fishing cats, Malayan tigers and brilliantly-plumed birds.

Siamangs will also be added. In addition, A new reptile house is going to be added, including the largest lizard in the world, the Komodo Dragon, and giant fruit bats.

Phase two will include adding a new African area, and adding a new safari lodge with balconies and seating for 400. Phase three consists of adding a Mayan temple, and adding area expansion.

Reid Park Zoo is hosting virtual animal encounters for free on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Check out Reid Park Zoo’s website for more information on other virtual meetings at reidparkzoo.org.

I interviewed Chelo Grubb, who works for Reid Park Zoo’s communications department.

She has been working at the zoo for about two years, managing ads and social media, and making sure the zoo stays connected in the virtual world. Her favorite part of the job is getting to see the animals every day.

“I am excited for the zoo to be open again, and I’m excited to have people come in again,” says Grubb.

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December 2020

$2 OFF

$20 OFF

General Admission

Any Birthday Party Packege

Not valid in conjunction with other special offers

Not valid in conjunction with other special offers

(Up to 4 people)

(Advanced reservation required)

Located Off the 101 and Via De Aventuraat Arizona Boardwalk

9500 East Via De Ventura C-100 Scottsdale, AZ 85256 • 480-326-3466

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It will still be lots of fun, though! Here are some tips for how you can enjoy ZooLights this year.

How will you visit? Drive-through or stroll. You will need to decide ahead of time. Purchase your tickets online as many drive-through nights are already sold out. You can’t do the drive-through on a walking night, and vice-versa. If you are walking, you can feel comfortable knowing that they have enlarged footprints on the ground to ensure everyone stays a safe distance, and they also require masks. If you are visiting via drive-through, please stay in your car. You can stick your hand or head out the window, but you cannot be sitting in an open part of the car.

Before you go, fill your cart! After you buy your

by Reporter Miliana Valenzuela Arizona Desert Elementary

Shutterstock.com/Natata

by Reporter Brianna Palcios Mondaca Arizona Desert Elementary

More Phoenix ZooLights

“There are so many opportunities to create magic with the guests. One day a child was crying, and I had the opportunity to go and get a free ice cream cone to give to the child.”

Moulton’s favorite Disney character is Tinkerbell because she feels that Tinkerbell captures the whole Disney “Magic.”

Moulton began her Disney career in August 2018 with the Disney College program. Her job as a “Seasonal” worker will end in December, ending her two and a half years with Disney.

Moulton’s advice to kids who may one day want to work at Disney, “Consider applying for the Disney College. That is how most people get their foot in the door to work at Disney.” One thing Moulton learned at Disney College was the four Keys: Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency. Inclusion is a new fifth key!

Adviser: Karen Golden

I reviewed “The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story.” Every day during Hanukkah a candle is lit. In this book the candles come to life. They can talk, walk, dance and sing. The candles try to convince the other candles to vote for them to be the first one lit.

Continued from page 13 tickets online, you have the option to add things like snacks in a virtual cart if you are doing a drivethrough. You can order kettle corn, hot cocoa, glow wands and more and get them when you arrive.

COVID-19 guidelines have been put in place to ensure everyone’s safety, making certain that this year’s ZooLights will still be a fun and magical experience! Though attractions such as the carousel and the theater are shut down due to coronavirus, you will still have a fun time! Hardwick and the staff want you to have a magical evening at ZooLights.

To drive-through ZooLights, it is $75 per vehicle.

For members of the zoo, it is $60. To learn more, visit the zoo’s website at phoenixzoo.org.

Black Mountain BMX

RACING!

For Dates and Times, check our website

www.blackmountainbmx.com

One of the main candles is Little Flicker, who is the smallest candle in the box. He sleeps in a kitchen drawer. Ms. Wicks is another character and so is Waxy, who is a very smart candle and teaches the history of Hanukkah and the importance of every candle in the menorah.

I think this is a cute story for kids aged 4–7.

The authors of the book are Rabbis Kerry and Jesse Olitzky. They are father and son. Rabbi Kerry is the author of over 75 books including “Where’s the Potty on This Ark?” “The Littlest Candle” was illustrated by Jen Kostman and is a picture book that is 17 pages long.

MORE SCOOPS, page 18 ➧

Volume 42 • Issue 3

We Are OPEN and 602-938-1108

15

Holiday Picture Book Shares a Hanukkah Story

Continued from page 5

Behind the Magic of Disney Do you believe in magic? How about magical places? If not, maybe this story will change your mind.

Walt Disney was born on Dec. 5, 1901, and died Dec. 15, 1966. Disney was the creator of Mickey Mouse in 1928. Mickey Mouse was his first success in the animated world. He also created the movies, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937 along with “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia” in 1940. Disney won 26 Academy Awards, 22 being competitive and four honorary. Disney also won three Golden Globe Awards and one Emmy Award.

In 1955 Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. Walt Disney World was opened in his honor in 1965, near Orlando FL. Emalee Moulton, a seasonal performer at Disney World, has always been passionate about Disney and the “Magic” of Disney.

Moulton’s favorite Disney quote is, “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

“The magic is being part of it!” says Moulton.

BEAR 40 YEARS

Editor & Publisher

Sales Director & Publisher

Stephen B Gin

Nancy Holmes

City Editor

YR Coordinator

Copy Editor

Art Director

Mike Loghry

Gary Shepard

Renee Griffith

Julie Madden

Bear Essential News for Kids®

is published monthly by Kids’ View Communications Corp. to educate, enrich and entertain children and their families. Content of this newspaper is designed to promote reading and writing skills as well as creativity.

Classroom educators are welcome to reproduce any portion of this newspaper for their students.

Call or fax Kids’ View Communications for any additional information on stories.

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December 2020

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BEAR 40 YEARS

Boomer’s Boredom-Busting Activity Page

Up for a little Holiday Fun? Hand-Made Gifts Are Fun to Make— and Give!

Find the gift ideas in the Word Search, and then get started on your own gift-making adventure!

cookies

collage

poem

mixed CD

frame

mug

recipe

coffee

photo

flower pot

cards

scarf

book

jewelry

ornament bread

START

Help Boomer Bear make his way to the North Pole.

He has a cousin there who helps make the toys that get delivered around this time of year!

FINISH!

Color the Art!

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December 2020

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 5

Baby Yoda Is a Superstar

by Reporter Gianna Mercado Salvidio, Apache Elementary The series “The Mandalorian” has gained attention from all over, not only for the show, but for the iconic Baby Yoda. The Disney+ original series premiered the first season on Nov. 12, 2019. It was an immediate success, with 40 million bingers in the first week! After its successful debut, the show was third in a ranking of most in-demand digital originals among U.S. viewers.

Baby Yoda, or “The Child,” got the attention of fans all over social media, with memes, fandoms, art and drawings, toys and more! After “The Mandalorian” was released for scarcely a month, Mattel created a Baby Yoda plush available for pre-order on Amazon and it became the No.1 bestselling product on Amazon in December 2019. The plush sold out shortly after it became available for pre-order, no matter that buyers wouldn’t be able to get their hands on it until its release during the springtime in

2020! Mattel also sold an 11-inch Baby Yoda toy to be released in the spring of this year, and the toy earned its No.1 spot as the most-wished-for product on Amazon’s ranking in Toys and Games.

Funko Pop! soon joined in on the trend and created Funko Pop! of “The Child” which became instantly out of stock on Amazon and wouldn’t be available again until spring of this year.

Hasbro created a whole collection of toys dedicated to Baby Yoda, and their battery powered talking Baby Yoda plush ranked No.4 on Amazon’s Best Seller list. “The Child” became No.1 on Google’s Top Trending searches for babies in 2020, beating out the searches of “Baby Shark” and “Kim Kardashian Kanye West baby”!

The 2020 Emmy Awards was a milestone for “The Mandalorian” cast and crew—the series was nominated for 15 Emmys and awarded seven.

Fall

by Aryanna S.

The kitchen smells of turkey scent Family members not in consent Different colors other than green The most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen Pumpkins in the big yard Old man scarecrow as a guard Fall means colors maybe to me But Thanksgiving means love that is not unseen.

Día De Los Muertos

by Thomas G.

Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, Is a Mexican celebration of anything but dread, At the beginning of November, we honor our families, By decorating altars and remembering happily, We light our candles and lay down our flowers, Before we go to the graveyard in the late hours, With Pan de Muerto and calaveras on display, Dia De Los Muertos is a beautiful holiday!

The Christmas Spirit

by Brooklyn D.

It’s the holiday A jolly holly Christmas for all!

We’ll try all year to Cheer.

We love giving and getting until the New Year Merry Christmas!

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Watch for our 8-page insert in BEAR next month!

December 2020 •

BEAR 40 YEARS

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December 2020

HOT

e t a l o C hoc

BAR

Try these Fun Holiday Recipes!

S’Mores Hot Chocolate

Yoda Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

Ingredients

6 cups whole milk 1/4 cup granulated sugar 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips 2 tablespoons honey 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs 12 marshmallows Color the 6 small skewers

Green sprinkles 4 cups milk (any type including lactose-free milk) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 8 ounces white chocolate chips 2 drops green food coloring Color the Whipped cream Artwork!

8 candy eyes, divided

Instructions

Instructions

Artwork!

In a medium saucepot, heat milk and sugar to simmering over medium heat, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in chocolate chips until smooth.

Meanwhile, place honey on small plate.

Invert 6 mugs into honey; slide around until rims are lightly coated in honey. Place graham cracker crumbs in small bowl; twist mug rims into crumbs until coated. Thread 2 marshmallows onto each skewer.

Using kitchen blowtorch, open flame on gas stove, or broiler, lightly toast marshmallows.

Divide hot chocolate between prepared mugs.

Garnish with marshmallow skewers and serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings Serving size: 1 cup Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes

Recipe by Lori of Foxes Love Lemons

Dip the rim of the glass in water. Pour green sprinkles onto a plate or into a bowl and dip the edge of the wet glass in sprinkles, coating it in green.

In a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat, mix together milk, vanilla, food coloring and white chocolate.

Cook, stirring often, until the white chocolate comes to a simmer and is melted.

Do not let boil.

Remove from heat, pour hot chocolate into prepared mugs, top with whipped cream, sprinkles and two candy eyes.

Serve immediately.

Note: This drink is best in a clear mug.

Servings: 4 Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes

Recipe by Deb Thompson of Just Short of Crazy

Cheers to Chocolate!

For more delicious recipes go to

www.arizonamilk.org