Bear Essential News November 2021, Tucson Edition

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November 2021 • Tucson Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

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In This Picture: Find a skillet, a pencil, an acorn, a slice of pie, a fork, a voting check mark, a carrot, the U.S. flag, a tomato and the word THANKS!

FEATURE

NEWS

NEWS

FAMILIES

Holiday Family Fun Ti me! Cardinals' Hot S tart Awesome R eptile Show Bear Hugs Healthy recipes & family trees Pages 10, 11 & 13

Spotlight on Horse History News Highlights page 5

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 7, 14, 16 & 17

Making memories Page 9

FUN

Holiday Crossword Thanksgiving word fun!

Page 18

Take Our Test to rate Your

Safety Smarts!

1. You should always ride your bike: a. In the street with the traffic b. In the street facing traffic c. On the sidewalk

2. If you are less than four foot nine inches tall you should always sit a. In a car seat b. On your sister c. On your knees looking out back window 3. As you cross the street you should keep looking for: a. Your friends b. Your toothbrush Color c. Cars that may be coming as you cross

the picture!

5. When riding your bike you should always wear your helmet: a. Hanging by the strap from your left elbow b. Square on top of your head c. At an angle on the side of your face so you look cool 6. On the school bus you should listen to: a. The kid in the next seat b. The driver c. Your radio

Tomas says...Boost your Booty until you are at least 8 years old and four feet and nine inches tall.

Answer: 1. a, 2. a, 3. c, 4. b, 5. b, 6. b

4. When crossing the street always: a. Look up and down b. Look left then right then left again c. Close your eyes

Rules for the Ride!

• Everybody must be in a chid safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt.

People who are not buckled in can be thrown from the car or inside the car can get really hurt.

• There must be one safety belt for each person.

• No one— children or adults—can ride in the cargo area of a van, pickup truck or station wagon. It's the law.

• No one under the age of 13 should ride in the front seat.

Child Safety Tips from the National Highway Safety Administration

2 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 3

4 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

B

News Highlights

Cardinals Flying High This Season

The Arizona Cardinals may have suffered its first loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 28, but that doesn’t make their start to the season any less impressive!

Before their loss to the Packers, the Cardinals were the only undefeated team in the NFL, starting their season off with a 7-0 record.

After week nine, the Cardinals were ranked second in the NFL in scoring. Kyler Murray has been a big part of their STELLAR start. In the team’s first eight games, Murray has put up 2,276 passing yards while completing 164 of 223 passes with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Murray, who was drafted in 2019, limped off the field after the last play against the Packers. Even without him, Arizona still beat the 49ers, 31-17 to improve their record to 8-1.

One of the keys to Murray’s success this season seems to be his ability to get everyone involved in the game. In the Cardinals’ week seven win over the Houston Texans, A.J. Green, Zach Ertz, DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk each had at least 50 receiving yards—and the last three also had touchdowns.

DeAndre Hopkins has been a contributing factor for the team as well. The wide receiver has 420 yards with 33 receptions. Hopkins was injured after a 55yard catch in the first quarter of the game against the

Packers. While the team did not plan on putting Hopkins back in, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said after the game that Hopkins is as “competitive as anybody I’ve been around, and he ended up making some plays” by returning to the game.

While the offense has been exciting, the Cardinals defense is solid and one of the best ranked in the NFL. After week seven, they were tied for the top few spots in some of the key indicators of a defensive team’s success. What may be most impressive though is that the Cardinals were ranked first in the NFL in both third- and fourth-down defense.

Despite their first loss of the season, the Cardinals still have a bright future ahead!

DNA Confirms Sitting Bull’s Great Grandson! famous ancestor. But there were doubters, which Genetics researchers developed a powerful new LaPointe describes as a pain in the place you sit!

DNA test to prove that a person is indeed the great Sitting Bull was killed in a standoff with governgrandson of the famous Lakota Chief Sitting Bull. mental police in 1890. A lock of Analyzing his hair had been kept at the just a bit of Smithsonian.

Sitting Bull’s When the Smithsonian hair from the returned the lock to the famiSmithsonian ly, most of it was burned in a Institution, ceremony, leaving scientists researchers with less than 2 inches of the released their historic hair. findings Oct. 27 Genetics pioneer Eske confirming that Willerslev headed up the team 73-year-old Sun trying to extract DNA from the Dancer Ernie hair. He’s the director of the LaPointe is the Lundbeck Foundation Geogreat grandson Genetics Centre in Denmark. of Sitting Bull.

Smithsonian Photo Photo courtesy of Ernie LaPointe It took 14 years to develop a Sitting Bull’s method to analyze the hair, testing autosomal DNA. Lakota name was Tatanka Iyotake. He is famous for For comparison, the researchers also analyzed the RALLYING Sioux tribes to fight against federal military DNA of LaPointe, two of his sisters and 11 other Lakoforces, including defeating Lt. Col. George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. ta people. Not only did the family stories turn out to be Through passed down oral history, LaPointe’s true, but now researchers have a way of tracing family mother had told him and his three sisters of their trees from hair, teeth or bones of those long dead.

The History of Domestic Horses How far back can you trace your family tree? Probably not 4,000 years!

Last month, scientists published a study identifying the genetic homeland of modern horses, finding that the animals were first DOMESTICATED around 4,200 years ago in a region that’s now part of Russia.

You’ve probably not given much thought to the role horses have played throughout history, but these incredible mammals helped shape human development by revolutionizing transport, travel, communication, agriculture, warfare and more.

“The history of humans is wrapped up in horse DNA,” Kate Kanne, archaeologist at the University of Exeter in the UK, tells National Geographic. “It tells the story of STUDY FACTS: • Number of samples collected: 2,000 • Where samples were collected: Europe & Asia • Number of years this study took: 5

both our species.”

There has long been debate among scientists about where domestic horses originated. Part of the challenge is that, unlike with other livestock, scientists have had difficulty determining which bones belonged to domestic versus wild horses.

The lead author of the study, Ludovic Orlando, is a molecular archaeologist at Paul Sabatier University in France. Orlando and a team of more than 160 scientists spent the last five years collecting pieces of bone and tooth from ancient horses. They collected more than 2,000 samples from 273 ancient horses found across Europe and Asia. They compared the DNA to that of modern horses. It may sound simple, but it was no small feat and took a team of experts!

Whether on a TV show or in a commercial, you’ve probably heard about DNA. While horse and human DNA is not exactly the same, we do share much of the same DNA with our equine friends!

Swiss chemist Friedrich Miescher first identified DNA in the 1860s, but it was another hundred years before scientists started using DNA testing in ways we think of today, like solving crimes. In the last few decades, DNA testing has improved and become more accessible. It’s even possible to use DNA testing to determine your family history—known as genealogy!

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 5

6 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

Get the Scoop!

Tucson Reptile Show Was Awesome!

by Reporter Xavier Cooper-Sowers, Rivera Elementary

I love lizards and other reptiles! In October my family and I attended the Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show at the Tucson Expo Center. Going to the reptile show is a family tradition.

We have been going every year since I was 2 years old, and now I am 9.

At the show there were a lot of reptiles on display. I was able to pet an iguana. It felt scaly and had spikes on its back. I also held a white-scaled python. They are non-poisonous and have black eyes. The snake even crawled up my arm. There were snakes that were venomous. They had warning labels on their cages and information on where they were from posted.

I pet the tortoises. One was a boy and one was a girl. I even touched an alligator. The alligator’s mouth was taped shut so that it could not hurt anyone. I saw many lizards and chameleons. A chameleon can change to many colors, but a lizard camouflages by seeking rocks that are close to their color when they hide from predators.

I had a wonderful time at the reptile show and I cannot wait to go again next year!

A Life in Stories: Visions in the Land of Mystery

by Reporter Aleena Rafiyath, BASIS Oro Valley On Oct. 4, Mike Lindsey, or “Writingbear,” performed in the Dorothy Rubel Room at the UArizona Poetry Center. The event was called A Life in Stories: Visions and Journeys in the Land of Mystery, and it began with an introduction from Karen FrancisBegay, Assistant Vice Provost for Native American Initiatives, and a blessing from Miguel Flores Jr., CEO at Holistic Wellness Counseling and Consultant Services.

Lindsey’s stories provided many themes for the audience. Lindsey started by telling a traditional Cherokee story called Rabbit and Bear. The theme of this story was that people shouldn’t compare themselves to others because each and every person was made with their own special gifts and talents.

Then he talked about the start of his telling stories in public. He started in a monthly ceremonial circle, where he had a vision of himself telling a story, and he became a regular storyteller as the event became more widespread.

Lindsey told a story about seeing Navajo flute player Carlos Nakai, who said, “There’s no agenda for tonight, I work in the moment.” Lindsey uses this philosophy as his own when he can only get his stories by guidance and working in the moment.

Lindsey also told a story about forgiveness and

how we should not only forgive others, but we have to fix and forgive ourselves. As Lindsey says, “How are you going to help other people and serve if you can’t change?”

The next stories had themes of service and unselfishness. The last part of the event was Lindsey explaining the “Mystery” part of the title event. Lindsey explained that there were two aspects to the mystery: the life of trust in the Creator and America being the land of Mystery.

I had the opportunity to ask a question during the talk. I asked, “As the world gets more modern, what is a theme or advice that you have for keeping our traditions and remembering who you are?”

Lindsey says that as we get more technology, we still have to know what to do with the tools, and we have to know our way because things change.

The event closed with another blessing, and I talked to Lindsey and asked him more questions. A table was set up with Lindsey’s CD, “Stealing Horses.” His CDs are sold at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange.

For more about this event and its recording, visit https://humanitiesfestival.arizona.edu/eventlife-in-stories/, or to learn about other events in the Humanities Festival, visit https://humanitiesfestival. arizona.edu.

News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids

Minecraft Mob Squad Saves Town in Book

by Reporter Lizzy Barrett Old Vail Middle School “Minecraft: Mob Squad,” written by Delilah S. Dawson, is a Minecraft novel about a group of friends who try to save their town from monsters. What I like about this book is that it describes some of the troubles that I have while playing Minecraft. Also, it talks about friendships and how friends help each other out, even in the direst of situations. It can teach the reader that no matter how dangerous the situation is, friends should always help each other out.

However, what I don’t particularly like is that their town was dismissive of the friend group and treated them poorly. I also don’t like one of the friend’s families, because they insult and laugh at her for just being herself. I felt furious and sad because nobody should be laughed at for just being themselves, especially when they can’t help some of the things that they do. This character has a low attention span, and tends to daydream.

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Minecraft and reading.

MORE SCOOPS, page 14 ➧

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November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 7

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Bear Hugs:

Volume 43 • Issue 2

Engaging With the Grandkids

Image: shutterstock.com

As I consider topics to share in this column, I check in with friends and family of all ages to ask them what special activities they remember sharing with their parents or grandparents as they grew up. Many recalled simple activities that centered around singing, playing games or reading together. Other friends mentioned special trips they took with a family member. One 90-yearold friend reminisced about growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, where her father worked at a meat packing plant. As the family had no car, her father walked to work daily. She explained that she often walked with her father until they came to a busy street at which point she turned toward home. When questioned about her age at that time, she said “age 10”. I can only imagine the many life lessons that might have incurred on these walks.

My sister and I also talked about which events stand out in our minds. We both agreed that 4-H club gave us many opportunities to learn lifelong skills with parental guidance. We raised cows and pigs; learned to cook, sew and how to create a design, and plan to remodel a bedroom. We gave speeches and entered different events such as the county fair. It affirms my belief in the value of parents and grandparents whether near or far.

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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.

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So let’s begin! This month’s topic: GEOGRAPHY BOOK SUGGESTIONS: I recently received a copy of The Reading Pig Goes to New York City by Susan Shin (K-4). Having toured New York City on a red double-decker bus and having seen all the landmarks mentioned in this children’s book as well as the illustrations makes this a favorite book to share with little ones of all ages.

Two books on my bookshelves that bring geography closer to home are “Grand Canyon, Exploring a Natural Wonder” by Wendell Minor (5– 8) and “Down the Colorado John Wesley Powell, the OneArmed Explorer ” by Deborah Kogan Ray (3–6).

Other book series that often use location as a focus are the Madeline books in Paris, London, and at the White House (1–4) as well as The Magic Tree House (1–6) series.

To enhance the books and reading why not get a laminated map(s) of Arizona, or the United States and teach your child how to ‘read’ and use a map?

There are many games you can make up as you start looking at the map together. I can’t imagine not having a map in a classroom to give places more meaning. Teach children the directions (east, north, west and south).

A favorite in my classroom was to create a compass rose that showed the four directions. They were always works of art.

“Pop” on by and give our amazing assortment of fidget toys a squeeze!

We’re open daily from 10–5 for walk-in shopping or online 24/7 at mildredanddildred.com 1725 N Swan Rd (520) 615-6266

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 9

Get Cooking!

Pozole Directions: Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and cook until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 20 minutes.

Remove from skillet, drain, and cool.

When completely cooled, shred chicken with a fork.

Boomer’s Healthy Recipes for the Holidays.

Whether it’s for a holiday or a family celebration, gathering around the table with relatives makes for a memorable occasion. It may be one of the few times you get together with your extended family. This year, explore your family’s roots and record a treasured family recipe.

On this page, learn about genealogy and find some healthier versions of traditional dishes to add to your holiday menu.

See the family tree and recipe activity on page 12.

m

Recipe fro

Recipe from allrecipes.com Ingredients:

Step 2: Heat remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat.

Cook and stir onion and garlic until soft and transparent, about 5 minutes. Return shredded chicken to the skillet. Stir in the chicken broth, water, oregano, salt, and chili powder. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook about 90 minutes.

Stir in the hominy and cook until tender, about 15 minutes more. Taste to adjust seasonings, adding more salt and chili powder, if desired. Serve in soup bowls with one tostada shell per serving.

Garnish as desired.

Image: shutterstock.com

1 cup or more of you strawber ries, man r favorite fresh fr uits (blue darin ora 1/3 cup o ng berries, f dried fr raspberr uit (dried es, apples) ¼ cup of ies, cranberr nuts (sliv ie s, golden ered alm 1 head o on raisins, e f green le tc.) af or rom ds, walnut piece s, pecan aine lettu p Directio ce, or 3 ns: to 4 cups ieces) spinach Step 1: W or kale ash and p size piec es and p at dry or spin dry ut in larg lettuce o Step 2: W e bowl. r greens ash and . Tear into dr Cut large biter fruit into ain fresh fruit. S mall berr slices or Step 3: A ies can b ch dd nuts a e added nd lightly unks and add to of your c whole. s hoice (tr to a s la s d a . ll ingredie y a light, poppy se n sweet dr ts togeth ed). essing li ke raspb er with dressing erry vina igrette o r

dit:

Oliv e&

Man

go

Garnishes: shredded cabbage or lettuce, sliced radishes, lime wedges, chopped onion & cilantro

Learn About Your Amazing Family Tree!

Cre

D

o you and your family have some unique traditions or stories that you share during the holidays? Do the smells of certain foods filling the house mean anything to you? Are there certain objects (HEIRLOOMS) that your family brings out?

Learning where those traditions come from is part of finding your roots!

And the holidays are the perfect time of year to discover your family tree.

To help, we’ve put together some tips, including a form on the next page to get you started!

“It’s really important to know why we do things in certain ways.

Especially with family holidays, a lot is through food,” points out Genevieve Leavitt, who loves doing genealogy research for guests at Canyon Ranch and lectures on DNA tests.

GENEALOGY is the study of families, their history and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists do family interviews, find historical documents and photos, and use DNA tests to help people connect to their roots. “It’s so much fun!” Leavitt says.

Family members getting together in person or virtually provides an opportunity to learn about your ancestors, family stories and traditions.

“You’re basically a product of your ancestors. Some people are lucky enough to know their grandparents or their great grandparents,” Leavitt points out. Try to interview the oldest in your family, and record things on video, tape recorder or just use pen and paper. Go for a simple story—ask

Latkes Directions: Step 1: Peel potatoes. Have a parent help grate the potatoes and onion on the large holes of a box grater. Place together on a clean kitchen towel, pull up the sides of the towel to form a bundle, and squeeze out excess moisture.

Step 2: Transfer the potato mixture to a large bowl. Add 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup matzo meal, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and stir to combine.

Step 3: Preheat Air Fryer Oven to 375ºF and set to 16 minutes*. Coat the air fryer rack with cooking spray. Drop the latke mixture in 2-tablespoon dollops into the air fryer, flattening the tops to make a patty. Spray the tops of the latkes with cooking spray. Air fry, turning the latkes halfway through cooking time. Repeat with the remaining latke mixture.

Step 4: Serve with sour cream and applesauce. Enjoy! *Times may vary depending on your air fryer.

10 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

Easy Chicken Pozole 2 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 ½ quarts chicken broth 3 cups water 1 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano 2 teaspoons salt 4 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste 3 cups white hominy, rinsed and drained 10 tostada shells

es k t a L r e Air Frythekitchn.com ts: Ingredien s— et potatoe s s ru s d n u 1½ po potatoes 3 r o 2 ly te approxima n yellow onio ½ medium gs 2 large eg o meal ¼ cup matz osher salt r sk lack peppe b d n 2 teaspoon u ro g n freshly ½ teaspoo ray e cooking sp apple sauc , m a re c r : sou Garnishes

Nut & Fruit S alad Ingredie nts:

Images: shutterstock.com

See next page for a Family Tree activity! how they used to celebrate at their house, what foods they cooked, etc. Also remember to ask where! Place is an important part of your roots. And your interview needn’t be limited to the holidays. “There are just so many cool stories,” she says.

Use the form on the next page or print one of the many free ones that are online.

“The best way to start is put yourself first, then you put your dad, then your mom. Fill out the chart and you’ll see that you have blanks,” Leavitt says. Filling in those gaps is part of the challenge and requires digging a little deeper!

Technology has made filling out your family tree much more convenient. You and your family can find a wealth of information for free at FamilySearch.org, and the National Archives with U.S. Census, immigration and military records is at archives.gov.

Leavitt says DNA testing has been a real game-changer in finding your roots.

And as more people are added to these companies’ databases, the more refined the results are getting. The basic test costs around $100, but you can wait for sales. The two biggest are AncestryDNA and 23andMe, which maintain separate databases and come up with slightly different results.

And DNA companies say that 3–5 percent of those tested will get unexpected results. Genealogy clients can get confused. “They’ll say, ‘oh, I was told I’m part Native American or I’m part this or part that,’ and they get their DNA test and it’s not there,” Leavitt explains. “(For your) DNA, you get half from your mom and half from your dad.

That (also) means that you didn’t get half from your mom and you didn’t get half from your dad. But your siblings can also get different halves, and some of the same. So it’s important to test not just yourself, but also your siblings!”

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 11

Get Cooking!

Pozole Directions: Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and cook until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 20 minutes.

Remove from skillet, drain, and cool.

When completely cooled, shred chicken with a fork.

Boomer’s Healthy Recipes for the Holidays.

Whether it’s for a holiday or a family celebration, gathering around the table with relatives makes for a memorable occasion. It may be one of the few times you get together with your extended family. This year, explore your family’s roots and record a treasured family recipe.

On this page, learn about genealogy and find some healthier versions of traditional dishes to add to your holiday menu.

See the family tree and recipe activity on page 12.

m

Recipe fro

Recipe from allrecipes.com Ingredients:

Step 2: Heat remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat.

Cook and stir onion and garlic until soft and transparent, about 5 minutes. Return shredded chicken to the skillet. Stir in the chicken broth, water, oregano, salt, and chili powder. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook about 90 minutes.

Stir in the hominy and cook until tender, about 15 minutes more. Taste to adjust seasonings, adding more salt and chili powder, if desired. Serve in soup bowls with one tostada shell per serving.

Garnish as desired.

Image: shutterstock.com

1 cup or more of you strawber ries, man r favorite fresh fr uits (blue darin ora 1/3 cup o ng berries, f dried fr raspberr uit (dried es, apples) ¼ cup of ies, cranberr nuts (sliv ie s, golden ered alm 1 head o on raisins, e f green le tc.) af or rom ds, walnut piece s, pecan aine lettu p Directio ce, or 3 ns: to 4 cups ieces) spinach Step 1: W or kale ash and p size piec es and p at dry or spin dry ut in larg lettuce o Step 2: W e bowl. r greens ash and . Tear into dr Cut large biter fruit into ain fresh fruit. S mall berr slices or Step 3: A ies can b ch dd nuts a e added nd lightly unks and add to of your c whole. s hoice (tr to a s la s d a . ll ingredie y a light, poppy se n sweet dr ts togeth ed). essing li ke raspb er with dressing erry vina igrette o r

dit:

Oliv e&

Man

go

Garnishes: shredded cabbage or lettuce, sliced radishes, lime wedges, chopped onion & cilantro

Learn About Your Amazing Family Tree!

Cre

D

o you and your family have some unique traditions or stories that you share during the holidays? Do the smells of certain foods filling the house mean anything to you? Are there certain objects (HEIRLOOMS) that your family brings out?

Learning where those traditions come from is part of finding your roots!

And the holidays are the perfect time of year to discover your family tree.

To help, we’ve put together some tips, including a form on the next page to get you started!

“It’s really important to know why we do things in certain ways.

Especially with family holidays, a lot is through food,” points out Genevieve Leavitt, who loves doing genealogy research for guests at Canyon Ranch and lectures on DNA tests.

GENEALOGY is the study of families, their history and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists do family interviews, find historical documents and photos, and use DNA tests to help people connect to their roots. “It’s so much fun!” Leavitt says.

Family members getting together in person or virtually provides an opportunity to learn about your ancestors, family stories and traditions.

“You’re basically a product of your ancestors. Some people are lucky enough to know their grandparents or their great grandparents,” Leavitt points out. Try to interview the oldest in your family, and record things on video, tape recorder or just use pen and paper. Go for a simple story—ask

Latkes Directions: Step 1: Peel potatoes. Have a parent help grate the potatoes and onion on the large holes of a box grater. Place together on a clean kitchen towel, pull up the sides of the towel to form a bundle, and squeeze out excess moisture.

Step 2: Transfer the potato mixture to a large bowl. Add 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup matzo meal, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and stir to combine.

Step 3: Preheat Air Fryer Oven to 375ºF and set to 16 minutes*. Coat the air fryer rack with cooking spray. Drop the latke mixture in 2-tablespoon dollops into the air fryer, flattening the tops to make a patty. Spray the tops of the latkes with cooking spray. Air fry, turning the latkes halfway through cooking time. Repeat with the remaining latke mixture.

Step 4: Serve with sour cream and applesauce. Enjoy! *Times may vary depending on your air fryer.

10 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

Easy Chicken Pozole 2 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 ½ quarts chicken broth 3 cups water 1 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano 2 teaspoons salt 4 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste 3 cups white hominy, rinsed and drained 10 tostada shells

es k t a L r e Air Frythekitchn.com ts: Ingredien s— et potatoe s s ru s d n u 1½ po potatoes 3 r o 2 ly te approxima n yellow onio ½ medium gs 2 large eg o meal ¼ cup matz osher salt r sk lack peppe b d n 2 teaspoon u ro g n freshly ½ teaspoo ray e cooking sp apple sauc , m a re c r : sou Garnishes

Nut & Fruit S alad Ingredie nts:

Images: shutterstock.com

See next page for a Family Tree activity! how they used to celebrate at their house, what foods they cooked, etc. Also remember to ask where! Place is an important part of your roots. And your interview needn’t be limited to the holidays. “There are just so many cool stories,” she says.

Use the form on the next page or print one of the many free ones that are online.

“The best way to start is put yourself first, then you put your dad, then your mom. Fill out the chart and you’ll see that you have blanks,” Leavitt says. Filling in those gaps is part of the challenge and requires digging a little deeper!

Technology has made filling out your family tree much more convenient. You and your family can find a wealth of information for free at FamilySearch.org, and the National Archives with U.S. Census, immigration and military records is at archives.gov.

Leavitt says DNA testing has been a real game-changer in finding your roots.

And as more people are added to these companies’ databases, the more refined the results are getting. The basic test costs around $100, but you can wait for sales. The two biggest are AncestryDNA and 23andMe, which maintain separate databases and come up with slightly different results.

And DNA companies say that 3–5 percent of those tested will get unexpected results. Genealogy clients can get confused. “They’ll say, ‘oh, I was told I’m part Native American or I’m part this or part that,’ and they get their DNA test and it’s not there,” Leavitt explains. “(For your) DNA, you get half from your mom and half from your dad.

That (also) means that you didn’t get half from your mom and you didn’t get half from your dad. But your siblings can also get different halves, and some of the same. So it’s important to test not just yourself, but also your siblings!”

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 11

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y r a t e i D Fiber

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

O

n average we need 25-36 grams of fiber daily.

Most people do not get enough fiber since they eat very little fiber rich foods. This becomes an even bigger issue during the holidays as we tend to eat more foods that have very little or zero fiber.

When you choose bread, tortillas, pasta, or crackers, try to choose products that have more than 3 grams of fiber per serving. Also, try to eat at least one food that is high in fiber at every meal and with your snacks.

Dietary fiber facts: 1. It is ONLY found in plant foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans.

2. It acts like a broom by sweeping out the intestines.

3. It acts like a sponge by absorbing a ton of water and making you feel full longer.

Benefits of eating fiber rich foods: 1. It keeps us “regular” – which is super important.

2. It grabs unwanted waste in our bodies helping us lower the risk for colon and breast cancer.

3. It lowers cholesterol levels and helps control blood sugars.

Try

This!

602-933-0935

A yummy oatmeal recipe and you’ll get a ton of fiber* and healthy fats in one meal: In a bowl combine the following:

• 1/3 of a cup cooked steel cut oats or old-fashioned Oats • ½ cup of milk or nut milk (almond/coconut/soy with no added sugars) • 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (or other type of nut butter) • ½ sliced banana • ½ cup of fruit (berries or apple or pureed pumpkin) • 1 tablespoon of chia seeds • 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds • Sprinkle some cinnamon • Add a few walnuts • Mix well

Directions for cooking steel cut oats:

1. Combine 1 cup of steel cut oats with 4 cups of water.

2. Slowly bring it to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.

3. Take off heat and allow to cool.

4. Once cooled off, place the oatmeal in the fridge. Warm up when ready to eat the oatmeal. *This recipe has 13 grams of fiber!

Stay Informed All School Year Long!

line!

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• Resource Guides

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To sign up, go to BearEssentialNews.com and click on the envelope icon at the top right hand side of the site.

12 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

Images: shutterstock.com

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phoenixchildrens.org

Build Your Amazing

FAMILY TREE! 2 Start Here With Your Name!

1

Fill out the tree, and ask for your family’s help when you need more information.

Some families have more branches, so add on or use a new paper if needed.

Father’s Name: ________________________

4

8

Grandfather’s Name: ________________________ Birth date & place: ________________________

5

Grandmother’s Name: ________________________

Birth date & place: ________________________

Your Name: ________________________ Birth date & place: ________________________

3

Mother’s Name: ________________________ Birth date & place: ________________________

Birth date & place: ________________________

6

Grandfather’s Name: ________________________

Grandmother’s Name: ________________________ Birth date & place: ________________________

What’s Your

FAVORITE FAMILY RECIPE?

Great Grandmother’s Name: ________________________

10 Great Grandfather’s Name: ________________________

11 Great Grandmother’s Name: ________________________

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Birth date & place: ________________________

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9

Great Grandfather’s Name: ________________________

Great Grandfather’s Name: ________________________

13 Great Grandmother’s Name: ________________________

14 Great Grandfather’s Name: ________________________

15 Great Grandmother’s Name: ________________________

My Favorite H o

liday Recipe

Do you have a favorite food or dessert that your family makes for special holidays?

Maybe your uncle prepares the turkey a special way, or your grandma makes a dish that you only have at certain holidays.

Ask them to share their secret!

Write down the ingredients and directions, then you can cut it out and save it.

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 13

B

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

Up, Up in the Air in Albuquerque

by Reporter Tegan McCarthy Sahuarita Middle School October 5 was the day that I went to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It is the world’s largest hot air balloon festival with over 600 balloons! It also had many balloon themed souvenirs and foods.

If you were feeling adventurous, you could take a ride in one of the hot air balloons—the prices ranged from $60–$250. I had a lot of fun overall!

I really enjoyed getting to see the special shaped balloons, including Yoda, an enormous cow and Smokey the Bear. Some of the balloons were over 80 feet tall. I would give this experience a 5-star review and I look forward to going again next year.

MORE SCOOPS, page 16 ➧

14 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 15

B

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 14

I Love Volunteering at PACC!

by Reporter Rori L. Divijak, Dove Mountain CSTEM K–8 Do you enjoy spending time with animals? If so, you should volunteer at the Pima Animal Care Center. Before you get to work with the animals you must complete at least five hours of Jumpstart activities.

These include doing laundry, washing the dishes, picking up dog poop, making dog treats or organizing donations. Once your five hours of Jumpstart activities have been completed, you are able to be trained to start interacting with the animals.

At first you play with dogs in an enclosed, fenced area, then you can take them on walks around the area near the PACC building.

You can volunteer in other ways, too. You are able to volunteer from your house by making toys and treats for the animals. PACC offers paper packets that tell you how to make certain items for the animals. For example, you could make toilet paper tubes filled with dog treats for dogs or socks filled with catnip for cats.

Another way you can volunteer from home is by fostering an animal. Fostering an animal just means that you take the animal into your home and take care of it until someone wishes to adopt it. If you become attached to the animal that you foster, you can adopt it!

I have really enjoyed volunteering at PACC and if you enjoy being around animals and helping them, you will too.

16 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

B

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

It’s a Cycle of Giving—El Tour Promotes Health, Safety and More!

by Reporter Francis Ali-Osman Davis Bilingual Magnet School Have you ever wanted to combine your love for being outdoors, meeting others, riding bikes, enjoying the beautiful Tucson scenery and fundraising? On Nov. 20, at El Tour de Tucson, you can accomplish it all!

El Tour de Tucson is now in its 38th year, and it provides cyclists of all levels—from kids to adults—the opportunity to get outside and get involved in a charitable ride around historic Tucson. The event welcomes riders of all types of manually driven bicycles to participate in various cycling related activities and to ride on one of its six courses, ranging from one mile to over 100 miles long.

While close to 7,000 cyclists participate in El Tour de Tucson, two events are scheduled specifically for kids 12 and under. The first is USA Cycling’s “Let’s Ride,” a free national bicycle safety camp. It is scheduled to occur from noon to 3 p.m. at Armory Park on Nov. 19, the day before El Tour. The camp provides bicycle safety training and will be led by many of the accomplished cyclists from Team24. It will feature both Rahsaan Bahati, founder of the Bahati Foundation, and Olympian Mari Holden. Let’s

Ride offers a course where bike safety skills and proper bicycle equipment use can be tested in a safe and fun environment.

The Fun Ride is the second event for children 12 years old and below. It happens Nov. 20 and costs $15 per child. The ride begins at 8 a.m. at Armory Park.

Participants are able to demonstrate everything they have learned at Let’s Ride camp and choose between four Fun Ride routes, which allow for children to be pedaled on bikes by adults, or a 1-, 5- or 10-mile course packed with beautiful views and fun for everyone. This particular event offers a contest for the best decorated bike and is sure to bring fun for all.

El Tour provides all registered participants with medals.

Although some of the top cyclists in the country join El Tour and ride to achieve their best times, it is not a race.

El Tour’s real purpose is to gather outside, promote healthy activities, teach bike safety, encourage cycling, provide family fun and raise money for charitable organizations.

For more information, visit eltourdetucson.org/fun-ride/.

The 2022 Summer Camp Guide Is Coming in our March, April & May Issues!

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BANNER– UNIVERSITY MEDICINE

EL TOUR DE TUCSON On Saturday, November 20th

Join Bear Essential News at:

• USA Cycling’s “Let’s Ride”—a free national Bicycle Safety Camp. Nov. 19th, Noon to 3p.m. at Armory Park • Register NOW for the Kids Fun Ride on November 20th • 8:00 a.m. at Armory Park ($15.00) November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 17

Thanksgiving Crossword Challenge!

Kids! Can you complete this crossword using the clues provided?

ACROSS

3. A crop of the Pilgrims.

5. A day to give thanks.

7. A kind of meat for the holidays.

8. A Thanksgiving Day bird.

10. All the side dishes.

11. You put this into a turkey.

Answers: ACROSS 3. Corn, 5. Thanksgiving, 7. Ham, 8. Turkey, 10 Fixings, 11. Stuffing DOWN 1. Pilgrims, 2. Harvest, 3. Cornucopia, 4. Cranberries, 5. Tradition, 6. Pies, 9. Yams

18 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

DOWN

1. They came over on the Mayflower.

2. To collect a crop.

3. A Thanksgiving basket.

4. A fruity Thanksgiving side dish.

5. A time-honored practice.

6. Crusty desserts.

9. Sweet potatoes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 2021 • Bear Essential News • 19

Kids In the Kitchen: Thanksgiving Edition

Mashed Potato Magic!

Images: shutterstock.com

Scan the QR code below to learn the 5 SECRETS.

Fill your plate!

Draw your favorite Thanksgiving foods.

For more recipes visit: 20 • Bear Essential News • November 2021

www.arizonamilk.org