Pusch Ridge November 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

Pusch Ridge PuschRidgeLifestyle.com

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Home for the

Holidays LESS UNTIL NONE—THE FIGHT AGAINST T1 A RETIRED AIR FORCE COLONEL REFLECTS CREATE MEANINGFUL MOMENTS THIS THANKSGIVING

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Lifestyle Letter

Home for the holidays.

“The practice of giving thanks … eucharisteo … this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes. We don’t have to change what we see.

Only the way we see.”

-- Ann Voskamp, Author November is the herald of the holidays. With the turn of the calendar page to this new month, we begin the season of celebration. How appropriate that we begin that celebration with a month of gratitude.

Our ability to be grateful for the things in our lives can be transformative. While the holidays are a time of joy, they can also be difficult or challenging times for some. Ann Voskamp is an author who had her own journey of discovering the power of thankfulness, even for the smallest of things. In her book, 1,000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Where You Are, she encourages cultivating thanks for the every day things of life, for the tiniest moments or gifts. She named daily blessings, literally counting everyday gifts – all the way up to one thousand. Her list began: 1. Morning shadows across old floors 2. Jam piled high on toast 3. Cry of a blue jay high in the spruce.

She says that truly seeing things all around us, and counting them as gifts, over time has a cumulative effect of a changed heart, a radically changed life.

NOVEMBER 2015 publisher Renaissance Publishing, LLC

editorial coordinator Janice Metzinger contributing writers Apryl Barnhart, Carrie Bui, Jackie Binsfeld, Erica Forst, Janice Henry, James Jansen, Deanna Ricke, Denise Snodell, Tom Strongman, Alison Stanton, Deanna Ricke, Molly Williams

contributing photographers Tom Strongman

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore director of marketing | Brad Broockerd art director | Sara Minor editorial director | Nicole Sylvester ad coordinators | Cyndi Harrington, Chelsi Hornbaker copy editor | Kendra Mathewson application architect | Michael O’Connell web developer | Hanna Park it director | Randy Aufderheide

This is one of my favorite times of the year. And as I look forward to this year’s season of celebrating, I’m grateful to be in a new house, beginning new traditions and making new memories in it. As editor of Catalina Foothills Lifestyle, I’m grateful for our readers, our advertising partners and the great community we are blessed to call home.

See you around town this holiday season,

Janice Henry, Editorial Coordinator

by Community ™

ON THE COVER Creating a warm, welcoming

atmosphere makes family want to be home for the holidays. We hope this issue holds some inspiration for you.

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Pusch Ridge Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Pusch Ridge’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Pusch Ridge Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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November 2015

20

Departments 8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

Financial Fitness

16

Locally Owned

24

Road Trip

32

Giving Back

36

Your Neighbor

38

History 101

40 Lifestyle Calendar

20 Cherished Celebrations

Discover tangible ways to make your Thanksgiving meaningful

this year.

42 Parting Thoughts

24 Grand-Tripping

The ultimate bond-building, memory-making travel experience.

28 Defeating Diabetes

Fundraising for JDRF impacts the mission to end Type 1 diabetes.Â

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Around Town CRUSH PARTY It’s the pARTy you and your friends won’t want to miss! CRUSH is Southern Arizona’s premier outdoor rare wine, fine art, and exceptional food festival dedicated to raising money annually to benefit the Tucson Museum of Art, held in the beautiful courtyards of the Museum. This unique event supports the museum’s remarkable exhibitions and important family and outreach programs.

You must be at least 21 years of age to attend CRUSH pARTy. No refunds – this is a rain or shine event. Sunday, November 15 • 12 – 3 p.m. For more information, email info@TucsonMuseumofArt.org or call 520.624.2333 ext. 100.

HIKING IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA Rillito River Park Trail - This 11-mile trail winds through Tucson's north side along the Rillito Riverbed, from Craycroft Road near mid-town nearly all the way to Interstate 10 on the city's northwest side. Don't worry about starting at either end—you can access the trail at lots of points along the way.

The Sonoran Desert and northwestern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert both stretch into Southern Arizona, a region of hundreds of square miles that extends south to the Mexican border.

Just north of Tucson, Picacho Peak is a favorite for hikers and rock climbers, especially in spring when seas of wildflowers seem to set the ground on fire with more color than you'd ever expect in a desert.

South of Tucson, the Chiricahua Mountains, Huachuca Mountains and Dragoon Mountains also offer some of the best hiking trails in Southern Arizona.

TUCSON CELTIC FESTIVAL & SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES Celebrate the culture and traditions of the Celtic nations like Scotland, Ireland, and Wales with this great festival. There will be piping and drumming competitions and pipe band demonstrations all day Saturday and Sunday along with the 2014 SAAA Lightweight World Highland Games Championships. See the caber toss, Scottish clans and societies in traditional dress, Scottish and Irish dance performances, a huge kid's area, all-day entertainment by great bands like En10

Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

ter the Haggis, and much more. Be Celtic for a weekend! TucsonCelticFestival.org

WHO IS GYM? In an attempt to capture Arizona’s history, Scott Hanson created his new book, Who Is Gym?, to tell the fascinating stories behind the names of high schools’ sports venues.

Hanson officiated high football and baseball in Arizona for nearly 30 years. His interest in the history behind schools’ names led him to interview local administrators, historians, athletic directors, and relatives of those honored.

Through this book, you can learn about your own Arizona school. One story in the book is of Mary L. Hines. A long-time physical education teacher and coach, Hines was honored as Catalina Magnet High School named its gym after her. Hines coached the Trojans to state volleyball championships in 1972, 1983, and 1985 and ended her coaching tenure with a career record of 217-27.

She was named state Coach of the Year in 1978, 1980, and 1983 and national Coach of the Year in 1985. Hines is also a member of the Tucson High, Catalina, Pima County, and University of Arizona’s hall of fames.

Another story tells of the John M. Gleeson Field. The field was named after Gleeson, the first person in Tucson sports history to have two sports venues named after himthe baseball fields at Flowing Wells High School and Salpointe Catholic High School.

Gleeson’s coaching resume includes a runner-up finish in 1977 and a state baseball championship in 1983. He is a member of the Salpointe Catholic Hall of Fame, the Arizona Coaches Association's Hall of Fame, the Old Pueblo Cross-Country Hall of Fame, and the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame.

Who is Gym? can be purchased for $19.95.

To read more about these stories, visit WhoisGym.com.

EL TOUR DE TUCSON Casino Del Sol Resort presents El Tour de Tucson, a bicycling event for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Choose between 104, 75, 55, or 40 miles in this grand cycling event.

El Tour de Tucson is held annually the Saturday before Thanksgiving and attracts more than 9,000 cyclists from throughout the

United States. The event encourages living a healthy lifestyle and fitness. The cycling routes include views of Tucson’s majestic four surrounding mountain ranges. The 40mile route is a great option for beginners, as it is mostly flat and aid stations will include water and snacks and are located 7 to 10 miles apart. Volunteers and spectators cheer on cyclists on their routes which all end at Armory Park located on South 6th Avenue and 13th Street. Not only is it a day of fitness, El Tour de Tucson has numerous fundraising programs and is in association with many charitable agencies. In 2014 cyclists in El Tour raised more than $8.5 million for nonprofit organizations. After the ride is the El Tour Dowtown Fiesta, which has music, the Beer Garden, food vendors, and kids activities. The first race, the 104 mile race starts at 7 a.m. at Armory Park with other races starting at different locations.To learn more about the event and start locations, visit PerimeterBicycling.com.

WESTERN HEROES OF PULP FICTION: DIME NOVEL TO POP CULTURE Yee haw! The whole family can enjoy images of the wild, wild West.

Dime novel covers in the mid-19th century, pulp fiction magazine and comic books from the 20th century, and other forms of visual art immortalized Western heroes. Images of damsels in distress and shoot outs have been illustrated over the years and are now on display at the Tucson Museum of Art. Stories on display are those seen in Wild West Weekly, Western Story, and New Western magazine, as well as other publications. Western Heroes of Pulp Fiction: Dime Novel to Pop Culture is on exhibit the entire month of November through Valentine’s Day of 2016. The Tucson Museum of Art is located at 140 North Main Avenue and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about the exhibit, visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org.

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Planning Ahead

Provides Peace Of Mind BECAUSE EVERY DAY COUNTS ARTICLE CARRIE BUI

P

lanning for major life events is not a novel concept. We routinely plan for college, careers, moves, weddings and babies. Why, then, do so few of us take the time to plan for the last months of our lives, especially since none of us can predict when that time might come?

Advance planning means giving our family members and friends the knowledge they need to make the right decisions on our behalf later. It also ensures that the patient will be treated with the same concern and respect he or she has received in years past. Conversations about treatment options and care help family members and/or other responsible parties know with certainty that they are making the "right choice" for a loved one who cannot choose.

The best way to start the planning process may be to obtain a blank copy of the Five Wishes, a legally recognized planning tool that allows you to easily document your feelings about undergoing certain types of medical treatments in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. Within the Five Wishes booklet, you may designate a person to speak for you and make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. The document, which is also called an “advance directive,” identifies the types of life-sustaining treatments you would want or not want, including the use of medical devices to help you breathe, artificial nutrition and hydration and CPR. Once you have reviewed the Five Wishes document, you are ready to start the conversation with those who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes if you cannot supervise your own care. Some of your family members may be hesitant at first. Some might even tell you to stop being morbid. Let everyone know you want them to be prepared and have the resources they need if and when the time comes.

Gather your loved ones around a table—your spouse, your children, close friends, your parents. Discuss your end-of-life wishes. Designate someone to exercise medical power of at12

Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

torney, an individual you trust to follow the treatment decisions you've identified in your advance directive.

Professional caregiving help might become a necessity as you age. Depending on personal wishes, individual need, and what’s available financially, you can choose to move to a facility that provides caregiving assistance or choose to hire someone to come into your home to help with tasks such as cleaning and meal preparation, assistance with personal hygiene, and/or medical care. If you prefer to remain in your home, you’ll want to ensure that the agency that provides your caregivers is insured and performs detailed background checks on their employees. Remember, hiring a private caregiver means you become the employer, and can be liable for work-related injuries and tax issues.

Finally, you may wish to discuss hospice care as an alternative to continued aggressive treatment of a terminal illness, should that need arise. With hospice care, the goal becomes comfort instead of cure. Care is provided in the patient’s home by an interdisciplinary team who make regular visits. Hospice care is a covered benefit under Medicare and most private insurance plans.

If you’ve already completed the Five Wishes, now is the time to review your document with the family and to update it, if necessary.

You might even want to have a few blank copies of the Five Wishes on hand for other loved ones to use to prepare their own advance directives at a later date. Request a copy of the Five Wishes online at CasaFoundation.org.

Planning ahead offers peace of mind to you and your loved ones. It provides the assurance that you will have the same level of control and respect at the end of your life that you enjoyed when you were in your prime.

For more information about hospice care, call Casa de la Luz Hospice at 520.544.9890 or go to CasaHospice.com.

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Extra Mile BELTONE OWNERS JOE AND KATIE KOPP GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO OFFER HOPE AND HELP TO HEARING LOSS PATIENTS. ARTICLE JAMES JANSEN

S

tudies show that hearing loss across all age groups is increasing. Although the causes are many, the growing incidence of hearing loss is having an impact on quality of life across some segments of all demographic groups.

Beltone has been around for more than 75 years with its sole focus being one of helping people hear better. It is certainly one of the largest hearing companies in the country with 1500+ locations worldwide, thereby giving its clients great convenience by being able to go into any of its offices anywhere as if it were the local office with all services and warranties covered.

Joe and Katie Kopp are the new Beltone owners in the Tucson area with locations in East Tucson, Northwest Tucson and Green Valley.

Joe, a business school graduate from Penn State University and Katie,

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

an interior designer, have developed a real concern and passion for helping people with their hearing over the last several years. With their three children, spread in age from 16 to 5, Joe and Katie are devoted parents and all available time is focused on family. It is the importance of family and the great blessing of special family time together that has made them so passionate about helping people with their hearing as it is such an important aspect of one’s quality of life.

Thus, their involvement with Beltone. The company's qualities -- longevity, its great products and service, locations across the U.S., client service and convenience -- all give Joe and Katie an excellent foundation from which they can offer aid. Joe and Katie are great with people and love helping others deal with life changing experiences that have affected their hearing. They enjoy the

relationship aspect of their business – especially working with veterans and their families.

It is that passion to help people with their hearing problems, combined with their great care and concern for their clients, that lead Joe and Katie to go the extra mile – not only in the office but out of the office as well. Joe often volunteers his time at assisted living facilities helping residents with their hearing aids by cleaning, refitting and checking to make sure they are functioning. Sometimes a client’s circumstances preclude them from being able to come to the office so Joe will go to them. It is an “old fashioned commitment” to client care that is so rare today and yet so welcome and appreciated.

Having moved here four years ago from Pennsylvania via several years in Hawaii, Joe and Katie love Tucson. They find it to be a

great environment in which to raise a family and love the “college town atmosphere.” As a family, they are involved in youth soccer, baseball, hiking, biking, ice skating and other outdoor activities.

They are die hard Wildcat fans. They love helping people and improving the quality of life for people. They find the Tucson area a wonderful place to do that and Beltone a great means to do so.

Thanks to this caring couple, our community has access to exceptional hearing care and the hope for maintaining good quality of life.

Pusch Ridge Lifestyle congratulates Joe and Katie Kopp on their new business, thanks them for their passion for and commitment to helping people in our community and wishes them great success going forward.

November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

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Tips For Turning Your Family's Feast Into An Authentic Celebration ARTICLE JANICE HENRY

T

here is something uniquely American about the idea that, on the fourth Thursday of every November, an entire country sits down to share a national meal. No matter who we are or where we hail from, on this one day we are engaged in the same activity. We come together with family and friends to express through words, laughter and the pleasures of the table how grateful we are to have one another... celebrating old traditions, while creating new ones that our families and friends will cherish.

Whether you are having a crowd for dinner or hosting a few people over the long weekend, the secrets to Thanksgiving entertaining are organization and planning. The more you can do ahead, the more relaxed you will be when guests arrive, and your calm, happy mood will set the tone.

Having a personal passion for cooking, baking and entertaining, I am often asked by friends for helpful ideas to decorate their tables, create menus and engage crafts for the kids... in essence they are seeking a planning guide to help them bring together all the elements they need to make their celebration a lasting memory.

Some friends share with me how they dread the holidays because of one or more challenging relatives who will travel many miles just 20

Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

to visit and complain about life and bring with them a dark cloud over this time of giving thanks.

Just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a lifetime of Thanksgivings where you just grin and go to your happy place until, thank goodness, it’s over! You can make a difference.

With a little planning and some social engineering, you can take control of the situation and make this Thanksgiving feel better.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Before you begin making lists and setting tasks, take a moment to think about the spirit of the holiday.

The first Thanksgiving was a harvest feast to give thanks for nature’s bounty. The more complicated the world becomes and the more separated we find ourselves from family and friends, the more precious that simple idea becomes.

What you are really doing is giving people a chance to connect with one another by sharing in a centuries-old communal tradition: giving thanks together over a joyous meal.

It is that sense of tradition that turns a large family feast into a “Thanksgiving celebration.”

TRADITION TRANSITIONS

Traditions don't have to be hundreds of years old. This year, why not start a few of your own? It might be anything from a family recipe or a special way of setting a table to a game you play before that awesome pumpkin pie Grandma makes every year is served.

Keep the parts of Thanksgiving you like and set aside the rules you don’t. Then let new traditions spring up from the unique realities of your life - the region where you live, the local ingredients that are in season, and, most important, the things you and your family value and like best.

The day after Thanksgiving is the most popular shopping day of the year: “Black Friday.”

While half of the relatives may head to the mall, my family waited for the drive to the Christmas Tree farm. That was always our tradition!

CONSIDER LOGISTICS

A Special Thanksgiving Tradition Idea A must for every family is the Thanksgiving message board. As family or guests arrive for Thanksgiving, have them write what they are thankful for on a paper leaf and pin it up.

Use a linen-covered foam core and an old frame. Cut paper leaves from scrapbook paper in different fall shades. This is a special part of Thanksgiving for our family, the kids love to bring this one together.

Once you have made time to reflect and envision the purpose of your time together, and oriented yourself to your mission, make a planning checklist to help you stay organized from the beginning: Decide which meals you will be hosting Determine a guest list Choose an entertaining style (casual or formal) Set a time for serving the meal Choose a serving style (buffet or family) Pick a color palette Select, borrow, or rent tableware and serving ware (depending on the size of your gathering) Decide on the seating arrangement, table centerpiece, and other decorations Plan an attainable menu that fits all of the choices you have made.

Ask one or more of your guests to bring a first course, their favorite side dish or dessert. They will love to be included.

As your Thanksgiving plans take shape, it is important to keep track of all the details and special touches that will bring the celebration together. This will ensure that you have enough time to plan as well as help you stay relaxed during preparations of the meal. Plan earlier than you think you need to, and keep all your notes handy in a central place.

Start earlier so when Thanksgiving morning arrives you can head to the park with the rest of the family and play a game of touch football or walk the dogs, whatever it is, enjoy the time you have with the ones you cherish and love.

And don't forget to take lots and lots of pictures, these memories are for the generations that follow, they will cherish and love each and every one of them.

Make this Thanksgiving a celebration to remember.

November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

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Road Trip

The ultimate bond-building, memory-making travel experience.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY MOLLY WILLIAMS

I

n my rootless days before our daughter was born, travel was a constant for me. My parents instilled in my brothers and me a love of seeing new places and leaving the familiar behind for short bursts, with the comfort of knowing my home was always waiting for me.

As a young adult I was my mother’s frequent travel companion for wine adventures in Europe and beachy outings to Mexico. When I married, my husband and I were inveterate travelers. We thought nothing of taking off at a moment’s notice for a weekend in a coastal town or grabbing a last minute deal on an all-inclusive anywhere.

When Natalie arrived fifteen years ago, there was no thought to changing that existence. After all, she had come to live with us, not the other way around, we reasoned. Adaptation to our wanderlust would be part of her upbringing.

In those first few years, as she grew up into our lives, tying us as securely to her routine as a vine winding up the post holds it down to the earth, we slowed our pace. But we soon discovered a great travel truth - a child is eminently portable, and therefore an excellent travel accessory. Granted, they come with a lot of stuff, but in the days before excess baggage fees that was a minor concern. Soon Natalie was as good at airport security and pulling her own travel weight as any jet-setter.

But the aforementioned mother was not to be left behind. Add to that the desire to spend as much time as possible with our aging parents and the grown daughter, who had by this time relocated to KC to be nearer family. We also wished to forge strong bonds between Natalie and her grandparents and older sister, ones not dependent upon us and only

We decided travel could and should be a family affair; a multi-generational adventure that has something for everyone.

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

accompanied by turkey or Christmas carols.

We decided travel could and should be a family affair; a multi-generational adventure that has something for everyone and which allows each to contribute their own preferences and life perspectives. Traveling together would have the added benefit of providing closeness that only being away from home together can bring, not to mention the ability to appreciate one another away from the stressors and habits of our daily lives at home. Grand-tripping was born.

Our first adventure with the grandmothers was a week in Mexico.

I made the travel arrangements (so as to suit our more rigid work

schedules) and they paid their own way (which they were thrilled to do with the prospect of having the undivided attention of their children and grandchild for a week.) For weeks prior to the trip our regular Sunday dinners were filled with conversation about day trips, restaurants to try, sunscreens and swimsuits, and best of all, memories of trips taken years ago. My daughter heard stories of a runaway trip to Mexico City before my mother’s wedding, and of a road trip vacation involving a bear, a snake and some roadside picnics when her father was a baby. The prospect of traveling all together brought out a side to our mothers that we had rarely seen and Natalie had never witnessed. Their quest for more adventure was not the slightest bit sated by the advancing years.

The trip itself we made as painless as possible; direct flights, meals for the plane which I prepared and carried in a collapsible lunch bag, cars to meet us at the airport, private tours at historic places, early dinner reservations, and comfortable accommodations involving kitchens so we could eat at least a few meals comfortably and more affordably at home. We tried to build in nap time (necessary for all of us, not just the baby!) and were completely amenable to spontaneous modifications of the schedule. We practiced much patience with one another, and found that the relaxation of being on vacation brought out the best behavior in us all. Our first grandtrip was a huge success.

We have since traveled together to Mexico seven times, to the eastern and western Mediterranean, spots in North Africa, all over Italy, along the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Boston, to the Amalfi Coast, the volcano of Vesuvius and its ruined Pompeii, to New York and to the islands of Malta and Sicily. We have been in art galleries in Florence, the armory of the Knights Templar in Malta, and the souk in Tunisia (where the combined shopping influences of both grandmothers and daughter convinced me that splurging on a gorgeous Persian rug was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - they were right.) We have attended Mass in cathedrals grand and churches tiny all over the world, including the oldest extant church in North America where Mass is still said in French, and the lovely cathedral of Monaco, where Prince Albert was also a worshipper that day and Princess Grace’s tomb ever bears fresh flowers. One of our most memorable days was a private (well, as private as you can get with 5000 other people) audience in Vatican City with Pope Benedict on my mother-in-law’s CONTINUED > 83rd birthday. Truly an experience none of us will November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

25

Road Trip

(CONTINUED)

ever forget, whether we have perhaps a dozen active years left, or our entire lifetime stretches out before us.

We have discovered that cruising is a particularly painless way to travel with multiple generations. Advantages include only unpacking once, familiar food (especially wonderful when dealing with sometimes tricky and always finicky older and younger tummies) and best of all, predictable plumbing. My mother and I once paid admission to a public W.C. in Italy which we discovered to be a row of holes in a concrete floor with heel grooves thoughtfully placed beside. Do not underestimate the soothing power of American bathroom engineering.

On a cruise ship my husband dances divinely with both his mother and his daughter, my mother-in-law can entrance the piano bar with her singing, and my daughter learns the exquisite table manners and conversational skill that come from their combined 170-plus years of ladyhood. I have the privilege of watching her bloom under their adoring attention while they get to pass on cherished family stories and memories. They are relaxed knowing every detail of travel will be handled by someone who knows their breaking points and makes sure their needs are met.

We are currently planning a trip to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. While I don’t expect the “moms” to join us snorkeling, they will no doubt love to tell us stories of previous visits

to the islands or of the long-deceased grandfather my daughter never knew who served near there in WWII. That’s what grand-tripping does for us; we each will have the time to do what makes us happy and relaxed while traveling, while indulging in the ultimate luxury of being with those we love most. My daughter gets to bank these precious days with her grandmothers as security against a future when they may be too frail to join us, or when she is eventually traveling with her own family. There are many legacies I hope we are able to leave her, but this is the best that of a lifetime of loving going and doing, with those she loves, across all our generations.

There are many legacies I hope we are able to leave my daughter, but this is the best - that of a lifetime of loving going and doing, with those she loves, across all our generations.

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

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Less Until None T1 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is on a mission to eliminate type 1 diabetes.

ARTICLE APRYL BARNHART | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

“L

ess Until None.” That is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s promise to progressively manage and eventually eliminate type 1 diabetes from the lives of those who suffer from it.

JDRF the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. They seek to bring global awareness to this debilitating disease one local community at a time. One of those communities is located here in Tucson. The Southern Arizona chapter is hosting the 2015 JDRF One Walk on November 8th at the University of Arizona Mall.

A common misconception is that all diabetes are created equal.

They can be equally debilitating, but the long-term symptoms, effects and treatments can differ. According to the American Diabetes Association, type 1 is an autoimmune disorder where the body does not produce insulin (a hormone needed to convert sugars to energy); type 2 comes from the body’s misuse of insulin; gestational comes during pregnancy when a woman has high blood glucose (sugar) levels. The three most common types have various treatments involving insulin pumps, injections, diet, exercise. The dangers of all three--stroke, diabetic coma, limb amputation, and death--are very real, and there is no cure.

The emotional and financial toll of having T1D can be extensive on the one suffering from this disease, as well as their family members and friends. The common symptoms and side effects alone carry a constant weight, but factoring in the everyday upkeep of checking glucose levels

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

and monitoring insulin intake can be taxing on a person and their loved ones. For those closest to the ones diagnosed, JDRF suggests, “One of the best things you can do is listen and learn from the experiences of others while also responding to your loved one’s individual needs or tending to your own.” JDRF has an Online Diabetes Support Team made up of experienced volunteers ready to offer their encouragement and help. Also, they recommend sufferers to look up their local JDRF chapter to direct them to support groups and check out TypeOneNation for an online community of those living with T1D. The Tucson and Southern Arizona chapter of JDRF is located on River Road west of Campbell Ave. They are working in conjunction with the global organization to provide downloadable toolkits and two different care kits, free to those newly diagnosed with T1D. Also, JDRF applies approximately 80 percent of their expenditures on research and research-related education, one of the highest percentages for charities nationwide, according to their website. This funding is leading to real change in the form of human clinical trials and exciting research that will hopefully lead to more manageable treatments and a cure one day.

With the support of local communities and the global voice of those suffering from T1D there might be an end to this horrible disease. To that end, check out all the resources and ways to contribute, whether it’s donating, volunteering, walking, or simply being an ear to listen. There is hope on the horizon, One Hope and it starts with us.

WALK FOR ONE HOPE

Join the walk to find a cure.

November 8th, 2015 University of Arizona Mall Registration 9 a.m.

This funding is leading to real change in the form of human clinical trials and exciting research that will hopefully lead to more manageable treatments and a cure one day

November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

29

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Neighborhood Nests GRIEF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN COMES TO NORTHWEST TUCSON ARTICLE CIARA GARCIA | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

E

very year more than 800 children walk through the doors of Tu Nidito Children and Family Services, a non-profit agency dedicated to supporting children and families grieving the diagnosis of a serious illness or the death of a loved one.

Recently, Tu Nidito began wondering about the kids that aren’t making it through their doors. “We know that there are many kids in Tucson and surrounding areas that need us but are not able to get here, mainly due to distance,” says Executive Director Liz McCusker. Statistics show that one in 20 children will experience the death of a parent before they turn 16, and one in five is grieving the death of a loved one.

“Think about that in terms of a school classroom. With the average class size at 25 kids, five of these kids are grieving a death loss.

It is astounding how many kids in our community are dealing with this right now,” explains Liz. In response to this need, Tu Nidito has brought their grief support services into outlying communities, including a Northwest-based support group primarily serving Marana and Oro Valley. These groups are called Neighborhood Nests, a twist on the agency’s name which means “your little nest” in Spanish. The Northwest Neighborhood Nest fall session began in October, with weekly support groups on Tuesday evenings. Services are offered at no cost to children ages 3 ½ to 18 and their parents or caregivers. The youth groups are divided into ages enabling kids to get support from their peers and engage in expressive activities at their developmental level. There is a separate teen group. Parents attend concurrent groups where they develop an understanding of how grief impacts children and tools that they can use at home.

Grief is a difficult subject to talk about, especially when children are involved. Each of the weekly support groups is focused around a theme, such

as memories, emotions or changes. “We know that kids express their grief differently than adults,” says Community Impact Manager Amanda Marks. “We use a variety of modalities, such as art, music, and games, and provide kids with different ways to express the difficult emotions they experience in their grief.” One of the strengths of the program is the peer-to-peer support that the kids receive. Kids report that they feel different and alone when someone they love dies, and often do not feel comfortable talking with their friends or family. Tu Nidito provides them with a safe and supportive environment filled with other kids going through the same situations. This peer-to-peer interaction is a cornerstone to their healing.

Tu Nidito’s Neighborhood Nest is not only a place where Northwest residents can find support in their time of need, but also a place where community members can give back. Tu Nidito is in need of enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to work with kids, teens and adults in the Northwest, and other, area. No experience is required and a background check and training are provided.

“Volunteering at Tu Nidito is rewarding. When you see these kids and all that they have to deal with at such a young age, you are just grateful to be able to help,” says Jackie a long-time volunteer.

For Liz and the staff at Tu Nidito, the reward is seeing each new child and family connect in their time of need. “Our vision is that No Child Grieves Alone,” says Liz. “Our Neighborhood Nests are a step towards making that vision a reality.”

NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD NEST DETAILS

When: Tuesdays through December 15th, 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Where: Quail Run Elementary School (4600 W. Cortaro Farms Road) To Register: Call 520.322.9155, Email support@ tunidito.org Registration is required.

To Volunteer: Call 520.322.9155, Email volunteer@ tunidito.org Registration is required.

November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

33

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Dixon, Callsign "Dixx" ARTICLE JACKIE BINSFELD | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

A

fter retiring from a successful career in the Air Force, Colonel Arthur Dixon reflects on his experience in the service and looks toward his future.

A CHILDHOOD DREAM

The careers many of us have today are hardly what we imagined we would be doing when we were children. Colonel Dixon, however, knew that he would be serving his country from the age of five. He explains that he knew then that he “wanted to join the military, fly fighter jets and serve this country.”

It was with his drive and passion that he was able to meet his childhood wishes.

As Dixx puts it, “I never let go of that dream until I fulfilled it.”

Upon graduating college, then Second Lieutenant Dixon went on to join the Marine Corps, where he flew F/A-18’s for 17 years before transitioning to the Air Force Reserves and the Arizona Air National Guard. After this move, he continued to serve his country for another six years.

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

A DYNAMIC SERVICE

Colonel Dixon had to endure not one, but two different camps to prepare him for service. To become an officer, he went through 10 weeks of Officer Candidate School (OCS), which most people know as “boot camp.” Marine Officers must go through what is called “The Basic School,” which Colonel Dixon describes as “an all-encompassing introduction to all the parts of the Marine Corps as a whole.”

Colonel Dixon had experience playing many sports, but found that these training camps were “a wake-up call” that gave him even more structure and discipline for the service than he could have had received from his years playing sports.

According to Colonel Dixon, the first few years of his service were a “wild ride.” He explains that he made several moves within four years during his flight training. He was located in Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, and California, and then finally Japan, where he “served in [his] first F/A-18 squadron.”

In his military career, Colonel Dixon fulfilled many roles.

“My military job was Pilot,” he specifies. “My collateral and most important jobs included being Weapons Officer and Pilot Training Officer, Maintenance Officer, Safety Officer, Operations Officer and later Commander.”

The most memorable parts of Dixon’s career took place in military hospitals, where his daughters were born. He cherishes the moments when he was able to first hold them there.

Besides these touching memories, Colonel Dixon also fondly recalls “being winged a naval aviator” and his first flying combat tour.

Furthermore, he reflects on the amazing opportunity he had to land aircrafts many times on Aircraft Carriers.

LIFE AS A VETERAN

Having retired in September 2015, Colonel Dixon already reminisces on his experience in the military.

“I miss the military,” Dixon remarks. “But I feel honored to have had the opportunity to serve, it truly was a blessing, especially since I was able to fulfill my dream of flying fighter jets and serving our country.”

He is now in the Raytheon Veteran Association and plans to continue to serve his country through volunteer work for the Red Cross, The Boys and Girls Club, his church and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Colonel Dixon finds it important to stay in touch with other veterans he has served with, which he calls “friends for life.” He explains, “We have many stories to tell and lived through some admiral events over time. I was blessed to be in the presence of some great people in uniform.”

Colonel Dixon has spent many wonderful and memorable years in the military, but he is ready for his next journey.

“I am looking to enjoy my life in retirement and spend more time with my two daughters, Jordan and Jessica,” Colonel Dixon states.

“I devoted a lot of time to the military, missing out on a lot family events, vacations, holidays, and chances to volunteer and give back to the community.”

Our community is very lucky to have Colonel Dixon, for if he puts toward the same dedication and passion that he has for serving his country, he will continue to make a difference in his retirement.

November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

37

History 101

Pusch Ridge Wilderness WHERE THE BIGHORN SHEEP ROAM

ARTICLE APRYL BARNHART | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

S

weeping over the Santa Catalina Mountains is a protected wilderness with a growing group of new inhabitants. Pusch Ridge Wilderness is an ecologically diverse landscape that covers land from Sabino Canyon up to Mt. Lemmon, located in the Coronado National Forest. It is filled with thousands of creatures, big and small, including the bighorn sheep. With their massive, curled horns and legendary gift for climbing high, rocky mountains these animals have been climbing onto Tucson’s radar for over 50 years.

Bighorn sheep are not endangered or threatened in Arizona, but according to the Catalina Bighorn Advisory Committee (CBAC), their population numbers have been very low since the early 1900s. Restoration efforts have been ongoing since 1957 when the first translocation began. The last effort to restore the population occurred in the 1990s, but it is unclear why it was unsuccessful. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), there could be many reasons for the failed attempt from disease to hunting dogs to human disturbance. While we may not know exactly what went wrong, the experts have an idea on how to get it right this time around.

In November 2013, 31 bighorn sheep were reintroduced into Catalina State Park. They were collared with GPS trackers 38

Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

to record their movements as well as a “mortality signal” that alerts AZGFD personnel when a sheep has not moved in over 10 hours. The project has not been without its struggles and controversy, yet it has seen its triumphs. Within a few months of being translocated eight sheep had died, but two lambs had been born, according to a AZGFD news release from February 2014. The latest report, released on September 11, 2015, says there are now 36 collared sheep. Since the project’s inception there have been 45 status updates which can be found on the CBAC or AZGFD website. Typically posted twice a month, these sometimes candid updates give the public an in-depth look into the lives of these sheep and the hopes of the project to restore a thriving population to this beautiful area.

When visiting this, and any unknown landscape, be sure to check out any restrictions or areas of concern. For example, according to the Forest Service, dogs are not allowed in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness or Sabino Canyon, but they are allowed anywhere else in the Coronado National Forest. Research the weather and trailheads before you go hiking or camping, and always respect the wildlife you encounter. You never know when you might come face to face with history in the making. CatalinaBighornRestoration.org

Southern Arizona JDRF One Walk SOUTHERN ARIZONA JDRF ONE WALK Sunday, November 8, 2015 I University of Arizona Mall Sunday, November 8, 2015 ~ University of Arizona Mall

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Lifestyle Calendar

November NOVEMBER 1 DISGRACED TUCSON

See the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Broadway hit Disgraced. The story delves into the topic of deception as it exposes the lies we tell ourselves and the secrets we tell our lovers. The performance begins at 2pm. For more information, visit ArizonaTheatre.org.

NOVEMBER 6 REMEMBRANCE TUCSON'S HOLOCAUST HISTORY CENTER

After listening to a guest speaker from Tucson's Holocaust History Center, guests will paint a ceramic butterfly to commemorate the children who perished in the Holocaust. The butterfly will become a part of the Jewish Community Center's Butterfly Trail. A kosher luncheon precedes the talk. Please RSVP in advance by calling 299.3000. For more information, visit TucsonJCC.org.

NOVEMBER 7 HARVEST HERITAGE FESTIVAL ORO VALLEY

Enjoy short skits, blacksmith demonstrations, a horse show, and cowboy music by Bill Ganz and Cowboy at Heart, the petting zoo, straw maze, and crafts, and a farmers market. The fun takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Steam Pump Ranch. For more information, visit OroValleyAZ.gov.

at Sabino High School and takes runners along the Catalina Mountains. Live music, finisher tech shirts, and free Mexican breakfast are all a part of the big day. The half-marathon begins at 7:15 a.m.

For more information, visit EveryoneRuns.net.

NOVEMBER 9 VIVA TUCSON! TUCSON

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. enjoy capturing images of Tucson in this local photography class. Professional photographer Marcia Gold teaches lighting, composition, and depth of field to budding photographers. For more information, visit TucsonJCC.org.

NOVEMBER 12 ORO VALLEY CONCERT SERIES ORO VALLEY

Saddlebrook Winds and Strings performs classic pops and Broadway. Up to 30 members of this ensemble group play marches and music from Broadway and movies. The event takes place at 6 p.m. at Century Theatres. For more information, visit OroValleyAZ.gov.

NOVEMBER 16 READ TO A DOG TUCSON

Kids, from 6 to 7 p.m. come to the Kirk-Bear Canyon Library and improve your reading skills while reading to a furry friend. For more information, visit Pima.BiblioCommons.com.

NOVEMBER 20 3 FAITHS: COEXISTENCE & CULTURE IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN TUCSON

Learn about Medieval Spain from the time of the Muslim invasion in 711 A.D. to the expulsion of Spain's Jews in 1492. Lecturer Patrick Hanley leads this two-part lecture from 1 to 2 p.m. For more information, visit TucsonJCC.org.

NOVEMBER 26 LA VISTA THANKSGIVING FEAST ORO VALLEY

NOVEMBER 8 VETERANS DAY RUNS TUCSON

Celebrate Veterans Day with an Everyone Runs race: 5K, half-marathon, or the Children Fun Run. This flat course starts and finishes 40

Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

Join others in this mouthwatering sit-down meal to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The Thanksgiving menu includes various items priced separately and music will be a part of the event, which starts at 4pm. For more information, visit OroValleyAZ.gov.

NOVEMBER 27 DROP AND SHOP ORO VALLEY

Drop your kids ages 2 to 12 off at Oro Valley Community & Recreation Center while you shop Black Friday deals. Cost per child is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Drop offs begin at 6am. For more information, visit OroValleyAZ.gov or call 520.544.1900.

business directory

NOVEMBER 30 STEWARD OBSERVATORY PUBLIC EVENING LECTURE SERIES TUCSON

Learn about astronomy at this 7:30 p.m. lecture in the Steward Observatory. Public viewing of the night sky via the Raymond E. White, Jr. Reflector will be available after the lecture. For more information, visit AS.Arizona.edu.

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November 2015 | Pusch Ridge Lifestyle

41

Parting Thoughts

In the Shadows of Friday Night Lights

WORDS DENISE SNODELL

H

ow could a woman who still has no idea what a “first down” is find herself so captivated at Friday night football games?

It’s easy. In the past few years, my sports cluelessness has allowed me to keenly observe the hundreds and hundreds of folks off the field. There is juicy stuff there.

I have tailgated. I have chatted with moms confessing similar ESPN aversions. I have eavesdropped without mercy.

It seems to me a high school football game is a microcosm of life. I think every person who attends this all-American event arrives with a little bucket of hope. Only, every hope is different.

If you start with the basics, the kids on each team and the entire crowd hope for a win. But then it gets more complicated. And I suspect the hope of which I speak has many tentacles because, as I’ve already hinted, I’m wide-eyed and nosey.

Now in year three of attending high school games, I have meticulously catalogued the vibe, from serious to silly. If I were to guess what others quietly hope for on these magical Friday nights, based purely on this anecdotal, mustard-stained research, here’s how it would go: Band mom: “I hope the crowd realizes this punchy music, this amazing performance of coordination, is not coming out of thin air. These kids practice their tails off, too.”

Future valedictorian: “Must maintain the GPA. Must maintain the GPA.” Hair-flipping sophomore gal: “There he is about twelve bleachers up. I hope he notices me.”

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Pusch Ridge Lifestyle | November 2015

The guy twelve bleachers up: “Come on, defense!”

Soccer dad: “Why don’t my daughter’s games attract crowds like this? I hope it doesn’t bother her. First down! Yes!” Mother who stayed because freshman needs a ride home: “Ugh, front row the day before my hair appointment! I hope the folks behind me don’t notice the gray roots. It’s chilly here. I wonder if my baby needs his jacket.”

Freshman who needs a ride from his mother: “If Mom brings my jacket to the student section again, I will die.”

Benchwarmer: “I hope they need me tonight.”

Team doctor: “I hope they don’t need me tonight.”

Forty-nine-year-old uncle of starting quarterback: “I hope they have college scouts here.”

Nine-year-old cousin of starting quarterback: “I hope they have Skittles here.”

Every high school senior on the field and at the stadium: “Last home/ away game for me. I hope…”

I have no idea what today’s 18 year old hopes for. My only wish is that every one of them at the game, or not at the game, knows he or she is first-string. Whatever a teen clutches most — books, helmets, trumpets, beakers, words, baseballs, dance shoes, calculators, paintbrushes — it’s up to us grown-ups to shine lights brighter than the Friday night kind on every single kid.

And, at all costs, it’s up to us to never, ever hand-deliver a jacket to the student section.

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