Creating an Ecological Balance in Leisure World

By Maya “Starhawk” Adair

“With my voice and your action, it can be impactful in our community to unite for change. Let’s all create new plans of action for our community & planet.”

Recycle-Reduce-Reuse

Our Earth needs everyone’s help in keeping household solid waste products out of land lls! Let’s begin by rinsing, sortingand bagging recycle items from your homes and businesses. It’s been a journey making phone calls and visiting people to collect information on sustainability and recycling. It hasn’t been easy, but I am determined. I’m very passionate and care for Our Earth and will continue on this endeavor. I do need your help. I’m asking for information on your approach for Recycling-Reduce-Reuse. I love hearing about projects people are doing for the homeless, churches, shelters, etc. is information can be posted for options for people to recycle, reduce or reuse. I’m working on a project for the LWCA website, a Recycling drop-down menu with the information provided below plus so much more. When I collect this information, I will be asking for approval to post on the Leisure World website.

Via Norte

Cardboard Boxes & Greenery Clippings ere was a time when you could go to Via Norte to recycle various items. Now it’s not an option since there have been many changes in the City of Mesa regarding recycling. What you can bring to Via Norte is cardboard boxes & greenery clippings. Please do not dump anything other than these two items.

LOCATION: To the right of the Broadway gate exit.

The Pillowcase Dresses Project Since 2014 ere are a group of wonderful women who are dedicated to repurposing pillowcases, sheets, fabric, elastic & lace for making clothing for needy children in India, Guatemala, Africa, Haiti, Mexico. e clothing is given to the missionaries that go to various countries. e group meets on Monday mornings in the Anniversary Room…8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m, November-April. Please feel free to donate any of the above items on Mondays. Any questions please contact, Darlene Footh @ 701-339-8491 or Joan Bisho 701200-8917

Plastic Bottles

Cathy Dreifort collects plastic drinking bottles for recycling. In 2021, Cathy collected 2010 lbs! All proceeds are used to support the homeless.

Currently the Tennis Club is collecting plastic water bottles for Cathy. e Pickleball Club will be on board to collect plastic bottles through our e orts to support Cathy and to help with the recycling issues.

Very Important

• Soft or hard CLEAR (not frosted) empty and rinsed ese items can be dropped o on the patio of Cathy Dreifort’s Manor 889. Please take plastic bags to reuse that are available on her patio. She has been donating her time for good, so please bring only the items as listed. “Cathy has worked hard on this project. Please bring only what is listed for the type of plastic bottles that are needed. Nothing else.”

• plastic pop/ water/ juice bottles of any size or color •labels and lids should remain on •bottles should be in loosely tied bags.

Lions Club: Aluminum Can Collection

e Lions Club collects aluminum cans from several locations around Leisure World. e money collected from the project goes to the Arizona Lions Club Camp Tatiyee located in the White Mountains. Camp Tatiyee works to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs by providing a life-changing summer camp experience that promotes emotional health, independence, selfesteem and con dence, free of charge.

“Please recycle aluminum cans for this special project. It’s beautiful to see how we can change people’s lives by simply recycling. “Lions Club collected around $6000 in 2022! Let’s support them and increase that amount for 2023.” e Lions have recycling containers at: Rec 1, Rec 2 and at the LW Broadway exit recycle center. e aluminum cans are brought to the recycle center for cash which is distributed to charities. Any questions contact: Dean Gatzemeier 480-268-6292

Lions Club: Cell Phones, Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, Hearing Aids, Ipads

Don Ste an collects these used items from numerous collection points both here in Leisure World and around the East Valley. e Transit Company of East Valley donates 45-55 smart phones a month. Operational phones are given to Family Advocacy (Women’s Shelters). Non-working phones and high end phones are sold on eBay raising money for Camp Tatiyee in the White Mountains of Arizona. Hundreds of eyeglasses are collected all month long and taken to a central collection point in Phoenix, where they are tested and boxed up for third world countries. Many of these eyeglasses are also given to those in need around the Phoenix valley.

Collection containers: Inside Administration Building; by the Fitness Center; east wall of billiards room, also included is a box for used ags. Any questions please contact: Don Ste an 480-6643069 arizonadon3@gmail.com

EVT Recycling

500 E. 38th Avenue, Apache Junction, AZ 85119

EVT buys and properly disposes of all types of scrap metals — from copper and aluminum to brass and steel. ey also take a wide range of products, including batteries, electric motors, radiators, air conditioning units, appliances, and cars. ALSO TIN CANS!

“Collecting tin cans to recycle and receive money is worth the e ort. Maybe in your immediate neighborhood you can start a tin can project.”

Comments

I salute you! We are kindred spirits. I’m all in.

My truck box is currently full of valuable recycling items ie: Newspapers, cardboard, glass, tin, soft and hard plastics. I’m a Canadian, who brings washable bags to shop and has a passion for preserving mother earth. I want to help. Let’s get together to talk and start a program. I have time and energy to devote to reducing my footprint for the good of our children’s future on this planet.

Sincerely,

Marion Davis Manor 7

Hello Maya, I read your article in the LW News today. I thought it was not only well written but raised so many important points and solutions to preserving our environment. So many of us want to strive for these ideals but simply do not know where to turn. I really think you should have a regular spot in our paper where you can share your knowledge and ideas collected from others. “It only takes a spark to get a re going and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.” at’s how it is with love of our planet and environment. A sharing of our ideas and actions can spread like wild re and pretty soon everyone in LW will want to be on the bandwagon! If you think I can help with a project let me know. One thing that really bugs me is all the plastic bags from the stores. Jim takes ours to Walmart. He takes our newspaper to a church on Main. We give appliances and clothing and unwanted items to Paralyzed Veterans. We’ve also given a lot of clothes to the church that helps the people coming over the Mexican border because they tend to be our size! e church is happy to see our clothes coming!

Keep up the good work Maya!

Love, Jeanne Gardin Manor 1508

Looking forward to creating a sustainable environment in Leisure World with you. Please feel free to contact me at: www.mayastarhawk@yahoo.com or call me @ 928274-3589

May you walk gently on Our Earth.

Maya

E.B. Blacke

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed in the month of March since 1987. e month is always started by a special Proclamation released by the White House that honors the extraordinary achievements of American women. Many nd it a great time to have conversations with their children about some of history’s forgotten female pioneers, read stories of empowered women or support the women in their own communities. Some do this by shopping at women-owned businesses or supporting their e orts to protect women’s rights.

Each year the National Women’s History Alliance

Woman’s History Month!

chooses a theme for the month of March. is year they have chosen “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories “ in honor of women who bravely turned to media to share their stories. ese types of women have paved a path that allows women of today to be recognized for their imperative insight and knowledge. Novelist Ursula LeGuin once said, “ We are volcanos. When women o er our experiences as our truth, all the maps change. ere are new mountains. at’s what I want – to hear you erupting. You Mount Saint Helen-es who don’t know the power in you – I want to hear you. If we don’t tell our truth, who will?” Sharing experiences of both strength and sorrow is how we empower ourselves and the younger generation.

ere are some great stories in the current media that align with this theme (and are on Net ix). Each is a tale of empowerment and strength. “Becoming” is a documentary that tells the story of the former rst ladyMichele Obama. Her upbringing and her experience as a historical First Lady. Or maybe you prefer something more historical like “9to5: e Story of a Movement” a documentary telling the story of the o ce workers of Boston who started a movement to improve their working conditions. Or you are more interested in “RBG” a documentary of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her upbringing, and how she became part of the supreme court.

Regardless of what story you read, hear, or watch, may it be one that enlightens and empowers you.

Happy Women’s History Month!

Submitted by Colleen Cottrell

“Did your Mother come from Ireland” begins an old well-known song. Well, maybe not yours (though mine actually did) but somewhere on the family tree is an Irishman or two. According to statistics ten percent of all Americans claim some Irish heritage, making it the second largest demographic group. (Per the internet the rst is said to be German). But it isn’t necessary to go to the “old sod” to experience Irish culture or look for information on your Gaelic kin.

Phoenix itself is said to have 10 percent of its population identifying as of Irish Ancestry. Norman McClelland for whom the library is named was such a person. e son of an Irish immigrant from County Down, he spent years researching his own history and wished to make it possible for others to do the same. Its collection of genealogical material is due to his e orts and generosity.

e Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation itself is a non-pro t organization and the Center is a private/ public partnership between ICLF and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation.

e Irish Cultural Center itself is a campus comprised of several parts. Its purpose was to promote international peace, friendship, and goodwill by linking people to the history and culture of Ireland and other Celtic groups while acquiring the largest repository of Irish genealogical material, as well as books on Celtic art, history, and Literature. It is the largest repository of such material in the entire Southwestern United States.

It began In 1997 when two businessmen, Bill O’Brien (deceased) and Ken Clark of the Parks Foundation, Howard Adams, Phoenix City Councilman, local architect Paul Ahern, and other Irish group leaders founded the Irish Leadership Coalition. (ILC) e rst structure built was the An Gorta Mór Hunger Memorial monument commemorating the Great Irish Famine. It was dedicated in 1999. It’s not known how many perished but possibly a million per one expert, while many emigrated to various places including America.

Next was a map of Ireland outlining the 32 counties in the courtyard. (Heritage Clos) e last structure completed was the castle itself. Per the architect, it was based on a Norman Castle and it wasn’t completed and opened until 2012. It houses a three-story Library of more than 8000 books of all types relating to Celtic culture and multiple exhibits as well Its stone edi ce with its two sets of large iron gates looms impressively over downtown Phoenix.

An Halla Mor ( e Great Hall) was dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day in 2002. Like all the buildings on the Campus, it was designed by Mr. Ahern.

Next completed was the Irish Cottage, an exact replica of an existing cottage located in County Clare, Ireland. It opened in 2004.

Also in the Library is the only privately owned copy of the Book of Kells, now on loan from the Lee family. e Book is an illuminated manuscript dating from 800 c. and contains the four Christian Gospels. It’s impossible to describe its intricacy and beauty. As I have been fortunate enough to see the original while visiting my mother’s birthplace in 2006 and it’s worth getting together a group of friends (if you missed the Leisure World tour last month) and driving to Phoenix just to see it Unfortunately since Covid, the Center, except for the genealogy section of the library, is closed to the general public.

However, a pre-arraged tour such as Leisure World sponsored in February is permitted ere was no speci c minimum number given when asked. To arrange the email is www.azirish.org.

Each third Friday evening is a “Ceili”. An Irish dance in the Great Hall https://www.azirish.org/ icif-programs/ ceili-dancing/

More Upcoming Events: ese workshops are virtual on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and anyone can attend. e cost for members of the ICC is $15.00: for non-members: Preregistration is required and done at the website. e instructor has 20 years of in genealogy research. is is helpful as tracing Irish Ancestry can be di cult due to the years of British rule where records for the Irish population were kept mainly by the Catholic parishes many of which were burned. e writer wishes to thank Caroline Woodiel, MLIS, head librarian, and especially Lisa Troub for providing most of the information for this article.

Family Story Hour (via Zoom), March 11, April 8, May 13, Book Discussion Group: March 25, April 30, Genealogy workshop; March 18, April 22, and May 27.

For those who wish to go directly to the library to use the specialized genealogy computers, it’s recommended you watch the online video tutorials. ey provide valuable information about the online resources available at the Center. ere are also trained volunteers to assist with research. Recommend is Information for Getting Started at; azirish.org/genealogy. Additionally, a virtual or in-person appointment can be requested at az.irish.org/research/ onlineresources/ or call 602 864 2351.

And it would hardly be March without recognition of St. Patrick, Patron saint of Ireland. He is one of three Saints that are now o cial national holidays in Ireland. e others are St. Colmcille and most recently St. Brigid.

A St. Patrick Parade and Faire will be on March 11th and the library hours will be extended from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.. On St. Patrick’s Day itself, March 17th the library’s hours will be also extended from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

PAINT AND PIZZA

March 21st at 2pm

Higley Practice

5110 E Southern Ave

Mesa, AZ 85206

BINGO!

March 22nd at 11am

Meeker Practice

13940 W Meeker Blvd

Sun City West, AZ 85375

March 14th at 10am

Indian School Practice

3137 W Indian School Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85017

MEDICARE 101

March 23rd at 11am

Indian School Practice

3137 W Indian School Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85017

By Ronda Gates

A recent visit by several young sports-loving guests, shifted a little-used TV, in my home, to a stream of hockey and basketball games, anytime they were in the house. For me, it was mostly background noise as I puttered and managed other interests and commitments. However, I soon noticed that day or night there were a lot of TV ads for prescription medications.

As a graduate pharmacist, this caught my attention. Admittedly, my undergraduate degree from pharmacy school happened more than a half-century ago. After graduation, most registered (via a state exam) pharmacy graduates practiced at a local “apothecary” (today often described as a compounding pharmacy) where you could also buy alcohol, cosmetic and beauty products, and what the profession now calls over-the-counter medicines. When advertised as “full service” the business usually included a soda fountain often better known than the pharmaceutical business itself. e pharmacist, typically the business owner, compounded prescriptions using a formula devised by the physician. at included putting drugs into specially avored liquids, topical creams, suppositories, or other dosage forms suitable for patients’ unique needs. On occasion, compounding included dose forms for animals prescribed by a local veterinarian. Before graduation, I knew about this because my father, a physician, had completed a degree in pharmacy before he went to medical school. He was well versed not only in the drug options but how they could best be delivered to the patient.

However, by the time I graduated, the pharmaceutical business was morphing from medicines compounded with precise doses for individual use to the development and delivery of prescription drugs manufactured and delivered in stock bottles by the prestigious drug rms of the time. Pharmacists shifted from “compounding” to counting pills in speci cally designed counting trays then bottled with instructions from the doctor. Initially, these medications were singular drugs, (such as aspirin) but as time developed, instead of having 3 or 4 bottles, pharmaceutical companies developed “combination drugs” that provided a xed dose delivery of two or more medications in one pill or capsule. Sometimes these combinations produced a synergistic e ect that could reduce the drug concentration for each individual drug, or the combination might decrease the amount of any of the medications necessary if delivered separately. e earliest of these were for pain management and treatment of skin diseases.

But I digress. When I nished pharmacy school the most prestigious (and highest paying) job was to become a “detail salesman” for one of the high-pro le pharmaceutical companies. Sometimes the description was “detail man,” because the job was never o ered to a woman. ( ere were ve women in my class of 72 graduates.) A detail man traded his white pharmacy coat for a suit and tie. He carried a leather carrying case similar to what we knew was carried by doctors who made “house calls”. ese “detail men” met frequently with physicians to introduce them to the newly manufactured drugs that were replacing pharmaceutical “compounding” that had long been the lifeblood of the pharmacist. ere were often incentives for trial use of a new drug that could include tickets to a concert or conference, or a trinket or toy for the doctor’s children.

Years later, as physicians became busy, the detail man (soon joined by a few women) visited with the nursing sta or the person who managed the desk. ese opportunities declined as doctors got busier.

Meantime, in the early 80s a young woman, applying for a job with a pharmaceutical company asked the interviewer, “why don’t you advertise to consumers instead of doctors?” e rest is history. Boots Pharmaceuticals aired the rst broadcast television commercial in the US for their prescription drug pain reliever, Rufen. Within 48 hours the FDA (FDA=Federal Drug Administration) told the company to take it down. Consumers prevailed and Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies ran the rst consumer print ad, promoting its pneumonia vaccine. More than 40 years later consumers, in self-advocacy and after many federal o cials demanded “fair balance” the ght over marketing prescription drugs to the public is still raging. However, in September 1985, the FDA rescinded a former moratorium on drug advertisement and by 1997 they further eased restrictions to allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to consumers. e FDA sees TV ads as a method to target viewers—typically older Americans who, as they age often need more extensive medical care and treatment for potentially life-threatening conditions.

Collectively, in recent years, pharmaceutical companies spent $22.3 billion to advertise 75 drugs. Many of these companies spend more money advertising their product on TV than they do on research. I began listing the drug ads as they appeared and quickly discovered ten companies actively promoting their products on TV. I hit the internet and learned that as of January 2023, the accumulative outlay amounts to roughly 3.7 billion U.S. dollars, led by AbbVie and its ads for Humira, used to treat arthritis.

Indeed, we are indeed continually being swamped with these sorts of advertisements with no end in sight, despite most people (including me) and physicians wanting them to disappear. ey are lled with di cultto-understand or unreadable warnings, unintelligible talk, and well-paid actors who remind me of a song from a Marlo omas album I often played for my young children. It included the song, Housework sung by Carol Channing. e song reminded the listener that the smiling men and ladies in the ads were smiling because they are actors earning lots of money for learning “those speeches.” In short, they don’t have a vested interest in your health.

So, as Dr. Marc Beko , urged in a 2019 article in psychopharmacology article in Psychology Today, next time you see a TV commercial for a prescription drug, remind yourself that you know nothing about medical treatment and that everybody who made the commercial has a nancial interest in your future behavior. My younger guests soon learned my mantra when I overheard, as they watched sports events, any drug-related ad or treatment appeared, “Mute, please.”

Ronda Gates, MS is a Leisure World resident who has an eclectic education in the elds of pharmacy, nutrition, tness, and counseling. One of her many hobbies includes ferreting fact from ction when it comes to health-related news.