Foothills News 06/28/2023

Volume 13 • Number 13 June 28, 2023

www.tucsonlocalmedia.com

INSIDE INSIDE

War is driving rapid growth in the local defense industry

BY JIMMY MAGAHERN Tucson Local Media Contributor

OIt's all in the crust at Fiamme Pizza | Page 7

Mr. Monopoly needs help locating Tucson fun spots | Page 8

PGA: Pathetically Greedy Association | Page 19

n the day Inside Tucson Business spoke with Lynndy Smith, the 29-yearold president of the Arizona Defense and Industry Coalition had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where she and other members of the group talked with the country’s department of defense to find out how Arizona could aid in its war e ort.

It was the first time the political wunderkind, who improbably segued into government a airs after a promising college career in varsity women’s ice hockey (a post-grad stint as a sta assistant to Sen. John McCain did the trick), had actually been in a war

zone. And the experience, she said, was an eye-opener.

“We had one night of full sleep without an air raid,” she said of her week-long stay with the U.S. Embassy in a bunker at a Kyiv hotel. “But then the second night, there was an alarm that went o around midnight that lasted until about 4:30 in the morning. From what I gathered and could understand, it sounded like there was a (Russian) drone in the area.”

Smith admitted she didn’t get a lot of sleep that night but said overall she “felt really safe. After all, Raytheon built those missile defense systems — that’s what’s being used in Ukraine. And the missile defense systems are working great.”

That’s what she heard time and again from the Ukrainians she met.

“Since Raytheon obviously has a large presence in Arizona, we got a lot of praise from the people for the assets that are already coming out of Arizona to make them feel safe in Ukraine.”

It’s that gratitude and trust that prompted the ADIC’s invitation from Ukrainian parliament member Dmytro Liubota, who met with the coalition in Arizona in March to discuss his country’s immediate defense technology needs. Together with other members of the ADIC, which include representatives from the four leading defense organizations in Arizona

See DEFENSE Page 4

Tucson Museum showcases the state’s best artists

BY VERONICA KUFFEL Tucson Local Media Contributor

For Julie Sasse, chief curator at the Tucson Museum of Art, summer is the time to highlight some of the best artists in Arizona. It’s this focus on local art that has helped establish the museum as a southwestern cultural mecca.

“(Museums) seemed to feel they had to go outside the region to show New York or Chicago artists because that was the important stu ,” Sasse said. “That idea is over, people are saying the art right in front of us is valid, it’s important.”

This year’s Biennial Exhibition displays over 50 emerging artists across Arizona. (Veronica Ku el/Sta )

Hot Picks

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Sta

ARTS

Linda McCartney Retrospective TO AUG. 4

The North American premiere of the Linda McCartney Retrospective comes to the University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography, now through Friday, Aug. 4. Spanning McCartney’s entire career from 1965 to 1997, this exhibition features 176 photographs and archival materials, including Polaroid images and presents three sections such as family life, photographic experimentation and artists. The exhibit is weekly from Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The exhibition will also feature various community events inspired by the collection.

Center for Creative Photography 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson, various times and pricing, ccp.arizona.edu

Cool Summer Nights TO AUG. 26

Every Saturday night, the Sonora Desert Museum celebrates summer with families. On Saturday, June 10, wear blue for World Oceans Night, featuring animals and a playhouse.

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, tickets start at $20, free for members, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 520-833-1380, desertmuseum.org

MUSIC

Bonny Doon JUNE 30

ways-changing hometown of Detroit. Hotel Congress’ Club Congress, 311 W. Congress, Tucson, tickets start at $15.45, 8 p.m., hotelcongress.com

Deja Crue

JULY 8

Well known throughout Phoenix, the Motley Crue tribute band hits the Gaslight Music Hall stage for the first time.

Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, $27, with discounts for children and military, 6 p.m., gaslightmusichall.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Star Spangled Spectacular

JULY 4

Marana’s largest Signature Event is nestled behind the Arizona Pavilions shopping center and within the Continental Ranch neighborhood, making it the perfect event for residents to walk to or enjoy the fireworks from many vantage points. Residents and visitors spend the day shopping and eating at the nearby stores and restaurants before coming over to enjoy an evening in the park.

Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, 7548 N. Silverbell Road, Marana, free, 5 to 9:30 p.m., maranaaz.gov

July 4th Celebration

JULY 4

Celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks in Oro Valley. This year’s event is emceed by Frank Powers, with special guests Heart and Soul.

James D. Kriegh Park, 23 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley, free, 5 to 9:15 p.m., orovalleyaz.gov

Bonny Doon emerged in 2014, its four members pivoting away from their punk origins to create something restrained and steeped in contemplation. Songwriters Bill Lennox and Bobby Colombo expanded their ongoing collaboration to include drummer Jake Kmiecik and bassist Joshua Brooks. From there Bonny Doon took form, developing a sound indebted as much to musical touchstones like Neil Young and the Silver Jews as it was to the emotional landscapes of their al-

La Encantada + Lululemon Present Moon Glow 520

JULY 7

Join the group in the courtyard for Moon Glow 520. These Friday evening yoga classes are complimentary. Guests should bring their own yoga mat and water bottle. Presented by Lululemon, in partnership with Yoga

FOOTHILLS NEWS

The Foothills News is published twice each month and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the Catalina Foothills. STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@timeslocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Executive Editor christina@timeslocalmedia.com

Karen Scha ner, Sta Reporter kscha ner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Jack Miessner, Sta Reporter jmiessner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham, Design Manager production@timeslocalmedia.com

Veronica Thurman, Graphic Designer vthurman@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager brian@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising Zac@timeslocalmedia.com

Loft Tucson.

La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Drive, Tucson, free, 6:30 p.m., laencantadashoppingcenter.com

“Mary Poppins” JULY 9

In addition to the movie “Mary Poppins,” attendees can do crafts, hear the Fox Tucson Theatre’s historic organ, celebrate summer birthdays and sing along.

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress, Tucson, tickets start at $2.50, 2 p.m., foxtucson.com

Biosphere

2 DAILY

We may have experienced an earlier iteration of the Biosphere as something like a passive “zoo” of biomes, but now the focus is on climate change and sustainability research. Interdisciplinary scientists from all over are finding ways to “increase resilience and sustainability of Earth systems and human quality of life.” Ecosystems under glass include the world’s largest controlled tropical rain forest, desert, savanna, mangrove, ocean biomes. Eye-popping fact: 7.2 million cubic feet are sealed within 6,500 windows. Those systems have now seen 30 years of evolution.

Biosphere 2, 32540 S. Biosphere Road, Tucson, $25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., biosphere2.org

Dog Days of Summer TO SEPT. 30

Guests can take their dogs to Tucson Botanical Gardens through Sept. 30. Imagine the smells they’ll enjoy and the fun of exploring new trails, most shaded by the gardens’ old-growth trees. No doubt they’d also welcome a bite from whatever you order from Edna’s Eatery on site. It’s run by Westward Look Resort

Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, tickets start at $15 with discounts available, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., tucsonbotanical.org

Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at christina@timeslocalmedia.com

DEFENSE from Page 1

— the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance, the Mesa Industry and Defense Council, West Valley Defense Alliance and Yuma 50 — along with advisers for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Gov. Katie Hobbs, Smith basically asked the Ukrainian leaders, “What else can Arizona do for you?”

“We didn’t want to come in with this pre-packaged deal that we put together,” she said. “We met with every agency, from their department of defense to digital transformation to strategic industries and foreign a airs, with the goal of identifying not only their immediate needs, but also the long-term needs of Ukraine.” Turns out, they came up with quite an inventory.

“Yeah, it was a healthy list,” said Robert Medler, president of the Tucson-based Southern Arizona Defense Alliance, who also went along on the trip.

“And not just for the current war. They’re already looking confidently to after they win the war and reclaim their land. They want Arizona’s help in rebuilding a better defense for the future and a stronger economy.”

Medler is assured that Arizona can do it, and his piece in rallying together the assets of the six military installations across Southern Arizona — from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Arizona National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson to the Fort Huachuca Army Base in Sierra Vista and three other installations in Yuma and Marana — is crucial to the e ort.

“The defense industry in Arizona is not Phoenix-centric,” Medler said.

“It’s spread out through the state. There are assets throughout Southern Arizona, there’s assets in the East Valley, Northern Arizona, the West Valley, Yuma. And so how do you reach out to all those? That’s where the ADIC comes in. It’s truly a statewide partnership.”

In Southern Arizona, the defense industry is particularly robust. Raytheon Technologies is the largest employer in the region, employing more than 12,000 people and contributing an annual $2.6 billion economic impact to the state. But that’s just the start.

“The defense industry is still our largest industry here in Tucson,” said Michael Guymon, president of the Tucson Cham-

Lynndy Smith, president of the Arizona Defense and Industry Coalition, meets with representatives in Ukraine. “We felt really safe. After all, Raytheon built those missile defense systems. And (they) are working great.” (ADIC/Submitted)

ber of Commerce.

“We have over 25,000 people employed in the aerospace and defense industry, and it’s really centered around two major facilities and installations: the first is Raytheon, and the second is the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, which the chamber actually helped establish back in the 1920’s. Today we have over 7,000 airmen and women, and probably another 1,700 civilian employees.

“In addition to those, we have over 200 other aerospace and defense companies in the region. Everything from Sargent Aerospace and Defense to some of the companies that provide the optical instruments within the optical guidance systems that Raytheon places into its products.”

Optical science is an oft-overlooked part of the defense industry, but it is a field where Tucson excels. The University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences is ranked the second-best optical sciences school in the country (behind only the University of Rochester), and number one in the Southwest. And optical system design is the key component in the detection, tracking and stopping of hypersonic cruise missiles — highly sought-after by the Pentagon for its unmatched speed and maneuverability in attacking Chinese and Russian air weaponry.

Last September, Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman, which has a facility in Chandler that employs over 2,500 people, were awarded nearly a billion-dol-

tech companies, are successfully competing for top-level technologists alongside Apple, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Meta (Facebook) and Microsoft, attracting techheads who want to work on “more important things than the latest smartphone upgrade,” according to one longtime Apple employee. (The Swift programming language that Apple uses even began featuring the Ukraine flag in its internal emails.)

For her part, Lynndy Smith is angling to capitalize on tech’s growing enthusiasm for defense work, by empowering innovative Arizona startups with more clout in competing for defense contracts.

“What we’re trying to do is increase those lines of communications between those startups and the DOD, as well as foreign governments,” she said.

lar contract to design and develop the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile for the U.S. Department of Defense, using a unique type of optical sensors. And in June, Raytheon was awarded a $621 million “indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity” U.S. defense contract to transport, test, upgrade and repair “exo-atmospheric kill vehicles,” which use lasers to autonomously collide with incoming warheads.

Attracting technologist brainpower to such instruments of war has historically been a hard sell for the tech community, which has a reputation for liberal, or at least libertarian, thinking. In 2019 a group of Google employees sent a well-publicized letter to the company’s management demanding it abandon work on a customized AI surveillance engine codenamed “Project Maven” that used data captured by U.S. military drones to provide vehicle tracking results to the Department of Defense, charging that assisting the U.S. government in military surveillance violated the company’s mantra, “Don’t Be Evil.” (Ultimately Google dropped the project, amid resignations and refusals by employees to work on it.)

The war in Ukraine changed that mindset, according to some Silicon Valley insiders that Inside Tucson Business spoke with, by casting an appealing underdog in the arms race. Today, Bay-Area defense companies like Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries, which have long operated under the radar of the splashier

“For instance, when we met with Germany, they’d explained that they’re trying to buy something from the DOD along the lines of like a tactical lunchbox, and instead they’re getting sold a rocket launcher. The DOD has all these pre-packaged opportunities, which are great for some countries, but they’re not solving the whole problem for others. Raytheon or General Dynamics are never going to want to build that smaller niche technology, because it’s not economical for them to do so. Whereas that smaller project could be the entire lifeblood of a certain startup. So, one of our goals is to build a major ecosystem through the ADIC so that startups and small companies in Arizona can compete with the big companies on defense procurement contracts.”

That should be good for Tucson’s economy, said chamber president Guymon.

“We’re going to continue working very hard to attract more aerospace and defense companies to this region, because not only can they benefit from the workforce that exists at Raytheon, but they can also benefit from the focus that our college of engineering has on aerospace and defense positions and skills,” he said.

“Arizona has an extremely business friendly climate,” added Medler. “And part of our job at the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance is just getting the word out about the capabilities we have here, to encourage growth and investment by the firms that are already here and attract new business. That’s an ongoing challenge, but we’re well-suited to meet it.”

AGING WELL

Embracing Change: One Woman’s Journey

Aging well is, in large part, about trying new things and pursuing your passions. It’s also about sharing those things with others. All of this can be found at Splendido, a Life Plan Community for those 55 and better in Oro Valley, where residents can explore, learn and connect.

That’s certainly been the case for Janie Jones, who moved to the community two years ago. After living in southeast Tucson for seven years, she moved to be nearer to her three sisters—one of whom also lives at Splendido. “Moving here made a huge difference in my mental state,” she says. “Not only am I able to see more of my sisters, but I feel like Splendido is my family!”

While Janie says that she considers herself an introvert, she enjoys being able to walk out of her apartment home to be with other people. “I can be as social as I like, and then go back

into my apartment when I’ve had enough,” she says. “It makes a huge difference in my life.”

Exploring Creativity

Another di erence that Janie discovered at Splendido was ways to explore her creative side. “When I moved here, I hadn’t gotten into art yet, but I’d always wanted to,” she says. “That was one of the first things I did.” After

participating in many classes and workshops, Open Art Studio, and other o erings, Janie says, “I’ve worked with all sorts of media—acrylics, clay, watercolor, chalk painting—and it sure is fun to play.”

While she has grown to especially enjoy painting with watercolors and acrylics, Janie has a new passion: “I discovered Brusho, and I talked about it so much

that Splendido bought some, and we all used it in a recent project. It’s a crystal, and you sprinkle it on paper then spritz water on it and the color just explodes.”

That project was a creative collaboration based on images from the James Webb Space Telescope, in which Splendido residents and staff submitted artwork for a virtual exhibit to mark the debut of Cosmic

Cycles by the National Philharmonic in Tysons, Virginia, and Bethesda, Maryland.

Focusing on Fitness

In addition to exploring her creativity, Janie indulges her enthusiasm for exercise. A former teacher, she explains, “I didn’t have much time to exercise while I was teaching, but as soon as I retired, I started lifting weights and using weight machines. It was amazing to me how I transformed my body—I developed muscles and lost weight.”

Already a regular fitness center user, Janie says, “I was delighted when I moved here. I thought ‘I have my own gym!’ I have a weight routine where I go to our fitness center three times a week. I also have a treadmill in my home that I walk on.” She’d like to spend more time on fitness, but she has too many other interests vying for her time.

Enjoying Plentiful Pastimes

Janie was also delighted to discover that Splendido has a billiards table. “I started playing pool when I moved to Tucson, and since I came here, I play all the time,” she says. “With all that practice, I got so good that I was asked to teach a class.”

Janie also likes her downtime. “I’m a reader and a binge-watcher; I like sci-fi a lot. I also play cards, and introduced some of the residents here to Samba, which is like canasta on steroids.”

From the card table to the art studio to the fitness center, Janie is taking advantage of Splendido as the community is designed to be used: to enrich her life by exploring passions and opportunities with new friends.

Interested in learning more about Splendido? For floor plans, photos, and information on upcoming events, visit splendidotucson.com.

The Tucson Museum of Art showcases emerging Arizona artists through Oct. 1 as part of its renowned Biennial Exhibition. The gallery not only allows artists to exhibit their work within the museum but for many, it’s their public debut.

“The Biennial Exhibition is a chance for these artists to get noticed,” Sasse explained, “instead of waiting years to maybe have somebody discover them.”

In this year’s 37th exhibition, more than 400 artists submitted their work and the museum narrowed its fi nal selection to 56. Of the chosen applicants, 68 pieces were put on display in the James and Louise Glasser Gallery and the Chann Gallery.

Sasse noted this year’s works refl ect the search for a sense of place.

“There’s a real self-awareness that we live in a really unique environment and a unique place positioned at the border,” Sasse said. “They’re maybe not so much seeing themselves solely as an artist in the world… but they are

attuned to what’s a ecting them directly. I fi nd that very interesting.”

Many pieces comment on the physical, emotional and spiritual impacts of the southwestern landscape, with two recurring topics: the U.S.-Mexico borderland and human interactions with the environment. Other themes include the impact of the Covid pandemic, migration, labor automation and political polarization.

All work is depicted through a variety of media and materials, including painting, fi ber works, sculptures and electronics. Many artworks feature distinctly Sonoran creativity; a presidential speech is portrayed as a mound of individually cut-out letters.

“They put their hearts into these works,” Sasse said of this year’s artists.

“They’re thinking, they’re observing and distilling it into something that’s beautiful or into something you can’t take your mind o of. That’s to me where the good artists rise above because they do stop you in your tracks.”

Every year, the museum chooses a

juror from outside of Arizona to judge hundreds of artist entries. Sta organized every work into a presentation, and the selection process took a whole day to complete.

This year’s juror is Taína Caragol, curator of painting, sculpture and Latinx art and history at the National Portrait Gallery. She works to uplift Latinx and Latin American art into the public sphere and recover stories and history suppressed through colonialism.

“I thought she would be perfect, especially with our strong representation of Latinx artists,” Sasse explained. “These curators are highly trained. For the most part, they’ve seen so much art they know what is going to make an impact.”

Along with the exhibition, the Tucson Museum of Art hosts a lecture series for artists to discuss their work.

The fi nal lecture is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Stonewall Community Foundation Room.

The museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fi rst

Thursday of every month will have free entry from 5-8 p.m. Sasse is excited to feature so many emerging artists in this year’s Biennial Exhibition. She noted the work of Arizona creatives, from local to international origins, will continue to awe the world for some time to come.

“It’s been so gratifying to help share with people that people from the Southwest aren’t just ‘cowboys and indigenous’ but it’s people from Vietnam, from Guinea, from all over and they’re doing very interesting work,” Sasse said. “It keeps the art vital, to have that diversity of all kinds.”

Arizona Biennial Exhibition

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 1

WHERE: 140 N. Main Avenue, Tucson COST: $7 to $12 (free every rst Thursday)

INFO: tucsonmuseumofart.org

The crust is the thing at Fiamme Pizza

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media Sta

Scott Volpe knows his way around an 800-degree pizza oven.

At Fiamme Pizza, he gently coaxes dough into a circle, spooning out red sauce, sprinkling shredded mozzarella cheese and dealing pepperoni.

“Everything is made in-house for the most part,” he said. “The only thing we don’t do is the meats. We don’t cure pepperoni but other than that we pretty much make everything in house.”

At Fiamme, which is Italian for “flame,” Volpe is the whole package. He serves as manager, owner, dishwasher, waiter and pizzamaker.

He founded the business a decade ago, as a mobile pizza trailer. Six years ago, he moved into the brick-and-mortar building.

Volpe prepares and partially bakes four 18-inch pizzas each morning, getting ready for the lunch crowd.

Volpe divides the pizza into sections, where one portion will be a white pizza; another, pepperoni; still another, grandma-style. That’s a recipe born in Brooklyn that Volpe has improved, at least for Tucson tastes.

Of course, there are plenty of other, more exotic pizzas on the menu, such as the prosciutto e arugula, with mozzarella, prosciutto and arugula; or the carne, which includes mozzarella, calabrese salami, fennel sausage and pancetta. Both are made with red sauce.

Then there’s the premium: anchovies, calabrese salami, Calabrian chili, chicken, bacon, ricotta, sausage, soppressata, farmers market vegetable, pepperoni, egg, pine nuts and pesto.

Some of the magic happens down a narrow hall past a small seating area in the kitchen. This morning, Aaron Uhlig is making the real secret to the success of Fiamme Pizza: the crust.

“The dough we make is what the people come for,” Volpe said. “That’s what we’re most known for, not the sauce, not the cheese. This is it, right here.”

Scott Volpe partially bakes several pizzas in the morning, so when an order comes in for a lunchtime slice, it won’t take long to prepare. (Karen Scha ner/Sta )

Uhlig starts his day at 8. Clad in a white apron, he stands behind a stainless steel counter and works. In front of him is a fairly large, kitchen-grade plastic container of dough. He pulls o a piece, weighs it (he’s looking for 600 grams), adds some, takes some away. Then he pats it into a smooth ball and tosses it into the air, so it forms a flattened circle.

He stacks it neatly alongside its brothers until it’s time to bake into a pizza. Uhlig has had other restaurant jobs, but this one is particularly satisfying. He loves it, he said, especially when he sees people enjoying their pizza.

“That’s why we’re here, to make people happy,” he said.

“Most people are happy when you put a pizza in front of them,” Volpe said.

“You have to enjoy what you do,” Uhlig added.

The wood-fired oven maintains its temperature overnight, so it always runs anywhere between 700 and 850 degrees, Volpe said. He burns through about a

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Tucson, AZ - When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with anti-depressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness and numbness.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “BandAid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

(above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Arrowhead Physical Medicine in Tuscon, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. This ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling.

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less them 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Thankfully, Tuscon is the birthplace of a brand new facility that sheds light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage

Arrowhead Physical Medicine begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage – a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Arrowhead Physical Medicine will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until July 31st, 2023. Call (520) 934-0130 to make an appointment.

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (520) 934-0130...NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Mr. Monopoly rolling into Tucson

BY KYLIE WERNER

Inside Tucson Local Business Sta

Monopoly: Tucson Edition will hit stores in March, but Top Trumps USA wants the public to help create it first.

Although the game manufacturer has a team researching the area, it’s asking Tucsonans to suggest businesses, nonprofits and historical sites that should be included.

“It’s really important to us that we hear from the community and … we have an email address for suggestions,” said Jennifer Tripsea, a representative from Top Trumps USA, of tucson@toptrumps.com. The deadline is July 31.

The community chest and chance cards are customizable for the board, too.

According to Tripsea, when choosing

locations, the company looks for beautiful travel destinations that have rich histories.

“Tucson encompasses the best of what the desert has to o er, from scenic hikes to bustling nightlife to Old West history,” Tripsea said. “Our goal is to capture everything that makes Tucson a beloved destination and unique place to live in one game.”

She said it’s too soon to tell what the theme will be, but it will aptly represent the area.

“So, if it’s city life, local cuisine or the mountain ranges, either way, whatever the designers choose, once the board comes together it will make you feel like you are in Tucson when you’re playing Monopoly,” Tripsea said.

The game will be released in March on Amazon and locally. Businesses that are interested in carrying the game, can email tucson@toptrumps.com.

cord of wood every couple of weeks, depending on the number of orders.

“It stays hot since we use it every day,” he said. “That helps us save wood.”

He goes through about 100 pounds of flour daily. He sells about 150 to 200 pizzas a day. Monday is, surprisingly, the busiest because it’s half-price margarita pizza day. Pizza sales range from 100 on a slow day to 300.

“You have to have a passion for it,” Volpe said about his rigorous daily schedule. “It takes a certain kind of person; not just anybody would wake up and say, ‘I want to open a restaurant.’ It’s something I kind of fell into. I didn’t grow up thinking I was going to be a chef; I just worked in a lot of restaurants and just decided that’s what I wanted to do, and I really found the passion. If you don’t have that, you probably won’t make it as a chef.”

It’s really when Volpe sees his diners feasting on his handiwork that he understands why he does what he does.

“It helps fuel the passion and the drive,” he said. “It makes it all good. That fi nished product, pizza coming out of the oven, and it’s going to the table. I think that’s the best feeling right there.”

CHOW

FIAMME from Page 7

Top Trumps USA is recruiting the public to help create Monopoly: Tucson Edition. (Top Trumps USA/Submitted)

Scott Volpe is passionate about making pizza. (Karen Scha ner/Sta )

MY BEST FRIEND

Our annual celebration of pets

Avicultural Society isn’t just for the birds

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media Sta

Roseanne Lee has 26 birds, and guests to her place might want to watch their step.

“The birds come out every day,” Lee said. “They’re hardly ever in the cage. We also find seeds, feathers, poop; we’re always cleaning.”

The first bird Joyce Lekawa befriended was a baby parakeet, only a couple of months old, with a preference for water.

“It loved water,” Lekawa said. “It would do anything to get in the water. You’re doing dishes and it would jump in. We had a fishbowl, and we had to put wire over it because it would jump in.”

Lekawa and Lee are members of the Avicultural Society of Tucson, comprised of 30 bird lovers. This is not a club for birdwatchers, though that could be a side hobby. The group loves birds and has them as pets and family members.

The club meets on the second Sunday of each month, except May, when they meet the first Sunday. The meetings host guest speakers, who may discuss the dangers of plants or household cleaners. They have ra es where a member might win a toy

or a swing for their birds. Sometimes there are even birds on the ra e table.

Lekawa is the longest-tenured member, having joined the club in 1977.

Bird lovers pet and cuddle their avian friends just as much as those with cats and dogs. They are careful about what they feed their birds and they talk to them like children.

“Come here, Poppy,” Lee said, while trying to coax the cockatiel to perform. “Do your trick. Aren’t you going to do your trick? Where are you going, sweetheart? Can you say ‘Hello?’”

The club’s treasurer and secretary, Lee had birds as a child, but in deference to others in her own household, chose not to have them.

During the pandemic, she got a cockatiel named Poppy. Then she got Mali, a parakeet. Twenty-six birds later, cages line two walls in her family room.

A birdsong chorus greets guests to the room. It’s not a cacophony; but a lovely natural sound. Still, it’s constant — and it can get loud.

Lee favors smaller birds so, besides the many parakeets and cockatiels who often fly around, she also has a collection of zebra finches. They’re not as social as their larger roommates. They are more feral, unless they are hand raised from the shell. Lekawa, who has an African gray parrot and two Gouldian finches, was raised on a farm so she knew ducks and geese. It wasn’t until she acquired the parakeet, however, that she started to really enjoy feathered company.

Her first parakeet lived for years, which leads to an important point. Some species live up to 50, 70 or even 100 years, according to Lekawa.

“You have to put them in your will or find someone who will take them that has a love of birds and knows what they’re doing,” she said.

Because birds are smart and can imitate just about any sound, she knows what her husband has been watching when she gets home simply by what her birds tell her.

“You were watching ‘Star Wars,’” she said. How did she know? They were saying, “Pew, pew.”

One thing is certain: the birds recognize their family members. Let a stranger try to hand feed them and forget it. That bird takes o .

Lekawa and Lee both said newbies should start with one of the smaller species, such as a parakeet or lovebirds. Pet store parakeets come in at around $50, plus, they need a cage, food and toys. Larger birds, such as the African grays, begin at about $1,500. If their feathers are unusually colored, they can run $15,000 or more. They suggest bird owners visit club meetings to learn how to take care of them. The pair encourage everyone to consider getting a bird.

“They are a delight,” Lee said of her own avian crew.

Aviculture Society of Tucson astbirdclub.org

facebook.com/groups/ASTbirdclub

Presented by the Avicultural Society of Tucson

October 15, 2023

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Joyce Ledawa is president of the Aviculture Society of Tucson, a bird lovers’ group. Mali enjoys sitting on her head.

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

Poppy the cockatiel was the first bird Roseanne Lee bought. That was in 2021; now she has 26 birds: parakeets, cockatiels and zebra finches. (Karen Scha ner/Submitted)

Low-cost vet practice to open location

BY TUCSON WEEKLY STAFF

After finding success with its mobile practice, Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit, will open its first brick-and-mortar location in Tucson in July.

The new facility at 8860 E. Broadway Boulevard will have the capacity to complete 60 to 80 surgeries per day, focusing on low-cost operations such as dental work, spays and neuters, mass and tumor removals and bladder stones.

“Our business strategy was created to provide worried parents with a reliable location for their pets’ care,” said Douglas Patriquin, co-owner and chief executive officer of Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit.

“We take great pride in offering treatments and procedures at just a third of the typical price so that more pets can receive the high-quality care that they deserve.”

Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit has six doctors, five in Arizona. The practice provides an extensive surgical prep area, large surgical areas that accommodate two doctors and a recovery area for post-operative care. Each doctor can perform more than 18 surgeries per day.

Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit was founded in 2016 by Dr. Kelly Patriquin and Doug Patriquin, who sought to establish a veterinary clinic that could serve more pets. Since its inception, the clinic has performed more than 100,000 pet surgeries, assisted over 150,000 clients, and served at least 80 pet rescue organizations. The clinic expanded by 60% in 2022, 50% in 2021, and 160% in the previous three years. In 2023, they will see another 50% increase while adding two to three more locations, including the Broadway Boulevard practice.

Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit was founded in 2016 by Dr. Kelly Patriquin and Doug Patriquin, who sought to establish a veterinary clinic that could serve more pets. (Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit/Submitted)

SUMMERTIME

MOVIE FUN IN TUCSON’S

SING-ALONG MOVIES

WEST SIDE STORY 6/24

ANNIE 7/22

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN 8/26

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AIR CONDITIONED COMFORT RAIN OR SHINE!

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2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN

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BABE 7/16

FANTASTIC MR. FOX 7/23

THE MUPPET MOVIE 7/30

Music: BACK TO BACHARACH

Movie: BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID 7/8

Local pet care, adoption services abound

BY VERONICA KUFFEL

Tucson Local Media Contributor

Local shelters, rescues and pet shops often go overlooked, but many Marana businesses and organizations are all paws in when it comes to ethical, sustainable and diverse pet care.

In recent years, the town of Marana has developed diverse animal resources for all breeds and sizes alike. What Marana lacks in quantity compared to the city, it makes up in quality.

For dogs and cats, these are a few of the options to check out for adoption and care.

Hope Animal Shelter 8950 N. Joplin Lane, Tucson 520-792-9200

hopeanimalshelter.net

CEO Susan Scherl has owned and operated Hope Animal Shelter, the first dog and cat rescue in Marana, for almost 20 years. After working for corporate advertising in New York, she decided to move to Arizona and dedicate her life to the care and safety of animals.

Hope Animal Shelter was also the first no-kill sanctuary in Arizona, providing shelter, medical care and enrichment to Southern Arizona’s most at-risk dogs and cats. With weekly volunteering and adoption events, the shelter o ers visitors a chance to interact with available animals in a clean, cage-free environment.

Rescue Me Tucson/Marana 6401 Marana Center Boulevard, Tucson 520-261-1616 rescuemetucson.org

Rescue Me Marana is located at Tucson Premium Outlets but isn’t your ordinary “run-of-the-mill” pet shop. In fact, it prides itself on advocacy for animals and works against puppy mill facilities. Nancy Young Wright, board president of Rescue Me Tucson and Marana, explained the nonprofit is an epicenter for sustainable adoption and care for the Tucson area.

Rescue Me Marana provides same-day adoptions of rescued animals for lower resource areas with few potential adopters. They also sell products from local pet care vendors, like Dogs-n-Donuts with gourmet treats and other products.

Sol Dog Lodge

9665 N. Thornydale Road, Tucson 520-345-0075 soldoglodge.com

This nonprofit not only o ers training, grooming, boarding and adoption services but helps with dog ownership retention. The Lodge o ers a ordable dog training clinics for owners, and works with shelters in the area to better prepare at-risk dogs for adoption.

Sol Dog Lodge is located throughout the Tucson metro area and is building a new location in Marana. The location will include a veterinary facility, dog day camps and behavioral programs, grooming and an atrium and indoor park.

According to Shelly Harris, director of outreach and education, the expansion is to continue its high-quality care and service to Marana, just a little closer to home.

Pawsitive Vibes

8591 N. Silverbell Road, Tucson 520-344-9579

Two rescues preparing for adoption at Rescue Me Marana. (Veronica Ku el/Contributor)

pawsitivevibestucson.com

This artisan pet store was recently opened by Bruce Caulkins, who is also the proud owner of four dogs, three cats, six ferrets, one cockatoo, three arachnids and a handful of fish.

Pawsitive Vibes carries a multitude of premium products, ranging from quality foods, toys and furniture to wellness products. It’s also the only store in Tucson that has an indoor walking pen, and holds regular adoption events in conjunction with other rescues in the area.

According to Caulkins, his shop is an “Etsy hub,” and carries items made by local and/or independent small businesses.

Pawsitive Vibes features Tucson makers like Honey Bee Bakes with hand-crafted dog treats made with human-grade ingredients.

Town Resources

12110 N. Dove Mountain Boulevard 520-382-8020

maranaaz.gov/animal-control

The town of Marana o ers public animal services like sheltering, licensing and lost and found resources. They are an epicenter of communication for all pet care and adoption needs, and even released a Marana Pets app available for phone download.

In partnership with Asavet Charities, Marana animal services hosts low-cost spay and neuter clinics for the community. They plan to roll out future resources as the town continues to grow.

Working together

These are only a few of the many options available to residents, and a number of them work together to provide top-notch pet service and care.

As a community, they help address the problems associated with animals

Kristine Berg’s boarding business is a ‘Howling Success’

BY ANYA LOTUN

Tucson Local Media Sta

At Howling Success, Kristine Berg just wants dogs to be happy. Armed with extensive knowledge about dogs, Berg founded the cage-free facility to board canines older than 10 months. Berg makes the dogs feel at home with a spacious house, 50foot pool, agility equipment, balance balls and an obstacle course.

“I try to keep them busy all the time,” Berg said.

“We have a schedule that we follow every day. Just like kindergarten, we have an afternoon nap time. I just try to keep them happy. That’s the big thing.”

Berg has been working with dogs since 1977. When she was 16, she went to Munich, Germany, for six months to visit her sister. Upon her return, she found her parents had given away her Doberman.

“I tracked down the trainer and he had already placed the dog,” she said. “He was impressed with what I had done. I lived with him and his wife. I ended up running his whole business. A mentor at LA-based Animal Behav-

ALLTHINGSPAWS from Page 12

in Marana. When discussing issues that each has to deal with, most pointed to a ordable spay/neuter programs.

The town and regional nonprofits are working to provide this care, but according to Young Wright of Rescue Me Marana, a common practice in rural areas is to leave animals unspayed. This can multiply the problem for pets and homeless animals alike.

“In Marana, I’d like to see more spay and neuter opportunities, and also vaccine and microchip clinics,” Young Wright said. “As a nonprofit, we really don’t have the money to sponsor those. The biggest thing I think this animal welfare community needs is for people to work together more, for rescues to work together more.”

Another main issue for the pet industry, especially for rescues and shelters, is poor funding. Many facilities cover the

ior College, she is a nationally certified animal cruelty investigator.

Berg is confident in her abilities, but she encourages dog owners to visit the day care in advance by appointment only. All dogs are required to be spayed/ neutered. Berg recommends that the best dogs for boarding and daycare are social, outgoing and unaggressive.

When pet parents drop o their dogs, food should be in a labeled, air-tight container, and they can bring a dog bed, if desired. In addition, there is no extra charge for administering medication to the pets.

The boarding rates are based on a 24hour day; $60 per day for one dog. The facility is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Furthermore, a dog day care, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. is available for a $35 fee.

Berg said cage-free facilities are beneficial to the dog’s well-being, as it provides for a calmer environment and happier dogs.

“There’s less stress, socialization, happier dogs, and it’s overall better for the dog’s psyche,” she added.

Howling Success is located at Berg’s home, which she bought specifically for her business. There are many doors for dogs to use, as well as beds

cost of medicine, boarding and enrichment. To continue providing quality care, they are forced to limit their occupancy.

Despite this, many shelters and services take on cats and dogs from Pima Animal Care Center, whose bout with overcrowding has forced them to create a euthanasia list. Sol Dog Lodge, for example, teaches families how to take care of their pets before they decide to surrender.

“There are pets who are dropped o at the shelters every single day, and they find it so hard to keep up with those surrenders,” Harris said. “Our services step in to try to mitigate that gap somewhat, help families so that they don’t bring their dogs back to the shelters.”

The Marana pet care and adoption industry has a long way to go to reach the resource levels of cities like Tucson and Phoenix, but so far, these businesses and others have prioritized quality service to maintain their passion for local paws.

and couches. She reassured that safety is her priority. She even sends photos, videos and updates of the pets to the owners.

“I know what it feels like to leave your dogs… I take group photos of the dogs and send them to the owners,” she said. “To me, that’s the most important thing for me when I go away, is to know my dog is safe”.

The yard is secured so snakes and other critters cannot get in. She keeps anti-anxiety dog beds for those who are nervous.

“They’re really flu y dog beds made to soothe the dog,” she said.

To make sure dogs feel welcome, Berg considers their well-being and ensures the transition into her home is as smooth as possible.

“I monitor the dogs too,” she explained.

“I don’t let any dogs get picked on, I make sure everything is always fair. Sometimes you’ll get a shy dog who doesn’t want other dogs around them,

and I make sure they get left alone. I respect each dog for their personality, and I try to keep them comfortable and not stressed.”

Berg’s philosophy is to help the dogs in any way she can.

“I’ve always gone by this, I try to make the dog somehow better when they go home than they were when they came,” she said.

She said her business is picking up, especially from word-of-mouth referrals.

“The buzz is starting to get out there, which I’m really thrilled about,” she said. “I have one guy who flies his dog in from Reno to swim in my pool. Others come from Phoenix, or the other side of Tucson. It’s really nice to know that the word’s getting out.”

Howling Success

12252 W. Calle Madero, Tucson 520-448-1510 howlingsuccess.com

Having trouble seeing a vet? Here’s why

BY TIFFANY KJOS Tucson Local Media Contributor

You can’t get your cat in to see the vet. No one answers the phone. This is not your imagination.

“It’s dire right now. If anyone has tried to get an appointment with their veterinarian, they’ve likely discovered it’s several weeks before you can get in,” Julie Funk, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Arizona, said.

The veterinary crisis preceded COVID-19 but it is hard to deny the pandemic’s e ects. The ASPCA reports that around 23 million households adopted a pet during the pandemic.

“The number of animals that people own right now will surpass the number of veterinarians by 2025. That’s alarming,” said Karla Lombana, program director for veterinary technology at Pima Community College. She had a practice in Tucson before joining PCC.

People stayed home and took on pets that may have had health challenges (which most animal-adoption agencies divulge immediately). Pet owners saw previously unnoticed medical problems in pets.

The UA College of Veterinary Medicine will in late August graduate its first class of 105 students with doctor of veterinary medicine degrees. Around the same time 110 students will enter their first semester in the college’s year-round accelerated program in which they attain degrees in three years rather than the usual four.

Pima Community College has a long-established program training veterinary nurses (formerly known as vet techs). It’s one of the most cost-feasible options for anyone wanting to enter the field. Pima Medical Institute also o ers courses, but at a far higher cost.

The Humane Society of Southern

See VET Page 16

Christian Gonzalez, chief programs o cer at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, says the organization works hard to recruit people. (Humane Society of Southern Arizona/Submitted)

Arizona helped put in place a state tuition-reimbursement law that aims to encourage people in the veterinary profession to stay here.

The humane society’s CEO, Steve Farley, “felt strongly about having a huge incentive for all vet graduates to stay and practice in Arizona to help fill a lot of these gaps that are currently in place… it has been hard to fill any position after COVID. There have not been a lot of people looking for work,” according to Christian Gonzalez, chief programs o cer at the Humane Society.

That is endemic in virtually every industry.

“Between the tight labor market, low unemployment and fewer numbers of individuals in the 16-to-24 demographic as compared to previous generations, employers are facing considerable challenges finding qualified workers,” said Michael Guymon, president and CEO of the Tucson Metro Chamber.

This has had a considerable impact. Also, it’s already di cult caring for animals — many in the industry experi-

The College of Veterinary Medicine has been a longterm dream for the state of Arizona and the University of Arizona,” says the college’s inaugural dean, Julie Funk. In August the college will graduate its first class of students with Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. (University of Arizona/Submitted)

Dogs Available for Matching Program

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ence “compassion fatigue:” Dealing with sick pets and their distraught owners is wearing.

“The animal welfare field in general, due to its high emotionally driven environment, can make for high turnover in sta ,” said Gonzalez of the Humane Society.

Some people, such as Rachel Levinsohn, a veterinary hospital administrator in Tucson, have been at the front for years, yet soldier on. And she has good ideas about how you can help your pets and your vet, probably the most important of which is this: Take your pet for an annual checkup. Sounds simple, doesn’t happen often enough, and can prevent unscheduled visits to your already overwhelmed veterinarian and give them a history of your cat, or dog, or bird, or iguana, so they don’t have to die of an undiagnosed illness such as kidney failure, which can be tracked annually via a simple blood test.

“Establish care with the veterinarian. Create that relationship. That is the easiest way to keep your pet’s health on track,” Levinsohn said. “You would catch something before it’s an issue.”

New El Jefe café is the cat’s meow

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Tucson Local Media Sta

The road to Ti any Lee’s El Jefe Cat Café was an exercise in patience.

After months of hitting dead ends with spaces, the entrepreneur found the perfect spot for a cat lounge at 3025 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 141, Tucson.

The lounge, which opened on Halloween 2019, didn’t have beverage service, instead the sta encouraged guests to hang out with cats.

“It’s a blessing because it’s absolutely the best space we could have chosen,” she said. “Unfortunately, it was bad timing. It was Halloween of 2019. We had four and a half months before we had to close due to the pandemic because we’re a place of gathering. We closed for five months.”

She could not get PPP loans because she wasn’t taking payroll. Turning to her entrepreneurial skills, Lee started sewing animaland Tucson-themed face masks.

“Literally, we were sewing 50 face masks a day,” she said.

“Even when we were allowed to open and people were allowed to go out, we still received the online orders for face masks. Somehow, some way, we made it through COVID.”

Ti any Lee and her daughter, Victoria Brown, own El Jefe Cat Café. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

El Jefe Cat Café allows guests to mingle with feline friends, who are available for adoption. (Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

TEDDY’S TIPS

Grooming is not just about making dogs look good. It also plays a crucial role in their overall health and well-being. Regular grooming can help prevent skin infections, detect fleas and ticks, and maintain a health coat and skin.

Different breeds of dogs require different grooming techniques. For example: long haired breeds like the Maltese or Shih Tzu require daily brushing and regular haircuts, while short haired breeds like the Boxer or Doberman Pinscher require less frequent grooming.

Grooming should start at an early age. Puppies should be introduced to grooming gradually, to make the experience positive and prevent fear or anxiety later in life. This includes handling, brushing and bathing.

On May 11, she and her daughter, Victoria Brown, unveiled the El Jefe Cat Café, complete with espresso drinks, co ee, tea, hot chocolate and Italian sodas to enjoy while mingling with the cats.

Lee said she feels blessed to be part of the Tucson community. Friends and neighbors supported her e orts through the pandemic — financially and through word of mouth.

“I don’t know any other community or city like this,” she said. “Tucson residents just get ‘local’ and they decided what they wanted to stay during COVID.

“They supported us. They went out of their way. People in grocery lines would ask each other where they bought their masks, and they could give them our Facebook links.

“They kept us afloat.”

Various stories tell the tales of cat cafés. Some say they started in Vienna in 1912, while others cite the first one opening in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998. In the United States, most cafés focus on adoptions.

El Jefe Cat Café is no di erent. Its resident felines come from Finally My Forever Home Rescue in Tucson. All the furry friends are healthy and available for adoption, which isn’t required. Guests can just come in and play with the cats. Lee is quick to add that El Jefe Cat Café is not a shelter or rescue.

“They started out in Asia for a purpose,” Lee said.

bration/ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 10, Lee was in tears.

on top of something that local Tucsonans are proud of.”

And the cats as well.

“As a female-owned business — and somebody who’s been funding everything out of her own pocket or credit card — it was a very, very hard endeavor,” she said.

“I’m just an entrepreneur and I was looking for a business that had more purpose than chasing a carrot,” she said.

“It was probably eight years before it hit America. It started in Denver and Seattle and the concept changed. In Asia, their living quarters were getting smaller and smaller and couldn’t have pets.

“I like that this helped people destress, have fun and create memories.”

“It was uphill the entire time. I believe in Tucson the entire time, though. They’ve really come through. Now, I’d say 80% of my customers are completely new people or tourists. They’re usually in big cities and people want to visit a cat café.”

An Arkansas native, Lee said she hopes she makes Tucsonans proud.

“So, they have high-end cats in cafés with co ee. They were like zoo animals, permanent cats. That doesn’t translate well with the United States. When the model came over to the United States, everybody started working with rescues. The cats are all adoptable. They have fun, they don’t feel guilty. They play with them.

During the grand opening cele-

“I wanted to represent a lot of Tucson in our space,” she said. “That’s why we’ve incorporated the décor and murals. We’re trying to share local businesses in our space as well. We want it to be a tourist destination

3025 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 141, Tucson 520-849-8856, eljefecatlounge.com

Hours:

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

El Jefe Cat Café

Cats abound at El Jefe Cat Café. (Noelle HaroGomez/Contributor)

Tucson elements are part of El Jefe Cat Café's decor. (Noelle HaroGomez/Contributor)

PGA: Pathetically Greedy Association

By Tom Danehy Tucson Local Media Columnist

Ihave to start by saying that I don’t hate golf. It’s certainly not my favorite sport, but as long as soccer and pickleball exist, it won’t be my least favorite. Then there’s the fact that a former elected (and unelected) official absolutely loves the game, so that adds an icky factor to it.

A fun (and infuriating) book on that subject is “Commander in Cheat” by Rick Reilly. It humorously documents hundreds of times the guy cheated in golf. I have never understood cheating. If you are voluntarily participating in a sport, then you should be agreeing to abide by the rules of the game. I can understand trying to cheat in Squid Game, but in golf.

I actually play golf three or four times a year, usually in July after 2 p.m. so I can get on the course without having to take out a second mortgage on our house. I decided a long time ago to stay bad at golf so that I could enjoy the game. It’s like billiards. You can be horrible at it, but then all you need is one good shot and that’s enough to bring you back the next time.

“Yeah, I shot 140 today, but you should of seen this shot I had on the 12th hole.”

The problems come when you start getting good at it and the frustration sets in.

Recently, in one of the most disgusting spectacles I have ever witnessed in sports, the PGA, sold its soul for an unspecified number of pieces of silver. It was just a year ago that the LIV tour sprang up, bankrolled by people in a country where human rights are anywhere between a mere suggestion and a complete punchline. The LIV backers from Saudi Arabia threw insane amounts of money at people to try to get them to join their minor league tour. Some people went for the money, while others actually knew the definition of integrity and said, “Uh…no.”

The rumors were that they offered Tiger Woods a figure in the neighborhood of a billion dollars. Further ru-

mors were that Woods told them to take their offer and use it in suppository form. Other PGA members, Rory McElroy foremost among them, were openly critical of the greed-driven LIV and of the players who took the blood money.

On the other side, you have LIV people like Bryson DeChambeau who, when asked about his tour being attached to a regime that murders journalists and doesn’t accord even basic human rights to many of its people, answered, “That is not something I can necessarily speak on because I’m a golfer.”

The PGA had the moral (and ratings) high ground. Most golf fans couldn’t stomach the source of the LIV money and if one of their orchestrated “tournaments” found its way onto TV, the ratings were abysmal. Judging by the dozens of people who showed up to watch the LIV event at Dove Mountain a few months ago, that tour wasn’t at-

tracting walk-up fans, either.

So, it came as quite a shock when the PGA agreed to merge with LIV. (The merger still faces some serious antitrust concerns.)

I was driving along the other morning, listening to a local morning drivetime sports talk show. It’s not my favorite entertainment, but the only alternative is a quasi-political thing, the years-long theme of which is that any member of a certain political party who has ever lost an election was the victim of widespread voter fraud orchestrated by a shadowy international cabal that used rigged (and possibly deadly) voting machines that are somehow linked to a former South American dictator who died more than a decade ago. Sorry, my IQ has three numbers in it.

Of course, in the old days, I used to listen to music on my CDs, but then I got a new “improved” car that doesn’t play CDs. Instead, I have to talk to my

car like I’m some kind of idiot, asking it to play a particular song by a particular artist. But then, as a foreshadowing of the coming Skynet Apocalypse, it picks out and plays an obscure live version of the song I requested. Then I find myself driving along, yelling at a machine, “Your daddy was a BetaMax and your mama’s a Zune.”

So, sports talk it usually is. That day, the main topic was the bizarre rollover by the PGA. Some guest was rattling on about how it wasn’t that big a deal. Then, he said, “Look, everybody has their price.”

That was the time for the host to jump in and verbally assault the moron about the head and neck. Not everybody has a price. The vast majority of the people in the PGA didn’t. Some people do have a price. Maybe most people do. But not everybody does.

Unfortunately, the PGA does.

Edited by Will Shortz No. 0120

Edited by Will Shortz

HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You are self-reliant and rarely ask anyone for help. But this time, you might want someone you trust to be there for you while you deal with a difficult matter. Cheer up. Things improve soon.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your patience begins to pay off. Look for the first sign that your goals are in plain sight. Also, take time out from all your hard work for some fun with someone special.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) There could be some lingering effects from a recent setback. But it’s all for the best, as you’re now beginning to appreciate. Use the lessons you’ve learned to start over.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) What seemed to be a difficult goal to reach is now -- or soon will be -- all yours. Congratulations. An unexpected travel opportunity holds an intriguing new prospect.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) A chilly reception to your presentation shouldn’t cause you to abandon your ideas. Instead, do tweak up those weaker parts and then, once again, show them what you have.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Hiding your feelings might make you feel safer against rejection. But this could be the time when you’ll need to speak up or risk losing out on an important event in your life.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Some co-workers might try to talk you out of accepting a promotion. But you need to follow your own instincts -- and if you believe you’re right for the job, then take it.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Some changes are in order, as you come to realize that you need to sort out several areas in your life. Your remarkable insight helps you make the right decisions.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) It’s time to act on your own behalf and separate yourself from those whose selfish needs threaten your personal and/or professional survival.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Resist your tendency to close yourself off from unpleasant situations. Instead, open up to how things are so that you can help change them to what they could be.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) An unspoken problem could be driving a deep wedge between you and that special person. Some honest talking between the two of you starts the healing process.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might feel you’ve been going around in ever-widening circles trying to deal with recent workplace problems. Lighten up. A successful end is finally in sight.

BORN THIS WEEK: You’re authentic and unafraid of using thr large emotions that overtake your heart. Originality is your super power.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY ROBERT S. GREENFIELD

1 It can cover all the bases

Rocks out?

Picks

On the safe side, at sea

Tom ___, consigliere in “The Godfather”

Choice in a slumber party game

Apologetic comment from a dinner guest

Lined up

Comebacks

Foul-smelling

One using a bib, maybe

Promising reply

Public house

___ support 29 Organization with a strong track record? 31 Grain stores 33 Take off in a hurry

Neologize 37 A message from the Pentagon might be in this

42 Word with tie or fly

Crystal object featured in Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi,” the most expensive painting ever sold

Appendectomy sites, in brief

One purchasing cigars, maybe

What helps you see the big picture? 53 Two-___ (many a sports car)

Best-selling Israeli author of “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind”

A Swiss Army knife has many

Bicker

Put one’s foot down

Bee lines?

Don’t forget

8 “See?” 9 Easily attached, in a way

Things a bettor better know

Quark or lepton 12 “Uh-huh, you said it!” 13 Motion detector, e.g. 18 Penny candy morsel since 1907 19 “That could work!” 23 Splashy display 28 Go along for the ride, say 30 Letters that shouldn’t be written big for air rescue (a single V or X is best) 32 Play a mean guitar, slangily

Part for a balding man? 35 “Dejection” is a famous one

Goes over again