Explorer News 05/03/2023

for Kate Cherrington, Athlete of

Charges filed in Naranja fatality

BY DAVE PERRY Tucson Local Media Contributor

Oro Valley Police have filed charges against a motorist who struck two young pedestrians — one fatally — on March 17 along Naranja Drive east of the entrance to Naranja Park.

Sabrina Garcia faces one count of “causing death by moving violation,” and one count of “causing serious physical injury by moving violation,” according to an April 27 release by the Oro Valley Police Department.

“After making use of all available resources, including the town’s legal department, it was determined that the charges filed are appropriate given the facts of the case,” OVPD said. “Our collision reconstruction revealed that speeding, impairment, and phone usage were not factors in this collision.”

The accident occurred on Naranja Drive near its intersection with Pomegranate Drive shortly before 1 p.m. March 17. Olivia Rene Villalobos, 13, died, and her friend was severely injured. Police did not release the names or ages of the two girls who were struck.

"The tragic loss of a young life has long-lasting emotional impact on the entire community, and we share in that loss,” OVPD said in its release.

“Our hearts go out to all of the family and friends of the young victim of this tragedy.”

Olivia’s family, friends and others have erected a shrine with religious statuary, stuffed animals, flowers, cards and mementoes on a guardrail along the north side of Naranja. Beyond it, vehicles are newly advised of their speed by digital speed

BY DAVE PERRY Tucson Local Media Contributor

The Oro Valley Town Council has been asked by one of its members to expand the town-funded, police-provided school resource officer program that’s been in place more than three decades.

At council’s April 19 meeting, Councilmember Steve Solomon moved that Oro Valley adopt a policy offering to place a school resource officer, or some form of approved alternative security presence, in every Oro Valley school with 200 or more students.

Additionally, Solomon suggested the town request — but not require — a 50% reimbursement from each participating school to help pay for an SRO. After a presentation by Oro Valley Police Department Chief Kara Riley, and discussion, the governing board asked for further information from staff and legal counsel, and continued the motion to its Wednesday, May 3, agenda.

Solomon was careful to describe his motion as “a policy,” not a mandate nor an ordinance. “This gives us an opportunity to have a conversation,” he said.

“Security in our schools is absolutely

see CHARGES page 8 see PROGRAM page 6

A memorial marks the site where two young people were struck by a car, one fatally, on Naranja Drive. (Submitted)

A Senior Living Option as Unique as You.

La Posada, southern Arizona’s awardwinning Life Plan Community, is bringing its commitment to excellence to Oro Valley. Finely appointed, maintenance-free apartment homes. Stunning mountain views. An oasis of first-class amenities to enjoy with friends, old and new. All at an incomparable, wellness-centered community in the heart of nature.

Connect with our retirement counselors at an upcoming informative lunch to hear about the latest construction updates, delicious restaurant-style dining experiences and the long-term security of our Life Lease and more.

ORO VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

Wednesday, June 7

Thursday, July 6

Friday, August 4

Please join us for an upcoming luncheon and informative presentation on a date and location that is convenient for you:

Tuesday, September 12

SADDLEBROOKE 2 BALLROOM

Wednesday, June 14

RSVP today by calling 520-531-3480. Seating is limited. Lunch will be served.

Hot Picks

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Sta

ARTS

African American Museum of Southern Arizona Ongoing

The African American Museum of Southern Arizona has opened its doors at the UA. Co-founded by Beverly and Bob Elliott, the museum presents a cultural and educational experience through items of significance and intentional storytelling to preserve African American and Black life, culture and history in Southern Arizona to benefit the community. Admission is free to the museum in room 244 of the Student Union Memorial Center. Until regular hours are established, interested visitors can schedule an appointment by emailing aamuseumofsouthernaz@gmail. com.

African American Museum of Southern Arizona, 4511 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 255-2, Tucson, free, by appointment only, aamsaz.org

Juried Student Art Exhibit TO MAY 5

The Spring 2023 Annual Juried Student Award Art Exhibition, hosted by the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, brings together the best student artwork for the summer, fall and spring semesters from any student taught at the five campuses at Pima Community College. The 237 entries were received from 104 students, and 77 entries were accepted by the jurors for this exhibition. This year, the Bernal Gallery has Tucson Art

Museum staff as jurors who choose the students and award winners. The jurors were Dr. Julie Sasse, chief curator of modern and contemporary art, Tucson Museum of Art (TMA); Olivia Miller, interim director and curator, University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA); and Harrison Orr, education director, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA-Tucson).

Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, Center for the Arts -West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road, free, various times, 520-206-6942, pima.edu/cfa-gallery

“Woman-Ochre” TO MAY 20 Willem de Koonig’s “Woman-Ochre” was stolen in 1985 from the University of Arizona Museum of Art. It’s returned home and on display through May. Tickets for “Restored:

5-DAY WEATHER

EXPLORER

The Explorer and Marana News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the Northwest Tucson. To nd out where you can pick up a free copy of the Explorer and Marana News, go to www.TucsonLocalMedia.com

STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Claudine Sowards, Accounting claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

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

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

Veronica Ku el, Sta Reporter vku el@tucsonlocalmedia.com

PRODUCTION

Shannon Mead, Production/Design Supervisor smead@timeslocalmedia.com

Arman Olivares, Graphic Designer aolivares@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

Laura Meehan, Associate Publisher, lmeehan@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Kristin Chester, Account Executive kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Candace Murray, Account Executive candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Leah Pittman, Account Executive lpittman@tucsonlocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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

LIVING LIFE AFTER COVID

LIVING LIFE AFTER COVID

LIVING LIFE AFTER COVID

"Covid was rough on everybody, but I was one of those unlucky ones and my cough caused me to tear muscles in my chest and side. I've pulled muscles before, but never had I been in so much pain, and the area was really swollen. Obviously I kept coughing, so I imagine that didn't help because long after my Covid symptoms disappeared, I was still in pain. Months went by and I wasn't healing, how do you rest an area that you use to breathe?"-

"Covid was rough on everybody, but I was one of those unlucky ones and my cough caused me to tear muscles in my chest and side. I've pulled muscles before, but never had I been in so much pain, and the area was really swollen. Obviously I kept coughing, so I imagine that didn't help because long after my Covid symptoms disappeared, I was still in pain. Months went by and I wasn't healing, how do you rest an area that you use to breathe?"-

Joseph M.

"Covid was rough on everybody, but I was one of those unlucky ones and my cough caused me to tear muscles in my chest and side. I've pulled muscles before, but never had I been in so much pain, and the area was really swollen. Obviously I kept coughing, so I imagine that didn't help because long after my Covid symptoms disappeared, I was still in pain. Months went by and I wasn't healing, how do you rest an area that you use to breathe?"-

Joseph M.

Joseph M.

Kari Hahn, L.Ac. at Oro Valley Acupuncture has been successfully treating Covid "long-haulers" since the early days of the pandemic.

Kari Hahn, L.Ac. at Oro Valley Acupuncture has been successfully treating Covid "long-haulers" since the early days of the pandemic.

work to clot and scab. Your liver has a unique ability to regenerate after injury. If you break a bone, there are specific cells that immediately begin to knit the edges back together.

work to clot and scab. Your liver has a unique ability to regenerate after injury. If you break a bone, there are specific cells that immediately begin to knit the edges back together.

Unfortunately, there are also a number of factors that inhibit those regenerative cells from completing the tasks they were designed to do including stress, age, not getting enough quality sleep, and suffering from serious infection or disease.

work to clot and scab. Your liver has a unique ability to regenerate after injury. If you break a bone, there are specific cells that immediately begin to knit the edges back together. Unfortunately, there are also a number of factors that inhibit those regenerative cells from completing the tasks they were designed to do including stress, age, not getting enough quality sleep, and suffering from serious infection or disease.

Unfortunately, there are also a number of factors that inhibit those regenerative cells from completing the tasks they were designed to do including stress, age, not getting enough quality sleep, and suffering from serious infection or disease.

Having used acupuncture to heal her own longtime ailments of asthma and fatigue, she saw the power that this ancient medicine has on many issues that people are told they "just have to live with".

Having used acupuncture to heal her own longtime ailments of asthma and fatigue, she saw the power that this ancient medicine has on many issues that people are told they "just have to live with".

Having used acupuncture to heal her own longtime ailments of asthma and fatigue, she saw the power that this ancient medicine has on many issues that people are told they "just have to live with".

Kari Hahn, L.Ac. at Oro Valley Acupuncture has been successfully treating Covid "long-haulers" since the early days of the pandemic.

have protocols for headaches, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and other symptoms associated with long-haulers syndrome. In addition to acupuncture, I use adjunct therapies help combat lasting effects of Covid. Joseph was the first person I saw whose infection caused a severe injury," shares Kari Hahn, L.Ac. "Normally with acute injuries, I instruct my patients to rest, take ibuprofen, and come see me if the pain persists for more than a week two. Joseph had been suffering for months, his body simply refused heal."

"I have protocols for headaches, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and other symptoms associated with long-haulers syndrome. In addition to acupuncture, I use adjunct therapies to help combat lasting effects of Covid. Joseph was the first person I saw whose infection caused a severe injury," shares Kari Hahn, L.Ac. "Normally with acute injuries, I instruct my patients to rest, take ibuprofen, and come see me if the pain persists for more than a week or two. Joseph had been suffering for months, his body simply refused to heal."

"I have protocols for headaches, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and other symptoms associated with long-haulers syndrome. In addition to acupuncture, I use adjunct therapies to help combat lasting effects of Covid. Joseph was the first person I saw whose infection caused a severe injury," shares Kari Hahn, L.Ac. "Normally with acute injuries, I instruct my patients to rest, take ibuprofen, and come see me if the pain persists for more than a week or two. Joseph had been suffering for months, his body simply refused to heal."

The human body is a self-healing organism. When you scrape your knee, your blood will quickly

The human body is a self-healing organism. When you scrape your knee, your blood will quickly

190 W Magee Rd, Ste 142

Oro Valley, AZ 85704

Kari Hahn shares her expertise. "In Joseph's case, his battle with Covid really afftected his muscle tissues and their ability to heal and repair. Beyond the body just being terribly fatigued from fighting a very challenging infection, his cells were nearly depleted of oxygen. At Oro Valley Acupuncture, I have several cutting edge solutions that I use to treat injuries of this nature and at the forefront is O3 Regenerative Therapy™."

Kari Hahn shares her expertise. "In Joseph's case, his battle with Covid really afftected his muscle tissues and their ability to heal and repair. Beyond the body just being terribly fatigued from fighting a very challenging infection, his cells were nearly depleted of oxygen. At Oro Valley Acupuncture, I have several cutting edge solutions that I use to treat injuries of this nature and at the forefront is O3 Regenerative Therapy™."

Kari Hahn shares her expertise. "In Joseph's case, his battle with Covid really afftected his muscle tissues and their ability to heal and repair. Beyond the body just being terribly fatigued from fighting a very challenging infection, his cells were nearly depleted of oxygen. At Oro Valley Acupuncture, I have several cutting edge solutions that I use to treat injuries of this nature and at the forefront is O3 Regenerative Therapy™."

At Oro Valley Acupuncture, Kari uses acupuncture in combination with adjunct therapies to break through the patterns in longstanding chronic issues. "Those conditions that Western medicine professionals deem 'untreatable,' and then send you on your way with a prescription in hand - that's where we do our best work." There are real solutions to your suffering. Kari Hahn works to create those solutions based on the successful treatment of seemingly chronic cases over the years.

At Oro Valley Acupuncture, Kari uses acupuncture in combination with adjunct therapies to break through the patterns in longstanding chronic issues. "Those conditions that Western medicine professionals deem 'untreatable,' and then send you on your way with a prescription in hand - that's where we do our best work."

There are real solutions to your suffering. Kari Hahn works to create those solutions based on the successful treatment of seemingly chronic cases over the years.

At Oro Valley Acupuncture, Kari uses acupuncture in combination with adjunct therapies to break through the patterns in longstanding chronic issues. "Those conditions that Western medicine professionals deem 'untreatable,' and then send you on your way with a prescription in hand - that's where we do our best work." There are real solutions to your suffering. Kari Hahn works to create those solutions based on the successful treatment of seemingly chronic cases over the years.

"I'll be honest, I was skeptical at first," said Joseph. "But I was out of options and too many people have had such incredible success at her hand that I just couldn't say no. With each treatment I felt better and better. It wasn't 2 weeks into treatment before I was once again playing pickle ball!"

The human body is a self-healing organism. When you scrape your knee, your blood will quickly

"I'll be honest, I was skeptical at first," said Joseph. "But I was out of options and too many people have had such incredible success at her hand that I just couldn't say no. With each treatment I felt better and better. It wasn't 2 weeks into treatment before I was once again playing pickle ball!"

"I'll be honest, I was skeptical at first," said Joseph. "But I was out of options and too many people have had such incredible success at her hand that I just couldn't say no. With each treatment I felt better and better. It wasn't 2 weeks into treatment before I was once again playing pickle ball!"

"I've seen Kari Hahn for almost every ailment and condition since, " tells Joseph. "Now I check in every few weeks for maintenance. I know I make it sound like changing the oil in your car, but that's exactly what it is. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of ordering custom new parts for my body, so I plan on taking good care of the one I've got!".

"I've seen Kari Hahn for almost every ailment and condition since, " tells Joseph. "Now I check in every few weeks for maintenance. I know I make it sound like changing the oil in your car, but that's exactly what it is. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of ordering custom new parts for my body, so I plan on taking good care of the one I've got!".

"I've seen Kari Hahn for almost every ailment and condition since, " tells Joseph. "Now I check in every few weeks for maintenance. I know I make it sound like changing the oil in your car, but that's exactly what it is. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of ordering custom new parts for my body, so I plan on taking good care of the one I've got!".

Kari Hahn has been treating complex, chronic conditions in Tucson for nearly two decades.

Kari Hahn has been treating complex, chronic conditions in Tucson for nearly two decades.

Kari Hahn has been treating complex, chronic conditions in Tucson for nearly two decades.

If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a new patient consultation, please call. Mention this ad for a consult fee of $30 for our New Patient Offer.

If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a new patient consultation, please call. Mention this ad for a consult fee of $30 for our New Patient Offer.

If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a new patient consultation, please call. Mention this ad for a consult fee of $30 for our New Patient Offer.

(520) 532-2012

www.OroValleyAcupuncture.com

The Return of Woman-Ochre” are $8 general admission; $6 seniors 65-plus and groups of 10 or more; and free for students with ID, museum members, UA faculty, staff, military personnel, AAM members, visitors with a SNAP card or Tribal ID, and children.

The University of Arizona Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road, Tucson, various pricing, artmuseum.arizona.edu

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 will recur 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

Mini Time Museum: Steve Farley’s “Dowdytown” TO AUG. 20

Pandemic isolation inspired artist, graphic designer and former Arizona State Sen. Steve Farley explores childhood memories through a series of miniatures. They’re artifacts of his Ontario, California, home, but their resonance with childhood reveries is universal. Farley’s youth included a fondness for building miniature models. As an adult, he’s an artist and graphic designer renowned for public murals. He found that creating these tiny structures helped to ground him in the social and emotional upheaval that accompanied our months in lockdown. An artist reception and talk take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, tickets start at $8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, theminitimemachine.org

Kuumba In Afrikan Arts

MAY 13

For more than a decade, Barbea Williams Performing Company has offered this fiveweek camp experience for children ages 7

through 15. The program covers West African Dance, African diaspora culture and art, drumming, healthy cooking and beauty. For the first time this year, the program also includes STEM programming in professional development workshops. Register now via bwpcarizona.com, class starts at 2 p.m., email bwpc2020@gmail. com for details, $1,200, discounts and scholarships available.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Western Experience TO MAY 7

Journey into a Western Experience at Old Tucson Studios, through Sunday, May 7, and witness the spirit of the Old West come alive. Get a glimpse of a historic town in Arizona territory during the 1800s and enjoy live action cowboy gun fights, death-defying stunts, rides and attractions.

Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, $34 adults, $17 children ages 5 to 11, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays, oldtucson.com

Kentucky Derby Watch Party MAY 6

The Rillito Park Foundation invites us to celebrate the Kentucky Derby almost as if we’re

right there at Churchill Downs. There will be live betting and Mint Juleps plus food, beverages, a raffle, prizes and a souvenir for the first 100 guests. Attendees are encouraged to “dress to impress.” Churchill Downs may be more famous, but Rillito Park is known as “The birthplace of modern Quarter Horse racing.”

Rillito Park Racetrack, 4502 N. First Avenue, free, noon to 5 p.m., rillitoracetrack. com

Cinco de Mayo at Hotel Congress MAY 5 AND MAY 6

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers is a Sonoran Desert band and happy to be. Fans in Arizona and Mexico flock to their shows, which often sell out, to revel in their distinctive blend of desert folk and pop rock, layered with road dust, shimmering hot sand and the light of starry nights. They perform on the plaza at 6 p.m. Friday, May 5, and will play a completely different set on Saturday, May 6. Meanwhile, in Club Congress, Santa Pachita and Salvador Duran perform on Friday at 8 p.m., and XIXA plays on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, various prices and times, hotelcongress. com

PROGRAM from page 1

critical,” Solomon said. “Unfortunately, for some reason, schools have become an attraction for individuals who want to cause some sort of death and mayhem... We value our students, and we know (the SRO program) provides an enormous benefit and increased safety.”

According to a National Public Radio report, 18 people have been killed and 56 injured in school shootings across America since Jan. 1. In 2022, 122 people were shot at U.S. schools, the most in any year since 1999.

Riley called Solomon’s motion “a great opportunity for me to showcase the great work the men and women of our school resource officer program do for our town.”

The town of Oro Valley has provided SROs in Amphitheater Public Schools located within Oro Valley for more than 30 years, Riley said.

Darren Wright, public information officer for OVPD, said the department has six officers and one sergeant assigned to its SRO program. SROs are present at each Amphi location in the community.

“Do schools pay 50% now?” Councilmember Josh Nicolson asked.

They do not, Solomon said. Oro Valley gets “some funding” from the Amphitheater district, Riley said, but it amounts to less than the pay for one police officer.

Michelle Valenzuela, Amphi’s director of communications, said the district pays a total of $52,985 for one officer at Canyon del Oro High School.

One school resource officer carries an initial estimated expense of $212,000, to include salary, medical insurance and retirement benefits ($92,000 a year, on average); and initial one-time costs for a vehicle ($87,000), equipment ($28,000) and training ($5,000), Riley told the town council. Additional expense is incurred on vehicle and equipment maintenance, and some further training costs.

Beyond Amphi schools, SROs also act as liaisons in other Oro Valley schools, Riley said. “This means they are available for assistance at those schools, but are not on campus full time at those locations,” Wright said.

“We engage our schools already, even those without an SRO, in some ancillary

way,” Riley said.

Private and charter schools provide no funds for OVPD liaison services. Regardless, engagement with the entire school community and school administration is regular and ongoing, the chief said. “My job is to evaluate all the moving parts of our community,” Riley added.

The “whole goal” of the SRO effort “is always about prevention and engagement,” the chief told the council. “You’ve all been very supportive of us along the way.”

Prevention of crime and violence “is not measurable,” Riley said. “That’s a lesson I’ve learned over the years.”

Oro Valley can measure police response time to emergencies. In 2022, the department responded to 282 total calls classified as “Priority One” emergencies, with “serious threat to life.” Its average response time was four minutes, one second. Just under 3/4ths of all Priority One responses were less than five minutes. Last year, OVPD received 875 “Priority Two” calls, with “high potential threat to life or property,” the chief reported. Among those calls, average response time was 4:40.

If an Oro Valley school is targeted for mass violence, “it’s the responsibility of every member of this agency, and of this community,” to respond, Riley said. Additionally, she continued, police leaders across the region have formalized and coordinated their responses to any mass violence at any greater Tucson school. Departments will assist one another across jurisdictional lines.

The chief said some Oro Valley schools have chosen to hire retired police officers to aid with security. Her department wants to “review all safety plans and responses” at any Oro Valley school. Immediately, the question arose whether the town could legally provide a school resource officer to a private school. Jonathan Rothschild, the town council’s attorney, wants to fully conduct such research and report back. In his initial review during the April 19 meeting, Rothschild concluded “we can probably not do this with private schools, we can do it with charter schools.”

Members of council and Mayor Joe

trailers.

Placement of those speed trailers took place because the accident was “immediately addressed” by the town’s internal traffic safety committee, a consortium with representatives from the town’s engineering, police, planning, legal, and safety management departments, as well as the Golder Ranch Fire District, according to Misti Nowak, communications and marketing administrator for the town.

and cyclist safety on that stretch of road, and urging government to take action, even if on an interim basis, to protect walkers and cyclists while longer-term solutions are -pur sued.

of a controlled crosswalk, and expansion of a cycling lane along Naranja. Those improvements would benefit “everyone who comes for all the great things we have in our community.”

Nearby resident and mother Brianne Spaeth was the first to address council on April 5. She suggested Naranja Park has become an “attractive nuisance,” in that it is particularly appealing to children, yet poses a risk to their safety if they walk or cycle to it.

“My family and I live on a property that sits about 500 feet from Naranja Drive, so the recent tragedy near the park hits particularly close to home,” Spaeth said. “My family will never walk or bike along that roadway, sometimes going a half-mile out of our way to take a safer path.”

Along with the speed trailers, OVPD has increased its police patrol on Naranja, and added that section of roadway to its police traffic complaint hotline. The town plans a speed study to confirm the proper posted speed limit for that stretch of Naranja.

“Posting an artificial speed limit that is too high or too low for the design of the street can actually pose additional hazards/problems,” the town said. “That is why the town adheres to setting speed limits that correspond to the use and design of a particular street.”

Naranja between First and La Cañada has sections of two-lane roadway with attached shoulders and 45 mph posted speed limits. Westbound toward the park entrance, there is a right-hand turn lane, a path for cyclists, and three lanes for traffic, one in each direction divided by a central turning lane. There is no separated pedestrian infrastructure. Eastbound motorists have three lanes for movement as they descend a small hill to approach the park entrance. There is attached pathway on both sides of Naranja west of the park entrance, and a 35-mph speed limit sign directly at the entrance.

Elizabeth Lance said the accident occurred “right where I cross Naranja.” The roadway has a “very narrow shoulder,” she said. And “I don’t understand why this is 45” miles per hour, Lance continued, comparing it to the 45-mph speed limits on 4-lane Tangerine Road. Before infrastructure improvements are made, Lance also urged “more police presence along Naranja.”

With $3.7M grant, OV creating a detached path

BY DAVE PERRY Tucson Local Media Contributor

A“It’s very sad what happened a few weeks ago,” said cyclist Joe Pickens.

He called a planned multi-use path “the most effective way to go,” but acknowledged it’ll require time to design, engineer and construct. “I ride on Naranja multiple times a week,” he said. “If it’s true it’ll be almost two years, give or take,” before a detached path is installed, “we’re in big trouble.”

Naranja between La Cañada and First “is one of, if not the only, arterial streets in town that does not have safe pedestrian facilities separated from lanes of travel, or at the very least separated by a curb,” Spaeth said. She said the town’s decision not to improve pedestrian access while it improves the park “was shortsighted at best and negligent at worst. This lack of foresight is only getting more egregious with each new amenity that gets constructed in the park.

“It is heartbreaking that it took the recent tragedy to highlight this issue,” Spaeth said. “It should have been addressed long ago. This council should not allocate another dime to the park until safe pedestrian access has been provided along Naranja Drive.”

In the aftermath of the accident, no fewer than five Oro Valley citizens have approached the Oro Valley Town Council during its call to the audience comment periods in April, expressing their worries about pedestrian

PROGRAM

detached multi-use pedestrian and cyclist path on the north side of Naranja Drive is in the works.

In September 2022, the town of Oro Valley learned it had been awarded a $3.7 million federal grant through the Pima Association of Governments to construct a path between First and La Cañada, connecting into the south entrance to Naranja Park.

Simply painting a cycling/pedestrian lane gives “a false sense of security,” Pickens said. He urged placement of bollards, which are short posts used to divide traffic, as well as more police presence, flashing lights, “whatever the menu allows. If you do nothing, you’re asking for potential disasters. That speed is going to be disastrous.”

“Can we add the Naranja multi-use path as part of the strategic plan?” Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett asked.

“It shows the public we’re doing something” in light of the accident, “and we don’t want it to happen again,” Councilmember Dr. Harry “Mo” Greene said.

On April 19, Diane Stephenson, a 10-year resident of the community, shared with council her emotional toll from “the catastrophic death of a young person, very close to where we reside. It’s very concerning.”

While Stephenson views development of Naranja Park as a positive, “it also brings concerns for safety,” particularly that of children. She urged a reduced speed limit, the creation

Winfield want more information before voting on Solomon’s motion. Solomon emphasized he’s not trying to reduce SRO presence by requesting reimbursement from schools. That said, he added, “It amazes me a school district in this day and age will say, ‘Sorry, we don’t have the funds for this.’”

To read more about Oro Valley’s SRO program, visit https://bit.ly/OVSRO.

That path would run close to the scene of a March 17 motorist/pedestrian accident that claimed the life of one young walker, and seriously injured another.

At the time of the award announcement, then-Town Manager Mary Jacobs said there was “no identified timeframe for the work.”

On April 28, Misti Nowak, the town’s communications and marketing administrator, said a report on the Naranja multi-use path project, to include a tentative timeline, is being prepared for the Oro Valley Town Council.

The council’s two-year strategic plan, adopted April 19, now has an objective to “continue to improve traffic safety (i.e., bicycle, multiuse path, pedestrian, vehicle, etc.) through education, engineering and enforcement.

SRO mission

“The Oro Valley School Resource Officer Unit’s mission is to provide a safe environment, have positive interactions and build partnerships with the school community as law enforcement officers, informal counselors and teachers.”

Because the multiuse path is federally funded, it requires a federally certified agency to manage it, Nowak said. The town is not a federally certified agency, so the Arizona Department of Transportation is overseeing design, construction and overall administration of the project, in partnership with the town via an intergovernmental agreement.

“Since we are not managing the project, we do not have control over the timeline like we would with a town-managed project,” Nowak said.

In a report on Oro Valley’s proposed 2023-’24 budget, Interim Town Manager Chris Cornelison said the ’23-’24 spending proposal includes money “for installation of multi-use paths along La Cañada Drive and Naranja Drive.”

Specifically, the budget request calls for $200,000 in “Phase II” funds to construct approximately 7/10ths of a mile of multiuse path from La Cañada along Naranja toward the park entrance.

OV council says ‘no’ to self-storage proposal

BY DAVE PERRY

Tucson Local Media Contributor

The Oro Valley Town Council has denied a request to develop a self-storage building and related recreational vehicle storage business in Mercado del Rio, a long-graded commercial development just north of Pusch View Lane and west of Oracle Road.

has seen a wave of self-storage requests for its ever-smaller supply of land suitable for development.

immediately southwest of the shopping center anchored by Target.

Earlier this year, the town council approved a self-storage project north of Tangerine Road on the west side of La Cañada just south of Leman Academy of Excellence Oro Valley. Previously, it approved, and the developer has constructed, an Extra Space Storage business at Oracle and Calle Concordia. Plus, Oro Valley’s original Extra Space Storage wants to expand its footprint and add more self-storage capacity on the east side of Oracle Road.

On April 19, the council voted 5-2 against a conditional use permit for the self-storage building. Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett and Mayor Joe Winfield moved and seconded for the denial, respectively, joined in the final vote by Councilmembers Joyce Jones-Ivey, Tim Bohen and Josh Nicolson.

Councilmembers Dr. Harry “Mo” Greene II and Steve Solomon voted in favor of the proposal.

The applicant, South Carolina-based Johnson Development Associates, requested permissions to build a 101,200-square-foot, 30-foot tall, two-story self-storage building with 887 storage units and approximately 900 square feet of office space. Immediately south of that building, the applicant proposed a fully screened location to store up to 52 recreational vehicles. Existing zoning allows self-storage with a council-approved conditional use permit. Vehicle storage is an already-permitted use.

Paul Loomis, the retired three-term mayor of Oro Valley, lives west of the property. He served on council when Mercado del Rio was approved “as a high-quality office, services and shopping center.” A 100,000-square-foot self-storage building is “not compatible with the surrounding uses, not even reasonably,” he told the council.

“It doesn’t fit, nor will this building fit into a future Mercado del Rio,” Loomis continued. “It will change future development” of the center, and, citing its flurry of self-storage activity, Oro Valley is becoming “the self-storage community of the Northwest,” he concluded.

“There is a demand for this type of use,” said Paul Oland of Paradigm Land Design, representing the applicant. “It turns out Oro Valley residents have an abundance of stuff that doesn’t fit in their garages. Your residents are demanding more self-storage in Oro Valley.”

“I don’t doubt there’s demand for self-storage,” Barrett said. “We’ve seen that. I just question that that’s the best use for Oro Valley. I don’t think that we’re in a race to meet build-out by filling every available square footage with the most readily available item.”

Former Mercado del Rio co-owner Paula Donley spoke in favor of the proposal. “It’s unfortunate that project has sat mostly vacant for so long,” Donley said. “I welcome somebody coming in who would have pride of ownershi...I’m in support of it, and hope you’ll support it, too.”

needed to beef up the screening around the RV storage, as well as along the back” of the property next to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop.

In response to town staff and neighbor requests, one access point was moved, a second was aligned between the RV and self-storage facilities, a wider, landscaped buffer yard was incorporated, and the RV screening wall was raised. Customers would have no direct access to either facility from Pusch View Lane. Oland said the self-storage use was a good transitional project from the auto-related businesses on the east side of Mercado del Rio, and the less-intensive medical office and spa uses on the west side.

“We heard the concern about visibility and privacy, and we responded,” Oland said. “I’m confident we meet all the criteria” for a conditional use permit, “without any question.”

“If it’s not approved, it’ll sit vacant,” Solomon said.

Oland agreed.

Barrett’s motion to deny was “based on the finding it’s incompatible with surrounding properties, and it is not consistent with the goals and policies of the general plan.” She argued the self-storage use would “diminish” intended retail, restaurant and office opportunities in the center, that self-storage does not generate jobs, and that Oro Valley

A master development plan for Mercado del Rio was approved in 2004, with intended uses to include retail, restaurant and/or office uses. Construction took place in 2007.

Mercado del Rio is “a tumbleweed farm, we all know it,” Solomon said. “Let’s come 20 years later to reality. There is no high-volume, high-end retail center that’s going to buy and move into that property. The original use is no longer desirable, for many factors. We now have a proposal...to finally turn this into a use for our residents.”

Since then, 40% of the graded ground has been developed. Caliber Collision — which received approval April 19 to expand parking of damaged vehicles behind a screen wall — Brake Masters, Oro Valley Adult Medicine, and Imagen Day Spa occupy five of 14 total lots in Mercado del Rio, which is

The proposal went through modifications after two neighborhood meetings, and was given a conditional, favorable recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission on March 7.

“This (property) has had that chance” for intended development, Oland said. “Restaurants, offices, retail have had a chance to be developed there for many, many years, and they haven’t, they haven’t...This site is perfect for this use, and it’s had two decades to be developed as something we can all admit might be cuter. It’s now sitting, completely unproductive, both to the town from a revenue standpoint, and to the residents from a services standpoint.”

“From the start, the biggest change has to do with access,” Oland said. “We really

“I think our general plan doesn’t support turning all those areas into self-storage,” Barrett responded, and the council majority agreed.

OV slates hearings, sessions for budget

BY TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA STAFF

Four public meetings have been scheduled by the Oro Valley Town Council as it considers and adopts the fiscal year 2023-’24 budget that takes effect July 1.

budget adoption, is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 7. A second public hearing and final budget adoption are on the agenda beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21.

Interim Town Manager Chris Cornelison has submitted a 139-page recommended budget, which is available at this digital address: https://bit.ly/OVRecommendedBudget.

Budget study sessions are planned for 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, and again at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 11, both in council chambers at 11000 N. La Canada.

A public hearing, followed by tentative

adopted fiscal 2022-’23 budget of $147.7 million. The general fund budget proposal is $56 million, a 5.5% increase from the current-year spending plan of $53.1 million.

economy, the release said. “The budget process involves the prudent allocation of resources across town operations to continue and improve the high service levels Oro Valley residents expect in order to live, work, play and prosper in our community.”

It totals $147.9 million, representing an increase of $184,934, or .1 of 1%, above the

This budget “reflects the priorities of the current and upcoming Council Strategic Plans,” the town said in a release. It includes funding for roads, water and town assets, land use design, and financial stability and sustainability for an inflationary

Anyone who is unable to attend a meeting but would still like to provide input on the budget document may submit comments via email to ask@orovalleyaz.gov.

Wild Arizona completes sign installations

BY VERONICA KUFFEL

Tucson Local Media Sta

As volunteer coordinator for the nonprofit Wild Arizona, Luke Koenig’s mission is to engage the public in wilderness protection. The latest project is a wilderness boundary sign installation across Arizona’s wild spaces.

“Wilderness has the highest form of protection for federally managed public lands,” Koenig said. “Sometimes, though, it’s unclear when we’re crossing into designated wilderness. By putting these signs in, we’re helping the public become aware that they’re entering into wilderness where different prohibitions may apply inside the boundary.”

(Luke Koenig/Submitted)

A wilderness boundary area outlines natural land protected by the government with a focus to maintain it in its natural state.

na.

“Sometimes you have to drive hours to get to some of our events because of the nature of where we work,” Koenig noted. “The idea was if we could have an event close to an urban area, we might be able to get some folks out that aren’t usually able to make it out.”

On the first Saturday of each month, from January to May, volunteers and crew members meet at different locations in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and start with a safety meeting. Volunteers are asked to bring long shirts and pants, along with food, a hat and glasses.

nonprofit focused its 2023 series on the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, and on May 6, it will complete the installations for the spring.

On behalf of Wild Arizona, Koenig organizes wilderness stewardship opportunities like Sign Installation Saturdays, a once-amonth volunteering event to install wilderness boundary signs in a protected area. The

The reason for choosing Pusch Ridge, according to Koenig, was its proximity to a major urban area. Hosting a recurring stewardship event near Tucson created a more tangible opportunity to engage the community and get the word out about Wild Arizo-

The premade signs and hardware are provided by the Forestry Service, and Wild Arizona supplies tools and other equipment. The group will install an average of three to four signs across the boundary. In the meetups before their last installation on May 6, the group installed 11 signs across Pusch Ridge.

“It makes (visitors) aware, in the bigger picture, that something like wilderness even exists,” Koenig said. “It’s a really meaningful distinction in terms of how we manage our natural lands and how we protect some of the most vulnerable ecosystems within them.”

Wild Arizona, the event series host, is a nonprofit aiming to protect and restore the state’s wildlife for future generations. Koenig explained the increasing need for trail stewardship and trail work, especially in this region. Arizona, in his words, is “a hotbed for sustainable trails, and those that are more resistant to erosion.”

The need was so prominent the organization turned its volunteer program into an inhouse field crew, comprised of paid and volunteer workers. Wilderness Stewardship, or Wild Stew, carries on Wild Arizona’s mission

The signs, at the very least, warn adventurers of the protected area. With that protection, there is a list of rules and prohibitions upon entering the site. For instance, motor equipment or mechanical vehicles like chainsaws or bikes are not allowed in these areas.

Wild Stewardship program members with an installed sign in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.

AGING WELL

Fascinating Interior Design Trends

Splendido’s newly transformed Alonzo’s restaurant showcases today’s design trends, including modern high-performance upholstery, for an overall elegant look.

A COLORFUL TWIST ON SENIOR LIVING

Cocktail party grows for paranormal community

BY VERONICA KUFFEL Tucson Local Media Sta

Astrologist Larry Martin has worked many jobs in the past, but the ones he’s found most interesting deal with the unknowns in the modern world.

“Almost everyone has had either a ghost story or some experience they can’t explain,” Martin said. "But if they’ve been ostracized, a lot of times, they have to keep that story to themselves. We want to give opportunities for people to share those experiences or learn about the experiences of others.”

Martin is the founder of the Tucson Paranormal Society, a community that provides space for the public to share paranormal stories, knowledge and other information, as well as a consulting forum for paranormal businesses.

TPS will host their monthly cocktail party on Saturday, May 6, with complimentary food, beverages and an open conversation. At the event, people can tell their stories of

the unknown and meet with experts for explorative discussion. The cocktail parties introduce participants to the vast TPS network and open the floor to all topics paranormal. When people ask Martin what will happen at an upcoming cocktail party, he doesn’t have a clear answer. That’s the excitement of

it, he explained.

“I have to laugh when people ask me what the topic will be,” Martin said. “I tell them I really don’t know. The stories always amaze us because we never quite know what we’re going to hear.”

According to Martin, it’s also relieving. The open nature of the cocktail party allows a safe space for participants to discuss their experiences.

“It’s not just about joining the society and hoping you fit in somewhere,” Martin noted. “The whole idea is to have a relaxing, inviting atmosphere where people can share whatever they want to share.”

The goal for TPS is to be all things paranormal for Tucson. Martin created the group in August 2022 to be a forum for everyone who’s had a paranormal experience, encouraging participants to have conversations and tell their stories. Along with the cocktail parties, TPS hosts weekly meetings and conferences open to the public.

TPS also provides open business consultations for those interested in the paranormal industry, whether it’s palm readings, hosting seances or anything under the umbrella. These two aspects allow TPS to have multiple opportunities for networking and education.

TPS also has a string of experts throughout Arizona who are society leaders and operate as resources to the public. People can call the TPS number, leave a message, and depending on the topic, they are connected with the appropriate leaders.

“An organization is going to work better if we’re able to get those experts to you,” Martin said. “While we don’t always have the an-

swer… we do have a variety of experts, some are members and some are people we’ve just encountered along the way. Helping people connect is what we want to do.”

Membership for TPS is free for a limited time, and Martin hopes to expand the society’s operations. As more people join the cocktail parties and other events, Martin sees a need for bigger venues.

According to Martin, the future of TPS will feature a new, full-color magazine and an annual Paracon convention in Tucson. A lot of these endeavors cost money, and the astrologist explained the society will need to monetize and raise funds to make it all happen.

Until then, TPS will continue to have their weekly meetings, monthly cocktail parties and open lines of communication for members and the public. Martin had a parting message to those intrigued by the unknown.

“Stay curious,” Martin said. “If you’ve got a curiosity, let us know about it. We always talk about everything, there’s nothing off-limits. We’ve heard some pretty strange stories and we can’t wait to hear what’s next.”

Tucson Paranormal Society Cocktail Party

WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6

WHERE: Encantada Banquet Area, 11177 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley COST: Free

INFO: tucsonparanormalsociety.com

SIGN from page 12

to secure a sustainably protected wilderness.

“Even if it’s just in a small way, we are now helping steward the most protected federal lands,” Koenig continued. “Including the 90 wilderness areas that are within the Arizona state boundary, which is the second most of any state.”

Sign Installation Saturdays

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday May 6

WHERE: Mount Lemmon Use Area, East Ski Run Road, Tucson COST: Free

INFO: eventbrite.com

Tucson Paranormal Society gathers to tell their stories over drinks and food. (Larry Martin/Submitted)

Athlete of the Week: Kate Cherrington

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

Back before he morphed into a semi-lovable wannabe dad in a couple PG-rated “Are We There Yet?” movies, Ice Cube was a hardcore rapper best known for his song “It Was a Good Day.” The way he growls those words with a mixture of understatement and bravado makes the phrase a classic. (Of course, just about every other word in the entire song is incredibly inappropriate, so don’t ever listen to it.)

When the results of the Southern Arizona Track & Field Championships at Mountain View High School were released, you could say that Ironwood Ridge senior Kate Cherrington had a good day. Actually, it was a great day, a near-legendary day. It actually started out with the one sour note of an otherwise-brilliant symphonic performance. In her tightest event of the day, she finished a close second in the 100 meter hurdles. She would later win the 300

Ridge senior Kate

had a great day at the Southern Arizona Track & Field Championships at Mountain View High School. (Kate Cherrington/Submitted)

meter hurdles. But then, on the field side, she completed a very odd double, winning both the long jump and the high jump. To the casual observer, that may not seem like that big a deal, thinking jumps are jumps,

right?

Wrong. Long jumpers are great combo athletes, gifted with a sprinter’s speed and a basketball dunker’s hops. High jumpers, on the other hand, take up permanent residency inside their own heads. They talk differently and walk differently, and are self-critical to a point just this side of lunacy. High jumpers can also be pole vaulters, while long jumpers can also excel at the triple jump, but a long jumper who also high jumps…uh, no.

How, then, does Kate explain the strange convergence? “I’m an outside hitter in volleyball.” Oh, OK, now we get it. Actually, she thinks that she wouldn’t mind trying the pole vault. “I don’t know if I would be any good, but it might be fun.”

Considering she’s an accomplished heptathlete, excelling in everything from the 200 meters to the shot put to the javelin, it’s fair to assume that she would do well in just about every event on the schedule. What’s the one she wouldn’t want to try? Answer-

6-Month Essentials Membership:

Purchase a 6-Month Paid-In-Full Membership ($594 Mother’s Day Special) and receive a $50 Fuchsia gift card.

12-Month Essentials Membership:

Purchase a 12-Month Paid-In-Full Membership ($1,188 Mother’s Day Special) and receive an additional month for FREE plus a gift valued at $100 (total gift value $199).

ing before the question is even done, she blurts, “The 2 mile. No way. I don’t know how anybody does that.”

An outstanding student, she really likes her biology class and plans to study something in that field when she attends Brigham Young University in the fall. “I really don’t want to go the medicine route,” she says. “Probably something more in the research field.”

She’s not sure if she will try to continue her athletic pursuits in college, but what she is sure of is that she will try to compete in all four events at State in the second week of May. Her leap of 18 feet is one of the best in the state and her high jump of 5 feet 6 inches has her tied for her school’s record.

“I would really like to go higher (than 5 feet 6 inches),” she says. Whether she does or not, her making it to state in four events is a towering achievement. Whatever happens in Mesa next weekend, for Kate, it’s gonna be a good day.

6-Month Thrive Membership:

Purchase a 6-Month Paid-In-Full Membership ($954 Mother’s Day Special) and receive a gift valued at $75.

12-Month Thrive Membership:

Purchase a 12-Month Paid-In-Full Membership ($1,908 Mother’s Day Special) and receive an additional month for FREE, a gift valued at $100 plus a $100 gift card (total gift value $359).

REWIND MICRO PACKAGE

Purchase 3 MicroNeedling treatments plus 3 LED treatments for $649 ($1,032 value) or a single MicroNeedling service plus 1 LED treatment for $249 ($344 value)

Ironwood

Cherrington

It’s safe to watch sports now

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

If I live to be 110, I’ll be really old. But even then, I will not understand why the NFL Draft is a thing. I won’t buy into the fake importance put on it by sports-talk radio and ESPN. I won’t understand why, right after the season ends the first week of February, they feel the need to start talking about the draft, which won’t happen until late April.

There are lots of things I don’t get about the NFL Draft. It’s not like the NBA, where one great player can change a team’s fortunes from one season to the next. There are 53 guys on an NFL roster. Drafting a future star might change the long-term trajectory of a team and maybe add a win or two to the next season’s total, but the reason that a team is drafting so high is that they had a horrible year last season and so they might go from three wins to five.

All I can guess is that somebody’s nephew, fresh out of college, ran a focus group one time the day after the Super Bowl without correcting for demographics. Everybody in the group looked like (the old) Kevin Smith living in his mom’s basement. As a control, they were asked “Do you give even a whit about who gets drafted three months from now?”

When they ran the numbers, they found that the eight-person group actually gave a total of nine whits about the draft and an entirely new cottage industry was born. This led to the age-old conundrum as to which came first — the blathering sports talk guy looking for anything about which to drone on for three hours or the gullible listener thinking that whatever the talker is droning on about must be important. I love just about all sports but I am so glad that this nonsense is over.

Perhaps most annoying about the NFL Draft is that there are multiple people

who get paid lots and lots of money to try to guess which players will be drafted by which teams. They start even before the playoffs are over (by then, the order of the teams that are drafting is set) and then they guess and guess and guess—and are always wrong, sometimes spectacularly so.

How would you like to earn a living just guessing at stuff and being labeled an “expert” if you manage to get even 20% of your picks right?

Let’s take a quick look at how some of the “experts” did. The king of them all is Mel Kiper, who basically invented the mock draft and will therefore serve hundreds of years in Purgatory (not the one in Colorado) after he shuffles off this mortal coil. Anyway, Mel’s the Man! He had all 32 first-round picks all scoped out. He got the first one right, then biffed on the second one. After that, he was done.

Once you get one wrong, it becomes a

Markov chain, which is a mathematical process in which the probability of a series of events is predicted. It’s basically a series of educated guesses, with the success of each depending on how close the previous educated guess was.

As happens every year, Mel Kiper didn’t come close to getting even half of his picks correct. A guy he had projected to be picked fourth in the draft ended up not being picked by any of the 32 teams.

There was one good thing about the night. It’s really cool that Bijan Robinson was drafted with the eighth pick in the draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He becomes the highest-drafted football player from Tucson.

I first met Bijan when he was a freshman in high school. I had known his grandfather, Cleo, who is in the Pac-12 Hall of Fame as a ref but also reffed high-

see SPORTS page 18

Local Kitchen Tune-Up wins system award

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson Local Media Sta

Scott and LeeAnn Shaff, owners of Kitchen Tune-Up Tucson-Marana, recently received the Fast Track Award at the Home Franchise Concepts Owners Conference in Orlando, Florida.

“We love to recognize and honor the achievements of our ‘Tunies’ — and each year they never fail to amaze us,” said Heidi Morrissey, president of Kitchen Tune-Up.

“Each location puts so much into their business and strives to make every project their best yet. It’s a joy to meet with them every year and acknowledge those who stood out in 2022. We are so grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm of our Tunies and their teams, and we greatly appreciate their continued commitment to creating dream kitchens for their clients.”

The Shaffs earned the award for achieving the largest sales increase in Kitchen Tune-

Vaginal

Prenatal care

Interests (normal and high risk)

Up franchise system in 2022.

Welcomes

Scott said the pandemic actually helped their business, as the public was working at home, looking at their home’s design.

“Everybody’s working from home, staying home and actually cooking,” he added. “I’m sure that had a lot to do with it. The franchise has been in business for 30 to 35 years. You have your ups and downs economy wise. The system is pretty consistent all the way through.”

Founded in 1988, Kitchen Tune-Up specializes in five ways to update kitchens and cabinetry. Services include its signature one-day tune-up; cabinet painting; cabinet refacing; cabinet redooring and new cabinets.

named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list in 2023.

In addition to the Fast Track Award, Kitchen Tune-Up celebrated multiple other successes from 2022, including “Franny of the Year,” the “National Customer Service Award” and the “Rising Star Award.” The HFC Owners Conference provided owners opportunities to network, learn and grow their expertise.

“It was a great year for us last year,” Scott said. “We mainly attribute that to our team. We have a great team, so that’s the main thing. We’re a small team, but once the installation team gets in there and starts doing their work, they’re artists. Projects come out beautiful and customers are happy.”

“It’s really exciting,” LeeAnn said. “Customers get so excited to make the change. We can transform kitchens quite easily. It’s really stunning sometimes. It’s really exciting to see.”

“Among the hundreds of dedicated ‘Tunies,’ we are incredibly honored to receive the Fast Track Award this year,” LeeAnn said. “We love the work we do, and it’s fulfilling to be recognized for our efforts. We had a great year in 2022, and we’re excited for what’s to come in 2023.”

ssha @kitchentuneup.com kitchentuneup.com SNIGDHA TOODI, MD

With more than 265 franchised territories nationwide, Kitchen Tune-Up has been

Welcomes

Welcomes

Welcomes

Welcomes

Welcomes

SNIGDHA TOODI, MD Prenatal

Vaginal deliveries

Vaginal

C-sections

Gynecological surgery

Contraception Menopause

Delivering at Northwest Medical Center

To schedule an appointment call 520-877-3800

TUCSON METRO CHAMBER’S 2ND ANNUAL

HALF-DAY MINI CONFERENCE AND EXPO STARTS AT 8:30 A.M. • Inspiring and informative presentations • Time for networking and questions • For business of any size or industry Tucson Convention Center 260 S. Church Avenue

LeeAnn and Scott Shaff run the Kitchen TuneUp in Tucson-Marana..(Scott Sha /Submitted)

Be aware of these 5 warm weather hazards

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

Though we are just barely into springtime in Arizona, our weather is getting hotter by the day. Spring and summer, with the longer days and warmer temperatures, are favorite seasons for many of us. We spend more time outdoors and adopt a more active lifestyle. Walks in the park, bicycling along the Loop, swimming, barbecue parties in the back yard, and even doing our own gardening are fun and invigorating. These are seasons with many enjoyable outdoor activities, but we should be aware of the five most common warm weather health hazards.

Accumulated sunburns over a lifetime greatly increase the risk of skin cancer. Many of us boomers remember those days of youth, basking in the sun’s rays without a clue as to the risks. But as we have become aware of the danger, hopefully we have adopted the practice or regular high SPF (sun protection factor) sunscreen use. We should use sunscreen daily, not just for a day poolside or at the beach.

Heat can be a health risk, especially for the youngest and oldest members of our communities. Babies and young children are not able to make behavioral adjustments to warm environments and their bodies are frequently unable to make adaptive changes due to the immaturity of the thermoregulatory system. Elderly persons are at a higher risk for heat related illness due to underlying illnesses, certain medications, and declining physical ability to regulate body temperature.

There might be poor access to adequate air conditioning, limited social support, and declining ability to care for oneself. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are risky and can lead to death if left untreated. Check on elderly neighbors and if necessary, transport them to a cooling center or senior center on those especially hot days. Avoid dehydration by sipping on cool drinks throughout the day.

A walk in the woods or along the river or estuary can be beautiful, relaxing, romantic — and itchy. The most common poisonous plans in Arizona are poison ivy, candelabras cacti, and poison oak. Poison oak is common in the western part of the United States and can be seen as scrub brush or grow as tall as 40 feet and can be found as high as 5,000-feet elevation. There are no leaves in winter, but in the spring it sprouts three green leaves and white flowers before turning the familiar pink-red hue.

Poison ivy is a smaller plant, shrub or

climbing vine and also has three distinct leaves that turn reddish pink. Remember the maxim, “leaves of three, leave them be.”

Urushiol, the oily resin in both poison ivy and poison oak leaves can remain on shoes for up to a year. The best prevention is recognition and avoidance. Treatment is usually with antihistamines and cortisone creams but may require more intensive treatment in severe cases.

Candelabras cacti can grow up to 25 feet and produce a milky white substance that also irritates the skin and can be deadly if ingested.

Food poisoning is more common in the summertime. Picnics and potluck gatherings can create that “perfect storm” opportunity for improperly prepared or stored foods to grow bacteria that can cause illness and even death. Avoid food poisoning by keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold. This is not too difficult with the various insulated trays and bags available for us. Uneaten foods should be refrigerated immediately after a meal.

Insect bites are a common summer health hazard. Honeybees and bumblebees are not aggressive unless provoked. They leave their stingers embedded in the skin, so treatment consists of careful removal. There is usually not a serious reaction except localized discomfort until the stinger is removed. The vespids — wasps, yellowjackets and hornets — can be more aggressive. Usual reactions include swelling up to 2 inches across within 24 hours.

Systemic reactions include hives, wheezes and bronchospasm similar to an asthmas attack, swelling around the eyes,

SPORTS from page 16

and swelling and infection at the bite site. These reactions can be mild to life threatening and must be treated as soon as possible after the symptoms are felt. Anyone with an allergy to insect bites should carry an “epi-pen,” an epinephrine injection system that anyone can use to administer life-saving medication while emergency help is on the way.

West Nile virus is becoming commonplace but is no less problematic. Remove all standing water and use mosquito repellent.

Water dangers finish our list of top summer health hazards. Drowning is a leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. Pools need to be fenced or otherwise inaccessible to young children unless supervised. Even adults should always swim with a buddy. Unforeseen events such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden cramping can lead to serious injury in the water or death due to drowning. Our rivers and streams are inviting and cool, but the currents can be treacherous. Swimmers’ ear is a common summer malady prevented by a mixture of (or a commercial preparation) vinegar and alcohol in the ear canal after swimming.

We need to stay aware of the many seasonal health hazards we may potentially face as we enjoy the warmest time of year here. Good health and commonsense practices will make the season more enjoyable and safer.

Mia Smitt is a longtime nurse practitioner who writes a column for Tucson Local Media.

was all “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” and smiles and positivity. I hope to see him if he visits Tucson this summer before heading off to Atlanta.

school basketball. Cleo and I get along really well because I never argue with refs. That’s weird, but true. Cleo asked me to help his grandson with a little bit of math. But Bijan had shown up without a book or a writing utensil or something on which to write. I told him to go home and don’t come back unless he was prepared to work. I felt a little bit bad after that because he turned out to be one of the politest kids I’ve ever met. He

That’s a small problem. I haven’t watched an Atlanta Falcons game since they blew that 28-3 lead and choked away the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.

It looks like I will have to start watching Falcons games, but if I live to be 110, I will never watch the NFL Draft. The Markov Chain probability on that is 1.0.

5 House of mirrors at a carnival, for one 9 Takes a load off

Skunk’s defense 15 Leon who wrote “Exodus”

Super-

“___ upon a time …” 18 Loud, prolonged noises

19 ___ badge (award for a scout)

20 Stick your tongue out, say

22 Use an e-cigare e

42 Jacket fastener that’s not a bu on

43 Pass to a different owner, as a business

48 Aunt: Sp.

49 Electric ___

50 Princess who says “Into the garbage chute, flyboy”

51 Traveler’s stopover

52 Best Rap Performance and Best Instrumental Composition, for two

56 “Get ou a here!”

Edited by WIll Shortz

1 Sound of an explosion 2 ___ Mode of “The Incredibles”

3 Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” for one

4 Actress Garson of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” 5 Landslide of wet sediment

Diva’s delivery

97.5% of a penny

County in England or New Jersey

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

More than one occasion of the week will demand your attendance. You may not feel up to the challenge at rst, but the rewards of being there (or the consequences of not being there) will have far-reaching e ects. It doesn't matter if you drag yourself to it or rise to it -- as long as you show up, you win.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

You're an excellent steward of bounty, which is why you keep attracting more of it. You'll accept all gifts with a gracious smile, knowing it's the feeling between people that matters the most. Don't worry too much about what happens next. You can't hold onto everything. What you don't keep, you'll distribute well.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

Though it's said there are "no dumb questions," there are de nitely questions that get you closer or further away from learning what you're interested in. Some queries lead to happiness and awakening, while others bring on anxiety. Improvements happen this week because you ask so well.

Having had enough food

Sounds from a sauna

“Back in Black” band

“Hunny”-loving A. A. Milne character

Bi er part of an orange

Thieve

Bit of Christmas candy

Venom neutralizer, e.g.

Spring

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

You don't wait for the right time to project magnetism and heart. Any old time is good enough for you, especially when you feel as happy as you do this week. A breakthrough in your personal life will make you feel you can nally move forward. Someone falls in love with your smile, then you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

You want to give freely, but you can only give as freely as you feel. The opportunities for fun probably won't drop into your world this week, and that's actually a good thing because it's a chance to create your fun just the way you like it. Whatever you do to ll yourself with joy will contribute to the generosity of spirit you spill into the world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

When you're trying out a new endeavor, it can be hard to know what sort of goals are reasonable. Don't be too eager to set your aim. Enjoy the stage of playful curiosity this week. It's enough to get a feel for what an activity is like and how it matches up with your skills.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)

There's a time and place for making comparisons. The time is hardly ever. The place is on a spreadsheet, not a social media platform. Let this week be all about you, your interests and your personal growth. There's too much to enjoy about who you are to waste one second thinking about who you aren't.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

While you do feel more secure when you know your nances are in order, money is neither your only source of stability nor is it your most important one. It's your relationships and other accomplishments that give you a real sense of your ability to connect and make things happen in your world.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Because there are people around you who could be committed to your growth and well-being, it makes no sense to spend all your energy on those who can only take and never give. Sel essness is an important aspect of good character, but it is not sustainable to have this as your mode too much of the time.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

To look into another person's eyes and try very hard to understand what that person feels and needs is no small act. Your brand of attention is something special and rare. You teach just by being you. As you pick up the subtle dynamics of a situation, you'll help others around you to do the same.

You're a con dent tastemaker. You don't pander to what people want; you give them strong options instead. You know that having more choices doesn't make people happier and in fact can lead to confusion, decision fatigue and buyer's remorse. The optimal number of options to o er is three. Across 1

23 Kind of exam at school or the dentist’s

24 Like old-fashioned railroad crossing signs

27 Tinder or Hinge

29 Beer ingredient

32 ___ trick (hockey feat)

33 College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 34 Move onto a new topic of conversation, metaphorically

Campus quarters

Beverage that comes in green and black varieties

58 Hershey’s candy with a caramel center

59 Epitome of precision … or a description of 20-, 34- and 43-Across?

64 “You can’t make me!”

66 Capital of Italia 67 Yoke-wearing animals

68 Enclose, as on a farm 69 ___-friendly

70 One-dimensional drawing

71 Upright

72 Put a patch on, say 73 Winter forecast, o en

A focus on smooth routines and improvements in your realm could be interrupted by an ask. Stand back and assess the situation from as many angles as you can to determine if you can help, and if so, what level of involvement would be most bene cial to all. Justice will win in the end, though it's not always up to you to deliver it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Guide

GF and Son Contractor

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Now

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

GF and Son Contractor

Now Accepting Credit cards

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

Now Accepting Credit cards

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953

Gary or Chase 520-742-1953