Marana News 113022

BY KAREN SCHAFFNER Tucson Local Media

hen artist Ute Vaughn was a little girl, she saw a photo of a Henri Rousseau painting in a magazine.

It knocked her out. That glimpse determined the course of her life, and now she is something extraordinary: a person who is mak ing a living as a fine art painter.

“I’m a full-time artist, and I’m not a starving artist,” she said.

At 65, Vaughn has spent her life making art, and today she sells her work at juried shows. Vaughn only creates what she likes, so that is what she sells.

Marana Parks & Rec wins two state awards

SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA

T

he town of Marana’s Parks and Rec reation Department has won two awards from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association.

The 2022 APRA Awards Program rec ognizes the efforts of those throughout the state who go above and beyond to make a difference in their community.They held their 72nd annual awards lun cheon at the Peoria Sports Complex on Nov. 8 where the town of Marana was presented with the Outstanding Program Award-Cul tural Awareness Program and Natural Re sources Award.

The Parks & Recreation Department won the Outstanding Program Award- Cultural Awareness Program for the Town’s Found ers’ Day 2022. The signature event is held every March and celebrates Marana’s agri cultural and cultural heritage while com memorating its establishment dating to March 21, 1977.

The department won the Natural Re sources Award for the El Rio Preserve. The 104-acre El Rio Preserve site fulfills the community’s vision to have an open water environment for wildlife, passive recreation opportunities and education programming for local school groups and organizations.

Ancient art finds its way into new works See ART Page 5 See PARKS Page 6 OPINION ............................................ 10 BUSINESS .......................................... 12 LIVEN UP ........................................... 14 SPORTS 15 HEALTH 18 PUZZLE/HOROSCOPES ................. 19 WORSHIP/CLASSIFIEDS ............... 20 An example of Ute Vaughn’s work, influenced by the desert world around her. (Submitted/Ute Vaughn) NEWS ............................ 6 Make Way for Books benefit ting from grant BUSINESS .................. 12 Reform your core at new Pilates studio SPORTS........................ 15 Student of the Week ran his way to netville INSIDE This Week

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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 find 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 Schaffner, Staff Reporter kschaffner@timespublications.com

Hope Peters, Staff Reporter hpeter@timespublications.com

Katya Mendoza, Staff Reporter, kmendoza@timespublications.com

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham, Production Manager, tucsonproduction@timespublications.com

BY KATYA MEN DOZA Tucson Local Media

ARTS

Wednesday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 9 Pima Community College presents “Invisible Borders” at the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery. The exhibit, which features 31 female photog raphers from Mexico and Southern Arizona, pres ents a unique collaboration from women on both sides of the border, who tempo rarily make the divisions disappear. The gallery is open Monday to Friday, holiday hours may differ.

Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard.

LIVE MUSIC

Friday, Dec. 2

Oro Valley Parks & Rec. continuses its free Friday concert series on the lawn of the historic Steam Pump Ranch from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Listen to the diverse sound of the local ROH Band, for the last Friday night concert of the year. Food trucks, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Outside alcohol is not per mitted. For more informa tion about this free event,

from

welcome to bring snacks, drinks and chairs. Park admission is $7 per vehicle including up to four adults. For a lineup of other pro grams and events at the park, visit azstate parks.com. Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Road.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy hits the stage at the Fox Tucson Theatre for its Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party. The American swing and jazz revival band has excited au diences across all ages for almost 30 years. They come to the Fox Tucson Theatre stage as part of the Listening Room Series with holiday classics and Christmas originals. Tickets range from $32.50 to $67.50. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more informa tion, visit foxtucson.com. The Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Discover Flying Leap wines at the Fall Wine Tasting Series at Hotel Congress’ jazz club, the Century Room. Cost is $30. Doors open at 6 p.m., the guided tasting begins at 6:30 p.m. and live music starts at 7 p.m. For more

information about the Century Room and the Fall Wine Tasting Series, visit dice.fm. The Century Room, 311 E Congress Street.

Friday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 24

Yuletide rings in the holidays the Old West Way this Christmas season with interac tive experiences, live shows, hayrides, train rides and more. Visitors are encouraged to purchase timed-entry tickets in advance on yuletideaz.com. Yuletide at Old Tucson Stu dios, 201 S. Kinney Road.

Saturday, Dec. 3 through Saturday, Dec. 17

Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Gal leries present Holiday Nights for members 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. General public nights begin Friday, Dec. 9. Enjoy live performances by local musicians and food vendors while strolling down the gardens’ illuminated pathways. Ticket prices are $15 for members, $20 for the general public, $6 for kids ages 3-12, and free for kids ages 0-2. For more information on dates, vendors and musicians, visit tohonochul.org. Toho no Chul, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte.

Saturday, Dec. 3 and Dec. 4

The town of Oro Valley presents its larg est holiday celebration of the arts, the Oro Valley Festival of the Arts and Holiday Tree Lighting. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy cookie decorating, arts and crafts, holiday caroling and Santa before watching the holiday tree come to life at 6 p.m. On Sunday, enjoy holiday festivities and vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit orovalleyaz.gov for more information. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road.

Saturday, Dec. 3

The town of Marana presents the Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting. From 3 to 9 p.m., peruse handmade goods by arti sanal and craft vendors, over 30 food trucks and food vendors, free rides on the holiday train, community performances, a letter to Santa station and more. The Christmas tree lighting begins at 6 p.m. For more informa tion, visit maranaaz.gov. Marana Civic Cen ter, 11555 W. Civic Center Dr.

Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7

San Xavier Roman Catholic Parish presents Patronato Christmas from San Xavier. It

features four concerts of sacred and holiday music. Visit patronatosanxavier.org to se cure tickets. San Xavier, 1950 W. San Xavier Road.

Friday, Dec. 2 through Wednesday, Dec. 30

“Ready, set, glow!” The Reid Park Zoo and Tucson Electric Power present Zoolights: Holiday Magic from 6 to 9 p.m. Take a walk under enchanting lights and a con fection-merry Candyland, head to the Arc tic Zone, you just might run into St. Nick. There’s Snow place like Reid Park Zoo for the holidays. Ticket prices are as follows: $12 adults (ages 15-61), $10 seniors (ages 62 and older), $8 children (ages 2-14), free for children under 2, zoo members receive $3 off admission Tuesdays to Sundays. For more information, visit reidparkzoo.org. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court.

Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Jan. 15

The highly anticipated and luminous hol iday installation, “Lights Up! A Festival of See HOT PICKS Page 9

See HOT PICKS Page 9

ors of the desert. She uses mainly earth col ors and often paints symbols from Native American culture. Her pieces range from greeting cards and prints to original water colors or acrylics. She sells at every price point.

Although Vaughn will work with most mediums, her favorite is watercolor.

“I absolutely love watercolor for the flu idity,” she said. “The way it flows, and you can transition colors from one to another, I really love that. It makes beautiful textures that is just so unique to watercolor. Acryl ics and oils are more like a paste.”

She also likes the unpredictability of working with watercolors.

“If you try to control watercolor it’s no fun whatsoever,” Vaughn said. “It’s like try ing to tame a hummingbird. Don’t even try.”

Vaughn grew up in post-World War II northern Germany, moved to the United States when she was 22 and lived the hippie life in Mendocino, California. When she knew a change was in the wind, she moved to Tucson. Oddly, she was always attracted

to the Southwest. It only deep ened when she visited Tucson on business.

“There was such a beauty here, such diverse beauty,” Vaughn said. “The other thing is I found that people were generally happy here. They liked what they were doing; they liked where they were living. That kind of attitude really serves me; that’s an environment where I thrive.”

She’s been here 18 years.

Vaughn is a tidy artist. She had a studio in the Warehouse District but gave it up during the pandem ic. Today she works in her Mara na home in an open, sunny room with a bay window that overlooks her backyard and the desert be yond. Her tools are neatly stacked nearby: a prepped and ready can vas on her desk with paintbrushes standing in a cup, bristles sticking up. Everything Vaughn needs to create is at ready. It’s a necessity

because she has to hustle if she expects to be ready for the Christmas gift season. Still, what she’s creating today really expresses who she is.

“I’ve always had a real liking for Native American art and Native American philos ophies as far as how they treat the land and stuff like that,” Vaughn said.

After painting, Vaughn’s second love is teaching others to paint. She has private students but also works at the White Stal lion Ranch, where she teaches large groups of the dude ranch’s guests. She has this phi losophy: Everyone can paint.

“I have such a passion and love for teach ing art,” she said. “I can really inspire (stu dents) and make them feel safe, because art is one of the things where you can’t do anything wrong. There’s no such thing as wrong art, and what’s so exciting about art is that every individual has their own style. There’s never two of the same.”

Vaughn said she will travel locally to teach, either privately or in a group. Large

Nonprofit given $500K from Parsons Foundation

SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA

The Bob & Renee Parsons Founda tion awarded $500,000 to Make Way for Books to expand its early literacy programming.

The program impacts up to 3,000 young children and families over the next three years.

Missed early literacy and learning oppor

PARKS from Page 1

Recreation Supervisor Shelby Scheer and Parks Superintendent Dave Herman ac cepted the Founders’ Day award on behalf of the town, and Recreation Supervisor Ja son Grodman and Parks Maintenance Su pervisor Steve Montano accepted the El Rio Award.

ART from Page 5

groups do not daunt her, but small groups are fine, too. The biggest challenge is get ting her students to believe in themselves.

“If anybody has any apprehension (about creating art), like, ‘I shouldn’t be painting because I’m not that good,’ just go for it,” she said. “When you do some artwork, the part of the brain that stress es and worries can’t operate at the same time. It has to be either/or.”

Vaughn’s next show is Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Medella Vina Ranch on Hough ton Road, a venue that hosts monthly art events.

In the meantime, Vaughn wants you to look at art — any art — and give yourself permission to feel.

“When you look at a piece of art there is some connection, some inspiration, something that touches you,” she said. “That’s what art is all about.”

tunities are connected to literacy struggles at kindergarten entry, and many children do not catch up. Last year, only 35% of third graders in Arizona scored proficient or highly proficient on standardized English Language Arts Assessments.

Support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will expand Tucson’s Make Way for Books’ Story School program to bring early literacy and learning opportu

nities, as well as high-quality books and literacy resources to thousands of children and families without access to these tools in the past.

“Growing up in inner-city Baltimore, my family had very little,” said Bob Parsons, founder and CEO of PXG.

“Books were a way for me to both escape and explore. By starting early and provid ing age-appropriate resources, Make Way

for Books allows kids to master reading, opening up a world of opportunity.”

Make Way for Books’ Story School pro gram is a two-generation model, mean ing young children (ages birth to 5) and parents learn together and build skills. Through this bilingual (English/Spanish) program, children and families gather with

Parks and Recreation Director Jim Con roy, Deputy Director Wayne Barnett, Rec reation Supervisor Bob Stinson and Town Manager Terry Rozema also attended the awards luncheon.

“We are proud of these awards for mul tiple reasons. Founders’ Day celebrates our

community and the rich history of Marana. The El Rio Preserve showcases the excep tional restoration work that the Town has done to transform the El Rio Preserve to a beautiful Natural Resources destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Both of these are truly Town awards and high

light the culture of teamwork and support among Town of Marana departments. Ma rana Parks and Recreation is honored to be recognized among the ‘Best of the Best’ in the state of Arizona,” Barnett said.

If you go

MVR’s Third Sunday Fair, featuring work for sale by artists and artisans, including Ute Vaughn

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

WHERE: Medella Vina Ranch, 4450 S. Houghton Road, Tucson

COST: Free admission

INFO: 520-288-0773; Vaughn’s website is artbyute.com

Ute Vaughn lives near Picture Rocks and on a hike spotted petroglyphs, which she used as a springboard for this image.

(Submitted/Ute Vaughn)

Prominently displayed in Ute Vaughn’s studio is this watercolor of a horse adorned with feathers. (Submitted/Ute Vaughn)

Expert: Economy outlook is bright, no recession

BY HOPE PETERS Tucson Local Media

Dr. Christopher Thornberg told an audience of bankers, homebuilders, real estate and other business pro fessionals that there is no recession. He spoke during the Nov. 9 Tucson Eco nomic Forum, presented by Alliance Bank of Arizona.

“We’re here to talk about Arizona, we’re here to talk about Tucson, we’re here to talk about the economy,” said Thornberg, founder of Beacon Economics. “We’re here to talk about what the hell is going on out there.”

Thornberg, a nationally recognized economist, pointed to media headlines on a big screen.

“It’s pretty dismal,” he said. “If you look at the headlines, Wall Street Journal, their next recession survey (shows) 60% chance of recession in the next year, that’s mod erate; this other company, (says) 98% (chance) of global recession.”

He said Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody’s Analytics, “just called a fullblown housing market correction.”

Housing is a big concern in Tucson and Phoenix due to the increase of rents and median home prices seen in both cities.

BOOKS from Page 6

highly experienced family literacy special ists each week.

Children will experience shared reading and literacy activities that build essential skills while parents gain skills and confi dence to support their children’s early de velopment. Each family enrolled in the pro gram receives a home library filled with 20 books to be used throughout the program. This library is tied to innovative literacy re sources, including the Make Way for Books app where participants can access e-books and activities anytime, anywhere. The Story School program meets families where they are in the community by partnering with neighborhood schools, food banks, com munity farms, resource centers, and even providing online programming to meet the diverse needs of participating families.

According to Jenny Volpe, CEO at Make

“The housing market has been another strength of Arizona’s economy over the last two years. However, rising interest rates and stretched prices have led to a no table slowdown in 2022,” according to the Alliance Bank of Arizona.

“Within this context, home prices in Ar izona continue to increase rapidly. From July 2021 to July 2022, the median home price rose 21.2% in Phoenix, reaching $480,567. In Tucson, median home pric es rose to $347,157 in July 2022, a 17.6% increase from a year earlier.” For Tucson and Phoenix, home prices “grew at a faster pace than the United States, where median prices rose by 13% over the same period,” according to information provided by Al liance Bank.

Also, as seen in this chart, the demand for apartments in both Tucson and Phoe nix has surged.

In Phoenix, the apartment vacancy rate fell to 4.2%, a 1.0 percentage point decline from last year. Vacancy rates for apart ments in Tucson saw a decline at 3.7%, rates are down 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier.

“In addition, the average asking rent grew by 21% in Phoenix and by 26.2% in Tucson,” Alliance Bank noted. The pace of growth puts Phoenix and Tucson metro

politan areas ahead of the 16.7% growth seen across the United States.

However, despite significant price ap preciation over the last year, average ask ing rents in Tucson is $1,152 and rent cost on average is $1,494 in Phoenix. Still, Tucson and Phoenix rents are lower com pared to the U.S. average of $1,724.

“Construction permit activity has also slightly increased over the last year in Arizona. During the first eight months of 2022, residential permitting activity in Arizona is up 0.7% over the same period in 2021.” It is noted, the “growth is being fueled by a 28.6% increase in multi-fami ly permitting and slightly offset by a 9.1% decrease in single-family permitting.

“Some of this I can kind of get. It’s been an odd year so far,” Thornberg said. “First half of the year the economy contracted, consumer confidence is going down pret ty dramatically.”

Thornberg said that immediately after the first half of the year, newspaper re porters were saying, two quarters of nega tive growth is a recession.

“Now, that’s a newspaper’s definition of recession,” he said. “Basically, what hap pens with newspapers is they simplify everything to the point of stupidity...Two quarters of negative growth, no credible

economist has ever used that definition to define recession, for a couple reasons.”

Thornburg explained, “First of all, if that’s your definition of a recession, it turns out the pandemic was not a reces sion, because that was about four weeks of negative growth. Mind you, that was a lot of negative, but after that it started grow ing.”

He said a better definition of a recession is an economy that is not living up to its potential.

“That is to say, it can produce more in goods and services, but because of some sort of market failure in the economy it is not able to live up to that potential out put.”

The best way to see a recession is to look for slack resources, he explained.

“For example, when people want to find jobs, but can’t get them, that’s a hike in the unemployment rate,” Thornberg said. “Or if factories want to sell products, but can’t find buyers, that’s reduced capacity of uti lization.”

The October unemployment rate in the United States is 3.7%: However, over the last 50 years, “the unemployment rate has been below 4%, about four years out of

Way for Books, “Through Story School, we ensure thousands of young children have necessary early experiences with books and literacy from an early age, setting the stage for school readiness and success in reading in the future. Thanks to this generous grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Founda tion, we are thrilled to be able to further expand this innovative and collaborative program and bring our Story School pro gram to more children and families at a larger scale.”

Make Way for Books’ programming en courages children and families to learn together each week through an ongoing early literacy series that builds children’s early literacy and language skills, including vocabulary and comprehension, which are correlated with successful reading in later years.

With guidance from family literacy spe cialists, parents and families support this learning by reading effectively with their children, including asking open-ended questions, prompting children to make predictions and observations, and using descriptive vocabulary. As a result of the program, last year 98% of children gained emergent literacy and language skills that are the building blocks for future reading.

“Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher,” said Renee Parsons, president and executive creative director of PXG Apparel.

“Make Way for Books provides the right tools to families now, ensuring that chil dren can succeed in school tomorrow.”

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated learning loss over the past two years. In fact, the percentage of students on track to read at grade-level dropped by more

than half compared to the previous year. This funding comes at a critical time and strengthens Make Way for Books’ ability to ensure underserved young children have the early literacy and learning opportuni ties they deserve. Support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will make those opportunities possible for thousands of Ar izona’s youngest learners.

Make Way for Books makewayforbooks.org Instagram: @makewayforbooks

and Apparel. right chil exacerbated In track

ECONOMY from Page 8

it,” Thornberg explained. “That’s a pretty tight labor market.”

opportunities possible for thousands of Ar izona’s youngest learners.

to read at grade-level dropped by more than half compared to the previous year. This funding comes at a critical time and strengthens Make Way for Books’ ability to ensure underserved young children have the early literacy and learning opportuni ties they deserve. Support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will make those

As for how industrial production goes, capacity of utilization is back up to 80%, he said.

“Industrial production is currently at an all-time high,” Thornberg said. “If this is a recession, long live the recession. But, of course, it’s not a recession; what’s going on in our economy is not that.”

“In the world of modern mathematical economics, we believe that people inter nalize the information they can and make the best decisions appropriately,” Thorn berg said. “But it’s hard to think that, when really over the last decade, what I’ve not ed over and over again, is no matter how good the data is, the headlines get worse and worse.

en’t. There’s no way this is going to turn into a recession,” Thornberg said. “Yes, I know interest rates are up. Yes, I know real estate markets on the asset side are really starting to flinch, but the dominant source of growth in the U.S. economy is the U.S. consumer and the consumer is alive and well.”

Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon

Economics, is director of the Center for Economic Forecasting and Development at the University of California Riverside and an adjunct professor at the school. He also serves on the advisory boards of Paulson & Co. Inc., a Wall Street hedge fund, and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Thornberg said even with the negative headlines, he pointed to earlier, one has to be a little cautious about them.

West, said Interim Oro Valley Town Man ager Chris Cornelison.

“Part of the development does hinge upon some sort of financial participation agreement between Town West and the Town of Oro Valley,” he added.

“The same folks that told us those neg ative headlines about where our economy is right now, were the same ones who two years ago in the beginning of the pandem ic, told us the pandemic is going to cause a depression,” he said.

“That is really focused on the middle area, the entertainment district, and it is mainly related to the infrastructure in that wash area as well as what level of recre ational amenities the town wants to see.”

“Remember those scary headlines? Thiry percent of Americans are going to stop paying their home loans, 30 to 40 million people are going to be evicted, home prices are going to fall any second now.”

Make Way for Books makewayforbooks.org Instagram: @makewayforbooks despite “within on the Village com Horvath the things obvious drawings mid Town

Horvath said the hope is to create a “fab ulous” park, entertainment center, splash pads, wade pool and playgrounds.

“It’s going to take a lot,” Horvath said. “We have to add parking and we have to create pedestrian areas, walking areas, shaded ar eas. I think we have a 1-acre grass field. We have areas for restaurants. We are talking about possibly putting in pickleball or pad dle courts; and an event center is planned. We’ve got a lot of ideas and plans to make it a very special gathering spot, hopefully we can work through all of that with the town.”

He said when you start to see this pat tern, where every “headline is just telling us how horrible and awful everything is, you have to start realizing there’s some thing amiss, not so much with the econo my but with the headlines.”

Thornberg referred to a book, “Nar rative Economics,” by Robert Shiller, in which the author points a finger at the economics community, saying economics is missing the boat. Shiller writes in the book economists are too obsessed with models, data and the assumption of ratio nal behavior.

The whole marketplace sits on 112 acres, with three empty big box stores — Best Buy, Big Lots and Cost Plus World Market — that will be utilized for new retail.

“First of all, we are thrilled for the town of Oro Valley and the residents of Oro Valley

HOT

PICKS from Page 4

Illumination,” returns to the Tucson Botan ical Gardens and runs through Sunday, Jan. 15. Made up of over 3,000 luminarias, this local tradition brings together meticulous ly constructed experiences, thematic zones and installations from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. six nights a week. For information about ticket prices, FAQ and special foodie events during this time, visit tucson botanical.org. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way.

“When you think about where our economy is today it’s not because there’s anything fundamentally wrong with our economy. Rather it’s our policymakers who don’t seem to understand what’s hap pening inside our economy.”

and really the whole northwest Pima Coun ty community,” Horvath said. “And we are excited to create the Oro Valley building center concept that combines live, work, play.”

To clarify, Thornberg said to look at our economy in 2019. Even with all its nega tive headlines, horror stories and tales of woe and decline, the reality was the econ omy was about as good as it has ever been.

“The changes the town council approved will provide the Oro Valley Marketplace owner greater flexibility to invest needed capital into the retail center to reimagine the property as the Oro Valley Village Cen ter, providing a vibrant place to live, work and play,” said Oro Valley Mayor Joe Win field, said in a statement.

In 2019, Oro Valley Marketplace was pur chased by Town West, a move that the town appreciated for the underperforming com mercial center.

“But don’t let reality intrude on a good narrative,” he said. “When the pandemic hit, these ridiculous calls of depression came up. It caused the federal govern ment, our policymakers to vastly overres pond. The amount of stimulus they threw at this economy in response to the pan demic was insane.

“After many years of having a struggling commercial center, the town began to work with the new owner of the marketplace, Town West, in pursuing a reimagined cen ter that will hopefully serve as a focal place for our residents and visitors to enjoy,” Cor nelison said.

“So what happens when you throw too much money at the economy? You over heat the economy. When you overheat the economy, what happens? Inflation. There is no mystery here—except for the mystery as to why, suddenly, the federal reserve is not recognizing inflation as a consequence of their own actions.”

Thornberg again told the audience that there is no recession.

“We’re not in a recession, we really ar

“Through continued conversations and adjusted plans, Town West provided the town council with an agreeable concept intended to breathe new life into the cen ter. We look forward to seeing the center achieve its potential.”

LOCAL MARKETS

Saturday, Dec. 3

Support local farmers, ranchers and small food purveyors offering their seasonal produce, farm-fresh eggs, meats and other goods at the Oro Valley Farmers Market.

It’s open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, yearround, at the Historic Steam Pump Ranch. Attendance is free, but money is required for shopping. For more information about the Oro Valley Farmers Market or other Heirloom Farmers Markets, visit heirloom fm.org. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Or acle Road.

Multiple causes of inflation

Editor:

I recently read letters by Lois Berkowitz and Kirk Alexander. I am a retired science teacher and environmental specialist who cleaned many contaminated sites from for mer manufacturing prior to our current EPA laws when we did not know about en vironmental causes and effects.

Our EPA and state environmental laws are very strict. Any company, whether in mining, drilling for oil, natural gas or coal or other endeavor, has to follow these rules or face fines that could bankrupt the com pany.

Companies do not want to go out of busi ness. Avian flu is a cause of higher poultry and egg prices but, overall, the biggest in flation factor for all commodities is the price of diesel fuel. Trucks have to bring

every commodity to us and when diesel fuel is high, prices go up.

I have no problem with people buying electric vehicles (EVs), using solar pan els or wind turbines on properties with enough space to site them. However, this should be the consumer’s choice and not the government’s choice. The gasoline powered vehicle did not overtake horses and carriages overnight. Only when Hen ry Ford introduced the assembly line and lowered the cost of cars did the sales of gas oline powered cars soar.

Consumer Reports just noted that EVs are not reliable — yet. EVs are still a new technology. In time, they will be reliable. EVs depend on lithium batteries, 85% of lithium reserves are owned by China. We need more lithium for EV batteries.

I have a friend who has talked to the fed eral government about the critical need

for strategic materials for EVs, cellphones, etc. We do not have enough solar and wind power to replace fossil fuels that heat our homes and charge EVs. The majority of our energy comes from fossil fuels.

Joe Biden said he will shut down coal plants. “I cannot depend on them and no drilling” for oil, a perplexing statement. We have no replacements for these fuels. We cannot replace these fuels overnight. It will take decades to do this. Carbon neutral nu clear plants using thorium could help but cannot get permitted because of fear gener ated by small groups of people.

People this winter in cold states will probably be burning wood instead of highcost oil and more emissions instead of less from the fossil fuels. My friends in Maine estimate it will cost them $3,000 to heat their small home with fuel oil.

We should not be looking to get oil from Venezuela or Saudi Arabia when we have the resources here. Kirk Alexander said it is good that Joe Biden declared war on fossil fuels when Mr. Alexander is heating and cooling his home with the use of fossil fuels unless he has solar panels, wind power and fuel cells to store energy when the sun does not shine and there is no wind! Please look at the source for your energy.

Economics 101 tells us that prices of goods and services are based on supply and demand. During the recent pandemic, peo ple worked from home and the demand for gasoline dropped, prices dropped and oil company profits dropped.

Now, companies are telling their work ers to come back to the office and since

How to get a letter

the Biden administration is not approving new permits for drilling for fossil fuels and Saudi Arabia cut back on its production, demand is higher, supplies are lower, and prices are higher. If a Republican adminis tration did the same thing, I would hold it just as accountable for a poor policy.

Also, if Joe Biden allowed our production of fossil fuels to increase, prices will drop, and we would cut the amount of money Vladimir Putin has to fund his war with the Ukraine!

Again, EPA regulations are very strict in this country. Companies do not want spills or accidents, it is costly and could ruin their stock prices and possibly bankrupt the company.

Our switching from fossil fuels will not help the planet if the two most populated countries on Earth, China and India, do not do the same thing.

Kirk Alexander made the comment that Republicans use fear as a tactic. I saw a Mark Kelly commercial that had his oppo nent talking about privatizing Social Secu rity and then shows a senior with fear on his face. Congress needs to work to solve our country’s problems instead of wast ing taxpayers’ money in endless fighting. Time for Congress to get to work and Joe Biden to rethink his policy, which is hurt ing Americans and helping Vladimir Putin.

Anthony J. Albini Pima County

Tucson Local Media welcomes letters that express read ers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, including city, and telephone number. Tucson Local Media will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. Tucson Local Media will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the Tucson Local Media, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.

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Solana Pilates is a bright spot in the town of Marana

BY HOPE PETERS Tucson Local Media

Since MJ Reed opened Solana Pilates on Oct. 5, she has had a sunny out look.

She hoped Pilates fans would ap preciate her Marana studio, which offers the original mode, Reformer Pilates.

“Pilates is interesting,” said Reed, who said “Solana” is Spanish for sunshine.

“You can do it in a couple ways. Original ly when Pilates was introduced by Joseph Pilates, it was on a machine.”

Mat Pilates followed. However, the Pi lates methods have the same 500 exercises.

“So they can be done on a reformer (ma chine) or a mat, a yoga mat,” she said.

The use of a mat leads to confusion be tween Pilates and yoga. Reed educates peo ple on the difference and insisted Pilates is one of the best modalities when it comes to exercise and strengthening your core.

“We do some stretching, (like yoga),” she said. “But the one thing that I think sets Pi

lates apart from any other modality, is that it hits intrinsic muscles that you will never hit doing strength training in a gym.”

According to a new study by Fitness Volt, Pilates is the most pop ular fitness class in Ar izona. Reed knows all about its benefits. A former body builder, Reed said her body was worn from the form. She started at 19 and continued for another 20 years.

“Because of knee in juries, elbow injuries, I never thought I would have full mobility again,” Reed said.

“And doing Pilates has absolutely given me mobility. I’m able to do the things I couldn’t do in the past.”

Many former athletes of high-impact sports and weightlifting styles have found great benefits incorporating her style of fit

ness into their routines. She doesn’t just of fer her classes to former athletes, Reed has found working with women has been very rewarding and beneficial to them as well.

“It’s really for anybody. I work with a lot of women too,” she said. “As we get older, balance becomes an issue and that is one of the things I work with older women with; core and building their stabilizer and the legs for balance. That’s what I love about the machine, if you suffer from something like vertigo, it gives you the ability to lay down and still be able to do these exercises while you are laying down (on the machines)”

Pilates allows a person to feel relaxed while still challenging themselves. Solana offers Pilates essentials for beginners and Beyond essentials for a more advanced cli ent.

Reed said she wants to engage others in the same life-enhancing exercises that have improved her own well-being after years of previous athletic endeavors.

The team at P3 ARIZONA helped me understand my MEDICARE OPTIONS

MIKE CANDREA, Former University of Arizona Head Softball Coach

I always taught my players to be prepared. In turning 65, I knew Medicare was a whole new ball game. P3 Arizona helped me understand my optionsincluding the benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan versus traditional. P3 Arizona supports seniors in getting the care they DESERVE.

See PILATES Page 15

See PILATES Page 13

MIKE

Daniel Durazo and Anissa Delgado demonstrate one of the many exercises on the Reformer. (MJ Reed/Submitted)

PILATES from Page 12

PILATES from Page 14

Solana Pilates’ machines are from Eu rope; Joseph Pilates hailed from Germany. Pilates built his first Reformer Pilates ma chine in the 1920s using a hospital bed. The studio, with its calming colors and relaxing scent, welcomes clients. Reed said she also uses props such as weights and a magic circle, a rubber or metal ring that’s about 13- to 15-inches in diameter with two small, cushioned pads on either side. She offers five classes per day with a max imum of seven clients per class. Prices are based on class passes or monthly member ships.

Solana Pilates

8275 N. Silverbell Road, Suite 105, Marana Call/text 520-627-4201 support@solanapilates.com

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to noon Saturday

Solana Pilates offers classes at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. And at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. Private classes from 1 to 4 p.m.

Currently Reed is offering an introduc tory price of four classes for $40. Drop-in classes are $30, Reed explained. For five classes, the fee is $120; 10 classes will cost $200.

Those who have a membership with an automatic renewing contract, the fees are four classes per month at $99, or eight classes per month for $160. Unlimited classes per month are $199.

FREEDOM.

Lisa Rock celebrates the Carpenters this Christmas

BY LAURA LATZKO Tucson Local Media Contributor

With their music, the sibling duo Carpenters left an impression on generations of fans.

One of Karen and Richard Carpenter’s fans is Lisa Rock, who will pay tribute to them with “A Carpenters Christmas” on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The Christmas show with her six-mem ber band draws from the Carpenters’ pop ular Christmas albums and variety shows.

Audiences can expect to hear songs such as “Merry Christmas, Darling” and a jazz version of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” The show focuses on the jazzier side of the Carpenters, who were original ly part of a trio. In the beginning, Karen Carpenter played the drums.

“Her drumming was absolutely incredi ble,” Rock said.

“People didn’t know where that voice came from behind the drum kit. They couldn’t see her, so they moved her out front and got a drummer,” Rock said.

Rock said with the Christmas show, she tries to recreate a similar variety show feeling as the Carpenters’ Christmas spe cials. The duo also made a special appear ance on a Perry Como Christmas special.

Rock and her band will also perform other hit songs from the Carpenters.

The duo is best known for songs such as “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Superstar,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Please Mr. Postman” and “Yesterday

Once More.”

While Rock and her band stay true to the original songs, they put new twists on the tracks.

“It’s through my voice now, and it’s through my band. So, it’s a little faster, a little slower. It’s interpreted a little differ ently… There are subtleties that are ours just by virtue of us playing them this many times,” Rock said.

“It definitely is through our bodies now, but it’s still their arrangements and ev erything in her original key, which also makes us unique as well. Because I actual ly have a four-octave range that allows me to hit all of those notes naturally.”

Rock also has a national touring tribute to the Carpenters called “Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters.”

Rock said the shows mostly attract long time fans, but there are also new listeners who come out and discover the music.

Over the years, Rock had met family members of, and people who knew, the Carpenters.

“We have firsthand stories of things that we get to share with our audience. Then the audience shares with us, people who have met them…Their postman’s daugh ter came to our show. She told me how Karen would wait in the garage when they were playing with their band…When he would show up, she would run out of the garage to get the mail…I met the man who sold Richard his first Cadillac. Really cool things like that. It’s an honor to get to do this,” Rock said.

In the show, Rock shares stories about the Carpenters as well as about her tour ing experiences.

“We spend time after the show as well talking to people and asking the audience questions,” Rock said.

This is the 12th season for Rock’s trib ute shows. From the start, the shows highlighted the music and lives of the Carpenters but weren’t meant to be im personation.

“I always wanted to do their music and talk about them and their journey but not be them,” Rock said.

Rock focuses on the Carpenters’ music and not on Karen Carpenter’s battle with and death from anorexia.

“They were just musicians playing their music. That’s what I love. That’s the type of entertainment I appreciate the most is having a pure singer and band that it’s all about the music,” Rock said.

“We wanted to honor their music down to the notes that they played. Those ar rangements were so lush and so original, and Richard was so ahead of his time.”

She said the show still feels fresh be cause every set and audience is different. She has played in iconic spaces where her heroes have performed.

“It’s still exciting. I wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t. It’s not a job to me but an ob vious passion and something I love every second of,” Rock said.

One of the songs in the Christmas show spotlights Rock’s backup singers, while instrumental tracks highlight the band.

A Tucson-based choir will join them. It’s important to Rock to showcase up-and -coming musicians.

“We all came from our high school and junior high bands and choirs. We have music written out for that, a couple of pieces where they get featured singing with us and playing with us. I don’t know who gets more out of it because it’s such a thrill to share the stage with the future of our industry,” Rock said.

When Rock was young, she admired the Carpenters.

She especially remembers a duet fea turing Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzger ald, which she has incorporated into her shows.

“That one holds a special place because I remember watching that and being blown away by her not singing pop hits but singing jazz and musical theater. Kar en’s range, that was what really got me,” Rock said.

If you go

Lisa Rock in “A Carpenters Christmas”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1

WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson

PRICE: Tickets start at $22

INFO: 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY SPORTS & RECREATION

Native basketball: A game gone too soon

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

The Pima College women’s basket ball team held its second In Honor of Indigenous Peoples game on Nov. 5, hosting SAGU American Indian College. It was a one-night deal, a showcase for this year’s powerhouse Pima squad, the members of which wore special uniforms in the traditional Native color of turquoise.

The game was a blowout, but it was still a cool evening. It opened with a traditional Navajo prayer, after which a woman sang the national anthem in Navajo. (It was much more interesting than the English version.)

It served as a poignant reminder of the game’s importance on reservations across

this country. It was also a reminder that there was a time, not that long ago, where Native basketball was celebrated at the col legiate level right here in Pima County.

Such was the case with the Tohono O’Odham Community College Jegos men’s and women’s basketball programs, teams that sprang up out of nowhere a decade ago. It led to an almost-spiritual awakening on the reservation, helped establish an identi ty for the school and the Nation, and then suddenly were gone like the summer storm that fails to materialize, leaving the promise of healing precipitation unfulfilled.

Every Jegos home game was an event. Tribal members came from all parts of the Nation, from the far western edge near Why to the eastern boundary of the res

ervation in the Tucson metropolitan area. They made the 90-minute drive from the far-northern boundary, just outside of Casa Grande, and a few would even come up from the traditional O’Odham land on the other side of the U.S.-Mexico border. (For better or worse, Mexico doesn’t recog nize the concept or reality of native lands.) Most would head into Sells on Highway 86 (Ajo Way in Tucson), then turn onto Indian Road 19 by the Bashas’ to head out to Babo quivari High School in Topawa.

The parking lot at the high school was often full, with rows and rows of pickup trucks and SUVs (and only the occasional Honda Civic). The crowds filed in, indi viduals and entire families, old and young, city folk and ranchers. (Once, when I was

coaching a high school volleyball team, we were playing a game at Baboquivari High. We had a foreign-exchange student from Germany named Eva and, looking into the stands with wide-eyed fascination, she guilelessly asked why some of the Indians were dressed like cowboys.)

For a decade, it was basketball heaven in a part of America that could use some pos itivity, a sense of community, and maybe a dose of shared self-worth. The men’s team, led by Tohono O’Odham hoops legend Ro land Ramon, was good almost immediately. They reached the playoffs in their second year and just one year later, they fell one game short of reaching the National Cham

BY TOM DANEHY Tucson Local Media Columnist

Nathan Aldrich is bummed. It’s only a couple days until the start of the basketball season and the Flowing Wells senior guard is sick. He’s not sure what it is. It could be a cold or the flu or some kind of gunk that’s going around.

“It’s not fun. I’ve been looking forward to basketball season all year. I can’t wait for our first game.”

The first game on the Caballeros’ sched ule is against Cholla, which features the best player in Tucson, Sai Dean. Nathan had seen Dean play in the Fall League at the Sporting Chance Center and was looking forward to maybe guarding the Cholla star.

Nathan prepared for basketball season by running cross country. “It was my first sea

son ever doing cross country. It’s hard, but it’s fun. I had a chance to go to regionals, but I wanted to get started on basketball, instead.”

There is a shadow that hangs over the Flowing Wells boys’ program and it is the long shadow cast by the Flowing Wells girls’ program. The girls have reached the Class 5A State Championship game the past two years and have one of the top programs in the entire state. Senior Navine Mallon was the State Player of the Year last year.

When asked whether it bothers him and/or his teammates that the girls are so successful while the boys’ program has struggled in recent years, he says, “Not re ally. Flowing Wells is a tight community. There’s only one middle school and one

pionship Tournament. The women’s team started slowly but by the fourth year, they, too, were fighting for a spot in the playoffs. But now it’s been wiped away.

Back in 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, then-TOCC President Dr. Paul Robertson unilaterally decided to kill the basketball programs and replace them with cross country and wellness programs. In a press release, Robertson said, the deci sion was “aimed at benefiting the health and wellness of all our students. The new well ness initiative will focus on O’odham games, strength training, personal fitness, running, group exercises, aerobics, dance and intra murals.”

The decision was met with outrage throughout the Nation. If Robertson (who is not Native and so is obviously not O’Odham) were in a three-person popular ity contest, he’d finish seventh. But, as (his) luck would have it, the announcement came just as the COVID-19 pandemic began rag ing in April. Much of the Nation, already separated by remoteness, was in lockdown and dealing with a life-or-death situation.

The decision to kill basketball, which was wildly popular and served as a source of pride and inspiration throughout the Toho no O’Odham Nation, was put on the back burner.

It’s been a couple years, but many peo ple are still upset and they want their Jegos back.

Michael Steward was the men’s basketball coach and athletic director at TOCC at the time the programs were killed off. He has since moved out of state. Nevertheless, he still holds out hope hopes that basketball will return to Tohono O’Odham Commu nity College someday. “Basketball is just going to keep getting more and more pop ular on Indian reservations,” he said. “And we had something special (there). We had something that the Apaches and the Hopis and the Navajos don’t have. We had college basketball teams at a school named for and serving the Nation.”

Pima women’s coach agreed. “It was al ways great fun going out there and playing in front of those crowds. It was a celebration of basketball and a celebration of life.”

high school. We all grew up together. I’ve known Navine forever. I’m happy for her and them.”

The boys are hoping to get above .500 this year and Nathan thinks that they have a good shot. “Yeah, it would be great to (match the girls’ success), but we’re our own team and we have our own work to do.”

“We have good chemistry this year and Coach (Sean Spiece) has us working hard. It’s going to be fun.”

In the spring, he runs track for Flowing Wells. And while he put in the work in cross country, his track events don’t match up with the distance running. Instead, he

SPORTS ALDRICH from Page 16 See ALDRICH Page 18

ALDRICH from Page 15 See ALDRICH Page 17

Athlete of the Week Nathan Aldrich (last person on the right) prepared for the Flowing Wells High School basketball season by running cross county. (submitted photo)

from Page 17

does the 200 Meter (sprint) and the 800 Me ter (middle distance). He also wants to try the high jump. I want to do everything I can while I’m in high school. I just really enjoy sports.”

Is he thinking of running cross country at NAU?

“There’s no way,” he said with a laugh. “They just won the national championship in cross country.” (They actually just won their third straight national championship.)

He plans on majoring in marketing and freezing his backside off. “I’ll probably still run, but just for exercise. I also hope I’m able to find some way to continue with bas ketball, maybe in leagues or intramurals.”

But first there is this season, his senior season. But before he can enjoy basketball season, he has to get through his own per sonal flu season.

“I’m good.” Pause. “I will be good.”

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Oro Valley, 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 antidepressants 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, numbness, tingling, pain, and balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves to degenerate – an insidious and often painful process.

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.

Thankfully, Oro Valley is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new 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.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

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

Arrowhead Physical Medicine in Oro Valley, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. Th is 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 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 than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

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 October 31st, 2022 Call (520) 934 0130 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers. 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.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

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

Arrowhead Physical Medicine 10425 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 125 Oro Valley, AZ, 85737

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

Connection between coffee and shopping

BY MIA SMITT Tucson Local Media Columnist

While out with friends it is often customary to meet for coffee be fore hitting the mall or specialty shops. Maybe a caffeine lift prior to car or furniture shopping sounds good. This might not be such a good thing for our wallets. A study published in the June 11 issue of The Journal of Marketing looked at how caffeine might influence customer spending.

“Caffeine is one of the most powerful stimulants that is both legal and widely available,” the researchers noted. Coffee is our biggest source of caffeine with tea and sodas coming in second and third.

We are drinking more coffee, both at home and at the ubiquitous artisan coffee shops that serve it in very large quantities. It is estimated that between 85% and 90% of Americans drink at least one caffeinated beverage every day. Chocolate, kola nuts,

yerba mate, foods made with coffee (such as the Italian dessert Tiramisu) energy drinks, and even some chewing gums contain caf feine but usually in smaller amounts. We also find caffeine in some prescriptions, and it is a popular headache remedy since it constricts blood vessels, lessening the pain.

This marketing study found that people

who drank a caffeinated beverage before shopping bought more things and spent more money than they might have if they had foregone the drink. Of interest is that this caffeine effect is strong for more self-indulgent products such as scented candles and room fragrances than such rudimentary items like paper towels and kitchen utensils. This can easily be extrap olated to spending on a fancy blouse rath er than a plain t-shirt or the candy apple red car instead of standard beige, or even a trip to a fancy resort when the original plan may have been a few days at a threestar hotel.

Caffeine is a stimulant and can create a state of alertness and activation. A “posi tive hedonic state” is excitement and more energized activity. This can boost the per ception of some things and makes them seem more promising such as chocolate candy and how good you might look in that fancy blouse. Caffeine can also cause a “negative hedonic state” which is anxiety and nervousness but usually in far greater quantities than 200 mg. The study looked at the effects of caffeine intake from 30 to 100 mg since most caffeinated beverages fall into this range. The research team set up an espresso station near the entrances of two different retail stores in France and outside a department store in Spain.

Upon entering these stores, half of the

shoppers were given a complimentary cup of coffee containing caffeine (intake was 30 to 100 mg) and the other half given decaf or water.

“We found that the caffeine group spent significantly more money and bought a higher number of items than those who drank the decaf or water,” reported the re searchers. The caffeine group also bought more enjoyable items such as scented can dles and there was little to no difference in the more utilitarian purchases. An interest ing finding was that this spending was seen in people who drank a little over two cups or less but not in the heavy coffee drinkers. This was not a health-oriented study, but it certainly impacts our health and decision making. Retailers are certainly looking for ways to enhance consumer spending and perhaps we need to be alert to triggers that impact our behaviors. Just be aware that when you might have a coffee and choco late cake for lunch, your shopping experi ence may change. And perhaps there are other such triggers such as music, which can enhance a shopping experience or de tract from it.

Enjoy the coffee and evaluate for yourself the marketing research conclusion!

Mia Smitt is a longtime nurse practitioner. She writes a regular column for Tucson Lo cal Media.

private with a letter home, letters an humor rials info now?” Pluto? response to wizard harder

Edited

By Holiday Mathis

A Reversal of Neptune

These last days of the Neptune retrograde have us taking stock of what we have and how much we have left of it. Of course, the best things come in unlimited supply, while many essential things are noticeably limited. Time, attention and money come in finite forms, so we have to be more care ful about where we spend them. Luckily, love is unlimited. No matter how we go about it, increas ing the love increases the love.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You set your sights high while you stay grounded in the work that needs to be done. This is a step-by-step process, and you’re committed to knowing every step first hand. This makes it easier for you to teach others when it’s time to delegate. Your brilliant plan will consist of simple measures and a lot of repetition.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you have trouble being consistent, it’s only because you are so imaginative. Just know that you’re in a “rinse and repeat” cycle now. The success of a project will be all tied into your willingness to keep going. The week calls for the same thing you’ve been doing, but you don’t have to do it exactly the same way.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Don’t worry about your timing because you’re not in control of life’s rhythms and tempos. Stay present and know you are part of the grand machinery. Life will wait or hurry to greet you as needed. No matter how busy a person is or how rushed a circumstance seems, the right moment will form to fit and hold you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It is your pleasure to learn a little something about everything you come into contact with this week, though you will not often do this in an obvious way. The question doesn’t have to leave your lips to get an answer. You’ll ask with your mind and let your observa tions inform you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re a person who others find easy to remember. This has its pros and cons this week. There’s something you want people to do, a message you want to impart or a platform you stand on. It will have lasting im pact coming from you. The downside is that you must always be on your best behavior.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Stay open to social options this week, as they will certainly be available to you. Most relationships start casual ly as people find themselves in the same vicinity with similar interests. A courteous exchange is really all it takes to spark the feeling that it would be worthwhile to get to know someone better.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Rushed com munication will be miscommunication. Take your time. There’s no need to decide everything in a day. Some conversations simply serve the purpose of putting a topic on the table for further discus sion. Relationships get stronger this week as you look past flaws and see the good intentions of others.

BY DAVID STEINBERG

26 Wigmaker’s supply 27 Stalling 28 One who’ll take you for a ride 29 Their spines aren’t flexible 31 Small carton size 32 “There!” 33 Big matter of concern for senior management? 34 Washington, Jackson or Ford

Across 1 Discipline with tantric Buddhist origins 10 Ruses 15 Congresswoman who wrote “This Is What America Looks Like” 16 “I’m not a ___” (online confirmation) 17 Cramming together, e.g.? 18 Unfold 19 Mixer at a mixer 20 Celebrity gossip source 22 “Do you, my poppet, feel infirm? / You probably contain a ___”: Ogden Nash 23 Indonesian province with a Hindu majority 25 Ultimate purpose 27 Chives feature 29 When you might hear people sing, for short 30 Relative of latex 32 Literally, “trumpets” 33 Pile of texts? 35 They push a motion

36 Half of an evening outfit, informally 39 Turn in the air, say 40 Bother 45 “S.N.L.” alum who co-starred in 2003’s “Dumb and Dumberer” 46 Most prolific author of children’s horror fiction, per Guinness PUZZLE

47 Makes like a goose 48 Parentheses, e.g. 50 Organizer of a couples getaway?

52

53

54

56

forward 36 Ready for a back rub, say 37 What cooks your goose? 38 Something that’s cracked and gross 40 Manage to stop 41 “Your point being?” 42 20 sources 43 14-time N.B.A. All-Star Nowitzki 44 Become more appealing to 46 Its tongue sticks out 48 On the job 49 Spotted, as a horse

Healthy slice

Delta connection?

Travel by private jet, say 59 Informal summons 60 “Hammer” with a bat 61 Line on a letter 62 Nasdaq’s home, informally Down 1 Noise that sounds like its last two letters 2 Part in the middle? 3 Bad result of an attempt at

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You may assess a situation to know your next move, but you’re not responsible for passing judgment on it. Deciding what you’re going to do is different from deciding what should be done. You’ll embrace the freedom in letting things be. You’ll enjoy loads more en ergy for yourself because you keep to your own business.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Oddly, it is easier to be happy when you’re not in love. Whether it’s a person, a job or other, being extremely passionate about it puts the stakes so high that it’s hard to interact in a relaxed way. Burn for a thing and you may burn out. Turn down the emotional heat and you’ll smile more and operate at a higher level.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re so aware of your energy supply this week. You wake up with a certain amount to give to your various roles, and once it runs out, so does your ability to focus. Planning and prioritizing are a forte of yours these days. You’ll put the important things first, and the fullness of your attention will flow to what mat ters most.

Crossword Puzzle Answers

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Growth is seldom comfortable. You thrive on the sense that you’re improving. Though you’re surrounded by familiar faces, this week the curtains open on a fresh scene. You’ll witness the influence that an envi ronment can have on people and be surprised at the different facets that are brought out by new light.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You are faithful, loyal and true, so it is very difficult for you to pro cess the startling reality that others are not this way. Your admirers and people who would be ex cellent new additions to your team will come in pairs. Also, if you don’t have the right team, this is the perfect week to make changes.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: Success is never an outcome. This year, more than ever, you are more in touch with the feelings and tones of things, which are the best indicators of an endeavor’s success. Love is your default, and you won’t have to try very hard to find reasons to appreciate the people in your life. Seeing the best in others is the stellar superpower that will take you from your current position to the one you desire. One deci sion at the year’s end will change your personal history in dozens of ways.

Most service advert isers have an ROC# or "Not a licensed contractor" in their ad, this is in accordance to the AZ state law A

The advertising requirements of the statute does not prevent anyone from placing an ad in the yellow pages, on business cards, or on flyers.

What it does require under A.R.S. §32-1121A14(c) www.azleg.gov/ars/ 32/01165.htm is that the advertising party, if not properly licensed as a contractor, disclose that fact on any form of advertising to the public by including the words "not a licensed contractor" in the advertisement.

Again, this requirement is intended to make sure that the consumer is made aware of the unlicensed status of the individual or company.

Contractors who advertise and do not disclose their unlicensed status are not eligible for the handyman's exception.

Reference: http://www.azroc.g ov/invest/licensed_ by_law.html

As a consumer, being aware of the law is for your protection. You can check a businesses ROC status at: http://www.azroc .gov/

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