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sprinkle in a healthy dose of all the good that’s coming out of it. Maybe we should talk about humanity rather than focus only on the tragedy.

I don’t have the answers to how to navigate this. I don’t know what it looks like to be a good parent, friend, neighbor, or colleague during this time. You might not either. I don’t think anyone does. But from what I see, we’re all doing a pretty amazing job at stepping up, showing up, and spreading love to the extent we can.

Are you in a position where you’re being asked to work remotely? Go to TheFocusDrivenBiz.com to grab your

free guide about how to structure work days from home while caring

for two young kids. It’s not easy but it IS possible with certain strategies in

place.

Kimberly Crossland is a mom, a Vail resident, and the founder/owner of The Focus-Driven

Biz.

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before. We’re brainstorming ways to support businesses while they’re forced to close their doors. We’re brainstorming ways to buy food for elderly neighbors who are at a much higher risk when going to the grocery store. We’re putting our head together to fi gure out how we can

support one another in a time that feels very uncertain and unreal.

Parenting during this time is confusing. We try to protect our kids as much as ourselves from the reality of the situation, but they know something’s amiss. We’re having diffi cult conversations with kids about why they’re stuck at home seemingly overnight.

And maybe, while explaining what the coronavirus is and why we’re taking these precautions, we should

Birthday parties are getting canceled. Weddings have been put on hold. Relatives in the same city have been communicating over FaceTime rather than face-to-face. It’s a strange world out there, and it’s forcing us to have even stranger conversations with our children and community.

Here’s what I know to be true during it all — people are good. More than good, actually. People are rallying together in ways I’ve never seen

by Kimberly Crossland, Owner of The Focus-Driven Biz

At the time of writing, stores are still struggling to keep up with demand, people are actively social distancing, and schools are closed. My hope is that you’re reading this article, rolling your eyes, and saying, “this is old news.” But it’s probably not.

One of the few silver linings of this whole situation was the announcement that Frozen 2 was released on Disney+ early. Our family enjoyed fresh popcorn on the couch while watching our favorite little snowman sing. During one scene, my husband and I started laughing at a song that satirized love songs from when we were kids. While we were cracking up at the inside joke, our child started giggling too, unaware of why we thought the situation was so comical.

In that moment, it occurred to me just how contagious emotions can be. Laughter is contagious, of course. But so are fear, anxiety, depression, doubt, and worry.

It seems every day there’s a new press conference announcing even more stringent measures to keep everyone safe. As we tune in, it’s hard not to let the surreal situation we’re living in permeate to our kids.

Parenting During COVID-19

See inside for The Vail Voice Community Directory 2020

restaurants still open and ready for your business in our center paper spread. Thanks to the SouthEast Regional Council (SERC) working group chairs for putting this list together: Rob Nimitz, MaRico Tippett, JJ Lamb, Glenn Taylor and Dick Katz. We have also provided information on local worship services that can be found on line or live streamed. If we missed your church this time, please send your links to us via email to [email protected]. We’ll be sure to include you next time.

The April issue includes our annual Community Directory. For your convenience, businesses are listed alphabetically and by industry. Please let me know of your suggestions for next year. As always, your feedback is invaluable.

Finally, I am pleased to introduce my son, Jared Free as our new Editor. Jared has written film articles for the paper since high school and now moves on to an even more important role by bringing new a perspective and energy to the paper. Jared uses they/them/theirs pronouns.

Jared is a graduate of Cienega High School, and went on to study acting at New York University, where they graduated with double honors and a minor in cinema studies. Since graduating, they have appeared in short films that have gone on to premiere at film festivals such as Outfest. Jared will be attending Columbia University’s Film School in the fall, is excited to step into this new role and looks forward to continuing a tradition of excellence in the paper.

In this time of change and uncertainty, we are happy to be here for you…providing those human stories that will hopefully help us all get our footing.

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Hello Readers,

I am excited to share our April issue, which tells the human side of the COVID-19 story, as well as practical, no-nonsense advice on how to approach it. During this time, I feel it is important to acknowledge and send appreciation to those who are on the front lines in the war with this unseen enemy. Thanks to our health care professionals, food distribution and retail workers, janitors and many others.

We are reprinting an article our former editor, Mike Lavelle, written in 2015. With the current shortages in grocery and supply stores, his recommended list of items to purchase may not be available currently, but the article outlines worthy guidelines for the future. We also have an article from an old San Francisco friend of mine, Suzanne Saluti who is now living full time in Italy with her husband and will be writing a series on life in Italy. We include an article on the impact the Corona Virus has had in the world of worship and MaRico Tippett shares with us the assistance that is available to small businesses from the Federal Government.

As of this writing, restaurants are still not able to provide in dining services. It is so important to support our locally owned restaurants as they alternatively offer take out and curb side pick up services. These businesses provide the backbone of the SE Pima County economy. Our community continues to step up and show support for our beloved businesses. They are grateful for your ongoing support.

We have replaced our Community Calendar with a list of those

"District 4 Update" continued on page 16

189 will provide for the free-flow of millions of dollars of Mexican trade products to enter markets quicker, fresher, and more cost efficiently. The ceremony itself was most impressive and very well attended with Federal, State and Regional representatives and officials present, including Governor Doug Ducey.

For me, the groundbreaking was especially gratifying. The original concept of SR-189 was a project that evolved while I served on the Arizona State Transportation Board from 2009 to 2014. After all these years of fits and starts, managing a myriad of international and regional issues and complex moving parts, and most difficult of all - securing the funding, we were finally able to see those several golden-colored shovels actually digging into and moving dirt, while the freshly-cut red ribbon fell to that dirt.

On Tuesday, March 9, the United States Air Force staged a forum at the Tucson Convention Center as part of its public comment gathering efforts for conducting its Environmental Impact Study. The EIS deals with the potential mission assignment of the

F-35 Fighter planes to our Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. About 75 people attended with most of them addressing the F-35 mission to the Air Force representatives who conducted the public meeting.

I spoke on behalf of the economic importance that Davis-Monthan means to Southern Arizona and has for decades. Foremost is the $2.6 Billion that Davis-Monthan Air Force Base pumps into our local economy annually. I conveyed to the Air Force representatives present that to think of a Southern Arizona without a Davis-Monthan would be "unfathomable."

During these difficult times, a couple of noteworthy events took place recently that I believe, if both come to fruition, will have a very positive economic impact on Pima County.

First, a ceremony was held in Nogales, Arizona on March 4, celebrating the groundbreaking of major improvements to State Route 189. Starting from the Arizona side of the Mariposa Port of Entry, SR-189 will virtually by-pass and "fly over" the surface streets, traffic, school crossings and the general stifling congestion of the Port area through downtown Nogales.

SR-189 will enable truckers and shippers of goods, produce and assorted products from Mexico to have easier and more efficient access from the Port of Entry to I-19. The excruciatingly long lines of trucks that now have to wait, filled with fresh produce before moving on to points north, will flow with greater ease and at a much quicker pace due to this significant project of connectivity. Traffic congestion, and all of its negative by-products, will be drastically reduced.

The safety of the several schools that operate in the northbound trucking paths, as well as the residents of area neighborhoods, will be enhanced and secured. Most importantly, SR-

See our Online Church Service Listings on page 4

and

Restaurant Guide for Take Out and Delivery

on pages 20 & 21

The latest from Pima County District 4 Supervisor Steve Christy

Fromthe

PublisherLucretia Free

2 The Vail Voice To place an ad call: 520-490-0962

by phone at (520) 762-1557. In addition to remote consultations, we are providing call-in orders for supplements, meal replacement shakes, and other products from our offi ce. We have weight loss shakes, slim down supplements, and immune system boosters in stock. We also have medical grade HCG in our offi ce, which you can pick up along with this diet plan at our offi ce.

We want to help you stay on track with your weight loss goals and manage your health during this diffi cult time. Along with weight loss plans, we off er an immunity package of supplements that includes high potency vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and other vitamins for healthy lungs along with probiotics for immune support.

We are here for you, and we support the wellness goals of each of our patients. Wishing all of you health, strength, and safety during this time.

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Focus on Your Wellness, Immune System, and Health by Dr. Azam, Integrative Physician, M.D., Masters in Public HealthThe community responses to COVID-19 are changing rapidly. Currently, we are prioritizing the safety of our patients and staff by only off ering phone and web consultations starting Monday, March 23rd.

Your health and weight loss goals are important to us, so we want to remain available as your partners in health and wellness. Replacing all in-person consultations in our offi ce with phone and video conferences provides a safe alternative to our traditional care environment.

We will be available during normal business hours for phone calls and video appointments. You can also browse our supplements online 24/7 by visiting our website.

Our team is readily available

sit down to read it.

As the business and technology professional on the Tucson City Council, it is my hope our businesses have survived this diffi cult time and they will continue to thrive past April. Small businesses employ 47 percent of private sector workers in the U.S. Local businesses are the backbone and character of Tucson. Our businesses create the opportunities for individuals and families to earn a living. I hope they have been able to innovate and fi nd new ways of serving the public and keep their employees on the payroll. I hope our community has rallied behind them and we have done everything we can to keep money in our local Tucson economy.

In order to support my hopes for Ward 4's businesses, families, and individuals, my team and I have reached out to as many of those impacted businesses as we can to off er assistance. Whether it is providing information about Small Business Administration loans or utilizing social media to market and promote their business, our Ward 4 Team is dedicated to supporting our businesses and our constituents in every way possible.

Please continue following the CDC guidelines, as well as federal, state and local policies while we work through the COVID-19 pandemic, and please keep the emails and phone calls coming in to [email protected] and/or 520-791-3199.

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Hello friends. Like you, my family and I have been adjusting to this new way of life during COVID-19. It has changed everything for all of us. Our kids are up and running with online classrooms since the schools are physically closed, and my husband and I are doing our best to facilitate their learning while working from home. In addition, my staff and I are working very hard to keep pushing out information and getting your questions and concerns addressed as quickly and effi ciently as possible. Our Ward 4 Team is following the CDC guidelines and our physical offi ce is closed until we get the green light to open back up. We are very much up and running from our home offi ces and fully prepared to address your needs.

I am writing this at the end of March, and you are reading this in early April. Information has been changing on an hourly basis, and I have no idea what life will look like when you read this article. All I know to do is write about what I hope things will look like when this paper hits your mailbox and you

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The latest from Tucson Ward 4 Councilwoman Nikki Lee

WardUpdate 4

Vail Voice Phone: (520) 490-0962 Fax: (520) 398-7742

Jared [email protected]

Advertising(520) 490-0962

Art & Layout: Rick [email protected]

(520) 305-2019Photographer: Bel Colson

[email protected]

The Vail Voice is published monthly. The Deadline is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Subscription rate: $40 per year.The content in the Vail Voice does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the owner. No additional research or fact finding has been conducted to verify the information contained herein.

Publisher: Lucretia [email protected]

The

thevailvoice.com 3April 2020

"A Reminer for Preparedness" continued on next page

Hiking/Camping Kit For hiking and camping, one could have a lightweight hiking kit that has a simple first aid kit, supplemented by moleskin, sunscreen, some rope, duct tape, whistle, signal mirror, LED flashlight, insect bite/sting kit, water purifier, and a water filter. When camping, take the hiking kit, and add the additional elements of a camping kit, that might include a mosquito net, bivy bag, lightweight bag, larger camp LED light, solar charged radio, and other items related to camping.

Bug Out Kit/ Evacuation BagWhile some might think a bug out kit is extreme; you never know what sort of emergency might require you to rapidly leave your home. In recent years, there have been multiple events, from the Boston Bombing to the recent hurricanes (four and counting), where people had to quickly leave their home. A bug out bag or kit is simply those supplies that you can quickly grab that have all those items (that you generally can carry), that you would like to have with you, where ever you might be, (a friend’s house, a shelter, or a motel).

Such a kit would include not only a first aid kit, but food and water. Water is heavy, and the amount you carry depends on your need and destination. You’ll also want to pack layered clothing, a wind up or solar powered radio, an LED wind up flashlight, basic medications and prescriptions, utility knife, lightweight sleeping bag, tarp, thermal under garments, wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, personal hygiene items, items to help pass the time (book, deck of cards, and such), a wind-up, solar or battery powered charger to power a cell phone and other micro-USB powered devices. If the time came where you had to leave quickly, you could simply grab your hiking and or camping kit, and your advanced travel kit supplemented by items from your food storage, along with additional items, like those just noted, and this becomes your bug out kit.

3-4 days).

To get you started preparing your family for the unexpected, here are several kits that you can put together. With these, you can make living in the desert a little bit safer in an emergency.

Home Kit For your home preparedness kit you want food, water, and basic toiletries for at least two weeks, if not more. Part of your home kit could be as simple as items you have on hand in your bathroom and medicine cabinet, with selected additional items like basic medical supplies for minor injuries and sicknesses (include prescription medications for two weeks), batteries, external charged cell phone battery (solar chargers are available) flashlights, and candles. One recommendation for home preparedness is to have not only a stocked pantry, but also the storage of additional foods that replace the food in your pantry as they are used. By doing this, you will avoid having food going bad over time (although storing some rice and dry beans is not a bad idea as they last a very long time).

Car Kit In addition to a first aid kit, a car kit should contain items for the car itself like a tire repair kit, radiator tape, and such items. You will also want to include additional water for possible consumption, as well as a cigarette lighter, cell phone charger, and other items related to travel. When traveling the distance away from Vail, don’t forget essential jumper cables, blanket, and such. For local travel, it is not a bad idea to have a hard copy of the addresses and phone numbers of the local fire department, police stations, and hospitals. These are good to have on hand if your cell phone fails due to signal reception or battery. You might also want to put an old pair of prescription glasses, which is better than nothing if your glasses became broken. Depending on the length and duration of your trip, you might want to consider also supplementing your kit with either your hiking or camping kit.

A Reminder for Preparednessby Mike Lavelle

Organizations as diverse as The Boy Scouts of America, the Center for Disease Control, and FEMA all recommend that Americans have a basic level of preparedness for emergencies, disasters, and disease outbreaks. Although we are less prone to natural disaster than many places, there are still some emergencies that might catch us off guard, such as a wildfire, contagion, or other disaster. If the unexpected occurs, there are special considerations that you might want to take to keep yourself and your family safer.

A basic level of preparedness includes having a home kit, a car kit, a travel kit, a hiking and camping kit, and an evacuation bag (which is just a bag containing those items you would want with you if you had to leave your home quickly, for at least

Sahuaro Baptist Church (520) 886-4796 Sundays @ 11:00 AM Livestream link: https://www.facebook.com/526497300758639/videos/689932555084344/

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints April 4 and 5 @ 9:00 AM & 1:00 PM both days Livestream link: https://m.facebook.com/gracefellowshipaz/

Vail Christian Church (520) 722-1220 Sundays @ 9:30 AM Palm Sunday @ 8:00 AM Livestream link: https://www.vailchristian.com/

Victory Baptist Church (520) 240-9874 Sundays @ 10:00 AM & 5:00 PM Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM Livestream link: https://www.facebook.com/VBCVail/

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Online Church Services Live & Streaming

Authentic Life Church (520) 333-5788 Sundays @ 10:30 AM Livestream link: http://authenticlifeaz.com/

Bethel Baptist Church (520) 722-0818 Sundays @ 10:45 AM Livestream link: http://bethelaz.org/live-stream/

Calvary Chapel Tucson (520) 573-9933 Sundays @ 10:20 AM Wednesdays @ 6:00 PM Saturdays @ 6:00 PM Livestream link: https://youtu.be/XQoFQ2YTS0I

Christ Lutheran Vail (520) 468-7075 Sundays @ 9:00 AM Livestream link: https://www.facebook.com/Christ-Lutheran-Vail-Church-35547698075/

Desert Skies United Methodist Church (520) 812-0521 Sundays @ 10:00 AM Livestream link: https://youtu.be/6NT4xExus5c

Grace Fellowship Church (520) 345-1242 Sundays @ 10:30 AM Livestream link: https://m.facebook.com/gracefellowshipaz/

Hope Dity Church See services on Facebook @hopecitychurchtucson

Oasis (520) 207-6635 Sundays @ 10:30 AM Livestream link: https://www.oasisaz.online.church

Pantano Christian Church (520) 298-5395 Sundays @ 9:00 AM Livestream link: https://pantano.church/


"A Reminer for Preparedness" continued on page 14

a trip.

It stands to reason that over the counter medications for flu and colds are always good to have on hand and depending upon your circumstances and health conditions, there are other items, aside from normal medications, that you might want to consider to add to your supplies, like a nasal spray, thermometer, vaporizer, and disposable gloves for instance.

While it might be overwhelming to try to ramp up with various kits and supplies, especially at this time, the key is to do it gradually, perhaps one kit or project at a time. What is important is to have a little of everything (for a few weeks) vice lots of a single stocked up item.

Finally, I have spent lots of time reading, listening to the news, and talking with people (and some from around the world, using VR googles! Which by the way is a great way to visit with friends, meet new friends,

(like quart or half gallon mason jars) and throwing in an “oxygen removing packet,” which can be found online at many stores. You can then use draw on your beans and rice stores when you want to cook some up, and later refresh your stores. There are many sites that indicate various procedures on what you need and how to do this, (also for pasta and oats).

There are a few companies that specialize in freeze dried foods, and recently, I decided to open one pack of chili macaroni, that I bought in 1999, to see if it was still good, and it tasted great (and I had no ill effects).

Many preparedness items have a very long storage life, for example, water stored in 6-7-gallon containers, toilet paper (who knew?), N99 masks (they were very plentiful and inexpensive to buy in 2008), and you can even buy something called “The Survival Tabs,” which provide basic nutrition, and have a use by date of December 2047 (the ones I recent bought – 96 tabs for 8 days). These are good to supplement with other food items, and you can get them in smaller packets to be put in a car or taken on

AddendumWhen I was a member of the Citizens Emergency Response Team and reserve deputy in New Mexico, one of the items that we were planning for was responding to a pandemic coming out of China (and the 2011 movie Contagion also predicted this). As I recall, it was mentioned by those in the know, that it “was a matter of time” before this happened. It may be just coincidence, but the time has come and is now upon us.

While it is true that we do not need to panic, it is good to always be prepared with the items you need before you will need them, meaning having a stock of stored goods. In February, I considered adding a

can of powdered eggs to my supplies (I remember powdered eggs, as do some of you, from my days in the military), and put it in my watch list. Later, deciding to buy it, I found out it is not available and there is no indication of when it will be restocked. A lesson relearned, if you think you might need it, get it. Also, if time passes and you don’t need it, you can (possibly – do check) donate it, if it is unopened and unexpired, to a food bank.

The best way to stock your pantry for the time you choose (a few weeks to months), as many already know, is to rotate your existing grocery stock drawing upon your stored goods and replacing them. Some items, like tuna, have a shelf life of 3 years. Many canned goods have a long shelf life, and if replaced as used, will allow you to keep your stock current. Of course, it is important to do the same for pet foods. For those who live in apartments or are “space challenged” there are online sites that offer suggestions on what you can do to store items in your house or apartment.

Other pantry items might last longer and some, of course, are shorter. Some items can be stored for a very long time, like beans and rice, by putting them in air sealed containers

One critical item that is often not thought of would be important documents. While it is not feasible to carry a large folder of selected documents, it is possible to have a USB flash drive that has such items scanned, such as social security card, driver’s license, marriage license, deed to home, insurance documents, DD-214, will, power of attorney, medical advanced directives, and a document that has the information of your various financial accounts, as well as contact phone numbers. If you are worried that this information could be compromised, it is very easy to encrypt the information so that only

you could supply the key to decrypt the information.

There is lots of information available online to help you prepare your kits. Some of them are:

http://www.justincasearizona.com/

http://www.204bsa.com/BugOut.htm

http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/

http://www.community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit

"A Reminer for Preparedness" continued from previous page

Information Technology Department:No OpeningsLeadership:No OpeningsBehavioral Health:Clinical Psychologist – Douglas,

Bisbee, Sierra Vista, BensonLicensed Clinical Social Worker

– Bisbee, Sierra Vista, DouglasRegistered Dietitian (Pediatrics)

– DouglasAuxiliary Positions:No Openings

Operation & Environmental Services: No OpeningsMedical Support Staff :No OpeningsPharmacy Support Staff :No OpeningsAdministrative Support Staff :No OpeningsDental Support Staff :No OpeningsRevenue Cycle Staff : No Openings

For Current Job Information at Chiricahua Community Health Clinics, Log on to www.cchci.org. and click on “join us”

Current List of Job Postings as of April 2020


the-art saltless whole-home water treatment systems that will ensure your family has safe, reliable, and delicious water for years to come. However, the benefits extend well beyond drinking water. Treated water reduces scale and mineral deposits in your pipes, water heater, and ensures your appliances run at their best saving you both money and frustration. If all those benefits weren’t enough, buying hundreds of bottles of water creates mountains of hard-to-recycle plastic bottles most likely destined for the landfill.

Nothing buys peace of mind like a plan. For this crisis, and all the ones to come, consider investing in a whole-home water treatment system.

To learn more about water treatment systems, give Vail Plumbing a call: 520-207-7224 or visit us at www.vailplumbingaz.com. Stay healthy.

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Don’t Wait Until the Shelves are Emptyby The Arizona Waterman

I doubt you could miss news about COVID-19 if you were living under a rock—someone would lift it up to see if there was a face mask or bottle of hand sanitizer under it! After the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, people have rushed out to stock up on essentials, especially bottled water. Shelves are empty and prices for the limited remaining stock is going up. Chances are you don’t already have a stockpile of bottled water so now you have a dilemma: drink your awful tap water or drink your awful tap water. Good news is the worst of the pandemic has yet to reach the Old Pueblo. So how do you ensure a safe, reliable source of drinking water for you and your family without adding to the chaos at the stores? Investing in a whole-home water treatment system would solve this crisis and safeguard you from future ones.

Vail Plumbing installs only state-of-

Carole’s Grooming

(520) 599-9017Also breeds puppies at times

Carole MoragaOwner, Groomer and Breeder

[email protected]


Melanie Cross recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.

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does anyone clean the basket of the cart?

This practice appears more unsanitary to me than people touching the handles of the carts. It's not just children in the carts, I have seen several people walking dogs in the markets without a service dog vest.

And then there are the people that put their Foo-Foo dogs in the cart and pretend that they are service dogs.

As a public service, Health Department inspectors and store managers should stop people from riding children in the basket area of the carts.

Leroy B. Vaughn Corona De Tucson

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Submit comments or your letter to the Editor at:

[email protected]

Letters are subject to editing for grammar and

spelling.

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Dear Editor,

No Saguaro? No Problem? Buyer Beware!

I am writing in response to Burt Graeff's Article, page 38, in the March Vail Voice. I'm sure Mr. Graeff was well-intentioned. However...

I recently completed extensive landscaping of my new home in Coyote Creek. My much sought after and award-winning landscape designer, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Tucson Botanical Gardens, was adamant that we not attempt to relocate any Saguaro over 6 to 7 feet tall, or one with arms. Larger Saguaros when transplanted, inevitably die very slowly. Slow enough that you may not realize it for 10 years. A one-year guarantee is essentially worthless.

So, a word to the wise... seek competent and impartial advice before attempting to relocate a larger saguaro.

Mark McLoughlin Coyote Creek, Vail

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Dear Editor,

After at least one month of continuous television coverage of the Coronavirus, I would like to comment on something that I see every time I go to the grocery store.

It doesn't matter which store I go to, I see children that are too large to ride in the baby seats of shopping carts being pushed around the store by a parent, while the child usually over five years old sits or stands in the cart with their shoes and street clothes. This is where we put our groceries.

Most stores offer sanitary wipes to clean the handles of the carts, but

Don’t think your work will stop just because the clock says 11:42 p.m.Working from home takes a ton of discipline – both to START the work and then again to END it. Day can quickly turn into night with no coworkers telling you to go home. Although you may still have deadlines to meet, you may also be free to do the work at any given time.

This can be a huge plus when you wake up at 3 a.m. and can’t sleep, as it allows you to get the work done before the sun even comes near to rising. But it can also be a huge

detriment if you goofed off with your dogs all day and now have to stay up until 3 a.m. to catch up.

It’s also way too easy to transform

your work life into your entire life when you’re working out of the comfort of your home. A good trick for this one is to schedule downtime and personal time into the calendar, the same way you schedule meetings and assignments. Make those personal time slots sacred, enjoyable and non-negotiable.

Self-care is a magic ingredient when it comes to staying happy, healthy and productive when working from home. That, of course, and ensuring all family members are fully clothed when you’re on a video call.

Tucsonan Ryn Gargulinski is a writer, artist, Reiki master and

certified professional coach. More

tips and fun stuff at

RynskiCoach.com.

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Top Tips for Working from Homeby Ryn Gargulinksi

With the coronavirus precautions in place, much of the world is now experiencing what I’ve enjoyed for the past decade: working from home. Working remotely can be an absolute blessing and pleasure – as long as you figure out ways to remain happy, healthy and productive. Here come some tips that have served me well in my Southern Arizona home office over the years.

Create a morning ritual. Start the day with at least two minutes of silence, followed by a check-in, high-vibe habit review and daily goals and intentions. This starts your day with focus and balance, which typically lasts at least until the dogs or kids wake up.

Make sure your household knows when you’ll be on a video call.Even if the dogs and kids continue to make noise, at least the adults will know to be quiet. They’ll also know not to walk through the background in their underwear, as this can be rather disruptive.

Select a playlist in advance.Background music can be incredibly helpful for getting work done, as long as the music is conducive to a work environment. Selecting a playlist or stations in advance helps you avoid the trap of asking Alexa to “play something I like.” Because, alas, she inevitably won’t.

Comb your hair. It’s called working from home. Not working like a slob from home. Showering, combing your hair and wearing something a little nicer than you’d wear for a dog walk can go a long way toward making you feel professional and motivated. No, you don’t have to sit around in a three-piece suit, but at least maintain good hygiene. It’s tough to stay productive when you smell.

Where Are

If you have a promotion or other accomplishment, send a photo and

description to: [email protected]

They Now?

Our Readers Sound Off

Lettersto theEditor


warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold;The Arctic trails have their secret tale

That would make your blood run cold;The Northern Lights have seen queer sigh

But the queerest they ever did seeWas that night on the marge of Lake

Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee.”

David and Wendee Levy live in Vail. Together they run both the Jarnac Ob-servatory.

You can meet David at the monthly Star Night at the

Corona Foot-hills Middle

School.

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if and when he perishes from the cold. There was a real Sam McGee whom Service met in a bank; his cabin still stands on the grounds of a Whitehorse museum. My father, and most of our family, could quote sections of the poem, but Dad’s brother (Uncle Sidney) knew and quoted every word. And when I quoted the fi nal two stanzas during a lecture at the Yukon Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, several people in the audience quoted it along with me.

Several days after Sam McGee dies in the poem, an abandoned boat, The Alice May, is used as a makeshift crematorium. As the fl ames grow higher, the speaker decides to open the furnace:

“…Then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar; And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: "Please close that door. It's fi ne in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm— Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the fi rst time I've been

To me, the city symbolizes two things. One is the aurora borealis. On the Saturday evening of our trip we boarded an Air North 737 and took a never-to-be-forgotten fl ight from Whitehorse to Whitehorse, crossing the Arctic Circle. The sky had been cloudy and very cold, with temperatures hovering around zero degrees Fahrenheit. Looking out of an eastward-facing window, I spotted a greenish auroral glow the instant the plane cleared the cloud tops. As we headed north, the glow brightened rapidly, and soon there were rays, a bright green rayed arc, and dancing

green arcs splattered across the sky. As we entered the “auroral oval” just above the Arctic circle, there was no spot in the sky that was not covered by at least an auroral glow. The northern lights literally surrounded all 360 degrees of the airplane.

The three-hour fl ight was stupefyingly wonderful. I have seen other great auroras, from the big one at the Adirondack Science Camp in 1966, to an even bigger one that covered the whole sky that September, and

even a strong red display one night over Tucson, Arizona. But the aurora 360 experience was unique.

What about the other claim to fame of Whitehorse? The city is the centerpiece of one of the most famous poems in all of Canadian

history, Robert W. Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” It tells the story of Sam McGee who left his home in Tennessee to join the Klondike gold rush, and who forces the poem’s speaker to cremate him

Northern LightsEver since I saw my fi rst major display of the northern lights on July 8, 1966, I have been fascinated and delighted by this always-welcome show of greenish lights in the sky. But of all the displays I’ve seen, few can match the thrill of watching them from an airplane cruising high above the Arctic circle.

In January 2020, I was part of the Aurora 360 experience, an event consisting of scientifi c and cultural presentations surrounding the unique displays of northern lights than can be seen often from the sixty-degree latitude of Whitehorse, in Canada’s Yukon territory.

Whitehorse is a fabulous town. It is named after a rock structure on the banks of the Yukon river which resembles the mane of a large white horse. Although it was in use for thousands of years by First Nations cultures, it was put on the modern map with the discovery of gold in the Klondike in1896. The Alaska Highway, built rapidly during the Second World War, passes through Whitehorse.

The Alaska Highway really does stretch through Whitehorse. Photos by David

Levy.

With camera forced against an airplane window, I got this picture of a rayed arc

aurora from above the Arctic Circle.

Skyward...

with David H. Levy


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Since 2012, the Senate has passed a resolution designating April 5 as Gold Star Wives Day. As we all know, more and more women are serving in harm’s way and this has resulted in a very important change that promotes inclusion. Per recent guidance by the Department of the Army, this day is now observed as Gold Star Spouses

Day.

Remember the spouses of the fallen by sending a card, making a phone call or visiting them in person. Treat them to coffee and ask them to share stories about their spouse who gave their life for us and our nation.

The Men and Women of McCulloch-Wagner Post 109 would like to

honor any Gold Star Spouses in the neighborhood during a short and informal ceremony on Sunday, 5 April at 2:30 PM. Please email me at [email protected] if you would like to participate in this event. We would love to have you as our guest.

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Honor Gold Star Spouses by Ace Tounsel

Hello neighbors and friends. Once again, spring is here and now is a great time to help our students learn more about our country and the sacrifices many continue to make today supporting and defending her. We often hear about our fallen heroes and veterans, but there is another group that is sometimes forgotten, our soldier’s support system back home. These people usually keep things going while soldiers are away and ensure they have a safe, comforting place to return to when they get back. These military spouses may have to sacrifice their own careers and dreams while service men and women travel across the world serving our nation, but they can also serve America as well.

On April 5, 1945, a group of four widows met in New York City. One week later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died and shortly after, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt joined what would be known as the Gold Star Wives of America, chartered as a non-profit organization in December 1945.

Gold Star Wives Day was first commemorated on December 18, 2010, through a Senate resolution with support from the Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. It is a day to remember and pay respect to the surviving husbands and wives of the Fallen of the U.S. Armed Forces and thank them for all they’ve given.

offer free recycling of batteries, but you should call ahead first to confirm.

• Most Lowes and Home Depot stores have a recycling box out front, but again please call ahead to confirm.

• Batteries Plus takes rechargeable batteries.

FlaresWhen we talk about flares, it’s important to understand the difference between road flares and marine flares.

Road flares are designed to be stored in vehicles and used during roadside emergencies. They usually do not have an expiration date.

Marine flares are a completely different story from road flares. The U.S. Coast Guard requires boats to have marine flares and requires the flares to have an expiration date set at 42 months after their date of manufacture.

I would suggest inspecting your flares on a regular basis and getting rid of any that look like they are damaged.

Do not put any kind of unused flares in the regular trash. With enough heat or pressure, they can spontaneously ignite. They should be disposed of at your local Household Hazardous Waste Site.

Everybody please be safe out there!

Please contact your local Fire Marshal with any questions or concerns.

Corona de Tucson Fire [email protected] FM Charlotte

(520) 762-9370

Rincon Valley Fire (520) 647-3760

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Things to Rememberby Charlotte Herdliska, Corona de Tucson Fire Marshal

At this time of year, a lot of folks start planning for the summer season and vacations. Camping, boating, hiking, and travel all require some sort of preparation. While you’re getting ready for your vacation or just a long weekend, you should probably check the expiration dates on the consumables and replace as needed. A couple of items that might need checking on are batteries and safety flares.

Bad batteries can leave you in the dark and cause damage to sensitive expensive equipment like GPS’s if you fail to catch them. Replacement batteries are easy to find, and disposal of expired batteries is just a trip to your local recycling center. Safety flares can be a fire hazard.

Did You Know?Batteries*Alkaline batteries should be thrown in your regular trash.

All rechargeable batteries that are NOT swollen should be recycled.

Battery Recycling Locations in Tucson, Arizona

• Retailers: Most major electronics retailers, including Best Buy and RadioShack,

In CDT News From Corona De Tucson


tuition reimbursement program covers half of our employee’s tuition to help make accessing higher education more affordable. Alec isn’t the only one, many of our employees also utilize tuition reimbursement and career counseling as part of our employee development program to set and reach career and educational goals.

Alec is currently studying Computer Administration at Pima Community College and is learning about cyber security, operating systems, and the work needed to make a functioning computer. In a normal day he greets donors, sorts donations, and studies computer

science. After graduating from Pima he hopes to find a job in the field of computer science, and Goodwill of Southern Arizona looks forward to helping Alec reach his goals. You can see a video of our interview with Alec on our YouTube channel, Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.

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Goodwill For Working Studentsby Alex Vigil-Emerson

We had the chance to sit down and interview Alec P. about his experience working for Goodwill while going to school. Alec currently works as a donation specialist at one of our donation centers. He regularly greets donors and sorts donations to that they can be sent to one of our thrift stores. Revenue from donations fund 12 youth and adult programs, over 500 full time jobs, and an employee development program. As part of our employee development program, Goodwill encourages employees to learn new skills and seek education through career counseling and tuition reimbursement. Although Alec has only been with Goodwill for 9 months, he has already utilized Goodwill’s tuition reimbursement to take classes at Pima Community College. The

reconnect as a family.

In Heather Lotti’s family, the right environment is key. “The first week, we held home church in the family room and it felt casual because that’s where the soggy couches were,” she said. “We moved it to the living room and it felt more special.” Though she misses the discussions and insights from her congregation, Heather also noticed the smaller gathering encouraged her 12-year-old son to more openly share his spiritual beliefs.

The kids take the lead at Annie and Greg Crowther’s home church. “They help decide who’s going to lead the music, give a spiritual thought, say a prayer,” said Annie. “They created a physical program and Greg and I have both taken turns playing the piano to accompany the songs.” According to Greg, home-centered worship focuses us on how we

can individually become more like Jesus Christ. “It allows us to figure out what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and why it’s meaningful.” Added Annie, “and when we go back to our meetinghouse, I know I will appreciate sharing that experience with the rest of the congregation even more.”

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Social Distancing Brings Church Home and Families Togetherby Paige Vogt

Last week I attended church on my living room couch. As news about the coronavirus swept across the country, weekly services at my congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were paused in favor of a more intimate form of worship. My family’s at-home service went a little bit like this: opening hymn, prayers—toddler wrangling—scripture study and discussion—toddler nap—additional study, closing prayer. My husband and I dressed in our Sunday best, but put our feet up. We used a church-provided study guide called Come, Follow Me, but also went off script. It was messy and tender and unforgettable.

Many of the faithful in our community are exploring home-centered methods of worship as community gatherings come to a halt. Some livestream sermons, while others carry on with their early morning meditation and study. For local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, social distancing requirements have created an opportunity to spiritually

South East Regional Council public meetings have been postponed until further notice due to the Corona Virus.

If you have any questions for our elected officials, County, City or State administrative staff or other organizations, please email: [email protected]

Ask Questions. Get Answers.Still here to get answers (just exclusively by phone)

Stay Safe Everyone!

SERC


defeated, and real life is available to all who trust in Jesus. In addition to trusting in Jesus, here are some ways we can all respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19): Trust in the Lord as the good and sovereign Creator. He is the sustainer of life, and we can all depend on Him. Pray for mercy, for the sick, effectiveness for doctors, insight for researchers, and wisdom

for officials and leaders. Look for openings in your daily life to love and care for others, whether they are sick, isolated, marginalized, weak, or oppressed. Avoid every semblance of racism or prejudice in your words and your actions. Even if we are unable to gather

at certain times over these next few weeks and even months, stay closely connected to a church family. Gather in smaller groups as appropriate, and participate in worship gatherings online if that’s the only option. Vail Christian would love for you to check us out online or in person. www.vailchristian.com

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The Fragility of Life by Ben Pitney, Lead Pastor at Vail Christian Church

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a real reminder that we live in a fallen world of sickness, sin, heartbreak, and death. Actually, none of us are immune to any of these things. But there is good news and a great message available to us. God has not left us alone in this world. He has come to us in the person of Jesus. The best news in all the world is that Jesus lived a sinless life, died on a cross to pay for our sins, and rose from the grave in victory over death. Now everyone anywhere who turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus will be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God forever. That means that through Jesus, we never have to fear sickness or death because we know we have lasting life with God. These are times that remind us of how fragile life is. So cling to the most excellent news that death has been

Greater Vail Area Chamber of CommerceInfluencing Vail's Future

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Chamber events have beeneither cancelled or postponed to protect the health of our

members and the community. We will resume member activitiesas soon as our local officials deem safe to do so.

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Happy Easter!


when somebody cleans out the aisle of all they can grab and more than they reasonably need – and some with the notion of reselling to profit. This is not prepping and from what I can tell, is strongly discouraged and looked down upon by the prepping community. From my recent reading of posts, it seems that many of those who have prepared for this have indicated they are willing to share (as they can) but do not plan to give in to those who demand.

Also, I would suggest when you can get one, buy a bidet adapter. I got one in February, not because I saw this coming. I have wanted one for years and just got around to it in February (sheer luck). They are great and you will use lots less paper.

To be clear, I do not endorse cleaning out the shelf of what you want, rather, when this is all over, and you want to stock up on something (let’s say toothpaste), just add it gradually – then if there is a mad rush for it, you are good and might even be able to help your family and friends.

I am sure there are those with more experience and knowledge regarding storing food, preparedness, and ideas (like mixing aloe vera and isopropyl alcohol to make your own hand sanitizer – and there are lots of other good ideas people have) and I invite those people to offer their suggestions on The Vail Voice Facebook page. Of course, Facebook has local community pages as well as groups dedicated to prepping. Of special consideration is the suggestion by some that Covid-19 could come back next year, and it is not a bad idea to maintain (or begin when we can) our preparedness for that possibility – that is what being a “prepper” is about.

Mike Lavelle is retired and formerly worked part-time as the

editor at The Vail Voice. He used to live in the Del Webb community in Vail but now lives in Sierra

Vista.

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and spend time if isolated, playing games, exercising, or watching movies), and there is lots of contradictory information regarding what might work, should work, doesn’t work, is needed and not needed, and such.

However, my take is that I would rather have something like a N99 mask and gloves and not need it than find out that I need it and cannot find it. Besides, if I don’t need it, there is a chance that somebody I know might need it. What somebody chooses to buy with their money, over time, is their business – especially if purchased long before there is a shortage (masks, and toilet paper), apparently. This is not hoarding, but being prepared. Hoarding would be

"A Reminer for Preparedness" continued from page 5

• There is no obligation to take the loan if offered.

• SBA must be able to determine applicant business has the ability to repay the SBA loan.

Due to the complexity and possible delays of receiving SBA funds, business owners should also consider applying for conventional loans and financing. There will not be a single solution to solve the financial hardships of this crisis. There will likely be other grants, loans and aid provided by the federal government to support our businesses and local economy. If you have any questions or would like any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can reach me at [email protected] or call 520-861.5675.

MaRico is Founder & CEO of Community Wealth Builders and acommunity advocate. He serves

on the Board for the Vail

SchoolDistrict Foundation, Greater Vail Community Resources,

Red Cross and YMCA.

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5. Look at how you can restructure your financial situation by working with lenders, banks and advisors.

Here is a resource that you should consider:

On March 16, Governor Ducey sent a request for Arizona businesses to receive assistance through Federal Disaster Loans. These loans administered by the SBA are low

interest loans available to businesses and non-profits that have been incurred losses to their business or organization due to COVID-19. Here are the specifics for

the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans:

• Eligible entities may qualify for loans up to $2 million.

• Interest rates for loans are 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofit organizations.

• Loan terms are up to 30 years.

• Loans amounts are based on the size, type and financial resources of the business.

• Funds can be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable or other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

• Loans over $25,000 require collateral. However, SBA will not decline a loan for lack of collateral but require borrowers to pledge what is available.

• Applicant business must have physical presence in declared disaster area – All Arizona counties are included.

• Banks are not involved. These loans are directly from U.S. Treasury.

• Go to DisasterLoan.sba.gov

Preparing Your Business For COVID-19by MaRico Tippet

No one saw it coming and many were not as prepared as they wanted to be. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy. The stock market has undergone the largest and fastest peak to trough decline in its history. It took the S&P 500 only 22 days to drop 30% from its record high that was reached on Feb 19th. Large, medium, and small businesses across the country have seen their business dry up in a matter of weeks.

In our small and budding community of the greater Vail Area, many businesses are having to make tough choices between keeping employees and putting the business in a position to survive. We have seen many new businesses open their doors in the last two years. These businesses have thrived with the support of the local community. However, the longer this directive of social distancing is in place, the more likely it becomes that some businesses will not be able to recover. With no immediate end in sight, our businesses are in a cash crisis. An influx of cash is needed to solve the liquidity crisis our local small business owners are facing. If you are a business owner and having financial hardships due to COVID-19 these are some things you should do:

1. Map out a full financial plan for the next 6 months and take inventory of all assets and liabilities.

2. Know exactly what your expenses are and where you can cut expenses.

3. Know exactly how long you can go with current cash on hand.

4. Look at what changes can be made to extend your cash runway.


1984, is all natural and uses organic ingredients. Commercial shampoos use chemicals and things you might not want to wash up with. Bavilon's shampoos, conditioners, and styling products will now be natural. According to our stylists, All Nutrient works better than traditional hair color, has more pigmentation, better gray coverage and rich, vibrant, long-lasting color.

The stylists on Bavilon's team are chosen for their experience, talent, and personalities. Their results are nothing short of amazing. John's staff is known for helping folks feel at home, making the experience special for each and every person

served. It is Bavilon's promise of excellence. Safer, better hair care is the 10th year’s mission. It’s about being responsible locally, trying to limit the chemicals we all are exposed to globally.

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Bavilon Salon's 10th Year of Service Excellence, now Natural and Organicby Chuck Colbath

Vail resident John Chaisson has owned and managed Bavilon since 2011. For his 10th year, John and his staff are very excited to off er natural, organic products and services with an eff ort to make the salon safer for staff , clients, and Mother Earth.

Recently the media has touted the dangers of hair color. These dangers are real. As reported on NBC’s Today Show, “Questions about whether chemicals used to color or straighten hair can cause cancer have swirled for years. The answers have been inconsistent and inconclusive, but a large new study had some sobering fi ndings: Women who used permanent hair dye or straighteners, or applied straighteners to others, had a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who didn’t use those products.”

Most hair colors use oil derived from petroleum. And they use a lot of chemicals in the color itself. Think about it. They wrap the color against the hair using foils trapping petroleum and chemicals into your hair and scalp. John feels this is risky. He is eliminating this, as the new product line uses vegetable oil as a delivery system. All Nutrient, since

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During a radio interview, the reporter asked me about, "those who object to the noise produced by the F-35." My response was simply, "It's the sound of freedom." Securing the F-35 mission at Davis-Monthan will be a tough road to follow as there is signifi cant competition in other nation-wide locations and municipalities. But if Davis-Monthan should be selected to be the home of the F-35, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's future will be fully secure for Southern Arizona, bringing even greater economic benefi ts throughout our region.

Finally, as we go to press in late March, I won't lecture you about what you have been hearing and dealing with non-stop for several weeks now: COVID-19 or the "Coronavirus." Suffi ce it to say that all of you already know all the protocols, please be sure to follow them and remember, "This too shall pass."

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"District 4 Update" continued from page 2

of literature. Our district and teachers do a great job exposing our students to varies literature, from fi ction to non-fi ction. Our Love of Reading Week highlights the love of reading and shows the students how much we value reading and how as adults we still read ourselves,” said Jason Campos principal of Acacia Elementary School.

Guest readers included Vail Superintendent John Carruth, television personalities, fi rst responders, readers from the Southeast Library, and community leaders.

Whittley “Anne” Gibson is a third generation Tucsonan and alumni of

the University of Arizona.

She has been an active

community member in the

greater Vail area since the

late 1970s.

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“We want young readers to realize reading isn’t just about going to school and reading. Reading is for enjoyment and learning about our world,” continued Ms. Axford.

Finally, the young readers get to meet guest readers who share their favorite stories and encourage students to read.

Back down the road in Vail at Acacia Elementary School, 29 classes had students participating in Love of Reading Week coordinated by school teachers Susan Marko and Marie Gabrielsen.

“Reading is so very important to students and to their future, and we want them to gather the love of reading. Reading is so important because it helps with fl uency, language acquistion as well as comprehension, all the tools necessary in students education in elementary school as well as continued education. Reading also creates a students imagination and creativity which directly correlates to students writing and the enjoyment

Love of Reading Weekby Anne Gibson

Across the Vail School District and beyond, all elementary and some middle school students celebrated Love of Reading Week from March 2nd to the 6th. The week long annual program is designed to encourage young readers to become life time lovers of books.

"It is very likely that our children will work in jobs and careers that don’t yet exist. The ability to read well and think critically will persist regardless of our changing times. Love of Reading Week celebrates the importance of this critical life skill," said Vail School District Superintendent John Carruth. Superintendent Carruth is a native Tucsonan who began his career in the Vail School District in 1995 as a special education teacher at Old Vail Middle School. He served as Assistant/Associate Superintendent beginning in 2003. In January 2020, he was appointed by the Vail School District Governing Board to replace Calvin Baker as superintendent upon his retirement.

Down the road at Copper Ridge Elementary school in Corona de Tucson 16 classes were participating in “Camp Read-a-Lot” with fun events developed by GinaMarie Axford, a kinder teacher at the school.

Love of Reading Week inspires our youngest readers to fall in love with reading.

It begins with readers being introduced to many diff erent genres such as fi ction, non-fi ction, mysteies, and poetry while doing a book “tasting.” Tables are set up with diff erent book genres at each table. Readers visit each table and “taste” explore the diff erent genres, explained Ms. Axford.

On yet another day, the young readers get to explore reading in diff erent ways, like with a fl ashlight, inside a tent, or with a favoite stuff ed animal.

Pam Kelty, a member of the Friends of the Southeast Library Board of Directors, is a guest reader at Copper Ridge Elementary in Corona

de Tucson while Kinder Teacher GinaMarie Axford looks on.


working long hours without seeing their families. It is vital to slow down the pace of new infections, instead of squandering precious time playing a blame game.

In these challenging times, I have unwavering faith in the spirit and solidarity of the Italian people. Despite everything, I feel safer here than I would in the US. I hope with all my heart that things will stabilize soon, and that people will once again be able to enjoy the beauty of Italy. Forza Italia! Be safe America.

Suzanne was born and raised in Northern California, but has been living on and off in Central Italy for

30 years. She has now found

her forever home in the

Marche region with her Italian husband, six

chickens, three cats, and 95 olive trees.

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of the situation, our political and medical leaders have been very transparent. There is a government website that updates daily with nation and regional testing information and statistics. I track the numbers, waiting for the eventual decline in new cases that will signal that the lockdown is working, and the country is winning the battle.

On March 21st, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new restrictions that closed all non-essential factories and confirmed that the country-wide lockdown would last until April 3rd. He also extended the lockdown in Lombardy, Italy’s hardest-hit region until April 15th. With case numbers slowing their growth, initial signs that the curve is beginning to bend are appearing.

To friends and families in the US, my advice is to act quickly. The fact of the matter is no health care system, regardless of quality, has the capacity to handle the influx of patients with COVID-19. The heroic efforts of Italian medical staff in the face of this crisis have been truly inspiring. Nurses, doctors, and more are

nights out and about on the town, we are finding new ways to connect, like a virtual aperitivo twice a week. Jokes about juggling schedules full of Skype and Zoom sessions with family and friends around the world are common, as are funny photos and videos. Nevertheless, the aura is much more subdued than usual.

Italians have faced this situation with grace, relative calm, and a sense of solidarity. There isn’t a sense of panic, and no one is stockpiling.

When our daughter, the designated shopper, goes to the grocery store, there is still an abundance of fresh food, cleaning products, and toilet paper. She has sometimes seen a line to enter when stores attempt to maintain the one-meter social distancing guideline. Everyone waits quietly outside with their carts, masks, and gloves. Perhaps the hardest adjustment has been to refrain from the traditional two-cheek kiss when meeting. Instead, folks greet each other rather forlornly with a wave. Children all over Italy have painted banners with rainbows that say tutto andrà bene, or everything will be fine. You can see these hanging from balconies in most cities. Almost every day, entire neighborhoods go out on their balconies at to sing or play musical instruments. We are keeping the faith as best we can.

I am extremely proud of how Italy has managed this crisis, but not instituting a country-wide lockdown sooner was definitely a misstep. While the government, like many of us, failed to grasp the seriousness

Notes from Italyby Suzanne Saluti

Italy has been in a nationwide quarantine since March 10. Many areas in the north of Italy were declared red zones weeks before in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. As of this writing, more people have died due to complications from the virus in Italy than in China. It’s hard to know exactly why Italy has been affected so severely, but the virus was clearly circulating "silently" for some time. Because Italy's population skews older, there are more people at high risk. New reporting implies that recorded deaths may have been artificially inflated, which would mean that in fact only 12% can be directly attributed to the virus. The rest of the reported deaths were mostly elderly, with significant co-morbidities, and therefore were unable to deal with the virus.

Whatever, the reason, this is a dark time for my beloved adopted country. The economic impact of COV-19 will be huge, further damaging its already struggling economy. There is no doubt that the path to social and economic recovery will be a long one.

My daughter came down from Rome to our home in Ascoli Piceno for my 60th birthday on the Friday before the lockdown began. My husband was in California visiting our older children and grandchild. By the time the weekend was over, my daughter was miles from her life, friends, and boyfriend, quarantined, and abruptly laid off from her job. These early blows felt especially personal.

We’re lucky to live outside of town on a large property. The weather has been good, and there’s plenty of work to be done around the garden. My friends who live in small apartments in the historical center of the city seem to be going stir crazy. Attempting to replace our

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Bruegger’s Bagels8140 S. Houghton Road (520) 664-1600 Pickup & Local Delivery Available 5:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Burger King9175 S. Rita Road (866) 394-2493 Drive Through & Carryout 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM Delivery via Doordash & UberEats

Carl’s Jr.8120 S. Houghton Road (520) 663-1020 Drive Through & Lobby Open 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM Delivery Via Doordash & UberEats

Denny’s9220 S. Houghton Road (520) 849-7017 Online & Takeout Orders 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Delivery via UberEats & Doordash

Domino’s Pizza8045 S. Rita Road (520) 325-5050 Delivery & Takeout 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Dunkin Donuts10200 E. Old Vail Road (520) 207-4760 Drive Through Only 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM Order on App, Pickup in Store

Tay’s Coffee Brew House16461 S Houghton Road (520) 762-3439 Takeout Only 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Mon-Thurs 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Fri 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sat 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sun

Tay’s BBQ16461 S Houghton Road (520) 400-1836 Takeout & Curbside Alcohol, Beer, and Spirits Available for Takeout upon Request During Emergency Proclamation 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Fri-Sat

Southeast Tucson Arby’s10115 E. Old Vail Road (520) 393-3978 Drive Through Open 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM To Go Orders 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Baggin’s Gourmet Sandwiches10235 E. Old Vail Road (520) 585-4585 Open 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Daily Delivery via Grubhub & Doordash

Quik Mart13142 E. Colossal Cave Road (520) 762-1009 No Changes To Service 24 Hours

Rincon Valley Farmers Market12500 E. Old Spanish Trail (520) 882-2157 Only Food Vendors Will Be Open 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Sat.

Corona de TucsonArgenziano's16251 S. Houghton Road (520) 762-5999 Takeout & Delivery Alcohol, Beer, and Spirits Available for Takeout upon Request During Emergency Proclamation 11:00 AM to 9PM, Tues-Sat

Charquitas16335 S Houghton Road (520) 729-5388 Takeout Only 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Daily

Road Runner Deli Market16121 S Houghton Road (520) 762-5452 Takeout Only 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sat-Sun

VailArizona Pizza Company 13190 E. Colossal Cave Road (520) 762-5500 Takeout & Delivery 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Daily

Bowld13160 E. Colossal Cave Road (520) 762-1176 Takeout & Some Delivery Possible 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Daily

Charron Vineyards18585 S. Sonoita Highway (520) 762-8585 Tasting Room Closed Call Ahead For Pick Up & Shipping

Fito’s Mexican Food13303 E. Colossal Cave Road (520) 762-8888 Drive Through Only 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Daily

Marco’s Pizza13370 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way (520) 822-8322 Takeout & Delivery 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Daily Contact Free Delivery Available

Montgomery’s Grill & Saloon13190 E. Colossal Cave Road (520) 762-5500 Takeout & Delivery 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Daily

Restaurant Guide for Take Out & Delivery


Subway — S. Houghton Road8140 S. Houghton Road, Suite 100 (520) 574-0547 Takeout Only 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Delivery via Doordash & UberEats

Taco Bell10265 E. Old Vail Road (520) 574-2023 Pickup & Drivethrough 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM Delivery via UberEats, Grubhub, Postmastes, and Doordash

Viva Coffeehouse9136 E. Valencia Road, #160 (520) 574-7505 Pickup & Curbisde Only 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Wings On Fire9040 E. Valencia Road, Suite 100 (520) 274-7292 Pickup Only 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Papa Murphy’s Pizza9160 S. Houghton Road (520) 663-5755 Takeout & Drive Up 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Delivery via Doordash

Pizza Hut8140 S. Houghton Road, Suite 189 (520) 663-5656 Takeout & Delivery 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM

Rancho Rustico10275 E. Old Vail Road (520) 574-2294 Takeout & Delivery $5 Charge for Delivery On Orders Below $30 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Serial Grillers7585 S Houghton Road (520) 574-7878 Takeout & Local Delivery 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Delivery via Postmates, UberEats

Sa-Ing Thai Cuisine9136 E. Valencia Road (520) 663-5955 Takeout & Delivery 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Subway — Valencia Road9040 E. Valencia Road, Suite 136 (520) 663-3757 Takeout Only 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Delivery via Doordash & UberEats

McDonald’sNormal Hours, All Locations Carryout, Curbside, & Drive Through Delivery via Doordash

Mr. Toro’s Carniceria7545 S. Houghton Road (520) 849-6573 Takeout Only 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Native Grill & Wings10275 E. Old Vail Road (520) 574-2294 Takeout Only 1030 AM to 10:00 PM Delivery via Grubhub, Postmates, Doordash, & UberEats

Our Sweet Lil’ Cakery10501 E. Seven Generations Way, #131 (520) 288-1969 Always Carryout Delivery Only For Wedding Cakes 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Papa John’s Pizza8270 S. Houghton Road, #110 (520) 664-1144 Delivery Only 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Weekdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Weekends

Papa Loco’s Tacos & Burgers8201 S. Rita Road (520) 663-3333 Takeout Only 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Delivery via Uber & Doordash

Dutch Bros Coffee10105 E. Old Vail Road (541) 955-4700 Business as Usual 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Happy Wok9040 E. Valencia Road (520) 663-3888 Takeout Only 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM Delivery via Doordash & Postmates

Jerry Bobs2680 E. Valencia Road (520) 807-5717 Takeout Only 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM Delivery via Doordash

Jersey Mike’s Subs9172 S. Houghton Road, Suite 150 (520) 867-8917 Takeout Only 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Devliery via Grubhub

Little Caesar’s Pizza9136 E. Valencia Road, #140 (520) 574-0575 Takeout Only 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM Doordash delivery via Little Caesar’s App Only

Luckie’s Thai Asian8110 S. Houghton Road, #186 (520) 664-1011 Takeout Only 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM

Restaurant Guide for Take Out & Delivery


without commenting. If someone is speaking to you face to face, don’t say anything. An email? Reply “thank you.” We live in a world of instant gratification. As an author, nothing is instant. Understand why our teachers made us do rough drafts all the time, as painful as they were. It’s because our first draft is never our best. It needs work. Rework. Guess what? More work. So many self-pub authors argue criticism. Don’t. Listen to what people are saying. Most of it will probably be really helpful. I know craving criticism, and listening, has really helped me.

Christopher Patterson is a teacher in the Vail School District and a best selling author on Amazon.

You can learn more about Christopher

by going to his website: www.

christopher-patterson.com

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Be a Fan of Criticismby Christopher Patterson

We want to be liked. We want our work to be good. We want positive feedback. We want acknowledgment and a good pat on the back. When someone doesn’t like our work, its almost offensive. But, you know what, that is how we get better.

Artists have to be fans of criticism. We must crave it. How else can we grow? This is truest for the self-published author. We don’t have the resources trade-pub authors have. We need our fans and readers to tell us what we’re doing right… and what we’re doing wrong.

The quickest way to alienate yourself as a writer is to push back against constructive criticism. Throw the nasty stuff away. Don’t listen to people who are just being mean. But if someone is genuinely giving you feedback, listen — even if you might not want to hear it. More often than not, it makes you a better writer. If it’s a 2-star review on Amazon, read what they have to say

Oasis numerous times. The facilities are enormous. All of the Parrots are housed in huge aviaries based on their breed, but there are also smaller cages for birds with special needs.

You are guided through the aviaries and walk amongst hundreds of

Cockatoos, Macaws, Amazons, African Greys, and more. In the Cockatoo cage, you will have to take off your glasses, as a bird will try to steal them, and some others will perch on your shoulder.

The Macaw cage is the largest, so designed so that the Macaws have room to soar. They are magnificent.

For Tours, call to set an appointment (520) 212-4737 – they are very accommodating. The address is 5411 Teran Road.

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The Oasis Sanctuary by Rob Hallberg

Have you ever been curious about Parrots? They are beautiful and they do talk, but your experience with them probably comes primarily from movies or books.

How would you like to see over 700 Parrots, in person? The Oasis Sanctuary, located in Cascabel, offers tours of their facility, and they’re kid friendly so the whole family can come.

The Sanctuary was established in 1977 as a life-care facility for companion parrots. As a true sanctuary, Oasis does not breed, sell, or adopt out birds. Once a bird enters the Oasis, they are guaranteed a lifetime of care and compassion.

Catherine and I have been to the


Great Water For Less Than 1/3 The Price Of Most Systems On The Market Today!! Call The Arizona Waterman - 520-390-5525. [email protected] Licensed Bonded Insured CR 37 312941.

Landscaping by J & E - Quality landscaping at an affordable price. Best "contract free"maintenance plans starting at $60 per month. Free estimates! Referrals available! Call today! 520-250-9913 Insured.

Carpenter and Handyman - European-trained Carpenter and Handyman, available for General Carpentry, small renovations & changes, inside finishing, building stairs, installing doors & windows, repair damaged woodwork or tile - call 520 624-7835.

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Haul 'N' Otis is a local Bobcat and hauling service offering clearing, cleanups, trenching, grading, demo, hole drilling and more. We are experienced owners / operators that will work with you to make your tough projects manageable. 520-419-9501 or 520-419-1113.

Tyler’s Home and Yard Maintenance - Tree and Hedge trimming. Weed and cactus removal, irrigation. Handyman and roofing. Serving Corona de Tucson to Old Spanish Trail. Not a licensed contractor. 520-343-1714.

A & G Pet Grooming - I am a local Corona De Tucson dog groomer offering a private spa day for your dog. No crates and less stress grooming. Please call or text 520-248-4383 for your appointment. No Dog Too Dirty.

Industrial Rental Yards East - Fenced, Gated. Onsite Security Locking Metal Shipping Containers monthly, quarterly, yearly leases Utilities, Facilities Maintained 520-271-1854 6775 East Littletown Rd - [email protected].

DeHaven Painting LLC - We are your home painters! Interior or exterior w/very special care. We also repair/replace dry-rotted or termite damage to viga tails, posts & beams. Bonded/insured for over 40 years-not a licensed contractor. 520-448-2169.

Riesing Remodeling - Kitchen & Bath Carpentry, Custom Trim Work, Doors, Floors, Tile work, Painting and more. Over 30 yrs experience. Fully insured. 970-310-8122.

Beck's Handyworks - 20 yrs. Experience. New & old construction. Electrical, Plumbing, Drywall & more. Reasonable, Reliable, Excellent references. Work guaranteed. Senior & Military discounts. Call Joe 520-449-9587.

Professional Housecleaning Insured and bonded. $90.00 Cleaning Special. Serving the Vail area for over 20 years. Call for detail. Kris Sanchez, Maid 4 U Cleaning. 520-647-0929.

Call Barry! Low cost maintenance and hauling 7 days a week. 520.449.0195.

Massage Therapuetic Therapy - Help relieve tension, pain, stress, headaches, back pain and more. Specializing in Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, and Swedish. Licensed & 20 yrs. exp. $50 for 1 hour, $80 for 1-1/2 hour. Call Cheryl Zemont, LMT 520-850-6000.

Mindy Mops Maid Service - We have over 30 years experience. Our quality and customer service are second to none. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and move-outs. Free estimates. If you want the very best call Mindy Mops Maid Service 722-4204.

Weather King of Sahuarita Your local one-stop shop for Weather King Portable Buildings and storage solution including utility sheds, cabins, garages and lofted barns. Come see why these are truly the "Best Built Sheds in the Business". 16115 S Three Wells Ct. 520-730-4086.

Sprinkler & Drip Irrigation Repairs Aqua Masters, The Irrigation Masters, System Check-Ups, Valves, Heads, Timers, Leak Detection, Sprinkler & Drip Irrigation Maintenance, Troubleshooting & Repairs, Wiring & Low Pressure Problems, 30+ Years of Quality Service, 520-314-4054 AquaMastersTucsonAz.com.

Call Handy Sal! - Complete yard cleanup: trees, hedges, shrubs trimmed and weed wacking. Reasonable prices - 928-380-0831.

I will weed, trim and prune your bushes, trees and roses. General cleaning and painting services. Very reasonable rates! Call 520-971-1801.

Tucson Grill Cleaning LLC - Local, award-winning grill cleaning service, dedicated to getting your barbecue grill pristine. Parts, repairs, advice are part of our repertoire. For A Clean Grill Of Health call 245-7967. Happy Grilling!

Victory Alarm LLC - Installing, servicing, and monitoring security systems in Vail for 19 years. Check out our $99 special including FREE smartphone app. Licensed and insured - victoryalarm.com - 520- 647-3169. 2 Guys & A Sponge - Window Cleaning: Interior Exterior Window Cleaning. Screens, Tracks, Mirrors. Licensed, Insured. Prices that won’t leave a streak! Ask about our Specials! Tyler 520-260-6360.

Andy’s Irrigation - PVC Irrigation Systems Superior Quality Guaranteed. No More Leaks! Andy’s Irrigation for Expert Service & Repair. 520-256-0516. AZIrrigation.net

Vail Carpet Cleaners *Specials* - Go to: vailcarpetcleaners.com - $30,000 Steam Cleaning Machines - Carpet cleaning 2 rooms only $59 - Tile & Grout 2 rooms only $69 – Awesome quality or moneyback! - Pet stains removed. PH. 331-7777

Keller & Son Home Inspections, LLC - Agents: 20% off discount to your first home buyer - Home Buyers: 20% off discount to your next home inspection - Licensed & Bonded. Keller & Son Home Inspections, LLC (find us on Facebook too!) 520-509-4422

A&J Hardscapes / Landscaping - Pavers / Walls / Grass - Roc #324263 Licensed / Insured. Contact Joe at 520-331-8660 for free estimates.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Classified Ad Rates: $40 for up to 30 words. $1 additional for each word thereafter. Business Name will be Bolded. Additional Bolding ($1 per word) is now available. No ALL CAPS or graphics, please. Ad copy is due by the 10th of the month for publication the following month. To place a classified ad, send an email to: [email protected] or call: 520-490-0962

Vail Area

ClaSSifiedSIf you have a service or item to sell, this is the place!

Vail Area



word “blood” was being used to threaten and warn the dreamer.

As a result, the blood in this dream is most likely a refl ection of something draining the dreamer’s health and vitality. The dream also appears to be a subconscious warning, possibly alerting the dreamer to the potentially negative eff ects of his current situation in life. However, to fully analyze this dream, the dreamer would need to be asked what could have brought about this imagery.

End note: Dreams can often serve as medical warning systems, alerting the dreamer to physical issues which need to be addressed. Recurring blood themes while dreaming prompted a diff erent dreamer to seek a medical evaluation—which resulted in the discovery that she had seriously high blood sugar levels.

Please submit your dreams for analysis to:

[email protected] special interest is recurring

dreams; otherwise, a most recent and remembered dream will work. Ms.

Schild may need to establish contact with you for additional information. However, your name, email contact

and shared information will stay anonymous and private. Feel free to

use an alias.

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which it came. For this reason, blood has functioned as a dominant theme in cultural rituals, making it a vivid symbol of sacrifi ce. At an even higher level, blood has served as a symbol for guilt and murderous deeds, as evidenced by the enduring metaphor of having blood on your hands.

For a vast number of reasons, blood is, and always will be, one of the

most important and potent human symbols in existence. It signifyies so many powerful human emotions and conditions such as life, death, love, passion, vitality, fertility,

strength, sacrifi ce, genealogy, lasting connections, and more.

So which emotion and condition is being signifi ed by the blood imagery and themes in the above dream? Without being able to ask the dreamer, that would be diffi cult to determine with certainty. However, the best guess would most likely be that this dreamer has recently experienced some type of injury or loss, or that the dreamer is going through an extremely diffi cult period in his life. W blood can symbolize positive things in a dream, this dream felt menacing, angry, and cautionary to the dreamer. In addition, the very

history because it represents both life and death, as well as health, vitality, sickness, and injury. Blood has always been an extremely powerful symbol for our life-force, not only because blood is absolutely essential to life, but also because it is continually fl owing through us, nourishing us, and sustaining us. However, at the same time, blood also stands out as one of the most powerful symbols for our mortality and the physical world because blood is a starkly blatant and visual reminder of the fact that we are mere mortal beings who will suff er. And it is that stark reality that explains its ability to aff ect us so profoundly.

Throughout history, blood has served as a symbol of family heritage and genealogy. This is seen in the idea of bloodlines and the idea that certain traits are unavoidable because they are in the blood. Blood has also symbolized a lasting bond or connection, as in “blood brothers,” and individuals have even gone so far as to ceremoniously intermingle their actual blood to represent this attachment. Throughout human history, many cultures and religions have believed that blood embodies the essence or spirit of the being from

Dear Claire,

I recently had one of the creepiest dreams that I have ever had. It was really, really short, but it was really horrifying. I saw dried blood on some clothing for what seemed like a fl ash of a second. Then, I heard a man yell “Blood! Blood!” in this really loud, angry voice that was like something from Game of Thrones. It was like he was yelling at me and threatening me, but, at the same time, he was also warning me. The main thing that was so disturbing about everything was that it was all so real. It sounded like it was coming from the room around me and not from a dream inside of my head. I could not fall back to sleep, and, even though the dream only lasted for about three or four seconds, I was bothered by it for the rest of the day. I have been sort of rattled by it ever since. I would like to know why something so short would bother me for so long.

Blood is one of the oldest and most signifi cant symbols in mankind’s

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Picture Rocks fully furnished 4 bed/2 bath on 3 acres. $1600/month negotiable. Call 520.591.2255.

Jazzercise Exercise Class - Classes are currently being held at Christ Lutheran Vail Church, 14600 E. Colossal Cave Road. Please call 520-405-1356 for information or visit Jazzercise.com for a schedule of classes.

Beck Leadership - Gain confi dence in speaking, listening, remembering names, and other leadership skills that will help get you noticed!. Perfect professional development choice to attract or retain future leaders. Call Tricia 520-250-5668. BeckLeadership.com.

Civano Exercise Studio - Stretch+Strength, Pilates, Aerobics, Yoga, QiGong weekday classes. They’re eff ective and fun. In Civano Center 10501 Seven Generations Way #108. Studio space for rent. Call Susan 520-270-4440 - tucsonstretch.com.

In Your Dreams

with Claire Schild

FOR RENTBUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Classifi ed Ad Rates: $40 for up to 30 words. $1 additional for each word thereafter. Business Name will be Bolded. Additional Bolding ($1 per word) is now available. No ALL CAPS or graphics, please. Ad copy is due by the 10th of the month for publication the following month. To place a classifi ed ad, send an email to: classifi [email protected] or call: 520-490-0962

Vail Area


Vail Area



Welcome to The Sudoku Page

Hey Sudoku fans! You asked for it, so here it is: a little something for everyone. Start with the Easy puzzle and work your way up to the Hard one.

If you have trouble reading the solutions, just turn the page upside down! Enjoy!

- The Puzzle Master

Solution to Hard Sudoku

Solution to Medium SudokuSolution to Easy Sudoku

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of

the numbers from one to nine.

See the Solution on this page - No Cheating!Hard Sudoku



See the Solution on this page - No Cheating!Medium Sudoku



See the Solution on this page - No Cheating!Easy Sudoku


may take a little more thought. It is amazing how much good feeling can come from hearing, “Hi, I’m just calling to check that you’re OK. How are you doing?”

The conversations don’t need to be long, but they should be regular. It helps a great deal if the caller has a few questions ready. Asking questions that go above and beyond the requisite small talk shows you are truly interested in conversing with the elder at the other end.

Elders in Long Term Care (LTC) facilities have something of an advantage when it comes to human contact. They are in close proximity to other residents and in even closer contact with the staff in these facilities. Even so, calls from loved ones are very important. As most LTC facilities have curtailed visits from family and friends, telephone and video calls are more important than ever.

Staying apart from friends and family isn’t easy. It’s made far more bearable by staying in touch regularly and with obvious concern for the other person, especially when that person is an elder.

Gary Fenstermacher is president of Academy Services Corporation, the

non-profit owner and operator of Academy Villas, an assisted living

residence in Academy Village. He is a former University of Arizona college dean and professor emeritus at the

University of Michigan.

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Caring for Our Elders: Staying in Touchby Gary Fenstermacher

They go by many names: elders, seniors, the elderly, older people. They’re typically in their sixties or later and are dearly beloved members of our community. Right now, in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, they are considered the most vulnerable population. But this vulnerability isn’t restricted to their lives or livelihoods, it also leaves them alone.

As governments invoke more and more restrictions on travel beyond our front doors, the risk of loneliness and its consequent feelings of depression and despair can take root. As these restrictions increase, the need to stay in touch—and its benefits—grows. This is especially true for our elders, whether they live with us, far from us, or in long term care facilities.

We are fortunate to live in times when staying in touch without touching is easy. The telephone, whether landline or wireless, is the most prevalent and easiest to use method, but we also have access to video conversations with apps such as Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom. All it takes is a computer, tablet, or smart phone, and an Internet connection at each end of the conversation.

Establishing the electronic connection is the easy part. Connecting regularly and in ways that are nurturing for the elder is a bit more challenging. We hardly need prompts when talking with family, but friends or neighbors

“Living well, with assistance”

Academy Villas7700 S. Vivaldi Court, Tucson, AZ 85747

(520) 647-7500 Friendly Competent Staff · A Safe Place to Enjoy Life

Extensive Amenities · Small Intimate Setting · RN on Staff Beautiful Mountain Views · Respite Care

Visit our website: academyvillas.org

Inquiries welcome No-obligation tours available


"Placemaking Through Story..." continued on next page

Placemaking Through Story With Old Vail Middle School StudentsOur stories, local history, lore and special places help us connect to each other, fi nd our way in a changing world, understand the places we live and the people whose lives and intentions shaped it. With the support of Arizona Humanities, The Vail Voice, and building on the 2018 documentary Voices of Vail, the Vail Preservation Society works with OVMS students who research and write stories and create illustrations. These middle school students are placemakers: storytellers and artists who share stories of our past that can inform our future.

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Crossing the Border and Building a Life – The Bejarano Family by Fred Hebdon and Maverick Gilbert

The Mexican Revolution started in 1910 and ended in 1917. The Revolution was a bloody war that many people were involved in. The Mexican revolution started after the president of Mexico, Porfi rio Diaz, had been president for 31 years. There were many who wanted new leadership for Mexico. Some of them, like Venustiano Carranza, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, had their own armies. You did not want to get on the bad side of one of their forces during the revolution, or you would be killed.

Before the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, part of what is now southern Arizona was part of Mexico. The border had offi cially changed, but people still moved back and forth to work and to be with family. Later, many families crossed the border because of the Mexican Revolution. This included a man named Felipe Bejerano. Pancho Villa was the reason Felipe Bejarano fl ed from

to escape the prejudice in large California cities and fi nd work. Workers were transported to Arizona in rail cars. One report stated that “249 Chinamen came in six cars…” They lived and worked under very diffi cult circumstances. Some stayed on after the railroad was built and started grocery, laundry and other businesses. They were very hard workers and their gardens supplied vegetables that were

sold door to door by cart. In 1897, Clara Ferrin, sister of early Vail school teacher Hattie Ferrin, wondered about the “great disadvantage it would be to us if the vegetable chinamen were all removed from Tucson.”

The railroad tracks that were built through Vail in 1880 and 1888 were constructed by Chinese railroad workers. Their lives and work are an important part of our local history. On the WingThere are about 700 men engaged in Blasting, etc., in the Cienega Valley.

Heavy work is going on close to, and in front of, Dunbar’s old station where a cut, some twelve feet in depth is being made.

Arizona Weekly Star, April 1880

J.J. Lamb is President & CEO of Vail Preservation Society. A U of

A graduate, her family has lived in Vail since 1971. She

was named an Arizona

Culturekeeper in 2011 and an Arizona

Friend of the Humanities in

2020.

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exchange for a set number of years of work. The majority of early Chinese immigrants were brought to Arizona

for the back-breaking task of laying track for the Southern Pacifi c Railroad (SPRR) through the desert. Heat was the offi cial reason given for importing Chinese laborers. Anglo and Mexican workers could not be expected to put in a day's work under those conditions. In reality the SPRR saw the Chinese as cheap, reliable laborers. Their wages were $1.00 per day, 50 cents less than Anglo workers. They were expected to pay for their own food out

of their wages. When their terms were completed they could return home to China, or remain in the United States. Often they were away from their families for years. Sojourners returned home, settlers remained. Family was extremely important and great personal sacrifi ces were made in the hopes of improving life for their families in China.

The SPRR, builders of the southern transcontinental railroad, hired Chinese workers who had experience constructing the rail line in California. For the Chinese it was an opportunity

Hope and Industry: Chinese Workers in Vail

Railroad Matters“In the Cienega a large number of Chinamen are engaged excavating, as they there encounter considerable elevation through which cuts have to be made, and the grade has to be raised a number of feet above the low, marshy ground…”

Arizona Weekly Star, April 15, 1880

Chinese settlers were in Arizona as early as 1863, the year Arizona became a Territory. Many had left China because of the political unrest. They had heard of a vast and beautiful land full of natural resources. They dreamed of discovering mineral wealth and the seemingly unlimited opportunities to begin their own businesses and provide for their families. Some were recruited by the Southern Pacifi c and other railroad companies to build rail lines that would link the eastern and western coasts of the United States. Their travel fare was taken care of in

Clara Ferrin with a Chinese vegetable vender in Tucson. Courtesy Arizona Historical Society # 41613

Chinese railroad workers prepare the ground for tracks to be laid. Courtesy Penajo Valley Historical

Association

Vail Preservation

SocietyConnecting Community Through

Local History Since 2006 with J.J. Lamb


school, and really enjoyed planning special holiday programs. Programs were in the evening so that families and community members could come. At Christmas, students would put on plays, sing songs, and recite poems. Santa would come at the end of the evening with a red mesh stocking filled with treats for each student. During the plays and dances Esta Trotter played the piano and Lottie Trotter would sing. In the spring there was an Easter Egg Hunt and gardening. Because their house was on school grounds, students helped plant flowers and vegetables with them.

The sisters went back to South Carolina every summer, and their mother came out to visit during the winter. They enjoyed going to, social, musical and theatrical events in Tucson. Lottie Trotter met,

and later married, John Badger, when he was attending the University of Arizona. He worked as a student flight trainer and as a realtor. In 1963, the Trotter sisters' mother, Sarah Rebecca Riley Trotter passed away in Lykesland, South Carolina. The Trotter Sisters had such a big impact on the community that when their mother passed away it was even in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper. The sisters moved back to South Carolina. Their teaching made a lasting impression on their students and on the Vail School District.

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them in South Carolina. Esta and Lottie began teaching in Vail in 1930. The house that they lived in was on the school grounds, where Old Vail Middle School is today. Their house was where the south basketball court is.

When we first heard about the Trotter sisters in the film, Voices of Vail, we thought they were just plain old teachers. But, after we were able to interview some of their former students, we discovered that they were cherished very much. The people that we talked to said, that of all the teachers that they have had their whole life, the Trotter sisters are the teachers they will always remember. They were strict, but cared about their students. Esta and Lottie didn’t assign homework because they knew how much responsibility students had at home. Children had to help on their family’s ranch, with gardens, crops, chores and family businesses. Once, a student's mother passed away and she had no other family here, or any one to stay with. The sisters helped her get adopted by a new family that would care for her and give her what she needed.

The Trotter sisters held 4H Club after

the Great Depression to put young men to work while they learned many

skills. Young men could earn $1. a day. They would send $25. each month to their families and keep $5.for themselves. Chico learned carpentry in CCC Camps at St. David, Tucson Mountain Park, and in the Kingman Mountains.

Chico was trained to become an Army paratrooper in World War II, he became a

machine gunner instead. He served in Africa, Sicily, and Italy. And, after D-Day, in France and Germany. Chico became a member of the National Brotherhood of Carpenters after World War II. He worked as a building inspector for Tucson, and eventually, he even taught carpentry at a university.

The Bejarano’s faced many challenges. Sometimes people even challenged Felipe’s nationality. Even though he was born in Tucson, he had lived in Mexico for a while with family. Once, in a discussion during the John Kennedy presidential campaign, he stated, “No quise ser Mexicano, no me quade.” “I didn’t want to be a Mexican, I didn’t stay.” Felipe and his family’s story is an important part of Vail history.

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The Trotter Sistersby Emmanuel Nunez and Drew Hickey

Some teachers make such a lasting, caring impact on our lives that we carry them in our hearts forever. Esta and Lottie Trotter, who were the main teaching staff for the Vail school for over 25 years, were such teachers. Esta was born on November 5, 1904 and Lottie on May 10, 1906 in South Carolina. Their full names were Lillian Esta Trotter and Lottie Roberta Trotter. The Trotter family had a nice home, and even a street named after

Mexico. Pancho Villa was trying to get recruits to his army, making his way to the town where the Bejaranos, Felipe, Delfina and their young children, were living at the time. Anyone who refused Pancho Villa was killed. This was one of the biggest decisions of Felipe’s life. He could have stayed, but he made the decision that best benefited his family. When Felipe’s mother told Delfina that Villa’s army was on the way, Delfina already had all of their belongings packed. As soon as Felipe arrived, the family fled, by wagon, across the border. They made it just in time.

Felipe came to the Vail area in the 1910s and began to start a life for himself and his family. It was not easy for the Bejarano’s but in the end, it was the best thing for their family. The Bejaranos lived where had work, in the Empire Mountains, Pantano, and Vail. Once they had to dig their own well to get water. This was very necessary in the desert. Felipe hauled ore for the 49 Mining Camp, had a woodcutting business and worked for the railroads fixing the tracks at one point in his life.

When the Great Depression hit, it was very bad for the Bejarano family. Felipe was out of work, so his sons, including the youngest, Francisco Bejarano (Chico), found work with the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Right after Chico finished middle school, he was working. The CCC had camps around the country during

"Placemaking Through Story..." continued from previous page

Celebrating the 1939 Vail School 8th Grade Graduation. L to R Lottie Trotter, Evelyn

Schmidt, unknown, Esta Trotter, unknown, Jane Dillon, Beatrice Escalante, Carmen

Leon, Panchita Ferra, Mariano Ferra, Frances Schmidt, ____ Dillon. Baker Collection, Vail

Preservation Society.

Felipe Bejarano and family in 1927 at 49 Mining Camp. Bejarano Collection, Vail Preservation Society


will explore more about the geology and it’s eff ects in this space in the future! If you have any of your own questions, feel free to send a line.

Our friends and scientists at the Sonoran Desert Museum, U.S. Department of the Interior/Saguaro National Park, with a special mention of Dr. George H. Davis and Roadside Geology of Arizona by Halka Chronic, have provided helpful reconstructions of our local geology. References are provided below.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Geologic Origin of the Sonoran Desert, 2020

Chronic, Halka. Roadside Geology of Arizona. Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1983.

McPhee, John. Basin and Range. New York: Noonday Press, 1990.

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Saguaro National Park, Dr. George H. Davis, Geology of the Rincon Mountain

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loose and slid to the northwest along a detachment fault. This movement took place over thousands of years, shattering the rocks along the fault zone. Above the fault, forming the upper plate, are Paleozoic limestones and the rocks forming the lower plate are highly altered and stretched granites that form a type of metamorphic rock called mylonite. These mylonites form the impressive Tanque Verde Ridge in the Rincon Mountains. Following the detachment of the upper plate rocks, their stresses fi nally relaxed. By about 8 million years ago, the pull-apart action stopped, the thinned crust cooled, and Basin and Range mountains and valleys stabilized.

Fun Fact! At one time, before detachment of the upper plate rocks, the Tucson Mountains were located further east of the present Rincon Mountains. The detachment is responsible for their current location.

Basins Are Created And FilledThe extension of this area created block faulting, where many blocks separated along steep, normal faults. This creating the basins that surround the Rincon Mountains and other similar ranges in the southwest today. At one time, valley fl oors may have been as much as eight to ten thousand feet below the mountain crests. Today relief is much reduced as alluvial (stream) deposits of gravel, sand, and mud have fi lled the basins to their present-day levels, providing the geologic containers for our desert aquifers.

Basin and Range country is unique. No other region of similar origin is identifi ed on the planet thanks to the geologic events that shaped the unique Sonoran landscape. We

Our area has rocks as old as 1.7 billion years old and as young as a few thousand years. All phases of the rock cycle are represented, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Our rocks were originally derived from erosional processes like hot magmatic intrusions or deep and shallow marine environments. I will be referencing geologic time, so I encourage readers to take time to review the geologic time scale. This can be found online, under a basic keyword search.

Original Rock in ArizonaArizona’s original crust is composed of the Pinal Schist. At the beginning of the Paleozoic Era, several millions of years of erosion occurred as this crust gently rose and fell. This led to the encroachment of seas into the area, which transgressed and regressed over time, resulting in layers of limestone we see in the Rincon Mountains today.

Extensive VolcanismBy the late Mesozoic Era, the Pacifi c Plate continued to descend, or subduct, under the North American Plate, creating extensive volcanic activity. This event, known as the Laramide Orogeny, resulted in mountain building processes in this area. These volcanic rocks form a majority of the Tucson Mountains to the west. During and following this volcanic period, masses of granite were emplaced 5 to 8 miles below the surface, where they slowly cooled.

Extensive StretchingIn approximately 20-30 MYA, the Earth’s Crust in this region was stretched and sheared from the northeast towards the southwest. This period of stretching designates what geologists call the Basin and Range Geologic Province, causing the land, near and far, to stretch like geo-taff y. Over time, the stretching caused a series of other geologic events, including geologic arching of the crust.

Detachment and Block FaultingAs arching and stretching continued in the area, a huge slab of rock broke

Ever Wondered… About the Geology of Our Area?by Kimberly N.

In order to explore of the geology of our slice of the Rincon Mountains, we need to widen the lens a little and look at the regional geology of Tucson and the greater southwest. It can help with understanding the bigger picture of our Sonoran Desert, and its picturesque scenery.

It’s diffi cult for many of us to conceptualize geologic time. Human lives are generally limited to approximately a century, if we’re lucky. Thinking in terms of millions and billions of years can be mind boggling. Rocks are dated through radiometric dating methods that use the natural radioactive decay of certain elements such as potassium and carbon. The results have concluded that we are walking over rocks that are over a billion years old.

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Looking N-NW-W, Catalina Mountains (right) and Tucson Mountains (left.)

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Geologic Origin of the Sonoran

Desert, 2020

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Geologic Origin of the Sonoran Desert, 2020


Public Speaking Sweats?by Tricia Beck, M.Ed., Beck Leadership

Rejection is scary to everyone, so it makes sense that nervousness and panic are common reactions to public speaking. Telling someone to “just get over it!” doesn’t get rid of those negative emotions, and neither does keeping a tally of how often someone stutters or starts. The best cure is accumulating enough positive speaking experiences in a facilitated classroom atmosphere of acceptance and approval, until the negative memories are outweighed by positive experiences.

Multiple studies have outlined public speaking as one of human’s most common fears. Avoidance is one way to cope, but doesn’t bode well for anyone looking to advance their career.

Think back to the first time you swam or drove a car. Those experiences were nerve-wracking because we are naturally uncomfortable during periods of growth. Where would you be today if you never tried something that was difficult at first?

The following 7 tips may be helpful. Try one at a time:

1. Talk about subjects you know from experience/study and of interest to you.

2. Give enough details to visualize your story.

3. Get right into the story.

4. Use proven methods of 1-on-1 conversing.

5. Avoid lecturing. Talk with, not at audiences.

6. Larger audiences require bigger gestures and voice projection.

7. When in doubt, speak from the heart.

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Pima County Public Library: We RecommendArizona recently turned 107! Celebrate with a book!

These recommendations are brought to you by Sheila B. at Oro Valley Public Library. Visit us at library.pima.gov for more great reading suggestions, to check out upcoming events, and to visit our E-Library!


Hubbell Trading Post by Erica Cottam

Under Desert Skies by Melissa Sevigny

A Beautiful, Cruel County by Eva Antonia Wilbur-Cruce

Arizona’s Deadliest Gunfight by Heidi J. Osselaer


changes in school schedules, etc., could result in hard times for some families. ReSources is gearing up for this uncertainty and will do its best to be ready with emergency food, and you can help;

Monetary donations will help ReSources increase its inventory of emergency food. (Don’t forget—monetary donations received before April 15 are still eligible for the 2019 Arizona Tax Credit.) Volunteers are also needed to assist in packing emergency food bags in a low touch environment, so if you’ve ever considered becoming a ReSources volunteer, now would be a good time. To make a monetary donation or to apply as a volunteer visit the web site: www.resourcesvail.org You can also send your donations to: ReSources, P.O Box 367, Vail, AZ 85641. Let’s all keep an eye out for the most vulnerable among us, realize that this won’t last forever, and live the ReSources motto of neighbors helping neighbors.

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ReSources Prepares for Uncertain Times with Your Help by Susan Summers

As residents of this beautiful corner of Arizona, we are often asked why we chose to put down roots in Vail. Speaking for myself, the answer is easy. I love the peace, tranquility and natural beauty, but Vail’s hometown feel is important and unique. You really can get to know people, and I’m certain that should I ever find myself in a tough situation, my friends and neighbors will be there to help me through it.

Greater Vail Community Resources epitomizes this ethos and strives to be there for neighbors in need through the work of Resources Vail Food Bank. In normal times, ReSources has a consistent supply of non-perishable food on hand, but the outbreak of COVID-19 has thrown us all a curve ball. The economic trickle down of supply chain interruptions, temporary business closures,


Academy Village Muralby Burt Graeff

Anyone who has not recently visited the community center at the Academy Village is in for a big surprise. The surprise: a stunning, colorful 8-foot by 12-foot ceramic mural on a wall outside the Arizona Senior Academy building.

“We are always looking for projects to enhance and bring happiness to the community,’’ said Academy Village resident artist Geri Burkhart. This particular project was not accomplished overnight. It was nurtured in March 2019. It was completed by Thanksgiving 2019. There are an estimated 500-600 pieces on the wall. All of the pieces were hand-made in the near-by activities room. The mural depicts a Rincon Valley nature scene.

Others instrumental in pulling off this project were resident artists Marsha Kinkade and Dr. Robert Smith. Kinkade is a ceramicist, one who works in ceramics. “This was really a community project,’’ Burkhart said, “and so many villagers with varying artistic skills worked together to complete it.”

After 39 kiln firings to complete the mural, it was time to mount it. “It took a couple of weeks to mount,’’ Smith said. “There an untold number of hours put into this,’’ Kinkade added. “We’ve had a great response to it.’’

Burt Graeff is a former sportswriter from Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife June and their Jack Russell terrier,

Skip, have lived in Vail for ten years.


meet Gideon Irving, Troubadour, and Augustus during their journey across the great American west, you’ll be a fan as well.

In-home shows are scheduled through email or by phone.

Contact Gideon Irving by email, at itstruemynameisgideon@gmail.

com or by phone at 917-699-3631, and check out his website,

mynameisgideon.com. You can also find him on Facebook.

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Village and reconnected with friends. Visiting with Irving, it’s easy to understand why he has a large following of fans across the country. He has a great sense of humor and he conveys a genuine interest in connecting with people. Irving explained that he prefers performing in smaller because it allows him to connect with his audience. Sarah, a fellow New Yorker, friend, and fan of Irving’s, said he brought “a soothing light” into the chaos of everyday life. If you have the opportunity to

Irving began the Horse Tour in September 2019 and is making his way across the American West. He expects to travel over 3000 miles while performing stove-top folk music in private homes. His route has brought him from Colorado into New Mexico and now Arizona. Irving expects to travel up the coast into California, across Oregon, and into Wyoming or Montana. The planning for the horse tour began a number of years ago, after he was inspired by a man he met during his bicycle tour across New Zealand. The Kiwi described his own annual cross-country trek with horses

and a wagon, which began the creative thinking that has brought Irving to his current adventure. Irving, who claims he knew nothing about horses at that time, lived and trained with cowboys in Utah for over a year in preparation for his journey.

Prior to his arrival in the Vail area, Irving and his horses traveled a portion of the Arizona Trail and across the backside of the Catalinas, which he described as one of his

toughest journeys yet. The challenges included narrow, steep trails that are easier for two-legged hikers than his four-legged partners carrying a load. Irving also spoke of getting out of quicksand in the Aravaipa Canyon and working through other near-disastrous situations with his horses.

While Troubadour and Augustus were enjoying their down-time at the Rocking K Ranch, Irving performed in a private home at the Academy

Gideon Irving, Multihyphenate Performer, Visits Rocking K Ranchby Merry Kraemer

It might be hard to imagine someone performing a concert in the middle of your living room, but that’s just was Gideon Irving has spent the better part of the last ten years doing. Irving, a New York City native, crafts elaborate one-person shows that he performs in all manner of houses, living spaces, and even the occasional theatre. When Troubadour and Augustus, Irving’s trusty steeds, recently rode through the entrance of the Rocking K Ranch on Old Spanish Trail, no one could guess how much delight the procession would bring.

Irving has visited more than 600 homes in nine different countries across four continents, and for the Horse Tour, his latest, he’s come by way of his four legged partners. Irving was inspired to start performing private shows in 2011, when he saw acclaimed indie rock musician Julian Koster play a Christmas show in Bayside, Queen. Koster, best known as a member of Neutral

Milk Hotel, accompanied himself on the singing saw and other unique instruments, seated in a cluster of lawn decorations. By 2012, Irving was traveling the perimeter of New Zealand by bicycle with a trailer full of instruments in tow. His next tour, ironically titled the Staying Put Tour, saw him crisscrossing New York City on rollerblades, pushing a modified shopping cart in between shows.


stairs and returned to the 21st century, arriving just in time for a nicely prepared lunch at an elegant hotel. It was stunning to travel a thousand years in history in a period of two hours in the present. It was my reward.

Rob Samuelsen's adventures are motivated by his lifelong wanderlust and interest in

natural science. His trips are supported by his long-suff ering and understanding wife, four children, and seven

grandchildren. To fund his escapades, he works as a business executive

having served as CEO, COO,

and CFO of various entities. He's served on a number of community boards and operates a small business (www.

backcountryexpressions.com) which sells some of his photographs.

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The Sinagua people built sturdy homes in limestone alcoves using shaped blocks and masonry walls. They stored water and food in bulk to withstand the long summer droughts and cold winter snow. They grew corn, beans, and squash on the canyon rim and hunted deer, big horn sheep, and turkey in the forested plateau. Water was abundant from below and they managed to haul water for their farming and drinking needs. This protected canyon was their home for 150 years. By the year

1250, the Sinagua people had moved on for unknown reasons to unknown locations. It wouldn’t be occupied again until westerners discovered its beauty and prehistoric treasures.

The canyon trail begins in the visitors’ center, which helps the rangers to control access. With fragile artifacts and dangerous cliff s, it’s important to guard against vandals and

bandits. My fi rst impression was sheer amazement at the number of dwellings tucked away in the steep cliff walls. Virtually every alcove was occupied by a clever prehistoric dwelling with level fl oors and vented ceilings. Some even had gutters to keep water from dipping off the lip of the overhang. With the quiet wind, I could almost hear women climbing the steep trails with heavy baskets while the children played in the water below and the men were off hunting for game that would provide precious protein to their families. As I imagined their departure, I was jolted back to reality by the alarm on my phone reminding me about the conference. Reluctantly, I ascended the many

Walnut Canyon in Wingtipsby Rob Samuelsen

While I was at a professional conference in Flagstaff , I found myself admiring the beautiful blue sky, the deep green ponderosa pine forest, and the snow on the nearby San Francisco peaks. Looking out the window, my mind wandered to Mt. Humphries, the tallest peak in Arizona and my hiking nemesis. The 12,633 foot mountain has thwarted my attempts to summit on two diff erent occasions. Once was because of a nasty pop up thunderstorm and the other was a freak summer blizzard. While I was gazing out the window, I realized that the next topic was of absolutely no interest to me, and I decided my time would be better spent exploring nearby Walnut Canyon National Monument.

I did not bring hiking clothes so my wingtips would have to suffi ce. Many years ago, after a similar conference in Palm Springs, I’d hiked in Joshua Tree National Park in a three-piece suit, so slacks and Florsheim’s didn’t seem particularly out of place. At least I wasn’t wearing a tie! I quietly snuck out the rear door and quickly headed for my vehicle. If I timed it right, I’d be back just before lunch.

Walnut Canyon is a deep gorge carved out by Walnut Creek over a period of 60 million years. Because of the serpentine riverbed, there is a wide variety of plant and animal life suffi cient to support an ancient community of hundreds of families.

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as critically acclaimed and popular with the masses as Parasite must launch a massive campaign to snatch a nomination, let alone a win. Director Bong Joon-Ho has said that he’s so exhausted from the campaign his distributor Neon put on that he can’t even think about making more films — despite the fact that a mini-series adaption of Parasite is already in development at HBO.

But it seems like a truth universally acknowledged that American prestige filmmaking is churning out more of the same. Even the new offerings from popular directors that hit last year feel familiar at best, and repetitive at worst. Scorsese’s the Irishman gives Goodfellas (or wait, was it Casino? No, it must have been Mean Streets. Or maybe it was…) the three-hour treatment we were

all clamoring for — and with all the same actors! Marvel’s best attempts to make a movie with some kind of emotional depth failed (for about the 20th time), and even the supposedly subversive and controversial JoJo Rabbit and Joker ended up

being more smoke than fire.

What does all this mean for the future of the Oscars? Film? The world? Probably nothing. If this era of woke, callout, and cancel culture has shown us anything, it’s that huge corporations will make surface level adjustments to their messaging while continuing down the same path they always have. But it could mean more opportunities for filmmakers to tell personal stories that might not have even gotten off of the ground just a few years ago.

Jared Free is an actor and writer based in the San

Francisco Bay Area.

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Reflecting on Awards Seasonby Jared Free

The 2019 Oscars will go down in history as not just one of the few ceremonies to honor a film that is actually good with Best Picture, but this is the first year where the top prize went to a foreign film. After 92 years of great foreign film, what made this year different?

After four years of being blasted by Trump again and again, I think Hollywood was ready to be on the right side of history. By now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is used to being lambasted by critics on both sides of the political spectrum, but after the inexplicable win of Green Book and amid more and more protestations of #OscarsSoWhite, it would seem that enough members of the Academy were ready for some digital praise.

Of course, it didn’t help that the so-called Oscar movies produced by Hollywood have been on a pretty noticeable decline. Once the Weinstein brothers changed the way studios and stars campaign for their Oscars, it became evident that the Academy doesn’t vote for the movie they think is the best. Facetime with celebrities and filmmakers is more important than ever, so even a movie

• Trim tree branches that overhang your home.

• Trim tree branches that touches other trees or vegetation and prune branches high above the ground to help keep a fire out of the trees.

• Choose fire-resistant building materials and construction techniques.

• Maintain the exterior of your home periodically.

• Screen roof and attic vent to prevent ember entry.

• Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches and remove dead vegetation and debris from under them as well.

• Have an emergency action plan in place for everyone in the home including for animals and livestock..

• Know two ways out of your neighborhood and designate a meeting place in the event of evacuations.

• Ensure your home has legible and clearly marked street names and numbers.

• Radiant heat can crack windows, dual-pane windows offer better protection than single-pane.

• Maintain your driveway to be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access.

Please call Rincon Valley Fire District at 520-647-3760 if you would like a home inspection.

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Protection From Wildfires: Defensible Spaceby Jayme Kahle

With hotter temperatures fast approaching, the Rincon Valley Fire District would like to remind our residents to prepare for wildfires and create a defensible space around your home. According to FEMA, “a defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation, debris, and other types of combustible fuels have been treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of fire to and from the building.” Certain types of vegetation can be extremely combustible and increase the rate of fire spread such as brush, grass, and timber. Some other causes can be piles of dead vegetation from yardwork/landscaping, firewood and other materials that are too close to your home. Clearing these fuels away from your home helps significantly in the event of a wildfire in our community.

Follow these steps to ensure your family and your home are as safe as possible at all times of the year:

• Clear all combustible materials from within 30 feet of your home, such as the above mentioned items as well as any combustible patio furniture, umbrellas, and lumber. Cleaning gutters and clearing rooftops of debris, especially around chimneys is also advised.

• Limit the amount of flammable vegetation around your home.

• Keep vegetation minimal and avoid highly combustible vegetation.

At the Movies


victims of life, how can we ever feel hope or light again?

LoveThe answer is love friends. Love yourself. Love your body. Love your mind and Spirit. Love your neighbor. Love the earth, love the world. Love life.

What is keeping you from doing these things? Make time to get outside, be around loved ones, or recharge

on your own in order to get into the fl ow of expressing your True Self.

If you’re ready to get out of fear and live life more fully self-

expressed and in love, reach out now.

Hollie Warnick is a behavioral kinesiologist utilizing natural solutions like energy medicine, essential oils,

and applied kinesiology to help others gain clarity, peace, and power in their

lives. With a Bachelor of Science in Human

Biology and alternative

therapy certifi cations, Hollie shares

ways to transform daily life and breakthrough to life’s true purpose. Contact (520)

800-4383 [email protected] or healing-guidance.org.

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Fear Based Livingby Hollie Warnick

FearFear based living is when we exist in the mindset of fright and terror. We believe scarcity is the norm and that life is against us. We may feel alone and scared; outnumbered and isolated. It is a taxing reference point to come from. We experience stress, anxiety, or worry leaving cortisol levels elevated too often for too long.

Some sense they are on the precipice of despair, about to go over the edge. Depression being the pervading sensation. What causes us to be hopeless or resigned, to feel lost and alone?

Power and ControlFear can be best understood as an issue of power and control. When feel as if you have lost control or power over a given situation, your basic and primal survival instinct awakens. Lack of power and control leads us to take actions from fear. Mayhem,in our fi nances, emotions, relationships, and spirituality stem from our fears around power and control. Do you want power over your life? Do you fi nd yourself trying to control everything or do you happily hand over all the choosing to others? Do you call the shots or sluff off decision making?

VictimIf we aren’t directing or choosing our own path, we may feel victimized in life. With the current health situation, just going to the grocery store may feel traumatizing. Terror reigns when we hand over our personal power to the masses or to superiors who are leading from fear. Life is complicated and precautions are benefi cial for our well-being. If we focus on prevention, maintenance, and increased knowledge, we can make informed decisions that aren’t based on fear. If we live in fear and lack-mentality as

In his book "Shinrin yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing" (Timber Press, 2018), Miyazaki Yoshifumi talks about the science behind how spending time out in nature reduces stress and boosts the immune system. Sophie Zechmeister-Botenstern, head of the Institute of Soil Research at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, is gathering evidence that posits that exposure to diverse bacteria in the environment is one mechanism underlying the wide-ranging health benefi ts of spending

time in nature. She is connecting the earth’s soil to human health. She believes that if there is more biodiversity, then there is more resilience and resistance against pathogens. She says, “People are not so much aware of this immense biodiversity which is harbored in the soil and soil is actually the most

diverse habitat on Earth.

Of course, eating food that you grow in healthy, organic soil will give you the highest dosage of immune boosting nutrition and healthy micro-bacteria. We currently have open garden beds if you would like to join lots of happy, healthy people at the Rita Ranch Community Garden. The new season starts April 1, so contact us below to reserve yours.

Elizabeth Warburton-Smith is the executive director of the Community

Gardens of Tucson and a 2nd generation Tucsonan

who has been digging in our desert soils for over 45

years. She is a former chef

who loves to prepare the foods she harvests not only

from her own garden but from the bounty of the desert as well. Email [email protected] if you would like to join her in Tucson’s

newest community garden, the Rita Ranch Community Garden located at

7471 S. Houghton Road.

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Get Dirty for a Healthy Immune System?by Elizabeth Warburton-Smith

Can dirt actually make you healthier? Since demand is high for hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes, the answer may seem like a defi nite no. After all, proper hand washing is said to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 by at least 50%.

We should defi nitely protect ourselves from dangerous germs and diseases, but what about all the good bacteria that we need, are we washing those away too? According to the National Institute of Health, this good bacterium has co-evolved with us for tens of thousands of years. Our bodies are made up of more of these microorganisms than human cells. The NIH reports that the human body contains trillions of microorganisms, outnumbering human cells ten to one, yet they make up only 1-3% of our body’s mass.

Why is this important? According to University College London microbiologist and immunologist Graham Rook, our immune systems actually need these old friends. Our immune systems are great at learning and use these bacteria to evolve with the environment and better protect our bodies. Rook says, “Unless you put the data in, it (our immune system) can’t function correctly.”

So how do we simultaneously wash away the bad stuff while keeping and maintaining the good? This is my area of expertise, the human connection to soil. Digging in a garden, growing a tomato plant in a pot of organic soil, or just walking out in nature will expose us to all of the micro fl ora and fauna that our bodies need. It’s been proven that playing in the soil and breathing fresh outdoor air elevates serotonin levels, which improves your mood. Even more importantly, being one with nature boosts your immune system by inoculating you with nature’s probiotics. These then travel into our gut, where our immune system lives.


Building an Emergency Savings from Hughes Federal Credit Union

A well-stocked emergency fund can quickly relieve you of unexpected bills, repairs, or emergencies. Here are a few things to keep in mind when saving for the unknown.

It Takes Time. The truth is that building wealth takes time, but the trick is to be consistent. Set up an automatic transfer. Months from now, your eff orts will begin to show in a sizable amount. Designate an account to be exclusively for your emergency savings.

What if Finances Are Tight?

Start by tracking every single expense then identify those that are necessary and those that are not. Next, determine expenses that can be trimmed. Call your service providers and revisit your current bills and services. You may be surprised to fi nd out that you can save a signifi cant amount simply by bundling services, downgrading to simple service packages or switching providers.

$1,000 GoalA $1,000 emergency can set you back several months. Bankrate’s January Financial Security Index revealed that just 4 in 10 U.S. adults (41%) would be able to cover the cost of a $1,000 car repair or emergency room visit using their savings. These fi ndings are not surprising, most Americans will simply reach for their trusty credit cards.

How Can Hughes Help? Consider opening a “You Name It” account with Hughes and start saving as much as you can. Name your account after something that keeps you motivated to save and enjoy 0.20% dividends. Check out our fi nancial calculators in order to help reach your savings goals.


since the 1940's. At my place, only one winter in the past nine has had less than three inches of rain for the season. At the time of this writing, March rainfall has been above average for the entire state. Areas to the East and West of Vail have had signifi cant amounts while Vail and parts of Tucson are just slightly above average. I will report on this in next month's issue.

John has lived in southern Arizona the past 31 years and Vail for 15 of those years. John has a bachelor’s degree in

Atmospheric Science from the University

of Missouri and a master’s

degree in Atmospheric

Physics from the University of Arizona. He loves exploring the

outdoors with his family and photographing weather and the

beauty of southern Arizona.

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February 2020 Climate Report by John Simpson

February 2020 was slightly below average in rainfall and slightly below average in temperature. I recorded 0.78" of rain and my 9-year average is exactly 1.00." The Tucson airport recorded 0.67" and their 30-year average is 0.86." On the temperature side, the airport was 0.3 degrees below average for the month with both high and low temperatures being slightly below average. February rainfall in the Vail readership area ranged from about 0.7" to just over an inch.

For the 2019-2020 Winter Season, rainfall was slightly below average for each of the three winter months. This has not stopped the wild fl owers which are blooming nicely in the area. In fact, winter rains for the past several years have not been bad. The Tucson airport reported that it has had six winter seasons in a row with total winter rainfall of over 2.5" each season. This has not happened


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