M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5THE

Tanque Verde VoiceTM

The community newspaper serving the Tanque Verde Valley and other Noutheast Communities sales@thetanqueverdevoice.com • (520) 490-0962 • An Epiphany Communications, Inc. Publication

Big Changes at Tanque Verde School Districtby Andy Morales

Dr. Doug Price restored nor-malcy and educational reputa-tion when he replaced former Tanque Verde superintendent Albert Thomas "Tom" Rogers some six years ago but his new position meant being away from his family in Gilbert.

In part to remedy that situa-tion, Dr. Price submitted his resignation from the position of Superintendent of Tanque Verde (effective June 30) and will take over the top spot with the Sacaton Elementary School District.

"He has been an extraordinary leader for us, and he will be missed by many in our schools and community," said gov-erning board president Claire Place.

to replace long-time business manager, Marty O’Shea at the end of the 2013-14 school year.

"With that important trans-tion completed, the governing board decided that we were in a good position to appoint an Interim Superintendent, rath-er than proceeding with the recruitment of a permanent superintendent at this time," Place added. Current human resources director Kimberly C. Sharp will serve as Interim Superinten-dent. Sharp facilitated numer-ous personnel changes and transition smoothly according to Place.

"The board is confident with the transition plan we have in place, and I believe we will continue to excel as we move through this transition and into the next chapter of our district’s history. Dr. Price has effectively positioned our district for continued success in student achievement, teach-er and staff development, and community collaboration and

support. In addition, he has completed significant facility improvements and efficiency upgrades which should benefit us for many years."

Knowing Dr. Price would even-tually desire to move to the Phoenix area to be with his family, the district developed a transition plan - a plan that was recently used successfully

Tanque Verde High School

"Big Changes" continued on page 2

On April 8, 2015, Pima County De-velopment Services introduced Pima Prospers to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Pima Prospers is the culmination of an 18-month process of gathering community and stake-holders’ input to update the Pima County Comprehensive Master Plan.

One of the proposed changes to the Major Streets and Scenic Routes Plan (MSSRP) is the classifi cation of the Tanque Verde Loop Road be-tween East Speedway Boulevard and East Tanque Verde Road as either a major street or a scenic route (or possibly both). This is important because major streets accommodate more traffi c and provide signifi cant access, whereas scenic routes are estab-lished to safeguard visual resources such as plants, mountains and geo-logic formations.

Classifying the Tanque Verde Loop Road as a major street concerns citizens because they believe it would cause drastic changes such as widening the road, cutting down trees along the roadway and taking property from nearby residents. The community vocalized their fears loud and clear to me at one of my Town Hall meetings held at Kirk-Bear Can-yon Library on March 26, 2015. As it turns out, the County had designated Tanque Verde Loop as a major street when it was intended to be classifi ed as a scenic route as well. Hence, the Tanque Verde Loop Road has been removed from consideration at the April 18 Planning and Zoning meeting. The Board of Supervisors will now consider the revised MSSRP plan on May 19, 2015. The Tanque Verde Loop scenic route designation will be reviewed at an unspecifi ed future date.

I’m here to serve my constituents and pride myself in listening to and acknowledging their concerns and

advocating for their issues. I have the honor and privilege of being the direct link between the District 4 community and County implemen-tation of Pima Prospers and I take that responsibility very seriously. The residents of Tanque Verde over-whelmingly want Tanque Verde Loop Road to become a scenic route and I fully support them. I have and will continue to encourage environmental preservation in the Tanque Verde Val-ley because that is what’s important to the constituents. It is the last, best place in the Tucson valley for rural lifestyles under dark skies full of stars and I plan to help keep it that way.

hhhhhhhhh

Funding JTED: It’s About the Economy

by Greg D'Anna, JTED

Our nation’s help wanted ad could say: “Now hiring more than 70 million middle skilled workers for high paying jobs in fi elds such as; healthcare, transportation, information technol-ogy, and engineering.” That’s just to cover the amount of workers set to retire within the next decade, ac-cording to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Middle skill jobs pay well and provide the infrastructure for critical economic sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, aerospace, and construction.

The Pima County JTED (Joint Tech-nical Education District) is a public high school district that works with all school districts in Pima County, including the Tanque Verde District, to provide students with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

JTED students in Steve Uyeda's Bioscience program at Sunyside High

School extract DNA for clients including Native Seed Search, The UA, and the Arizona Sonora Desert

Museum

Businesses and Industry need JTEDs to provide a skilled workforce. The number two reason for businesses not expanding is a lack of skilled employees. Businesses and the State each need JTEDs because they enable students to become taxpayers earlier in their lives without taking on insurmountable student loans. These debts are a national problem and preclude young adults from buying homes, cars, and other big-ticket tax-able items. JTEDs bolster the econ-omy. JTEDs also prepare students to fi ll the one million additional jobs opening in the U.S. for Registered Nurses, and the more than 600,000 new jobs opening for health techni-cians.

In the whirlwind budget process did legislators kill Arizona’s goose that lays the golden eggs? Like most JTED member districts across the State, the Tanque Verde District will lose 50% of its funding for CTE programs in the 2016-2017 school year, which will eviscerate them. More than 90,000 students are enrolled in Arizona’s JTED programs. Of those students, 90% are enrolled in Satellite programs operated in high schools, and the rest attend central campus programs. According to research conducted by Harvard University and the ASU Morrison Institute, CTE pro-grams improve student achievement and dramatically reduce dropout rates. Approximately 98% of these students graduate high school within four years, while the graduation for the rest of Arizona’s students is 76%.

JTED Medical Assistant students complete more than 800 hours of

instruction during their senior year of high school, and a summer extern-

ship. Last year, 100% of our students either entered the workforce or

college.

Anyone concerned about the econo-my should persuade Governor Ducey to include the restoration of JTED funding in a special session to correct

the wrong turn we made in the middle of the night. States across the nation are increasing their investments in CTE, and seeing a direct economic benefi t of having greater numbers of people working in higher paying jobs. Restoring JTED funding is not about funding education, it’s about the economy.

hhhhhhhhh

"Big Changes" continued from page 1

"Sharp also brings many personal and professional attributes which the board believes will be very benefi cial to the district through this transition period," Place explained. "With the resignation of Dr. Price and the appointment of Ms. Sharp as Interim Superintendent, the board’s intent is to be able to redirect the remaining portion of the suWWper-intendent’s salary to accommodate other needs in the district. These include the hiring of an district com-munity liaison, the assignment of a district-wide 504 Coordinator, and the addition of a district-wide technolo-gy integrated curriculum specialist. There will also be a reassignment of some of the former superintendent’s responsibilities to members of the ex-ecutive team. While acting as Interim Superintendent, Ms. Sharp will also continue some of her administrative duties as the HR Director. Mr. Keith Wick, Human Resources Generalist, will assume additional duties and responsibilities."

In a letter addressed to district staff , Dr. Price out lined the new hire of Ironwood Ridge assistant principal A.J. Malis as the new principal of Tanque Verde and the placement of Sharp as the Interim Superintendent.

"As you may know," Dr. Price said in the letter. "The district is in tran-sition in most every aspect of our operations. The Board engaged in thoughtful discussion last night re-garding these transitions. The budget is closely tied to how we can best meet these transitional needs and how best to expend our resources to move the district forward.

"When addressing the superinten-dent vacancy, the Board felt it best to look inwardly for the leadership for the upcoming school year. Board members expressed that they want

"Big Changes"continued on page 3

The latest from Pima County District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll

2 The Tanque Verde Voice 520-490-0962

Dear Readers

Welcome to the May/June issue of The Tanque Verde Voice! We are thrilled to off er this issue for your read-ing pleasure. Do you have or know of someone who has a small business to be featured in our Business Ventures column? We'd love to hear from you. Our paper exists to support the small to mid sized busi-nesses in the Tanque Verde Valley and beyond. Send your requests to my email box below.

In this issue, you will fi nd important information about changes at the Tanque Verde School District, and messages from Supervisor Ray Carroll, JTED and our Pima County Sheriff Department. We also have our regular travel column, letters to the Editor and perspectives from residents.

Our publication is distributed at CVS Pharmacy, Safeway, Alberstons and other locations in 85748, 85749 and 85715.

Thanks to our fantastic advertisers and content partners. We couldn't do it without you!

Enjoy!

Lucretia FreeFounder and Publisher

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

to support the continued great work of the teachers and staff , and to take the assets associated with the super-intendent's position and redistribute those fi nancial assets to the needs of the district, especially for the next school year," Dr. Price added.

Tanque Verde passed a budget over-ride last November

"The additional 10% will continue to support programs and person-nel (teachers, classifi ed staff ) which would have been cut due to the loss of the district additional assistance from the state budget, the loss of the district sponsored charter funding, and other factors infl uencing the bud-get," Place explained.WW

"In addition to mitigating funding losses, the funds provided by the override have been committed to continuing a $1,000 per teacher sala-ry increase, as well as a two percent wage increase for the classifi ed staff . We are also experiencing an approxi-mately 8% increase to health benefi ts costs for our employees. The remain-ing override monies will be used, to the extent possible, to mitigate issues with technology, transportation, and safety."

Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school sports re-porter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His unique perspective can be found at AllSportsTucson.com and on the pages of the Vail Voice and the Tanque Verde Voice.

hhhhhhhhh

Selmaby Jared Free, NYU Sophomore, Bachelor of Fine Arts

In the aftermath of what was supposed to be one of the biggest blizzards for New York City in recent memory, I took refuge inside a mostly empty movie theatre to cross a movie off my watch list. This movie was Selma, the subject of much praise and controversy. I had looked forward to seeing it, as the idea of letting a fresh voice like Ava DuVernay tell a story that is typically reserved for the Hollywood elite - your Spielbergs, Scorseses, ad nausem- is a very exciting prospect. What gave last year’s 12 Years a Slave so much power was the beating vitality that only an independent and brave director like Steve McQueen can off er a story couched in brutality. The same is true of Selma.

The Civil Rights Movement happened long enough ago that it’s easy to think of it as being removed from the contemporary experience. These past few months, however, served to remind us that the movement is truly far from over. While watching the fi rst attempt to cross the bridge in Selma explode in violence, I thought of how just a few months ago I marched to protest the brutal execution of black men and women by the police sworn to serve and protect them. What Selma off ers the American public is more than just a document of the Civil Rights Movement, but rather, a mirror. It holds up the image of our grandparents and parents who were on the wrong side of history- and doesn’t let us forget the proud American lineage, white and black, that got us where we are today.

This particular presentation of America’s troubling history with race is made even more powerful by its blackness. It is a story directed by a black women, shot by a black man, performed by black (largely darkskinned) actors playing black heroes. The fi lm has received a lot of backlash around presentation of Lyndon B. Johnson as foot dragger - and I would like to take this opportunity to remind the world that we didn’t cry out when Lincoln

"Big Changes" continued from page 2

didn’t feature any black abolitionists - notably excluding Frederick Douglass. We didn’t cry out when Argo painted the American CIA as the primary heroes that rescued those hostages. Even just this year, between the Imitation Game, the Theory of Everything and American Sniper, the cinematic public accepted compressed facts, timelines and characters in service of the thematic and narrative questions a movie is focused on. Selma’s naysayers desperately need to ask themselves what makes this movie diff erent from the aforementioned, and I posit that what makes it diff erence is that this fi lm maximizes black legacy. (Let’s also not forget that throughout his entire tenure in the senate LBJ opposed Civil Rights legislation. These men are political animals, and politics and morals do not coincide very neatly).

I motion that Selma be preserved in the American cultural consciousness as the rare document that both captures the struggle of the era it depicts and the era it is released into. It is an invaluable entry into the American cinematic canon, demonstrated by a conversation I heard behind me in the theatre. Usually I am a pillar of righteous fury at whispering in the movie theatre - but this was diff erent. This was two white children asking their mother if what they had seen could possibly be true. They had total disbelief that America could possibly treat its own citizens this way. We cannot forget our past. We cannot let our children forget where we came from - we bear America’s legacy, good and bad, and DuVernay has done a service in presenting it to us.

Selma is expected to make its DVD release in May.

hhhhhhhhh

At the Movies

Seen a good one lately?

Publisher/Editor: Lucretia Freelucretia@TheTanqueVerdeVoice.com

Art Director: Rick Keenrick@TheTanqueVerdeVoice.com

Marketing Director: Briden Bealbriden@TheTanqueVerdeVoice.com

Sports Editor: Andy Moralessports@TheTanqueVerdeVoice.com

The Tanque Verde Voice is published bimonthly. Call for advertising rates and deadlines. Subscription rate: $24 per year.The content in The Tanque Verde Voice does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the owner. No additional research or fact finding has been conducted to verify the information contained here-in.

The Tanque Verde VoicePhone: (520) 490-0962 Fax: (520) 398-7742

thetanqueverdevoice.com May / June 2015 3

Submit your letter to the Editor at: edito@TheTanqueVerdeVoice.com

Dear Editor,

On Annexation

Casual observers of Tucson City politicians can recognize they are in trouble. Pension funds are woefully unfunded. The general fund has been pledged toward public liabilities like the Streetcar, and the political will to fix serious fiscal concerns is nonex-istent. In short, the City of Tucson is mismanaged and headed for bank-ruptcy.

Now they are appealing to the good folks in the Tanque Verde Valley to bail them out. It is like we are being invited to a dinner party after the drinks have been drunk, the food has been eaten, and they need a sober newcomer to do the dishes.

The best argument made by Mr. Kaselemis last month, is in regards to state funding. This is an argument for incorporation, not annexation. The two should not be conflated.

Why does the City want annexation? The Tanque Verde Valley would bring in attractive revenues. Fewer services would be required per property, and the lower population density would impose insignificant political risk to incumbents.

If we eventually want to join the City, it would be prudent to wait until after they declare bankruptcy. Otherwise we will just be bailing out the bond-holders.

Respectfully,

John P Lee

hhhhhhhhh

Dear Editor,

Many of us in the Tanque Verde area live close to a major wash, which means we are in or near a flood zone. In simple terms there are three zones in our area: X (subject to a 500-year storm), X-shaded (not quite as good), and AE (special flood hazard area subject to a 1% annual chance flood

your actions, where you go, when you go, and how you go. When you come back, it amazes you that there is a world apart from the world you just left, where hardship and sacrifice was almost routine.

Imagine if you just came back from Iraq, and you see a smiling reporter on CNN talking about how things are tough out there because the price of gas, on Memorial Day, is high, (which I did see a few years ago) you could feel that there is a disconnect.

Memorial Day is not just a three day weekend marking the beginning of summer. It is a time when we mourn the sacrifice of life and consider the terrible cost of war. More specifically, since March 20, 2003, at least 129 Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors with ties to Arizona have been killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Unfortunately, space does not allow us to remember them all; however, we can list the name of one soldier, to highlight what Memorial Day is about.

Joseph F. Gonzales, of Tucson, died Sept. 20, 2008, in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Mr. Gonzales died at the very young age of 18. This May and Memorial Day, let us enjoy the outdoors and the many events and activities that our community offers; however, let us also remember those fallen in the service of our nation and always consider the very high cost of war.

Mike Lavelle is retired from military service. Following military retirement, he worked at a university and also taught classes in the Social Science department.

hhhhhhhhh

Memorial DayMonday the 30 of May is Memorial Day. It is a day to remember all those fallen in military service. It is not a day in which we glorify war. Rather, it is a time when we mourn the sacrifice of life.

When I taught at a university, a college student in one of my classes, recently returned from Iraq, remarked to me that he was somewhat bothered how life back home did not reflect that there is a war going on and people are dying. Since I retired from the military and have spent lots of time deployed and did serve in Desert Storm, I can understand that feeling. Perhaps some of you might recognize it as well. It is an odd feeling. When you are deployed, your whole life, hour by hour and day by day, is living according to the needs of the service. All you do is affected;

SummerIt’s that time of year when my kids wish school was out for summer. I wish for the end of school more than they do.

Don’t get me wrong, school and education are vital. I work to ensure the kids’ activities don’t encroach on their class time. Homework always takes precedence over chores and extra-curricular activities.

But as a mother of three active children who participate in activities like Brownies, Irish dance, Kung Fu, musical theater, a D&D group, and who have many friends and get-togethers, and with the volunteering I do with a few different organizations, I can’t wait for the relative calm of summer. Relative being the keyword.

Portions of my summer have been designated to dance workshops and competitions, Kung Fu camp, personal development classes, and band camp. Then there is the annual summer cleaning, you know… emptying out backpacks, saving important papers and artwork, and finally getting to the house projects we missed during the school year. (Painting anyone?)

However, I do plan to sleep in, lounge about, and refresh my creative juices. I’ll get back to writing, photography, learn to program, and encourage the kids to engage in hobbies and some summer bridge work. (Maybe programming for the whole family? Yep, I’m geeky like that.)

This summer will be bittersweet as

this is the last summer before my oldest child enters high school. (If one can call a 5 ft. 8in., fourteen year old boy a child.) I hope we make memories that he can carry with him as he makes the transition to adulthood. (Geez, it suddenly got dusty in here. Sniff, sniff.)

So to endure until the last day of school rolls around and those days of sleeping in, I’ll just dream of blue skies and warm temperatures.

hhhhhhhhh

with base elevations determined). If you have a mortgage and you are in the floodway then you need to have flood insurance; if you don’t have a mortgage then the flood insurance is optional (but might be a good idea). The flood insurance, unfortunately, is expensive.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood plain mapping is done on broad areas using aerial

"Letters" continued on page 9

Velosa Viewpoint

with Anne Velosa

Thoughts...

with Mike Lavelle

Letters to the EditorOur Readers Sound Off!

4 The Tanque Verde Voice 520-490-0962

If you have an event that is open to the public and you would like to invite Tanque Verde Voice readers, please

send an e-mail to:editor@TheTanqueVerdeVoice.com

ARTS CAMP 2015Summer Arts Camp for children scheduled for June 8 - 12, 2015.

St John on the Desert Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Christ Presbyte-rian Church (U.S.A.) are collaborating again this year to present Summer Arts Camp for children entering first through seventh grades in 2015. The camp is being held between Monday, June 8 and Friday, June 12, 2015, and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at St John on the Desert located at 2695 N. Houghton Road in Tucson, Arizona. Summer Arts Camp 2015 tuition is $60 per child for the entire week's offerings. Additional children from the same family are $40. There is some scholarship money avaiable. More information is available by calling the church office at 520-749-3615.

Participants from Summer Arts Camp

Pastor of St John and Camp Direc-tor Lesley Abrams says, "This year's combined Summer Arts Camp at St John will feature music, dance, com-edy, photography, acting, art, magic and crafts in one glorious, laugter-filled week. The kids will create an art exhibit, build a stage set and rehearse a variety show. We'll also be undertaking two mission projects to support other kids in Tucson. The week will conclude with a special Friday night performance for family and friends."

Tanque Verde Schools Served by Rincon Rotary Club Get Boostby John P. Lee

New York’s Del Monaco Family surprised Tucson’s Rincon Rotary with a $10,000 donation to their Rotary LOCAL program, a micro-grant initiative for Tucson educators. The donation is in memory of Diamante “Angelo” Del Monaco, an immigrant, soldier, father, grandfather, and supermarket manager for 40 years — a Rotarian in the fullest sense. Kings Supermarket honored him at retirement, writing, “Angelo is living proof of the fact that people do business with people.”

The Rincon Rotary Club believes that too, giving teachers a way to access the local business community at RotaryLocal.org, where educators from the 85748, -49, -50, -10, and -15 zip codes can apply for volunteers, locally-sourced goods, and even direct financial assistance for their projects.

Rincon Rotary Club officials award micro-grant to Agua Caliente

Elementary School for a community garden.

The goal is to listen to teachers and respond with real help. Among the successful projects; Guitar cases from Instrumental Music so Bloom Elementary students could practice at home, a community garden so Agua Caliente Elementary could grow their own food, even a bagless vacuum from Cathey’s Sew and Vac to help the Kellond Elementary after-

school clean up. Rotary LOCAL is supported by HSL Properties, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, Resolute Builders, Cirrus Visual, Pizza Hut, Bank of Tucson and the Law Offices of Thomas Zlaket. The club’s annual Taste of Chocolate event, April 19th from 2-4pm at the Doubletree Hotel, also helps raise funds for the program.

To learn more about the Rincon Rotary and it’s sponsors please visit RotaryLOCAL.Org.

hhhhhhhhh

St John on the Desert Presbyteri-an Church and Christ Presbyterian Church are part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and are two of twety-eight churches within the Presbytery de Cristo encompassing Southern Arizona and the western edge of New Mexico. hhhhhhhhh

DC’s Auto DetailingI come to your home or

business for less!

449-0121Check out our website for

package pricing and specials!

www.dcsautodetailing.com

Call or email me for an appt today!Devin - Owner

Tanque Verde

Happenings

Places to Go, Things to Do, People to See

thetanqueverdevoice.com May /June 2015 5

British Isles and the Normandy Coast of FranceMy husband and I have done lots of cruises over the years, 19 so far, and in August this year we looped around the British Isles, visited Ireland and Scotland ended on the Normandy coast of France. One of our most-looked forward-to experiences are the Shore Excursions.

Our major point for this cruise was Normandy and its hallowed beaches; 2014 is the 70th anniversary of the D Day Invasion. Our ship, the Ruby

Princess, docked in the deep water harbor at Le Havre and the tour took us down the coastline, two hours away by bus.

Our guide, a very knowledgeable Frenchman, had an accent so sharp that when my mind wandered, lost in the beautiful French countryside, I could imagine that the fi ghting that raged among bunkers and Rangers was actually a wild west melodrama between the bankers and the ranchers.

Our fi rst stop was Pointe du Hoc, with its steep and straining cliff s and the strange pathways through huge clumps of concrete and rebar, bunkers full of dust and debris, circular metal rings where huge guns once anchored, barbed wire curling over the weed encrusted headlands.

We walked slowly under a gray and gathering sky, mostly the paths are unpaved, and wondered at the silence, the intense memories not our own but shared among us all. A storm was forming over the ocean to the south and we could imagine the bay full of ships, though on that day not a dingy nor sailboat was visible.

We noticed small things as well: rabbit droppings pebbling the walkways, chunks of concrete thrown about like giant toys, the shout and giggle as someone’s red jacketed teenager posed for digital snapshots

atop a raised gun emplacement.

This apparent dishonor bothered me. Then I remembered an essay contest on “What Freedom Means”. Perhaps a few answers might be: rabbits unafraid to live among these ruins, children leaning on the cold, manmade debris of war, pictures taken by families awed but not frightened.

Then the tour took us to the Invasion beaches. We hadn’t realized that what we call “Bloody Omaha” was once and still is a public beach. Remember the famous newsreel footage of the landing craft dropping its platform to reveal acres of metal barricades and barbed wire with houses in the background? Remove all the barricades, wire and darkness. Add technicolor, a bright, golden sun over low tide, the hush of the wind, and the beach was as we saw it.

During this year of the 70th anniversary of D Day children were building sandcastles on bloody Omaha Beach and families were spreading blankets on the sand for a picnic. I wanted to shout at them: “Have you forgotten? Don’t you know this is hallowed ground!”

We walked solemnly on the beach, full of quiet refl ection, soaking up history through our feet. The storm had raged and gone, there was sunlight, children’s happy laughter, and our footprints. These are signs of freedom too.

Pat, was born in Toledo, Ohio and has lived in Tucson since 1949 - "I was just the tiniest child at the time. My husband’s family came even earlier, in 1946.

We started cruising as a vacation in 1995 and my husband loves it best because you only unpack once. Plus the food. Plus the choice to do everything or nothing. Plus the food. Plus visiting interesting places. Plus the food.

We have sailed to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Panama Canal, the Mexican Riviera and the Northern Coast of the US. We’ve been to Alaska 5 times but have never seen a moose outside a wild life park. We plan to keep going until we see one..."

hhhhhhhhh

Musings on Crusing

with Pat Walker

520-881-8740

http://www.sonorahearingcaretucson.com

Member of the American Academy of AudiologyLicensed with the Arizona Department Of Health Services

4404 E. Grant Road • Tucson, AZ 85712

Cristi A. Moore, Au.DDoctor of Audiology

• Hearing Tests• Hearing Aids• Tinnitus Therapies

6 The Tanque Verde Voice 520-490-0962

Blood Moon Prophecy, that speci-fi es that a tetrad of lunar eclipses is considered a sign that the Earth is coming to an end. Recently this theo-ry has been popularized by Christian ministers John Hagee and Mark Blitz, who link two mentions in the New Testament (Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12) to the idea that a blood-red Moon is linked to the end of times.

Actually, during almost every to-tal eclipse of the Moon, the Moon adopts a blood-red color. This is easily explained by the phenomenon of Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in the Earth’s atmosphere. The red-dening of the Sun every evening at sunset, and bluish color of the sky in daytime, are both results of Rayleigh scattering. Actually, the “blood red” color of the Moon is a sign of a nor-mal atmosphere. If an eclipse of the Moon takes place shortly after the major eruption of a volcano, the Earth shadow gets much darker. For exam-ple, the Earth shadow was very dark during the eclipse of December 30, 1963, due to the explosive eruption of the Mount Agung volcano on March 17. Debris from the eruption fi lled the atmosphere and darkened the shad-ow of the Earth. During the middle portion of that total eclipse, the Moon was virtually invisible.

So what did the April 4 lunar eclipse teach me? Besides the other factors that appeared in this article, this beautiful eclipse diminished the full Moon’s light, almost to nothing not to predict, but to amaze; the world will end, neither with this eclipse nor with

the next one, but will go on so we can appreciate many more of Nature’s beautiful events.

David Levy lives in Vail with his wife Wendee who helps him run the Jar-nac Observatory located directly be-hind their home. He spends his days writing, editing, and giving speeches, but his nights staring up at the sky.

hhhhhhhhh

Teachings of an EclipseThe third in a series of four back-to-back lunar eclipses, seen once each six months, happened on Friday night, April 3rd. Like the earlier one last October, this one was also threatened by clouds. Although it was cloudy that night, the clouds them-selves were quite thin, and I had no diffi culty following the progress of this event.

Each of the 87 eclipses I have seen has something to teach. Because the Moon during this particular eclipse would barely nick the center of the Earth’s shadow, with a totality of no longer than 10 minutes, on that night I was given a lesson in how the Earth’s shadow moves across the Moon. First, the partial phase was very long indeed, lasting more than an hour and a half. As the shadow marched across the face of the Moon, its fuzzy edge really took its time. Second, as totality neared, the thin sliver of brightening began to swing across the north side of the Moon. This is an eff ect I was unfamiliar with, and it was really a treat to see.

There is one more total eclipse in this “tetrad,” as these sequences are called, and that will take place in the evening of September 27. With a longer totality, this eclipse should be a more traditional event.

Before Friday’s eclipse, one of the local stations suggested that the eclipse would herald the end of the Earth. At fi rst, I thought this was a ridiculous thing to say on a news broadcast. But it turns out that there is a theory, known by some as the

Enjoy History, Fun and Educational Activities at Colossal Cave Mountain ParkColossal Cave Mountain Park off ers incredible history and entertainment. The Cave itself is over 320- million years old with a comfortable temperature of 70 degrees year-round and presents some of the most interesting historical and educational aspects of this area of the world. In 1992, Colossal Cave was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Artifacts tell us around 900 to 1450 A.D. the Hohokam Indians used Colossal Cave for shelter, storage and as a shrine. From 1450-1880 A.D. the Sobaipuri, Apache and the Papago (now Tohono O'odham) Indians used the cave as a place to live.

In the mid to late 1800’s, the Mountain Springs Hotel served as a National Mail Stage Line stagecoach stop on what is today a part of La Posta Quemada Ranch. During this time, the cave sheltered outlaws and bandits seeking a hiding place from

the law.

The 2,400 acres known as Colossal Cave Mountain Park comprise desert, mountain and riparian habitats in a transitional Sonoran-Chihuahuan biome. It is also home to part of the Arizona Trail and La Posta Quemada Ranch off ering horseback trail rides, cowboy cookouts, and intensive educational programs for adults, school groups and children’s birthday parties.

The highlight of any visit is a half mile-long tour of the Cave taking about 45-50 minutes to complete. All tours include a well-trained guide relating the Cave's history, legends

"Colossal Cave" continued on page 10

OAC. See dealer for details. Not valid with any other off er. Expires June 30, 2015.

See dealer for details. Not valid with any other off er. Expires June 30, 2015.

Not valid with any other off er. Expires June 30, 2015.

Skyward...

with David H. Levy

thetanqueverdevoice.com May / June 2015 7

Tanque Verde Softball Ready for Postseason The Tanque Verde softball team was more than ready for the postseason. The only blemish on their record heading into the playoff s came against Payson in the championship game of the Gracie Haught Classic in March. That game was a 1-0 pitching duel with Payson winning in extra

innings.Makenna Clausen (photo by Andy

Morales)

Payson was the top-ranked team in Division III and Tanque Verde was ranked second. The Hawks knew a rematch in the state playoff s was possible only if they remained un-beaten and they took another step with a 16-8 victory over D-IV power Desert Christian near the end of the regular season.

Coincidentally, Payson's only loss came against Empire at the Wrangler Classic in early March.

Desert Christian appeared to be headed for the D-IV playoff s but they still had four games remaining on their schedule at press time.

The Eagles struggled early against Tanque Verde and fell back 10-2 after the fi rst inning but they kept battling and eventually cut the lead down to 10-5 but Tanque Verde had too many weapons.

One of those weapons is standout pitcher Kellye Springstead. Spring-stead was not in the circle against Desert Christian but she has been the ace for the Hawks in her three years with the program.

"Our season is going really, really well," said Springstead. "We are still undefeated in our regular games and I'm really happy with my pitching."

Springstead will be reunited with her sister Amanda at California Baptist this coming fall. The sisters terrorized opponents last year with Amanda batting .668 with 58 RBI, 19 doubles, six triples and four homeruns while Kellye batted .551 with 44 RBI, 20 doubles, four triples and four homer-uns.

This year, Kellye was batting .627 with 53 RBI.

"I can't wait to join her in college next year," Springstead added. "But we have unfi nished business here fi rst."

Lauren Radtke has been a leader in the slow but evident change in culture at Desert Christian. The senior has played for three coaches in her four years and she likes the stability the team has now.

"My four years have been interest-ing," she explained. "We went from freshmen with jitters to a total attitude change. I think having a coach stick with us for two years has made a diff erence because we know his style. I also like having my father be one of our assistant coaches because he never gets too busy to stay longer to help us."

Bob Vance is in his second year at Desert Christian. Vance led Oro Valley Pusch Ridge to a state championship in 2012.

Senior standout Courtney Tyra came up big for Desert Christian with a two-run blast in the sixth. Taylor Radtke and Sheylee Jones both had doubles. Lauren Radtke (8-5) and Jones (3-2) both saw pitching action.

Brianna Griffi ths led Tanque Verde by going 4-4 with two RBI. Rianna Cam-pagne (5-0) and Makenna Clausen (6-0) took the circle for Tanque Verde.

hhhhhhhhh

Tanque Verde & Sabino in Tennis Playoff s The Tanque Verde and Sabino girl's tennis teams qualifi ed for the state tournament with the Hawks taking second place in sectional standings ahead of Sabino.

Kelsey Ingerson (photo by Andy Morales)

Tanque Verde sisters Kelsey Inger-son and Hannah Ingerson made it to the quarterfi nal round of the state doubles playoff s last year where they eventually lost to the top-seeded doubles team from Miami. Kelsey competed in singles two years ago while Hannah was paired with Nina Berghausen in doubles.

Now a senior, this was the last time Hannah was able to compete with her younger sister and they came up a bit short again but made it to the third round.

Jared Isaacman is in his fi rst year coaching at Tanque Verde but he has had over 20 years of experience including the last two years coaching at Tucson High. He sees his team focused and motivated.

"A lot of the girls have known each other since they were in elementary school and they are friends," Isaac-man explained. "They communicate well and are motivated to succeed and have fun at the same time. Some of that comes from attending a small school but they are also good kids."

Junior Madison Driskill represented Tanque Verde in singles competition and she made a respectable showing in the second round. Rebecca Laurie made it to the third round and Sabi-no's Rachael Zarin made it to the fi rst round.

Sabino's double team, Janine Fer-nando and Lauren Hanson, were still competing in the quarterfi nal round at press time.

On the boy's side, Sabino's Luis Labastida was also competing in the quarterfi nal round while Tanque Verde's Kyle Ramsden made it to the fi rst round of singles competition.

hhhhhhhhh

Playing a Round at Crooked Tree Golf Course… A Great Experience for Locals and VisitorsCrooked Tree Golf Course at Arthur Pack Park is an outstanding 18-hole championship desert course. Opened for play in 1977, the par 72 layout was designed by Dave Bennett and Lee Trevino featuring beautifully designed holes with mountain and desert vistas. It off ers a complete practice facility including putting greens, chipping green and driving range. There’s also a full service restaurant, outdoor patio and banquet facilities.

The 7,000-plus yard course off ers a bit of everything from rolling greens to cacti in the rough. Often called the "best public greens in Tucson," the course also boasts three waterholes, playing into four holes. Crooked Tree provides a magnifi cent backdrop

"Crooked Tree Golf" continued on page 10

8 The Tanque Verde Voice 520-490-0962

"Letters" continued From page 4

photogrammetry, so there is always an elevation uncertainty of at least one foot. As part of the mapping they do not consider individual areas, so, for example, if your house was built on stilts ten-feet above the ground, you would still be in the fl oodway even though your house would obviously never fl ood.

There are two possible options if you want to reduce the cost of fl ood insurance for your house in the fl oodway, and both are commonly done.

One is to hire a surveyor who does fl ood elevation certifi cates. If your house fi nished fl oor is substantially above the base fl ood elevation, there can be a signifi cant reduction on the cost of the insurance. The other is to get your neighbors together and hire an hydrologist to look at detailed elevations and obtain a FEMA letter of map revision (LOMR) that will remove your particular area from the fl oodway map.

Bruce Small

hhhhhhhhh

2 Guys & A SpongeWindow 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. hhhhhhhhh

Pet SittingLicensed Veterinary Technicianloving pet sitting in Tucson for 13 years and married to a local veter-inarian. Many references available upon request. Call or text for pricing and availability! Vita 520-370-6606 hhhhhhhhh

Classifi ed Ad Rates: $30 for up to 30 words. $1 additional for each word thereafter. Bolding ($5) and borders are now available. Call for advertising deadlines. To place a classifi ed ad, send an email to: classifi eds@TheTanque-VerdeVoice.com.

Tanque Verde

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

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

PERSONAL SERVICES

SPRING WORD SEARCHFind the words associated with this time of year.

thetanqueverdevoice.com May / June 2015 9

Wine TastingWine tasting is a fun, relaxing and enjoyable recreational activity. The Tucson area and its environs are at the epicenter of Arizona’s vineyard and wine country, located just one hour south or east of metro Tucson in the Sonoita/Elgin or Willcox farming communities. Tasters can enjoy a wide range of delicious, locally-grown and produced wines that are uniquely expressive of our southern and southeastern Arizona soils and dry, arid climate. Here, our winemakers are blessed with relatively mild winters and a long growing season, which results in strong, deeply colored, richly delicious wines in many styles including red, white, rosé, blush, sparkling and fortified dessert wines.

Enjoying wine tasting requires no special training, expertise or other formalities, and the tasting rooms in our region are humble places staffed by hard working, farm country families who enjoy sharing their love of wine with customers. Everyone can quickly & effortlessly learn to enjoy wine, which really comes down to three simple elements: sight, aroma and flavor. Wine is a beautiful beverage made by fermenting grapes, and as the fruit is transformed into wine, it takes on various characteristics that make it truly extraordinary. Red wine, for example can take on a deep, ruby sparkle, or develop mild orange and red brick hues as it ages – especially when left in oak barrels, where over the time the wine soaks in and out of the oak fiber and pores and mildly takes on the whiff of the wood itself. White wine, on the other hand is prized for its crystal clarity, crisp flavor and lovely scents of flowers, citrus blossoms and tropical fruit. Winemakers can use oak to change white wine, which produces buttery richness and banana, tropical notes. Fortified wines, such as Port-style dessert wines embody deep, rich & concentrated flavors of raison, menthol and concentrated berry.

In the next issue, we will explore how red wines are made!

"Colossal Cave" continued on next page

Mark Beres is President and CEO of Flying Leap Vineyards, Inc. A native of Washington State, Mark grew up in Walla Walla, one of Washington’s most exclusive winegrowing regions - his formative years spent steeped in agriculture and ranching. Mark has extensive experience in managing grapevines throughout their life cycle, from nursery to setting of fruit to all aspects of annual vine canopy management and harvest.

hhhhhhhhh

during any season offering a rare and spectacular view of all four of Tucson’s majestic mountain ranges.

Crooked Tree has been the home of the Pima County Amateur championship for 30 years, co-hosted the Southern Arizona Open with Tucson National and was the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open qualifying course for twelve years. Home to the Arthur Pack Men's Club, members have been playing three days a week and in tournaments since the course's 1977 opening. In addition, there are two Ladies' Clubs playing one day a week and participating in tournaments.

For newcomers, private lessons are available by appointment or children can get a jumpstart on learning the game by enrolling in the summer junior clinics. Crooked Tree also proudly hosts the PGA’s First Tee program, an outstanding national youth development program primarily designed to teach/promote character and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

The Crooked Tree is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset. Rates vary throughout the year and electric and pull carts are available for rental, although they are not required. Tee times are 7 days in advance and tournaments scheduled sooner.

"Crooked Tree" continued from page 8

For more information:

Crooked Tree Golf Course at Arthur Pack Park

9101 North Thornydale, Tucson, AZ 85742

Schedule a tee time, call 520-744-3322 or visit website: www.crookedtreegc.com

Restaurant/catering services, call 520-744-3033.

hhhhhhhhh

and geology. The tour allows you to walk down and back up about six and a half stories where you are able to see beautiful cave formations like stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork and helictites. Reservations can be made for special adventures, such as Ladder, Candlelight and Wild Cave tours.

Colossal Cave is not only the largest dry cave in the United States but

also one of about 5% that are dry or dormant, meaning formations are no longer growing. Colossal Cave is one of the very few where photos are allowed.

Next door, the 137-year-old La Posta Quemada Ranch, site of an old stagecoach station, hosts the Ranch Headquarters. This houses the museums, research library, gift shop and open-air café.

The Park offers secluded campsites and hiking trails where you are able to spot many animals, such as a ringtail, coatimundi, javelina, or striped skunk.

No reservation is required for a guided cave tour, but are suggested for trail rides.

For more information on Colossal Cave Mountain Park and to make special reservations, call (520) 647-7275 or visit their website www.colossalcave.com. For more information on all Southern Arizona Attractions go to www.tucsonattractions.com.

Admission Prices: Park use fee: $5.00 per vehicle of up to six people

Cave Admission: $13.00 for adults age 13 and up, $7.50 for children age 5-12, age 4 and under free. Museums, gardens, picnicking, camping, hiking and bird-watching: free.

Trail Rides: Trail Rides fees are $30.00 for 45 minutes, $50.00 for a one-hour ride and $60.00 for a 1 1/2 –hour ride. . They also offer Sunset Rides and Dinner Rides.

Hours of Operation: Open 365 days a year. March 16–September 15: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., September 16–March 15: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

"Colossal Cave" continued from page 7

Our Family Home, LLC Assisted Living

Beautifully Renovated Ranch Home in Tanque Verde Valley5 bedroom home with 4 baths on 3.3 acres near Saguaro National Park

Native TV Family extending Our Home to Your Family for Certifi ed Care

24 Hour Quiet Environment Spacious Living Semi-Private Patios

Healthy, Delicious Meals Activities Include: Music, Physical, Mental Health

12651 E. Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85748 (520) 298-1950www.OurFamilyHomeTucson.com

All About Wine

with Mark Beres

10 The Tanque Verde Voice 520-490-0962

Traffic Enforcementby Lt. DeComis, Pima County Sherriff's Department

The Tanque Verde Valley is known for its serenity and quiet lifestyle. There are many people and organizations that volunteer their time to contribute to this way of life including active homeowner's associations, Neighborhood Watch volunteers, and conscientious neighbors to name a few. These first "lines of defense" act as a deterrent against potential trouble while reminding neighbors and friends that vigilance protects their interests and assists law enforcement. To compliment these endeavors, The Sheriff's Department regularly responds to complaints and undertakes special projects in the "Valley" to work with residents helping solve the nuisance oriented problems all neighborhoods can experience.

One recent example is the Conestoga Neighborhood. It has experienced an increase of speeding violations throughout the neighborhood. While

Hope for Adoptive Families with Troubled Childrenby Diane Mulligan

We’ve all heard the heartbreaking stories of adoptions that ended in dissolution, with the child being placed in foster care or with new adoptive parents, due to overwhelming emotional or behavioral challenges.

This sad outcome can often be avoided with residential treatment, a temporary time of structured care outside the adoptive family’s home, where children can receive services to address their mental health needs in a secure group home setting.

Studies have found the two greatest barriers to successful adoptions, as reported by adoptive parents, are lack of information about where to go for services, and the cost of services.

Children’s Help and Assistance for Residential Treatment (CHART) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 to provide education and funding for families of adopted children, who have major depressive or mood disorders.

Supported solely by grants and donations, CHART is an all-volunteer organization of dedicated professionals and parents who have extensive experience working with emotionally challenged adopted children. The majority of funds raised are directed to patient care, helping cover the high cost of treatment in residential centers.

Executive Director Mary Ann Mulligan co-founded CHART during her own family’s experience with the difficulties in finding and paying for help, “As a grandmother of an adopted child diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I know firsthand the anguish families suffer when their adopted children become mentally ill. CHART was founded to help ease this burden on families.”

Animals and Hot Cars Don’t MixWe love our pets and often want to take them with us everywhere. Living in Arizona during the summer months, doing that is many times not a good idea. Here is some information to help make the decision that is right for your pet during our extreme temperatures.

A study from San Francisco University in 2007 shows the following examples: OUTSIDE INSIDE CLOSED VEHICLE

9 am 82 degrees 109 degrees

12 pm. 101 degrees 119-127 degrees

1:30 pm. 112 degrees 124-130 degrees

The study notes that cracking the windows has little impact on the internal temperature. A separate study from Stanford University showed that even if the temperature is 72 degrees, the interior temperature can get as high as 116 degrees within an hour.

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona receives numerous calls every year, usually after outside temperatures have reached the 80 degree mark. The Pima Animal Care Center responds annually to reports and numerous citations are issued to owners.

If you do plan to take your pet(s) with you, bring a water bowl and take measures to insure they are not in the car and subject to these extreme temperatures which can permanently harm or kill them. Minimize the time they are in the car or better yet, leave them at home.

It is a crime to leave an animal in a hot car subject to injury, and any instance you witness should be reported to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (351-4900) or Pima Animal Care Center (724-5900).

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

+ + = Too Hot

this is something that virtually every neighborhood has issues with at some point, "cut-through" traffic and speeding have been particularly frustrating for Conestoga residents as of late. The main roadway through the neighborhood, Conestoga Avenue, connects two arterial streets Fort Lowell Road and Tanque Verde Road. It is conveniently located for traffic passing through between the arterial streets. Aggravating matters more were motorists attempting to avoid the road construction on Soldier Trail using Conestoga Avenue.

Resources from the Rincon Patrol District and the department's Traffic Section were deployed to promote high-profile enforcement in the Conestoga Neighborhood to include feeder streets within the neighborhood as well. Over the course of one month, the Sheriff's Department spent over 40 hours of total traffic enforcement time in the area. This effort, aimed at speed mitigation and promotion of traffic safety, culminated in 25 citations and 9 warnings for observed traffic infractions.

While this is not a significant number of violations, the impact of police presence helping residents to address neighborhood concerns greatly affected that intangible under-current of "quality of life." This stands as one of many examples where the cohesive relationship between Pima County residents and the Sheriff's Department works to keep neighborhoods safe!

hhhhhhhhh

"Colossal Cave" continued from previous page

Dr. Michele Hanna, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, assisted CHART in shaping research aimed at developing criteria for residential treatment centers to work with adopted children. This research has been shared with several major social services conferences around the world.

Recently, CHART received large donations from two companies in New York City, each specializing in women’s fashion accessories. The sale of these donated items along with several grants from the International Educational Consultants Association, money raised through Christmas plant sales supported by Mesquite Valley Growers and ongoing donations from local churches and patrons has enabled CHART to make a meaningful difference in the lives of adoptive families around the country.

You can support CHART’s mission by purchasing Christmas cactus and orchids (phaleanopsis) now through the end of November. Email Mary Ann Mulligan at maryannchart@q.com or call 520-749-2151 to place your tax deductible order.

hhhhhhhhh

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

6711 E. Colossal Cave Road, Vail, AZ 85641

Phone: (520) 647-PARK (7275)

hhhhhhhhh

thetanqueverdevoice.com May / June 2015 11

©2014 Seniors Helping Seniors. Each offi ce is independently owned and operated. All trademarks are registered trademarks of Corporate Mutual Resources Inc. Not all services are available in all areas.

For the help you want at a price you can afford® Call us today!If you are interested in becoming a service Provider we would like to hear from you too.

520-733-2497www.seniorcaretucsonaz.com

• Companionship• Transportation• Light Housekeeping• Overnight Stays (24-hour care) . . . and more!

Home Care by Seniors for SeniorsThere’s a huge difference in the kind

of home care you can receive from someone who really

understands what your life is like as a senior. Your concerns and need for independence. Someone who like you, has a little living under his or her

belt. Our caring, compassionate seniors are there to help. We offer

the services you need to stay in your own home, living independently.

We treat patients like family.We understand each patient is unique.We deliver high-quality, individualized care.

Palo Verde Behavioral Health offers:ffers:ff• Inpatient programs for adolescents and adults

• Drug and alcohol treatment

• Acute detoxification

• Treatment for co-occurring disorders

• Intensive outpatient programs for seniors and working professionals

• Specialized therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

2695 N. Craycroft RoadTucson, Arizona 85712

Restoring Lives, Renewing Hope

Free assessments, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.1-844-884-CARE (2273)