October 2, 2026

REMINDER: YOUR SUBMISSIONS ARE ENCOURAGED

Overview for this week.

1. Hayward M. Fox, Ph. D.: I'm starting this week with a new post from Dr. Fox's blog.

2. In Memoriam: Hall of Fame Arizona swimming and diving coach Frank Busch passed away suddenly on September 28th. He was a friend and will be greatly missed.

3. Arizona Wildcats: The Wildcats are celebrating Pacific Islander Heritage at their Big 12 home opener against the Cincinnati Bearcats this weekend.

4. Higher Education: I have a recommendation for students, particularly those considering a career in the performing arts, who are looking for the right university.

5. Kid's Corner: Find a Boys & Girls Club of America near you for a safe, fun, and productive space for your kids to spend time after school.

6. Nature: Giant sequoias have two redwood cousins: coast redwoods, the world's tallest trees, and the shorter dawn redwoods, once thought extinct for millions of years until rediscovered in the 1940s.

7. National Parks: Redwood National Park and the neighboring California state parks comprise 60 miles of dense redwood forests along California's northwest coast.

8. The Heavens: October skywatching tips from NASA.

9. Sharada Navaratri: The nine-day fall Hindu festival Navaratri, celebrating the divine feminine in the form of the Goddess Durga starts Sunday, October 11th.

10. Bindu's Corner: today we have a a quote from Swami Vivekananda's book Raja Yoga.

Now, to this week's Flock.

Dr. Fox has graciously sent me the latest post from his blog on the Institute for Personal and Transpersonal Knowledge website to share with the Flock. I always enjoy the little perspective tune-up I get reflecting on Dr. Fox's tableaus.

From: Institute of Personal and Transpersonal Knowledge, Written by Hayward M. Fox

I was deeply saddened to hear about Frank Busch's sudden passing at the start of this week. Through our support of the University of Arizona over the years, Michael and I were blessed to have connected with Frank, and he became a close and dear friend to our family. I know that I am not alone in mourning his loss; my sympathies go out to his family, the U of A community, and the hundreds of lives he impacted through his years of coaching and mentorship.

Frank Busch coaching at the 2008 Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship

He is a member of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Pima County Sports Hall of Fame and American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame.

“Coach Busch is a coaching icon in swimming circles, and his impact stretches throughout our sport, from the club level to the college level to the Olympics,” Arizona swimming and diving head coach Ben Loorz said. "Our program wouldn't be where it is today without the foundation he created. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”

“Coach Busch was a legend in swimming and an important part of Arizona's history,” R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois said. “He was a gentleman, a mentor and a powerful leader. His legacy is a reminder that our impact as leaders lives on through the people we invest in, encourage and believe in. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him.”

The University of Arizona Wildcats play their Big 12 home opener this Saturday night, October 3rd, as part of the annual campus-wide Family Weekend. The game's theme is Pacific Islander Heritage, honoring the Wildcats' current roster and history of recruiting players and staff with Polynesian heritage, including current star starting quarterback Noah Fifita and his freshman brother linebacker, Dash Fifita. As part of the Pacific Islander Heritage celebration, former Wildcat and NFL tight end Brandon Manumaleuna has been named honorary captain for the game. Bear Down, Cats! Keep the winning streak alive.

Wildcats Welcome Bearcats For Big 12 Home Opener

From: The University of Arizona Wildcats, By: Arizona Athletics, September 28, 2026

The Arizona Wildcats (3-1) return home to Casino Del Sol Stadium to host the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0) for the second Big 12 game of the season for both teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MST in Tucson.

Saturday's game will be televised on FOX with Jack Kizer and Mark Helfrich on the call. It will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries. 

This will be the second all-time meeting between the Wildcats and the Bearcats. Arizona won the first every game between the programs last season, 30-24, at Cincinnati.

THE JET NAMED FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Wide receiver Caleb Smith was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the first time following Arizona's road victory at Washington State. Smith, nicknamed "Jet," recorded 122 all-purpose yards and hauled in his first career touchdown catch in Arizona's 34-24 road victory over Washington State. In addition to finishing second on the team with 86 receiving yards, Smith posted a 36-yard punt return as a follow-up to his 69-yard punt return touchdown from the week prior.

POLY PIPELINE: Arizona's success has long been tied to the program’s ability to recruit the Pacific Islands. This emphasis on Polynesian culture began with legendary Arizona head coach Dick Tomey and has endured through the decades. The Wildcats Polynesian influences are still healthy and readily identifiable in 2026 — Arizona’s roster this season features 20 players and four full-time staff members with Polynesian heritage.

NOAH'S ARC: Fifth year quarterback Noah Fifita, one of just five senior/redshirt senior quarterbacks in FBS who spent their entire career at the same school, returned under center to lead the Wildcats offense one final time in 2026. Since taking over the starting quarterback role in 2023, Fifita has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest passers in program history. The California native is the program’s all-time leader in career passing yards and passing touchdowns — with only four games in the books, he stands to potentially widen the gap in both categories significantly. Fifita broke the Wildcats career passing touchdowns record with a 15-yard strike to Gio Richardson at Cincinnati on Nov. 15, 2025 and broke the program’s career passing yards record on a seven-yard throw to Isaiah Mizell on Sept. 19, 2026 vs. Northern Illinois. He has posted a record of 23-15 as the Wildcats starting quarterback and has logged 38 consecutive starts under center dating back to 2023.

If you intend to enjoy beer or wine during the pre-game tailgate, during or after the game, please keep the following in mind and drink responsibly:

• Hard alcohol is strictly prohibited at the game or during tailgating.
• It takes at least one hour to metabolize one drink
• Buzzed driving is drunk driving, so if you are going to drink, please have a designated sober driver or use a taxi, rideshare, or public transportation to get home safely after the game.

For any Flock readers who are, or whose children are, at that point in their schooling where they are starting the quest to find the right institution of higher learning. I'm a huge fan of Montclair State University, just outside New York City. Montclair is the number-one-rated public university in New Jersey and offers programs that excel in the sciences, humanities, and the arts without overly bloated tuition and boarding costs. I especially encourage students considering a career in the performing arts to consider it. They have a top-tier program, and their proximity to New York City offers excellent internship opportunities. On top of that, student productions are performed in a state-of-the-art facility, the Alexander Kasser Theater, named after my husband Michael's father.

From: Montclair State University

Academics

With more than 300 doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s programs across 15 colleges and schools, you can explore what excites you and find the path that fits. You’ll learn by doing – in labs, studios, clinics and internships – work with faculty who know your field, and graduate ready for the career you want.

Who We Are

Just 12 miles from New York City, the College of the Arts (CART) combines an exceptional arts education with unparalleled access to one of the world’s leading performing arts and creative capitals, preparing you for a future onstage, onscreen or behind the scenes. If you aspire to work under the bright lights of Broadway, perform at Carnegie Hall or be part of New York Fashion week, Montclair's programs will prepare you to succeed. 

College of the Arts »

The Alexander Kasser Theater is the University’s newest, flagship performance facility. Intimate, convenient and with excellent acoustics, Kasser is an exciting venue for both performers and audiences. In its architecture, the 53,000 square foot theater pays tribute to the Spanish mission style of the University’s historic buildings, welcoming visitors with a sweeping plaza and broad, arcaded loggia. Once inside, theater-goers enter a 4,600 square foot lobby, distinguished by an elegant staircase to the balcony. While awaiting curtain time, patrons can visit the lobby’s gallery space, enjoy exhibition displays and gather for casual conversation.

The heart of the Kasser is its intimate 500-seat auditorium, including an oversized stage, orchestra pit and state-of-the-art technical features. Equipped to exacting standards, Kasser includes a guest artist suite, green room, scenery/props construction shop, makeup room, electric shop, wardrobe room and control room. The theater is also home to a recording studio.

The Alexander Kasser Theater »

Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides a safe environment where kids can spend fun, productive time outside school hours, be kids, and develop their physical, academic, creative, and social skills in a low-pressure, support-driven setting under the supervision and guidance of trained mentors. I'm a big supporter. Use the Find a Club link below to find clubs in your area.

From: bgca.org

About Us

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a national nonprofit serving kids and teens across the United States, Native lands, and military installations through a network of more than 5,500 local Clubs. BGCA reaches more than 4 million children and youth each year, providing safe spaces, caring mentors, healthy meals and snacks, and evidence-based programs that support academic success, leadership skills, and health and wellness.

For more than a century, Boys & Girls Clubs have supported young people during critical out-of-school hours by creating environments where kids and teens can learn, grow, and build positive relationships. Through locally led Clubs and a national support system, BGCA helps ensure children and youth have access to the relationships, opportunities, and resources they need to thrive.

BGCA is widely recognized for its transparency and outcomes for kids, and consistently earns high ratings from independent nonprofit evaluators.

Find a Club »

See What Happens Inside Boys & Girls Clubs

Last week, I posted about the largest trees on the planet: the giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). This week, I'm posting about two of its cousins, one that while being less masive towers over it, the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens ) and the second, The dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) known from the fossil record to have thrived across most of the Northern Hemispher from the late Cretaceous through the Tertiary period, 50 to 100 million years ago and thought to have going extinct 5 to 20 million years ago, only to have been rediscovered in central China in the mid-20th century.

Redwood Facts

From: Humbolt, California's Redwood Coast

The coast redwood region is a narrow strip of land extending 450 miles from southern Oregon to about 150 miles south of San Francisco, with by far the greatest concentrations of redwoods occurring in Humboldt County.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park is California's largest redwood state park and includes the 10,000-acre Rockefeller Forest, the largest remaining contiguous old-growth coast redwood forest in the world.

With an average lifespan of 500-700 years, coast redwoods can live to more than 2,000 years and grow to over 360 feet in height.

Their great longevity is not why redwoods are called sequoia sempervirens, or sequoia ever-living. Rather, the scientific name refers to their ability to sprout from root stock as well as from seed.

The world's tallest tree was discovered in late 2006 in an undisclosed location in the Redwoods National and State Park in Humboldt County. It is named Hyperion and is 380 feet tall, which is nearly six stories taller than the Statue of Liberty.

Redwoods have few natural enemies. Tannic acid makes them resistant to disease and insect infestation, and their thick, fibrous bark effectively resists fire.

Goose Pens are where the base of a redwood has been hollowed out by fire, but the top of the tree is still thriving. These openings are so large that, in earlier days, settlers in the West could corral their livestock in them, thus giving the goosepens their name…

There are three members of the redwood family: Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) of the California coastal fog belt, Giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) of the Sierra Nevada, and dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) of central China.

Coast Redwood vs. Giant Sequoia Facts

Coast redwoods are located on the Pacific Coast from central California to southern Oregon, grow up to 380 feet tall, and have diameters up to 28 feet. 

Giant Sequoia are located in the Sierra Nevada from 5,000 to 8,000 feet elevation, live up to 3,200 years, can grow up to 311 feet, and have diameters up to 40 feet. 

Because of the giant trees and the alien flora, scenes for the Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi were filmed in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.

Cultivated dawn redwoods along Dawn Redwood Avenue in Takashima, Shiga, Japan.

Dawn Redwoods

From: Save the Redwoods League

Dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are the third redwood species, alongside coast redwoods and giant sequoias. Though native to Asia, they share the reddish, fibrous bark and graceful needle pattern of their California relatives.

Though smaller than both coast redwoods and giant sequoias, dawn redwoods still rank among the world’s great trees, reaching heights of more than 120 feet. Their soft, feathery foliage and leaf-dropping habit often remind visitors of another close relative native in the southeastern United States, the bald cypress.

Once thought to be extinct and known only from fossils, dawn redwoods were found alive and well in central China in the 1940s—one of the greatest botanical revelations of the 20th century. These graceful trees bridge the ancient and modern worlds, connecting living forests to deep time and reminding us that nature still has remarkable stories to tell.

The Backstory

For decades, dawn redwoods were known only from fossilized remains dating back tens of millions of years. By the early 20th century, botanists believed the species had vanished from the Earth, making it one of many plants thought lost to time.

That assumption changed dramatically in the 1940s, when an expedition sponsored by Save the Redwoods League found living dawn redwoods in a remote valley of China’s Hubei Province. This rediscovery sent shock waves through the scientific community and quickly became one of the most celebrated botanical finds of the twentieth century. A tree once known only from the fossil record was suddenly alive, growing quietly in the wild.

At the property in China where dawn redwoods were found, the landlord stands near a large tree with his children. 
Photo by Ralph W. Chaney, © President and Fellows of Harvard College/Arnold Arboretum Archives.

While the Western world was thrilled by this news, the rediscovery was not without complexity or controversy. The expeditions that brought dawn redwoods to international attention unfolded within a broader history of Western scientific exploration, plant collecting, and colonialism. Read more about that history.

Redwood National and State Parks • California forms a 60-mile-long patchwork of redwood forest in the northwest corner of California, where the tallest trees in the world rise out of the morning fog bank of cool, humid air from the Pacific Ocean.

From: National Park Service

The Amazing Diversity of Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks are home to an incredible diversity of life. The ancient coast redwood ecosystem preserved within the parks shelters some of the world’s most awe-inspiring forests. Here, banana slugs, gray whales, Douglas-firs, black bears, and sea anemones coexist with towering redwoods in a uniquely rich environment.

To protect and restore this biodiversity, park staff engage in a wide range of resource management and educational initiatives. By preserving natural processes and the region’s species and genetic diversity, future generations will continue to experience the beauty and complexity of old-growth redwood forests.

Preserve and Protect

The expansion of western settlement in the 1800s brought logging to the redwood forests. These massive trees, valued for their size and durability, were felled at an astonishing rate, providing what seemed like an endless supply of lumber. Yet, within a century, vast stretches of the old-growth forests had been reduced to a fraction of their original range. By the early 1900s, the future of the coast redwoods was in jeopardy.

Recognizing the urgent need for preservation, the Save-the-Redwoods League took action. In the 1920s, the State of California established Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks to safeguard some of the finest remaining groves of coast redwoods.

The importance of Redwood National Park was later recognized on a global scale when the United Nations designated it a World Heritage Site in 1980.

Working Together

In 1968, Congress expanded protections for the redwoods by establishing Redwood National Park adjacent to the three state parks. Then, in 1994, a landmark agreement between the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service brought all four parks under joint management to maximize resource protection.

The North Coast Connection

Redwood National and State Parks are part of California’s North Coast, a region stretching from Ukiah and Fort Bragg, California, to Josephine County, Oregon. As you travel north on Highway 101, you’ll notice a striking transition—from California oak woodlands to the misty Douglas-fir and coast redwood forests that define this lush, temperate landscape. These parks are more than just forests; they are living laboratories, cultural touchstones, and protected landscapes for generations to come.

Keep your eyes on the night sky this month to see Saturn bright over the eastern horizon, and watch dust from Halley's comet burn up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere, creating the Orionid meteor shower. The full Hunter Moon will make an appearance just before Halloween at the end of the month.

From NASA, October 1, 2026

A Meteor Shower and the Moon Near the Pleiades

See Saturn at opposition, catch the Orionid meteor shower, and watch the Moon pass close to the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters.

Skywatching Highlights

• Oct. 4: Saturn reaches opposition, making the ringed planet visible for much of the night
• Oct. 6: A thin crescent Moon appears close to bright Jupiter before sunrise
• Oct. 21–22: The Orionid meteor shower peaks; moonlight may interfere, so look before dawn after moonset
• Oct. 27–28: The Moon passes near the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters

What's Up: October 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA

Navaratri is a semiannual, nine-night, ten-day Hindu festival that corresponds with the spring and fall equinoxes: Chaitra Navaratri and Sharada Navaratri. The festivals honor the nine forms of the divine mother, the goddess Durga, and the victory of good over evil. On the eighth or ninth day, Ashtami / Kanjak (Kanya Puja) honors young girls, considered manifestations of Goddess Durga, with special prayers and treats. The tenth day, Dussehra, celebrates the victory of good over evil with public celebrations and the burning of effigies.

Sharad Navratri

From: The Art of Living

This is the most popular and significant Navratri, also called Maha Navratri. It is celebrated during ashwin masa (hindu calendar month) the beginning of winter in September or October. This Navratri is widely celebrated across India. Sharad Navratri is dedicated to nine forms of Maa Shakti - Durga, Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika, Lalita, Bhavani, and Mookambika.

Navratri also signifies slaying of demon Mahishasura by Goddess Durga and the tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami, also the day on which Sri Rama won the battle against Ravana and recovered Sita. In Southern parts of India, the festival includes worshipping of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati.

Special homas (fire ritual) are organised, abhishekas (pouring libations) are performed and pujas (worship with prayers and flower offerings to deity) are conducted during the period . People celebrate both these festivals through fasting, meditating and worshiping the nine forms of the goddess.While some people fast for all nine days, others observe the fast for the first and the last day to celebrate the onset and the end of the festival.

Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura

From: Hindu American Foundation, By: Syama ALLard, October 16, 2020

1. Navaratri celebrates the Feminine Divine

2. Some traditions use each night to honor a different form of the Goddess Durga

3. Others celebrate the holiday in three sets of three

4. The last day commemorates the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura

5. The last day also commemorates the victory of Rama over the demon Ravana

6. Navaratri emphasizes the importance of gratitude

7. Many pray to Mother Earth

8. Navaratri is popularly celebrated with a Gujarati folk dance called Garba

9. Navaratri is open to all

This quote from the first chapter of Swami Vivekananda's 1896 book, Raja Yogo demonstrates his reasoned aproach to mental and spiritual liberation.

From: Raja Yoga, Chapter One, By Swami Vivekenanda

There is no mystery in what I teach. What little I know I will tell you. So far as I can reason it out, I will do so, but as to what I don't know, I will simply tell you what the books say. It is wrong to believe blindly. You must exercise your own reason and judgement. You must practice and see 6whether these things happen or not.

These Flock regulars are always here for you:

Cita Scott for paintings, photography, and culinary art. Cita will be in and out of town all summer. Don't hesitate to give her a jingle. (520) 404-1551

Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD/LDN:

Registered and licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. Find me on my website at KimberlyGomer.com for information about nutrition coaching.

Sarah Smallhouse & Make Elections Fair ArIzona

– Sign the petition here

Sensitive & Specific: The Testing Newsletter by Mara G. Aspinall and Liz Ruark. Mara is always here to help in understanding testing knowledge and how it's being applied.

Kyria Sabin of Fletcher Pilates:

(520) 323-7070

The Fabric Jeanie!

Tap to learn more. 

(520) 245-0589

Linda Collazo, mezzo-soprano:

for piano and voice lessons

Andres Valbuena: drum selection, drum basics, and more.

Dr. Hayward M. Fox, Ph.D.

The institute of Personal andTranspersonal Knowledge

Tucson Village Farm:

Vegetaable growing in the summer heat.

The Physio ShopThe Physio Shop:

Elite physical therapy services and more.

Icebox Cryotherapy:

Icebox Tucson’s unique enhancers allow you to be your best version! 

Nathan Anderson of Catalina Acupuncture:

(520) 999-0080

Greer Interiors: Insightful, elegant spaces that complement your life. True beauty begins with alignment. 
(970) 570-3039

Tanya Joy Wellness: Look and feel your best - inside and out.

Skincarecare, Integrated Health Coaching, Energetic Clearing, and Pilates.

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our third year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

View as Webpage