April 26, 2024

Overview for this week.

1. We are about at the mid-point of Passover, so I have included some articles on the traditions and history around this festival. I also want to wish everyone Chag Pesach!

2. I have a few additions, both here and abroad, to our summer camp resources from last week. A special apology to the Tucson Community Tnnis Program for missing their free summer camp. The TCTP is an organization I wholeheartedly support.

3. Another organization that has my full endorsement is the Gooter-Jensen Foundation. I was happy to attend their annual Grand Slam tennis fundraiser at the Westin La Paloma this past Sunday. The foundation funds research to combat sudden cardiac death and distributes lifesaving automated external defibrillators where they are most needed.

4. At the Gooter-Jensen Grand Slam silent auction I had the winning bid for bronze sculpture, "The Listener" by sculptor Curt Brill. I am featuring Curt Brill in the Artist's Corner this week.

5. One of our biggest Fans, Ivan Michael Kasser suggests you check out the winter 2023-2024 issue of American Archeology magazine. It includes an event listing for an exhibit at the Tucson Museum of Art's Kasser Wing focusing on Maya art and lore.

6. I'm putting my Local Spotlight on Dr. Julie Sasse.Last week, the Tucson Museum of Art threw a Julie Sasse Day retirement party, honoring her years as Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Julie is a prolific author, and I'm sure we'll be hearing more from her.

7. It's spring summit season in the Himalayas, so we're going back to Everest in Reaching High.

8. I have some tips on which color flowers to plant this spring to attract butterflies to your garden.

9. In Wellness we look at the health benefits of Jackfruit, an increasingly popular meat substitute.

10. Fern, our favorite mouser, is on patrol in the Pet's Corner.

Now, to this week's Flock.

Tap to view past issues.

Passover this year runs from Aprill 22nd through next Tuesday, April 30th, so we are just about at the mid-point of the holiday right now. I recently received a Joyous Passover email from a friend of mine, Fran Katz, Chief Development Officer at the Tucson JCC. I felt Fran expressed the meaning of this holiday so well, that I decided to share her words here:

Passover is a time of reflection, remembrance, and renewal. It is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the human journey. As we gather around the Seder table with family and friends, we reminded of the importance of community and the power of coming together to share in traditions passed down. This year may we hold in our hearts those who lost their lives and those who are still in captivity from the horrendous acts of October 7th. 

In the spirit of this holiday, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. May this Passover be filled with joy, peace, and the blessings of freedom. May it bring you closer to those you cherish and inspire you with hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Chag Sameach Pesach and Am Yisrael Chai!

From: My Jewish Learning

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel and commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. Its name comes from the miracle in which God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague. Centered on the family or communal celebration of the seder (ritual meal), Passover is one of the most beloved of all Jewish holidays.

Passover History

The origins of Passover lie in pre-Israelite spring celebrations of the first grain harvest and the births of the first lambs of the season. In the Jewish context, it celebrates God’s great redemptive act at the time of the Exodus, leading the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt to freedom. Together with Shavuot (the Festival of Weeks) and Sukkot (The Festival of Booths), Passover is one of the three ancient Israelite pilgrimage festivals, during which adult males journeyed to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and bask in the divine presence. Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the focus of Passover shifted to the ritual meal, called the seder, which normally takes place at home.

How to Set the Seder Plate for Passover

From: Religion Unplugged, By:Clemente Lisi, April 1, 2024

Easter and Passover sometimes overlap because they are both based on lunar calendars — albeit different ones.

Since 2000, the two festivities have overlapped every year but four — in 2005, 2008, 2016 and this spring.

Easter is calculated based on the Christian liturgical calendar tied to the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Passover, on the other hand, is determined by the Jewish calendar, which is also lunar-based.

That’s where the similarities end.

How Did Passover and Easter Get Separated?

From: History.com, By: Christopher Klein, April 16, 2024

What Are the 10 Plagues of Egypt?

The Ten Plagues of Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus include, in order of their unleashing: 1. water turning to blood 2. frogs 3. lice 4. flies 5. livestock pestilence 6. boils 7. hail 8. locusts 9. darkness and 10. the killing of firstborn children.

The biblical story of the 10 Plagues of Egypt is central to the origin of the Passover holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. As described in the Book of Exodus, the plagues were a succession of apocalyptic calamities exacted upon ancient Egypt as divine punishments for an unnamed pharaoh’s refusal to free the Israelites from captivity.

While little archaeological and historical evidence exists to corroborate the biblical accounts of the plagues, the existence of Moses or the mass exodus of the Israelites, scientists theorize that a chain reaction of natural phenomena could explain the seemingly supernatural catastrophes portrayed in the Bible.

“From an historical standpoint, the first nine plagues resemble natural events well known in the Middle East, save for their patterns and rapid succession,” reported a 2008 study in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.

Here are some more summer camp resources that did not make it into last week’s special summer camp issue. We have a couple of additional summer programs here in Tucson, as well as another international option.

I am a big fan and supporter of the Tucson Community Tennis Program and honestly, I'm a little embarrassed that I missed this camp last week. Throughout the year, the TCTP does an excellent job of working with public schools to provide instruction and coaching to Tucson's future tennis stars.

From: Tucson Community Tennis Program

TCTP offers a free four-week morning camp at Pueblo High School for all Tucson area students. From beginners to advanced players participants take their game to the next level under the leadership of our excellent coaches.

The Davis Bilingual Elementary School in Tucson hosts a Summer Mariachi Camp in conjunction with the school’s Las Aquilitas de Davis performing Mariachi group. The summer camp is not restricted to Davis Elementary students.

From: Davis Bilingual Elementary School

Davis hosts a 5 week Mariachi camp that usually begins one week after school ends in late May. It generally runs from 12:30-4:30, Monday through Friday.

Students will be able to take classes for violin, trumpet, guitar, guitarrón, vihuela and harp. Students also practice voice and learn the lyrics to new songs. We have student volunteers as well as teachers who work with children at their appropriate level. We often have around 150 students who attend our camp. Information will be available beginning in late April.

Students from outside of Davis are welcome to attend. Adults are also welcome to attend. We have some parents who like to come and learn an instrument with their child or children. This is a fun and memorable summer experience and helps children develop both their social and musical skills. Students perform for their parents twice a week during camp (jam sessions). This is a great opportunity to see how quickly children advance!

Here's a report that local news channel KGUN 9 produced on last year's mariachi camp and the one family's dedication to it.

From: KGUN 9 News, By: Andrew Christiansen, July 2, 2023

If you walked into Davis Bilingual Elementary Magnet School this past month, you would hear music coming from the halls and inside the classrooms.

Some students like JJ Valenzuela, 11, look forward to mariachi camp all year.

He’s been going to the camp for about 6 years and is about to be in the sixth grade. He sings and also plays five instruments including the guitar, vihuela, harp, trumpet, and guitarron.

“It kind of just depends on the song, but I like really like doing both,” he said.

What better location is there for teens to attend a full immersion French language summer camp than in the Principality of Monaco. Student develop a command of the French language while simultaneously enjoyibg all of the cultural an outdoor activities the French Riviera has to offer.

From Nomad Surfers

The programme favours intercultural exchanges between young people. A global educational concept to learn French in an international class at your level, choose sports or cultural activities in the afternoons and evening entertainments to have new experiences and form new friendships and share your room with young people from other countries, respecting safety regulations and the rules of living amongst others.

The international meeting contributes to opening the minds of teenagers and preparing them for a global future. All the are compulsory, as is Saturday’s weekly excursion. However, all evening and afternoon activities are optional in order for students to benefit from their independence. Nevertheless, our team leaders’ role is to encourage the students to take part in a maximum number of activities.

Nomad Surfers: Monaco Summer Camp in France

The Gooter-Jensen Grand Slam was held last Sunday, April 21st at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson. The Gooter- Jensen Foundation was founded to honor the memory of Steven M. Gooter who passed away in 2005 after suffering sudden cardiac death. Each year the grand Slam features exhibition matches with tennis pros and celebrities, live music, a dinner and a silent auction. I was at the Grand Slam, and it was a wonderful event. The Tennis and pickleball exhibits were a blast, the dinner was delicious, and I even had a winning bid at the silent auction.

From: Gooter-Jensen Foundation

Working to Defeat Sudden Cardiac Death

The Grand Slam event supports the many lifesaving accomplishments of the Gootter-Jensen Foundation. Over the past 18 years, the Foundation has raised millions of dollars for ongoing sudden cardiac death research and has distributed over 450 AEDs to schools, sports facilities, public places, nonprofits, and in law enforcement vehicles throughout Southern Arizona.

Each year, we celebrate the life that was lost and the life that was saved, by honoring Steven M. Gootter and Murphy Jensen with great food, live music, and live and silent auctions.

"The Listener" Bronze sculpture by Curt Brill

Height: 19.5 in.

As I mentioned above, I had a winning bid at the Gooter-Jensen Grand Slam silent auction. I bid on and won the sculpture, "The Listener" by the American sculptor Curt Brill, who I am featuring in the Artist's Corner this week.

Curt Brill

From: curtbrill.com

Born in 1952 in the Bronx, New York, Curt began his serious pursuit of an art career while attending Cornell University. It began with exhibitions at Cornell that showcased his drawings, ceramic work and silk screening. Even though drawing has been his first and enduring love, professionally he has been most noted for his 3 dimensional work. His ceramic pieces have been widely collected across the United States since the mid 1970’s. He began his career in bronze in 1980, with pieces that were a direct outgrowth of his history with clay. The work has always been sensual, a direct response to the feel of the materials he has chosen to use. Being a people watcher with a keen eye by nature, and having a potent sense of humor and an easy demeanor, it is easy to see how his personal style has evolved. His work has now been met with wide appeal by individual collectors within the United States, Europe and Japan.

Tucson Museum of Art

From: American Archaeology Magazine

The new “Popol Vuh and the Maya Art of Storytelling” exhibit in TMA’s Kasser Wing focuses on art and lore related to the sacred story known as the Popol Vuh, a narrative of the K’iche Maya vision of the origins of the world and the heroic twin brothers who descended to the underworld to conquer death. Ancient Maya vessels from the museum’s permanent collection reveal Maya artists’ ideas surrounding death and the afterlife, creatures of the night, and courtly culture—themes that resonate with the Popol Vuh. Putting the Popol Vuh’s language in conversation with ancient art and much more recent works, the exhibition celebrates the tradition and resonances of Maya narratives from antiquity until today.

From: Tucson Museum of Art

This exhibition takes Mérida’s Popol Vuh series as a springboard for thinking about traditions of Maya storytelling and image-making from antiquity to today. Ancient Maya vessels from the museum’s permanent collection reveal artists’ ideas surrounding death and the afterlife, creatures of the night, and courtly culture, themes that resonate with the Popol Vuh. Mérida’s series shows how a canonical text from the Americas was reinterpreted in the twentieth century. Furthering the dialogue, work by contemporary artist Justin Favela reimagines Mérida’s work as a large mural made from cut paper, creating new relationships between the artwork and audiences. Putting the Popol Vuh’s language in conversation with ancient art and much more recent works, Popol Vuh and the Art of Maya Storytelling celebrates the tradition and resonances of Maya narratives from antiquity until today

Last Thursday, the Tucson Museum of art threw a special party for Dr. Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, to honor her years of dedication and service to the museum. I want to send a shout-out to Julie and let her know just how impressed I have always been by her. I know we'll be hearing more from Julie in the future.

From: Tucson Museum of Art

Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) announces the retirement of Dr. Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Sasse has been in role at the museum since 2000 and chief curator since 2006. She plans to pursue independent curatorial projects and writing and to return to her artistic practice. During Sasse’s tenure at TMA, she organized more than 100 diverse and thought-provoking exhibitions, authored more than 40 catalogues, books, and journal articles, and was instrumental in bringing in hundreds of works of art into the permanent collection, greatly enhancing the quality and diversity of its holdings.

The spring summit season is underway on Mt. Everest, but there have been significant delays due to safety concerns on the north and south side routes.

From: Deutsche Welle, By: Stefan Nestler, April 25, 2024

There is a reason mountaineers on Everest call the passage through the Khumbu Icefall from the western slope the "ballroom of death." A mighty hanging glacier hangs like a sword of Damocles, threatening the route and making for tricky climbing.

Acidents there are frequent. Ten years ago, on 18 April 2014, an ice avalanche broke loose there. Sixteen Nepalese mountaineers, who were carrying equipment for commercial expeditions to the high camps, died in the accident.

Since then, the "Icefall Doctors" — a group of Sherpas who specialize in icefall — have been trying to place the route to Everest's summit as far away from the western slope as possible. This spring, however, climate change forced them back into the "ballroom of death."

Everest and Lhotse from the Valley of Silence.

The route to Camp 2 on Everest’s Nepalese side has finally opened and is about to get busy. Over the weekend, sherpas quickly pitched Camps 1 and 2, just in time for the first climbers on rotation.

The Ice Doctors have briefed expeditions about certain areas in the Khumbu Icefall that require special care, but teams report that conditions are good enough.

“Safe but long, with lots of zigzagging,” Lakpa Sherpa of 8K told ExplorersWeb, based on what sherpas in Camp 1 told him.

Climbing The Seven Summits team members are already in Camp 1. More of them will follow throughout the week.

Climbers not affected by delay

The delay in opening the Icefall has stressed the sherpa teams. Their clients, however, are okay with the timing. Many have simply delayed their arrival in Base Camp. Instead of acclimatizing through several rotations, more commercial climbers opt for acclimatizing on 6,000m peaks or even at home, in hypoxic tents. This way, they avoid going through the Khumbu Icefall several times. They also reduce their overall stay in Base Camp. In spite of all its comforts, Everest Base Camp is cold and high enough to feel less than ideal.

Shisha Pangma, on the left, as seen during a mountain flight over Langtang, Nepal

From: Explorers Web, By: Angela Benavides, April 23, 2024

Finally, there’s news from China, and it’s not good: Shisha Pangma will not open to climbers this spring, and the North Side of Everest will only open for foreigners on May 7. Climbers are now re-scheduling or casting about for alternatives. For some, that’s easier than others.

No Shisha Pangma

The nearly 50 clients and staff aiming for Shisha Pangma this season will have to look for something else. The distant view they caught while trekking in Langtang last week is the closest they’ll get to the mountain.

“After 17 days of waiting for confirmation to climb Shisha Pangma, we’ve been informed that climbing will not be permitted in the region,” Moeses Fiamoncini of Brazil wrote.

Dario Libano points to Shisha Pangma, 34km away, while hiking recently in Langtang, Nepal.

Now the team members will have to decide what to do. Fiamoncini, who intended to climb Shisha Pangma guiding Brazilian-Italian Dario Libano, told ExplorersWeb he’ll make up his mind in the next few hours. Fiamoncini still has several Nepalese 8,000’ers left to climb. However, others on the team had only Shisha Pangma left to finish their 14×8,000m list.

Climbers collect garbage from Mount Everest in 2020. In recent years, officials have implemented new regulations to help reduce trash on the mountain.

From: Smithsonian Magazine, By: Sarah Kuta, April 16, 2024

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

From: A-Z Animals, By: Alanna Davis, April 11, 2024

Butterflies are almost universally adored, and many gardeners go to great lengths to attract them to their homes. While some people choose to cultivate their host plants, others may set out fruit for them to feed on. What you may not have known is that butterflies are attracted to certain colors, and gardeners can use this information to their advantage and transform their yard into a butterfly paradise.

However, one important thing to understand is that butterfly vision is vastly different from that of humans. According to a journal authored by Kentaro Arikawa, “Butterflies use color vision when searching for flowers. Unlike the trichromatic retinas of humans (blue, green, and red cones; plus rods) and honeybees (ultraviolet, blue, and green photoreceptors), butterfly retinas typically have six or more photoreceptor classes with distinct spectral sensitivities.” While butterflies are able to see many of the same colors we can as humans, they are also capable of detecting ultraviolet light in addition. Let’s explore six colors that butterflies can’t resist that will be sure to attract these creatures to your yard.

The 6 colors:

• Purple
• Pink
• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• White

Jackfruit is becoming more and more common as a meat substitute in the U.S., particularly as an alternative for BBQ.

From: WebMD, By: Stephanie Booth & Deanna Altomara.

What is a Jackfruit?

The largest tree fruit in the world, jackfruit -- sometimes called "jak fruit" or "jak" -- can be up to 3 feet long and 20 inches wide. Just one fruit can weigh as much as 110 pounds. But you're not alone if you haven't heard of it.

While jackfruit first appeared in the rain forests of Southeast Asia, farmers now grow it in many parts of the world, including Australia, Africa, and Brazil. Only in recent years has jackfruit started to become well known in the U.S. 

Jackfruit is in the same family as figs and mulberries. It's skin is green or yellow and spiky, and each of its pods has a seed that is about an inch long.

What does jackfruit taste like?

It depends on how ripe it is. Unripe jackfruit has a mild flavor. You can use it as a meat substitute, like tofu or tempeh. Its stringy texture means that it’s great for vegetarian barbecue. 

Meanwhile, ripe jackfruit is sweet and tropical. It tastes like a mix of banana, mango, and pineapple. The texture is dense and firm like pineapple. You can eat it by itself or add it to smoothies

From Kathy's Vegan Kitchen, By: Kathy Carmichael, April 23, 2024

Are you craving BBQ? This vegan BBQ jackfruit recipe combines sweet and spicy BBQ with sautéed onions and garlic for a tasty BBQ jackfruit sandwich, salad topping, or entree right out of a bowl. Top with pineapple coleslaw, and you'll fall in love.

When I first became vegan, I was not fond of jackfruit. Similar to tofu, at the time, it seemed slimy and disgusting. Of course, it had nothing to do with the jackfruit or the tofu; it was me. I didn't know how to cook jackfruit or tofu, for that matter. But, as time progressed I learned, I am now obsessed with both. And with all obsessions comes insanely good food like this vegan BBQ jackfruit recipe.

Our favorite mouser Fern on patrol.

These Flock regulars are always here for you:

• Dr. Hayward M. Fox, Ph. D. and The Institute of Personal and Transpersonal Knowledge
• Kimberly Gomer of Body Beautiful Miami, our body shaper and fee-based nutritionist. 
• Kyria Sabin of Body Works Fletcher Pilates, she's the best.
• Where in the World is Zoe
• Sarah Smallhouse & Make Elections Fair Arizona - Sign the petition here!
• The Fabric Jeanie! Tap to learn more.
• Cita Scott for paintings, photography, and culinary art.
• Sensitive & Specific: The Testing Newsletter by Mara G. Aspinall and Liz Ruark.

In coming weeks: we'll be sharing more investigative articles from our roving reporter William George, original writing from Flock favorite Dino DeConcini, and an update on the Marolt brothers' coming expedition to Argentina.

photo: Cita Scott

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 second 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