March 20, 2026

REMINDER: YOUR SUBMISSIONS ARE ENCOURAGED

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Overview for this week.

1. Bindu's Corner: A morning reminder to be thankful for all of creation.

2. Weather: Hawaii has been hit by a major weather event: back-to-back low-pressure systems bringing record rainfall, flooding, and landslides.

3. Disaster Preparedness: Flooding can happen anywhere it rains. I have some simple guidelines for when you run into high water. 

4. From the Flock Archives: Because floods and landslides go hand in hand, I'm posting an article on landslide safety from the Flock Archives.

5. Museums: The National Museum of Women in the Arts is holding an event next week that is relevant to both Black History Month and Women's History Month. 

6. Flock Spotlight: Iconic folk singer Judy Collins is being inducted into the Folk American Roots Hall of Fame in Boston, MA, this coming Tuesday, before kicking off her farewell tour later in the year.

7. Around Town: Cast your vote to help Reid Park Zoo choose a name for their baby reticulated giraffe.

8. Meditation: Scientists have found evidence that regular meditation over time can alter the physical structure of the brain. 

9. Wellness: Clint Eastwood shares his tips for good health that have kept him mentally vibrant and physically active well into his 90s.

10. Hayward M. Fox, Ph.D.: Read the latest post from Dr. Fox's blog.

A Note From Beth

While Nancy Guthrie is still missing, please don't give up. Keep praying for Nancy Guthrie and her safe return to the Guthrie family.

Now, to this week's Flock.

A wise reminder from Bindu to start every day with.

Over the past week, Hawaii has been experiencing an extreme weather event: a low-pressure system known as a kona low has moved across the island chain, bringing winds and heavy rain. Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island have seen the most severe flooding. A second kona low hit the island Friday morning and is expected to bring more severe weather throughout the weekend. If you are in any part of Hawaii this weekend, stay safe and keep to high ground if possible. If you're out driving and see any flooding, don't try to drive through it; turn around and go back the way you came.

Latest Updates:

If you are in any part of Hawaii this weekend, you can monitor weather conditions and alerts at the National Weather Service website, and access recorded alert information over the phone at the following numbers: Oahu - (808) 973-4380, Maui - (866) 944+5025 & (808)944-3756, Kauai - (808) 245-6001 & (808) 245-564, the Big Island - (808)935-8555.

Residents report worst flooding in 20 years on Hawaii Island

From: The Weather Channel, By: Jonathan Belles & Caitlin Kaiser, March 15, 2026

Kona lows are storm systems that set up to the west or northwest of the islands and draw up lots of moisture from the south, creating messy and sometimes dangerous conditions. They can bring widespread heavy rain to the islands with the threat of flash flooding, as well as damaging, gusty winds.

This is a phenomenon that occurs most often in January, although it can happen anytime between October and May.

This is a reversal from typical Hawaii weather.

The trade winds across Hawaii typically blow from the northeast. That means windward areas, generally the northeast sides of the islands, typically see more showers. On the Big Island, Hilo is the best example of this. They average a whopping 120.39 inches of rain a year.

But when a Kona storm moves in, it will bring winds from the southwest or “kona” side (or southwest side) of the islands. It's these storms that soak normally drier locations in the islands, including Honolulu and the Kona coast of the Big Island. Honolulu averages only 16.41 inches of rain a year.

Right now, Hawaii is experiencing large-scale flooding. We experience flash floods in Tucson every year during the summer monsoon season, and a few years ago, the Northeast was hit by major storms and flooding across all of New England. Last summer, south-central Texas experienced a devastating flash flood when the Guadalupe River suddenly rose 26 feet after heavy rains. Pretty much anywhere it rains can experience flooding. I still feel a protective need to remind us all that being able to swim does not count, get to high ground, drive, or run for the hills. The following from the National Weather Service is a concise guide of what to do and what not to do during a flood. If you are interested, the City of Patterson, CA, has an excellent guide outlining what to do before, during, and after a flood.

During a Flood

From: National Weather Service

During a flood, water levels and the rate the water is flowing can quickly change. Remain aware and monitor local radio and television outlets. Avoid flood waters at all costs and evacuate immediately when water starts to rise. Don't wait until it's too late!

• Stay Informed: Listen to radio and television, including NOAA Weather Radio if possible, check the Internet and social media for information and updates.
• Get to Higher Ground: If you live in a flood prone area or are camping in a low lying area, get to higher ground immediately.
• Obey Evacuation Orders: If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Lock your home when you leave. If you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances.
• Practice Electrical Safety: Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged. If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping noises--get out! Stay out of water that may have electricity in it!
• Avoid Flood Waters: Don't walk through flood waters. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to knock you off your feet. If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible. Do NOT drive into flooded roadways or around a barricade; Turn Around, Don't Drown! Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical wires, chemicals, etc. A vehicle caught in swiftly moving water can be swept away in seconds 12 inches of water can float a car or small SUV, 18 inches of water can carry away large vehicles.

Rockslide on California State Route 70 in the Feather River Canyon, Butte/Plumas county line, northern California. This slide was triggered on October 24, 2021 by a Category 5 atmospheric river, which released more than ten inches of rain in the area over a 48-hour period. Approximately seven thousand cubic yards of rock and debris buried and closed the highway.

Landslides commonly accompany flooding, so I decided to repost this article on Landslide safety from September 8, 2023, out of the Flock Archives.

Landslides have occurred in almost every state and can cause significant damage.

From: American Red Cross

Landslides have occurred in almost every state and can cause significant damage. The term landslide describes downhill earth movements that can move slowly and cause damage gradually, or move rapidly, destroying property and taking lives suddenly and unexpectedly. Most landslides are caused by natural forces or events, such as heavy rain and snowmelt, shaking due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and gravity. Landslides are typically associated with periods of heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt and tend to worsen the effects of flooding. Areas burned by forest and brush fires are also particularly susceptible to landslides.

Landslides generally happen in areas where they have occurred in the past. Learn about your area’s landslide risk. Landslides can also be referred to as mudslides, debris flows, mudflows or debris avalanches.

Prepare in Advance

Be sure you're Red Cross Read. That means:

• Assembling an emergency preparedness kit.
• Creating a household evacuation plan that includes your pets.
• Staying informed about your community’s risk and response plans.
• Ensuring each family member knows how to get back in touch if you are separated during an emergency.
• Download the Emergency App for iPhone or for Android

What should I do if I live in an area at risk from landslides or mudslides?

• Learn about local emergency response and evacuation plans.
• Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a landslide occurs.
• Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family and your business.
• Assemble and maintain an emergency preparedness kit.
• Become familiar with the land around where you live and work so that you understand your risk in different situations.
• Watch the patterns of storm water drainage on slopes near your home, especially where runoff water converges.
• Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family and your business.
• Assemble and maintain an emergency preparedness kit.

Gatlinburg Tennessee Rockslide Breaks Through Safety Netting, Crashing onto Parking Lot, September 1, 2023.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., is holding a special event that is relavent both Black History Month (February) and Women's History Month (March) in partnership with Well-Read Black Girl next Friday, March 27th. The day-long event will include talks, book signings, and panel discussions bringing together writers, artists, and cultural leaders.

Friday, March 27, 2026

9 am to 5 pm

From: National Museum of Women in the Arts

Join NMWA and Well-Read Black Girl for a day-long festival that centers women’s creative practices as vital tools for shaping cultural memory and envisioning more just futures.

About the Event

Join us for The Living Archive: Art, Memory, and Civic Imagination, a day-long festival that centers women’s creative practices as vital tools for shaping cultural memory and envisioning more just futures.

Across three panels, explore how Black women document their inner lives, preserve collective memory, and engage history as an act of authorship, stewardship, and cultural responsibility. Together, these conversations illuminate the power of women artists and cultural leaders to challenge dominant narratives, foster community, and inspire social change.

Visit the Well-Read Black Girl Festival page to see the full event schedule.

About Well-Read Black Girl

This program is presented in partnership with Well-Read Black Girl, a global literary community dedicated to Black women. Well-Read Black Girl aims to introduce a cohort of diverse writers to future generations and to address inequalities and improve communities through reading and reflecting on the works of Black women.

Throughout this month, as my own observance of Women's History Month, I've been featuring one exceptional woman each week in the Flock Spotlight. This week, I'm featuring the legendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins, who will be inducted into the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March, 24. This past Monday, she announced her intention to retire in 2027 after completing her “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes” Farewell Tour, a reference to the Crosby, Stills & Nash song, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.

From: Boston Herald, By Jed Gottlieb, March 16, 2026

Leonard Cohen had a question for Judy Collins. An unknown writer at the time, Cohen was trying his hand at songwriting. In 1966, in Collins’ living room, he played “Suzanne” for his friend and asked, “Is this a song?”

“I said, ‘Yes, this is a song and I’m recording it tomorrow,’ which I did,” Collins told the Boston Herald. “The song took my breath away.”

“When I hear a song I either fall in love with it immediately or I never want to hear it again,” Collins added with a laugh. “And I have a good ear.”

The legend has a great ear, and voice, and songwriting chops.

On March 24, her voice and songs will be recognized — along with Cohen, Aretha Franklin, Jackson Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Neil Young, and others — at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Celebration at the Boch Center Wang Theatre.

Collins is an excellent choice for the honor. Her career is practically an encyclopedia of the folk revolution from Woody Guthrie through Cohen, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Anna McGarrigle. A classical piano prodigy, Collins took a hard turn toward folk when she clicked on the radio one day…

But it took a while for her to start writing her own songs. Oddly enough, the world can thank Collins for launching Cohen’s career and Cohen for getting Collins writing.

Judy Collins & Leonard Cohen - "Suzanne" 1976

From: Classic Rock Culture, By: Allison Rapp, March 16, 2026

Judy Collins has announced a sprawling farewell tour that will begin this summer.

Billed as the "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes" Tour, Collins' will first play a few "warmup" shows in June of this year, followed by the official start of the tour on July 4 at the "America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together" celebration in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Throughout the tour, Collins, 86, will be joined by special guests Richard Thompson, the High Kings, Bruce Cockburn, Elles Bailey, Livingston Taylor and more that will be announced at a later date.

According to a press release, Collins will then follow up the main tour with the "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes – Celebration Encore," which is described as "a series of encore performances for devoted fans and new audiences alike"

Reid Park Zoo is asking for your help choosing the name for the baby reticulated giraffe born last month. You can vote for your choice in an online poll on the zoo's website.

From: Reid Park Zoo, March 12, 2026

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!"

Help Name the Giraffe Calf

A joint Harvard, Yale, and MIT study showed that regular meditation over time can thicken sections of the human cortex that deal with attention and sensory processing, which normally thin with aging.

From: Boing Boing.net, By: Ellsworth Toohey, March 16, 2026

As you age, your cortex thins. It's one of the more reliable things brains do. But MRI scans of people who practice Buddhist insight meditation showed that one brain region thinned more slowly than expected with age — suggesting that sitting still and paying attention to your breathing might physically push back against the clock, according to the Harvard Gazette.

Sara Lazar, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, led a team of researchers from Harvard, Yale, and MIT who compared brain scans from 20 people with extensive meditation experience with those from 15 non-meditators. The meditators practiced 40 minutes a day on average, with experience ranging from one year to decades. Their cortexes were measurably thicker — by 4 to 8 thousandths of an inch — in regions responsible for attention and sensory processing…

Thickness increases correlated with how long each person had been meditating. "Our data suggest that meditation practice can promote cortical plasticity in adults in areas important for cognitive and emotional processing and well-being," Lazar said.

Clint Eastwood's tips for longevity and good health are very similar to the lifestyle practices of residents of Blue Zones, geographic areas around the world with lower-than-average rates of chronic disease and higher-than-average life expectancy, which I have posted about in a past issue of the Flock.

From: Jackson Health System

At 95 years old, legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood continues to live an active, creative life. Whether he’s behind the camera or enjoying time outdoors, Eastwood’s approach to aging has inspired many to think about how they care for their bodies and minds.

While everyone’s health journey is different, there are simple habits that can support long term well-being.

Eastwood’s lifestyle offers a great reminder that healthy aging often starts with the small choices we make.

Key Takeaways Inspired by Clint Eastwood’s Approach to Longevity

1. Keep Moving

Eastwood stays physically active and includes strength training, walking, and stretching in his routine. Regular movement can help maintain muscle, support balance, and boost energy.

Even light daily activity such as walking, swimming, or at-home workouts may support physical and mental health over time.

2. Eat Smart

He’s known to stick to a clean diet, focusing on lean proteins, vegetables, and limiting sugar and processed foods. A balanced diet can help with energy levels, weight control, and heart health.

3. Stay Mentally Engaged

Eastwood continues to work on film projects, read, and stay creatively involved. Keeping the mind sharp is just as important as physical health.

4. Get Regular Check-ups

While Eastwood keeps his personal health details private, regular visits to a doctor are one of the most effective ways to stay on top of your health. Screenings and check-ups can help catch potential issues early.

5. Keep Stress in Check

Eastwood is often described as calm and focused. Managing stress can support mental clarity, sleep, and heart health. Spending time outdoors, meditating, or making time for hobbies are just a few ways to help manage stress.

Below is more wisdom from Dr. Fox's blog. After you've processed that, I encourage you to visit Dr. Fox's website at the Institute of Personal and Transpersonal Knowledge and try out some of his guided meditations.

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

Spring wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert

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

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

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