
A Cut Above the Rest: Fall gem show glistening with opportunities
By Laura Latzko Tucson has become a destination for gems, fossils and minerals because of its annual Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. Leading up to the winter shows, companies hold events in the fall for designers, gallery owners, hobbyists and consumers who want to shop early for beads, gems, stones, minerals and artisan items. […]

Reforming the Body: Anyone can open the door to fitness with Pilates
By Karen Schaffner Susan Swan wants to help everyone live a better life. Age, size, condition and/or injuries do not matter — everyone can benefit from Pilates. In fact, it is her mission to help others become balanced, and more mobile and confident in how to use their bodies. “When we’re older and we’ve had […]

All in the Family: Couple performs, travels together for ‘Aladdin’
By Laura Latzko As part of the national tour of “Disney’s Aladdin,” husband and wife Colt Prattes and Angelina Mullins travel North America together with their lab mix, Mya, by their side. The trio will come to town as part of Broadway in Tucson series from Tuesday, September 5, to Sunday, September 10. Many fans […]

From Alaska to Tucson: Live entertainment lovers drawn to Gaslight
By Jack Miessner On any given night, visitors of the Gaslight Music Hall or Gaslight Theatre might spot owner Tony Terry pulling a pizza out of the oven, or even sweeping the breezeway. “All of this is really his brainchild,” says Heather Stricker, general manager of the theater and a member of the opening main […]

Fox Hunt: Bonnie Schock is the brains behind the theater
By Karen Schaffner Putting together the new fall and spring lineup for the Fox Tucson Theatre is no easy task. For programmer and Executive Director Bonnie Schock, the task is like putting together a giant puzzle — except the pieces are always in motion. “There are so many different aspects of how the puzzle comes […]

Elder Rehab: UA student interns lead dementia program
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Dr. Sharon Arkin wants what is best for UA students and people who have mild to moderate dementia. She helms the Elder Rehab program at Desert Sports and Fitness, a private gym that specializes in programs for seniors. Elder Rehab matches its memory-challenged participants with trained UA student interns and volunteers. The […]

Ask Sheri: Your senior family adviser
By Sheri Simpson My name is Sheri Simpson. My experience comes from education and talking and guiding hundreds of thousands of families and/or their adult children through the senior living industry options. We talk about senior living communities, residential care homes, home health, hospice, in-home care, or how to be successful staying at home. I […]

Leibo At Large: Scalding heat is the price Arizonans must pay
By David Leibowitz Exactly 29 Julys ago, I landed in Phoenix for the first time, to interview for a columnist gig at this very newspaper. To this day, I can recall the airport’s automatic doors whizzing open and being hit head on by a blast of hot air not unlike standing in front […]

All the Hits: Chicago invites fans to ‘stay the night’
By Laura Latzko For Chicago trumpet and flugelhorn player Lee Loughnane, Arizona shows are like homecoming gigs. Formed in Chicago in 1967, the iconic band will return to the Grand Canyon State to perform in Tucson on August 15, Prescott Valley on August 16 and Phoenix on August 18. The band has been on the […]

Easing Loneliness: Seniors find companionship at Optum centers
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski When Sheila Asroff lost her husband of 51 years as well as her brother, she found herself isolated, depressed and living alone. She found solace in the Optum Community Center in her Chandler neighborhood. There, she enjoys nutrition and stress management, line dancing and Zumba classes. Spending up to six hours a […]