The Jim Turner Show

This week Fred and Jeff welcome Jim Turner to the big show!  Jim is a retired Arizona Historical Society historian and former University of Arizona adjunct professor.  Jim believes folktales and anecdotes make history fun ~ we do too!!!  There are many stories to hear, including how Tucson became known as the Old Pueblo!!!

 

The Music on the Mountain Show

This week Fred, Jeff and special guest host and photographer Alec Ronstadt visit with Bonnie Vining, founder of the Live Acoustic Venue Association (LAVA), which is a non-profit organization connecting local musicians with appreciative audiences in and around Tucson.  LAVA produces the “Music on the Mountain” concert series in Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon every Sunday afternoon from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.  This wonderful concert series takes place under a big tent and features many of Tucson’s top bands.

Also joining the program were Sabra Faulk and Louie Levinson from the Cochise County All Stars, who are performing on the mountain this Sunday.  They talked about the program and we enjoyed some of their wonderful music!!!

 

The Desert Harvesters Show

Ah!  The abundance of our Sonoran Desert!!!  This week Fred and Jeff welcome Brad Lancaster and Amy Valdes Schwemm to the Big Show.  Brad is the Co-founder of Desert Harvesters.  Amy spearheaded the creation of the cookbook, Eat Mesquite!.  She also owns and operates Mano y Metate.  Desert Harvesters is a non-profit, volunteer-run, grassroots effort striving to promote, celebrate, and enhance local food security and production by encouraging the planting of indigenous, food-bearing shade trees and water-harvesting earthworks.

Also joining the program ~ friend-of-the-show, Charlie Spillar.  The Cactus Drive-In Theater project has a big fund raiser this Saturday and he provides an update on what’s been going on with the project!!!

 

The Pot Bellied Pig Show

And we’re not talking about Fred and Jeff!!!  This week Fred and Jeff welcome Mary Schanz to the Big Show.  Mary is the President and Co-founder of the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary in Marana, Arizona.  The Sanctuary is home to over 600 pot bellied pigs and is dedicated to eliminating the suffering of pot bellied pigs in Arizona and surrounding states by promoting spaying and neutering, assisting owners and other sanctuaries, and providing a permanent home in a safe, nurturing environment for those that are abandoned, abused, neglected, or unwanted.

The boys also had a chat with the lovely ladies from Tucson Roller Derby!  They spoke about the Stars & Stripes Expo Bout coming up this Saturday, July 9th, at the new home of TRD ~ the Bookman’s Event Center (5120 S. Julian Dr.)!!!

And if that wasn’t enough…the Night-Blooming Cereus is about to bloom!!!  This only happens once a year and you can check it at at Tohono Chul Park or the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

 

The Downtown Tucson Partnership Show

This week Fred and Jeff spoke with Michael Keith, CEO of the Downtown Tucson Partnership.  The Downtown Tucson Partnership, Inc. is a non-profit responsible for promoting and improving our fantastic Downtown.  Michael discusses the past, present and future of Downtown Tucson as some tasty cigars are consumed at The Tinder Box.

 

The Wild Cat Show

This week Fred and Jeff invited Lisa Haynes from the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center into the studio.  They talked about the activities of the center and how members of the community can participate in documenting the Bobcat population in our community.  The Center is NOT supported directly by the University of Arizona and they rely on much-needed donations to do much of what they do.  If you’re interested in donating to the program click here, type “wild cat research” in the search box and follow the links!

Here are some additional links to wild cat resources and news:

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Living With Urban Wildlife

Video Slide Show

Vision

News

The boys also had a visit from Dr. Horrible and talked about some of the best buffalo wings in Tucson!!!

 

The Vatican Astronomy Show

Fred and Jeff sat down with Fr. George V. Coyne, S.J., President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation.  Fr. Coyne was the former Director of the Vatican Observatory, which is located in Castel Gandolfo, Italy ~ just outside Rome, and is a highly respected and accomplished member of the international astronomy community.  The Vatican Observatory Research Group is hosted at the Steward Observatory, right here at the University of Arizona!!!  The Vatican Observatory Research Group operates the 1.8m Alice P. Lennon Telescope with its Thomas J. Bannan Astrophysics Facility, known together as the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT).  This is located at the Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO) in southeastern Arizona.

Our favorite part of the show was getting Fr. Coyne to describe the universe using the geographic boundaries of our magnificent community!!!

 

 

The Tucson Botanical Gardens Show

Fred and Jeff sit down with Darlene Buhrow, Michelle Conklin and Emily Rockey from the Tucson Botanical Gardens.  They talk about the history of the gardens, special events, art exhibits, classes and other programs, including the upcoming Weird Plant SaleMad About Orchids exhibit and Twilight Third Thursdays!!! 

 

The Historic Mission Garden Show

Fred and Jeff sat down with Jonathan Mabry, Ph.D., the City of Tucson’s Historic Preservation Officer, to talk about the historic Mission Gardens, which are located at the base of Sentinel Peak (A Mountain) and the Kino Heritage Fruit Tree Project.  There are all sorts of stories floating around about this important project and you will hear about its history, what’s going on now and what will happen as this project is completed and being enjoyed by our great community!!!  The project is supported by Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, which is a group of community folks dedicated to preserve, honor, protect, restore, and promote the cultural heritage of Tucson’s Birthplace.  Also, check out the really awesome Rio Nuevo Archeology Report!!!

 

The Tucson Icon Show featuring Dr. Bernard “Bunny” Fontana, Ph.D.

This week Fred and Jeff spoke with Dr. Bernard “Bunny” Fontana!  Dr. Fontana has a wide range of knowledge regarding the history of the Old Pueblo and the region and there was a lot of ground covered.  Bunny is a published author and has worked with the Arizona State Museum.  He and a handful of special angels created the Patronato San Xavier, which has been working to restore and preserve San Xavier del Bac, one of our great cultural icons.  His latest book, A Gift of Angels: The Art of Mission San Xavier del Bac, is available online and we HIGHLY recommend our listeners get a copy!!!