Valley of the Moon presents the ever popular play “Peter Pan”, on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays April 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29, 6:30 to 9 p.m. This is their first time performance of Peter Pan, so I wonder how they will do the flight scenes.

This historic, fantasy themed park is at 2544 E. Allen Road (north of Prince Rd., east of Tucson Blvd.), phone 520-323-1331 for information or write to valleymoon1@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.tucsonvalleyofthemoon.com//index.cfm.

Adults $8
Children ages 8 to 13 – $5,
age 7 and under free!

Tours will leave the gate every 30 minutes.

"Mermaid" Odette in the Peter Pan play

Can’t wait to see that infamous crocodile take on Captain Hook, and I’m sure the Lost Boys’ costumes will be very imaginative.

“Mermaid” Odette (photo on the right), performed by Emily Higdon, age 20, is also the Director and writer of the show. She has been volunteering at the Valley of the Moon since she was 13 years old. She made an appearance at the recent 2012 Water Festival as well.

Valley of the Moon is a fantasy park, a garden, and a retreat where the mental and spiritual health of those who enter can be rejuvenated, and in some cases transformed, through the refreshment of the spirit, the magic of wonder, and the expanses of imagination. Whoever should enter this sacred historic site should not leave without understanding that the Golden Key to Happiness is Kindness to All, and that Happiness is Given and not Sold.

Charlie Spillar, who blogs online here at Tucsoncitizen.com as “Artistic Tucson” was just named one of 10 “local heroes” in the Tucson Weekly’s Dec.22-28 issue (on news stands now). Charlie was praised for his leadership in helping to save the unusual Valley of the Moon, finding new homes for the Magic Carpet Golf statues after that entertainment venue closed, and fighting to retain a drive-in theater in Tucson when the De Anza Drive In Theater also closed. I know Charlie from meeting over the last year/half at art receptions and galleries, and he is indeed passionate about art and preserving it. His own whimsical bird sculptures are unique and attractive, last seen by me at the Art Gallery on the NE corner of Stone/Speedway.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Spillar

To read more about Charlie go online to www.tucsonweekly.com (article is written by one of our former editors/artist Ryn Gargulinski, now a writer for the Weekly). Or pick up your issue today or tomorrow all over town, page 18.

Another local hero in that Weekly article is Patricia Maisch, who wrestled that gun clip away from Jared Loughner on January 8, 2011. She is now a spokesperson for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to tighten background checks of people who purchase guns. The article about Patricia is on page 15 of the Weekly. She is also honored as one of AARP Magazine’s “The Daring Dozen” in their December 2011/January 2012 issue (page 51). These 12 American individuals are recognized as people who use “their energy, creativity and passion to make the world a better place.”

Arizona shooting heroes Ret. Army Col. Bill Badger and Roger Salzgeber are honored along Patricia for their acts of physically bringing armed Loughner down to the ground at the NW Safeway. I recently met both Patricia and Roger at the Tucson hearing by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, through mutual contact Daniel Hernandez, Jr.

A tribute to one of these “daring dozen” was given to my former boss Hawaiian U.S. Senator Dan Inouye (page 48), now President Pro Tempore, who is committed to “common courtesy” as a “Chief Compromiser”. The Senator has served in the U.S. Senate since Hawaii’s statehood in 1959. He just sent me a President Pro Tempore medallion as a keepsake.

Read this AARP article about “Inspire Awards Honorees” online (click here).

Congratulations Charlie and to these other 9 Tucson local heroes, and to the AARP “Daring Dozen”, which also included famous people such as Jane Goodall and the late Steve Jobs.

The events of January 8, 2011 shook our community, affecting each of us deeply. It was a horrible day.

But in the days and months afterward, our community came together in a way it never had before. We supported each other, leaned on each other, and generally looked out for one another. The sense of togetherness was tangible.

BEYOND is a community-wide event to commemorate the anniversary of January 8th, celebrate the spirit of togetherness we felt in the days and months afterward, and re-commit ourselves to working together to build a stronger community every day.

To register now for the numerous events on January 7, 2012, go online at http://www.beyond-tucson.org/events/. An additional 10 “user submitted activities” are online as well. Below is a list of the most of the events, from Sahuarita & Green Valley to Oro Valley.

BEYOND Main Event at Reid Park
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Reid Park

TMC Health and Wellness Fair
7:15 am to 10:00 am
Tucson Medical Center

Coronado National Forest –
BEYOND at Sabino Canyon
8:00 am to 10:00 am
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

Pima Community College’s
Festival of Democracy
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
PCC- West Campus

5 Mile Social Run at Saguaro West
8:00 am to 10:00 am
Saguaro National Park West

Hike with a Jaguar at “A” Mountain
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Sentinel Peak Park – “A” Mountain

Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Trailhead
8:30 am to 11:00 am
Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Trailhead
- Davidson Canyon

Each One Take One – Stroll and Roll
8:30 am to 11:00 am
Christina-Taylor Green Memorial River Park

Town of Marana Wild Burro Trailhead
8:30 am to 11:00 am
Tortolita Mountains

Reactivate Your Health and Family Event
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Sam Lena Park

Play in Nature – Center for Children and Nature
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Cienega Creek NP Parking Lot – Marsh Station Rd

Southeast Side BEYOND Base
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Corona de Tucson Fire Station #1

Colossal Cave Mountain Park – Day of Discovery
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Catalina State Park – Reptile/Wildlife Exhibit
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Catalina State Park

BEYOND at La Posada, Green Valley
9:30 am to 5:00 pm
La Posada Campus

Silent, Guided Yoga Practice
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
The Girl Scouts’ Hacienda Program Center

Anamax Park, Sahuarita
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Anamax Park

NPS Ranger Lead Walk on the Historic Anza Trail
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
The NPS Western Archaeological and Conservation Center

Family Nature and Heritage Discovery
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Historic Empire Ranch Headquarters,
BLM’s Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

Oro Valley Family Fun Day
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
James D. Kriegh Park

BEYOND Downtown Art Walk
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
The Toole Shed

Stories to Remember, and BEYOND…
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Valley of the Moon

Meet Me at Maynards at Hotel Congress
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Hotel Congress

Kino Stadium – Closing Ceremony
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Kino Stadium

For further information:
Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
ATTN: Tucson Trails Tribute Fund
2250 E. Broadway Boulevard
Tucson AZ 85719-6014
Beyond-tucson.org/
info@beyond-tucson.org.

You can also now order Beyond gear online: tshirts, tote bags, bumper stickers, water bottles.

Let us commit to celebrate the activities & good wishes that commemorate that fateful day of January 8, 2011. And let us continue to pray for the full recovery of the injured, including CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.