Looking to stretch your dollar a little further this year? If you live in a city where you paid less rent than the average American and get to keep more of your paycheck — you’re essentially earning more than you would in a city where rent was steeper. The… Read more »
Special Sections
Tips to make your bathroom more inviting and functional
We tend to think of the bathroom strictly as a utilitarian space, and therefore not worthy of the same energy and expense put into designing spaces like the living room or kitchen. We spend a lot of time in the bathroom, however. It’s the room where we start and… Read more »
A parade of local pets, from the heroic to the simply adorable
AJP_15… Read more »
Longtime camper draws on memories to make summers special at Camp J
Playing “Ga-Ga ball” is a camp tradition that Josh Shenker, the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s director of child, youth and camping services, looked forward to every year he returned to summer camp at the JCC in Houston. The game starts with a ball thrown into the “pit,” a ringed… Read more »
Eight questions to ask before going solar
With a growing number of homeowners looking to save money on power bills and help the environment, rooftops across America are taking on a new look, as more homes are dotted with solar panels. But it’s important to ask the right questions before installing them on your home. “While… Read more »
Concerned about see-sawing mortgage rates? Borrowers have options
While mortgage interest rates remain near historic lows, they had been slowly rising over the third quarter of 2018, increasing the cost of 30-year loans for borrowers. If rates rise again, home buyers have other options to consider: an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), which provides an initial lower monthly… Read more »
Cash-out refinancing may sound great but can turn into a costly mistake
After years of making regular mortgage payments, it feels good to watch your net worth make upward progress. That is especially true if your house is also gaining value. With a growing amount of equity comes peace of mind, knowing you have the option of tapping into it when… Read more »
Finding Grace: A lifelong journey to discovering what is meant to be
Growing up in a Conservative Jewish home in Newton, Massachusetts, with her parents and brother, Lois Gail Esterman did all the right things. She attended Hebrew school through eighth grade, became a bat mitzvah, went to Hebrew high school and a Hebrew teacher’s college. She started her career as… Read more »
Find hidden treasures in synagogue gift shops
A few years back, my good friend Fran was giving me details on her upcoming adult bat mitzvah. “No gifts,” she said emphatically. As I smiled and nodded, inwardly my mind was abuzz — where could I find the perfect present? I didn’t have to look far. In what… Read more »
Tucson groom enlists support of Toby, the cat, for proposal to his bride
Amy Rebecca Beyer, daughter of Bruce and Donna Beyer of Tucson, and Thomas Allen Brannock, son of Thomas and Billie Brannock of St. David, Arizona, were married on Oct. 20, 2018, at Skyline Country Club with Rabbi Batsheva Appel officiating. Attendants included Lisa Beyer of San Francisco, sister of… Read more »
Agency partners with solo elders to provide surrogate service, support
As people grow older, family relationships and resources change. “Solo seniors” is a term for older adults who feel that they do not have a significant other to act on their behalf if or when needed. Reasons vary and may include lack of family and friends in close proximity,… Read more »
In Focus: Handmaker celebrates Tu B’Shevat
Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging recently celebrated Tu B’Shevat, known as the New Year for the Trees, with representatives of three local synagogues. Rabbi Batsheva Appel of Temple Emanu-El led a talk about the holiday on Friday, Jan. 18; Rabbi Stephanie Aaron of Congregation Chaverim led a Tu… Read more »
Handmaker programs enrich residents, community
Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging offers a variety of enrichment opportunities for residents, many of them open to the public. Monthly Handmaker Lectures Each month from October-April features lectures by a rabbi, Judaic studies professor or other local Jewish educators on a topic of their choosing, related to… Read more »
Tucson J offerings include fitness, culture
Whether you want to stay fit, learn a new artistic skill or enjoy concerts and lectures, the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s jam-packed schedule has you covered. Some classes are designed specifically for seniors; others are “open to everyone ages 18-100.” Here are some options for those with a yen… Read more »
These fashionistas help Tucsonans stay in style
Uptown Cheapskate owner Heather Martinez’ love for resale fashion started as a hobby. Now, five years later, her dream became a reality. “I always had an interest in fashion and wanted somewhere to express it. I now run Uptown Cheapskate. It’s been such an exciting journey so far,” says… Read more »
Tale of wife’s recovery brims with love, dark humor
Douglas Segal’s “Struck: A Husband’s Memoir of Trauma and Triumph” is a riveting book. It’s heartbreaking, inspiring, unflinchingly honest, and often funny as hell, which is something of a surprise in a book that starts off with the author’s wife and 12-year-old daughter caught up in a horrific car… Read more »
UA team uses genetics to tackle brain cancer
Glioblastoma is a deadly brain cancer that grabbed headlines for claiming the lives of Sens. Edward Kennedy and John McCain. Michael Hammer, Ph.D., and a team of University of Arizona researchers have discovered that the disease could be “tricked” into sparing more of its victims. The researchers looked for… Read more »
Local expert shares self-defense strategies
The dawn of a new year is a great time to refresh our personal safety toolboxes and begin looking at our world with new eyes. How often do you discuss your personal safety with your family members? What happens if your home is robbed, you are attacked on the… Read more »
Crocheting whimsical creatures is a meditation for Jewish Tucson Concierge
A skill Carol Sack attained as a young girl of 10 has become a lifelong treasure that brings pleasure to many. Carol Sack has crocheted a Noah’s ark-full of animals and dolls over her lifetime, an activity she now practices daily as a meditation. She gives her creations, large and… Read more »
At this Jewish camp, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor teaches kids Yiddish
Editor’s note: JTA published this article in February 2018. Marc Rauch, director of Camp Kinder Ring, assures the Arizona Jewish Post that Mikhl Baran, now 96, taught at the camp “throughout the summer of 2018 and plans to return in 2019. He is truly an icon at Kinder Ring,… Read more »