Recently, a select few of Bear Essential News Young Reporters were chosen to take part in a program to be paired up with one University of Arizona science graduate student. I was able to work with Cassandra Lejoly, who is studying to obtain a Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences. 

This past holiday season, Sydney Johnson visited the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Dove Mountain to get an early view of a life-size gingerbread house. Johnson received a personal tour from Janice Macy, Daniel Mangione, the executive chef, and Amanda Taylor, the pastry supervisor.

The gingerbread bricks/tiles were made in September and they have made more than 5,000 tiles. The enormous structure was build large enough for visitors to even dine in. The chefs ordered supplies like honey in June and candy palettes in May. The main ingredient was honey—275 gallons of it!