This year, two schools from the Tucson area were nominated for the National Blue Ribbon, a prestigious award given to schools from around the country. The schools were Senita Valley Elementary School and Sunrise Drive Elementary School, which I attended. I am very proud of my former elementary school winning such a distinguished award, so I decided to interview the Sunrise Drive principal, Andrea Davidson. Principal Davidson has been in the Catalina Foothills School District for 37 years and is delighted that the school has been chosen.

After being around for almost 50 years, Bookmans is a staple of Arizona. When you think about our humble state, you think of Bookmans. And between the huge array of items, helpful staff, and year-round events, it’s not hard to see why. That’s why it was an obvious decision to open a new location (4841 N. Stone) off Stone and River. The grand opening of the new Bookmans was Nov. 10, and it lived up to the word “grand.”

Temperatures in Phoenix have finally been dropping, persuading more people to get outside and exercise, especially on popular walking trails like the Murphy’s Bridle Path in north Phoenix. “The Bridle Path is a reminder that I have to get moving every day at my age,” says Adam Day, a Phoenix resident who was out walking on Murphy’s Bridle Path in the early evening in late October. Day said he tries to get out and walk on the popular trail often. “I need to do this about 5 days a week,” Day says.

Did you know that over 150 million people worldwide are homeless? In addition to this somber fact, according to the United Nations, up to 1.6 billion people also have inadequate housing. Not only is this a growing problem, but many of these people lack bedding, appropriate clothes for the seasons and need more food. However, many organizations are working to help alleviate this ongoing issue.

Have you ever wondered what Phoenix is doing to conserve water, or to reduce food waste? Did you know that Phoenix has more solar on city buildings than any other city in the country? I discovered the answers to those questions when I interviewed Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego.

In March of this year, four firefighters from the Tempe Fire Department, Station 2 came to visit us at our day program. They showed us their fire truck and all of their gear.

I had the chance to interview one of them. Firefighter Tony said they prioritize their career, family and friends by helping family first. He said that the fire department’s primary role is protecting the city. He said that it is their responsibility when there isn’t an emergency is to make sure the city is safe. He said his favorite part of being a firefighter is helping people.

 It was a cloudy, rainy day when my family and I visited the new Children’s Museum at Tohono Chul. Luckily, the pauses in rain allowed us to follow the small bug signs easily through the gardens. I didn’t realize that the museum would be at the end of the gardens, but they were so beautiful to walk through, especially with all the rain, it didn’t seem far.

Imagine being a child in another country, coming to America with a dream. Dr. Lupita Hightower, Superintendent for the Tolleson Elementary School District had a dream.

As a child, Hightower knew since kindergarten that she wanted to be in education. When she was younger she used to teach her cousins, siblings and the neighborhood kids.

I interviewed Walter Ram, a veteran of the U.S Army Air Corps in World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart. Ram spent part of the war as a POW (prisoner of war) in the infamous Nazi prison camp, Stalag 17.

I’ve always thought it would be fun to have a hot cocoa stand, and this fall I was finally able to run one down at my neighborhood park! It was really fun setting everything up. I got to meet new people, make hot chocolate with different toppings, and serve homemade apple pie.