Suzanne Marlatt Stewart There’s a reason for the old saying, “Silence is golden,” but is it really? Researchers have found that silence is more than just the absence of sound. It is something that actively transforms the brain. According to a new study on silence and its impact on the brain, after just three days…
Category: February 2026
February 2026, Features
Savor Retirement: Savor the Beauty of Unhurried Mornings
Tim Malone In a world that glorifies hustle and speed, the quiet magic of an unhurried morning often goes unnoticed. Yet within those first golden hours of the day lies a sanctuary—a space where time stretches gently, inviting us to breathe, reflect, and be. To savor the beauty of an unhurried morning is to reclaim…
Generals, February 2026
Strange Sayings (and Origins)
Mary Jo Bellner Swartzberg Ah! For the love of idioms! Here are some common and not so common sayings: Pipe down—Will you please pipe down? This phrase originated in the British Navy when the boatswain’s pipe (or whistle) gave commands for the sailors to pipe down in their hammocks in order to be quiet for…
February 2026, Generals
Santa Claus Revisits SaddleBrooke
Bonnie Barazani Santa Claus, aka Fred Barazani, so enjoyed his visit to SaddleBrooke last year that he arrived once again on his sleigh (driven and decorated by Pete Giljohann) with reindeer in tow. Santa delivered gifts to young children visiting their relatives. Their faces were of awe and excitement as Santa arrived on his lighted…
February 2026, Generals
‘Once Upon a Time and Now!’ by Valerie Carr
Tracy Nelson The idea for Valerie Carr’s children’s book Once Upon a Time and Now! just came to her one day. “I wanted to leave my legacy and write an inspirational children’s book for young girls to use their imagination and be inspired by their dreams to embellish their future.” Although Valerie has always been…
Generals, February 2026
Southern Arizona Arts Guild Gallery Is Relocating from La Encantada—Find Out Where They Are Going!
The Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG), one the region’s largest nonprofit arts organizations, is delighted to announce their relocation from La Encantada to a newly designed space at Joesler Village Plaza. What is the Southern Arizona Arts Guild? SAAG represents 300 artists across all visual disciplines and has long served as a cultural anchor in…
Generals, February 2026
Tri-Community Food Bank—A Look Back at 2025
As we look back at 2025, the Tri-Community Food Bank (TCFB) Board of Directors would like to thank the many donors, volunteers, and organizations that have assisted the TCFB in meeting its mission, “Feeding Neighbors in Southeast Pinal County,” by serving residents who demonstrate need in the Southeastern area of Pinal County in the communities…
Generals, February 2026
Archaeology: Books to Dig at the Library
Renee Mazin, Virginia Bynum, and Janet Fabio Archaeologists believe the older you get, the more interesting you become! Here in SaddleBrooke, we are full of interesting people who may choose to visit one of our SaddleBrooke Community Libraries to dig into the past. We have fiction and nonfiction titles plus DVDs that will get you…
February 2026, Generals
Making the Most of Your Brain and Body with Neuroplasticity
Vera Shury What is neuroplasticity? It is the brain’s ability to heal some damaged neurons or find a detour around damaged neurons or injury in the body in the process of keeping you alive and functioning. Dead neurons stay dead, but you get new neurons as long as you are alive. Movement creates Brain-Derived Neurotropic…
Generals, February 2026
Hearing Aids Don’t Provide 20/20 Hearing
Tim Gaule I am a member of the SaddleBrooke Hearing Discussion Group. Hearing aids and cochlear implants are beneficial if you are hearing-impaired. But unlike eyeglasses, hearing aids or cochlear implants don’t restore your hearing to normal. Prescription eyeglasses can bring your vision back to 20/20. I have found that once I have an updated…