Writer Joseph J. Airdo | Photography by Lisa A. Langell [dropcap]L[/dropcap]ove is in the air. Couples all around the world this month will enjoy expensive, candle-lit dinners and exchange candy, flowers, jewelry and teddy bears to show their affection for one another. Pet names will be used, expressions of adoration will be spoken and romance…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Steven Ebright [dropcap]A[/dropcap]rizona transplants often balk at natives who bundle up with jackets, scarves and gloves this time of the year. It is the same sort of thing that happens when people who have lived in the Valley their entire lives express panic at even the lightest rainfall, rushing…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Craig Miller [dropcap]T[/dropcap]here have been countless stories over the years about the various animals that have stepped into reindeer’s shoes — or should I say hooves — when the seasonally iconic creatures have been unavailable to lead Santa’s sleigh. The Grinch had his loyal dog Max begrudgingly help him…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Peggy Coleman [dropcap]I[/dropcap]f this year has taught us anything, it would be that we should expect the unexpected. Who would have guessed back at the beginning of 2020 that stay-at-home orders, face coverings and routine temperature checks would become some of the most key characteristics of our day-to-day lives?…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Dave Theroux [dropcap]A[/dropcap]n image of a leafless tree often conveys an incredibly eerie mood. Frequently associated with Halloween, the sight of a dark trunk of wood with bare branches twisting into the sky closely resembles a large, ominous creature with fingers or tentacles reaching up in preparation to capture…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Saija Lehtonen [dropcap]S[/dropcap]pring takes on an exceptionally special meaning to photographer Saija Lehtonen. “I feel like spring is the beginning of the whole year,” Lehtonen says. “Spring — when the wildflowers begin to bloom — is when my photography really starts. From there, it slowly progresses to cactus flowers…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Dave Wilson [dropcap]N[/dropcap]ature and landscape photographer Dave Wilson believes that many people who live in Arizona—himself included—often take saguaros for granted. “People who come from other parts of the country must think that saguaros look like plants from another planet,” he says. “They are the most bizarre things. When…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Robert Elenbaas [dropcap]E[/dropcap]xperiencing the beauty of nature first-hand has an unparalleled positive impact on cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing and other dimensions of mental health. A scholarly article published last summer by the American Association for the Advancement of Science provided points of consensus across the natural, social and health…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Matt Wilczek [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he holidays may officially be over but that does not necessarily mean that the magic of the season is completely gone just yet. Those of us in the North Valley may recall waking up to a winter wonderland one morning last February. The rare event of snowfall…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Michael Wilson [dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the Arizona air is finally becoming a bit chillier, we are surrounded by colorful lights that signify the holidays are officially upon us. Believe it or not, the use of lights during the Christmas season actually predates the celebration of the holiday itself. Scandinavian and Germanic…