Talk of the Town: Shed those winter pounds, impress your friends!

Summer is on its way, and let’s face it folks, almost everyone wants to shed a few winter pounds before the bathing suit season officially starts — and in Arizona, it’s coming up fast.

Thanks to Oprah’s O, The Oprah Magazine, here’s a few helpful hints that just might get you started down the path to better fitness.

First: reduce your sugar and salt intake by reading labels. There’s a shocking amount of sugar in processed foods like ketchup, peanut butter, juice, cereal and processed foods.

Try to stay away from products whose ingredients boast “ose” at the end like glucose, sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup.

Processed foods also contain tons of salt. Americans eat nearly two teaspoons of salt daily, more than double what they need for good health — and it’s not because of the table salt-shaker. Three-fourths of that sodium comes inside common processed foods like canned soups, gravy, and yes, frozen entrees — even the leaner versions.

Stick to low-sodium soups instead. Your palette adjusts quickly to the less saltier taste, too, and eventually you’ll learn to appreciate the taste of the vegetables.

Eat more fruits and veggies, without adding oil, butter, or high-fat sauces. They provide fiber and nutrients with very few calories, and keep you feeling full longer.

Drink yourself thinner. The fancier the drink, the fancier the calories - especially when you opt for the whipped topping on your morning gourmet coffee.

Most of coffee ‘flavoring’ additives contain 70 or more calories per shot. Use the sugar free varieties to save calories. A Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino Blended Coffee, whipped, is a whopping 460 calories.

You don’t need to give up your favorite coffee drink, but just adjust your coffee order to make it more calorie conscious. Skim milk with cinnamon adds a kick without adding extra calories. OK! So it’s not as rich without cream but your thighs will love you for the caloric savings.

You’re not going to starve. Eating just 200 fewer calories a day could help you lose 20 pounds in a year - without even trying!

The Bavarian Brass Band of Green Valley was honored at their concert last Thursday at the West Center when they were presented with the Paul Green-Trude Raymond Award by Mary Wehmeyer, president of the Greater Green Valley Arts Council in “recognition of their provision of patriotic and entertaining music and for the numerous civic functions and programs throughout the Greater Green Valley area.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the band was Earl Harrison, 87, a retired mechanical engineer and the band’s conductor since it was formed in 1996. Earl confessed his passion for music started in high school when he played the euphonium in a small German band.

Wehmeyer said it was her “great pleasure” to present the award to the band.

“The mission of the Arts Council is to actively encourage and promote the general welfare of the arts and publicize arts activities in the Green Valley area, including Sahuarita, Tubac and south to Nogales,” Wehmeyer said.

The Paul-Green Trude Raymond award was named in honor of the late Paul Green, founder of the GGVAC and Trude Raymond, the second GGVAC president, serving in 1992, who continues her distinguished service to the arts in the community.

The Bavarian Brass Band of Green Valley was formed in 1996 with a stated purpose of enjoyment and presentation of traditional polka music. The core group included a few musicians who had been associated with this type of music in the past.

The musicians are not paid for their efforts and the group is a non-profit. Honorariums, when accepted, are used to cover the expenses of maintaining the organization, the library, travel expenses and other necessary functions.

The band plays with a unique style. The band’s name, “Bavarian Brass” was the name selected because of Bavaria, the Tyrol region of Europe and southern Germany represent the central source of much (but not all) of the character of the music. The band play sounds of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Sweden — and from these countries, the scope expands to cover the continent and into the New World.

They might be called a “polka band” and that would be accurate. It’s more fun to call them an “omm-pa-pa” band and that, too, would suit their sound.

Neither of those titles, however, describes the actual depth of composition of what they play.

And, of course, they are not just a brass band. They utilize the accordion and other reed and percussion instruments. Brass band denotes their output style and represents a departure from the “orchestra, dance band and jazz band” styles.

The honored musicians of the Bavarian Brass Band include not only conductor Earl Harrison, but also: Tamara Kahrimanis (sŠngerin, who also yodels); Doris Penier (akkordion); Liz Moore (querflšte); Patty Bury, Don Boehme, Dave Marvin, Bonnie Sturtz (klarinette); Bill Murphy, John Sturtz (alt-saxophon); Phil Austin, Carmen Catania, Ray Soper (kornet/flŸgelhorn); Ray Moore (ventilhorn); David BeMiller, Jack Brockman, Bob Greene (posaune); George Haight, Bill Heinhuis, Sally McCray, Arlo McDowell, Jim McMahon Nancy Stiteler (euphonium) Ed Lippert, Paul May (tuba); and Wally Boyce (schlagzeug).

In 2007, just a few of the concerts presented by the Bavarian Brass Band included: Memorial Day and Veterans Day at the Green Valley Mortuary & Cemetery; Pearl Harbor Day and Patriots Day at American Legion Post #66; two concerts at Casa de Esperanza; Friends of the Green Valley Library and the Community Performing Arts and Learning Center in Green Valley last November.

The Paul Green-Trude Raymond Awardee’s names will be displayed in the lobby of the future theater at the Community Performing Arts and Learning Center on the Pima Community College campus in Green Valley.

Read more about the Greater Green Valley Arts Council in this Friday’s column.

The musical sounds of the Green Valley Concert Band will again pervade the Sahuarita Auditorium, 350 Sahuarita Road, at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 11, when the band presents “Chasing Away the Winter Blues,” featuring the music of George Gershwin and Artie Shaw; Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” and Glenn Miller’s “American Patrol.”

Directed by John Snavely, the concert also includes music by Clifton Williams, Irving Berlin and oboe soloist Karl Krumel with “Gabriel’s Oboe” and pianist Mary Lou Catania with “Theme from the Apartment.”

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $9 at the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce; Nancy Pantz and Xcapes in the Continental Shopping Plaza; The Book Shop and the Answer in Gifts in the Green Valley Mall; Second Look Books, American Hair Family Cutters in Bashas’ Plaza or from any band member. Tickets are $10 at the door. Students free. Wheelchair and assistance from parking lot if needed.

For more information and directions visit : www.greenvalleyconcertband.org or call 520-300-6265.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740