Columns
Talk of the Town: Keep your hot dogs cool in the summer heat
By Regina Ford
It’s getting toasty, loyal readers. We know it’s hot out there, but pets feel the elevated temperatures, too.
If you want to keep your pet safe all summer, sit, stay and listen.
Family Circle magazine recently revealed a few hints for keeping your pet comfy and safe in the heat of summer.
Some dogs overdo the swimming and splashing in the family pool or a lake and are too tired to get out of the water.
The solution: Just like young children, don’t leave your dog alone around water! If you take him swimming or boating, put a life jacket on him, and make him rest every few minutes. If your dog is struggling to stay afloat, hook his collar with a pole, grab a raft he can crawl onto, and pull him to safety.
Another hot weather pet hazard: Burned footpads from walking across sun-baked asphalt or sand, or jumping against a hot grill to grab a hot dog. (My father’s dog grabbed a piece of chicken off the grill, swallowed it whole and yelped when the heat finally hit him.)
Helpful hint: Don’t let your dog loose while you’re barbecuing and on hot days, don’t walk him on the beach or black pavement, except early or late in the day. Signs of a burn include limping, paw-licking, and cracked or blistered footpads.
The treatment: Apply a cool, wet compress to the injury, then cover with burn ointment, and wrap it in gauze.
One final pet hazard: Arizona’s 100-plus degree weather.
High temperatures raise a pet’s risk for heatstroke, which can lead to brain damage or even death within 15 minutes. To stay safe: Keep him inside at midday. Constantly refill his bowl with cool water and if he wants to play outside at high noon, hose his belly down every few minutes because there’s less fur on the stomach, so he’ll cool down faster.
Also, never leave a dog in the car. Within 10 minutes, the temperature can reach 160 degrees, enough to cause heatstroke or permanent brain damage. If you think your dog may have heatstroke, bring him into air-conditioned room. Then, give him a bowl of cool water, pour water on his belly and legs, and call your vet, ASAP.
We lucky folks here in Southern Arizona have a gem of a symphony to be proud of. For those of you who are longtime fans or even those who have never attended a TSO concert (shame), next season promises to be very exciting indeed and I suggest you purchase a season package to catch the best of the best that TSO has to offer.
The TSO’s 2008-09 (80th) season is one to celebrate! Guest artists including the Romeros Guitar Quartet, (performing with the TSO for the first time in more than 25 years), world acclaimed pianist Cecile Licad (returning by popular demand), the Smothers Brothers in their TSO Pops! debut, the Broadway Tenors, the Lettermen and Bugs Bunny on Broadway will make this anniversary season sparkle from September through May.
Favorite repertoire includes Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” Ravel’s “Bolero,” Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection,” Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Among the many other highlights of the season is a four-program Fiesta! celebrating Latin music, the popular, annual Holiday Spectacular, Handel’s “Messiah,” the Moveable Musical Feasts, the biannual gala, Art of Music, and the release of the TSO’s first-ever recording.
Speaking of TSO’s soon-to-be-released CD, I had the opportunity to share in the excitement this past Mother’s Day (May 11) when Canadian pianist Alain Lefvre performed at the Tucson Music Hall the world premiere of Andr/ Mathieu’s Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra.
The 40-year-old piece which had never been played by a full orchestra was embraced by Hanson and the TSO musicians, so much so that it is the featured work on their inaugural recording.
Lefvre, known as Quebec’s Mozart, was introduced to the concerto after an audience member attending one of his concerts presented him with a CD that had a studio recording of Mathieu playing the piece on the piano. Mathieu left behind wax recordings and Lefvre searched Montreal for more than 20 years gathering pieces of Mathieu’s scores.
Conductor and composer Gilles Bellamare created the concerto from these wax recordings.
Following Lefvre’s magnificent performance, and a performance given by the TSO Chorus, of Mathieu’s “Four Songs for Choir and Orchestra,” highlighting (sung in French) French-Canadian folk songs. and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” with the symphony,
The concert also included Mathieu’s “Scenes de Ballet (Ballet Scenes),” including a breathtaking performance by Concertmaster Steven Moeckel as violin soloist.
The CD is scheduled to be released internationally in September, just in time for the TSO to kick off its 80th season.
Following the concert (that received two lengthy standing ovations) a private reception was held honoring Lefvre, Hanson, symphony members and the chorus. The TSO’s participation in the recording was made possible by generous support from the Stonewall Foundation.
I was accompanied to the concert and reception by Jeffery Dean, a Tubac friend with a love of great music.
Also attending the reception was, The Honourable Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Quebec minister of international relations; Denis Turcotte, Quebec government representative in the Western United States; Canadian Consul General Alain Dudoit, for the Southwest U.S. and Canadian filmmaker Luc Dionne, who is working on a movie about Mathieu, which could be released as early as 2009.
It was wonderful, too, to see John Snavely, who plays bass clarinet with the symphony and was part of this historic recording.
A familiar and well-respected face in the Green Valley community, Snavely conducts the Green Valley Concert Band with gusto and has taken the band to another notch of excellence, commanding very large audiences wherever they perform.
Alexander Lipay, TSO’s principal flautist, took time to say “hello” to Jeffery and me. We all met during his first season in 2006 and he’s come to be an audience favorite.
Attendees were anxious to hear comments from the concert’s two men of the moment.
Lefrve and Hanson were praised for their musical collaboration by both dignitaries from the U.S. as well as from Quebec.
Both musicians spoke as well, still on an adrenaline rush after such a demanding concert.
This is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to talk with Lefvre, and both times I’ve felt the passion he has for his art.
“We created a masterpiece by recording this brilliant music together,” Lefvre said later as he mingled with the well-wishers. “This was just out of this world and Tucson audiences were so appreciative and lucky too, to have such a fine orchestra.”
This is the second time TSO and Lefvre have highlighted the music of Mathieu. In 2004, TSO played Matieu’s Quebec Concerto, a piece Lefvre recorded with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra.
It was TSO’s performance of Mathieu’s “Rhapsodie” in 2006 that impressed the artist so much that he decided he wanted to go ahead with the recording of Mathieu’s Piano Concerto No. 4 by TSO.
Hanson said the CD will “take the orchestra to a higher level” and will “revalue the symphony in the eyes of the community.”
Thanks to Becky Tobin, TSO Assistant Executive Director Susan Franano, and Terry Marshall, public relations manager, for all their valuable help and hospitality throughout the reception.
For information about TSO visit: www.tucsonsymphony.org or call 520-792-9155.
rford@gvnews.com
If you want to keep your pet safe all summer, sit, stay and listen.
Family Circle magazine recently revealed a few hints for keeping your pet comfy and safe in the heat of summer.
Some dogs overdo the swimming and splashing in the family pool or a lake and are too tired to get out of the water.
The solution: Just like young children, don’t leave your dog alone around water! If you take him swimming or boating, put a life jacket on him, and make him rest every few minutes. If your dog is struggling to stay afloat, hook his collar with a pole, grab a raft he can crawl onto, and pull him to safety.
Another hot weather pet hazard: Burned footpads from walking across sun-baked asphalt or sand, or jumping against a hot grill to grab a hot dog. (My father’s dog grabbed a piece of chicken off the grill, swallowed it whole and yelped when the heat finally hit him.)
Helpful hint: Don’t let your dog loose while you’re barbecuing and on hot days, don’t walk him on the beach or black pavement, except early or late in the day. Signs of a burn include limping, paw-licking, and cracked or blistered footpads.
The treatment: Apply a cool, wet compress to the injury, then cover with burn ointment, and wrap it in gauze.
One final pet hazard: Arizona’s 100-plus degree weather.
High temperatures raise a pet’s risk for heatstroke, which can lead to brain damage or even death within 15 minutes. To stay safe: Keep him inside at midday. Constantly refill his bowl with cool water and if he wants to play outside at high noon, hose his belly down every few minutes because there’s less fur on the stomach, so he’ll cool down faster.
Also, never leave a dog in the car. Within 10 minutes, the temperature can reach 160 degrees, enough to cause heatstroke or permanent brain damage. If you think your dog may have heatstroke, bring him into air-conditioned room. Then, give him a bowl of cool water, pour water on his belly and legs, and call your vet, ASAP.
We lucky folks here in Southern Arizona have a gem of a symphony to be proud of. For those of you who are longtime fans or even those who have never attended a TSO concert (shame), next season promises to be very exciting indeed and I suggest you purchase a season package to catch the best of the best that TSO has to offer.
The TSO’s 2008-09 (80th) season is one to celebrate! Guest artists including the Romeros Guitar Quartet, (performing with the TSO for the first time in more than 25 years), world acclaimed pianist Cecile Licad (returning by popular demand), the Smothers Brothers in their TSO Pops! debut, the Broadway Tenors, the Lettermen and Bugs Bunny on Broadway will make this anniversary season sparkle from September through May.
Favorite repertoire includes Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” Ravel’s “Bolero,” Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection,” Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Among the many other highlights of the season is a four-program Fiesta! celebrating Latin music, the popular, annual Holiday Spectacular, Handel’s “Messiah,” the Moveable Musical Feasts, the biannual gala, Art of Music, and the release of the TSO’s first-ever recording.
Speaking of TSO’s soon-to-be-released CD, I had the opportunity to share in the excitement this past Mother’s Day (May 11) when Canadian pianist Alain Lefvre performed at the Tucson Music Hall the world premiere of Andr/ Mathieu’s Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra.
The 40-year-old piece which had never been played by a full orchestra was embraced by Hanson and the TSO musicians, so much so that it is the featured work on their inaugural recording.
Lefvre, known as Quebec’s Mozart, was introduced to the concerto after an audience member attending one of his concerts presented him with a CD that had a studio recording of Mathieu playing the piece on the piano. Mathieu left behind wax recordings and Lefvre searched Montreal for more than 20 years gathering pieces of Mathieu’s scores.
Conductor and composer Gilles Bellamare created the concerto from these wax recordings.
Following Lefvre’s magnificent performance, and a performance given by the TSO Chorus, of Mathieu’s “Four Songs for Choir and Orchestra,” highlighting (sung in French) French-Canadian folk songs. and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” with the symphony,
The concert also included Mathieu’s “Scenes de Ballet (Ballet Scenes),” including a breathtaking performance by Concertmaster Steven Moeckel as violin soloist.
The CD is scheduled to be released internationally in September, just in time for the TSO to kick off its 80th season.
Following the concert (that received two lengthy standing ovations) a private reception was held honoring Lefvre, Hanson, symphony members and the chorus. The TSO’s participation in the recording was made possible by generous support from the Stonewall Foundation.
I was accompanied to the concert and reception by Jeffery Dean, a Tubac friend with a love of great music.
Also attending the reception was, The Honourable Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Quebec minister of international relations; Denis Turcotte, Quebec government representative in the Western United States; Canadian Consul General Alain Dudoit, for the Southwest U.S. and Canadian filmmaker Luc Dionne, who is working on a movie about Mathieu, which could be released as early as 2009.
It was wonderful, too, to see John Snavely, who plays bass clarinet with the symphony and was part of this historic recording.
A familiar and well-respected face in the Green Valley community, Snavely conducts the Green Valley Concert Band with gusto and has taken the band to another notch of excellence, commanding very large audiences wherever they perform.
Alexander Lipay, TSO’s principal flautist, took time to say “hello” to Jeffery and me. We all met during his first season in 2006 and he’s come to be an audience favorite.
Attendees were anxious to hear comments from the concert’s two men of the moment.
Lefrve and Hanson were praised for their musical collaboration by both dignitaries from the U.S. as well as from Quebec.
Both musicians spoke as well, still on an adrenaline rush after such a demanding concert.
This is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to talk with Lefvre, and both times I’ve felt the passion he has for his art.
“We created a masterpiece by recording this brilliant music together,” Lefvre said later as he mingled with the well-wishers. “This was just out of this world and Tucson audiences were so appreciative and lucky too, to have such a fine orchestra.”
This is the second time TSO and Lefvre have highlighted the music of Mathieu. In 2004, TSO played Matieu’s Quebec Concerto, a piece Lefvre recorded with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra.
It was TSO’s performance of Mathieu’s “Rhapsodie” in 2006 that impressed the artist so much that he decided he wanted to go ahead with the recording of Mathieu’s Piano Concerto No. 4 by TSO.
Hanson said the CD will “take the orchestra to a higher level” and will “revalue the symphony in the eyes of the community.”
Thanks to Becky Tobin, TSO Assistant Executive Director Susan Franano, and Terry Marshall, public relations manager, for all their valuable help and hospitality throughout the reception.
For information about TSO visit: www.tucsonsymphony.org or call 520-792-9155.
rford@gvnews.com
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