Folks working to keep the masters of Reid Park Zoo from separating longtime-companion elephants Connie and Shaba received a much-deserved dose of good news this week, when it was announced that Bob Barker would kick in up to $500,000 to have the animals resettled together in a bucolic California sanctuary.

His pledge would go into effect only if local volunteers are able to raise an equal amount.

While getting that hefty pledge from the former Price is Right impresario is a big, big deal, it’s only half the fight. The other half is raising that other half-mil to ready the PAWS sanctuary for the elephants arrival—and doing it before zoo officials manage to ship Connie off to the San Diego Zoo.

Other hurdles include prodding stubborn Reid Park officials into acknowledging that a roomy sanctuary might just be a better fit for elephants than cramped zoo quarters, and getting the City Council to go along.

To donate and help get Tucson’s deserving elephants to a better place, email Tracy Toland at [email protected]

I have no idea what he'll be doing on stage, but I am quite excited that John Hodgman is coming to the Rialto Theatre on March 3rd. You might know Mr. Hodgman from his appearances on The Daily Show, This American Life, or his informational books. Also, he was the PC in those somewhat obnoxious Mac ads with Justin Long, and prior to his career as a famous person, he was a literary agent. He is also a hobo expert, so cross your fingers that he'll be sharing that knowledge at the Rialto. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the Discovery Channel show Mythbusters are coming to Tucson as part of their Behind the Myths tour, performing at Centennial Hall this Saturday at 7:30 pm.

I talked to Hyneman on the phone, discussing how the show came about and what Tucson audiences can expect:

DG: How did the idea for a stage show come about?

JH: Well, due to the fact that there’s a fair amount of demand for us to show up at places and not just talk, but actually do things that are appropriate for what happens on the show. We’re known for all these spectacular stunts that we do — or experiments — that involve explosions and everything else. We’ve done quite a few of these talks around the country, we’ve probably done seventy or so since starting the show. They’ve been very well received, but the push has been for us to actual do something and obviously we can’t blow things up on stage, the more violent things that we do. We’ve thought about it and we’ve spent months designing something that’s fundamentally what we do on the show, which is talk about people’s perception of things and how that sometimes differs from reality. We came up with some things that involve the participation of the audience that illustrate that...we stretch them a little bit, play with what they perceive to be happening.

DG: Was the expansion of the brand this way something you were excited about?

JH: Yes and no. We enjoy interacting with the audience a great deal and our fanbase is quite enthusiastic. We’re not attached to the show format, we’re quite comfortable on stage, talking directly to people. If anything, we’re infectiously enthusiastic about what we do and this is a great opportunity to share with people. It’s been a bit of a challenge to find a format where we don’t just talk about things, but we’ve come up with something that works.

DG: I know you’re not likely to give too much away, but what should people expect from the show?

JH: I’m not going to give you a spoiler, but I can tell you that some of the audience interaction involve putting them in protective gear. It’s very controlled, they don’t have to worry about their safety, but they may get wet. We’ll also be pulling people up on stage and having our way with them.

DG: That sounds exciting/ominous, but that’s part of the Mythbusters experience, I guess.

JH: A lot of what we’re going to do is really going to defy description, so people will have to come out to the show and see for themselves.

• Michael McGowan
• WP Indifference

Remember when winter break meant spending time with the relatives, watching the same old movies and eating too much? These days, kids have a more exciting option, and it's just up I-10 at Skydive Arizona. But if your college days are behind you, spectators are welcome. Read on for more details:

College Students to Spend Winter Break Leaping from Airplanes at 2011 National Collegiate Parachuting Championships!

WHO:
Nearly 100 collegiate skydivers from colleges and universities across the country will compete in multiple skydiving disciplines, bringing their youthful energy and thirst for adventure to the exhilarating, high-flying sport of skydiving! These are skydiving’s ultimate collegiate aerial athletes, competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in both freefall and parachute landing events.

WHAT:
The 2011 U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) National Collegiate Parachuting Championships — skydiving’s most youthful, friendly competition — hosted by Skydive Arizona, one of the world’s largest skydiving facilities, located midway between Phoenix and Tucson.

The championships are FREE and open to the public. Spectators are invited for an up-close view to catch the adrenaline-pumping action happening thousands of feet above the drop zone on video monitors, as well as view hundreds of colorful canopies filling the sky and thousands of dramatic landings as competitors swoop swiftly, gracefully back to earth. The drop zone also offers a restaurant and bar for lunch and relaxation.

WHEN:
December 28, 2011 to January 2, 2012
*Sunrise to sunset each day*

WHERE:
Skydive Arizona, 4900 N. Taylor St., Eloy, AZ 85131
(located midway between Phoenix and Tucson)
Map/driving directions: here.

One of my high school friends died from diabetes-related complications, so if you happen to be at the Western Look this holiday season, consider donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Westward Look Resort is lending a helping hand to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) this holiday season. Throughout most of December, Westward Look will be collecting donations that will be used to help prevent, treat, and ultimately find the cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Donations will be accepted through Christmas Day at multiple areas throughout the resort.

Guests staying at Westward Look, as well as the community that surrounds the resort and spa, will be given the opportunity to donate to the cause. Informational flyers and donation forms will be available for those who wish to donate at the resort’s front desk, the award-winning GOLD restaurant, the Lookout Bar & Grille, the Resort Gift Shop, and the Sonoran Spa. Those donating may select the amount they wish to contribute and that amount will be added to their bill.

Jax Kitchen at 7286 N. Oracle Road is collecting canned goods for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, and if you donate four or more they'll give you a dessert of your choice.

Lots of restaurants collect canned goods this time of year, but offering up free eats - especially the amazing desserts available at Jax Kitchen - is especially generous. Nice job Jax Kitchen. Nice job indeed.

• Photo of Sawyer by Ryn Gargulinski
• Who needs dog toys for the holidays when the national debt is looming?

We can help pay off the national debt.

Soaring to more than $15 trillion, the national debt could use a little TLC from the general public. We the people should do what we can, even if it means going without during our own holiday celebrations.

Sure, it may mean forgetting the black pearl earrings for your fiancé, the suede sports jacket for your beloved beau or substituting the holiday ham and turkey for a “Manager’s Special” salami log.

But we can do it. Let us proudly starve, scrimp and save in the name of the nation. Forget the Christmas candies and fruitcake, we can instead eat bread.

Even aye-aye lemurs can wait when we have this important national issue that needs our urgent attention. Involuntarily acquiescing big chunks of our income is not enough — we can do more for our country.

Uncle Sam makes it incredibly easy to help pay off the debt, as well. A direct link on the U.S. Treasury website under “Financing the Debt” lets you siphon money from a bank or credit card account directly into the nation’s coffers with a few clicks of the mouse.

It's a busy weekend in Tucson, but you should really make time for one of my absolute favorite Tucson events, the Downtown Parade of Lights, happening Saturday night starting at 6:30 pm. What's charming about the parade for me is how small town it seems. There are accordion players followed by kids from a school, followed by a garbage truck with some Christmas lights on it. One year when I went (two years ago, maybe?), a truck with "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season" on it was followed by a Budweiser truck. My son freaked out when a bunch of people in Star Wars costumes brandishing lightsabers walked by and one of them strolled over to the sidewalk to give kids high-fives. It's really just a strange, fun time that seems quintessentially Tucson to me.

More info is available at the Downtown Partnership's site.

Here's a chance to see snow without driving up Mount Lemmon. And there will be fireworks, a Christmas tree and Santa, too:

Starr Pass’ Winter Wonderland weekend kicks off on Friday, December 16 with Santa Claus and his elves arriving by helicopter on the resort’s Tash Lawn. After Santa’s spectacular entrance, children can enjoy a bedtime story — Twas the Night Before Christmas — read by Mrs. Claus in the lobby.

The festive fun will continue throughout the weekend. Kids and kids at heart can enjoy the real snow specially brought in each year for the Winter Wonderland event with sledding down snowy Starr Circle Hill, located at the resort’s main entrance. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available, and on Saturday kids can create Christmas gifts at Santa’s workshop and get tucked into bed by the elves*. Families can also have their portrait taken with Santa on Saturday morning to capture the holiday memories*. The event will wrap up with a dazzling firework finale lighting up the winter sky.

*Some events require reservations or a nominal fee. There is also a special winter rate associated with the Family Fling & Swing Winter Package, starting at $219 per night.

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort is located at 3800 W. Starr Blvd. Check out their website here.

When 36-year-old Tina Rieger was struck and killed while crossing Broadway in a crosswalk at 8:15 a.m., Dec. 6, six children were left without a mother. It’s an immeasurable tragedy in any case, but it seems especially cruel in the midst of this festive season.

The kids have gone to live with their grandparents in Marana, but a local program arranges private transportation for them so at least one important aspect of their lives remains constant: They are still able to attend Ochoa Community Magnet School.

The school arranged with Wells Fargo Bank to set up a fund to help the grandparents support the children, who range in age from 4 to 13. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Branch to the “Tina Rieger Donation Account,” number 2808579466. Arrangements have been made to move the children’s furniture, and all their bedding requirements are met. Ochoa principal Heidi Aranda also is hoping for gift cards to Safeway, Fry’s and Walmart, all of which are nearby the grandparents, and she suggests “things that might help kids cope with something like this — beautiful books, maybe a beautiful journal and something beautiful to write with.” Anyone who would like to donate gifts and gift cards may take them to the school from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15 and 16; and Monday, Dec. 19. The address is 101 W. 25th Street, Tucson, AZ 85713; phone 225-2400.

Aranda already is concerned about what happens after the community arises to the initial shock, and the especially heart-tugging time to lose a mom right before Christmas, so she’s trying to think of things people can give right now that can be useful for the kids’ future. “I’m trying to think creatively outside the box at this point,” Aranda says. “What are they going to need three months from now? Maybe gift cards to Super Cuts. Six haircuts is a lot. Or maybe Payless for new shoes, things those grandparents can’t anticipate right now.”

We’re thinking Range readers might be really helpful in thinking, and donating, creatively outside the box.