Lucy Patterson was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Some people pronounce it Misery, but she does not appreciate this. Lucy left her sweet St. Louis for college and is currently a sophomore at the University of Arizona, where she studies the most delicious subjects she knows, art and English. She enjoys eating, reading, dancing, sleeping, writing, and crying. She also has curly hair.

 

 

ODYSSEY STORYTELLING PHOTOS and BIOS

Sergio Avila: Born in Mexico City in 1972, Sergio Avila grew up in the Southern end of the Chihuahuan desert, Zacatecas. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of Aguascalientes, and a Master’s degree from Universidad de Baja California. From 1997 to 2006, he has participated in wildlife research projects working with jaguars, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, sea lions, river otters, sea birds and pygmy-owls in Mexico and the U.S. He tracked, trapped and monitored jaguars and mountain lions, living in an isolated ranch in the Sierra Madre of Sonora in 2003. For several months he lived with one of the biggest and best-preserved indigenous cultures in Mexico, the Tarahumara Indians in the Sierra Madre of Chihuahua. Currently, Sergio works for Sky Island Alliance ( www.skyislandalliance.org ) as Wilderness outreach specialist and has started a jaguar research project in northern Mexico. He has lived in Tucson for almost three years with his girlfriend Jenny, his dog Remi, and Pook, a 10-year-old cat. Sergio enjoys riding his bike, working in the backyard and trying all types of food.

OCTOBER 4, 2006 - "Scaredy Cat"

The Foundation for Animals in Risk (FAIR), www.faircares.org , is a non-profit, no-kill animal rescue organization that is committed to rescuing animals from kill shelters and finding them permanent homes.

FAIR started in March of 1995 when a couple of volunteers working at an adoption center for Pima Animal Control Center (PACC) grew tired of sending the un-adopted animals back to die.  In an effort to buy them more time, the volunteers started stashing animals in their own homes and those of other volunteers. The volunteers quickly grew in number and on April 26, 1996, they incorporated FAIR. Two years later, on December 1, 1998, FAIR was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. FAIR is also proud to comply with the national no-kill standards.

Benita Babeckis grew up in Tucson and left in 1961, saying "I’ll never be back!" Well, never was Aug. 7, 2005. I’m a Reiki Master Teacher, NLP Trainer, Reflexologist, Aromatherapist, Hypnotist, Animal Communicator, Graduate of Silva Method, Silva Advanced, Success Seminar, & Ultra Seminar, Published Author, Co-developer and Trainer of "Keys, To Psychic Development." I also published "On Gossamer Wings," Springfield, IL’s only New Age newsletter for 5 years.

Cynthia David loves all animals except mosquitoes, black flies, fleas, and some humans. She conquered the normal fear of public speaking after being forced to lecture in organic chemistry to classes of ill-mannered pre-medical students. Since then, no one has been able to shut her up.

Jay Shiro Tashiro is a storyteller and dreamer. Born in Akron, Ohio, he grew up with West Virginia hillbillies on one side of the family and Japanese academics on the other. So, he heard the hard tales of coal miners and eating possum as well as the stories of Samurai and the Japanese version of the Peach Boy. Not quite fitting in anywhere, Tashiro preferred dreaming to working, which made it difficult to get through college and find meaningful employment. After all, who hires dreamers at a livable wage? His most recent works include two screen plays that are currently being shopped around. One examines the life of a Nisei soldier in World War II. The other is a horror story about a Buddhist monk and a shapeshifter. Jay Shiro is able to tell stories, as well as buy food and feed the cats, by working as a faculty member at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and as a software developer in Tucson. His partner, Ellen Sullins is a poet and psychotherapist.

Stuart Gellman  is making his second appearance as a story-teller this evening.  He is a published author (non-fiction), Bed & Breakfast owner ( www.oraibiplace.com ), keyboard player (piano and theatre organ), volunteer trauma chaplain, certified critical incident debriefer, grandfather to seven, and active participant in many of the adventures life offers. 

Charles Schnarr is a local high school teacher and performance artist.   As a Playback Theatre Practicioner, and Board Member of the International Playback Theatre Network he values the power of personal story.   You can find out more about Playback theatre by visiting www.playbacknet.org.
Charles recently performed in the Old Pueblo Playwrights "Play in a Day" Festival, in the play that won the contest.