Ring's reflections: Tucson presidio formed nucleus of the town to come

Reconstruction of San Agustín Mission Garden is under way at the foot of Sentinel Peak by Friends of Tucson's Birthplace.

Ring's reflections: Trip reveals S. American wonders

Bob Ring and Pat Wood get soaked while standing on a catwalk in front of thundering Iguazú Falls.

Ring's reflections: Photo skills soar with pro's help

This photo of a monarch butterfly on a bromeliad was taken with a point-and-shoot camera at an Arizona Highways photography workshop at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The session was led by Jeff Kida, photo editor at the magazine.

Ring's reflections: Photo skills soar with pro's help

Kale is the subject of this photo. Workshop participants learned to control parameters such as light, exposure time and depth of field.

Ring's reflections: Tucson is 'Bicycle Town USA'

Bobby Ring proudly showed off his brand-new Schwinn 3-speed bicycle back in 1952.

Ring's reflections: Tucson Fire Dept.'s history can be found on new site

Al Ring with history-data notebooks he's compiled.

Boston vacation yields lots of fun, busy sites

Boston's Bank of America Pavilion is filled with Boston Latin School graduates and their guests. The school is the oldest public school in America, seeing its first students in 1635.

Ring's reflections: Research leaves columnist awash in interesting local tidbits

Looking west from the Tanque Verde Wash, you can see the Craycroft bridge. The Pantano Wash joins Tanque Verde Wash under the bridge.

Ring's reflections: Hohokam, Mormons all part of Rillito's past

This original Binghampton school building at 3701 E. River Road is now part of Khalsa Montessori School.

Ring's reflections: Hohokam, Mormons all part of Rillito's past

The Binghampton Cemetery, started in 1899, still accepts Mormons for burial.

Ring's reflections: Hohokam, Mormons all part of Rillito's past

This Mormon Church at 3750 E. Fort Lowell Road was dedicated in 1935 by Binghampton residents.

Guatemala: La diversión continúa en el Lago Atitlán

Vista desde nuestro hotel de Tres Volcanes

Ring's reflections: Our fun continues at Lake Atitlán

Three volcanoes as seen from our Lake Atitlán hotel. The lake itself fills an enormous volcanic crater.

Ring's reflections: Let's spread holiday cheer to those less fortunate

is a Tucson writer and historian

Ring's reflections: Retracing steps of gold-rushing ancestors is, well, a rush

My ancestors mined for gold in the summer of 1850 here at Spanish Bar on the Middle Fork of the American River.

Ring's reflections: Computer doc makes much-needed house call

Our computer doctor burst out laughing when he saw this tangle of wires under my desk.

Ring's reflections: Computer doc makes much-needed house call

BEFORE: Our computer doctor burst out laughing when he saw this tangle of wires under my desk.

Ring's reflections: Fall classes to begin at community center

The new Lew Sorensen Community Center has four classrooms for adult leisure learning.

Ring's reflections: Fall classes to begin at community center

Teachers Lori Kennedy Matheson, left, and Linda Baker demonstrate their wheel pottery prowess.

Loose in the foothills: How Bashas' survived its bankruptcy journey

The AJ's Fine Foods at La Encantada, Bashas' high-end grocery outlet, is the only AJ's in Tucson.

Loose in the foothills: Basha family survives hardships, grows business

This display at the Bashas' market at 6900 E. Sunrise Drive summarizes the history of the Bashas' family-owned grocery chain.

N.M. resort town offers great sights, day trips

The only hiking we got to do on our trip to Ruidoso was the climb to the viewing platform of this fire watch tower.

Check closet for family treasures

In this favorite Ring family photo, Grace Ring is "Looking into Mexico."

Reader photos

Foothills columnist Bob Ring took this shot of an unusual cloud formation that looks like an upside-down spoon. He took the photo in January from his Foothills backyard atop Canyon Ridge.