COLUMBINE IN ARIZONA

While on spring break last week, Extra! traveled to Tucson to see our beloved Rockies play a little baseball. It was (almost) like being at home (although we doubt 90-degree temperatures were involved) seeing so many cars with Colorado license plates parked at Hi Corbett Field. But Extra! also enjoyed a fun and informative tour of the Pima Air and Space Museum, led by Lovelander Bill MacDonald, who volunteers his time as a docent when he's down south.

And, of all the planes on Pima's sprawling acreage, Bill led us to the Columbine, a Lockheed VC-121A Constellation used at one time to transport high-ranking generals and presidents. According to Bill, President Dwight D. Eisenhower used three VC-121As, the one at Pima being the first, during his time as the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) commander in the early 1950s. All of Eisenhower's "Connies" were called Columbine, a nod to wife, Mamie's, home state.

A big Extra! thanks to Bill and the rest of the volunteers at Pima, and of course to the Rockies for winning both games we saw under the Tucson sun.

A 'TOP 50' RABBI

22 Rank of Boulder-based Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi in the April 2 issue of Newsweek, which lists the top 50 rabbis in America. Schacter-Shalomi said he's excited that by being one of the top 50 rabbis, Jewish Renewal may find a wider audience: "I think Jewish Renewal is the upcoming way for American Jews to become involved in religion and spirituality. You often find people interested in one or the other, but very seldom do you find both religion and spirituality combined."