There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Summit Meeting

Constructor: Sally Hoelscher

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• CAT (11A: Purr-fect pet) I will always include the word CAT in my grids if it’s possible, because it makes me happy. To celebrate, here’s a photo of my purr-fect pet in profile.

• WAS (24A: “Fuzzy Wuzzy ___ a bear) This clue takes me back to my childhood when it just tickled me to rattle off, “Fuzzy Wuzzy WAS a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, WAS he?”
• AUG (27A: Summer month without a U.S. federal holiday) June has Juneteenth (June 19). July has Independence Day (July 4). September has Labor Day (first Monday of the month). Poor August (AUG.) does not have a federal holiday. It does have my birthday, however, and I have made the case that it should be declared a federal holiday. The abbreviation of U.S. in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be an abbreviation.
• IMMUNE (36A: ___ system (disease protection network)) The disease protection network known as the IMMUNE system is comprised of multiple parts that work together to respond to pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, cancer cells, and other foreign objects. Most organisms have some sort of IMMUNE system. The IMMUNE system of humans includes the skin and mucous membranes, which act as barriers; the thymus, where T-cells develop; the spleen, which acts as a sort of blood filter; and lymph nodes, which are located throughout the body and can trigger the production of antibodies. The bone marrow and tonsils also play a role in the IMMUNE system. Hooray for science in the crossword!
• RHO (39A: Letter after pi) In the Greek alphabet, RHO follows pi. Do you remember what letter follows RHO? I reviewed this section of the Greek alphabet three days ago when we saw RHO clued as [Letter between pi and sigma].
• BLACKFEET NATION (40A: People also known as Niitsitapi) BLACKFEET NATION is a federally recognized tribe, which grants them certain rights of self-government. The BLACKFEET Indian Reservation is located in northern Montana, east of Glacier National Park, and bordering the Canadian province of Alberta. Niitsitapi is the name the BLACKFEET people use to refer to themselves.
• BONES (43A: Humerus, scapula, femur, etc.) Oh, look, more science in this crossword. The humerus is the upper arm BONE. The scapula is the shoulder blade, which connects the humerus with the collar bone (clavicle). The femur is the upper leg BONE, and is the longest BONE in the human body.
• UFO (47A: _nidentified _lying _bject) In this variation of fill-in-the-blank clue, each blank corresponds to one letter.
• MARGARET NAGLE (60A: “The Good Lie” scriptwriter) The Good Lie (2014) is a movie about the Lost Boys of Sudan, over 20,000 boys who were displaced or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1987-2005). MARGARET NAGLE won the Paul Selvin Award from the Writers Guild of America award for writing the movie’s script, an award that recognizes a writer whose script “embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties that are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere.” MARGARET NAGLE also wrote the script for the HBO movie, Warm Springs (2005) about President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• ESTE (72A: Sunrise direction in Madrid) The “in Madrid” part of this clue alerts solvers that the answer will be a Spanish word. “ESTE” is Spanish for “east.”
• EARLE (3D: “Blue Hope” author Sylvia) Sylvia EARLE is a former Chief Scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She has authored many books, including Blue Hope: Exploring and Caring for Earth’s Magnificent Ocean (2014). In 1998, Time magazine named Sylvia EARLE as its first “Hero for the Planet” for her pioneering research on marine ecosystems. I was happy with the opportunity to highlight a female scientist with this clue.
• FREELANCE (4D: Like self-employed writers) I have done FREELANCE work for over 20 years, first as a writer of curriculum, and now as a writer of this column and a constructor and editor of crosswords. It makes me happy to be able to include the word in this puzzle and celebrate those of us who experience the joys and challenges of FREELANCE work.
• ASANA (7D: Reclining goddess, for example) Reclining goddess (or reclined goddess) is an ASANA (pose) in yoga for exercise. As the name suggests, the pose is done while lying on one’s back. The knees are bent and relaxed to the sides so that the soles of the feet can be placed together. The arms may be relaxed at one’s sides or placed overhead. Reclining goddess is my favorite yoga pose. I find it extremely relaxing while at the same time find it amusing to think of myself as a reclining goddess.
• MEI (38D: “Turning Red” protagonist) Turning Red is a 2022 animated movie. MEI, voiced by Rosalie Cheng, is a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian girl who transforms into a giant red panda when she feels strong emotions.
• KSU (41D: Midwestern sch. in Manhattan) That would be Manhattan, Kansas – in the Midwest – rather than Manhattan, New York City (definitely not in the Midwest!). Manhattan, Kansas is home to Kansas State University (KSU).
• SAN (50D: ___ Juan Islands) The SAN Juan Islands are an island group in the Pacific Northwest between the state of Washington (of which they are a part), and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The islands are accessible by ferry or by air. 
• TENSE (59D: Past, present or future) When I wrote this clue, I was thinking of the joke, “Past, present, and future walked into a bar. It was TENSE.”

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• STREET NAMES (17A: Broadway and Park Avenue, for example)
• BLACKFEET NATION (40A: People also known as Niitsitapi)
• MARGARET NAGLE (60A: “The Good Lie” scriptwriter)

SUMMIT MEETING: The name of a SUMMIT – Mt. ETNA – is found at the MEETING place of the first and second words in each theme answer: STREET NAMES, BLACKFEET NATION, and MARGARET NAGLE.

I enjoy hidden word themes, especially those that have an extra layer as today’s does. The title of SUMMIT MEETING doesn’t specifically indicate which word is hidden in each theme answer. This (hopefully) allows for a bit of an “Aha!” moment when the solver recognizes ETNA as a SUMMIT. I originally queried this title with a complete different set of theme answers and a different hidden word, but that didn’t work out. The editors liked the idea of SUMMIT MEETING as a title, however, so I decided to see what else I could come up with to fit this title. I’m happy with how this eventually turned out. Thanks to Amanda for great editing as always. Thanks for solving; I hope you enjoyed the puzzle.

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