EastM Magazine V2N1 Feb/March 2020

V2N1 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 PHOTO BY MIKAYLA DEVEREUX

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hang with your peeps!

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come for our St. Patty’s party & trivia nights too! best happy hour in town!

Home of the $3 mimosa! And a full bar.

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Bring in your tickets or passes from events you attend, including: The Renaissance Festival, Spring Training, and Phoenix Open for eastmmag.com*

20% off! restrictions apply FEB|MARCH 2020

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR.

It’s February and that means Valentine’s Day. But before you roll your eyes because you are so over this silly holiday — or are single and could care less — remember there are so many ways to share and feel love. I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a reminder to show kindness and spread happiness, kind of like Thanksgiving is really about showing gratitude. Take a look on page 18 for ideas on spreading the love in our community. Then try it — it’s an amazing feeling.

While you are thinking about love and good feelings, the greatest gift of love you can give (and you will receive as well) is taking in a homeless dog or cat. This is a topic near and dear to my heart and I am so thankful for this opportunity to help spread the word. I have had pets my entire life — I can’t imagine a home without one — and they have all but one been rescues. I have truly loved every dog and cat in my life and the love I have felt from them is undeniable. In my first issue of EastM I shared the loss of my sweet girl Kima. Last month marked a year without her and the longest period of my life without a pet. We reached out to my friend Monica Angel, founder of Angels for Paws, and met Yogi, a goofy pit bull/boxer mix. My son and I officially welcomed him into our family, and our home is once again overflowing with love. There are so many precious animals like Yogi ready to give love, and rescues like Monica’s have their hands full! You can help. You won’t regret it — find out more on page 22.

YOGI JOINS THE FAMILY AND

SPREADS THE LOVE!

Spreading love is also about giving back. Another reason I love it here in East Mesa is the enormous amount of generosity and involvement throughout our community — especially from small businesses. Nico’s Barber shop on page 8, and Luger Homes, The Keith Group, and The Williams & McBean Team on page 10, have all found ways to do something good through their businesses. And organizations like Arizona Disabled Sports (page 50) that give love and support by providing adaptive sports, recreation and social activities for individuals with all types of disabilities — all spread love everyday.

Btw, if you are excited about Valentine’s Day, check out page 62 for a few date ideas. Personally, after many years of being in the ‘could care less’ category, now with the love of an amazing man, our new pup, and my always sweet son, I am almost giddy about Valentine’s Day! So, here’s to love! Please be kind, smile, and remember to shop local and support EastM advertisers — together we can help our businesses succeed, strengthen our communities, nurture our families, and celebrate why we love it here!

All my best,

Dara Fowler Publisher & Designer | dara@eastmmag.com | 480.200.5286

V2N1 | FEB/MARCH 2020 PUBLISHER | DESIGNER

Dara Fowler COPY EDITOR

Rachel Baliff EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Mickey Nelson CONTRIBUTORS

Curt Blakeney Rhonda L. Carlson Betsy Cluff Jon Englund Bethanie Hestermann Jamie Huish Shannon Maki Linda Palm Bec Veerman PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mikayla Devereux William Lax Steve Simpson

www.eastmmag.com @eastmmagazine © 2020 All rights reserved EastM Media LLC. All material is copywritten and subject to approval before being reproduced. EastM is a free publication.

THE MOTH MAINSTAGE

WED, FEB 5 | 7:30 PM

SIMPLY THREE

FRI, FEB 21 | 8:00 PM

THE BACHELOR LIVE ON STAGE

THU, FEB 13 | 7:30 PM

THE DOO WOP PROJECT

THU, FEB 27 | 7:30 PM

RENÉE FLEMING

© MBARI

© A N D R E W E C C L E S -D E C C A M E D

PERFORMING LIVE 2020 SEASON

NAT GEO LIVE: DESIGNED BY NATURE

WITH GERALD MARTIN MOORE, PIANO

FRI, FEB 14 | 8:00 PM

SUPPORTED BY WELLS FARGO

IL VOLO: THE BEST OF 10 YEARS

A BOWIE CELEBRATION: BOWIE ALUMNI PLAY DIAMOND DOGS & ZIGGY STARDUST

WED, FEB 19 | 7:30 PM

SUN, MAR 1 | 7:30 PM

PRESENTED WITH LIVE NATION

© ANDY MANN

WED, MAR 4 | 7:30 PM

THE FINEST HOUR: DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS AND HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN

THU, MAR 5 | 7:30 PM

LIVE FROM LAUREL CANYON

SUN, MAR 15 | 7:30 PM

NAT GEO LIVE: FROM SUMMIT TO SEA

WED, MAR 18 | 7:30 PM

THE OFFICE! A MUSICAL PARODY

MAR 27 – 29 | 7:30 PM

ONE EAST MAIN STREET MESA, AZ 85201 | 480.644.6500 | MESAARTSCENTER.COM

INSIDE 17

calendar Spread the Love Red Mountain Carnival Kids Activity: Scavenger Hunt FAMILY & COMMUNITY

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FEATURE:

The Greatest Gift of Love

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

calendar Critter Corner: Javalina Along for the Ride Public Lands and New Plans

HomeSmart Realtors

FEATURE:

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START HERE

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE

Lost Dutchman State Park

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Get Lost in the legend and beauty

82 LOOKING BACK

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From fostering to offering a forever home, here’s how your family can help homeless cats and dogs in East Mesa

Love on the Frontier

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ACTIVE & STRONG

Pickleball Holds Court 3 Mind-body Disciplines

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FEATURE:

Competitors with Heart

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Farmers Markets Tournament of Flavors St. Patty’s Day Recipes Valentine’s Date Ideas

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calendar p59 58

61 61 62

FEATURE:

Spring Training Mesa Style

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Find a slice of baseball heaven in Mesa’s ballparks

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HOME: INSIDE & OUT

Know Before You Throw Spruce Up Your Fireplace

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FEATURE:

Outdoor Upgrade

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eastmmag.com

10 tips for creating your dream backyard

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ENROLL NOW FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2020

If you want to give your child the best possible start in life, call Self Development Academy and enroll your young scholar in one of the most respected and highly ranked charter schools in the country.

ACCELERATED CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

“Together, we (at SDA) are family, all working hard towards the common goal of ensuring that the students get the highest level of education.”

— MRS. GRAVILLE, SDA TEACHER

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (480) 641-2640 | SELFDEVELOPMENTACADEMY.COM MESA CAMPUS 1709 N. Greenfield Road Mesa, Arizona 85205

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SOUTHEAST MESA CAMPUS GLENDALE CAMPUS 7930 E. Baseline Road 16635 N. 51st Avenue Mesa, Arizona 85209 Glendale, Arizona 85306 eastmmag.com

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START HERE

charity spotlight:

Arizona Game and Fish Department

New Mesa Barber Shop

DONATES A MEAL to the hungry WITH EVERY HAIRCUT Look good. Do good. That’s the slogan at Nico’s Barbershop. And it’s more than a slogan. The business donates a meal through Feed My Starving Children (located in Mesa) for every haircut. Since it opened, the barbershop has donated close to 25,000 meals to kids around the world.

Nico’s owner, Rajiv Patel, first heard about Feed My Starving Children volunteering with church groups. “We would go once a year, and I always looked forward to it,” he said.

Rajiv’s father came to the United States from India and his mom from Nicaragua, so feeding kids overseas is a mission close to his heart. “I’ve always looked at opportunities to help poor and struggling countries,” he said. And his clients are committed to the mission too — some travel a bit farther than they should to get a haircut so they can be a part of what Nico’s is doing. The goal is that people will not only love how they look, but love how they feel because they’ve done something good.

“We hope to inspire other businesses to implement a program like this.”

Rajiv hopes that others can be inspired to also give back. “We hope to inspire other businesses (if they are able) to implement a program like this,” he said. “A little goes a long way.”

Nico’s Barber Shop is located at 1309 N Greenfield, Unit 108 480.306.4791 | nicosbarbershop.com ​ 8

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eastmmag.com

Conservation wasn’t a priority in this country until the early 1900s, when forwardthinking conservationists began pushing the need to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Now, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is considered the world’s most successful, helping sustain wildlife species and habitats through well-founded science and active management. Every time you see Arizona wildlife, you get a glimpse of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s true purpose in action.

So, this may surprise you: The Arizona Game and Fish Department conserves and protects Arizona’s 800+ wildlife species but receives NO Arizona general fund tax dollars.

You read that right — Arizona Game and Fish Department doesn’t receive a single penny of Arizona general tax dollars. A lot of their funding comes from public spending on things like fishing and hunting licenses, tags or stamps, and via a federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition.

Unfortunately, those funds are stretched thin. They need all the help they can get — and so do Arizona’s critters.

In 2019, AZGFD delivered life-saving water across all corners of the state, rescued and rehabilitated injured wildlife, and brought back threatened and endangered species.

All of this on-the-ground conservation work was accomplished mostly due to generous donations from the public who have joined their mission to conserve and protect.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department conserves and protects Arizona’s

800+ WILDLIFE SPECIES As AZGFD begins work to conserve and protect even more wildlife in 2020, they are asking you to show support by: • becoming a Conservation Member • giving at azwildlifehero.com • texting AZCONSERVATION to 41444

Visit azwildlifehero.com for more information on AZGFD’s mission and programs, success stories, and all the ways you can help them continue to make the great outdoors great.

THE STORY OF

REASON #6:

spreading joy

My turn again. I can’t help it, there are so many things I love here (that’s why I started EastM after all), but this one is so cool. I was at an event at Canyon Winds Retirement Community just before the holidays and we were, well ‘Flash Mobbed’!

This group of do-gooders were so fun. They arrived dressed in crazy outfits and filled with holiday cheer. They did some caroling, played mostly home made instruments, and the residents of Canyon Winds really loved it — then they were gone! Leaving everyone feeling happy and joyful.

Who were they? I had to investigate further.

When I discovered they were not some hired, professional entertainment, but rather just a group of local friends, I loved it all even more! These amazing people spreading joy, just because they wanted to — another reason why I love it here.

— Dara Fowler, Las Sendas Read about The Hillridge Tabernacle Choir on the top right of this page!

what’s your reason?

Tell us why you love it here! Send us your photos and short stories. We will spotlight one each issue. Email them to love@eastmmag.com

The Hillridge Tabernacle Choir This past Christmas marks the third annual caroling/flash mob tour for the Hillridge Tabernacle Choir, a group of lifelong friends who definitely know how to mingle and mix a festive good time while making others smile.

Ryan and Wyndie Yocum thought flash mobbing restaurants while dressed in elf costumes would be a hoot. “Soon the idea was born — we would dress up in wildly entertaining costumes, play weird instruments and dance around aimlessly,” says Wyndie.

But the real focus now is performing at assisted/independent living facilities. Every year they pick a costume and six or seven fun, interactive songs that they think the residents will enjoy.

“Visiting the assisted living centers is such a heartwarming and wonderful experience for all of us,” says Wyndie.

After visiting about six assisted living facilities, they flash mob a half dozen random restaurants. “For a few minutes customers stop eating and employees stop working. Everyone is collectively happy in the moment,” says Wyndie. “It is genuinely the most amazing experience.”

by the numbers: CACTUS LEAGUE ATTENDANCE AND ECONOMIC IMPACT 2018 Cactus League Economic and Fiscal Impact Report

$644.2 MILLION 16,100 SPRING TRAINING TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ON ARIZONA

1.8 MILLION FANS

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NIGHTS

median stay for out of area visitors

$122.6 MILLION spent at bars and restaurants by out of state fans

1-game attendance record

CUBS VS RED SOX

60% $405 PER DAY

OF FANS ARE FROM OUT OF STATE

average spent by out of state fans

6,439

ANNUAL JOBS CREATED by the Cactus League

$224.6 MILLION PAID TO ANNUAL JOBS ( mentioned above)

15 MINUTES OF LAUGHTER equals the benefit of 2 hours of sleep. source: thefactsite.com

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business spotlight

realtors. advisors. friends.

These three East Mesa groups go above and beyond by giving back to the community they love.

BY BETHANIE HESTERMANN

LEFT TO RIGHT: Donna Luger and Jon Englund of Luger Homes; The Keith Group, Chris and Michele Keith; The Williams & McBean Team’s Jennifer Kovach, Rosann Williams, Tannis McBean, and Marlis Beljan

BUYING AND SELLING A HOME ARE MAJOR LIFE EVENTS that most people wouldn’t feel comfortable navigating on their own. Realtors are the people we bring into our lives in those moments to help us. We trust them to truly listen to our wants and needs and keep our best interests at heart throughout the process. We trust them to negotiate for us — to be our advocates. In some cases, realtors become our friends.

Some East Mesa realtors connect with their community on a deeper level — by giving back.

Besides becoming trusted advisors to members of the community in their times of real estate-related need, they feel compelled to do more. In doing so, these small businesses are helping East Mesa continue to be a fantastic place to live.

The HomeSmart NorthEast Mesa Branch was established in 2017 to provide a base for the growing number of HomeSmart real estate professionals living and working in the East Mesa area. Today, the branch has grown to include 180 agents. As an organization, HomeSmart International operates a charitable arm called HomeSmart Helps, which supports a number of charities and campaigns, including St. Mary’s Food Bank, Feed My Starving Children, Arizona Helping Hands, André House of Arizona, and the Arizona Children Association’s Gifts of Hope Holiday Campaign.

Under the HomeSmart umbrella, small businesses, often run by teams of realtors, find their own ways to give back to the East Mesa community.

Here are three groups that go above and beyond.

PHOTO BY STEVE SIMPSON

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business spotlight

We decided then that if there was anything we could do to get more eyes and ears out looking for pets at these critical times WE WERE ALL IN. Luger Homes Donna Luger and Jon Englund, co-managers of the HomeSmart NorthEast Mesa Branch, own Luger Homes. Luger and Englund’s approach is to treat clients as they themselves wish to be treated — with care, compassion, and respect. “We take the risk of asking thought-provoking questions so we can discover what is most important to our clients, then listen carefully to their answers, because experience shows that when our clients are clear on what’s important, their decisions are easy and their goals are achieved with happiness,” Luger says.

Luger and Englund each hold a broker’s license rather than just a sales agent’s license. Englund’s background in antiques and collectibles makes him a trusted partner to those looking to downsize and/or better understand the potential value in personal property. In fact, you could say that helping people downsize is a Luger Homes specialty. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Luger’s strengths include her genuine compassion for others and her ability to not only listen but also discern what’s important to her clients. She says, “We show up, and we do what we say we’re going to do — something that seems to be lost in today’s customer service environment.”

Luger Homes gives back by running the Las Sendas Pet Network, a local network that helps return lost pets to their owners. After a client lost a family pet, Luger and Englund felt compelled to do what they could to prevent a similar tragedy for other families in East Mesa. “One evening we

experienced first-hand, the fear that grips a family when a pet is missing,” Luger says. “We decided then that if there was anything we could do to get more eyes and ears out looking for pets at these critical times, we were all in.” They urge pet owners to sign up for NextDoor.com, as they believe it is a great tool in the quick rescues and reuniting of pets with their people. “Over the years, there have been many successful reunions of dogs ... and even three tortoises!”

reuniting.

As the lead volunteers for the Las Sendas Pet Network, Donna Luger and Jon Englund have reunited dozens of pets and their families including Shredder the tortoise with a very happy Kelly Banonis.

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CHECK EM OUT

Every year Michele and Chris Keith participate in the NOCC (National Ovarian Cancer Coalition) walk with friends and family.

giving hope.

The Keith Group Michele and Chris Keith have been a husband and wife real estate team for over 14 years.

Their business backgrounds and experiences in the corporate world help them confidently guide others through their most important financial decisions in real estate. Michele Keith says being a realtor is a career choice that requires finesse, tenacity, and gusto in order to properly lead people through what can be a trying time in their lives.

“We found (a) love for being there for others during these times,” Keith says. “Real estate is still very much a people-serving business — it’s customer-service based combined with being able to provide expertise, guidance, and representation. We aim to stay on top of technology and the modern ways that buyers and sellers are conducting their real estate needs so as to make the process as seamless as possible.”

“Annually, we participate in the NOCC (National Ovarian Cancer Coalition) walk, raising money to fight this disease that took my mother,” Keith says. “Giving goes beyond just doing ‘our job.’

We believe in something bigger than ourselves and feel the need to participate in a multitude of ways. We contribute financially to a support group we are passionate about and find the time to walk every year to remember those we have lost or celebrate those currently fighting and surviving.”

WE BELIEVE IN SOMETHING BIGGER than ourselves and feel the need to participate in a multitude of ways.

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The Keiths get to know their clients, their needs, and their histories, which helps them connect on a human level and not just on a business level. They also choose to give back financially and by volunteering their time.

They support youth sports in East Mesa, particularly the Red Mountain Little League and Red Mountain Lions Baseball Club, and they support cancer organizations in the quest to find a cure.

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business spotlight

... every member of our team is

VERY DETERMINED TO GIVE BACK

“

CHECK EM OUT

The Williams & McBean Team Rosann Williams has been a full-time, top-producing real estate agent in Northeast Mesa for over 18 years. She and Tannis McBean, who has 15 years of senior sales and marketing experience, formed the Williams & McBean Real Estate Team in 2018. The two women believe there is strength in numbers, so they brought on two more team members, Marlis Beljan and Jennifer Kovach. Kovach says the group effort is effective because if someone hires her as a realtor, they get the expertise of four agents instead of just one.

The team’s goal is to involve clients in every aspect of the home buying or selling process. “We do not take short cuts or compromise our level of service regardless of the price point. All clients are treated equally and with the upmost respect,” Williams says. “The sale or purchase of a home is innately an emotional process. We represent our clients’ best interest and keep them involved in every aspect of the transaction. We believe the outcome should be one where both parties feel good.”

For every transaction the Williams & McBean Team closes, each agent donates a portion of her earnings to Make-A-Wish® Arizona. “We are a group of four women that wholeheartedly support each other,”

says Beljan. “More so, we as a team want to give back to the community and are doing so through Make-A-Wish® Arizona.

I’m so grateful that every member of our team is very determined to give back to this amazing organization.”

The group also hosts annual community events with the goal of raising $10,000 each year. Events include Yoga with a Purpose, which is held the fourth Sunday of each month (January-May), and an annual Holiday Art Show fundraiser.

The Williams & McBean Team hosted the 2nd Annual Holiday Art Show and, thanks to all who attended, they were able to donate $2000 to Make-A-Wish® Arizona.

granting wishes.

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eastmmag.com

480-939-9140

SpartanNationAZ.com 4446 E UNIVERSITY DR / #107 / MESA

ROSANN WILLIAMS Associate Broker, CRS rosann@wmtaz.com 480.225.1816

MAKING WISHES COME TRUE ONE HOME AT A TIME

TANNIS MCBEA N MSA Realtor速 tannis@wmtaz.com 480.352.2614

MARLIS BELJAN Realtor速 tolo.marlis@gmail.com 480.980.5261

JENNIFER KOVACH Realtor速 jennifer@wmtaz.com 480.226.8425

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WWW.WMTA Z.COM EVERY SALE INCLUDES A DONATION TO

Make-A-Wish速 Arizona

FAMILY & COMMUNITY heroes | inspiration extraordinary kids pets education WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

KIDS! Would you like your voice to be heard?

Do you like to write?

We want to include a column written for kids

BY KIDS! Contact us for more information content@eastmmag.com 480-200-5286

Give love

Dog and cat fosters gain as much as they give

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FAMILY & COMMUNITY

5 WAYS TO

Spread the Love

Celebrating Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just for people in romantic relationships. Valentine’s Day can be a day to spread love in our community and to everyone with whom we interact. You can also spread love by intentionally seeking out the people that society usually ignores and help brighten their day with a little extra kindness.

Here are five ways we can all spread the love on Valentine’s day: 1|W rite an anonymous note of encouragement for a stranger.

Being kind in this way doesn’t take very much time, and requires very little money — all you really need is a piece of paper and a pen — and yet the impact it has carries infinite possibilities for the lucky person who discovers it. A message as simple as “you are loved” can lift someone’s spirits after a tough day, and let them know they are not alone.

2|L ook for the good in someone and tell them. It has often been

said, “If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.”

Complimenting someone’s eyes, hair or outfit is the easiest way to vocalize kindness, but what if we took it a bit farther and pointed out their stellar kind heart or how amazing it was that they helped a friend out during a difficult time. Complimenting someone’s actions versus how they look speaks to who they are and goes much deeper.

COMPLIMENTING SOMEONE’S ACTIONS VERSUS HOW THEY LOOK SPEAKS TO WHO THEY ARE AND GOES MUCH DEEPER 3|G ive your parking spot to someone else or let someone ahead

of you in line at the grocery store. We’ve all been there — in a hurry trying to run errands and trying to find that prime parking spot or the shortest line to get us out the door.

What would it look like to wait an extra three minutes at checkout to let that busy mom with three kids ahead of you in line? Or to walk a few extra feet so that elderly man can have the closer parking spot? These are simple ways to make a positive impact on your local community that really do make a difference.

4|S ay thank you. To your friends. To your family. To your local coffee

shop barista. Your hair dresser. Your mailman. To the janitor at your office building. Find people doing jobs that are usually ignored, and tell them thank you for the work that they do and the way it makes your life better. They will never forget it, and you will find that it feels so good to fill your gratitude tank up that you’ll start seeking out ways to be grateful in every part of your day.

5|D on’t forget yourself. We’ve all heard it before, “Self-care is not

selfish,” and it is so true. We cannot authentically care for others if we are not first caring for ourselves. It’s like they say during airplane safety instructions: put your oxygen mask on yourself first, before trying to help your neighbor. You’re a much more effective helper when you have the ability to breathe!

Give yourself extra time each day to do something you love or enjoy. Even something as simple as taking 10 minutes to step outside for some fresh air and a walk around the block can vastly improve your mood and free you up to love others with intention.

Now get out there and spread the love around our community — on Valentine’s Day, and every day.

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eastmmag.com

what’s happenin’

community events | school performances | family fun

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

7th Annual Southwest Maker Fest

making memories The Mountain Lion Carnival Celebrates 10 Years

Community members throughout Mesa are invited to the 10th Annual Mountain Lion Carnival, an all-ages event and fundraiser for the Red Mountain High football program, running Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1.

The atmosphere of the carnival rivals a mini-state fair. There’s something for everyone, including rides, game booths, face painting and entertainment geared for younger children. Noon to 2:00 PM on Febrary 29 is designated sensory-friendly time at the event. Music volume will be lowered, and Red Mountain student ambassadors will be available to provide additional support to children with disabilities.

Along with entertainment and attractions, families can learn about community resources from partners including Mesa Public Schools, Mesa Public Schools Foundation and City of Mesa. “‘Together’ is the motto of the Red Mountain Football family,” says Karen Eulate, Red Mountain Football Association president.

“Our family is comprised of our athletes, coaches, families and community members. We work together in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. We’ll be celebrating 10 years of togetherness at this special anniversary event.”

“We firmly believe in the influence of the Mountain Lion Carnival as a long-standing successful event,” Eulate says. “It provides a meeting place where memories can be made. In today’s age of technology, social media and life’s increasing stress, the carnival is a throwback to a simpler time where all members of the community can come together and have fun.”

Thurs 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Fri 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sat 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM; and Sun 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM Fremont Junior High fields, 1001 N Power Rd, Mesa Carnival admission is free. One-day unlimited ride wristbands are available online for $23 until Feb 27, and $28 at the gate. Individual ride tickets will be sold on site for $1 a piece. Attendees are welcome to bring picnics or visit one of the on-site food trucks. redmountainfootball.com

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | free Pepper Place, Downtown Mesa, AZ 85201 A one-day festival in downtown Mesa celebrating the power in all of us to create, innovate and realize our ideas! The idea Museum (150 W Pepper Place) is open during the festival with free admission for the day, and the Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts, our partner festival, will be happening at the same time. southwestmakerfest.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

I Love Science Day 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | $7; free to members Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N MacDonald, Mesa, AZ 85201 Get hands-on with crafts and live demos, and meet people from different fields. Need some ideas for a science fair project? We’ve got ‘em! Already have lots of interesting science ideas that you’d like to share with like-minded citizen scientists? Then this is your event! Observe ongoing scientific experiments, and participate in science-based activities and a variety of fun crafts. azmnh.org SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Giving Back

Hosted by Bark Avenue Animal Hospital 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | free Feed My Starving Children, 1345 S Alma School Rd, Mesa, AZ 85210 This year one of our goals for 2020 is to give back to the community near and far. Our Bark Avenue Family (Noe’s Ark Animal Hospital, Bark Avenue Pet Supply, Bark Avenue Pet Resort, Mesa Northeast Animal Hospital) is volunteering our time to give back and we are inviting all of our extended family (yes, that means you) to give back alongside us. Please register and help us feed starving children around the world. fmsc.org/join-group?joincode=Y408LX SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Valentine Meet & Greet 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | $20 per child Mrs Potts Tea Party, 264 W 2nd St, Mesa, AZ 85201 You will get the chance to meet at least 10 Princess Characters. Get your picture taken with each one, and an autograph Valentine from each Princess. mrspotts.bammtickets.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Little League Day 2020 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM | free Hohokam Stadium, 1235 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 It’s official! We have partnered with the Oakland A’s to host our 2nd Annual Little League Day. Last year we had such a good turn out we were asked to host again. It’s a free clinic for anyone K-5th grade interested in adding to their skills. No experience needed! eventbrite.com MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Presidents Day One-Day Camp 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | $60 Baker Performing Arts, 2035 S Alma School Rd #2, Mesa, AZ 85210 By popular request, this year Presidents Day One-Day Camp will include a rotation of piano, guitar, acting, singing and dance! WOW! bakerperformingarts.com eastmmag.com

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FAMILY & COMMUNITY

what’s happenin’continued THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Gamecon 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM | free Student Union ASU Polytechnic, 5999 S Backus Mall, Mesa, AZ 85212 Whether you are an expert gamer or a novice just looking for some fun, there will be something for everyone at GameCon, a philanthropic gaming event. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness for causes such as global poverty, while simultaneously raising awareness of the resources that Changemaker offers for you.

All charitable contributions to the event will be donated to United Way. FB@ChangemakerCentral FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

They Have Names Documentary Fundraiser 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | $20 ASA Now, 7830 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207 Arizona Republic journalists spent two years following five cases through the state’s child welfare system. Telling the story through the eyes of the kids, parents, grandparents, foster parents and case workers takes viewers beyond official statements from government officials to on-the-ground experiences in group homes, courtrooms, jail cells and high school graduations. Join us in raising funds for Jacob’s Mission Community Center. Featured in the documentary is ASA Now’s founder Anika Robinson.

FB@ASANow.org SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

ASU Open Door: Polytechnic 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | free Polytechnic School at ASU, 7231 E Sonoran Arroyo Mall, Santan Hall, Mesa, AZ 85212 What happens every day at the most innovative university in the nation? During ASU Open Door, children of all ages can let their imagination run wild, and visitors have the opportunity to participate in hundreds of interactive activities and talk to students, faculty and staff. Thrill seekers, lifelong learners, science gurus, art enthusiasts and adventure seekers can explore laboratories, living collections, museums and classrooms and participate in hands-on activities. opendoor.asu.edu

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Pet Adoption Fair 10:00 AM | free Mesa Public Library, 64 E First St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Find the purrfect addition to your family! Local community organizations will be set up outside the library with adoptable animals. If you have been considering bringing home a new animal to love, it’s the perfect day to take the leap! Plus we’ll have have pet-themed activities all day long. Before the adoption event kicks off, from 9-10:00 AM, we’ll have Paws 2 Read in the library — kids can read to therapy animals and their handlers. mesalibrary.org/Home/Components/News/ News/5820/2765 SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Ride-In Movies at the Park: How to Train Your Dragon 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | free Red Mounatin Park, 7745 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Join us for a fun night with a Movie at the Park. Stop by with the family for free Mesa giveaways, meet city staff, learn about helpful city resources, and enjoy a movie on us! SRP will provide the free kettle corn! mesaaz.gov/residents/transportation/bike-pedestrian

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SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Mixed Media & Art Doll Show 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | free Mesa Convention Center, 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 The cARTel would like to invite you to our First Annual Mixed Media & Art Doll Show. Over 50 vendors will be showcasing their work in acrylics, watercolor, collage, journals, zentangle, art dolls, assemblage and so much more. Come out and join us for a fun filled day of art, demonstrations, and make and takes. imagimeri.wpcomstaging.com/art-show-2020 MONDAY, MARCH 16

Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! (The Musical) 7:00 PM | $18 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater, One E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 It’s not easy being The Pigeon – you never get to do ANYTHING! But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird CAN do something. Starring an innovative mix of actors, puppets, songs, and feathers, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! (The Musical) is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. mesaartscenter.com FRIDAY, MARCH 20 – SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Arizona Game Fair: Tabletop Gaming Extravaganza Times vary | $20 – 45 Mesa Convention Center, 201 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Let’s play a game! Arizona Game Fair is a tabletop gaming convention offering over 6,000 square feet of space to play your favorite board game, card game, party game or role playing game. The Fair will feature a large library of games to check out and play. There will also be 128 hours of scheduled role-playing games featuring the Valley’s best game masters. arizonagamefair.com SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Falcon Field Annual Open House 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | free Falcon Field Park, 4636 E Fighter Aces Dr, Mesa, AZ 85215 Get a close look at unique aircraft, classic cars, model railroads and more! Kids’ activities include inflatables, face painting, balloon twisting, aviation-themed crafts, and a photo booth. There will also be raffle prizes, music, and food trucks. Canned food donations will be accepted for the United Food Bank. falconfieldairport.com SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Mesa Quilt Show 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | $1 donation (for Sunshine Acres Children’s Home) Trailhead Members Club, 7900 E Eagle Crest, Mesa, AZ 85207 Club members will be displaying beautifully constructed quilts of varying size, style, and palette. Members of the Las Sendas Quilt Club are dedicated to charitable projects; for example, last year they proudly donated 33 quilts to the House of Refuge, Helen’s Hope Chest, and My Sister’s Keeper. The members will be displaying many personal quilts and some will be for sale.

Complimentary refreshments will be available for all attendees.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Bowl Your Paws Off 3!

12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | $25 – 125 Mesa East Bowl 9260 E Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85208 Back for the third year in a row! It’s a nine pin tap tournament to help the pups! Get your team together and get signed up. Raffle, lots of fun, and pizza is included for each lane to share.

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JUST FOR KIDS!

A Day Out in Lost Dutchman From the authors of Zoology for Kids and Marine Science for Kids A scavenger hunt is a great way to explore Lost Dutchman State Park.

Head to Lost Dutchman (see page 42 for information about entrance fees) and park in the lot by the Siphon Draw Trailhead. Walk the 0.7-mile Discovery Trail and find as many items on the list below as you can. Feel free to work together!

your journey starts one

Breath at a time.

Tips: Ask for a map at the pay station. You’ll find the Discovery Trail marked “DI” on the map. You may also want to ask the ranger at the pay station for help reaching the parking lot by the Siphon Draw Trailhead. The trail ends when you reach a campground—time to turn around and go back!

DISCOVERY TRAIL SCAVENGER HUNT 1 |Ocotillo 2 |Saguaro 3 |Teddy bear cholla 4 |Mule deer plaque 5 |Bird (any type) 6 |Coyote sundial 7 |Prickly pear 8 |Wooden birdhouse 9 |Palo verde 10 |Brittlebush 11 |Lizard (any type) 12 |Barrel cactus 13 |Century plant 14 |Bobcat plaque 15 |Catclaw acacia

let’s begin our journey together.

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FAMILY & COMMUNITY

feature

Greatest Gift THE

OF

love From fostering to offering a forever home, here’s how your family can help homeless cats and dogs in East Mesa.

BY BETHANIE HESTERMANN | PHOTOS BY MIKAYLA DEVEREUX

A community is more than just a group of people living in the same place.

Community is a feeling too — a feeling of neighborliness, even with people who aren’t strictly your neighbors. Members of a community often feel a sense of commonality; they may come together to help one another in times of need. If animals are part of our families, aren’t they also part of our communities? Does community extend to stray dogs and cats with no home to call their own?

> see Quinn and Marjele’s story on the next page

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FAMILY & COMMUNITY

feature

Maricopa County has one of the highest intakes of stray dogs in the United States, according to Mary Martin, executive director of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. With hundreds of animals coming through the doors of rescues and shelters in Maricopa County each week, who will be their advocates? The people who run these organizations say it’s the community who must come through for homeless cats and dogs.

One way East Mesa residents can help is by adopting pets instead of buying them from breeders when they’re ready to add a furry member to their family. Kelly Richardson, board secretary for Desert Paws Rescue, a cat-focused nonprofit, says adoption is a great way to help reduce the vast numbers of homeless animals that would otherwise live out their short lives on the hot city streets. “Choosing to adopt a cat from a shelter or rescue opens up space for these friendly, abandoned cats to get a second chance at finding a loving home—an opportunity that is not created when someone chooses to purchase a feline from a breeder.”

Carrie Bernardi, a volunteer for Arizona HARTT (Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team), a volunteer-based nonprofit that humanely captures lost, homeless, and injured cats and dogs, has 15 years of rescue experience. “Almost 100 dogs a day are put through the county system,” she says. “Why are we breeding when these numbers are that high?”

Debbie Varner, founder of the Follow Your Heart Animal Rescue in Mesa, says adopting a pet has its advantages over buying from a breeder. “If you

the greatest gift of love

IS TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING AND THEN

letting it go SO YOU CAN save something else.

— Debbie Varner, founder of the Follow Your Heart Animal Rescue

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Quinn and Marjele The first time Meagan O’Dea and her family met Marjele, a rescue terrier mix from Angel for Paws, they fell in love with him. “Right from the beginning, he was amazing with our daughter Quinn,” Meagan says.

“He actually goes every night with me to put her to bed and lays next to her while we read a night-time story. Then, in the mornings, he runs straight to her room and gives her morning kisses.” Quinn (5) likes to give Marjele commands, which he often follows. The O’Deas say adopting Marjele brings daily joy to their household, and they’re proud to know they saved a life the day they brought him home.

“ Rig ht fro m th e b e gin nin g, h e wa s a m azin g. . . ”

Calming Companions Arletta Lueck adopted Max, a solid black adult cat from Desert Paws Rescue in 2018, because her animal-loving husband had Alzheimer’s, and she wanted him to have a calming companion. Max was the perfect fit for the job, rarely leaving her husband’s lap during his final months. After her husband’s passing, Arletta adopted a little brother for Max, a black-and-white cat named Jedi, who sleeps with Arletta every night. “My two boys have kept me going since my husband passed away,” she says. “They keep me company, and I couldn’t do without them.”

“...

I co u l d n ’ t d o with o ut th e m. ”

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adopt a pet, you have the agency you adopt from as a support system,” Varner explains. “Also, when you adopt from a rescue or a shelter, the dog is always vaccinated and fixed and there’s some information on their disposition. Most rescues will hold onto dogs they get for a short amount of time to see what kind of home the dog belongs in. So they take a lot of research out of it for you.”

Organizations like Varner’s do a lot for the homeless pet community in Maricopa County. The Follow Your Heart Foundation built a nonprofit low-cost animal hospital with adoption fees. It runs a Last Litter program that helps fix dogs and adopt out their puppies.

“We have something called the Tigg Pen, which is a ‘parvo’ unit at our hospital,” Varner says. “(Canine parvovirus) is a horrible virus in Arizona; it’s really contagious, and a lot of people don’t have the funds to treat their puppies. We have an isolation unit within our hospital where we take in those puppies, we treat them, and we figure out how to pay for it later. We return them to their owners after they’re better and hope that somehow we can make some of the money back that we spent trying to save them.”

Maricopa County shelters take in more dogs than almost any other county in the entire nation. Needless to say, the problem is a big one. “I think Follow Your Heart has placed almost 7,000 dogs in about six years, and that is not even the tip of the iceberg,” Varner adds. “We have a waiting list of dogs to come in, and a lot of these are good dogs; they just have no place to go.”

Fosters Give The Greatest Gift of Love For those who aren’t in a position to adopt a pet, there are other ways to help homeless cats and dogs in East Mesa. Richardson of Desert Paws Rescue says volunteers can put together gift baskets for raffle fundraisers, organize blanket or cat-litter drives, make care packages or toys for new adopters, or photograph adoptable animals for social media. But perhaps the most valuable way families can help is by fostering a cat or dog.

“Fostering can be a very valuable experience for individuals who are looking to contribute positively to their community and for rescues who are only able to save animals when they know the animal will have a safe place to receive medical and behavioral care while they await adoption,” Richardson says. “The Desert Paws Rescue Foster Program is interested in anyone who loves cats and is excited to provide love and attention to any cats or kittens that need a couch to surf until they find their forever home.

Families with other animals and children provide great exposure to kittens who are still having new experiences and learning to trust.

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Local Rescue Organizations AngelsforPaws.org DesertPawsRescue.org FollowYourHeartAnimalRescue.org GhostTownDogRescue.com AZhartt.org ValleyDogs.org

Derek, Cierra, Tatum (9), and Tristan (8) Garcia are dog parents to Tanner, a 4-year-old rescued lab/terrier mix, Titus, a 4-year-old rescued brindle white American bulldog, and Teddy, a rescued 1-year-old pitbull. Two of the three rescues were foster “fails” through Mesa’s Angels for Paws Animal Rescue. About Titus, Derek Garcia says: “We grew so much love for him in two weeks that we were not ever going to let this dog go.” And then, when Teddy came along, he says despite their best intentions to foster until this rambunctious little pitbull (and his winning smile) found a home, Teddy quickly became an indispensable part of the Garcia pack.

“...

we we re n ot eve r g oin g to l et this d o g g o. ”

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FAMILY & COMMUNITY

feature

We also love older families or individuals who have a calmer and quieter home environment for those cats who may have special needs.”

Fostering allows rescues to learn more about an animal’s personality, which helps organizations match animals with families for the best longterm fit. Richardson says fosters who sign up with Desert Paws to bottlefeed kittens during the summer months are particularly invaluable. They become surrogate mothers for these fuzzy babies that probably would not make it otherwise.

HARTT’s Bernardi says foster homes are a vital aspect to rescues, because living in a home gives a dog the real-life experience of what to expect once adopted. Foster situations help dogs get used to the sounds of a home, being potty trained, and learning to trust humans. “The most rewarding part about fostering is when you see their tail wag for the first time, or when they crawl up into your arms to rest,” Bernardi says.

“That’s when you know you are making a difference.”

Fostering is the community’s number-one need when it comes to saving homeless pets, even over monetary donations to nonprofit rescues, says Follow Your Heart’s Varner. The process to become a foster varies by organization, but many require an in-person interview and/or a home visit and signing a contract. Organizations should check in periodically and provide the support fosters need to be successful.

Spread, another nonprofit animal rescue, says the more foster families that rescues have, the more animals they can save, but unfortunately there is always a shortage. Through Angels for Paws, the foster process is simple. There’s an application and a home check to help determine what kind of dog or cat matches the foster family’s lifestyle. “(One) amazing part about fostering is that there is no financial commitment,” Angel says. “Our rescue provides everything the foster family needs in regards to training sessions, all food and necessities, as well as medical care. Essentially, all the fosters need to do is provide a loving home, promote their foster dog or cat on social media, and bring them to adoption events.”

Worried you’ll want to keep every animal you foster? “You have to kind of separate yourself from that feeling,” Varner says. “The greatest gift of love is taking care of something and letting it go so you can save something else. It is really difficult, but sometimes you just have to say I’m going to look at it that way, because it’s more important that these dogs not be euthanized than having a house full of dogs.”

If your family has a heart for homeless animals and is ready (i.e., has the time) to foster or be a forever home for a dog or cat, start by visiting several rescues in your area. Stay local, ask questions, and, above all, look for an organization that offers a good support system. By adopting and/or fostering, you’re extending that celebrated sense of community in East Mesa to cats and dogs that are lost, abandoned, or homeless and very much in need of love.

Bethanie Hestermann is a freelance writer and author from Arizona.

She and her husband wrote “Zoology for Kids”, “Marine Science for Kids”, and two forthcoming books for young animal lovers (April 2020).

FOSTERING CAN BE A VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING TO

contribute positively

to their community

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Duran and Sons Longtime foster mom Juli Duran enjoys showering dogs and puppies with love to help bring out their wonderful personalities.

Juli adopted Pig, her chihuahua, from Angels for Paws because she wanted to give back. It’s a family affair, really. Juli’s grand puppies, Atlas, Bucky, Orion, and Princess Roxie, all started out as fosters but ended up finding forever homes among her sons and staying in the family. “Having the fosters come into our life for a period of time—or stay forever—has had a big impact,” she says. “[Fostering is] knowing that you have impacted a life so positively, and there is so much love returned.”

“ . . .kn owin g th at yo u h ave im pa cte d a l ife so p ositive ly. . . ”

Loving, Long-Term Care Vicki Tollakson’s home is open to some very special dogs, including senior dogs and hospice cases that require long-term care. Through Follow Your Heart Animal Rescue, Vicki and her husband Erik have adopted two fosters that came to them with medical issues—Charlie, a loving lhasa mix, and Franki, a poodle mix with a permanent smile (underbite). The couple recently lost a long-term hospice foster named Emily, but the couple says knowing they made a difference in a dog’s life is worth the heartache. “Every dog deserves a chance to be loved and die with dignity, no matter their illness,” Vicki says. “Tears or not, I will do it again, no question.”

“ Te a rs o r n ot, I wi l l d o it a g ain, n o q u estio n. ”

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We’re Near You in Mesa and Scottsdale

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE outdoor fun wildlife natural beauty environment

p 36

Legends & Beauty Discover Lost Dutchman State Park

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE

critter

corner: Javelina

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM LAX

Though some people may call them cute, Javelina (Tayassu tajacu) are more often considered ugly animals with a rather unpleasant odor. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as “musk hogs”, but they aren’t wild pigs. Javelina are actually members of the peccary family of hoofed animals that originated in South America.

Javelina are common in much of central and southern Arizona, including the outskirts of the Phoenix area, most of Tucson, and occasionally as far north as Flagstaff. They have become accustomed to people and it isn’t unusual for them to live within the desert areas in and around suburban communities. In fact, you can frequently see herds walking down our Mesa neighborhood streets and foraging through garbage cans. They also use our washes and common areas with dense vegetation as travel corridors.

Javelina usually cause only minor problems for people by surprising them or eating a few plants, and will generally ignore humans. In most cases, if you try and approach them, they will simply leave the area, but if provoked or threatened, they’ve been known to defend themselves — especially to protect their young. “Javelina occasionally bite humans, but incidents of bites are almost always associated with people providing the javelina with food,” according to AZ Game & Fish. They also have a keen sense of smell but poor eyesight, so when they appear to be charging, they might actually be trying to escape. Javelina do tend to fear dogs, perhaps because coyotes are their natural predators, so if you see one while walking your dog, it’s best to head in a different direction — both animals could get hurt. Badly.

Javelina average lifespan in the wild is about 7.5 years, although they’ve been known to live as long as 25 years in captivity. When full grown, they weigh 35 to 60 pounds with males being slightly larger than females. Javelina are capable of breeding

If provoked, cornered, or threatened, javelina have been known to defend themselves — especially to protect their young.

what’s happenin’

outdoor activities | nature & wildlife education and support

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9

The World Beneath Our Feet 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Our desert ground is full of holes! Each hole reveals clues about who lives in them. Join Ranger B on this informative quartermile walk in the desert as we explore the amazing world beneath our feet. Meet at our Nature Center. maricopacountyparks.net/events

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

President’s Day Weekend Lower Salt River Cleanup 9:00 AM –12:00 PM | free Phon D Sutton Recreation Area, Bush Hwy Join us for our 4th Annual President’s Day cleanup. Natural Restorations is an Arizonabased nonprofit organization that removes trash, graffiti, and anything foreign to the environment from outdoor recreation and wilderness areas. naturalrestorations.org SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Southwest Cowboy Dressage Clinic

year-round, and can have two litters within a year. Newborns weigh about one pound and attain colorization at three months. Javelina roam in herds from two to more than 20 to defend territory, and to protect themselves from predators that include mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes.

Javelina are classified as herbivores. They eat a variety of native plant foods such as agave, mesquite beans, and prickly pear, as well as roots, tubers, and other green vegetation. However, if the opportunity presents itself, they will also eat lizards, dead birds and rodents. Javelina are most active at night; in the heat of the day, they will rest in the shade of a mesquite tree or under rocky outcroppings.

JAVELINA FACTS: 1 | It’s thought javelina migrated to Arizona relatively recently — their bones are not found in the archaeological sites of early human settlers.

2 | The average group size is 10, but a few herds have been known to number up to 53 animals.

3 | Their odor comes from a scent gland on their backs and other members of the herd will rub each other’s scent gland to identify javelina from different herds.

4 | Javelina have a keen sense of smell, but poor eyesight.

5 | Javelina average lifespan in the wild is about 7.5 years.

6 | They will roll in water and mud to cool off.

7 | The young are often called “reds” due to the red color of their hair.

8 | Their Spanish name comes from the male’s sharp tusks, which resemble javelins.

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | $120, plus $15 Facility Fee Tyler Farms, 3811 N Val Vista Dr, Mesa, AZ 85213 Learn all about Cowboy Dressage, Soft Feel, the Courts, and the tests. Come and improve your horsemanship skills, and get ready for the Spring Gathering! Riders new to Cowboy Dressage are always welcome to join us for any event. swcowboydressage.com/upcoming-events

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

5 Day Desert Survival Skills Class Tues 2:00 PM – Sat 5:00 PM | $375 - $550 Location TBD This class covers the basics of survival and outdoor skills with shelter, water, food and various other basic and advanced skills. We will focus on both primitive and modern survival techniques with an emphasis on a few basic tools that you should have in your backpack when venturing out into the desert. This course will prepare you for situations that people tend to find themselves in when things go wrong in the wilderness, and will simply allow you to feel more comfortable in the desert. While the outdoor survival skills training is in-depth, families are welcome and encouraged to attend — we teach in a family-friendly environment. thesurvivaluniversity.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Crazy Ranger Stories 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Ranger B has encountered some crazy and funny things here at Usery Park over the years.

Come and hear about them! Feel free to bring your lunch with you inside our Nature Center as you discover (if you haven’t already!) that it’s really us humans that are the most unpredictable creatures on earth. Laughter is guaranteed! maricopacountyparks.net/events

more

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what’s happenin’continued SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

All About Rattlesnakes 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 How dangerous are rattlesnakes? What should you do if you encounter one? How do they survive and thrive in our desert? Join us inside our Nature Center as Ranger B shares amazing facts about these misunderstood reptiles. Watch us feed our snakes after the program at 7:00 PM. Then join our “Animal Flashlight Walk” at 7:30 PM at no extra cost! maricopacountyparks.net/events

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

The Geology of the East Valley Walk 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Ever wonder about the fascinating mountains and rock formations in our area? Join geology professor, A. J. Lombard, as he shares a wealth of information about the geology of the East Valley on this 1-mile interactive walk. Bring your curiosities and questions and discover lots of amazing things about our local geology! Please bring water and closed-toe shoes.

Meet at Area 6. maricopacountyparks.net/events MONDAY, MARCH 16

Hiking with Dogs 8:00 AM –10:00 AM | free with park admission Lost Dutchman State Park, 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 Hike will be approximately four miles round trip and last two-three hours, allowing for lots of play time for the dogs. Make the most of this opportunity to get your dog used to hiking and socializing with other dogs while you get some exercise! There is no water along this route so please bring enough for you and your pet. Don’t forget a 6-ft leash and doggie bags.

Meet at Cholla Day Use. azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/events

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

Sonoran Stroll 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Enjoy the beauty of our Sonoran Desert on this fun and casual 2-mile stroll with our park ranger. Please bring water and closedtoe shoes. Meet at Trailhead Staging. maricopacountyparks.net/events WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

Kids Desert Scavenger Hunt 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Kids will love to find things out in our desert! Join us on this exciting scavenger hunt as we solve riddles and find things in our desert (using our eyes only). Not only will we have a lot of fun but we will also learn amazing things about our desert plants and animals! The 1-mile Merkle Trail accommodates wheelchairs and strollers. Please bring water and closed-toe shoes. Meet at Area 6. maricopacountyparks.net/events

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

Desert Edibles Walk 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | free with park admission Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 How have people survived off the desert for thousands of years? Which desert plants are edible and when are they edible? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this informative quarter-mile stroll with our park ranger. Please bring water and closed-toe shoes. Meet at our Nature Center. maricopacountyparks.net/events SATURDAY, MARCH 28 – SUNDAY, MARCH 29

16 Hour Advanced Wilderness First Aid SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Dr. Sky: An Amazing Night Under the Skies 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | free with park admission Lost Dutchman State Park, 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 Dr. Sky, a radio/TV journalist based in Phoenix, is prepared to show you an amazing night under the skies. What planets will we see in the dark desert sky? Join us at the park, and find out! Dress appropriately and prepare to be amazed at what you see in the gorgeous desert night sky. Meet at the Palo Verde Day Use parking area (weather permitting). azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/events

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | $125 – 140 LBW Training Center, 4562 E Mallory Cir #120, Mesa, AZ 80124 The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course will help you prepare for the unexpected. This fast paced, hands-on training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts and individuals working in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Upon completion you will receive a certification from ASHI. This certification is accepted by the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and all other organization requiring advanced wilderness first aid.

FB@FrontRangeCpr

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Bioblitz 2020 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | free with park admission Lost Dutchman State Park, 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 What is a Bioblitz? It’s a communal effort to record as many species of organisms within a specific area and timeframe as possible. Participants will team up to inventory the animals and plants at the park to understand and connect with nature. Come armed with a smartphone or tablet loaded with the iNaturalist app (free from the App Store or Google Play). You and your team will observe as many species of plants and animals that you can in your assigned area of the park within the allotted time. Registration will be limited to 50 participants per session. Must call 480-982-4485 to register. azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/events 34

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Along for the Ride If your New Year’s resolution includes spending more time off of screens and on a trail, it’s time to give trail riding a try. Mesa offers some of the best horseback trail riding in the state, offering a change of pace rarely found in our fast-moving world.

“When you’re on a horse, you slip into this other world,” says Steve McClintock, President of the East Valley Back Country Horsemen (EVBCH). “The pressure of everything else going on in life is released.

It’s like taking the lid off of a pot.”

The openness of the desert combined with varied terrain make Mesa’s trails unique, yet accessible.

“We’ll go over a river, up on a mesa, through a small forest and up some rocky hills. And we’ll see wild horses on the way in and the way out,” says Amanda Jensen, a wrangler at Saguaro Lake Ranch Stable.

The stable offers guided one- or two-hour trail rides for guests of all abilities. Children seven years or older are welcome to join the adventure. Come over the ridge as sunset sends the desert colors bouncing off the canyon and it’s a sight you won’t soon forget. “I’ve worked at four different horse ranches and this one has the best view by far for trail rides,” Jensen says.

The wildlife isn’t bad either. Beyond the Salt River’s wild horses, riders might see javelina, deer or even a bald eagle enjoying a fish supper.

If an hour or two won’t curb your appetite, AZTrailRiding offers rides for the adventurous soul: full or half day rides, moonlight rides, swimming with horses and even overnight trips into the backcountry.

It’s exploring Arizona’s beauty the old-fashioned way — from a saddle.

BY JAMIE HUISH

But this spectacular scenery won’t be around for long without a sustained preservation effort.

Associations like the EVBCH combine rides with trail upkeep, all on a volunteer basis. The group, which boasts 100 members, volunteered more than 2,000 hours last year alone.

“People are still imbued with the tradition of riding horses and want to keep that heritage going,” says McClintock. “We are very protective of the open, public lands. If we don’t preserve that accessibility, it could easily slip away.”

Though riders are, of course, sitting down, McClintock says trail riding is far from sedentary.

“Horses are athletes,” he says. “You have to keep yourself in shape to be athletic with your horse. You’re engaging your core and your lower body while working on your balance.”

An hour of trail riding burns roughly the same number of calories as jogging or cycling for 30 minutes. But it’s the psychological benefits that turn trail riding into a lifelong love, horsemen say.

A recent study by the British Horse Society found that horseback riding stimulated positive feelings, with rider responses claiming horseback riding made them feel, “extremely cheerful, relaxed, happy, or active.”

“Horseback riding is very personal,” says McClintock. “When you go out on the trails, you are doing something and seeing things that very few people avail themselves of the opportunity to do or see today. We feel privileged to be able to ride here.”

TRUE HORSEPOWER According to the Certified Horseman Association, the benefits of riding include: • T eaching caretaking, compassion and responsibility • Increasing physical and psychological health • Socializing with other riders • A return to nature • Relaxation • Fun and adventure!

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ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE

PUBLIC LANDS and

New Plans

Let’s start with a quick trip through history to explain a little more.

BY BEC VEERMAN, ZONE PARTNERSHIP LIAISON, FOREST SERVICE Shortly after the U.S. Civil War, a country eager to rebuild and move on began its journey into the western frontier. In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act. This was a collection of laws that allowed any adult that had never taken up arms against the federal government to own 160 acres of this great American land for free. The American Dream had never been so real. But just as we have seen on any given Black Friday, people got a little too excited.

As crimes and battles for land began to take place, the land itself started to suffer. Animals were disappearing, forests were cleared, rivers started to lose their banks and flow, and with that went water sources as well as food. We suddenly realized that we were destroying everything we had fought so hard to have.

The federal government stepped in again, and Public Lands was born. After careful examination and over time, the “lands” were broken into groups: National Parks, National Forests, National Monuments, Wilderness, etc. But they were to remain the people’s land, and still today, only acts of congress can change Public Lands. One of the agencies created to protect those lands was the US Forest Service. Its mission is to protect the resource while maintaining multi-purpose use. This includes recreation, timber, mining, wildlife habitat, heritage and one of the most important — watershed management. Its motto is “protecting the land and serving the people.”

Here at the Tonto National Forest, we are proud of our working relationship with the community. We want you — the people — to be involved! But we also understand it’s not always easy keeping up with all the constant changes and policies. On December 13, 2019, we published the Tonto’s Draft Land Management Plan (Draft Forest Plan) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

The Draft Forest Plan will reflect changes in social, economic and ecological conditions since the current plan was approved in 1985. It outlines strategic

To learn more, read the Draft Forest Plan or the DEIS, or find out about attending meetings, comment periods, and other information, please visit us online at: fs.usda.gov/detailfull/tonto/landmanagement/planning The Tonto National Forest looks forward to collaborating with you throughout this process. For more information, please contact Kenna Belsky, Forest Planner, and the rest of the plan revision team by email at SM.FS.tontoplan@ usda.gov or call 602-225-5200.

The 1862 Homestead Act accelerated settlement of U.S. western territory by allowing any American, including freed slaves, to put in a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal land.

management for 2.9 million acres of national forest for the next 10 to 15 years and reflects input from elected officials, tribes, community members and many others.

The draft plan is built on a foundation of public input, best available science, and emphasizes multiple uses supported by healthy ecosystems. These ecosystems provide clean drinking water for downstream communities and help to fuel the forest products, grazing, and mining industries, and the recreation opportunities in the forest.

The official 90-day comment period is from December 13, 2019 through March 12, 2020, during which time the public may submit comments concerning these draft documents. Electronic copies are available online, as well as instructions for submissions.

The Tonto National Forest will also hold a series of public meetings to discuss the Draft Forest Plan and DEIS and provide opportunities for comment. Maps and other planning materials will be available for review and team members will be present to answer your questions.

now open: your new neighborhood

gathering place

Arizona,s Oldest, Most Awarded Coffee House. coffee • tea • smoothies breakfast • lunch • snacks beer & wine • game nights

happy hour daily 3 - 7 2849 n power rd • 480-912-5282 • havajavacoffee.com

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ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE

feature

Get Lost in th

he Legend WHEN JACOB WALTZ, “THE DUTCHMAN,” DIED In 1891, he left behind a legacy — tantalizing clues that led hopefuls looking to strike it rich on a real-life treasure hunt into the wilderness east of Mesa. Over the past century, many would go to the Superstition Mountains with high hopes of finding the Lost Dutchman Mine and the legendary gold within, only to leave empty-handed. Some even lost their lives in pursuit of the fabled ore. Though other mine sites were discovered in the area, including Black Queen and Mammoth, it seems no one has yet found the mysterious Lost Dutchman. Fancy a quest, treasure hunters?

EVEN IF YOU DON’T FIND GOLD, THE BEAUTY OF LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK IS WORTH EXPLORING YEAR-ROUND

BY BETHANIE HESTERMANN PHOTOS BY WILLIAM LAX

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE

feature

The varied lore surrounding Lost Dutchman State Park is world famous, yet the stories remain unknown to some living in the shadow of the Superstition Mountains. As legend would have it, a Mexican family, the Peralta family, began mining for gold in the Superstitions in the 1840s.

In 1848, Apaches ambushed a Peralta group that was transporting gold back to Mexico. The ambush took place in an area now known as the Massacre Grounds. (Hike the Massacre Grounds Trail to relive this part of the adventure.) Most of the group was killed, and the mine was “lost,” but legends about the location of the Peralta mine lived on.

Waltz, a German known as the Dutchman, with help from a Peralta descendant, apparently discovered the location of the lost mine in the 1870s. He and his partner Jacob Weiser struck gold there, hiding some of what they mined in the mountains.

Weiser was killed (details unknown, funny business suspected), and Waltz died in Phoenix a couple of decades later after surviving a flood

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but contracting pneumonia. On his deathbed, the Dutchman is said to have disclosed details about the location of the mine to Julia Thomas, who was nursing Waltz in his illness. After Waltz’s death, Thomas sold her business to finance an expedition into the Superstitions in search of the gold mine. It was to no avail.

There may or may not be caches of gold hidden in Lost Dutchman State Park, but all who go there are guaranteed the opportunity to revel in the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The picturesque silhouette of the Superstition Mountains — a mountain range that’s rife with legend itself —serves as the backdrop for many outdoor adventures offered by the state park, including hiking, biking, camping, and wildlife viewing.

Lost Dutchman State Park features a range of hiking trails, from the paved, quarter-mile Native Plant Trail to the challenging Siphon Draw Trail, a 4-mile roundtrip trek with the option to add a hike

The varied lore surrounding Lost Dutchman is world famous

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ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE

feature

... all who go are guaranteed the opportunity to revel in the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

up the Flatiron for the ambitious sort. Those looking for a moderate hike might try the 2.4-mile roundtrip Treasure Loop Trail. There are also 4 miles of single track along a winding loop trail for mountain bikers. Facilities in the park include a visitor center, restrooms, a gift shop, a handful of exhibits, ramadas for day use, group campsites with two shower buildings, and 13 shaded picnic areas with grills. Furnished cabins sleeping up to six people are available for reservation.

LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK ENTRANCE FEE Per vehicle (1-4 adults): $7 Per vehicle (Friday-Sunday and holidays, October-May): $10 Individual/bicycle: $3

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If you’re hankering for a more guided, educational experience, the park has programs and events for guests with varied interests. Guided experiences include full moon hikes along Jacob’s Crosscut Trail, medicinal plant hikes, and bird walks. Other programs include storytelling and music in the desert and educational talks about Sonoran Desert flora and fauna.

Whether you head in to Lost Dutchman State Park to experience the mystery and get lost in the legend, or whether you go to surround yourself with Arizona’s natural beauty, just go. You may not be the one who finds the Lost Dutchman Mine, but in one way or another, you’ll leave richer than you were when you arrived.

Hallelujah Hats!

A Celebration of Mesa’s Washington Park Community

Preserving Mesa’s Past Discovering Mesa’s Future

480-835-2286 Old Lehi School 2345 N. Horne, Mesa, AZ 85203 Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm

A celebration of the churches of Washington Park through the jewelry, hats, and fashion worn by church goers. From the early days of slavery to today, the African American community has embraced the church as a symbol and site for inspiration, guidance and hope.

Guest curator Bruce Nelson presents an exhibition focusing around five churches in the Washington Park neighborhood. The exhibit includes over 100 vintage hats, purses, gloves, costume jewelry, and shoes.

EXHIBIT OPENS ON FEBRUARY 8TH AND WILL RUN THROUGH MID-JULY 2020 ADMISSION PRICES: ADULTS $5 | SENIORS (65+) $4 | YOUTH (3-21) $3 | CHILDREN UNDER 3 FREE GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE $3 PER PERSON

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COME IN FOR YOUR

Promoting Natural Healing of mind body and spirit

FREE 30 MIN

DISCOVERY SESSION

Reiki | Hypnosis Rapid Eye Therapy

YOUR RECOVERY AND HEALTH COME FIRST DR. COURTNEY WARREN PT, DPT, CSCS, CAFS

(480) 236-3173

paula@innerhealthnow.com www.innerhealthnow.com

PHYSICAL THERAPY / SPORTS MASSAGE SPORTS STRETCHING / MOBILITY 365 CLASSES

480.625.6693

2837 N POWER RD #109 MESA, AZ 85215

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Las Sendas Spa & Fitness Center, Mesa The Life Enrichment Center, Tempe

WE NOW ACCEPT THESE INSURANCE PLANS:

Paula Osterday RN, CH, RET

Tricare-West, United, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare

Rapid Eye Technician Consulting Hypnotist, National Guild of Hypnotists Usui Reiki Master Teacher

ACTIVE & STRONG fitness health | wellness sports competitions WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

p 48

Let no one sit on the sidelines Arizona Disabled Sports

ACTIVE & STRONG

Pickleball

HOLDS COURT

BY JAMIE HUISH | PHOTOS BY STEVE SIMPSON

On any of Arizona’s sunny winter days, passersby can hear a buzz of laughter coming from Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort’s recreational courts from dawn until dusk.

Nope, that’s not the tennis crowd or even the racquetball players. It’s the Viewpoint Pickleball Club that is making such a racket.

“Pickleball is a hit because it is not as tough on your body as tennis and it’s a very social game,” says Steve Samalack, President of the Viewpoint Pickleball Club. “You can’t go anywhere that people aren’t talking about pickleball.”

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and Mesa is no exception. Viewpoint’s club alone boasts more than 500 members, who have so much fun they regularly hold socials off the court.

A combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong, pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island, WA in 1965 by a state legislator and friends who were looking for a sport all ages could enjoy. They named it after the family dog, Pickles, who would chase runaway balls. Requirements to play are easy: an 8-inch wide paddle and a wiffle ball.

Players can pick up the basics in an hour and games last about 20 minutes. The rules are simple, but stay out of the kitchen (the non-volley zone)!

Mesa’s warm winter climate and active population mean more communities are swapping tennis courts for pickleball facilities. Michael Innes, a Las Sendas resident, says his community added pickleball courts three years ago. With four players rotating in close proximity, merriment and chatter are standard soundtracks of any game. “It’s mayhem at the courts but everyone is having a blast,” Innes says.

“PICKLEBALL IS A HIT BECAUSE IT IS NOT AS TOUGH ON YOUR BODY AS TENNIS — AND IT’S A VERY SOCIAL GAME.”

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WHERE CAN I PLAY? Mesa Tennis Center at Gene Autry Park

4125 E McKellips Rd Courts are $5/hour including equipment and psst, it’s rarely busy. City officials call it the best-kept secret in Mesa.

Kleinman Park 710 S Extension Rd, Southern Blvd Four courts with no fee to play. Large groups can schedule with City Of Mesa Parks & Rec at 480-644-2352 Paloma Sports Complex 3215 S Sossaman Rd Three indoor courts at $5/two hours. Call Alan Torgerson to reserve at 480-486-1154 or holdmycourt.com Red Mountain Center 7550 E Adobe Offers pickleball six days per week for $5 adults/$4 seniors.

480-644-4800 or redmountaincenter.com

It’s for Everyone PLAYERS SAY THEY PLAY PICKLEBALL TO:

what’s happenin’

races | wellness | competition | expos

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

• Help with balance and coordination

Pro Pickleball Association Mesa Grand Slam Qualifier

• Improve moods

Times vary | free for spectators Mesa Tennis Center, 4125 E McKellips Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 The Mesa Grand Slam Qualifier is one of the largest tournaments in the Western United States. Come and watch top professional players from across the country battle for major prize money and to automatically qualify for Major Grand Slams. We have an event for everyone, don’t miss out on joining all the fun!

There will be raffles, games, prizes and lots of Pickleball! propickleballassociation.com/events/arizona-open-qualifier

• Get a low-impact workout • Enjoy the great outdoors • Make new friends • Have fun with multiple generations

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

4.01k Fun Run for Financial Fitness 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | $35 Mesa Riverview Park, 2100 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ, 85201 If you love to run, jog or walk … and love to support a great cause, you can do both by participating in Junior Achievement of Arizona’s 4.01K Race for Financial Fitness!

The race is on to help build a healthier and more fiscally fit community. 100% of proceeds from these sponsorships benefit Junior Achievement of Arizona and their work to provide realworld and innovative financial literacy programs to the youth in our community. jaaz.org/events SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Valentine’s Day Adult Mixed Doubles Tournament 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | $16 Mesa residents, $20 non-Mesa residents Mesa Tennis Center at Gene Autry Park, 4125 E McKellips Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 A one-day, non-elimination, mixed doubles only event! Come out and play three 8-game pro sets on a beautiful spring evening. All level divisions offered. Enter even if you don’t have a partner, we’ll match you up! Valentine’s Day-themed attire strongly suggested — raffle tickets given out to all players dressed up in the holiday theme.

FB@mesatenniscenter MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Focus Femmes

Though it is lower impact, don’t be fooled into thinking the game is slow paced. Pickleball is more about ball placement than power, making it ideal for all generations. “Age, gender, strength, and even skill level are not part of the equation as much as they are for other sports,” says Steve Manolis, USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) Regional Ambassador. “There are people from five to 95-years-old playing pickleball.”

Manolis is working with Mesa P.E. teachers to bring pickleball to middle and high school students. Locally, the USAPA is adding a more competitive level to recreational play, Manolis says. That means more courts, leagues and tournaments with plenty of laughter to go around.

Jamie Huish is a freelance writer and communications specialist.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now calls the desert home with her husband and three children.

5:00 PM – 10:00 PM | $10 day pass + $6 shoe rental Focus Climbing Center, 2150 W Broadway Rd #103, Mesa, AZ 85202 Our goal is to provide a thriving and supportive community for all female climbers. We are open to anyone who identifies as female or gender nonconforming. We meet once a month at Focus Climbing Center and gather for a post-climb drink at Boulders on Broadway.

No experience necessary FB@FocusFemmesClimbing

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

How Food Affects Behavior and Learning 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | $12 Red Mountain Center 7550 E Adobe Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Parents and caregivers will learn the importance of quality nutrition and the connection between food and behavior.

Participants will learn what brain-building food they can feed their children to help improve attention, behavior, and mood! mesaparks.com

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ACTIVE & STRONG

3 WAYS

what’s happenin’continued

Cross-Training with Mind-Body Disciplines

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

BY BETSY CLUFF, BS.ED, CPT, CYT, GFI

Couples Pamper Night 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | $20 – 100 per couple Holiday Inn & Suites 1600 S Country Club Dr, Mesa, AZ 85210 Whether you’re a couple who enjoys networking, laughing, competing, shopping, eating, playing, or all of the above, Couples Pamper Night offers a variety of fun activities for everyone — guaranteed! pampernighttour.com

SUNDAYS, FEBRUARY 23 & MARCH 22

Yoga With A Purpose 8:30 AM | optional donation of $15 gift card from Amazon, Target, or iTunes Trailhead Parke, 7900 E Eagle Crest Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207 The Williams & McBean Team along with the Las Sendas Spa & Fitness Center is bringing a new monthly community event to Las Sendas and surrounding neighborhoods. Yoga with a Purpose was created to bring yoga practices to NE Mesa with a giving back component. The sessions are free and open to the public. Participants may bring cash or gift card donations which will benefit local children with critical illnesses who are granted a wish through Make-A-Wish® Arizona. A coffee truck will be on site!

FB@WMTAZHomeSmart

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Arizona Rattlers Open Tryout 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | $80 cash or money order only Gene Autry Sports Complex 4125 E McKellips Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 The last two seasons, eight participants in the tryouts earned a contract to participate in training camp, three of whom made it on to the active roster. In 2018, Dillion Winfrey attended two open tryouts before finally being selected to join the team. This past season, Winfrey was the team’s starting defensive back, and was given second-team All-IFL honors. azrattlers.com/tryouts-and-recruitment

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Women’s Day Out Expo 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | free Mesa Convention Center, 201 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Health and Wellness Expo for Women that features exhibitors specializing in health, beauty, fashion, food, wine, love, lifestyle, fitness, spiritual solutions, personal development, children, and financial freedom. Attractions for the ladies include food sampling, wine tasting, gourmet food products and more! It’s everything a woman wants and needs in her life. womensdayoutexpo.com SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Granite Games Spring Throwdown 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | $265, free to spectators CrossFit Incite, 8743 E Pecos Rd, #101, Mesa, AZ 85212 The Granite Games Throwdown gives athletes new to competition an opportunity to challenge themselves and have a blast doing it! Our 3-person, same gender team setup allows you to step out onto the competition floor with your best lifting buddies to experience the best of both worlds: all the fun of competition, without that nerve-wracking feeling of going it alone! thegranitegames.com

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Show yourself a dose of love this spring and try something new at the gym. Cross-training with mind-body disciplines like Pilates, yoga, and tai chi is not only loving to your body, it can improve overall health. If the idea of trying a new class scares you, then maybe it’s exactly what you need to try. Consider these three benefits of cross-training to help move you out of your comfort zone. Cross-training: Injury.

1 Prevents Overuse injuries happen when you focus on one type of movement repeatedly. It doesn’t matter if it’s swinging a tennis racket, a golf club, or your left hip in Zumba, the repetition of the same movements over time can cause injury. Incorporating a yoga class on your off days from the court, course, or dance floor can actually improve the swing, open the hips, and build the quads. A Pilates class on the other hand would develop core muscles which enhances overall performance. stability and posture.

2 Upgrades No matter the sport or fitness activity you choose, stability is essential, not only for performance, but also to avoid unnecessary falls. By incorporating a yoga, Pilates or tai chi class, you will be practicing movements and skills which foster stability and overall good body posture. If your balance has been off, consider tai chi or yoga. The practice of slow, repetitive movements and forms in tai chi develops muscle memory and balance. In yoga, isometric holds with an emphasis on aligned postures will encourage excellent overall healthy postures.

IMPROVES OVERALL HEALTH

what’s happenin’continued SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Spartan Invitational Grappling Tournament 3:00 PM | $20 Spartan Nation Combatives and Fitness 4446 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85205 Watch submission wrestleing matches live.

Best AZ grapplers battle for the Spartan Championship. spartannationcombatives.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 & FRIDAY, MARCH 27

First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM | $149 – 199 City Of Mesa Public Safety Training Facility, 3260 N 40th St, Mesa, AZ 85215 A two-day mental health and wellness seminar for all first responders and their families hosted by the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and Blue H.E.L.P. This training is for all 1st responders, police, fire, military/veterans, corrections, dispatchers, chaplains, retired 1st responders, spouses, professional staff, clinicians, and all who work in the public safety field.

1stresponderconferences.org THURSDAY, MARCH 26 – SUNDAY, MARCH 29

USA Syncro: U.S. Collegiate & National Championship

mental awareness.

3 Boosts One of the most beneficial ways in which these three disciplines boosts mental awareness is in the simple awareness of breath and letting go of unnecessary over processing. When you are focusing on pairing breath with movements and an emphasis on postures, you just don’t have a lot of brain space to focus on other tasks that can bring you down. When you become aware of the breath and thought patterns, you free up mental space, giving rise to better focus mentally; thus, enhancing performance for other disciplines you may enjoy.

Betsy Cluff is certified in Group Fitness, Yoga and Personal Training.

She teaches YoChi, Yoga Nidra and Tai Chi for wellness at the Las Sendas Health Spa and Fitness Center.

Mind Body Disciplines at a Glance: Try This:

If you want to improve this:

Pilates

ore strength, long lean muscle, flexibility, C strength, posture, endurance, joint health

Yoga

ore strength, balance, focus, strength, breath C awareness, flexibility, long lean muscle, posture

Tai Chi

alance, breath awareness, posture, stability, joint B health, coordination, ability to meditate

Times TBA | free for spectators Skyline Aquatics Center, 845 S Crismon Rd, Mesa, AZ 85208 Mesa will once again set the stage for the best in swimming when it hosts the 2020 U.S. Collegiate and National Championship This action-packed meet is held at Skyline Aquatic Center, renowned for its fast pools and fan staging areas. teamusa.org/USA-Synchronized-Swimming/Events SATURDAY, MARCH 28

6th Annual RUN3rd 5k 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM | $40 – 50 Red Mountain High School, 7301 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Our annual 5k is a chance to bring the community together to support our young runners. It’s also a chance for the students in our after-school running programs to come together and celebrate all they have accomplished throughout the school year. You can also volunteer or donate to our scholarship fund and sponsor a young runner who cannot afford the registration fees. run3rd5k.enmotive.com SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Jamboree of Joy: Uplifting the Caregiving Journey 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM | free Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E Adobe St, Mesa, AZ 85207 Family Caregivers, or Care Partners, provide 87% of care in America. Often the role of caregiver leads to poor health outcomes for the caregivers themselves.

Foundation for Senior Living presents an event focused on family care partners’ achieving and maintaining emotional fitness. The Jamboree of Joy celebrates caregivers with enlightening and motivational speakers, interactivity, movement, sound, and introspection. eventbrite.com/e/jamboreeof-joy-uplifting-the-care-givingjourney-tickets-68210061129

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ACTIVE & STRONG

feature

Competitors WITH

HEART

BY RHONDA L. CARLSON, MPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARIZONA DISABLED SPORTS

FEBRUARY 4, 2006 may not be a significant date to many, but for Austin Alcorn (age 32) of Gilbert, it is a day that forever changed his life.

Driving with friends from his family’s cabin in Heber on an anticipated road trip to Six Flags in California, Austin — a senior at Mesa High School at the time — fell asleep at the wheel near Williams, Arizona. His car flipped seven times, leaving Austin in a Glasgow Coma Scale 3, an indication with the poorest of outcomes. “Doctors expected me to pass away,” said Austin. “If I did survive, I would be in a vegetative state.”

In a coma for three months, Austin not only survived, but he began his journey of recovery from the traumatic brain injury he had suffered. As a young man accustomed to an active lifestyle, this meant accepting a new reality of life with a disability. To many, this would mean limitations, exclusions and less opportunities to be active. To Austin, this was just the start of his road to becoming an adaptive athlete.

For Ryan Larcey of Mesa, his journey began on April 28, 1980 when he was welcomed into the world by his mother Tina, having been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. For Tina, this meant adjusting the plans for the life she had prepared for and learning how to ensure Ryan was still given opportunities to thrive. “Persons with intellectual disabilities are often the most forgotten, the most humbled, the most stigmatized population in the world, with enormous vulnerability,” says Tina, indicating the early struggles she faced in finding ways for Ryan to remain active. “Opportunities for [Ryan] to participate in Special Olympics were very limited,” says Tina, “so we began to look elsewhere.”

“

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t

“

— RIKKI ROGERS

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feature

For both Austin and Ryan, their disabilities and their desire to be healthy and active despite the challenges they faced would lead them both to Arizona Disabled Sports.

Founded in 1989, Arizona Disabled Sports (AzDS) is a nonprofit organization based in Mesa that provides adaptive sports, recreation and social activities for individuals with all types of disabilities. Operating with the motto: “Let no one sit on the sidelines,” AzDS encourages participation from all abilities, understanding the importance sports and recreation can have on an individual’s self-esteem, self-worth and overall quality of life. People ages six through adulthood with an intellectual, physical or visual impairment are afforded opportunities to participate in over 30 adaptive sports programs as well as numerous recreational and social activities that keep them active in the community. AzDS also hosts several adaptive sports competitions and special events, including the West Coast Conference Bid Regional Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and the Desert Challenge Games, a multi-day sports competition and World Para Athletics Grand Prix event – the only one of its kind in North America.

Austin, having first joined AzDS in 2006, began participating in adaptive cycling, bowling, kayaking and track and attended the SkiAble Adaptive Alpine Experience, where he was given the chance to receive adaptive ski lessons in the mountains of Flagstaff. Now a part of the organization’s Athlete Ambassador program, Austin is a dedicated advocate and supporter of AzDS, often sharing his story of recovery and empowerment through his experiences and the opportunities he has been given. “Being a part of Arizona Disabled Sports lets me get out and have fun with others with the same abilities,” says Austin, who now also participates in the adaptive air rifle program.

“

Being a part of Arizona Disabled Sports

lets me get out and have fun — AUSTIN ALCORN

“ eastmmag.com

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ACTIVE & STRONG

feature

“

Because of AzDS,

I get to do all the things I like to do

“

— RYAN LARCEY

For Ryan, having been an active participant with AzDS for over 25 years, the impact Arizona Disabled Sports has had on his life is also quite simple. “Because of AzDS, I get to do all the things I like to do,” says Ryan, who currently participates in basketball, swimming, golf, floor hockey and bowling. “What AzDS also means to us, “ says Tina, “is that in addition to an opportunity for him to get exercise, to participate in individual and team sports, and to socialize, the camaraderie that is often missing for a person with a disability has become a key benefit.” This not only exists for the athletes themselves but extends to the families and caregivers that spend countless hours at practices, competitions and events. “Bonds are formed, and many friendships have been forged on the sidelines as we share our journey,” says Tina, who considers AzDS as part of her family. “We entrust our loved ones to the coaches, staff and support team who plan, organize and execute the sports and recreation that our son participates in,” Tina states, making Arizona Disabled Sports a welcome place for her son and many like him who want to compete, to have fun and to live the active life they deserve.

events & info SKIABLE ADAPTIVE ALPINE EXPERIENCE presented by the Dralla Foundation February 2 – 4 Arizona Snowbowl, Flagstaff, Arizona DESERT CHALLENGE GAMES April 1 – 5 Multiple locations in Mesa and Phoenix www.desertchallengegames.com

Adaptive sports, recreation and social programs for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities: • Aquatics • Floor hockey • Basketball • Golf • Bocce ball • Hiking • Bowling • Off-Broadway • Cheerleading • Soccer • Cooking • Track and field • Dragon boat • TGIF Social Club

“

Adaptive sports and recreation programs for individuals with physical disabilities or visual impairments: • Archery • Power soccer • Air Rifle • Swimming • Bowling • Track and field • Cycling • Wheelchair basketball • Kayaking • Wheelchair tennis

Let no one sit on the sidelines

“

— AZDS MOTTO

arizonadisabledsports.com

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT food | brews restaurants art | music performances WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Build it — they will come

Mesa is home to two of the best spring training stadiums in the Cactus League

p64 PHOTO© MATT KARTOZIAN-USA TODAY SPORTS

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Mesa

farmers markets From savoring produce at the peak of freshness to meeting the people who grow your food, there are countless reasons to shop farmers markets. Here in Mesa it is a great way to support local farmers and connect with our community. And with our almost always perfect weather, wouldn’t you rather stroll amidst outdoor stalls of fresh produce on a sunny day than roll your cart around a grocery store with artificial lights and piped in music?

Here are some favorite Mesa farmers markets: Red Mountain Farmers Market at MCC Red Mountain The Red Mountain Farmers Market has a great variety of fresh produce as well as a variety of great artisan vendors and food to eat. They have partnered up with MCC Red Mountain to bring fresh local food and small businesses to the community. Proceeds from the market will be set aside to create a scholarship fund for kids to attend college at MCC Red Mountain. Come out and support small local businesses and make a great Saturday morning.

Open October – April Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM redmountainfarmersmarket.com FB@RedMountainFarmersMarket 2307 N Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 (480) 334-7000

Mesa Farmers Market and Flea Mesa Farmers Market and Flea is a year-round market! Their goal is to help Arizona small businesses flourish by providing a fun and inviting environment in which to sell. Families and community members will enjoy the newly renovated Pioneer Park, the perfect setting for outdoor shopping, eating, and playing, as well as lounging on the main lawn to listen to live music. Visitors can experience the large splash pad, 9,000 square foot playground, basketball courts and the Historic Engine 2355 Steam Locomotive in the center of the park.

Every Saturday from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM mesafarmersmarketandflea.com FB@mesafarmersmarket Pioneer Park, 526 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85203 Superstition Ranch Farmers Market Superstition Ranch Farmers Market is a family-owned market that has been serving the Mesa area for 54 years. They have built a reputation on great quality produce at crazy low prices, and have supported local farmers for generations, along with local mom and pop vendors.

In addition to high quality produce, they carry local honey and Boars Head quality meat and deli products, and they partner with two local bakeries. The grocery features an incredible selection of local salsas and hot sauces, as well as authentic Italian specialty selections.

Open daily 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM, Sun 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM superstitionranchmarket.com FB@superstitionranchmarket 4755 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85205 (480) 832-3421

Power Road Farmers Market A small family-owned produce and specialty farmers market with a strong commitment to local farmers and local vendors. For over 50 years they have had the same commitment to community, and guarantee the best prices for the freshest produce in the valley.

Open daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM powerrdfarmersmarket.com FB@powerrdfarmersmarket 4011 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ, 85212 (480) 497-0706 B & B Farms Owners are friendly, produce is fresh and delicious, and the prices are great. “BIGGER and BETTER” citrus from the grower to you, grown and sold on one of the oldest orange groves in the state.

You’ll fall in love with the friendly farmer atmosphere.

Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM bbcitrusfarms.com 3404 N Val Vista, Mesa, AZ 85213 (480) 924-6282

what’s happenin’

concerts | shows | food fun & festivals TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 & WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Snowbird Extravaganza 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM | free Mesa Convention Center 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Exhibits showcasing products and services suited for your lifestyle. We’ll keep you busy all day with exhibits, entertainment, gaming and fun. Our hospitality pavilion will give you a place to relax while you enjoy a warm meal and a cool drink. snowbirdextravaganza.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13

The Bachelor Live On Stage 7:30 PM | $40 – 80; VIP $150 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater, One E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Featuring Bachelor alums Ben Higgins and Becca Kufrin as your hosts, The Bachelor Live On Stage Official Tour guarantees all the drama, the gossip and the romance of your favorite TV show in one delightful evening for the ultimate fan party. Come to enjoy the show, or come to fall in love! This engaging and hilarious experience will give you and your friends plenty to gossip about. mesaartscenter.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Why Farmers Markets?

STIMULATE LOCAL ECONOMIES • L ocally-owned retailers such as farmers markets, return more than three times their sales to the local economy compared to chain competitors.

• G rowers selling locally create 13 full time jobs per $1 million in revenue earned. Those not selling locally create three.

PRESERVE FARMLAND & RURAL LIVELIHOODS • 2 5% of vendors derive their sole source of income from the market.

• 8 0% of farmers market vendors said that farmers markets offer them a greater opportunity for business development than any other possible marketing outlet.

INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOOD • 6 0% of farmers market shoppers in low-income neighborhoods say that their market has better prices than the grocery store.

• 3 00% increase in SNAP benefits (food stamps) redeemed at U.S. farmers markets from ‘09 to ‘12.

SUPPORT HEALTHY COMMUNITIES • P eople who shop at farmers markets have 15-20 social interactions per visit. They would have only 1-2 per visit in the grocery store.

• M arkets provide the opportunity for farmers and neighbors to educate one another in nutrition, cooking and agriculture.

• P roximity to farmers markets is associated with a lower Body Mass Index (BMI).

Vibe Night at The Grid: Retro Valentine 8:30 PM – 1:30 AM | $5 The Grid: Games and Growlers 525 S Gilbert Rd, Mesa, AZ 85204 Desert Runners brings you a retro dance party full of Synthwave, Retrowave, Italo-Disco, Futurefunk and others! Grab your loved one, or perhaps a new date, and come dance the night away with us to the tunes of Dykotomi, DJ Thaumat, and Heretic G. In between check out the many free videogames, food and drinks the Grid has to offer! Feel free to dress up in your best retro look as well.

FB@thegridgg FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

ABBA: Dancing Queen Concert 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | $15+ Farnsworth Hall, Dreamland Villa Retirement Community, 6159 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85205 This multimedia production is a tribute to some of the greatest music produced in the 70s and 80s.

Our vocalists and musicians have toured the world as solo artists and band members and have come together to create the most entertaining ABBA tribute on the market today! aztributeconcerts.com/event/farnsworth-hall FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Anti-Valentine’s Day Party 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM | free The Monastery Bar & Grill, 4810 E McKellips Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 When love fails, why not drink?! Join your Monastery friends, and let us be here to help you celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Day, Singles Awareness Day or whatever you want to call it. Come eat your heart out, and either drown your sorrows or celebrate your singleness with booze, friends, and live music!

FB@themonasterymesa

source: farmersmarketcoalition.org eastmmag.com

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Hogapalooza

what’s happenin’continued

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM | free Desert Wind Harley-Davidson 922 S Country Club Dr, Mesa, AZ 85210 Join the East Valley HOG Chapter on a fun-filled day! Register for the Ride and return to Desert Wind H-D for games, food, music, vendors and much more.

FB@DesertWindHD

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Mesa Contemporary Arts 2020 Spring Exhibition Kick-off Reception 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | free Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Celebrate craft and fine art at our free opening reception premiering this seasons new exhibitions. Meet the artists while enjoying light refreshments and live music by DJs. mesaartscenter.com

SATURDAYS, FEBRUARY 15 & MARCH 21

Mesa Cars & Coffee 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | free 6663 E McDowell Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 Mesa Cars & Coffee is a local gathering of the automotive community happening the third Saturday of every month in the parking lot of Kneaders and What’s Crackin Cafe. Enjoy breakfast and good company all while sharing your passion for cars! Girl Scouts will be there Feb 15 — get your Girl Scout Cookie fix!

FB@biffsautodetail

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Desert Woodcarving Show and Sale Sat 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sun 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | $10 Mesa Convention Center, 201 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 A judged competition for wood carving, wood sculpture, fine woodworking, and more.

Open to all — from beginners to professionals, and to the public. Many participants have their work for sale and vendors will be selling tools and carving supplies. desertwoodcarvingshow.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Mesa Baazar

Downtown Mesa, 1 N MacDonald St, Mesa, AZ 85201 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | free Mesa Bazaar is an artisan market in Downtown Mesa that celebrates all things local. Includes handmade items ranging from home decor and art, to jewelry and beauty. Enjoy goods, live music, and food trucks. downtownmesa.com/mesa-bazaar

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Mesa’s Asian District Night Market 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM | free AZ International Marketplace 1920 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202 Come celebrate the launch of the Asian District with a night full of food, entertainment, friends, and music.

Enjoy unique creations, delicious food, and a chance to experience the cultural diversity and richness of the Arizona Asian Pacific American community. azasianchamber.com/asian-district-night-market

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

The Beach Boys 4:00 PM & 7:30 PM | $70 – 90 Valle Del Oro RV Resort, 1452 S Ellsworth Rd, Mesa, AZ 85209 America’s Band, The Beach Boys, are on their 12 Sides of Summer tour! You’ll be treated to a night of classic hits that will transport you right back to the long summer days of the past by the beach. cal-am.com/concerts SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Drake Bell 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM | $28 – 100 Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 A performer who carries equal weight in the twin arenas of pop recording and film and television acting, Drake Bell first staked out a career as an actor at age five. As a musical performer, Drake has stylistic ties to the Beatles, as well as echoes of the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley. With special guests Promise to Myself, WinterHaven, and Turn Zero. mesaamp.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 - SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Rosie Kay’s 5 Soldiers 7:30 PM | $35 Mesa Arts Center, Piper Repertory Theater One E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 In 2008, British choreographer Rosie Kay joined The 4th Battalion The Rifles, to watch and participate in full battle exercises, and visited the National Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. What came of these observations was the award-winning, five-star work 5 SOLDIERS. mesaartscenter.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Tequila Fest Phoenix 2020 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | $35 – 100 The Monastery Bar & Grill, 4810 E McKellips Rd, Mesa, AZ85215 2nd Annual Tequila Fest Phoenix. And on National Margarita Day! Event will showcase over 50 different tequilas, 50/50 raffle, beer specials, tacos, margarita bar, Modelo truck, and live entertainment. tequilafestphoenix.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

FRIDAY, MARCH 13

The Doo Wop Project

Friday the 13th- Ghost Hunt

7:30 PM | $35 – 45 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater, One E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 The Doo Wop Project begins at the beginning, tracing the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing tight harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. mesaartscenter.com

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | $75 254 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85210 Join Jay & Marie Yates of Travel Channel TV Show Haunted Case Files in a location featured on season two! The space is nearly 100,000 square feet in size which includes a basement too scary for some to enter! Join the Yates for an evening of Ghost Hunting at the “Old Sunkist Factory” thecopscrew.com/sunkist-ghost-hunt

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The Arizona Renaissance Festival’s most exclusive event: THE PLEASURE FEAST –

Tournament of Flavors The Pleasure Feast at the annual Arizona Renaissance Festival is a five-course, one-and-a-half-hour dinner and comedy show. It is the most exclusive event within the larger festival entertainment program. With the Feast Hall seating twice per day, only 200 of the average daily attendance of 14,000 may partake each day.

A roaming feast throughout the kitchens and pubs of the elaborate 30-acre European village has always been an integral part of the Renaissance Festival appeal, but the Pleasure Feast is a sit-down, full-service and good cheer dinner theater experience within the event. Feast guests are treated like royalty as the Chef’s kitchen crew and the Feast Master’s boisterous serving wenches and knaves dish up a roaring good time.

The Pleasure Feast begins with music and comedy introductions while the audience enjoys an appetizer consisting of grilled shrimp and chorizo in a Romesco sauce, assorted Spanish cheeses, Spanish prosciutto-wrapped fresh fig, Manchego cheese-stuffed dates, pastry baskets stuffed with Queen olive, Mediterranean sausage roulade, spiced shelled pistachios, orange slices and fresh honey comb cube. The Feast Master proceeds to introduce the delicious garlic soup and the salad course, and then the meats: Your choice of Leg of Lamb seasoned with salt, cinnamon and smoked paprika or a Quartered Chicken glazed with stewed peaches and brandy roasted in a mix of spices and fresh herbs with Spanish white wine, accompanied by gold potatoes mashed with roasted cream corn, sour cream and butter.

All of the courses are accompanied by ample drink, a side order of live music, and raucous, variety entertainment (the humor is risqué and wildly funny). The one-and-a-half-hour production concludes with a decadent bread pudding while the Feast Hall staff continues to dish up their emphasis on play-acting as well as serving.

From the chef & mixologists @ what’s Crackin Cafe

St. Patrick’s Day is just weeks away and it’s never too early to start planning! Whether you’re hosting a St. Patty’s Day party or attending someone else’s get-together, you’re probably searching for cool and unique St. Patrick’s Day appetizer and drink ideas.

Search no more.

Scotch Eggs

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • •

Large eggs 6 1 cup flour 1 cup panko bread crumbs 7 oz breakfast sausage 1 tsp coarse ground pepper 1 tbsp parsley

Feast Hall reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 520-463-2600 or for more information, visit RenFestInfo.com.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is celebrating 32 Years of Cheers with a unique combination of outdoor theater, circus, arts and crafts fair, jousting tournament and feasting. It opens on February 8 for eight consecutive weekends: Saturdays, Sundays and Presidents’ Day Monday, through March 29, 2020.

Shamrock juice • • • • • •

oz tequila ½ ½ oz white rum ½ oz vodka ½ oz gin 1 oz blue curaçao 4 oz orange juice

Mix alcohol ingredients, add orange juice, stir and enjoy

DIRECTIONS: 1 | Place 4 eggs in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 3 minutes (for soft boiled eggs).

Drain pan and cool eggs in ice water. Gently crack shells and peel under running water, place in water and chill. Can be made a day ahead.

2 | Place flour in a bowl or rimmed plate. Place panko in a bowl or rimmed plate. In a bowl mix parsley and black pepper into sausage with your hands. Divide sausage into 4 equal portions.

3 | Spread out sausage into thin patty in your palm or on cutting board, place chilled, peeled egg in the middle of sausage and wrap sausage around egg. Do this with remaining sausage and soft boiled eggs.

4 | Whisk remaining 2 eggs in a small bowl, gently roll sausage wrapped egg in egg mix, then gently roll in flour, shake off excess, roll once again in egg mix then panko.

5 | Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375 in a deep skillet, place wrapped eggs in oil to fry, turning and rotating until deep golden brown and sausage is cooked thru, about 5-6 minutes.

6 | Serve warm with mustard. eastmmag.com

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

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NOT-SO-ORDINARY

Valentine’s Dates

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

6th Annual Downtown Mesa Brew Fest 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM | free admission, beer tickets $5, cash only Downtown Mesa, 1 N MacDonald Mesa, AZ 85201 Beer lovers will gather to enjoy full pours from more than 25 breweries with over 70 beers on tap. Whether you’re into hops, fruity ale or a smooth chocolate stout, there’s a brew for everyone.

Festival goers will also enjoy food trucks, live music, live art and games. This event is family and dog-friendly. downtownmesa.com/brewfest

Every year on February 14th, people celebrate the day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends. Couples give each other Valentine’s Day cards and flowers and spend special time together — often at an overpriced and overcrowded restaurant with a pre-fixed dinner menu. How about changing it up? Here are a few creative, non-boring options:

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

A Night in the 40s — Big Band Dance 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM | $40 Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum, 2017 N Greenfield Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 Come dressed in the styles of the 40s and take a sentimental journey back to 1943. The WW II aircraft and memorabilia will take you back to a time of joy and celebration. Enjoy a meal from our specialty food trucks and plenty of refreshments to keep you swingin’ on the dance floor. azcaf.org/event/night-40s-big-band-dance SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Chicago Baseball Night benefiting Special Olympics 6:00 PM | $75; $500 VIP Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West, 860 N Riverview, Mesa, AZ 85201 Experience a Chicago-style St. Patrick’s Day party after the Cubs Game! The event is a traditional Chi-rish party filled with your favorite sports celebrities pouring beer, signing items and comically entertaining the crowd! Hosted by comedian Marc Cordes and featuring Joe Mantegna of Criminal Minds (the original Bleacher Bum) one.bidpal.net/ChicagoBaseballNight/welcome SATURDAY, MARCH 14

St. Patty Party 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | free What’s Crackin Cafe 6663 E Mcdowell Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 Be green with your peeps! Food and drink specials, cornhole tournament & other games. whatscrackincafe.com THURSDAY, MARCH 19

The Improvables Improv Performance 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | $5 – 8 Mesa Community College, 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 MCC’s Stage Door Players student club presents their Improvables improv series. This performance will feature improv games and performances incorporating audience participation and laugh out loud entertainment. For mature audiences. mesacc.edu/arts/event/2020-03/improvables-improv-performance FRIDAY, MARCH 20 & SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Nouveau Papillon Live at the MCC Planetarium 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | $20 Mesa Community College, Physical Science Building (#15) 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 The MCC Planetarium is proud to partner with local musical group Nouveau Papillon for two different live performances under the dome! Prepare to embark on a dynamic journey of striking visualizations accompanied by live, new-age instrumental music. mesacc.edu/departments/physical-science/astronomy/planetarium/ nouveau-papillon

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EMBARK ON A DYNAMIC JOURNEY The MCC Planetarium has partnered with local musical group Nouveau Papillon to create a journey of striking visualizations accompanied by live, new-age instrumental music. During VisionSphere, portals will transport you through immersive voyages: you’ll witness angels gliding through the heavens, experience a panoramic exploration of deep caves, gaze upon fractal art and steampunk images, then enter the mystical realm of the wolf and other wildlife and nature indigenous to Arizona. The visuals align with the spirit of the music being performed; also adding to the ambiance, the perimeter of the dome has hues that change in accordance with each selection. Sounds amazing, right?

The show is not on Valentine’s Day, so give the $20 tickets in a card or with flowers on February 14, then go enjoy the fascinating journey on the 21st! mesacc.edu/departments/physical-science/ astronomy/planetarium/nouveau-papillon

CREATE TOGETHER As You Wish Pottery has a special project so you and your honey can kickstart your creative buzz together. Available all day on Valentine’s Day, you will be provided two campfire style mugs, a lesson plan with step-by-step instructions, and traceable images to paint your very own set of cuties — a great addition to your mug cupboard! Come create and celebrate — you can even bring your own bottle of bubbly.

Come in anytime between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM on Valentine’s Day to create your Honey Bee Mug Set. $40 all inclusive; reservations recommended. asyouwishpottery.com NETFLIX & CHILL Yeah, we said it. But doesn’t cuddle time on the couch with your beau and a new RomCom sound good? And just in time, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You will premier on Netflix February 12. This is the sequel to the extremely popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (which you could watch first for a double feature). Or search for some classics (not all available on Netflix) and you won’t be disappointed. Some all-time faves include: When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman, Silver Linings Playbook, Juno, The Big Sick, and Crazy Rich Asians.

GAZE AT THE STARS Yes, for an equally romantic night you can lounge in your backyard and look at the sky, but really impress your Valentine with the Star Party at Lost Dutchman State Park. View the moon, planets, star clusters, galaxies and other astronomical phenomena using sophisticated telescopes!

Although not on Valentine’s Day, this experience makes for a unique and memorable date night. On February 29, the Superstition Mountain Astronomical League holds a public viewing 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/events

what’s happenin’continued SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Bandemonium 3:00 PM | $16 – 25 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater One E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 This concert features audience and band favorites from Patrick Sheridan’s 19-year c ollaboration with the Salt River Brass. Experience a spontaneous eruption of music from old warhorses to fresh new songs. Come hear the uproar of 35 brass and percussion hosted with hilarity and sincerity. It’s going to be bandemonium! mesaartscenter.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 27 & SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Kiss Me Kate Times vary | $12 – 18 MCC Performing Arts Center, 1520 S Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202 Egotistical leading man, director, and producer Fred is reunited with his ex-wife, Lilli, when the two are forced to play opposite one another in a new production of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. The battle of the sexes continues onstage and off. mesacc.edu/arts/event/2020-03/kiss-me-kate FRIDAY, MARCH 27

The Stilettos 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM | free What The Hell Bar & Grill 7303 E Main St #115, Mesa, AZ 85207 The Stilettos are a high energy, incredibly fun rockabilly/swing band playing the best of the 50’s music and more!

FB@WhatTheHellBar SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Hispanic Cultural Festival 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | $TBD Crescent Crown Distributing, 1640 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202 Join us for our Hispanic Cultural Festival at Crescent Crown Distributing in support of ASU Hispanic Business scholars! We’ll have a variety of latin foods, beverages, live entertainment, musicians, and raffle prizes. 21+ only event.

FB@ASUHBA SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Phoenix Symphony: Music of David Bowie 7:30 PM, doors open 5:30 PM | $39 – $99 Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Celebrate the life and legacy of flamboyant rock legend David Bowie with vocalist Tony Vincent, The Phoenix Symphony, and a full rock band under the stars at Mesa Amphitheatre. This exhilarating musical odyssey showcases the extraordinary range of Bowie’s musical career. mesaamp.com SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Breaking Bad Trivia Night 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | free What’s Crackin Cafe, 6663 E Mcdowell Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 Come show off your knowledge of Breaking Bad — let the binge watching pay off! Happy Hour specials ’til close, fun and prizes. whatscrackincafe.com eastmmag.com

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SPRING TRAINING

SPRING IS IN THE AIR, which means one thing for Arizona: baseball.

Every February and March, baseball fans from across the country descend on the Valley to watch the biggest names in pro baseball.

Spring training in Arizona hosts 15 Major League Baseball teams in 10 stadiums with more than 200 games scheduled.

Mesa is home to two of the best spring training stadiums in the Cactus League: Sloan Park, spring home of the Chicago Cubs and Hohokam Stadium, spring home of the Oakland Athletics.

If you’re not a fan of the Cubs or A’s, and are feeling a bit adventurous, there are plenty of MLB teams that host Cactus League games less than an hour away from Mesa: American Family Fields of Phoenix (Milwaukee Brewers), Camelback Ranch Glendale (Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers), Goodyear Ballpark (Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians), Peoria Stadium (San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners), Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, (Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies), Scottsdale Stadium (San Francisco Giants), Surprise Stadium (Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers), and Tempe Diablo Stadium (Los Angeles Angels).

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

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A longtime Valley tradition, the Cubs have been practicing in Arizona since 1952. Sloan Park, the newest spring training stadium in Arizona, is generally considered the finest ballpark in the Cactus League. The Cubs used to play at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, but in 2014 moved into the 15,000-seat Sloan Park, located at the intersection of Loops 101 and 202.

PHOTO© JOE CAMPOREALE-USA TODAY SPORTS

The Cubs are the most popular team in the Cactus League, so tickets for spring training games are very popular and usually sell out … plan early if you want to attend a game. Don’t assume that you can buy tickets at the gate — it’s best to purchase season tickets or single-game tickets as soon as they go on sale. Ticket prices range from $15-$49.

PHOTO©FOSKETT CREATIVE/VISIT MESA

PHOTO© CACTUS LEAGUE

PHOTO©FOSKETT CREATIVE/VISIT MESA

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• The 140-acre complex houses a 15,000-seat ballpark and seven practice fields • The stadium holds 9,200 fixed seats, 4,200 lawn seats, and 1,600 party deck/hospitality seats • A state-of-the-art high definition video board measures 28 feet x 88 feet • Left Field Budweiser Party Deck with rooftop seating • Six parking lots with approximately 5,000 spaces are great for tailgating • Pathway from Cubs’ Clubhouse to the ballpark, where fans get a close look at players • Kids Zone with fun activities is located beyond the center field wall • Food trucks line up beyond the center field wall during games, offering unique cuisine Sloan Park 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy Mesa, AZ 85201 480.668.0500 www.mlb.com/cubs/sloan-park

PHOTO©SLAVEN GUJIC/VISIT MESA

• Arrive early to a game because the A’s are the only team that allows fans to shag balls and get autographs during batting practice • The stadium’s Daktronics HD scoreboard standing behind the left field berm measures 55 feet by 28 feet, one of the largest scoreboards in the Cactus League • In 2015, the exterior and entrance gates were branded to match the A’s green and gold color scheme • Ike’s Sandwiches, from the Bay Area, are noted for their legendary deli sandwiches • Historically, the Athletics are known for their mustaches, so it’s only fitting that the Mustache Pretzel food truck is stationed on the right field line • Grab a blanket and sit on the lawn for $10.

Hohokam Stadium 1235 N. Center Street Mesa, AZ 85201 480.644.4451 www.hohokamstadium.com

PHOTO© CACTUS LEAGUE

Located between Brown and McKellips roads just north of Downtown Mesa, Hohokam Stadium has a long history in the Cactus League with the centerpiece being Dwight W. Patterson Field, the former spring training home of the Chicago Cubs.

Major League Baseball first came to Mesa for spring training in 1952, when the Cubs set up camp at Rendezvous Park. That park was razed in 1976, replaced by a new stadium at Hohokam Park. In 1977, the A’s moved into the then newly built Hohokam Stadium. That facility, in turn, was demolished in 1996, and was replaced by a new and enlarged stadium and training facility that opened in February 1997.

The A’s moved to Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 1982, then returned to Hohokam in 2015, this time with a renovated state of the art facility in the heart of Mesa. Athletics fans can now enjoy one of the newest renovated stadiums in the Cactus League, with upgrades including a massive HD scoreboard display and new seating areas. Ticket prices range from $10-$38. eastmmag.com

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Saturday, Feb 22, 1:05 pm vs. Oakland Athletics

Sunday, Feb 23, 1:05 PM SS vs. San Francisco Giants

Tuesday, Feb 25, 1:05 pm vs. Colorado Rockies

Monday, Feb 24, 1:05 PM SS vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Wednesday, Feb 26, 1:05 pm vs. Kansas City Royals (SS)

Wednesday, Feb 26, 1:05 PM vs. Arizona D-backs

Saturday, Feb 29, 1:05 pm vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Thursday, Feb 27, 1:05 PM vs. Colorado Rockies

Sunday, Mar 1, 1:05 pm vs. Seattle Mariners

Saturday, Feb 29, 1:05 PM SS vs. Cleveland Indians

Monday, Mar 2, 1:05 pm SS vs. Los Angeles Angels

Monday, Mar 2, 7:05 PM vs. Chicago Cubs (SS)

Thursday, Mar 5, 1:05 pm vs. Texas Rangers (SS)

Thursday, Mar 5, 1:05 PM vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Friday, Mar 6, 1:05 pm vs. Chicago White Sox

Friday, Mar 6, 1:05 PM SS vs. Cincinnati Reds

Sunday, Mar 8, 1:05 pm SS vs. Arizona D-backs

Sunday, Mar 8, 1:05 PM vs. Milwaukee Brewers (SS)

Wednesday, Mar 11, 6:05 pm vs. San Diego Padres (SS)

Tuesday, Mar 10, 1:05 PM vs. Kansas City Royals (SS)

Thursday, Mar 12, 1:05 pm vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (SS)

Friday, Mar 13, 7:05 PM vs. Texas Rangers (SS)

Saturday, Mar 14, 1:05 pm SS vs. Cleveland Indians

Saturday, Mar 14, 1:05 PM SS vs. Seattle Mariners

Tuesday, Mar 17, 6:05 pm vs. Colorado Rockies

Sunday, Mar 15, 1:05 PM vs. San Diego Padres

Thursday, Mar 19, 1:05 pm vs. Cincinnati Reds (SS)

Tuesday, Mar 17, 1:05 PM vs. Los Angeles Angels

Friday, Mar 20, 1:05 pm vs. San Francisco Giants (SS)

Friday, Mar 20, 1:05 PM vs. Chicago White Sox

Saturday, Mar 21, 1:05 pm SS vs. Arizona D-backs

Saturday, Mar 21, 12:05 PM vs. Chicago Cubs (SS)

Monday, Mar 23, 12:05 pm vs. San Diego Padres

Note: SS = Split squad

Note: SS = Split squad

The Chicago White Sox were the first team to play exhibition games in Arizona in 1909, followed by the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1929, the Detroit Tigers were the first team to have an actual spring training in Arizona, but that only lasted one year as they headed to California in 1930.

The Cactus League in Arizona officially started in 1947 with the Cleveland Indians in Tucson and the New York Giants. The Cubs became the third team in Arizona in 1952. The league grew and shrank and grew again, with league expansions and teams moving from Florida for newer parks in Arizona.

PHOTO©FOSKETT CREATIVE/VISIT MESA

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Backyard Dreams Tips for getting started on your outdoor projects

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PHOTO BY MIKAYLA DEVEREUX

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Know Before You Throw

BY JON ENGLUND

Downsizing? Determined to get rid of “stuff” you no longer need? Cleaning out a home or an estate? Stop!

Know Before You Throw.

Did everyone have a super holiday season? Another Super thing this time of year is the annual championship game of the National Football League better known as the Super Bowl.

Football, as we know it today, had its start in about 1919. And the first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967. At the time it was called the AFL-NFL Championship Game, but three years later the name was officially changed to the Super Bowl.

A fun thing about the Super Bowl is that there are tons of great collectibles available to fans. Much of what is available is massproduced including clothing items and ephemera (game tickets, player cards, posters and programs). Collectors will oftentimes frame, mount, and display these collections. Due to the availability of these items, the monetary value is usually less than ideal unless it is an item that may have been autographed. Of course, rarity is always a strong factor when it comes to its value. Items that were not meant for the public, or items in very limited supply, tend to command a premium when it comes to collectible value. Finds such as Super Bowl rings, game-worn jerseys and game balls are highly coveted.

So before you toss that old box of football collectibles to the sidelines, call the coach and “Know Before You Throw!”

SOME OF THE PRICIER SUPER BOWL ITEMS THAT HAVE SOLD: The Super Bowl I game-worn jersey from Jerry Kramer of the Green Bay Packers sold at auction for $45,410 in February 2016.

A near mint, unused ticket from the Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs 1967 AFL-NFL World Championship Game, aka Super Bowl I, sold at auction for $66,000 in February 2019.

The Super Bowl XX ring belonging to William “Refrigerator” Perry sold at auction for $203,150 in July 2015. It was reported that the ring is a size 25 and that it was the highest price ever realized at auction for a Super Bowl ring!

Jon Englund has 30+ years of experience in appraising and liquidating personal property, jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques, furniture, printed items and more, as well as 17 years of experience in real estate.

For more information, call Jon direct at (480) 650-1422, or email Jon@KnowBeforeYouThrow.INFO 72

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Warm & Cozy SPRUCE UP YOUR FIREPLACE SUBMITTED BY LINDA PALM

In addition to adding emotional warmth and yes, physical heat, a fireplace adds beauty to a home. With a little carefully planned TLC, your hearth can become the centerpiece of your home, no matter the style, from traditional to modern, and formal to casual.

Many elements create beauty in this area — the style and material of the fireplace and chimney, the design of the mantel, and even the décor and furniture nearby.

Here are some tips to consider when designing your fireplace: 1|C hoose from a variety of materials such as stone, tile, cement, brick, paint and more.

2 | F or relaxing and warming up, place big comfortable chairs, low ottomans, or giant floor pillows nearby.

3 | F or a unique look, purchase an antique wood or stone carved mantel and surround.

4|A s an option, don’t have a mantle at all! A fireplace can look beautiful with the brick, wood or stone extending to the ceiling.

5|H ang a beautiful piece of art or a mirror over the fireplace.

6 | F or both function and beauty, add a unique fireplace screen and fireplace tools.

7|H ighlight your fireplace in the summer months too, by adorning the inside or edges of your fireplace with live or artificial plants, or a beautiful arrangement of candles.

Las Sendas resident Linda Palm has 35 years of interior design expertise.

She recently opened a new Mesa store, Window to Design, specializing in custom window treatments including drapery, upholstery and fabric.

For more information on Window to Design, call (480) 207-6450, or visit window2design.com

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OUTDOORupgrade

to create your 10 tips dream backyard Spring and early summer are truly the best times to enjoy your outdoor living space in Mesa. But does taking a step outside into your backyard cause you to cringe because all of your beautiful plants died during the winter? Maybe you’d like to make a few tasteful upgrades to get your space ready, or maybe you’ve been thinking about a whole landscape makeover. Whatever the situation, now is the time, and there is a lot to think about. Here are 10 tips to consider as you contemplate your backyard design projects.

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1 incorporate a versatile collection of furniture

Outdoor living space is typically a multi-purpose area. Sometimes you use it for relaxing, other times for entertaining. The best backyards have a variety of furniture to accommodate whatever activities you want. Common options include single seats, sofa-style seats, side-tables and dining tables. Incorporate a variety of benches, chairs, stools, and lounges for people to sit on — hammocks are great for lazing about during beautiful sunny days. Or you can relax on a bench swing with your favorite book.

2 create gardens

A great way to improve your outdoor living space for the spring and summer is with a beautiful garden area. Gardens add character to any backyard, and they also provide a hobby for those interested in growing flowers or their own vegetables. Flower gardens provide visual appeal, not just in the garden — you can take clippings and decorate your outdoor or indoor living spaces with those same flowers. There are many varieties of flowers, herbs, and plants that help deter those pesky mosquitoes as well.

3 add accent colors

Creating a beautiful outdoor environment is all about blending the natural with the man-made. Items like accent pillows, throw blankets, and outdoor rugs are all great for adding extra color to a space. Using the same colors throughout helps to tie all the elements together and gives the living area a cohesive feel.

Plus, pillow and blankets make the space more comfortable for all. An outdoor rug is also a great way to anchor seating arrangements and keep the space looking tidy. Consider using bold and bright colors that will give your outdoor space a unique and fun flare that will liven up the area even more.

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creating a beautiful outdoor environment is all about

blending the natural with the man-made.

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HOME: INSIDE & OUT

4 have electronic-friendly space

If you plan to spend time outside, setting up places for your electronics to stay charged outdoors is helpful. For people who work at home or work online, an electronic-friendly space is a must. A few purchases to consider are a Wi-Fi antenna to boost your range and some solar chargers. Wireless speakers are a great way to set the mood outside. You can turn on festive music for parties or some low-key tunes for a relaxing evening with the family.

5 install hardscaping for easy maintenance

Grass and flower beds are great, but just remember you have to mow and weed. Hardscaping is an option that replaces landscaping with material such as pavers, bricks, tiles, or stones. Every square foot that you hardscape is an area of yard you no longer have to maintain. Even better, hardscaping provides a firm foundation for everything on which your outdoor living oasis will sit. It’s why so many homes have at least a basic patio outside their back door. Installing hardscaping also creates a low water usage environment and minimizes concerns about desert- friendly plants.

6 create shade and shadows

Ideally, you can sit in the sun when you want and move to the shade when you don’t — especially as the Arizona summer heats up. Planting trees or tall foliage to create shade is not feasible in a lot of backyards. Building a pergola, gazebo, or awning are alternatives to consider. Backyard structures create overhead shade. Plus, you can hang curtains or blinds from them to block out light and heat. In addition to adjusting the atmosphere, an elegant gazebo or a modern pergola add to the design of the outdoor living space.

7

set the mood with outdoor lighting After the sun goes down, you want your backyard living area to be bright enough to see but not so bright it’s unpleasant. Solar and LED lighting is great for the outdoors, providing a long life and low energy costs to brighten your space. Consider using one primary light source along with a number of supplemental sources to highlight specific areas or create ambiance in the evenings. You don’t have to hire an electrician to add ambient lighting to your patio. Hang some candlelit sconces above a table to give your dinner parties a lovely glow. You can install solar lights around your garden that require little maintenance but provide maximum impact. Don’t forget about security. An outside spotlight set to a timer or motion detector lets you add extra outdoor illumination only when you need it.

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provide entertainment options You want to do more than just sit outside. An outdoor living space allows you to live and have fun! Adding a fire pit is always a great option. Everyone loves to roast marshmallows or sit around the fire talking and making memories. There are a variety of options to match your style and your budget. Other ideas for outdoor fun are installing a playhouse or swing set for the kids, or get creative and make a hopscotch walkway.

Games for kids and adults to enjoy like cornhole, bocce ball, or an outdoor ping pong table are always a huge hit. And if you have a pool, don’t forget the pool games!

boost the cooking capabilities Sometimes a grill is not enough to satisfy all your outdoor cooking ambitions. Why not bring all the kitchen amenities you enjoy inside to the outside? Over the last decade, outdoor kitchens have become a lot more common, mostly because homeowners love having them. They can be as simple as an inground grill with some extra counter space and a sink. Or you can incorporate gourmet-quality appliances and outdoor-only amenities like a wood-fired pizza oven. The sky is the limit when it comes to outdoor kitchens. Be aware, for a project as big and important as an outdoor kitchen, it’s a huge asset to work with experienced experts.

10 make it last

The last tip for improving your outdoor space is to choose durable items and materials. When picking outdoor furniture such as couches, look for pieces with little fabric or with fabric that is quick-drying and designed to be used outside. Patios, decking, walls, and fencing most likely need to be updated every few years — the most beautiful backyards can be marred by old fencing or dilapidated decks. Choose durable products such as vinyl or composite. Wood can be used too, but it needs to be specially treated to protect it from the elements, especially the dry desert heat.

It’s springtime, and summer will be here before we know it.

Finalize that perfect design, and put those projects in action.

While creating your perfect outdoor living spaces, the best thing to remember is to have fun. Your space should bring you joy — there is no better place than your backyard in which to entertain and relax.

commUnity

1

all about YOU

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1 | New Mesa resident Adrionna happily serves up coffee, tea and other goodies at the recently opened Hava Java on McDowell & Power. 2 | Steve Coon of Eastmark enjoys a day of off-road adventure at Bulldog Canyon. 3 | Alta Mesa resident Amanda Bowen is super excited about hitting the Peralta Trail and getting a great view of Weaver’s Needle. 4 | 16-year-old Brooke and the rest of her Red Mountain varsity cheer squad show off their school spirit as the football team heads to the Championship game. 5 | Proud Cub Scouts from pack 371 and Las Sendas residents, Dylan and James (both age 8), sell handmade chalk boards at the Canyon Winds Holiday Boutique.

Send us your pics! We want to see how YOU live your best life in East Mesa.

Send to content@eastmmag.com

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Looking Back

remembering mesa’s history | By Shannon Maki

Love on the Frontier: Marriage in Early Mesa

The early pioneers faced a lot of challenges along their trek to Mesa and found even more challenges upon their arrival in having to start a new community and a new life. The pioneers making these treks spent a lot of time with their fellow travelers and one such consequence of this was courtship and romance among the younger travelers.

A prime example of young love found on the journey to Mesa is that of Dan P. Jones (son of Daniel Webster Jones) and Mary Ellen Merrill. The two families met by chance as they were traveling southbound through Utah towards St. George where the colonizing expedition that would lead to the Lehi settlement was organizing.

The young couple were together often after their first meeting. One night, after everyone else had gone to bed, the two of them sat on a spring seat taken from one of the wagons, and Dan tried to put his arm around Mary, but she was shy and rejected the attempt. He later recalled that that made him love her all the more. She would only allow him to hold her hand as long as no one else was looking. Camped out in the desert in between the Hassayampa and the Agua Fria, he asked her to marry him.

Pioneers spent a lot of time with their fellow travelers and one such consequence of this was courtship and romance ...

LEFTT: Jan. 1, 1909 - Wedding portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Orson Shill.

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Once settled in Lehi, they were finally married on August 26, 1877.

The ceremony took place at Fort Utah near the Lehi School House.

Dan only had heavy winter clothes with him so he borrowed a nice linen coat from a friend. The entire company joined in on the festivities and Dan’s mother served roasted venison. This is the first marriage in Lehi and their son, Daniel D. Jones, was the first child born in Lehi. They went on to have a total of 12 children.

Another written record of romance on the Mesa trek is that of Elijah Pomeroy and Mary Annetta “Etta” Coleman. Elijah had first met a young Etta in 1867 while working on the Coleman Ranch in Nevada. In 1877, a now 27-year-old Elijah, was given the choice to stay in Idaho with the rest of his family or accompany his father, Francis Pomeroy, to Mesa. Elijah had remembered Etta and the Coleman family fondly and chose to go with his father and the rest of the Mesa company knowing that it would take them past the Coleman Ranch. He reunited with a now grown up Etta and he was smitten. He returned to Mesa in 1880 with his new bride, Etta, and they would go on to have nine children together.

RIGHT: ca. 1890-1910 - Wedding portrait, unknown couple.

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ABOVE: Dan P. Jones and Mary Ellen Merrill with their family. They were the first marriage in Lehi and their son, Daniel D. Jones, was the first child born in Lehi. They went on to have a total of 12 children.

There were likely many more budding romances and courtships that resulted from these travels; however, many were not recorded and marriage records are scarce. These stories that were recorded give us a glimpse into what life was truly like for these early pioneers.

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