Lose 20-40 inches of body fat per session. Not water weight so it WORKS!
think we all agree that our children are our most valuable resource. They bring us joy and we all hope that they will have more opportunity than we had, no matter our circumstance. However, with education cuts and more administrative costs to run education programs it seems that in many ways, our children have less of an opportunity in school. Many schools have less arts education and other programs than they had a decade or two ago. We at Chamberlain Orthodontics are hoping to provide a small but significant solution to this problem, at least in our area and in our circle of influence.
I would like to introduce a new way
we have thought to give back to the schools in our community. We call it the “Partners in Education” program. In short, our office will give $100 for each child that begins full orthodontic treatment in 2015 to the school that child attends . This allows us to give directly back to our community and the schools that so positively influence our children.
I am personally so excited to begin this program and see the potential for good unfold in our schools and community. If you have any questions or would like us to reach out to a school to tell them about our Partners in Education program, please don’t hesitate to call us at 480.899.9423.
Dr. Thomas Chamberlain
Nearby News Monthly Contest
Find the hidden picture and you could win a prize!
Last Month’s Winner: Andrew Csontos
Each month we will hide a different picture in one of our ads. Locate the hidden picture and email us with your guess to be entered into a drawing for:
A Restaurant Gift Certificate
Enter by email ONLY: ChandlerHideAndSeek@nearbynews.com Please include your name and phone number in your email. We will call our winner by Feb. 15. Good Luck!
Publisher
Times Media Group
President
Steve T. Strickbine
Executive Editor
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Associate Editor Curt Blakeney
Graphic Design
Erica Odello, Christine Bryner, Helga Benz, Eric Jelinek, Paul Braun
Contact the Nearby News at 480-348-0343 • Fax: 480-348-2109 Editor@NearbyNews.com
For more information visit our website at www.NearbyNews.com
The Desert Sun News is published monthly and distributed to 10,000 residences and businesses within Chandler, 8,500 mailed directly to homes and 1,500 distributed on newsstands, and in several hundred high-traffic locations throughout the community.
Distribution Area:
Cover Photo: Tim Sealy
community spotlight
By Jill Hanks, Tempe Union High School District
Big Man on Campus
Marvin Bagley III is just four months into his first year at Corona del Sol High School, but he already stands out.
At 6-foot-10, he’s easily spotted anywhere on campus. And thanks to a viral video shared by ESPN, a national audience is taking notice of the freshman, too.
Bagley smiles and shakes his head when asked about the reaction to the caught-on-camera monster dunk and follow-up stare down of his opponent, delivered in his first home basketball game as an Aztec. He downplayed the notion it was a statement of his arrival on the basketball scene.
“I have a passion for the game of basketball and sometimes your emotions just take over,” explained the teenager, who describes himself as very laid back.
College basketball coaches have been watching Bagley for years. He got his first scholarship offer in seventh grade—2 inches and 30 pounds ago. Now just 15 and still growing, the high school freshman has offers from at least 10 college basketball programs, including Arizona, Arizona State and Connecticut.
Veteran sports writers consistently call Bagley a “phenom” and he’s been ranked as the country’s No. 1 freshman player. Scott Bordow wrote for USA Today that Bagley “has to be the most physically gifted big man we’ve seen in high school basketball in years, if not decades.”
Bordow added, “By the end of his high school career, he might be one of the best players Arizona has ever produced.”
Such praise left Bagley momentarily speechless.
“Wow,” he said followed by a long pause, drop of the head, and deep breath. “That’s an honor that someone
would say that about me. I’m happy they notice me and see what I can do on the court. I’ll enjoy it, but won’t take it for granted.”
He got that advice from his grandfather, Olympic gold-medalist and ASU basketball legend “Jumpin’ Joe” Caldwell.
“He tells me, ‘You can’t lay back and think you’re good. You have to work hard and try to get better,’” Bagley said. That applies to the classroom, too. Bagley is a 4.0 GPA student.
“Every day when I walk into each class, I have the attitude that I’m going to try to learn something new,” said Bagley, whose favorite subjects are English and science.
At home, he’s a typical teen who enjoys PlayStation, Red Vines, his mom’s fried rice and family time with his parents and four brothers. He thinks people would be surprised to learn he’s musically inclined, spending hours playing the keyboard.
One of Bagley’s biggest challenges is finding shoes for his size 17 feet and clothes that fit, but fitting in on campus hasn’t been a problem. In fact, camaraderie and school spirit are his favorite things about Corona.
As the Aztecs go for a fourth straight state title and the hype over his game grows higher, Bagley is taking it all in stride.
“I just want to keep having fun. I hope to get stronger and better and continue getting good grades.” Bagley said. “I take it day by day, year by year and everything will fall into place.”
Not only is Marvin Bagley III tall, he is also a 4.0 GPA student.
IKEA Business Debuts at Tempe Showroom
By Lynette Carrington
With 150 people traveling in and out of The Centers for Habilitation (TCH) in Tempe on a daily basis, the nonprofit was looking for an affordable way to makeover the building that has endured significant wear and tear.
Staffers with the Tempe-based organization looked to neighbor IKEA, which recently launched a business center that offers free consultative and planning services at its showroom, at 2110 W. IKEA Way.
“You can imagine, in any given area where you have 150 people in and
out on any given day, the floors, the walls, the furniture, everything is simply worn out,” said Carrie Campbell, the director of habilitation services at TCH.
“We were looking for a way to revamp a whole area without breaking the bank, because our bank is very, very small. We immediately thought of IKEA because they tend to be affordable.”
IKEA employees created a design plan for several rooms on a CAD program and it was shown to Campbell.
The organization will redo the rooms as the budget allows or as donations or room sponsors are found. New IKEA items that will be implemented include rugs, chairs, tables, desks, storage solutions, bookcases, accessories and more.
So far, IKEA Business has worked with a slew of organizations, rang-
ing from small momand-pop organizations to large Scottsdale hotel resorts.
Items used for businesses are commercial grade and specifically designed to stand up to high-traffic areas. Noncommercial items throughout the showroom can be incorporated into a design, too.
“We find out a history of their business and what they do, so we’re more in tune with what their everyday needs would be in their workspace,” noted Andy Shannon, IKEA Business manager. “If it’s seating and desk space, that’s what we’re going to go after. If it is storage and organization, that’s what we’ll focus on. Or if it’s the layout of the office, we’ll focus on that.”
In every instance an eye is kept on the client’s budget. Visit www.ikea.com/au/en/store/ tempe or call (888) 888-4532 for additional information.
Diablos Open Grant Requests
By Tracy House
As senior executive director of Tempe Family YMCA, Laura Taylor seeks out funds that will help youth and families who are influenced by her organization.
One way she accomplished this was by applying for and receiving a $5,000 grant from the Tempe Diablos, which support nonprofits that aid at-risk youth and families.
“Our afterschool program has a number of things, but we wanted to enhance that and add a tutoring component, and now we’re able to do that with the help of this grant,” Taylor said. “We’re so excited to be able to do that.”
There are 44 kindergarten through sixth-grade children enrolled in the YMCA afterschool program and a tutor will provide the services six hours a week at no additional cost to parents. “Our idea is to keep this going and to actually expand it so we can offer more tutoring” Taylor said.
Tempe organizations or residents.
“We really look for programs that are more focused on kids,” Slater said. “We look at programs that are more educational in nature. And we look for programs that are for high-risk youth.”
The City of Tempe Care 7 Crisis Response Team, which connects people with resources in Tempe, benefited from a $25,000 Diablos grant.
“We do mobile social work, social service delivery for the City of Tempe,” said Kristen Scharlau, Care 7 counseling supervisor.
The team responds to emergency calls in Tempe and provides onthe-spot social services to the community.
“What the money enables us to do is provide people with the things that they need. It’s just literally that simple,” Scharlau said.
New Mixed Bulk Trash and Green Organics Program
Tempe is enhancing its mixed bulk trash and green organics program by adding more frequent service and giving residents the option to recycle their green waste instead of throwing it away.
The City of Tempe reached out to residents for feedback on how to improve the bulk trash service and schedule. Based on that feedback, the following changes have gone into effect this month:
Mixed Bulk Trash
Mixed bulk pickups will increase from two times a year to every other month, for a total of six pickups. All of this material will go to the landfill.
Green Organics
The Tempe Diablos are accepting grant proposals for programs like Taylor’s. The deadline for the first of two grant cycles is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Formal interviews are held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Thursday, Feb. 26, with acceptance/rejection notification by June 30. The other grant cycle is in December.
“Most of the money that we do is in the first grant cycle,” said John Slater, chairman of the Diablos’ grant committee. The Diablos set aside monies for the second cycle, which supports organizations in dire need.
The monies come from fundraising events like the Diablos’ Casino Capers party, usually held in April, Slater added. Members also park cars at Tempe Diablo Stadium during Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim spring training games.
“Last year, in total, we did about $500,000” for both 2014 grant cycles, Slater said. To be eligible for Diablos grants, organizations or businesses must be located in Tempe, unless a project/program serves primarily
From coats, clothing and hotel rooms to transportation, gift cards and groceries, Care 7 is able to help community members who are in need.
“It sets us apart from every major organization in the city because we have money,” Scharlau said.
Slater explained another successful program is scholarships for kids.
“It changes every year, but in the range of 30 scholarships for kids to attend either ASU or the Maricopa Community Colleges,” Slater said. “So again a program geared for kids, a program geared for education.
“The other thing we do, educational-based, is an award ceremony for the top teachers (in Tempe).”
The Tempe Diablos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, civic organization that began its service in 1968 with the mission to enhance and promote Tempe.
The Diablos’ 2015 Grant Submission Form and instruction guide can be found at www.tempediablos. org/grant-requests. Upon completion, email the completed package to grants@tempediablos.org or mail to Tempe Diablos Charities, P.O. Box 13246, Tempe, AZ 85284-0055.
community gardens. Residents who wish to use this service should create two separate piles: one for mixed bulk and one for the green organics.
“These enhancements reflect Tempe’s commitment to sustainable, efficient, quality bulk trash services for residents,” said John Osgood, deputy public works director. “The program preserves landfill space and reduces disposal costs, fuel costs and vehicle emissions.”
Additionally, residents who choose to recycle their green waste are closing the recycling loop by ensuring the material is turned into compost and returned to Tempe schools and community gardens instead of taken to the landfill.
Green organics pickup is an optional service that will occur seasonally in spring, summer and fall, to coincide with the growing and trimming seasons. This material will be recycled and turned into nutrient-rich compost that is used at City parks, schools and
Residents should place their items out no sooner than 10 days prior to the Monday of their collection week and no later than 6 a.m. on that Monday.
To learn more about the city’s composting efforts, visit www.tempe.gov/ slashthetrash.
St. Mary-Basha Open House Part of Catholic School Week
St. Mary-Basha Catholic School invites all who are interested in Catholic education to an open house on Sunday, Jan. 25. Tour the school with staff members and learn all about what St. Mary-Basha has to offer students.
Registration packets and information for the 2015-16 school year will be available in the school office through Feb. 7. Find out about the admissions process including required documents, fees, tuition costs and waiting-list procedures.
Visitors on the guided tour may look inside classrooms, the gardens, library, science and computer labs and newly remodeled indoor cafeteria. Learn about all the various afterschool programs and activities such as Cub Scouts, Little Flowers, chess club and athletics program.
Those interested can obtain scholarship information and learn how to apply for tuition assistance. More than 40 percent of students at St. MaryBasha receive financial assistance
through several of Arizona’s State Tuition Organizations.
The public and alumni are also invited to join St. Mary-Basha for Mass with Bishop Thomas Olmsted at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, in the church, officially celebrating its 70th year as a school.
St. Mary-Basha Catholic School was founded in 1944 by Father Joseph N. Patterson, who was serving as pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with the intention of providing solid Catholic education opportunities to many families who wanted a faith-based education. St. Mary’s Catholic Church was responsible for the spiritual needs of Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Goodyear (now Ocotillo).
In 1964, through the generosity of Ed Basha Sr., a new school was built on 14.5 acres at 200 W. Galveston St. where it serves more than 500 students. For more information, call (480) 963-4951 or visit www.stmarybashacatholic.org.
neighborhood hearsay
Chandler ranks No. 8 in a list of Arizona’s best communities for renters, according to NerdWallet. Thirty-seven percent of Chandler residents rent their homes, allocating 22 percent of their paychecks toward rent, below the recommended number of 30 percent. Arizona has a rental vacancy rate of about 3 percent higher than the national average of 7.3 percent, based on 2013 census figures.
Fox Restaurant Concepts has sold its nine Sauce pizzerias in the Valley and Tucson, including a Chandler location, to a group led by Scott Kilpatrick, an original founder of Ra Sushi.
Seven athletes and one team will be honored during the 11th annual Chandler Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Special recognition will also be given to youth baseball coach Tony Valdez and long-time Hamilton High statistician Greg Iseman. The inductees are Alaina Bergsma Coble, volleyball; Melissa Buhl, mountain bike racing; Breanna Leslie, track; Dominique Lamb
Marshall, volleyball; Carl Mickelson, swimming; Dr. Wayne Nickel, water ski racing; and Eric Richardson, Chandler High School track head coach. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Prospective naturopath students as well as community members interested in learning about the lifestyle or professional career can find out what they need at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine’s Discovery Day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at 2140 E. Broadway Road in Tempe. This free event will feature the first public tours of the newest addition to the SCNM Campus—a 48,000-square-foot, multi-purpose, LEED Platinum wellness center, featuring an integrative pain clinic, high-tech classrooms, a fully outfitted teaching kitchen, a new natural medicinary, an expanded library, yoga and workout studios, and the newest outpost of Nourish Restaurant.
Local rockers The Maine will kick off their tour on Friday, April 3, at the Marquee in Tempe. The band announced its new album which is
titled “American Candy” and the openers for its tour are Real Friends, Knuckle Puck and The Technicolors. Info: www.luckymanonline.com.
Arizona children with culinary skills can submit recipes for a chance to win a new bike. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge is open to kids ages 9 to 12 and requires them to submit a healthy side dish. The recipes are for hot or cold dishes with at least one fruit or veggie, and can be cooked within 20 minutes. The five finalists then showcase their concoctions during an event at US Airways Center on Feb. 6, with the winner receiving a new bike. Submissions are due by Jan. 21 and more information is available by visiting www. walkonaz.com.
While some municipalities are cutting jobs, the Chandler Police Department is taking applications to fill positions within the department. The police are hiring police
cadets and lateral police officers to fill openings in those positions. Applications are accepted until Jan. 16 or until the department receives 1,060 applications, although additional recruitments will occur in 2015. Visit www.chandlerpd.com for more information.
In restaurant closings, Pizza Five85 at Interstate 10 and Ray Road in Chandler was shuttered. Its other Arizona location in Scottsdale has closed as well.
What’s the buzz in your neighborhood? New babies or grandbabies? Announcements? Engagements? Let us know! Email hearsay@nearbynews.com.
Resolve to Have a Year of Fun at Library
Whatever your New Year’s resolution, Tempe Public Library has books, movies and programs that can help. Here’s a look at January’s event calendar. No registration is required unless noted. Everything is free.
Tempe Public Library is located at 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, on the southwest corner of Rural Road and Southern Avenue. For more information, call (480) 350-5500. Don’t have time to stop by? Download free books, movies and more by visiting www.tempe.gov/digitallibrary. Like the facility on Facebook for program reminders, fun photos and book news.
Adults
Tempe Community Writing Contest will be held through Sunday, Feb. 15. Submit your poetry or short story to the first Tempe Community Writing Contest. If you win, your work will be published online and copies added to the shelves of the Tempe Public Library. You will also be honored at a library gathering. Work will be judged by members of ASU’s creative writing community.
Librarycon: Fandom Gathering, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. Explore a world of fantasy and super heroes. Wear a costume and you could win a prize. Meet graphic novelists. Play video games. Check out sci fi, steampunk and fantasy books, movies and comics.
Writers on Writing: Lori Eshleman, 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. Tempe resident Lori Eshleman is a writer of historical fiction and an instructor at ASU’s College of Letters and Sci-
ences. She has taught many courses in medieval art, Mexican art and art of the Americas. Her first book is “Pachacuti: World Overturned.”
Coffee, Tea and Books Book Club: Open Membership, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26. This month’s book is “The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew—Three Women Search for Understanding” by Ranya Idilby. Everyone is welcome to share a beverage and discuss the book.
Great Books Book Club: Open membership, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. Discuss “Fischer vs. Spassky” by Laura Vapnyar in a friendly environment with neighborhood book lovers.
Children Storytime
Enjoy a free storytime in the Storytime Castle 30 times each month. Children can sing, dance and have fun with library staff and family. It’s free and no registration is required.
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. Baby Storytime; 10 a.m. Family Storytime.
Special Storytimes: Whole Foods Kids Club (at Whole Foods Market Tempe), 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17.
Saturday Storytime: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31.
Teens
Game On!: 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Video games are projected on the walls to make huge screens. Teens ages 1318 are welcome. Free, no registration required.
Three-Time National Flatpicking Champ Set for Tempe Appearances
Guitarist Steve Kaufman, the threetime winner of the National Flatpicking Championships, will offer a beginner/intermediate mandolin workshop on Thursday, Jan. 29, and an all-level flatpicking guitar workshop Friday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Jan. 31, at Acoustic Vibes Music, 2070 E. Southern Ave., Tempe.
A concert will be held on Jan. 31 at Acoustic Vibes Music as well. To make reservations for any of the events, contact Jeff Looker at (602) 295-5946 or email jeff@acousticvibesmusic.com.
The Thursday mandolin workshop is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., when Kaufman will cover a broad range of topics, including learning new songs, chords and rhythms to
bring your talents to the surface. The two-day all-level flatpicking guitar workshop will be a two-hour session Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will cover core picking skills and techniques, repertoire and building blocks for growth.
The workshop continues at 9:30 a.m. Saturday for six more hours. This is when Kaufman will cover rightand left-hand technique, drills and skills, and many other valuable aspects of flatpicking guitar. Small groups and individual attention make this workshop valuable for flatpicking guitarists at all levels of experience. The fee for the mandolin workshop is $50. The all-level flatpick guitar workshop is $100. Pre-registration is required.
Help Rio Salado College Choose a New Mascot
Most colleges have a mascot, including nine of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges. Rio Salado has been an exception— but that’s about to change.
The college is calling on students, faculty, staff, alumni and the public to take part in the Rio Salado College Mascot Contest, through Jan. 31, by submitting mascot ideas that reflect the college’s culture, brand and history—and will fit in with the motley crew of Maricopa Community Colleges mascots. The selected winner will receive a $100 gift card.
Why the effort?
“Our research indicates that mascots can have great value,” said Deborah Spotts, Rio Salado College coordinator of public programs and co-chairwoman of the college’s mascot committee.
“Mascots can help create college spirit and help us increase awareness about what we’re trying to achieve as a community college. It’s also a fun and creative way for us to engage with the communities we serve.”
Participants can submit suggestions for a name, idea or design concept to
the Rio Salado College Mascot Contest committee until midnight, Jan. 31. Entries must be submitted by email to mascot@riosalado.edu. Multiple submissions are allowed, but each idea must be submitted individually.
The committee and a panel of final judges will select the winning entry this spring and announce the winner during its collegewide meeting (date TBD). Once chosen, the mascot will be used for college publications, advertisements, website and other collateral material. For complete entry criteria and other details, visit www.riosalado.edu/ mascot.
Maricopa County Community College District Chancellor Rufus Glasper is surrounded by nine of the Maricopa Community Colleges mascots.
Steve Kaufman, threetime National Flatpick Champion.
Sweet News: The Girl Scout
Cookie Dessert Challenge is Back
By Alison Bailin Batz
The Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is bringing back its awardwinning Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge. For the second year in a row, chefs from some of the state’s most popular restaurants—including several in the Southeast Valley—will use their culinary prowess to reimagine one of the beloved flavors of Girl Scouts’ cookies—Do-Do-Si-Dos, Samoas Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Trefoils and a new flavor, Rah Rah Raisins— into a custom dessert menu item.
Each restaurant has agreed to feature its dessert on its menu through Feb. 28, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the transformation of the local council’s Camp Sombrero into a Leadership Center for Girls and Women.
Among the participating restaurants in the area, and their creative desserts are:
Restaurant: Blue Wasabi in Gilbert
Chef/Dessert Designer: Christian Palomares
Dessert: Tempura Thin Mint Ice Cream
Restaurant: CHoP in Chandler
Chef/Dessert Designer: Grant Gates
Dessert: Tagalong Shortbread
Restaurant: Grimaldi’s in Gilbert and Chandler
Chef/Dessert Designer: Cory Lattuca
Desserts: Chocolate Thin Mint
Cheesecake and Samoa Cheesecake
Restaurant: Melting Pot in Ahwatukee
Chef/Dessert Designer: Jon Boggs
Dessert: Melting Pot Dark Chocolate Mojito Fondue
Restaurant: Over Easy in Gilbert and Mesa
Chef/Dessert Designer: Aaron May
Dessert: Chocolate Do-Si-Dos Muffins
Camp Sombrero is a 14.5-acre site that has been owned and used by Girl
Scouts for the past 51 years.
“It’s time to better utilize this beautiful property and transform it into an urban program center, with camp appeal, to provide leadership training for girls and women, give girls their first camping experience close to home and serve the surrounding community groups, partner organizations and schools,” said Susan de Queljoe of the local council.
In addition to benefiting from the dessert challenge, a portion of the council proceeds from all local 2015 Girl Scout cookie sales will benefit the Camp Sombrero project. The transformation of Camp Sombrero is one of the local council’s objectives as part of its overarching Campaign for Girls in Arizona.
“Our comprehensive campaign goal is to raise $15 million in philanthropic support. This will enable us to significantly expand and enhance the Girl Scout experience for more girls,” de Queljoe said.
For more information about the challenge, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/ dessertchallenge.
East Valley Moms
Brought to you by:
NearbyNews
Cerreta Candy Company
A Sweet Treat for the Whole Family
By Kimberly Hosey
Really, all you have to do is walk through the doors of the Cerreta Candy Company in downtown Glendale, and inhale. My son, David, and I made the trip up from the Southeast Valley, and that alone was almost worth the drive. The sweet, fresh aroma surrounded us as soon as we stepped inside. Happily, we had also come for a VIP tour. And, of course, chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
The Cerreta Candy Company has been an area staple for decades, opening its first factory in Phoenix in 1968. The company was invited by Glendale to move to its current location in 1988 to help revitalize the downtown area, and attracts hundreds
of thousands of visitors each year with its tasty, informative, family-friendly public tours.
The factory offers free tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, where guests witness the whole process of making Cerreta’s candies, from melting down giant blocks of chocolate to cream-making, filling, coating, slicing, and wrapping the confections.
One of the fastest machines is able to twirl wrappers around candies at the rate of a 1,000 pieces per minute.
The tour wound around the production floor as our guide took us through a bit of history. The oldest machine, used since 1929, heats up to
500 degrees. The white chocolate conveyor line, which is a working replica of the line used in the “I Love Lucy” episode in which Lucy and Ethel get jobs in the candy factory. (The conveyor wasn’t running, preventing my son and me from engaging in a mouth-stuffing, candygrubbing fiasco.)
We learned some botany as we examined cacao beans and learned how the beans are roasted, de-shelled and ground as they begin the process of becoming the smooth, rich chocolate used by Ceretta’s. The company uses an exclusively blended robust chocolate produced by the family-owned Guittard Chocolate Company in San Francisco and shipped in solid bars.
the bars are 10 pounds each, and are shipped in 15,000-pound pallets. Ceretta receives about six such shipments each year to prepare for Easter, and two to three leading up to Valentine’s Day.
My son was even invited to do a little weight lifting: one bar of chocolate. Doesn’t sound too hard, except
I have a feeling we could take a few more tours and not tire of discovering new information (or trying out samples as we go: white chocolate-
... continues on page 17
David Hosey poses next to Cerreta’s giant chocolate football and caramel corn Easter bunny.
Cerreta’s wrapping machine can wrap candies at a rate of 1,000 per minute.
around the neighborhood
Lovers of the cold were invited to freeze their paws for a cause at the Polar Plunge benefiting Tempe’s Adapted Recreation Programs. Despite the frigid weather, the Polar Bears warmed up to the event, which routinely raises more than $4,000. For more information about next year’s Polar Plunge, visit www.lakespolarbearplunge.com. Photos by Tim Sealy
1. Sondra Sigma embraced her inner bear for the polar plunge. 2. Masan Washington is ready for the chill. 3. Mya Sorel fuels up before her dip in the chilly water. 4. John Parent and his son, Joseph Raedel, are psyched up to take the plunge. 5. Cold water and a chilly morning didn’t stop these folks from raising money for Tempe’s Adapted Recreation Programs. 6. Volunteers Amanda Martin and Abigail Adams wrap up the raffle in time to change for their turn in the drink. 7. Ryan Dowell, Sue Lauck, Hannah Fosse and Todd Lauck enjoy their last few minutes of warmth. 8. Todd Trebilcock and Karen Crawford brought a tropical feel to the event. 9. Joseph Raedel single handedly raised $2,400 for the Polar Plunge, nearly doubling his $1,300 from last year. 10. Monica Valcek and Gloria Rodriguez aren’t fazed by the cold water at all. 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
By Melissa Hurst
Eight Tips to Save on Valentine’s Day
You want to express your love, but you don’t want to hurt your wallet by doing so. Never fear! You can be frugally minded and still have an enjoyable Valentine’s Day. Check out the tips below for ways to save.
Cards
1
If your kids are handing out cards at school, look at buying packs of smaller cards rather than individual cards that will cost more. You may also want to check the dollar stores for discount cards. There are also many free printable Valentine’s Day cards that you can make yourself.
2 If you are mailing cards, send postcards, which have less postage than cards with envelopes. You can also send free eCards to long-distance loved ones (try www.BlueMountain.com for one example).
Flowers
3
Roses tend to go up in price (up to double) around Valentine’s Day. Seasonal flowers will be much less expensive. You can also mix up the colors, sizes and types of flowers to create a unique bouquet that costs less.
4
Check larger retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club and Walmart for flowers. They buy flowers in bulk, and pass the savings onto the costumer.
5
Potted plants are also a less expensive option that will last longer than a week or two. You save money and your loved one continues to enjoy your present.
Dinner
6
The easiest way to save is to dine at home or have a picnic, but if you feel like going out there are a few things you can do to save. Look for deals on local restaurants on www. groupon.com, www.LivingSocial. com or www.restaurants.com.
7
Move the date. Celebrating after the 14th can save you a headache from the crowd and any higher rates that may be charged. If you want to celebrate on that day, try going for lunch rather than dinner.
8 Skip the wine. Alcohol is expensive and can increase your chances of spending more. If you want to celebrate with a bottle, pick one up at the store and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. You’ll easily save at least 50 percent on the bottle.
Happy Saving!
Melissa Hurst, a Valley-based deal-hunting savings pro, is also a mom of three. She understands the importance of budgeting and shares her savings tips in her column. Visit www.SavingCentsWithSense.net, where she shares her passion for bargain-hunting and strategies for stretching a budget.
Cutie Patooties!
Is your kid a “cutie patootie”? Of course he is, so submit your baby, toddler or kid photos to the The Nearby News’ East Valley Moms section for a chance to win a restaurant gift certificate. Send high-resolution digital photos to editor@nearbynews. com. Be sure to include your name, your child’s name and age and your phone number. (Don’t worry, phone numbers will not be published.) It wasn’t easy but the winner is...
7-month-old Iris Hespenheide. She and her family, including mom, Kristin Kender, enjoyed a beautiful January day in Harter Park. For this picture, the family will have a meal on us!
top 10 family events
Jan. 15-Feb. 15, 2015
1 Monster Jam
Phoenix motor sports fans will witness the world’s best monster trucks battle it out in the ultimate event of intense speed, racing and destruction.
WHEN: Sat., Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix
COST: $20 to $125
INFO: (800) 745-3000 or www.monsterjam.com
2 Teen Career Conference
The Phoenix Zoo offers this opportunity for teens and their parents to explore many different careers in animal science.
WHEN: Sat., Feb. 7, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix
COST: $10; registration required INFO: (602) 914-4333 or www.phoenixzoo.org/event-items/ teen-career-conference
3 Childsplay’s “A Thousand Cranes”
Childsplay tells the story of Sadako Saski, who was just 2 years old when the bomb fell on Hiroshima.
WHEN: Sat., Jan. 17, through Sun. Jan. 25, matinees
WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $12; discounts available INFO: (480) 350-2822 or www.tempe.gov/tca
4 Escalante Sweethearts Dance
Bring the entire family to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
WHEN: Fri., Feb. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Escalante Multigenerational Center, 2150 E. Orange St., Tempe COST: Call for cost INFO: (480) 350-5800
5 Childsplay’s
“The Boy Who Loved Monsters and The Girl Who Loved Peas”
In this adventure, a little boy, Evan, and his family learn the importance of putting technology down to play together.
WHEN: Sun., Feb. 8 through Sun., March 8, matinees
WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $15 to $25
INFO: (480) 350-2822 or www.tempe.gov/tca
6 Whole Foods Kids Club
Parents and children can partake in stories and songs at Whole Foods. WHEN: Sat., Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Relax with fellow teens for two hours of afterschool gaming fun. WHEN: Wed., Jan. 21, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Public Library, Storytime Room, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe
COST: Free INFO: (480) 350-5500
8 Pajama Storytime
Family storytime comes complete with songs, movement activities and finger plays that encourage early learning.
WHEN: Mon., Feb. 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE. Tempe Public Library, Storytime Room, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe
COST: Free INFO: (480) 350-5500
9 Free Art Friday
Free Art Friday is a familyfriendly event that gives kids the opportunity to create art, learn about music and movement. The Jan. 16 theme is “Frozen.”
WHEN: Fri., Jan. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Edna Vihel Center, 3340 S. Rural Rd., Tempe COST: Free INFO: (480) 350-5287
10
Dogs’ Day in the Garden
Take advantage of this opportunity to bring the whole family—dogs included—to the garden. WHEN: Sat., Jan. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix COST: Regular admission of $10 to $22; free for members; plus $4 per dog. Proceeds from dog admission benefit the Arizona Humane Society INFO: (480) 941-1225 or www.dbg.org
By Erica Larson Odello
Oranges, Oranges Everywhere
The warm winter we’ve had, thus far, has sent my orange tree into a tizzy and I’ve already got more ripe oranges than I know what to do with. Or do I? Looks like it’s time to see what I can do with four oranges and some craft supplies.
Orange Peel Flowers
Ingredients:
Whole oranges, various sizes Knife, Cutting board
Cerreta Candy Company ...continued from page 12
Orange Peel Flower Potpourri
Ingredients:
Glass bowl
Orange peel flowers and orange leaves
Whole cloves
3 to 4 cinnamon sticks, 2 star anise
Leftover Orange Room Scent
Ingredients:
Pint Mason jar
Orange peel, rind and one sliced orange, all left over from the orange peel flower project
2 tsp whole cloves
3-4 cinnamon sticks
Orange Peel Flower Wreath
Hold an orange in one hand and stick the tip of your knife into the top of the fruit next to the stem. Carefully bring the blade of the knife around to start a spiral cut of the peel, which you will continue the entire circumference of the orange. You want the entire peel to stay intact. Once it is removed, gently spread it out, rind up, on the cutting board. Using your knife, gently remove as much of the rind as possible without cutting the peel. You want the peel to be bendable. Choose one end of the peel and cut the end off at a right angle to the rest of the peel. Starting with the cut end, tightly curl the orange peel, trying to keep it as even as possible as the side that wants to be the bottom will end up being the top. When the peel reaches the halfway point, the remaining peel will form the outer petals. Use the curl at the end of the peel to form the base of your flower. Set on a plate and either let stand indoors or out in the sun for at least 24 hours so it will dry in its new shape.
Orange leaves have a nice scent of their own and make a great addition to potpourri. Arrange all of your ingredients in a bowl and set out to enjoy. The scent will last for a week or two and is still nice to look at months later.
2 tbsp allspice
2 star anise pods
Candle warmer
Starting with the orange slices and working your way down to the smallest spices, place everything in the Mason jar and cover with two cups of water. Place on the candle warmer and enjoy!
The neat thing about orange peel flowers and orange leaves is that they keep their color and shape once they’ve dried. But if you’re too impatient (like me!) to wait for them to dry, you can use a length of floral wire inserted horizontally through the base of the flower to hold it in place and add it to the wreath.
covered marshmallows, French mint truffles and caramels never really get old). I was taking notes and I still was left trying to keep track of it all, from enrobing cream centers in molten chocolate, to the elaborate moldmaking process for candies like the French mint truffles and the larger novelty chocolate items; to the whimsical, upwardly spiraling track, almost a mile long, that keeps chocolates at exactly 48 degrees for 36 minutes, where workers release the chocolates by hand.
You know Science Channel’s “How It’s Made?” Cerreta’s tour is like that, only much tastier.
At the end, we opted to make chocolate “pizzas,” which is probably most kids’ favorite part of the trip. Each pizza maker receives a pizza box partially filled with melted milk chocolate (the dough) and toppings like white
chocolate mints, peanut butter chips, chocolate candies, and more to stand in for pepperoni, sausage and whatever your imagination can conjure. To top it all off, each chef receives a bottle of “cheese”—melted white chocolate.
My son made a masterpiece consisting of just about every topping he could fit on his pizza. We sealed up our pizzas, browsed the tantalizing retail section and ogled the giant chocolate football, chocolate cactus, Rice Krispies Easter bunny and more before leaving. We wanted to get another good whiff, after all. Just like a kid (OK, two kids, counting me) in a candy shop.
David Hosey hefts one of the giant, 10-pound bars of chocolate which will be melted down for use in Cerreta’s many confections.
David Hosey shows off his glorious chocolate concoction.
events calendar
Jan. 15-Feb. 15, 2015
Halie Loren Jazz Quintet
Jazz vocalist Halie Loren combines her love of traditional jazz with a compulsion to break the mold.
WHEN: Sat., Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Lakeshore Music at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $32
INFO: (480) 350-2822
P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon
Participants can run to the beat of music every mile and get motivated by spirit squads along the way. Finish line concerts by The Wallflowers and OK Go.
WHEN: Sun., Jan. 18, at 8 a.m.
WHERE: Tempe Beach Park, Tempe
COST: $50 to $195, depending on race
INFO: www.runrocknroll.competitor. com/arizona
Fitness in the District
Get in shape at the free, weekly fitness series that includes Zumba and Cardio Kick. Certified instructors from Tempe YMCA will teach a onehour class on stage.
WHEN: Tuesdays through Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: Free
INFO: (480) 966-9338 or www.tempemarketplace.com/fitness
Grace Community Christian School Open House
Tour the school, which caters to children in preschool through eighth grade.
WHEN: Tues., Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Grace Community Christian School, 1200 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
COST: Free
INFO: (480) 966-5022, ext. 301; school@graceaz.com or www.gccsaz.org.
Class Clowns Comedy with Josh Nasar
From improv and stand-up comedy stages to red carpet events, comedian and host Josh Nasar has performed to audiences internationally.
WHEN: Fri., Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Lakeshore Music at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $10 to $25
INFO: (480) 350-2822 or http://bit.ly/14i6Gzu
Steve Kaufman
The three-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship, hosts workshops and plays a concert.
WHEN: Thurs., Jan. 29, through Sat., Jan. 31, various times
WHERE: Acoustic Vibes Music, 2070 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
COST: $50 to $100
INFO: (602) 295-5946 or jeff@acousticvibesmusic.com
Jim Norton
New York-based comedian Jim Norton has appeared in multiple television shows and recorded five stand-up comedy specials.
WHEN: Fri., Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., and Sat., Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Improv, 930 University Dr., Tempe COST: $22; two-drink minimum INFO: (480) 921-9877 or http://bit.ly/1Ib4b0X
Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
The concert series features Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling gospel and contemporary Christian and mainstream artists, marquee NFL players and the NFL Players Choir. WHEN: Fri., Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe COST: $30 to $75
INFO: (480) 965-3434 or www.asugammage.com
Year in Review Luncheon
Patrons can see themselves on the big screen as the group looks at the past year through photos of the 2014 events at the Cahill Senior Center. Lunch features chicken fettuccini Alfredo, French bread, salad and dessert.
WHEN: Fri., Jan. 30, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Cahill Senior Center, 715 W. Fifth St., Tempe COST: $4 to $5
INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1x8TLGV
Pros vs. Heroes—After Party with Ginger Fish
After cheering on the pros and the heroes, enjoy dinner and drinks with members of Pro Elite and Mesa Brave teams. DJ Ginger Fish (Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson) will spin tunes.
WHEN: Sat., Jan. 31, at 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Dave and Busters, Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado
Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $10
INFO: www.prosvsheroesaz.com
Bush with Theory of a Deadman and Stars in Stereo
1990s mainstays Bush team up with Canada’s Theory of a Deadman and Oregon-based Stars in Stereo for a run of the United States.
WHEN: Tues., Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Marquee, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe COST: $53 to $225 INFO: www.luckymanonline.com
Mystery Book Club
Club members will discuss “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins.
WHEN: Sat., Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Public Library, Connections Café, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe
COST: Free INFO: (480) 350-5500 or http://1.usa.gov/1BTfC9B
Walk the Fight for Parkinson’s
Join the Parkinson Network of Arizona for its ninth annual 5K Walk for Parkinson’s disease.
WHEN: Sat., Feb. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Beach Park, Tempe COST: Free to $20 INFO: http://bit.ly/14HD4N7
Taste in Tempe
Taste in Tempe offers an array of culinary and entertainment experience for an afternoon of food, music and celebration.
WHEN: Sun., Feb. 8, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts Amphitheater Park, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $59 in advance; $69 at the door. Tempe residents can receive a $10 discount when purchasing online INFO: www.kmle107.9, www.KOOLRadio.com or www.LIVE1015phoenix.com
Carly Aquilino
Part of the cast of MTV’s “Girl Code,”
Carly Aquilino has been quickly rising in the comedy scene, performing regularly at The Stand Comedy Club in New York City.
WHEN: Thurs., Feb. 12, at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Improv, 930 University Dr., Tempe
COST: $20; two-drink minimum; 18 and older
INFO: (480) 921-9877 or http://bit.ly/1AJfZ9M
Page to Screen Exhibition
Page to Screen explores the connections between imaginations, favorite books and the movies that result from them.
WHEN: Fri., Feb. 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (free red carpet reception); exhibit runs through Sat., June 6
WHERE: The Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. Tempe.
COST: Free
INFO: http://1.usa.gov/14FHOCc or www.tempe.gov/TCAEducation
Organizing Your Family History Writing
ASU Professor Duane Roen will speak on genealogical research and writing family history.
WHEN: Sat., Feb. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
WHERE: Tempe Public Library, Study Room 8, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe COST: Free
INFO: (480) 350-5500 or http://1.usa.gov/1y4eyPU
“Dirty Dancing”
Enjoy the popular movie live on stage complete with the classic tracks “Hungry Eyes,” “Do You Love Me?” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”
WHEN: Tues., Feb. 17, through Sun., Feb. 22, various times
WHERE: ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe COST: $20 to $125
INFO: http://bit.ly/1A3eCgW
What’s Cooking?
By Jan D’Atri
It’s healthful, light and refreshing— just the type of recipe we’re all looking for this time of year.
Ceviche, a citrus-based marinated seafood appetizer or light meal, is perfectly prepared with this version, the right blend of smooth flavors with a big kick of cayenne and roasted jalapenos.
I got this recipe from Michael Garcia, executive chef of Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Chandler. He often makes this Garcia family favorite for his kitchen staff and I was lucky enough to be there the day he was stirring up a fresh bowl full.
“My grandmother, Nana Lena, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, made this as a neutral recipe, meaning it’s designed to add as much or as little heat as you want, and it’s still wonderful,” Garcia said.
He added that his Nana Lena knew seafood, and she taught him to blend it into perfection with this dish!
As a young boy, Garcia would ride his bicycle almost every day to his Nana’s house and watch her prepare traditional Mexican dishes.
“Nana would say, ‘Michael, are you hungry?’ Are you kidding? I was always hungry!” Garcia recalled. “I’d stand there in the kitchen and watch her make my favorite things like homemade corn and flour tortillas and ceviche!”
Thankfully, this recipe has no chance of being forgotten. Garcia has begun a new tradition with his four sons. They make Nana Lena’s ceviche every Sunday—especially during football season.
“We prep it together and the first bowl is ready by the beginning of the second game,” he said.
It’s so good, chef, mine won’t last through the first commercial of the first game! Gracias, Nana Lena!
Chef Michael Garcia’s Ceviche
(Party or large family size)
2 lbs. (about 70-90) small uncooked shrimp
1 (28 oz.) can baby clams with juice
3/4 cup lime juice (approx. 3-4 large limes)
4 medium jalapenos, roasted and diced fine
3 cups cucumbers, peeled and diced
1 cup red onion, diced
2 cups fresh tomato, seeded and diced
2 cups celery, diced
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons chile powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or less if you desire less heat)
2 cups ketchup
5 cups Clamato juice
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped fine avocado for garnish
2 cups jack cheese, shredded (optional)
Roast jalapeno peppers. If using a gas cooktop, place the jalapeno
pepper directly over the flame using tongs. Turn peppers until skin bubbles up and blackens, about 1 to 2 minutes. For oven broiler method, place peppers in a shallow sheet pan. Broil on high heat until bubbling and blackening occurs.
Follow same method for grilling indoors or outdoors.
When blackened, remove skin and dice. Add to remainder of ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate ceviche for at least four to five hours to allow seafood to marinate.
Ceviche is done when shrimp is pink. Just before serving, top with slices or a few pieces of chopped avocado for garnish. Serve with saltine crackers or tortilla chips and top with jack cheese, if desired, to reduce heat from peppers.
Jan’s Note: If you prefer a less spicy ceviche, start with a little less jalapeno peppers, chili and cayenne. Add as needed to your desired taste.
By Curt Blakeney
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Americans love sandwiches. They make the perfect lunchtime meal: They’re served quickly and inexpensively; they can be consumed in a short amount of time, and they’re darn tasty.
So I was enthusiastic to try the Potbelly Sandwich Shop that opened off Rural Road, just north of Broadway Road. Potbelly is a retro-style counterservice sandwich shop dishing out toasty warm sandwiches made with hand-sliced meats and cheeses.
Potbelly has a casual, relaxed vibe. The interior is peppered with ASU photos and trinkets. The original Potbelly was housed in a Chicago antique store, so new stores are designed to pay homage to its roots.
As you enter the double doors, you’re immediately drawn to the big board—the oversized menu mounted on the wall that outlines “How to Potbelly.” You choose between regular, whole grain or thin-cut bread to go with one of their “signature” or “favorites” sandwiches.
Under the big board is a double refrigerator case stocked with bottled pop, juice, iced tea and water. Grab one if you’re not a fan of fountain sodas.
There are 11 sandwich options. Potbelly’s signature sandwich is the AWreck ($5) stuffed with salami, roast beef, turkey, ham and Swiss cheese. That’s the one people talk about, so I ordered it.
After you order, you then shimmy along the counter to the topping station, where you select your veggies, like lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles and hot peppers, and condiments like mayo, Italian seasoning, oil and mustard. Premium extras include bacon, mushrooms and double meat.
I had them pile my A-Wreck with all the above-mentioned toppings, except mayo and oil. Potbelly’s hot peppers give the sandwich a nice little kick.
A bag of vinegar and salt potato chips seemed like the perfect complement, along with a cold fountain drink to wash it down. On the right side of the sandwich shop is the dining area,
a mix of a dozen or so wooden tables and chairs and high-tops.
We sat down with our tray of goodies, and dug in. My A-Wreck was the first thing to get devoured. I’ve tasted various combinations of this sandwich, but never quite this mix—and I can see why it’s a favorite. It’s a meatlovers delight and hearty enough to satisfy any appetite.
For those who love salty cured Italian meats, the Italian ($5) is a winner: capicola, mortadella, pepperoni, salami and provolone cheese.
The rest of my crew ordered the grilled chicken Mediterranean ($6.20)—a grilled chicken breast topped with feta cheese, hummus, artichokes, cucumbers and roasted red peppers—and the Pizza Sandwich ($5), comprising pepperoni, meatballs, capicola, marinara sauce, mushrooms, provolone cheese and Italian seasoning. Both got a thumbs-up.
For lighter tastes, Potbelly carries turkey breast ($4.80) and smoked ham ($4.80) sandwiches. And if you want to go ever lighter, order one with Potbelly’s “thin-cut” bread, which has onethird less bread and carbohydrates.
For salad lovers, Potbelly prepares five different salads (with or without chicken), including The Farmhouse ($7.30). It was prepared just the way I like it: fresh lettuce topped with grilled chicken breast, hardboiled egg, bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion.
To round out your meal, Potbelly also carries soups, chili, side salads, shakes, cookies and fruit smoothies.
The bottom line: Potbelly serves up tasty toasted deli sandwiches with fast, friendly service—nothing more, nothing less. That’s not a bad thing.
A-Wreck, Potbelly’s trademark sandwich.
business spotlight
By Alison Stanton
Elite Auto Repair Offers Top-
Notch Service for Cars, Customers
As owner of Elite Auto Repair in Tempe, David Schultz strives to offer the best possible service to each vehicle that comes in for repair—as well as the people who are behind the wheel.
Schultz learned the importance of taking care of his customers firsthand while he was growing up. His dad owned mechanics shops in California as well as Prescott, and Schultz recalled putting in many hours working at the family business.
“When I was in high school I worked for him pulling weeds, changing tires and pumping gas—since it was a gas station as well as a mechanics shop. I was around the industry a lot,” he said. Despite his upbringing and exposure to running a family-owned mechanics shop, Schultz said he initially had no intention of following in his father’s footsteps.
“When I was close to graduating from high school, I swore I’d never be in the industry,” he said, laughing. “I earned a Bachelor of Science in business management and got a job in the corporate world.”
In 1997, Schultz decided to get back into the auto repair industry that he knew so well. He started a collision repair business called Elite Collision Center, and in 2000 he purchased the property in Tempe where his business is located.
“We offer well-rounded vehicle service and can work on both domestic and imported cars including European cars and medium duty trucks,” Schultz said. His team of mechanics can handle a variety of issues ranging from general maintenance service to more in-depth repairs.
business spotlight
By Alison Stanton
Formal Dresses and Personalized Service Glitter at Sparkle
Stylish and sparkly prom dresses. Colorful Quinceanera gowns. Beautiful baptism dresses for babies.
These are just a few of the many types of formal dresses available at Sparkle at SanTan Village.
“We are a destination dress shop, and we offer all types of women’s formal wear, as well as jewelry and accessories,” said co-owner Dev Gupta, who opened Sparkle about five years ago with his wife, Suprit. “Everything from newborns to women ages 60-plus.”
which they opened last June.
Unlike some other dress shops that might carry a limited selection of sizes and styles, Gupta said he and his wife pride themselves on offering a variety of sizes.
At one time, the couple had three locations throughout the Valley, including stores in Fiesta Mall and Arizona Mills. Now, Gupta said, they are focusing on the SanTan Village shop,
“What sets us apart is that we have higher-end mechanics who are really well trained and can do much more than brakes or basic maintenance.”
For his mechanics to do their job as thoroughly as possible, Schultz said he buys computer-aided equipment that assists in fixing and maintaining vehicles, most of which have around seven or eight computers on board.
“While we have the ability to work on anything in the back of the shop, the front of the shop is also a lot different than other repair places,” Schultz said.
“For example, we have a fleet of five 2012 Nissans that we offer as free loaner cars, and when a customer needs transportation someplace, our full-time porters can drive them back home or to work.”
stress is available to help. Store employees are also happy to offer advice on which dress is best.
“Sparkle is a family-owned store, and there is always a family member there who can offer that one-on-one experience,” Gupta said. “Everyone who comes in our store will get someone who knows the products and understands the business and wants to help.”
Schultz said he also gets positive feedback from his customers about Elite Auto Repair’s comfortable, clean and inviting waiting room.
“We tend to be a bit overstaffed in the front, but it’s necessary to provide a lot of customer service,” Schultz said.
“We really do everything we can for our customers, especially in today’s environment where big-box retailers and chains are the norm.”
“From a size standpoint, one of the things that separates us is that we can get plus-size dresses and other sizes, and all of the styles in whatever color,” Gupta said. It usually takes roughly 10 days to receive a special order at Sparkle, as opposed to upwards of two months at major dress stores.
If a woman loves a particular dress that is a bit too long or needs other alterations, Gupta said an on-site seam-
In addition to teenage girls who are looking for the perfect prom or Quinceanera dress, he said they also work with brides-to-be and their attendants.
events.
girls find a dress for $60 to $70.
“A lot of bridal customers come to us, including the maids of honor and the mother of the bride. We really get the full spectrum,” he said.
Gupta said he and his wife are passionate about helping their customers get the best deals.
“The economy has changed, and we understand that it’s not feasible for the average person to spend a couple hundred of dollars on a prom dress,” he said. “We offer dresses with very low price points, and can help teenage
“We also contribute to charities that help disadvantaged kids who can’t afford the prom.”
One of the most enjoyable parts of owning Sparkle, Gupta said, is working with repeat customers and getting to know them and their families.
“Customers come in who are generations apart, and it’s very interesting to see the same faces coming back to see us.”
Sparkle is located at 2218 E. Williams Field Rd., Suite 235, in Gilbert. For more information, call (480) 8202257.
David Schultz, owner of Elite Auto Repair in Tempe, grew up helping his dad run his family-owned mechanics shop.
At family-owned Sparkle, customers can order dresses of any color and size.
At Sparkle, females of all ages can find the perfect dress for proms, weddings and other special
New Real Estate Trend: Condos
EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FEATURES:
• Heated resort pool / spa, full clubhouse and fitness center
• Underground, gated parking with designated space
• Located adjacent to an established and performing retail center in the award-winning Downtown Ocotillo
• Builder incentive with preferred lender
DISTINCTIVE CONDO FEATURES:
• Smart technology (state-of-the-art technology)
• Granite countertops with under-mount sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms
• 42-inch upper and 36-inch lower maple cabinetry and choice of finishes
• Option for soft water
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
LANDSCAPING SERVICES
AZ HOME & LANDSCAPE SERVICES
Complete lawn and home maintenance including yard clean ups and hauling, sprinkler repair, dethatching, tree trimming and installation, etc. English Speaking, Reliable, Dobson Ranch Resident.
MATTRESS SETS
PET SERVICES
ANIMAL HOUSE PET SITTING
Experienced loving pet sitters
Non-smoking home
Fenced yard
Plenty of room for play
We care for all animals including dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, small cage animals, etc.
Schedule a meet & greet today! 480-200-9597
CINDY THE CRITTER SITTER
Will take care of your furry babies as you would with in-home visits – daily or overnight – walks, playtime, or quiet companionship Pet transport also available Bonded and Insured
Visit me at cindythecrittersitter.com then call 480-580-6981 or email cindythecrittersitter@gmail.com
TRAVEL
ENOS KING-LEWIS II, AGENT Guide, Producer Fun Trips! Prosperity - Wellness www.Enos4Prosperity.com 800-824-1450 (Call 24/7) enos4homes@hotmail.com
