Lovin' Life After 50 Phoenix - March

Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

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As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

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Casinos

16 Everybody Wants Some

Fan Halen embraced in Van Halen’s hometown

*(480) 274-3157*

Publisher Steve T. Strickbine

Vice President

Michael Hiatt

Executive Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Senior Account Executive

Gordon Wood

Production/Design Supervisor

Shannon Mead

Graphic Designer

Tonya Mildenberg

Contributors Fred Cicetti, Jan D’Atri, Lin Sue Flood, J.D. Hayworth, David Leibowitz, Alan Sculley, Alison Stanton, Dr. Roger Walker

Arizona lawmakers won’t drag you down

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ

When you consider the many threats faced by Arizonans on a daily basis, the usual evils come to mind: double-digit in ation; chaos along the southern border; the fentanyl crisis; the Valley’s massive shortage of housing; our rising violent crime rate.

Toss in political turmoil and the ongoing insanity surrounding the 2022 election and it’s a long list.

All of which explains why this year’s session of the Arizona Legislature has seen conservative Republicans introduce no less than four bills targeted at that noted scourge … drag shows.

Apparently, there are gangs of marauding drag queens all over the state plotting to corrupt your kids. Or as freshman state Sen. Justine Wadsack, who seems to be

driving this crazy train, explained at a recent Senate Judiciary committee hearing:

“I have enjoyed many drag queen performances in my day, as an adult, around adults, in a roomful of adults. It’s been a great time. I have nothing wrong with the drag queen performances. … What I do have a problem with is when they go into the public libraries or the schools. I have watched them literally stand onstage wearing a G-string with breast implants. And leaning over to a 5-year-old girl who has a dollar bill in her hand ready to put the dollar bill in this person’s G-string while this person leans over and says, ‘Are you thirsty for some milk, little girl?’ … A 5-year-old does not need to be going up to a drag queen and putting dollar bills in their G-string.”

My guess is you, too, nd the above absolutely absurd and completely unbeliev-

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able.

There’s not a chance in hell that Southern Arizona Republicans sent someone named “Wadsack” to the Legislature. Sadly, they did.

Wadsack’s bill to combat drag shows is SB 1698, a poorly written a air which seeks to make it a felony to expose a minor to “an adult-oriented performance or an adult-oriented business,” including a “drag show,” de ned as a performance involving folks who “engage in singing, dancing or a monologue or skit in order to entertain an audience of two or more people,” while wearing clothing or makeup “opposite of the performer’s or group of performers’ gender at birth.”

This heinous o ense would carry a minimum ve-year prison sentence — surely sobering news for the actors set to appear in the June performances of “Hairspray” at Gammage on the Arizona State University campus.

Also at risk, as I read the bill: any parent who screens “Tootsie,” “Mrs. Doubt re” or “Big Momma’s House” for a kids’ sleepover party.

Wadsack claimed to have evidence at the committee hearing, where a di erent anti-drag bill — Anthony’s Kern’s SB 1028,

which would ban drag shows on public property or anywhere a child might see it — passed out of committee by a vote of 4-3.

Said Wadsack: “If you guys don’t believe that these things happen, I have the documented proof. I just can’t put them up on the screen for you.”

If you ask me, these proposals sound like what our Legislature has specialized in for as long as I can remember: a solution in search of a problem.

Do I support sexualizing children, or a massive expense of tax dollars to sponsor Drag Queen Story Hour? I absolutely do not.

But the screeching here far outweighs the threat, given that such events targeting children appear to be nonexistent.

From where I sit, the best defense against children being exposed to drag shows — or other sexual material — is something else that apparently doesn’t exist in our state.

Responsible parenting.

I miss the days when Arizona’s legislative leaders believed in such principles, instead of political make-believe. Because silly bills like Wadsack’s? They’re a real drag.

David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com.

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Hayworth’s Opinion Balloon asco raises questions about Biden

BY J.D. HAYWORTH

He may not wear a white suit or a string tie — nor sport a silver goatee — but it appears as if Joe Biden wants to emulate the late Colonel Harland Sanders.

Sanders made millions with Kentucky Fried Chicken and franchising that fried fare … well after his 65th birthday.

The popularity of KFC now extends all the way to the People’s Republic of China. Biden, for his part, hopes to increase his

popularity here at home so that he can stay in the White House for eight years — even though he’s now 80. Certainly, he must have fatherly pride in the popularity that his son, Hunter, now enjoys in China, in addition to his business success there.

That’s why it now appears that Ol’ Joe — with considerable help — has developed a national security “secret recipe.”

Admittedly, it is a curious concept — the notion of a deliberately delayed takeout service. Call it “Slow Joe’s ‘Biden’ Our Time.” Ask for it Wednesday, and you’ll see the order carried out on Saturday.

So what transpired o the South Carolina coast on the rst Saturday in February could accurately be described as a new type of “Chinese takeout.”

An American ghter jet nally shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had unfettered access to some of our most sensitive military sites after a weeklong trek across sovereign U.S. airspace.

Continuing “changes in narrative” emanating from the Potomac swamp began as soon as a video of the balloon taken over Montana was posted to social media sites, and the Billings Gazette published its account on Wednesday, February 1.

The reports from Big Sky gave birth to a rapidly changing Big Lie.

The immediate challenge for the “Biden Bunch” was clear — somehow our “woke” military leaders had to appear awake, in charge and giving clear advice to the increasingly befuddled “Leader of the Free World.”

Instead of exhibiting the fundamental instinct expected of military leadership — protecting Americans — our now hyper-politicized Pentagon o cials were engaging in what they believe to be a much more urgent priority: shielding a lone American octogenarian from any further collapse in his poll numbers.

That led, in turn, to a seemingly endless stream of “clari cations” that could be more accurately described as contradictions.

We were initially informed that American intelligence had been tracking the balloon since it had taken ight in China. Then, for good measure, “unnamed sources” insisted that similar balloons had breached American airspace on four

earlier occasions during Donald Trump’s presidency. It was subsequently reported that those incursions had previously been undetected.

To modify the “Orange Man Bad” narrative, the NORAD commander had to go on the record and appear red-faced. Said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, “It’s my responsibility to detect threats to North America, (and) I will tell you that we did not detect those threats.”

VanHerck then made himself an early favorite for the “Best Bureaucratic Euphemism” award, describing the failure as a “domain awareness gap.”

The ever-helpful Politico then took its turn at creative writing, publishing a “timeline” of the events surrounding the balloon’s ight across America and insisting that Biden wanted the balloon shot down over Montana, but that VanHerck — in cooperation with Joint Chiefs’ Chairman Gen. Mark Milley — persuaded Mr. Biden to wait until the balloon was o the Atlantic Coast before taking any military action.

It’s not enough to call Milley “silly,” but that must su ce for this family publication.

Any American military commander who would brag to Bob Woodward that he intervened to disrupt the chain of command because of his distrust of Donald Trump — to the point of secretly calling his Chinese counterpart to pledge that America would not launch an attack — is not courageous but confused, to put it mildly.

In stark contrast to his oft-observed confusion, Biden had a clear-eyed motive to delay shooting down the balloon — his son’s “business connections” to Beijing.

Hunter hasn’t had the long-term relationship that Kentucky Fried Chicken has enjoyed there, but the younger Biden has been generously compensated by businesses connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

And unlike Colonel Sanders, Biden’s “secret recipe” may result in our collective goose getting cooked.

J.D. Hayworth worked as a sportscaster at Channel 10, Phoenix, from 1987 until 1994 and represented Arizona in Congress from 1995-2007.

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Number AGE is Just a

The Sun City Poms aspire to inspire

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When Peggy Parsons was looking to move to Arizona from Santa Fe, she had her eye on the West Valley.

After a couple false starts, she found her place in Sun City — and it was the perfect match. There, she discovered the Sun City Poms, cheerleaders ages 61 to 90 who make more than 50 appearances a year at sporting events, high schools, assisted living facilities, parades and fundraisers.

“The exercise was the biggest reason why I joined,” says Parsons, who is now the group’s president.

“I like to march and dance. But the benefit now is we’re like sisters. We’re friends. We do a lot of things together, and we just love each other. It’s a great group.”

The performing Poms entertain at events like conventions, sporting events, community meetings, fundraisers, and retirement living centers and care facilities.

Meanwhile, the marching Poms attend parades, including the nationally televised Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix. They perform a marching routine repeatedly throughout a parade route ranging from 1.5 miles to 3 miles.

Marchers, who need to master two to three routines, typically practice weekly. Performers rehearse twice a week to learn 10 or more routines.

The Sun City Poms was founded in 1979 as a cheerleading squad for the Sun City Saints, a women’s softball team. They evolved from a cheerleading squad to a choreographed dance team.

Since then, they have appeared in commercials for Advil and TV shows like “Today Show,” “The List” and “Inside Edition.” They were the subject of the feature film “Poms,” starring Diane Keaton. It tells the story of a group of women who form a cheerleading squad

Sun City Poms board members are Peggy Parsons, president (front in blue/white); Esther Hasling (second in pink); Debbie Kreup, performance director (third in blue/white); Sharon Word, historian (fourth in pink); Kathy Villa, marching director (fifth in blue/white); and Fay Sharp, treasurer (sixth, end in pink).

at their retirement community, proving they’re never too old to “bring it.”

The Sun City Poms are world renowned, having been featured in documentaries and media in Ireland, Germany, Australia, England, France, Japan, China and the Netherlands. They were featured in the BBC World documentary “100 Women” in December 2016.

The team performs and marches around the Valley primarily.

“What sets us apart from other dance troupes is our age, our acrobatics and our ability to perform dance routines continuously, for over 2 miles in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade and the Wickenburg Gold Rush Days Parade,” says Sharon Word, a Poms member.

They call themselves “ambassadors” who defy the stereotypes of “senior citizens.” The women are former teachers, secretaries, business executives, engineers, homemakers and prison guards.

Their routines feature “Uptown Funk” and a military tribute to all branches.

The Sun City Poms’ motto is “We aspire to inspire before we expire.”

“Ability is what you are capable of do -

ing,” Parsons says. “Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

The Sun City Poms’ activities help with age-related problems like memory loss and diminished energy, Parsons says. Prospective members need not have experience either.

“The Poms focus not only our own health, but we provide examples and encouragement when we perform,” Word says.

She’s a longtime advocate of this, as she’s competed in the Miss Senior Colorado and Wyoming competitions.

“I’m not a workout girl,” Word says. “This was perfect for me. We’re all volunteers. We’re showing other people that you can do this at any age. If you don’t move it, you lose it.”

Sun City Poms

WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Sundial Auditorium, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City

COST: Free; donations welcome INFO: scpoms@yahoo.com

The Sun City Poms are cheerleaders ages 61 to 90 who make more than 50 appearances a year. Founded in 1979, the cheerleading-squad-turned-choreographed-dance-team’s motto is “We aspire to inspire before we expire,” and its activities help with age-related problems like memory launce and diminished energy, according to board President Peggy Parsons, second from right and wearing blue/white. (James Patrick/Contributor)

Finding Their Passion

Realtors discuss why working with seniors is for them

BY ALISON STANTON

Karen Supman and James Mednik know firsthand how challenging it can be for seniors to downsize.

They also understand how incredibly difficult the process can be when someone has recently lost a loved one and has to move while grieving.

These are some of the reasons Supman and Mednik, who are both real estate agents with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Scottsdale, focus as much of their work as possible on clients who are seniors.

Supman and Mednik have earned the Seniors Real Estate specialist designation, which means they are adept at meeting the special needs of older clients who are buying or selling a home, relocating here or buying a winter home.

“We were already working with seniors, and now we have the designation, which really differentiates us,” Supman says, adding that she is also certified as a Luxury Home Marketing specialist.

“Our goal is to take the stress out of the whole experience as much as possible.”

Supman, who started working in real estate in the Valley in the fall of 2002, says she and Mednik have “just naturally worked with seniors.”

In many ways, Supman says, she was inspired to work with seniors by what she saw happening with people she knew.

“I remember when I got into real estate here, I was maybe 55 or so, and I found that a lot of my friends and neighbors were getting ready to downsize. Their kids had graduated from college, and they wanted to sell their home,” she says.

“I was working with a few younger clients, but I’d say that 85% to 90% of my clients are seniors.”

The more Supman and Mednik worked with seniors, the more they realized their clients often share a number of common experiences and situations.

Understanding these unique situations has helped Supman and Mednik to tailor their approach to working with seniors.

“Sometimes we work with people who have lost their spouse, and we also work with a lot of retirees,” Supman says.

It’s also common to work with clients who are getting ready to move into an

independent living or assisted living community.

No matter the reason for the move, Supman and Mednik say the vast majority of their clients also tend to have a large amount of possessions that their children and other relatives have no desire to inherit.

“Younger people are not interested in getting Oriental rugs, fine China and sterling silver,” she says.

“I always say that people spend a couple of lifetimes collecting things that our kids don’t want.”

Supman understands and empathizes with all of these situations, especially clients who have lost a partner and are now faced with having to downsize a home prior to a move.

“In 2012 my partner died, and he left me 450 pieces of Japanese antique art,” she says.

Knowing she would need to move from her 4,000-square-foot home to a much smaller condo, Supman was tasked with trying to sell as much of the artwork as possible, all while grieving her loss.

“I said to my daughter ‘What do you want?’ and she said she would take the vintage handbags but that was it, so I had to become an art dealer,” she says.

Interestingly, while the younger generation does not seem to want their parents’ Baccarat crystal or artwork, Supman says she has noticed millennials and seniors do desire the same qualities in their homes.

“They both want a jewel box of a home, which means they want to live large in a smaller footprint,” Supman says, adding that this means they are looking for a home that is nicely done with an open floor plan and high-end finishes.

“They don’t want a home where they have to do another project, they don’t want to have to redo the kitchen or bathroom, and they want a home that is ‘lock and leave,’” she says.

No matter the specific reason for a senior needing to sell a home, Supman says she and Mednik think of themselves as quarterbacks in a football game, carefully assessing each situation and using their 21-step marketing objectives and goals to come up with a game plan.

“The process starts by giving the client

or clients a quick call, and we set up a future Zoom call. Jim will email them our moving wish list form before our call. We then have a 10- to 15-minute introduction period learning about the clients,” she says.

“Jim and I really complement each other. We both go in and look at the property and discuss ways to improve its value, and he handles all of the paperwork and office work while I help to ‘edit’ it and stage it,” she says.

In many cases, Supman says, this involves gently guiding the clients to agree to remove a large amount of furniture, artwork and other personal items from their home so that it will show well.

“As we like to tell our clients, ‘When you bought your house, you made it into a home. Now we are going to turn it back into a house,’” she says.

“We remind them that buyers will focus on the bones, flow and size of the home, so the focus cannot be on their stuff.”

To help make the process as easy as possible, Supman says she and Mednik will make a list of which items can be boxed up and sold, donated or moved into storage, and then she will stage the home with new artwork, furniture, pillows, linens, towels and other items.

If clients need assistance with packing up their items, Supman says they are happy to provide resources to help.

Supman says she and Mednik also arrange for a number of other tasks, including professional photography of the properties and designing a color brochure, and schedule and attend all of the open houses together until the property sells.

To assist seniors even further, Supman says she and Mednik will start hosting seminars in the near future, including one in late March on downsizing.

“We will also attend the Senior Expo in Scottsdale. Our goal is to help get additional resources for seniors,” she says.

Looking back at her two-plus decades working with seniors, Supman says she is thrilled by the number of positive outcomes and lasting friendships she has developed with her clients.

“You really have to have a lot of empathy and a lot of compassion. We are both very relationship oriented, and these are not just transactions for us. We always say that we adopt our clients,” she says.

“There is a saying about ‘finding your why,’ and for us, this is our why. We want to make a difference in these peoples’ lives.”

Karen Supman: 602-999-6738 James Mednik: 480-925-2440 karensupmanrealtor.com

Karen Supman and James Mednik have earned the Seniors Real Estate specialist designation. (Submitted)

One-Stop Shop

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Arizona Tile and Stone Specialist could be called owner Alison Claerhout’s passion project. She was working in the nonpro t sector in Michigan until she moved to the Valley to be with her ancé.

“I started looking at businesses for sale,” Claerhout says. “I have my master’s in business, and I wanted to put that to use. I came across this company and I thought it had a lot of potential and room for growth.”

She bought the company in January 2019 and has watched it, in fact, grow. “It was really exciting to be able to apply my knowledge and education toward something of my own,” she says. “I had ideas on how to change things, expand things, and I was really excited to put those skills to use.”

Running Arizona Tile and Stone Specialist has been a learning experience, as she had to master new skills such as taxes, payroll and accounting.

“The experience I’ve gained as a small-business owner has been incredibly rewarding,” she says.

Founded in 2001, Arizona Tile and Stone Specialist o ers deep cleaning, sealing and polishing services for ooring, countertops and showers. They also o er carpet cleaning.

Claerhout says her technicians can do “amazing things” with natural stone surfaces. Arizona homes possess a lot of natural stone surfaces, whether it’s in showers, oors, countertops or patios.

“It’s everywhere,” she says. “It can go south pretty fast on you, if you don’t have it professionally maintained. Our team, for example, can come in and make a worn travertine shower look fabulous. For us to restore something is also a fraction of the price of replacing it.

“We can do a few repairs, too, if people don’t want to tear things out. We can x

chips in countertops. We can do some grout repair. We like to say we’re a onestop shop for our customers.”

Most importantly, the Arizona Tile and Stone Specialist team is respectful of its customers.

“We have extremely friendly technicians who genuinely care about their work,” she says. “They’ve been trained by our operations manager, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the industry, and they’re passionate about their work. We want to keep the work coming in and the referrals going. We show up when we say we will. We communicate. Let’s face it, at tires can happen. Problems with machines can happen. If there’s a delay, we tell our customers. We try to keep everyone at ease.”

Serving the entire Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona Tile and Stone Specialist is so renowned in the Valley that its competition refers business to it.

“We have great relationships with our

competitors,” she says. “If a customer needs a speci c thing they don’t o er, they know we’re happy to assist, while keeping everyone re ected in a positive light. We’re here to help.”

Alison Claerhout bought Arizona Tile and Stone Specialist in January 2019. (Dennis Murphy/Contributor)

‘So Much More Than Food’

Italian association celebrates heritage with festival

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Six men dreamed of bringing a piece of Italy to the desert so the country would be represented in the best light.

Thus, the Scottsdale-based nonprofit Italian Association of Arizona was born.

“The founders wanted to find a way to bring Italians and those of Italian heritage together in one place to share pieces of their culture that fade away with every generation,” says Francesco Guzzo, executive director and Gilbert resident.

“The founders wanted to find a way to share that culture with those who appreciate what Italians and Italy has to offer. As much as we all love and enjoy true

Italian cooking, Italy represents so much more than the food.”

The art, music, culture and traditions will be honored during the eighth annual Italian Festival at Heritage Square in Phoenix on Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5. The following weekend, Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, Sun City will host the first Italian Festival at the Sundial Recreation Center.

The Sun City event will be held indoors and outdoors and will feature entertainment similar to that in Phoenix.

“We started with a small event along the Southbridge in Old Town Scottsdale in 2014 with a few vendors and lot of enthusiasm, Guzzo says.

“Eight festivals later, we are hitting attendance capacity and keeping Italian traditions alive.”

The Italian Festival has a variety of live entertainment during the weekend including opera singers, The Sicilian Band, accordion player Cory Pesaturo, and traditional flag wavers from the Piemonte region.

“The flag wavers are finally able to come back after being gone since 2019,” Guzzo says.

“Fifteen or 16 flag wavers are fly-

ing in to perform throughout the festival. That’s a big deal for us. Everybody loves the flag wavers. Since COVID, they’ve been locked down and Italy was never back to normal the way it was here.”

The event will provide authentic cuisine such as fresh biscottis, gelato, espresso, pasta and pizza. A few local vendors include L’Impasto, Little Italy of Scottsdale, Pasta Rea, My Daddy’s Italian Bakery and Pomo Pizzeria. Nonfood vendors will sell jewelry, handmade Italian leather purses and other items. Plus, children can enjoy face painting and balloon makers in the Kids Fun Zone.

The Italian Festival in Phoenix is sponsored by Peroni, DTPHX, Galbani, Queen Creek Olive Mill, Anderson Windows, PepsiCo and Desert Rose Transportation.

The VIP Experience is thanks to Campari & Aperol.

Guzzo called La Cucina Galbani Cooking Stage a highlight.

“No one would have thought there would be such a solid Italian community in the desert and yet, here we are,” he says.

“It’s a little dispersed, but our voice can be heard and now we can finally be seen. Historically speaking, the first known Italian to come through Arizona was Father Kino back in the late 1600s and built missions that still stand today.”

In 1691, Father Eusebio Kino made the first of about 40 expeditions into Arizona. Now there’s a new generation of Ital-

Food vendors are aplenty at the Italian Festival, set for Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5. (Italian Association of Arizona/Submitted)

Festival...continues on page 11

The Italian Festival features the country’s trademark treats.

Festival...continued from page 10

ians making their mark in Arizona, he says. They range from Jerry Colangelo, businessman and sports executive, to chef Joey Maggiore, who owns several local and national Italian and concept restaurants and is keeping his father Tomaso Maggiore’s legacy alive.

A repeat visitor to the festival is Margherita Fray of Scottsdale. The 96-yearold is the last living known partisan and an artist.

“There’s something unique and special about that lady,” Guzzo says. “I love that lady to death. We’re happy to support her and give her an opportunity to showcase her artwork. It’s just beautiful.”

Entrenched in the arts, she also penned a book called “Marisa’s Courage.” She was raised in an anti-fascist family in Italy, where they were witness to bombings and executions by home-grown and foreign aggressors.

She became a member of the Resistenza as a partisan, belonging to a group called the Garibaldi Brigade around her home city of Turin, and participated in dangerous missions to support the fighters in the underground for several years.

Fray is still emotionally distraught over memories of this time. In 1947 she came to America as a war bride, marrying a man she had briefly met a year earlier. She endured the marriage to a “deeply flawed” man and moved to Scottsdale in 2000.

“There are still wars today, and lives are still being lost,” she says through her daughter, Angela Fray. “The war

in Ukraine has really affected me and brought back many memories. Countries don’t fight wars. The leaders of countries fight wars.”

Fray said she enjoys meeting people at the festival and sharing her story in person.

“I am amazed that there is still so much interest in World War II,” she adds. At the festival, she enjoys “the food and meeting vendors and seeing people enjoy themselves. The Italian Association does a great job.

“Italy has ancient history and art. I am really proud of being Italian. I am from a beautiful city and the former capital of Italy.”

Italian Festival

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 5

WHERE: Heritage Square, 115 N. Sixth Street, Phoenix COST: $10 in advance, and $20 day of. VIP experiences available INFO: italianassociation.org

Sun City Italian Festival

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 11, and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 12

WHERE: Sundial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City COST: $10 in advance; $15 day of INFO: italianassociation.org

The infamous flag wavers Sbandieratori from Asti will appear at the Italian Festivals in Phoenix and Sun City.

Under Cover(s)

Los Lobos thrives on other bands’ music

BY ALAN SCULLEY

Perhaps no rock band is better suited to make an album covering songs by other artists than Los Lobos.

For 40-plus years, this band from East Los Angeles has made cover tunes a regular part of their live shows, playing its versions of songs from artists as wide ranging as Bob Marley, the Grateful Dead, Marvin Gaye, John Lee Hooker, the Blasters and Cream. In fact, Los Lobos’ biggest commercial success came in 1987 with its chart-topping cover of the Ritchie Valens classic “La Bamba” for the movie of the same name.

Not only that, but over the course of a dozen studio albums, Los Lobos has shown a deep knowledge of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, folk and its native Mexican music and has created a rich catalog of songs that’s stylistically diverse, frequently innovative and somehow also cohesive.

But it took a bit of necessity to make “Native Sons,” the covers album that won the Grammy in April 2022 for Best Americana Album, a reality.

After signing a deal with New West Records to make a new album, Los Lobos saxophonist/keyboardist Steve Berlin and his bandmates realized they had bitten off more than they could chew.

“One of the reasons why we did the covers record in the first place was because, little did we know, we had a really busy touring schedule for 2020,” Berlin says.

“Normally we take two months or so off out of the touring schedule to focus on the record. The writers write and we open the studio up and kind of not have to rush anything, just being able to do it on our own time. Historically anyway we’re not fast workers. Normally things take that time.”

But with no breaks in the 2020 tour schedule, that two-month window didn’t exist. That’s why the idea of a covers album came up. If the band took writing an album’s worth of songs out of the equation, an album would be doable. A covers album fit that bill.

Of course, 2020 ended up being a whole lot less busy than expected for Los Lobos — and virtually every other band — thanks to the pandemic canceling tour after tour. But Los Lobos stuck with

the covers project, and it ended up being beneficial to the band, which includes Berlin, David Hidalgo (guitar, accordion, vocals and more), Cesar Rosas (guitar vocals), Louis Perez (guitar, vocals) and Conrad Lozano (bass).

“The interesting thing is we started this record before it (the pandemic) all went down, and in a weird way, it sort of kept us sane, I think,” Berlin says.

“We were able to think about it and work on it intermittently. Once it was OK to travel again — for a while there, it really wasn’t an option — but once it was safeish to travel, we started doing like three or four days a month, maybe like two or three songs, and just tried to do whatever we could just to keep the ball rolling, keep ourselves engaged, keep ourselves thinking about music. … In a weird way, that’s how we got through it, kind of coming and going and focusing for a little while and then stepping back.”

least a try and see where it takes us. Let’s just see. So, with that attitude we started.

“So, we cut four songs initially and the plan was to come back (to record more) in a couple of weeks. Then everything shut down,” says Berlin, who along with being in Los Lobos has also had a long and successful career producing other acts. “We just said all right, let’s keep going and keep going, and a couple of months later we had 14 songs without even thinking about it, to the point that we realized we were over what we had been contractually obligated for.”

“Native Sons” is a lively, highly entertaining 13-song album, and it shows that Los Lobos’ own music was shaped by the rich tapestry of musical styles that came out of Los Angeles in the years before and after Los Lobos formed in 1973.

“That was kind of the idea. We didn’t want to do stuff that we had done a bunch,” Berlin says. “We kind of wanted to tell a story. We wanted it to be kind of like very specifically, at least in some cases, specifically about people that had influenced us or changed our lives in some way, guys who had really mattered to us, like songs that matter, people that matter. It wasn’t a grab bag. We tried to tell a story about more or less what our DNA is. These are the things that brought us here.”

With their deep catalog of songs, Los Lobos has typically changed up their set lists from show to show on tour. And now that new drummer Alfredo Ortiz has been on board since touring resumed and is up to speed on the material, the band should have plenty of options for set lists.

Deciding on the type of covers album to make, though, was not an easy question to resolve. Berlin thought back to “Llego Navidad,” the 2019 Los Lobos album based around Mexican holiday songs. Feeling a narrow focus helped to make that project work. Berlin, who produced “Native Sons,” proposed limiting the covers album to songs from Los Angeles artists that had influenced Los Lobos.

“There was not unanimity among the band members as far as whether or not it was a good idea,” Berlin says.

“I think there was significant pushback and some of the guys were like ‘How’s that going to work?’ and ‘Why are we limiting ourselves? I have songs I want to do that are not about LA.’ And I just said, my point to them was let’s just see if it works. If it doesn’t work, we’ll pull the plug, whatever. It doesn’t matter. But let’s give it at

Classic rock is represented by a medley of the Buffalo Springfield’s “Bluebird” and “For What it’s Worth.” There’s jump blues with Percy Mayfield’s “Never No More,” and garage rock is represented with “Farmer John” (made popular by the Premiers). Some vintage roots rock comes courtesy of “Flat Top Joint,” a song by good friends and Los Angeles compatriots the Blasters (which was the band Berlin was in before he joined Los Lobos).

Soul music enters the mix with War’s “The World is a Ghetto.” There’s also the sunny pop of Beach Boys’ “Sail on Sailor” and the rich storytelling and country-tinged pop of Jackson Browne’s “Jamaica Say You Will.” Los Lobos’ Mexican musical roots are represented in the songs “Dichoso” and “Los Chucos Suaves.”

What’s interesting is for a band that has always performed at least a cover or two in the vast majority of their concerts, Los Lobos had played few of the songs on “Native Sons” in a live setting.

“He (Ortiz) used to play with the Beastie Boys for many years” Berlin says. “But we’ll obviously be featuring the new record, which is great because they (the songs) are super fun to play and the fans always seem to enjoy the covers anyway.”

Los Lobos w/Gaby Moreno

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10

WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $37.50

INFO: 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler

COST: Tickets start at $28 INFO: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org

Los Lobos plays Chandler and Tucson in March. (Piero F. Giunti/Submitted)

“There was not unanimity among the band members as far as whether or not it was a good idea.”

– Steve Berlin, Los Lobos saxophonist/keyboardist

Calendar of Events

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

Mindful Art, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Toast: A Tribute to Bread, 6 p.m., Sundial, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, fee for show, 623-561-4680

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

Sharon Owens: A Tribute to Barbra Streisand, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-6723223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Farm Basket Bingo: Mardi Gras, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Rummikub, 2 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

Gentle Tai Chi Qigong, 1 to 1:55 p.m. Fridays in March, Kaleidoscope Dance, 2848 S. Carriage Lane, Mesa, $14 drop-in per class or $48 for a four-punch card, 602-345-0496, trudy@ taichitrudy.com, taichitrudy.com

WVSTEM Meeting, 11 a.m., Grandview Terrace, 14515 W. Granite Valley Drive, Sun City West, reservations required, 623-826-0101. Meeting features lunch and a technical presentation by Brian Harrison, senior vice president of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

AOR: When FM Ruled the World, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Protect Yourself from Scams, 10 to 11 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Movie and Popcorn: “Million Dollar Arm,” 1 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

Crane Dance, 9:15 to 10:10 a.m. Saturdays in March, Kaleidoscope Dance, 2848 S. Carriage Lane, Mesa, $14 drop-in per class or $48 for a

four-punch card, 602-345-0496, trudy@ taichitrudy.com, taichitrudy.com

Apache Junction Rock & Gem Club’s Rock and Mineral Show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., repeats 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5, Mesa Community College, 1401 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, $3 adults, $1 for students with ID, free for children 12 and younger, ajrockclub.com. The dog-friendly event will be held in the parking lot under the solar panel shade structures. Features more than 70 vendors selling precious gems, minerals, rocks, slabs and jewelry.

Men’s Virtual Family Caregiver Support Group, 10 a.m. the first Saturday of the month, Zoom, free, 602-274-5022, ext. 139, burson@ duetaz.org. This support group is led by George Burson, a male caregiver, who has experience caring for his mother.

Parkinson’s Support Group, 10 to 11:30 a.m., North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, free, mcldaz.org

Toast: The Ultimate Bread Experience, 7:30 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 5

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

The Polyesters, 6 p.m., Sun Bowl, 10220 N. 107th Avenue, Sun City, free, 623-561-4680.

MONDAY, MARCH 6

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

Veterans Coffee Chat, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Mexican Train Dominoes, 10 a.m. to noon, Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

“The Andrews Brothers,” various times through March 7, Hale Theatre Arizona, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, $45 for adults, $30 for youth 5 to 17, 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com. After the Andrews Sisters’ appearance is canceled, the Andrews Brothers, who are USO stagehands, step up to save the day.

Tai Chi Sequences, 1 to 1:55 p.m. Tuesdays in March, Kaleidoscope Dance, 2848 S. Carriage Lane, Mesa, $14 drop-in per class or $48 for a four-punch card, 602-345-0496, trudy@ taichitrudy.com, taichitrudy.com

Game Day: Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Wii Bowling, noon to 1 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

The Sun Lakes Republican Club Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Sun Lakes Country Club’s Navajo Room, 25601 S. Sun Lakes Boulevard, Sun Lakes, free, 262-880-4620, slgop.org. The guest speaker is George Michael Khalaf, who will discuss “Policies for Thriving Communities.” Arizona State Rep. Liz Harris will provide an update on the proposed legislation in the general assembly.

Chair Volleyball, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Calendar...continues on page 14

Calendar of Events

Travel Around the World: Ireland (Streamed), noon to 1 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Charity Crafting, 1 to 3 p.m. Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Kool and the Gang/KC and the Sunshine Band Tribute, 6 p.m., 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, fee for show, 623-561-4680

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

Jared Freiburg and The Vagabonds, 7:30 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Living with Diabetes: Week 1, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Farm Basket Bingo, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Yahtzee, 2 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

Precious Times: A Tribute to Pat Benatar, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Movie and Popcorn: “The Choice,” 1 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Lenten Retreat, time TBA, Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Madonna Hall, $20, 623-760-8479, rosemaryd4@cox.net. Hosted by Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 2278, the event features guest speaker Father Gary Norman. The all-day retreat includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

One of These Nights: A Tribute to the Eagles, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Sun City Italian Festival, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 12, Sundial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, $10 in advance, $15 day of, italianassociation.org

SUNDAY, MARCH

MONDAY, MARCH 13

The Karen Carpenter Story, 7:30 p.m., Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, $52, dining options not available, 623-776-8400

Coffee and Sudoku, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

High Cholesterol: Help Reduce Your Risk with Dr. Hoertz from CenterWell, 10 to 11 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Mexican Train Dominoes, 10 a.m. to noon, Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Game Day: Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Loteria with Juan, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

Craft Corner with Christy, 10 to 11 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

Stamping and Card Making, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Two Divas: Tribute to Cher and Elton John, 6 p.m., Sundial, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, fee for show, 623-561-4680

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

Living with Diabetes: Week 2, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Farm Basket Bingo, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Rummikub, 2 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

12

Forever Everly, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

continued from page 13 Calendar...continues on page 15

AAUW-NWV Women’s History Presents 50 Years of Title IX, 9 to 11 a.m., SCW Foundation Webb Room, 14465 RH Johnson Boulevard, Sun City West, free, 774-284-0471. The panel is Christina Haines, retired SCC president; Lisa Stuck, GCC volleyball coach; and Jodi Liggett, public policy advocate and founder/president of the Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement. Light

Calendar of Events

refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Get the Facts about Fats, 10 to 11 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

Healthy Cooking Demo with Chef Lucille, 11 a.m. to noon, Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Movie and Popcorn: “Brooklyn,” 1 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

Forever Chicago, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Uptown: The Motown Concert Experience, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

MONDAY, MARCH 20

Co ee and Sudoku, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Mexican Train Dominoes, 10 a.m. to noon, Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

Game Day: Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Book Club: “Brooklyn,” noon to 1 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

March Birthday Celebration, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22

Garth Live, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents. com

Charity Crafting, 1 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Righteous Brothers Tribute, 6 p.m., Sundial, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, fee for show, 623-561-4680

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

The Unusual Suspects: An Improvised Murder Mystery, 7:30 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Living with Diabetes: Week 3, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Farm Basket Bingo, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Yahtzee, 2 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

Turn the Page: Tribute to Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Meal Planning: Stress Less at Home, 10 to 11 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Real People, Real Stories (Streamed), 11 to 11:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Movie and Popcorn: Land, 1 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

Sun City Poms Show, 12:30 p.m., Sundial Auditorium, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, free admission, donations welcome, suncitypoms. org, scpoms@yahoo.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

Uncle Click, 6 p.m. Sun Bowl, 10220 N. 107th Avenue, Sun City, free, 623-561-4680

MONDAY, MARCH 27

U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus, 6 p.m., Sun Bowl Amphitheater, 10220 N. 107th Avenue, Sun City, free, navyband.navy.mil

Co ee and Sudoku, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

Game Day: Mexican Train Dominoes, 10 a.m. to noon, Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

December ’63, 7:30 p.m., Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, $52, dining options not available, 623-776-8400

TUESDAY, MARCH 28

U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus, 6 p.m., Goodyear Civic Square, 1900 N. Civic Square, Goodyear, free, navyband.navy.mil

Game Day: Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Tech Talk: Virtual Visits with Your Doctor (Streamed), 1 to 1:30 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

Sun Lakes Annual Dementia Conference, Dementia Care Without the Fight: Becoming a Better Care Partner with Teepa Snow, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, free, 480-203-8548. Reservations required, elaine@ successfulagingaz.com

It Takes Two: Tribute to Rod Stewart and Tina Turner, 6 p.m., Sundial, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, fee for show, 623-561-4680

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

Parkinson’s Wellness Day, 9:15 a.m. to noon, Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center,

12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-483-7121, vosjcc.org/ pdwellness, jonellm@vosjcc.org

Living with Diabetes: Week 4, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Farm Basket Bingo, 1 to 2 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Game Day: Rummikub, 2 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter. com

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

Candle in the Wind: A Tribute to Elton John, 7 p.m., The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa, call for charge, 480-672-3223, yourconcerttix.com, t2presents.com

Meditation Moment: Chronic Pain (Streamed), noon to 12:30 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-3254707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

Movie and Popcorn: Black Panther, 1 to 3 p.m., Humana, 5943 E. McKellips Road, Suite 106, Mesa, free, 480-325-4707, humananeighborhoodcenter.com

DENTAL Insurance

Casinos

Everybody Wants Some

Fan Halen embraced in Van Halen’s hometown

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Fan Halen wasn’t nervous about playing The Mixx in Pasadena, California, the hometown of its namesake, Van Halen. Several years ago, Fan Halen played at a Pasadena bar for Greg Renoff, who penned the book “Van Halen Rising.” A who’s who of Van Halen fans, friends and family filled the venue.

“All the people in and around the band back then participated in the book and they were there,” Fan Halen guitarist Derek Fuller says. “The pressure, as you can imagine, was intense. We were a little concerned. But people came up to us and said, ‘We just went back in time.’ It was really, really special.

“From that standpoint, the pressure is a little bit off. We’ve performed in front of the most critical people.”

Fan Halen headlines Casino Arizona on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18, to celebrate the music of the “Hot for Teacher” band.

“We love the music,” Fuller said of Van Halen. “We’re fans just like everybody else. We celebrate that music and that era when they ruled rock ‘n’ roll.”

Based in Huntington Beach, California, Fan Halen was founded more than 10 years ago and has since played around the world, including Japan, South and Central America,

Canada and Mexico.

Fan Halen focuses on Van Halen’s first six albums, from 1970 to 1984 — not “Van Hagar,” when Sammy Hagar replaced original singer David Lee Roth.

The band features vocalist Ernie Berru, who uncannily resembles Roth. Fuller recreates guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s riffs and enthusiastic live persona.

Bassist Andy Catts is a doppelganger for Michael Anthony — in terms of looks, musicianship and vocals. Alex Van Halen’s drumming comes courtesy of Michael Thompson, who brings a 1981 18-piece double-barreled bass drum Ludwig kit.

Bringing the sound

As a teenage guitar player in Hacienda Heights, Fuller started following Aerosmith and Ted Nugent — until Van Halen came on the scene.

“Hundreds of millions of other guitar players and I gravitated toward them,” Fuller recalls. “It was so different and so impactful. It was an easy choice for me. There’s only one choice for me: It was Van Halen.

“If you’re a tribute band and you have a passion for that music, it transcends into your show. We lived it, breathed it. It’s what we love.”

Fuller says Fan Halen worked for about three years to perfect its live show.

“The biggest compliment is someone who said, ‘That just

took me back to 1979, the Forum, when I was in high school. I brought a date,’” Fuller says. “‘That show changed my life, and your show brought me right back.’

“When we’d see rock shows like Aerosmith and Kiss, it was just four dudes kind of rocking out. Nothing was wrong with that. When Van Halen came out, it was like a party. David Lee Roth was this ringmaster doing the splits off the riser and Eddie playing guitar, jumping around like crazy, too. It was just a party, and you couldn’t help but feel so elated. We bring it, too.”

Fan Halen

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18

WHERE: Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale

COST: Tickets start at $15

INFO: casinoarizona.com, ticketmaster.com, fanhalen.net

Guitarist Derek Fuller and vocalist Ernie Berru fill the roles of Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth, respectively. (Fan Halen/Submitted)

Bassist Andy Catts, vocalist Ernie Berru and guitarist Derek Fuller, from left to right, perform in the Van Halen tribute band Fan Halen. (Fan Halen/Submitted)

Puzzles ANSWERS ON PAGE 23

GO FIGURE!

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

SUDOKU TIME

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!

Food & Drink

An All-American

Matt Brice brings obsessive hospitality to North Phoenix

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Matt Brice didn’t come from money. He worked as a dishwasher at age 12 out of necessity. There, he learned how to cut fish and about the perils and triumphs of being in the restaurant business.

“School wasn’t really my thing,” Brice says. “It wasn’t working out for me. I love people, and the moment I knew I could touch as many people through the restaurant experience, that was it.”

The Houston-based Brice parlayed that knowledge into Federal American Grill, which has four locations in Texas and a new one on Mayo Boulevard in North Phoenix. The Mayo Boulevard store also recently opened its anticipated “gorgeous” patio.

The Federal name has been in the family since the 1960s and stems from the Brice family’s obsession with hospitality, great food and ensuring a fun environment for guests.

North Phoenix was the ideal location, he says, because his best friend/operating partner, Steve Parker, moved to the Valley from Connecticut.

“We were friends running restaurants together way back in the day at Chili’s and Ruth Chris’ Steakhouse,” he says.

“I’ve been asking him for a long time to do a restaurant with me. I have four going on five restaurants in Houston. When he said he was moving out here, he said, ‘Let’s do this. I’m ready.’ His kids are off to college. This location, it fit exactly.”

He’s impressed with the quality of nearby restaurants, including Trevor’s on Mayo, which features artisan pizza kitchen, golf simulators and a full-service bar, and Buck and Rider.

Brice’s Federal American Grill is notable in its own right. Everything is made from scratch. It makes its own fries, cuts its own fish, ages the steaks, and creates every

sauce and dressing.

“Everything’s made in-house,” he says. “We take pride in it and serve it at a good level. We are known for our whiskies. We’re an old-fashioned bar. When someone orders an old fashioned, we light them on fire for The Smoking Gun Old Fashioned. It’s awesome.”

Diners who order the flaming oldie, created with Elijah Craig bourbon, house bitters, 151-brûléed orange and cherry, will be delighted by the smoky cocktail prepared tableside. Other notable drinks include the bourbon peach smash, rosemary blush, and paper plane.

Brice said the top-selling dish is its two seasoned RC Ranch Craft Wagyu fried cheeseburger eggrolls.

“They’re to die for,” he says. “It comes with spicy ranch and kung pao sauce.

“People love Janice’s meatloaf, too. It’s my mother’s meatloaf. We’re not a steakhouse, but we sell prime steaks. If you want to come and have an amazing steak, you’re going to have the same quality. It’s wet-aged for a long period of time. You don’t have to buy things a la cart. If you order the filet, you’re getting truffle mac and cheese and spinach on the plate. You

pay one price and you’re done.”

Brice grew up in Massachusetts but has lived in Houston for the last 16 years. Even though he doesn’t live in Phoenix, he’s still a hands-on owner.

“I don’t take a backseat,” he says. “I’ll be at the restaurant every day that I’m here.” He’s in the restaurant business for the people. Every move he makes regarding Federal American Grill, he knows, affects his 400-plus employees.

Brice admits that the first two years he struggled with his first restaurant, as he says, “We didn’t know what kind of concept we were.”

“I created the bar menu, which is affordable,” he says. “You can split three different things with friends — sliders, truffle fries, all that stuff you can come in and split. You can spend $10 to $15 per person or you can come in and spend $70 to $100 a head.”

Federal American Grill is known well throughout Texas. He hopes that reputation carries over to North Phoenix.

“No matter what your request, yes is always our answer,” Brice says.

“We can’t wait to get involved and give back to the community surrounding our new location. We want to make sure that we do everything perfectly. When you’re in Houston, people know us all over Texas. We do a really good job. I know that

(Left) The Tommy Lyons BBQ Bone Marrow is named as such because it was its namesake’s favorite thing to eat. (Above) Matt Brice parlayed the knowledge he gained of the restaurant business since a young age into Federal American Grill. (Federal American Grill/Submitted)

Chicken Federale is two grilled chicken breasts, couscous with asparagus, feta and pico de gallo, and an avocado cilantro cream sauce. (Federal American Grill/Submitted)

What’s Cooking? The iconic Tunnel of Fudge Bundt Cake

BY JAN D’ATRI

Passion, romance or chocolate?

It was 1966 at the 17th annual Pillsbury Bake O Contest. She wasn’t even the rst-place winner, but Ella Rita Helfrich set the world on molten chocolate re with her second-place-winning Tunnel of Fudge Cake.

Up until Ella pulled her cake out of the oven, the Nordic Ware company was not having great success with its unusual invention, the Bundt pan. In fact, it was about to discontinue the line due to lack of sales. What a di erence one day and one cake can make!

The recipe was such a smash hit nationwide that the company had to make 30,000 pans a day just to keep up with the demand! So, this fudgy cake is not just a lavish, chocolatey, gooey-centered yummy work of art, but it was actually responsible for the whole Bundt pan craze!

The cake itself proved just as popular as the pan. But then, Pillsbury discontinued the crucial ingredient to the cake’s success, Double Dutch Frosting Mix, and angry fans of the cake deluged the com-

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

• 1 3/4 cups butter, softened

• 6 large eggs, at room temperature

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose our

• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

• 2 cups chopped walnuts

For the glaze:

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

• 2 tablespoons milk

• 2 tablespoon milk

pany with complaints, prompting Pillsbury to adapt the recipe, replacing the frosting mix with cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar.

Ella won $5,000 for her creation, but its unique mysterious chocolate tunnel, brownie-like consistency and silken chocolate topping makes is worth a million bucks. That’s, incidentally, what the winner takes home today.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and our a 10-inch Bundt pan. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and u y. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Gradually blend in 2 cups confectioners’ sugar. Beat in the our and 3/4 cup cocoa powder. Stir in the chopped walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Important! Let cool in pan for one hour, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Make the glaze. In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa. Stir in milk, a tablespoon at a time, until desired drizzling consistency is achieved. Spoon over cake.

Federal...continued from page 18

for a fact.

“Sales and the ow of people have proven that. Here, they don’t know who we are. We just go one handshake at a time. We’re learning everybody’s name. I’m very personalized. We meet as many people as possible. We have texting for the reservations instead of going through a computer program.”

It all comes down to Brice’s personal beliefs.

“This has been such a blessing,” he says. “Like I said, I love people. The only thing I don’t like about it is I don’t know every single one of them.”

Federal American Grill

Scottsdale 101 Shopping Center

7000 E. Mayo Boulevard, Building 7, Phoenix 602-857-5555, thefederalgrill.com

The iconic Tunnel of Fudge Bundt Cake

Fried Cheeseburger Eggrolls Federal Fried Oysters

Hospice Is Hope Fundraiser supports dementia care in the Valley

BY LIN SUE FLOOD Hospice of the Valley Director of Community Engagement

Enjoy a beautiful evening out while supporting a wonderful cause at Hospice of the Valley’s signature fundraiser: aaha! art. food. wine. In 45 years, no one in need of care has been turned away by the not-for-profit agency, and that is largely due to community generosity.

“We are grateful to local businesses and individuals whose donations make this event so unique and special,” says Debbie Shumway, executive director of Hospice of the Valley.

“This year, we are focusing on families who are caring for a loved one with dementia, raising funds for programs that we provide at no charge in the community and at our new Dementia Care and Education Campus.”

Tickets are available for the March 11 gala at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn. Guests can bid on fine art,

unique wines, dining experiences, dreamy getaways and exciting trips, including a luxury excursion to Spain. The benefit event features spectacular silent and live auctions, raffle prizes (including diamond earrings and a Ralph Lauren suede crossbody bag), an elegant dinner and lively dancing to The Hamptons.

Here’s a peek at this year’s fabulous live auction items:

• Explore the charm of Madrid and Seville in a six-night stay that includes luxury boutique hotels, gourmet meals, tours and day trips, shopping, cooking classes and flamenco dancing at a tapas and dinner show.

• Food and wine lovers will savor an evening with one of the Valley’s most well-known and beloved chefs. Mark Tarbell is cooking up something special for an intimate group of friends, pairing exquisite cuisine with exceptional wines.

• A private jet transports you to exclusive Triple Creek Ranch, high in

the Rocky Mountains of Montana, for a three-night stay. The tranquil escape includes horseback riding, mountain bike riding, fly fishing, archery, sapphire panning and guided yoga.

• Hop on a Bell 429 helicopter and land outside your sky-view cabin at Castle Hot Springs, Arizona’s famous luxury and wellness retreat. Unplug from the world; relax in the hot spring’s magical powers; and try fun activities like a farm tour, garden workshop, horseback riding, wine tastings and mixology classes.

• Art lovers will adore a brilliant-white enamelwork horse sculpture by Arizona artist Carl Dahl. The piece, “Justified,” stands proud and regal, a study in elegant simplicity.

• Artist Elaine G. Coffee’s “The Mysteries of Art” is a sophisticated glimpse into everyday life that captures people enjoying a leisurely afternoon, immersed in the masterpieces at The Met.

• Delight in nature’s beauty with artist Scott Christensen’s stunning painting “Seasonal Golds in Jackson.” The colorful landscape beckons the nature lover in all of us.

aaha! art. food. wine.

WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 11

WHERE: JW Marriott Scottsdale

Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, 5402

E. Lincoln Drive, Phoenix

COST: Tickets start at $300

INFO: hov.org, hbrogan@hov.org or 602-636-5314

The aaha! art.food.wine. event will o er an auction, featuring a six-night trip to Madrid and Seville that includes luxury boutique hotels, gourmet meals, tours and day trips, shopping, cooking classes and amenco dancing at a tapas and dinner show. (Hospice of the Valley/Submitted)

(Top) At the Hospice of the Valley, the auction features a dinner with Mark Tarbell. (Middle) Delight in nature’s beauty with artist Scott Christensen’s stunning painting “Seasonal Golds in Jackson.” (Bottom) Art lovers will adore a brilliant-white enamelwork horse sculpture by Arizona artist Carl Dahl. The piece, “Justi ed,” stands proud and regal, a study in elegant simplicity.

(Above) Guests at the Hospice of the Valley fundraiser can bid on a trip to Triple Creek Ranch. (Below) Castle Hot Springs is a luxury and wellness retreat in Arizona.

These morning habits can ease aches and pains

BY DR. ROGER WALKER

As we get older, our joints and muscles tend to stiffen while we sleep, making it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. After waking up and getting our feet on the floor, many people go straight for the coffee or quick breakfast to start their day.

This quick caffeine or sugar high from that morning pastry are a couple of the worst things you can do when first waking up.

It is important to create a morning routine that wakes you up the right way and helps get rid of those aches and pains. The first couple of hours after waking up can be the most productive time of day for many people. Making these few simple changes to your morning routine will help you wake up refreshed, get active, and ease those aching joints and muscles.

Stay away from screens

It’s easy to stay up at night and say to yourself, “I’ll watch just one more episode,” or take one more scroll through Facebook or Instagram. What you may not realize is all that blue light emitting from the screens makes it difficult to fall asleep. Your body associates blue light with daylight, which can alter your body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to relax and get impactful sleep.

It is best to turn off all screens at least one hour before you get into bed. Instead of scrolling through your phone, read a book or meditate. These activities will help your body naturally relax, allowing you to fall asleep faster. Separating yourself from blue light before bed also helps you get the deep sleep your body needs to heal and refresh.

Hydrate after waking up

The first thing many people do in the

morning is head straight for the coffee pot to get that much-needed boost of caffeine to start the day. Never start your day with caffeine. Instead, the first thing you need to do when you wake up is drink a tall glass of water, at least 8 ounces. Starting your day with a glass of water rehydrates the cells in your body and improves digestion. Water also helps with flushing out toxins and cleanses the colon, allowing for the better absorption of minerals throughout the day. Rehydrating first thing in the morning is beneficial for the heart as well, as the water helps the heart pump blood easier to the muscles. You don’t have to give up coffee or tea altogether. Just wait until after you have that first glass of water.

Stretch out the aches

Always include stretching in your morning routine. Spend 10 minutes in the morning after waking up to do some basic stretches. Touch your toes, stretch your arms, do a few lunges, or take a walk around your neighborhood. Getting outdoors to do your morning stretches and exercises is even more beneficial, as you will get direct sunlight, giving you much-needed vitamin D.

Eat a proper breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the fuel it needs to start the day. Instead of eating a quick bowl of cereal or a doughnut, start the day with a couple of eggs for protein, some fruit for vitamins, and a healthy carbohydrate like some multigrain toast; and don’t forget a healthy fat, too, such as half an avocado. When you eat sugary foods in the morning, it will make you feel sluggish throughout the day. By eating a healthy breakfast, you are giving your body the healthy energy it needs to function properly.

Changing your morning routine may take some time to get used to, but the rewards are worth it. Using these simple steps will help you wake up feeling refreshed and ease the aches and pains first thing in the morning. When considering a change in lifestyle, always consult your physician.

Dr. Roger Walker is the founder and chief operating officer of Valley Pain Centers in Phoenix. Walker was also a practicing physician for over 25 years, specializing in chiropractic and acupuncture. Walker is a fellow of the International Academy of Clinical Acupuncture.

The Healthy Geezer Lightheadedness after eating is troubling

BY FRED CICETTI

I usually get a bit lightheaded when I stand, but this feeling is much worse when I get up from the dinner table. I don’t drink. Any ideas?

There’s a possibility you have “postprandial hypotension” or, in layman’s language, low blood pressure after a meal. This is a senior malady; few younger people experience this. Other possible symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, nausea and fainting. I recommend going to a doctor to have your symptoms checked.

When you eat, blood pours into your digestive system. To maintain your blood pressure, your heart pumps more often and your blood vessels constrict. But these compensatory mechanisms don’t

work for some people.

To help prevent postprandial hypotension, eat small portions several times a day and limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.

There’s another form of low blood pressure called “postural hypotension” that affects some people when they stand up. Also called “orthostatic hypotension,” this is especially common in older adults who are more likely to use high blood pressure drugs. When you experience postural hypotension, blood pools in your legs.

Low blood pressure is commonly caused by drugs for high blood pressure, surgical medications, anti-anxiety agents, diuretics, heart medicines, antidepressants, narcotic painkillers and alcohol.

Other causes of low blood pressure

include dehydration, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, shock from infection, stroke, severe allergic reaction, major trauma, heart attack and advanced diabetes.

The effects of hypotension can lead to falls, which can be serious for seniors. Here are some pointers for avoiding the dangers of low blood pressure.

When arising, let your feet hang over the side of your bed. Then flex your toes up and down about a dozen times. Stand up slowly. Count to 10 before you start walking. This is a good idea whenever you get up from lying or sitting for more than 20 minutes. Crossing your legs while sitting upright may also help increase blood pressure.

Some experts define low blood pressure as readings lower than 90 systolic (the first number) or 60 diastolic (the second number). However, low blood pressure is relative, so doctors often define blood pressure as too low only if there are symptoms.

In many instances, low blood pressure isn’t serious. However, it is important to see your doctor if you have hypotension symptoms, because they sometimes can point to serious problems. Chronic low blood pressure may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s-type dementia in some older adults.

Low blood pressure without symptoms rarely requires treatment. In symptomatic cases, doctors address the primary problems such as heart failure. When hypotension is drug-induced, treatment usually involves altering the drug regimen. It is possible to raise blood pressure when that is required. Here are some ways:

• Eating more salt. However, too much sodium can cause heart failure, especially among seniors. Don’t increase your salt without consulting with your doctor.

• Drink more water. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration.

• Compression stockings used to treat varicose veins may help reduce the pooling of blood in your legs. There are also medications your doctor may prescribe.

Now’s the Right Time