The Ranch Review - April 20, 2017 by Times Media Group

e News Around Our Neighborhood

Mailed to homes in Gainey and McCormick Ranch areas and in the surrounding communities.

Wonderdog helps Scottsdale girl tackle any challenge

By Becky Bracken

Sometimes a dog is much more than just a best friend.

Bliss is a very special service dog who helps a very special girl named Claudia Rank right here in North Scottsdale navigate the everyday challenges she faces as a kid with special needs trying to transition into middle school. Now, Bliss is just one of 15 dogs around the country being recognized by national brand Milk-Bone as a “dog who changed the world.”

Bliss was trained by Canine Assistants to help Claudia, who uses a wheelchair, by

Bliss ...continues on page 6

Cocopah Middle School teacher receives national STEM award

By Amy Schrader

A McDowell Mountain Ranch resident and Cocopah Middle School science teacher is among an elite group of educators being nationally honored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation.

Tracey Dodrill is one of four kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers from across the United States and one from Canada to receive the AIAA Foundation Educator Achievement Award for her eﬀorts to promote education in science, technology, engineering and

mathematics (STEM) .

Dodrill will be honored for “her truly exemplary contributions to educating and empowering students everyday, in every way, to pursue STEM education and careers,” said Carol Steward, AIAA foundation manager.

e honored educators will receive their awards as part of the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala on May 3 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

STEM ...continues on page 7

Scarlett Merciaer, 2, relaxes in the park during story time at The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.

(Special to Nearby News)

Claudia and Bliss

Publisher

Times Media Group

President

Steve T. Strickbine

Executive Editor

Niki D’Andrea

Managing Editor Becky Bracken

Graphic Designer

Tonya Mildenberg

Administration

Courtney Oldham

Contributors

Crystal Lewis Brown, Jan D’Atri, Eva Dwight, Nancy Norman, Amy Schrader, Scott Shumaker

Contact the Nearby News at 480-898-5610 • Fax: 480-898-5606

Editor@NearbyNews.com

For more information visit our website at www.NearbyNews.com

NearbyNews

The Ranch Review is published monthly and distributed to 10,000 residences and businesses within North Scottsdale. (Approx. 8,000 mailed directly to homes and 2,000 distributed on newsstands, and in several-hundred high-trafﬁc locations throughout the community.)

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Watch for our announcement of the winner in next month’s edition. If you see your name, contact us by June 5, 2017, to claim your prize. Good luck!

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Cover Photo: Kimberly Carrillo

•

Preschoolers get bike safety training from local police

By Nearby News Staﬀ

1. Wear a properly ﬁtted helmet.

2. Ride on the sidewalk when possible.

3. Wear bright colors and install lights on bicycles for riding at night.

4. Learn and use hand signals.

McDowell Sonoran Conservancy launches new site

By Nearby News Staﬀ

e McDowell Sonoran Conservancy debuted a new website this month, providing users with greater access to the wide range of recreation, education and research programs taking place in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

e new website provides userfriendly information on hiking, biking and horseback riding in the preserve.

e site’s calendar lists upcoming events, including wildﬂower, discovery and wellness hikes, educational seminars and family activities, such as the conservancy’s popular Family Sonoran Sunday series. e conservancy’s acclaimed Field Institute research program is also prominently featured.

Visitors also will ﬁnd information on education, stewardship and volunteer opportunities.

e site was developed by Scottsdalebased marketing and public relations ﬁrm ED/c Partners, which partnered with E-3 Design of Johnstown, Pennsylvania to produce the site. ED/c

Partners owner and principal Lori Martinek underwrote the $35,000 project as a donation to the conservancy.

“ e new site will help put both the preserve and the conservancy before a larger audience,” Martinek said. “ e easy-to-navigate site provides access to a wealth of information on trails, programs, events and educational opportunities. It also provides a platform to promote the important research that is being done through the conservancy’s Field Institute.”

Conservancy Executive Director Mike Nolan agreed.

“At 3,500 acres, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve is one of the largest urban preserves in the country,” he noted. “ e conservancy is a model for stewardship programs and our Field Institute is a leader in

conducting and publishing research on the Sonoran Desert.

“We have a powerful story to tell, and the new site will help put that story in front of a broader worldwide audience,” he added. Check out the new site at mcdowellsonoran.org.

Scottsdale seeks input on garbage and recycling

By Nearby News Staﬀ

Residents and business leaders in the community are invited to provide input that will help shape the future of Scottsdale’s refuse and recycling programs.

e Community Solid Waste and Recycling Strategic Plan will be the latest in a history of projects that reﬂect Scottsdale’s values of protecting the environment and sustaining natural resources, the city says.

e ﬁrst step is a questionnaire that will assist city leaders in determining the community’s vision, goals and priorities for recycling and solid waste programs.

Each day, thousands of pounds of trash and recyclable materials are collected in Scottsdale, according to the city. e goal of the strategic plan is to manage those materials in a safe and responsible way, one that places an emphasis on reuse and innovation.

e plan will provide a comprehensive approach for the collection, disposal and reuse of solid waste materials generated within the city, while adhering to the environmental and sustainability ethic that is so important to community members. It will consider community health, image and the financial impacts of increased recycling to reduce waste and preserve our limited landfill space. To fill out the survey visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “Trash Talk.”

doing stuﬀ like retrieving a cell phone in case of emergency, opening doors and generally comforting Claudia

when she gets upset or has nightmares. anks to support from Milk-Bone, Canine Assistants has placed more than 2,000 hero dogs with people just like Claudia, across the U.S.

According to Beth, Claudia’s mom, the moment her daughter and Bliss met, it was magic.

“Really, Bliss picked Claudia,” Beth says. “Canine Assistants does a matching process where they have a few dogs in mind that they introduce to you and then they watch how the dogs interact with you. e dogs pick the people. Bliss was excited to meet Claudia and was great with her wheelchair from day one. Not all dogs can do that! After two weeks of training in Georgia, we ﬂew home and met the rest of the family, who all fell in love with Bliss, too.”

never fail to listen and deep brown eyes that patiently watch. She is so loyal to the kids that they undoubtedly have a friend forever. She wags her friendly tail to welcome the kids home and readily joins in any game they want to play. She is a sweetheart.”

But even though she’s a beloved family pet, when Bliss is working, she’s all business.

“Service dogs have important jobs to do for their people, so it is always important to approach the owner ﬁrst and ask them questions,” Beth says.

“Bliss loves to play and get belly rubs like most dogs, so it is important for her to stay focused on her job when we are out in public.”

Now Bliss lives in the DC Ranch area with Claudia, her siblings Eloise, Vincent, Julianne and parents Matt and Beth. And while Bliss’ ﬁrst responsibility is to take care of Claudia, the entire family calls her their own.

“ ere is no better medicine than a dog for any number of the ailments that go along with growing up,” Beth says. “Bliss provides soft ears that

Beth adds that she’s grateful to Milk-Bone for sponsoring dogs like Bliss to provide such crucial help for people with special needs.

For more information about Canine Assistants, visit CanineAssistants.

Bliss ...continued from page 1

(Special to Nearby News)

Claudia and Bliss on one of their many adventures.

...continued from page 1

e gala will celebrate the best and brightest educators for their eﬀorts to bring real-world STEM to the classroom in new and exciting ways, thus inspiring students.

Dodrill is not only thrilled to be receiving the award, which is comparable to a lifetime achievement award, but also about the impact STEM education has had on her students.

“I have been used as a conduit to make these things happen, but they would be nothing without my students being part of it,” said Dodrill. “When you see the light bulb go on and kids get excited about science, that is where the rubber meets the road. You know you have made a diﬀerence. at is what keeps me going year after year in teaching middle school students.”

According to Dodrill, STEM education is one of the most important things to our country and to our national security.

“I tell students to think about being a part of keeping our country safe and secure, working in areas that require security clearance, doing the stealth things you see on TV, in the movies and in real life.”

To develop career awareness and show students what their world has to oﬀer them in the near future, Dodrill introduces them to scientists, engineers, mathematicians, astronomers and geologists who bring their experiences into the classroom and make them come alive for her class.

Dodrill also brings her own unique experiences into the classroom. Besides being a science teacher in the Scottsdale Uniﬁed School District for 11 years, she has been involved with the AIAA at the local, state and national level, volunteering in both STEM education and public policy. She also serves NASA as an ambassador on the MAVEN and OSIRIS-Rex Missions and as a Solar System Ambassador, which has allowed her to give her students ﬁrsthand accounts of NASA’s missions and future space exploration.

OSIRIS-Rex is a NASA spacecraft that launched on Sept. 8, 2016 and is currently en route to Bennu, an asteroid near Earth. After the spacecraft reaches the vicinity of Bennu in 2018, it will spend more than a year of comprehensive surface mapping before it collects a sample and returns to Earth in 2023. is is the ﬁrst U.S. mission to carry samples from an asteroid back to Earth.

“ e kids feed oﬀ of my love for science and want to engage science at a much higher level when I model it for them,” said Dodrill.

Besides modeling a love for science, Dodrill advises a Girls Rule DreamLab Club that helps develop leadership skills in girls during their middle school years. According to Dodrill, this is essential, as only 25 percent of STEM jobs are currently ﬁlled by woman.

“I’m hoping, between their love for science and leadership training, that these young ladies will make their mark in the STEM community doing amazing things,” said Dodrill.

While teachers like Dodrill do their part to get students involved in STEM education, there are steps parents can take to incite curiosity and learning at home.

Look for opportunities to connect your child to STEM during holidays and breaks. Many opportunities are available through cities, school districts, universities, museums and science centers.

“It is never too young to get them interested,” said Dodrill. “I ﬁnd the best beneﬁt is to have them unplug their technology and plug into building, designing and creating. Hands-on, inquiry-based learning is where it is at.”

(Special to Nearby News)

Tracey Dodril is a science teacher at Cocopah Middle School in Scottsdale.

looking back

By Scott Shumaker

Celebrating Arbor Day in Arizona’s ‘Tree City’

e state of Arizona celebrates Arbor Day on the last Friday in April. ough outsiders might be surprised that Scottsdale, a city in the Sonoran Desert, has been designated a “Tree City” by the Arbor Day Foundation for 34 years – more than any other community in Arizona – trees have always been vital to Scottsdale’s history. e city’s native trees –including mesquite and cottonwood

– provided food and wood long before European contact. Later, imported citrus trees gave Scottsdale one of its ﬁrst economic footholds. Trees, especially cottonwoods, were also planted for shade and beauty and lined the area’s canals. Today, some of the trees planted by Scottsdale pioneers over 100 years ago still stand.

this undated photo, a beekeeper takes advantage of the ﬂowers

groves in Scottsdale, possibly citrus, to harvest

help pollinate several Arizona crops, including

Among his many signiﬁcant contributions to Arizona, land speculator William J. Murphy helped found the Arizona citrus industry by planting an experimental orange grove in Scottsdale in 1889. The grove later became part of the luxury Ingleside resort. This early photo shows a lush section of Ingleside’s garden, which may include some of Murphy’s original orange trees.

(Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library)

produced by

honey. Besides providing honey, bees

cotton and melons.

(Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library)

In this photo from the 1920s, a father and daughter, believed to be Frank and Vivian Stevenson, tend buckets of fruit – possibly peaches or apples.

(Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library)

Chickens and other fowl graze in an orchard of blooming trees in this undated photo of early Scottsdale.

(Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Historical Society)

This olive tree in downtown Scottsdale was planted by town co-founder and namesake Winﬁeld Scott in 1896. Scott planted this and other olive trees to serve as a windbreak for his citrus orchard. Today, many of these original olive trees line the streets of downtown Scottsdale.

Family time

Octane offers adrenaline-infused family fun

Story and photos by Crystal Lewis Brown

ere’s something about driving full speed, pushing your car to see how fast it will go. But since most of us aren’t NASCAR racers (or traveling on the German Autobahn), it’s probably not the best idea. at’s where Octane Raceway comes in.

e high-speed kart racing track gives you the opportunity to race other drivers in a fun and safe environment while indulging your inner adrenaline junkie. e raceway looks unassuming from the outside; tucked away in the desert in a strip mall. But the sounds of the racing go-karts were the ﬁrst thing my kids noticed as soon as we stepped out of the car.

With a third-mile of track, Octane oﬀers the only full-time indoor/outdoor track in the United States, said JP Mullan, general manager.

So, the ﬁne print ﬁrst: Racers are split into junior and adult drivers, and junior drivers must be at least 4 foot 6 inches tall. Adult drivers must meet the same height requirement and be 16 or older. at means my kids – a preschooler and a second-grader – weren’t actually big enough to ride the go-karts. And although an older family friend would

be coming with us to race, I have to admit, I was a little worried my kiddos would get bored since they couldn’t actually drive. Turns out, my fears were unfounded.

A lot of people think you go for a race and that’s it, Mullan said. But there’s a lot more to the facility.

“ ere is so much more to do at Octane Raceway than just kart racing,” he says. “We have a great bar and grill (two-drink max before racing), arcade, mini bowling, and a great patio with lawn games.”

Here’s how it works: You can call or go online to select your desired time to race and indicate whether you’re registering an adult or junior driver. Races run about every 20 minutes and last about 10 minutes. You’re also welcome to walk in and register on-site, though wait times can vary, depending on how many open spots

there are for a particular race time. Whether or not you make a reservation, I suggest you get there early to have time to experience everything. We arrived about 30-45 minutes before our scheduled time. Each of the kids in our group got a $10 game card and we let them loose in the arcade area. ey rushed from game to game, shooting hoops, playing air hockey and shooting zombies. Once they’d depleted their game cards, we headed to Backyard Grill, where the kids ordered from a kids’ menu and I tried the JPapproved Brickyard Burger, complete with applewood-smoked bacon and a fried egg. en it was time to race. e level of care they take to ensure drivers’ safety

was impressive. In addition to the previously mentioned two-drink maximum they’ll serve you if you’re racing – each racer gets a wristband and the bartender marks on the band when you’re served an alcoholic drink –there’s also a breathalyzer on the track for those who imbibe before arriving. When you make your race reservation, in addition to your racing fee, you pay an annual $7 membership fee, which includes an Octane license, helmet rental, head sock, race results and discounts in the pro shop. e races are perfect for experienced and beginner drivers, so don’t worry if it’s your ﬁrst time out. e karts go up to 45 miles per hour, and after the race, you can check your race time and how you fared among the other drivers. You can also access your race times online, in case you need to pull them up for bragging rights after you’ve left the track. And whether you win or not, everyone is invited to take photos with the big trophy.

As we neared the end of our outing, we realized we hadn’t even tried mini bowling. When I asked the kids what they didn’t like about our visit, they had just one answer: “We didn’t have enough time.”

Junior drivers prepare for their next race at Octane Raceway in Scottsdale.

The arcade, which is perfect for those too young to race, provided entertainment before and after the race. Cameron, 8, and Jordan, 4, pose with the Octane trophy.

Scottsdale’s Books2Go puts books in local parks

By Nearby News Staﬀ

If you can’t ﬁnd the time to visit one of Scottsdale’s excellent libraries, the city has you covered. e library (or at least a tiny, mobile version of it) is coming to a local park near you.

Scottsdale Public Library is working to make books more easily available to people at city parks by opening Books2Go microlibraries at locations throughout the city.

e ﬁrst permanent microlibrary installation opened April 11 at Chaparral Dog Park and looks just like a doghouse.

“What’s better than relaxing in a beautiful setting with a good book?” asked Mayor Jim Lane, who hosted a ribbon cutting for the new microlibrary. “I think people will really enjoy being able to borrow books at places where they aren’t usually available,” he said. “Here they can let Fido run around while they spend some time with Hemingway. It’s a great combination.”

Scottsdale’s Books2Go libraries won’t just be smaller than their brick-and-mortar cousins, they will be ﬁlled with books donated by the community instead of ones purchased

by the library. No checkout or return will be required – patrons can borrow books and return them on the honor system.

Library volunteers will routinely check the microlibraries and restock them when necessary. is will be Scottsdale’s ﬁrst permanent Books2Go installation.

A temporary version has been open for the past several months at the Saturday farmers market in Old Town Scottsdale.

To build Scottsdale’s first microlibrary, the city tapped Experience Matters, a local nonprofit that connects the talents of experienced adults with the diverse needs of nonprofit organizations.

ey helped the library secure the talents of Jim Nance, an Intel Encore Fellow who built what may be the world’s ﬁrst library in a doghouse. He also built one in the shape of a barn, which is used at the farmers market.

Additional Books2Go locations are planned but have not been selected. Learn more about all of Scottsdale Public Library’s locations and services visit ScottsdaleLibrary.org.

Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library

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Find your students’ summer fun at SUSD

By Nancy Norman

We all get used to the routine of the school year: Five days a week, it’s up and out the door at the same time, followed by after-school sports, other extracurricular activities, dinner, homework, bedtime, repeat. All that is thrown to the wayside come summer, however.

If you are looking for some fun ways for your child to pass the summer, the Scottsdale Uniﬁed School District’s Community Education Department has a program for that. Your student athlete can hone her or his skills at one of our summer sports camps. Athletic camps are oﬀered at Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain and Saguaro High schools, and at Desert Canyon Middle School.

Get the kids oﬀ the couch at one of our fun, out-of-the heat educational camps. We have those, too, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Hopi and Redﬁeld Elementary schools. What about daycare for the littlest ones?

SUSD oﬀers half-day and full-day summer early-learning camps at Pueblo Elementary School.

Is your student into computer coding? Try one of our half- or fullday coding camps at Desert Canyon Elementary. In addition, high school students can catch up or get ahead on classes at Coronado or online.

e bottom line is that summers are full of fun learning opportunities.

“Camps enhance social skills while students learn a sport or improve their academics, creating positive memories during Arizona’s long, hot summers,” said SUSD Enrichment Coordinator Martha Ramsey. “Studies clearly show that students experience learning loss when they’re not engaged in summer learning. We oﬀer lots of fun and educational ways to prevent that.”

Visit concrete.susd.org/communityed or call 480-484-7932 for more information about how your students can spend their summer with SUSD.

Arizona Broadway Theatre returns to the Herberger

By Scottsdale Nearby News Staﬀ

Arizona Broadway eatre (ABT) and Herberger eater Center (HTC) announced that they will co-present both Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Christmas Carol: e Musical” on the HTC Center Stage. Valley audiences will have the opportunity to see these classic tales set to music at the Arizona Broadway eatre.

“With ABT’s vast experience bringing quality musicals to life, this full-scale production of Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is sure to delight theatergoers of all ages,” Mark Mettes, HTC’s president and CEO, says. “‘A Christmas Carol: e Musical’ was a family favorite last year, and we are excited and proud to partner with ABT to bring these spirited family-oriented musical productions downtown this year.”

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” will be on stage July 7-16; “A Christmas Carol: e Musical” will run December 9-24.

“Last year’s production proved that this can be a successful partnership,” ABT CEO and executive producer Kiel Klaphake says. “We’re thrilled to be able to extend that partnership with the addition of Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ this summer as well as restaging ‘A Christmas Carol: e Musical’ this holiday season. As the leading musical theatre producer in the state, we are delighted to bring our bold approach to this premier venue.”

Tickets are on sale now at herbergertheater.org. For more information, visit herbergertheater. org. or call the box oﬃce at 602-252-8497.

navigating parenthood

By Eva Dwight

Shifting the focus to ‘big picture’ parenting

In the “For Better or For Worse” comic strip last week, the little boy was complaining about having to do chores. “I’m a kid, man! Kids are supposed to have fun! Why can’t you wait till I’m grown up? en I’ll work!” His dad replied, “Because by the time you’re grown up and ready to work… you won’t know how!” Dad was seeing the big picture, and he knew that childhood is largely about learning how to become a grownup. Yes, there should be plenty of play. Absolutely! But if we don’t focus on teaching skills along the way, our kids will not know how to be successful adults.

Take a few minutes to picture your child at age 18, walking out the door

into the world. You want him or her to thrive out there. What character traits and skills does he or she need to navigate the challenges life will throw his way? Make a list. You might start with some basic words like honesty, integrity, perseverance, self-control, empathy. Keep brainstorming until you have a solid list of 15-20 traits/ skills. en put it where you can easily see and add to it, as more ideas come to you.

Here’s how to use that list as a guideline when your child is presenting a challenge. ink about the behavior your child is presenting and what trait/skill is lacking and contributing to the problem. en, think about how you can teach that

skill so that, after practicing some new habits and strategies, your child will exhibit that problem behavior less.

weeks (months if the child is the progress. If he or she with partial independence. practice at that level

Whether it’s 2-year-olds throwing temper tantrums (lacking emotional regulation skills), 12-year-olds not doing homework (lacking persistence, conﬁdence, or timemanagement skills) or 16-year-olds making poor decisions (lacking selfmanagement or impulse control), parents can turn challenges into teachable moments if they look at the big picture. is means not just ﬁguring out how to solve the problem in the moment, but how to keep the problem from recurring. Parents are frequently tempted to give in to, ignore or punish problem behaviors, but the bottom line is, these responses don’t teach skills. Teaching takes energy and patience. Expect to practice a skill with your child for several weeks (months if the child is very young), and then notice the progress. If he or she appears to be mastering the skill, take a step back and allow them to do the task with partial independence. If successful, let them practice at that level for several more weeks (or months) before taking the next step back. Eventually, he or she will be completely independent and

you can give each other high ﬁves and celebrate his success together. You will doubtless be teaching multiple skills with multiple strategies at the same time, because kids don’t conveniently present us with one challenge at a time. at’s OK! Keep looking at the big picture. Don’t get too stuck in where your child is. Envision where they can be, and take steps together, to help them get there.

Young women honored with Girl Scout Gold Awards

By Becky Bracken

e Girl Scouts – Arizona CactusPine Council presented its highly coveted Girl Scout Gold Award to 33 well-deserving recipients, including two outstanding young women from the North Scottsdale area.

e Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive, and is the equivalent to becoming an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. In order to earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout must create a project that continues to give back to the community long after she moves on, and can often take as long as 18 to 24 months to complete.

Alexandra Neumann

Neumann, who is a senior at Scottsdale Preparatory, created “Salvage the School Supplies,” a program to educate students on the importance of recycling. She set up collection boxes and put up ﬂyers at her school, collecting enough supplies for 180 students. She donated these supplies to schools in low-income areas and was also able to collect 2,550 gallons of plastics and paper to recycle.

“I still remember distinctly the last day of my ninthgrade year, which was the ﬁrst time I saw my fellow students throwing away their books,” Neumann said. “I was speechless.

I knew that something had to be done to address my school’s waste issue. So, at the end of the following school year, I started to collect, recycle and donate unwanted supplies, naming my project ‘Salvage the School Supplies.’”

After two years, the program has provided 200 under-privileged elementary school students with a year’s worth of supplies and has diverted approximately 3,500 gallons of recyclables from the landﬁll, Neumann added.

“After my final project interview with the Girl Scout Council – when I officially earned my Gold Award – I felt a tremendous sense of fulfillment from my

Mother’s Day brunch

By Nearby News Staﬀ

Westin Kierland Resort and Spa

Treat Mom to a champagne celebration with Mother’s Day Brunch at e Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Located in the Resort’s Trailblazers Ballroom with Mother’s Day décor, live piano music and sweeping floor-to-ceiling views of e Westin Kierland Golf Club and the McDowell Mountains, the brunch will feature a host of items ranging from build-yourown omelets and a smoked salmon table to fresh seafood selections such as jumbo Gulf shrimp, Alaskan crab legs, Bangs Island mussels and even a carving table with slow-roasted beef tenderloin. e hot buffet, which will offer a host of entrees including almond-wood smoked pork loin, Pacific sea bass and pan-seared chicken breast as well as made-toorder pan-seared crab cakes. Freshly made salads, pastas, side dishes and a

work. And I was also very grateful for the letters of congratulations from the Girl Scout Council, nonproﬁt organizations like the Grand Lodge Order of Elks, and government leaders like former President Jimmy Carter. roughout the development of my project, I worked solely with the purpose of serving the environment and my local schools, and now, gaining oﬃcial recognition for my work has further motivated me to pursue large-scale projects in college in order to serve my local and global communities.”

Allison Daugherty

Daugherty, who graduated from Paradise Valley High School in 2016 and now attends the Arizona State University Honors College, was inspired to help teach young people the importance of good oral hygiene after interning in her dentist’s oﬃce. She provided more than 250 students with information on caring for their teeth, as well as realistic healthimproving changes. She also created and distributed informational coloring books at the Arizona Mission of Mercy

with items sure to please any kid. Plus, the resort’s Fun Team will be on hand to help children decorate a pot and plant a ﬂower to give to Mom.

magniﬁcent dessert station round out the oﬀerings.

Parents with small children will appreciate the Kierland Kids’ Station

dental clinic in 2014 and 2015.

“I was quite relieved to have received the Gold Award,” Daugherty said. “My first thought was something along the lines of ‘it’s about time,’ but not in the sense that I felt entitled. I had been working on my project on-and-off since the beginning of high school, and it was satisfying to see it go through the official recognition process in my freshman year of college.”

But her passion for helping people improve their health was enough to keep her focused on the project throughout her high school years.

“I chose to do my project on oral hygiene in the Valley’s youth because I am passionate about dentistry and recognized the need to take action about the little value placed on oral health that is present in many young people,” she added.

Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14; $85 for adults and $35 for children ages 5 to 12 (excluding tax and gratuity). Reservations for brunch are required. Call 480-624-1202.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

For early risers, big-time brunchers or those who prefer an option of dinner entrees on Mother’ Day, JW Marriott Desert Ridge oﬀers a variety of buﬀets and menus to celebrate Mom in style.

Meritage, an urban tavern

Sunrise breakfast buﬀet: 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Adults: $28; children ages 4-12 years: $10

Buﬀet only (a la carte menu unavailable). Reservations are recommended: 480-293-5000

Non-alcoholic beverages included, tax and gratuity additional, no discounts apply.

Rise and shine with a bountiful breakfast buﬀet brimming with sweet

and savory items, including the chef’s selection of freshly baked breakfast breads; buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips, berry compote or apple cinnamon chutney; and an omelet station boasting an array of fresh veggies, cheeses, ham and bacon.

Stonegrill

Brunch experience: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Adults: $79 and children ages 4-12: $39

$8 Bloody Mary’s and mimosas Reservations are recommended: 480-293-5000

A traditional buffet packed with non-traditional surprises awaits diners in Stonegrill. e seafood station will be piled with poached shrimp, crab claws, shucked seasonal oysters and fixings, plus smoked salmon with capers, eggs, red onions and tomatoes. e antipasti bar boasts artisanal meats, local cheeses, marinated vegetables and artisan baked breads. An omelet station will be flanked by blueberry French toast, Belgian waffles and blue corn mesquite pancakes, smoked crispy bacon and chicken apple sausage.

Show Mom a delicious time on Mother’s Day with one of these local dining options.

(Special to Nearby News)

Westin Kierland Resort and Spa

“TBuilding Wealth Responsibly

Protecting Assets Is Priority One

Writing the Next Chapter on Retirement Security

United Retirement Advisors Group

he book on baby boomers retiring hasn’t been written yet,” says Garry Madaline, President of United Retirement Advisors Group. “Thirty years from now, I’m afraid the story may be that too many retirees didn’t change their ﬁnancial strategy when they left the workforce and didn’t realize their mistake till it was too late.”

“For retirees who can no longer contribute income to recoup their losses, taking a hit in the market can have dire consequences.”

To Madaline, a Boomer himself, this unhappy narrative serves as a cautionary tale for today’s pre-retirees. A long time ﬁnancial advisor, he’s been in the business since 1979, following a six-year stint as a police oﬃcer in Philadelphia, Madaline has made it his personal mission to help retirees lay the foundation for a happier ending.

“Our grandparents and parents stayed with one employer, received a comfortable pension and lived a diﬀerent lifestyle,” he says. “Markets behaved diﬀerently; staying fully invested over the long term made sense. But times have changed. Less than 5% of Baby Boomers have retired and a very dangerous trend has already begun to emerge. Many are following the same investment strategies they used while working and assume the results will be the same. The fact is, following the same strategy after retirement as before retirement just won’t work for many retirees.”

top 10 family events

April 20,2017 - May 20,2017

Larry Fitzgerald Kid’s Night Out – Cat in the Hat

Dia del Niño

The Phoenix Zoo gets even more interesting thanks to a daylong street festival. Enjoy mariachi bands, dancers, arts and crafts, piñatas and more.

Sunday, April 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix Museum admission ($24.95 adults, $14.95 ages 3-13) 602-286-3800 or phoenixzoo.org

SMoCA Family Mix: Tinkering with Technology

Get the whole family together for some art and science, including demonstrations and a make-and-take

Sunday, May 7, noon-3 p.m. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St.,

480-874-4666 or smoca.org

City Lights Movie Night: Rogue One

Madaline’s top priority for his clients, to whom he has a ﬁduciary responsibility as a Series 65 advisor, is protecting their assets from the eﬀects of market downsides. While working, most people contribute to their 401(k) plan every pay period. They are putting money in every week regardless of whether the market is going up or down. This can be a good idea while you’re working as purchasing fund shares in a declining market will net great returns when the market recovers. In addition, your employer may also be matching some of your contributions helping you buy even more shares at a discount price.

The problem with using this strategy during retirement is that you are no longer buying any new shares during down markets. In addition, you must now remove money from these accounts to live on. If you are taking losses and removing money from your retirement accounts, even for a short time period, no reasonable amount of recovery will make up for the losses and eventually you may run out of money. This is what happened to many people in 2008. There’s no magic to this conclusion it’s simply basic math.

Madaline is highly selective in the advice he gives, preferring fund managers who share his ‘protection ﬁrst’ philosophy.

“I only recommend market investments whose risk management techniques come ﬁrst and money-making strategies come second,” he says. “As an independent advisor, my primary concern is for my client’s well-being. When it comes to managing other people’s money, nothing is more important to us. A cornerstone of making this a reality is aligning the money manager’s approach and goals to share that of the clients.”

To learn about how to adopt a new approach into your own retirement plan in an educational setting, a great place to start is the C.O.R.E. Retirement Workshop at a Community College near you. For more information and class dates please visit www.myretirementclass.com and enroll today!

Drop the kids off for a night of crafts, magic and the movie “Cat in the Hat.” Older kids will head out to Dave & Busters.

When: Saturday, April 22, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale

Cost: $35 K-5, $50 5-8 grades Info: 480-483-7121 or vosjcc.org

Wonderland: Alice’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Adventure

The familiar story of “Alice in Wonderland” gets a twist as the characters share the adventure through a rock soundtrack.

When: Weekends, April 23-May 21

Where: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe Cost: $12-$26

Info: 480-921-5700 or childsplayaz.org

Healthy Kids Day!

Spend a day enjoying arts and crafts, rock climbing, games, prizes, demos and more fun that shows kids how to be healthy.

When: Saturday, April 29

Where: Scottsdale/Paradise Valley Family YMCA, 6869 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale

Cost: Free (with RSVP) Info: 602-404-9622 or valleyymca.org

Catch the latest Star Wars ﬁlm for free. This prequel to “A New Hope” follows the rebels’ attempts to steal the plans for the Empire’s Death Star.

When: Friday, May 12, 6:30-9 p.m. Where: CityScape Phoenix, 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix Cost: Free Info: 602-772-3900 or cityscapephoenix.com

Larry Fitzgerald Football Procamp

Give your grade 1-8 boy or girl a chance to learn football from Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald and his handpicked coaches.

When: May 13-14, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Where: Scottsdale Community College

Cost: $249

Info: 888-389-2267 or larryﬁtzgeraldcamp.com

Experience Polynesia

Learn about the music and culture of the Paciﬁc Islands through performance, crafts, food, talks and hands-on activities. When: May 20-21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix Cost: Museum admission ($20 adult, $15 ages 13-19, $10 ages 4-12) Info: 480-478-6000 or mim.org

around the neighborhood

This month, we caught up with our neighbors and their best animal friends at the Phoenix Pet Expo, held April 14 and 15 at WestWorld.

1. Rebekah Marsh shows off her one-eyed cat, Samson. 2. Taylor Rogers gives Valencia some love. 3. Laurie McGarry and Sam wait in line to jump in the pool. 4. Michelle Grauer holds a beautiful parrot.

5. Pepper brings a toy back to his owner after diving into the pool.

6. Helio, a sugar glider eats a snack. 7. Sade Johnson, 13, hugs her dog, Spirit. 8. Jordan Garner and Colt check out the expo booths.

Photos by Kim Carillo

on the town

Story and photos by Becky Bracken

LAMP Pizzeria serves superstar pies with passion you can taste

Some people are lucky enough to just know in their gut exactly what they’re meant to do with their life. For Matt Pilato, half of the husband-and-wife team behind LAMP Pizzeria and Café in North Scottsdale, making great pizza was always on his mind.

“I have a passion and could not see myself doing anything else,” he says while deftly ﬂattening dough and creating pies to put in his prized woodﬁred pizza oven.

Pilato and his wife, Lindsay, both just 37-years-old and parents of two

toddlers, opened LAMP ﬁve years ago after they were sure they had the recipe for their out-of-this-world pizza down pat. To get it just right, Matt prepared and tested countless pizzas and formulas before landing on the thin crust Neo-Neapolitan-style pizza LAMP serves.

Matt explained at the beginning of the process of developing his signature recipe, he knew he needed high heat to bake the delicate dough just right. So he went online and ﬁgured out how to rig his home oven to run on the “clean”

cycle, producing 500-degree heat for his crusts.

“He almost burned the house down,” Lindsay said with a laugh. “And needless to say we don’t have that oven anymore.”

From there, Matt upgraded to a backyard wood oven and started recruiting friends to participate in pizza tastings.

“We were very scientiﬁc about it, isolating individual elements and ﬂavors,” Matt said.

Eventually, the couple found the location for LAMP, which stands for “Lindsay and Matt Pilato” and opened their doors with very little restaurant experience.

And the results speak for themselves. Once known as a North Scottsdale neighborhood gem, LAMP pizza is quickly grabbing the attention of food lovers Valley-wide. LAMP recently expanded to include a café serving Italian sandwiches just across from the pizzeria. And they need the space, Lindsay said it’s not uncommon to have hour-long waits for a table on a Wednesday night.

Go to LAMP and watch Matt make his pizza. You can, his kitchen opens onto the dining room. Just a few minutes and you’ll see he’s not just slinging dough and sauce. He’s creating balanced, ﬂavorful pies with exactly the perfect

amount of chew and crunch. e basil he pulls out to top the Margherita is luscious and huge. e Parmesan is grated by Matt right on top of the pizzas with precision. e sausage is house made and the pepperoni comes out of the wood oven perfectly crisp at the edges, with the ideal amount of juicy fat that explodes in your mouth, mingling with the delicate red sauce. Aside from the pizza, salads, sandwiches and milkshakes that will make grown men squeal with delight, you have to try LAMP’s Mignulata, a recipe from Matt’s own grandmother from Sicily. Mignulata is Sicilian bread stuffed with sausage, Pecorino and cauliflower. It’s divine. Rich, but not heavy with flavor for days. ere are other flavors available in the café for a quick lunch.

LAMP is among the best pizza in a town known for its incredible options, from Pizzeria Bianco to Oregano’s and even Cibo. But the Pilatos and their thin-crust pizzas have already made their mark and will likely set the standard for Scottsdale pizzerias for many years to come. Go taste for yourself. But be prepared for a wait, because the word’s getting out fast.

LAMP Pizzeria is located on 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Road in Scottsdale. For more information visit Lamppizza.com or call 480-292-8773.

Pilato in action making LAMP’s Neo-Neapolitan-style pizzas,

Lamp’s Mignulata.

Pepperoni pizza with piquant peppers.

Press Coffee Roasters offers speciality ‘Coffee 101’ tastings

By Becky Bracken

Peach. Pencil shavings. Peanut butter cookies. Are any of these flavors you regularly taste in your morning cup of coffee? While maybe not exactly descriptive of your mama’s Maxwell House, the experts at Press Coffee Roasters want coffee fanatics to truly experience the depth and variety of flavors in their beans. So on Saturday mornings, Press offers a “Coffee 101” tasting at Sorso Wine Bar in the Scottsdale Quarter reminiscent of the same sophisticated approach applied to wine tasting.

On a recent Saturday morning, Press Roasters’ Operations Manager Andrew Robertson didn’t just provide a thorough education on the origins of coffee and how it’s roasted and brewed to perfection, he also showed a table of coffee lovers the expert way to sample some of Press’ most popular brands. Hint: you can best taste the coffee when it’s slurped, loudly, from a spoon.

“You’ve got to get plenty of air mixed in there,” Robertson said before taking a long slurp of Brazilian coﬀee from Press, the same roast served to lucky Grand Canyon University students on campus.

“We want to taste peanut butter cookie in this one,” he added. Which, surprisingly, it did.

ink of the coﬀee at Press Coﬀee Roasters like the craft beer of the java world. Robertson explained that Press isn’t competing with Folgers or even Starbucks.

“People who buy specialty coﬀee want something really diﬀerent and special,” Robertson said.

He explained that Press represents what he calls the “third wave” of coffee. e first was mass production and marketing that brought coffee into homes. e second was the expansion of coffee shops. Press and its third-wave brews search out the very best beans from all over the world and roast them lightly to enhance and bring out their unique, complicated flavors.

Robertson also shared his own expert tips and tricks for brewing the perfect cup at home with the class.

If you’re a local coffee lover interested in learning more about Press specialty beans and brews at a Coffee 101 tasting, visit presscoffee. com.

(Special to Nearby News)

Press speciality brews ready for tasting,

By Jan D’Atri

Italian Crostoli what’s cooking?

is month, I’m honoring my momma by featuring one of her most treasured family recipes. It’s called… well, that’s the problem! How can one recipe have so many names? Enter the 20 regions of Italy. Italian crostoli are called diﬀerent things, depending upon in which region they are made. ese delightfully delicate treats are known as cartellate, frìnzele, scartagghiate,

galani, chiacchere, frappole, nastri and cenci as well as crostoli. But all across Italy, they’re the same melt-in-your-mouth strips of sweet dough made into bows and gently fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

e crostoli (from my momma’s region of the Venato) are sprinkled with a little bit of powdered sugar when fried. You will never forget the taste, texture and experience of biting into a crostoli or even dunking it in a little bit of Vin Santo!

Italian Crostoli

Ingredients:

– 4 cups ﬂour

– 1 tablespoon Crisco or similar shortening

– 2 egg yokes

– 1 whole egg

– 1/4 cup sugar

– 2 teaspoons orange extract or brandy

– 1/4 teaspoon salt

– 1 cup white wine

– 1/2 cup powdered sugar

– 2 cups lard (for frying)

– 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Directions:

Step #1: In a bowl mix the flour, sugar, lard, egg yolks, whole egg, orange extract or brandy and salt. Gradually add wine until the dough forms a firm ball and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. On a floured surface, knead dough about 5 minutes until dough is elastic but firm. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Step #2: Cut dough into four parts. Using one part at a time and covering

the other three, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. If you have a pasta machine, set on the widest setting, then keep feeding it through until dough is smooth and uniform. Turn to thinnest setting and roll out to 1/8 inch thick.

Step #3: If dough becomes sticky, gently sprinkle with ﬂour to prevent sticking. With a pastry wheel or knife, cut dough into long strips, 2-inches wide and 6-inches long. Cut a small slit down the middle of each piece of dough. You can also pinch them in the center to look like bows.

Step #4: In a deep fryer or deep pan, heat 2 cups of lard and 2 cups of oil to 350 degrees. Oil is ready when test strip of dough bubbles. Fry crostoli, a few at a time, until golden brown, about 30 seconds on each side, turning gently with tongs.

Step #5: Remove with slotted spoon or tongs and place crostoli on paper towel. When cooled, sprinkle with powder sugar.

Can be stored for weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.

(Photo Credit/Jan D’Atri)

Scottsdale Synchro team

planning Gaga-themed show

By Becky Bracken

If you think synchronized swimming is just a bunch of pool princesses paddling in a row, you might want to take another look at the sport. And on May 7, the Scottsdale Synchro team will put on a dazzling display open to the entire community that just might change how you feel about synchronized swimming forever.

Everyone is invited to watch this incredible group of athletes put on a water show unlike anything you’ve seen before at the McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. is year’s show will be a tribute to Lady Gaga and will include aerial and underwater acrobatics, artistic performances and breathtaking feats of strength and agility. e 46-member team includes swimmers ages 7 to 18.

“Synchronized swimming is both an individual and team sport,” according to coach Dawn Crichton. “Synchronized swimming is more than a physical game, it also demands the swimmers to be mentally strong.” e competitive girls on the team dedicate 20 to 30 hours each week to the pool, Crichton said. And that’s in addition to school and other outside responsibilities.

“One thing that is so amazing is that these girls never are allowed to touch the bottom of the pool,” Chrichton adds. “It’s all strength to make the lifts work. Synchro has oﬀered these

girls great life lessons. Friendships, time management, teamwork, commitment, integrity and how to be a gracious winner as well as when they experience defeat.”

Scottsdale Synchro’s Annual Water Show is on Sunday, May 7 at the McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center, 15525 N. ompson Peak Pkwy. in Scottsdale. e show starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $5.

For more information about the show or how to get your own young athlete involved in synchronized swimming, visit scottsdalesynchro. org.

(Special to Nearby News)

Scottsdale Synchro team

(Special to Nearby News)

This year’s show

2-Day Workshop for Adults

Glendale

Baby Boomers are facing a challenging new world of retirement ... and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

“WHAT

YOU DO TODAY WILL IMPACT ALL OF YOUR TOMORROWS”

Before relying on retirement advice from biased sources, learn the basics as well as the intricacies of the retirement process from trusted, reliable, unbiased retirement ﬁduciaries in an interactive, professional environment. The C.O.R.E. workshop compares the old retirement paradigms with the new by discussing up-to-date strategies for maximizing Social Security beneﬁts and Required Minimum Distributions from retirement accounts. In addition, the workshop offers in-depth information on future income tax issues, principal protection investing, Roth Conversions, account distribution issues and much more. This workshop will change the way you look at retirement!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Discover what hundreds of Valley residents have learned by attending the two-day C.O.R.E. Retirement Workshop. You will ﬁnd this acclaimed workshop relevant whether you are developing a retirement plan, nearing retirement or currently retired.

5/4 & 5/11, 6:30-9:30pm ASU SkySong SATURDAYS

5/13 & 5/20, 8:30-11:30am

BALANCED RETIREMENT INFORMATION

… not a product or investment seminar.

… you’ll never look at retirement the same way again.

… can’t believe the number of potential pitfalls this workshop uncovered.

… don’t make another retirement or ﬁnancial decision until you’ve taken this workshop.

… six hours that will change your approach to retirement.

… the best $49 investment you’ll ever make.

Chaparral High School putting on ‘Catch Me If You Can’ musical

By Nearby News Staﬀ

Join Chaparral High School’s award-winning theater department as it presents the splashy musical “Catch Me If You Can,” based on the incredible true story turned into a hit DreamWorks motion picture. is play follows a clever young con artist as he pretends to be anybody he’s

not while being chased by an equally clever FBI agent.

Sparkling, high-ﬂying 1960s musical numbers abound in this Tonynominated comic caper.

Libretto by Terrance McNally, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, “Catch Me If You Can” is presented through special arrangement with Music eatre International (MTI).

Showtime is 7 p.m. on April 20, April 21 and April 22 in Chaparral High School’s Main Stage Auditorium, 6935 E. Gold Dust Ave. in Scottsdale.

Tickets are $12 per person, $8 with student activity card.

Guests can also visit the “Duty Free” airport-style shop in the lobby during pre-show and intermission.

For tickets or information, contact Sandy Flayton at sﬂayton@susd.org.

Saguaro Scottsdale Hotel premieres stand-up paddleboard yoga

By Nearby News Staﬀ

e Saguaro Scottsdale Hotel has announced it will start oﬀering Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga every ursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Picante Pool, through September 28. Presented by Riverbound Sports Paddle Company, this class adds an extra splash of fun to ﬁtness with a refreshing combination of SUP and yoga.

Enjoy a post yoga cocktail at the poolside cantina, or an apple/carrot/

ginger or pineapple pear/mint juice from the hotel’s coﬀee bar that also features power-packed protein shakes. e cost is $45 per class and online pre-registration required. Use promo code “SaguaroGuest.”

Saguaro Hotel Scottsdale 4000 North Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480-970-4444

www.thesaguaro.com/scottsdale

events calendar

April 20,2017 - May 20,2017

Sand Sculpture Exhibit

Prepare to witness jaw-dropping sand sculptures from artist Ray Villafane, including a 30ton masterpiece featuring cute tortoises.

When: Daily

Where: Carefree Desert Gardens, 101 Easy St., Carefree

Cost: Free Info: 480-488-3686 or carefree.org

Girls Night Out at the Stadium

An evening especially for ladies 21 and older to enjoy shopping, beauty tips, health/ﬁtness information, gourmet food trucks, wine, beer and the movie “Miss Congeniality.”

When: Saturday, April 22, 5-10 p.m.

Where: Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Rd., Scottsdale

Cost: Free Info: 480-312-0205 or scottsdaleaz.gov

‘Sully’

Watch Tom Hanks’ portrayal of heroic airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who successfully made the emergency landing of Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009.

When: Tuesday, April 25, 1:30-4 p.m.

Where: Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St., Scottsdale

Cost: Free

Info: 480-312-7323 or scottsdalelibrary.org

Jon Lovitz

“Saturday Night Live” alum and distinctively voiced TV and movie actor Jon Lovitz brings his unique brand of comedy to The Showroom.

When: Friday, April 28, 8 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale

Cost: $40-$60

Info: 480-850-7777 or talkingstickresort.com

Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market

Want to spruce up your pad? Shop more than 150 local artisans and vendors offering vintage, antique and handcrafted items.

When: Friday-Sunday, April 28-30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale

Cost: $8 Saturday-Sunday, $25 early entry Saturday, $65 Friday Night VIP

Info: junkinthetrunkvintagemarket.com

Summer Concert Series

Enjoy free outdoor concerts from local bands in a range of styles. Bring blankets and chairs to relax, buy food, and ride the park’s steam engines or carousel.

When: Sundays, April 30-July 2, 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale

Cost: Free ($2 per ride)

Info: 480-312-2312 or therailroadpark.com

Electronics Recycling Day

Need to unload old or broken electronics? For one day, you can recycle computer, ofﬁce and entertainment equipment for free.

When: Saturday, May 6, 7:30 a.m.2 p.m.

Where: Scottsdale North Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador Drive, Scottsdale

Cost: Free

Info: 480-312-3111 or scottsdaleaz.gov

Wanderlust 108

Participate in this “mindful triathlon,” which features a no-pressure 5K, group yoga and group meditation, plus hooping, aerial yoga, food, games and other fun.

When: Sunday, May 7, 7:30 a.m.3:30 p.m.

Where: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 North Pima Rd., Scottsdale

Cost: $21-$49

Info: wanderlust.com

Sonoran Desert Chorale: Passage to the British Isles

From American folk hymns and spirituals to the melodies of Galway, Dublin and Edinburgh, you’ll hear the music the chorale will perform on its upcoming British tour.

When: Sunday, May 7, 3 p.m.

Where: La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 East Bell Rd., Scottsdale Cost: $20 adult, $18 children and seniors

Info: Phone or sonorandesertchorale.org

‘Arrival’

When aliens visit Earth, it’s up to a linguist (Amy Adams) and a theoretical physicist (Jeremy Renner) to make ﬁrst contact and ﬁnd out their intentions.

When: Tuesday, May 16, 1:30-4 p.m.

Where: Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St., Scottsdale

Cost: Free

Info: 480-312-7323 or scottsdalelibrary.org

Wicked Wine Run

Run a 5K and drink celebratory wine at the ﬁnish, or walk 1K with four wine tasting stops. Dress up as crazy as you want, and party afterwards with live music, food trucks and more.

When: Saturday, May 20, 3:30 p.m. gates, 5:30 p.m. run, 7 p.m. walk

Where: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale Cost: $40 for each event or $60 for both

Info: wickedwinerun.com

Scottsdale Philharmonic

Hear a packed free concert that includes Bach’s “Brandenburg Concert No. 5,” “Mendelssohn’s “Fingals Cave,” and works from Offenbach, Rossini, Suppe and Bruch.

When: Sunday, May 21, 4-6 p.m.

Where: Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 Shea Blvd., Scottsdale

Cost: Free ($10 VIP seating) Info: 480-951-6077 or www. scottsdalephilharmonic.com

business spotlight

Le Bouquet ﬂorists help you say with ﬂowers what words can’t

Story and photos by Becky Bracken

Babies, weddings, anniversaries, funerals – the ladies behind the ﬂoral shop and boutique Le Bouquet in North Scottsdale play a vital role in their neighbors’ most meaningful milestones and memorable moments.

“We think ﬂowers are the strongest non-verbal expression,” Sue Hagan said about her and business partner Libby Robinson’s approach to their business.

Both Hagan and Robinson want their ﬂowers to communicate what words can’t.

On this particular ursday afternoon, Hagan and Robinson were busy arranging blooms for clients. Purple hydrangeas and the shop’s signature green “lemonade” roses for a funeral arrangement being created on one side of the workspace by Hagan. And a bright and sunny pink, yellow and white arrangement ﬁlled out a perky design Robinson was making for a woman’s 90th birthday. While those orders were being ﬁlled, Hagan explained that earlier that day she created an arrangement in honor of a baby born just that morning. e new mom has an aversion to daisies, “So we swapped them out and made something custom just for her,” she said.

“We’re at our very best when people let us design something for them,” Robinson chimed in. “We try to nail it.”

ere’s the couple who had a New Year’s Eve anniversary party and called Le Bouquet for a showstopping centerpiece. ere’s also the regular who sends his wife ﬂowers every single week. “Sometimes he’ll just send us a text,” Hagan said.

No matter the occasion or the recipient, Le Bouquet receives fresh ﬂower deliveries daily to be ready for anything their customers can dream up.

e duo took over the established shop just a few months ago after the previous owner retired. Now they’re trying to put their own spin on the business. While they’re happy to ﬁll orders for any type of bouquet or arrangement, their specialty, both women agree, are contemporary, European-style arrangements.

“We use a lot of orchids,” Hagan said.

Of course, with Mother’s Day right around the corner, the ladies of Le Bouquet are already kicking into high gear. In addition to their floral creations, the boutique is offering a special floral and gift basket for Mother’s Day featuring an arrangement in a glass cube and assorted gifts.

people say when they ﬁrst glimpse their arrangement to give the Le Bouquet ladies a little feedback.

“ ere’s just nothing like having someone show up at your door with a ﬂower arrangement just for you,” Robinson says. Hagan adds the folks delivering ﬂowers for Le Bouquet are simply the best around and will even write down what

According to Hagan, there really is just one hard-and-fast rule of Mother’s Day ﬂowers, “Just do it,” she said. “It really is the thought that counts.”

Le Bouquet is located at 9393 N. 90th St. Call 480-991-8800 or visit lebouquetﬂoristandgifts.com for information.

Fresh ﬂ owers chilling in the cooler at Le Bouquet.

Libby Robinson prepares an arrangement for delivery.

Studio 41 opens showroom in North Scottsdale

By Nearby News Staﬀ

Studio 41 opened its ﬁrst Arizona kitchen and bath showroom in the Scottsdale area. As a Kohler premier showroom, the store oﬀers homeowners and trade professionals the opportunity to receive personalized service and hands-on experience with dozens of innovative and beautiful products.

Featuring a series of fully designed bathroom and kitchen vignettes, along with extensive displays of sinks, showerheads, tubs, toilets, vanities, and other Kohler products, the showroom is designed to stir inspiration and spark creativity for homeowners embarking on a remodel or building a new home.

“It all starts with a showroom that helps customers realize the

limitless Kohler product and design combinations,” Ryan Young, store manager at Studio 41, says. Along with interactive displays, Studio 41 boasts an experienced staff ready to provide personal consultation to help buyers realize and execute their vision. “ is new, state-of-the-art showroom is brought to life by our knowledgeable staff and variety of many product offerings,” Young says. “We also carry specialty items, and partner with local manufactures in Arizona including Linkasink, Gravity Glas and Premier Copper Products.” Studio 41 is located at 15551 N. Greenway Hayden Loop in Scottsdale.

(Special to Nearby News)

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