Gilbert author Dr. Steven Dahl has a rule when he pens books—do not include adult language and themes.
“My criteria is, ‘Can I read this out loud in front of my teenager kids without being embarrassed?’” Dahl said of his action-adventures and murder mystery novels.
Dahl’s fifth novel, “Rattlesnake,” was published in March and is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle and Nook.
The 400-page book follows a trio of Generation X biking enthusiasts who encounter a wealthy stranger, his “lady friend” and a rattlesnake. The story slithers through Colorado, the Far East and Eastern Europe.
A doctor by trade, Dahl grew up in Mesa and Gilbert. After working in the emergency room, he opened a private OB-GYN office in Mesa, where he worked for 25 years. He retired eight years ago. During his quarter-century career, he delivered about 7,000 babies.
He has also done humanitarian work, traveling to places like the Pacific Islands, Europe and Liberia.
“It is very rewarding and I can use my medical knowledge and put it to use instead of growing old and growing cobwebs,” he said.
Although his first book, “Chicken Fried Steak,” was published in 2010, he began writing in 2006.
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Looking for a purpose in life, U.S. Navy veteran Lucy Wong turned to arts and crafts after a diagnosis of scleroderma.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic hardening and tightening of the skin and collective tissues. For Wong, it makes speaking difficult because her vocal cords tighten.
Two years ago, she began attending creating arts therapy classes at the VA in Phoenix. The class helps her continue a love she found 14 years ago, when she purchased her first sewing machine. During the class, she made a “Civil War Frock Coat” from a pattern using denim and leather, blue corduroy and silver buttons.
Thanks to her hobby, Wong and the “Civil War Frock Coat” received second place in the category of Fabric Art Kit in the Art Division of the 2015 National Veterans Creative Arts Competition. Competition results were announced in late June.
“They can’t get regular government jobs because of racial profiling,” Wong recalled. “They created their own jobs and they did cleaners and people’s dirty laundry. There is no money in it. We had to live in the back area of the business.”
Wong enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1984, serving primarily during Operation Desert Storm until heading into the reserves in 1990.
“We didn’t have any money,” she said. “I thought this would be a good way to travel, get education and get some experience.”
Now on veterans disability, Wong said she can’t keep up with a job.
“It’s about ordinary people who get caught up on vacation riding their mountain bikes and get caught up in this big adventure,” he said.
“I get a lot of satisfaction out of creating it and seeing it going down in text and reading it later and saying, ‘Wow, I wrote that,’” he said.
For more information about Dahl’s books, visit www.authorstevendahl.com.
War veteran
Wong was raised behind her family’s Chinese laundromat in Los Angeles. Her parents emigrated from China after World War II to raise their seven children.
“I couldn’t manage and I didn’t know why,” she said about the days leading up to her scleroderma diagnosis. “I had gone through graduate school, led troops... through arts and crafts it didn’t make me feel like a failure.”
Gilbert resident Lucy Wong, a U.S. Navy veteran, created a Civil War coat that has moved to the next stage of the VA Creative Art Show contest. GSN photo by Kimberly Carrillo
Joe’s Farm Grill Sunday breakfasts are for the birds
BY MICHELE SONKIN
Residents from Gilbert and beyond converge on Joe’s Farm Grill to eat from a menu of freshly made items. But at 7 a.m. Sundays, patrons are joined by customers of the winged kind.
On these days—as long as the temperatures are above 60 degrees— exotic bird lovers and their feathered friends come and go.
The casual setting and open space is shaded by orange and grapefruit trees, which provide an ideal meeting spot for this group. At any given time, there can be up to 20 birds with names such as Buddy, Cricket, Romeo and Ducky.
An endless throng of curious onlookers gather and are treated to a lively show.
“We love having them here,” said Sumer Morenz, the restaurant’s general manager.
“It’s so great for the community and really embraces the whole ‘farm feel’ that we have here.”
The majority of the birds at these breakfast meetings are parrots, although there are macaws and cockatoos mixed in. These birds do well in public because they are known to be intelligent and social.
One particular bird, a 22-year-old parrot named Buddy, kisses his admirers.
“Not only is Buddy a big flirt, but he’s a registered service animal who volunteers his services with Paws to Read, an organization and helps children overcome their fear of reading aloud,” said Buddy’s owner, Dan Lee.
Buddy and his fellow service animals meet at Southeast Regional Library on the second Saturday of every month and at Perry Branch Library the third Saturday of every month.
While the birds and their owners enjoy socializing over favorites such as pancakes and scrambled eggs, this group has a message it wants to share with the community—be responsible.
The birds have life spans that can range from 30 to 80 years and require specific care. Owners often end up abandoning them. There are organizations such as AZ Exotic Bird Rescue (www.seedcrackers. org) that work to find new homes for these birds.
Joe’s Farm Grill is located at 3000 W. Ray Rd., Gilbert. For more information, call (480) 563-4745.
View more photos on page 10.
Exotic bird lovers and their special friends visit Joe’s Farm Grill for breakfasts on Sunday mornings. GSN photo by Tim Sealy
Monthly Wine Tastings
The second Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm.
A four course dinner is paired with four wines.
July’s dinner will feature food and wines from France. $30 per person
Mountains Meadow is a lifestyle and community found in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona, Show Low, Arizona. Built by local craftsmen, your new home will exceed your expectation. And at Mountains Meadow, your lifestyle and comfort are only limited by your imagination.
Mountains Meadow is an active adult community built in all the richness the White Mountains and the Mogollon Rim have to offer. The White Mountains offer a persuasive mild four season weather, unique boutiques, 2-4 star restaurants & plentiful seasonal outdoor activity, golf, fishing, clubhouse, hiking, biking, photography and more.
Our homes, with your added personal touches, provide everything you need to live an active adult lifestyle in a mild four season mountain retreat.
In the Heart of the White Moutains Recreation Area
Top of the Woods is nestled in a developed area of Sitgreaves National Forest on the Mogolon Rim. A community only a stone’s throw from the beautiful Woodland Lake Trails & Reserve.
It offers primary & second home buyers Custom homes (Build to Suit) in a community of rich forest with tall trees & abundant recreation.
The Pinetop area along with most of the White Mountains boasts of mild four season weather year round & summer temperatures of 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix. With all these advantages, why not take the time to give us a call.
Casually Elegant
Library events scheduled throughout July
Maricopa County Library District’s Southeast Regional and Perry Branch libraries offer an array of activities throughout July. Select programs are listed below.
The Perry Branch Library is located at 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert, while the Southeast Regional Library is located at 775 N. Greenfield Rd. For more information, call (602) 652-3000 or visit www.mcldaz.org.
All Maricopa County Library District libraries will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
For Adults
What are tiny houses?
7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at Southeast Regional
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Southeast Regional Participants will be able to earn their very own Superhero Certificate by showing off their superpowers in various super stations. The event is not structured and is tailored toward working at your own pace. Note: Event is for ages 3-12.
Rich Ihle’s Reptile Adventures 10:30 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at Perry Branch
Learn about the tiny house movement from Brandon Brown, a local community member who is building a tiny house. He will tell you about his experience and answer questions. Note: Registration required.
Rich Ihle, founder of Reptile Adventures, brings eight different reptiles from around the world that he has raised from babies. Participants will learn about each reptile’s habits, diets and defense mechanisms. The last reptile will be a very large python the audience will have the opportunity to touch.
Paws 2 Read
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at Perry Branch
Learn to juggle and get your superpower
7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at Southeast Regional
Enjoy a world-class juggling show and then learn the basics of it in a fun environment. Note: Registration required.
Children ages 5 and older are invited to read their favorite book to a registered therapy dog.
For Teens
Robotic Heroes: Robots-4-U dynamic arts program
Creative writing
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Perry Branch
Local author Gerri Brooks will lead a monthly creative writing workshop for beginners to advanced level writers. Note: Workshop designed for ages 18 and older. Bring a notebook to workshop each week.
For All Ages
Off the Cuff comedy improv show
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, July 13, at Perry Branch
Enjoy an interactive, family-friendly show created from audience suggestions. The event is perfect for those who enjoy comedy in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
Explore the night sky
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 20, at Southeast Regional
Learn about the universe through an educational session and observatory viewing time presented by the East Valley Astronomy Club. Note: Event is designed for beginning astronomers from ages 7 and older.
For Children Superhero Academy
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Southeast Regional Robots-4-U program will incorporate building robot kits, making art and learning the basics of S.T.E.A.M. Participants will progress at their own speed and learn new skills that include design and building of robots, engineering trade-offs, physics amongst other things. Note: Event is for ages 7-18 and registration is required.
Illustrating workshop with Al Sparrow
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at Southeast Regional
Artist Al Sparrow will give a presentation about comic illustrations, steps in creating illustrations and show off his sketchbook. Note: Registration is required.
Teen Lit Fest
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at Southeast Regional
A collection of authors, editors and illustrators will participate in panels, movies, crafts and Q & A discussions. Special guest include: Bill Konigsberg, Tom Leveen, Sharon Skinner, Ann Goldfarb, Patricia Curren, Mark Rude, Brian Augustyn, Al Sparrow, Scott Craven, Colette Black, Amy K. Nichols, Garry Rogers, Sara Fujimura, Amy Fellner Dominy, and Tawni Waters.
For Tweens
The peril of impervious surfaces (Grades 5 and 6)
10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Monday, July 13 at Perry Branch
Participants will work with hands-on experiments and in teams as they try to create an urban runoff model for stormwater. They will explore the speed and volume of storm water runoff and eventually learn the solutions needed to help prevent urban flooding and prevent stormwater pollution. Note: Designed for children in grades 5 and 6 and registration is required.
Superhero costume workshop series
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 at Southeast Regional
Build your own superhero costume in a four-week workshop series. In the first session you will create a superhero persona and make it official with an ID and holder. Session two will involve creating your own mask, headpiece or headband. Session three will involve making arm cuffs, chest symbols, medals or any other items. Finally, the last session involves making a cape to finalize the costume. Note: You do not have to attend all four sessions, but registration is required. The workshop is for ages 6-12 only.
Summertime is the perfect time for Weight Watchers
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Choosing a diet and sticking to it can often be a challenge.
In summertime, people may change their eating habits according to vacations or their children’s schedules. Weight Watchers meets nationwide with helpful tips, a proven program and support for those who want a sensible and attainable way to lose weight.
In Gilbert, Weight Watchers of Arizona leader Deb VanHouten is passionate about helping others lose weight and an example of the success of Weight Watchers.
If anyone can be an enthusiastic advocate for Weight Watchers, it’s VanHouten. “I lost 72 pounds with Weight Watchers,” says VanHouten.
VanHouten admits that several years ago she went off the program, gained her weight back and it was then that she became a devoted advocate to the Weight Watchers program.
“I lost it all again, so I’ve lost it twice now,” VanHouten said.
Her program focuses on a points-based system, allowing flexibility in what a member eats and emphasizing portion control. “The biggest thing that I learned through Weight Watchers was that I was
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eating too much food, the portions were too big,” she said. VanHouten said that she is now committed to the program permanently.
Weight Watchers assigns foods a certain number of points and with those points available daily, members can pick and choose the foods they want to eat each day based on that system. “Each person gets a food ‘budget’ and it’s based on height, weight, age and gender,” said VanHouten. “It’s all calculated out and it’s a scientific system that was developed by Weight Watchers. It’s kind of like money in the bank, you have this many points to eat and you use your points how you want.”
VanHouten weighs in and helps to process Weight Watchers participants at each weekly meeting that she conducts.
“After weigh-ins I do a half hour meeting. At the meeting I talk about various topics,” said VanHouten, who
works with the assistance of a Weight Watchers manual. “We sit down and talk about our struggles and celebrations for the week. It’s funny, because we could
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I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dena Greenawalt. The home buying process can be cumbersome, however, Dena has the skills and business acumen to make home buying routine. She not only sold our existing home in 2 days for over asking price, but was also successful in negotiating a below market price on the home we purchased. She has a can do attitude and leaves no real estate stone unturned. Working with her on 4 transactions, we’re completely satisfied with her performance. We are customers for life. Greg & Kelly G. – repeat Buyer/Seller
Honesty.
to express my sincere gratitude to Dena home buying process can be cumbersome, has the skills and business acumen to make routine. She not only sold our existing home in asking price, but was also successful in below market price on the home we purchased.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dena Greenawalt. The home buying process can be cumbersome, however, Dena has the skills and business acumen to make home buying routine. She not only sold our existing home in 2 days for over asking price, but was also successful in negotiating a below market price on the home we purchased. She has a can do attitude and leaves no real estate stone unturned. Working with her on 4 transactions, we’re completely
Realtor®
Gilbert resident and Weight Watchers leader Deb VanHouten is enthusiastic about the weight loss program that has helped her lose 72 pounds. GSN photo by Lynette Carrington
Learn, eat, live at The Cutting Board
BY KATHY KERBY
The Cutting Board Bakery and Café’s mantra is “Learn. Eat. Live.” The restaurant on Power Road, just south of Baseline Road, serves up not only great food, but workshops, live music, comedians and classes.
The restaurant, right over the Gilbert border, is a place for people who want wholesome, nutritious food. The owners, Sean and Krystal Macdonald, believe that folks who are educated about nutrition will appreciate clean, organic, vegetarian restaurants.
It’s the dream of the couple, who opened the establishment in 2013, that the public will be equally as entranced in their vision, food and passion.
and bakery items are displayed in a glass case.
I visited The Cutting Board with my husband and daughter and we enjoyed reading the very detailed menu. There are 10 breakfast options ranging from sweet potato hash to tamari tofu breakfast sandwich and ranging in price from $6 to $9. Lunch and dinner choices are categorized as bowls, salads, sandwiches,
The Cutting Board has a nice, cozy dining room with glass on three sides, a large serving counter and a sparkling clean kitchen area. Calming blues and greens are on the walls and a chalkboard lists coffees, other beverages and smoothies. A wine rack displays various local beers and wines,
wraps, soups, boards and entrees. All menu items are vegan or vegetarian and many are also gluten free. We ordered at the counter and collected our silverware and napkins from the serving area.
Katie, my daughter, chose the portabella dill burger ($11.75) and relished each crunchy, spicy, tasty bite. Layers of mushroom, fresh dill, tomato, cucumber, onion, jalapeno, pickle, sprouts and mixed greens were piled on a sprouted whole wheat bun. I have never tried a mushroom burger before and I was pleasantly surprised at all the flavors, textures and colors. The burger came with blue corn chips and salsa on the side. Lou’s Bruschetta board ($9) literally covered an entire cutting board and the house-made French bread topped with tomatoes, greens and feta was so yummy that he didn’t even miss the meat. My spinach salad ($9) was a healthy blend of spinach, chopped almonds, dried cranberries and micro greens. It was nicely garnished with feta and delicious vinaigrette, which enhanced all the flavors.
Our server, Nicole, mentioned that
we just had to order dessert since it was “bananananza” week. We sampled the banana chocolate chip cookie ($3), the peanut butter banana scone ($4) and the banana split cupcake ($3.95). We found them to be delicious.
Check out The Cutting Board Bakery and Café when craving wholesome, healthy, organic and vegetarian food.
The Cutting Board Bakery and Café 2235 S. Power Rd., Suite 116 Mesa 85209 (480) 654-8081 www.cuttingboardcafe.com
The mushroom burger was an explosion of flavors, textures and colors and the bruschetta board was massively delicious. GSN photo by Kathy Kerby
It was “banananza weeek” so each dessert was packed with tasty bananas. GSN photo by Kathy Kerby
talk about brownies for 10 minutes and how they call to us at 2 a.m. We really try to do as much with celebrations as possible because celebrations help to motivate. We also talk about what works for our members.”
VanHouten also runs at-work meetings where specific businesses have contracted with Weight Watchers and she meets with employees during a lunch hour on site at the business.
Summertime can present unique dietary challenges. “Our schedules are so different in the summer,” VanHouten said. “There are a lot of teachers and a lot of moms that have their kids at home. Things are just different.”
“In May we talked about getting ready for summer, meal planning and portioning. We do better, obviously, if we plan. If we don’t plan, it’s a food freefor-all. The temptation for the people that are home during the summer is great because they have food in their pantry and they’re home all day long.”
The Weight Watchers program gives solid strategies for eating correctly, ways to avoid food temptations and learning about the emotional or other triggers that can lead to overeating. Weight Watchers also has different payment options for members, depending on the services they want to utilize.
Gilbert resident Brad Levkowitz is part of VanHouten’s group and he has had a long history with Weight Watchers. He used to accompany his mother to her Weight Watchers meetings when he was a youngster and became familiar with
the program. “My first time doing it was in 2003,” Levkowitz said. “I had moved to the valley and from college I needed to lose 30 or 40 pounds. I lost the weight and over the time between then and now, I gained the weight back.”
Levkowitz said that he became the father of twins and he found it challenging to work out and eat properly. Based on his previous success with Weight Watchers, he decided to rejoin in February 2015. Since that time, Levkowitz has lost 23 pounds and is almost at his weight goal.
Levkowitz has enjoyed being part of VanHouten’s meetings. “I’m really big on communication and how people talk,” he said. “Deb has a really good way of communicating and getting everybody to participate in the class each week. It’s almost like a support group.”
Levkowitz said VanHouten gets people motivated each week and talks about their successes and problems. “Even though there’s a topic of conversation each week, she’ll focus more on individuals in the class and it’s not so much teaching but it’s facilitating the group and helping motivate us and get us back on track,” Levkowitz said.
There are more than 30 locations in Gilbert that hold Weight Watchers meetings, including Weight Watchers centers and other satellite locations such as Kiowa Village, Santa Fe Square, Gilbert First United Methodist Church, Power Ranch and Trailhead Athletic Club. For additional information and a complete list of meeting places and times visit www.weightwatchers.com.
