Desert Breeze: January 2016 by Times Media Group

Blowing through Warner Ranch, Stellar Airpark, Hearthstone, Twelve Oaks, Glenview Estates, Sunset Cove, Pepperwood, Carillo Ranch, Wild Tree, Park Promenade and other communities in the 85226 ZIP code.

Year in Review

From Dr. Chamberlain’s Desktop

With 2016 now upon us I thought it appropriate to share a few reviews from last year. Over 2015 we received 281 reviews. When both our offices in Chandler are combined we are the highest reviewed and highest rated Orthodontics office in the State of Arizona. Thank you to all who give us feedback. I know my staff share in my passion for inspiring hope, raising self-esteem and improving the lives of children and adults in our community. Here are a few of the reviews we received over the last 12 months:

We were there on Friday morning and as usual it was an easy in and out. Everyone is happy and they make the experience as fun as possible for the kids. Thanks! —Gulnar B.

My daughter had a great experience. The appointments were always on schedule and never ran late and the office staff was always very friendly. And of course at the end of it all, my

daughter’s teeth looked perfect! Dr . Chamberlain did an excellent job. — Julia L.

Our family has been very fortunate to have found not only a fantastic orthodontist but a wonderful office team as well. I have sent over 10 families to Chamberlain Orthodontics who have also been greatly satisfied. Our last child will be getting her braces off soon and we can’t wait to see her beautiful smile. Thank you! — Jayme C.

I love this place! Great people and non-threatening environment. They take the time to sit with my daughter and talk with her about her life and her concerns. While she is the customer, most places aren’t nearly as accommodating to the child. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Chamberlain and his office to anyone...anytime. —Joyce V.

My daughter spent the afternoon at Chamberlain Orthodontics yesterday. She has never had a better time at a doctor’s office. From start to finish the entire staff was great, immediately gaining her trust and confidence. At the beginning of the day, she was scared of the possibility of getting braces, now she’s sorta looking forward to it so she can see her friends at Chamberlain.

Dr. Chamberlain spent plenty of time with us making sure

that we understood everything involved. And even though we were ready to start treatment today, he recommended that we WAIT! That gives me all kind of trust in his opinion, that he would not make any money off of us in order to do the right thing. —Jacob H.

My daughter got her braces on last year, and is about to get them off. Our experience has been wonderful. Everyone at Chamberlain has been SO nice, friendly, and informative throughout the process!

NOW... it’s my turn. Yep - adult braces. It was a no brainer to go to Chamberlain for mine, in fact I didn’t really even consider getting them until my daughter had such great results! So far I am very pleased. Everyone is helpful, patient, and can laugh with me on this journey... LOVE CHAMBERLAIN!!! —Tori S.

In 2016 we are so excited to unveil our updated office. We have equipped it with the top of the industry i-Cat 3D technology and made impressions a thing of the past. Come experience what so many others in the community have come to appreciate. Make this the year for a positive change in your life.

Two Chandler Locations: 3800 W. Ray Road (Ray & McClintock)

1055 W. Queen Creek Rd. (Queen Creek and Alma School)

Dr. Thomas Chamberlain

Arroyo Gardens

Please

Nearby News monthly contest

President Steve T. Strickbine

Executive Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Associate Editors

Ken Abramczyk, Kenneth LaFave, Srianthi Perera

Graphic Design

Erica Odello, Paul Braun, Amy Civer, Nicole La Cour

Administration

Courtney Oldham

Contributors

Julia De Simone, Kimberly Hosey, Tamara Juarez, Jill Pertler, Alison Stanton, Laurie Struna Contact the Nearby News at (480) 348-0343 • Fax: (480) 348-2109 Editor@NearbyNews.com

Cover Photo:

Tim Sealy

community spotlight

By the City of Chandler Communications and Public Aﬀairs Department

Chandler’s Draft General Plan available for review

One year ago, Chandler initiated a community process to update the City’s General Plan. is plan helps guide and shape the City’s future as it reaches build-out and continues to mature. A draft of the updated plan is available for public review online at www.chandleraz.gov/ GPupdate and at Chandler libraries, Planning Division oﬃces and City Hall. We hope you will take a look at the Draft General Plan 2016 and provide your feedback. Comments can be submitted online via the website, emailed to david.delatorre@ chandleraz.gov, or mailed to the City’s Planning Division, c/o David De La Torre, Mail Stop 105, P. O. Box 4008, Chandler, AZ 85244-4008. Chandler has been recognized for its strong neighborhoods, diverse housing, quality employment opportunities, great schools, abundant recreation, and shopping amenities. In other words, Chandler is a well-rounded community where residents don’t just live, but build a life.

e overarching goal of the updated General Plan is to ensure that the high standard of community building set by past plans and decisions are upheld going forward. e draft plan is a reﬁnement of the previously adopted General Plan approved by voters in 2008. It provides the foundation for all City planning related to development and provides the policy framework for making decisions about how land should be used.

Citizen oversight

A 23-member Citizens Advisory Committee representing diverse interests and experiences was appointed by the City Council and has worked closely with staﬀ and Partners for Strategic Action, a community planning and design ﬁrm, to prepare the Draft General Plan. Additionally, regional agency stakeholders

participated on a Regional Resource Team and provided guidance at key process milestones.

Public involvement

Residents played an important role in developing the draft plan, providing their input and opinions on what the community should look like in the future. Citizens, landowners, oﬃcials, agencies and interested stakeholders participated in 48 public events. e public involvement process included online opportunities for comment through a project website and a variety of inperson presentations made to various organizations, groups and City commissions. Public meetings, open houses, drop-in charrettes, visioning workshops, and unique opportunities such as planning labs at the City museum and 16 presentations to elementary and high school students also were held.

Going forward, a series of public meetings have been scheduled to discuss the draft plan and obtain input from the community (see below). A Jan. 21 meeting will focus on draft policies regarding Chandler’s North Arizona Avenue growth area. Additional meetings will review major policy changes in the entire document.

Future meetings

• Tuesday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m., Environmental Education Center, Painted Desert Room 112, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd.

• ursday, Jan. 21, 1 p.m., Main Police Station, Community Room, 250 E. Chicago St. ( is meeting will focus on North Arizona Avenue)

• Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1 p.m., Desert Breeze Police Substation, Community Room, 251 N. Desert Breeze Blvd.

• Wednesday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m., Main

Downtown Library, Copper Room, 22 S. Delaware St.

A 60-day review period began Dec. 21 and will be followed by two public hearings with the Planning & Zoning Commission in March. e plan will go before the City Council for approval in April and be voted on by the public in August.

Guiding principles

e General Plan is a compilation of policies, text, graphics and maps that must be used collectively to understand how development will be managed. e plan is organized around three guiding principles and core values of equal importance that together work to implement the community’s vision for Chandler:

Strategic Community Building: Policies are identiﬁed that relate to the community’s overall development pattern and physical character. ese include policies on community placemaking, connecting people and places, growth areas, building a world-class economy, healthy Chandler, and conservation, rehabilitation and redevelopment.

Focused Stewardship

Recommendations are made to protect Chandler’s resources while continuing to create a quality community. e General Plan includes policies on conservation and environmental planning, meeting evolving energy needs, and ensuring future water resources.

Strong Community Foundation

How Chandler will develop and maintain safe, state-of-the-art physical infrastructure to support community development also is addressed. e General Plan includes policies on public services and facilities, public buildings, and ﬁnancial sustainability.

Chandler’s population growth has been slowing and will continue to slow as developable land diminishes. Today, 85 percent of Chandler’s land is already developed. As the land supply dwindles, careful attention to undeveloped land and redevelopment is critical. It is important to build on community assets, learn from the past, and make the best possible decisions about Chandler’s future. Chandler’s General Plan 2016 will guide those decisions.

Carnival of Illusion celebrates 350th performance

Carnival of Illusion celebrates its 350th milestone performance of “Magic, Mystery and Oooh La La” on Jan. 23.

“We are excited to cross this magical milestone,” said owner Roland Sarlot.

One of the few female magicians in the world, Susan Eyed, added, “We are thrilled to have such wonderful audiences returning to the show again and again bringing their friends to share the magical experience.”

Now in four locations statewide, Carnival of Illusion is Arizona’s longest-running theater show. e 350th show takes place on the Grand Stage at the Tempe Center for the Arts. For reservations visit www. carnivaloﬁllusion.com.

Find the perfect activities for your happy campers

By Kimberly Hosey

Spring and summer camps from Arizona, the Southwest and around the country will gather from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Rancho Solano Preparatory School, 9180 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale, for the 13th annual Camp Fair AZ, hosted by Raising Arizona Kids Magazine.

Parents and kids will have the opportunity to check out what the nearly 100 camps at the one-day fair have to oﬀer through activities and demonstrations, by talking to camp counselors and through informational materials.

e event aims to help parents and caregivers save time looking up dozens of camps online by oﬀering them all in one location. e fair is one day this year as opposed to previous years’ twoday events, but the venue is bigger so organizers hope to oﬀer families even more.

No matter what interests your children—or what you’d like to give them an opportunity to try—the camp fair probably has you covered.

and stage presence in programs like Arizona Broadway eatre, ASU Gammage’s Camp Broadway, Childsplay eatre Academy, School of Rock and more.

Your kids can run away to circus camp, at Circus School of Arizona’s youth camps. Kids can try out balancing, hula hooping and even beginner aerial skills under the watchful eyes of experts.

For campers who have a way with animals, organizations like Arizona Animal Welfare League, Audubon Arizona, the Phoenix Zoo and others foster a love for critters from scaly to furry while teaching proper biology and animal care. Observation, curiosity and compassion are all fostered as campers learn more about the other animals that share our world.

Carnival of Illusion’s intimate illusion show performs at the Waldorf Astoria’s Arizona Biltmore Resort, Mesa Arts Center, Tempe Center for the Arts, as well as the boutique Lodge in the Desert in Tucson. Sarlot and Eyed are the National Recipients for “Excellence in Magic” and have performed as house entertainers at the world’s top resorts, Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America. is top attraction blends its “Around the World in 80 Minutes” travel theme mixed with all the charms of a Vaudeville-inspired road show.

Tickets and show times at www. carnivaloﬁllusion.com or call (480) 359-SHOW.

If the thought camp evokes traditional tents, campﬁres and hikes are your preferred camp experience; destinations like Friendly Pines Camp in the Bradshaw Mountains near Prescott might be in their future. If you’re looking for an out-of-state splurge, overnight camps several wooded retreats throughout the country will be on oﬀer. Archery, horseback riding, swimming, kayaking, crafts, hiking and more keep campers busy and building memories.

Overnight camps with a specialized twist, like overnight weeks at Catalina Sea Camp and Astrocamp hosted by Guided Discoveries and Catalina Island Camps as well as day camps at Lowell Observatory and Sea Life Arizona, focus on a particular area of study in numerous activities designed to teach and help them fall in love with the subjects through hands-on lessons. Campers come home with an in-depth appreciation for ﬁelds like astronomy or marine biology.

Have a performer on your hands? Your star-in-training can hone their dramatic ﬂair, acting or musical talent

Learning doesn’t have to stop just because it’s summer—and it can even be fun. e Arizona Science Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, Chandler Parks and Recreation, Play-Well TEKnologies, Power Brain Training Center, Tesseract School and more make a game out of learning subjects ranging from robotics and engineering to math and geography, working in engaging activities and even things like Harry Potter and Minecraft to make lessons ﬂy by.

No matter what your family’s interests, you’ll ﬁnd lots to love at the camp fair. Day and overnight camps, as well as camps for all ages—and all budgets— will be exhibiting; with staﬀers ready to discuss how their programs help kids develop skills, make friends, change their lives or discover new passions. Outdoor and indoor activities will be available to help potential campers explore a wide range of interests

Check out the camp fair or visit www.raisingarizonakids.com/campfair, where you can view a full list of camps. Camp registration packets will be available at the fair. Popular camps fill quickly, and some camps offer exclusive offers or discounts on the day of the camp fair only. Visit www.raisingarizonakids.com/campfair to register before the camp fair and be entered into a raffle for event giveaways.

neighborhood hearsay

I ate an ostrich once. Well, an ostrich burger. It tasted like chicken. It was a one-timer. But every year, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce gives me the opportunity to celebrate the one time I consumed the big feathered fella: I’m talking about Chandler’s fabled Ostrich Festival. This year’s festival at Tumbleweed Park has been announced for March 11-13, preceded by the Festival Parade March 5. For details, go to www.ostrichfestival.com. I call your attention to this a month early because there’s still time to come up with an entry in the Ostrich Festival Parade. Deadline for application is Feb. 17. Download an application form at www.chandlerchamber. com/pages/ostrich-festival-parade. Think of the possibilities: A ﬂoat representing Chandler made entirely of actual ostrich feathers; a food truck handing out ostrich burgers to random people along the route; and my favorite, a danced re-thinking of a ballet favorite, in which “The Dying Swan” becomes “The Dying Ostrich.”

Arizona weather, oh my. On the one hand, I’ve been digging having an actual winter for a change. On the other, I can hardly wait for summer to return because I just found out that the Valley at last has...Eegees. Iced refresher of my long-ago Tucson youth, what took you so long? Apparently Jimmy & Joe’s Pizzeria at 3950 W. Ray Rd. has carried the slushy drink since last spring, but its entrance must have been low proﬁle, or I would’ve noticed it. If you have never tried an Eegees in either its lemon or strawberry manifestation, allow me to explain. You know those 110-degree days when your mouth is sand and you feel your liver start to turn to leather? That’s when you imagine a drink so cold, so wet, that a long pull on it through a straw will restore you to humanity. But everything you try disappoints. Well, Eegees is the one that comes through. The long story short is that Eegees, which started in Tucson in the 1970s and now has locations all over the Old Pueblo, made an attempt to open Phoenix and Mesa locations in the

early 1980s, but failed. So its current expansion takes the form of licensing certain Valley restaurants to carry the iced drink of the Gods, rather than opening stand-alone vendors. Jimmy and Joe’s is Chandler’s lucky licensee. I hear the weather is warming up real soon...

Speaking of Tucson, don’t even think of trying to get a job there. In a study sponsored by WalletHub, the dear old thing recently came in at 110th place among 150 communities nationwide for employment opportunities. That’s the lowest ranking of any Arizona community. Chandler on the other hand came in as the 20th best place in the country to look for employment. The only Arizona community that fared better was Scottsdale, coming in at No. 16.

Alvin Pace, who headed the art department at Chandler High School for more than 30 years, is being honored with an exhibition called “A Plethora of Platters: Ceramic Art by Alvin Pace,” at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. The show opened Jan. 12 and continues through March 6. Call (480) 782-2695 for hours. Ceramists wanting access to Pace’s decades of experience will be happy to know that he continues to teach at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

or grandbabies? Announcements? Engagements? Let us know! Email hearsay@nearbynews.com.

Ironwood collaborates with Dignity Medical to offer more cancer support

By Srianthi Perera

In a partnership with Dignity Medical Health, Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers is bringing together doctors, therapists and other resources under one roof in Chandler. e integrative cancer center will be housed at 685 S. Dobson Rd., in the vicinity of the Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center. Just opposite, at 695 S. Dobson Rd., is also an Ironwood cancer center that has been in operation for a decade. Cancer specialists from Dignity Health will see patients at the integrative cancer center starting in February.

“We’re bringing diﬀerent specialties related to oncology and a comprehensive model so our patents can be seen by several diﬀerent specialists related to oncology and comprehensive care,” said Michael Hughner, director of operations for Ironwood. “It’s easy in one place.”

Besides chemotherapy, patients will have access to social workers who run support groups for them, their family members and caregivers. Among the

New pharmacy brings high-quality service to Chandler

Good, old-fashioned, high-quality care is diminishing, but SnS Pharmacy in Chandler is providing just that, as well as house calls.

Located at the northwest corner of Dobson and Warner roads, SnS Pharmacy recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its grand opening. Vice Mayor Kevin Hartke and his fellow city councilmembers attended the event.

SnS Pharmacy is led by pharmacists Ashwin Wahray and Reddy Male, who have a combined 35 years of experience. Not only do they do house calls, but the duo will deliver medication for free.

Medication synchronization, review and disposal are free when applicable, while multivitamins for seniors and children are at no cost.

Wahray and Male create products with their custom compounding, in speciﬁc strengths not available in the market. is is matched by the broad spectrum of what their new pharmacy provides: ﬂu shots and travel immunizations, custom blister packing and veterinary medications. Matching and accepting insurance pricing of the majority of insurance companies, SnS Pharmacy has prices that are hard to beat.

For more information, call (480) 812-3725 or visit www.snsrx.com.

oﬀerings are yoga, tai chi, massage, acupuncture, a wig boutique and a wig-styling class.

Hughner said that the establishment of the integrative center became necessary because Ironwood has outgrown the services it provided at the cancer center just opposite. Besides, it also needed larger space for its research wing.

e 11,500-square-foot, threestory building on Dobson Road was built it 2013. e integrated center will be housed in a space of about 3,500-square-foot, on the first floor. e second floor hosts Ironwood’s medical oncologists.

e building, which features various architectural forms that include perforated metal sunscreens ﬂoating from the building walls, as well as various glazing shapes and upper ﬂoor balconies, has been recognized with an Architectural Excellence Award by the City.

Ironwood has 15 locations throughout the Valley, including three in Mesa, two in Chandler and one each in Gilbert and Queen Creek.

Chandler Rotary Club boosts hope of Valley Veterans

“Hooked on Healing” motorcycle ride to beneﬁt the Phoenix Chapter of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and the Arizona Stand Down Alliance is being sponsored by the San Tan Crown Rotary Club, Saturday, Feb. 27.

Registration begins 7:30 a.m. at the Chandler HarleyDavidson dealership followed by three stops before arriving at American Legion Post 35 at 3:30 p.m.

assists injured veterans with physical, mental and spiritual rehabilitation, by engaging them in the basics of ﬂy tying, rod building, casting and practical catch and release ﬁshing skills.

Ride organizers have laid out a 100-mile round trip starting with a pancake breakfast at the Chandler Harley-Davidson dealership at 6895 W. Chandler Blvd., and dinner, games, prizes and awards at American Legion Post 35 at 2240 W. Chandler Blvd. Highlights of the day include cash prizes of up to $1,000 as well as raﬄe prizes.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Arizona Stand Down is an alliance of community-based organizations that provide annual, oneto three-day events that bring together the homeless and at-risk military veterans, connecting them with services ranging from health care, mental health services, clothing, meals, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing and other services and resources. Registration is $25 per motorcycle and passenger and includes an inaugural ride patch. Raﬄe tickets are $5 for the ﬁrst 200 bikes. Info: info@ healingvets.org, www.healingvets.org, or (480) 339-0247.

Ironwood’s character building that hosts the integrative cancer center is located at 685 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler.

Pepperwood up for City’s Best Revitalization prize

By Srianthi Perera

A few decades ago, hobnobbing with neighbors was part of everyday life.

e North Chandler neighborhood of Pepperwood has evoked some of that neighborliness and connectedness of decades past.

Pepperwood is a community of 301 houses bordered by McClintock Drive to the west, North Country Club Drive to the east, West Galveston Street to the north and West Chandler Boulevard to the south. It was built in the 1980s and does not have a homeowner association.

Aside from the social connectedness, the neighborhood is also being spruced up, made safer and more appealing.

For its eﬀorts, Pepperwood has been nominated for the Best Revitalization Story award by the City of Chandler’s 2015 Neighborhood Excellence Awards.

e nomination didn’t happen by chance.

e revitalization took place with the participation of involved residents and Chandler’s Neighborhood and Community Services.

“It’s a relatively nice and quiet neighborhood,” said Eshe Pickett, a resident for ﬁve years, who, together with others, noticed that it was showing its wear.

Some residents were not maintaining their yards and weeds were popping up, some were working on their vehicles on the lawn, stray shopping carts were noticed, feral cats were roaming and gophers were active in the greenbelt.

“Primarily, they were small concerns, but concerns nonetheless,” she added.

Pickett participated in Chandler’s Neighborhood Academy, a program to help the community gain a better understanding of their roles and the importance of neighborhoods in the city.

e academy is also a prerequisite to registering the neighborhood with the city.

As an initial step, the department conducted a survey that inventoried existing conditions within the neighborhood and identiﬁed the characteristics that made it desirable

and those that impacted it negatively. en, with the City’s help, and a $1,000 grant, neighborhood leaders such as Pickett, Stacey Krueger and Debi Dorman worked with other residents to improve it.

e three residents created a newsletter which they delivered by hand to all the houses. ey encouraged people to connect with the online application called NextDoor (93 residents signed up) and to report issues via the online community service called PublicStuﬀ that allows people to notify the correct local department.

In October, the community had its ﬁrst G.A.I.N. (Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods), which is organized by Chandler Police Department to strengthen its ties with communities. It also began a BlockWatch to help neighbors stay safe by looking out for one another. en, the residents also voted on a street sign to represent Pepperwood; the sign will be installed in the coming months.

“ ey actually are more involved in the neighborhood now,” said Dorman, who has lived in her home eight years. “It’s not as involved as I’d like it to be, but it’s a start.”

Dorman had lived 20 years in Florida previously, and said that she was disappointed by the neighborhood disconnect in the Valley.

“In the places I grew up, everybody knew each other and helped each other out. If I had a doctor’s appointment, I had a neighbor who watched my kids for me. We had block parties and potlucks,” she said.

Pickett wants to establish a pet waste station and also to organize a volunteer cleanup day. She’s also planning to apply for a $5,000 grant that’s available to communities for more beautiﬁcation and development of Pepperwood.

“We’re seeing what we could do as neighbors,” she said.

e public may vote for the best revitalization through Jan. 22 at www. chandleraz.gov/connect.

50 to 70

REGISTRATION

FORM

I WILL ATTEND:

REGISTRATION

LEARN HOW TO:

• Determine what it will take to retire and if you have enough

• Act to protect your assets from rising taxes

• Maximize your Social Security income

• Avoid costly retirement distribution mistakes

• Analyze whether a Roth conversion is right for you

• How to minimize or eliminate dreaded

Required Minimum Distributions

• Expect the unexpected…and be prepared

FEE: $49 (advance registration required)

Saturday Workshop (Jan. 23rd & Jan. 30th)

Tuesday Workshop (Jan. 26th & Feb. 2nd)

Wednesday Workshop (Feb. 10th & Feb. 17th)

Saturday Workshop (Feb. 20th & Feb. 27th)

Your Name:

Your Address:

City, State, Zip:

Email Address:*

Phone Number:*

I am bringing my spouse/guest at no additional charge. Registration fee includes one workbook. Name of spouse/guest: ______________________________________________________

SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

9000 E Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale 85256

Saturday Workshop

January 23rd & January 30th

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Building SB – Room 184

-Mark Twain

THREE EASY WAYS TO REGISTER

1 Online Reservations: www.myretirementclass.com

2 Complete the registration form and mail with your check made payable to Adult Education Programs

Mailing Address: Adult Education Programs 14300 N. Northsight Blvd., Suite 122 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

3 Call 480.448.6271 with questions or to register. *For conﬁrmation

Each workshop consists of two sessions. Workshops held at:

ASU SKY SONG 1475 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale 85257

Tuesday Workshop

January 26th & February 2nd

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Sky Song Building 1, Discovery Room 349

SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 9000 E Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale 85256 Wednesday Workshop

ASU SKY SONG 1475 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale 85257

Saturday Workshop

February 20th & February 27th 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Sky Song Building 1, Discovery Room 349

February 10th & February 17th 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM Building SB – Room 184 Workshop sizes are limited so register today! Advance registration is required.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP

Whether you are developing a retirement plan, nearing retirement or have recently retired, you’ll gain access to the latest strategies that help you build, protect and transfer your hard-earned nest egg. We begin by assessing your current ﬁnancial situation. How can you get to your desired destination without knowing where you are starting? Then we devise a personalized plan to detail all the steps necessary to achieve your retirement objective.

A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE

If you take your ﬁnancial signals from the media or websites sponsored by brokerages, you may not be seeing the

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

true retirement landscape. By contrast, this workshop is designed by a trusted, local and unbiased source to provide you ﬁnancial education while pointing out any new dangers that can sidetrack retirees in today’s complex ﬁnancial world.

BALANCED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

There’s a difference between taking your ﬁnancial cues from media outlets and learning the basics of retirement planning from a trusted, reliable, unbiased source. This workshop is designed to give you an exhaustive and comprehensive view of ﬁnancial education while uncovering the many new pitfalls that threaten to derail many retirees in the 21st century.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

RETIRING IN TODAYS ECONOMY

• The new retirement paradigm

• How to put your retirement into sharper focus

• Creating a retirement gameplan

• Moving effectively from one stage to the next

MANAGING THE RISK OF TAX RATE HIKES

• How to eliminate Social Security taxation

• Latest Social Security maximization strategies

AVOIDING DISTRIBUTION DANGERS IN RETIREMENT

• “Rate of Withdrawal” rules have changed

• How to ensure you won’t run out of money in retirement

Your instructors are Garry Madaline and John Kieber, the Valley’s premier retirement consultants. Garry and John are the creators and exclusive providers of the C.O.R.E. system.

PROVIDED IN THIS COURSE

UNBIASED APPROACH

Instead of focusing on a specific strategy or topic, this course takes a more comprehensive view of your retirement. This broad-based approach lays a foundation for proactive planning in an updated, 21st century context. Because of the educational nature of the workshop, no specific financial products are presented or discussed.

AN INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM SETTING

This course is taught by a nationwide network of instructors. These instructors are ﬁnancial professionals from your community who bring to their workshops years of experience and knowledge from their careers in personal ﬁnance. They often supplement their presentation with real life stories and experiences to help personalize the principles and strategies taught in their workshops. This personal and interactive approach to the material helps make the educational process both practical and informative.

THE CHANGING WORLD OF RETIREMENT PLANNING™ WORKBOOKS

two-volume set of workbooks.

As part of this course, you will receive a two volume set of workbooks that provides examples and illustrations designed to reinforce the concepts taught in the workshop. These workbooks help you follow along during the presentation and give you a step-by-step process to help implement the knowledge you obtain during the course.

OPTIONAL ONE-ON-ONE STRATEGY SESSION

If you have questions on how the principles you learned in this workshop apply speciﬁcally to your ﬁnancial situation, you may arrange for a private strategy session with your instructor after the conclusion of the course. The strategy session is complimentary for all attendees but is not required.

• Who is warning that tax rates could double?

• The impact of rising taxes on retirement cash ﬂow

• The Good News and Bad News affecting 401(k)s and IRAs

• Where did those deductions go? How your taxes change in retirement

STRATEGIES TO CREATE AN EFFICIENT RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION PLAN

• 3 basic retirement accounts and when to use each

• Tax-deferred or tax-advantaged accounts

• When an investment is truly “tax-advantaged”

• The ideal timing of a Roth conversion

• When IRAs and 401(k)s trigger Social Security taxation

• Strategies to reduce or eliminate taxes in retirement

SOCIAL SECURITY MAXIMIZATION

• The world of Social Security is changing dramatically in 2016

• Triggers of Social Security taxation

• Understanding today’s Social Security thresholds

• How to liquidate your retirement assets in the right order

• How to protect against “sequence of returns” risk

• How to minimize or eliminate dreaded Required Minimum Distributions

HEDGING AGAINST MARKET LOSS

• The impact of dramatic market loss in retirement

• Is “buy and hold” appropriate in retirement?

• How to protect against the two types of investment risk

• How to protect your assets from stock market volatility

• Why “asset allocation” alone may not be enough

• How to truly diversify your retirement portfolio

PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE

• How a long-term care event may affect your retirement

• Medicaid spend-down rules

• Community spouse rules

• The four common alternatives to pay for long-term care

• Recent innovations in longterm care planning

For additional workshop dates, locations, more information, or to register online please visit: www.myretirementclass.com

By Alison Stanton

East Valley Moms

Almost eight years ago, Andrew Paulo decided to sign his young son, Drew, up for sports.

In addition to wanting his son to get involved with sports, Paulo said he also hoped Drew would learn the value of good sportsmanship.

After hearing about i9 Sports, Paulo said he knew he found exactly the type of sports program for which he was looking.

Over the years, Drew, now 11, has played baseball and ﬂag football through i9 Sports. Drew’s little brother, Jayson, 8, is also involved with the program.

“I’ve also coached basketball and ﬂag football every year my sons have played,” Paulo said.

Kim Olsen, executive director for i9 Sports Chandler/Gilbert/Queen Creek, said the recreation youth sports league franchise opened in October 2007.

“We started with ﬂag football and cheer and we added basketball and soccer in 2009, and then T-ball and coach pitch baseball in 2011,” Olsen said.

i9 operates ﬁve seasons per year. More than 6,000 kids participate annually in the sports league, Olsen said, and i9 Sports oﬀers programs for boys and girls from 3 years old through seventh grade.

“We are the fastest-growing youth sports league,” she said.

Olsen said ﬁve core principles help to set i9 Sports apart from other youth sports leagues.

“ e ﬁrst is fun. Our No. 1 focus is for the kids to have fun,” Olsen said. Second, she said, is i9 Sports’ focus on inclusivity.

“We oﬀer equal playing time so all kids play,” she said.

e third core principle, Olsen said, is safety.

“Coaches are background checked and rules are made to protect everyone,” she said.

Next—just as Paulo had hoped—participants of all ages are taught about good sportsmanship.

“We teach the kids what good sportsmanship is and lessons that they can take with them and use in everyday life,” Olsen said.

“We do this by having our coaches teach their team diﬀerent sportsmanship values each week. en the player who demonstrated that value during the game is given a sportsmanship medal.”

Finally, Olsen said i9 Sports teaches kids that winning is not everything.

“So many other leagues have a win at all costs mentality and that’s not what we are all about,” she said.

“Winning is fun, but it shouldn’t be the priority. Kids just want to have fun. Playing sports should be about learning the game and having fun while doing it and i9 Sports oﬀers that.”

Olsen said it’s not uncommon to have families like the Paulos return and enroll more than one child in their programs.

“Because we are oﬀering multiple sports, we can cater to an entire family,” Olsen said.

“We also appreciate our coaches.

eir hard work, dedication, and commitment to support the i9 Sports philosophy is what makes us so successful.”

As a parent and coach, Paulo said he is impressed with how organized the program is, and Olsen’s commitment to the kids.

“It’s really organized and Kim makes sure everything is very convenient and will organize games together so that both boys can play,” he said.

“Kim is amazing and always works with our schedules and answers all of our questions.”

Paulo said he also appreciates not having to drive Drew and Jayson long distances for their games.

“In a lot of other leagues you have to travel, but i9 is very central,” he said.

e emphasis on equal playing time is also important, Paulo said.

“No other sports leagues do this. When I’m coaching, I have to set the lineups before the game so that everyone plays equally,” he said.

“Kids that have not played sports as much as others are doing much better at the end of the season than in other leagues, where they wouldn’t play as much.”

Paulo said both Drew and Jayson look forward to their games.

“It’s been a good experience and the kids love it. For anybody who wants to start out with sports with their kids, i9 Sports is great,” he said.

For more information about i9 Sports, call (480) 664-4039 or visit www.i9sports.com.

i9 Sports Chandler/Gilbert/Queen Creek is a recreation youth sports league that offers a variety of children’s programs. i9 Sports emphasizes the importance of good sportsmanship and having fun while playing.

Skyline High School to host SciTech Expo

By Laurie Struna Photos by Tim Hacker

Teachers and students from Mesa Public Schools are fastidiously preparing for the fourth annual SciTech Expo, Full STEAM Ahead, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Skyline High School.

e Mesa Public Schools Expo is a signature event of the Arizona SciTech Festival and part of a statewide celebration of science technology, engineering, arts and math, or STEAM.

Each year Mesa educators anticipate the exhibition and how it impacts lives. e events are designed to entertain and inform spectators of all ages by immersing them in exploration and discovery with hands-on exhibitions, such as ﬂight simulations and pop art rockets, computer science coding opportunities First LEGO League displays and science fair projects.

“STEAM is the keystone to evolving the workforce in Arizona,” said Sean Enright, director of curriculum.

Students are encouraged to explore career opportunities in the sciences because they have a profound eﬀect on job creation and Arizona’s economy. New businesses and industries looking to move to Mesa want to know that a workforce is being cultivated.

“Communication, critical thinking, and technical and collaborative skills are what STEAM education provides students,” said Colleen Howard, K-6 STEAM coordinator.

“It better prepares them for success in future job markets. Can you imagine life as a toy engineer, digital animator or music data journalist?

How about a sports statistician, crime scene investigator or LEGOLAND designer? ese are the jobs of the 21st century.”

For more information about this family-friendly event, visit www. mpsaz.org/ssrc/scitech-expo.

ArizonaAthleticsSting

Save the date: February 20, 2016

Arizona Sting Athletics is announcing tryouts for our HS Divisions

AZ Sting Athletics Boys 15u-17u

AZ Bluestar Girls 15u-17u

Tryouts held at: Kiwanis Parks and Recreation 6111 S. All American Parkway Tempe, AZ

Exact session times will be posted on our website www.azstingathletics.com

To register, please go to the website and click the Tryout Registration link on the home page

Please contact CoachAlonzo@azstingathletics.com for questions.

It’s more than teaching. It’s inspiring a passion to learn.

What makes an outstanding kindergarten program? We believe it starts with outstanding teachers. Teachers who genuinely care about each and every student. Teachers who communicate not just with children but with parents. And teachers whose enthusiasm truly makes the classroom come alive. Begin your child’s love of learning in a Tempe Elementary kindergarten class.

Registration for the 2016-2017 school year begins Thursday, January 14, 2016 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. at all elementary schools except Ward Traditional Academy. Registration at Ward Traditional Academy begins at 9 a.m. on January 14.

around the neighborhood

Family Night at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center in January brought kids and parents together for a night of crafting. The “Totally Tie Dye” theme made for colorful creations and some tasty ones with tie-dye icing on cupcakes for everyone. Photos by Tim Sealy

1. Alina Buckman bites into her tasty creation. 2. Giovanni Eisel clearly enjoys his artistic endeavor. 3. Cian Toland gets into position for the yarn table. 4. Parker, Lexie and Jeff Hayden show off what they made. 5. Avery, Troy and Amy Satre enjoy the coloring station. 6. Jalyn Ha puts tie dye icing on her cupcake. 7. McKenna and Maeve Toland visited each station and left with some cool creations. 8. Sophia Flores looks for inspiration. 9. Benjamin Buckman goes right for the colorful icing. 10. Jayden Villagran proudly shows off his icing mustache.

10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

top 10 family events

Jan. 20-Feb. 20, 2016

1 Library Comicon 2016

Fans of Marvel, DC, “Star Wars,” “Dr. Who” and even “Star Trek” are invited to gather at the Tempe Public Library in costume for a celebration of pop culture.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe COST: Free

INFO: (480) 350-5500 or www.tempe.gov/comicon

2 Tunnels, Tikes and Tunes

Children can have fun crawling through a maze of tunnels in a special play area intended for children ages 5 and younger.

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 22, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

WHERE: Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler COST: Nominal registration fee INFO: (480) 782-2900 or www.chandleraz.gov

3 Childsplay: PerÔ, Or the Mysteries of the Night

The adventure of PerÔ, the baker, and Columbina, the washer woman, is a visually stunning experience for audiences of all ages.

WHEN: Weekends Sunday, Jan 24, through Sunday, Feb. 7, various times WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe COST: $12 to $25 INFO: (480) 350-2822 or www.childsplayaz.org

4 Daddy Boot Camp

Dads, expectant dads, grandfathers, stepdads, uncles and other father ﬁgures can enjoy spending time with the kids in this interactive, social and educational program.

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Public Library, Storytime Room, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe COST: Free; registration required INFO: (480) 350-5500 or www.tempe.gov

5 Wonderful Winter Wanderers: A Winter Fantasy Camp

Spend the morning with friends at Winter Fantasy Camp. Dance, sing, play games and dress up. Make morning camp a blast.

WHEN: Saturdays Jan. 23 and Jan. 30, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler

COST: Nominal registration fee

INFO: (480) 782-2727 or www.chandleraz.gov

6 Preschool Storytime

Join the group for fun preschool storytimes that help prepare children for kindergarten.

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Tempe Public Library, Storytime Room, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe COST: Call for cost INFO: (480) 350-5500 or www.tempe.gov

7 Be My Valentine

Learn how to make colorful Valentine Day cards using fun papercutting techniques and stamping products.

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler COST: Nominal registration fee INFO: (480) 782-2900 or www.chandleraz.gov.

8 Daddy Daughter Dance

Fathers and daughters can dance the night away during this onenight class that teaches all the latest moves to a variety of music.

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler COST: Nominal registration fee INFO: (480) 782-2727 or www.chandleraz.gov.

9 Outdoor Pizza Party

Cook pizzas in Dutch ovens then enjoy a movie with friends and family.

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler COST: Nominal registration fee INFO: (480) 782-2890 or www.chandleraz.gov

10 Game On!

Teens—relax with your peers for two hours of afterschool gaming fun.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Public Library, Storytime Room, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe COST: Free INFO: (480) 350-5500 or www.tempe.gov

slices of life

By Jill Pertler

The really big sugar crystal project

Every parent has experienced the phenomenon. Your child is given an assignment on the ﬁrst day of class. It is no normal assignment, but one that requires ongoing work throughout the coming weeks or months. It is the Really Big School Project.

Really big projects might involve science, geography, math or English literature, but they all start out the same: with a worksheet detailing the details of the assignment. is includes research requirements, data collection, final format and due date, the latter of which seems very far off until unexpectedly your child finds him or herself with three days to meet said due date and it is crunch time.

Responsible parents (which obviously includes all of us) wouldn’t ignore the due date save for one thing. e assignment worksheet never makes it to the kitchen table. is precious and

important paper that your child was tasked to diligently carry home on the first day of school sits in a crumpled state at the bottom of a backpack or on the floorboards of the backseat of the minivan until it inexplicably makes its way into the laundry pile. Whether you find it before or after the wash cycle is entirely up to luck.

In addition to procrastination, really big projects often require poster board and parental participation, which comes after the procrastination threatens a C-minus and parents can no longer ignore the obvious. e work must somehow get done and the assignment becomes a really big family project requiring parental prodding and supervision.

is leads to the thing I like best about really big projects: the amount of learning that takes place. Sometimes the knowledge even rubs oﬀ on the student.

We’ve muddled through our fair share of big projects. My kids have mapped out the entire planet, created a timeline of the history of the world, grown tadpoles, mold and Monarchs (butterﬂies, not royalty). Our experience with big projects is vaster than the projects themselves. Right now, we are growing sugar crystals. Or, I guess I should say we are attempting the task. We haven’t yet had so much as a sprout. I doubt we will.

I should have seen this coming. is isn’t my first sugar crystal dog and pony show. I’ve been through eighth grade science a time or two (or five, but who’s counting?) and I’ve witnessed more than a couple crystal flops. I was tempted to tell my son this a couple of weekends ago as he stirred his sugar water concoction on the stove and chattered about the assignment.

“My teacher said it’s easy to grow crystals,” he said. “Only one or two in our whole class won’t get them.”

“Prepare to be part of the minority,” I wanted to say out loud. “Failure is most likely in your future.” I mouthed the words silently because a good mom never discourages enthusiasm about school projects.

Still, if the glass is half empty you might as well call it like you see it. Over the years I’ve spent months peering into sugar-water-ﬁlled jars looking for any hint of crystals and I’ve yet to see a single grain. Our formations have been as scarce as an A-plus on a failed science experiment and our inadequacies are crystal clear—to me, at least.

My son, however, remains optimistic. His glass is half-full, albeit not with crystals. And, although his progress may be lacking, he knows it’s important to complete the really big project with due diligence—crystals or not. He is photographing his water a few times a week to document the lack of any activity or formations. He is writing notes about his crystal deﬁciencies. He is holding out—with a hope reserved for 13 year olds—that his crystals will grow.

And who knows? Maybe they will. I hope they do. I sure do.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.

By Erica Odello

Glowing Valentine Bottles

Every now and then, as a dedicated Pinterest addict, I look through my pins and realize that I can combine a few small ideas into a bigger project—one that I haven’t seen pass through my feed before. I really miss the warm glow of Christmas lights and I’ve been looking for an excuse to do some decoupage bottles. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seems that these projects were made to be mashed into one! You will need: Glass bottles, One 35-light LED string per bottle, Mod Podge Electric drill, 1” diameter diamond drill bit, tissue paper and scissors, paint brush.

Step 5: Display

Step 4: Let there be light

Flip the bottle upside down and carefully insert the string lights into the container, leaving the female and male plugs outside for easy use. I also used a knitting needle inserted into the top of the bottle to pull some lights up into the neck.

When all of your bottles are full of lights, arrange them. With a little creative use of two sheets of tissue paper, I was able to easily hide the plugs and arrange the bottles on my mantle. ey could also work on an entry or coﬀee table or even as a centerpiece with a table runner to cover the wires. I really like a project that gives me a lot of options.

Step 1: Put a hole in a bottle e hardest part of this project is cutting a hole in the lower half of a glass bottle to make room for the string lights. After a lot of trial and error, I have found that steadying my bottle in a corner of my kitchen sink with a trickle of water running over the cutting area while I gently drill is the best way to cut a hole in a glass bottle without the whole thing falling to pieces. e water keeps friction down along with glass dust which is something nobody should be inhaling. Make sure to wear gloves and protective eyewear when you’re at the cutting stage.

Step 2: Cut the tissue

I intended to have a diﬀused glow in my bottles so I cut white tissue into squares for the base color. I then cut colored tissue into hearts of varying sizes for use. Upon completion, I noticed that the lavender hearts didn’t show up too well. Deﬁnitely use bright colors for the hearts and stay away from pastels.

Step 3: Gluing

Starting at the top of your bottle, use your paintbrush to apply Mod Podge to a large area of the glass and then apply your base tissue directly onto the wet adhesive. Repeat until you have a layer of tissue covering the entire bottle, making sure to apply more Mod Podge to areas where the tissue overlaps. Next, spread a thin layer of Mod Podge over a ﬂat surface and dip a heart in, just enough to wet the back, and then apply it to the bottle. Repeat with diﬀerent colors and sizes until you’ve covered as much of the bottle as intended. Go back over the entire bottle with one more layer of Mod Podge to seal the tissue. Set aside to dry.

This custom USB drive will provide you with informative videos, fertility treatment options, pregnancy success rates, and other valuable information to help you get started on your journey to achieve your dream of having a baby. The Fertility Treatment Center has been a leader in reproductive medicine for over 25 years. Go to fertilitytreatmentcenter.com/key to receive the “Key to Getting Pregnant”, free of charge.

Fertility Treatment Center...Turning Patients into Parents.

H Randall Craig, MD Board Certiﬁed in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

In the ASU Research Park 2155 E. Conference Drive, Suite 115, Tempe, AZ 85284 480.831.2445

www.fertilitytreatmentcenter.com

What’s Cooking?

By Jan D’Atri

Turkey and Spinach Sautéed in Phyllo Dough and Parmesan Spinach Balls

He wasn’t handsome. He had no muscular deﬁnition except for those bulging forearms. But Popeye had a secret weapon that impressed me a child.

“I’m strong to the ﬁnish, ‘cause I eats me spinach, I’m Popeye the Sailor Man!” (Toot! Toot!)

Sorry Popeye, I’ve never been much of a spinach gal. (“I yam what I yam and that’s what I yam.”) But

I have come across a few spinach recipes that, as Popeye would say, “blow me down!” Turkey and Spinach Sautéed in Phyllo Dough is one of my favorite go-to recipes for a hearty and healthful meal, and the Parmesan Spinach Balls are a fantastic appetizer for any occasion. If your goal for 2016 is to be strong to the ﬁnish with more spinach, these dishes will help get you there.

“Our daughter has thrived in kindergarten at Kyrene. She has been challenged academically and nurtured socially by expert, caring, and professional sta . She looks forward to school every day with eager anticipation. ”

-Abbey Green, Kyrene Mom, Entrepreneur

Kindergarten Orientation January 21, 6:30 p.m. at all Kyrene Elementary Schools www.kyrene.org 480-541-1000

Turkey and Spinach sautéed in Phyllo Dough

4 tablespoons olive oil or butter

1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped ﬁne

3 cloves of garlic, chopped ﬁne

1 package (approx 1 1/4 lb.) ground turkey

2-3 large fresh mushrooms, shaved or grated

1 (8oz) package frozen spinach, drained well

1/4 cup pine nuts, chopped ﬁne

1 egg

salt and pepper to taste

Sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar

12 sheets phyllo dough, thawed

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small dry skillet, toast pine nuts until golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Do not burn. In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic in oil or butter until soft and translucent. Add ground turkey and cook for

about 5 minutes or until no longer pink. Shave or grate mushroom into turkey and mix well. Chop pine nuts fine and stir to incorporate. Add drained spinach and egg mixing quickly to incorporate egg before the whites form. Add salt and pepper to taste. For added flavor, sprinkle a splash (about 2 teaspoons) of sherry or red wine vinegar in the mixture and stir. On a parchment-lined baking sheet the size of the parchment paper, lay out one sheet at a time, brushing each layer with melted butter. Spoon turkey mixture in the center of the phyllo dough layers. Fold short ends over the filling and brush with butter. Fold one long end over to cover filling, then roll to hide the seam. Brush with butter. Bake for about minutes or until golden brown. Serves 4.

Parmesan Spinach Balls

2 (10 ounces each) packages of frozen spinach (chopped)

2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese (grated)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 medium sweet yellow onion (ﬁnely chopped)

1/4 cup marsala, sherry or any white wine (not too dry)

4 eggs (lightly beaten)

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, sauté onions in two tablespoons of the 1/2 cup of butter until onions are soft and translucent. Add wine and spinach, and cook until the liquid has evaporated. Cool down.

In a bowl, combine cooled spinach mixture, breadcrumbs, cheese, remainder of the butter, eggs, salt and pepper. Roll and shape mixture into 1inch balls. Arrange the balls in a single layer on a large baking

sheet lined with parchment paper. (If no parchment paper is available, use slightly greased nonstick baking sheet.)

Bake spinach balls for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. ey will hold their shape and may stick slightly to the parchment paper. Serve warm with Dijon or any specialty mustard. ese Parmesan Spinach Balls are also delicious in a red sauce like marinara or bolognese.

on the town

By Julia De Simone

Floridino’s Pizza and Pasta

Just like the ﬁctional and iconic Cheers Bar, Floridino’s Pizza and Pasta is that place “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.”

is year the popular and very real Chandler establishment will mark its 20th anniversary of making pizza, pasta and memories.

“Even though we’ve grown, it (still) feels like a mom and pop shop,” said State Rep. Jeﬀ Weninger, co-owner.

Weninger, who got his start in the restaurant business at age 14 busing tables in Kansas, said the secret to the success of Floridino’s is a tripod of quality food, service and value.

“You can be successful with only two [of those elements] but if you have all three, it’s a blessing,” he said.

“We know our regulars’ names. Lack of better terms, it’s somewhat of a family here. It’s that neighborhood joint where everyone goes. It’s a huge network of people getting up and talking to one another and where ‘this table knows this table.’”

Menu items also include the “pizza muﬃns,” oven-baked sandwiches, salads, calzones and famous desserts such as the Sicilian sundae.

Incentives such as lunch specials during the week, senior nights, family specials and other promotions at reasonable prices continue to lure customers.

“You get a lot of food for an incredible price,” Weninger said.

Besides Weninger and co-owner Shaun Kelley, 50 part- and full-time staﬀ have been serving Chandler residents since Floridino’s opened its doors in 1996.

“We have incredible staﬀ. Our wait staﬀ are very personable,” Weninger said. “We kind of got ingrained with people in Chandler, their kids and their families,”

But it’s not all about the food for Floridino’s; it’s also about the philanthropy.

“I think it’s smart to just better your community. Anything we can do that’s community driven and make it easier [for others], we try and do as much as we can,” Weninger said.

Floridino’s is marking its 20th anniversary of making pizza, pasta and memories.

When Floridino’s opened, its owners did so with the intention of establishing a neighborhood restaurant supportive of the community who frequents it. In addition to donating food, funds, gift certiﬁcates and utilization of their restaurant to house fundraisers, Weninger and Kelley are big supporters of Local First AZ (LFA). LFA is a statewide nonproﬁt organization strengthening communities and their economies by growing, supporting and celebrating locally owned Arizona businesses.

In addition to a banquet room that accommodates 60 people, future dreams include expanding the kitchen, building a patio, adding to the beer and wine menu options and possibly franchising the business.

“We don’t ever take it for granted. Every day we ask ourselves, ‘How can we better serve our customers?’ We’re doing well because of the great Chandler community coming. We’re blessed, and we know we’re blessed,” Weninger said.

590 N. Alma School Rd. Chandler 85224 (480) 812-8433

Floridino’s owner credits their success to their tripod of quality food, service and value.

events calendar

Jan. 20-Feb. 20, 2016

Burton Cummings

Cummings wrote or sang many of the classics for the Guess Who, including “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “No Time” and “Laughing” and had a solo hit with “Stand Tall.”

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m.

WHERE: Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler COST: $33 to $83

INFO: www.wingilariver.com or (800) 946-4452

Moscow Festival Ballet ‘Don Quixote’

This ballet was founded in 1989 to bring together the highest classical elements of the great Bolshoi and Kirov ballet companies in an independent new company within the framework of Russian classic ballet.

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $38 to $58, students and children $17 to $25

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

Fiesta Mexico-Americana with Los Lobos

The Mexican-American experience is highlighted through song, dance, music and ﬁlm highlighting the achievements and contributions of Mexican-Americans throughout U.S. history.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $42 to $62

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

Chandler Symphony Classical Series

250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $38

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

Chandler Sports Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony and Luncheon

Honoring the athletes, coaches and teams that have brought recognition to Chandler through athletic achievements.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb.13, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler COST: $80 to $199 INFO: www.wingilariver.com or (800) 946-4452

The Summit—The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6

Deana Martin: Honoring Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra

This show is a combination of musical treasures intertwined with personal reﬂections and private recollections from a lady who grew up having a family-like relationship with the people to whom she is paying tribute.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $38 to $58

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

Norm Macdonald and Kevin Nealon

You remember these two for their stints as news anchors and comedic skits on “Saturday Night Live.” Macdonald also appeared in “The Norm Show” and wrote for “Roseanne.” Nealon was part of the “Hans and Franz” duo on SNL and earned an Emmy nomination for his writing on that show.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 23, at 8 p.m.

WHERE: Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler COST: $36 to $86

INFO: www.wingilariver.com or (800) 946-4452

Music director Jack Herriman and associate conductor Alex Zheng lead volunteer musicians from all over the Valley in this “Winter Romance” concert.

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: Free; suggested donations are $15 for family, $10 adult and $5 a child.

INFO: www.chandlersymphony.com or (480) 899-3447

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra

Tight harmonies and high-octane ukulele solos in enchanting, and sometimes hilarious, versions of modern and traditional tunes we all know and love.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $28 to $44

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

The Tap Factory

Choreographer and artistic director Vincent Pausanias wanted to create a show that would showcase the magic of tap at the highest possible technical level using world-renowned tappers.

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts,

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $15

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

Smokey Robinson

Enjoy the weekend of Valentine’s Day with the sweet, soulful sounds of ‘60s Motown legend Smokey Robinson. Robinson voice graced the airwaves with such hits as “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Tears of a Clown” and “I Second That Emotion” and later, in 1981, “Being With You.”

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m.

Combining forces for the ﬁrst time, the Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, two of the most acclaimed, awardwinning vocal groups in pop group, create an unforgettable concert event that will thrill audiences of all ages. WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $48 to $68

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/ events or (480) 782-2680

Lorie Line

This tour is Lorie Line’s ﬁrst solo piano in her 26-year career. She will be playing favorites and telling stories.

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $54

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/ events or (480) 782-2680

Frankie Avalon

With a string of gold record millionselling singles and albums, Avalon’s music became one of the deﬁning sounds of pre-Beatles rock ‘n’ roll. Ticket holders also can buy tickets for a rafﬂe at 6:30 p.m. for prizes.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler COST: $42 to $62

INFO: www.chandlercenter.org/events or (480) 782-2680

DEANA MARTIN

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra

SMOKEY ROBINSON

Stirling returns home for Tempe book signing

By Tamara Juarez

Infectious electronic beats, carefree dancing and a violin. It’s not the usual recipe for success, but for Lindsey Stirling, it was enough to propel her onto the global spotlight.

Since her online debut in 2007, the dubstep violinist from Gilbert has enjoyed two charttopping albums, soldout tours worldwide and numerous musical awards. With more than 7 million subscribers and 1 billion views on her YouTube channel, Stirling’s unprecedented success can only be described as a tour-deforce as she prepares to record her third album and celebrates the release of her ﬁrst book, “ e Only Pirate at the Party.”

hoping that someone who is wants to chase their dream will have the courage to do so and realize that there will be a lot of ups and down, and that it’s just part of the process.”

After being rejected by countless music reps and on national television during 2010’s “America’s Got Talent,” Stirling launched her career using social media, which many claimed would end in another failure. Fortunately, with the inﬁnite support of friends, family and countless fans, Stirling was able to reach her goals.

e 29-year-old musician, named one of Forbes magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Music, is returning to the Valley to sign copies of her memoir at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Wednesday, Jan. 20, and to xshare stories of her unconventional rise to fame, quirky adolescence and struggles as a young artist with mental illness.

“‘ e Only Pirate at the Party’ is the story of how I turned into the person I am.” said Stirling. “It has everything from very humorous and fun childhood stories to deeper things, such as how I learned I had an eating disorder, and how I overcame anorexia and depression”

Despite her tremendous achievements, Stirling credits most of her strength to past struggles and an unyielding desire to become a better person. By sharing her experiences, Stirling hopes to encourage readers to never lose hope.

“My road to success has been ﬁlled with a lot of failures along the way and a lot of disappointments,” she explained “But the most successful people are the ones that persevere and keep going through the failures, so I’m

Over the years, Stirling said, she has come to realize that one of her biggest challenges and triumphs has been learning to accept who she is, and embracing what makes her special.

“I don’t mean to be different,” Stirling said. “It’s not like I try to stand out and be different all the time, but sometimes you just realize that you are different and that it’s OK to be different.

“ at’s what I want people to take away from that story and many other stories from my book: You can embrace what makes you diﬀerent and it doesn’t have to make you feel alone, it doesn’t have to make you feel like an outcast. Diﬀerences can be wonderful.

ey can be celebrated. And I actually owned a huge part of my success to my diﬀerences rather than them being a huge setback.”

For more information about Lindsey Stirling’s national book tour, visit www. lindseystirling.com/news/the-only-pirateat-the-party/. Changing Hands Tempe is located 6428 McClintock Dr., Tempe. Tickets are free with the purchase of “ e Only Pirate at the Party” from Changing Hands Bookstore. Call (480) 730-0205 or visit www.changinghands.com.

Stirling will sign copies of her memoire at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

To Place a Classified Ad...Here's

Write your ad in the spaces below, or use a separate sheet of paper. All ads must be paid before each monthly deadline. Nearby News reserves the right to edit or refuse any ad. DEADLINE FOR ADS IS THE 5TH OF THE MONTH YOUR AD IS TO BE PUBLISHED. Ads received after the deadline will be printed in the next available issue. Send your ad copy, indicating payment type, and mail to: Nearby News, 3200 N. Hayden Rd. - Suite #210, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480-348-0343 or FAX your ad copy to: 480-348-2109