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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

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Publisher

Times Media Group

President

Steve T. Strickbine

Executive Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Associate Editors

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Graphic Design

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

Courtney Oldham

Contributors

Jill Hanks, Kimberly Hosey, Tamara Juarez, Damir Lolic, Jill Pertler, Alison Stanton, Kaddie Stephens

The Desert Sun News is published monthly and distributed to 10,000 residences and businesses within Chandler, 8,500 mailed directly to homes and 1,500 distributed on newsstands, and in several hundred high-trafﬁc locations throughout the community.

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Tim Sealy

community spotlight

Certiﬁed candidates announced for March 8 election

Tempe City Clerk Brigitta Kuiper has conﬁrmed the names of one mayoral candidate and six City Council candidates who will appear on the City’s March 8 general/special election ballot.

Offices to be filled through the March 8 election include the mayor and three City Council seats. e certified candidate for mayor is Mark Mitchell. Certified candidates for City Council are Phil Amorosi; Irina Baroness von Behr; Ernesto Fonseca; Kolby Granville; Randy Keating and Joel Navarro. Elected candidates will be sworn in to four-year terms in July.

Vice Mayor Corey Woods is not seeking re-election to the City Council. ere will be one election in the spring rather than a primary and a general election. According to a City Charter amendment approved by voters in 2012, if no more than two candidates ﬁle nomination petitions for each vacancy, the City

does not have to hold a primary election. In that case, the general election can instead be held on the date the primary election would have been held.

A City Charter amendment also will appear on the March 8 ballot. It proposes lowered limits on candidate campaign contribution limits.

Prospective candidates were required to submit nomination paperwork and petitions containing between 1,129 and 2,257 valid signatures by the Dec. 9 deadline. Nomination petitions and paperwork are subject to legal challenge. e deadline to ﬁle a challenge was Dec. 23. e deadline for voter registration is Feb. 8. Early ballots will be mailed Feb. 10.

Election details, including candidate contact information, voter registration and more are available at www.tempe. gov/election.

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.

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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.

Tempe Library Comicon combines education with comics

By Damir Lolic

e Tempe Public Library is encouraging people of all ages to read by leveraging the popularity of graphic novels and comic book characters. e facility, in conjunction with Phoenix Comicon, will host its second annual Library Comicon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23.

Activities for kids

ere will be a plethora of various activities occurring throughout the library. e events will be located on the main ﬂoor, youth area and the Tempe Community Complex. e superhero academy, for children ages 7 and younger, will feature cape and cup making, diﬀerent heroic tasks and a host of other kid friendly activities for your little exemplar. e library will also be partnering with Tempe’s Kid Zone Enrichment Program to incorporate some of its activities involving technology and science, tying it with super powers to connect with the Comicon theme.

Other activities

Cosplay fans may be excited about the costume contest, author signings and exhibitors on display. Critical reat Comics, Heroes United AZ, Justice League of Arizona and ASU HMI Lab are a fraction of the 24 exhibitors.

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.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to interact with seven renowned authors like Sherri Fink (responsible for the No. 1 Amazon best-selling children’s book, “ e Little Rose”) and Hayley Rose (who penned the best-selling book, “Fifo Fifty States”). e costume contest will commence at 1:30 p.m. and include three categories—kids, teens and young adults. Contest winners will be gifted with Comicon tickets and more. Hungry attendees can feast on food provided by Fabio on Fire, Frites Street, Kicks Frozen Yogurt, Mustache Pretzels and What’s Fresh.

City of Tempe Public Information Oﬃcer Denise Rentschler spoke about the signiﬁcance of educational events such as this one.

“ e Library Comicon is a wonderful event,” she said. “It’s important to instill the value of reading to children and events like this show how fun reading can be.”

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

For more than 20 years, patrons at ASU’s Grady Gammage Auditorium have heard every show they went to, twice: First as the instantaneous delivery of acoustic sound from the actual onstage performer, and then, irritating nanoseconds after that, the same sound, amplified. Blame the annoying quest for perfection exhibited by Gammage’s overseeing architect, some guy named Frank Lloyd Wright. When Wright coordinated the design of Gammage in the early ‘60s, he consulted an expert to make sure the hall’s acoustics matched its proposed role as a venue for the performance of unplugged music—or, as we used to call it, music. Gammage became a renowned concert hall, and this writer (you’ll never know who) recalls hearing the great pianist Vladimir Horowitz, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and others in a sonic environment so pure you could hear a rainbow of overtones from the triangle in Brahms’ Fourth Symphony. In the 1990s, Gammage morphed into a Broadway roadhouse, home to the biggest hits of the Great White Way. But Broadway shows are amplified, and no amplification was found that could possibly deliver sound to an audience as fast as the hall’s acoustics. That’s why you’ve been hearing everything twice, with the effect that the words of songs were often hard to understand.

Gammage has announced that the problem is no more. Last summer and fall, ASU installed a new system that matches the speed of the hall’s acoustic sound with the speed of its ampliﬁcation. Or so they claim. Guess you’ll just have to see the musical version of “The Bridges of Madison County” (Feb. 16-21) and get back to me on that. Go to www.asugammage. com for ticket info.

Those pooch-loving folks at Sleepy Dog Brewery must have read my recent challenge to back-engineer beers from a given food ﬂavor. I suggested pea-soup ale with overtones of hamhock, but what they’ve come up with sounds a lot more appealing: Peanut Butter Milk Stout.

The very name hollers comfort. It’s also the ﬁrst of its original brews not to carry a canine moniker. Previous names have included Tail Chaser IPA and Parched Pooch Hefeweizen. Even the beer that Peanut Butter Milk Stout was based on came from something called Wet Snout Milk Stout. Thanks, but I’ll stick with the peanut butter. The new beer is available at Sleepy Dog, 1920 E. University Dr. Call (480) 967-5476 for info.

I love the name of the new series of seminars sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Council: “Mean Girls! How to Work with Them and Not Be One.” Sessions three and four take place on two consecutive Fridays Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Western International University, 1601 W. Fountainhead Pkwy. Cost is $30 per session; $20 for Chamber members and students. For more info, call (480) 967-7891.

Not doing anything for Valentine’s Day? Take your sweetie to the Valentine Tea at Hackett House. On Saturday, Feb. 13, the historic Tempe site, 95 W. Fourth St., will host a high tea from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Go back in time and play the roles of a pioneer couple as you sip your Earl Grey. Cost: $35 per person. Send an email to director@hacketthouse.org for more info.

What’s the buzz in your neighborhood? New babies or grandbabies? Announcements? Engagements? Let us know! Email hearsay@nearbynews.com.

Tempe announces winners of MLK Diversity Awards

Four area residents, two local high school students, an elementary school education team and a local medical college are this year’s recipients of Tempe’s prestigious MLK Diversity Award for demonstrating their commitment to diversity. e winners in the categories of Individual Adult, Individual Youth and Education were scheduled to be honored at a Saturday, Jan. 16, dinner sponsored by the Tempe Human Relations Committee and the City of Tempe.

Individual Adult Category

Flora Farago

Flora Farago volunteers her time to social justice issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. As a cofacilitator in the City of Tempe Teen Diversity Dialogue program, she challenges teens to deeply consider racial and gender justice issues in today’s world. As a member of the Arizona State University’s Committee for Campus Inclusion, Farago directs students in planning ASU’s Local to Global Justice Forum and Festival, an event that has brought together more than 500 students and community members to exchange ideas and strategies to address social justice issues.

Athena Salman

Athena Salman is an advocate for economic justice and workers’ rights. As a student senator for ASU’s Undergraduate Student Government and as a State Press reporter, she advocated for diversity issues. As a UNITE HERE Local 631 shop steward, she recruited and nurtured refugees, Latinos, and underrepresented groups to become their own advocates. She worked with Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy to engage Latinos into voting and increased regional turnout by almost 500 percent. Additionally, she champions women’s issues as demonstrated by her work with the Girl Scouts—AZ Pine Council recruiting and welcoming young Latinas and in encouraging women to engage in politics.

Tonia Smith

Tonia Smith is a founder of Stand &

Serve and its current board secretary and treasurer. Stand & Serve is a bestpractice positive youth development and violence prevention program serving eight sites in Tempe and Phoenix. Stand & Serve is for youth committed to cultivating safety, equality and respect as norms and its goals are to empower members and other youth to spread peace, model compassionate behavior, and treat everyone equally and with respect regardless of identity, beliefs or background. Smith has worked in youth development for more than 15 years and prepares disadvantaged youth for academic success as the Boys and Girls Club’s education coordinator.

Benjamin Taylor

Benjamin Taylor has worked as an attorney for the underserved and has enhanced the dignity of those who rarely have a voice in the Tempe and Phoenix communities. Because of his commitment to social justice, he takes on some of the Valley’s most controversial and contentious matters. Without hesitation, Taylor tackles racial inequality and social justice issues by standing alongside community leaders at town hall meeting and press conferences. As a mentor, he devotes a Saturday each month to under-served youth through a national non-proﬁt organization. Taylor is also the youngest board member of the Maricopa County Branch of the NAACP, serving as a volunteer for the legal redress committee to advocate for people treated unfairly at work or in other settings.

Individual Youth Category

Kristyn Taylor St. Yves, Tempe High School

Tempe High School senior Kristyn Taylor St. Yves has been involved in her school’s Stand & Serve Club since her freshman year. She has been a peer educator for middle school students and is now a leader for both middle school students and new peer educators. St. Yves also does presentations about youth movement and youth inclusion in the prevention

of violence. She has a busy school life as the school mascot at every game; she plays in orchestra, and is in cheer. In her oﬀ- time, she helps care for the Wilson’s Street Community Garden and was involved in creating a mural to beautify its community space.

Tyra Simpson, Tempe High School

Tempe High School senior Tyra Simpson is a member of the Stand & Serve Club serving as a peer educator for younger peers, facilitating local violence prevention workshops, and hosting the Stand & Serve bi-annual day at the Capitol events and coalition meetings. Her ongoing commitment to her school and her community is evident each year as she volunteers at the Tempe Tardeada, the MLK Diversity Awards Dinner, and the Unity Walk. She also plays in the school marching band and symphony band, and participates in the drama club, all while balancing honors and international baccalaureate classes.

Education Category

Kyrene del Norte Elementary School Equity Team

e Kyrene del Norte Elementary School Equity Team examines the intersectionality of race and culture in education. With Tempe’s demographic shift reshaping the city’s classrooms - coupled with the persistence racialized achievement

gap between students of color and their White and Asian counterpartsthe team seeks to have an honest and courageous conversation about race and schooling. Team members seek to build their capacity in understanding the role of race and culture at Norte, change the narrative about the achievement gap, and provide professional development to the larger school community in ensuring the closure of the achievement gap. e Kyrene del Norte Equity Team exempliﬁes a commitment to diversity by removing students’ racial identity as a predictor for school success.

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine has a diverse student body representing six countries and 25 states: more than 30 percent of students self-identiﬁed as ethnically diverse. e college shows an ongoing commitment to diversity by providing access to naturopathic medicine at local community clinics and supporting public health. On an international level, the college engages with “Naturopaths without Borders” with their students traveling to Rocky Point, Mexico, to provide care to the underserved. e students have also established other initiatives such as providing medical support to veterans and other at-risk groups.

Stirling returns home for

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.

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.

Corona senior’s ‘milk mustache’ wins $12K scholarship

By Jill Hanks

As Corona del Sol High School senior Nate Marshall sat in the stands at University of Phoenix Stadium during the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day, he had no idea he was going to be called onto the ﬁeld to be recognized in front of the crowd of some 70,000 football fans.

e Ohio State Buckeyes may have won the football game over Notre Dame, but it was Nate who scored the grand prize $12,000 college scholarship in the Arizona Milk Producers “Is Your ‘Stache Worth the Cash?” contest.

“It was really fun to be there and to have everyone clapping and think this is really cool,” Nate said, adding that the contest was “deﬁnitely an amazing opportunity.”

He entered the contest on a Sunday afternoon last fall, simply by taking a picture of his best milk mustache and uploading it to social media. e contest required the photo to include a visible dairy product. Nate said he got creative with his photo entry, which was taken by his sister and only took about two tries.

“ e key was to keep it simple but make sure the main feature is the center of attention,” Nate explained.

Judges from Arizona Milk Producers narrowed the submissions to 15 ﬁnalists who then sent bios, letters of recommendation and essays. Each received a pair of seats to the Fiesta Bowl and at the game the top three ﬁnalists were announced as the

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.

scholarship winners and honored on the ﬁeld.

e ﬁrst prize scholarship of $12,000 went to Nate, an honors student who has a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the Corona del Sol Boys Basketball team.

Johnny Schmidt, who attends St. David High School in St. David, won the second place $10,000 scholarship, and ASU student Jenny Butzbach won an $8,000 scholarship.

“For nearly 50 years, Arizona Dairy Farmers have been oﬀering students the chance to win scholarship money through their milk mustache photo contest,” said Breann Bierman, director of communications for Dairy Council of Arizona and Arizona Milk Producers.

“With approximately 80 dairy farms right here in Arizona, the farmers are not only committed to oﬀering farmfresh, high-quality milk to families but to helping Arizona students with their education.”

Nate, who plans to study engineering, hasn’t decided where he will attend college but has narrowed his choices to ASU and U of A.

MAD Greens partners with Children’s Hospital for farm-fresh fundraiser

MAD Greens is partnering with Phoenix Children’s Hospital for a fundraiser featuring a new seasonal salad. e Soleri Salad, honoring Paolo Soleri, one of Arizona’s most inﬂuential architects, boasts baby greens, red grapes, ﬁgs, slow-roasted chicken, unsweetened chocolate, cotija cheese, and MAD Spice avocado, tossed with house-made Tabasco prickly pear vinaigrette.

From Feb. 1 to March 1, MAD Greens will donate $1 from each Soleri salad sold to PCH.

“We are grateful for Mad Greens’ continued support of Phoenix Children’s Hospital,” said Steve Schnall, the hospital’s senior vice president and chief development oﬃcer.

“ eir commitment to the hospital shows MAD Greens’ true dedication to improving the well-being of the

children in our community, and their support will help us continue to provide the best pediatric health care and community outreach programs to families in the Valley and beyond.” e Soleri salad showcases Arizona’s spicy ﬂavors thanks to MAD Greens’ partnership with local farmers and purveyors such as Abby Lee Farms, Bella Fresh, Duncan Family Farms, Hickman Farms and Shamrock Dairy.

Mad Greens has four locations in the Valley—Tempe Marketplace, Hilton Village, Scottsdale and Acoma roads, and Seventh Avenue and McDowell Road. Its newest location at Dana Park in Mesa is scheduled to open midFebruary. For more information, visit www.madgreens.com.

From left, Arizona Milk Producers General Manager Tammy Baker, Arizona Milk Producers Board Chairman Craig Caballero, third place winner Jenny Butzbach, second place winner Johnny Schmidt, and ﬁrst place winner Corona’s Nate Marshall.

Corona senior Nate Marshall won a $12k scholarship for this photo of his milk mustache

around the neighborhood

Santa and Mrs. Claus made one last guest appearance in town on Dec. 26 when they hosted “Swimming with Santa” at the Kiwanis Recreation Center. Families were able to ride the waves with Santa, have storytime with Mrs. Claus, enjoy complimentary milk and cookies and participate in reindeer games while holiday music plays in the background. Photos by Tim Sealy 1. Mrs. Claus chats with Richard Song. 2. Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for a portrait. 3. Mitchell, Mia and Miles Alexander had a great time swimming and got the Claus’ autograph, too. 4. Santa waits in line for the water slide. 5. Sophia Mendoza and Amaya Silvas keep up the Christmas spirit, even after the holiday. 6. Winsloe and Josh Horner take a photo with the Clauses in between swimming sessions. 7. Nichelle Williams, Bray and Brandon Hutchinson and Maleah Williams show off their Christmas and tropical spirit. 8. Jacob Seago poses with Santa after thanking him for his presents. 9. Santa loves the warm water. 10. Brayden and Amy Altemus enjoy the warm waves.

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.

NEW PRIMARY CARE

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.

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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.

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.

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

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

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

By Kaddie Stephens

Crackers & Co. Café

Quaint, classy and delicious, Crackers & Co. Café is in the heart of Tempe and—like its other locations— is impressive from the get-go.

Upon arriving, we were greeted by Crackers & Co.’s staff, all of whom were dressed cleanly in all black. The restaurant’s décor gives off a homey vibe, making us feel like we were dining countryside in rural Tuscany, not in the middle of suburbia.

The first Crackers & Co. opened in 1984 based on the European owners’ heritage and penchant for cooking from scratch. There are now three locations in the Valley—two in Mesa as well as the Tempe eatery.

Open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, Crackers & Co. satisfies the palate

with breakfast and lunch. Patrons can kick off their morning with a variety of skillets, omelets, oatmeal, crepes or French toast. Those looking for an afternoon snack or early lunch can dive into burgers, sandwiches and fresh garden salads. They even offer kids’ meals with chicken fingers, pancakes and grilled cheese.

I asked my friend Tiffany to come along to help me try a few things from the menu and, between us, we ordered five dishes. Our waitress, Alex, was extremely friendly and efficient and provided excellent service. Choosing from the extensive menu was tough, but everything is well priced for its portions. Nothing was over $11. We started our meal off with

dessert and split a cinnamon roll—a very large one at that—for $4. It was absolutely delicious and topped in thick cream cheese frosting as opposed to regular icing. Before we were able to get halfway through, the rest of our meal arrived. Tiffany ordered the eggs Benedict with a side of bacon, and the cinnamon French toast, while I opted for the baked potato skillet with no eggs or chili, and the Nutella and banana crepes.

Tiffany’s French toast was made from thick, hand-cut bread drizzled with powdered sugar and syrup, while her eggs Benedict included bacon, avocado, Hollandaise, tomato and spinach all with a poached egg on top. My first dish, the baked potato skillet, tasted like the countryside in a bowl. It consisted of potato, bacon, onion, a side of sour cream. After I licked that plate clean, I moved on to my Nutella and banana crepes, which were cradled in warm crepes and topped with a coat of powdered sugar. In the end, our feast only cost $38. We would highly suggest Crackers &

Co. Café to anyone who is interested in a delicious Sunday brunch or a lunch date with a friend. We didn’t go for dessert, as we were full, but I heard the blackberry cinnamon brandied bread pudding—Crackers and Co.’s signature item—is amazing.

& Co. Café

1285 W. Elliot Rd. Tempe 85284 (480) 705-7900

www.crackersandcompanycafe.com

Crackers

Bread pudding

The first Crackers & Co. Café opened in 1984.

events calendar

Dec.

20, 2015 - Jan. 20, 2016

Clean Kings of Comedy

Come see these comics who are part of the Tempe Comedy Concert Series and prove that you can be clean and funny. This show is perfect for friends and family.

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe

COST: $10 to $25

INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1UMcJkq

Sistahs Too

From Sistah Blue to the DelRayz, original members Lila Sherman and Rochelle Raya (both members of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame) give a high-energy performance with the powerful vocals of Sherman and the charismatic harmonica of Raya.

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 22, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE: District Stage, Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe

COST: Free

INFO: http://on.fb.me/1N5lKzp

Breaking Ground 2016 Contemporary

Dance and Film Festival

CONDOR/Dance presents a dramatic combination of technical artistry, physical power and unbridled creativity. Tiny Dances and MainStage performances comprise this year’s festival offerings. Now in its ninth year, the festival brings together 25 choreographers, digital artists and the community.

Madeon

Madeon brings his electronic musical vibe on tour with Skylar Spence.

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Marquee, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe

COST: $28 to $48, 16 and over only INFO: (480) 829-1300 or www.luckymanonline.com

Right Wing Left Wing

This show features some of the top comics in the Valley, who have performed at the local and national level, as part of the Tempe Comedy Concert Series. Whether your political affiliation leans toward the left or the right, this show is for you.

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

WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe

COST: $10 to $25

INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1ONsBCQ

Friday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe COST: $32 to $42

INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1ZYyHnS

The Neighbourhood

This alternative band formed in California performs songs from EPs and albums including “Wiped Out.”

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Marquee, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe COST: $35 and $45

INFO: (480) 829-1300 or www.luckymanonline.com

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

WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe

COST: $25

INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1Og2qn0

The Devil Makes Three

This band brings its unique blend of bluegrass, country, folk, blues, jazz and rockabilly to the stage with Parker Millsap.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Marquee, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe

COST: $20

INFO: (480) 829-1300 or www.luckymanonline.com

Hello Dolly!

The Scottsdale Musical Theater Company prides itself on presenting affordable theatrical productions of well-known Broadway shows in their entire original Broadway versions with sets, costumes and featuring the best of Phoenix area talent and a full live orchestra.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb, 3, through

Art After Work: Foxy Valentine

Stop by after work and gather with friends or coworkers and unwind after the work day at the Gallery. Price includes canvas, art supplies, instruction and a beverage voucher for use at the lobby bar that evening.

Guster

This alternative rock band from Boston performs songs from its seven albums including 2015’s “Evermotion.” Vetiver opens.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Marquee, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe COST: $25

INFO: (480) 829-1300 or www.luckymanonline.com

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe COST: $35

INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1Zipq7R

SafetySuit

Pop/rock band plays from its repertoire of songs, which includes “Stay” and “Someone Like You.” Connell Cruise also performs.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Marquee, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe COST: $16

INFO: (480) 829-1300 or www.luckymanonline.com

Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series

Daniel Lebhardt, the 2014 winner of the Young Concert Artists competition, performs at this piano recital. The 21-year-old Hungarian pianist has performed at London’s Wigmore Hall, the Bela Bartok Memorial House in Budapest, the Senate House in London and the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Lehbardt has won several first place prizes in competitions around the world.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe

COST: $25 adults, $10 students with IDs INFO: http://1.usa.gov/1P7FseX

Sistahs Too

MADEON

DANIEL LEBHARDT

Things are ‘looking up’ for SafetySuit

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

When SafetySuit released its uplifting new song “Looking Up” recently, there were a few skeptics who posted their thoughts on the Nashville band’s Facebook page.

“Looking Up” was much peppier than SafetySuit’s lovelorn hit singles “Stay” and “Get Around This.” However, “Looking Up” was a natural progression.

“It’s a lot different,” singer Doug Brown acknowledged. “We try to write songs to make you feel good, but we don’t necessarily make them sound happy. It’s a happy sounding song.

“We were like, ‘Let’s get out of our comfort zone a little bit and record something that’s going to sound happy from the first downbeat all the way to the end of the song.’”

SafetySuit’s plan worked. “Looking Up” has made headway into listeners’ brains, as it has been added to satellite and terrestrial radio stations.

“The fans have enjoyed the fact that it is lighter and poppier because, at the same time, it still has the SafetySuit roots in there,” said Brown, whose sister-in-law lives in the Valley.

“That’s important our core fans.”

The mood of “Looking Up” mirrors that of SafetySuit.

“I think, overall, the band has always been a happier group of guys than most,” he said. “There’s a difference between recording a song that maybe you think will be positive to somebody and recording a song that will sonically match that message.

“Sometimes you can be saying something positive and uplifting, but you can be saying it over a music bed

that, if you weren’t paying attention, lyrics you wouldn’t know what’s going on.”

Brown is looking forward to playing it live, something the act has yet to do. Fans can expect to hear it—and five or six other new tracks—when the band returns to the Valley to play the Marquee Theatre in Tempe on Saturday, Feb. 6. The tunes will be part of a new album that’s in the offing.

“It’s definitely upbeat,” Brown said of the album. “It’s a little happier. Overall it’s just a really beautiful combination of the first two records. It’s got all the power and excitement of our bigger stuff and, at the same time, it honed our songwriting skills. Our songs, at the core, are better songs. They’re written better, but that’s just a byproduct of writing a lot. Hopefully you’re better than you were when you started.”

Back to its 2016 headlining run, Brown excited about serving up something new to his fans.

“We’re playing the typical 90-minute set and have the new ones mixed in between the fan favorites and the old stuff,” he said. “You can get excited about your new material and want to play it all. But fans that I love have played their way through the new record and it can be frustrating because you can’t get into it because you know the new stuff. There will be plenty of new material, so you don’t feel like you’re seeing the same old show.”

SafetySuit performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. Tickets are $16. For more information, call (480) 829-0607 or visit www.luckymanonline.com.