Blandford Homes specialize in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities and charm. O ering resort-style amenities such as heated pools, spa, tness, tennis, event lawns, parks, and lifestyle activities, you’ll nd the perfect community to t your lifestyle.
Blandford Homes specialize in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities and charm. O ering resort-style amenities such as heated pools, spa, tness, tennis, event lawns, parks, and lifestyle activities, you’ll nd the perfect community to t your lifestyle.
Mountain Bridge in Northeast Mesa Resort-Style Masterplanned Community THREE BRAND NEW COMMUNITIES!
Villa Collection • From the mid $200’s • 480-988-2400
Craftsman Collection • From the high $300’s • 480-641-1800
Artisan Collection • From the high $400’s • 480-641-1800
Master Collection • From the mid $600’s • 480-641-1800
Mulberry GRAND OPENING NEW PHASE! “A New Old-Home Neighborhood”
Arbor Collection • From the $230’s • 480-895-6300
American Collection • From the $250’s • 480-895-2800
Centennial Collection • From the low $300’s • 480-733-9000
Heritage Collection • From the $330’s • 480-733-9000
C
The Estates at Thirty-Second Street — GRAND OPENING!
Estate single-level homes with 4- to 6-car garages and optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the mid $600’s • 480-750-3000
The Estates at Las Sendas — GRAND OPENING!
Northeast Mesa Resort-Style Master Planned Community
Estate single-level homes on 30,000-sq.-ft. lots with 4- to 6-car garages and optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the mid $700’s • 480-641-1800
D E
The Pecans — ONLY 2 HOMES LEFT! Prime Queen Creek Address
Estate single-level homes with 4-car garages in a custom home pecan grove community
From the $600’s • 480-987-7820
Nearby News monthly contest
Each month we design an advertisement for something that doesn't exist. Find the fake ad and you could win a restaurant gift certificate!
Congratulations to this month’s lucky winner:
Enter by email ONLY: FAKEADMESA@NEARBYNEWS.COM
We will announce the winner in next month’s paper. If you see your name, please contact us by September 30, 2016. Good Luck!
Last Month’s Fake Ad
Publisher Times Media Group
President
Steve T. Strickbine
Editor in Chef
Robbie Peterson
Executive Editor
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Associate Editor
Srianthi Perera
Graphic Design
Erica Odello, Jay Banbury, Paul Braun, Christy Byerly, Ruth Carlton, Amy Civer
Contact the Nearby News at 480-898-5610 • Fax: 480-898-5606 Editor@NearbyNews.com
For more information visit our
NearbyNews
Celebrate Greece with church’s Greek Festival
St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church will be transformed into a mini Greek village when “A Taste of Greece” returns Friday, Sept. 30, to Sunday, Oct. 2.
“A Taste of Greece” offers a weekend celebration with traditional Greek foods, imports, music and costumed folk dancing.
All proceeds benefit St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church and related philanthropic activities and community charities. e church is a nonprofit organization.
Admission is $3; kids younger than 12 are free. A buy-one get-one free admission coupon is available at atasteofgreeceaz.com.
Parking is free at Seton High School, 1150 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler, from which a shuttle bus will take patrons. Handicap parking is available on the church grounds.
“We’re proud to carry on a tradition from a homeland rich with unique tastes and culture,” said spokesman Sam Kladis. “A Taste of Greece represents all that the Greek culture has to offer. You don’t have to be Greek to enjoy the Greek food festival. ere’s something here for everyone.
You can experience the flavors of Greece right in Chandler.”
For most, the highlight of the three-day festival is the food. Weeks prior to the event, several dozen church volunteers work to hand-prepare dishes such as Dolmathes (grapevine leaves stuffed with ground beef, seasoned rice and herbs), Spanakopita (thin filo dough filled with spinach and cheeses) and Pastichio (Greek lasagna, baked macaroni and ground beef covered in
béchamel sauce). Homemade pastries will be available like Baklava (filo dough filled with nuts and spices), Kourabiedes (a rich, shortbread-like cookies covered with powdered sugar) and Loukoumathes (pastry puffs sweetened with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon).
Greek music will fill the air, and performances by Greek Folk Dancers in authentic costumes promise to add to the atmosphere. For festival-goers who like to get involved there will be dance workshops. Shoppers will enjoy the “agora” marketplace offering arts and crafts, Greek imports, jewelry, CDs, books and icons.
Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct 1, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. e church is located at 2716 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler.
Dolmathes are a staple of Greek cuisine.
Pastichio
Evenings with TED series continues this month at Red Mountain Library
By Cassidy Landaker
Join the Red Mountain Library for another TED Talk as the Evenings with TED series continues from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ursday, Sept. 8, this time focusing on the topic of learning.
“ e idea was to provide an opportunity for the people of our community to come together and discuss innovative ideas and their potential impact on our lives,” said Red Mountain librarian Laura Royal.
After the TED Talk, attendees are invited to discuss the theme of the video, as well as share any opinions and thoughts on the materials presented.
“It’s exciting to see a light bulb go off when an idea truly resonates with someone,” Royal said.
TED is an acronym for technology entertainment and design.
TED Talks are short presentations given on technology, entertainment,
design and ideas. ey are 18-minute videos created from TED conferences held around the world. e second ursday of each month, the Red Mountain branch shows a previously recorded TED Talk about a different topic.
Royal said education is a fitting topic for September, as school is back in session in the Valley for elementary, junior high, high school and college students.
“With students going back to school, the topic is on a lot of people’s minds,” she said. “ e great thing about learning is it’s not just for kids or college students. Learning is something you do for life.”
She added that she is an advocate for lifelong learning, and these events attract those who are passionate about leading proactive lives. She said she hopes that the talks and conversations expose people to new learning resources
and help inspire the learners in their own lives.
e program is open to the public and free to attend. Registration is not required. e number of attendees varies from month to month, Royal said, but the library expects around 10 people for the TED Talk and group conversation.
e Red Mountain Library is located at 635 N. Power Rd. For more information or any questions about the event, visit the Mesa Public Library website at mesalibrary. org or call 480-644-3100. To learn more about TED Talks or watch any previously recorded TED Talks visit ted.com/talks online.
at a Swiss Bank near you
our other fragrances in this line: Eau de Mansion Scent of Bentley Yacht Toilette
neighborhood hearsay
I remember my first science fair project in fifth grade. It was a volcano. When you lit the top, it sputtered and sparked and looked really cool. When I proudly took my creation to the fair, I looked out on a roomful of 14 other sparking, sputtering little mountains. I have since held a deep and secret loathing of volcanoes, along with my hatred of car races, which I trace to losing the Pinewood Derby when my wheels fell off.
This month, Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, offers help for young aspirants to Science Fair success. “Science Fair Struggles” is a short talk and question/answer session aimed to help your kid avoid volcano embarrassment. It will take place twice on Saturday, Sept. 17: at 11 a.m., and again at 1 p.m. Emily Early, a curator at the museum, will lead the discussion. It’s free with admission to the museum, which is $12 for adults, $8 for students with ID. For more info, go to arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory. org.
Mesa’s award-winning Southwest Shakespeare drama company takes temporary leave of Will and turns to Alpha – Alpha Behn, that is, a playwright who lived a few decades after the Bard of Avon. Oh yes, and, she was the first woman playwright. And a spy. Southwest Shakespeare’s production of “Or,” by Liz Duffy Adams, explores the adventurous life of this Restoration era (1660s) rebel in performances Thursdays through Sundays until Sept. 17. For ticket information, go to www. swshakespeare.org.
About that first woman playwright thing…. While Behn was the first woman to be acknowledged as a playwright, there is an intriguing earlier, unacknowledged instance embedded in the conspiracy theory surrounding Shakespeare’s not having been that actor guy from the sticks. You see, there’s a theory that Shakespeare was actually a committee – a group of noble-born people enthusiastic for the English language but unwilling to “stoop” to being working playwrights. So they
used the actor as a beard, putting his name on their plays. And of those people was a displaced Venetian Jewish woman named Amelia Bassano Lanier. According to this theory, her play in the Shakespeare canon was – you can probably guess – “The Merchant of Venice,” because of its location and the prominence of a Jewish character. We’re waiting for a play about her!
New York Times bestselling mystery author J.A. Jance will discuss her newest novel, “Downfall,” at the Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road, on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. “Downfall” is the latest in the author’s series about Sheriff Joanna Brady. Jance’s books will be available for purchase and for signing following her presentation. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit Mesa Library at mesalibrary.org or call 480-644-3100.
Ever want to be a mouse? How about a tin soldier? A snowflake? If you’re an aspiring dancer between the ages of 7 and 18, you may just get the chance to fulfill your dream at Mesa Arts Center in December. But first, you’ll have to journey to Gilbert. Ballet Etudes, famous for its annual “Nutcracker” production, will audition prospective mice, etc., Sept. 10 at its studios, 2401 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert. It costs $15 to register. For more details, email info@balletetudes.net or call 480-558-2080.
What’s the buzz in your neighborhood? New babies or grandbabies? Announcements? Engagements? Let us know! Email hearsay@nearbynews.com.
FEATURED LISTING
and sponsoring other disc golf tournaments.
Over the last five years the fundraising efforts of the club, the city of Mesa, coupled with Eagle Scout projects, have made disc golf in the East Valley a thriving community. ere are three parks that boast four 18-hole courses. Emerald Park is where the work first started, which led to Hart working with the city of Mesa to open Red Mountain which has two courses and Fiesta Lakes, which offers annual memberships which cost $30 for the first year and $20 for each year after.
Brent Murray, one of the club’s members and course stewards for
Emerald Park, started playing about five years ago. After regularly playing basketball, he was looking for a way to stay active. e attraction was immediate. He “suddenly wanted to figure this out” and has been playing since.
Disc golf is an alternative to golf. Murray says the appeal lies in “the concept of putting together consistent shots to have a successful game.”
Hart notes that unlike golf you do not have to “pay to play. e attraction for disc golf in that it is similar to golf in that you have fun, but it doesn’t cost very much.”
Disc golf provides an opportunity for men, women, young and old to
go outside, socialize and get some exercise.
e demographics of the sport are growing to include more women and that provides opportunities for families to play together.
“Find people who are better than you,” Hart also recommended.
Mesa Disc Golf Club hosts an annual tournament in late November or early December for experienced players and is the home club for 2015 amateur U.S. and World Disc Golf champion Anthony Barela.
Check the Mesa Disc Golf website,
mesadiscgolfclub.org, this fall for information on the tournament, the courses in Mesa and the Monday night league.
"We
smiles with a
and caring environment, where our patients become extended family."
Dr. C. Martin
Farnsworth, DMD
Rob Hart saw a need to improve conditions at Emerald Park, shown above.
September programs abound at Usery Mountain Regional Park
By Megan Marples
Night Safari, Sept. 9
Maricopa County is encouraging people to be active and learn about the desert this September by offering dozens of free programs at Usery Mountain Regional Park. ey range from night walks to archery classes and caters to all ages and abilities.
Here are some highlights:
Movie Night in the Park, Sept. 2
Watch some of the craziest desert animals in the movie “Toughest desert Animals.” Get a glimpse into the behaviors of the most elusive creatures and how they survive in the wild. Included in the film is a rattlesnake fight that took place at Usery Park.
All About Venomous
Insects,
Sept. 9
Listen to a presentation about venomous insects that lurk in the desert. Some of the animals include a tarantula hawk, a giant centipede and a velvet ant. Ranger B will be on hand to answer any questions about the venomous creatures.
Hike along the Merkle Trail and discover all of the desert animals that come out at night. During the hike, learn how they survive in the harsh desert environment and what to do if you come across a desert creature. e path is stroller and wheelchair accessible.
Archery 101, Sept. 10
Learn how to shoot an arrow at this beginning introductory archery class. Discover the excitement of this ancient sport in a fun and safe environment. Equipment is provided and anyone 8 and older can participate.
Desert Mythbusters, Sept. 24
Bust some myths about the desert at this special presentation by Ranger B. Topics include drinking water from a cactus and the dangerousness of rattlesnakes. is event is part of the “Brown-Bag It” series, so feel free to pack a sandwich.
Mesa Music Festival 2016 dates announced
e Mesa Music Festival is back this Nov. 10 to Nov. 12 in downtown Mesa. Arizona’s premier emerging artist festival will connect musicians with industry experts and help them develop a strategy for success. e conference portion of the festival is followed by a full day of free performances on many stages throughout downtown Mesa. Artists can sign up at mesamusicfest.com.
Last year, more than 250 artists participated in the festival. e keynote speaker was music guru Matt Pinfield. Bands also had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Geordie Gillespie who spent more than 15 years with the music divisions of Sony, Virgin Records and e Walt
Disney Co. He has worked with acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell Williams, Ricky Martin and other music industry professionals.
Mesa Music Festival partners include City of Mesa, Downtown Mesa Association, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Visit Mesa, Valley Metro and City of Mesa.
29
RETIREMENT ENGINEERING WORKSHOP™
Buckhorn Baths looking back
Mesa Historical Museum
Ted and Alice Sliger opened the Buckhorn Baths on Apache Trail east of Mesa in 1939. e couple decided to open the motel while establishing a new trading post and gas station at the site.
As construction for the gas station began, workers discovered a warm, mineral-rich aquifer. e idea for the Buckhorn Motel and Baths born and the business became a unique destination in the Valley.
e motel featured an extensive compound, with a kitchenette, cabins, recreational activities, including a ninehole golf course, communal living space and a beauty parlor.
athletes all over the world who would gossip about the water’s supposed healing powers. e most well known of these are Horace Stoneham and the New York Giants (later San Francisco) who would visit the baths every year for two weeks prior to Spring Training from 1946 to the early 1970s. e Sligers even built the Giants a locker room in the bathhouse.
e bathhouse had separate entrances for men and women, and a full-time staff of massage therapists. During the next decade, the mineral spring would attract the attention of tourists, celebrities and
e motel also had a large collection of taxidermy wildlife, stuffed by Ted Sliger himself, as well as collections of Western and Native American artifacts. After Ted’s death in 1984, Alice continued running the Buckhorn until at age 93 in 1999, she finally shut down the baths. Today, the fate of the Buckhorn Baths is still uncertain. Even with its fate looming, the Buckhorn Baths will always iconic part of Mesa history.
Photo circa 1950s.
1966 San Fransisco Giants
The famous Buckhorn Bath’s sign.
Celebrate Batman’s 77th anniversary at the library
By Cassidy Landaker
Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume as they celebrate Batman’s 77th anniversary a part of National Batman Day at the Red Mountain branch of the Mesa Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 17.
“Batman Day was first introduced by DC Comics in 2014 to honor the iconic character’s 75th anniversary,” said Red Mountain librarian Nicole Lind.
She explained there will be Batman-themed games, crafts, trivia and a photo booth. is library program is geared toward children aged 3 to 12.
Lind said that DC Comics announced this year’s celebration to the public via press release, declaring that National Batman Day would be held on Sept. 17.
“Celebrating Batman’s endearing legacy with generations of fans, DC Entertainment will once again fete the iconic legend with festivities at thousands of comic book retailers, bookstores, schools and libraries across the country,” the press release from the comic company stated. e program is free and registration is not required. Lind said the library expects about 150 participants.
To prepare for the festivities, Lind recommended checking out any of the library’s Batman or DC Comics that are available in its Hoopla digital collection at hoopladigital.com/home. Comic books can be accessed with a Mesa Public Library card. Batman Day will be held in the Program Room (200) of the Red Mountain Branch at 635 N. Power Rd., from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.
For more information about Batman Day, visit the Mesa Public Library’s website, MesaLibrary.org, or call 480644-3100.
HOLLIS FAMILY DENTAL
Dr. Guy T. McDougal
Hometown Heroes Banner Program to honor active military and veterans
e City of Mesa Hometown Heroes Banner Program is a living tribute created to recognize and honor Mesa residents and their immediate family members who are currently serving, or are veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. Personalized banners will be displayed on light poles on Center Street in downtown Mesa to celebrate and remind residents of their dedication to our country.
To qualify, the hero to be displayed must be an active member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and must be a resident or has an immediate family member who resides in Mesa. Verification of qualifications is required.
e cost of each Hometown Heroes banner is $150, including installation and removal. To submit a tax-free
BETTER than GRANITE
donation in sponsor of this program, please contribute at mesaaz.gov/ heroes and use PayPal. Banners shall be displayed for a specified period of time throughout the course of one year, before being retired and given to the hero or the celebrated hero’s family. Applications will be accepted year-round and selected on a firstcome, first-serve basis.
For the banners that will be installed this fall to coincide with the East Valley Veterans Parade Nov. 11 in Mesa, the deadline to receive the application will be Oct. 3. Applicants will be notified of the installation of the banner honoring the military service person or veteran. For more information regarding this program, visit mesaaz.gov/heroes or contact diversity.info@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-5432.
Fall Youth Sports kickoff celebration and Punt, Pass and Kick event
Gather up the family and head down to Hohokam Stadium,1235 N. Center St. for a free night of fun and to celebrate the kick-off of Mesa Fall Youth Sports season. e event will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Games, door prizes, food to purchase, and the chance to register for the fall youth sports programs and a free movie showing will be held inside the stadium.
Kids will also have the opportunity on the same night to participate in the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick event for boys and girls ages 6-15. is activity allows kids to compete against each other, in separate age groups, by showing off their punting, passing, and place kicking skills.
Register online at nflppk.com or
onsite between 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Online registration ends at noon ursday, Sept. 8. Participants must be checked in and registered by 6 p.m. to compete. All participants must complete a City of Mesa waiver signed by a parent/guardian at the event. No cleats allowed.
For more information about this event visit, mesaaz.gov/youthsports or call 480-644-3040.
Se Hablan Español
Golf pro scores birdie with Southwest PGA appointment
By Tim J. Randall
Jay Larscheid always wanted to be involved in golf.
“I latched onto the game and have spent years learning about it, and doing just about everything related to it,” said Larscheid, of Gilbert.
Larscheid, general manager of Sunland Springs Golf Club in Mesa, recently added another position to his resume with his appointment as secretary of the Southwest Section of the PGA’s executive committee.
Larscheid, along with new board members Doug Hodge, Trent Rathbun, Mike Scully and Al Sutton, will work to advance the mission of the PGA, which celebrates its centennial this year.
“It is all about serving our members and growing the game,” Larscheid said. e Southwest Section is the fifthlargest of the 41 across the country, serving more than 1,300 of the PGA’s 28,000 members, according to the organization’s website.
From South Dakota, Larscheid
moved to Arizona in 1986 and and went to work at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale on the grounds crew. He worked his way up to assistant golf professional, head golf pro and director of golf. In 1997, he earned his PGA membership. His big break came in 2001 when he was hired as general manager at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa.
He was Longbow’s GM for 15 years before moving to Sunland in January.
Larscheid began working with the Southwest Section in 2008 as junior golf and special awards committee chairman. In 2010 he was elected to the Board of Directors.
“Jay brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Southwest PGA Board of Directors in his new role as secretary,” said Greg Leicht, president of the Southwest PGA. “His passion and commitment to advancing the Southwest PGA and our members is self evident, and we are very fortunate to have him serving our section for many years to come.”
In his new role, Larscheid will focus primarily on member services and education.
“I am excited and have a passion to be part of it,” he said.
While the typical term is two years, Larscheid will serve one because he is filling a vacated seat.
“I will be running for vice president in 2017,” he said.
Larscheid is excited about programs that work to bring youth into the game, such as the PGA Junior League program, which brings a competitive team formula for kids playing golf.
for the average player are important.
“We need to offer more nine- and five-hole rounds not just 18 holes,” he said. “I think we are on the upswing.”
Leicht knows he has real talent to drive the Southwest Section’s mission.
“We are delighted to welcome the four new members. Each of them has an incredible level of enthusiasm and commitment to the Southwest PGA, the PGA Professional and the game of golf,” said Leicht.
“It is really blowing up across the country,” Larscheid said.
He also notes that events like the national Drive, Chip and Putt Contest are bringing in young players. More broadly though, Larscheid believes that innovative approaches that reduce the time commitment to golf
As for Larscheid, his excitement about the game is undeniable.
“Best course I have played in Arizona, besides Sunland Springs, he quips: Forest Highlands and Arizona Country Club. e best ever I have played: St. Andrew’s.”
For information about the Southwest PGA, visit southwest.pga.com.
Jay Larscheid
said Cheryl Lombard, president and CEO of Valley Partnership. “Generally it means giving back by constructing or helping with an outdoor area.”
Sunshine Acres gives children who were separated from their parents a stable home. ese children come to Sunshine Acres for a number of reasons, ranging from parents in prison to drug use, and even failed adoptions.
“ ey can come here and stay
as long as they need a home, even through college or trade school,” said Carol Whitworth, president and CEO of Sunshine Acres. “We have room for 70 children and then, besides that, I have nine that are going to college or a trade school.”
One of the ways that Sunshine Acres trains its residents to lead a successful future is by teaching how to operate a checking account, says Whitworth.
Sunshine Acres, which is situated
on 125 acres of land, opened its doors in 1954. While they accept donations, they do not perform any fundraising activities.
“We do not do any fundraising ourselves,” said Whitworth. “We tell our story of Sunshine Acres. at’s why we call it ‘Miracle in the Desert,’ because we have operated all these years.”
For Sunshine Acres, a strong sense of community is important.
“We tell our children that we’re family forever, so we don’t turn them out at 18,” said Whitworth. “ ey can come back and visit and be part of our family.”
Valley Partnership, the organization behind the Community Project, aids with responsible real estate development and provides networking opportunities and ways to give back, says Lombard.
While the full details of the plans are yet to be determined, Valley Partnership and Sunshine Acres have a basic idea for what needs to be done.
“Generally, it’s outdoor areas,” she said. “ is is a kids’ area, so we’re looking at play structures, cover structures, connectivity to their mission…whatever closely meets the needs of the charity. We try to match it to them.”
“ ey are going to finish the Drager Park,” Whitworth expanded. “It’s never been finished up there.”
Renovations to Drager Park would likely consist of installing a new gazebo, lighting, shrubs and possibly a new play area, explains Jon Markwell, facilities director at Sunshine Acres.
“ ey’re going to build all of this in four-and-a-half hours with 250 people,” he added.
e approximately 250-person crew consists of volunteers, which are essential to Valley Partnership’s Community Project. is year, Valley Partnership received 22 applicants for their annual Community Project. ey are expecting renovations to cost approximately $100,000 to $150,000, which derives from donations.
“It’s quite a great opportunity for our members, nonmembers and really anyone with the real estate development industry to give back in a philanthropic way,” said Lombard.
East Valley Moms
Brought to you by:
Fun for all ages in the Valley
By Kimberly Hosey
“How old do you have to be to go there? How young?”
I’ve been hearing that question from my son often.
He wants to plan family trips. My son is a young teenager. My niece is a year and a half old. Lately, he has been waxing nostalgic (just don’t tell him I said so), thinking about places we’ve gone over the years to have fun and build memories—with an eye toward taking his younger cousin once she really starts walking.
Because he’s an only child, our trips have grown up with my son. I’ve never before considered how challenging it can be to please everyone across a range of ages. McDonald’s Play Places and splash pads did the trick when he was 3, but I don’t think that cuts it at 14. He’s game for zip lining, glider flights and hiking, but I don’t think my niece is quite up to that. And it’s too dang hot to go to the park and call it a day. Are there any spots good for both of them? And, entertaining for the adults involved?
Fortunately, the answer is yes. After a brief review of some of our trips, and a little input from my son, we prepared the following suggestions for staying cool indoors with kids of all ages.
Makutu’s Island
6919 W. Ray Rd., Chandler
480-344-3741
makutusisland.com
e tunnels, slides, bridges, zip line, climbing surfaces, turrets and platforms in this place accommodate all ages, though you might keep that fact under your hat in case your little
(or not-so-little) ones wear you out and you need a breather. Seriously, Makutu’s Island was a no-brainer. It underwent a change in ownership two years ago, but most structures, including the giant tree centering the 20,0000-square-foot facility, were built for adults as well as children to play. All main structures are great for kids 5 and older, but your littlest ones should probably stick to Oscar’s Lagoon, built especially for toddlers with foam blocks and a small slide. Everyone can enjoy refreshments (and free Wi-Fi) at Kiki’s Cafe.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to ursday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday.
Admission: Kids ages 1 to 17, $11.99; one adult per child free; extra adult, $6.
Arizona Museum of Natural History
53 N. Macdonald, Mesa
480-644-2230
arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org
I see toddlers at the “dinosaur museum” nearly every time we visit, and they’re having a blast. And here’s how I know we’ve got the other end of the age spectrum covered: I didn’t make it out there until I was an adult, and I was hooked! In between, my son spent long days as a kindergartener, “big kid,” and now teen enamored with the giant dinosaur skeleton replicas; as well as other displays detailing the biology, archaeology, art, culture and history of the Southwest. One of our favorite exhibits is “Rulers of the Prehistoric Skies,” and my son can’t
wait to stand his little cousin beneath the Quetzalcoatlus northropi, with a wingspan of 39 feet, the largest animal that has flown. Also not to be missed: Check out dinosaur skeletons and replicas, watch and listen to a “flash flood” every 23 minutes on Dinosaur Mountain, and “lock up” your kids in a cell from the Mesa Territorial Jail.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday; closed Monday. Admission: Kids 3 to 12, $7; students 13-plus with ID, $8; adults, $12; seniors 65-plus, $10.
Kids get out of a place what they bring to it, so there are many attractions that can grow and change with them. Both Butterfly Wonderland and the adjacent Odysea Mirror Maze, part of the OdySea in the Desert complex on the Salt River Reservation, offer kids enchanting fun at very young ages, which can grow to challenges and more to explore as they get older. In Butterfly Wonderland, winged wonders flit and flutter everywhere: a perfect enchanting moment for a tiny nature lover, and a great opportunity for older budding naturalists to observe and study the
NearbyNews
insects. In the Mirror Maze the colors, lights, mirrors and effects will amaze everyone. Kids 2 and younger are free, but parents are advised to keep an eye on kids younger than 5 as the effects can be scary for some.
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Butterfly Wonderland: Children 3 to 12, $12.95; students with ID, $17.95; adults, $19.95; children 2 and younger, free / Mirror Maze: All-day pass, $9.95; other prices for individual walkthroughs.
i.d.e.a. Museum
150 W. Pepper Pl., Mesa 480-644-2468 ideamuseum.org
Of all the “children’s” museums that we might soon show my niece, this was my son’s first pick. While it has exhibits and activities designed to engage the littlest visitors in appreciation of art, creation and science, its exhibits are consistently fun and engaging for me as well—and my son agrees. e current exhibition, “Sci-Fi: Fantasy to Reality,” features an invention lab, green-screen room, time tunnel and costume creator. Storytelling, role playing, and arts that encourage the development of motor and pre-literacy skills are available for young children. Young and older kids will enjoy the gallery exhibits. (And if you promise not to tell, your older kids might create a masterpiece or two as well.)
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday; noon to 4 p.m., Sunday. Admission: $8; children younger than 1, free.
What’s Missing?
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around the neighborhood
Usery Mountain Regional Park recently hosted Brown Bag Desert Edibles, during which kids learned how people survived off the land for thousands of years. The students were able to see products made from cacti, bread that is made from mesquite seeds and chain fruit cholla. The presentation was part of the “Brown-Bag It” series at the park’s Nature Center. Photos by Will Powers
1. Jake and Aden Nicholas listen intently to the lecture. 2. Hannah McCoy checks out some of the products made from cactus. 3. Desert senna is among the few plants in the Sonoran Desert in bloom this time of year. 4. Mesquite seeds can be dried and ground into flour for making bread, among other culinary uses. 5. After the barrel cactus blooms and is pollinated, the seed pod forms and is only tasty for a short time. 6. Ranger B (Brennan Basler) talks about chain fruit cholla.
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By Jill Pertler
MOTB: The quest for the dress
We are entering the wedding stage of life – better put, re-entering. Since our own wedding, we’ve been on sabbatical, during which time we experienced all other stages – from the baby shower to the kindergarten and high school graduation stages and everything in between. Now, the cycle has come full and I do believe we’re back to weddings. (Cue “Here Comes the Bride.”)
We’re attending a number of nuptials in the near future, but one in particular has piqued our interest: the wedding of our daughter. is, in turn, means one thing: wedding plans.
I am overwhelmed by the scope of planning opportunities available through an average wedding today. But there is one element that has me focused to the point of distraction. e dress.
Not hers. Mine.
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I’ve completed numerous shopping trips – online and to real live stores where I tried various necklines, hemlines and waistlines. I found one I seriously considered getting but then had second thoughts. is has happened three or four times. In the meantime, the bridesmaids have chosen and bought their dresses.
ey’ll look fabulous. e flower girls have theirs. ey’ll be adorable. My husband and sons have all purchased brand new suits. ey’ll be the definition of handsome. Even my daughter has said yes to e Dress. It’s gorgeous and she’ll be magnificent.
I’m still looking.
Don’t get me wrong. I understand the overall insignificance of my decision. I’m the mother of the bride, for goodness sake. People won’t care about what I wear. All eyes will be on my sweet baby girl. As they should be.
Still, I have just one daughter and this is my only shot at filling the role of MOTB. e more I go through life, the more I realize these moments shouldn’t be squandered. It is an important day and I want to feel good in my skin (or lace over satin, as the case may be).
So, while this whole dress ordeal isn’t important to anyone else, it is to me. ere are numerous beautiful choices to choose from. I’ve been contemplating why I’m having such a hard time with the decision. It’s pretty simple, really.
I live in the day (but usually not by choice). I am still shocked that my daughter is a grown up. I thought she’d be a little girl forever. But that is not the case (thank goodness) and now I am soon-to-be the mother of the bride.
I’m not sure I’m ready to be the mother of the bride. My daughter is ready. Her fiancé is ready. ey are a beautiful couple. We love them both. I, however, have always been a little stunted. It seems I’m perpetually playing catch-up when it comes to understanding the logic of this thing called life. Most people are able to look ahead and anticipate milestones.
Except I’m not old enough, not ready enough to be the mother of the bride. At least not in my mind. e numbers would prove otherwise. (How and when did this happen?) is brings about such tugging feelings. I don’t feel appropriately mature to be right here right now. But I am. at’s life.
And I need a dress.
I know I will find one. Perhaps I already have. I just need to pull the trigger, or swipe the plastic – if we are being honest. Which I will do. I’ve got to wear something. e alternative wouldn’t be pretty. But we don’t want to go there.
I best get shopping.
navigating parenthood
By Eva Dwight, B.A. MaEd.
Homework...for the fun of it
Shhhhhh…don’t tell anyone…but… homework can be fun.
I’m serious. Some of the best times I’ve spent with my boys have been when we were doing homework.
ere’s no doubt about it, homework has monopolized our lives most nights and weekends between August and June for the last 12 years. ere have been times when we’ve all wanted to throw the textbooks out the window, and not every moment has been joyful. But as with most challenges, attitude can make all the difference.
Research shows that when adults enjoy their work, they are more motivated and successful. at’s true for kids, too. If they can find some fun in their work, they’ll be more likely to do it well and value the accompanying success they experience at school.
Making homework at least mildly enjoyable has required major parenting effort, but it’s also been an opportunity for my husband and me to teach work ethic, spend quality time with our children, and actually create some great memories!
Some of our successful strategies include:
• Sit nearby and do “adult homework,” (reading, paying bills, etc.). Just being close provides opportunities for conversation about the homework, how the day went, etc.
• Study for 15 minutes several days in a row instead of an hour the night before a test, to improve retention (both parents’ and kids’). Cracking jokes about the subject matter or asking the kid to fill in the details “between the lines” sparks
conversation and interest.
• Instead of parents trying to make sense of notes they don’t understand (Whoa...chemistry! How can I possibly quiz you over this?), the kid can explain notes or procedures to the parent. If the parent notices a significant level of struggling, it’s time to contact the teacher and make an appointment for more help.
• Make up silly rhymes, stories or mental pictures to connect pieces of information, or use the first letter of each word in a grouping to make a nonsense word or sentence. (For example: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza pies equals the planets, in order.)
us through many a tired hour, and lots of boring material is more interesting when read aloud (and, occasionally, made fun of).
Life comes at you fast, as the commercial goes, and one of the chief complaints parents and kids have is that they don’t have enough time to be together. It’s easy to overlook homework as an opportunity for connection, so when I consider all those hours our kids could have spent doing their homework alone, I believe we’re better as a family for having made it a team effort. Now when the answer to, What do you need help with? is, “Nothing,” I’m a little bummed. Who’d have ever thought I’d miss doing homework?
• Playing “memory” with flash cards is a whole lot more fun than just “doing flash cards.”
• Taking turns reading pages of textbooks, stopping periodically to discuss what we’ve read, has gotten
Eva Dwight offers parent coaching, couples coaching and personal coaching for adults, children and teens. For more parenting articles and information, go to www.creativecoachingconversations. com/blog.
By Erica Odello
Tie-dye flowers
is project comes courtesy of my 10-year-old daughter. She made these in class last year and had such fun she wanted to teach it to me. When my mom had to have surgery last month, we decided that this was the perfect craft for a get-well gift.
You will need: 1 package of paper coffee filters, pipe cleaners, water soluble magic markers, food coloring, spray bottle, tray with sides, glass jar, tissue.
Less-mess flowers
Separate out six coffee filters and flatten them as much as possible. Color the coffee filters with the magic markers, getting as much coverage as possible. I found two techniques that worked really well: Draw in circles or section the filter into quadrants. Designate one filter for the leaf.
Place one filter in the bottom of the tray and spray with water until the paper is just saturated. Let sit until the color spreads, then remove and spread flat on some dry newspaper. Rinse the tray and repeat with all of the filters.
More-mess flowers
Flatten six coffee filters as much as possible. Spray a light coat of water in the bottom of the tray, then place one of the filters inside. If it doesn’t get completely saturated, spray on more water.
Choose two to three food-coloring bottles. Drip two to three splashes of each color across the filters. If the color doesn’t spread as much as you’d like, use the spray bottle to encourage the color along.
Immediately remove the filter to a dry newspaper and rinse the tray out. Repeat for the rest of the coffee filters, designating one for the leaf.
Assembly
Gather five of the filters after they have dried. Cut petals into the filters, either as straight lines or round the edges out.
Use a pen tip to poke two small holes in the center of the filters, then thread the top 1.5 inches of two pipe cleaners through the holes. Gather the filters into a bunch, then wrap the shorter ends of the pipe cleaners to hold the shape of the flower.
Cut the filter designated as petals into a rough shape of a leaf, gather in the middle, then hold in place by wrapping the pipe cleaner stem around the gather. Repeat entire process until you’ve made as many flowers as desired. When complete, wrap a piece of tissue around a glass bottle and secure in place with another pipe cleaner. is is your vase.
School News
Have news about your school? Send it to us at christina@timespublications.com.
New graduate Benjamin Craypo of Mesa earned his Bachelor of Science in ITsoftware emphasis degree from Western Governors University (WGU). e university held its 31st semi-annual commencement ceremony in Salt Lake City on July 16 and celebrated the graduation of more than 8,000 graduates.
Red Mountain High School events
“Road to College Night” is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, when students will meet with representatives from ASU, NAU, U of A, GCU and MCC in Red Mountain’s auditorium. Kids can learn about completing the FAFSA, paying for college, accessing scholarships and out-of-state schools.
e deadline for all senior portraits at Southwest Portrait Studio is Saturday, Sept. 17. Book an appointment by calling 480-2221199.
e homecoming dance is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in the gym. Tickets go on sale Sept. 9, when they will cost $25. From Sept. 12 to Sept. 16, the price rises to $35.
Sept. 19 to Sept. 23 is spirit week and tickets will cost $40. Ticket sales will be capped at 1,400. Preference will be given to RMHS students. Visitor passes may be obtained at any time but visitor tickets may only be purchased between Sept. 19 and Sept. 23. Paper tickets will not be issued. Students must have an ID to purchase tickets and must bring the ID to the dance. Your ID is your ticket. Plan ahead as there will be no refunds issued for tickets.
Adviser Catherine Bianchi is looking for students who would be willing to help Mendoza Elementary with its Haunted Hoedown on Friday, Oct. 21.
Sophomores and juniors who are interested in traveling and learning about other cultures are encouraged to apply for Mesa Sister Cities Youth Ambassador program. Mesa students will have to opportunity to travel to Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand or Peru in early June. Afterward, participants will host exchange students from those countries in Mesa in late June through July 17. For complete information and application details, visit mesasistercities.org. e deadline to apply is Nov. 10.
Creative Coaching Conversations
Mountain View student named to U.S. Army All-American Marching Band
By Laurie Struna
Mountain View High School senior Scott Allen has been selected for the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. Allen joins an elite group of marching band members who will perform during halftime at the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Jan. 7.
“ is is a really big deal,” said Scott Burgener, band director at Mountain View High School.
“Scott is being recognized by a national ensemble as one of the top 125 high school senior marching musicians and color guard members from across the country.” He will receive an allexpenses paid trip, and have the opportunity to showcase his talents during the largest celebration of high school football in the country.
Allen has one small obstacle to conquer before marching in Texas. He recently broke his ankle and foot, and is rehabilitating from his injuries. He’s not letting it get him down. Allen remains active as a section leader with the Mountain View Toro Marching Band.
piece, “3 Etudes on emes of Gershwin” by Paul Harvey, for weeks with his private instructor to ensure that he was playing at his best. His week in San Antonio will be busy, as the dream team of all-star players from across the country will meet for the first time. Members will rehearse and memorize an entire halftime show in three days.
Life Coaching for Teens
“I am excited and honored to be a member of the U.S. All-American Marching Band,” Allen said. “It sort of feels like winning the lottery, because there are thousands of people who audition.”
e All-State clarinetist credits his family, instructors and trusty dog, Violet, who howls along when he plays, for helping him achieve this honor. Allen worked on his audition
Allen said one of the things he loves most about being a clarinetist is the ability to keep improving. After high school his plans are to attend college, preferably on a full-ride music scholarship, double majoring in engineering and clarinet performance.
“I want to be in a professional symphony or concert band, give clarinet lessons and help develop future technology,” Allen said.
Happy Labor Day!
September 5
Mountain View High School senior Scott Allen, who recently broke his ankle and foot, practices with his trusty dog, Violet, who howls along when he plays.
top 10 family events
September 2016
1 2016 Season Kick-Off
Come enjoy live music, performances, food vendors and fun for all ages as Mesa Arts Center kicks off its fall season.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
COST: Free INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
2 Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook
Based on the book series by Barbara Park, this story will be perfect for young kids.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Oct. 16, various times
WHERE: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
COST: $12 to $26
INFO: childsplayaz.org
3 Video Game Olympics
Compete with other students in Fruit Ninja, Kinect Sports and Just Dance as a fun way to stay fit. The top scorers will win prizes and be Video Game Olympic champions.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Halle Heart Children’s Museum, 2929 S. 48th St., Tempe COST: Free INFO: leheartchildrensmuseum.org or 602-414-2800
4 You Can’t Take It With You
A seemingly normal family runs into hysterically funny trouble in this classic play. Winning both the Pulitzer Prize for Best Play and the Academy Award for Best Picture, this performance is ideal for the whole family.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 13, through Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. WHERE: Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert COST: $18 to $30 INFO: haletheatrearizona.com or 480-497-1181
5 Batman Day
Celebrate Batman Day with activities, trivia, coloring and more.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 1758 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa COST: Free INFO: 480-545-8507
6 Mad Science
Put on your goggles and
experiment to learn about science with your friends. Pick up your ticket at the Youth Services Desk before space runs out.
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First St., Mesa
COST: Free
INFO: mesalibrary.org or 480-644-3100
7 Curious George Storytime
Celebrate the 75th birthday of everybody’s favorite monkey, Curious George, with storytime and activities.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 1758 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa
COST: Free
INFO: 480-545-8507
8 Game On!
Bring your entire family to play board and Wii games for the afternoon.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First St., Mesa
COST: Free INFO: mesalibrary.org or 480-644-3100
9 MIMkids Musical Adventures
Come learn about Latin American culture and instruments as you make music, create instruments and explore the museum with a tour guide.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 10, at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: MIM, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix
COST: $12
INFO: mim.org or 480-245-6962
10 Flashlight Tours
Bring a flashlight and explore the desert gardens at night. Different discovery and activity stations are planned for each evening.
WHEN: Every Thursday and Saturday until Sept. 23 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Desert Botanical Gardens, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix
COST: $10 to $22
INFO: dgb.org or 480-941-1225
events calendar
Choreography with EPIK Dancers and Visiting Guest Artists
Come learn to dance with EPIK, a professional level choreography-based class that covers everything from contemporary to hip hop.
WHEN: Every Thursday through Dec. 15 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa COST: $8
INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Luke Holland
Drummer Luke Holland is a member of the band The Word Alive and was voted 2013’s Drummer of the Year.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Club Red, 1306 W. University Dr., Mesa COST: $13
INFO: clubredrocks.com or 480-258-2733
Watsky
Known for his track, “Pale Kid Raps Fast,” Watsky is a growing success on the hip-hop/rap scene.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Club Red, 1306 W. University Dr., Mesa COST: $20 to $55 INFO: clubredrocks.com or 480-258-2733
Footloose
This classic Oscar- and Tonynominated musical tells the story of a young boy adjusting to a small farming town with excessive rules and a ban on dancing.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, to Monday, Sept. 25, various times
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
COST: $28 to $31
INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Paradise Lost
This art exhibit features Tucson artist Daniel Martin Diaz’s drawings, which are a visual interpretation of Milton’s Paradise Lost.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 15, various times
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa COST: Call for ticket information INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Opening Reception for Off the Page
Enjoy musical entertainment and refreshments before visiting the museum’s new art exhibit. Off the Page examines literature’s influence on contemporary art and different styles of storytelling.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
COST: Call for ticket information
INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Kandi Kid Nation
This performance will feature many Arizona DJs including Jangles, DJ Zeus, DJ Maromi, DJ Grund and SID.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 10, at 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Club Red, 1306 W. University Dr., Mesa
COST: $10 to $12
INFO: clubredrocks.com or 480-258-2733
Glassblowing
Work in teams to create glass vessels after a lesson on Italian-style glass blowing by David Vogt.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
COST: Call for ticket information
INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Who’s Live Anyway?
The current cast of the TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? will present 90 minutes of comedic improv and songs influenced by the audience’s suggestions.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
COST: $32 to $52
INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Art of Dying
Formed by lead singer Jonny Hetherington and guitarist Greg Bradley, this Canadian rock band is best known for “Die Trying.”
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Club Red, 1306 W. University Dr., Mesa
COST: $16 to $20
INFO: clubredrocks.com or 480-258-2733
The Monkees
Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Monkees, a band that has made a huge impact on music and pop culture.
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
COST: $37 to $100
INFO: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
Anthony Green
American singer/songwriter Anthony Green is the lead singer for Circa Survive and also maintains a solo career. He is known for his high tenor vocal range and has sung with seven other bands.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa COST: $17.50
INFO: niletheater.com or 480-559-5859
Stateline
This Arizona band presents original country music as well as covers of ’80s country music and will share their
Mesa Arts Center kicks off a season that will be stories to life
By Christina Haase
Bookworms rejoice! Mesa Arts Center has a page-turner of a new season that you won’t want to put down.
e whimsical adventure begins with the annual Season Kickoff Festival, called “Between the Lines” from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.
Live music from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock stage will become the soundtrack to the evening as patrons enjoy a delicious cold treat from Paleta’s Betty and watch live demos and pop-up dance performances. e family-friendly block party will include performances by Vessel Project, with well-known literary characters stepping out of paragraphs into the real world, a book sale and signing by local authors, hands on activities
by Page Coach and imaginative word play by Humor Writes and Phonetic Spit on the Project Lit Stage.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum will reopen with five new exhibitions inspired by literature. Enjoy museworthy pieces in “Worldwide Wanderings” by Beatrice Coron, an internationally recognized papercutting artist; “Paradise Lost” by Daniel Martin Diaz, a new series comprising 10 allegorical illustrations, and “Off the Page,” which will feature works that look at the influences literature has on contemporary art and interconnected nature of visual and written storytelling.
“Disillusioned” by Dina Goldstein will feature select pieces from Goldstein’s two most prominent series: “Fallen Princesses” and “Gods of Suburbia.”
And “ e Footnote Chronicles” by Corinne Geertsen features digitally manipulated photographs that depict characters often times in precarious predicaments.
From fiction to nonfiction, mystery, comedy or action, no matter what genre is your favorite, there is something for everyone this season. Get your “LOLs” out with an evening of improv from the “Who’s Live Anyway?” performers. Learn a new recipe or two for your own cookbook from the Barefoot Contessa, herself, Ina Garten. e “National Geographic Live!” series brings history and science off the page onto the main stage and master storyteller, Neil Gaiman will take you on a fantastical journey through modern fairytales when he stops by
the Ikeda theater next year. roughout the season, Project Lit, an engagement initiative that is committed to building literacy, will bring new opportunities to students both in the classroom and after school. Teaching artists from across the Valley will connect art through the use of creative tools such as improvisation, spoken word and hiphop to institutional literacy standards. is electrifying project reaches over 55,000 students annually.
For patrons who say libraries are their happy place, don’t continue to scour through chapters to get to the good parts, grab your fellow bibliophiles and start writing your own adventure at Mesa Arts Center this year.
By Kathy Kerby
Dolce Vita grocery and gelato like a visit to Italy
Have you ever wanted to take a trip to Italy? Dolce Vita’s grocery store and gelato restaurant will give you tiny tastes of the European country.
Walter (pronounced Valter) Bergamo, who is from Bergamaochi in the Italian Alps, and his wife, Marti Printy, opened Gelato Dolce Vita 10 years ago on the southeastern corner of Brown and Higley roads. Six years later, they introduced the Italian Grocer and small restaurant because, according to Marti, “they got tired of the food in Arizona and wanted something good to eat.”
When customers walk into Dolce Vita, they must make an immediate choice. Do they go right into the grocery store or to the left and indulge in luscious gelato? e answer is to do
both. e grocery offers many hardto-find-items at reasonable prices. ere isn’t another place in the East Valley where you can find quality cured meats and cheeses from Europe. It’s all there—meats like bresaola and speck to cheeses like pecorino and asiago. Walter is happy to let customers sample and, while he’s at it, he offers an Italian vocabulary lesson as they make their selections.
e Dolce Vita grocery store and restaurant side boasts shelves and shelves of pasta, sauces, cookies, genuine Gardena chocolates, coffees, bread sticks, marmalades and olives.
Two glass cases hold the meats and cheeses and several tables with redand-white checkered tablecloths welcome guests. A pink Vespa with
the store’s website printed on the front adds a whimsical touch and it brought back memories for me and my sister, Karen, of dodging Vespas in Venice.
When we stopped perusing and sat down to eat, we ordered the Bruschetta Classica ($7.50). e rustic, toasted bread had been rubbed with garlic and piled high with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and a nice drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. is lovely creation was placed on top of an aged wooden cutting board which added to the authenticity. We enjoyed each crunchy, creamy spicy bite. e insalatina (salad) was a mix of organic salad greens and large slices of tomatoes served with an oil and vinegar dressing in a bowl big enough
for two. A simple salad is often the best and this one was perfect.
Next, we tasted the contadino panino and the Dolce Vita panino ($7). ese may be called paninis, but they aren’t like the sorts that are served in most restaurants.
Because we don’t speak Italian, it was nice to have a large sign with lists and pictures of the various meats (salumi) and cheeses (formaggi).
5251
www.gelatodolcevita.com
Dolce Vita Italian Grocer and Gelato Dolce Vita
The bruschetta was topped with large chunks of fresh mozzarella.
Two glass cases feature the luscious gelato made fresh by owner Walter Bergamo.
What’s Cooking?
By Jan D’Atri
Donna’s English toffee is the perfect gift
We ate it only once a year during the holidays, and every time I bit into an almond Roca, I remember thinking there wasn’t anything on earth as delicious as this!
at’s probably one of the reasons I’ve always been so timid about making homemade English toffee. If I couldn’t make it just like the quintessential bites of Roca, I wouldn’t even try. en came the email from Donna Nall of Phoenix along with her recipe for English coffee. Since then, I’m embarrassed to tell you how many batches of this favorite childhood delight I’ve been stirring up— much to my neighbor’s delight.
caramel and fondant for pecan log rolls, caramel for pecan turtles, ganache for truffles and several kinds of fudge. is can be a two- or three-day process, so I wanted to find a recipe that would take the place of the pecan log rolls and truffles. When I found this English toffee recipe, my first reaction was there are hardly any ingredients in this recipe and I had all them on hand, so why not give it a try?
I’ve been making candy for years and I couldn’t believe how fast this toffee recipe came together. Now it is the only candy I make other than fudge.”
Here’s Donna’s email: “Jan, for the past 10 years my gift to my family and friends is baking homemade candy but the candy process is very painstaking. I make
Before you know it, it will be the holidays we’ll be looking for gifts from the kitchen and new recipes for cookie exchanges. Donna has just given us a delicious head start.
Donna’s English Toffee
You will need:
Silicone sheet or parchment paper
Jellyroll pan
Candy thermometer
3-quart saucepan, preferably nonstick
Food processor
Wooden spoon
Ingredients:
4 cups whole almonds
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
(minis work well)
11/2 cups unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons corn syrup
3 tablespoons water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour almonds on baking sheet and roast for 5 minutes. Stir almonds and roast for another 5 minutes. Let cool. Pour almonds in small batches
into food processor and chop fine. Measure 3 1/2 cups and set aside. Line jelly roll pan with parchment paper or silicone sheet. Pour chocolate chips onto surface and evenly disperse. Cut butter into cubes and place in the 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar, water and corn syrup and bring to boil. Attach candy thermometer and let boil until mixture reaches 302 degrees. ( e hard crack stage.) Remove from heat and add 3 1/2 cups almonds, mixing thoroughly. Quickly pour over chocolate chips and spread over the entire baking sheet with wooden spoon. Add the remaining chopped almonds to the top of the candy and score the top of the candy with a knife (this helps to break the candy up evenly once it has hardened). Allow it to set up over night. Break into pieces and store in plastic container lined with parchment paper.
By Alison Stanton
Dentist Weston Hollis follows in the footsteps of his father
From the time Weston Hollis was 4, he knew he wanted to work in the health-care field.
His dad, Dr. Craig R. Hollis, is a dentist in Mesa, and Weston has fond memories of going to his office.
“I loved going with him to work and I loved seeing what he did,” Weston said. “I knew that dentistry was always an option.”
Weston has not only fulfilled his dream of being a dentist, he also works with his dad in the same practice.
In June, Weston graduated from University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UOP) in San Francisco—the same school his dad graduated from in 1983—and in July he started working at Hollis Family Dental in Mesa.
“I’m with my dad a couple of days a week, and I also work at a pediatric practice in Phoenix,” Weston said.
Hollis Family Dental provides general dentistry services, including check-ups, fillings and crowns.
“My father has a lot of established patients and we recently started accepting children. We now see patients ages 1 to 100-plus.”
Looking back, Weston said one of the reasons dentistry initially appealed to him is that he knew it was a good way to make a living.
As he got older and into college, Weston realized that being a dentist would also allow him to pursue one of his other passions: helping others.
“When I went to BYU for college, I became very passionate about
volunteerism and outreach,” Weston said.
“BYU is really invested in programs like that, and I knew that the dental route would be a good one to go into, because there would be lots of opportunities to give back.”
While Weston was at UOP, he served as copresident of the Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) program.
“I basically oversaw all of the community outreach events for the dental school,” Weston said.
awesome experience.”
Weston, who was born and raised in Mesa and graduated from Mountain View High School in 2007, said he is thrilled with his decision to become a dentist and work in his dad’s practice.
Dr. Weston Hollis, right, knew from a young age that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Dr. Craig R. Hollis, and become a dentist.
“I was also the vice president of the Fiji Dental Mission and helped plan two mission trips to Fiji to provide dental care for the people there.”
A highlight of one of the Fiji trips was Weston’s dad accompanying the group.
“My dad came with us and that was a lot of fun. We did lots of fillings and extractions. Having him there was an
“My dad has always been 100% supportive of anything that I wanted to do. For me, this is something that I really enjoy.”
Craig is pleased that his son is staying in Mesa and practicing dentistry with him at Hollis Family Dental.
“I am very excited to have my son return home to practice with me,” Craig said.
“I have been serving in Mesa for 33 years and I am pleased with Weston’s decision to return home and continue our family tradition.”
Hollis Family Dental is at 5043 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa. For more information, call 480-654-5500 or visit craigrhollisdds.com.
By Alison Stanton
A-Authentic Garage Door Service Co. offers
fast and expert help
Darrell Peruch, owner of A-Authentic Garage Door Service Co., understands how stressful it can be to discover that the garage door will not open. is knowledge inspired him to offer emergency service to his customers, often within an hour.
“When we get a phone call from a customer who is saying, ‘Oh my gosh, my springs broke in my garage door and I need to get out,’ we can usually get there really fast,” he said.
“I am sure to staff appropriately so we can get to customers that quickly most of the time.”
e company’s motto reflects this commitment to the customers, Peruch said.
“Our tagline is, ‘We will be there when you need us,’” he said.
Since A-Authentic Garage Door Service Co. opened in 1999, Peruch said it has trived to offer top-notch garage door service and replacement services.
“We repair or replace garage doors and openers. We can work with anybody who has a garage door, including light commercial customers,” Peruch said.
Although Peruch said there are not a lot of changes that take place in the garage door industry, he said they do stay abreast of the latest technology and products.
For example, the Wi-Fi garage door openers are catching the eye and interest of customers, he said.
“ ey are MyQ compatible, and you
The team from A-Authentic Garage Door Service Co. enjoys helping customers who find themselves trapped in the garage with a door that won’t open.
can open and close your garage door with your iPhone,” he said.
Wi-Fi openers are ideal for people who routinely get to work and ask themselves, “Did I close my garage door?”
“You can check from your phone if it is closed.
“ is way, if it was left open it won’t be open all day, and people won’t come back home and find that everything in the garage is gone,” he said.
Peruch said he is proud of his company’s many repeat customers and numerous referrals.
Peruch also likes knowing that he and his staff are helping people, some of whom are dealing with an emergency situation.
A-Authentic Garage Door Service Co. is located at 22051 N. 23rd Ave., Phoenix.
For more information, call 480-6358114 or visit arizonagaragedoors.com. In Tucson, call 740-1050.
law talk
By Kevin J. Chapman
I like your sheep outfit, Mr. Wolf
What your auto insurance company may be pulling on you
In their never-ending quest to maximize their profits, auto insurance companies experiment with various, at times questionable, tactics to deprive accident victims from payment for their injuries and property damage. Some insurers even try to change the laws of some of the states.
We buy auto insurance because it is the law, because we want to protect ourselves if we or our loved ones cause a crash, and to provide compensation for the injured in those crashes. With our auto insurance we buy peace of mind and expect to be covered and kept out of a lawsuit. We expect those we accidentally injure will get compensation for their harm. When we have a claim on our own policy, we expect our auto insurance company will treat us fairly reasonably. We have paid them a lot of hard-earned money, after all.
Auto insurance companies are big and obscenely profitable, as any Google search shows. ey are all about making and keeping money. Naturally they like premium payments and hate paying claims. Consequently, most states also have a government agency to oversee and regulate insurance companies to try to make sure the insurance companies do what they promise to do and not chose profits over people.
Here’s the latest ploy one major auto insurance company is trying out in Arizona and several other states: (1) using Medicare rates for a crash victim’s medical bills, rather than the actual medical bill amount charged by
the hospital or a victim’s doctors; (2) leading to insultingly low settlement offers based on the lower Medicare rates; (3) thus forcing crash victims to sue; (4) as this insurance company looks for the “perfect” test case to appeal up through the courts to try to change state law to limit a victim’s compensation. What that means is, if you are insured by this company and you cause an accident, you are more likely to get sued because your company’s settlement offer will leave the victim no choice. It also means if you have a claim against this company, you will probably have to sue to get the compensation you deserve. Yes, that means you would be an involuntary pawn in an insurer’s greedy chess game. Fighting any insurance company is not easy and even harder when an insurance company wants you to sue their insured. Not every law firm is willing to fight, and some would rather settle for the “best” offer and stay away from a courtroom. at is not what we do to help our clients—when all other options have been tried, we go to court to seek compensation for what our clients have suffered or lost. If you need help dealing with your insurance company due to an accident, call us at 480-833-1113 we are happy to speak with you.
Kevin Chapman is the managing partner at Rowley Chapman & Barney. He attended Arizona State University (B.S. 1986; J.D. 1992). His practice revolves around accidents and personal injury.
COME
BEAUTY SERVICES
your hair & nail needs! Perms, Highlights, Razor Cuts, Back Combing, Roller Sets, Weddings. NOW OPEN ON TUESDAYS!
Mary Ann’s Hair Parlor
3049 E. McKellips Rd., Ste. 3 Mesa, AZ 85213 480-641-0334
CHILDCARE SERVICES
Las Sendas Mom Newborn & Up 16 Years’ Experience CPR Certified
HOME IMPROVEMENT
ALL AMERICAN REMODELING AND HANDYMAN SERVICE
Need some help around the house? Please call, I do it all!
*Design
*Carpentry
*Paint
*Flooring
*Electric
*Plumbing
*Drywall And More!
Small projects to full remodels & hydrotherapy tubs
Todd 480-388-5335
HOME REMODELING/REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING
Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all.
Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more.
All trades done by hands-on General Contractor.
Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable.
40 years’ experience.
Call Ron Wolfgang Office 480-820-8515
Cell 602-628-9653
Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934
ANNABEL’S CLEANING SERVICE LLC
Since 2002 Mesa’s Finest House Cleaning Service. No Contracts Ever!
Insured, Member BBB Office: 480-666-8869
www.annabelservice.com See our ad in the Biz Box section
FISH WINDOW CLEANING
Summer is here, let the Fish crew remove the dirt and grime from your windows: We make your WINDOWS SPARKLE, SUNSCREENS SHINE!
Call 480-962-4688 now to secure your spot on the cleaning schedule.
Accredited Member BBB
REFLECTIONS WINDOW CLEANING
Make your home sparkle with the cleanest windows you’ve ever seen!
Instant 10% discount
FREE estimates
BONDED and INSURED. Member IWCA 480-892-1999
HAULING SERVICES
DAVE’S DUMPING & HAULING
I haul it all!
Yard/construction debris, junk, furniture, appliances, clean-outs, etc., etc., etc., Jobs both big & small I’m a 6th grade Mesa teacher working his 2nd job.
Phone Estimates
Dave 480-360-5865 or 480-360-JUNK
POOL SERVICES
PET SERVICES
PAWS AT HOME
Pet Sitter for 10 years. I’m available 7 days a week to take care of your furry family member. Lots of love. www.azpawsathome.com 602-359-8389
YOUR PAMPERED PETS
Pet Sitting – 17 year Las Sendas Resident Professional, loving pet care services personalized to your specific needs. Daily visits, dog walking, mid-day visits/ potty breaks, pet taxi, and more. Pet CPR/ First Aid Certified. Fully insured with Special Property Coverage. References proudly provided. Please call Kelly Roberts at 480-229-7596 to schedule your complimentary initial meeting or visit www.yourpamperedpetsaz.com
TRAVEL
ENOS
MARK’S HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIRS
Specializing in Cabinetry: touch up, repair, modify, roll-out drawers, reface and installs. Upgrade your drawers and glides to get more space and access 100% of the drawer.
Soft close hinges and drawer glides. Create a trash recycle center.
Replace the base cabinet shelves with roll out drawers for easier access.
Plumbing, electric, irrigation, garage doors, water heaters, tile and drywall repairs, carpentry, handyman lists and other services.
All work guaranteed. Sean Sornberger 480-699-7990
LANDSCAPING SERVICES
ALL PRO TREE SERVICE, LLC
Tree Trimming, Tree Removals, Stump Grinding, Monthly Landscape Maintenance, Full Yard Clean Ups, Palm Trees, Deep Root Fertilization, Irrigation, Etc.
Free Estimate, Very Professional, Insured, and Bonded!
Visa & MasterCard Accepted
Mention this Ad and Receive 15% off Discount! 480-354-5802 or dennis@allprotrees.com See Our Ad in the Biz Box Section
PAINTING
INTERIOR HOME PAINTING
Want a fresh new room color? Or a wall in perfect stripes?
Artistic with fine lines 35 Years Experience Bob 520-413-3005 Or 480-316-9064
AS
Sand change at AMAZING price. Clean & Inspect DE or cartridge filters. CPO Technician ROC 303766 LIZARDPOOLSLLC 480-489-0713
CLEAN SPLASH POOL SERVICE
Weekly service starting at $70 per month. Repairs – Maintenance – Acid Washing Free Estimates & Consultation CPO Certified/APSP Member Bonded & Insured 480-216-3229
TUTORING SERVICES
AFTER-SCHOOL TUTOR
Individualized reading and math instruction offered in my Red Mountain Ranch home. All ages. Math through Algebra II. Ten years tutoring experiences – reasonable rates. Call Linda 480-641-1583
PROFESSIONAL TUTORING
Individualized, at-home instruction for grades K-12. Multiple subjects including Math, Reading and Writing. Preparation for college entrance tests. Assistance for home-schooling, behavioral, organizational and special education concerns. Call Philip N. Swanson, Ph. D. 480-677-9459
