Young Marines win national award for anti-drug efforts
Young Marines Gunnery Sgt. Tyson Henry, a 15-year-old sophomore at Mountain View High, recently accepted the Fulcrum Shield Award at the Pentagon on behalf of his Mesa unit.
e award is given by the Department of Defense annually to military-affiliated youth organizations around the world that have made intensive efforts at
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e Falcon Field terminal-upgrade project recently won the Southwest Region Best Project in the Renovation/ Restoration category for 2016 in the Engineering News-Record Regional Best Projects competition.
e annual awards honor construction projects in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
e Southwest region includes Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. Among the 20 categories, ranging from airports to sports-and-entertainment venues, each is judged using five criteria: safety; overcoming challenges and teamwork; innovation and contribution to the industry; construction quality and
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Starting in this month’s Nearby News The View, you’ll have a chance to use your wits to win prizes!
You’ll find our new Scramblers Puzzle on Page 12. Just send your completed puzzle to us at: wits
1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, AZ 85282
We’ll select a lucky winner from among the correct entries received.
Watch for our announcement of the winner in next month’s edition. If you see your name, contact us by Jan. 10, 2017, to claim your prize. Good luck!
The final winner in our Fake Ad contest is Colleen Joplin, who correctly identified the fake ad, “TinFoil Headwear.”
Publisher
Times Media Group
President
Steve T. Strickbine
Editor in Chief
Roberta J. Peterson
Managing Editor Lee Shappell
Associate Editor
Srianthi Perera
Graphic Design
Veronica Martinez, Paul Braun, Christy Byerly
Administration
Courtney Oldham
Contributors
Alison Stanton, Nancy Norman, Ken LaFave, Scott Shumaker, Kimberly Hosey, Jill Pertler, Carson Mlnarik, Jan D’Atri, Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Contact the Nearby News at 480-898-5614 • Fax: 480-898-5606
Editor@NearbyNews.com
For more information visit our website at www.NearbyNews.com
Distribution Services Provided By (480) 898-6500
The View is published monthly and mailed to 8,000 homes. Additional copies are distributed at high-traffic locations throughout the area. We have been the voice of the Groves and surrounding communities for more than 15 years. If you are interested in advertising in this publication, please call our office.
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spreading anti-drug messages in local communities.
“We are extremely proud of East Valley Young Marines for their passionate efforts in educating the local community on the hazards of ‘gateway drugs’ through ‘Closing the Gate on Drugs’,” said retired Col. Bill Davis, Young Marines National Executive Director.
“ eir message reached thousands of adults and youth, making a real impact that extends beyond just our members.”
e Mesa chapter has been active in schools in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Fountain Hills and Queen Creek, teaching their peers and setting a high example for other youth to follow.”
In 2014, the Young Marines unveiled “Closing the Gate on Drugs” on a national scale. It consists of lessons that help young people learn and practice new skills and strategies for resisting drugs. ese “gateway drugs” include tobacco, alcohol, inhalant abuse, marijuana and over-the-counter/ prescription medication.
e East Valley unit partnered with the Mesa Police Department for training. Unit members also developed a partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs from Mesa, Apache Junction, Gilbert, Tempe, and Scottsdale, scheduling monthly meetings to present more than 50 Drug Demand Reduction classes throughout the year.
“In a 22-year career in law
enforcement, I never arrested anyone for methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine or any other perceived ‘more dangerous’ drugs that didn’t start abusing one of the gateway drugs first,” said Joe Lusignan, the Young Marines’ drug demandreduction resource officer. “We focus on the gateway drugs because these are the drugs our school-age children are more likely to be exposed to and tempted by.”
Lusignan says that winning the Fulcrum Shields shows that a single unit can make a difference and “can make an impact not only in their community, but in the national arena.”
e Young Marines is a national nonprofit 501c(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age 8 through completion of high school. e Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. e program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline, so that members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Since its beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to 281 units with 9,600 youth and 2,400 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Okinawa with affiliates in other countries.
For more information, visit YoungMarines.com.
Clarinetist Scott Allen to play at halftime of January bowl game in San Antonio
Ten Valley high school marching band students, including clarinetist Scott Allen of Mountain View High, have been selected to the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. ey recently completed a six-stop tour of the Valley, with performances in Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale and Phoenix, in preparation for their trip to play at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game in San Antonio in January.
It is rare that 10 students were chosen from the same area, band officials say. e 10 were selected from thousands of applicants across the U.S. to represent their school.
Joining Allen among Valley selections are Aiyana Harr of Desert Ridge High; Marianne Cayer, Brandon Hermreck, and Tatiana Kapos of Perry High;
Connor Siroky of Gilbert High; Ryan Ardelt, Megan Pallad and Nyle Zafar of Mountain Ridge High; and Guillermo Salazar of North Canyon High.
e U.S. Army All-American Marching Band performs each year at halftime of the nationally-broadcasted U.S. Army All-American Bowl. By becoming a U.S. Army All-American, these students join an elite group. Only 125 high school marching band members among the millions in the country are selected.
Band members are chosen not just because they excel musically, but because they are mentally and physically agile, they know the importance of teamwork and they are able to adapt to challenging situations, similar to U.S. Army soldiers.
• Professional 4 page full color flyers placed in flyer box on sign post.
Mesa’s Oriental 20 Masonic Lodge recently celebrated Education Week by honoring Mesa Public Schools teachers for their contributions to education.
Nineteen teachers received awards for their dedication to education, and three retiring teachers were awarded lifetime-achievement awards.
Honorees and guests were treated to a reception and awards presentation.
“We host this evening because it is a way for our organization to honor the hard work of people who have dedicated their lives to a truly noble profession,” said Cosmo Magliozzi, charter member. “ ey have one of the most important jobs in the world.”
Meet the teachers
Jennifer Welch, a first-grade teacher at O’Conner Elementary, for 44 years has integrated new teaching strategies with traditional methods. is has helped thousands of
• Las Sendas 6 page full color Market Report is sent out quarterly to 3200 Las Sendas homes.
• Streaming video of the Las Sendas community will be used on all my marketing. Educating everyone about Las Sendas only helps to build your equity. Go to www.vimeo. com/177929873 to view online now!
• Large monthly ad in “The View”. The community newspaper that goes out to 10,000 homes in Northeast Mesa. This ad will highlight my new listing and open houses.
students blossom and develop a love for learning.
“I am just thrilled to be honored with a lifetime-achievement award,” Welch said. “ e best part of teaching is watching my students’ progress and celebrating their accomplishments.” e road to success
Tammy Selke, a respected teaching leader, department chair and student advocate at Taylor Junior High, didn’t always know that she wanted to be an educator. And one day on her drive to work, she saw
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• Large monthly ad in “The Ranch Review” which is a community newspaper like “The View”. It goes out to 10,000 homes in Scottsdale. Why - A similar home in Scottsdale would cost 30%+ more and that home would not have the beauty and amenities of Las Sendas. Educating Scottsdale home owners and renters brings more buyers to Las Sendas.
• Doll House 3D Media System, placed on the MLS, Realtor.com and Homes.com
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a sign about a need for teachers. “I was a legal assistant barely making minimum wage, commuting twoand-a-half hours a day, when I saw that bulletin board,” Selke said. “I pulled off the highway, enrolled in school and started the next day.”
e English language-arts teacher says teachers spend long nights grading papers, but it’s all worth it in the end.
“I have worked in a variety of fields that lined my pocketbook, but teaching makes my heart full,” Selke shares.
To see all of the recipients, visit Facebook.com/mpsaz.
By Heidi Hurst
e Mesa Public Schools
Governing Board has selected six Students of the Month, from Johnson, Lincoln, O’Connor, Pomeroy, Stevenson and Zaharis elementary schools.
e six were honored at a recent board meeting.
November Students of the Month, who received plaques and other prizes, are: Rachel S. Barney, sixth-grader, Johnson Elementary; Zitlali Castro Saldivar, sixth-grader, Stevenson Elementary; Alijandra Marie Estrada, sixth-grader, Pomeroy Elementary; Rhiannon Rachelle Gore, sixth-grader, Lincoln Elementary; Maggie Moore, sixth-grader, O’Connor Elementary; and Cicily Watkins, fourth-grader, Zaharis Elementary.
Each month during the school year, students from district elementary, junior high and high schools are selected for the award
based on quality of character and excellence in leadership, academics, arts or athletics.
At board meetings, families, friends, principals and teachers join district officials to honor the selected students. As videos show them in their daily school lives, their principals or other school officials read tributes aloud.
Students receive special plaques and professional-quality portraits, provided by Mesa Public Schools. Winners also receive gift cards from the Mesa Foundation for Educational Excellence.
Student of the Month portraits hang on walls of honor in the Board Room and in the lobby of the Administrative Services Center. ese smiling faces remind everyone that Students of the Month are shining examples of how high expectations pay off for the children in Mesa Public Schools.
craftsmanship; and functionality of design and aesthetic quality.
“ e design took to heart the overarching goal for this project: to send a strong message that this airport is at the center of Mesa’s aerospace and high-tech industry,” said Sandra Kukla of DWL Architects + Planners, principal in charge for the project. “ e new terminal is contemporary both inside and out, but elements of the design evoke memories of the airport’s past as a World War II pilot-training base.”
e $1.8 million comprehensive remodeling expanded the terminal to 4,734 square feet from 3,560.
e new terminal includes enhanced public waiting and pilot briefing space, meeting room, upgraded restrooms, new airside and landside patios and public viewing areas. Interior improvements include an upgraded arrival experience.
Falcon Field opened in September 1941 as a military airport to train British Royal Air Force and U.S. Army Air Corps pilots. Today it is among the top 10 most-active general-aviation airports in the U.S., serving corporate, military, public safety, recreational and instructional aviation.
“Falcon Field is a regional hub for aviation business and recreational activity, and these improvements not only reflect the continuous improvements that we make to the airport’s infrastructure, but also will help us remain competitive in our efforts to attract businesses and continue to be financially self-sustaining,” said Corinne Nystrom, the airport director.
e terminal upgrades project will next compete in the Best of the Best Projects 2016, a national juried competition.
e thriving general-aviation reliever airport, owned and operated by Mesa, has established itself as a safe, contemporary, friendly airport that takes pride in its unique history. Falcon Field is committed to providing the public a valuable air transportation resource and enhancing the aeronautical industry in the community.
Phoenix-based DWL Architects + Planners, Inc. is among the most dynamic and respected Valley-owned architecture firms. Its work has been consistently recognized locally, nationally and internationally.
For more information: falconfieldairport.com or dwlarchitects. com.
A severe winter storm warning could be issued for north-central Mesa on Dec. 3, but the forecasted 10 tons of snow won’t be falling from the sky.
It will be delivered to Alta Mesa Park by the Mesa Transportation Department for its CycloMesa WinterFest, a bicycle and pedestrian program. e party in the park is to increase helmet-safety awareness for winter snow sports and biking.
CycloMesa WinterFest is 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the park, 1910 N. Alta Mesa Drive. It is free.
Kids are invited to play in the snow, ride a mechanical snowboard, learn proper helmet-fitting techniques and receive basic concussion education.
Food trucks, bounce houses and more reindeer games will augment the snow play.
“Helmet safety is just as important when families head up north to play in the snow as it is on bikes,” said Ashley Barinka,
Mesa Transportation Department safety educator. “When kids and adults are sledding, skiing and snowboarding, they should all wear properly-fitted helmets to avoid concussions and head injuries.”
Mesa residents are encouraged to bike to the festivities. A bike valet will be set
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up to park bikes while residents enjoy the fun.
Folks are encouraged to stick around after the snow melts for a guided familyfriendly bike ride through Alta Mesa’s neighborhood to enjoy sights of homes with holiday lights and decorations.
Mesa Transportation Department helmetsafety awareness events normally look like these in city parks. But on Dec. 3, at Alta Mesa Park, there will be an added element: Snow. Ten tons of it. The helmet-safety discussion will be expanded to include sledding, skiing and snowboarding as winter approaches and families begin thinking about trips to Northern Arizona to play in the snow. Meanwhile, kids are invited to play in the snow before it melts in Mesa.
Mesa girl has special company during jog in her honor
e Mollen Mile is a big deal to 7-yearold Cheyenne Case.
Each year, Cheyenne, a Mesa Sequioa Charter School student, looks forward to the Mollen Foundation event, in conjunction with the annual Phoenix 10K and Half Marathon. She participates in the kid’s fun run every year.
is year, Cheyenne missed it because she had been suffering from seizures. She was heartbroken.
When the Mollen Foundation heard from Cheyenne’s parents that she missed the race due to her health issues, Paige Mollen, who founded the foundation, met with Cheyenne to give her a medal and a T-shirt.
But Cheyenne expressed that she wanted to earn her finisher’s medal.
Paige then created a special Mollen Mile for Cheyenne at Mesa High, and ran it alongside her Nov. 12 to help her make her dream come true. e public was invited to join them, and several children came to run with
Cheyenne.
Dr. Art Mollen created the Phoenix 10K in 1976 with the goal of bringing the community together to encourage healthy behaviors and promote fitness. It has raised funds for various nonprofit organizations throughout the Valley over the past 41 years, placing it among the longest-running 10K races in the country.
rough the years it has been known
as the North Bank 10K and then the New Times10K. It offers several events to include people of all ages and fitness levels, including the mile-long fun run that Cheyenne missed.
e Phoenix 10K and Half Marathon benefit the Mollen Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, with a goal of educating and empowering youth and families to transform their lives by adopting healthy habits for life-long
benefits.
rough engaging, project-based programs, the Mollen Foundation offers a comprehensive approach to healthy living, including physical activity, nutrition education, leadership and resiliency skills.
More information: 480-656-0016 or mollenfoundation.org.
By Angie Sullivan, Mesa Historical Museum
Founded in 1917, the Mesa Women’s Club charter states the club formed “to promote literacy, good fellowship, social and educational interests, and municipal improvements.”
e 53 members of the Women’s Club, led by Margaret Wheeler Ross, sponsored cultural, civic, and philanthropic activities.
Members of the club also spearheaded a campaign to cover open irrigation ditches, supported Mesa’s first library, raised money for local hospitals and charities, and provided aid to needy families during the Great Depression.
constructed the Mesa Woman’s Club building, in the Spanish Revival style.
Located on the northwestern corner of Macdonald and Second Street, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the beginning, the club would rent the Guild Hall in the Episcopal Church on West Pepper Street in Mesa for its meetings, but members ultimately wanted their own building.
By 1931, the Women’s Club
By 1950, there were more than 150 members of the Mesa Women’s Club.
By 1990, the Mesa Women’s Club gave their building to the General Federation of Women’s ClubsArizona.
e federation continues to meet there regularly and maintains the building.
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Mesa Mayor John Giles is among 13 outstanding community members inducted Nov. 3 into the Mesa Community College Hall of Fame.
e ceremony was hosted in the MCC eatre at the Southern and Dobson campus by the MCC Alumni Association.
e MCC Hall of Fame honors alumni, community members and MCC employees whose personal and professional accomplishments, and positive contributions to the college and community set them apart.
e 2016 Hall of Fame class, by category: Alumni Achievement: Bland Burchett, Timothy Dorn, Giles and Emmet Ronan.
Burchett, a member of MCC’s 1975
NJCAA National Championship football team, is an engineer with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.
Dorn, Gilbert chief of police, earned his Associate in Administration of Justice degree at MCC. An Army National Guard officer, he was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Giles, owner and attorney at Giles and Dickson, P.C., attended MCC in 1981-82. He has served on more than 20 boards and committees in the Mesa area.
Ronan attended MCC 1967-69. He was a public defender and a partner in a law firm before he was appointed a Maricopa County Superior Court judge.
Outstanding Athlete: Peter Fennell, Ken Phelps and Derek Price.
Fennell, a National Junior College All American in tennis, was Arizona Community College tennis champion in singles and doubles in 1968 and 1969.
Phelps was a junior college All American and two-time first-round draft pick while attending MCC. His 11-year career in Major League Baseball began in 1980.
Price was the MCC football most valuable player in 1992. He played professionally for the Detroit Lions.
Outstanding Coach: Selmer Olson and Penny Powell.
Olson, track coach and faculty member at MCC for more than 35 years, coached dozens of national champions and Olympians.
Powell coached women’s tennis at MCC from 1975-2007, leading the underbirds to more than a dozen ACCAC and Region 1 Championships.
Excellence in Teaching: Karen Hardin, Ed.D., and Shereen Lerner, Ph.D.
Hardin received Faculty Emeritus distinction to honor her 31-year career at MCC. She was Counseling Department chair.
Lerner teaches anthropology at MCC and is MCC’s Honors Program Director. She is an award-winning teacher with 35 years of field and research experience.
Outstanding Staff : Matthew Ashcraft and Sonia Filan.
Ashcraft is Dean of Institutional Analysis and Planning at MCC. He led the processes which resulted in MCC’s 10-year re-accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.
Under Filan, director of Institutional Advancement and Entrepreneurial Programs at MCC, the college has won national awards for marketing, communications and public relations.
By Kimberly Hosey
Holiday season is upon us (I know, it seems like it was JUST Halloween), and no matter how your family likes to spend your time together, there’s something nearby to do, see or hear to celebrate. Here are just a few ways to make your holidays with kids or teens even more special.
Mesa Arizona Temple Gardens
Christmas Light Celebration
In its 37th year, the Mesa Christmas Lights display started as a modest hanging of 5,000 blue lights in the trees on the grounds of e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the public to enjoy.
e display has since become an area staple with nativity displays, countless lights, reflecting pools, recorded holiday messages in English and Spanish and coming together to tell the story of Christ, but also to welcome visitors of all ages and faiths to take in the beauty and joy of the season.
Volunteers build the display components starting in the summer. If you want a free Christmas outing, some holiday cheer or a fabulous photo op, this is a great bet.
e visitors’ center will also be open, and the Mesa Temple Christmas Concert Series will accompany the lights. e display is open 5-10 p.m. nightly. Free.
525 E. Main St., Mesa. www.mesachristmaslights.com. Friday, Nov. 25, to Saturday, Dec. 31.
ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo
You’ve probably taken your family to Phoenix Zoo during the day, but if you
haven’t visited during ZooLights, you’re missing out.
Celebrating 25 years, ZooLights is brighter and better than ever as a whole new menagerie lights up.
Millions of lights in hundreds of displays decorate the zoo in a parade of animated animals. Hundreds of displays, like 3-D light sculptures of animals, from stingrays to a tiger, await you on the trails. Also, take in lakeside music-in-motion shows, combining light and music magic for an immersive experience.
Kids will enjoy talking to the interactive Jengo the Talking Giraffe, returning with his pal, Tortuga the Talking Tortoise.
For an extra fee, kids can touch the stingrays in Stingray Bay, ride a camel or take a spin on the Endangered Species Carousel.
ZooLights run 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Check the website for special appearances on select days by the Dei Gloriam Handbell Choir, Red Mountain Carolers and Miss Amy’s Music Imaginarium. Also check out “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in the 4-D theater.
Tickets are $18, but you can purchase discount tickets with membership, an online purchase or with value tickets good for certain nights.
455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 602-273-1341. phoenixzoo.org/event-items/zoolights. Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 8.
Holiday Lights at McCormickStillman Railroad Park
All aboard! If you’re looking to add some locomotive fun to your holidaylight viewing, McCormick-Stillman
Railroad Park’s signature train ride will take you through a winter wonderland of holiday lights arranged in Christmas scenes, with holiday classic music playing all the way to keep everyone’s spirits high.
Check out the event Dec. 9 for live music, a tree-lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa, who will return every night through Dec. 23 to celebrate as you check out the park’s own fantasyland.
Train rides are $4 and carousel rides are $2. Children younger than 3 years ride free with a paying adult.
7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale. 480-312-2312. www.therailroadpark.com/events.
Phoenix’s largest real outdoor ice rink can almost make you forget you’re in Arizona for a few hours—until you realize you get to go home to a snow-free driveway.
It’s win-win!
CityScape in Downtown Phoenix hosts the rink, which has seen growing crowds in recent years. is year, the rink is offering tickets for particular times to reduce long wait times: two sessions on the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays that the rink is open, and three sessions any open days between Monday and ursday.
If you’re looking for an iconic holidayin-the-city experience, hit the ice beneath their towering Christmas tree, become bathed in multicolored light shows, and glide around (OK, try your best) to your favorite holiday music.
ey kick things off with a grandopening celebration Saturday, Nov. 26; with free photo ops with Santa, as well as Anna, Elsa and Olaf from “Frozen,” live musical performances and an official tree-lighting ceremony.
Admission is $15, $10 for senior citizens, veterans and children 8 or younger.
CityScape, 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix.
www.phxicerink.com.
Saturday, Nov. 26, to Sunday, Jan. 8 (Check website for specific open days and session times).
Lights of the World Lantern Festival at Rawhide
Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass and the U.S.-China Cultural and Educational Foundation team this year to bring the world’s largest lantern festival to the Valley.
e festival, celebrating the first month of the lunar Chinese calendar and traditionally held to mark winter’s exit, will feature traditional Chinese lanternfestival themes, as well as modern technology and lights with displays ranging from 18 to 60 feet.
Each night, cultures from around the globe will be celebrated. e festival runs 5-10 p.m., Monday through ursday; 5-11 p.m., Fridays, and 3-11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is $24.99 for adults 13 and older; $19.99 for military members with ID and seniors 65 and older; $14.99 for kids 3-12 and free for children younger than 3.
5700 W North Loop Rd., Chandler. 480-502-5600.
www.rawhide.com/index.php/specialevents/shows/lights-of-the-worldlantern-festival.
Friday, Nov. 18, to Sunday, Jan. 29.
1. Tristan Black Feather; Emma Hall, 6; Inara Hall, 8; Cora Hall, 1; and Leelee Hall are ready for the fun. 2. Model Ts and other horseless carriages show the crowd another era. 3. Hayden Haviland shows her pride at the parade. 4. Air Force veteran Bill Chaney, 98, a medic in WWII, joined the festivities. 5. Tim Henson and Jerry Zientara support their fellow veterans at the East Valley Veterans Day Parade. 6. Even Santa, a veteran of many Christmases, makes an appearance, to the delight of the crowd. 7. 2 Trenton Fitzgerald, 6, and Tyson Fitzgerald, 4, enjoy the day. 8. The parade is not complete without lots of bands.
Everyone loves a parade. Although the occasion of the East Valley Veterans Day Parade in Mesa was solemn, after proper respects were paid to those who have worn the armed forces uniforms of the U.S., it was time to enjoy a gorgeous day in salute to our veterans. 4
By Jill Pertler
She was mad – one might even describe it as cataclysmically livid.
She focused her ire at the entire family and made us aware of her displeasure with a decidedly cold shoulder and stiff whiskers.
We all knew the cause of her chagrin and weren’t about to give in to her demands. She gave us a silent, loathing stare with piercing green eyes while standing expectantly by the back door. Her intense gaze was unrelenting. As were we.
None of us was about to back down, despite the death wishes she was throwing our way via her highlyevolved extrasensory perceptive skills. e reason for her fury was no mystery: Her backyard privileges had been nixed due to a persistent and unwavering habitual pattern of
behavior we found unacceptable and downright murderous. Simply put, we refused to let her chase birds in hopes of killing them via a game she calls “play.”
at got her goat. Boy, did it ever. She loves chasing birds – is practically passionate about it.
at’s only the start.
She displays the same morbid behavior with mice, snakes and even the occasional common housefly. She acts like it’s in her DNA or something.
I suppose it’s to be expected. She is a cat. Birds and cats are mortal enemies, with cats typically being at the higher end of the food chain, giving her the definite upper hand – or outstretched claw, as the case may be.
Still, when not hunting, she’s so refined. So postured and polished. So
proper in the way she holds her tail. So dainty in the manner she nibbles her cat treats. So sophisticated in the way she jumps up on the TV table to block our view. Even when sleeping, she exhibits a certain amount of elegance. Like that of royalty.
When her fixed gaze failed to bore a hole through any of our skulls, she relented to naughtiness, clawing at the wooden door, the carpet, couch and anything else she could reach. She can be a sassy-frass that way.
We told her she was being naughty. She disagreed, telepathically, of course. en, still furious and fuming, she picked herself up on her delicate cat paws and sashayed out of the room. I figured she had in mind to go upstairs and poop on our bed. It’s what I would have done, had I been an angry cat. But cats are too neat for public pooping. She had something much more powerful in mind.
She was going to ignore us. Oh, the pain.
Cats are so smart.
I noticed her unpresence with the familial group the rest of the evening. She came down for her nightly treat but
otherwise remained in an undeterred reject-human mode. en the sun set and it was time for bed and she was still AWOL. We aren’t sure where she spent the night, but it wasn’t with us. Maybe she was hunting inside – for spider webs and dust bunnies.
We’ll never know. e next morning she was back to her loving and royal self. Rubbing up against our legs, flipping her tail in a cat dance and standing by the back door, expectantly. We pretended not to notice her lust for the hunt.
She’s full of surprises, this tiny, sometimes angry, cat of ours. It seems like she’d be more comfortable wearing a tiara, not using a pair of razor-sharp claws. en again, I suppose princesses have been known to hunt. And get mad – mad as a cat. And now I know what that looks like. Categorically.
Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright, author and member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Don’t miss a slice. Follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
By Erica Odello
It has become a family tradition the past few years for my kids and me to hand-make Christmas gifts for all of the grandparents. is year’s gift was inspired by a product I saw in a catalog: a clock with binder clips in place of the numbers.
What a cool idea, but I bet I could make one better than what I saw-- and I did!
You will need Clock motor with hands, scrap wood (no thicker than ¾ inch to accommodate the clock), compass and pencil, 12 binder clips (Dollar Tree is a great place for these), 12 short wood screws, 12 washers, cordless drill with drill bit slightly wider than the clock shaft, 1-1.5mm drill bit.
Step 1
Cut the wood to desired size and glue the pieces together. While the glue is drying, use a compass to create a template for the clock face. Reaching all the way back to high school geometry, if you leave the compass at the same width as you used to draw the initial circle,
place the anchor end on the circle, and make a tick where the pencil end falls. Continue this process, placing the anchor on each of the ticks you’ve created. is will measure the circle into six equal parts. To find the other six spaces, fold the template so two adjoining ticks meet each other, and repeat to find the halfway point between each mark.
Step 2
Find the center of your clock face and drill a hole in the center for the clock motor.
Place the number template in the center of the clock face and mark all twelve spots where the numbers would go. Drill a small tap hole in each of the twelve spots with the smaller drill bit.
Insert a wood screw through a washer. Place one side of the handle of a binder clip around one of the tap holes, then tighten the screw and washer over the handle, and repeat for all 12 spots.
Step 3
Follow the instructions that come with the clock motor to secure to the clock face.
Step 4
Cut 12 pieces of colorful paper in approximately 2” squares. Match each of these with a corresponding photo and secure with a binder clip. Make sure they don’t interfere with the hands of the clock. NOTE: Nail polish is a great way to add some color to the washers, screw heads and clock hands if desired.
See something missing from the map? We would like to add local landmarks and businesses serving our community. Please email anything you see missing to mapit@nearbynews.com, and we will see that it gets added. Thanks for the help!
By Eva Dwight
e holiday season is upon us, and with that comes a frenzy of parties, end-of-semester projects, shopping, baking, and decorating.
It’s like getting sucked into a tornado only to be spit out with your head spinning on Jan. 2, wondering where the last six weeks went and wishing you’d had more time to rest and rejuvenate for the New Year.
Your kids will be wishing the same thing as they begin 2017 with new projects, expectations, and activities. My recommendation is to start planning now to create time for family connection through New Year’s.
I know this sounds like a nobrainer. e holidays are all about family, right? Yes, but as obvious as that seems, I have been guilty of over scheduling myself for so many
adult events and responsibilities that I was in danger of not spending enough quality time with my kids.
And now that they’re grown and have adult events and responsibilities of their own, we will have to plan more carefully to make time for each other.
One strategy I have taken to using is actually scheduling time with them by putting it on my calendar, like I would any other meeting. at keeps me from falling into the trap of thinking “we have all the time in the world,” and then ending up with no time left.
One of our favorite things to do during vacation is schedule a whole day of movie watching, with a theme. Sometimes, it’s Disney. Other times, it’s non-stop Harry Potter.
I know, I know, we’re not talking
to each other much when we’re watching movies, but there’s such feeling of camaraderie that comes with sitting around together, ignoring chores and responsibilities, and eating fun food with way too many calories.
It’s a great ‘being’ experience! I love game nights, too. Everyone picks a game and we play one after the other until we run out of time. is is when the conversation starts, usually about the rules and strategy and then gradually into other topics that come up when everyone is relaxed and feeling comfortable sharing.
Need to get out and move? Call the neighborhood friends and put together a game of Capture the Flag at the nearest park. Or go bowling or bouncing at one of those alltrampoline places.
Even if you’ve been experiencing tension in your family—maybe the grades aren’t looking so good, the chores aren’t getting done, the kids have challenging attitudes—make sure that you set those issues aside so that you spend time reminding yourselves that there is something to like about each other.
Connecting and having fun, with no strings attached, could be just what you need to get back on track as a family!
Time goes by quickly, so remember to give it as a gift to your children—not just during the holidays, of course, but all year long!
Eva Dwight offers parent, individual and couples coaching to adults and teens. For more information, go to www. creativecoachingconversations.com.
See the impressive Mesa Temple covered in Christmas lights and nativity scenes. Plus, enjoy nightly concerts beginning at 7 p.m.
When: Dec. 1-31, 5-10 p.m.
Where: Mesa Temple, 525 E. Main Street, Mesa
Cost: Free Info: mesachristmaslights.com
Enjoy downtown Mesa ablaze with lights, plus a holiday tree, ice rink, Jack Frost’s food truck, Santa and concerts.
When: Dec. 1-Jan 1, times vary
Where: Downtown Mesa
Cost: Free to walk; $10 to ice skate
Info: merrymainst.com
3 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
A church Christmas pageant goes horribly, hilariously wrong when the Herdman kids join the cast.
When: Dec.1-11, times vary
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St, Mesa
Cost: $15 adult, $11 for 17 and under Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter. com
4 CycloMesa WinterFest 2016
Experience a Phoenix rarity and play in 10 tons of snow, plus ride a mechanical snowboard and play reindeer games.
When: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2:30-5 p.m.
Where: Alta Mesa Park, 1910 N. Alta Mesa Dr., Mesa
Cost: Free Info: mesaaz.gov
Visit for a free photo with Santa, plus crafts, games and other fun holiday activities.
When: Dec. 4-22, 10 a.m.-close Where: Bass Pro Shops, 1133 N. Dobson, Mesa
Cost: Free Info: 602-606-5600 or basspro.com
6 Holidays with Orpheus
Join the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix for its 87th concert season as it presents a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday music, and leads an audience sing-a-long.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa
Cost: $20 adults, $15 students/seniors (in advance); $25 adults, $20 students/ seniors (at the door) Info: orpheus.org
More than 60 art booths, live bands, open galleries, food, contests and kids’ activities. This month’s theme: “Art Attack.”
When: Friday, Dec. 9, 6-10 p.m.
Where: Main St. and Macdonald, Mesa
Cost: Free
Info: 2ndfridaynightout.com
See the 30th annual Ballet Etudes’ “The Nutcracker,” which follows Clara’s magical Christmas journey set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved soundtrack.
When: Friday-Sunday, Dec. 9-11, times vary
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St, Mesa
Cost: $27-$31
Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter. com
Browse art from local and national artists, listen to live bands, play in the Family Activity Area and eat yummy food.
When: Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 10-11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St, Mesa
Cost: Free
Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter. com
Childsplay Arizona presents a charming holiday musical about three javalinas, who get a different Christmas than they expected.
When: Saturdays and Sunday, Dec.3-24
Where: Tempe Center for the Arts Theater, 700 W Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
Cost: $12-$26
Info: 480-921-5700 or childsplayaz.org/ Javelina-Holiday
An informal weekly car show in the MCC parking lot just off Power Road. Bring your own classic vehicle, or just stop by and see others’ cars.
When: Friday, Dec. 2 and 9, 3-8 p.m.
Where: Mesa Community College Red Mountain, 7110 E. McKellips Road, Mesa
Cost: Free Info: 480-654-7766 or mesacc.edu
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Bring your home’s hazardous waste, along with electronics and appliances so they can be recycled or treated for safe disposal.
When: Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 a.m.-noon
Where: Center Street Facility, 2412 N. Center St., Mesa
Cost: Free Info: mesaaz.gov
A Very Hairy Javelina Holiday
Childsplay Arizona presents a charming holiday musical about three javalinas who get a different Christmas than they expected.
When: Saturdays and Sunday, Dec. 3-24
Where: Tempe Center for the Arts Theater, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
Cost: $12-$26
Info: 480-921-5700 or childsplayaz. org/Javelina-Holiday
Christmas with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Expect plenty of holiday cheer, and laughs, with this unusual performing group. You can even join in during the ukulele play and sing along.
When: Sunday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa
Cost: $36-$40 Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com
Etsy Meetup
Meet with like-minded Etsy artists, crafters and creators to talk about boosting online business and other topics. No sales will be allowed.
When: Monday, Dec. 5, 5:30-7 p.m.
Where: Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Rd., Mesa Cost: Free (registration required) Info: 480-644-3721 or events. mesalibrary.org
Duet’s Caregiver Support
Being a caregiver for a loved one with Parkinson’s takes it out of you. Get support from other caregivers and professionals. Please call before your first attendance.
When: Monday, Dec. 5, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E. Adobe Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: 602-274-5022
Today’s World of Safe Investing
The Foundation for Personal Financial Education presents a seminar that takes a look at “safe” investments and unravels which ones you should explore and which to avoid.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1-2:30 p.m.
Where: Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Rd., Mesa
Cost: Free Info: 480-644-3253 or events. mesalibrary.org
Pilgrim Lutheran Church & School’s annual Living Nativity, celebrating the birth of Jesus, will be portrayed in the campus’ open field, 5:30-7 p.m., on Dec. 17.
Pilgrim Lutheran, 3257 E. University Drive in Mesa, between Val Vista and Lindsey, invites the public to come hear and see the story of Jesus’ birth unfold as visitors walk through five nativity scenes that tell the Christmas story, from Gabriel’s annunciation of the Christ Child to the coming of the Wise Men.
Live entertainment and light refreshments will be offered in Pilgrim’s Fellowship Hall east of the parking lot. All are invited.
More information: pilgrimmesa.com or 480-830-1724.
Handel’s Messiah
Don’t miss one of the greatest works in music history, and a seasonal favorite, performed by the Phoenix Symphony and the Phoenix Symphony Chorus.
When: Friday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa
Cost: $31-$51
Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com
Sister’s Christmas Catechism
Who swiped the gold from the baby Jesus? Sister and her students take the case in this hilarious play for all ages and faiths.
When: Weekends, Dec. 9-11, 16-18, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Where: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale
Cost: $31-$39
Info: 480-499-8587 or scottsdaleperformingarts.org
Desert Voices of Christmas
Join one of the best community choirs in the Valley, along with brass, percussion and an organ for an amazing evening of Christmas music.
When: Saturday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Where: First United Methodist, 15 E. 1st Ave., Mesa
Cost: $18 adult, $15 seniors/children (advance); $20 adult, $18 senior/ children (at the door)
Info: 480-835-7059 or sonorandesertchorale.org Holiday Pops
Join the award-winning Salt River Brass for an evening of holiday classics in an upbeat style and using unique arrangements.
When: Sunday, Dec. 11, 3 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa
Cost: $17-$24 adult, $15-$22 students/seniors
Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com
Youth Symphony of the Southwest
Don’t miss out on this free, live performance of Beethoven’s legendary “Symphony No. 5,” played by some of the most skilled youth musicians in the Valley.
When: Monday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa Cost: Free Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com
3D Printer Training
If you want to get a jump on the future, take this class on how to use 3D printers – with actual printers. Once you pass, you can later sign up
...continued from page 23
to use the 3D printers for your own projects.
When: Friday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-noon
Where: Red Mountain Library, 635 N Power Rd., Mesa
Cost: Free (registration required)
Info: 480-644-3253 or events. mesalibrary.org
Living Nativity
Put yourself in the middle of the Christmas story with real actors in five nativity stations from the Annunciation to the visit of the Wise Men.
When: Saturday, Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 3257 E. University Drive, Mesa
Cost: Free
Info: 480-830-1723 or pilgrimmesa. com
Dave Seabaugh’s Christmas Concert Spectacular
Singer Dave Seabaugh brings his 25-piece orchestra for a night of Big Band holiday music featuring arrangements unique to this show.
When: Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa
Cost: $29
Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com
Good News in Alzheimer’s Research
Join researchers from Banner Health as they discuss the latest Alzheimer’s research and talk about how it could shape the future of Alzheimer’s care.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m.
Where: Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Rd., Mesa
Cost: Free (registration required)
Info: 480-644-3253 or events. mesalibrary.org
Color Me Calm
Enter the new year in a relaxed state. Spend some time in calm coloring with other adults. Coloring sheets and crayons provided.
When: Thursday, Dec. 29, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Rd., Mesa
Cost: Free (rRegistration required) Info: 480-644-3100 or mesalibrary.org
Straight No Chaser
Ring in the new year with tight vocal harmonies and some humor as a cappella group Straight No Chaser celebrates its 20th anniversary.
When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa
Cost: $49-$160
Info: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com
Michele Baer has found a powerful way to increase awareness about the needs of others in the community and opportunities to help them.
Baer, who, with her husband, Sterling, has lived in the Groves area of northeast Mesa for 21 years, and raised six children who attended Mountain View High, combines her passion for service with her love for music in a recently released music video, “Refugees of the Heart.”
She says, while there has been increasing concern for millions of refugees around the world, who have fled from the ravages of abuse and war, “We often forget there are millions right next door, even ‘Refugees of the Heart,’ who are fighting their own secret battles every day.”
“Each of us has a responsibility to look around and find those who need a helping hand in our communities,” she says. at’s where JustServe.org, a resource for those who want to help, and for whom she did the video, comes in.
While Baer used GoFundMe to raise money for video shoots in Washington, D.C., and in Sedona, she says the video was not created as a moneymaker. Any donations will be given to a JustServe organization.
Neighbors of similar spirit have kept the Baers in northeast Mesa for nearly three decades, she says.
“We chose to stay here specifically in northeast Mesa because of the strength of the families in the area and the choral-music program in the schools,” Baer said.
All six of her children, two of whom became doctors, were in the Mountain View choir.
“It felt like the wonderful bedroom communities of the San Francisco Bay area where we grew up,”she says.
Sterling, who founded a bicycling club in the neighborhood, and Michele both grew up in the Bay Area. She meet him after his LDS mission to Argentina. ey graduated from Brigham Young. She has performed nationwide as a
soloist and in musicals, and has released four vocal inspirational CDs. For this music video, Baer used “Safe Harbors,” a song by Michael McLean, and called upon videographer Steve Porter, who is also from Mesa, to promote JustServe, a community-based, nondenominational initiative launched in Arizona two years ago.
e JustServe app and website connect the public to community organizations and alert them to service opportunities.
“JustServe is a vehicle that allows individuals to become involved and to perform needed service, as much or as often as they can,” Baer says. “It breaks down walls and builds bridges, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity I have to share that vision with others.
find opportunities to lift others in our communities across the nation.”
To view Baer’s video: youtube.com/ watch?v=REo8Dgx0eEU&feature=you tu.be.
“I am excited to promote the www. justserve.org website. I believe it is making a huge difference in how we
For more about the “Refugees of the Heart” GoFundMe campaign: gofundme.com/MusicVideoforneedy.
“ e Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” a comedy based on the bestselling book by Barbara Robinson, will be presented by the East Valley Children’s eatre Dec. 1-11at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Showtime is 7 p.m. ursdays and Fridays, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for children, and can be purchased at the Mesa Arts Center box
office, or by calling 480-644-6500 or online at www.mesaartscenter.com.
In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids -- perhaps the most awful kids in history. Mayhem and fun collide when the Herdmans meet the Christmas story head-on in this great family entertainment for the holidays. More information: www.evct.org.
Red Mountain Community Church again will turn its campus into a dazzling, one-of-a-kind light experience with handcrafted light scenes depicting the story of Christmas in its annual “Christmas Light Experience.” is year, church officials say that the show, 6-8 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 30, will have 500,000 lights at the church, 6101 E Virginia St. in Mesa.
Metal light sculptures handcrafted in the backyard of Lead Pastor Bob Fox form playful, inspirational and thought-
provoking scenes that connect visitors who walk or drive through to the Christmas story. ose driving through can tune their car radio to 107.7 FM and listen to a narrator for each scene.
Other attractions include hay rides to see the scenes in a fun, holiday-season fashion; hot chocolate and cookies for chilly evenings, and free photo booth. e church has Christmas Eve services at 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
More information: www.rmcchurch. org aredmountainchristmas.
Nine-time Grammy nominee Dave Koz, in the 19th year of his annual Christmas tour, “Holiday Run,” will play the Ikeda eatre in Mesa on Dec. 14 with guests Jonathan Butler, Ashford & Simpson’s Valerie Simpson and Kenny
Lattimore. He will be at the Fox Tucson eatre the following night. Both shows are at 7:30 p.m.
By Kathy Kerby
With Mesans loving their barbeque, Bobby-Q recently expanded into the booming market.
Situated in a beautifully remodeled building on Stapley Drive and U.S. 60, Bobby-Q is consistently rated among the 10 best barbeques in Phoenix. Eager fans have longed for the restaurant to open its rustic doors in the East Valley.
Bobby-Q is owned by Bob Sikora and led by executive chef Mark Hittle. Bob is a legendary restaurateur and Phoenix native, who opened Mr. Lucky’s in 1966 and Bobby McGees in 1971.
Bobby-Q takes greeting guests to a new level, as my husband and I were met by seven smiling faces and the smell of smoky barbeque. We were quickly seated and took a few moments to just take in the ambiance of the inviting space.
From rustic barn wood, to a
repurposed oil-tank fountain, to the greenery on the walls and a pressedtin ceiling, the large dining room is spacious and classy. Bob’s Social Bar, which offers hand-crafted cocktails and house beer, is fantastic and stays open until 2 a.m. at is unheard of in rollup-the-streets-at-nine Mesa.
As we meandered through the menu, we noted the “starters,” burgers, sandwiches, salads, woodfired barbeque platters, “winning combinations,” steaks, chicken, fish and desserts.
Menus are taken seriously at Bobby-Q: Eight of them (from take out to happy hour) are listed on the website. We were intrigued by Whole Hog Heaven ($49) but realized we would need a few more big eaters to attempt this massive feast. e wait for our food was made very pleasant by the delicious cornbread, which is disc-shaped so it has a nice crust and a soft center.
General Manager Donny Hamper
was dropping by each table, so I asked him about his goals for Bobby-Q. He said that he wanted “to make sure that every-single guest leaves 100% happy with the food, the drinks, the service and the overall dining experience.”
His passion is carefully instilled in his professional staff and he stressed that “every detail is important from the steaks to the doughnuts.”
For our appetizer, the Q-Rolls were an innovative mash-up between barbeque and Mexican. Each roll is stuffed with smoked prime brisket, wrapped in a flour tortilla before frying and served with barbeque sauce and chipotle ranch sauce. e rolls were original and delicious and it is obvious why they are among the house favorites.
When the ribs and steak arrived at our table, we dove right in to the tantalizing entrees. e Baby Back Ribs ($27) had a dark sear and they were so tender and juicy the meat fell off the bones. e
Wood Fired Top Sirloin ($21) is spicedrubbed and grilled over mesquite and almond wood. Its smoky rich flavor is enhanced by the barbeque sauce on top.
We sampled sides of grilled vegetables,
Outside of building Bobby-Q opened in the Fall at 1620 S. Stapley in Mesa.
creamy macaroni and cheese, baked ranch beans and a massive mound of mashed potatoes, and each one was seasoned and prepared perfectly. Every guest is given warm mini cinnamon doughnuts as a little gift, which can be eaten there or taken home to be enjoyed later.
To make the holidays even more magical, Bobby-Q has gift certificates as well as jugs of their tasty barbeque sauce. Very special gifts for any friends or family.
We know all children learn differently , so we offer options that help them discover and build on their potential and passions , including:
• Preschool through adult education
• Homeschool enrichment classes
• Franklin Traditional Schools
• Spanish immersion program
• Montessori schools
• International Baccalaureate
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs
• Online learning options
Mesa Public Schools—the best place to learn.
a
By Jan D’Atri
Happy Holidays Everyone!
If you’re looking for something wonderful to gift someone or serve at your holiday get-togethers, try one of my very favorite treats, Rugelach! It’s said to have come from the Yiddish word “rugel,” meaning royal.
Rolled out delicate dough filled with a variety of ingredients, Rugelach (pronounced Rug-a-Lach) has grown in popularity from a Jewish specialty that was baked during the holidays to an American favorite enjoyed all year long. It seems as though every country has its own version and name for Rugelach and there are hundreds of recipe
variations for this bite-size goody.
For the dough, sour cream or cream cheese is added to the flour, which makes for flavorful dough that’s extremely easy to work with. ese oneor two-bite morsels generally are filled with ingredients like sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, raisins, chocolate, or preserves with a little cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top.
Again, there are many ways to roll and cut Rugelach, but the classic shapes are crescents or slightly flattened squares.
I know that Rugelach is baked en masse for the Hanukkah celebration, but there are plenty of chances in the days ahead to make, bake and deliver these delicious and delicate gifts from the kitchen for the holidays ahead!
For the dough:
1 cup butter, softened
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
For the filling
1 ½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups walnuts, finely chopped
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, blend butter and cream cheese until well incorporated. Add flour, sugar and salt, blending well. Gather dough and divide into two balls. Refrigerate in plastic wrap for at least 1 to 2 hours. Meanwhile, make filling. In a bowl, mix 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts. When dough is chilled, cut each ball into two pieces. You will have 4 dough balls to work with.
For the crescent shape: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough ball into an approximate 9-inch circle 1/16 of an inch thick. Sprinkle ¼ of filling mixture over circle, leaving a ¼ inch border. Gently pat filling into dough. Cut circle into 12 wedges. Roll each wedge up starting at the wide end to form a crescent. Sprinkle top with filling mixture.
For the square shape: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 9-inch long rectangle. Sprinkle ¼ of filling mixture over dough, leaving a ¼ inch border. Gently pat filling into dough. Starting at the bottom, roll dough up tightly into tube shape. Gently flatten tube with your hands. Cut into 1-inch squares. Sprinkle tops with filling mixture.
Place pieces onto parchment lined (or lightly greased) baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-18 minutes or until deep golden brown. Makes about 36 pieces. Dough can be made ahead and stored in plastic wrap for up to one week. Baked Rugelach can be frozen.
By Alison Stanton
Facility designed to create more of a resort feel on the property
ViewPoint Golf Resort recently unveiled a new fitness and leisure center next to the community’s public nine- and 18-hole golf courses.
e new fitness center at the resort, 8700 E. University Drive in Mesa, includes a pool and spa, complete with cabanas and fire pit; state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a spacious outdoor recreation area.
e center is available to all residents and visitors staying at ViewPoint’s camping and RV sites. Additional amenities include barbecue
areas and walking paths, bringing more of a resort feel to the property and providing residents and guests more opportunities to relax and stay healthy.
By Shelley Ridenour
Banner
Heart Hospital
in northeast Mesa is among three Banner Health hospitals in the city honored recently by two organizations.
For the seventh time, Banner Heart made the top-50 list of cardiovascular hospitals in the United States, ranked by Truven Health Analytics, an IBM company.
National patient safety watchdog organization Leapfrog Group gave two other Banner Mesa hospitals an “A” ranking.
Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Desert Medical Center were deemed among the top hospitals for patient safety.
e Banner Heart ranking by Truven is based on multiple criteria, including its significantly higher inpatient survival
rates, fewer patients with complications, a higher 30-day survival rate and lower readmission rate, shorter lengths of stay for some bypass patients and the fact patients pay on average between $1,200 and $6,000 less than they’d pay at another hospital.
Banner Heart has made the top 50 Truven list for seven years.
“Being honored for our innovation and achievements for cardiovascular care shows we’re strongly committed to our patients,” Banner Health President and CEO Peter Fine said in a press release.
e NAI Horizon team of Senior Vice Presidents Barbara Lloyd and Lane Neville represented the seller in the $3.35 million sale of Grove Towne Center in Mesa.
Lloyd and Neville represented Grove Towne Center LLLP of Lone Tree, Colo.
“Our seller bought this property out of a distress situation and was able to add value through increased occupancy,” said Lloyd, CCIM. “ e new owner will have the continued benefit of additional lease-up opportunity in a dynamic redevelopment corridor.”
e retail center, 1130 W. Grove Ave., totals 22,224 square feet. It was 74 percent occupied at the time of the sale. Tenants include Barro’s Pizza, Ike’s Love and Sandwiches and the Draft Sports Grill.
e buyers, Grove Arizona LLC and Nevada Ventures LLC of Calabasas, Calif., were represented
by Sean Bishop of Lee & Associates.
Medicare beneficiaries to have more choices when seeking care
Humana has added two Iora Primary Care practice locations in Mesa to its network, an effort, it says, to improve access to care and quality of care while increasing patients’ ability to manage their own care to improve their health and well-being.
e new Iora Health primary-care practices are at 9124 E. Main Street and at 5110 E. Southern Ave.
ey are among five added in the western U.S. to Humana’s Medicare Advantage Plan networks, to offer patient-focused care for Medicare beneficiaries, according toHumana.
“We believe that relationships are the missing link in health care,” said Duncan Reece, general manager and vice president for Iora Health.
“However, we find that Medicareeligible patients rarely receive enough time with their doctor, or the support and tools necessary to cope
with a complex health-care system.
“In just the first year, our Net Promoter Scores, at 90%, are consistently higher than most consumer brands,and hospitalization rates declined by 40 percent for our patients who have been engaged for at least one year.”
e new practices, operated by Iora Health, accept certain Medicare Advantage plans administered by Humana and do not accept Medicare Advantage plans administered by other carriers.
Humana and Iora strive to meet monthly to review member cases and issues. is helps ensure that members aren’t simply treated for what ails them, but are also provided with a more comprehensive team working on a plan. More information:www. iorahealth.com.
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Visit:
Highland at Brentwood 120 N Val Vista Dr #32
Upscale gated 55+ community with golf course
Move-in ready
Furnished 2bed/2bath, formal dining room, formal living room, breakfast bar, built-in hutch, walk-in closets. Washer/Dryer, Heating/AC, Freshly painted interior and cleaned carpet
$14,000
Call John at 760-668-0681 or 480-890-2687
IS YOUR "HONEY DO" LIST GETTING TOO BIG FOR YOU?
Give John the Handyman a call! He can help you get things done
Anything that takes your time I can do & have the tools to do it!
760-668-0681
DAVE S DUMPING & HAULING
I haul it all!
Yard/construction debris, junk, furniture, appliances, clean-outs, etc., etc., etc.,
CHILD CARE
Las Sendas Mom
Newborn & Up
16 Years Experience
CPR Certified
Homemade meals and healthy snacks
Loving, safe environment No pool
Flexible schedule
Early childhood development activities offered
Many References
Call Lina 480-324-8466
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
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
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
THE HAIR PARLOR
For all 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
Individualized reading and math instruction offered in my Red Mountain Ranch home. All ages. Math through Algebra II. Ten years tutoring experience - reasonable rates
Call Linda Neel 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
MESA HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIR
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
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
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, electrical, paint, drywall repairs, lights, fan, etc
30+ years experience
Mark Griffin 480-980-1445
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
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
tracey@timespublications.com
