Community Briefs (11/21)

Scouts hosting ‘Ham and Turkey' fundraiser

Boy Scouts from local Ahwatukee Foothills Troop 278 are holding a Honeybaked Ham and Turkey fundraiser. Fully-cooked ham and turkeys are available.

Orders are needed by Friday, Nov. 21, for Thanksgiving and Friday, Dec. 19, for Christmas. To place an order, e-mail Mary Conant at hams@troop278.net or call (602) 999-7446. Payment is due at order placement; no C.O.D. orders will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to BSA Troop 278.

Drive-through order pick-up will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church north parking lot at 3550 E. Knox Road.

Operation Christmas Child

Mountain Park Community Church is collecting gift-filled shoeboxes for needy children in more than 100 countries internationally. This project is organized by Samaritan's Purse, the largest Children's Relief Organization in the United States.

Participating is simple: find a shoebox; wrap the top and bottom with Christmas wrapping paper; fill it with small gifts (new items) such as school supplies, hygiene items and small toys; and take it to Mountain Park Community Church, 2408 E. Pecos Road, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 23. You may also visit the Web site at www.samaritanspurse.org to pay for shipping and print a label.

For more information, call Robin Earle at (480) 213-3190.

Festival of Lights needs volunteers

The holidays are approaching and the Festival of Lights Kick-Off party is in need of volunteers to work the event on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Desert Foothills Park (Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway).

Available shifts are: morning set up from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; shift 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; shift 2 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.; shift  3 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and break down from 7 p.m. until done.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.folaz.org or call (480) 460-6169.

YMCA's OPAS program

Y OPAS (Outreach Programs for Ahwatukee Seniors) is a volunteer program of the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA providing support services for seniors, 62 years and older, who live in Ahwatukee Foothills. Transportation, shopping and errands, friendly visiting, caregiver relief, business help and household assistance are some of the services provided by Y OPAS volunteers.

If you, or someone you know would like to use its services, or if you are interested in volunteering, call (602) 212-6088. Volunteers that can help seniors with transportation and friendly visiting are especially needed.

My Gym serves as resource for missing child initiative

InstantAmber (InstantAmber.com) and My Gym Children's Fitness Center have joined together for a national child safety awareness campaign, launched on Halloween.

Through its Web site, www.mygym.com, as well as its nearly 200 locations, My Gym of Phoenix will serve as a resource to further community awareness of InstantAmber, an online data registry that enables law enforcement to retrieve critical data and photos in the event of a missing child emergency.

My Gym Children's Center is located at 4142 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 200, in Ahwatukee Foothills.

For more information, contact Jenkins at (480) 940-4967.

FOL kick-off party Nov. 29

The 13th Annual Festival of Lights kick-off party will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Marketplace Southwest (at Chandler Boulevard). Admission is free.

Scheduled group performances include: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Bodies in Motion Dance; 11:30 a.m. to noon, Chandler Children's Choir; noon to 12:30 p.m., Cinderella Youth Development Scholarship Program; 12:30 to 1 p.m., Ahwatukee Children's Theater; 1 to 1:35 p.m., Kyrene Pueblo Middle School Show Choir (Restaurant Row stage); 1 to 1:15 p.m., Desert Vista High School Salsa Club; 1:15 to 2:00 p.m., DVHS Dance Company; 2 to 3 p.m., Ahwatukee Nutcracker Ballet; 3 to 3:30 p.m., FootKlan; 3:30 to 5 p.m., Kimberly Lewis School of Dance; 5 to 6 p.m., Girl Jam! with Jonnie & Brookie and Savvy & Mandy; 6 to 6:15 p.m., Harley Parade; 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., Lighten Up Francis.

New this year are unlimited ride wristbands. Get unlimited access to the Activity Zone of nearly 50 rides and inflatables from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for only $20. Individual tickets will still be available, and carnival games will require tickets (they're only 50 cents each and everyone walks away with a prize). All rides, games and inflatables will close at 6 p.m.

Businesses or families are invited to donate a wreath for some great local charities. All proceeds will benefit this year's chosen charities - The Melonhead Foundation, The Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee and Y-OPAS (Outreach Programs for Ahwatukee Seniors).

The long day of fun, food and festivities winds down with the annual Harley Davidson Parade sponsored by Chandler Harley Davidson. Over 100 riders from the local Harley Davidson club parade through the hills and into the park igniting the million white lights along Chandler Boulevard. Bikes will arrive in the park between the Girl Jam and Lighten Up Francis performances at approximately 6 p.m.

Crafters Row on Marketplace will feature Street nearly 100 crafters displaying and selling their works to help you get a jump on that holiday shopping. Crafters Row is sponsored by our local Foothills Ace Hardware.

From Thanksgiving until the New Year, Chandler Boulevard from 24th Street to Desert Foothills Parkway will be illuminated with more than a million white lights. The display can be seen nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. from Nov. 29 until Jan. 1.

The 2008 hayrides and luminary hike will be held on Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 20, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Altadeña Middle School, 14620 S. Desert Foothills Parkway. The last cart departs at 8 p.m. Horse drawn hay carts will head north and guests can disembark at Telegraph Pass to partake in a luminary hike then jump back on a wagon to return to the school. The luminaries hike features nearly 500 candle-lit luminaries, and local entertainment groups provide a festive holiday atmosphere along the way.

For complete details, visit www.folaz.org.

Senior Olympic Games in Sierra Vista

The city of Sierra Vista is encouraging everyone to join in the athletic events of the 28th Annual Senior Olympic Games. These Games, the oldest in Arizona, attract competitors from all over the United States and Canada. The Games are open to athletes over the age of 50, with a Master's Division for those ages 45 to 49.

The Games will be held Jan. 9 to 11, and registration is currently open. Athletes may register online by visiting www.VisitSierraVista.com and clicking on the "Senior Games" logo.

Thanksgiving Block Party

After you're finished with your Thanksgiving feast, join the Tempe Pros Soccer Club for a night of fun at the annual Tempe Thanksgiving Block Party, set for 6 to 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night (Nov. 27) at the Tempe Sports Complex, 8403 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe.

The evening will feature music, games, rides, inflatables, food, special guest appearances and fireworks. Entry is free with a canned food donation to benefit St. Mary's Food Bank.

For questions, e-mail contact@prossoccer.org.

Hall of Frames collecting food for needy

Hall of Frames and Paradise Picture Frame stores are collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to Phoenix Rescue Mission during November and December. The "Food for Frames" program will provide $1 off a framing order for every canned food item up to 10 cans, or $10 off.

Cans of food can be dropped off at any of the 12 Hall of Frames (the nearest is at 4722 E. Ray Road) or Paradise Picture Frame stores in the Valley.

For more information, visit www.hallofframes.com.

Catholic Charities seeks nominees for community awards

Catholic Charities Phoenix Regional Service Center is seeking nominations for its 2009 Annual Awards Dinner. Next April, the nonprofit organization will recognize outstanding individuals in Maricopa County for their good works and volunteerism. Nominations are due Friday, Dec. 12, and winners will be honored at a dinner ceremony April 14 at the Moon Valley Country Club.

Tickets for this year's event are $75 per person, or tables of 10 can be purchased for $750. Business, corporate and individual sponsorships are also available.

For more information, applications for the 2009 Prophet Amos and Magnificat Awards or to reserve a seat, call Pat Williams at (602) 749-4421 or e-mail pwilliams@cc-az.org.

Tasting Ahwatukee Business Expo coming in February

Mountain View Lutheran Church will host Tasting Ahwatukee - A Business Expo, on Saturday evening, Feb. 21. The event will showcase local businesses and restaurants, and proceeds will support the church's youth and education programs.

In its fourth year, more than 1,600 people attended the weekend event in 2008. 

Tickets will be available starting in January in the church office, 11002 S. 48th St.

For more information or to participate as a restaurant or business vendor, contact Chris Skarsten at (480) 893-2579, ext. 127 or e-mail cskarsten@mvlutheran.org.

Gunfighters at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park

Old West reenactment groups will perform at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park's Annual Gathering of the Gunfighters on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is located at 1 Prison Hill Road in Yuma. Admission is $5 for adults aged 14 and up. There is no charge for children aged 13 and younger.

For more information, call (928) 783-4771.

Self-discovery retreat for teens, parents

The TeenSpace self-discovery retreat provides an opportunity for teens and their parents to explore how to live their lives with self awareness, self care, wisdom and presence. The day-long retreat is offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Sedona Creative Life Center in Sedona.

Early registration is $119, and additional family members are $79 each. Lunch is included. Scholarships are available.

To register, visit www.teenspacesedona.com, e-mail teenspacesedona@gmail.com or call Debra at (928) 204-0579.

Golfers gear up for the Mark Grace Celebrity Invitational

The Mark Grace Celebrity Invitational benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale will take place Feb. 6 at the Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale.

For more information, contact Chris Marshall at (480) 344-5681 or cmarshall@bgcs.org.

New winter hours for Farmers Market

The Arizona Community Farmers Markets Group hosts a farmers market on Sundays in the Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center parking lot at 4700 E. Warner Road, just west of 48th Street. New winter hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The market features local growers and specialty food producers, bath and beauty products, as well as local artisans with arts and crafts. Wild caught salmon and grass fed beef are also currently available.

Admission is free. The market is family friendly, and canine good citizens are welcome.

For more information, visit www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com.

Countdown to Camp Fair 2009

Raising Arizona Kids Magazine's sixth annual Camp Fair will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Tesseract High School, 3939 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix. More than 75 day and overnight camps from around Arizona, throughout the Southwest and across the country will be represented.

For more information, call (480) 991-KIDS (5437) or visit www.raisingarizonakids.com.

Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month celebration

For the entire month of March, the Arizona State Parks' State Historic Preservation Office is coordinating activities throughout the state for the 26th anniversary celebration of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. A free statewide listing of events will be available in January and can be obtained by contacting the Arizona State Parks offices at (602) 542-4174, or by visiting www.azstateparks.com.

On March 14 and 15, the Arizona Archaeology Expo will be the featured event for the month. The Expo will offer many educational attractions for archaeology and history buffs and will be held at the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, 4619 E. Washington St. Both days are open to the public (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and the event is free.

For more information, call (602) 542-4174 or visit azstateparks.com.

Prepare now for Global Word Cup

Tryouts for the annual global Word Cup, an innovative competition for all ages hosted by nonprofit organization eSpindle Learning, will take place next spring, but those interested can visit the frequently updated practice quiz at www.eSpindle.org/free_quiz and visit the "word savvy" forum, which is available on the Word Cup site at www.WordCupCafe.org.

Lions Club needs help in clean-up efforts

On the second Saturday of every month, the Ahwatukee Lions Club will be picking up trash and debris on a stretch of Pecos Road. Volunteers meet in the east parking lot at Desert Vista High School, 16440 S. 32nd St., at 7 a.m. and will be out for about an hour. Trash bags are provided, and the filled bags are picked up by the city of Phoenix.

For more information, call Mike Coltrane at (480) 759-9063.

YMCA Youth and Government

Teens in eighth grade and up are welcome to join the YMCA's Youth and Government Ahwatukee delegation.

Meetings are held from 7 to 8 p.m. every Monday at the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane, and members learn hands-on how to practice government procedures and prepare for end-of-the-year model Legislature at the Arizona state capitol. Teens will be able to voice their opinions on how things should be run in Arizona and gain valuable leadership experience. This program is incredibly rewarding for anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of Arizona parliamentary procedure or just looking for a fun and highly-involved experience.

For more information, call (602) 252-2963.

Rabbi leading tour of Israel

Rabbi Irwin Wiener and his wife, Sandi, of Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, will lead a tour to Israel May 10 to 24.

The tour is open to anyone of any religion, as well as singles, couples, friends, veteran travelers or first-timers.

The cost for an air and land package is $4,397 per person, and land only is $3,197 per person.

For more information, visit www.arzaworld.com or call travel agent Sandra Friedson at (480) 491-2768.

Bondurant Corvette Performance Experience

The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving will offer the Bondurant Corvette Performance Experience on Saturday, Dec. 6. Corvette owners (with guest) are welcome to participate in an all day driving experience at the Bondurant School's 60-acre training facility and 1.6 mile road course located at 20000 S. Maricopa Road in Chandler, at Firebird Raceway, Gate 3 (Exit 162, Wild Horse Pass and I-10).

The cost is $195 per Corvette.

For more information, visit www.bondurant.com. Registration is available online at www.bondurant.com/corvetteday08.

Women offered 10-day retreat to Peru

This 10-day women's retreat, presented by A Woman's Way, will be held May 23 to June 2, 2009.

Experienced facilitator, Karen Ely, will lead participants on a quiet exploration back to themselves. Sitting in the quiet of the ancient, spiritual sites, the women will use journaling, meditation and special exercises to move them back into their old life in a new, more authentic way.

The cost is $2,985.

For information or to register visit www.awomansway.com or call (928) 254-1897.

Income tax too high?

The Arizona Kidney Foundation is reminding "Kidney Car" donors that while they are working on their 2007 tax returns, it's not too early to start thinking about 2008 tax deductions and if you have not donated your vehicle to AKF, now is a great time to begin - you could have a tax deduction in 2008. All vehicle title and paperwork must be received by the Arizona Kidney Foundation no later than Dec. 31 to qualify for a 2008 tax deduction.

There are three ways to participate in the AKF Kidney Car Donation Program. First, a donor can visit the Arizona Kidney Foundation Web site at www.azkidney.org and register online. Second, a donor can call (602) 840-1644, the Arizona Kidney Foundation, and ask that a Kidney Car Donation Program information packet be mailed to their home address. Or third, a donor can call for an appointment and visit the AKF headquarters at 4203 E. Indian School Road, Suite 140, to complete their donation. In all cases, the process requires a donor to submit the original MVD vehicle title as well as completing an odometer disclosure statement and a limited power of attorney form. The Foundation has two notary personal at their headquarters to assist in completing the power of attorney form.

Older children and larger sibling groups need adoption, too

November is National Adoption Month, and Christian Family Care Agency hopes to draw attention to two very special groups of kids who need adoptive homes - children over the age of 10 and children from larger sibling groups (three or more children).

Louise Gonzales, of Christian Family Care Agency's Phoenix office, said while progress is being made in these two areas, the need for loving parents willing to adopt these kids is still tremendous.

Gonzales said parents willing to adopt children from these two areas often will move through the adoption process more quickly. She added that a parent's age isn't usually as big an issue when it comes to adopting an older child.

An adoptive parent's bank account also isn't necessarily a barrier. For more information, call (602) 234-1935 or visit www.cfcare.org.

Woodworkers looking for projects

The Ahwatukee Woodworkers Club gets together on Thursdays to work on charity projects and is currently looking for more projects to take on.

Past projects have included making plaques for Phoenix Children's Hospital, building tables and chairs for preschools and even making model MRI machines for doctors to explain the procedure to children to ease their fears. A model doll house kit was donated to the group, so members built it and held a raffle to raise money to support the club. In another project, models of homes in Tempe were built for the Tempe Historical Society that were raffled in a fundraiser for the society. The group is currently busy making cubbies for a local preschool.

The club is located near the Ahwatukee Recreation Center and is part of the Ahwatukee Retirement Community.

Projects are needed, and organizations such as schools, hospitals, churches or other charities in need of something built or made are asked to contact president Tom Rosenthal at (480) 275-6631.

MOMS Club of Ahwatukee has five chapters

The MOMS (Mothers Offering Mothers Support) Club of Ahwatukee is a national non-profit support group for at-home moms and their children. There are five chapters serving the Ahwatukee area.

- East chapter: south of Chandler Boulevard, north of Pecos Road, East of 32nd Street , West of I-10. Contact Michelle at (480) 704-6609.

- North chapter: north of Warner Road to Baseline Road. Contact Michelle at (480) 229-9323 or nielsens2001@hotmail.com.

- Central chapter: south of Knox Road, north of Chandler Boulevard, east of 36th Street. Contact Sara at (480) 540-2339 or central@ahwatukeemoms.com.

- Northwest chapter: 32nd Street and Ray Road to Pecos Road and 24th Street, including Thunderhill Park Area to 18th Street. Contact Stephanie at (480) 751-7570.

- West chapter: north of Pecos Road and West of 24th Street. Contact Linda at jlnagel@cox.net or (602) 571-4393.