Calendar (5/13)

Wednesday, May 13

Democrats & Donuts: 8 a.m., Fire Station, 4110 E. Chandler Blvd. State Rep. Rae Waters will talk about the budget and other issues before the Legislature and take questions from the audience. Free and open to the public; donations accepted. Additional parking available east of the fire station in the CK Tavern parking lot. RSVP: (480) 706-3741 or pamelajamar@cox.net.

Jewish Women International Avodah Chapter 1581 meeting: 11 a.m., The Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st St. Reservations: Dorothy, (480) 883-1503.

How to Stay Positive in a Negative World - How to Laugh in the Face of the Challenging Economy: 11:30 a.m. (registration starts at 11 a.m.), South Mountain Community College, 10429 S. 51st St., Suite 101. Dave Sherman from The Phoenix Business Journal will speak at the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce brown bag lunch workshop. $5 for members, $15 for non-members. RSVP: Jackie@ahwatukeechamber.com or (480) 753-7676.

Foothills Women's Club meeting: 7 p.m., Club West Golf Course Clubhouse, 16400 S. 14th Ave. Local women are invited. The club meets one Wednesday evening of the month from September through May. Kari, karijolindner1@cox.net or www.foothillswomensclub.org.

Legislative District 20 Republicans meeting: 7 to 8:30 p.m., Fire Station, Community Room, 4110 E. Chandler Blvd. Anthony, anthonydmiller@gmail.com or (480) 766-9429. Meeting dates are subject to change, please call for confirmation.

Friday, May 15

Best of Fundraising workshop: 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration at 8:15 a.m.), Phoenix Catholic Diocese Center, Room 157, 400 E. Monroe St. Designed for nonprofit professionals and volunteers looking to strengthen their fundraising skills. $75 per person, $55 for additional people from the same organization. Registration required by calling (602) 265-6680.

Bunco event: 7 p.m., Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St. The Tukee TaTa's team is hosting the event, and approximately 30 more participants are needed (40 have signed up so far). The event will benefit breast cancer research. The cost is $20, and prizes and gifts will also be raffled. The Tata's are participating in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in November and proceeds will help each team member raise the required $2,300 to walk. Pat, (480) 496-9512.

Saturday, May 16

2009 Global Gala: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Arizona Center, 400 E. Van Buren St. Hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, Branch Development Board. Proceeds benefit the kids and programs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. $100. Reservations: (602) 954-8182.

Sunday, May 17

Meet Clifford The Big Red Dog: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, 4929 E. Chandler Blvd. "Clifford The Big Red Dog" from Scholastic Publishing will be on hand to promote reading this summer. Today Clifford will read and take pictures with children four and under (preschools are welcome but must call ahead). There will be picture time, stories, art projects, face painting, music, story signing, bilingual story time, raffle drawings for free books and a 10 percent discount on any book purchased in the store. The May 17 event is family day, open to kids of all ages and features story times, art projects for young and older children, a book raffle, face painting and more. (480) 785-8697.

An Afternoon of Fashion and Wine: 2 to 5 p.m., Disability Empowerment Center, 5025 E. Washington St. The Phoenix Runway and Art Institute of Phoenix event, benefiting the Down Syndrome Network, will feature wine tasting, hors d'oevres and a silent auction. tlfisher@dsnetworkaz.org or www.dsnetworkaz.org.

Tuesday, May 19

Brown Bag Water Speaker Series: noon to 1:30 p.m., University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway Road. Chuck Graf, Arizona Water Institute associate director and liaison to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, will present current issues in water quality management. Free and open to the public. Bring your lunch. RSVP: Nancy, (602) 827-8200, ext. 335 or NCrocker@cals.arizona.edu.

Wednesday, May 20

Ahwatukee real estate pros friendship and support meeting: 8 to 9:30 a.m., Mimi's Cafe, 4901 E. Ray Road. Each month visit with other agents and friends in the real estate business for fun and inspiration. Buy your own breakfast or cup of coffee and bring a real estate tip to share with others. Free, no registration. Christine, info@christinemarek.com or (480) 491-9551.

Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce evening mixer: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway. Features one complimentary drink and samples from all the Grand's restaurants. May's Chamber Purse is $125. www.ahwatukeechamber.com.

Ahwatukee Chat, Chew and Chocolate signature event: 6 to 9 p.m., third Wednesday. Open to the public. No membership required. No drama. No business. No men. No snobs. No gossip. No negativity. Just Fabulous Women. Liz, liz@chatchewandchocolate.com, (602) 881-8401 or www.chatchewandchocolate.com.

Ahwatukee Board of Management meeting: 6:30 p.m. third Wednesday, Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center, 4700 E. Warner Road. Open to ABM residents only. www.ahwatukeehoa.com.

Thursday, May 21

"East Valley's - Be There" network event: 6 to 8:30 p.m., Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st St. This monthly professional networking event is for business owners, enterpreneurs, VPs, C-level executives and investors in a mix and mingle business casual atmosphere. Business professionals from surrounding cities and companies with a vested business interest within Arizona are also invited. www.evbtvpweb.com.

Creating Wellness in a High Stress World: 6 to 7 p.m., Great Choice Chiropractic, 15810 S. 45th St., Suite 160; and again at 10 a.m. May 30, Ironwood Public Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Dr. Greg Hauser with Great Choice Chiropractic is offering free stress education workshops to promote stress awareness to the community. Each person attending will also receive an initial visit at no cost, up to a $350 value. Seminar seating is limited; RSVP to (480) 704-6600. www.greatchoicechiro.com.

Monday, May 25

26th Annual Memorial Day Observance: 9 a.m., Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, 14th Avenue and Jefferson Street. Our city's pioneers and military veterans will be honored. Afterwards, there will be a fun historical activity for children, program participants in historic dress and opportunities to tour the 1897 Smurthwaite House and historic cemeteries. (602) 534-1262, www.azhistcemeteries.org or http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/pioneer.html.

Thursday, May 28

Get to Know Your Chamber: 8 a.m., Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, 10235 S. 51st St., Suite 185. This event is open to the public and is also for new and current members to learn how the chamber can help your business. Bring business cards for networking opportunities. RSVP: Jackie@AhwatukeeChamber.com.

Martinis and Massage night: 5 to 8:30 p.m., That Italian Place, 3941 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 107. Hosted by That Italian Place and A-Peeling Faces SkinCare & Massage Therapy every fourth Thursday. Receive complimentary chair massages from A-Peeling Faces as well as half off martinis and appetizer specials. The full dinner menu is also available. RSVP: (480) 759-4459.

Wine Dinner: 7 p.m., Caffe Boa of Ahwatukee, 5063 E. Elliot Road. Caffe Boa and BR Cohn Winery offer a three-course dinner paired with wines, live music and more. $39.95 per person. Reservations: (480) 893-3331, caffeboa1@msn.com or www.caffeboa.com.

Friday, May 29

Blood Drive: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Sandstone Conference Room, 1111 E. McDowell Road. Free valet parking is available. Appointment: Linda, (602) 239-4380.

Saturday, May 30

Golfin' in the Desert golf tournament: 7:30 a.m. shotgun scramble start, Arizona State University Karsten Golf Course, 1125 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. Hosted by Desert Botanical Garden's Volunteers in the Garden to help raise scholarship funds for Title 1 students to participate in the Garden's Sonoran Desert Adventure Field Trip Program. Fees, $125, include cart, range balls, green fees, two raffle tickets, gourmet lunch and a goody bag. www.dbg.org.

Old Fashioned Charitable Pancake Breakfast: 8 to 10 a.m., Over Easy, 4037 N. 40th St. Pancake eating contest at 9 a.m. The event will raise funds for the Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Survival Trust Fund (used to educate kids about water, fire and gun safety) and also help fund the purchase of a new Smoke House. $5. RSVP: (480) 344-0156.

Tuesday, June 2

Bilingual Story Time: 10 a.m. first Tuesday, Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 4929 E. Chandler Blvd. (480) 785-8697.

Wednesday, June 3

Ahwatukee Chat, Chew & Chocolate monthly coffee: 9 a.m. Start your morning off with friends, fun and inspiration. Free - no need to register, just show up to sip and chat. All are welcome. Liz, liz@chatchewandchocolate.com, or (602) 881-8401 or www.chatchewandchocolate.com.

Friday, June 5

Exhibiting Ourselves Lecture and Symposium: reception and lecture at 6 p.m., Phoenix Museum of History, 105 N. Fifth St.; symposium 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe. This free program will address key topics of cultural representation as they relate to ethnic and minority museums and cultural centers. Free and open to the public. Registration: www.exhibitingourselves.org.

Saturday, June 6

Dr. Pearson hosts "Splash In" celebration: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Pecos Pool, 17010 S. 48th St. Patients and their friends are invited for pizza, snacks and drinks. Reservations: (480) 759-7575.

Sunday, June 7

Arizona Bridal Show: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Phoenix Convention Center (south building), northeast corner of Third and Jefferson streets. Features over 600 of the Valley's top wedding merchants. Admission is $12 at the door. Kim, (480) 921-7891, info@ArizonaBridalSource.com or www.ArizonaBridalShow.com.

Ahwatukee First Sundays - Let's Laugh Through Life Laughter Club: 2 to 3 p.m. first Sundays, Fire Station 43, Community Room, 4110 E. Chandler Blvd. Presented by certified laughter coach Laurie Nathanson and affiliated with www.worldlaughtertour.com, a global organization. Donations are accepted, with a portion being donated to local charity. Laurie, (480) 540-4776 or laurie52@cox.net.

Friday, July 3

Red, White and Boom July 4th Celebration: Ahwatukee Country Club, 12432 S. 48th St. Sponsored by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce. The fireworks will start about 9 p.m. (480) 753-7676.

Saturday, July 4

Annual Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth: 6 p.m., Steele Indian School Park, Third Street and Indian School Road. Features two stages of entertainment, kids world area, classic car exhibit, refreshment vendors and more. An expanded fireworks display starts at 9:30 p.m. (602) 262-6862.

Sunday, Oct. 25

American Lung Association Climb Phoenix! Fitness Event: One and Two Renaissance Square, downtown Phoenix. Corporate teams, groups of families and friends and individual climbers (13 and older) are invited to run or walk to the top, conquering 53 floors and 1,272 steps, and celebrate the completion of their fitness challenge with a party at the climb's conclusion. Each participant must raise $100 to benefit the American Lung Association in Arizona and pay a $35 registration fee (fee increases to $50 after Oct. 2). Registration: www.climbphoenix.com. Sponsorship: (602) 418-5771.

Send submissions to: jwalker@ahwatukee.com