Community Briefs (8/29)

AFCC presents E-Myth Solution Workshop

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business organization will present the world-renowned E-Myth Solution Seminar Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st St.

The seminar starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes until noon with lunch provided afterwards.

Don't miss the early bird special with chamber members at $99 per person and non-members at $125 through Aug. 31. After that date, prices increase to $125 and $150, respectively.

Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.ahwatukeechamber.com or by calling the chamber at (480) 753-7676.

Contest ends Sunday for free home improvement makeover

ToFixIt.com, a local referral company, is offering a free home makeover valued at over $100,000.

To enter the ToFixIt! Home Makeover giveaway, sign up online at www.tofixit.com or call (602)-TOFIXIT (863-4948). This will automatically enter one household into the contest as official rules apply. The contest ends Aug. 31.

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.

PetsMart assists with massive puppy mill rescue

On Aug. 25, PetsMart Charities dispatched its Emergency Relief Waggin' to Parkersburg, W. Va., to assist with what officials there call the state's largest-ever animal-rescue operation: removing approximately 1,000 dachshunds and other purebred dogs from a reported "puppy mill" operation near the community of Parkersburg.

Tax-deductible donations can be made by a credit card donation via the PetsMart Charities Web site, www.PetsMartCharities.org, or mail a check earmarked for "Emergency Relief" directly to PetsMart Charities, Attn: Emergency Relief, 19601 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027. Learn more at www.petsmartcharities.org/programs/emergency-relief.php or call 1-800-423-PETS.

Public voting opens for 2009 ONEBOOKAZ nominees

All Arizonans are invited to vote for the one book they want to read in 2009. Six books for adults and six books for kids have been nominated, and the public will determine which will be the 2009 ONEBOOKAZ for adults and for kids.

Voting begins Sept. 1 and continues through Sept. 30, at which time the two winners will be announced. Arizonans can read excerpts and cast votes for the adult book at www.onebookaz.org and for the kids' book at www.onebookaz.org/kids.

Men's Warehouse launches annual suit drive

The Men's Warehouse is once again hosting its National Suit Drive, and donations of professional business attire will be accepted from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 at any Men's Warehouse location. The nearest store is at 4933 E. Ray Road.

For more information on My Brothers Keeper Lifeline, visit www.mbklifeline.com.

Glow Skin & Body Studio helps raise money for MS Society

On Sept. 13, Glow Skin & Body Studio's staff will be guests at the Corks & Chords event for the Multiple Sclerosis society to help raise money for research and cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Glow Skin & Body Studio is located at 4350 E. Ray Road, Suite 108. For more information, call (480) 759-8400.

Sports explosion event celebrates Phoenix Day of Play

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and the city of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will present a free interactive Day of Play from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Pecos Park, 17010 S. 48th St.

Organizations, club teams, businesses and vendors are encouraged to participate. To request an opportunity to host a booth, provide a demonstration or conduct a clinic, call (480) 947-0369.

TukeeFest

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ahwatukee Community Swim & Tennis Center, will present TukeeFest from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Ahwatukee Park, 4700 E. Warner Road.

The evening features live music from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Tasty treats will be available for purchase from local vendors.

Admission is free, but tickets will be needed for food, beverages, airbrush tattoos, games and rides. Advance tickets at an early bird rate of 30 tickets for $25 or $15 for a "rides only" wrist band are available by calling (480) 753-7676, (480) 893-3431 or online at www.ahwatukeechamber.com.

Grandparents Day event at Buds n Blossoms

Parents are invited to bring their children into Buds n Blossoms, 12020 S. Warner Elliot Loop, Suite 122, on Saturday, Sept. 6, so they can make a flower arrangement to give to their grandparents to celebrate Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 7. The staff will show children how to make a flower arrangement and provide all the materials.

For each arrangement made by the kids, Buds n Blossoms will make and donate an arrangement to Hawthorn Court of Ahwatukee, an Alzheimer's care community. Many "forgotten" residents live there, and these arrangements brought many smiles at last year's event.

Appointments are available every hour starting at 9 a.m., and eight children can be accommodated at each session. Appointments will continue until everyone has a chance to participate. Snacks and drinks will also be provided for the kids. The cost is $12.

For more information or to make an appointment, call Nanci Thomas at (480) 496-0003.

Foster children need you

Statewide, nearly 9,000 children are in out-of-home care - almost 5,000 in Maricopa County - and that number continues to rise. The Arizona Supreme Court's Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) is recruiting volunteer citizens for its Maricopa County Boards. Volunteers are needed to handle the increasing number of cases and to fill vacancies that are currently available.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and pass a criminal background check. They will receive two days of training, with mileage reimbursed. Thereafter, the volunteer must commit one day per month to the review panel, and four to six hours of preparation time to review the cases prior to the meeting. Each volunteer is appointed by the presiding juvenile judge for a term of three years. Volunteers are also required to obtain six to eight hours of continuing education each year.

For more information, go to www.azfcrb.org or contact Courtney Riddle at the FCRB, Dependent Children's Services Division, at (602) 452-3406.

Straight Arizonans to share message of unity

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 7 to 10 p.m., Arizona citizens will vigil at the corner of 24th Street and Camelback Road in central Phoenix to deliver a simple, unifying message: "Divisive ballot measures hurt all Arizonans."

The event is part of Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights 2008, a national project over the week of Sept. 14 to 20 that will spotlight straight Americans' support for gay friends and neighbors.

For more information, visit www.sevenstraightnights.org.

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.

Hats being collected for humanity project

St. Benedict Catholic Church and St. John Bosco Interparish School in Ahwatukee Foothills have partnered to launch a Hats for Humanity project to benefit the homeless.

The project will kick off at the Aug. 30 and 31 Masses at St. Benedicts and will continue through Oct. 31. The hats will be delivered to shelters in the Valley the weekend before Thanksgiving.

St. John Bosco will have a contest among the classrooms to see who can donate the most hats, with the winners receiving either a pizza party or ice cream social.

To donate warm, clean hats or to request a donation box, call (602) 531-9863.

September is National Sewing Month

American Sewing Guild (ASG) is promoting its 27 years of creativity by celebrating the month of September as National Sewing Month. ASG has been committed to stimulating interest in sewing activities by guiding chapter groups throughout the U.S.

The largest ASG chapter is in Phoenix and was recognized as Chapter of the Year in 2006. For information about the local chapter, e-mail membership@phoenixasg.org, call (602) 253-5125 or visit www.phoenixasg.org. For information on the national guild, visit www.asg.org.

New group fitness instructor training class offered

Carrie McNeish will teach a Group Fitness Instructor Training - Practical Application class through South Mountain Community College from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays Sept. 2 to Dec. 2 at the Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center, 4700 E. Warner Road.

Learn the practical side of teaching group fitness classes; how to put together fun, safe, and successful classes; how to teach a multitude of formats to your students, including floor aerobics (hi/lo), step aerobics, kickboxing, muscle/body toning, dance, cycle, yoga, Pilates and aqua; and learn about teaching classes for youths, seniors, and women during pregnancy.

The cost is $100. To register (class 42739), call (480) 659-3070 or go online to www.My.Maricopa.edu.

For more information on class offerings, visit www.dancemeetsfitness.net.

Boys' volleyball tryouts coming up

The Arizona Primitive Volleyball Club will host tryouts for boys ages 18, 17, 16 and 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, and Friday, Sept. 5, at Mountain Pointe High School, 4201 E. Knox Road. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Attendees should bring a copy of their birth certificates and a $10 tryout fee. All the necessary forms will be provided on Wednesday. Teams will be determined on Friday and a $250 commitment fee will be due. The cost is $700 total ($250 commitment fee due at tryouts and then $150 a month from October to December).

RSVP with name, birth date and school to Coach Mann at fmann.mtp@tuhsd.k12.az.us.

For more information, visit www.azprimitive.com.

Volunteer guides needed

The Desert Botanical Garden needs volunteer guides to lead public tours and school field trips.

School tours are offered from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday to Friday, and public tours are offered 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week from Oct. 6 to May 15. Visit www.dbg/education for a complete outline of tours and content presented through the Sonoran Desert Adventure Field Trip program.

Training begins Sept. 9 at the Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway.

Anyone interested may fill out a volunteer application online at www.dbg.org and then contact Nancy White at nwhite@dbg.org or (480) 481-8197 to schedule an interview or Tina Wilson at twilson@dbg.org for more program information.

Learn about DBG's preschool program

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, will host two "planting parties" for parents interested in learning more about Sammy's Seedlings Preschool Program - 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 9 or 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 10. 

Join in the fun of planting vegetables and flowers while learning about what plants need in order to grow. Explore at plant learning centers and even plant a seed of your choice to take home and grow. This is the perfect opportunity to check out the classroom, backyard and meet the teacher and volunteer team.

For more information or to register, call (480) 481-8146 or visit www.dbg.org. Limited space is available.

Women's Club kicking off new season

The Foothills Women's Club will start a new season on Sept. 10.

The club meets at 7 p.m. one Wednesday a month from September through May at the Club West Golf Course Clubhouse, 16400 S. 14th Ave. Beverages are available, and snacks will be served. The December and May meetings are members-only parties, but all other meetings are open to the public, and there is no cost to attend.

For more information, e-mail Kari Lindner at karijolindner1@cox.net or visit http://foothillswomensclub.org/index.php.

Massage Envy sponsors fundraiser

Massage Envy's fourth annual fundraiser event, Massage for the Cure, provides complimentary one-hour therapeutic massages in exchange for a donation at its 25 statewide locations to raise funds for the Phoenix and Southern Arizona Affiliates of Susan G. Komen.

The event, set for 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at 3820 E. Ray Road, Suite 16, is open to the public and requires an appointment. Reservations for appointments will be accepted by phone or in person beginning Sept. 8. There is no charge; however, the suggested donation is the value of the massage ($49), but any amount will be accepted.

Since the inception four years ago, Massage Envy's Arizona locations have raised nearly $150,000 to support breast cancer research for the Phoenix and Southern Arizona Affiliates of Susan G. Komen, as well as breast cancer education, screening and treatment initiatives in Arizona. 

Last year, Massage for the Cure raised more than $55,000 in Arizona.

For more information, visit www.massageenvy.com.

Arizona Region of USA Volleyball hosting golf tourney

The Arizona Region of USA Volleyball is hosting its second fundraiser golf tournament at the Arizona Grand Golf Club, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, on Saturday, Sept. 20. The scramble tournament will start at 7:30 a.m. and include golf, lunch, raffle and more. The proceeds of the tournament benefit the Development Grant Fund aimed to grow the sport of volleyball throughout the state in areas that need financial assistance to do so. The cost is $120 per individual, or $400 per foursome.

For more information or to register, contact Christy at (602) 454-1367, e-mail cnaughton@qwestoffice.net or visit www.azregionvolleyball.org.

Golfin' in the Desert

Desert Botanical Garden's Volunteers in the Garden are hosting the inaugural Golfin' in the Desert golf tournament to help raise scholarship funds for Title 1 students to participate in the Garden's Sonoran Desert Adventure Field Trip Program.

Golfin' in the Desert will be held at Arizona State University Karsten Golf Course, 1125 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, on Sept. 20, with a shotgun scramble starting at 7:30 a.m. Space is limited to 120 players. Registration before Aug. 31 is $100 and includes cart, range balls, green fees, two raffle tickets, a gourmet lunch and a goody bag. After Aug. 31, the registration will increase to $125.

For additional information or to register, visit www.dbg.org.

Register now for YMCA youth sports

Does your child enjoy sports such as basketball, flag football, soccer, t-ball, or volleyball?

The Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane, is accepting all participants for the fall season which runs from Sept. 20 to Nov. 1.

The YMCA fall sports program emphasizes good sportsmanship, fitness, fair play, fundamentals and fun, while implementing its core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

For more information or to register, call (480) 759-6762 or visit www.valleyYMCA.org

Shadowlands Haunted Attraction starts Sept. 26

Shadowlands Haunted Attraction returns to Fiesta Mall, 1445 W. Southern Ave., Mesa.

Shadowlands, formerly know as The Revenant Haunted Attraction, will be back from Sept. 26 to Nov. 1.

Shadowlands opens at 7 p.m., and tickets are $15 online and $18 in person.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.azshadowlands.com.

Carraro Cactus Garden tours

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will offer visitors this fall and winter a chance to explore the renovated Carraro Cactus Garden surrounding the landmark Tovrea Castle.

Participants can join 90-minute guided tours on selected Saturdays starting Sept. 27 through late December. The tours cost $15 per person, and proceeds will help to fund future castle and garden rehabilitation and improvements. The tours will only cover the grounds and do not include access to Tovrea Castle, which is closed as part of ongoing rehabilitation and renovation. Walking tours are appropriate for youth ages 8 and above with mild-grade variations on garden trails.

Visitors can register online at phoenix.gov/parks/tovrea.html. For more information, call (602) 256-3222.

Grand Canyon Railway calling charities

Grand Canyon Railway is opening up tickets for its annual Polar Express charity train to charities across Arizona. All charities will have the opportunity to receive tickets aboard this year's The Polar Express via a simple application process.

Grand Canyon Railway is dedicating its 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, Polar Express train to charity organizations. Nonprofits interested in applying can download The Polar Express charity train ticket application at www.thetrain.com/polarexpress. Charities applying must be able to travel on Thursday, Nov. 6. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 30.

Charities that have questions about the application process can contact Shannon Stegmeir at stegmeir@thetrain.com or (928) 773-1976, ext. 1014.

Free home painting for low-income, disabled or elderly homeowners

Low-income, disabled or elderly homeowners statewide whose homes need exterior painting but can't do the work themselves and volunteer groups willing to handle the painting are being sought by Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun for the fifth annual Wells Fargo Rock & Roll Paint-A-Thon, 1 Day of Peace, Music & Paint, Saturday, Oct. 25.

Rebuilding Together also is looking for nonprofit organizations to apply to have their facilities painted. Two agencies will be selected.

Eligibility guidelines and an application for homeowners, volunteers and nonprofit agencies can be found at www.rebuildingtogetherphx.org.

East Valley Marines planning birthday ball

With their 2008 Birthday Ball scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Oakwood Country Club in Sun Lakes, the East Valley Marines are focusing on their mission. As guests arrive, they will be heralded into the ballroom by the Tempe Police Pipe Band, dressed for the occasion in their uniform kilts. Hundreds of Marines ranging in age from teens to men and women in their 80s are expected to attend. Special tributes and speeches will be made to honor a large number of Marine guests who will have just returned from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The event will be a night of tradition, ceremony, dinner, music and dancing.

The Birthday Ball is open to all Marines and all Americans that support our troops. Tickets will go on sale the beginning of September.

For further information, contact Richard Hippner at hip exec@yahoo.com or call (480) 883-9393.

Drag boat race champions to be decided at Firebird

The world's fastest boats will be returning to Firebird Lake for the 26th Annual IHBA NAPA Auto Parts World Finals Drag Boat Races Nov. 20 to 23. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day.

Thirteen classes of boats in speeds excess of 240 mph will participate. The NAPA Auto Parts World Finals is the final event on the IHBA Lucas Oil Racing Series and will decide the 2008 season champions.

Firebird International Raceway Lake is located at 20000 Maricopa Road in Chandler.

Tickets range from $10 to $48 and are available by calling (602) 268-0200 or online at www.firebirdraceway.com. Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult (except to reserve seating areas).

Huge demand for election board workers

Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell is extending an invitation to the voting public to sign up and become a board worker on Election Day. The positions are paid and vary in responsibility. Workers must attend a training class and set-up meeting. The hours are from 6 a.m., when the polls open, to 7 p.m., when they close.

Of the 1,142 precincts in the county, 636 need to be staffed with 848 bi-lingual workers. Some of the polling sites require more than one bi-lingual board worker. The department needs assistance in this program as well.

Because of a dire need for board workers during the election cycle, a state law was passed in 2006 that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work at the polls on Election Day. They must have parental approval, and the high school must be notified of their intent. They receive pay for attending class, set-up meeting and working Election Day. Passage of this law does not penalize either the high school or the student for being absent while working at the polls.

Anyone interested in working the polls for both the 2008 Sept. 2 primary and Nov. 4 general elections may call (602) 506-1511.

Sweetie the Tomato offers kids a taste-bud tour

This summer, kids and parents are invited to join Sweetie the Tomato on an eight-week taste-bud tour with Sweet Tomatoes' 2008 Passport to Flavor.

Every two weeks through Sept. 30, Sweet Tomatoes will debut an internationally-inspired menu - for one all-you-care-to-eat price - offering guests the chance to sample dishes inspired by four new flavor destinations, including Italy, Mexico, Greece and Asia.

For more information, visit www.sweettomatoes.com.

Holiday boutique looking for artists, crafters

Members of Arizona Community Church are currently gearing up for their Seventh Annual Holiday Shoppe to be held Nov. 14 and 15. Vendor registrations are now being accepted until Oct. 16, or until all spaces are sold.

Vendor setup, close to 100 spaces available, is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13. The Shoppe will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15.

The vendor registration packet contains details on dates, times, requirements and fees. To download a packet, go to www.azcc.org and click the "Holiday Shoppe" button. You can also stop by Arizona Community Church at 9325 S. Rural Road in Tempe between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To pick up a packet call Jackie Fahey at (480) 491-2210 to have one mailed to you.

Catholic Charities hosting annual golf tournament

The 2008 Catholic Charities Tournament of Champions will begin with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Friday, Nov. 7, at the Legacy Golf Resort, 6808 S. 32nd St., followed by dinner and awards. The format will be best ball, four person scramble.

All golfers and Catholic Charities supporters are invited to participate, and players will have an opportunity to win several hole-in-one prizes. Foursomes are available for $700 or individuals may register for $175 per person. Proceeds will benefit more than 50 programs helping vulnerable children and families in crisis throughout northern and central Arizona.

For more information or to register to play, become a tournament sponsor or volunteer, visit www.golfinvite.com/events/index.asp?eventID=1078.

Tour de Scottsdale gearing up

Cyclists are gearing up for the Fifth Annual Tour de Scottsdale, and the "105,000 Miles for the McDowells" challenge, which will launch at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct 5, from Market Street at DC Ranch, located at the southeast corner of Pima Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.

For more information or to register, visit dcbadventures.com or call (480) 460-5052.

Local writer to teach Memoir Writing Course in Mexico

As a recipient of a 2008 Artist's Project Grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Ahwatukee Foothills resident and writer Patricia Colleen Murphy has spent this summer writing her own memoir. But for the past 15 years, as a writing teacher at Arizona State University, she has been dedicated to helping others craft their personal stories. Murphy continues to support the growing number of people interested in memoir writing with a workshop Oct. 2 to 5 at Hacienda de los Santos in the historic town of Alamos, Mexico.

The four-day writing workshop, titled "Writing the Memoir: Crafting Your Personal Experience into Art" will start with an introductory session Thursday evening, Oct. 2. There will be three morning workshops on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, culminating in a student reading Sunday evening. Murphy will also give public readings of her own poetry and prose in the Hacienda Theater. The total cost for the workshop is $60 (not including, room, food or beverage).

The Hacienda de Los Santos is located at Calle Molina No. 8, Alamos, Sonora, Mexico 85763.

For further information, e-mail Hacienda de los Santos at Swickard@haciendadelossantos.com or visit www.haciendadelossantos.com or email the author at pcm@asu.edu or visit www.patriciacolleenmurphy.com.

Polar Express season coming up

Grand Canyon Railway's 2008 Polar Express Season kicks off Nov. 6 and continues select evenings into January. The round-trip journey is approximately an hour in length. Most evenings, Grand Canyon Railway offers two Polar Express trains, with one departing Williams Depot at 6:30 p.m. and a second train departing at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $14 for children. Special Polar Express packages, which include The Polar Express train trip, one night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and dinner and breakfast at the railway's restaurant, are available starting at $289. Package prices are for two adults and two children and are based on double occupancy. Prices do not include tax and are valid for travel from Nov. 6 to Jan. 10, 2009.

For more information, visit www.thetrain.com or call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).

Charity Ride coming up

Arizona Beta Sigma Phis Against Domestic Abuse (AzBSPADA) are hosting their annual Charity Ride or Drive starting at 9 a.m. Oct. 18 at Chesters Harley Davidson, 922 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa. All proceeds will be donated to local domestic abuse shelters.

This event is for bikes, car, trucks or whatever will get you there. The route will take us to Fountain Hills via surface streets and then through Rio Verde on to New River for lunch at the Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon. There will be a 50/50 drawing, as well as door prizes. The entry cost is $20 per bike or $20 per vehicle (does not include the cost of lunch). For more information, visit www.sharethemagicada.org. To register, call Joan Arnold at (480) 818-0831.

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.

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 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 the Y OPAS office at (602) 212-6088 (note that the phone number has recently changed).

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.

Send submissions to: (480) 898-7924 or jwalker@ahwatukee.com.