Community Notes (2/13)

Audi to build 70 bicycles for deserving children

Nearly 400 employees from Audi of America across the country will join together on Feb. 17 to build 70 bicycles for children from the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley in just two hours. Building begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler.

The brand new bikes (and helmets) will be presented as a surprise to deserving children from the Sacaton and Komatke Boys and Girls Clubs when they arrive thinking they are spending their day doing volunteer community service work.

Girls offered alternative to Friday night bar scene

For women it can be difficult to find a place to make friends and connect. That's why a free event called Exhale: Happy Hour-And-A-Half was created.

This drop-in party, set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, is designed for women in the Southeast valley - especially Ahwatukee Foothills - to indulge in rich desserts, specialty coffees, door prizes and the opportunity to make some new friends. Complimentary child care is also being offered to provide a small break for those with little ones.

Based on the idea of a Friday happy hour, Exhale is intended to be a welcoming place for women to meet, unwind and be treated to a little pampering.

Although it will be at Mountain Park Community Church, 2408 E. Pecos Road, there will be no "churchy" feel to this party. No "program" or set agenda. Women may drop by for a few moments or the full 90 minutes without a reservation, a ticket or a credit card.

In addition to the free Friday night event, an Exhale conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Author and speaker Joan Webb will encourage women to find "relief from the pursuit of perfection." Registration is required for the conference.

For more information about either event, e-mail INTEREST@cox.net.

Lions Club Golf Classic coming up

The Ahwatukee Lions Club has joined with the Arizona Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ACBVI) to host the third annual Golf Classic, which will begin with a 1:15 p.m. shotgun/scramble start on Saturday, April 18, at the Legacy Golf Resort, 6808 S. 32nd St.

The fun-filled day offers great prizes, contest holes, a silent auction and a first-class awards banquet immediately following the event.

Proceeds will support ACBVI, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Camp Tatiyee (a summer camp in the White Mountains for children and adults with disabilities), and the Arizona Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (which provides eye surgeries, hearing aids and ear surgeries for low income Arizona residents).

Entry fees are $450 per team/$125 player in advance, or $500 per team/$135 per player at the event. Sponsorship packages ranging from $150 to $1,250 are tax-deductible. Prize, auction or monetary donations are also appreciated.

For more information, e-mail Barbara Lyijnen at lyijynen@msn.com or call (480) 460-2272.

Tasting Ahwatukee Business Expo coming up

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 are available 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.

Mastermind groups forming for children

Parents, help your children to achieve greater confidence, realize their own greatness and potential and to achieve clarity! Mastermind study groups are starting soon that are geared toward children ages 11 to 18 (middle school through high school).

For more information, call (480) 294-9492 or visit www.DonnaBrannan.LifeSuccessConsultants.com.

Kiwanis Ahwatukee Easter Parade & Spring Fling coming April 11

Planning is under way for the 33rd Annual Kiwanis Ahwatukee Easter Parade & Spring Fling scheduled for Saturday, April 11. Entries are needed, so now is the time for businesses, youth and church groups, families and individuals to put their heads together and start organizing their entries for the Easter Parade, Ahwatukee Foothills' largest community-participation event.

Sponsored again by the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee, this year's Parade Boss (for the 17th time) is Mike Schmitt. Helping out are Kiwanis club members Bill Clark and Jim Bell.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the parade forms at 48th Street and Warner Road and progresses north about one mile along 48th Street to Cheyenne Drive. Spectators are welcome to bring lawn chairs or spread blankets and enjoy the parade. Public address stations will be located at the Ahwatukee Country Club and at the corners of Ahwatukee Drive, Kiowa Street and Pawnee Street.

After the parade, all are invited to the Spring Fling Carnival at Ahwatukee Community Center Park, 48th Street and Warner Road. Enjoy entertainment by local groups, carnival rides, games, food, beverages and games for the whole family from about 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kiwanis member Andi Pettyjohn is heading the Spring Fling committee.

Parade entry forms have been mailed to over 300 local businesses, groups and previous parade entries.

For more Easter Parade information, call (480) 496-4270 days, (480) 759-0007 evenings or e-mail msch0007@aol.com. For more Spring Fling information, call (602) 402-6267 or e-mail andi@wttaz.com.

Bookins.com gives new life to old books

Bookins.com is a simple-to-use book-trading site with 42,000 members. The site allows members to swap books and DVDs by mail with no fuss. Membership is free - the only cost is postage, which is printed right from the Web site. In return for sending out their own items, members can pick from over 500,000 books and DVDs to get in exchange.

Bookins.com is the only service of its kind to provide a money-back guarantee, so if you ever receive an item you are not happy with, Bookins will refund the shipping cost.

Optimists offering scholarships for contest winners

The Ahwatukee Foothills Optimist Club is hosting an essay contest, and essays are being accepted through the end of February. This years topic is "The Power of Youth," and anyone under 19 as of Dec. 31, 2008, is eligible to enter.

In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship of up to $6,000.

For contest rules and an application, visit www.optimist.org/Forms/ESSAY_RULES_PAD-E_08.pdf. Interested students may also e-mail Tim Maiefski at tmaiefski@cox.net.

‘Gym N Fun' tumbling, gymnastics classes offered

Arizona All-Stars Tumbling and Cheer and Gym has kicked off a new "Gym N Fun" program especially for children ages 3 to 12 that combines tumbling, cheerleading, gymnastics and dance. The curriculum is designed to be fun while demonstrating the benefits of lifelong fitness, and children will be placed in age- and skill-appropriate classes.

The cost is $60 a month for one hour a week.

Arizona All Stars, 7425 S. Harl, Suite 3, Tempe, is a 5,000-square-foot facility completely covered with gymnastic flooring with half the space a spring floor. For more information, visit www.azallstars.com or call (480) 831-1105.

Romantic Valentine wine tours

Sedona Wine Country Tours is offering wine excursions to enhance the romance in your life.

Give your sweetheart a memorable day sampling Verde Valley wines and strolling through vineyards with a knowledgeable tour guide sharing anecdotes on Arizona's wine-making history.

A special discount rate on romance tours is offered through March 31.

For details, call (928) 554-4072 or visit www.sedona-tour-guide.com.

BAR collecting shoes for the homeless and needy

Brad and Tracie Rogers, owners of Ahwatukee Foothills' BAR Personal Training & School of Athletic Performance, have organized their fourth annual Heart and Sole, a shoe collection drive for those in need in the Phoenix area. The shoe drive will run the entire month of February.

All sizes of shoes will be accepted, with emphasis on children's shoes. Monetary donations can be made to purchase new shoes, as well.

Several local businesses and schools are involved in the collection effort, including the Mountain Pointe High School baseball teams and Summit School.

Shoes can be dropped off at the BAR Fitness at Ray Road and 44th Street. One free hybrid training session will be given away with the donation of each pair of new shoes, up to three sessions.

If you are interested in collecting shoes at your business for this drive or have shoes but are unable to drop them off, contact the BAR at 480-961-5411.

Town Hall to provide help during economic crisis

Mountain Park Community Church, 2408 E. Pecos Road, is taking action because there are many families in the Ahwatukee Foothills area struggling to make ends meet. A series of town meetings is scheduled to provide insight and creative answers for those who are facing financial crisis or want to be equipped to help others.

* Feb. 19, 7:00 p.m., Kate Krietor, deputy director of Neighborhood Services, will discuss housing counseling options to foreclosures.

* March 5, 7 p.m., Deanna Jonovich, human services director, will talk about temporary rental services and subsidizing utility bills, and Brande Mead, MAG regional continuum of care, will provide resources available for people on the verge of losing their home or recently lost a home.

The meetings are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Karen Pfander at (480) 759-6200 or e-mail kpfander@mountainpark.org.

Nominations being taken for Spirit of ABIL Award

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), Arizona's largest center for independent living serving people with disabilities, is accepting nominations for its annual Spirit of ABIL Award.

The Spirit of ABIL Award is given to an individual who personifies the independent living philosophy of consumer control, self-advocacy and peer support. Nominees will be judged on their accomplishments and goals in developing independent living skills and making the adjustment to life with a disability. Nominees will also be judged on their involvement and accomplishments in systems or self-advocacy that positively impacts community integration for people with disabilities in metropolitan Phoenix and Central Arizona.

Nominations forms are available at www.abil.org and must be received no later than Feb. 20. The award will be presented at a luncheon March 28.

America in Bloom calls for communities to come together

America in Bloom, a grassroots level community beautification contest now in its eighth year, has been committed to the national agenda of improving the quality of life in America, starting by one's own town or city. AIB encourages, challenges and offers support for each town to organize, sponsor and pull together volunteers to work together with the main goal of keeping their hometown vibrant. It does help unite groups when they realize that former participating cities have reaped numerous economic benefits as well.

Participating cities and towns engage in a friendly competition against those of similar population size. Communities are evaluated by specially trained judges who actually visit each participating city on eight criteria, in three sectors: municipal, commercial and residential. Participants have ranged in size from the smallest, Echo, Oregon, with a population of 650 to Chicago, IL with more than 2.7 million residents.

The deadline for the 2009 America in Bloom contest is Feb. 28.  

For more information, visit www.americainbloom.org.

‘Cinderella Affair' prom dress drive helps girls in need

"The Cinderella Affair," now in its seventh year, offers high school juniors and seniors a chance to choose a dress for free to wear on their special night. The event is an all-volunteer project put on by the East Valley Women's League (EVWL) in collaboration with the Tempe Community Council (TCC).

The EVWL and the TCC will hold their annual dress drive through Feb. 20 to collect gently-worn dresses for the event. Drop box locations are located at the Ahwatukee Community Center, 4700 E. Warner Road; Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane; Angel Touch Nails, 4722 Ray Road; Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 3550 E. Knox Road; Mountain Pointe High School, 4201 E. Knox Road; and Desert Vista High School, 16440 S. 32nd St.

The dress selection event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe. On Friday, the program will be open to all girls attending school in the Tempe Unified High School District. On Saturday, it will be open to schools Valleywide.

For a list of drop box locations or information on how you can help, visit www.cinderellaaffair.org.

April 2 deadline for Easter Parade entries

The 33rd Annual Kiwanis Ahwatukee Easter Parade & Spring Fling will take place April 11 on 48th Street. If you have a group that would like to participate, call (480) 496-4270 or e-mail msch0007@aol.com for more information. Entry deadline is April 2.

eWomenNetwork announces partnerships

The eWomenNetwork of metro Phoenix has announced the following alliance partnerships in addition to its participation with the Arizona Small Business Association.

Cross promotions are being established between the eWomenNetwork and NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners). Women with memberships in both organizations will receive benefits and the advantage of marketing alliances.

The Referral Institute of Central Arizona will enhance the networking capabilities of eWomenNetwork and its members.

For more information on any of these programs, visit www.ewomennetwork.com or call (480) 429-6997.

Suns, Avnet competition for college students

Student teams participating in the 2009 Avnet Tech Games' "Multimedia Fast Break" competition will be given an opportunity to create a 30-second promotional spot for the Phoenix Suns and earn a $1,000 scholarship. The spots will be judged at the fourth annual Avnet Tech Games April 4 at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, Feb. 27, and all Arizona college students are encouraged to participate.

Visit AvnetTechGames.com for more information and to sign up.

Community Center offers 5K Run/Walk

The Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center will host a 5K Run/Walk Feb. 28. The starting time is 8 a.m. for runners and 8:10 a.m. for walkers. Refreshments and a drawing for door prizes will take place at the completion of the race.

The entry fee for adults is $15 for the 5K Run and $15 for the 5K Walk. Children under 10 years old may enter the 5K Run/Walk for $10.

Sign-ups are now being taken, and registration forms are available at the Community Center, 4700 E. Warner Road, or online at www.ahwatukee hoa.com. Registration on race day will be from 7 to 7:45 a.m.

For more information, call (480) 893-3431 or (480) 893-0188.

European river cruise series benefits local Public Broadcasting

Sunsational Cruises and well-known travel, culinary and cultural journalist Burt Wolf are teaming up in a new series of European river cruises to benefit Public Broadcasting. For each confirmed booking made through Sunsational Cruises, a significant donation will be made to help support the Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) in our community.

Wolf will accompany all guaranteed departures, sharing his in-depth knowledge of each intriguing port and its culture and customs.

Prices start as low as $2,934 for the nine-day river cruise of Holland and Belgium. For more information, call Sunsational Cruises at (480) 753-6671 or visit www.burtwolf.com.

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. 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.

KRC sets wave pool theme days

Wave pool theme days at Kiwanis Recreation Center, 6111 South All America Way, Tempe, run 1 to 3 p.m., and the wave pool hours are 1 to 5 p.m.

Theme days include Opening Day, March 7; Spring Break Waves, March 9 to 14; Swim-tastic Spring Fun Day, March 14; Happy Birthdays Day (for birthdays in that month), March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25 and Aug. 29; Girl Scouts Day, April 18; Mother's Day Weekend, May 9 and 10; Armed Forces Weekend, May 16 and 17; Report Card Day, June 6; Father's Day Weekend, June 20 and 21; Grandparent's Day, Sept. 5; and Boy Scout's Day, Sept. 19.

For details, call (480) 350-5201, (480) 350-5050 TTY or visit www.tempe.gov/kiwanis. 

Suns accepting nominations for Spirit of Cotton Award

For the fourth consecutive year, Phoenix Suns Charities will honor the memory of former Suns head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons with The Spirit of Cotton Award.  

The award will recognize one high school basketball coach who consistently demonstrates the best qualities of coach, educator, mentor and community leader. All high school head basketball coaches in Arizona are eligible to be nominated. Nominations can be made by a community member, fellow coach/teacher, school administrator or student-athlete.

Nominations are being accepted through March 16, and the winner will be announced and honored at a Suns home game in April.

For more information or to download a nomination form, visit the Phoenix Suns Charities page on Suns.com.

Real Gardens for Real People tour

The Master Gardeners of the Arizona Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host the 2009 Real Gardens for Real People garden tour on March 21.

This is a unique opportunity for the public to visit non-commercial, private gardens developed by individuals who are concerned with creating a beautiful environment and attracting wild life, while using minimal irrigation and drought resistant plantings.

The self-guided driving tour will include six homes, and guest speakers will be onsite the day of the tour to give talks and answer gardening questions.

Tickets are in local nurseries and online at https://pubs1.cals.arizona.edu/confreg/reginfo.cfm?ID=95.

Businesses invited to reserve space for SMCC Career Expo

Valley employers seeking fresh talent can reserve a booth for the annual South Mountain Community College 2009 Career Expo.

The Ninth Annual Expo will take place Wednesday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the central plaza area of the college, 7050 S. 24th St., just north of Baseline Road.

The registration fee is $100 for the three-hour event.

To register or get additional information, interested employers should contact Suzanne Hipps, SMCC career services director, at (602) 243-8153, or e-mail suzanne.hipps@smcmail.maricopa.edu. Employers may also register online at www.southmountaincc.edu/services/careerservices.

Phoenix Suns Charities announces 2009 Suns & Stars Gala

Phoenix Suns Charities invites Valley residents to rub elbows with Phoenix Suns players and coaches at the annual Suns & Stars gala on Friday, March 20, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. The presenting sponsor of the event is Toyota.

Tickets are now on sale, and all proceeds will benefit Phoenix Suns Charities, which works to improve the lives of Arizona youth and families. This year tables of 10 are available for $5,000, $12,500 or $25,000, with a limited number of individual tickets available for $750 each.

For more information, including individual, table and Playmaker pricing, call (602) 379-7767 or e-mail sburgus@suns.com. For more information on the gala, log on to www.suns.com/community/charities.

Registration under way for Chamber golf tourney

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce's annual golf tournament will begin with a shotgun start at noon on Friday, April 24, at the Ahwatukee Country Club, 12432 S. 48th St.

Check in starts at 10:30 a.m.

The event features a silent auction, raffle, putting contest, 19th hole festivities and dinner.

For more information or to register, visit www.ahwatukeechamber.com, call (480) 753-7676 or e-mail Julia@AhwatukeeChamber.com.

Classes offered for un- and under-employed

Training to YOU, a computer technology center located at 2200 N. Central Ave., Suite 100, is offering local un- and under-employed persons a unique opportunity to update their Microsoft Office skills. A number of half-day classes are available each week, and empty seats are available on a "pay-what-you-can" basis.

Class size is limited to 12, and each student receives instructor-led classroom training and a manual for ready reference. Fees are normally $120, but un- or under-employed people are only asked to pay what they can afford.

For more information or to register, visit www.trainingtoYOU.com or call (602) 266-1500.

February nature events at Arizona State Parks

Arizona State Parks offers a wide variety of events including nature talks, hikes, walks and special events in February.

* Feb. 10 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Open Space/GIS: Planning for the Future of Arizona. Brown bag lunch lecture, 12:15 p.m. (928) 779-4395.

* Feb. 13 to 15 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Language of Flowers & Chocolate Tasting. (520) 689-2811.

* Feb. 14 - Yuma Territorial Prison & Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Parks, Yuma Crossing Day Celebration of Historic Yuma at Yuma Prison, Yuma Quartermaster Depot, Sanguinetti House Museum, Yuma Library and historic main street. (928) 783-4771.

* Feb. 14 - McFarland State Historic Park, self-guided tour of Historic Florence. The park will feature re-enactors and displays from the 1860s to 1912. (520) 868-5216.

* Feb. 14 to 15 - Fort Verde State Historic Park, Buffalo soldiers will celebrate Black History Month, in conjunction with the Pecan and Wine Festival. They will present riding demonstrations as well as living history presentations. (928) 567-3275.

* Feb. 21 - Cattail Cove State Park, Geo Cache Bash. Bring your handheld GPS unit. 10 a.m. (928) 855-1223.

* Feb. 28 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, World Desert Fair showcases desert plants and ecosystems from all around the world. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (520) 689-2811.

* Feb. 28 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Beneath The Runways: Archaeology of Sky Harbor Airport. Todd Bostwick, Ph.D., archaeologist, city of Phoenix, will discuss the archaeological excavations undertaken over the last 20 years at Sky Harbor International Airport and sign copies of his book. Evening slide presentation, 7 p.m. Free. RSVP to (928) 779-4395.

Desert Garden Institute offers classes

After a two year hiatus, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County Master Gardeners are once again offering their Desert Garden Institute series of classes. This year-long program of 10 classes teach tips, techniques and tricks to make the most out of your time in your garden and landscape.

Classes are taught at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County office at 4341 E. Broadway Road on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. The cost is $25 for each class or $100 for five classes. The following sessions are offered: Vegetable Gardening, Feb. 21; Water Harvesting, March 14; Herb Gardening for the Arizona Desert, March 28; Container Gardening, April 18; What's Bugging You, April 25; Composting - A Recipe for Success, Sept. 12; Go Wild!  Landscaping for Wildlife, Sept. 26; Wildflowers, Oct. 10; Pruning Techniques, Oct. 24; and Plant Propagation / Seed Saving, Nov. 7.

Information regarding the Desert Garden Institute, including full class descriptions, online registration and a mail-in registration form, can be found at www.maricopamastergardener.org/dgi.htm.

Feb. 24 is National Pancake Day at IHOP

IHOP will serve millions of free pancakes in celebration of National Pancake Day on Feb. 24. The celebration is designed to bring together friends and family, as well as to raise $1 million for Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children's hospitals, and other worthy causes.

Nearly 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once again invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP's signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.  In return, IHOP guests are asked to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to their local children's hospital or another worthy cause.

Additionally, Miracle Balloons will be sold for $1 each, personalized and displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from Feb. 1 to 24, offering guests another way to show their support of Children's Miracle Network and contribute to the National Pancake Day fundraising effort.

For more information about IHOP's National Pancake Day or to learn more about Children's Miracle Network and make an online donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

Countdown to Camp Fair 2009

Raising Arizona Kids Magazine's sixth annual Camp Fair will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.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.

March nature events at Arizona State Parks

Arizona State Parks offers a wide variety of events including nature talks, hikes, walks and special events in March.

* March 7 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Protecting Historic Sites during Wildland Fires.  Evening slide presentation, 7 p.m. Free. RSVP to (928) 779-4395.

* March 10 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, "En Vogue: 90 Years of Riordan Women's Fashion." Brown bag lunch lecture, 12:15 p.m. (928) 779-4395.

* March 14 to 15 - Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, Phoenix: 2009 Arizona Archaeology Expo. Free. (602) 542-4009.

* March 14 to 15 - Picacho Peak State Park, Civil War in the Southwest. $8 per vehicle Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Civil War memorabilia and food booths. Vendors must apply. (520) 466-3183.

* March 14 to 29 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park Spring Plant Sale. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (520) 689-2811.

* March 15 - Red Rock State Park, Soldier and Indian Trails of the Verde Valley. Reservations recommended, seating limited. 2 p.m. in the park theater. (928) 282-6907.

* March 21 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Welcome Back Buzzards. Arrive between 7 and 8:30 a.m. to observe resident vultures, or join an 8:30 a.m. bird walk guided by volunteers and staff. Exhibitors from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (520) 689-2811.

* March 21 - Patagonia Lake State Park, Annual Mariachi Festival. noon to 5 p.m. (520) 287-6965.

* March 27 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Focus on Wildflowers "Bio-Dive," a new program for high school-age home school students. 9 a.m. to noon. To enroll, call (520) 689-2723.

* March 28 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Butterfly Walk. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (520) 689-2811.

* March 28 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Protecting the Archaeology and Petroglyphs of Picture Canyon. Evening slide presentation, 7 p.m. Free. RSVP to (928) 779-4395.

* March 29 - Oracle State Park, Music in the Park. Various musicians play from 2 to 4 p.m. on the upper patio of the Kannally Ranch House. The annual music in the park concert series runs the last Sunday of March through June. (520) 896-2425.

Relive Civil War battles at Picacho Peak State Park

Each year hundreds of spectators descend on Picacho Peak State Park to watch re-enactments of the Battle of Picacho Pass, the Arizona Civil War skirmish and the New Mexico battles of Glorieta and Val Verde. This year the re-enactments take place March 14 and 15 at Picacho Peak State Park.

Food and beverages will be available, and attendees should bring water, hat, lawn chair and sunscreen. Pets will not be permitted.

For more information, call (520) 466-3183. This is a two-day event with the second day's activities being a repeat of the first day. Visit azstateparks.com to download an event flyer, see photos from last year's event and for directions.

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 www.azstateparks.com.

Professional Tennis Registry workshop coming up

The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) will conduct its popular International Certification Workshop April 25 to 26 at the Kiwanis Recreation Center, 6111 S All America Way, Tempe.

PTR's International Certification Workshop is the industry leader in professional tennis teaching courses. The workshop is conducted primarily on the tennis court with an emphasis on the fundamentals of teaching group lessons, the development of biomechanically sound strokes, error detection, corrective techniques and the logistics of organizing group drills. The 10-hour course prepares members for the certification exam, which will be administered at the conclusion of the workshop.

The workshop fee is $95. For more information or to register, call PTR Headquarters at (800) 421-6289 or visit www.ptrtennis.org.

Upcoming events at the Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, has a full and exciting calendar of events planned for the whole family.

* The zoo's inaugural Walk in the Wild registration is under way and the event will take place Saturday, May 9. Participants have the choice of signing up for a 5K run/walk or a one mile family fun walk. Each participant will receive a commemorative T-shirt, entrance into the Walk in the Wild post-party and admission to the Phoenix Zoo. Proceeds benefit the Phoenix Zoo. To register individuals or teams, visit www.phoenixzoo.org or call (602) 914-4333.

* ZooBrew tickets are now on sale. Celebrate the arrival of the Komodo Dragons at ZooBrew 2009. ZooBrew is one of the largest fundraisers for the zoo and features live music from a nationally-recorded band, specialty food, beverage sampling and a variety of fun activities. All proceeds support the non-profit zoo. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.phoenixzoo.org.

* Swing on in for Primate Palooza, a month long celebration in January focusing on monkeys, lemurs and apes. Learn about these incredible animals and some of the threats they face in the wild as well as ways you can help. On the weekends, enjoy fun, educational activities and special encounter talks that focus on different primates each week.

* Kasih, the zoo's baby orangutan, turns three years old and zoo is celebrating on June 25. Don't miss a fun filled day with special activities, education on orangutans and a special cup cake treat (limited) courtesy of Fry's Food & Drug Stores. Sing Happy Birthday to Kasih at the admission window from Jan. 24 to Feb. 1 and receive $3 off a child's admission.

* Couples are invited to enjoy a night out and learn a little about animal mating rituals on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. This romantic and wildly entertaining night out begins with a complimentary glass of champagne, a full course meal, drinks and a uniquely entertaining "Jungle Love" presentation offering humorous insight on quirky animal mating rituals. The cost is $70 a couple and space is limited to only 50 couples. This is a 21 and older event. For tickets, call (602) 914-4333 or visit www.phoenixzoo.org.

* Arizona's birthday is in February, and the zoo is celebrating from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22 with "Wild Arizona," where guests can learn all about Arizona's history through interactive story telling, activities and much more. Free for Zoo members or with a regular paid admission.

* Say "I Do" at the Phoenix Zoo Bridal Fair on Sunday, Feb. 22. The fair will feature a variety of vendors for consultation and information about hosting a most unique wedding at the zoo. A raffle with prizes will also be held, and some of the zoo's animal friends will make appearances. Admission is $5 in advance per person and includes zoo admission. Gate admission is $10 per person. Visit www.phoenixzoo.org for more information or to purchase tickets.

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.

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.

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.

Older children and larger sibling groups need adoption, too

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.

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.