Community Briefs (7/1)

Last-minute Star Spangled information

• Last chance to sign up for the Star Spangled Festival Bike Parade. Decorate strollers, wagons and bicycles in red, white and blue. Prizes, compliments of Curbside Cyclery, will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in age brackets 0 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years and 11 to 15 years. Call the Ahwatukee Community Center at (480) 893-3431 to register (must be registered by Thursday, July 2 - registration is free).

• Last chance to make reservations for the VIP Pool Party & Barbecue. Enjoy exclusive use of the Community Center pool, great barbecue, VIP parking and the best view of the fireworks. $25 per person, children 3 and younger are free. Call (480) 893-3431 to make your reservation (space is limited).

• Last chance for early bird tickets for the Star Spangled Festival. Admission to the festival is free; however, tickets will be needed for food, beverages and water slides. Early-bird special: 30 tickets for $25 or all-day ride wristbands for $15. Beginning July 3rd, single tickets will be $1 each and all day ride wrist band $20. Call (480) 893-3431 to order tickets and wristbands.

The Next Food Network Star now casting for Season 6

An open casting call for The Next Food Network Star will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Embassy Suites Phoenix-Scottsdale, 4415 E. Paradise Village Parkway, Phoenix.

Participants need to bring two recent photos, a copy of their resume and a filled out application (found at www.FoodNetwork.com/star).

For more information or questions, e-mail nfns6phoenix@yahoo.com.

Master Gardener Certification classes available

The Master Gardeners of Maricopa County through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is offering classes to become a certified Master Gardener from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays July 7 through Oct. 27 at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County. In-depth training will be provided on: basic botany, propagation, cacti and succulents, turf, citrus, plant diagnosis, soils and fertilizer, vegetables and herbs and more.

To learn more, plan to attend a free Certification Workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension office, 4341 E. Broadway Road. Applications are due by May 31.

For more information or to register for the workshop, contact Kristen at (602) 827-8200, ext. 311, or e-mail krwagner@cals.arizona.edu.

For more information about the Master Gardener Program, visit www.maricopamastergardener.com.

M&I Bank hosting school supply drive in July

To help provide teachers with the things they need and reduce their out-of-pocket expenses for supplies for their classrooms (estimated at $400 and $700 per year), M&I Bank branches throughout the state are hosting supply drives during the month of July for schools in their neighborhood. Each branch has a school wish list, available upon request. The Ahwatukee Foothills branch is at 4835 E. Warner Road.

Christmas in July

Guests and residents are invited to escape summer and celebrate Christmas in July at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, 2401 E. Camelback Road. Special festivities offer something for everyone and include:

• Jeffrey Bear Tea and Storybook Contest: noon and 3 p.m. seatings July 10 and 11, noon seating July 12. $35 per adult, $25 per child under 12.

• Cupcake Tea and Hat Fashion Show: 4 p.m. July 12. $25 per person, or $35 with champagne.

• Cocktails and Caroling: 7:30 p.m. July 13. $25 per person.

Event and dining reservations as well as rules and entry forms for the Jeffrey Bear Storybook Contest are available by calling Jeffrey or Annette at (602) 468-0700.

Support domestic abuse awareness, recovery

Sunsational Cruises and Bravery Project are partnering to offer a journey of recovery. An escape to sea supporting domestic abuse awareness sets sail June 6, 2010, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The 2010 Bravery Project Cruise is a seven-night cruise to the eastern Caribbean with rates beginning at $979 per person for double occupancy. For each confirmed booking made through Polly Waln at Sunsational Cruises, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Bravery Project.

While enjoying the scenery from the deck, travelers will also be treated to original artwork exhibited by creator Florschuetz.

For details, visit www.braveryproject.org.

LaidOffCamp offers support

Are you unemployed or engaged in non-traditional employment, including freelance and self-employment, in the greater Phoenix area? Would you like to meet other people in similar situations to exchange ideas, ask questions, get inspired, network for opportunities and learn more about community resources?

If so, you are invited to attend LaidOffCamp Phoenix on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gangplank HQ, 325 E. Elliot Road, Suite 34, Chandler. The event is free and open to the public but requires a ticket for admission. Tickets are available online through Eventbrite.

LaidOffCamp is not a job fair or a way to meet recruiters. Instead, it helps people explore and understand the practicalities of finding and maintaining an income from their passions.

For more information, e-mail Rachel Reese at laidoffcampphx@gmail.com or visit http://wiki.laidoffcamp.com/Phoenix.

Native hosting ‘Battle of the Bone' contest July 29

Native New Yorker, the sports-themed family restaurant at 5030 E. Ray Road, is holding its annual "Battle of the Bone" contest from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, in which contestants attempt to outdo each other by eating the restaurant's famed chicken wings.

The contest is taking place every Wednesday at a different Native New Yorker location, and the winners from each location will go on to compete in the championship on Oct. 2 at the Tempe location. The winner will receive a $10,000 Harley from Chandler Harley Davidson and the runner up will receive 2010 Diamondback season tickets in the lower level, valued at over $4,000.

For more information, visit www.battleofthebone2009.com or www.nativenewyorker.com.

Summer water safety, swim classes offered

In an effort to decrease water-related accidents and increase water safety, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, St. Luke's Health Initiative, Sleep America and the United Phoenix Firefighters Association are joining forces to provide water safety education and swimming lessons to local children.

Public swimming lessons are offered to children at St. Joseph's swimming pool. The next session will begin July 13, and eight classes will be offered Monday through Thursday over a two-week period. The cost is $65. Classes for beginners ages 4 to 7 and intermediates ages 6 to 8 are available.

For more information about the classes or to register, call St. Joseph's ResourceLink at 1-877-602-4111.

Enjoy a dream weekend in the cool White Mountains

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona and Summit Healthcare Foundation have joined forces to present a Golf and Family Fun Weekend July 31 through Aug. 2 at Show Low's Torreon Golf Community. Events will include a golf tournament, the inaugural Torreon "Kid-A-Thon" for children ages 6 to 11, live music and wine tasting in the park and an art show and Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Exhibit.

For more information or to register, e-mail LKaplan@wishaz.org or call (602) 395-9474, ext. 126.

Registration open for Outdoors-Woman workshop

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop is scheduled for noon Aug. 14 to noon Aug. 16 at Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott. The workshop is designed to welcome women outdoors with expert instructors teaching in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment.

Thirty-two classes will be offered in thirds - one part shooting/hunting, one part fishing and the third part non-consumptive sports like camping, canoeing and repelling. Classes are held during the day, and evenings are filled with entertainment-like night hikes, musicians and storytellers.

Equipment, materials, food and lodging are all included in the $240 registration fee. The only exception is Outdoor Photography class where participants will need to bring a camera. Enrollment is open to all women 18 and older.

For more information, a schedule of classes, and a registration form, call the Arizona Wildlife Federation office at (480) 644-0077 or e-mail awf@azwildlife.org.

VNSA wants your books

VNSA (Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association), a local, all-volunteer nonprofit corporation, needs donations of gently used books, paperbacks, videos, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, books on tape or CD and any other book-related items for the 54th Annual VNSA Used Book Sale scheduled for Feb. 13 and 14, 2010. Proceeds from the book sale will benefit Valley nonprofit agencies that serve families and children in need.

Tax deductible donations of books can be made at the VNSA book collection box at Bashas' at 4855 E. Warner Road (look for cream colored box featuring the VNSA owl). Home or business pickups can be arranged by calling (602) 265-6805.

More information is available at www.vnsabooksale.org.

Summer fun at Brilliant Sky

Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, 4929 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 401, is offering a summer of fun for kids of all ages.

Moms morning will continue on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Theme days will run from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays and will include a story, art project and activity around the weekly theme. Kids (and parents) are encouraged to dress up in support of the theme. The themes are: July 5, Careers (meet some interesting people); July 8, Explorers (learn to use a compass and read a map); July 12, Circus (enjoy games and more); July 15, Flight (learn about airplanes, meet a helicopter pilot); July 19, Space (celebrate first man on the moon); July 22, Art Masterpiece; July 26, Inventions (how toys are made); and July 29, Birds (meet some interesting characters).

Guest speakers, animal visits, and more will support of these themes, so if you would like to be a featured guest, e-mail janet@hoomadetoys.com.

Costume events will include story times, art projects, games and fun for all and will be held July 19 (Junie B Jones) and Aug. 16 (Biscuit).

Family game nights are offered from 5 to 8 p.m. Choose from more than 50 games.

Professional magician Mike Fisher will offer magic classes weekly from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. June 18 to July 9. The cost is $50 and includes materials.

For more information, visit www.brilliantskytoys.com.

Summer indoor playground for kids

Parents of children ages 6 and under looking for a fun activity that avoids sun and heat are invited to enjoy the Arizona All Stars Indoor Playground from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through July 31. The gym, located at 7425 S. Harl Ave., Suite 3, Tempe, will be closed the week of July 4th.

Youngsters are invited to jump, bounce, tumble, sing-a-long and do crafts while parents watch, visit or take advantage of free wireless.

The cost is $7 per child and $3 for each additional child. Purchase a punch card and save - eight open plays are $50 per child and $15 for each additional child. Cash and checks only will be accepted. Special group rates are available by calling in advance.

For more information, visit www.azallstars.com, call (480) 831-1105 or e-mail azallstars@cox.net.

Eye Priority hosting summer food drive

Eye Priority, 15725 S. 46th St., Suite 112, is hosting a 20/20 summer food drive, and the goal is to collect 1,500 pounds of nonperishable food items to benefit St. Mary's Food Bank. Visit the office and contribute to the food collection box now through July and receive five "Eye Priority bucks" toward your next service or purchase.

For more information, call (480) 893-2300, e-mail info@eyepriority.net or visit www.eyepriority.com.

Cafe collects clothes for the homeless

Dolce Luna Italian Cafe is holding an underwear and sock donation drive to benefit CASS (Central Arizona Shelter Services), which provides services and housing for homeless families and single adults.

Donations of new, packaged underwear and socks may be dropped off at Dolce Luna, 4647 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 10, throughout the summer. All sizes are needed for children, women and men.

For more information, e-mail stefanie@azcanineconnection.com or call Dolce Luna at (480) 753-0007. For other ways to help, visit www.cass-az.org.

Parks and Rec invites input on special events

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is holding open house meetings to gather input on guidelines for the private production of organized and special events in the city's desert and mountain preserves. 

Meetings are scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. July 16 at South Mountain Environmental Education Center, 10409 S. Central Ave., and 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at North Mountain Visitor Center, 12950 N. 7th St.

Participants will be able to view results of a recent department public survey about using the preserves for special events such as races, hikes and festivals; ask staff questions; and indicate their own preferences for potential use of the city's preserves for organized or special events. Public input eventually will be incorporated into a proposal for consideration and possible vote by the Parks and Recreation Board.

Any guidelines created through the public process would apply to Phoenix Mountains Preserve, Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area, Camelback Mountain, South Mountain Park, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve and Papago Park.

More information is available by calling (602) 495-5458 or e-mailing natural.resources.pks@phoenix.gov.

‘Dump the Pump' online video contest under way

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is offering a new user-generated video submission contest in conjunction with last week's National Dump the Pump Day. The top prize is a year's worth of free public transportation on the winner's local transit system. The second place winner will be awarded a transit pass for six months on the local transit system and third place will win a pass good for three months of free transit.

APTA's National Dump the Pump Day is designed to encourage people to get out of their cars and ride public transportation to raise awareness about the economic, environmental, energy and quality-of-life benefits of transit. 

Submit videos by Aug. 13 to APTA by uploading them to www.YouTube.com and tagging them with "dumpthepump." The videos will be judged on creativity, content and overall impact. Winners will be announced by Sept. 8.

Full contest rules and guidelines are available at www.publictransportation.org/takesusthere/contest.html.

MOMS Club for stay-at-home moms

MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of Ahwatukee - East is a support group for stay-at-home moms who live within the boundaries of Interstate 10, 32nd Street, Pecos Road and Chandler Boulevard. Activities include monthly meetings, craft days, park days, field trips in the community and Moms Night Out. Playgroups are also offered for most ages. Children are welcome at all events.

Stay-at-home moms are invited to attend the next membership meeting. For details, call Lonna at (480) 893-0090, e-mail east@ahwatukeemoms.com or visit www.ahwatukeemoms.com/east.

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 Happy Birthdays Day (for birthdays in that month) - July 25 and Aug. 29; 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. 

Fall events at the Desert Botanical Garden

Fall events and exhibitions at The Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway: Biergarten, Sept. 25; Mariposa Monarca, Sept. 26 to Nov. 15; Fall Music in the Garden Concert Series, Oct. 2 to Nov. 6; Spiked! Thursdays, returns in October; Legacy: An ASBA Exhibition of the Diane Bouchier Founders Award for Excellence in Botanical Art Recipients, Oct. 3 to Jan. 3; Fall Plant Sale, Oct. 17 and 18. The Great Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 22 to 29; Dia de los Muertos, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; Native American Recognition Days Music Celebration, Nov. 7 and 8; Corks & Cactus, Nov. 13; Chiles & Chocolate Festival, Nov. 14 and 15; Allan Houser: Tradition to Abstraction, Nov. 21 to May 31; Berlin Agave Yucca Forrest opens, Nov. 21; and Las Noches de las Luminarias, selected nights Dec. 3 to 30.

For more information, call (480) 941-1225 or visit www.dbg.org.

Girl Scouts...where girls grow strong

Girl Scouting helps girls develop new skills, explore new worlds and build self-esteem and confidence while having fun. Troops are available and always forming for girls in kindergarten to 12th grade. Meetings are held throughout the school year.

To join the Girl Scout family and/or volunteer in the Ahwatukee Foothills area, contact Mag Bell at magbell@girlscoutsaz.org or (602) 228-6551, Debra Gutierrez at dlgmommie@yahoo.com or Rose Shepard at rshepfam@cox.net. Join the adventure, discovery, friendship and fun!

For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org.

Goodwill needs donations now more than ever

Goodwill of Central Arizona is working to keep up with the increased demand for its job training programs and career services as national unemployment rates continue to rise. Goodwill cannot provide these critical services without community donations to sell in its stores. Goodwill is asking people to be generous this spring as they clean out their closets and donate gently-used clothing and house wares at one of its 42 donation drop-off centers.

For more information on Goodwill of Central Arizona, visit www.goodwillaz.org.

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.

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.

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..

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.