Practicing what we have been preaching about the need to shop locally, the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce is partnering with a local business on our annual print Resource Guide and Directory. The Chamber’s 2013-14 Directory will be marketed, designed and produced through an agreement with the Ahwatukee Foothills News (AFN), the publisher of this newspaper and a chamber member. We believe this will be a valuable partnership for all chamber members and those who take advantage of this opportunity to get their message out to the public.

“ISBK” and “MLB” were two of the graffiti tags appearing frequently on block walls, trash dumpsters, and road signs in Ahwatukee during 2010, particularly inside the Elliot-Warner Loop.

On Sunday, the popular PBS restaurant review show, “Check, Please! Arizona,” hosts its first food festival at CityScape in Phoenix. While attendees enjoy a plethora of food and wine samples and live demonstrations from award-winning chefs like Robert McGrath and Chris Bianco, one humble festival booth — Pittsburgh Willy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs — takes the next step in its Cinderella story.

The Heady Hoop Tribe, an eclectic group of four women who aim to inspire others through the creative power of modern hoop dance, bring a sense of community to Phoenix.

When an event or circumstance arises in your life that you think might require the expertise of an attorney, you may be at a loss as to where to start to find the right one. There are plenty of advertisements on television and online, but how do you know if you will get value for your money, if the attorney will be attentive to you and your needs, and whether the attorney will do a good job for you?

Homeowners associations are tasked with the unenviable responsibility of maintaining community standards. Personal property appearances, landscape maintenance and dog refuse in common areas fall within their purview; apparently so do banners advertising local businesses.

When former Scottsdale resident Mark Macias used the New York City subway’s 42nd Street Shuttle this past winter, he was transported not only between Grand Central Station and Times Square but back to his hometown.

A poster advertising an upcoming event at Stand Up Scottsdale reads “Drink Specials ... We’re gonna need 'em” — and they just might.

Did you know this is the 18th year for the Festival of Lights Wine and Beer Tasting, Silent Auction and Golf Tournament on June 1 at the Foothills Golf Club?

For the fifth time in eight years, a Drury student has been named to the prestigious American Advertising Federation (AAF) Vance L. Stickell Memorial Internship Program. Drury junior Tinsley Andrews is the latest recipient. The internship program recognizes the top 15 AAF students in the nation.

A new legislative proposal on publication requirements for legal notices could pit large papers against small ones and dailies against weeklies -- all at a potential higher cost to taxpayers.

The state House on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to legislation that will let the state's largest cities publish their legal notices online rather than spending money to buy newspaper ads.

It happened about two months ago.

State lawmakers voted Thursday to put new limits on the packaging of food and drinks containing medical marijuana.

A former board member and longtime volunteer, Jim Colletti returns to this year’s Sedona International Film Festival in an entirely new role: first-time filmmaker. Originally from New York, Colletti moved to the East Valley nearly 20 years ago – buying his first home in Chandler and opening a business in Gilbert before relocating to Mesa. He has been living in central Phoenix for about 2 years now, where he runs his graphic art/advertising agency Element Design along with his artist management/record label OEO Entertainment.

Just under a year as one of Kyrene’s newest positions that aims to connect the school district with business sponsorships, Ted Gonzalez said the key is creating relationships.

When people think of Jewish film, their minds tend to jump right to two subjects: religion and the Holocaust. While the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival certainly embraces those subject matters, executive director Jerry Mittelman ensures that they make up only a slice of the wide spectrum of films the fest has to offer.

Barry Kramer, operating principal and designated broker of Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living with offices in Ahwatukee, was recently sited by REAL Trends, Inc. as one of only 17 firms in America to achieve growth in all key areas of brokerage operational performance. REAL Trends is a trends and research firm in the residential brokerage industry in North America and annually publishes rankings of the leading brokerage firms and sales professionals.

Over the past five years the words “real estate” have led to many discussions and debates. The waves of emotion that came from the run up and bubble caused too much drama in people’s lives. Homes were meant for long-term investments and the five years around it caused some people to make decisions, good and bad. People thought they had a safe nest egg in the home they have poured thousands of dollars into, yet that property is now worth what it was 12 to 15 years earlier. Luckily, the market is starting to move past this.

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce appointed Beth Amoroso, Jim Hunt, Kent Johnson, Larry North, Bruce Peterson, Liane Rouzaud and Janet Schwab to its 2013 Board of Directors.

4302 E. Ray Road

Just when I thought I was running out of topics to inspire me, a magazine article about “finding your happy weight” caught my attention. Voila — the writing inspiration flowed like water.

Q: How do I know if I downloaded the (Facebook Photo Sync) app (by accident)? — Donna