An Andean bear cub recently had its first check-up with Phoenix Zoo vets. After patiently waiting for more than three months, they found out the cut is a boy. Rio, the mother bear, is doing an excellent job raising her young cub. Recently, for the first time in the presence of zookeepers, Rio let go of the cub, stepped away and allowed the cub to be briefly on its own. Keepers were able to capture video of the cub taking some of his first steps, which you can watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkwv-n9KspU.

Jozef Bagby, 14, of Ahwatukee recently received his Eagle Scout Award in a court of honor ceremony on March 16 at Esperanza Lutheran Church. Bagby began his scouting career as a Cub Scout Webelos in 2007. He earned his Arrow of Light before bridging into Boy Scout Troop 124, and eventually transferred to Troop 14 after moving to Ahwatukee.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 78 worked on the Children’s Garden at the Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center on Feb. 16 and 23.

Freshmen, it’s not too early to start thinking about your college plans. Your first step — build a strong resume. If you establish high standards and work hard, you will set yourself up for unlimited opportunities when you apply to colleges in the fall of your senior year. Here are some tips to get you started:

Eagle Scout and Mountain Pointe High School junior Jacob Rak-Kinonen, along with Chandler MMA owner Master Paul McGowan, hosted a women’s self defense clinic on Feb. 10 as a fundraiser called “Helping women be prepared” for local Boy Scout Troop 1/A212.

William Austin Gray has enjoyed participating in scouting since he became a Cub Scout in the second grade. He is an active member of Boy Scout Troop 697 in Tempe.

Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs from the Grand Canyon Council, BSA hosted their annual Scouting For Food Drive on Feb. 2. More than 30 Scouting units from the Salt River District went door-to-door collecting food to support St. Vincent de Paul’s food banks. Scouts in Ahwatukee and Tempe collected more than 15,500 pounds and delivered to three locations; two in Tempe and one in Ahwatukee. The Ahwatukee location broke their previous year’s record by more than 2,000 pounds, collecting a total of 7,556 pounds and overflowing the bins that were set up at the Kyrene Monte Vista Elementary School parking lot for the event.

Ahwatukee second-grader Dustin Henry loves random acts of kindness.

Quick, what is the first thing that pops into your head when someone says Girl Scouts? It’s probably not Girls Scouts Baby Camp or Girl Scouting Behind Bars or Girl Scouting in Detention Centers.

Dr. Douglas Bobb and his practice, Sun Valley Hand Surgery, were sponsors for the Boy Scouts of America Grand Canyon Council Eagle recognition dinner that took place recently in Phoenix.

Here we go again? Club soccer vs. high school soccer?

Two new garden beds at Esperanza Lutheran in Ahwatukee Foothills are only the beginning, as the church hopes to eventually turn all of its empty land into a functional community garden.

Colt Sample, a student at Kyrene Altadeña Middle School, recently built a sensory room to help students with Autism or on the spectrum.

Cub Scout Pack 278 of Ahwatukee is asking for anyone with old flags in need of retirement to donate them so the scouts can retire the flags.

Joe Toni Gerhardus Eberson, a 30-year resident of Ahwatukee Foothills, flew west on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 5:15 p.m. to join his heavenly father. Joe was born on Nov. 26, 1931 in Bilthoven, Holland, to Joseph M.A. Eberson and Catharine J.E. Eberson. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Florence N. Laurens-Eberson. They shared 29 years of happy marriage together. Joe has five children from his first marriage; Joe M.T. (Sue) Eberson, Marianne M.E. (Ron) Riales, Sven J. (Sandra) Eberson, Anitra D. (David) Bryant and Cole E. (Ann) Eberson. Florence has four children; Janine F. Weber, Marjan M. (Tom) Polek, Charlotte E. (Kelly) Loomer and J. Eric Weber. Together they have 24 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Marjorie H. Wolf, and his only brother, Sirocco J. Eberson.

Scout is a 9-month-old Golden mix who came to Friends for Life when his mom could no longer care for him. He is a happy and very energetic young man. He still has lots of puppy energy and is looking for a family who will help him learn the ropes to becoming a good canine citizen and companion. Scout is very eager to please and would most likely excel in obedience classes. He is neutered, microchipped, and up to date on all his vaccinations.

Cub Scout Pack 278 of Ahwatukee invites boys entering grades first through fifth to join Cub Scouts for the upcoming year, which begins in August.

Over the past century, young girls and teens across the country have put in more than 70 million hours of service as members of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Linus van Pelt knew the subtle comfort and break from reality his security blanket provided him. The national organization named for the character is certain Linus — consistently portrayed in the popular Peanuts comic strips and cartoons carting around his wavy blue companion — was on to something.

There are certain components that come with the territory of many movies by Wes Anderson. Quirky child characters, off-key dialog, a tone of direction that feels both simple and animated at the same time, and of course Bill Murray. Anderson has never utilized these ingredients more impeccably than in “Moonrise Kingdom,” an absolute perfect movie. The film has the essence of a fantasy, yet still feels so true to the magic of a person’s first romance. The overall sensation the film emits is sheer warmth, making spectators want to wholeheartedly cuddle up to it. Only Anderson’s wonderfully peculiar imagination could have produced “Moonrise Kingdom,” easily making the picture his best to date.