After being stuck in a storm drain for a week, Ellie was sick and scared, but with love and good care she’s gotten her “sparkle” back. Ellie is very curious and just has to see what’s hiding in an open drawer, cabinet or a box because if it’s hidden, it must be something special. Although not a big talker, she does chatter at the birds and will let you know its snack time or if I need your help with a toy that got stuck. Affectionate but not needy, Ellie is happy to just be in the room with you, although I she loves to snuggle at bedtime.

Editor’s note: This is part two of a continuing summer series on the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway.

As of the day I am writing this there are 130 active rental listings on the MLS in Ahwatukee and 416 have been rented in the past six months.

Norris Vaughan looked at peace sitting at his desk in the football office after a recent spring football practice.

"Mud" has the feel of a classic, although it's perhaps not enthralling enough to be one. The third and most elaborate feature to date from writer-director Jeff Nichols seems to have been adapted from a novel that doesn't exist -- something by James Lee Burke, perhaps, or Cormac McCarthy, or some other specialist in frequently violent tales about the challenges to masculinity and the forging of new identities that face rural people who belong to a sprawling modern world -- who might be hanging out in a supermarket parking lot one moment and falling into a creek full of deadly cottonmouths the next.

Since the beginning of 2013 there have been some announced changes for buyers looking to obtain an FHA loan. FHA is an insurer of mortgage loans and is popular because of the low down payment option. I had the opportunity to ask Dawna Lepler of The Lending Company a few questions many of my real estate clients have asked over the past few months.

This beautiful green eyed girl needs home! Meet her with Cactus Cats Saturday at Petco, 5011 E. Ray Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The decision to postpone college for a year has worked out just fine for Robbie Mathers.

202 Adidas

Brian Brady has all the confidence in his son, Dalton, and the latter credited his father for developing him into one of the best wrestlers the state of Arizona has ever seen.

When I start talking about real estate in 2012 all I can say sometimes is, “WOW!” Do you realize that in 2012 the “Phoenix median home prices jumped 36 percent from $116,000 to $158,000 in one year, November to November” (housingwire.com)?

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.

Did you know that 77 percent of businesses that have a social media asset (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., account) have received at least one lead from that asset? If I told you that on average a person will spend 20 to 40 percent more with a business they have a relationship with on social media than someone they don’t, would you believe me? My next question is — are you making the most of your social media assets?

Ellie was rescued when her owner passed away suddenly without plans for her, and she found herself at the pound. She’s a short-haired Calico with beautiful blue-green eyes. This sweet girl is quiet.

We will remember 2012 as a year of change and extremely hard work by our board, staff and countless volunteers. As we wrap up the year, we thought we would take this opportunity to summarize what your Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce has been up to since January of this year.

It was a long time in between handshakes for Basha wrestling coach Mike Garcia and senior Christian Stadler.