Enjoy great food, live music and fireworks at the 38th celebration of Red, White and Boom! Hosted by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce and presented by Vision Community Management, the Red, White and Boom Fireworks Festival is professionally produced by HDE Agency and will be at the Ahwatukee Country Club, 12432 S. 48th St. from 4 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3.

Affectionately playing with their Miniature Dachshunds, Joey, Lisa Stapp and her son, Billy, praised the family pet after he rolled over on command.

Thank you for sticking around when the going got tough.

During Arizona’s hot summer months hiking is still possible, but experts agree that early morning is the time to be on the trails.
“At night the sun has baked on the asphalt all day long and as the sun goes down the asphalt releases that heat,” said Elizabeth Smith, park ranger at South Mountain Park. “Even though the sun is down and you may not have direct sun on you, it’s still hot out. In the morning it’s 80 degrees. I would suggest looking at what the temperature is throughout the day before you make your plans.”


The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) is accepting nominations for its Teacher of the Year program. 

Seton Catholic Preparatory High School starts its first summer session of Music Theater Camp for ninth-graders this week. The first session will be June 10-21 and a second session is July 15-26. The camp will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $150 for each session.

Whether you had parents that were distant or parents that were overbearing, we all likely dreamed about running away from home while growing up. These unrealistic fantasies likely involved hitting the road with one or two good friends and building a safe haven somewhere in the wildness. Naturally, we all quickly woke up from this daydream, realizing that we’d never make it on our own. “The Kings of Summer” exists in an offbeat world fueled by our youthful daydreams. The end product is funny and quirky, but also wise and nostalgic with something meaningful to say about coming of age.

Pogo is a male “Beagle blend,” about 6 years old. He’s a sweet and loving little guy. Friends for Life rescued Pogo from the Yuma Humane Society where he was turned in several times as a stray. The last time he was turned in, however, his family never came to claim him. His outlook for finding a home was not good. Pogo was adopted from Friends for Life a few months ago, however, the family determined they didn’t have enough time for a dog. He’s hoping this time around for a family that will be dedicated to keeping him safe, sound, and loved. Pogo enjoys a good cuddle, going for walks when it’s cool, and just look at that face!

Forget the tie. Think bespoke booze for Father’s Day, specifically a beverage tailor-made to suit the hobbies father knows best.

Father’s Day gifts have morphed over the years. It used to be a tie, a golf hat or a jazz CD. But dads are more tech-savvy these days.

With temperatures on the rise, it’s important to stay hydrated and replenish your electrolytes. Whether you exercise intensely or your child participates in an outdoor sport or you’re a construction worker with a physically demanding job, you’re at risk of dehydration and loss of electrolytes.

SEATTLE (AP) — When the United States first released its roster for a stretch of three World Cup qualifying matches in less than two weeks, Brad Evans’ name was absent.

On April 15, two pressure cooker-fashioned bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The attack left the city and entire country shaken.

Although it is almost a prerequisite the summer before senior year in high school, Jake Alexander isn’t about to take it easy.


Active members of Protecting Arizona’s Resources and Children (PARC) in our Village of Ahwatukee and outlying residential areas aim to stop the South Mountain Freeway from being built on Pecos Road. Preventing the destruction of our community and South Mountain is the main goal of PARC, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

Police cannot use the state's traffic laws to draw blood from suspected drunk drivers without a warrant absent their specific permission at the time of the test, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled last week.

As Christy Everson was nearing age 40, she made a decision: She wanted to have a child, even though she was single and it meant doing it all alone. Her daughter, conceived via a sperm donor, is now 2 1/2 years old, and Everson hopes to have a second child.


Ziggy is one of the most polite and happy boys you will ever meet. Unfortunately, he has not had the best start to life, it appears that this precious little boy has been injured (probably hit by a car) and was never given the proper care. Ziggy has only one eye that he can see out of and his little legs are out of whack, but fortunately he is in no pain. Just kinda walks funny. But you would never know it by the way Ziggy moves and shakes. He runs with the rest of the pack in his foster home and has no problem making his way around the house and backyard. His true joy in life is snuggling with his human or other canines in his foster family. He is always wagging his little stub of a tail and has a smile that is contagious and never leaves his face. Ziggy has been the prefect house guest in his foster home and has quickly become a favorite to all that meet him. He is so calm and easy going that he will fit into any home that promises to give him the love and affection that he so deserves. His perfect home would be one with someone around most of the time and another canine friend or two. Your days will be filled with joy and smiles with Ziggy by your side.


Local churches in Ahwatukee Foothills are keeping their heads above the sea of technology with the use of iPhone, Android and tablet apps for their members.
Along with the surge in use of Bible apps, online podcasts of sermons and social media, non-denominational Christian churches as a whole are remembering that relevancy is key.
Pastor Jeff Zubeck of Living Word Bible Church said “keeping up with the times” is key, though the larger scope of the church shouldn’t change the main message, just the method of delivery.
Whether in church services or at home, members and attendees of Mountain Park Community Church can literally have their church in their pocket.


Americans are more confident in the U.S. economy than at any point in the past five years, thanks to surging home values, a brighter job market and record-setting stock prices.
Stock averages last month extended the year’s explosive rally.
Further gains in consumer confidence could help the economy withstand the effects of higher taxes and federal spending cuts that kicked in this year. Spending by consumers drives about 70 percent of economic growth.


An Ahwatukee Foothills salon is teaming up with local designers to empower women and raise money for domestic violence victims with the first ever Brave Wings Fashion Show on June 22.
The fashion show will take place at The Venue Scottsdale, 7117 E., 3rd Ave., beginning at 7 p.m. on the 22nd. It will feature six designers including the founders of the show, Mabel Cortez and Jenesis Laforcarde. 
The two Arizona designers say they decided to start Brave Wings to give back to the community. They plan to host a fashion show annually to benefit a different charity each year. This year they selected Sojourner Center because their clothing lines both fit with a theme of empowering women.
Cortez’s line, Mabella Chic, focuses on strong independent women.
“I’ve been around strong women my whole life,” she said. “Coming from a strong women family, for me, it was about empowering women in the sense of making them feel good with fashion. I want to present women in a fashionable way so they can feel good about themselves.”
Laforcarde’s T-shirt line is about self respect for women.
“I decided to do a T-shirt line because of my generation,” she said. “I’m only 19 and I see my friends being dependent on their boyfriends and not supporting themselves. I wanted to create a T-shirt line about being confident, independent and doing your own thing. Whatever you want to do, you can do it, as long as you put your mind to it.”
Saskia Salon will be sponsoring the hair at the event. Saskia Salon opened in Ahwatukee at 4647 E. Chandler Blvd., two years ago. Since then Saskia Almasan, the salon’s owner, said the business has become steady and she has been able to hire a few new employees and keep the focus on customer service. Her goal is to keep growing organically. Networking with the fashion industry and local charities helps that growth.
“When you feel blessed it’s automatic to feel like you want to give back,” she said. “As a business owner you start with nothing and a dream. You’ve got to find people of like mindedness to grow that… Any time we can join with wonderful people trying to make our own city better, that’s huge. We touch lives on a daily basis in the chair. I think it goes from your chair to your community, then your city. If we keep going like that then maybe we can change the world.”


Apache and Cheyenne are believed to be a father and son bonded pair who were found near Ahwatukee on the Gila River Indian Reservation. They were found wandering around, scrounging for food, and being fed by construction workers there at times. These Pomeranians are possibly mixed with Sheltie. They are larger boys, closer to 20 pounds each. They are silly, sweet, and love people. These very friendly boys like to jump and play and run around and act silly. They love toys, puzzle balls and chew bones. Since they were used to running free on the reservation, a home with a big yard would be preferable. They get along well with other high-energy dogs.

In three weeks Ahwatukee Kiwanis was able to pull the community together and provide Christmas gifts to 47 boys in six group foster homes across the Valley in 2012. 

Gayle Dorothy Hadden (nee Buff), 67, of Ahwatukee and formerly of Wayne, N.J., passed away peacefully at home on May 27, surrounded by her family. Gayle worked for J.P. Morgan Chase for many years.
She grew up in Lyndhurst, N.J., and had lived in Wayne since 1968 before moving to Phoenix 20 years ago. Gayle was a 4-H leader, a Remax Realtor, a member of the Pompton Falls Fire Co. 3 Women’s Auxiliary in Wayne, a nursery school assistant, and a member of the Junior Women’s Club and PTA.
Gayle’s interests included sewing, knitting, golf, cruising in her convertible, great music, laughing much and having a great time. She loved traveling and loved life.
Gayle is survived by her husband, John J., of Ahwatukee; her children, Kimberly Hadden Massie, Robin Hadden, Christopher Hadden, all of Arizona, John Hadden of Hardwick, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and two brothers, Harold and Alan Buff.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, N.J., on Sunday, June 2 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Ahwatukee resident Victor A. Cogco-Hernandez won a scholarship to the soccer camp of his choice this summer thanks to Scion, the Toyota car brand.