Before 1980 growth hormone was a purified extract of dead peoples' pituitary glands. After 1985, technology allowed an unlimited supply of growth hormone as a bio-synthetic preparation. The use of growth hormone has expanded from those children with absent growth hormone to a variety of other conditions. These include short kids with kidney disease, girls with Turner syndrome and adults with severe growth hormone deficiency.

Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos has named Deanna Jonovich director of the Phoenix Human Services Department (HSD).

He has been there once before, but Erik Woodward’s next trip to Guatemala will be longer and more intensive.

He has been there once before, but Erik Woodward’s next trip to Guatemala will be longer and more intensive.

A 15-year resident of Ahwatukee Foothills, Neal A. Lester, who has served as dean of humanities at Arizona State University, has been appointed an associate vice president in the Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development (OKED).

Registration for the spring 2012 semester is going on at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. This spring, CGCC is offering new humanities and music classes for students to choose from.

Catholic Charities Community Services’ DIGNITY House was recently named Homeless Service Provider of the Year by Phoenix Neighborhood Services. DIGNITY House received the award for its outstanding efforts assisting women with intensive residential recovery to help them live an independent life. The award was presented last month during the city’s National Community Development Week celebration.

The city of Phoenix will celebrate Community Development Week by honoring nonprofit agencies and businesses that have used Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in an exemplary manner. Members of the city’s Community Development Review Committee also will be acknowledged for their work in providing resident input into the CDBG planning process.

Steve Capobres recently joined Catholic Charities Community Services as vice president of business development. Capobres oversees the agency's marketing, development, housing and social entrepreneurial a efforts.

Catholic Charities Community Services recently received a $5,000 grant from Cox Charities to help fund its DIGNITY Immersion Theatre Experience. The Immersion will create greater awareness about trafficking and the way its victims are forced to live.

The city of Phoenix Human Services Department is seeking parents with children from birth to 3 years old and pregnant women to participate in its Early Head Start Home-based program, which offers comprehensive parenting and education services for low-income families who meet federal guidelines for family size.

Salvador “Grandpa” Bernabe has been named volunteer of the year by Catholic Charities Community Services. He was presented with the 2013 Helen Shea Service Award at the agency’s Paths to Hope breakfast on May 15 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.

Dwayne Prince has joined Stewart Title & Trust of Phoenix as a business development officer in the Ahwatukee, Mountain Park Ranch and Foothills areas.

Cub Scouts from Ahwatukee Foothills Pack 278 helped spruce up the grounds outside of the Kyrene de la Colina Elementary School on Aug. 7. Scouts, siblings and parents picked up trash and swept outside areas in preparation for the first day of school.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman has been elected chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Valley's regional planning agency. As chairman, Hallman's duties include heading a finance committee, working on its budget and contract selections. Hallman has served on MAG's regional council since 2004 and also is a member of its economic development committee.

The Food and Drug Administration will now allow women age 15 and older to buy the emergency contraceptive Plan B over the counter. Unfortunately, there is no “Plan B” for dogs and cats who find themselves in trouble — and that’s why it’s vital to have them spayed or neutered as soon as possible.

Diana Katherine Spray was recently presented with a special award for academic distinction at an honors convocation at the University of Arizona. She will graduate on Dec. 15 from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in family studies and human development, with a minor in Spanish.

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.

636 E. Ray Road, Suite 8

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) announced that it invested more than $6 million in almost 800 nonprofits and schools in Arizona during 2011. Wells Fargo team members contributed more than $2.4 million of the total in addition to almost 100,000 volunteer hours to help their neighborhoods and communities succeed.

Catholic Charities Community Services recently received a $5,000 grant from Cox Charities to help fund its DIGNITY Immersion Theatre Experience.

Ahwatukee Foothills author and screenplay writer, Teena Booth, was recently nominated as one of the finalists for the 37th annual HUMANITAS prize for a second time, honoring great television and film writing for her work with the Lifetime Movie Network film, "Reviving Ophelia," based on the book, "Reviving Ophelia," by Mary Pipher, about parenting through rocky periods of adolescence. The movie takes a look at the abuse of teenage dating relationships.

If you are a boy between 11 and 18 years of age who loves camping, hiking, canoeing and outdoor adventure, join Boy Scout Troop 78 for its registration night on Monday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. Attend an actual meeting, where scouts and adult leaders will be available to answer questions.

The City of Chandler Human Resources Department will begin accepting online applications for Police Officer Recruit and Lateral Police Officer on Wednesday, January 16, 2013. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 30, 2013. Only the first 600 applications will be considered. This recruitment is to establish an eligibility list for current and future openings.

Tempe Union’s Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting Program, housed at Compadre Academy, was the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Tempe Diablos.