An invitation from a friend eight years ago is all it took for Ahwatukee Foothills resident Teresa Akrish to get involved in the YMCA’s Outreach Program for Ahwatukee Seniors (YOPAS).

Presented by Chandler Regional’s HEAT Wave committee, healthy living classes are geared towards patients with congestive heart failure, patients who are recovering from a heart attack, or anyone who would like to adopt a healthy living lifestyle.

Editor’s Note: Phoenix police remind all residents to leave nothing in your car when it is parked outside. If something must be left in the car make sure it is in the trunk or out of sight. Never leave your car doors unlocked even while leaving the car momentarily. Police have seen a string of these quick crimes of opportunity and say they are preventable.

The Desert Vista Band Boosters wants to thank the following businesses for their sponsorship support for the 2012-13 school year: Sonic, Deep Blue Water Technologies, Pods, Excel Screen Printing, Bella Vista Dental Care, Kathy Camamo Realty, Mr. Chao’s Asian Bistro, Tide Dry Cleaners, Kettle Korn & More, Langhofer/Winter State Farm, Doehrman Company, Inc. (DCI), Mousegraphics, Joe’s Real BBQ, Brewer’s Air Conditioning, Progressive Landscaping, Lifetime Eye Care, Wendy’s, Dunkin Donuts, V’s Barber Shop, Guitar Studio Room, Foothills Pet Resort, Schwab, Dance Meets Fitness with Carrie, Florencia’s, Breyer Law Offices, East Valley Neurofeedback & Peak Performance Center.

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the arrival of the Ahwatukee Community Resource Guide and Directory. Filled with color photographs, the publication is a glossy, full-color business directory featuring chamber members listed both alphabetically and by category. It also is a quick resource guide about the Ahwatukee area, including a map, demographics, history, economy, schools, health care, recreation and general community information.

A Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson said the reasons people get stuck on local mountains is failing to stay on the hiking path and not being prepared.

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.

The Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board unanimously approved the appointment of Steven R. Gonzales, Ed.D., as president of GateWay Community College, effective July 1.

The Phoenix City Council has approved a sweeping ethics reform package for elected officials that Mayor Greg Stanton says gives the city some of the toughest ethics rules in the nation.

Local school districts, including Kyrene, will now be able to pay for capital needs as bond legislation was passed in conjunction with the state’s budget early on Friday.

With the monsoon season officially beginning tomorrow, June 15, Arizonans should be aware of the possible dangers the monsoon can bring both on the road and at home. Thunderstorms, flash floods, heavy rain

Melissa Kahn has the regular season down.

I received a postcard in the mail several weeks ago announcing a public hearing on May 21 to provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Study on the proposed South Mountain Freeway. None of my neighbors received the same postcard when I talked to them. Why were some of the public left out of the mailing? They may not have been informed of this public hearing, but I have comments to make.

Not waiting for formal gubernatorial approval, foes of her Medicaid expansion already are moving to undo at the ballot box and in court what they could not block at the Legislature.

Littlejohn Engineering Associates (LEA) announced the addition of Thomas Lavalette, RLS, as Southwest survey manager in the Phoenix office. He has been surveying for more than 25 years, most recently as the vice president of surveying for Engineering Alliance, Inc. During the last 19 years, Lavalette provided civil surveying and construction staking services on more than 500 projects throughout the state of Arizona.

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.

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

Culminating the ongoing discussion between local youth sports organizations and the Kyrene School District over use of facilities rates, the district presented a lowered rate structure Monday that now heads to the governing board.

Editor’s Note: Phoenix police remind all residents to leave nothing in your car when it is parked outside. If something must be left in the car make sure it is in the trunk or out of sight. Never leave your car doors unlocked even while leaving the car momentarily. Police have seen a string of these quick crimes of opportunity and say they are preventable.

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce is offering the community a unique chance to discover Cuba through a fully-inclusive “cultural connections” program.

Combining the three area ZIP codes of 85044, 85045 and 85048, April property sales totaled 172, up 8.9 percent from 158 in April of 2012 and 25.5 percent higher than the 137 sales last month. The Median Sales Price in April was $249,500, up 31.3 percent from $190,000 in April of 2012 and up .6 percent from last month. April 2013’s average sales price was at its highest level compared to 2012 and 2013.

In a unanimous decision this week, the Tempe Union High School District will be asking voters to continue its current level of funding from a maintenance and operations override previously approved by voters.

ICAN, a Chandler-based youth program, is introducing a new initiative to ensure that kids returning to school do so with shoes that are not worn and torn. Throughout the month of June, ICAN will be seeking donations for its Kicks for Kids shoe drive, including shoes and socks.