The Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee will meet  at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 20 at the Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St. On the agenda is a City Council update from District 6 and an update on the South Mountain Freeway Citizens Advisory Team. For more information, visit phoenix.gov.

Now that the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) for the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway expansion has been released, local environmentalists are planning to use the 90-day comment period to tear it apart.

Registration opens April 27 at 10:30 a.m. for Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department summer programs including full-day supervised recreation programs at 13 sites to keep kids engaged, active and safe over the summer break. The full-day programs will start June 3 and run through the end of July. In addition to the full-day programs, centers also are offering a large selection of general interest classes and sports programs. Many smaller centers also are offering free, drop-in programs during the summer.

Hunger may seem like a problem only faced far away, but local churches say it’s a problem right here in Ahwatukee Foothills.

Recently, my family had distant relatives visit from Germany. Over the years there have been many visits between us visiting Germany and them visiting the USA. They are a wonderful family and we thoroughly enjoyed the time together. Upon waking up one morning, my 4-year-old had already asked to visit Germany.

The city of Phoenix is reaching out to residents over the next few months to get input on the city manager’s trial budget, which does not call for an early removal of the city’s food sales tax.

A new facility at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) aims to offer students an athletic facility and student services building, all under one roof.

Bicyclists will have a chance to speak directly to city staff and offer suggestions for improving biking in Phoenix during the District 6 Bike Summit on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pecos Park Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St., Room 3.

In two and a half years and after helping form art and craft fairs, rummage sales, community partnerships, and new classes at the Pecos Senior Center, Terri Roza said all she did for the senior center was help the seniors see that they are in control.

Now sanctioned and being distributed to senior communities around Ahwatukee Foothills, MedStats has proven its benefits to local firefighter officials.

Seniors at the Pecos Senior Center were treated to a special presentation last week when Project BRAVE performed, “He Called it a Dream.”

For years the Ahwatukee Foothills community has been connecting and collaborating to serve its neighborhoods. Now, eight advocacy teams have been formed and they’re gearing up for another successful year of serving.

The city of Phoenix has a goal to achieve 25 percent canopy cover over the city by 2030 and to reach that goal city staff is asking residents to become tree experts.

Sheila Coonen from Connecting to Serve and Andi Pettyjohn decided to help foster youth this holiday season. Many churches and the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee helped with collection boxes to aid in their efforts. With help from the Camelback Kiwanis Club, Friendship Village, Pecos Senior Center and other Ahwatukee Foothills residents the result was 47 troubled boys, ages 8 to 17, receiving a Christmas celebration.

What has been the biggest concern for the future of Ahwatukee for years will remain at the top of the list moving into 2013. There has still been no decision made on whether or not the South Mountain Freeway will run down Pecos Road.

There are two indoor pickleball courts at the Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St., in Ahwatukee Foothills. Balls and extra paddles are available at the center and availability includes Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. There is no cost if you join the center for $10 a year.

The city of Phoenix will host a Hazardous Waste Collection event this weekend at Pecos Community Center. From Thursday, Dec. 13 to Saturday, Dec. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon city staff will be on hand at Pecos Park, 17010 S. 48th St., to collect hazardous waste from residents.

More than 175 seniors and their caregivers attended SAGA Symposium 2012, an educational forum at the Pecos Community Center on Nov. 3.