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 Phoenix Symphony Association appointed Dr. Thomas Bookhout as its interim chorus master. Bookhout’s appointment is for the 2012/13 season.

Have you ever dreamed of living is Europe? Waking up every morning to the delightful European breakfast of the fresh crusty rolls, soft boiled eggs, a variety of cheese and sausage, sounds great doesn’t it? Well, I had that experience with my husband; I was “The American in Warsaw.” We had an opportunity to live in Warsaw, Poland, for my husband’s job; this was before we had children, so we took the chance and moved. My husband had worked and lived overseas previously and was excited to join his European colleagues once again. I was thrilled with the ability to tour around Poland as well as other European countries. We experienced many things, visited many places and gained a lifetime of memories all within 1 1/2 years.

What outside hitter Reid Priddy remembers most about the U.S. march to volleyball gold at the Beijing Olympics isn’t any one play or any particular match. It’s what was happening when the world wasn’t watching, hanging out during the breaks in competition.

What outside hitter Reid Priddy remembers most about the U.S. march to volleyball gold at the Beijing Olympics isn’t any one play or any particular match. It’s what was happening when the world wasn’t watching, hanging out during the breaks in competition.

As I drive around the Valley, I always notice the open land and most of the time it is zoned for commercial use or housing and quite honestly, this makes me a little angry. Do we really NEED another strip mall? Another apartment complex? More houses? I find it interesting that developers feel the NEED to continue to build more buildings, but yet there are “For Lease” signs everywhere, businesses, apartments and homes. Am I the only one who has wondered, “Why do we need more buildings?” I doubt it. I believe we need community gardens.

As I drive around the Valley, I always notice the open land and most of the time it is zoned for commercial use or housing and quite honestly, this makes me a little angry. Do we really NEED another strip mall? Another apartment complex? More houses? I find it interesting that developers feel the NEED to continue to build more buildings, but yet there are “For Lease” signs everywhere, businesses, apartments and homes. Am I the only one who has wondered, “Why do we need more buildings?” I doubt it. I believe we need community gardens.

I am very blonde, very fair skinned, blue eyes — my skin burns easily in the sun. During my entire childhood, my mother always applied sunscreen or I would wear long-sleeved shirts, hats, pants, etc., but still, sometimes burns would happen. I grew up in a small farming community where “everyone knows your name,” so I never felt any different than any of my friends. That all changed during my college years.

The state universities want to "equalize" funding because this will "bring" $60 million?

It's exciting to travel lightly with just a passport, a toothbrush, and a couple changes of clothes - planning as you go and moving between places nimbly. This is exactly what I did going to Seville.

Discover the childhood friendship in Poland prior to World War II between a Catholic boy, Karol Wojtlya, later known as Pope John Paul II, and Jerzy Kluger, a Jewish boy, who became the Pope's personal emissary to Israel, at the free Faces of Diversity Brown Bag series at noon Friday, Nov. 18, at the Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.

To give people a sample of what to expect inside their new downtown Mesa business, its owners decided for just one night to perch a massive, animatronic angel of death at the front door.

To give people a sample of what to expect inside their new downtown Mesa business, its owners decided for just one night to perch a massive, animatronic angel of death at the front door.

To give people a sample of what to expect inside their new downtown Mesa business, its owners decided for just one night to perch a massive, animatronic angel of death at the front door.

Alexander Lahr, a sixth-grader at Ahwatukee Foothills Prep, is one of 250 kids selected to attend the Annual Junior National Young Leaders conference Oct. 8-13 in Washington, D.C. He was nominated by his teacher, Sara Ruggeri, and has served as class president. The annual conference is an opportunity for high achieving middle school students to learn about leadership in the nation's Capitol. They spend a week attending a variety of workshops and visiting landmarks. As a participant in the conference, Lahr will be eligible to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Alumni Conference in Boston, the High School National Young Leaders Conference and the International Young Leaders Conference.

Bryan Singer's first "X-Men" was exactly what superhero movies needed after Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" and the Shaquille O'Neal vehicle, "Steel," seemingly killed the genre. Singer's "X2" was one of the rare sequels that actually improved upon the original. Many fans felt that these movies started to show a decline in storytelling after Brett Ratner's "X-Men: The Last Stand." I suppose I was one of the few people that actually felt that "The Last Stand" delivered a satisfying conclusion to the initial trilogy. I think we can all agree though that "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is best left forgotten.

Bryan Singer's first "X-Men" was exactly what superhero movies needed after Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" and the Shaquille O'Neal vehicle, "Steel," seemingly killed the genre. Singer's "X2" was one of the rare sequels that actually improved upon the original. Many fans felt that these movies started to show a decline in storytelling after Brett Ratner's "X-Men: The Last Stand." I suppose I was one of the few people that actually felt that "The Last Stand" delivered a satisfying conclusion to the initial trilogy. I think we can all agree though that "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is best left forgotten.

Apache Elementary Principal Larry Brodie understood the gravity of the situation Wednesday morning, and he wanted to be sure his students understood it, too. “This is a special opportunity for all of you, one that many people will never get in their whole lives,” he said.

Last season, Spotlight Youth Theatre debuted its first non-musical with the drama “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Artistic director Kenny Grossman chose to move in a new direction this year with the light-hearted Neil Simon comedy “Fools,” which opened Friday in Glendale.

A trip to Hollywood in the next week may be out of the question, but a daylong jaunt to Sedona could yield just as many star sightings. Nicholas Cage, Gary Sinise, Rip Torn, Jonathan Winters, Frances Fisher and Rita Rudner are among the celebrities expected to be in the Red Rock getaway town for this week's Sedona Film Festival.

Performers wanted for Nov. 20 Block Party

Mesa Arts Center announces 2010/11 performing live season

Fall classes stimulate creativity at Mesa Arts Center