Here it comes again — that deep longing to go home. I usually get homesickness in faster rolling waves as the weather heats up in the desert, and I’m really looking forward to our trip to Wisconsin this summer.

At long last, summer is almost here — which may mean it’s time to put together your traveling plans. Still, while you and your family may enjoy going on a summertime trip, there’s one part of your life that should not go on vacation — your investment portfolio.

There’s no denying that Richard Donner set the bar for the “Superman” franchise with his 1978 film. The icy landscapes of Planet Krypton, John Williams’ vigorous musical score, Christopher Reeve’s iconic performance, every aspect of Donner’s movie remains definitive. Since then, most interpretations of Superman have either drawn inspiration from or paid homage to the original classic. One has to give director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan credit for taking “Man of Steel” in the complete opposite direction. Where Donner’s “Superman” was light, funny, and colorful, “Man of Steel” is dark, serious, and brooding. The film presents a vision of Superman that’s new and bold with a satisfying payoff.

Teens are bound to be excited to leave backpacks and books behind for carefree summer fun. However, if your teen’s summer includes driving or riding with a teen driver, there are a few things to consider.

Dear Mikey: I just turned 25 years old and I got myself in a situation where I had to file bankruptcy a week before my birthday. This is not at all where I expected myself to be when I turned 25. I thought I would have my career launched already (just got laid off), have my bachelor’s degree by now (still have 21 more credits to go), be married by now (girlfriend and I just broke up a month ago), having kids (not even close), and a house (can barely afford the rent in my apartment).

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.

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.”


Melissa Kahn has the regular season down.

It’s unfortunate, but true: The elderly population may be the most vulnerable group in our society. In fact, in an effort to call attention to the problems of physical, emotional and financial abuse of the elderly, the United Nations has designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. If you have older parents, or even grandparents, can you do to anything to help prevent them from being victimized, especially with regard to their finances?

Members of the South Mountain Citizen’s Advisory Team (SMCAT) have until July 24 to submit the official recommendation from its group on the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

Interest rates are at historic lows. But they will rise eventually. If you invest in fixed-income vehicles, such as bonds, what might higher rates mean for you?

Checked in with the Mountain Pointe boys basketball team today as new coach Hosea Graham tries to put his identity on the program before the Pride plays at Grand Canyon this weekend.

When it comes to fitness, some people have their own agendas on why they want to get off the coach and start shedding their unwanted body mass.

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.

Mohammed Saleem bet one brother instead of chasing another.

There’s a popular television situation comedy that has spent the last nine years covering a man telling his children about his search for their mother some 20 years earlier. It’s a winding tale, of course, that covers false starts, unlikely coincidences, and (because it’s the 21st century) sexual misadventures.

When I meet with clients who have a dispute with another individual or company, oftentimes my clients tell me to file a lawsuit believing that this is the only way for them to get what they are after: typically money and vindication that their position is correct. I always counsel my clients that litigation can be expensive and that there may be — though not always — a less expensive way to achieve their objective in a far quicker manner. Some of the less expensive ways of achieving the desired objective include mediation and arbitration.

It’s signed, sealed and delivered. The home of your dreams is now a reality and you’re ready to decorate, entertain, and nest. Then suddenly, the dream turns into a nightmare. The air conditioning unit crashes — right in the middle of the July swelter. When else?

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.

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.

Ahwatukee is seeing an increase in real estate activity compared to the same time last year.

My Gym Ahwatukee • 4142 E. Chandler Blvd.

Editor’s note: This is part three of a continuing summer series on the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway.

Most of the ads for “After Earth” have neglected to mention that M. Night Shyamalan co-wrote and directed the film. Movie studios finally seem to be realizing that having Shyamalan’s name plastered above the title will no longer sell tickets. If anything, it will have audiences fleeing from the theater in revulsion. Whenever it looks like Shyamalan can’t embarrass himself any further, he always comes out with a new film that’s even more atrocious than the last. At least with his previous debacle, “The Last Airbender,” Shyamalan hit ground zero. There’s no way he could possibly make a film even more poorly written, effortlessly acted, and bleakly directed, right?