There’s something magical about a Christmas tree. Blinking lights, cherished ornaments, and handmade decorations from baby hands that are now grown big, all promising the anticipation of Christmas future.

Valley Christian High School students have been spending the last few months collecting items to give back to the community.

Christmas is approaching and while we are all getting our homes ready for guests, and shopping for presents, let’s not forget about those that are not able to do so this year.

Ahwatukee Preschool once again hosted its annual breakfast with Santa on Dec. 8. The children were dressed in beautiful holiday clothing eating muffins and fruit anxiously waiting for Santa. Around 8:45 a.m., the sound of jingle bells rang as Santa entered the Family Life Center at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee, to the delight of the children.

Wiggles & Wags Pet Resort, 1811 E. Baseline Road in Tempe, has had fun offering customers and their pups an opportunity to pose with Santa for Christmas photos this holiday season. Professional photographer, Melissa Smith of Scratch & Sniff Photography, is doing the work. The next session is this Saturday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.wigglesandwags.com.

As the wife of a battalion commander and 20-year veteran of the United States Army, Bianca Caryl knows the kind of sacrifices made by members of the military.

As the wife of a battalion commander and 20-year veteran of the United States Army, Bianca Caryl knows the kind of sacrifices made by members of the military.

The Arizona Rattlers will host its Inaugural Holiday Drive at US Airways Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature free pictures with Santa Claus, various children’s activities and bounce houses, along with a toy drive and a blood drive.

Arizona Diamondbacks World Champion and third base coach Matt Williams will be signing autographs for a $20 cash donation for the Operation Santa Claus Charity Drive on Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Ahwatukee Foothills UPS Store, 4802 E. Ray Road, Suite 23.

Local police and firefighters will exchange toys for rides in cop cars and fire trucks on Saturday, Dec. 15 to benefit needy kids in the community.

The Arizona Rattlers are hosting its Inaugural Holiday Drive at US Airways Center on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature free pictures with Santa Claus, various children activities and bounce houses along with a toy drive, and a blood drive.

Rattlers to host food drive

For several weeks, the children in the Reese house have been poring over the holiday catalogs that arrived in the mail or through the newspaper.

There are Christmas lights, and then there are ZooLights. There is just something about these things that everyone is buzzing about. And, according to the man in charge of the annual production, the show is revamped to be bigger than ever before.

There is much about the holiday shopping season that makes no sense to me. Why someone needs to camp out for a week just to get a deal on a TV — I don’t know. Why mothers need to push and shove to get their child that new doll — that’s beyond me. But one thing I really, really don’t understand is why anyone would purchase someone else’s child a toy that makes noise.

Through Dec. 24

Folkloric legends truly are the guardians of childhood. From the perspective of a child, the world can be an enchanting place full of infinite wonder and possibilities. The belief in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and others fuels such innocence. Once their existence is questioned though, kids begin to slide down an unstoppable downhill slope that will inevitably result in adulthood. Most grown-ups likely envy children for their ability to believe in such mythical beings. How we all long to replace our adult cynicism and practicality with the magic and mystery of youth.

It’s no secret that liquor is a simple solution to holiday gift-giving. You don’t see a lot of people lining up Dec. 26 to return bottles of 12-year-old Scotch. And what better way to embrace the spirit of giving than by giving a spirit?

Four siblings in Ahwatukee Foothills will be performing together for the first time in next month’s production of “The Nutcracker” by the Ahwatukee Foothills Ballet.

The Phoenix St. Jude Give Thanks Walk is one of 90 events taking place in communities across the country on Nov. 17 to help kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases.