The football coaches evidently can’t wait until August for their first showdown of the year.

Jeff Rutledge, a former player and coach in the NFL and NCAA Champion quarterback at the University of Alabama, has been hired as the head football coach at Valley Christian High School.

The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. announced that Martha C. Patrick and Wendi A. Sorensen have been selected as two of the “Top 25 Women Attorneys” in Arizona by Southwest Super Lawyers in 2013.

Alex Shin, a kindergartner at Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School, placed first in a writing contest for PBS Kids Go! He was invited to a special awards ceremony in downtown Phoenix where local author, Terri Fields, presented Shin with his first place prize, a Kindle Fire.

By the time a client parks their car and walks up to the front doors of Harvest of Tempe, the southeast Valley’s only medical marijuana dispensary, he or she, their license plate, and their car have all been caught on camera.

“Hi, Mike? I am so glad I got a hold of you. My computer is running so slowly that I turn it on, make coffee, take the dog for a walk, and bake a few dozen cookies then maybe; just maybe the website will be fully loaded. This computer is running terrible! Can you help?”

In the galaxy of big-screen superheros — a rather glum lot — Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man is the snappy one.

The best-tasting veggie burger I’ve ever met is falafel. A product of the Middle East, falafel are deep-fried fritters made from ground chickpeas or fava beans that are tucked into pita pockets and drizzled with tahini. They are delicious, hearty, inexpensive and relatively healthy.

Cyan McFarlane, a 2009 graduate of Mountain Pointe High School, received the presidential service award from New York University this spring.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that 22 of its local attorneys have been named by Southwest Super Lawyers magazine as among the top 5 percent of attorneys in Arizona for 2013. Included among them is Jon E. Pettibone, who is both an Ahwatukee resident and office managing partner for the firm. Pettibone’s practice experience includes advising management on labor and employment strategies and representing it before federal and state courts and agencies, before arbitrators and in collective bargaining.

Friday is National Pretzel Day, and a Valley restaurant known for its pretzels is celebrating in a big way: Brat Haus in Old Town Scottsdale will be super sizing their signature German-style soft pretzels all day April 26, and serving them with beer and cheese fundido or Nutella.

"It’s been 10 years, now,” the strong voice said on the phone. Mari Justin is a breast cancer survivor. She, along with hundreds of thousands of breast cancer veterans have faced the demons and now crusade alongside those who are fresh on the battlefield.

The Lucha Libre USA Mexican Wrestling action is coming to Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University Arena on Sunday.

Individual and team national titles are on the line for top collegiate triathletes from across the U.S. at this weekend’s 2013 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships in Tempe this weekend.

Does your outfit blend into the woodwork?

Figarro is a female short-haired black and white cat, about 10 years old. She is a sweet thing that loves giving “Eskimo kisses” and being super cute. When not doing that she also enjoys spending time with her human friends. Figarro seems to almost always be purring. She knows how to see the brighter side of life and is hoping for a forever home soon. She’d also like her new family to rename her with a more “girly girl” name.

The NYS Midget Division Patriots were chosen to represent NY South East Valley in a Bowl Game against the NYS North West Lions to wrap up the winter football season for their divisions.

Club SPAWN, a 13U club baseball team based out of Ahwatukee and managed by Todd McFarlane, won the 13U AAA title in the 2013 USSSA Spring Championships Super NIT at Victory Lane Sports Park in Glendale last weekend.

While spring has sprung, here in the Valley it is beginning to feel more like summer. And with 100-degree days around the corner, many of us are beginning to think about where we will take refuge from the heat and how high our electric bills will climb.

A Valley home builder with plans to build a development in Ahwatukee Foothills has just received its fourth consecutive “Homeowners’ Choice Award” from Eliant.

Sherrelle Jordan and Ky Westbrook finished with the same impressive result on Saturday.

As the Internet continues its growth and small business works its way into today’s social realms, plenty of questions continue to arise.

Selling any home can be challenging, depending on the market. But if you have an old home and want to appeal to buyers in their 20s and early 30s, you may need to take some extra steps.

Harmony Korine seems to want it both ways, all day, with "Spring Breakers," his super-stylized descent into a sunbaked hell where bikini-clad, gun-toting college babes serve as our guides.