• Police took a report of a single vehicle car accident around 8 a.m. on April 9 near the 2500 block of East Thunderhill Place. A 16-year-old driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a large saguaro cactus, demolishing the cactus. There were no injuries but the driver was cited for failure to control speed to avoid collision. The saguaro was on the side of the road and was valued at more than $6,000. The driver’s car, a 2008 Ford Mustang, was totaled.
• At 9 p.m. on April 9 near the 9600 block of South 46th Street an adult female was arrested, accused of knowingly striking her mother.
• Police responded to a call of an abandoned motorcycle on April 10 at 5:30 a.m. in the desert near Pecos and 40th Street. The 2011 Honda Sport motorcycle was stolen and abandoned.
• On April 12 at 8:45 p.m. police took a report of an identity theft in the 4600 block of East Lavender Lane. The victim claimed someone had gotten a hold of their Social Security number and information and used their credit cards. At 9:40 p.m. on April 12 police responded to a shoplifting call near the 4600 block of East Chandler Boulevard. An adult female was arrested. Police were called back to the area at 10:52 p.m. for a shoplifter in custody. When police made contact with the suspect they found he was also in possession of dangerous drugs. He was arrested.
• At 11:20 p.m. on April 12 police responded to a hit and run accident. A man is accused of driving eastbound in the westbound lanes on Ray Road near the 3100 block of East Ray Road. His car side swiped by another car. The person in that vehicle followed the driver who went to a home in the Equestrian Estates area. Police responded to the home and arrested the man for suspicion of driving impaired.
• At 12:45 p.m. on April 13 police got a call of a theft in the 5100 block of East Guadalupe Road. The victim said a person had taken furniture they had for sale without paying. Two suspects were identified. Between 1 and 2 p.m. police responded to a call of a theft from a residence near the 13800 block of South 44th Street on April 13. A suspect accused of stealing jewelry from the home has been identified.
• Around 4:30 p.m. on April 13 police responded to a burglary from vehicle near the 5000 block of East Ray Road. A house key and a package of cigarettes were taken.
• Police responded to a shoplifting incident at 8:30 p.m. on April 13 near the 4000 block of East Chandler Boulevard. The suspects exited the store without paying for two bottles of vodka. The suspects were not located.
• Police responded to a call of a runaway 16-year-old around 8:30 p.m. on April 14. The teen lived near the 5100 block of East La Puente Drive.
• Police responded to a domestic violence incident around 11:10 p.m. on April 14 near the 3400 block of East Chandler Boulevard. The incident was between an adult brother and sister. There were no arrests, but an order of protection will be issued.
• Police arrested an 18-year-old man for impaired driving around 2:47 a.m. on April 14 near the 1400 block of East Chandler Boulevard. Police received a report of a vehicle broken into on April 6 at the Pima Mountain Trailhead, 9400 South 48th Street. A 2012 Chevy Malibu was broken into and a wedding ring, purse, wallet and various tools were taken. Police estimate a loss of $1,600. Another vehicle was broken into at the same location on April 17 around 1 p.m. A diaper bag was taken from that vehicle.

Weekends are made for moving a little slower, taking time to enjoy oneself and reconnect with whatever’s been put on the back burner during a hectic work week.

I made sushi at home the other day for the first time ever. And it didn’t go that badly, surprisingly. I wouldn’t have thought so just 24 hours earlier.

A New Year’s bash is one of the easier parties to throw. Everyone’s already in the merry-making mood, so it’s a simple matter of setting the stage.

Wild boar — a tasty way to do a good deed.

The holiday season is upon us. Over the next few weeks, schedules will be filled with shopping, holiday parties, relatives, plenty of food and spirits and obligations. Socializing during the holidays can be stressful and challenging for some people, especially if your friends and family are not as health-conscious as you. The abundance of holiday treats and homemade goodies can be hard to resist. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain.

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?

I discovered the inspiration for this recipe ages ago in an issue of the Australian edition of Vogue, a magazine I tried to hunt down as often as possible because it had a consistently innovative food section. Though my Jell-O years already were well behind me, I was struck by the cleverness of this recipe, particularly as a healthy snack for kids, and even more particularly at Halloween.

Great movies and great food are box office gold, from Forrest Gump’s chocolates to “Silence of the Lambs” anti-hero Hannibal Lecter’s disturbing pairing suggestion for Chianti.

Great movies and great food are box office gold, from Forrest Gump’s chocolates to “Silence of the Lambs” anti-hero Hannibal Lecter’s disturbing pairing suggestion for Chianti.

The first-degree murder trial of Jeffrey Martinson, who is accused of murdering his 5-year-old son Joshua at his Ahwatukee apartment in 2004, continued this week with testimony from first responders to the scene and close neighbors.

The first-degree murder trial of Jeffrey Martinson, who is accused of murdering his 5-year-old son Joshua at his Ahwatukee apartment in 2004, continued this week with testimony from first responders to the scene and close neighbors.

The dressing and sauces that have made Spinato's such a popular pizzeria may soon be available in grocery stores across the Valley.

The dressing and sauces that have made Spinato's such a popular pizzeria may soon be available in grocery stores across the Valley.

I'm pondering a lot of recipes lately. Mainly because I have family coming into town next week, so meals will be for a larger group. Let's just say an average of 17 - mix of adults and children. Since I'll have nine additional people actually staying at our house (still trying to figure out where to put them), and I don't want to be tied up in the kitchen (though I suspect we'll spend a lot of time hanging out in it anyway), we'll be doing the standard kid pleasing meals - tacos and hamburgers - but also trying for a bit more sophistication on occasion.

I'm pondering a lot of recipes lately. Mainly because I have family coming into town next week, so meals will be for a larger group. Let's just say an average of 17 - mix of adults and children. Since I'll have nine additional people actually staying at our house (still trying to figure out where to put them), and I don't want to be tied up in the kitchen (though I suspect we'll spend a lot of time hanging out in it anyway), we'll be doing the standard kid pleasing meals - tacos and hamburgers - but also trying for a bit more sophistication on occasion.

Step away from the oven, and hang up your apron. The home kitchen is no place to be this weekend — not when you could bump elbows with big-name chefs and sample food from more than 50 Valley eateries all in one place.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery is kicking off its 15^th annual partnership with local fire departments with the Fire Chief Ale limited-time-only promotion. 

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery is kicking off its 15^th annual partnership with local fire departments with the Fire Chief Ale limited-time-only promotion. 

The Wigwam invites guests to fall in love and make some history of their own at the newly rejuvenated West Valley resort this Valentine’s Day with arts, dining and sports experiences for both couples and families. Featuring 400 acres of recreation, The Wigwam will celebrate Valentine’s Day with four days of sweetheart fun for all ages. Enjoy an afternoon of fine art on The Wigwam’s front lawn while listening to live musicians, or meet up with friends for a game of doubles at the Matchmaker’s Tennis Tournament.

The Wigwam invites guests to fall in love and make some history of their own at the newly rejuvenated West Valley resort this Valentine’s Day with arts, dining and sports experiences for both couples and families. Featuring 400 acres of recreation, The Wigwam will celebrate Valentine’s Day with four days of sweetheart fun for all ages. Enjoy an afternoon of fine art on The Wigwam’s front lawn while listening to live musicians, or meet up with friends for a game of doubles at the Matchmaker’s Tennis Tournament.

The Doobie Brothers, O.A.R., Slightly Stoopid and MetalHead headline another lineup of national and regional bands at the 2011 Coors Light Birds Nest Feb. 2-5 during the Waste Management Phoenix Open. 

The Doobie Brothers, O.A.R., Slightly Stoopid and MetalHead headline another lineup of national and regional bands at the 2011 Coors Light Birds Nest Feb. 2-5 during the Waste Management Phoenix Open. 

Dear Editor:

Dear Editor: