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WE LOVE IT HERE!
That seems to be the consensus. Almost everyone I ask about living in this area gives me that answer. I have lived here for 15 years, and I love it too! It is the perfect little corner of the valley, right next to Tonto National Forest, with an abundance of outdoor activities and natural beauty. We have quiet communities filled with dynamic families, thriving local businesses, and that wave-to-your-neighbors small town feel. This was my inspiration for EastM Magazine. I am passionate about creating a beautiful and interesting publication that brings our neighbors, families, and businesses together. It is a one of a kind for East Mesa — a high quality, full color, professionally designed magazine with content covering everything that makes this area special.
KIMA KNEW TO APPRECIATE THE VIEW. SHE LOVED EVERYONE, AND SHE LOVED IT HERE TOO!
I hope you enjoy the spectacular photography, and find the stories inspirational, informative, and entertaining. I am very thankful to the talented writers and photographers that have shared in my excitement for this new venture and contributed amazing content. On a very personal note, I have shared a story about the passing of my sweet girl, Kima (page 22). So much more than just the family pet, she was also a huge part of what I love here — she hiked and paddleboarded with me, played in parks with her fur-friends, and dined with us at all the dog-friendly patios we are fortunate to have in the area. I dedicate this issue to her. She truly loved it here too! One last thing. As you read EastM, please notice the advertisers. Go say hello, try somewhere new, and show your support. Although I plan to keep this magazine content-heavy, I cannot do it without them and greatly appreciate their participation! Together we can help our businesses succeed, strengthen our communities, nurture our families, and celebrate why we love it here! All my best,
V1N1 | APRIL/MAY 2019 PUBLISHER | DESIGNER
Dara Fowler COPY EDITORS
Curt Blakeney Rachel Baliff SOCIAL MEDIA
Delia Scegiel CONTRIBUTORS
Courtney Allen-Gentry Suzi Amore Casey Blake Dawn Brooks Jon Englund Christina Estes Bethanie Hestermann Tiffany Hilgendorf Mikayla Ison Donna Luger Shannon Maki Frank Pabian Kimberly Robinson Dena Roche Jessica Spencer Heather K. Story Danielle Tantone PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ted Deveraux Mikayla Devereux William Lax
www.eastmmag.com @eastmmagazine Dara Fowler Publisher | Designer dara@eastmmag.com | 480.200.5286 PS: Feel free to contact me with comments and ideas!
© 2019 All rights reserved EastM Media LLC. All material is copywritten and subject to approval before being reproduced. EastM is a free publication.
INSIDE 15
BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT
Real Estate Investment Return Cost of Habit New Mesa Development Map
16 17 17
FEATURE:
Flying High at Falcon Field
40 16
6
START HERE
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
What’s Crackin Cafe
21
FAMILY & COMMUNITY
Final Act of Kindness Follow Your Dreams Just for Kids
calendar p23 22 23 24
64 COMMUNITY PHOTOS
FEATURE:
66 LOOKING BACK
A young artist hopes to turn a lifetime of drawing into a prosperous future
Creation of the Roosevelt Dam
18
Longbow Marketplace is becoming a popular North Mesa destination
Doodle = Art
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calendar ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE Critter Corner: Rattlesnakes Limitless Geo Tagging Tonto Passes Desert Blossoms
p31 30 30 31 32
FEATURE:
Right Down the Road
34
Living the good life at the edge of Tonto National Forest
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ACTIVE & STRONG
CBD Explained Yoga for Everyone
calendar p45 44
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FEATURE:
49
6
Keep Calm and Golf On
40
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
calendar p49
Golf offers numerous benefits for your health and overall well-being
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A Myriad of Flavor Food Truck Fun From the Chef
48 49 51
FEATURE:
Mesa Arts Center
52
Mesa Arts Center keeps the arts and cultural experiences alive
34
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HOME: INSIDE & OUT
Planting Spring Vegetables Know Before You Throw
58 59
FEATURE:
Spring, Not Just Cleaning
5 tips to refresh and renew your home
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START HERE
charity spotlight:
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home takes care of children who through no fault of their own, need a place to live and be cared for. Some children are homeless, orphaned or even come from a failed adoption. Opened in 1954, Sunshine Acres’ approach was to offer stability, faith, love and hope to plant that seed that they can break the cycle they were born into. Since opening, the home has served more than 2,000 children and has grown to handle a capacity of 70 at once. The children live on the 109-acre campus in Mesa in homes that house 10 children each. The guardians are asked to allow the child to stay at least
Since opening, the home has served more than 2,000 CHILDREN one year, which helps with providing stability in behavior and schooling, and this time allows them to get back on their feet. If their home situation remains unstable, they can stay longer, even through college, vocational training or military. The home could not perform as well as it does without the support from volunteers, dedicated house parents and an amazing support staff. For 65 years, Sunshine Acres has operated without state or federal funding for the care of the children. Only through private donations and estate gifts, are they able to operate. It is with the continued support of donors and the community that they can give the neediest children a loving Christian wholesome home and take care of their every need. If you would like to learn more about Sunshine Acres please visit www.sunshineacres.org, schedule a tour at 480-8322540 or come shop at our donation center and boutique. If you have items that you would like to donate, please call 480-981-4114 to schedule a donation pickup.
7,200
Fortnite players in Mesa*
15%
of schoolgoing players
HAVE SKIPPED SCHOOL TO PLAY
in May-June 2018
2.7
BILLION HOURS
$100 62.7% MILLION
global playing time
Epic Games prize pot for 2108/2019 season
of players are aged
18-24
125 MILLION FORTNITE PLAYERS IN TOTAL
(MAY 2018)
Ladies, Do You Know How to Defend Yourself? One in six women will experience an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. These statistics are not meant to scare you, but to help you realize the unfortunate normalcy of rape/abduction and the importance of self-defense preparation. Make these crucial skills a priority. Spartan Nation’s Two Hour Women’s Self-Defense Course teaches proven techniques to fight against larger, stronger attackers. The course is taught by professional mixed martial arts fighter Dan Huber. The course covers joint locks, choke holds and striking techniques that will give you the knowledge to fight back against an attacker. Scenarios include: abduction, date gone bad, standing fighting and ground fighting. Empower yourself and your loved ones with this knowledge. Next class will be held on Saturday, April 27. Visit www.spartannationcombatives.com for information and schedules, or call (480) 480-939-9140.
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source: www.businessofapps.com *estimate based on global information
Sunshine Acres
by the numbers: F OR TNITE
protect your pups! Dogs and venomous snakes don’t mix. Every year, thousands of dogs are bitten by rattlesnakes that results in costly and potentially fatal emergencies. The snakes aren’t exactly the ones to blame, though, as they quietly go about their daily lives, even helping us by eating destructive pests. The problem begins with our curious pups who want to stick their nose in just about anything new, including a buzzing rattlesnake. To help combat this issue, Rattlesnake Ready is a local company that completely specializes in training dogs to avoid rattlesnakes and their sounds and smells. They do this by performing a four-step process that safely involves the use of live snakes and other items. It is accomplished in a single lesson with the option of being right in the dog’s backyard, too. “We want to help protect dogs from snakebites and therefore prevent negative interactions with wildlife,” said Cody Will, the owner of Rattlesnake Ready. His company trains well over a thousand dogs a year throughout the greater Phoenix area and other parts of the state. For more information about Rattlesnake Ready, visit ww.RattlesnakeReady.com, call 530-200-1880 or 480-353-8390, or email rattlesnakeready@gmail.com.
DANA MALKIN AND HIS LAB SYBIL ARE IN TRAINING, WHICH BEGINS BY EXPOSING THE DOG TO A SAFELY-MUZZLED, LIVE, RATTLESNAKE.
REASON #1:
this guy
Las Sendas Elementary School crossing guard Dennis Sallee smiles and waves to every car, every morning. Mr. Dennis, as the kids call him, says, “After retirement I thought, I can either wake up grumpy or wake up happy.” He chose happy — and it’s contagious. When I’m rushing around, dragging my teenager out of bed by his toes, and hoping to hit the road on time, my mood at the start of the day isn’t always great. But then as I leave the neighborhood, I see Dennis. He waves. He smiles. Then I smile too. It’s that simple — my mood is better. And I say to my son, “This is why I love it here! People like him really make a difference.”
what’s your reason?
FUN
FACT
Tell us why you love it here! Send us your photos and short stories. Email them to love@eastmmag.com. We will spotlight one each issue.
In 2017, more people were killed from injuries caused by TAKING A SELFIE than from SHARK ATTACKS.
s ource: thefactsite.com
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CHECK EM OUT
business spotlight
& s g u h c , s r e che
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hile East Mesa isn’t exactly known as a mecca of fine dining, the corner of Power and McDowell does boast a few great places that my family and I have enjoyed for years, as well as some newcomers that have quickly become favorites. One of the newer kids on the block, What’s Crackin, is now almost two years old, and if you are looking for a unique place for a hearty, healthy breakfast or lunch, perhaps with a distinctively different Mimosa or a bacontopped Bloody Mary to top it off, you just might want to stop in. If you were one of those who stopped in early on and haven’t been back lately, or have never stopped in at all, I think you should give it a try, and look forward to being impressed by the deliciousness and variety of the food at this neighborhood breakfast joint. They have worked out the usual kinks of being brand new, and have grown up into a distinctive, fun and delicious dining experience – with some pretty tasty drinks to boot. The multi-colored tabletops, an industrial open ceiling, a full bar, a large patio, and one wall painted bright teal gives the establishment a funky and edgy vibe. With another wall made up almost entirely of windows, including a large glass-paned garage door that can open up to bring the outdoors in, the place feels light and airy, but at the same time comfortable and homey. Every meal at What’s Crackin is house made. They have some novel takes on classic breakfast items, such as eggs Benedict, omelets, biscuits and gravy, and their famous Monte Cristo, plus some completely original creations you won’t find anywhere else, including hearty or fruity quinoa bowls and Carmelized Cinnamon Roll French toast (delicious!). There’s a selection of Southwest specialties, fruit-filled pancakes and locally-sourced sausage and chorizo, as well as burgers and other lunch specialties, including the hard-tofind plant-based Impossible Burger.
b u r g d o o &g Enjoy a distinctive, fun and delicious dining experience at
WHAT’S CRACKIN’ CAFE BY DANIELLE TANTONE
/
PHOTOS BY MIKAYLA DEVEREUX
fed up with plastic-wrapped food loaded with preservatives, Craig wanted to go back to homestyle cooking using real ingredients
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The restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch, though owner Craig Arstingstall has toyed with ideas for opening up evenings. A country boy from Oklahoma who has worked in the restaurant business since he was 16, Arstingstall had spent several years as a chef, then rose to the ranks of corporate restaurant management, where he became fed up with plastic-wrapped food loaded with preservatives. He wanted to go back to homestyle cooking using real ingredients like fresh cream and real butter. The menu includes health-conscious items for any dietary preference — including gluten-free, vegan, keto, and low-cal options, as well as customized special orders. Arstingstall now says he loves owning his own place, without the constraints of working within a corporation. “It isn’t easy. It’s quite humbling. But I care about all these kids who work for me,” said Arstingstall. About a year ago, he brought in Chef Jessica Spencer. He was impressed with this culinary school graduate, who also worked at a high-end seafood restaurant in Spokane, Washington before arriving in Arizona and spending time as Chef at Mesa’s Worth Takeaway. Together they developed Test Kitchen Weekends, creating new and original dishes to serve in limited supply. “I enjoy giving guests different and exciting dining experiences,” Spencer said. “And it’s really great that Craig allows me to be so creative in the kitchen.” On a recent visit, I sampled the Santa Fe Enchiladas, recommended by my server, Paige Rupe, who is also the Hospitality and Marketing Director. Right (l to r): OWNER CRAIG ARSTINGSTALL, CHEF JESSICA SPENCER, HOSPITALITY AND MARKETING DIRECTOR PAIGE RUPE, AND GENERAL MANAGER KRISTIN JOHNSON
This was not your typical baked casserole-type enchilada dish, but rather a fresh blue corn tortilla base, topped with shredded spicy chicken (carnitas available too), homemade green chili sauce (your choice of sauces), a little bit of cheese, a sunny side-up egg, complete with fresh avocado and pico de gallo on the side. It was light, but filling, and utterly delicious. Although the server laid down a selection of bottled hot sauces on my table, I didn’t touch them. My dish was perfectly spiced and flavorful all on its own.
My husband ordered a breakfast burrito and my daughter picked blueberries and strawberries out of her fruity pancakes and sipped a fresh cup of orange juice. We also sampled the sausage, chorizo, bacon, French toast, sliders and more. Everything was fresh and delicious. I wanted to try one of the eight different varieties of mimosas, which are more craft cocktail than standard Mimosa. I settled on the blueberry lemon. Made with blueberry simple syrup, Brut champagne, lemon juice and a splash of lemonade, it’s sweet and tangy, but not overly so, and I enjoyed every last drop. Arstingstall said they serve around 800 mimosas each week, along with close to 500 Bloody Marys, which isn’t surprising considering it was recently voted Number 3 Best Bloody Mary in the state by Bestthingsaz.com.
CHECK EM OUT business spotlight
even on weekdays, the place is busy, attracting people of all ages, dressed in everything from running clothes to business suits My husband decided to go with the extra spicy Bloody Mary, complete with olives, bacon and a large stalk of celery with its flowering ends sticking up like a tree from the glass. While it’s a little surprising to see a full bar at a breakfast place, general manager Kristin Johnson, who has worked for Arstingstall since the restaurant’s inception, says they wanted to cater to those third shift workers such as nurses, who get off work in the morning but still want to enjoy their own version of happy hour at a nice place. Not to mention that when What’s Crackin’ first opened in June of 2017, they referred to themselves as the place where “day drinkers unite.” Even on weekdays, the place is busy, attracting people of all ages, dressed in everything from running clothes to business suits. There are the regulars who are there every week, and a surprising Oklahoma contingent, according to Arstingstall, who visited Phoenix on vacation several years ago and fell in love with the mountains and the weather. Lucas Burrington says his favorite thing about working at What’s Crackin is the people. “I love the team we have. We all work together as a family. And I love how our food sells itself. It’s all so tasty. All very special.” Paige, who sports bright blue hair and multiple tattoos, says her favorite thing about working at What’s Crackin is that she gets to be herself. And Kristin added, “Craig gives us full range and freedom. He lets us girls run the place and be creative. If we think we have an idea that can help, he lets us run with it.”
s a week: Open 7 day ays, 7-4 on weekends d 85215 7-2 on week d. Mesa, AZ R ll e w o D c 6663 E M 832 (480) 264–6 rackincafe.com c ts a cafe h www.w hatscrackin /w m o .c k o o b FB: face rackincafe IG: @whatsc
480-939-9140
SpartanNationAZ.com 4446 E UNIVERSITY DR / #107 MESA / AZ 85205
SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE! 2-Week Summer Combat Camp / June 10-21 Kids ages 5-12 learn the basics of Kickboxing and Submission Wrestling technique. A showcase for parents at the end of the Camp. $99. Sign up online.
BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT business advice construction finance real estate
Flying High
Longbow Marketplace and the Falcon District continue to expand
p 18
PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT
Best Return
BY DONNA LUGER, REALTOR® (CLIENT-CENTERED)
2|N ot appreciating the buyer’s point of view Unreasonable though it may be, a prospective buyer would like to see a perfect home from top to bottom and inside and out. The Buyer would like to move in, unpack their boxes and be ready to go. Seldom does a buyer want to make improvements or have the cash reserves to make improvements after spending their cash to obtain the home. Ask your real estate agent for help identifying what’s most important from the Buyer’s point of view.
Market trends are always changing and are challenging to predict. Catherine Reagor of the Arizona Republic points out “It’s still a seller’s market in metro Phoenix, but buyers are gaining ground. Valley home prices are holding steady, instead of climbing as they did last February (2018).” If you are considering making a change and selling your home, for the best return on your investment, don’t make these five critical mistakes.
3 | T hinking you need to be in the home to provide details to prospective buyers Allow your real estate professional to do his or her job without you onsite. Most potential buyers feel more comfortable if they can speak freely to their agent without the owner present. If people unaccompanied by an agent would like to see your property, refer them to your real estate agent for an appointment.
ON YOUR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
Avoid these 5 seller mistakes for maximum return on the sale of your home
1 | F ailing to maximize the “curb appeal” of your home When you’re preparing your house for sale, remember the importance of first impressions. A buyer’s first impression can determine whether they’ll choose to look inside. It’s estimated that more than 50% of shoppers decide to purchase a home even before they get out of their car. With that in mind, be sure to stand outside your home and take a realistic “fresh look.” Then ask yourself (and your real estate agent) what you can do to enhance the “curb appeal.” It could make a significant difference in your final sales price as well as the speed of your sale.
It’s estimated that more than 50% of shoppers decide to purchase a home even before they get out of their car. 4|O verpricing your home Perhaps the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the correct price. It’s one of several areas where the assistance of a skilled real estate professional can pay for itself versus trying to sell your home yourself. If the listing price is too high, you’ll miss out on a percentage of buyers looking in the range where your home should be priced. By the time you correct the price, you’ve already missed exposure to a group of potential buyers. The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising or falling. It’s critical to be aware of where and how fast the market is moving — both when setting the price and when negotiating an offer. An experienced, well-trained real estate agent is always in touch with market trends — often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who typically focus on what a property is worth if sold as is, right now. 5|U sing a real estate agent who is transaction-based rather than client-centered When you’re looking for help buying or selling property, it’s important to remember that the terms “transaction-based” and “client-centered” are not synonymous. Being client-centered means always placing the needs of the client first. A client-centered real estate agent will ask profound and insightful questions — the type of questions the typical agent might not ever take the risk of asking. It is important to have an objective outside source ask intelligent questions, discovering what is really important to craft a comprehensive plan just for you. Courtesy of Donna Luger, Realtor® (Client-Centered), Associate Broker with HomeSmart-Elite Group, Co-Branch Manager NE Mesa, 480-227-1974, www.LugerHomes.com. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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The Cost of Habit
What’s Being Built In Mesa?
BY HEATHER K. STORY
95% of what you do is a result of habit.
New map has the answers — Aristotle
BY CHRISTINA ESTES
Reprinted with permission from KJZZ.org
It is your habits that define who you are, as well as cultivate the overall quality of your life. As a business owner, your habits not only affect you, they impact every aspect of your business, including your bottom line. Here are two habits which are particularly costly. HABIT 1: Assuming what people mean. How many times have you been frustrated by a missed deadline or deliverable because what your expectation was, ended up being something completely different than the expectation of the person or team with whom you were working? Or had productivity and morale stifled at the hand of “a misunderstanding”? As humans, we are hardwired to see things only from our perspective, and your role as a leader requires you to bridge those perspectives. Next time you’re in a meeting, take the time to ask and clarify — What is your takeaway? What are you taking responsibility for? Also be sure to share your answers to those same questions. When practiced, this investment will pay you back in time, efficiency, increased productivity, happier customers and in my opinion, the most significant reward — a stronger team. Through constructive, transparent communication, you are ultimately building stronger relationships and bigger profits. HABIT 2: Holding others to your own standards. This is a misery-maker, if there ever was one. Here is the reality — you possess the ideals, standards and values because of all the experiences you have had in your life, the decisions you have made, as well as the type of person you want to be. No one else on this planet has had those exact same experiences. It is, in fact, what makes you, YOU. It’s also what makes everyone else who they are, too. While sharing your perspective on the situation is vital, you create real problems when you make the other person wrong for NOT doing something your way. As Simon Sinek shares, “Confidence in leadership is the confidence to trust others.” How much do you trust someone who is judging you or holding you to an expectation you have no way of meeting? My guess is you don’t. How can others trust you if you make them wrong for not being you? Instead, clearly communicate your desired outcome with any specifics which are important to you, then leave it to them. Trust their abilities. Respect (and trust) yourself and the other person enough to know you each will choose what is best for yourself and the organization.
People who live, work and do business in Mesa have a new way to find out what’s being built there. The city recently launched an active development map (www.selectmesa. com/business-environment/active-developments). The online map shows all development activity across Mesa — from restaurants in the planning stages, mixed-use buildings in the zoning process, townhomes going through the permit process, storage facilities under construction and office parks that have been completed. JD Beatty, an economic development project manager, said the interactive tool will save residents time. “They’re not just having to go out and read a red planning and zoning sign or call someone at the city,” he said. “They can go just go online and see what’s happening and they can dig into it to find more information if they want.” Beatty said they wanted to find a way to keep the public more engaged and informed about developments in Mesa. “It took a number of months and coordinating really with our IT folks who did a phenomenal job in tying the data together with our development services department,” he said. “This was all done in-house so there was no significant cost associated with the tool.” The interactive map complements Mesa’s economic development website (www.selectmesa.com). Launched last year, the site targets business owners, developers and others looking to expand, move or merge companies. For more Valley business and development news, listen to stories from Christina Estes on KJZZ 91.5 FM and KJZZ.org.
“Eat More CHIKIN!” According to the new Mesa Active Development Map, Chick-fil-A is in the Building/Construction Plan Review stage for the SW Corner of Power and McKellips Rd. Soon we can do as the cows command!
As a leader, your behaviors become the model for every person in your organization. Get intentional and strategic with your habits now! Heather K Story is a Human Potential Strategist, high performance leader, coach, author and speaker specializing in no-box mindsets and strategies. She can be reached at heather@heatherkstory.com eastmmag.com
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BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT
feature
FlyingHIGH at Falcon Field LONGBOW MARKETPLACE IS BECOMING A POPULAR NORTH MESA DESTINATION
SOON THE FALCON FIELD AREA will be known for entertainment as much as it is for aviation and technology, as the Longbow Marketplace continues to expand. Longbow Marketplace is perfectly situated to serve residents of the area and the many workers whose aviation, manufacturing and business service companies make up the tenants in the Falcon Field business district. “The Falcon District has become one of the fastest growing and most important economic drivers for the city of Mesa,” said councilman David Luna. “I could not be more excited about all of the different businesses that will soon call this area home. Family entertainment, exciting restaurants, hotels and hightech job centers … the Falcon District will have it all.” Longbow is a massive 500,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development at the corner of McDowell and Recker Roads. Its first phase opened in 2018 anchored by Sprouts grocery store. “We are excited that our long-term vision and strategic efforts for the Falcon District are taking shape,” said Bill Jabjiniak, Mesa’s Director of Economic Development. The popular In-N-Out Burger just opened, joining MOD Pizza, Verizon, Club Pilates, Longbow Dental and Keep it Cut. “Having healthy options in our backyard is a major plus,” said Mesa resident Jennifer Kovach. Las Sendas resident Alicia Goforth agrees, “I’m buying healthier options for my family
By Dena Roché
“
The Falcon District has become one of the fastest growing and most important economic drivers for the city of Mesa
“
— Councilman David Luna
PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
because of the close proximity of the new Sprouts. I also joined the Pilates studio and go twice a week.” The second phase of Longbow’s development is perhaps the most exciting for the community, as it brings FatCats to the city. FatCats is a one-stop entertainment hub. The Longbow location, slated to open in 2020, will be a whopping 61,000 sq. ft. and house options for everyone. “The main reason for going to Mesa is that it’s an up-and-coming area with young families. So what better place for a FatCats,” said Trevor Cannon, marketing manager of FatCats. An eight-screen recline and dine movie theater provides a premium movie-going experience, without the upcharge in tickets that competitors charge. If you’re looking for more action, a 20-lane bowling alley spares nothing when it comes to fun. At night, the lanes morph into Thunder Alley, a bowling experience set to Top 40 tunes with competitions and prizes woven into the mix. A nine-hole glow golf course and a large arcade round out the offerings. “I believe Northeast Mesa has been missing out on dining options and family activities,” Kovach said. “I’m excited to see places such as Fat Cats come here so we can actually plan kids birthday parties without driving to neighboring cities.” The greater Falcon District and Longbow are clearly becoming destination centers, evidenced by
PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
Dena Roché is a Valley based journalist who writes for Forbes, The BBC, American Way, United Hemispheres, Modern Luxury and Iconic.
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“
I’m excited to see Fat Cats come here so we can plan kids birthday parties without driving to neighboring cities.
“
the announcement that a Home2 Suites by Hilton will open in Longbow Marketplace in the summer of 2020. The extended-stay hotel will have over 100 pet-friendly rooms featuring free breakfast and an en suite kitchen. Other amenities include an outdoor lounge area with grills, saline swimming pool, fitness and business centers, and laundry facility. “Hilton is excited to be a part of this new development in Mesa. The Home2 Suites by Hilton Mesa Longbow will be a great addition to the growing Mesa / Falcon Field marketplace,” said Corey Mitchell, Senior Director of Development Southwest Region for Hilton. As more retail and entertainment options get added to Longbow, residents couldn’t be happier for the prospects that means for their community. “Homebuyers want convenience,” said Goforth. “To attract them, we have to have great retail options nearby. Not only is it convenient for the surrounding residential communities, it will probably bring in foot traffic from commuters on the 202.”
FAMILY & COMMUNITY heroes | inspiration extraordinary kids pets education WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Ready for Easter? Check our calendar for nearby Easter activities
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KIDS! Would you like your voice to be heard? Do you like to write? We want to include a column written for kids BY KIDS! Contact us for more information content@eastmmag.com 480-200-5286
FAMILY & COMMUNITY
An East Mesa veterinarian’s compassion allows pet owners to say goodbye in the comfort of their home
BY DARA FOWLER A few months ago, my son and I lost a family member. Her name was Kima, our pet boxer, but as many of you can agree, she was so much more. I am a single mom and my son is an only child, so Kima was truly my son’s best friend, and she was my shoulder to lean on. Her death was a huge loss and it was a devastating experience, but one that many go through. For us, it was a war against cancer. After Kima was diagnosed with a tumor in her lung, we tried radiation and successfully shrunk the mass. But sadly, it was not enough. Eventually the cancer fought back and it was too much for her. After so many trips to the vet and to the emergency hospital, so many procedures and so many cold exam rooms, I couldn’t bear the thought of bringing her back there and for that to be how we said goodbye. I just wanted to stay home, cuddle on the couch, keep her warm and comfy, and never let go. I thought, “there has to be a better way.” There is. In-home pet euthanasia is possible — thanks to the gentle hearts and kindness of a few veterinarians, such as Dr. Ryan Pearce of Serenity In-Home Pet Euthanasia. An East Mesa resident and Arizona veterinarian for the past 11 years, Dr. Pearce started Serenity after many clients asked him to perform in-home euthanasia for their pets. “I recognized the need and it became my desire to provide a service that allows pet owners to say goodbye with grace and dignity in the comfort of their home,” he said. He has now been performing in-home euthanasia with compassion and care for just over a year. When Dr. Pearce arrived at our home, his calm demeanor and tenderness were immediately evident — even Kima felt it. She was drawn to him, and he got right down on the floor with her to say hello. He took the time to talk to me and my son, to listen to our concerns and our feelings, to lend reassurance, and make us comfortable, all while doing the same for Kima, as he never stopped interacting with her. We did not feel hurried, and for me, it was the first time in a while I did not feel alone. Dr. Pearce explained the process and took us through at our pace. He provided privacy and the moments we needed to say goodbye. Through his kind words, gentle handling of Kima, and the genuine sorrow I could see on his face, I knew Dr. Pearce understood completely what we were feeling. And I cannot thank him enough for making an unbearable situation a little more bearable. “I consider it an honor to be a part of such a crucial time in your pet’s life,” Dr. Pearce said. “My goal is to provide your pet the most serene and painless euthanasia experience possible.”
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“
I consider it an honor to be a part of such a crucial time in your pet’s life. — Dr. Ryan Pearce, DVM
“
Final Act of Kindness
Most of us love our pets like family and many of us form bonds with our pets that can’t be described with words. We want their final moments to be calm and without fear or pain. As your pet’s journey comes to an end, consider in-home euthanasia as a final act of kindness. After Dr. Pearce helped us through the process of saying goodbye, I turned to my friend Randi Rotwein-Pivnick, who is a licensed psychotherapist, for advice on handling the grief and guiding my son through his. She explained to me that there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. As we go through these stages, we learn to live with the loss. Additionally, people grieve differently. She told me that I should allow myself to feel and grieve as I needed to, but to also allow the same for my son, who may experience his grief very differently than mine. Most of all, she said to allow ourselves the time we need, and if necessary, reach out for guidance from a licensed professional.
For more information or help: Dr. Ryan Pearce, DVM www.serenitypeteuthanasia.com (480) 684-0731 Randi Rotwein-Pivnick, M.A., LMFT emotion4you@aol.com (480) 707-8291
Follow Your Dreams No artist gets left behind, including East Mesa musicians, soloists, duos and bands BY MIKAYLA ISON Rock the Dream (RTD) is a nonprofit that works with talent across the nation, but has a special place for East Mesa artists in Arizona, because this is where it all started. In December 2017, the charity officially became a 501(c)(3) and launched their mission to educate and aid financially-struggling musicians and songwriters. Several years before, RTD made its first high school donation to Skyline in Mesa and has since returned to host performances by local artists and assisted three Mesa bands and solo artist with their careers. Run by a volunteer team, RTD is staffed with experienced industry professionals, as well as eager interns, who all work diligently to provide guidance, networking, strategic and publicity lesson plans, and opportunities to show your talent. Staffers have traveled the legendary Vans Warped Tour to promote its mission, and produced several concerts and festivals. RTD is best known for their music industry seminars and workshops, bringing nationally noted industry A&R consultants, booking agents and artist development professionals to the doorstep of Arizona talent. RTD is currently booking talent of any kind, ages 18 and under, for their first-ever Variety Talent Show. This includes dancers, cheerleader squads, music artists, etc. If any East Mesa kids are interested in auditioning, contact them ASAP. By giving artists access to industry professionals and instructional assistance, they are able to achieve and follow their dreams. For more information, visit www.rockthedream.org or email contact@rockthedream.org. BELOW: KOHLS CARES VOLUNTEERS WORK THE ROCK THE DREAM BOOTH AT WARPED TOUR 2018.
what’s happinin’
community events | school performances | family fun
FRIDAY, APRIL 12 & FRIDAY, APRIL 19
Annual Dino Egg Hunt Egg-STRAVAGANZA! 5:30 PM — 8:00 PM | $5-9 Arizona Museum of Natural History 53 N Macdonald St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Arizona Museum of Natural History will once again host the very popular Dino Egg Hunt, plus crafts and activities for everyone! After our sold out event last year, we have decided to host two Dino Egg Hunts. arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Celebrate Mesa Free Spring Fling Community Event 10:00 AM — 2:00 PM Pioneer Park, 526 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85203 Celebrate Mesa is a free family event that brings the community together to enjoy games, carnival rides, entertainment and more! mesaparks.com/info-contact/special-events/celebrate-mesa SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Las Sendas Community Easter Egg Hunt and Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast 7:30 AM — 10:00 AM Breakfast: $7/person or $30/family Easter egg hunt & activities: $6 per child Las Sendas Trailhead Parke, 7900 E Eaglecrest Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207 Put on your Easter outfits and bring your baskets! We have a bounce house, obstacle course, pony rides, petting zoo, trackless train and more. The Egg Hunts are organized by age groups and we start promptly at 9 am. So don’t be late! For information call 480-357-8780 SATURDAY, APRIL 13 & SUNDAY, APRIL 14
STEM+C presents “Taking Flight 2019” Pilot Registration 9:00 AM Arizona Model Aviators Levee Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207 These projects are our attempt to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. azmodelaviators.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 16
“All That Jazz” Concert 7:00 PM | Free Mountain View High School 2700 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85213
TUESDAY, APRIL 16 - SATURDAY, APRIL 20
American Girl Live Times vary | $35 - $55 Mesa Arts Center, Piper Repertory Theater, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 In American Girl Live, a new, original, 90-minute musical that celebrates the power of girls and strength of friendship, audiences join five spunky campers and their fearless counselor at Camp American Girl, an overnight camp in the North Woods. Overcoming fears and obstacles along the way to having the summer of their lives. mesaartscenter.com eastmmag.com
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FAMILY & COMMUNITY
what’s happinin’ continued SATURDAY, APRIL 20
Easter Egg-Sperience 9:00 AM — 1:00 PM | $11 per child ages 1 to 16, adults free Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212 What better way to celebrate the season than a day at the farm. Admission includes a candy-filled egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, a train ride, and all the fun the farm has to offer. Plus we will have the grill fired up to serve some breakfast favorites, so come hungry. ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. No admission will be sold at gate. This event always sells out so get your admission tickets today! vertucciofarms.com/events TUESDAY, APRIL 23
Concert and Sinfonia Orchestras, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensemble 6:00 PM followed by
Chamber Orchestra, RMSO and Honors Band 7:30 PM | Free Red Mountain High School, 7301 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 TUESDAY, APRIL 23
Ladybug Release Party 3:00 PM — 5:00 PM | $3 per child Las Sendas Trailhead Members Club 7900 E Eaglecrest Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207 Its time for our Annual Ladybug Release Party in honor of Earth Day. We’ll have different arts and crafts followed by story time and then finish off by parading down to the park to release the ladybugs. For information call 480-357-8780 SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Las Sendas Neighborfest 3:00 PM — 7:00 PM | Free event | Food tickets are $5/person Boulder Mountain Parke, 3250 N Red Mountain, Mesa, AZ 85207 Join us at Boulder Mountain Parke for one of the biggest parties of the year! We’ll be serving up some delicious food. We’ll have a bounce house, zip line, rock wall, bungee jump, and three live bands performing throughout the day. Come spend the day with us! TUESDAY, MAY 14
Choir Concert 7:30 PM | Free Mountain View High School, 2700 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85213 THURSDAY, MAY 23
Last day of school! Mesa Public Schools
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JUST FOR KIDS!
Create a Sonoran Desert Food Chain From the authors of Zoology for Kids and Marine Science for Kids
The Sonoran Desert is an arid region in North America that covers 120,000 square miles, including parts of Arizona and California. Within this vast desert are many thousands of plant and animal species that depend on each other to survive. Food chains are one of the ways organisms (plants and animals) are connected with each other. A food chain describes the flow of energy within an ecosystem as organisms eat and are eaten by other organisms. In this activity, you’ll learn about desert life and explore the relationships between organisms as you create a Sonoran Desert food chain.
materials
Paper or light-colored cardstock, pencil, colored pencils KANGAROO RATS have long tails, big hind feet, large eyes, small ears, and pouches in their cheeks that they use to carry food. Kangaroo rats don’t need to drink, because they get water from their main food source— seeds! Because kangaroo rats must consume (eat) food to get energy, kangaroo rats are called consumers. RED-TAILED HAWKS have excellent eyesight. These consumers perch in high places and watch for prey far down on the ground. When they see something tasty, like a squirrel or even a snake, a hawk will swoop down and capture its meal with its sharp, curved talons (claws). A CREOSOTE BUSH is a common desert shrub in the southwestern United States. It has fuzzy seeds that turn into small, yellow flowers during spring and summer months. Like other plants, a creosote bush is a producer; it creates its own energy from the sun through a process called photosynthesis. RATTLESNAKES are venomous consumers that eat small animals like rabbits, lizards, mice, and rats. At the end of their tails, they have a “rattle” made of keratin, the same material that makes up fingernails and hair, which they use to warn or distract other animals. Rattlesnakes have triangular heads and special organs between their eyes and nostrils that allow them to sense body heat.
INSTRUCTIONS 1|W ith a pencil, draw a desert landscape on a piece of paper or light-colored cardstock. You’ll be adding to it, so it’s OK to keep it simple. 2|A dd a sun in the sky and label it 1. The sun is an important part of all food chains on land. 3|R ead the four descriptions provided to learn about kangaroo rats, red-tailed hawks, creosote bushes, and rattlesnakes. 4|W hich of the four organisms gets its energy from the sun? Draw this organism (Organism 2) beneath the sun, then label it 2 and draw an arrow pointing from the sun to Organism 2. 5|D ecide which organism comes next in the food chain. Which one eats Organism 2? Draw it next to Organism 2, label it 3, and draw an arrow pointing from Organism 2 to Organism 3. 6|W hich remaining organism eats Organism 3 but could be eaten by something else? Draw it into your landscape, label it 4, and draw an arrow pointing from Organism 3 to Organism 4. 7|A dd the final organism into your landscape where it makes sense, label it 5, and draw an arrow pointing from Organism 4 to Organism 5. You did it! 8|C olor your desert landscape and all the organisms in your Sonoran Desert food chain.
Answer Key: 1-Sun, 2-Creosote Bush, 3-Kangaroo Rat, 4-Rattlesnake, 5- Red-Tailed Hawk
feed your peeps!
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Dog-friendly patio, local artist display, vast music selection & super fun staff!
480.264.6832 | 6663 East McDowell Rd, #101 1 block west of Power, on McDowell whatscrackincafe.com | M-F 7-2, Sat & Sun 7-4 eastmmag.com
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Doodles =
Art
A YOUNG ARTIST HOPES TO TURN A LIFETIME OF DRAWING INTO A PROSPEROUS FUTURE BY HEATHER K. STORY
ith micron pens, a heavyweight sketchbook and headphones pumping out an eclectic playlist, Mesa resident Bailey Koenig, surreptitiously orchestrates order out of chaos. At 18 years old, it is challenging to think he has been drawing for 14 years, yet delving into the depths of his artwork makes it a bit more believable. Bailey graduated in May 2018 from AAEC High School, Red Mountain, where he concurrently worked towards his Associate’s Degree in Physics. He is graduating from Mesa Community College this May and will be starting
ASU as a junior in the fall. He has been accepted into the major program of Technological Entrepreneurship and Management — a joint venture degree between Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and W.P. Carey School of Business. He plans to minor in either Graphic Design or Fine Art. Balancing his full-time college class load and working up to 30 hours a week, Bailey still manages to make time to hang out with his family and friends, go to concerts, work out and of course, draw. Bailey’s plan of being a self-made man includes putting himself through
college. Along with using the proceeds from the sales of his artwork and his wages from work, he is learning how to invest and trade and is quite proud that he recently opened his first Certificate of Deposit (CD) and got his first credit card. His self-described style of Flow of Mind Abstract Art encompasses precisely crafted, intricate images in conjunction with sweeping movement and open space. Uniquely distinctive in its form, Bailey’s artwork truly reflects his personality. In his own words, “Life isn’t just one thing. It is a mixture of the precise and really detailed aspects as well as the haphazard, organic versions … it is multi-dimensional.” He shared that part of the reason he uses pen rather than pencil is because it is more
challenging. Any mistakes he makes cannot simply be erased; they must be incorporated back into the piece. Bailey has been incredibly surprised at the response he has received from his artwork. While grateful for the positive support and feedback, he is exceedingly humble about it, believing it shouldn’t really have that much of an impact because it comes so easily to him; he says they are simply doodles. His advice to other young artists, “Art is anything you want it to be. Everything is beautiful in this world and it really is just the perspective you put on it. Everything is art. Everything is beautiful. Go for it!”
LIFE ISN’T JUST ONE THING. IT IS A MIXTURE OF THE PRECISE ... AS WELL AS THE HAPHAZARD...
See more on Instagram @koenig.abstract or you can contact Bailey about his art at beirikenihhi@gmail.com.
BAILEY HOPES TO SELL HIS ART PRINTED ON A VARIETY OF MATERIALS AS WELL AS MATTED AND FRAMED PIECES.
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THE HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
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ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE outdoor fun wildlife natural beauty environment WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Feeling Lucky? With Tonto National Forest right down the road, you should.
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critter
corner:
rattlesnakes
As April brings warmer temperatures and wildflowers to the desert landscape, many creatures begin to emerge to reproduce, including rattlesnakes. Arizona is home to 13 different species of rattlesnake, more than any other state. The most commonly encountered species is the western diamondback rattlesnake (crotalus atrox). This particular rattlesnake is responsible for thousands of pet bites each year, and dozens of bites in humans. Fortunately, rattlesnakes aren’t aggressive animals waiting in the bushes to ambush each passing person. Humans are way too big for them to eat! It turns out that rattlesnakes are shy, striking to defend themselves, rather than being aggressive. This is the purpose of their noisy rattle too, which is simply a warning device. Due to the potency of their venom, they must certainly be respected. If you were to encounter a rattlesnake, there is only one simple safety plan to follow: take some steps back, and leave it alone! Diamondbacks will often spend the hot daytime hours coiled in the shade of low-growing shrubs, prickly pear cactus, or piles of rocks. When a coiled snake is encountered, it will often remain motionless, presumably to avoid detection. Therefore, a few other tips to stay safe while on a trail or out in the desert: watch where you put your hands and feet, stay on designated trails, keep your dogs on leashes, and don’t wear headphones! PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
6 RATTLESNAKE FACTS 1|R attlesnakes can generally be identified by their wide head and a rattle at the tip of their tail. 2|A rizona hosts the most diverse variety of rattlesnakes. 3 | I t is possible to encounter one at any time of the year in the Sonoran desert. 4|R attles are hollow and made of keratin, just like fingernails. 5|A rattlesnake can move its rattle back and forth 60 or more times per second. 6|R attlesnakes can live for more than 20 years.
snake removal Joel Scheller 602-647-9222 Alex Macon 443-614-7842
Limitless Geo Tagging VISIT MESA KNOWS there are endless ways to capture the magic and awe of our Sonoran Desert surroundings, and they want to reward the adventurers, treasure seekers and wandering warriors who venture out into this incredible landscape. Use the Adventure Explorer hashtags listed below in your social media posted photos in exchange for a one-of-a-kind sticker celebrating that activity and location. You can pick up your physical sticker(s) at the Mesa Visitors Center (120 N Center Street) or receive a digital sticker honoring your quest when you text 797979*. Collect all five stickers and you’ll be awarded with a t-shirt! For more information visit www.VisitMesa.com/Explore WIND CAVE Usery Mountain Regional Park #VisitMesaWindCave Text “VisitMesa HIKING” to 797979 SAGUARO LAKE Saguaro Lake Marina #VisitMesaLakeDay Text “VisitMesa LAKE” to 797979 SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS Lost Dutchman State Park #VisitMesaSupes Text “VisitMesa MTN” to 797979 SALT RIVER Granite Reef Recreation Area #VisitMesaSaltRiver Text “VisitMesa RIVER” to 797979 APACHE TRAIL State Route 88 #VisitMesaApacheTrail Text “VisitMesa TRAIL” to 797979
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Don’t forget your
Tonto Pass! TONTO NATIONAL FOREST requires parking passes in most locations and there is often some confusion surrounding their price, purchase, and guidelines. Here are the basics: • Passes are per vehicle and cover the occupants of a single, private noncommercial vehicle. • A pass is required at all ‘developed’ locations. These locations are broken into three categories: Boat Launches, Picnic Sites, and Shorelines. Note that there are no official Shoreline sites at Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, or the Salt River. • If it is not a developed site, i.e. a trailhead with a small dirt lot or pull off, no facilities or tables, then no pass is required. • Anywhere that you can legally and safely park on the side of the highway does not require a pass.
what’s happinin’
outdoor activities | nature & wildlife education and support
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10
Tortoise Day - Feeding, Reading and More 10:30 AM — 11:30 AM Usery Mountain Regional Park, Nature Center 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 Help us celebrate our desert tortoise as he wakes up from of his long winter nap! We’ll start outdoors with a feeding and a meet ‘n’ greet with our park tortoise, Al. We’ll then head inside for a special time with local author, Carol Hageman, as she reads “Bubby’s Puddle Pond,” her charming “Tortuga Tale” that teaches kids and adults about the life of an adopted desert tortoise. (602) 506-2930 SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Night Safari 7:30 PM — 8:30 PM Usery Mountain Regional Park, Area 6, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 What are the wild animals that live in our desert? How do they survive and thrive here? What should you do if you encounter one? Discover amazing things about our desert animals when you join our park ranger for this 1-mile/1-hour walk along the Merkle Trail. (602) 506-2930
Pass types and prices:
MONDAY, APRIL 22
TONTO DAILY PASS: $8 AND $12
Earth Day Cleanup
Tonto Daily Passes are hangtags, designed to be self-validating, and sold at Tonto National Forest offices, retail outlets, gas stations and online. Now also available from kiosks in a few locations in the park including Pebble Beach, Phon D Sutton, Saguaro Del Norte, and Canyon Lake Acacia. There is a convenience fee of $4, so total charge is $12 per pass and only credit cards are accepted.
TONTO DISCOVERY PASS: $80 TONTO DISCOUNT DISCOVERY PASS: $60 (SENIOR/ ACCESS)
SPONSORED EVENT 9:00 AM — 12:00 PM It’s the day after Easter, Earth Day Lower Salt River Cleanup and 4-year anniversary of Natural Restorations! Natural Restorations is an Arizonabased nonprofit organization that removes trash, graffiti, and anything foreign to the environment from outdoor recreation and wilderness areas. EastM Magazine is an Earth Day Event Sponsor and will be participating in the cleanup, so come out and join us! naturalrestorations.org
MONDAY, APRIL 22
Friends of the Tonto National Forest meeting
Sold at Tonto National Forest Offices only, these are annual passes valid for one year from the date of purchase. The pass must be displayed in the provided hangtag from the rearview mirror.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Mesa Fire Station #218, 845 N Alma School Rd, Mesa, AZ Open to all; you don’t need to be a member! Come see what we do. friendsofthetonto.org
WATERCRAFT USE STICKER: $4
FRIDAY, APRIL 26
One sticker must be affixed to a Tonto Daily Pass for each motorized watercraft that the vehicle tows or otherwise carries to the lake. Sticker is not needed to launch boats from shorelines.
INTERAGENCY ANNUAL PASS: $80 INTERAGENCY SENIOR PASS: ANNUAL $20 LIFETIME $80 The government has established America the Beautiful — the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Program national interagency pass that allows the public to access some fee areas without an additional charge. America the Beautiful Interagency Passes are now only accepted at picnic sites in Tonto. Local Tonto office: Mesa Ranger District 5140 E. Ingram St., Mesa, Arizona 85205 (480) 610-3300, fs.usda.gov/main/tonto
Movie Night in the Park - Grand Canyon Adventure 7:00 PM — 8:00 PM Usery Mountain Regional Park, Nature Center, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207 This exciting movie follows the great Colorado River as it reveals one of the most pressing issues of our time – the world’s growing shortage of water. Join a group of rafters as they travel deep into the Grand Canyon on a thrilling ride through raging rapids and breathtaking canyons. (602) 506-2930
SATURDAY, MAY 18
4th Annual Ladies Takeover the River 8:00 AM Lowe Salt River, Pebble Beach Join us for another day of flooding the river with bad@$$ lady paddlers!! As much as we love the guys, we need a day of just us gals! Canoe, SUP, or kayak.... whatever you paddle we want you to join! facebook.com/events/1296717437149629 eastmmag.com
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ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
blooming desert Wildflowers in the deserts of Arizona create yet another reason to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. With this year’s above average precipitation, it seems every direction you look there are breathtaking colors of flowers blanketing the landscape.
“I never imagined such a desert wildflower bloom. A breeze of blooms from where I stood, swaying down the hillside through the valley to the horizon. It was spectacular. Orange Mexican Poppies covered the higher elevations. They grew among loose, sharp edged volcanic rock, tumbleweed and cactus. In the finer soil of the valley they met with yellow Field Mustard but did not mix; a field of gold grew thick and tall and stretched to the horizon. A polarizing filter turned the sky deep blue as the clouds silently slid by and if you were patient, you could photograph a slash of sunlight anywhere in the scene you wanted. It was spectacular.” — WILLIAM LAX, PHOTOGRAPHER
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Right Down the Road BY BETHANIE HESTERMANN
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LIVING THE GOOD LIFE at the edge of Tonto National Forest
EACH YEAR, nearly 6 million people visit Tonto National Forest. They come for its beauty, natural diversity and year-round recreational opportunities. If you’re one of the thousands of people living in East and Northeast Mesa, this spectacular natural playground is in your backyard. It’s the backdrop for your day-to-day life, built-in outlet for fun and fitness, and the quickest route to connect with nature, whether that means visiting for a morning hike, an evening paddle or staying for a days-long outdoor adventure. Arizona has a lot to offer, from its spectacular sunsets to the fact that no matter where you are in the state, you’re relatively close to nature. For many other Americans, this isn’t the case. Feeling lucky? With Tonto National Forest right down the road, you should.
PHOTO BY TED DEVERAUX - HOVER PHOTOGRAPHY eastmmag.com
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Established more than a century ago in 1905, Tonto National Forest is the fifth largest forest in the United States, encompassing just under three million acres and transecting Arizona’s Maricopa, Yavapai, Gila, and Pinal counties. Its eight Wilderness Areas, including Four Peaks, Hellsgate, Mazatzal, Salome, Salt River Canyon, Sierra Ancha, and Superstition Wilderness Areas, along with the Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River, provide approximately 590,000 acres of land untrammeled by man, to quote the Wilderness Act of 1964, which goes on to define wilderness as a place “where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” The forest’s origins as a home to the Hohokam make it culturally and anthropologically important to the history of North America, while its diverse habitats, vegetation and wildlife make it ecologically significant. The saguaro-dominated Sonoran Desert landscape found in East Mesa’s stretch of Tonto National Forest is unique in the world. But travel north
please
toward the Mogollon Rim and watch cacti and desert shrubs transition to juniper and pine trees as the altitude climbs from 1,300 to 7,900 feet. Hundreds of vertebrate species and many more hundreds of invertebrates, including almost two dozen species considered threatened or endangered, call this national forest home. Spend some time here and you may encounter any number of reptiles, birds, small mammals and even some large mammals, like the herd of wild horses that roam the Lower Salt River — a source of wonderment (and, sometimes, controversy) in Arizona and beyond. The construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam between 1905 and 1911 was a key event in the forest reserve’s history. The dam helped control the Salt River and also formed Roosevelt Lake, one of six man-made lakes contained within Tonto National Forest that offer recreational opportunities for
WATCH FOR HORSES!
When traveling through Tonto on Bush Highway, please always use caution — our wild horses are often near or crossing the highway. The Salt River wild horses are the historic and majestic creatures roaming the lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest in Mesa. They are the pride of the community, a favorite subject of photographers and the icon of the wild, free spirit of Arizona and the American West. For more information on how you can help protect and support these beautiful animals, visit www.saltriverwildhorsemanagementgroup.org.
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PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
Wilderness Act of 1964 goes on to define wilderness as a place ...
“WHERE MAN HIMSELF IS
a visitor WHO DOES NOT REMAIN.”
Arizonans and tourists alike. Originally, the forest was created to protect the Salt and Verde River watersheds — the ecologically important areas of land that drain into these two river systems. Watershed management benefits ecosystems in many ways, including nutrient cycling, improved water quality and increased biodiversity. In Arizona’s sweltering summer months, Tonto National Forest offers boating, swimming, tubing, stand-up paddle boarding and whatever else prepared adventurers can handle in the heat. The rest of the time, it offers camping, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, target shooting, fishing and seasonal hunting with applicable permits. With 900+ miles of trails, more than 100 miles of national scenic byways, 59 campsites, 26 picnic sites, and 18 boating sites, Tonto really is a playground for the active and outdoorsy.
PHOTO BY TED DEVERAUX - HOVER PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
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PHOTO BY WILLIAM LAX
favorite spots by Suzi Amore
For East and Northeast Mesa, the area between Bush Highway and State Highway 87/Beeline Highway is like an extended backyard. Here, there’s easy access to Saguaro Lake and the Salt and Verde Rivers, and there are plenty of hiking trails great for working up a sweat or just enjoying the great outdoors with friends or family. For a few local highlights, be sure to check out Suzi’s Favorite Spots listed on the right. One of the national forest’s raisons d’être is to provide public education, and the Tonto National Forest Heritage Program accomplishes this in part through six interpretive sites that help guide, educate and inspire visitors. Those who live on the outskirts of Tonto National Forest often feel like unofficial stewards, as if it’s their job too, in a way, to contribute to the great task of preserving the untrammeled landscape that belongs to everyone and yet to no one in particular. After all, if you’re lucky enough to live a stone’s throw away from this national treasure, Tonto is home too. Bethanie Hestermann is an Arizona native, a freelance writer and co-author of “Zoology for Kids and Marine Science for Kids.”
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1|H EALTHY HIKING: Most desert terrain is pleasantly adaptable to walk on, and at times you will encounter soft, sandy washes, big boulders or just dirt paths as fun variations in your trekking. Head east on McDowell Road and north on Usery Pass Road approximately four miles. Keep an eye out to the west and you will see roadside pull-off areas into beautiful trails. The most stunning features are the Mazatzal, Superstition, Goldfield, and Usery Mountain Ranges. Spring is the finest time to view the gorgeous desert wildflowers. 2|S UPERB STANDUP PADDLING: All year long, the air temperatures afford standup paddling adventures. The most convenient lake to drop in is Saguaro Lake. Drive right up to the marina area, or beach area found at Butcher Jones further down Bush Highway. The variations of color on the canyon walls from morning until sunset make paddling on this lake quite memorable any time of day. Try a 7-mile roundtrip paddle from the marina to Shiprock and enjoy dramatic water views on the canyon walls. You may even catch a view of the sightseeing Dolly Steamboat cruising by with happy passengers, or bald eagles soaring overhead. 3|S ERENE SUNSET SPOT: Through the changing seasons, observe fluorescent displays of vibrant colors in the sky during dusk. Catching the sunset glowing on Red Mountain across the Lower Salt River at Granite Reef is a perfect place. Bring a friend and some appetizers and enjoy one of the 12 picnic sites to admire the view. 4|C ASUAL CAMP SPOT: When you sleep outside in the desert, you experience a very special atmosphere, more than any other part of the world. There are plentiful stars sparkling, a comfortable heat and the howling of curious coyotes. Try the bouldery banks and grassy, marsh areas at Coon Bluff for camping and fishing on the Salt River. Remember to always “pack in and pack out” and always practice the principles of leave no trace.
ACTIVE & STRONG fitness health | wellness sports competitions WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Don’t miss it... 15th Annual Pat’s Run is a great event for a great foundation! SEE CALENDAR FOR INFO
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KEEP CALM and GOLF ON BY DAWN BROOKS
Golf offers numerous benefits for your health and overall well-being PLAYING A ROUND OF GOLF can be a mentally stimulating challenge. Combine that with a healthy walk in pleasant surroundings, and you have an excellent activity for those of all ages and abilities. Whether you are looking for a casual pastime or competitive activity, this is a sport for anyone, and with the near-perfect Arizona weather year round, you can play all you want. The health benefits of golf are endless and the invigoration from fresh air and beautiful landscapes is priceless. Here is my list of how playing golf can improve your overall health and fitness — and you don’t even have to be a professional golfer to reap these benefits! Hit your daily step goal: Even if you are riding in a cart, you can still hit 4 miles or 8000 steps on a golf course. You can opt to walk the course and hit up to 6 miles and 10,000+ steps. Adding this many steps to your day can have the added bonus of increased calorie expenditure, which helps keep that waistline down. Strength and mobility: Use it or lose it! Bending, twisting, walking and stretching are all great ways golf helps to keep the body loose and mobile. You can also add a little muscle by squatting down, picking up your ball, carrying your clubs, and even getting in and out of the cart multiple times while out on the course.
PHOTO BY TONY ROBERTS
Reduce stress: There is an old saying “A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.” Whether you are golfing alone and collecting your thoughts, or out with a group of buddies decompressing from a long work week, being out on the course can help you wind down and relax. Many people report experiencing natural mood-enhancing endorphins while playing golf. Brain health: As you start to challenge yourself to do better, and begin to improve hand-eye coordination, as well as to strategize your shot, you will keep your brain active in its logical functions. As you increase your heart rate, you also increase the blood flow to the brain, which will stimulate and help nerve cell connections. This may delay mental illnesses such as dementia.
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Fresh air and exposure to the outdoors: Feeling the calming effect of nature can do wonders for relaxing your body and reducing anxiety. You can also soak in your bone-strengthening dose of Vitamin D while out enjoying the course. Low injury rate and low-impact sport: This means you can possible play golf forever! Whether you are in great shape or not, there is longevity in the sport. The cushiony grass surfaces and gentle rolling hills make it an attractive way for those of all ages and fitness levels to burn calories and enjoy the sport. Along with its health benefits, golf also lends itself to many social benefits. It is a great way to spend the day with your loved one or catch up with some friends. If you are new to the area, it is the perfect place to meet new people from your community, and business professionals often use golf to network and grow their businesses. East Mesa has some of the best courses in the Valley with their unique landscapes and mountain views. If you are not a desert native, and miss the “greenness” of home, our beautiful golf courses will provide you with the opportunity to spend the day outside on the landscaped grass while enjoying breathtaking views. Given all the potential benefits, golf doesn’t have to be a stressful, overly competitive activity. Just give it a try, improve your health, and have some fun — keep calm and golf on. Dawn Brooks has been a certified personal trainer for over 10 years, passionate about strengthening the body to perform at its absolute best in all athletic pursuits. dawnbrooksfitness.com
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BENDING, TWISTING, WALKING AND STRETCHING ARE ALL GREAT WAYS GOLF HELPS TO KEEP THE BODY LOOSE AND MOBILE
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PHOTO BY TONY ROBERTS
6 GREAT GOLF COURSES IN EAST MESA: 1 | Red Mountain Ranch: A Pete Dye Signature Course. Steep contoured greens and wide fairways. rmrcc.com 2 | Las Sendas Golf Course: This beautiful course with spectacular views of Red Mountain is one of the tougher desert courses in Arizona and perfect for the seasoned golfer. lassendas.com
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3 | Alta Mesa: For those who don’t like the crowds of a public course, this private course is the perfect option. altamesagolf.com
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4 | Augusta Ranch: When you only have time for 9 holes this beautiful executive course is the perfect pick. augustaranchgolf.com 5 | View Point: Great walking course and not overly intimidating for beginners. viewpointgolfresort.com 6 | Painted Mountain: Great beginner course with nice wide fairways and beautiful mountain views. (Can get really busy in the high season). paintedmountaingolf.com
PHOTO BY BRIAN MORFELD
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ACTIVE & STRONG
CBD
explained
BY COURTNEY ALLEN-GENTRY
The 2018 Farm Bill ushered in an entirely new era for industrial hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) with $90 million in consumer sales expected by 2020. This historic legislation will be a tremendous benefit to Americans, who are already spending $30 billion a year on alternative health approaches. Educated consumers are moving away from pharmaceutical drugs and seeking natural medicines to treat conditions such as anxiety, pain and insomnia. They can benefit from cannabis without getting high, by using CBD. JUST WHAT IS CBD? Cannabidiol is one of more than120 active, non-hallucinogenic therapeutic compounds, called cannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant. First identified by scientists in 1940, CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid found in cannabis grown for industry, or hemp. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that gives the high sensation, CBD imparts a more subtle, almost imperceptible feeling of well-being that brings relaxation, subtle release of pain, decreased anxiety and emotional ease. Without the buzz. Cannabis is an adaptogen, a substance that helps one adapt to stress or injury. CBD is the ultimate adaptogen bringing balance and harmony to every level of existence, mind-body and spirit. Whatever hurts, CBD can provide some measure of relief. HOW DOES CBD WORK IN OUR BODIES? CBD has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that protect cells against the damage of free radicals and cellular aging. CBD reduces inflammation by shutting down the microglia cells responsible for inflammation in the immune system. CBD also works with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the master regulator of every system in the human body, to “up regulate” molecules that balance cellular tone or fitness, wrecked by chronic stress and poor diets. HOW DOES CBD HELP SPECIFIC CONDITIONS? The really interesting thing about CBD is that it does not actually bind to a specific cell receptor, but instead modifies the ability of receptors to use activating molecules. CBD is an allostearic modulator, or facilitator of cell receptor signaling; either up or down. In the case of THC, CBD down regulates, blocking its ability to bind at the CB1 receptor in the brain; thus preventing the intoxicating effects of THC. In this case, negative allosteric modulation. AND FINALLY Pure 99% CBD enriched oil is safe and effective for the whole family as a broadspectrum pain reliever and first aid for a variety of conditions, including skin ailments. CBD is safe for children and pets. In my practice, I have used pure CBD to relieve anxiety, enhance immunity and increase wellbeing in my own young grandchildren. Older pets will also benefit from CBD, with relief to arthritic joints and inflammation. CBD can help settle a high strung or traumatized animal. With the potential to provide relief from multiple health conditions, without the unwanted side effects of pharmaceutical drugs, CBD will be the biggest all-around medication since aspirin.
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Anxiety and CBD In anxiety, CBD can help multiple symptoms, including generalized anxiety, panic attacks, compulsive behaviors and long-term effects of stress. CBD acts on serotonin receptor sites on cells, thereby impacting anxiety in much the same manner as generalized anti-anxiety drugs like Buspar, which impact circulating serotonin in the midbrain. Sleep and CBD In sleep studies, pure CBD produced alertness, contrary to popular reports of CBD-inducing sleep. Cannabinoid scientist Dr. Ethan Russo suggests the drowsiness produced by whole plant, or full spectrum CBD, is produced by other plant molecules as opposed to CBD. However, in my professional practice using pure CBD since 2015, I can confirm pure CBD, in very low doses, does help induce sleep. Pain and CBD CBD activates cannabis pain receptors in our skin. Topical CBD produces days long pain relief compared to other methods. Neuropathic pain responds well to treatment with pure CBD, especially in combination with topical application of pain-relieving ointments containing THC, rosemary, lavender or arnica. A study on the effects of chiropracticlike manipulation confirms stressreduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises mimic the effect of CBD in the body. Utilizing any of these therapies in conjunction with CBD can greatly enhance the healing properties of CBD.
WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM MULTIPLE HEALTH CONDITIONS, WITHOUT THE UNWANTED SIDE EFFECTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS, CBD WILL BE THE BIGGEST ALL-AROUND MEDICATION SINCE ASPIRIN.
Courtney AllenGentry, MSN RN PHN AHN-BC HWNC-BC, is an Advanced Holistic and Integrative Public Health Nurse Coach, Independent Cannabinoid Nurse Scholar, Thought Leader, Educator, Advocate and Author.
Yoga Isn’t Just for Your Crazy Aunt
what’s happinin’
races | wellness | competition | expos
BY TIFFANY HILGENDORF
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
Yoga usually ends up being that thing that your crazy friend drags you to, kicking and screaming, or with the promise of dinner afterward. Most of us don’t seek it out, because that’s for flexible people, or skinny people, or insert adjective here people. Certainly not for everyday people just trying to get through the daily grind of life without too much friction. Right? What we find the first time we take our friend’s class, however, is that awakening, that oh-my-gosh moment that I haven’t moved like that in years. And even though it was challenging, I feel so much better afterward. So what goes on in a Vinyasa class (also known as flow-style yoga)? Vinyasa literally means movement. That’s it. Basically, come in move around, call it good. Nowadays, people usually function with aches and pains, mostly because our culture sells us convenience, not movement. In this practice, movement is crucial. First things first — the class starts with a breathing exercise. We start there because oxygen is the catalyst for muscle function. It’s also a way for us to function with our parasympathetic nervous system (this is the one that tells us we’re safe). Next, we get into functional movements. We take the spine through its range of motion, which helps reestablish a neutral posture, allowing us to feel how we naturally move and how we might like to move again. Then, we move into a heat building sequence. We do this to allow muscles to be warm enough to lengthen. Building heat allows the body to get circulation everywhere, and it creates a safe environment for muscles to slide and movement to be free and easy. Then, we get into balancing. As we age, we become fall risks, point of fact. Building up muscles on the sides of the body through balance postures reduces the risk of falling as we age. Next, we get to the stretching portion. The misconception here is that yoga is all about stretching. And it is; it’s a form of stretching that’s active. But in this section, you are warm enough, and tired enough, to be able to relax into these static stretching postures. Second to last, we move into a final twist. It’s a great range of motion for the spine, but more importantly, it’s a great way to transition into the last piece, Savasana. Basically, Savasana is a rest. This last part is designed to traction the spine, gently, to let the body come back to its normal temperature, the blood pressure to neutralize, and a few moments for you to sprawl out on your mat comfortably and give yourself a mental high five for being amazing. Now doesn’t sound like something you’d like to try?
9:00 AM — 1:00 PM Mesa Convention Center 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 CycloMesa celebrates its eighth event season in 2019. Join over 10,000 people for a day full of all things bicycle. From the start/finish line of El Tour de Mesa to the BMX Freestyle Show to the Extreme Sports Zone and Kids’ Zone, there is something for everyone. cyclomesa.com
Tiffany Hilgendorf has been a yogi since 2011. She competed twice in the USA Yoga Federation state competitions, and qualified once for the National competition. Tiffany is now a teacher and owner at Exhale Yoga in Mesa. exhaleyogaaz.com
CycloMesa: Unchained Bicycle Festival
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Too Hot to Trot 5K
$35 Sloan Park, 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85201 Too Hot To Trot 5K adds to the fun with free early admission to the Salsa Challenge (see events in Food & Entertainment section). Breakfast, music and your choice of beer or margarita in the Runners VIP Area are also included! Proceeds to benefit The Arizona Hemophilia Association. runsignup.com SATURDAY, APRIL 13
East Valley Health and Wellness Expo 9:00 AM — 4:00 PM | Free Mesa Convention Center, Building B, 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 The premier health and wellness expo. Meet the people and companies transforming our whole approach to staying healthy and keeping fit at home and at work. Learn from wellbeing experts in the Seminar Theatre, browse the show floor and join in the activities. healthandwellnessexpo.com FRIDAY, APRIL 19 & SATURDAY, APRIL 20
Transform with Chris and Heidi Presents the Whitney Jones Classic Fri @ 7:00 PM; Sat @ 6:00 PM | $50 – $150 Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 We’ll be rooting for you as you show off your transformation on stage in your favorite athletic clothes! From total body transformation to 90-day transformation, you can choose which category to join, and your hard work will be applauded by thousands of people at the show. transformhq.com/wjc FRIDAY, APRIL 19 - SUNDAY, APRIL 21
Kino MacGregor Weekend Yoga Workshop
by Yoga Pulse Studio $65 – $275 Falcon Field Airport (Private Hangar), 4800 E Falcon Dr, Mesa, AZ 85215 World-Renowned yoga teacher Kino MacGregor will be teaching a weekend long workshop here in Mesa. Get ready for some serious yoga inspiration! yogapulsestudio.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 25 - SUNDAY, APRIL 28
U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship Kino Aquatic Center, 848 N Horne St, Mesa, AZ 85203 U.S. Masters Swimming is a national membershipoperated nonprofit that provides membership benefits to nearly 65,000 Masters swimmers across the country. Come out and see the best of the best swimming in Mesa. usms.org/events more eastmmag.com
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ACTIVE & STRONG FRIDAY, MAY 3
4th Annual My Hope Bag Golf Tournament
what’s happinin’ continued FRIDAY, APRIL 26
AZ Brews for Autism Charity Golf Tournament 8:00 AM Shotgun Start | 7:00 AM registration Superstition Springs Golf Club, 6542 E Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206 The Brass Tap, Sleepy Dog Brewery and McFate Brewery have come together to raise money for an autism charity: Chrysalis Academy Parent Association (CAPA). Their mission is to enhance the education of the students they serve, firmly believing that children of all abilities can achieve educational and lifelong success. chrysalisacademyparentassociation.org/ SATURDAY, APRIL 27
15th Annual Pat’s Run
a must do!
7:00 AM | $60 Sun Devil Stadium, 500 E Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ 85287 Pat’s Run is the signature fundraising event to support the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Tillman Scholars program. Held annually to honor Pat’s legacy, the 4.2 mile Run/Walk will wind through the streets of Tempe, AZ and finish at Sun Devil Stadium with a Race Expo and Post-Party. pattillmanfoundation.org
SUNDAY, MAY 19
Peddle Paddle Pilsner 6:00 AM Start at Two Wheel Jones 2837 N Power Rd #110, Mesa, AZ 85215 Bike & paddleboard race followed by beer & BBQ! Bike route options and equipment rentals available. Lunch, swag and awards after at NoSnow Paddleboard shop. nosnowsup.com/ppp
SATURDAY, MAY 25
International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness
THURSDAY, MAY 2
Become A Dementia Friend Info Session
Check-in 6:00 AM | Shotgun start 7:30 AM | $100 Red Mountain Ranch Country Club, 6425 E Teton Circle, Mesa, AZ 85215 We’re raising money for a great cause — providing resources and comfort items for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Join us for our 4th Annual My Hope Bag Golf Tournament, Silent Auction & Raffle. Price includes continental breakfast, golfer goody bag, 18 holes of golf & cart, lunch and lots of fun... all while supporting a great local cause! myhopebag.org
by Banner Alzheimer’s Institute 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Free but registration is required Red Mountain Branch Mesa Public Library, 635 N Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85205 This session will help you understand what dementia is, how it affects people and how you can make a difference in the lives of people living with the disease. Dementia Friends Arizona is big project that asks for a small commitment: an hour of your time to learn how to become a Dementia Friend. banneralz.eventbrite.com
Dennis James Classic National Qualifier Prejudging: 9:00 AM; $25 | Finals: 6:00 PM; $45 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Competition catagories: Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Men’s Classic Physique, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini along with IFBB Pro Men’s Classic Physique dennisjamesclassic.com
Gizmos, Gadgets, and Greatness!
Preserving Mesa’s Past Discovering Mesa’s Future
480-835-2286 Old Lehi School 2345 N. Horne, Mesa, AZ 85203 Wed - Sat: 10 am-4 pm Sun: 12 pm-4pm 46
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The Mesa Historical Museum is reopening at the Old Lehi School! Our new exhibit is “Gizmos, Gadgets, and Greatness: Technologies that Build Mesa 1877-1957.” This exhibit features 80 years of technological advancements which built Mesa from a small pioneer farming town into the modern city it is today. ADMISSION PRICES: ADULTS $5 | SENIORS (65+) $4 | YOUTH (3-21) $3 | CHILDREN UNDER 3 FREE GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE $3 PER PERSON Want to schedule a guided tour for your group or field trip? Email us at info@mesamuseum.org.
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT food | brews restaurants art | music performances WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
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More than Expected Mesa Arts Center has a wide range of arts and culture
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
A Myriad
of Flavors
Using spices & herbs to create cultural cuisines I have had the pleasure of teaching culinary classes to individuals, groups and families from many cultures, and have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our collective cultural cuisines. One of the most profound insights in these experiences is that many people become intimidated when recipes contain 15 or 20 ingredients, particularly when a majority of them are spices and herbs. The beauty of this lies in the fact that dishes are changed more by the spices and herbs than they are by the other ingredients. Consider a dish with garlic, onions, tomatoes and beans. If you want a Mexican meal, the spices and herbs you will add to make it culturally correct might include cumin, chipotle chili pepper, coriander, Mexican oregano and fresh cilantro. For an Italian favorite, add extra garlic (!), rosemary, basil, oregano and parsley. You may even add a touch of balsamic vinegar. To make these ingredients shine with the flavors of Asia, necessary additions may include ginger, green onions, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, soy sauce. French favorites of thyme, capers, white pepper, tarragon provide a Mediterranean flare to these foods. Finally, African culinary preferences include cloves, ginger, paprika, various peppers, additional garlic and fresh parsley. The key to engaging with such intimidating recipes is to understand the flavors you are interested in enhancing as you create your culinary masterpiece. If the dish you are preparing is a main dish, it is important to consider what appetizers and sides will accompany it. Overpowering herbs and spices are favorable for meals that allow the sides to remain less flavor intense compared to the main course. However, if the main course has a soft flavor component, additional herbs and spices in the other courses may add an interesting twist and complement the overall meal. A final approach to consider as part of planning a meal with lots of herbs and spices is the beverages that will accompany them. Sweet tea or mixed drinks can provide an overpowering nature to heavy spices and may make the flavors conflict. However, if you are serving a complementary wine, this can enhance the flavors and balance the meal exquisitely. In truth, the accompanying drink should complement the meal, rather than the other way around. However, have you ever found that perfect bottle of wine that you absolutely love? I have, and it’s intriguing to create a meal around the wine. Bottom line: enjoy the myriad of flavors that await to dazzle your dish with the cultural flavors you desire. Have fun with experimenting and share it with those you love!
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BY KIMBERLY ROBINSON
THE KEY TO ENGAGING WITH SUCH INTIMIDATING RECIPES IS TO UNDERSTAND THE FLAVORS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ENHANCING AS YOU CREATE YOUR CULINARY MASTERPIECE.
Kimberly Robinson is the Owner/Managing Director of Kimba Creations, a culinary, health and nutrition education company. After a 30-year professional career in healthcare, she attended a Master of Food program in Italy, and now empowers her clients to enjoy choosing a lifestyle of meals that are “yummy, healthy and pretty!”
Food Trucks & Fun When we started KOR Properties, our goal was not only to establish a real estate company, but also to build the community around us. As foodies ourselves, we created Mesa Food Truck Fridays as a fun way for neighbors in Mesa to gather on a regular basis. Plus, we believe that a vibrant community always yields higher property values! Our kick-off event was held on September 4th, 2015 and was a huge success with over 2,000 people attending including Mayor John Giles and Vice Mayor David Luna. We quickly became the hottest food truck event in the East Valley with a great picnic vibe, live music, and the best curated line up of food trucks. Mesa Food Truck Fridays is now in its fourth season and has grown consistently over the years. We have upwards of 15 food trucks, 3,000+ attendees and live music at every event. There are three events held in the spring (March, April, May) and in the fall (September, October, November) on first Fridays. The energy at Mesa Food Truck Fridays is just fun and relaxed. People set up encampments with friends and neighbors and enjoy the evening. The kids run around and throw footballs, the teens have a place to be, and #mesafoodies of all ages come together around the “table” for a great night out. It has become an event that everyone looks forward to and a great asset to East Mesa! Join us May 3, 5-9 PM at the Las Sendas Trailhead Parke. For more info visit: www.facebook.com/MesaFoodieFridays
what’s happinin’
concerts | shows | food fun & festivals
SATURDAYS
Red Mountain Farmers Market 8:00 AM — 1:00 PM | Free Mesa Community College, Red Mountain Campus 2307 N Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 The Red Mountain Farmers Market is out in the East Mesa community to bring fresh local food and small business to its community. We have partnered up with MCC Red Mountain to make this all possible. Proceeds from the market will be set aside to create a scholarship fund for kids to attend college at MCC Red Mountain. redmountainfarmersmarket.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 — WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
Wine Tasting Cruise Every Wednesday, 5:00 PM | $23 - $28 The Desert Belle Tour Boat, Saguaro Lake Marina 14011 N Bush Hwy, Mesa, AZ 85215 Sip your wine while listening to live music on the upper deck. Tickets are only $6 additional to try four different wines. Each week there will be a different local AZ winemaker on board to teach you about their specific wines. desertbelle.com FRIDAY, APRIL 5 — FRIDAY, APRIL 21
The Toxic Avenger Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday | $25-28 Mesa Arts Center, Farnsworth Studio, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 A rock musical based on the 1984 film of the same name that takes place in a polluted town off the New Jersey Turnpike. An aspiring earth scientist vows to clean up the state, but instead gets dumped in a vat of toxic waste, and gains super-human strength. Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical in 2009. mesaartscenter.com FRIDAY, APRIL 5 AND FRIDAY, MAY 3
Astronomy Nights at MCC 6:00 PM — 10:00 PM | Free Planetarium at Mesa Community College, Physical Science Building (#15) 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 Apr 5: Our Solar System — Learn about the origin stories of the planets. A short May 3: Tour the Universe with Pink Floyd — Rock out to the classic tunes of Pink Floyd while taking a tour of our amazing Universe! mesacc.edu/departments/physical-science/astronomy/planetarium/ astronomy-nights WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10
Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Beth Hart Band 7:30 PM | $39.50 - $69.50 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Renowned blues rock guitarist/songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd and celebrated Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Beth Hart are hitting the road together again on a co-headline US tour. mesaartscenter.com THURSDAY, APRIL 11 AND FRIDAY, APRIL 12
Spring Dance Concert $7 - $15 MCC Performing Arts Center 1520 S Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202 Featuring various dance groups, guest and student choreographers. Dancers come from many different backgrounds featuring diverse performance styles. mesacc.edu/arts/events
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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AND SATURDAY, MAY 18
what’s happinin’ continued FRIDAY, APRIL 12
Malt Shop Oldies 5:30 PM | $27 - $36 The Silver Star Theater 5247 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85205 Our most popular “specialty” show features the songs you sang while dancing at the sock hop or driving in your car. You will instantly recognize every one of these classic Rock & Roll hits, and as always, we encourage you to sing along! silverstartheater.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
35th Annual My Nana’s Salsa Challenge
by Arizona Hemophilia Association 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | $5 – $59 Sloan Park - Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85201 This annual culinary competition features over 100 freshly made salsas and professional “chefs” who will compete for the judge’s vote while attendees enjoy all the chips and salsa they can eat! More than 10,000 people are expected to come and taste freshly made salsas, listen to live music, enjoy margaritas, cold beers, and vote for their favorite salsa chef. www.eventbrite.com
Wheels & What’s Crackin 7:00 AM — 10:00 AM | Free What’s Crackin Cafe 6663 E McDowell Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 This is Mesa’s favorite cars and coffee hangout, happening the third Saturday of every month. Cruise in, park, and have a good time — and get some great breakfast! Presented by Biff’s Automotive Detailing. FB: @biffsautodetail THURSDAY, MAY 2
Gary Allan 7:00 PM / Doors open 5:30 PM | General Admission $43 Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 With the allure of a modern day outlaw, Gary Allan has won over fans, peers and critics with his signature blend of smoldering vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances. mesaamp.com THURSDAY, MAY 4 — FRIDAY, MAY 5
ZAP Con VII $10 - $40 Mesa Convention Center, 201 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 It’s a weekend-long classic arcade and pinball party, with all of the games set to free play! Relive the joy of going to the arcade, and share that joy with younger generations. Collectors and restorationists have a chance to show off their wares and to buy, sell, or trade with other like minded enthusiasts. zapcon.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 19 — SATURDAY, APRIL 27
MONDAY, MAY 6
Noises Off
An Evening with Apocalyptica
Times vary | $9 - $15 Recurring weekly on Thursday, Friday, Saturday Mesa Community College, 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. Doors slamming on and offstage, and intrigue, figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play. www.mesacc.edu/arts/events
Performing all Metallica Repertoire 8:00 PM | $25 - $55 Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 On May 10, 1996, Finnish Rockers Apocalyptica, released their epic debut Plays Metallica By Four Cellos. The instrumental cello-driven rock opus changed the landscape of heavy music for years to come. On the 20th Anniversary of the album, the group re-released and remastered it, and has since been touring the world in a continuous celebration. mesaartscenter.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
98KUPD and Bud Lights Presents UFEST 2019
Limp Bizkit with Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, P.O.D., Fever 333 and DED General Admission tickets $59 Riverview Park, 2100 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85201 98kupd.com SATURDAY, MAY 18 SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AND SATURDAY, MAY 18
Spark at Dark 8:00 PM — 11:00 PM | free Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Fade the lights and turn up the music. Every third Saturday from October to May MAC’s campus will be taken over by a new artist with a unique, crazy-fun theme — complete with live art, live music, great eats, tasty adult drinks and much more. mesaartscenter.com SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AND SATURDAY, MAY 18
Falcon Warbird’s Fly-In Pancake Breakfast & Impala Bob’s Classic Car Show 7:30 AM — 11:00 AM | $8 Falcon Field Airport 4626 E Fighter Aces Dr, Mesa, AZ 85215 Visit with the pilots and car owners, share stories, and see their restored vehicles! Enjoy a hearty breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee! Proceeds support EAA Warbird Squadron 50 and Civil Air Patrol programs. falconwarbirds.com
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Tedeschi Trucks Band 6:30 PM / Doors open 5:30 PM | $28 - $128 Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201 Guitarist Derek Trucks and his wife, singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi, equally steeped in the musical roots of blues, jazz, and gospel, put together a musical collaborative like no other. Rolling Stone says, “The 12-piece outfit puts out a big band sound that still rings intimate, shaking listeners to their emotional core.” tedeschitrucksband.com or mesaamp.com TUESDAY MAY 21
A Night Of Comedy With Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts 8:00 PM | $20 - $60 | 12 and over Club Red, 1306 W University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85201 WWE Hall of Famer, Jake The Snake Robert’s comedy-style show, appropriately named Dirty Details Tour is hitting Mesa! Take a ride thru backstage and behind the scenes of your favorite matches. Whether you are a wrestling fan or not, this one-of-a-kind storyteller will have you wrapped in his coils, begging for more! clubredrocks.com
From the Chef BY JESSICA SPENCER
chef @ what’s Crackin Cafe
Cinnamon Baked doughnuts These doughnuts are easy to make and great for breakfast or even to put in lunches for a sweet treat. A fun little project to do with the kids after school, you can even get creative with so many different sauces and toppings to choose from to make them their own. Enjoy!
Looking for a gorgeous venue for your wedding, anniversary or special celebration? The Trailhead Members Club
Las Sendas
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS • • • • • • •
tablespoons butter, melted 4 1 large egg, beaten 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda 1 /8 teaspoon salt ¾ cup buttermilk
1 | In a bowl or mixer combine all ingredients until mixed well; consistency will be wet like cake batter 2 | Grease miniature bundt pan and fill cups to about half full 3 | Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown 4 | Let cool completely on wire rack 5 | Brush doughnuts with melted butter then roll in cinnamon sugar
Nestled in the Upper Sonoran Desert, adjacent to the grand entrance of Las Sendas Mountain, the Members Club offers a breathtaking setting for special once-in-a-lifetime events. This architectural masterpiece provides a very exclusive location with spectacular sunsets, city light views, and lets you customize your event to meet your needs. Kristha Lima | 480.357.8780 | klima@thetrailhead.org
Promoting Natural Healing of mind body and spirit
Reiki | Hypnosis Rapid Eye Therapy (480) 236-3173
paula@innerhealthnow.com www.innerhealthnow.com Las Sendas Spa & Fitness Center, Mesa The Life Enrichment Center, Tempe
Paula Osterday RN, CH, RET Rapid Eye Technician Consulting Hypnotist, National Guild of Hypnotists Usui Reiki Master Teacher
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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
feature
learn and discover
AND TAKE PART IN A WIDE RANGE OF ARTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.
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Mesa Arts CENTER
Part of a vibrant culture, Mesa Arts Center is alive and well in downtown Mesa BY CASEY BLAKE
Echoing characteristics of the Sonoran Desert, the stunning architectural features of Mesa Arts Center draw City of Mesa residents and visitors alike. A few steps down the Shadow Walk, with its outdoor gardens, sunken courtyards and colorful glass backdrops, the magic of Mesa Arts Center begins to unfold. With three buildings on seven acres, Mesa Arts Center is the largest comprehensive arts campus in the Southwest. An oasis in the desert, the Center is the ideal place to gather with family and friends, to learn and discover, and to take part in a wide range of arts and cultural experiences.
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its allure
I S S U R E TO D R AW YO U BAC K F O R M O R E .
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Just steps beyond the outdoor gathering spaces are the indoor gems of the campus, including four performing venues, five galleries, and 14 visual and performing arts studios and classrooms. These venues become the backdrop for hundreds of community events, live performances by world-class touring artists, and arts classes that range from belly dancing to ceramics and photography to blacksmithing. A beacon on the corner of Center and Main, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum compiles thoughtprovoking and socially significant exhibitions by local and national artists that range from emerging to internationally-recognized. The Store, an artist co-op on the Center’s campus, offers handmade, detailed art pieces for gifting or expanding a personal collection, all made by Arizona artists. On an annual basis, the arts engagement programs at the Center reach tens of thousands of Valley students from hundreds of schools, as well as community members of all ages. Arts opportunities offered through these programs weave the Center’s artists and cultural experiences into the lives of the community. Through these engaging programs and the numerous community festivals offered on an annual basis, the Center strives to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant. More than its role as a cultural hub for the city, the Mesa Arts Center is also an economic catalyst. The international award-winning venue draws tourists and plays host to large political and community events, such as the 2012 Republican Presidential Debate. Nearly half a million people visited the Center last year, and arts and culture in Mesa had an economic impact of over $25million. No matter when or why you visit the compelling and impactful Mesa Arts Center, its allure is sure to draw you back for more. This sampling of performances is only the tip of the iceberg -- visit www.mesaartscenter.com to discover the full lineup of Performing Live events, resident company performances and more! Mesa Arts Center, One East Main Street Box Office: 480-644-6500 Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum: 480-644-6560 Class Registration: 480-644-6520
Mesa Arts Center has no shortage of options for entertainment, education and engagement, especially in its four theater spaces. With the largest, canyon-like Ikeda Theater that seats roughly 1600, and the more intimate Piper Theater (550), Nesbitt/ Elliot Theater (250) and Farnsworth Blackbox (150), the venue can offer up to four shows at one time, ranging from community theater to touring Broadway sensations like STOMP, and jazz, classical, pop concerts, comedy, theatre and more. One of the more unique series at MAC is the National Geographic Live speaker series which offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with stories from the field, told firsthand with incredible images and video by National Geographic explorers. Coming up in April, May and beyond are a range of performances to suit any taste. Highlights include Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (April 17), a YouTubefamous rotating ensemble of musicians which perform popular pop songs that seem to have been turned upside down in a time machine. Christian McBride Big Band will be doing what his latest album implies, Bringin’ It, when the jazz big band takes the stage on April 24. Ukulele superstar Jake Shimabakuro brings both familiar songs and originals in early May and singer/songwriter David Gray leads into the summer with a concert performance on June 29.
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A SPA & FITNESS CENTER
“Everybody knows your name...”
where
Come on in... Las Sendas
TOUR of HOMES
Come tour current listings Wednesdays @10:30am sharp
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Hosted by
DONNA LUGER & JON ENGLUND Associate Brokers
Meet in Las Sendas at the Trailhead Members Club 7900 E Eagle Crest Drive LugerHomes.com | info@LugerHomes.com
D: 480.227.1974 J: 480.650.1422
Your Trusted Area Real Estate Professionals
FITNESS Mind-body classes including yoga, barre, Pilates, cycle & more. Nationally Certified Trainers with over 35 years experience. Nutrition & lifestyle planning.
SKIN CARE & MASSAGE Hydrofacials, anti-aging, cellulite treatments, microneedling, waxing & more. 5-star therapists specializing in sports & deep tissue massage. Also body scrubs, ancient stone massage & more.
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YOU HAVE
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your first clean
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEANING | BONDED & INSURED
HOME: INSIDE & OUT decorate reno | DIY landscape garden
p 60
Tidy Up!
Do more than just clean for spring
HOME: INSIDE & OUT
planting
spring veggies New gardeners in Mesa tend to make the mistake of planting the wrong vegetable at the wrong time. Growing vegetables in the Arizona desert can be a tough task if you don’t keep the area’s planting cycle in mind. Spring and fall are Mesa’s two distinct growing seasons. Both seasons have specific vegetables that grow best in warmer or colder temperatures. Summer is by far the harshest season in Mesa. But vegetables can grow in the summer if you plant early enough in the spring and choose the right type of warmer-weather vegetables.
5
tips
FOR PLANTING YOUR GARDEN
1 | Location - Make sure to pick the right spots for growing. Too much shade will keep it from growing and too much sun can kill your vegetables. 2 | Adequate Sunlight - Vegetable plants need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight every day. It’s easier to have too much sunlight than it is to have too much shade. Plant your vegetables in a place where they can get 6-8 hours of light and if it’s too much, add a shade cloth. 3 | Bed Size - Start small. Even the most experienced gardeners can become frustrated when growing vegetables in Arizona. They take a while to get accustomed to the demands and rhythms of the desert climate. 4 | Soil Types - Arizona soil has a lot of minerals but almost no organic matter. A 50-50 blend of compost and native Arizona soil is recommended. Local plant nurseries sell compost mixtures. 5 | Watering - Most vegetables need to be watered at least one foot deep. A good way to check the water depth is by using a screw driver. You may think your plants need more water than they do due to the dry climate, but this can be just as harmful as under watering them.
Plant in April
Dill, cilantro, watermelon, summer squash, spinach, scallions, radishes, peas (southern), peanuts, okra, melons, cucumbers, corn, carrots, cantaloupe, and beans (snap).
Plant in May
Cilantro, watermelon, scallions, radishes, peas (southern), peanuts, okra, melons, gourds, cucumber, corn, cantaloupe, and beans (snap).
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Know Before You Throw BY JON ENGLUND
Downsizing? Determined to get rid of “stuff” you no longer need? Cleaning out a home or an estate? Stop! Know Before You Throw.
CASE IN POINT: During a consultation with a family regarding their grandmother’s estate, the subject of jewelry came up. The grandson was handling the personal property and he thought that his grandmother’s jewelry was mostly junk and had it in a shoe box ready to go to the local thrift store. He shared with me what are fairly common beliefs about old jewelry. He said the items didn’t look like the good jewelry he’d seen at the mall stores. A large rhinestone was oddly shaped, so he determined it wasn’t real. A few pieces were broken; therefore, they must be worthless. Other items seemed to be made of plastic, like children’s jewelry, and they certainly wouldn’t have value. I suggested that I look through the box just in case. What was discovered was a modest, yet desirable assortment of vintage costume jewelry, broken European gold jewelry, and one significant diamond ring.
there was $9,000 of value in the shoe box! After testing, the odd-shaped rhinestone proved to be a diamond; an Old European cut diamond, which looks very different than today’s modern round brilliant cut diamond. The gold items were marked with numbers rather than the karat markings most commonly used today, yet they all tested positive for high gold content. The so-called plastic items were in fact highly collectible Bakelite jewelry pieces from the 1930s. There was about $9,000 of value in that shoe box. The broken gold pieces had considerable scrap value and the vintage diamond and Bakelite items brought top dollar due to condition and collector appeal. Don’t let preconceived notions about what valuable jewelry should look like, impact your financial well-being. It’s always best to have a trained eye determine if there’s value before you toss or donate. Jon Englund has 30+ years of experience in appraising and liquidating personal property, jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques, furniture, printed items and more, as well as 17 years of experience in real estate. For more information, call Jon direct at (480) 650-1422, or email Jon@KnowBeforeYouThrow.INFO
your journey starts one
Breath at a time.
lets begin our journey together.
1
your first class is just
$
00
Rise & Flow | Unheated Flow Heated Flow | Yin Restorative
480-807-YOGA (9642)
exhaleyogaaz.com 2920 N Power Rd #101 Mesa, AZ 85215
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Spring,
HOME: INSIDE & OUT
feature
not just
CLEANING
TIPS TO REFRESH AND RENEW YOUR HOME By Danielle Tantone Wildflowers are blooming, windows are open, the weather is perfect for all things outdoors. The last thing you want to think about is Spring Cleaning — though it has a bit of a different meaning and purpose in Arizona than in colder climates where people have been holed up in their homes all winter. Spring Cleaning can be a delightful ritual rather than a dreaded chore. Here are a few tips to renew your home and make you feel lighter, freer and more joyful.
KonMari It! Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and kudos to you if you are more unplugged than the rest of us), you have probably heard of Marie Kondo’s Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up — now also a Netflix series called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. I happened to pick up the book in December and I found the method refreshingly simple to implement. As a busy wife and mom of three, a realtor, a nursing student and an entrepreneur, this is key for me. The KonMari Method is not about going out and buying a bunch of organizers to store your stuff. It’s not even really about getting rid of stuff, but rather, purposefully choosing which items you want to keep, based on whether or not they spark joy for you. Once you choose which items you want to keep, Marie does have some unique methods for storing your belongings. She’s especially famous for her method of folding clothes, which involves folding each item into a little packet that can stand on its own and be placed vertically in a drawer so that you can see all items at one time. Although the show is great, I highly recommend the book (I listened to the audio version of it, while starting to implement its strategies). But if you don’t have time to read or watch it, here are the main points of the KonMari method, outlined on her website:
1 | Commit yourself to tidying up.
2 | Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
3 | Finish discarding first.
4 | Tidy by category, not by location.
5 | Follow the right order.
6 | Ask yourself if it sparks joy.
Stage It! I’ve been a realtor for almost 20 years, and one of my favorite parts of the job is helping people prep their home for sale. This often involves decluttering, then professionally staging the home to show it off to buyers. Although home staging is an art and science all its own, I find that if I try to think of how my own home would look to a buyer, and implement a few staging strategies, it makes it pretty nice for my family and friends, too. One of my clients said something simple but profound after prepping her house for sale. She said, “It’s kind of crazy how simple and easy that was. Why do we do all this stuff to sell our home, but we don’t ever think to do these simple things for our own families to enjoy?” My simple principles of staging are:
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1 | Open space is good.
2 | Don’t be too matchy-matchy.
3 | Less is almost always more.
4 | Surfaces should be sparkly clean.
5 | Use splashes of color.
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Use it or lose It! Don’t just store your things. Use it or lose it. Display it. Enjoy it. Use the good dishes if they give you joy. Why are you saving them for company that seldom comes? Even if a piece broke, at least it got broken by doing what it was made for.
Consider Using Natural Cleaning Products Standard household cleaners are full of caustic chemicals that are hazardous to your health. You can make your own or search online for a company that sells natural products. I use Melaleuca Products (melaleuca.info/danielletantone).
Call a Professional Consider hiring a professional cleaner, even if it’s just for a one-time spring cleaning, or quarterly or monthly. As satisfying as it is to clean your own home, it really is amazing to come home to a fresh, sparkling house. I highly recommend Fantastiklean (480-433-7627). We also have some great professional organizers, home stagers and interior designers in our community. Feel free to call me for a recommendation.
Danielle Tantone received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and has been a REALTOR® for more than 18 years. You can keep in touch or ask her a question at info@danielletantone.com or 480-236-1861
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commUnity
1
all about YOU
2
Send us your pics! We want to see how YOU live your best life in East Mesa. Send to content@eastmmag.com
PHOTO BY MIKAYLA DEVEREUX
PHOTO BY MIKAYLA DEVEREUX
3
4
5 1 | 36-year-old Ali Chaudhry of Spyglass Estates enjoys a beautiful Saturday morning hike on Hawes Trail. 2 | Russal Golding of Ridgeview Estates explains engine basics to his sons Lucas (8) and Nathan (3) at the Wheels & What’s Crackin Car Show. 3 | Stratford Estates resident Karen Lambert (l) and Michele Burrell of Augusta Ranch (r) take the all-important selfie break at mile 4 of the
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Phoenix Marathon. 4 | Enjoying wine and food at the Mesa Food Trucks, Las Sendas resident Betty Sackett (l) and her BFF Terri Smith (r) of Las Palmos say they never miss this amazing event. 5 | 10-year-old Emma Oaks, with help from her pup Goldie, shows an entrepreneurial spirit as she attemps to sell Slime at the Red Mountain Farmers Market.
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Looking Back
remembering mesa’s history | By Shannon Maki
Creation of the Roosevelt Dam The Roosevelt Dam was built between 1903 and 1911 and it had a large array of purposes including: prevent flooding from the Salt River, provide water for irrigation, and generate hydroelectric power. The Roosevelt Dam was one of five major projects under the Newlands Reclamation Act signed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902. Roosevelt believed that river water in arid climates was being wasted if it was not being used by settlers and farmers for irrigation. The West could not have been successfully settled if it wasn’t for the passage of this Act.
ABOVE: THEODORE ROOSEVELT SPEAKS AT THE DEDICATION OF ROOSEVELT DAM. MARCH 18, 1911 RIGHT: ROOSEVELT DAM SOUTH SPILLWAY. APRIL 1, 1941
The project was plagued by floods throughout 1905 which stalled construction of the dam. It was finally completed in March 1911 and President Roosevelt came to Mesa for the dedication of the dam. The dam was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1963 due to its unique Greco-Roman masonry design. Unfortunately, during renovations in the 1990s, the masonry design was covered in concrete and for this reason the Roosevelt Dam lost its National Historic Landmark status in 1999. The dam resulted in the creation of Roosevelt Lake, which is the third largest man-made lake in Arizona and one of the oldest artificial reservoirs in Arizona. The lake is a popular destination for fishing, boating, camping and water skiing.
Las Sendas: The Dreamers, the Builders, the Community REVIEWED BY FRANK PABIAN
For anyone interested in local history, the book, Las Sendas: The Dreamers, the Builders, the Community, by Janet Patrick and Katherine S. Karpinsky, provides a delightful chronicle of the evolution of the area that now comprises the Las Sendas Community. The book provides a thoroughly researched account: the early homesteaders; the first land-owner association that sought to protect the Sonoran Desert Uplands landscape; a cowboy guest-ranch where a Hollywood drama was filmed during World War II;
and the efforts to create a golf course community in the 1980s (then known as Falcon Ridge). The book describes how the community was re-imagined and ultimately completed under the visionary leadership of Blandford Homes. It became the premier desert landscaped community of 3,400 homes on 2,500 acres, while preserving large areas of natural open space and unique view corridors. To further enlighten the reader, the book contains numerous maps and
AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE LAS SENDAS MEMBERS CLUB FOR $10 AND THE MESA HISTORICAL MUSEUM FOR $8
historical photographs. Among the more interesting facts include how Spook Hill got its name (spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with haunting spirits) and that one previous landowner was a former governor of Missouri who owned a company that is credited with developing the Golden Delicious apple.
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