ImagesAZ Magazine December 2011

December 2011

Tramonto :: Anthem :: Desert Hills :: New River PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Denver, CO Permit NO. 5377

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Living Nativity D e c e m b e r

two Performances nightly at 7:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Free Admission • Canned food donations accepted

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Presented By:

In Anthem: Meridian and W. rose Canyon Circle, Across from st. rose Catholic church Food donations to benefit the Foothills Food Bank visit: www.foothillsfoodbank.com

For more information and additional details, visit: canyonchurch.org

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Nativity ad 10_11-2011.indd 1

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9/23/11 8:10 AM

Dr. Bryan Glick

Yes, I hate vegetables!

I hate vegetables. As a doctor, I probably shouldn’t tell you that since I admonish my patients to eat more of them. But at most I would choke down a tablespoon of broccoli. Any green beans and corn I ate came out of cans.

Now weekends find me at the farmer’s market, indiscriminately tossing colorful vegetables into a bag.

We bought a juicer, and in the eight weeks, I have eaten more vegetables than in my lifetime. Actually, I’m not eating them. I’m drinking them.

Few of us can eat the recommended six to eight servings of vegetables and fruits every day, but I can drink a bagful of carrots, beets, celery, Swiss chard, kale, and two apples for breakfast alone.

Juicing packs a powerful punch. The motor of a juicer breaks down individual plant cells and releases nutrients into a liquid that the body easily absorbs.

Now I won’t lie. It is not like enjoying a soda. The good news is that it tastes better than it smells. But getting those micronutrients into my body would be impossible without juicing, and the change has been amazing.

I have more energy and sleep better. I’ve lost 15 pounds.

My allergies have cleared up. I haven’t even had a headache.

We have a juicer in the office too, where I show patients how to use it. Or I suggest they buy juices at health food stores. Give it a try, and let me know how you feel fully juiced. I still hate vegetables but love what they do.

Give it a try, and let me know how you feel fully juiced.

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contents :: contributors 10

Meet the Ingegneri Family

18 High School Sports :: BCHS Fall Recap

Shelly Spence :: owner/publisher shelly@imagesaz.com :: 623-341-8221

22 Community

stephanie maher palenque :: executive writer thewordnerd@thewordnerd.com

32 Anthem veteran’s Memorial

Amanda christmann larson :: contributing writer

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Jeffrey Cody :: contributing writer

Benefit for Katie

36 Apple awards :: Excellence in Education

Donna Kublin :: contributing writer

42 Hit the road

Jenny Brooks :: contributing writer Nigel spence :: contributing writer

46 Arizona cardinal :: Sam Acho 50 Chamber profile :: Having a Ball

Brenna Orozco :: photographer

52 Road less traveled :: Amber Mellano

Jerri Parness :: photographer

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Milk & cookies

Meaghan’s Dream :: graphic artist

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celebrating the season

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Merry Little Markets

Jeff Penzone :: advertising consultant jeff@imagesaz.com :: 623-341-0123

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2011 Christmas Service schedule

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dining guide

82 Recipe :: Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookies

Imagesaz Magazine 623-341-8221 www.imagesaz.com

feature staff bio Meaghan Mitchell has been a contributing designer for ImagesAZ since 2004. She has a passion to see a client’s ideas and concept come to life with branding and graphic design. Meaghan has provided business and merchandise branding for local businesses Dollyrockers and AndrewZ Fine Jewelry since they began business in Anthem. She looks forward to being creative with ImagesAZ each month.

Meaghan is also a staff pastor at Grace North Church. She served as CoYouth Pastor for eight years and recently transitioned to the Experience Pastor. She has been in Pastoral Ministry for 8 years with ministry experience in the areas of Youth and Young Adults, Children’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Mentoring, Ministry Team Building, International Church Publications and Publicity, Hospitality, Preaching, Missions Ministries, Outreach and Events, Camps and Weekend Service Directing.

Meaghan Mitchell :: Graphic artist

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Meaghan has lived in Anthem since 2002 and purchased her first home in 2005. She enjoys spending time hanging, going to the movies with her friends and family and jetting off for weekend trips to Los Angeles.

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welcome A

s we get older, the holidays seem to whiz by faster and faster each year. All of the

events that enhance and shape the season ...family parties, classroom parties, concerts, holiday theatre performances, frenzied Christmas shopping, tree lightings ...also help to make the season crazier with each passing year. Many of us probably wish that we could pause for a while and enjoy all of the sights, sounds, scents, and tastes of the season. It is a truly magical time of year and it might take extra effort to savor each and every moment.

At some point, now matter how busy you are, or think that you are, you will have an opportunity to stop, look around you, and take everything in. Take advantage of that moment. Be conscious of the time that is passing, the people you are spending that time with, and all of the sensory markings of each event. Those are moments that will live on in your memory forever.

This year, I will be taking my cue from Santa – no matter how busy he is, he takes time to stop and enjoy the milk and cookies at each and every house across the globe. So, no matter how busy life gets during this hectic season, take time to savor the sweet stuff ...bake cookies with your family, enjoy a meaningful tradition with the ones that you love, and definitely take time to sit and enjoy cookies, washed down with an icy cold glass of milk! Happy holidays to you and yours!

Warmly, Shelly Spence ImagesAZ Magazine 623-341-8221

Milk & Cookies :: P. 66 ImagesAZ Magazine is proud to be a member of:

Local First A R I Z O NA Submission of news for Community News section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

ImagesAZ is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright Š 2011 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

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ingegneri family Meet the

Writer Stephanie Maher Palenque Photography By Brenna Photography

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15

T

he fireworks over Anthem signaled the start of something special between a younger Scott and Lydia Ingegneri on July 3rd of 2001. The sparks that ignited were undeniable, and three weeks later, they were an official “couple.”

Family has always been a very important aspect in both Scott and Lydia’s lives, but perhaps never more important than it was on the fateful night when Lydia’s parents met Scott’s parents (Joe and Marion) through a mutual friend and began attending the same church in North Phoenix. Joe and Marion then invited Lydia and her parents to their home for dinner, and she told Scott, “I’m bringing home your wife!”

Lydia recalls, “I knocked on the door and Scott opened it and literally stood there in an awkward silence!” After what seemed like an eternity, Lydia extended her hand and introduced herself

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too obliging, even after I tried to explain what my plans were for the evening. He held us up longer than I had hoped, but I kept my cool and never gave away clues of the events that were about to unfold! The sunset proposal on the beach was perfect!”

Scott, a native of Tucson, Arizona, graduated from high school in Chandler and then graduated from Life Pacific College in San Dimas, California in 2002, with a B.A. in Bible. He received his International pastoral license in 2002 through International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He was ordained in 2006. to Scott. The rest, as they say, is history. Scott and Lydia were engaged in July of 2002. Scott recalls, “I had chosen a proposal spot on Coronado Island in San Diego, California. We got into a small fender bender while pulling out of a parking spot on our way to the proposal, which Lydia knew nothing about, of course. The timing had to be perfect, because I wanted to propose at sunset on the beach. Unfortunately, the gentleman who hit us wasn’t

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Lydia, born in Moses Lake, Washington, graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1999. She attended Yakima Valley Community College with a specific focus on Music. She served and graduated from Street Rock, Inc., a youth discipleship program focused on evangelism and ministry training in Houston, Texas from 20002001. She received her Pastoral License in 2008 through International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

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Ministry has always held a special place in the lives of Scott and Lydia, as well as their families. Both grew up in pastors’ homes, and Lydia’s parents also served as missionaries with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and pioneered the movement in Norway where Lydia was raised, in the early 1980s.

Both Scott and Lydia have a passion for music and have also served as worship leaders since their teen years.

Together, they have served in pastoral ministry since they were married in 2003 and recently became Senior Pastors at Grace North Church in Anthem.

God has been good to the Ingegneri Family, and has given them the “gifts” of their children, Dominic (5), James (3), and twin girls, Kelly Joy and Mia (6 months).

Dominic is in Kindergarten at North Valley Christian Academy. He loves his school and his teacher very much. Some of his favorite things are church, music, sports, cars, trains, and people. According to mom, “He is an awesome helper and willingly assists with projects and chores. He gets very excited about trips to Home Depot with Dad, and is always asking us, “So, what are

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we doing today?” He is very loving and able to engage with pretty much everybody, no matter what their age!”

James love to play with his big brother, go to the park, and ride the Anthem train. Mom shares, “He loves to give hugs and blow kisses and can melt anyone with his smile and chubby cheeks! He enjoys playing with his little playmates from Grace North Church and is always excited to find out about unexpected playdates. He is a lover of milk and cookies and knows where Starbucks is because that is his special ‘dateplace’ with Mommy!”

Kelly Joy (above) loves to laugh and let everyone know she is in the room with her playful giggles and squeals.

Mia (below) loves to smile, roll over, and engage with others one-on-one.

Kelly Joy and Mia are identical twins and are always content, happy, and peaceful. They were born only four minutes apart and it is obvious that they share a very special bond. They love to hold hands and will automatically reach for each other when they are placed side-by-side. Mom shares, “Their smiles light up a room!

Kelly Joy loves to laugh and let everyone know she is in the room with her playful giggles and squeals. Mia loves to smile, roll over, and engage with others one-on-one.

Both girls have distinct personalities, but both possess immeasurable amounts of joy and love.

The Ingegneri family truly values the time that they spend together, and they love nothing more than to spend time at home around the dinner table and enjoy a homemade meal. They also spend time watching family movies, playing outside, going to the park, and playing music and singing together. During their last vacation in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, they spent a lot of time in their pajamas, playing in the snow, drinking hot cocoa, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

The Ingegneris are thrilled to have found a community like Anthem that has a “small town feel, with access to nice shopping areas and good restaurants.” They share, “We love this area because we feel called to serve the people of this community and the people of the North Corridor. We often pray for the families of Anthem and the families living in the North Corridor. Our desire is to be a blessing to everyone we meet and come into contact with, whether through the church or personally.

While the Ingegneri Family feels blessed and honored to serve as pastors in this community, we are also blessed and honored to have them as part of this community.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the Ingegneris, and to all of our wonderful families!

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In an interview with ImagesAZ Magazine her freshman year,

BCHs Girl’s Golfer

Kelly FlynN

Flynn emphasized the encouragement of her teammates as one of the great things about high school golf. “The best thing is knowing that even if you have a bad day, and bring in a bad score, they will still love you because there is always tomorrow,” she had said. A quote that could not be truer, yet so pitted with irony. Two months later, Flynn found herself in an emergency room given a thirty percent chance of surviving a life threatening disorder.

A bout with bronchitis as a freshman prepares for her first semester final exams is not uncommon, but Flynn’s conditioned worsened with the antibiotics. After being rushed to the emergency room by her parents, it was discovered that

Sports 18

her kidneys were not functioning properly, and while waiting for a biopsy to be performed, they failed completely. Flynn would spend the next eight weeks in hospital, taking steroids to try to kick-start her kidneys back into gear and immune suppressants to stop her body from attacking her kidneys.

Flynn was released from hospital, only to be readmitted a few weeks later. The effects of the heavy drugs that she had been taking were too great, and the roller coaster that her body had been through had sapped her strength and destroyed her muscles to the point that she would spend time in a wheelchair.

Her physical rehabilitation would coincide with a weaning from the heavy drug dosages, and Flynn used her desire to get back out onto the golf course as her motivation through Writer Nigel Spence

rehabilitation. She incorporated stretching with a golf club, and swinging a golf club as part of her strengthening

Four years ago, Kelly Flynn joined the Boulder Creek High

program. She knew it was going to be a long road back,

School Girls’ Golf Team, and demonstrated an incredible

but through persistence, Flynn realized the potential she

talent for the game. At times, it was difficult to believe that

demonstrated as a freshman. She also became a teammate

her tiny frame could hold her still enough to even make

to rely on for the next wave of Boulder Creek High School

contact with the ball, as her club appeared to swing her

golfers, acting as much like a team mom as a player.

rather than her the club as it made its arc, wrapping around her body in both her backswing and follow through. But the

“I will miss most how she brought the team together. She

clubface found the ball squarely more often than not, and

almost acted like an assistant coach on the range and on

it was observed that Flynn had a knack for the game that

the course trying to get her teammates to improve so they

could see her take her skill to the collegiate level. Today as

could be better as a unit,” Boulder Creek Girls’ Golf Coach

a senior, Flynn is looking into Division 1 colleges to play golf,

Dustin Riley stated of her graduating senior. Jointly, Coach

but the road that she has endured has been a far cry from

Riley and Captain Flynn have seen an upward spike in

the smooth highways that may transport her there.

performance by the girls’ team. While Flynn was the only

D ec e m b e r 2 0 1 1

Jag to compete in the state championship (qualifying as an

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BCHS

Fall Recap The Boulder Creek Boys’ Golf Team finished seventh at the Division I State Golf Championship, led by an outstanding individual performance by junior Alec Bone. Bone shot rounds of 71 and 67 to collect 6th place overall. His second round three under par 67 was matched by senior Conrad Smith, playing his last round of golf for the Jags.

T-6

Alec Bone

71-67 – 138

T19

Conrad Smith

76-67 – 143

T39

Brenden Bone

70-77 – 147

T66

Nick Norgaard

75-79 – 154

T66

Riley Schank

77-77 – 154

The Boulder Creek Boys’ Swim/Dive Team finished in 26th place at the state championships. Senior diver Dan Pitts led the team with a fifth place finish in the one-meter diving competition. Fellow Boulder Creek diver, Tyler Gable, finished 13th in the same competition. The Girls’ Swim/Dive Team finished 33rd at the state championship.

The Boulder Creek Boys’ Cross Country Team finished in 10th place at the state championship. Sophomore Alex Nova covered the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes and 21 seconds (5 minute 16 second miles) to individual and finishing 39th) the team made major advances in taking the program forward.

The team finished in the top five of every event that they entered and had a winning record of 10-7 this year in duel meets. Perhaps the greatest indicators of the teams’ improvement this year was that they recorded a state qualifying score in one of their matches (first time since the inception of qualifying) and finished second in the Deer Valley Cup, up two places from 2010.

The loss of Flynn from the top of the line up will hurt the team in 2012, but Coach Riley is hopeful the team can ride the momentum in future years, “I have a young team that is going to continue to grow and improve. I had three sophomores, Amanda Langston, Sidney Meyer and Shayla Noorgaard; and two freshman, Morgan Smith and Brittany Watts, rotate on my varsity team this year. I think overall next year our team will be even more competitive under the new junior leadership and we will have a great shot to take the team to the state tournament.”

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place twelfth in the state.

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Alex Nova

16:21.54

44

Casey Lozano

17:03.05

49

Jake Prickett

17:06.60

60

Austin Galeazzo 17:17.53

100

Aron Kirkendoll 17:52.69

114

Cameron Feifer

123

James Kuntz

The Boulder Creek High School Football Team made it to the first round of the Division I playoffs with a 13 seed, where they ran into a very tough fourth ranked Desert Ridge team. “Overall, I thought we played well for our first year in Division I,” stated head Coach Daniel Friedman.

He continued that he thought that making the playoffs in the new division was one of the season’s highlights, as well as beating Sandra Day O’Connor High School for the first time and starting a new rivalry against Cactus Shadows High School with a resounding win.

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our community Anthem’s own Q to U slaps “Slap Yo’ Daddy” and other national favorites in competition Anthem’s favorite BBQ, Q to U, competed against some of the nation’s best barbecue teams including Harry Soo of Slap Yo’ Daddy, the third ranked team out of more than 5000 teams nationwide for 2010, during the Rock Springs Boo Bash on Oct. 28 and 29. There were 48 teams with five states represented and there were several teams that had just returned from the Jack Daniels invitational.

Q to U ranked 20th in Chicken, 1st in Ribs, 4th in Pork (1 point from 1st) and 9th in Brisket. They won the overall Grand Championship, and also took home some awards in the side competitions including 4th in Pie, 7th in Sauce and 7th in Salsa.

Their win will open the doors to the Jack Daniels Invitational, a spot in the American Royal Invitational and a few other events. We congratulate Q to U on their first Grand Championship and wish them continued success in upcoming competitions!

623-465-7800

Grace North Luminaria Kit Sale Grace North Church invites Anthem residents, friends and neighbors to light up our community this Christmas Eve with this fun and memorable tradition. The Church has packaged together Luminaria Kits that contain enough tea lights, sand and bags for 16 luminarias. These kits are only $5 each, and can be delivered to your home.

Orders need to be placed by Dec. 12, and will be delivered between Dec. 17 and 19. To order your Luminaria Kit, either visit the website, send an email or call the number below. www.gracenorth.com luminaria@gracenorth.com 623-551-0007

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DMFD 4th Annual Holiday Toy Drive The Daisy Mountain Firefighters Charity Association announces its 4th annual Holiday Toy Drive. For the past three years firefighters have teamed with the Outlets at Anthem and Wal-Mart to collect donations of new toys, clothing and blankets. These donations are dispersed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Maricopa Medical Center. Historically the donations collected have brought joy to those stricken with illness and injury not only during the holiday season but also throughout the year.

Please make note of the following dates and help make a difference.

Outlets at Anthem Dec. 3, 10 & 17 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anthem Wal-Mart Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

602-320-0616 dave.wilson@dmfd.org

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Rotary Club Provides Support to BCHS Boulder Creek High School Science teacher Tony Fales expressed a desire for a piece of technology to enhance his ability to teach, and the North Phoenix Rotary Club stepped up to the plate. Fales’ request for a microscope with the capability to project the image onto the board so that the students could learn was made possible by a check donated by the Rotary Club of North Phoenix.

Robin Linck, Realtor, CDPE, CIAS • Cindi Agelastos, Associate Broker, CDPE, CIAS Fred Struss, Associate Broker, CDPE, CIAS • Debbie Zappala, Realtor, CDPE Jonathan Pear, Designated Broker, CDPE, CIAS ©2010 Distressed Property InsƟtute, LLC. Not all members of Sam Tyler Realty, LLC are CerƟed Investor Agent Specialists . Sam Tyler Realty can not guaranty specic returns on investments. All investments require risk and you can lose money. Members of Sam Tyler Realty are not engaged in the pracƟces of law nor gives legal advise. It is strongly recommended that you seek appropriate professional counsel regarding your rights.

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our community Upscale Pet Resort Opens Second Location Despite the economic downturn that has adversely affected many market and retail sectors in the Phoenix area and even across the nation, one Anthem-based business is expanding to a second location. Sonoran Desert Pet Resort, an award winning pet care facility, that offers boarding, daycare, grooming and training, has signed an agreement with Plaza de Campana to lease 8600 square feet at 3227 East Bell Rd. in Phoenix (on the southeast corner of 32nd St. and Bell Rd.).

Expanding to a second location was not even on the radar. “We were at lunch one day and saw the “For Lease” sign on the property and realized that it was an existing pet care facility that had closed. We set an appointment with the property manager to review the facility and it was perfect…it fit 90% of our business model” said Underwood.

Construction at the Bell Road location is expected to start mid-November with an expected opening date of March 1, 2012.

623-551-5299

New Creation Community New Creation Community (NCC), a bible-based, non-denominational, family-friendly church began in early April 2011, when a number of families came together with the desire to continue their spiritual journey together in Anthem. Easter was NCC’s first official “service” and took place out in the desert. In the following months a warehouse space south of Wal-Mart served the growing community.

Over the summer months, NCC quickly established exactly what it was going to be about. “We are going to operate on the smallest possible budget so that we are able to give as much as possible to Kingdom causes,” stated Pastor Eric Sass.

Since it’s humble beginnings, NCC has sent two groups of missionaries to both Peru and Uganda and funded several projects in both of these countries. NCC currently sponsors four orphans through Hope 4 Kids International and weekly serves more than 100 lunches to the homeless of inner-city Phoenix. Sass continued, “We’re just a group of families who understand that following Jesus is fundamentally about serving and loving and giving and we’ve chosen to do that in community and as families. We believe that is the way it’s meant to be.”

The New Creation Community has continued to grow and last month moved into its new home at 4235 West Opportunity Way Suite 108 Anthem. Those interested are invited to join NCC at their main church gathering 9:15 a.m. every Sunday.

623-551-2622 www.NCCconnect.com Eric.Sass@newcreationcommunity.org

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Rotary of Anthem Seeks Bell Ringers The Rotary Club of Anthem will continue to organize the Salvation Army Extension Unit in Anthem with a call to the public to assist in the holiday bell-ringing campaign. Rotarians Tim Maki, Tom Leyda and Larry Evans assumed responsibility in 2010 for the Unit, under the guidance of Del Mau. The Extension unit is a volunteer branch of The Salvation Army and supported by the Anthem Rotary Club and community. The Unit helps families in need with rent, utilities, prescriptions, food and other basic needs. When combined with SHARE dollars raised through APS and SRP, the Unit will provide approximately $40,000 in assistance for families in need.

Tim Maki notes, “Unfortunately, much of the SHARE dollars have diminished this past year. Our annual holiday bell ringing effort will be more important this year as we’ll need to make up for dollars we normally receive from other programs.”

Bell ringers are needed to take shifts in front of Wal-Mart, Fry’s and Safeway in Anthem. The shifts begin the day before Thanksgiving and run through Christmas Eve on Fridays and Saturdays. Two-hour shifts are available on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Longer shifts are available upon request.

If you would like to help ring bells for the Anthem Salvation Army Extension Unit, please contact the following Rotarians to volunteer for shifts: To ring the silver bells at Frys, contact Tom Leyda at 760-485-5549 or email him at Anthemsa@yahoo.com. To ring the bells at Wal-Mart, contact Larry Evans at larryevans@aol.com. To ring the bells at Safeway, contact Tim Maki at TimMaki@qwest.net.

If you are unable to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Extension Unit, but would like to donate to the Salvation Army, please send your donation made payable to The Salvation Army-Anthem.

Mailing address 3655 W Anthem Way A109, PMB 107, Anthem, AZ 85086.

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eve n ts

One of the finest Assisted Living Homes is located rving the Anthemright community since 2003. here in Anthem?

Dec. 8 Anthem’s Holiday in the Park to Celebrate Season of Diversity The Anthem community will celebrate the holiday season with its first Holiday in the Park event on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Community Park’s center pavilion/gazebo area. This family event highlights several holiday celebrations with multicultural games, activities and food.

Did you know... ...one of the finest Assisted Living Homes is located right here in Anthem?

must say…I’ve put a lot of thought into “ Ifinding a place for my mom for years!

I knew that it wasn’t safe for her to live alone yet the process of finding a place was so overwhelming! Until I found Anthem Senior Living. They helped us tremendously and even though their facility in Anthem was full, through their Eldermom Senior Placement Service we found the perfect fit for mom within days. We’re so thankful for the amazing FREE service and best of all… mom is thriving yet again! - Jeff, AZ

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The park will be aglow with festive lights and ornaments, including 300 luminaries to line the paths. Members from Musical Theatre of Anthem (MTA) will showcase their talent by singing festive holiday tunes throughout the evening. Families can partake in Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza-themed crafts as well as enjoy cookies, coffee, hot chocolate and popcorn. Santa will be available for photo opportunities in the center gazebo, and the Daisy Mountain Railroad, a.k.a. the Candy Cane Express, will be decorated for the occasion and will provide train rides throughout the park.

Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at the Anthem Community Center’s front desk. Admission for the event is $8 in advance and $10 at the door for Anthem residents, and $10 in advance and $12 at the door for non-residents. Price includes one train ride. Children 12 months and under are free.

Photos with Santa can be self-taken or can be purchased for $8 and includes two 5” x 7” prints.

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Dec. 9-11 Carefree Christmas Festival The 4th Annual Carefree Christmas Festival is being held in the town of Carefree Dec. 9-11. This three day outdoor market allows attendees to feel the Christmas spirit, with real snow in the desert, giant cacti glowing and twinkling in the night and an Electric Light Parade that weaves its way around one of the world’s largest sundials.

The highlight of the festival is the Saturday evening parade beginning at 6 p.m. The parade features Christmas floats and concludes with a fireworks display at 8 p.m. www.carefreechristmasfestival.com

eve nts Dec. 9 & 10 The Nutcracker Come along and enjoy as seventeen very talented and delightful children bring the classic Christmas tale, The Nutcracker, to life. By adding splendid lyrics to a simplified version of Tchaikovsky’s famous score, this unique version of The Nutcracker captures the magic and fantasy of the ballet story.

Performances will be held at the Cross of Christ Church (39808 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem) on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Anthem Community Center, or from a cast member, and cost only $5 for children, and $8 in advance ($10 at the door) for adults.

623-594-3832 OnTheTowne@cox.net

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Dec. 9 &10 Holiday Events at Shops at Norterra Rev up your engines for a special holiday edition of the Norterra Car Show on Friday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. Car buffs, kids and families can rub shoulders with the jolly elf himself during the special “Cruisin’ With Santa” event. Event goers will also enjoy live music, complimentary goodie bags, hot chocolate and cookies as well as free holiday face painting for the kids.

Continue the holiday cheer with the Sounds of the Holidays on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. Nine different student groups from the Deer Valley Unified School District will showcase their talents and serenade shoppers in three different locations around the shopping center.

Visits from Santa, hot chocolate and cookies will complete the holiday cheer.

“Holiday events at the Shops at Norterra focus on families. We enjoy providing free and lowcost activities that get area residents in the holiday spirit this time of year,” Marketing Director Stephanie Bugno said.

The Shops at Norterra is located on the northeast corner of I-17 and Happy Valley Rd.

Dec. 11 BCHS Golf Team Golf Day The Boulder Creek High School Boys’ and Girls’ Golf Teams are hosting a golf tournament at the Anthem Golf and Country Club Ironwood Course, to raise needed funds to maintain this successful program. Competing in Division I for the first time, the boys team finished 7th in the state. On the girls side, senior Kelly Flynn qualified as an individual to the state championship, where she placed 39th.

Funds raised from the golf day will go toward supplying the team with golf bags and balls for the coming seasons as well as pay for tournament entries.

Entry to this scramble event is $100 per player, with plenty of great prizes on offer.

Get your foursome together and help a great program of boys and girls to pursue their dreams in the game of golf.

Dec. 16 MTA Holiday Show

bchsgolf@yahoo.com 602-402-8700

Musical Theatre of Anthem (MTA) announces its upcoming Holiday Show, filled with the sounds of the season. “This show has something for everyone, including classic carols, popular music, and a few surprises,” said producer, director and vocal director Jackie Hammond. Act I will feature professional-performing adults, and Act II will feature the very talented youth of MTA. The performance takes place on December 16 at 7 p.m. at Fellowship Church, 39905 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem. Tickets may be purchased online for $15, or for $16 at the door.

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Dec. 17 & 18 NVAC Renaissance Yuletide Feaste The joyous holiday traditions of Merrie Olde England will be recreated in the Great Hall of The Ironwood Castle as the Royal Renaissance Singers lead guests in Feaste and Frolic to celebrate the Season. Rich costumes, beautiful a capella singing, royal tapestries and a sumptuous five course repast await Lords and Ladies on Dec. 17 and 18, 2011. As Shakespeare said, “such stuff as dreams are made on...”

The feaste will take place at The Ironwood Castle at Anthem Golf and Country Club, 41551 N Anthem Hills Drive, Anthem, on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. (cash bar opens at 6 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. (cash bar opens at 2 p.m.). Tickets for this event are $85 per person.

623-205-5608

Dec. 17 & 18 ProMusica Arizona Celebrate a Joyous Noel!

It’s that time of year when the grand and joyous sounds of the Christmas season bring glad tidings to us all. This year, ProMusica Arizona (PMAZ) continues its holiday musical tradition by celebrating a “Joyous Noel!” with the full complement of its 110-member chorale and orchestra.

The 2011 concert includes exciting arrangements of classic and modern hymns such as John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music” and stirring fully-orchestrated arrangements of ever-popular Christmas favorites including “Silent Night,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “We Three Kings.” The Women’s Chamber Choir will feature a beautiful arrangement of “The First Noel” and the Brass Ensemble will perform several works including the King’s College favorite “Once in David’s Royal City.”

Performances of “Joyous Noel!” are on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. at the Boulder Creek High School Performing Arts Center, 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway in Anthem. To enhance the enjoyment of the production, performances will run without intermission. Ticket prices are Adult $15.00, Senior $12.50, and Student $5.00.

623-465-4650 www.pmaz.org

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Writer Stephanie Maher Palenque Photographer Mike Spinelli

Anthem Veteran’s Memorial

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Even the clouds that hung overhead couldn’t mask the pride or dampen the spirit of those who gathered on Nov. 11, 2011 for the dedication of the greatly-anticipated Anthem Veteran’s Memorial at the Community Park.

The project began more than two years ago and the idea was conceived

by Anthem resident, Retired Rear Admiral Ronald D. Tucker, who served as the project coordinator. He was joined by a team of volunteers – all Anthem residents - who helped the concept to become a reality, including artist Renee Palmer Jones, and Steve Rusch, Draftsman, Model Maker, and Consultant to Artist, Jim Martin, Civil Engineer, and Elizabeth Turner, Communications.

The memorial stands among pavers inscribed with the names, ranks, and dates of service of more than 750 veterans that form the “Circle of Honor.”

The five marble-covered pillars in the Memorial represent the five branches of the United States military. They are staggered in size and the military seal placements on each pillar are based upon the Department of Defense prescribed precedence, ranging from the United State Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard.

Craig Boates, Anthem Community Council president served as the dedication master of ceremony. Other speakers included project originator United States Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.) Ron Tucker, Congressman Ben Quayle (AZ-District 3) and local Veterans Day parade chair, Mary Ann Derryberry. Music was provided

by ProMusica Arizona Brass Ensemble. At precisely 11:11 a.m. there was an impressive Pentagon-approved four-plane flyover from Luke Airforce Base.

The Memorial was constructed by the Haydon Building Corp. in Phoenix.

Haydon provided their materials and labor at cost and assumed no profit from the project. The project has the support of the local Daisy Mountain Veterans, which includes the VFW Post 12031, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 128, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 128. The Anthem Community Council, donated space in the Anthem Community Park for the Memorial and provided up-front funding of the project.

Project originator United States Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.) Ron Tucker expressed that he was “gratified by the turnout, the response of the community, and the tremendous amount of pride that the community has exhibited in the Memorial.”

He called it a “tremendous community enhancement.” Ron also expressed his “gratitude to all of the volunteers for the work done on behalf of the memorial.”

As my family exited the park we caught a glimpse of a grandfather wearing full military dress uniform, hugging his young granddaughter. “I love you,” she said to her grandfather, as she grabbed his neck and looked into his eyes, and he responded with a tear trickling down his cheek, “I love you, too.” Somehow, we knew we had shared in something special that day – a moment of understanding and pride shared among multiple generations. One of many special moments that were made possible by the efforts of a group of volunteers who, in the spirit of those who serve and have served, have worked tirelessly to make their dream come true. The Anthem community thanks and honors you!

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead

We Care

Writer Stephanie Maher Palenque

Perhaps the best testament to the amazing work that We Care Anthem has done on behalf of seriously ill children for the past nine years is a beaming Josh Coppoth who was happily volunteering at this year’s annual We Care Golf Tournament in a red tee-shirt proclaiming “Cancer Sucks.” For the past three years, the event has benefited him, and he is currently cancer free and enjoying life, as well as the opportunity to give back to the organization that helped him during his time of need. According to his mom, attending the event is the highlight of his year.

This year, there is one young person who desperately needs the proceeds of the tournament.

Katie Wagner, a sixteen-year-old sophomore at Boulder Creek High School is battling stage four Rhabdomyosarcoma which has metastasized to her bones and lungs. On Friday, Nov. 18, the community came together to support her and her family and the result was an amazing $14,000 collected on her behalf, to be placed in her We Care account for medical expenses.

There was also an auction held on the same day, by ACTS (Anthem Cares Through Service), and some of the proceeds were earmarked for Katie Wagner. The auction was made possible by not only many business owners who were generous in their support of the cause through donations, but also a cadre of volunteers who worked tirelessly in preparation for the auction.

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As we all know, while money cannot erase the medical trials that a child has to endure, it can certainly make the journey less stressful for the child and his or her family. If you missed the We Care Golf Tournament and ACTS Auction, there are still opportunities to make a difference through We Care Anthem. One of these opportunities is by purchasing a raffle ticket for the 2012 Ford Focus donated by Sanderson Ford to help the Wagner Family. The vehicle is currently parked outside of The Children’s Place at the Outlets at Anthem. Tickets are currently on sale until December 23 when Katie Wagner will pull the winning ticket and make it a very Merry Christmas for one lucky ticket holder. Tickets are $5 each and available for purchase at the following businesses during normal business hours: Justin Simons, State Farm: Safeway Shopping Center (3655 West Anthem Way) Wood Orthodontics: (3618 W. Anthem Way #D108 behind CVS) Yogurt Garden: Fry’s Shopping Center

(39504 N. Daisy Mountain, Ste. 104) Sanderson Ford: (6400 N. 51st Ave., Glendale) A very big “thank you” to all of the people who are making these donations possible, especially to Sanderson Ford, and the other business owners in the community who have taken the lead and have demonstrated what it means to get into the spirit of the season!

A We Care in Anthem account has been set up for Katie Wagner at Mid First Bank, the account number is 2033005575. We Care is a 501c3 Anthem AZ non profit corporation.

Created in 2001 to help families with children with life threatening illness.

We Care is a volunteer run corporation and 100% of the funds will benefit Katie and her family. If you are going to make a donation that requires a receipt for tax deductible benefit, mail your check to We Care in Anthem 3655 West Anthem Way Ste A-109 PMB 280 Anthem, AZ 85086 or visit Mid First Bank in Anthem.

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December Apple Award Winner: Gayle Melvin Diamond Canyon, Kindergarten

Excellence in Education

Writer Amanda Christmann Larson Photography by Jerri Parness

ImagesAZ wants to acknowledge some of the most unique and creative teachers and programs in our schools. Each month, we recognize a teacher or program nominated by people or organizations within the community with our Apple Award. The educators we feature are dedicated individuals whose commitment to their students is admirable and inspirational. They represent their school, their community and also the thousands of other teachers who strive each day to make a difference.

Nominate a Teacher 36

If you would like to nominate a teacher or administrator for an ImagesAZ Apple Award, please send the name of the person(s) you’d like to nominate, as well as the school where they work and their outstanding or innovative achievements to shelly@imagesaz.com.

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December Apple Award Winner: Gayle Melvin, Diamond Canyon Kindergarten

Once upon a time, a baby bee was born. He’d spent three weeks growing and changing inside of his honeycomb hole until he was finally ready to chew his way out and enter the world. He chewed and chewed until his head popped through. When he looked out, he saw a beautiful land filled with flowers and trees. He was so excited to explore it! He kept chewing as fast as he could until first two legs, and then his whole body, emerged from the tiny hole.

He shook off and cleaned himself, wiggling and wriggling his body as he dried, then noticed the tiny wings on his back. They were the most beautiful things he had ever seen—delicate as the slightest shaving of glass, and patterned like the finest lace.

He looked around and saw so many opportunities! His eyes settled on a beautiful pink flower with nectar so pure that it hung like crystal. He only needed to get to it. “I can do it!” the bee said to himself, mustering up the courage to try out his wings. He flapped them faster and faster and rose high above the honeycomb, until he reached the flower and drank.

No one ever told the bee that his wings were too small. He never knew that others doubted him. In fact, if he would have listened to experts, they would have told him that there was no possible way his tiny wings could lift his round body and make it fly. All he knew was that he wanted to fly and he believed he could; and so he did.

For 25 years, Gayle Melvin has been helping little bees to fly.

She has created that voice inside of the heads of hundreds of children that says, “You can do it!” As the first full-time kindergarten teacher in Anthem, she has been a part of the lives of many of this year’s graduating senior class, and for many, she will always represent that encouraging smile, warm hug and nurturing support that cultivated their love for learning.

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All around Mrs. Melvin’s kindergarten room at Diamond Canyon Elementary are reminders that learning is fun.

From brightly colored pictures of numbers, letters, shapes and colors to calendars and charts, children are reminded all morning or afternoon that the world is full of things to learn. And there are bees. Lots of happy bees.

“I think it’s so important, every morning, to greet the children at the door with a smile and welcome them into my room,” she explained, speaking with the same smile and seemingly limitless patience that she shows her students. “At the end of the day when they leave, I give them a goodbye and tell them to have a great day.

You never know … I might be that one person who makes a difference for them that day.”

Watching Mrs. Melvin in her classroom, it’s clear she makes a difference for a lot of her students every day.

As the children work intently at learning stations, writing, word building and doing math, she works with a reading group at a separate table nearby. Five little faces watch her closely as she holds up picture cards. They are working on words that end in -at, using phonics and fun to sound out the words. “That’s ‘cat’!” says a little girl with a big smile on her face.

“That’s right! Very good! I knew you could do it!” says Mrs. Melvin. She leads all of the children through exercises to sound out the word, and not one of them looks bored or distracted.

The next word is ‘brat,’ and the children sound it out.

“Can anyone tell me what a brat is?” asks Mrs. Melvin.

One little boy, eager to share, answers. “I know what a brat is,” he says. “It’s a nasty kid,” he answers as he wrinkles his nose.

“How about a kid who is not showing any honor?” Mrs. Melvin suggests. The children nod their heads. They

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have learned about honor.

All the while, two classroom helpers monitor the progress of other students. All of the charges are about three feet high, and their little voices fill the air with happy chatter about their work. Everyone is focused, and each child knows what he or she is supposed to be doing.

“People don’t give five-year-olds credit for what they can learn,” she says. “They are little sponges. If you give them opportunities to learn and tell them they can do it, they do learn so much.”

Beneath the busy exterior is a steady calm created by hours and hours of organization and planning. These children are in their first semester of school. They arrive in August with different levels of skills and challenges.

Some have had years of pre-school learning, and others have never sat at a desk. Mrs. Melvin has the unique ability to nudge every child into the daily routine.

They know when to line up and when to sit quietly.

They put their hands on top of their heads when she is giving directions, so as not to be distracted by busy fingers. They are anxious to please her, so they follow directions and listen carefully. But most of all, they love her, and she loves them back.

“These children bring so much joy in my life,” she says, and it is clear that she means it.

“She is just amazing,” said one of her classroom helpers. “My daughter had her, and she’s one of the teachers you hope each of your children gets assigned to.” That sentiment is felt by many people about Mrs. Melvin, from other teachers to office staff to parents. It seems her students, though, are her biggest fans. She occasionally sees them around town, at football games or in the grocery store. After 25 years of teaching, many of her kindergarteners have gone on to college, gotten married or taken other paths in life.

“I recognize all of my past students,” she explains. “Sometimes I can’t come up with their names, but I know their faces. They’ve lost their baby fat, but they look the same,” she adds with a smile. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to see them now and see what they’re doing.”

She recalls seeing one student not so long ago. “He used to growl at me every day!” she said with a laugh. “I had to seat him in the front row so I could keep an eye on him, and he would sit in his little chair and just growl. It was one of those things where I had to cover my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing, and I had to tell him, no, we don’t do that in my class.”

“When I saw him, he asked me how he was when he was in my class, and I told him that he growled at me.

He didn’t remember doing that at all, but it was true. He went on to tell me about his life and what he’d done. He had gone on to vocational school and had really done well for himself. It was wonderful to see that he’d done so well because, you know, sometimes I worry about those growlers!”

There is nothing more motivating for Mrs. Melvin than interacting with children. She has always loved them.

She grew up in Colorado, and when she was in high school, she volunteered with younger children, mentoring them, tutoring them, or whatever they needed. She realized then the impact she could have on a child’s life.

Thirty one years ago, Mrs. Melvin married her husband and got on an airplane to go on her honeymoon. At the end of the vacation, the couple landed in Phoenix, and she has made her home in the Valley since then, as Mrs. Melvin the Teacher.

She first worked for Cartwright School District, and came to Anthem

when Anthem School was the only school in town. She’s now at Diamond Canyon, and has enjoyed every class. “This community is wonderful,” she says.

She has nothing but good things to say about Deer Valley Unified School District. “My kids grew up in this district. You’re a mom first and then an employee, and they support that in this district. I’ve really been happy with Deer Valley. I have been able to improve myself as a teacher and as a person here because they have always offered opportunities for growth,” she explains.

In the past year, she became a grandmother. “I always said I would be the best grandmother ever. I want to take him to school and pick him up, and be a classroom helper in his kindergarten room. That means I have about five years left in this classroom, which is just about right, I think.”

In her classroom, the lesson is over, and so is the learning day. The children file their work in color-coded folders and clean their work space.

They anxiously await Mrs. Melvin to call their color so they can sit on the brightly patterned rug in the back of the room. When their color is called, each group lines up to place their folders in color-coded filing containers, then sit down on the rug.

As bus riders file in line at the door, the rest of the class keeps busy singing “Apples and Bananas,” a kindergarten favorite anywhere.

Finally, as the students whose parents are picking them up from school are forming their buddy train to head out the door, Mrs. Melvin tells each child goodbye and to have a great day.

And at the end of each day, each little bee flaps its wings and flies off, because Mrs. Melvin told each one that they could do it, and they believed.

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Outdoors

Writer Jeffrey Cody

CAVE CREEK REGIONAL PARK:

SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS

EXPERIENCING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INFO: Cave Creek Regional Park is located north of Carefree Highway, seven miles east of I-17 and two miles north on 32nd Street. Park admission is $6 per vehicle or $75 for a yearly vehicle pass.

What to bring: Please wear sturdy shoes (closed-toe), dress appropriately for the weather, and bring more water than you think you will need.

NOTES: Fees for guided hikes and programs are included in the park entry fee of $6 per vehicle or with your annual pass. Reservations are not required unless specified in the program description. Hikes/programs are canceled if heavy inclement weather is imminent. If possible, canceled hikes will be posted on the website. For more detailed explanation of events visit CCRP at: www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek.

*Hikes/programs are canceled if heavy, inclement weather is imminent. Canceled hikes and updates will be posted on the website. www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek.

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Ah, the brisk, invigorating morning air of December in the Sonoran Desert. It is the time of year that reminds us why we live in the Valley of the Sun, the time of year to drive to Cave Creek Regional Park (CCRP) to experience one of the many adventures planned for your enjoyment by Ranger Sarah Steele and her corps of enthusiastic volunteers.

the reptiles in the Nature Center enjoy their monthly meal at 1 p.m. on Dec. 10th, and then learn about all of our venomous neighbors at 3 p.m. Maybe you need to hone your skills at surviving in the desert. If so, meet at the Nature Center at 4pm on December 16th to discuss safety and orienting.

Each Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. you are invited to join Ranger Sarah on a trail ride.

Climb aboard one of Cave Creek Trail Ride’s trusty steeds as they ascend the switchbacks from the trailhead and begin to amble along one of the beautiful trails in the park. Ranger Sarah will entertain and astonish you with her stories and facts about the park and its denizens as you take in the beauty in the vistas from this Desert Foothills park. (Registration is required for this fee-based program. Call Cave Creek Trail Rides at 623-742-6700 to sign up.)

Perhaps you just want to sit and be entertained by a good movie. CCRP has thought of that.

Join them at the Nature Center at 5 p.m. on Dec. 17th. They will be showing “Polar Express.” This is a family movie that will provide entertainment for any age. Bring a mat, pillow or blanket and spend the evening in a cozy environment. Concessions will be available for purchase in the nature center; however, you may bring your own food and beverages - no glass containers, please.

Maybe you’d rather provide your own locomotion on the trails of CCRP. Nothing could be easier. Show up on Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. for a two-hour fitness hike, or join Ranger Sarah at 9 a.m. on Dec. 9th and 23rd, as she leads you and a group of like-minded, hearty souls on an informative hike. Of course, no one should miss the Full Moon, Clay Mine Hike. Meet at the Group Campground at 6:30 p.m. on December 10th for fun and adventure as you hike an easy, one-mile trail to the cave.

Once there you will don a helmet provided by the park and enter this mine that once provided a substance touted to cure all your ills. Finally, don’t forget the youngest hikers. Bring the kids to the Nature Center on Saturday, Dec. 17th, for a lesson on desert mammals followed by a short hike to search for wildlife clues.

While there is a lot to learn and enjoy on the trails at CCRP, there are also great programs that take less energy. Watch

Interested in acquiring a new skill? How about archery? On Saturday morning, December 17th at 9 a.m., you can join Ranger Sarah as she provides basic instruction in recreational and internationalstyle target archery. Equipment is provided.

This archery program is open to anyone ages 8 and older, and is limited to 20 participants. Please contact Ranger Sarah at 623-465-0431 x202 to register. The Ranger will return your call to confirm your reservation.

The month and the year end with a hike to burn off those holiday calories. Show up at the Overton Trailhead at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31st to enjoy a brisk 3.2 mile trek.

Along the way you will get to know your fellow hikers and receive some great tips on general fitness and hiking gear.

You won’t want to miss even one of the great adventures at CCRP. You can check out all of the offerings and learn more about each program by visiting their website at: www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek.

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Hit the Road!

As the weather in the rest of the country forces people indoors, here in Phoenix we’re just now emerging from our summer cocoon and into the beautiful outdoors surrounding us.

More and more people are choosing to get out on two wheels. Road bicycles are an increasingly popular mode of transportation, and riders are finding social and competitive opportunities to get out and hop on the saddle.

Road cycling is a great way to get out and move your body, but with more and more bicycles on the roads, it’s more important than ever to know the rules of the road—both as a cyclist and as a driver. Take this quiz to check your road I.Q. A little safety goes a long way when you are on two wheels.

Writer Amanda Christmann Larson Photography By Brenna Photography

like Flagstaff, do mandate helmet use. But from a common sense standpoint, you should always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

“Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of brain injury,” says Daisy Mountain Fire Department Bicycle Safety Coordinator AJ Valentyn.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety agrees. The latest statistics show that 91% (check out that statistic again … 91%) of cyclist deaths in both 2008 and 2009 were directly related to the cyclist not wearing a helmet.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety released data that shows that, in children four to 15 years old, helmets would have prevented 39,000 – 45,000 head injuries and up to 55,000 face and scalp injuries annually.

True or False: Helmets are optional.

We started off with a tricky question. The answer to this one is two-fold. Legally, it is your right to choose whether or not to wear a helmet, although some cities,

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So wearing a helmet is your choice, but it seems like a no-brainer.

True or False: The sidewalk is the safest place for both children and adults to ride.

Many parents encourage, or even require their children to ride their bicycles on the sidewalk, but the answer to this question is actually false.

“When people, especially children, ride on the sidewalk, they are lower than cars or trucks that may be pulling out of driveways, and they are often in the driver’s blind spot. It is much safer, when riding through neighborhoods, to ride on the right side of the roadway and to be watching for cars pulling out of driveways,” says Valentyn. “When people are backing out of driveways, that’s when accidents happen.”

Of course, children shouldn’t be allowed to ride in heavy traffic, and adult accompaniment and supervision are always a good idea. Teach your children to always stay in the far right of the roadway and not swerve into traffic. If they are too young to understand these simple road rules, they are too young to ride without you.

True or False: Motorized vehicles have the right-of-way when bicycles are on the road.

Based on the behavior of many drivers, the answer to this question may surprise many people. Bicycles have the same rights to the roadway as any other vehicle. By Arizona statute, motor vehicles must give cyclists three feet of clearance when passing.

Drivers can even face criminal charges if they endanger a cyclist who has the right-of-way, and can face assault and/or battery charges if they throw anything at or strike a cyclist. The golden rule here is “Share the Road.”

True or False: Experienced and safe cyclists always ride on the shoulder of the road when there is no bicycle lane.

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Have you ever checked out the shoulder of many roadways? Carefree Highway, New River Road and many other roadways frequented by cyclists have long stretches of nice, wide shoulders, but also have sections of shoulder that are full of gravel, debris, glass and pot holes. A road bicycle has tiny tires, and striking some of this debris can send a rider flying or the bike toppling over. There are times when cyclists must enter the roadway to avoid obstacles.

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But here’s the thing … cyclists do have a right to be on the road. Give them space.

By the same token, cyclists should always check over their shoulder to see what traffic is coming before entering a lane.

Cyclists may need to slow down and wait for a car or two to pass before entering the lane. A car weighs about 100 times that of a bicycle. A truck weighs about 4,000 times more.

Even though everyone in or on a vehicle has a right to the roadway, the bicycle will always lose in a collision.

True or False: It is a good idea to ride a bicycle in the opposite direction of travel so that the cyclist can see traffic approaching.

This one is false, false, false. When a car is pulling into a roadway, they rarely check for vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Just like motorized vehicles, cyclists are much more likely to get hit by turning traffic if they are riding in the wrong traffic lane.

Cycling groups are a great way to find people with similar interests. Strap on a helmet and find a group! Here are a few near you: Arizona Bike Club (ABC) Desert Foothills Chapter Meets at Bicycle Vibe, 2605 W. Carefree Hwy. (1.1 miles east of I-17 on the south side of the road).

Saturday Morning Early Riser Ride, Weekend Social Ride and Weekday Rides available.

True or False: It is ok to ride a bicycle at night as long as the cyclist has a red reflector on the back of her bicycle and a white light attached to the front.

Contact: Neill Thompson Neill@AZBikeClub.org 623-326-3455, Kristi Moore Kristi@AZBikeClub.org 928-202-2658, Amber Mellano, Bicycle Vibe 623-582-3111.

This is true. A white headlight identifies the front of all vehicles,

Team Anthem Multi-Sport club (running, cycling and swimming) with monthly meetings and weekly workouts.

Follow them at www.teamanthem.com or on Facebook under the group name “Team Anthem.”

including bicycles. A bicycle is always required by law to have a headlight at night. A front reflector, such as those sold on new bicycles, is not sufficient. A red rear flasher is also required at night.

True or False: It can take a cyclist many feet to stop, even if they brake hard.

In shopping centers and on roadways, motor vehicle drivers often pull out from parking spots or side roads thinking that cyclists will stop for them, presumably because they are bigger. Road bikes often go 20-25 mph, especially going down hills, and stopping quickly is not only dangerous, it’s incredibly difficult.

Cyclists should always slow down in parking lots and neighborhoods where cars can be backing out of driveways.

At the same time, motor vehicles need to be watchful for cyclists when turning onto roadways. When looking to the left and to the right, don’t just look for other cars or trucks— look for bicycles, too. They’re easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention, and that mistake can be fatal.

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Team Bicycle Vibe Meets 7 a.m. on Sundays at Bicycle Vibe for a no-drop ride. Free lattes and lemonades after the ride. Visit www.bicyclevibe.com and click on “Shop Rides.”

Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club Rides nearly every day of the week throughout the Phoenix Metro Area. www.pmbcaz.org/rideschedule Fly Jr. Cycling Development Team Youth rides and training. Promotes riding, leadership, nutrition, life skills and more.

Contact: Dr. Chris Wylie - Team Director, 623-640-3133, chriswylie@thecaepeschool.org If you know of a cycling group that we missed, let us know so we can post it online. Contact shelly@ imagesaz.com.

To be safe and avoid accidents, bicyclists should ride with traffic and be aware of hazards, cars, and people around them. Bike smart and follow these safety tips for biking in Arizona: m Ride on the right - Always ride with the flow of traffic. Riding against traffic is dangerous. m Ride predictably - Follow the same rules motorists do, and travel in a straight line without swerving. m Obey traffic control devices (signs, signals, lane markings) Bicyclists must follow the rules of the road like other vehicles.

Protect your head - Always wear a helmet, even on the shortest trips. m Follow lane markings - Don’t turn left from the right lane.

Don’t ride straight in a lane marked Right-Turn Only. m Ride correctly through intersections - Use the right-most lane that goes in your direction. If you’re heading straight, get in the through lane, not to the right of a right-turning vehicle. m Signal before you move or stop - Hand signals let drivers and others know what you intend to do. m Enter streets and intersections cautiously - Always check for oncoming traffic. m Ride defensively on the road - Anticipate hazards and be ready to adjust your position in traffic. m Don’t ride on the sidewalk - Bicycles (except postal and police bicycles) are not legal on sidewalks in many cities. m Be visible and be seen - Wear bright colors to increase your visibility and make eye contact with drivers. m Look behind you - Know how to look over your shoulder and not swerve or lose balance. Rear-view mirrors are an option.

Source: Arizona Department of Transportation The Arizona Department of Transportation has a great Internet resource for cyclists, including laws and policies, maps and organizations. Visit www.azbikeped.org for more information.

And, above all, share the road.

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SamAcho

Arizona Cardinals’ something to look up to

Writer Amanda Christmann Larson

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verybody needs someone to look up to, yet all too often those in the spotlight are embroiled in controversy. While so many of society’s heroes are making headlines for all the wrong reasons, Arizona Cardinals’ rookie outside linebacker Sam Acho is a breath of fresh air. At just 23 years old, he’s a rising star both on and off the field, and he’s the type of guy we all want our sons to become.

Acho is a big guy. Weighing in at 257 pounds and 6’3” tall, Number 94 is built more like a defensive end, which is what he played in college at the University of Texas. His speed and agility earned him a spot on the Cardinals roster as an outside linebacker; he’s fast, and there is no doubt that he is an outstanding athlete.

Acho is one of only seven two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in University of Texas Longhorn history, was named the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete of 2010, and is a seven-time member of UT’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He holds the 10th highest record for sacks in Longhorn history with 31.5.

Acho won a host of other awards, including the Academic Heisman and induction into UT’s Friar Society, the oldest and most prestigious honor society in Texas. He was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the Intercultural Club and the student government and took part in several clubs and service projects while earning a double degree in business administration and marketing from Texas’ McCombs School of Business Honors Program.

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“You hear guys talk about having an “Audience of One,” he said. “Sometimes I’ve found myself caught up in trying to do something to impress a coach or my friends, but I’ve got to keep reminding myself that I’ve got an Audience of One. You have to ask yourself if what you’re doing is pleasing to God. That’s the real test.” ~ Sam Acho 48

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That’s only half the story, though. Acho is a genuine guy. He’s a class act. He’s known for giving 100%, 100% of the time, and he doesn’t leave that dedication on the football field.

Being an NFL player does not seem to have stoked Acho’s ego, but it may help create awareness for something about which he cares deeply. Twenty years ago, his father started Living Hope Ministries after returning to his native Nigeria and finding that friends were dying from a lack of the most basic drugs and medical care. Acho grew up volunteering with Living Hope Ministries, traveling with doctors, nurses, surgeons, dentists and other medical personnel to provide care for some of the world’s poorest people. Last year, several Texas teammates joined him, and this year, he may be bringing some professional players with him on his annual mission.

He doesn’t do it for the fame or the kudos; he doesn’t even do it for his family or his coaches.

He does it all out of his unwavering faith in God and his willingness to serve. It’s an attitude instilled in him by his parents, Dr. Sonny and Mrs. Christie Acho of Dallas, Texas, and his siblings are carrying on the tradition. His sister Stephanie works in the ministry as well, and his brother Emmanuel, who is a linebacker at the University of Texas, is also dedicated and involved.

“People have stereotypes of the typical athlete, the typical football player,” Acho explained in a quick break after practice. “My spiritual goal is to not conform to what people believe … my goal is to continue to walk the walk and talk the talk and to continue to be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” See. He is all that and a box of chocolate.

Acho was a fourth-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals. It was a surprise to him because other teams had wooed him with promises of second- or third-round choices, and the Cardinals were not one of the teams that he’d spoken to. Still, he said he’s happy and proud to wear Cardinal Red, even if

he’s starting out at the bottom of the barrel.

“I’m loving Phoenix so far,” he said. “I’ve been here three or four months now. I came down right after the draft and began practicing during the lockout with some of the big guys—Adrian Wilson, Calais Campbell and some of those guys. It’s great to see some of these veterans and how they work to prepare themselves for every game, every minute they’re out there. They give their all at all times.”

Acho continued, “I want to continue to get better and learn from the older generation of players.

Respect isn’t given, it’s earned, and I’ve got to work hard to earn that respect. Right now, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, with exactly the right team and in exactly the right position.”

He seems to be finding exactly the right foundation of strong believers in the Cardinals locker room. Former quarterback Kurt Warner was always known as a leader both on the field and in spirituality, but there is still plenty of that left without him. New Cardinals quarterback Rich Bartel, who’s a bit of a Warner doppelganger with his helmet on, has become a good friend and fellow Christian athlete. There are other players, too, who are working for a higher power.

“You hear guys talk about having an “Audience of One,” he said. “Sometimes I’ve found myself caught up in trying to do something to impress a coach or my friends, but I’ve got to keep reminding myself that I’ve got an Audience of One. You have to ask yourself if what you’re doing is pleasing to God. That’s the real test.”

It will be neat to see how far Acho goes with the Cardinals. As his skills continue to improve and his hard work pays off, he’s making his place on the roster. He certainly represents the team well, with or without his pads and jersey.

“You have to work hard and never let anyone bring you down,” Acho said. “Whatever you’re doing, don’t do it for anyone else. Do it because you love it. Do it because you want to give God the glory.”

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Having a Ball

Anthem/North Gateway Chamber Celebrates its Members The Anthem North Gateway business community recently honored the nominees for its 2011 Small Business Person of the Year Award at its annual holiday party.

The nominees for Small Business Person of the Year were: Bob Andringa, chair, Network of Anthem Area Assistance Providers; Casey Cottrell, owner, Daisy Mountain Painting; Tony Gutowski, chair, Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum; and Tamara Lee, head of school, The Caepe School.

This year’s event was open to the entire business community and included a raffle for a free membership.

Guests enjoyed an elegant atmosphere and a delicious presentation of hors d’oeuvres as well as great company and networking. The event was sponsored by Arizona American Water and Anthem Golf and Country Club and was held at the Ironwood Country Club in Anthem at Ironwood Grille.

Fellow members of the Anthem North Gateway Chamber made the nominations for the Small Business Person of the Year. Nominees are required to be residents of the Anthem North Gateway area or own a business based in the area. Nominees must also demonstrate the following qualities: community involvement, innovation and business accomplishments.

Upcoming Chamber Events Business for Breakfast Thursday, December 8 from 7 - 8:15 a.m.

Hampton Inn 42415 N. 41st Drive Anthem, AZ 85086

Enhance your business... Network with fellow Chamber members.

Please call Debbie Drotar to RSVP 602.495.6483.

Anthem North Gateway Chamber

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Andringa, chair of the Network of Anthem Area Assistance Providers, heads this growing collaborative effort among member organizations, working with 500-plus volunteers to help neighbors in need.

Leaders of these organizations meet monthly to learn about one another’s services, to grow in their ability to serve more individuals and families in need, and to work together in making available resources known to people in need.

As head of school at The Caepe School, Lee and her partners, Darren Lee and Marc Hayes, have strived to create a top-notch private school, while educating children on the importance of giving back. The children at The Caepe School have learned from the leaders that it is each person’s responsibility to help those less fortunate and in need. One of the Caepe’s newest projects is to sponsor and bring children from Haiti’s Apocalypse School to Anthem and expose them to our culture and provide them with a top quality education.

Look for an article featuring the 2011 Small Business Person of the Year in the January issue of ImagesAZ Magazine.

As the owner of a residential painting company, Cottrell donates his services to help improve his community, including painting the underpass between Diamond Canyon School to the other side of Anthem Way in Anthem, where the kids walk daily. Working with the Network of Anthem Area Assistance Providers (NAAAP), each quarter in 2011 he has donated his company’s painting services to Anthem residents who could not afford to keep up with the painting requirements of the community’s HOA policies.

He also started the Hands Across Anthem benefit for Katie Wagner, which was a great success.

The Anthem North Gateway Chamber is an area business’s link to the community and the local network of neighboring businesses. As membership grows, the group is shaping the Phoenix’s North Gateway corridor into a dynamic business environment and making the community an exceptional place to live and work. The Anthem North Gateway Chamber exists to provide business opportunities, share ideas and connect people.

If you are a business leader who wants to be involved with your community and is dedicated to economic vitality, contact Debbie Drotar at ddrotar@phoenixchamber.com or 602-495-6483.

Thank you to our Sponsors.

Anthem Golf and Country Club Anthem Golf and Country Club is a bloom in the desert in the quiet beauty of the high Sonoran Desert foothills at the base of Daisy Mountain. Tucked away within a gated, resort-style community, it was voted the Best Master Planned Community in America by the National Association of Home Builders. The Club is the heart of the country club community and consistently provides the private family club lifestyle that you can afford.

Arizona American Water Over the last several years Gutowski, also the owner of Gutowski Cabinet Works, has worked to gather support, raise money and bring awareness to the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum. It was recently acquired by the City of Phoenix and has become a thriving business with a variety of events and faithful volunteers.

The 2010 award was presented to Andrew Zychowski of Andrew Z Diamonds and Fine Jewelry in Anthem.

Arizona American Water is your local water and wastewater company, serving about 317,000 people, supplying high quality water and wastewater service.

We abide by regulations, invest in our vast infrastructure, develop industry innovations, educate our customers on wise water use, and help out where we can in our cities and towns.

Nanette McClelland Miller, 42104 N Venture Dr, Suite C118 Anthem, AZ 85086 Bus: 623-742-6866 nanette@nanettemiller.com www.nanettemiller.com Facebook.com/ AZHomeAutoInsurance

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Writer Amanda Christmann Larson Photography by Jerri Parness

Road Less Traveled

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I’ve set out on a mission to find 12 remarkable people in 12 months. I want to know what makes them tick ...what inspires them and how they ended up on that uncharted path. Has it been worth it? Would they change it? What can I learn from them? What does the world have to learn from them? I’m about to find out by letting them take me along their roads less traveled.

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Road Less Traveled Month 7: Amber Mellano

Finding Balance on a Bike She loved to travel, having been fortunate enough to visit six foreign countries, and 49 states in the course of her career. She enjoyed meeting so many people from different walks of life, but she wanted something more. She wanted passion and purpose in her life, but she didn’t quite know how to get it.

One of her loves was cycling. She purchased her first road bike shortly after moving to Phoenix in 2004 as a way to meet new people. She tried racing in 2007 The best way to catch up with Amber Mellano is on two wheels. If you live in the North Valley, chances are good you’ve seen her pedal by on her bicycle. If not, you’ve probably met other cyclists who have hung

but felt it just wasn’t for her. “I hated losing, but not enough to do the work required to win!” she laughs.

Still, she pedaled on, and as she did, she started to

out in her shop, Bicycle Vibe, on Carefree Highway.

find others who shared her love of cycling. Cycling

It’s easy to see from Amber’s smile and laid-back

anything else in her life. It became her stress relief and

friendliness that she’s happy doing what she’s doing, but what most people don’t realize is the process it took to get her there. She listened to her heart and took a big leap of faith to open her shop, and it’s

was fun and fulfilling in an entirely different way than her joy. When she was on her bike, it was meditative, medicative and motivative. Her love affair with the feel of the road beneath her tires as she pedaled to the splendor of the morning sunrise became a full-

paying off in ways big and small.

blown romance, and she was hooked.

Everyone has a passion, but very few follow it. Amber was

In July of 2009, while she followed the Tour de France

among those who put her passion on the back burner while following more “practical” pursuits for many years.

She planned to go to law school after college, but spent time working on a Congressional campaign for a California politician and decided law and politics weren’t for her.

Then, she worked for a non-profit wildlife advocacy group before landing in software training and sales.

For years, she hopped on and off of airplanes, spending much of her time in different cities and office buildings.

on television, a plan began to brew in her head. She so often found herself daydreaming about having a bikefriendly atmosphere to go to watch the race coverage while enjoying a tasty latte in like-minded company.

The seed was planted, and she let it grow.

In the meantime, though she liked her job, it wasn’t completely fulfilling and she longed to do something more meaningful with her time. The more she rode Dec em b er 2 0 1 1

53

her bike, the more balanced she felt on the inside. “I have always liked the feeling of being out on the open road,” she says. “I used to like to drive my car fast with the windows down and the music up.

Being on my bike is like the ultimate convertible ride. And eventually I discovered that the more I rode my bike, the saner I felt. The exercise was as good for my mental health as it was for my physical health.”

Then she saw an article in a bicycling magazine about a bike shop with a coffee bar in it. The seed took hold. She started to develop a business plan, casually looking into how much money would be needed to buy a bike store and set it up. The more she talked about it, the more she started to realize it was a realistic goal. She began to believe in the plan, and she began to believe in herself.

She read a quote that posed the question – “What would you attempt to do if you knew that you could not fail?”

The answer came easily: open a bicycle shop with a coffee bar.

A mentor at work gave her the last bit of encouragement she needed.

He showed her that very same article about the bike shop with the coffee bar in it, and told her to go for it. “I thought, If he thinks I can do it, I think I can do it,” Amber recalls.

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When she came across a shop 30 miles away for sale and considered buying there, “it really clarified for me that my passion was to open a bike shop in my community,” she says. There were no bicycle shops in the immediate Anthem or Tramonto area, a fact she and all of the cyclists in the community were frequently lamenting. So, she began doing research on what it would take to open her own shop. She wrote a business plan and the ball was rolling. She found the building space next to Connolly’s in the Mountainside Fitness shopping center, and everything seemed to fall into place. She took her business plan and her intentions to a bank. They promptly sent her out the door with no funding.

Some people would have given up at that point and stuck with the sure thing. She had a great job, and she still got to ride her bike sometimes.

The thing was, though, that she’d come to believe in herself and her dream, and she didn’t want to let it die. Just as she did when she fell on her bike, Amber picked herself up and got back in the saddle.

This time, she went to her family. She was determined to make it work, and they believed in her. They found a way to get the funding she needed to get started.

Bicycle Vibe opened in September of 2010, just over a year after the idea took root. Bicycle Vibe is the “Cheers” of the North Valley bicycle community. Amber often jokes about being “Norm,” the friendly patron of the bar stool in the 80s sitcom. Everywhere she goes, people know her name, whether she’s on her bike or her dudded-out Bicycle Vibe car. They also recognize the other love of her life, her little dog Enzo, who knows the shop as his second home.

Even more than the store, she’s created her own community, from her friendly and skilled staff to the Team Bicycle Vibe riders who hop on their road bikes for 25-30 miles of fun and friendship—followed by free lattes and lemonades—every Sunday morning. She’s surrounded by caring and driven people who, like her, share a love for the bike lane.

Amber’s story isn’t about a bike shop. It’s about a woman who created her own happiness. She had a dream, and she went with it. Sure, it took a lot of planning and a lot of guts, and a lot of hard work and luck. But with a little help and a lot of smiles, she dropped the hammer and rode it out.

Road Less Traveled Dec em b er 2 0 1 1

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&

Milk

P

Cookies

By Stephanie Maher Palenque

utting out milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve is a ritual that few people forget from their youth. It was one of the highlights of my Christmas – my sisters, Patty, Susan and I knew that Santa preferred tea and cookies, so that is what we put out every Christmas Eve. We then tried to stay awake as long as possible so that we could listen for the hooves of Santa’s reindeer on our rooftop. Some years, we actually heard the “clip clop” that signaled Santa’s arrival! The next morning, in our footed-sleepers, we would run to the dining room table first to be sure that Santa had actually arrived the night before.

It is believed that this tradition emerged around the time of the Great Depression, when parents wanted to inspire their children to share with others, especially in hard times. Offering milk and cookies to Santa does have a practical use, as well ...it may be the ultimate bargaining tool for kids to position themselves for better gifts the next morning, or get off of the “naughty list” at the last minute!

As with most family traditions, this one can be made as elaborate or as simple as possible. Make homemade cookies with your little ones and use old family favorite recipes, or discover new ones together (see the recipe for Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookies in this issue). You can also use the opportunity to check out one of these wonderful Valley bakeries (below).

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U B K

urban cookies Just coming off of their “Cupcake Wars” win last summer, Urban Cookies may be just what Santa (or your teacher, friend, or neighbor) ordered for this season. Brady and wife, Shaun Breese believe in good old fashioned fresh, high-quality, organic ingredients and a lot of creativity.

These nearly-native, ASU grads have incorporated strong social responsibility into their local familyowned business, and it has paid off! Urban Cookies has garnered national attention, and they are right here in the Valley. Santa might leave an extra present or two for these treats!

4711 N. Seventh St., Phoenix www.urbancookies.com; 602-451-4335

barb’s Bakery Barb’s Bakery has become a fixture in the Valley, as it has been here for longer than most Valley residents. Barb’s Bakery is known for their delicate butter cookies and their creative iced cutout sugar cookies. Their experience and artistry ensure that your Christmas cookies will be ones that Santa will surely not skip on the big night!

The bakery accepts custom orders for holidays and special occasions, and delivery is available!

2929 N. 24th St. (Just north of Thomas on 24th St.) www.barbsbakery.com; 602-957-4422

karsh’s bakery Whether you are celebrating Hannukah or Christmas, Karsh’s Bakery has a full line of breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries that are sure to impress your guests and make your event a great gastronomical memory for years to come. Karsh’s has been in operation since the early 1960s and offers a full line of kosher delights. Karsh’s Bakery is known for Gingerbread Men, Christmas Trees, Snowmen, Star of David, and Dreidel –shaped cookies. They also serve Wreath and Candy Cane breads, as well as holiday cupcakes. Karsch’s accepts custom orders, so be sure to reserve your tray soon!

5555 North 7th St. #116 Cinema Park Plaza, Phoenix (NE corner of 7th St. & Missouri) www.karshsbakery.com; 602-264-4874

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Global Treats for Santa It may come as a surprise that Santa’s palate seems to change as he circumnavigates the globe. These are a few examples of the Christmas Eve snacks that Santa encounters on that special night ...

United States and Canada

Children traditionally leave Santa a glass of milk and cookies, and in more recent years, carrots for the reindeer.

Britain and Australia

Santa is often given sherry and mince pies, and carrots for the reindeer.

Sweden

Children leave rice porridge for Santa.

Ireland

It is popular to give Santa Guinness or milk, along with Christmas pudding or mince pies and carrots for the reindeer.

Denmark

Children fill wooden shoes with hay for Santa’s horses.

Belgium

Children believe that Santa rides a horse, so they leave him hay, carrots, and water for the horse, just outside the house.

TRACK SANTA ON CHRISTMAS EVE Track Santa’s travels online this year! Access www.noradsanta.org and you and your children can get instant updates on Santa’s whereabouts!

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Welcome Robert Allen, MD and Emily Winett, MD to Gavilan Peak Family Practice November 1st ▶ Same-day primary care visits ▶ Accepting new patients ▶ Urgent Care ▶ Radiology Services

Robert Allen, MD

Emily Winett, MD

New Extended Hours!

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623-434-6444 JCL.com/practices

Robert Allen, MD Christina Cardona, DO John Deuel, DO n Emily Winett, MD Romina Lo-Montano, FNP

John C. Lincoln Urgent Care Jerry Fioramonti, MD Stephen Williams, DO

8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

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T

he holiday season with all its many traditions is upon us. Gathering with friends and family to celebrate the special meaning of the holiday and spending time together at events are part of those traditions. Later this month in the North Valley, there are many opportunities to attend events that are old favorites, as well as new ones that add an extra measure of enjoyment to the season.

Celebrating the Season

The first annual Holiday in the Park is scheduled for Dec. 8 at Anthem Community Park, Anthem. This family event highlights several holiday celebrations with multicultural games, activities and food.

The park will be aglow with joyous lights and ornaments, including 300 luminaries to line the paths. Members from Musical Theatre of Anthem (MTA) will showcase their talent by singing festive holiday tunes throughout the evening. Families can partake in Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza-themed crafts as well as enjoy cookies, coffee, hot chocolate and popcorn. Santa will be available for photo opportunities in the center gazebo, and the Daisy Mountain Railroad, a.k.a. the Candy Cane Express, will be decorated for the occasion and will provide train rides throughout the park. For tickets and information see “Details” on page 62.

The fourth annual Carefree Christmas Festival is taking place along Easy Street in downtown Carefree, Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11.

Free holiday events for the entire family take place throughout the weekend and include a Saturday evening Electric Light Parade and Holiday Fireworks Extravaganza, live music, a gift and food market and 25 tons of real snow.

Writer Donna Kublin

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Sunday’s events include Doggies of the North Pole, featuring comedic canines that

were once rescue dogs and are now the stars of the show. A pet parade begins at 9 a.m. with prizes going to the pets with the best holiday costumes.

Also on Sunday, an art auction will be held to benefit pet rescue organizations.

“Let it snow,” said event creator Jo Gemmill, a Carefree resident and owner of the English Rose Tea Room. “This festival was created so that every child could experience the beauty of a holiday winter wonderland.”

Benefits

Coffee Talk with Cowboy takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek. Tom Van Dyke shares tales from his book, “A Cowboy Christmas: An American Tale.”

Books are available for signing. The event includes authentic “cowboy coffee” and honey butter biscuits. Part of the proceeds benefits the library.

Small Works of Art include nearly 200 signed, original works that will be on display and for sale at the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree, through the end of December. Priced at $20 each, some include mini easels or a ribbon making them ready to hang on a holiday tree. The art is perfect for gift giving any time of year as is, as an additional package wrapping ornamentation, or as an addition to a growing collection of mini masterpieces. The proceeds from the sales support Sonoran Arts League YouthArt opportunities.

Renaissance Yuletide Feaste presented by the Arts Council of the North Valley on Saturday,

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Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 18, is a unique way to do a little holiday “time travel” and make the leap to the 15th century. This Valley favorite is making its premier performance and feaste at Ironwood Clubhouse at the Anthem Golf and Country Club.

The joyous holiday traditions of Merrie Olde England will be recreated in the Great Hall of The Ironwood Castle as the Royal Renaissance Singers lead guests in Feaste and Frolic to celebrate the Season. Rich costumes, beautiful a capella singing, Royal tapestries and a sumptuous five course repast await Lords and Ladies. As Shakespeare said, “such stuff as dreams are made on...”

An ensemble of professional singers founded in 1978, the Royal Renaissance Singers quickly gained recognition for their vocal blend and ability to perform a capella music without a conductor. At this special event, they will be wearing beautiful period attire as they accompany their music and dance with recorders, percussion, and other period instruments. Part of the proceeds from the event supports the Arts in Schools programs of the Arts Council of the North Valley. Tickets must be reserved by Dec. 9.

Performances

Pinnacle Concert Series, being held at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in North Scottsdale, includes two widely known groups performing seasonal favorites.

Orpheus Male Chorus will perform holiday music on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Founded in 1929, the

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Orpheus Male Chorus is Arizona’s longest continually performing choral organization. Since its inception, Orpheus has performed widely throughout the Valley and nationally as well as internationally.

The Phoenix Symphony will perform Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.

ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra continues its holiday musical tradition by celebrating a “Joyous Noel!” on Dec. 17 and 18 with the full complement of its 110-member chorale and orchestra.

The concert is being held at Boulder Creek Performing Arts Center in Anthem, and includes exciting arrangements of classic and modern hymns.

There are many ways to celebrate the season and these North Valley events offer excellent ways to continue old traditions or begin some new ones.

Details

Holiday in the Park Anthem Community Park Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Purchase tickets in advance at the Anthem Community Center’s front desk or by calling 623-879-3011. $8 in advance and $10 at the door for Anthem residents, and $10 in advance and $12 at the door for non-residents.

Price includes one train ride. Children 12 months and under are free. i www.OnlineAtAnthem.com

Carefree Christmas Festival Easy Street in Downtown Carefree Friday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. i www.carefreechristmasfestival.com

Coffee Talk with Cowboy Desert Foothills Library 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Ticket $10 i 480-488-2286 or www.desertfoothillslibrary.org

Small Works Sonoran Arts League English Rose Tea Room 201 Easy Street, Carefree Through Dec. 31

Renaissance Yuletide Feaste Presented by the Arts Council of the North Valley The Ironwood Castle at Anthem Golf and Country Club, Anthem 41551 N Anthem Hills Drive, Anthem Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.

Ticket: $85 i 623-205-5608

Pinnacle Concert Series Pinnacle Presbyterian Church 25150 North Pima Road, N. Scottsdale i 480-303-2474 or www.PinnacleConcerts.org

Joyous Noel!

ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra Boulder Creek High School Performing Arts Center 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec.18 at 4 p.m.

Tickets: Adult $15, Senior $12.50, Student $5.00 i www.pmaz.org or 623-465-4650

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Merry Little (and not so little) Markets

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By Stephanie Maher Palenque Photography By Brenna Photography

O

ne of the strongest connections one can have with their home or homeland, is with its food or culinary culture. Let’s face it, very few of us are native Arizonans ...we are all from somewhere, and many of use have strong culinary ties to our homes, or the food of our ancestors. It can represent family, love, and all that comes along with those concepts, including security, comfort, and poignant memories.

When my husband, a Bolivian native, talks about certain dishes from his childhood, I can actually see his mouth change shape – I know he is salivating at the thought of what he enjoyed so many years ago. It is those times that we will usually go on an expedition to a local specialty or ethnic market in search of a particular ingredient from South America. It might be a fruit that is native to his homeland, a canned good produced in South America, or a special type of flour to bake with. These products help him perfect the recipe that he has in mind, and it helps transport him back to relive the culinary memories that he holds dear from so many years ago.

These memories only intensify during the holiday season, when traditional recipes are so important. For many people, certain culinary dishes come to symbolize the Christmas season, and without them, well ...the holiday season really isn’t the same. This season, check out your local specialty and ethnic markets in pursuit of the ingredients for a dish that you haven’t had in a long time. Whether it is something you ate as a child in your native home, or something your parents or grandparents used to make during the holiday season. When you make your dish, take a picture and tell us about it!

Luci’s Healthy Market Place

(all photos in this article are from Luci’s Healthy Market Place) Although Luci’s doesn’t fall into the ethnic category, it is a specialty market that is like no other you have visited. The market features a wide variety of organic and gluten-free foods – most from local and regional vendors - that will help you plan your healthy holiday meals. Luci, herself, hand-selects all of the products sold at the market, as well as choosing the produce used at the local farmers’ market. What better way to spread the love during the holidays?

i 1590 E. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix; www.lucishealthymarketplace.com; 602-773-1339

Pro’s Rancho Market

As one might guess, Pro’s Rancho Market is your one-stop answer to all things Mexican. With multiple locations throughout the Valley, this familyowned market has become a staple here, with quality ethnic and specialty items made available to those in the Valley who enjoy traditional Mexican and Hispanic dishes, made from authentic ingredients.

One of the great traditional Mexican Christmas dishes is Mole, which takes its name from “moli” a Nahautl word meaning “mixture” or “concoction.”

Although this has been made for hundreds of years in Mexico and throughout Central America, it is important to note that this was not an Aztec dish – this “concoction” that uses a small amount of bittersweet chocolate or ground toasted cacao beans, was introduced to the are by the Spaniards.

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Happy Holidays

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Mole pablamo de guajolote (turkey in mole poblano) is a great traditional dish, nonetheless, and one that you can shop for at Pro’s Ranch Market.

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i Multiple locations across Arizona (as well as Texas and New Mexico); North Valley’s nearest location: 3223 W. Indian School Rd., Phoenix; 602-264-4499; www.prosranch.com

Urban Grocery

The Urban Grocery, a non-profit venture in the heart of downtown Phoenix, is the best way to support local farmers and producers in Arizona. Adjacent to the Phoenix Downtown Public Market (the site of Food Truck Fridays) the Market Store increases access to the great, local products that are available in the Valley.

Walking through Urban Grocery is like walking through a friend’s homegrown garden – it’s aromatic, inspirational and will give you a renewed respect for vegetables and all that you can create with them.

Local products are abundant, and you can have lunch while you are there!

If you are looking forward to planning a socially-conscious holiday meal, look no further!

i 14 E. Pierce, Phoenix (NE Corner of Central Ave. & Pierce St.); 602-254-1799; www.foodconnect.org

Lee Lee’s Oriental Supermart, Inc.

There is so much more to this market than might be initially perceived by its name. Case in point, the fact that there are aisles and aisles packed with European and Latin ingredients and products. Of course, the Asian products are abundant, as well as fresh fish, meat, and hard-to-find produce such as durian, jackfruit, lychee, plantains and young coconut. Groceries are categorized by countries such as Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Jamaica, Indonesia, Holland, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam, to name just a few.

Don’t leave without buying a bag or two of their “Pandesal” (sweet, soft dinner rolls from the Philippines like you’ve never had before.)

i West Valley: 7575 W. Cactus Rd., Peoria; 623-773-3345; East Valley: 2025 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler; 480-899-2887; www.leeleesupermarket.com

Romanelli’s

A few years back when I was on a personal mission to recreate the strombolli of my youth from Hazlelton, Pennsylvania, I was in search of a particular cheese called “Scamutz.” The first place I called was Romanelli’s – a family-owned Italian deli on Dunlap Rd. that had not only heard of this Italian favorite, but had it in stock.

The shelves of Romanelli’s are stocked with breads, pastas and pastries that many will have fond memories of from their youth. While you are there to shop, stay for lunch – you won’t be able to resist their hot lunch entrees like Chicken Parmesan, Sausage, Peppers & Onions, and Manicotti. These and other Italian favorites are available by the tray for takeout, as well!

i 3437 W. Dunlap Rd., Phoenix; www.romanellisitaliandeli.com; 602-249-9030

Chompie’s

Chompie’s is a popular destination for Valley residents who have moved from the East and miss the New York-style delis that they are accustomed to. Chompie’s also offers a wide array of traditional Jewish favorites that are difficult to find in these parts. Some of these dishes become extra important during Chanukah – crispy housemade potato latkes, beef brisket, kugel and challah. These are just a few of the items that one will find at Chompie’s. Also on hand for the holiday season are egg nog bagels, gingerbread loaves and gingerbread cream cheese. This is a great time to visit, if you never have – once you do, it will be a year-round habit!

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i Several locations in the Valley including Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler; North Valley locations: NW Corner of Cactus and Tatum, Paradise Valley Mall east side, enter from parking lot, between Sears and Dillard’s, phone: 602-710-2910 and 9301 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, phone: 480-860-0475; www.chompies.com

Stanley’s Home Made Sausage

Stanley’s may not give you the “warm, fuzzy” feeling that you are looking for during the holiday season, but they will give you the best blessed sausages you have ever eaten! And when you are given the gift of a scrumptious sausage, who needs warm and fuzzy? Once you try their keilbasa and handmade pierogis, you will never go back to the supermarket-stocked Hillshire Farms and Mrs. T’s!

Whether you are looking for stuffed pierogis, or imported Sauerkraut for your Kapusta z Grochem on Christmas Eve, you will find it at Stanley’s – one of the Valley’s best-kept secrets ...until now!

i 2201 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix; 602-275-8788 and 1712 West Bell Rd., Phoenix; 602-375-3999

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In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, some large retailers announced that they would be opening for business even before midnight on “Black Friday” the nation’s busiest shopping day of the year. They claimed that it was because the average consumer would rather stay up later on Thanksgiving night in order to shop, rather than getting up early the next morning.

While I enjoy the “tradition” of shopping on Black Friday, as well as a good deal, as much as anyone else, there was something about this newest Black Friday move that was slightly offensive to me, and my sensibilities. All of a sudden, Black Friday seems to be encroaching upon our actual family holidays. Those who aren’t distracted by the opportunity to snag this year’s “it” gifts for their family members at prices they might be able to afford, may be forced to leave Thanksgiving festivities a bit early so that they can show up to their retail jobs that much earlier in order to service desperate consumers.

It seems that now, more than ever, we have to fight to retain the meaning and traditions of our family holidays.

This year, be sure to take a close look at your family’s calendar and make sure that you have carved out time for events that will fulfill your family on a spiritual level, rather than just on a material one.

One opportunity to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas is by attending one of the performances of the “Living Nativity” hosted by Canyon church of Christ on their undeveloped property at Meridian near Daisy Mountain Drive. It is a wonderful way to gather outdoors under the bright stars with your community and celebrate this spectacular moment in history.

The two-story nativity set includes a set of Bethlehem in the upper story, and the nativity and manger in the lower story. There will be Christmas music and live animals, as well as the Angel Gabriel who appears from above. Before and after the drama there will be a petting zoo for children, Writer Stephanie Maher Palenque

2011 Christmas

Ser vices

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and a prayer box set up for special intentions. There is no fee for attendance, or for the refreshments served, although donations will be accepted for the Foothills Food Bank. Information about the Market on the Move food rescue program will also be available. Other church communities are invited to not only come and enjoy the experience, but also to jump in and be a part of it!

Another way to light up the evening as a community is

Friday, Dec. 23, 2011

to purchase a Luminaria Kit from Grace North Church.

Spur Cross Cowboy Church

Each kit contains enough tea lights, sand and bags for

7 p.m. Old-Fashioned Christmas Service

16 luminarias. These kits are only $5 each, and will be

Snacks and sharing after the service

delivered to your home between Dec. 17 and 19. You

Church at Pioneer Village Living History Museum

can order your kit by calling the church, sending them an

One mile North of Carefree Highway, Exit 225

email, or visiting their website: 623-551-0007;

623-556-7935;

luminaria@gracenorth.com; www.gracenorth.com.

www.spurcrosscowboychurch.com

No matter what faith community you belong to, make sure

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011

that your family slows down to appreciate each other, and the

Arizona Hills Community Church

reason for the season. Below is a listing of Christmas services

Meets at Boulder Creek High School Performing Arts

and church events to help enrich your holiday experience.

Center (40404 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem)

Friday, Dec. 16, 2011

Services: 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Canyon Church of Christ

623-465-0202; www.azhills.com

Live Nativity performance: 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Christ’s Church at The Crossroads

On Canyon church of Christ property at Rose Canyon

Meets at Anthem School (41020 NE Freedom Way, Anthem)

Circle (Meridian & Daisy Mountain Drive) next to St. Rose

Services: 12 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Catholic Church

623-466-7964; www.thecrossroadsaz.com

623-889-3388; www.canyonchurch.org

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011

Services: 5 p.m. and 7 p.m; Candlelight Service at 11 p.m.

Canyon Church of Christ

39808 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem

Live Nativity performance: 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

623-551-9851; www.anthemcross.org

On Canyon church of Christ property at Rose Canyon Circle (Meridian & Daisy Mountain Drive) next to St. Rose Catholic Church 623-889-3388; www.canyonchurch.org

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 Sun Valley Baptist Church Children’s Christmas Musical at 7 p.m.

42302 N. Vision Way, Ste. #104, Anthem 623-986-1687; www.sunvalleybaptist.org

Desert View Bible Church Services: 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

105 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix 623-298-4900; www.desertviewbible.org

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 Fellowship Church at Anthem Services: 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

39905 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem 623-551-1144; www.fcanthem.com

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Cross of Christ Lutheran Church Services: 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

39808 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem 623-551-9851; www.anthemcross.org Grace North Church Service: 11 a.m.

4135 W. Opportunity Way, Phoenix 623-551-0007; www.gracenorth.com Pioneer United Methodist Church

2011 Christmas Ser vices

Service: 10 a.m.

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Grace North Church

Sunset Ridge Elementary School in Tramonto

Service: 4 p.m.

35707 N. 33rd Lane

4135 W. Opportunity Way, Phoenix

602-320-7724; www.pioneerumcaz.org

623-551-0007; www.gracenorth.com

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne

New Creation Community (NCC)

Catholic Community

Services: 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Mass: 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. (Spirituality Center)

Mailing Address: 39506 North Daisy Mountain Drive Ste.

2825 W. Rose Canyon Circle, Anthem; 623-465-9740;

122-115 Anthem, AZ 85086

www.stroseparishaz.org

Physical Address: 4235 West Opportunity Way Ste. 108,

Mass at Mission of the Good Shepherd in New River: 9:30 a.m.

Anthem, AZ 85086 623-551-2622; www.NCCconnect.com

Sun Valley Baptist Church Services: 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Pioneer United Methodist Church

42302 N. Vision Way, Ste. #104, Anthem

Service: 6 p.m.

623-986-1687; www.sunvalleybaptist.org

Sunset Ridge Elementary School in Tramonto 35707 N. 33rd Lane

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011

602-320-7724; www.pioneerumcaz.org

Christ’s Church at The Crossroads Meets at Koina Café (42201 N. 41st Dr. Ste. 100, Anthem)

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne

Service: 4 p.m.

Catholic Community

623-466-7964; www.thecrossroadsaz.com

Mass: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m. (Spirituality Center) 2825 W. Rose Canyon Circle, Anthem; 623-465-9740;

Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012

www.stroseparishaz.org

Christ’s Church at The Crossroads

Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 Canyon Church of Christt

Meets at Anthem School (41020 NE Freedom Way, Anthem) Service: 10:30 a.m.

623-466-7964; www.thecrossroadsaz.com

Meets at Diamond Canyon School (40004 N. Liberty Bell Way, Anthem)

Grace North Church

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11 a.m.

623-889-3388; www.canyonchurch.org

4135 W. Opportunity Way, Phoenix

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623-551-0007; www.gracenorth.com

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Roadrunner Restaurant & Saloon Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Late Night

47801 W. Black Canyon Hwy. Just North of Anthem, I17, exit 232 New River, AZ 85087 623-465-9903 www.roadrunnersteakhouse.com

Looking for a good meal or just some late night entertainment, the Roadrunner has it all. Under new ownership for the past year, the Roadrunner has a new menu with fresh, never frozen, hamburgers, fantastic sandwiches, Certified Angus Beef steaks and Prime Rib. Our Friday Night All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry has become a New River Favorite with fresh battered cod. Be sure to check out the other dining specials throughout the week.

Join us on Facebook – Roadrunner The Roadrunner has live entertainment all weekend long. Starting Friday Restaurant & Saloon

nights at 8 p.m., continuing Saturday at 2-5 p.m. and again at 8 p.m., and on Sunday 1-5 p.m. But that’s not all! Karaoke twice a week on Wednesdays and Sunday night, Arm Wrestling tournament on Friday nights, UFC fights, College and NFL football on the weekends. Wrap that all up with Happy Hour EVERY DAY 2-6 p.m. and again at 9 p.m.-midnight.

Dining Guide Spotlight

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Chile Beef Tamales with beans and rice >>

Dining Guide Spotlight

Roberto’s Authentic Mexican Food offers traditional Roberto’s Authentic Mexican Food tamales every Thursday in the form of a Chile Beef 623-465-1515

or Green Corn Tamale. Drop in to the friendly, family- 39510 N. Daisy Mountain Rd. Suite 170 owned, Food Network-spotlighted eatery and try Anthem, AZ 85086 a plate of two with beans and rice for $7.49, and In the Fry’s Shopping Center when you realize that they are too tantalizing to eat www.RobertosAZ.com just two, take home a dozen for $25.99!

Order your tamales early. $25.99 per dozen.

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Echo Hair and Color Salon If you haven’t made your way down to Echo Hair and Color Salon in Mountainside Fitness on Carefree Highway, there is no better time to do it. In just one year since they first opened their doors, they have experienced tremendous growth.

It’s no wonder ...the trendy “boutique style” salon offers superlative L’Oreal color products including INOA and INOA Supreme -- ammonia-free, age-defying products that offer 100% gray coverage. And now, all clients who purchase a cut and color or highlight will receive a color gloss service and post service treatment valued at $50 for free.

No childcare? No problem! Let them enjoy time in the fabulous child care room right inside Mountainside Fitness while you enjoy being pampered right next door at Echo Hair and Color Salon.

For more information or to find weekly specials, visit www.echohairandcolorsalon.com or call owner, Edward, to schedule your complementary consultation.

Meet the Marketplace Therapeutic Massage

By Maura Maura believes that massage should be affordable and accessible to everyone because it’s been proven to reduce stress which is the leading cause of many of today’s heath issues.

She feels that the client should be directly involved in the planning of each session to maximize results and not have to conform to a specific modality or time-frame. Her goal is to have each client leave the table relaxed, rejuvenated and free of stress and pain.

Maura offers gift certificates and can work with any budget.

Located in Frankie and Lainie’s Salon 42211 N. 41st Drive Anthem maurasmassage@gmail.com 623-377-3625

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Echo Hair and Color Salon 623-581-3333 www.echohairandcolorsalon.com

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Stunning custom Entertainment Centers to fit your budget.

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Cabinet Designs, LLC MonarchCabinetDesigns.com

info@monarchcabinetdesigns.com office: (480) 370-4463

ImagesAZ Magazine 623-341-8221 www.imagesaz.com Accountant

Hasslacher Tax & Financial, LLC. 623-551-2332 42104 N. Venture Court, B130

Advertising

ImagesAZ Magazine 623-341-0123 www.imagesaz.com

Air conditioning/Heating Desert Hills Air Conditioning 623-551-6409 www.DesertHillsAC.com

Priceless Plumbing Heating & Air 623-444-0611 www.pricelessplumbing.com

Animal Services Sonoran Desert Pet Resort 623-551-5299 www.sdpetresort.com

Pet Spa Desert Oasis Pet Spaw 623-551-5299 www.sdpetresort.com

Assisted Living

Anthem Senior Living 602-909-9550 www.AnthemSeniorLiving.com

Attorney

Boates Law Firm 623-551-5457 www.AnthemLaw.com Carroll Law Firm 623-551-9366 42104 N. Venture Drive Suite E-101 www.AnthemLawFirm.com Droban & Company 480-612-3058 www.kerriedroban.com The Garde Law Firm 623-551-3502 www.gardelaw.com

Automotive

Econo Lube and Brakes 623-551-0033 42410 N. Vision Way

Local Index For Advertising Information Jeff Penzone :: 623-341-0123 jeff@imagesaz.com

Beauty

Hair Care Dollyrockers 623-879-6969 www.dollyrockersaz.com Echo Hair and Color Salon 623-581-3333 www.echohairandcolorsalon.com Shalimar Salon and Spa 623-551-9000 www.ShalimarSalon.com Skin Care Merle Norman Cosmetics 623-551-9502 www.merlenorman.com Shalimar Salon and Spa 623-551-9000 www.ShalimarSalon.com

Bicycle Shop Bicycle Vibe 623-582-3111 www.bicyclevibe.com

Boutique

Dollyrockers 623-879-6969 www.dollyrockersaz.com Fans and Fashionistas Shops at Norterra 623-587-1400 Nothing in Moderation Located in Merle Norman 623-551-9502 Pari Boutique 3170 W. Carefree Hwy. Suite 6 623-869-0056 www.pariboutique.com Sabrina’s Boutique 711 E. Carefree Hwy. Suite 110 623-879-9360 www.sabrinasboutiqueaz.com Shalimar Salon and Spa 623-551-9000 www.ShalimarSalon.com

Business Groups

Anthem/North Gateway Chamber of Commerce 602-495-6483 www.northgatewaychamber.org Preferred Business at Anthem 623-551-0523 www.pbanthem.com

Cabinet Design

Monarch Cabinet Design 480-370-4463 www.MonarchCabinetDesigns.com Shelves That Slide 623-780-2555 Free Estimates

Charity Network

Network of Anthem Area Assistance Providers (NAAAP) www.AnthemNetwork.org

Chiropractic

Back to Health Chiropractic 623-551-6677 42104 N. Venture Dr., A-102

dance Education AZ Dance Group “Movement E-Motion” 480-215-1916 www.azdance.org

Dentist

Daisy Mountain Dentistry 623-551-5250 4205 W. Anthem Way, Suite #106 Feldhake & Associates 623-931-8898 480-661-0660 www.ShowMeThatSmile.com North Valley Family Dentistry 623-551-9200 42104 N. Venture Drive, Building E www.MyAnthemDentist.com West Valley Pediatric Dentistry 623-935-9873 3618 W. Anthem Way, Suite D104

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Entertainment

Musical Theatre of Anthem www.musicaltheatreofanthem.org 602-743-9892 On The Towne Community Theatre 623-594-3832 www.onthetownetheatre.org Starlight Community Theater www.starlightcommunitytheater.org www.starlightcommunitytheater.com

Financial Planning Hasslacher Tax & Financial, LLC 623-551-2332 42104 N. Venture Court, B130

Health & Fitness

Sports Conditioning Harper Physical Therapy 623-742-7338 41818 N. Venture Drive, Suite #120

House Sitting

Sonoran Desert Sports Dog 623-551-5299 www.sdpetresort.com

insurance

Auto/home/life/renters/health/retirement/Auto Loans & refinancing

Orthodontics

Cordon Orthodontics 623-465-5478 42201 N. 41st Dr., # 102

Wood Orthodontics/Wyatt Wood 623-792-7323 3618 W. Anthem Way, Suite D108

Painting

Daisy Mountain Painting 623-551-3156 www.DaisyMountainPainting.com Premier Commercial Painting 623-551-8640 www.Premier-Commercial.com

Pediatrics

Angel Pediatrics 623-551-0442 3654 W. Anthem Way Suite B-114 Twin Pediatrics 623-551-9825 42211 N. 41st Dr. Suite 153

Pest Control Titan Pest Control 623-879-8700 www.TitanPest.com

All State - Randy Morris 602-298-6168 randymorris1@allstate.com

Physical Therapy

State Farm - Nanette Miller 623-742-6866 nanette@nanettemiller.com

Physician

Interior Design

Angelique Interiors 623-512-7745 www.Angelique-Interiors.com Mongrel Design 602-368-9088 www.MongrelDesign.net

Jewelry/gold buyers AndrewZ 623-551-6892 www.AndrewzDiamonds.com

Massage

Harper Physical Therapy 623-742-7338 41818 N. Venture Drive, Suite #120 Health Quest 623-465-4627 www.thehealthquest.com John C. Lincoln Urgent Care 623-434-6444

photography

Jerri Parness Photography 480-650-3138 www.JerriParnessPhotography.com

Plumbing

MNS Plumbing and Drain Cleaning 602-370-0097 www.mnsplumbing.com

Hand and Stone Massage and Facials 623-551-6602 39504 N Daisy Mountain Dr

Priceless Plumbing Heating & Air 623-444-0611 www.PricelessPlumbing.com

Therapeutic Massage by Maura 623-377-3625 www.maurasmassagetherapy.com

Proskill Plumbing 623-551-7473 www.AnthemPlumber.com

naturopathic

Dr. Jennifer Gentry, NMD 623-251-5518 42104 N. Venture Ct., Suite C-126

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Pool Supplies

Emerald Pool Supplies 602-795-4466 www.emeraldpoolsupply.com

restaurants

CafĂŠ Aroma 623-551-1500 4220 W. Summit Walk Ct. #1202 CafĂŠ Provence 623-551-1313 www.cafeprovenceaz.com Dara Thai Cafe 623-551-6676 3655 W. Anthem Way Ste B-127 English Rose Tea Room 480-488-4812 www.carefreetea.com Havana Cigars 623-551-6431 4225 W. Fortune Drive Suite 110 www.havanacigarsaz.com Ocho Locos Mexican Restaurant 623-551-8580 3655 W. Anthem Way Q-to-U BBQ 623-465-7800 www.Q-to-U-BBQ.com Roadrunner Restaurant & Saloon 623-465-9903 47801 N. Blackcanyon Hwy. www.roadrunnersteakhouse.com

Realtor

RE/MAX Professional Realtors Linda Rehwalt 602-249-SOLD Sam Tyler Realty, LLC 602-459-7455 www.AZHomes.net

Screens

C&S Screens 623-582-8592 cssreens@cox.net

Security Doors

Steel Shield Security Doors 623-581-DOOR www.steelshieldsecurity.com

Sedan Service

Southwest Sedan Service 602-481-0894 www.swsedan.net

Schools

Anthem Elementary School Main Line 623-376-3700 Attendance 623-376-3790 Anthem Preparatory Academy 623-465-4776 www.AnthemPrep.org

Barry Goldwater High School Main Line 623-445-3000 Attendance 623-445-3090 Boulder Creek High School Main Line 623-445-8600 Attendance 623-445-8690 The Caepe School Main Line 623-551-7808 www.thecaepeschool.org The Caepe Preschool Main Line 623-551-7808 www.thecaepeschool.org Canyon Springs Elementary Main Line 623-376-5200 Attendance 623-376-5290 Caurus Academy www.azmontessori.org Creative Castle Preschool 602-740-9561 www.CreativeCastlePreschool.com Desert Mountain School Main Line 623-445-3500 Attendance 623-445-3590 Diamond Canyon Elementary Main Line 623-445-8000 Attendance 623-445-8090 Gavilan Peak Elementary Main Line 623-445-7400 Attendance 623-445-7490 New River Elementary Main Line 623-376-3500 Attendance 623-376-3590 North Valley Christian Academy 623-551-3454 www.northvalleyca.org Northwest Christian School 602-978-5134 www.NorthwestChristianSchool.org The Orme School 928-632-7601 www.ormeschool.org Sunset Ridge Elementary Main Line 623-445-7800 Attendance 623-445-7890 Westwind Prep www.westwindacademy.org

Termite Treatment Titan Pest Control 623-879-8700 www.TitanPest.com

Tree Service Arizona Tree Service 623-465-5469 30 Years in Area

Water Softener & Filtration

Priceless Plumbing Heating & Air 623-444-0611 www.PricelessPlumbing.com Rayne of the North Valley 623-234-9047 www.RayneWater.com Soft Water Plus AZ 623-465-4873 www.SoftWaterPlusAZ.com

Weed Control Titan Pest Control 623-879-8700 www.titanpest.com

Worship

Arizona Hills Community 623-465-0202 www.azhills.com Chabad Jewish Center of Anthem 42302 N. Vision Way Suite #106 623-551-8348 Chapel Bellavista 480-502-0707 www.arizonaministers.com Canyon Church of Christ 623-889-3388 www.canyonchurch.org Christ’s Church at the Crossroads 623-466-7964 www.thecrossroadsaz.com

New Creation Community 623-551-2622 www.NCCconnect.com New River First Assembly of God 623-465-7455 newriverag@yahoo.com Northgate Church 34835 N. 7th Street Phoenix, AZ 85086 Northridge Community 480-515-4673 www.northridge.org North Valley Assembly of God 623-256-2408 www.northvalleyag.com North Valley Jewish Community Association 623-322-0957 Pioneer United Methodist Church 602-320-7724 www.pioneerumcaz.org Pureheart Christian Fellowship 602-866-8850 www.pureheart.org Shalom Heritage 602-635-3722 www.shalomheritage.com Spur Cross Cowboy Church 623-556-7935 www.SpurCrossCowboyChurch.com Sun Valley Baptist Church 623-986-1687 www.sunvalleybaptist.org

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church 623-551-9851 www.anthemcross.org

Catholic Community of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne 623-465-9740 www.diocesephoenix.org

Deer Valley Worship Center 623-582-1001 www.DvWorship.com

Valley Life Church 623-850-8777 www.ValleyLifeAZ.com

Desert View Bible Church 623-298-4900 www.desertviewbible.org

Vineyard Christian Fellowship 623-551-1133 www.vineyardanthem.com

Fellowship Church 623-551-1144 www.fellowshipanthem.com Grace North Church 623-551-0007 www.gracenorth.com

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Writer Stephanie Maher Palenque

According to some recent informal polls, some of the most popular American cookies to put out for Santa include Chocolate Chip Cookies and Oreos. However, once Santa reaches the

Recipe

Southwest, we might want to put out something for him that reminds him of where he is in his head-spinning, whirlwind night of global travel, as well as serve him something that will put a little spring in his step and carry him through the rest of his deliveries.

These Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookies just might do the trick. The rich bittersweet chocolate in the recipe is “kicked up” a notch by the warm spicy bite of Southwestern chipotle. It’s a recipe that will keep him coming back for more, year after year!

Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookies Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, softened 2 cups packed light brown sugar 1 ½ cups sugar, plus ½ cup for topping ½ cup cocoa powder, sifted 2 teaspoons crushed, dried chipotle peppers 4 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon water ½ pound high-quality bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly 1 ½ cups high-quality bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks, plus ½ cup for topping

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, add butter and beat with the paddle attachment until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary to evenly cream it. Add the sugars, sifted cocoa powder and chipotle peppers and mix again at medium speed until light and fluffy, about one minute. Add eggs, vanilla, and water. Beat at medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add slightly cooled melted chocolate and mix again, scraping to evenly mix everything.

Add the flour mixture, scraping sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. When well incorporated, add the chips and mix briefly, about 5 seconds.

Refrigerate the dough in the bowl until cool and fudge-like, but not solid, for approximately one hour. You can use an ice cream scoop to create large, even-sized cookies. These cookie dough balls can also be frozen at this point, and baked right from the freezer whenever the need arises.

When ready to bake, press the tops of the cookie dough balls into the sugar, and then top with 2 to 3 pieces of dark chocolate chips. Place onto parchment-lined baking sheets, allowing space for the cookies to spread. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven when they are still a little underdone. Slide the parchment paper with the cookies onto a cooling rack and allow to cool before removing the parchment.

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